Another busy week

Myla had another busy week of this learning stuff. Its amazing how much you have to learn as a little one! Monday, she got to go to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science with her little friend Hailey on the free day. Johnny said she LOVED it. They got there early before the crowds so Myla could get right up and see things. She had such a blast pointing at everything and almost jumping up and down. Her favorite were the animal dioramas, and Mr. Bones - the nice man that walks around with the foam dinosaur bone skeleton on his back.

Hailey doesn't have her feet under her quite like Myla does, so Myla made sure she got to see everything too.


On Friday, Myla got to go to gymnastics again with her A2. Aim said she was really into it this time, even went twice around the bars with Coach Dave. She tried to skip and go straight to the trampoline, but she did really good. She loves to tumble now, even using Johnny as jungle-gym sometimes. This week is Aim's "last" Friday before all the stuff around school starts up again. Thanks Aim for taking Myla!

Saturday, we hoped in Grandfather's van and trekked an hour into the mountains for a Witulski picnic. We got to see a lot of cousins and play in the dirt and on the swings. Myla's favorite part of the day by far was riding in Uncle Roger's 1918 Buick. She would laugh whenever we went over the bumps and she loved to hear all the sounds the car could make - whistles, aaa-ooo-gah! and sirens. She would run out when the car came back and sometimes would run after it when it left. She got to go three times and loved it more each one.

She looks so big lately (and is definitely asserting her independence), but we are having the best time! I think I might need a mental health day just so I get to play too!

And she's off!

Myla has been practicing her walking all week and now she rarely gets down to crawl. She loves to walk holding something - or two somethings - and taking it from one place to another. She has these two bouncy balls that she'll throw at the same time. Of course she can only chase one, but that doesn't diminish the fun! Occasionally she'll have her hands up in the air like when we would walk with her, but over all, she just goes. She has also discovered the beauty of digital cameras and loves to see the pictures you take of her. She knows that when that silver box comes out, you smile and get to see a baby on the back - she's no dummy.

Today, Myla and I went to Aim's pool to beat some of this heat. This time she was really into it. I would sit her up on the ledge and she would lean/jump off of it into my arms and laugh and smile. She would kick her little legs or splash me and Aim. I think I messed her up though. I let her stand on the step in the pool and play and then tonight, when we got in the bath, she stood the whole time. Do you know how hard it is to wash a baby when they are standing? Ugh. But she got clean, and that has to count for something.

We are also very excited about the newest addition to the Washburn family, debuting on 7/7 (lucky kid). Laphi Kingston was born to Kirsty and Tony healthy and strong. We can't wait to meet him!

Independence Day!

It rained...... Not the whole day and not a severe thunderstorm like we've experienced lately, but it was raining. There we sat on the outer rim of the wet, grassy bowl facing an outdoor stage with Myla in her stroller, me sitting next to her holding an umbrella for her in one hand with one for myself in the other, next to Kara who was sitting under Kathi's umbrella. Luckily there was a break so we could eat our sandwiches and chips awaiting the concert to begin. Myla must have walked us around the park several times over the course of the evening in her little cupcake sandals that didn't keep her feet dry at all. (bad planning on our part) But soon she was in her jammies and sweater covered in a blankie watching fireworks that seemed almost within reach.

We listened to this a-capella band called the Nylons. They're Canadians.... They put on a good show and were even kinda funny between songs while they caught their breath, it's the elevation. But Myla was the most fun to watch with her stumbling all over the grass, gazing at the other kids throwing a football and running around. She was the smallest of the kids out there. But when those fireworks went off with all their thunderings and claps and flashes Myla nearly lept off our laps in excitement, pointing and ooohing... She was so much fun to watch and hear her enjoyment.

Our little girl is growing up. She walks by herself like a drunkard and says things like "I did it!" and "I got it!" in her little toddler voice that's just so darling. Soon she'll be 16 and spending the summer in Omaha at Grammy and G-Daddy's.... J/K. We look forward to everyday that we can spend with her and see what she learns and find the magic in little things again.

