Hey Bumbo, Bumbo Italiano!

Now that my neck muscles are more developed and I can hold my head up consistently, mommy and daddy broke out the bumbo. This interesting device is a molded foam plastic seat that has a high enough back to hold me up and allow me to sit on my own. Now I can sit on the table in front of mommy and daddy as they have dinner. Sounds cool, but my immediate response once I got into the chair was to push with my legs and arch my back as much as possible. This had the desired effect: I was able to wrestle my legs out of chair and almost escape. I was very proud of my ability to be mobile, but mommy and daddy were disappointed! I guess they just want me to sit there and be happy about being hugged by foam when they slurp down their sushi or tomatoes or other grown-up food.

Market Day

At some point in the summer, it is just early enough for squash and berries yet the corn is still ripe and you can find zucchini if you know where to look. Best of all, this "sweet spot" of the farmer's market just happens to be when tomatoes are their most ripe! I went to the market with Grammie, Grandpa, mommy and daddy today and the place was hopping. Every bin was overflowing with the most beautiful fruit imaginable. The sights, smells, and taste of the farmer's market in late August/early September makes the heat and humidity of summer all worthwhile.

We strolled the aisles of tables, buying all the fruit the sophiemobile could hold. We ran into Dr Jessica Kresowick and her husband, the nice OB that delivered me! How cool! We also picked up the dresses that Boppie ordered for the renewing of vows ceremony in Italy. Cousin Harper and I will only be 1 year old but we'll already get to be bridesmaids! (or flower girls or whatever)

After the market, daddy, Uncle Steve, and I curled up on the couch and watched the ESPN game day preview show. Daddy tried to introduce me to college football and I watched intently. He says that many Saturdays this fall will find us cuddling on the couch listening to Chris, Lee, and Kirk. Sounds great to me!

One Fine Day on the Farm

Grammie's facmous showdog, Keira, is currently a "canine fellow-in-residence" at The Animal Farm, learning show handling techniques from the master, GranMimi! Daddy, Grammie, Granpa and my sisters all loaded up in the car this afternoon and headed out to farm to visit. It was a really hot day, but daddy couldn't resist dressing me up in John Deere denim overalls. Turned out to be a good thing, though. While we at the farm, a thunderstorm passed nearby and it suddenly got cool and windy. They say that if you don't like the weather in Iowa, just wait a few minutes!

We had a great time at the farm. I was very amused by all the doggies running around and playing on the grass. My sisters had a ball- they just love going there. They saw their best doggie-friends Kiwi, Rocky, Josie, and Betty Warthog. This was the first time they met Keira (that's the wheaten sitting next to Grammie), but they took to her immediately- no fuss.

We didn't play with the goats much on this visit. But GranMimi says she just started milking three of them this week, which means we'll have fresh cheese pretty soon (YAY!) I can't wait to be a little older and start caring for a goat myself. Daddy wants "artisanial goat cheeses" to be my 4-H project, but GranMimi says that I should be a "junior dog handler" and get certified by the AKC. Hmmm. . . . I have some time to think that over, but right now that choice is a tough one: either months with smelly goats followed by weeks in the kitchen with mommy and daddy re-creating the best recipes of Southern Europe or months with playful doggies followed by a February trip to New York City for Westminister.

Right now, I'd have to say New York City. I have feeling Aunt Ada and Gran would be happy to "escort" me and help introduce me to Barney's . . .

Grammie and Grandpa are Here!

The grandparent carousel continues. Yesterday, Boppie and Grandad left and late last night Grammie and Grandpa (mommy's parents) arrived to take care of me for two weeks. They brought cousin Camryn, another westie, who is much wilder and bouncy than my sister Skye!

Yesterday, after Boppie and Grandad left, I was with daddy all day long. It was pretty rough becuase I wasn't feeling well and mommy was stuck in a really long surgery. I kept crying and daddy kept trying to amuse me, but not much worked. I missed GrandMimi, because she came over for the one hour I was sound asleep! Since mommy wasn't home, I got to go to the airport with daddy at 11:30pm- I didn't know grown-ups can stay awake that long! We met Grammie and Grandpa coming off the plane and loaded up the car just as a huge thunderstorm hit. It was really spectacular- with lighting strikes all around us! I was relieved when daddy pulled the car into the garage and we got out of the storm. Better yet, mommy was finally home and she made it all better.

I am feeling much better today and I played on my mat for over an hour! I just can't get enough of the little yellow lion that makes funny sounds when you shake it. I've gotten really good at grabbing it; now I'm up for bigger coordination challenges. I'm working on trying to roll from back to front, but I've got a ways to go. Maybe when I start day care next month one of the other babies can teach me the secret. . .

Hey Everybody, Let's Salsa!

It finally cooled off yesterday, so we celebrated the perfect weather by going downtown for dinner and to enjoy the Friday Night Concert Iowa City has every week in the summertime. This time, the band was "Orquestra Alto Maiz", Spanish for the "Tall Corn Orchestra". A perfect choice for August in Iowa!

