river rat

We almost named Peter TOM because we really liked the name, but also because it would be fun for a kid to grow up on the Mississippi River with that name- we think it would have been real funny now with his friend Finn... Anyhow, we live really close to the bridge that goes to WI, so Pete and Scout and I all loaded up in the jogger and leashed up and took our first journey by foot to a new state! Pete has been to WI before, but never by foot power. I think we got some funny looks as we were walking over to the beach. But we had so much fun, Scout swam and swam and swam and ran around like a crazy dog and Pete napped in the shade, put his feet in the water and watched Scout. We also saw a watersnake go swimming by. I was scared, but Pete and Scout weren't. Then Scout kicked some dirt in Pete's face, oops, and we got cleaned up, stopped crying and headed back home. All in all, a successful trip.

Pete and I posing for a picture, Scout wanted to be in it too!

Scout swimming with the bridge in the background.

Baby laundry...

is SO cute!!! One of my student's moms saw me hanging out diapers and she said it was hr favorite baby chore. I think so too they look so nice all lined up like that and they get so nice and white and fresh smelling from the sun. I also like the way all of Pete's little onesies and sleepers look all lined up. :)

SOOOO big

Big smiles in his car seat! He now makes faces and smiles responsively. I love it.

First, for those of you who are wondering, Garrick's grass is growing. You would think that with everything he's done to the house, grass wouldn't be a big deal, but he came running upstairs one

morning after the grass sprouted over night.

On Saturday, my school threw a baby shower for Pete and Chloe- one of my teammate's new baby- there was lots of games, food and everyone loved holding the two babies. Pete finally looked like a "big kid."

On Mother's Day, we went for a nice hike, went to church where we were asked if I went to the store and got a new baby this week, and went to the "dog party" (I had to take care of my other baby :) ) It was a real nice day. Pete got me a sprinkler, plant waterer (like they use at garden centers) and a nice bowl for our fruit that we always have out. I really thought a lot about a) how lucky I am to be a mom to a happy, healthy baby and that I am really blessed. and b) how much I am lucky to have such a great mom (and dad) myself. I didn't think that I could love her more until I had my own kid.

This is the dog park- it is the field behind the tech school- I think that there were 50 dogs there this week- CRAZY, there were St. Bernards and Great Danes and Scouts and there were also some little tiny rat terriers and chihuhuas (sp??). Fun fun fun.

Pete's Dad: the amish farmer

Peter loves the warm weather! We had a busy week- my mom came to visit and we had a fun day of hiking and playing with the babe and the dogs... I waitressed one night and pete and garrick bonded- they worked in the garage doing manly things... it is getting so warm and sunny out and we are spending more time outside which is so nice!... Peter is officially rolling over. Some days he doesn't do it, but some he will flip over again and again, he tilts his head and the rest of him follows... Garrick and I are biking and running quite a bit too- winona is great becuase there are multiple rides that can be met up with throughout the week!

Here he is by the tulips outside- He is scrunched up a little bit, but the flowers are real big.

So tired- it is hard work to be a baby!

Garrick and Mike (our nextdoor neighbor) decided that the grass between our driveways was no good. As a result they tore up all of the grass, tilled the packed dead dirt, planted grass seed and made a little path between our two houses! (The caution tape serves two purposes: 1. To keep me out of the mud, I have a hard time backing up sometimes... 2. To keep our neighbor Hunter who is a 6 year old biking wonder out of the mud...) This is a picture of Mike and Garrick with the 100 year old contraption that they used for this job. AMAZING

Here is Pete at 10-11 weeks with his bear. Refer to the March posts to compare growth- he may not be growing width wise, but is definetely growing lengthwise! As my mom would say- what a little munch! :) He used to be smaller than the bear, I'm waiting for the day that he is picking up the bear and eating it.

We also went up to the Twin Cities to see Pete's California cousin Benj who was visiting. Benjamin is 1 1/3 years old and runs all around, talks in his own language and is so fun to be around! We hung out at Grandma's house and went to the zoo. Add this is Pete's "can do" list: RIDING HORSES! We rode the big carousel just like a big kid! Bobby and Ben are in the background. He also was climbing trees in the conservatory- we snapped that picture real quick before he climbed down.

We have been spending lots of time outside planting flowers and plants in the gardens and I have been trying to finish painting the last side of the garage that I should have done 2 years ago... oopps. This is Pete and Scout's contribution to this process.