my daughter, the ham.

Lorelei was enjoying piling clothes on her head this morning, and once I put a pair of pants on her head like a hat and put her in front of the mirror, she couldn't get enough of herself.

...we all scream for ice cream!

We took Lorelei out for her second ice cream shop visit to Grandma Sara's favorite place!

inside, outside.

Hanging out with Grandma Sara inside:

(trying on shoes together!)

 Playing with Grandma Sara outside:

(the elephant slide is a brand-new [to us] garage sale find. Thanks, Grandma Sara!)

park day with Grandma Sara

Grandma Sara came to visit! We went to the park for some fun in the sun. First up: riding on the pelican! 

Grandma Sara helped me to climb up the steps and walk all around -- and then showed me how to climb through a tunnel!

Going down the slide -- whee!

Daddy and Grandma Sara pushed me on the swings while Mama took some pictures.

 And just as we were leaving, I met some fun new friends who were there for a picnic lunch! Josh, the 2 1/2 year old, was my favorite and I spent a lot of time grabbing him to say hello.

14 months old.

Today I am 14 months old!

I am starting to get pretty good at walking. I will take 8-10 steps on my own -- sometimes more if I'm holding onto a toy for security. I still mostly get around by crawling, but I'm well on my way to being a true toddler!

And just like a toddler, I am getting pretty insistent on having my way -- especially when it comes to reading my favorite books over and over and over again!

I've had a great appetite lately -- mom thinks I'm about to have a growth spurt. Everyone says I seem very tall for my age when they meet me, and I tower over other kids who are my same age. Maybe basketball or volleyball are in my future? I certainly like to be active -- especially jumping onto pillows, stretching on my yoga mat, dancing to my favorite songs, and bouncing on the bed.

When I'm eating, I like to have certain things in front of me if they're on the table -- the mustard with the girl on the label and the milk with the cow on it, for example. Mama says she used to do the same thing!

I am starting to talk a lot more. I babble all the time, still make all my animal noises, and I also say "dada" when asked, "mama" even when not asked, and "ca-ca" when I see a car driving by. Sometimes I say other things that sound like words, too, but my parents are a lot less willing to believe they are real words than my grandmas are! I am learning how to communicate in other ways, too -- I sign "please" all the time (what a polite baby I am!) and stick out my tongue to mean "bath."

Just like my mama, I love to try on shoes -- mine, yours, any that I can find.

I love to laugh. I have little inside jokes with my parents and my friends and I like to do them over and over again to make them giggle -- like making moose antlers when someone says "moose on the loose" and making funny faces. If I hear other people laughing, it's pretty likely that I'll join right in even if I don't get what's so funny!

I am so happy most of the time. I give hugs even when I'm not asked and I love to snuggle up with my parents, my grandmas, and other people I know and love. I also give a great smile when I'm asked -- see the evidence below!

mid-July pictures (we've been busy!)

Pics from the rehearsal before Ross and Meredith's wedding -- Lorelei was pretty freaked out by the experience but rallied a bit when Jason played with her. These are the only pictures of Lorelei I managed to take during the wedding events, so here's hoping we get our hands on some other ones soon!

Dinner at the Village Tap in Roscoe Village -- on top of ol' Lorelei, all covered with cheese... 

(we ate there twice and the wait staff thought she was pretty hilarious)

First tastes of corn on the cob! (grilled with smoked paprika -- mm mmm good)

Nothing better than splashing in the pool on a hot summer day. 

I don't know what story they're reading, but it must be pretty great.

up, down, and all around.

We've had a busy few weeks with a big Chicago wedding + all the family and friends time that goes along with those kinds of celebrations, so I'm behind on sorting through pictures and getting anything posted. To tide you over, here's a video of Lorelei: at the moment, she's very into jumping into piles of pillows or blankets (especially on our bed!). At the end, you'll hear her talking a little bit, too.

smoothie love.

a few recent activities.

Playing with rice (note to Mom: do this outside next time -- or on something bigger than a garbage bag)

Aren't chubby baby fingers just so cute?

And a video of Lorelei "swimming" in the bath. I am having FlipCamera issues so this is unedited -- sorry!

the 4th of July, as celebrated on the surface of the sun.

Well, it certainly felt like it, anyway.

Despite the heat index of 114 (I am not kidding), we were out and about at two different parties on Independence Day this year -- a birthday party for a 3-year-old friend, Nzinzi, and a get-together hosted by one of the organizers of the Crunchy Moms group. I ended up having to pour a bottle of water over Lorelei's head at the first party because I was worried she might get heatstroke, and she spent 90% of the time at the second party in her swimsuit climbing in and out of the kiddie pool while Jason and I monitored her, dripping on the sidelines in the sweltering afternoon temps.

Play with the other kids at the party? Can't you see I'm busy with this chair that looks like a fox?

We look unbelievably sweaty and tired, Lorelei doesn't have on pants, I look like I got so hot that I decided to go nude -- Happy birthday, America!

baby yoga.

Jason has been doing a lot of stretching because of a recurring back problem -- Lorelei has been getting in on the action!