Some Bethany Stories

We've been getting along quite well these past few weeks. Bethany's had some bouts with some new teeth coming in, but that's calmed down some. She's a daddy's girl most of the time, but when she doesn't feel well mommy wins every time. When she is feeling good, she's talking lots more, learning new things, and asking to go outside several times a day.

We were eating cherries the other day. I always cut hers in half and take the pit out. Well who can just watch someone eat delicious Bing cherries? So I was eating them right along with her. She was being very observant and watching me eat them. Pretty soon she bends down to her plate and spits a little piece out. She saw mommy spitting something out, so that's how it must be done. It wasn't the pit because I had already took that out, but she was going to eat them like mommy anyway.

Yesterday we went for a walk. I've been trying to get out as long as we're home and it's not raining. She started off walking herself and then when she gets tired, she gets in the stroller. She walked up and down one street and halfway down another! She practically walked half of our walking route by herself.

As she's walking a lot more outside, she's getting more scrapes and cuts. Now she's fascinated band-aids. I cut my finger yesterday and she keeps trying to get my band-aid off. She'll say, "Band-aid" and point the herself. Looks like I'm going to have to make sure we always have band-aids on hand. I'll have to find some Mickey Mouse band-aids. That would be the ultimate band-aid for her.

The other day we went to Kohl's and stocked up on some summer clearance clothes for next year. They had some pajamas with Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck on them. I showed them to her, and after correcting her that Minnie was Minnie and not Mickey, I stuck them in our growing pile of clothes. One of my favorite parts of shopping is showing off all the great things I bought, so when Daddy got home, we were showing him. I pulled those PJ's out of the bag and Bethany said, "Ohhhhh." Just like it was the first time she'd seen them. It was so funny. I guess she's learned the appropriate responses from our shopping trips. I'm turning her into a great shopping companion.

Here's what we've been up to the last week or so:

She was making things just like Mommy. I really need to get some play kitchen stuff for her.
Daddy was reading her one last story before night-night time.
We loved the cooler weather at the beginning of this week. We had an outside play date with kids just Bethany's age.

Here's Bethany and her friend, Grayce, playing in a little house. I love how Grayce is ringing the doorbell when she's the one inside. Bethany thought it was lots of fun.

Grace and Bethany. Aren't they just too cute?
Because of the nice weather, we also went to the park that day with Aunt Manna.

Bethany loves the slides. She looks so thrilled with herself there.
This picture is a little blurry, but it's just so cute.

What more can I say? I just want to eat her up.She really liked to pretend she was driving. She loves to play in our cars. Shane will sometimes put her in his car when he's working in the garage. Don't worry. We never leave the keys in there with her.

More State Fair Fun

While we were at the State Fair, I thought it would be fun to document just how many different types of food you could get on a stick. I'm sure we don't have everything there was there, but these were the things we saw along our way. I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.


Pizza on a Stick. This prompted the whole search. Ingenious.

Alligator and Cajun Fried Shrimp on a Stick. We did not try this.
I'm not sure what these are, but they're on a stick.
Of course, how could you forget the corn dog.
Steak on a Stick. Yum.

You probably think this is for the corn dog, but notice the cheese on a stick.

I have no idea what these were, but I wouldn't be opposed to trying them. They sound interesting.

This sounded good, Chocolate dipped Cheesecake on a stick. However at this particular time I was on a mission to get my deep fried Snickers bar.

Really? Why an egg?

I'm not too sure about this either, but it's on a stick.

Okay, who's hungry? I think I'm going to go find a snack. Or as Bethany would say, "A Nnnack."

The State Fair

It's been many years since we've been to the State Fair. It used to be a part of every summer growing up, so I thought it was time to go again. Dad and Amanda came with the three of us, and we had a really good time. The weather was just about perfect. It always seems like it's so hot and muggy you can barely stand it, but it was really nice. Bethany enjoyed it because we were outside practically the whole day. I kind of figured it was a practice run for Disney World. Here's what we did that day.


Amanda and I if we ever decide to become pig farmers. Apparently, I'll shrink quite a bit if that happens.

