15 Months and counting...

Sorry it's been awhile since our last post - not much to report - we're still teething and still waiting on Pita to improve - she's been coming to the table whenever we eat which we thought was definitely a step in the right direction, but I fear she's not going to get any better. Yesterday she walked down our two front porch steps and fell on the bottom one and then didn't move and just started shaking. It could be that she had just been traumatized by Phoebe "loving" on her, but we've tried to protect her from Phoebe's rough hugs and tugs. Then today, she's thrown up the last two times she's eaten - I know we keep asking for prayers but our poor little girl just doesn't seem to be getting better.

On Friday, Phoebe had her 15 month check up - hard to believe, huh? She weighed in at 20 lbs. 12 oz. (30th percentile) and measured 30.5 inches long (60th percentile). Everything looked good but then our pediatrician asked if our house was older than 1975 and when we said it was, he said she'd need to be tested for lead. So, we ran to the lab next door and poor thing, had each arm poked and pricked before they finally suggested that we try really hydrating her and come back another day. She was a screaming, tearful mess by the time it was done, and I was pretty much in the same boat. We tried milk, watered down pear juice and then finally gave her straight cherry juice Saturday morning and by 11:30, they drew blood on their first attempt. We'll find out the results later this week and hope and pray we're in the clear.

It amazes me how little girls often become fascinated with girly things, even when we've kept things pretty neutral in our house. We were at YiaYia and Papou's and she just loved playing with the sparkly necklaces. Note Uncle Steve in the background...





We also found out that Uncle Steve accepted a job offer with a new company and started today. Unfortunately, this new job is in Chicago. Luckily for us, he has a townhouse in Broad Ripple to sell so we'll be seeing a bit more of him before his move is permanent. We all met at his house after church on Sunday for lunch. It seems like Uncle Steve's dusting techniques just might secure his bachelorhood...

It was also our first attempt at a ponytail. She won't sit still long enough to get pigtails or even a fun on-top do so I bought some mini-clips to see if I could sneak a fast one in on her. I think Auntie Kate finally nabbed most of her hair for a brief minute before she grabbed it out. She looks like such a big girl!

For those of you in the midwest, you know what unseasonably cool weather we've been having. We had a birthday party at a water park on Sunday and unfortunately, had to settle for watching the water. I can't believe our little girl can eat pizza and drink a capri sun - it just doesn't seem possible. (Does that make us bad parents?!)


And just because it was a mere 68 degrees outside didn't mean she didn't try to play IN the water!

Because she's past 30 inches now, we're definitely in the market for a convertible car seat. As Ryan would say, just one more excuse I didn't need to go shopping! Woohoo! And she's finally outgrown her baby bath towels so here's her first after-bath photo with her newest towel.

On a side note, I'm scheduled to have all four wisdom teeth out this coming Friday morning. Ryan understands if he posts any embarrassing videos of me while under the influence, he'll be in big trouble! The few people in my family who've had them removed have all had poor experiences so I'm trying not to think about it. Between Phoebe getting teeth and me having them removed, we praise the Lord for painkillers!

Happy 4th of July!

I think we love long weekends at the Wallis' house! We'd love them even more if the weather would cooperate when they come! Unfortunately, most of Indiana was in the 60s and had rain ALL day long on Saturday. So what's a family to do with a 14 1/2 month old?! We put our newly purchased membership to the Children's Museum to work! Phoebe has for the last week, been waking up between 5:45 and 6:30 a.m. - we're hoping the 7:30-8:30 routine returns soon - but on Saturday, it allowed us to get an early start and beat the crowd to the museum! She returned to the costumes and the mower right off the bat.



I think she's acting out her mealtime experience...luckily for us, it's starting to pay off at home. All of a sudden you give her peas or green beans and she eats them. I stand amazed that our picky eater is slowly branching out and making friends in the process...

And added bonus for Ryan - it was Star Wars day at the museum.

And since I didn't fare so well on the carousel last time, Ryan had the honors. I think this time around, Phoebe enjoyed dancing to the music more than the ride itself.

We also hit Holliday Park with Auntie Kate this weekend when the weather was nicer.


Couldn't you just eat her up?

We all took turns going down the big kids' slides with her. She is absolutely fearless and would go by herself if I wasn't traumatized from when I was a child and fell off the top of one.

We also took a short hike so Daddy could see the water. If only we'd parked closer, he'd have grabbed his fishing pole out of the back of his car! Phoebe has definitely taken after him in her love for the water!

YiaYia left for Camp Challenge in Bedford, Indiana on Sunday and Auntie Kate left for a work camp at Camp Challenge in Alaska today. We miss them both already! I had to include this video and apologize now for the singing - I know y'all think I'm the next American Idol but I've got a good thing going at work so I'm going to have to deny my inner Kelly Clarkson or Clay Aiken...ugh, you'll get the picture soon enough. Either way, she's got the song down we just opted not to post the long version!

And, on a side note, Pita is still with us. The vet opted to try Tetracycline but she's been on it since Friday and we've seen little improvement. We'll be chatting with the vet once more tomorrow to discuss our options and then do what's best for her. We appreciate all your prayers!