Time Flies or Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Hangin' out with Daddy i.e. Ben plays with  Linnaea like a puppet.

 I'm feeling nostalgic and Linnaea is not even three months yet! I am excited to see her grow and change but I don't want her to get older either because I am enjoying her babyhood so darn much. I just put away her 0-3 month clothes and got out the 3-6 monthers. I had to make myself do it even though I didn't want to. I realized that there was no real point to squeezing her into things that barely fit, even if she had only worn them once before. That's what I get for having a baby in the 95% for weight and height. My parents think we should start looking into volley ball scholarships now.

I can sit up now...with some help.

Hand + Toy = Yum

 Other changes in the last two weeks include reaching for the toys that hang from her activity mat, holding toys that are put into her hand, holding her head up when supported in a sitting position, and having a nap time instead of conking out randomly.

Brooke and Ben smile because Linnaea is not old enough to beg for pony rides, hay rides, or bounce house admission!

 We made a trip to the local pumpkin patch with a few other families, using it as a great excuse to dress Linnaea in a ridiculously cute Halloween outfit. Since it was a hand-me-down I felt less guilty parading her around as a pumpkin. I figured we might as well use it before she grows out of it in a week.

Cuteness Overload!!!

  These last two pictures are from last Sunday when we went to church. Linnaea isn't going to be baptized but I did join the Unitarian Church this weekend so I thought it would be a good chance for Linnaea to wear my christening gown. A family friend made it for me when I was three months old (my mom said I was also barely able to squeeze into it because I was big girl too.) It was fun to dress my daughter in the same dress because I also have vivid memories of putting this outfit on my dolls as a little girl. I guess I have a little better understanding of how my mom must feel. If I'm worried that my time with Linnaea is flying by already I can only guess how my parents must feel seeing their baby with a baby! I guess sometimes change is not such a bad thing.

Look out world, here we come!

So, we found out last weekend that Linnaea is a great little traveler! I know it will become more complicated once she crawls, then walks, then runs...but for now it's very do-able. We drove all the way up to the Upper Penninsula to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and it was a complete success. Ben and I looked a little worse for wear from the outset since I had re-chipped my front tooth and he had just gotten a black eye playing hockey, but Linnaea was perfect and happy as a clam. She actually slept through almost every interesting part of the trip: driving, boat trip, and most of our hike, but this made it a lot easier for Ben and me. We even camped all three nights and she was a champion outdoors-woman. I was mainly concerned about keeping her warm enough. We bundled her up in many layers of fleece and it must have done the trick because she slept as well as she does at home and stayed toasty warm. The only cold one was me, having to wake up and feed her in the night was a chilly experience.

All bundled up like a baby burrito!

One sleepy little camper getting ready for bed.

Looking oddly pregnant again with Linnaea stuffed under my sweatshirt.

We saw the beautiful cliffs of Pictured Rocks from Lake Superior on our boat ride. The wind was cold though so Linnaea got to ride in the Ergo Carrier all covered up. She is the lump on my chest in the pictures.










Our ten mile hike around the Chapel Falls loop was amazing. It was gorgeous to see the fall colors and we had a bright sunny day too. Linnaea was our drill sergeant and kept us going at a quick pace because whenever we would stop she was start to fuss and cry. We narrated her squeals: No stopping, you don't have to eat, no water for you, hurry up slow poke, no bathroom breaks sissy - get yourself a diaper!!!

Starting off toward Chapel Falls

Diaper change with a view!

Done with lunch and ready to go!

Linnaea and Ben admire the views around every corner.

As you can see, we had a great time. Thanks to all the friends that encouraged us to make the trip up to Pictured Rocks. It was well worth it. It is great to know that our traveling days are not over just a little more interesting.

This beach is fantastic! I want to see the Pacific next!!!