Indiana State Fair

So it's the first week of the State Fair and Phoebe and I have already been twice! The Wallis family just can't get enough of farm animals and tractor pulls! We went as a family last night since admission was free and Phoebe became a quick fan of any and everything Fair! I've never seen her wave at so many strangers before!

They had a small petting zoo where we could buy food to give the animals. We weren't going to feed them but after we saw the death grip Phoebe was giving the goats, we thought it only fair to let them eat a bit extra!

This morning we were getting ready to head BACK to the Fair with YiaYia while Ryan went to work and this is where I found Phoebe. Pita is still with us but not moving much. Phoebe has quite the bond with our dogs even if they can't reciprocate.

We got to the Fair before 10:00 this morning while it was still bearable outside. We got to do all kinds of fun things that we've never done at the fair before! YiaYia suggested we start in Pioneer Village and they had this cute little area where kids wore aprons and got baskets and then got to pick up eggs, feed livestock, garden, pick apples, shear sheep, milk cows and ride tractors. Then they got to turn in their wares for cash and buy something at the store. Phoebe made out with a box of Apple Jacks. We haven't tried them yet, but I'm sure they'll be a big hit!

We also got to see the world's largest boars, baby pigs, all kinds of donkeys and sheep. If you've spent any time with Phoebe at all, you know she loves her animals. She was quite enthralled! And we didn't mention anything to the pigs about our delicious lunch in the Pork Tent!

Before we made the loop on the tractor train on our way out, we stopped at the Dept. of Natural Resources building to check out the fish and ALL the water. She was mostly dry by the time we boarded the train and well on her way to a much needed nap!

Thanks for hanging out with us all day, YiaYia! We had a great time at the State Fair - and if Ryan has anything to say about it, I'm sure we'll be back next weekend! Tomorrow we're off to Princeton so another post will follow soon.

Not much...

Not much to post about but pre-season football is on NBC tonight so I might as well do something! Ryan had a successful week in Terre Haute snagging some cool autographs from new and old Colts players. Phoebe is mimicking a lot of what we do lately and very interested in repeating sounds. Here she is looking just like Daddy sitting in the big chair just surfing the net.


Friday Phoebe and I headed to my friend Amanda's house and took advantage of her neighborhood pool after lunch. Phoebe hadn't been in a pool since last Labor Day when we were down in Georgia. I wasn't quite sure how she'd take to the water, but the girl has NO fear. She was running around the pool and I was grateful to have a fast swimmer for a friend!



We did a little house shopping this weekend and toured some model homes. We also did a bit of shopping shoppin. I know we don't officially have school to go out and buy for, but fall is around the corner, so with discount offers in hand, we hit the outlet mall Saturday. Phoebe made out like a bandit. Ryan didn't do so bad himself...and all from a store he swore he'd never buy anything from.


We also hit the Colts Pro Shop on the way home today. It's in the Lucas Oil Stadium downtown right near a train track. Phoebe just kept waving to the train going by. She's a very friendly child - lately she's even been waving and saying hi to semi-trucks as we pass them on the highway.

It looks like we're going to get our summer weather all in August this year - right in time for the Indiana State Fair. Anyone who knows the Wallis family knows we love the fair so the 90 degree weather won't keep us away! We're going to try and fit in one visit before we head down to Princeton for the coming weekend. Great Grandma Maralu and Papa both have birthdays mid-August so everyone is coming to town to celebrate. We can't wait to see everyone!

Where did summer go?

It's been another couple of weeks so here's the latest on the goings on in the Wallis' house. I survived my wisdom teeth extraction - barely. Friday was the best day - Ryan and I even went and saw movie that night since Phoebe was hanging out at YiaYia and Papou's. It all went down hill after Sunday but I won't bore you with the details. Let's just say Hydrocodone and Aleve are STILL my best friends... Phoebe had a blast and got into all kinds of fun while away from us. They brought the wagon inside and the girl entertained herself!


Yia Yia and Auntie Kate took Phoebe to the park and enjoyed the lovely weather we've been having.