We had to visit the butter cow. The display was quite impressive this year.
Bethany enjoyed the playground behind the 1st Lady's Tent.
For lunch we ate in Ethnic Village. All I have to say is why was the first time I'd ever eaten there? It was sooooo good. We had Mexican, Venezuelan, Greek, and Filipino. Of those, do you know what Bethany liked the best? The Venezuelan. It might have had something to do with the fact that what she tried was basically like macaroni and cheese with chicken.

For dessert, we all split a deep-fried Snickers bar. Yes, you heard that right. I saw it on one of the menus and really wanted to try it. I don't think anyone else really had a burning desire, but they humored me. Well, when it was all said and done I only got about three bites. It was delicious. If you ever have a chance to try one, get it. It's a good thing we don't own a deep-fat fryer. I'd be in serious trouble.

Even though it looks like a corn dog that was the Snicker's bar.

Bethany got to ride down the GIANT slide.

She had quite the non-expression until they finally slid to a stop. Then she said, "More" very emphatically.

Miracle of miracles she actually took a short nap in her stroller. That's good news for Disney World.

Bethany had her first sip of pop. It was homemade root beer and cream soda. She really enjoyed helping out Aunt 'Manna with her root beer float.Believe it or not, this was Amanda and my first trip to Conservation World. That was pretty much all Shane's family did at the fair. I'm not sure why my family never did it, but we enjoyed it.Leaving tired, but fulfilled. I had my hand-dipped corn dog and we got some state fair taffy. Oh, and of course I got my free Illinois road map. I was all set.

Last Weekend: A Weekend of Fun

I'm a little late in posting this, but this is from last weekend. The 9th and 10th. We received a visit from one of our favorite families: Tim, Jaime, and Jaxon. It was a very fun weekend, but also very exhausting. Unfortunately we need to learn that we can't stay up so late talking because we have toddlers who won't let us sleep in. It's worth it, though, to lose some sleep. We always have a great time with them.

Saturday morning we went down to Riverplex playground and the Riverfront Farmer's Market. Grammy and Elijah joined us too. When I first started planning this weekend, I was worried about it being too hot. We didn't have that problem, but it was raining off and on that morning. We made the best of it though.

Jaxon enjoyed the swings.

Bethany loved being able to play with Daddy at a playground.
Doesn't he look too cute?
In front of the fountain on the riverfront.
Jaime and I looking gorgeous.
Saturday night we went miniature golfing with more college friends, Evan and Ronni.

Tim was really getting into his golfing.

The lovely ladies.

Shane, Ronni, and Jaime all got a hole in one on the same hole. Shane was shocked that he was that good.Tim peeking out of the cave.Evan had to hold up the cave for us.

On Sunday, Tim, Jaime, and Jaxon visited WhiteRose for the first time. Bethany and Jaxon got to pal around in the nursery.

After the service the kids were having fun playing on the stage. Bethany liked talking into the microphone.It didn't take her long to figure the whole thing out. She's a natural.Jaxon was playing a beautiful piece on the piano. I think I see some duets in the their future.

Lots to Catch Up On

Bethany is learning so much everyday. She is talking so much more. I don't always understand it, but it's nice to hear her jabber away. Yesterday she said, "Bye-bye. See ya soon." She repeats what we say a lot. We watched "Finding Nemo" the other day and now every time I turn on the TV she says, "Fishies?" She also knows who Winnie the Pooh is, which amazes me. We've only watched that show a couple of times, but I haven't really made a big deal out of it and tried to teach her Pooh is. We saw a picture of Pooh in the store and asked her who it was and she said, "Pooh." Then I asked her who Eeyore was and she said, "Moooo." Oh well, I guess that's acceptable since I never really liked that donkey anyway.

She still loves to go outside. In fact that's one of the first things out of her mouth in the mornings. She doesn't seem to understand that we can't outside in our P.J.'s. I have no idea what we're going to do come winter.

Lately she's taken to putting things over her arm like a purse and waving bye-bye. I think she's pretending she's leaving for work like mommy and daddy.
Mommy and Bethany.
Bethany likes corn, and corn on the cob is fun to eat.
She still needs some instruction on how to eat it, though.
I think she looks so much like me in this picture.

She's always in the bathroom with me when I put on my make-up. Well after it goes on, it's time for me to put on my shoes. She always says, "Shoes" and goes to the closet. On this day I wasn't ready to put my shoes on yet, but she was bound and determined that someone was going to wear them. She was even able to walk in them. My favorite part is they're on the wrong feet.