13 months

This weekend we decided to go camping. With J.Tom gone so much this month, we decided we needed some major family time with no work, no laundry- just play time outside!

Friday night we got our pop-up camper all folded out, cleaned, and loaded down with all our stuff. We love pop-up things – it just makes setting up so easy! I always say to people that one of the first things you should buy in preparation for a trip is a camping instant tent. There is absolutely no fun in spending hours trying to build a tent! It was about 8pm and everything was packed and ready to go. Saturday we headed for Dover, Arkansas to the Long pool Campgrounds. When we arrived we started unpacking all our things, fed the baby, and went to visit some friends we were meeting there. Lexie had the BIGGEST time ever! She LOVED playing in the dirt, throwing the rocks and running around ~~like a crazy person~~ exploring everything. She teased Scarlet, staying just out of her reach, the whole time. She played with leaves, learned about camp fires, and got to ride in the wagon with her friend Reid.

It’s a good thing she was wearing her overalls Saturday, because let me tell you- they were much needed! With all the falling, running, and ~~playing~~ sitting in mud that Lexie did, she definitely needed those overalls! She also needed some boots, but we didn’t have any of those… she wore her BRAN SPANKING NEW WHITE stride rite walkers ~~I spent a gajillion dollars on~~ that are so comfy on her fat baby feet. Yes, it was time for new shoes; our Lou bug is in a 5.5 wide now. 14 months old. Whew.

Anyhow, so Lexie had a big time. If she fell down, or grabbed hands full of mud, dirt, and rocks, she just dusted them off and kept on going. She’s definitely going to be her Mama and Daddy’s outdoor girl! (YAY!!!) Since we have been home, she goes to the front door and says “out out,” wanting to go play outside. She has discovered the grass and also mastered the steps (of course I’m all over that one, just in case, but she can do it on her own). She did really well at the camp grounds on the little steps up and down from the paved slabs to the gravel areas. She also knew how to sit on her “booty” on the stone wall (which wasn’t much of a wall). I think her favorite part was definitely playing in the mud and dirt. Next time we are going to have to go away for longer! My friend recommended going onto https://www.dreamlandtours.net/ and seeing what camping and hiking adventures we could go on!

dirt on my booty

dusting off the dirt

“I gotta leaf, I gotta leaf …”

“booty”

playing in the dirt

Lexie and Reid

Just chillin’

TOYS!

I NEED one of these!

Never holds still!

wiping my face and nose

Dear Lexie,

Today was one of the best days we have had in a while, although I didn’t get to see you all morning. I was cleaning a ~~(very icky, previously cat infested condo, all because I love you and want to be home with you most days….)~~ condo on the lake. I was there for nearly 6 hours and didn’t get to pick you up until 4:00, but I made it home for a hot shower first, so you wouldn’t have to come in direct contact with the ickiness that is my part time job.

When we got home we played with the new Little People Farm your Daddy and I got you last week; when I saw it I knew you had to have it! (and I am not a big toy buyer …) You love your farm! We put all the animals in the silo, took them out, put them in all the correct stalls, took them out, put them all in the hay loft, took them out … well, you get the point. You really enjoyed playing with your farm. (oh and yesterday you learned how to open the silo door, finally!) Then we laid on the floor and tickled and played, rolled around, and dug toys out from under the couch. What fun! There was no whining or tantrum-throwing. You asked for “help please” when you needed it and had fun the rest of the time.

Then, at 6:00 you ate dinner after we said the blessing … which you are still not enjoying very much. Patience, dear, patience. After your bath we played peekaboo and sang your favorite songs, of which you know all the words, while I got you ready for bed. For the first night in weeks you didn’t whine or fuss about getting ready for bed. When I picked you up, you placed your head on my shoulder and I held you for a few minutes before I gave you your bottle. While you drank your milk, I say “Jesus Loves Me.” Then I just held you and we rocked for a minute.

Lexie, I cried the whole time we rocked. I am not ready for you to grow up. I am not ready for you to be a big girl, and you are already so big in so many ways. So much more grown up than the other 13 month olds in your class at school. You’re so smart and sometimes it worries me. How many 13 month olds can do the words and motions to “Wheels on the Bus” or ” Old MacDonald”, point out the shapes of a circle (and the newest one) a star? You know the name of pracitcally every object in our house and can tell me when you need you diaper changed. Lexie, you are only 13.5 months old. Mommy is finding it hard to keep up with you, to keep you from getting bored. Is that how it will always be? Because you will get bored in school, and church … and every where that is not stimulating enough for your VERY fast moving big little brain. I am so thankful that you are so healthy and happy, smart and independent. But please slow down. You have the rest of your life to grow up. I don’t want to lose my snuggly, loving baby girl so soon.

“Up, please Mama. Up, Please.”

Tomorrow morning I think we may go to the library, for your first visit. We won’t get to do the “baby steps” time, because it is during your nap, but I want to take you somewhere fun to play, with other kids. Lexie, your daddy and I only want the very best for you. We want you to be the happiest, healthiest girl you can be. Sometimes that will be hard for everyone, including you. Sometimes you will not understand our decisions, and while most times I will try to explain them to you, there will be many times that I cannot. Sometimes we just know and cannot explain it to you. And while I know you enjoy learning and growing and I am SO proud of you, ( Oh my, I was SO proud of you yesterday when you finally opened that silo; I was more excited than you!), I want you to slow down, stay my baby for just a while longer.