Saturday, since I was still feeling good, we ran errands and then took Auntie Kate with us to Traders Point Creamery. How can you say no to ice cream!? They also have animals in their barn (which we discovered you could only see at $4 a pop, so we just looked at the pretty flowers outside instead). Here's a girl after my own heart...










Phoebe is VERY much into giving high fives.



We came over this past Friday after our morning walk and hung out with the family as they were preparing for Katie's trek to Pennsylvania. We got there only to find out Katie's Explorer had practically bit the dust and she was suddenly in the market for a new vehicle. Talk about "real world" happening all at once!

Phoebe opted to hang out in the swing and Papou just pulled up a chair and pushed her to her heart's content.



Here's Phoebe trying out Auntie Kate's new 2006 Honda Accord on Saturday. Nice ride, sis!


We also helped move all of Auntie Kate's stuff out of Uncle Steve's garage - one more step closer to getting his house market-ready! Phoebe got to strut her stuff with Uncle Steve before he headed back to Chicago. The girl has an ear for music and a gift for rhythm she must have inherited from her Auntie Kate!


Did I mention she loves her swing at YiaYia and Papou's???


In fact, she likes ANY swing!

We have Pita on a new experimental drug that the vet said should take at least a week to work if it will provide us with ANY progress. We'll keep you posted, but things aren't looking to improve. Ryan is headed to lovely Terre Haute this week to cheer on the Indianapolis Colts as they begin training camp. Mom, Dad and Auntie Kate head off for Messiah College in Pennsylvania to get her all settled as she begins her first official "adult" job. It's hard to believe school is getting ready to start already! We'll miss you Auntie Kate! Thanks for taking SUCH great care of Phoebe - she won't forget you (no matter what Ryan says!).

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!

Busy busy busy!

We had another full weekend that left us (almost) ready for Monday! We started the weekend with a package from Nana - a new stool! Phoebe had discovered the stool Mom made for me when I turned one. Not sure it's as safe now as it was back then...so we were in the market for a new stool and Nana had this one on hand. Phoebe loves it, picks it up and carries it around. She is SO full of adventure!

Friday we took our weekly walk with Amanda but it was so darn hot, we called it quits early and instead of heading to the zoo with Auntie Kate, we opted for the Children's Museum instead. AND we're now proud members, much to Ryan's chagrin! It's amazing how much comes back to you from your own childhood once you get there.

We came the day before the King Tut exhibit opened so we'll have to go back and take Daddy. We were there less than 3 hours and it about did our little girl in.

Saturday we got up and headed to YiaYia and Papou's to redeem a "Work Day" that we'd given for Mother's Day. Auntie Kate and Uncle Steve were there too - it was a long, hot day and I didn't even get pictures of the finished product, but the back and front yards both look lovely and if we never see mulch again, it'll be too soon! Phoebe, on the other hand, would be content to have a work day every weekend! She got to play in the pool, play in the mud, hang out with YiaYia and eat whatever Papou put on the grill. Now that's a day that's hard to beat!

We ended the day belatedly celebrating Father's Day for my dad. Phoebe stole the show by getting on the table and proceeding to mimick everything Uncle Steve did. Sunday we went stroller shopping after church. It's amazing how you think you need a stroller for every kind of occasion. We opted for a nice umbrella stroller that should see her through the next 25 lbs. so next on our list will be the car seat. Unfortunately, that's a much more expensive purchase! And we're watching our $$ these days. The blood work came back for Pita and they insist on doing a joint tap procedure before going any further with ANY medication. Unfortunately, the next procedure costs $700 and there aren't any guarantees that this procedure will lead the doctors to a better conclusion of what's ailing little Pita. We are so conflicted on where to go from here. At what point do you stop investing into your pet? Any wisdom from our fellow dog lovers would be much appreciated!


Well, I'm off to go spend some quiet time with my husband before we call it a day - I just wanted to get up the photos from the weekend. We're not sure what to do for the long weekend, but we're excited for it all the same!