Busy week

We have been swamped the past week trying to get our house in order for a house warming party this Saturday. We had promised ourselves when we started our house hunt that we would have one and are actually going to follow through. The menu is (mostly) set and some prep work has started, things are relatively clean and hidden away. Hopefully the floors don't give way.

And Mabel wore a cute monkey hat:

Stand Up!

Today Mabel stood on her own for the first time!!!

We were at our mom's group. I was sitting on the ground and M was standing, holding herself up on my bent knee. I was telling a story and, as usual, M wanted to be the center of attention so she let go and just stood there. We all freaked out and started clapping. M plopped to the ground and started clapping too. I almost cried I was so excited.

Seems like walking is really on its way!

Camping: Colonial Creek

We took Mabel out for two nights of car camping in the North Cascades. Everyone had a great time. We met some friends for their last night out and some others joined us for our two. Perfect weather, nice day hike, and some happy babies.

After our day hike:


Car camping allows for a pack'n'play, entertainment not included:


Monster marshmallows:

91 days of water

Shortly after moving into the new house we put a whole house water filter in. That filter had been in for 91 days:


And the replaced filter:


Yuck. Thank you GE for the filter and to Kate's dad for helping to install it.

It climbs

Yard time

Everybody goes outside.

First ice cream

Balsamic Strawberry, just like every baby's first ice cream:

Happy 4th of July

So what all is new with us...

Mabel is weened. We're looking forward to her first birthday and the intro of whole milk so we can stop with formula. Kate is sad and I'm going to quit my job and make my fortune selling formula.

"Words" keep popping up: dog, book, bus,
We've also gotten dada, mom, mama, but never in context so we don't count.

No solo steps yet although we've been close.

An ear infection threw a wrench into our pleasant baby early last week and it wasn't until Thursday that antibiotics came to the rescue. She is feeling/sleeping/eating much better now.

Hoping Mabel takes after Kate and sleeps through the fireworks while I try and keep Mak from freaking out all night.