A long weekend

Myla's wonderful babysitter took a well deserved vacation this week to Chicago. For the first part of the week, Myla got to spend some time with her Grandfather Witulski. But why should he get to have all the fun? So, I took off Friday and Monday to have some fun of our own.

Friday, Myla and I went to gymnastics and had a ball. She knew just what to do and had lots of kids to watch. She laughed and ran! Then, we were able to go pick up a small climber from our cousins while they wait for their next little climber to come. Its the perfect size for Myla, and it has a door, which she loves to open and close. Up one platform is a little slide that she sits and thinks on for a bit (you know, solve the problems of the world) and then whoosh! She thinks its great. And when she stands on that platform, she can watch the dog chase squirrels which is also pretty great. Also on Friday, my mom, sister and I gave Myla the proper introduction to shopping - factory stores! They were having some really good sales and I think all four girls came home with at least three outfits.

Today, Johnny and I broke out the bike and trailer and rode over to Aimee's house for some swimming. Myla did pretty well in it, only leaning over 3/4 of the time the way there, until we got smart and put our towels next to her to help prop her up. We took her further into the pool and played some little games with her to keep her from wanting to get out, and for the most part it worked. She had so much fun that she napped the entire trip back, paying no mind to her parents huffing and puffing up the hills.

One more long weekend coming up - this one with her first real fireworks and a concert to celebrate. She is so happy, just learning and walking her parents through the house - even though we've seen it and she can do it herself. Don't say it too loud, but I love these times.

Look Ma! No hands!

Guess we've moved on from the grass...

And yes, I know that the movie is the wrong way - that's what I get for trying to shoot vertical.

A whole new world

Myla has jumped into summer with both feet. She has done gymnastics the last two weeks with her A2, and then gone swimming. Apparently, she's pretty good at the balance beam and the somersaults. She's not to sure about the pool thing, but today she got to splash a little while standing on the step. We got her a great tube that she can sit in, but she doesn't seem to like it much. Maybe next week. And somehow she lets Aimee do her hair. Today we came to pick her up and she had the ponytail again. I don't know how Aim gets her to sit for it, she won't for me.

Myla is so close to walking its not even funny. Really, she can walk, as long as its on the grass. (I think she doesn't like to crawl on it.) Last night, we went to a concert in the park where there was a fountain the kids were playing in. She wanted to go so bad that she walked all the way across the park following me over to the fountain. She would take a few steps and then fall, but she'd get right back up. It won't be long now.

All this learning and growing makes a girl tired. She loves to go on walks and wave at puppies, or birds, or trees. She's been kind of spoiled lately since John got a hold-over job. She gets to spend more time with him. But the hours are NOT fun. He's still looking. I am just cruising along, watching my girl grow and hoping that I capture most of it on film.

Random moments of cute

Myla loves those Italians. Spaghetti, pizza, pepperoni, you name it, she eats it with gusto! One night, Johnny made a rigatoni dish that she liked so much, she was licking her bowl once it was gone. It was everywhere! We took her straight from her highchair to the bath because there was no other way to get her clean.

Today, Myla and I went outside for a walk. She became enthralled with the rocks we have in the middle of the drive way. (Now, picture this in your mind's eye because I couldn't run in to grab the camera.) She had on this cute little overall jumper and I showed her that she had pockets that would hold some of those rocks. That was the coolest! So she sat down and started putting rocks in her pockets. Except she couldn't find the real pockets, so they ended up in the bib of her overalls. And when she couldn't fit anymore there, they went up the legs of her overalls. She stood up to walk to the front door, leaving a trail of rocks as they fell through.

For my mom's birthday, she became the keeper of the Moser family kids rocking chair. She used to sit in it as a kid and rock next to her grandma. And its the perfect size for Myla. When she sat in it the first time, she didn't want to get out, instead pointing at a toy and saying please. And this rocking chair really rocks. It was awesome! And oh so cute!