Quick Post

So, I don't actually have any pictures from this month (except for Carly's visit). I guess that means I'm slacking. Pretty bad, but sometimes life just happens. I will have to take a few pictures before the month gets away though.

I pulled a few pics for you from the beginning of July. Here she is loving her (mommy's) smoothie. She sure does enjoy the smoothies I make on the weekends (because that is when she gets to have some of it). I do not put her in the Bumbo anymore, it seems that the high chair is much easier to deal with these days (she can't move that around like she can the Bumbo on the counter) and it leaves the counter space for things like our plates and the food.

And I just love this shot of her walking off exploring on her own. Not quite sure why but I think this picture is very cool.

As for an actual update, huh... Well, her "L" tooth (refer to chart) is starting to come in and the "I" tooth is in for those in limbo. Her hair is coming in thicker these days. She loves the outdoors. She loves to feed Max (and I've kind of let this be one of her daily chores before dinner - I feed Max before work during the week, so she only gets to do morning feedings on the weekends). She is a helper when it comes to laundry (not the folding so much, but putting clothes in hampers or the washer and dryer). She knows where to put something when you tell her it is trash. She will clean up and put her toys away, especially if it means doing something else she wants to do (like eating or going to bed or feeding Max).

Other stuff... I'm 12 to 13 weeks now and I have an appointment tomorrow. Everything looks normal and it is confirmed to be a real baby growing in me. Nothing new other than that. I've been trying to bake a few things recently too. I've made strawberry bread (think banana bread, but with sliced strawberries) and I've made some darn good bran muffins. I also tried my hand at making tomato soup. Not bad, the last time I tried it was horrible. (Yes, I have begun to eat tomato soup, sometimes, and I still do not eat other soups.)

Boating

So, my dad had gotten this boat from somewhere, last year I think, for free (pretty sure it was free). It had a few problems and was not titled or register or something to that effect. Anyway, he had to put a little elbow grease getting it running and time into getting it register and "legal" (or whatever that means - Dave could explain a lot better than me because he actually knows).

So, for whatever reason, Dad and Becky have decided to sell the boat. Dave, his brother Andy, and his brother-in-law Ritchie have decided that they would like to go in together to buy the boat.

You see, I do not think Dad and Becky have used it as much as they would like to "justify" keeping it (along with maintaining it for the little bit of use). I also do not think that any of us will be able to use this boat to "justify" owning it out right individually, hence the reason (I think) the boys would like to go in together to own it.

So, Dave wanted to know how Julia would react to being on the boat. And on a spur of the moment on a Saturday, when we had a million and one other things that "had" to be done, Dave decided we should go boating. And, luckily, Dad and Becky had time to take us out. We had to run to Walmart to get a life vest for Julia. She was not fond of it or wearing her hat.

Later we went back to Dad and Becky's and swam in the pool. Julia did more playing on the side of the pool with the bucket and toys, but very much enjoyed herself. Dave also did some maintenance on one of the company vans there also. (This was a few weekends ago.)

Distance Relatives

So, here are some relatives who live, generally, quite a distance from us, and we don't get to see on a regular basis.

First up are some Florida folks. Julia got to meet her Papaw finally, in June, just before her first birthday! She also met a few of her aunts (Aunt Donna is in the picture below) and uncles at that time too (since they were all up in Maryland for my dad's party).

Aren't they just an adorable pair?

That same weekend, we got to meet Tristan John, (my little cousin) Tiffany's new little baby. He was born in December (and I can't remember what day right now).

And here are the Lee girls (and Tristan) with Maw Maw. Four generations together.

And the weekend of Father's Day (and Julia's birthday) Great Granddad was up from Florida taking some vacation time off from work.

And here's the whole family with Great Granddad.

And Ashley (one of my other little Lee cousins - she was pregnant in the June picture) came by this past weekend to introduce the newest family member Carly Nicole, born July 6th, to Maw Maw and me.

And Julia was a little jealous, but overall very much enjoyed the new baby. (She even trying to roll on top of her, but she was really just trying to snuggle up against her.)

And Julia wanted Carly to sit in a chair, just like her (so we had to prop Carly with the blanket).

And that is it for now. Julia is just getting bigger these days. She walks everywhere and she's pretty quick. She enjoys her reading book and cards, but more on that later.