July Recap

The Adventures!
- Our great 4th of July trip to see the Lewises, the Lindstroms, and Grandma Sally. It was great to see family and friends after our hectic June and exhausting trip out to WI. It was good to know there are people a skip, hop and jump away that love us.

- We experienced our first River Falls Days (annual town festival that lasts 3 days and literally includes the WHOLE town) which was fun, but I think will be more fun next year when Z is a little older and we know the area better. This year it was just fascinating to observe and dabble a little here and there. We were really exhausted by that point from all our travels, visits, and visitors so we wanted to lay low a bit.

- State Parks! They are glorious up here. We live in easy driving distance of three or four beautiful ones.

-Family Fun Nights at the local pool. Only $1.50/adult and Z loves the pool.

-The Como Zoo. It was hot but the whole Como Park which includes a zoo, conservatory, and small amusement park are completely free to the public so we had to check it out. It was a nice little zoo and I am looking forward to going back and exploring the conservatory. I'm avoiding the amusement park part like a plague until Z is old enough to ask to go there. It looked scary.

The day to day!

-Z and I have been going to story time at a local bookstore every Wednesday morning. It's a lot of fun and Z likes seeing the other kids and exploring the store.

-Z has been going to daycare three days a week and is doing great. He has some rough drop offs sometimes but is always cheerful and excited when I pick him up. The center is really great and I haven't had a single moment of anxiety about the care he is receiving there. We're so thankful that finding care was easy for us (for once!!). I was so anxious about leaving Kristina and ever finding someone I felt good about again that this has been a huge blessing.

The Adults:

Joe is settling in at work and is all fancy with an office and his name on the door and all kinds of meetings and coworkers and gets to hire people. I might not be cool enough for him anymore. He also just finished a three week improv class in Minneapolis and is training for a half marathon in the fall. He keeps us busy with weekend adventures.

I had a complicated month when one of the jobs I thought I had fell through at the last minute. This was very frustrating since we had already signed Z up for daycare and didn't want to back out and burn bridges with a place we really liked. I am doing a little contracting for the time being, which covers Z's daycare costs and makes some extra, but am in the process of looking for something more stable. However, I am loving being home part time and am very hopeful/determined to make that work long term. I'm also training for a 5K in September. Wish me luck!

The Child

Z started walking and feels pretty impressed with himself. We're excited because now our backs aren't being broken by hunching over to lend him our fingers. He's still a little nervous but he gains confidence every day as he trundles around like a drunken sailor.

The day we have long dreaded arrived in the worst way possible- all four of Z's canines decided to come in at the same time. And learned to walk and clap at this time. And is also attempting to use cutlery and a glass. And started daycare. Oh, and we just moved. With all of these changes he's been super cranky and emotional this month ranging from scolding us loudly to full on all-my-bones-just-disappeared-so-I-must-fall-to-the-floor tantrums. It's been challenging for us, especially since he started waking at night again. Most of the time he's easy to settle but there have been a few nights when he's been up for hours with absolute refusal to go back to sleep. It's been tiring but we just keep telling ourselves this is a phase and he will get through it. We, however, might not. Time will tell.

When he's not being a complete mess, Z is hilarious and delightful. He's a little ham and loves to entertain and be the center of our attention. In groups he is a little more reserved. He babbles constantly. I can only imagine what it will be like when he actually starts using words. As it is he already sounds like he's giving rousing orations throughout the day.


So, we're good. What's up with y'all?