We went out with Boppy (yay!), Grandad, Uncle Steve, mommy, daddy, and Dr and Mrs Ganz (mommy's boss) and their daughter. The grown-ups wanted to have a long, lesiurely, wine-filled Italian dinner at Giovanni's, but I wanted to back outside and bask in the perfect weather and the incredible salsa music. So I complained and fussed everytime we sat down until mommy or daddy took me back outside for a walk around all the people and sights and smells and sounds. It seemed like they didn't mind so much!

The ped mall in downtwon was packed with people eating, dancing, and talking. There were lots of babies and kids playing. The Edwards and Obama campaigns had booths set up; Obama's booth featured face painting for the kids! Daddy said I was too little for face paint :(

I was absolutley fascinated by the Salsa music. I stared wide-eyed as daddy held me by the stage. So far, I have heard classical, rock, blues, and now Latin and I love it all!

Having Fun with Boppy

Check out the cool Mammoth t-shirt that Boppy and Grandad gave me! I haven't been to Mammoth yet, but daddy says I will get very used to going there. Boppy led the effort to remodel the condo we have there, and now it is beautiful. I can't wait to see it! Boppy is really good at taking care of me- I always smile when I see her! She has been taking me on walks in my Sophiemobile and on strolls in the garden. But she gets lost when she tries to drive around town, so we'll stick to walks for now!

I have gotten pretty good at sitting up with support (see photo) and I can roll fron front to back with regularity. My favorite hobby is to play on my toy matt while watching the ceiling fan and the wonderfull trees outside. I will play happily for a good 30 minutes until I am too tired and just drift off to sleep.

Speaking of sleeping, I can consistently sleep through the night now, typically 9pm to 5am. Mommy and daddy seem pretty happy about it!

Another Milestone

I can grab things! Here's the proof!

We had a very nice dinner with Boppy tonight at 126. That was the restaurant that I went to with Uncle Kevin, but I didn't tolerate sitting aroung that time. This time, I slept through dinner, curled up in my car seat and dreaming of wonderful milk. . . .

My Boppy is Here!

Boppy (Barbara) arrived on Sunday to take care of me for two weeks. She'll be joined by Uncle Steve and then Grandad next week. The house will be full of people that lavish attention on me! Sweet!

Since Boppy got here, mommy and daddy both went back to work (daddy was home last week). I really prefer to drink from mommy's breast, so I am trying to hold out on feeding during the day. The plan doesn't work out so good- I end up really hungry by late afternoon and I get really cranky. I will try to drink from the bottle more regularly, but I don't have to like it! At least the bath still calms me down. This picture is me in my robe after a wonderful session in the "Sophie Spa".

Boppy and I are playing every day and having a great time! My favorite activity is lying on my play mat and kicking the foot pad so that it plays a jaunty tune. Today, I actually reached for a toy hung in front of me and held it in my hands- I have never done that unaided before! Boppy also likes taking me for walks in the Sophiemobile. I had a blast watching her do pilates today. It made be giggle and laugh!

Uncle Steve in only 5 days!

Take Your Daughter to Work Day

Daddy is home with me all week this week. We're having fun playing with Skye and Nali, practicing tummy time and playing with my activity mat, and, of course, watching our wonderful trees. Today mommy and daddy both had to go to work, so they brought me along. Mommy was performing surgery (she is so talented- I hope I get her hands!) and daddy was running the residency conference.

I was very popular at the conference! All the residents kept wanting to hold me and fawn over me. It was great! With all that attention, I was very content to just hang out and look cool. I ate, I slept, I looked around and never even cried once. Everyone was so impressed with my regal behavior!

When I got home, I made up for my quiet demeanor and really let dad have it. He was being really boring and trying to take a nap but I insisted on continuing to play. I am getting much better about rolling. I can sometimes roll from front to back on my own! My sisters love watching me on the play mat (see right). They crawl to the edge and lay down, actively sniffing all the time. They're just fascinated with a little human doing all these cool things like kicking and pushing and rolling!

Tonight, at bedtime, I discovered a new favorite song. Daddy was feeding me my bedtime bottle, listening to '60's folk songs as usual, when a haunting voice emanated from the ipod. It began, "A long, long time ago, I can still remember how that music used to make me smile . . . " I turned to face dad, eyes wide and intent, mouth still clutched around the bottle (I never do that- I always look out when taking a bottle. I shocked daddy by turning and looking at him so deliberately!). The music continued with the most wonderful, rousing, enchanting melody I have ever heard. Daddy noticed my interest and sang along for me. It was so cool! Daddy says it was "American Pie" by Don Maclean and that the song has a significant connection to my home state of Iowa. Apparently, this crooner named Buddy Holly when down on a plane into a cornfield one winter long ago, along with two other great singers. It happened not too far from Clear Lake, Iowa, where daddy drove through on the way to RAGBRAI.

Anyway, the song was really great and is a close second to "City of New Orleans" for best Sophie music of all time. A late night breast feeding, a double feature of American Pie followed by City of New Orleans, and my sisters at my feet is the best way to fall asleep . . .