2003 - SUMMER

IT'S JULY...

I think the heat of summer arrived on the day of the summer solstice, June 21.  We had a rainy spring which meant it was also very cloudy.  And cool.  The good thing was that trees and flowers bloomed prolifically without human intervention.  The downside was that two days of sunshine(and therefore no rain) meant the blooming plants got a little snitty.  Leave to run errands in the morning, smiling at the garden color on your way out, and return to find those same plants wilted to a near lifeless green puddle.  So you grab the hose and give them a drink, hoping they'll revive in time to soak up the rain that you see approaching on the horizon. 

Brandon and Sophia are growing so fast.  Feed them, love them, bathe them and the days are as routine as they can be with little people.  Brandon spent a good part of July down at Nana and Pap's, playing in the pool and being spoiled. In return, he entertained them with his imagination.  Joined by cousins who had extended stays as well, Nana said that as visits grew longer, bed times became earlier and earlier, moving from a summer shut-eye time of 10:00 for the kids to 8:00 for everyone!

While Brandon socialized, Sophia stayed home and taught herself to climb stairs.  That little girl is headstrong.  Although the technique of descending stairs was demonstrated several times (belly down, feet first), she persists in going head first, thank you very much.  Doing the bear crawl, Sophia moves as fast on all fours as we adults do on two feet.

Sophia will actually hold her bottle now if someone else won't.  We've tried introducing the dripless sippy cup, but if she's thirsty, she lets us know to quit fooling around.  As for food, we know when she's full.  Rather than turn her head to refuse a bite, she blows raspberries, spraying orange or green blobs on whomever holds the spoon.  She's demonstrated interest in what the "real food" eaters are dining on and amuses us with her facial expressions as she feels texture and tastes flavor.  She likes green beans but regards peas as tiny orbs to be gleefully scattered from her tray.

Sophia has four teeth with a fifth nearly through.  She bites.  We know she understands some words, and she recognizes some of the sign language we've introduced.  When we sign "bottle," she grins.  We think she's saying "baba" (bottle) as well as dada and mama.  Of course that could also just be our own wishful thinking!

It's become a tradition every July to take Brandon (and now Sophia) to the island to take pictures in the blooming crown vetch.  With all the rain this year, we nearly missed our opportunity.  Of course, Brandon's still impatient with posing and our photo sessions interfered with Sophia's nap time.  However, we did get some pictures to continue the photo history.

MINI-REUNION

Brett came north in mid-July to compete in both International Cycling Classic's Superweek in Wisconsin and Wendy's Classic in Columbus, Ohio.  Dawn and I drove to Columbus with Sophia and Brandon to watch Thursday's and Friday's evening races.  Although he didn't finish the race Thursday, Brett was in the money on Friday.  Brandon was a sponge as he watched Brett prepare for the races, warming up on a trainer, a device that enables the rider to pedal against resistance without going anywhere.  Once back home, Brandon elevated the training wheels of his bike so that he could emulate Uncle Brett.  Within days, he requested that his training wheels be removed so he could race like Uncle Brett.

Racing like Uncle Brett

SEPTEMBER SONG...

We marked the end of summer with a trip to the zoo and now Brandon has begun preschool.   The first day was traumatic but eventually he settled in.  The second day was less troubling for him, but there may be a need for a larger refrigerator as artwork will be plentiful.

Sophia has eight teeth and is walking.  She still doesn't sign like Brandon did.  Her sign for "up" as  in get-me-out-of-this-highchair is to raise her arms over her head.  When she wants down, she uses the same motion to slide through her carrier's grip.  She is not a child of indecision nor is she easily distracted from gaining access to items dangerous to toddlers.

Copyright ©2003  Kitty Park