Girls Who Stare At Goats

Another hot, sunny day brought another trip to the zoo... this time we focused our visit on the children's Nature's Neighborhood. Nature's Neighborhood just opened up last year so it is almost brand new. We spent a lot of time petting the goats and learning their names: Keebler, Butter, Rascal and the rest of the gang. We caught them at the 'tail' end of their breakfast. Elise was sure to point out their water bowl as we've been learning not to touch the dogs' bowls at our own home! Smart cookie!




















We also scored with a view of the largest ant farm we have ever seen! Elise was in her glory waving at the leaf cutter ants scurrying through tubes between nests and eating areas. I couldn't stop wondering what would happen if the tube got a hole in it! Gross!













After petting guinea pigs and running around the tree house playground, we got to see the new polar bear cub, Siku. Siku was born in December and has been quite a hit with everyone. He's not always out so we were lucky to see him today. I felt bad for his mother since he seems like such a handful.

We finished the morning up with a picnic lunch in our stroller and promises to come back soon for more adventures with our beloved animals! P.S. We wonder if the hippos noticed Elise was wearing a hippopotamus shirt!

Slumber Party!

We had visitors this past weekend. My best friend Sarah, her husband Andrew and 14-month old daughter Riley came up to Toledo for a sleepover. The girls hadn't seen each other since their joint Baptism back in the fall. They played together as well as 1.5 year-olds really can. After a dinner out, we did submit them to a joint bath which will probably pop up again at their high school graduation parties-- sorry Elise and Riley! Sunday came with promises to not let that much time elapse before getting together again. We will have to visit the Malones next time in Columbus.










































Elise has also scored a vinyl five-foot tunnel from Target. She has discovered that it is a perfect place for reading books, playing Peek-a-Boo, or just burning off some energy! It has created a bit of fascination with the dogs- particularly Brutus. As Elise crawls through, it shakes and jiggles and Brutus is mesmerized and seems perplexed to see her pop out on the other side! I guess it is magic!

Elise had her 18-month well visit with her pediatrician just yesterday. Both Jeff and I (along with Monkey Man-- for moral support!) took her in for the big visit. Elise is now 22lbs (25%) and 31.5 inches long (almost 50%). Her head circumference is 17 3/4 inches (25%). I knew she was growing like a weed-- she grew 2 1/4 inches since her April visit! Overall, Elise is nice and healthy. Dr. Kennedy gave us some insight on our future developmental milestones (speech, walking up stairs, jumping, etc) before the nurse returned with our dreaded shots. Elise had 3 shots in total: Hep A, DTP, and Pneumococcal Conjugate. We cured her tears with a trip to Bob Evans where she devoured mashed potatoes and gravy first with her hands before switching to a spoon. It was a bit messy!

'Put Something In'

(first crayon picture completed alone on 6-27-10 at 17.5 months)


Put Something In- by Shel Silverstein
Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-grumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain't been there before.

Bricks and mortar make a house but the laughter of children makes a home.
-Irish saying

No More Physical Therapy!

Elise celebrated her second 4th of July with a visit from Uncle Kevin and Rachel who were in Toledo for a wedding. The visit was nice as they hadn't seen Elise since she learned to walk. Our little girl was in bed and fast asleep before any fireworks. Maybe next year we will try letting her stay up late for the festivities. By the way, I hope you enjoy Elise wearing a dress with tennis shoes-- she was adamant that she not wear sandals even though it was super hot!


















By far, the biggest news is that Elise was discharged from physical therapy at her last appointment!! We had known the day was coming yet it seemed surreal when Ann told us she was done with Elise. Rehab Dynamics has been such an important part in our lives that it empowers us to know that Elise is doing developmentally well! We can not thank our therapist enough for all her hard work and support that she has instilled upon us. We will return with Elise in January to complete an occupational therapy evaluation in order to make sure we are on track for school.... yes, we are already looking down that road! As Ann explained to me (don't mind my bragging!), Elise is 'smart as a whip and we wouldn't want anything to hold her back from learning'.




We have also been learning to eat with a fork. Notice her fork is really a forklift (thank you Balinskis)! It's so cute but we do resort back to our hands if the food isn't cooperating.



Enjoy the pictures below from the past week. Several of the pictures were taken last night when we played in the sprinklers.