A Great Day

Our day was full of fun events and good news!

First off, Eva and I met her physical therapist at a local park for our bi-weekly session. Eva did great and Stacey commented on her developing strength and coordination. She said she has seen so much growth in the past month. In our next session she will formally assess Eva to see how she is doing. The last couple of times there has been a 4-5 month delay in her abilities. We're hoping to see that gap close.

Then, Eva, Grandma and I headed out for lunch and over to our favorite boutique which was having a sale. We found lots of cute things for our homes and had a nice time.

I returned home to find 2 dozen of the most beautiful long stemmed roses waiting for me!! They were an anniversary gift from Les - 1 day early. The were quickly followed by a phone call from him checking to make sure the package was delivered.

After a hot afternoon, I filled up Eva's swimming pool and she swam like a little fish while I watched. Days like this make me think that the stay-at-home life could be a good one!

Happy Birthday Eva!

Eva turned 2 years old today! We started the morning by visiting a park in Lancaster with Angie and Shane. The park was amazing and the kids loved exploring all of the areas. Then, it was lunch at A&W. I gave Eva the option of having Root Beer or milk. She choose Root Beer and downed it! She hardly ate anything else....but that's what birthdays are for.

She spent most of the afternoon napping after yesterday's trip to the river and today's excitement. When she woke up, Grandma and I took her to the pool for a swim. Tonight, she and I watched her favorite "froggy" movie and ate popcorn. She talked on the phone to Grandma H, Dad, and Uncle Ryan before going to bed.

We had a mini-celebration with Dad before he left for training. We'll have a party with my family on Saturday and the Hollingsworth's the following Saturday.

Eva and Shane try out the tire swing, one of many novelties at the park

The kids at A&W. Both were too full to eat the ice cream that came with their kid's meals. Lucky for them, their pregnant moms were happy to indulge!

"On the Move"

Eva has been getting an education about "things that go" this summer. We have had many opportunities to take some fun rides. Check out these pics! Eva and Mom enjoy a train ride at a local museum on the 4th of July

Cousin Nathan gives Eva a lift on a 4-wheeler. (She wasn't excited about stopping for a photo op - which explains the face.)

And, yesterday we enjoyed taking a spin on the Mississippi in the Kieler family's beautiful boat. Here she is pictured with Maddie.

Ladies of the House

Eva is sound asleep and I am enjoying the quiet of the house. Les left tonight for his first of two summer army commitments. In total, he will be gone just over six weeks - two weeks now, a return home for a week, and another month away.

Thinking back, it is amazing how things have changed. In the past, I can remember feelings of emptiness and lonliness while he was gone. While we were dating, I was the one to leave for Spain or a semester in Minnesota. I was not used to being the one left behind. The time was usually filled with work, hobbies, and nights with the girls and it always passed quicker than I anticipated.

This time, my feelings are completely different. Left with a house to keep up, a busy toddler, and two part time jobs, I feel more anxiety about keeping my head afloat than I do sadness. Thankfully my pregnancy is progressing and I am much less tired than I was in the first trimester. I do feel a little sad though, more for Eva than anything. While Les and I understand the idea of duty and obligation, she only knows that Daddy is not home. On the sunny side, he is only away for a brief time and is a short drive from home. He could be across the world for an extended time in a dangerous scenario. It's all about perspective...

Dells Get-away

We recently made a little escape up to the Dells. We tried out a time share deal where we were given some vacation perks in exchange for hearing their sales pitch. Unfortunately, the weather was not that great and we weren't huge fans of our lodging. But, we made the most of it. Beautiful weather greeted us on our last day and we took in some of the tourist attractions. Here are some pictures from our visit to Timbavi Wildlife Park and Mount Olympus. Les ride the camel to Eva's pure delight!

Eva imitates the "arms-up" motion she saw some girls do on an amusement park ride.

We had a lot of fun with the mother and baby giraffe. They loved the food we had and stretched their long tongues for a lick.

Eva plays Goldilocks and has porridge with the three bears. This set-up has been around for years and we have some old pictures of me doing the same thing as a little girl.

After a hot, fun-filled day at the parks, Eva and mom cuddle on a lawn chair.

5 Experiences You Can Only Get in the Country

Only in the country can you....

#5 - enjoy views of wildlife...in our case it's all the stray cats roaming around

#4 - revel in the natural scenery out the back windows...recently they have included our neighbors' underwear out on the clothes line

#3 - get a call from the sheriff's department complaining that your horse is tearing up neighbors' yards (okay - this was actually my dad's experience and the horse wasn't his).

#2 - be stranded over the weekend because the snow plows don't make your road a priority

And #1 - my motivation for creating this blog entry...

#1 - lay awake all night listening to the sounds of a distressed cow in labor. (It's no wonder why I'm so tired today).

You, Part Deux

Two more funny stories about Eva's use of the word you. If you didn't catch it earlier, she calls herself you. So, if she wants a juice, she'll say either "you juice" or "juice you."

#1 So, last night we were grilling out with Ryan. We were having Eva's favorite food: corn on the cob. She watched me butter her corn and then proceeded to stick her fork in the butter and copy my motions. All the while, she was happily saying "fork you" over and over.... only her r's aren't quite right... so you can imagine what this sounded like.... Ryan and Les were dying over this one.

#2 Then later, the three of us were playing cards and this conversation ensued:

Les: For the baby, I like the names _____, _____, and ______.

Lindsay: I'm open to your suggestions, but I just don't like those names.

Les (to Ryan): I've come to terms with the fact that she'll pick the names again.

Lindsay: Well, I am the one who is home with the kids the most. So, I say their names alot more than you do.

Ryan: And yet, Eva still thinks her name is you.

(Les high fives Ryan after that one and I can't help but laugh.) We've still got plenty of time to agree on names we like...

Wednesday Surprise

I surprised Eva today with a trip to Henry Vilas Zoo and a visit with Sue and Steve. We left in the morning and Eva enjoyed watching Shrek on the new DVD player in the car. We ate a picnic lunch with Sue and Steve and visited the zoo's animals, park, and carousel. After a busy afternoon of keeping up with a 4-year-old, Eva conked out for the whole car ride home and continued her nap at home (along with mom). Sue and Eva smile for the camera

Eva and Steve are "joeys" in a giant kangaroo's pouch

Eva the archaeologist

We enjoyed two carousel rides - a clear favorite at the zoo

Next Wednesday's Surprise: a day with Beth at the park and pool