New sandbox.

Gran and Pop sent Devyn a very early Christmas present—a sand box!  It's very neat.  The benches fold out to become a cover to keep the kitties out.

We went and bought sand for it today, and Devyn was so excited she couldn't even wait until we were done dumping all the sand to get in and try it out.  Maybe we'll get some good use of it before it gets too cold to be outside as much.

D. is still fighting a cold—or something.  We think she picked it up when Grandma and Grandpa were here, and she seemed to be getting better, then last Tuesday she came down again.  Same symptoms all over again.  Brandon says maybe it mutated and she had to fight it all over again.

All I can say is that we are all tired of wiping noses.

via Instagram http://instagr.am/p/QN5DCShPS1/

Crazy monkey in the apple trees

Ya Ya Orchard

At Ya Ya orchard

Grandma and Grandpa Renner were here for the weekend and we had a wonderful time.  On Sunday we went to brunch at one of their favorite places, Lucile's Creole Cafe.  After we ate, we took a little detour up to Ya Ya Farm and Orchard.  It's a pick-your-own apple orchard, though we did not pick any apples. 

Devyn LOVED their big horses. (Not sure what kind they are—big like Clydesdales, but they have another name.) She kept saying "Neigh! Neigh! Neigh!" over and over again, but was a little shy to pet them.  They were VERY friendly because you can buy fallen apples for them to eat.  

Devyn also LOVED running around on the farm, and was not thrilled when it was time to go.  But I'm sure we'll be back!

The book that makes us all cry.

"I am your favorite book, you are my new lines."

Eating an apple.

via Instagram http://instagr.am/p/PptDd5hPT_/

Some random tid-bits

• Devyn and I went to drop-in mommy and baby swim time at the rec center—I thought it would be teaching the babies how to float and kick and splash in the water, when actually it was a fairly intense water aerobics class for the mommies using the babies as hand weights. But I think Devyn liked it.  Whenever I say "go swimming" she makes the sign for fish.
• Yesterday we bought her a baby-sized potty.  It's a convertible one that goes from being an all-in-one training potty to a step-stool and a seat that fits on the big potty.  Haven't even gotten it out of the box yet, but we'll see how it goes.
• We went to a clothing swap last week with my stroller club, and she got very overwhelmed by all the people and kids.  The life-sized stuffed pony in the basement didn't really help, either.
• After a devastating episode where we couldn't find the lovey at bed time, a new rule had to be implemented wherein the lovey doesn't leave the crib (except for some immediate post-sleep snuggling in the glider chair).  The first time I explained this rule, there was much crying and gnashing of teeth and I had to pry it from her tiny, tenacious fingers, and it made me feel like a terrible mommy for depriving her of her lovey.  The next time, there was a little resistance, I reminded her of the rule, and she said, "Thank you," and handed it to me. And that is what she has done every single time since then.
• Speaking of thank yous, one of my very favorite things she does right now is when she runs up to us, gives us a big hug and says, "Thank you!"  Lord, let me remember that when she's a teenager.
• She has started saying "The end!" every time we finish reading a book.  And believe me, we read a LOT of books.  One of her favorite things to do is run up to me or Brandon with a book in hand shouting "Book!  Book!  Book!" until we acquiesce and read it to her.  I think she would sit and listen to us read books to her all day long.
• She has been playing with the bathroom scale recently, and we have ascertained that she weighs just over 20 pounds.
• She loves dogs and elephants and monkeys.  I'm thinking she might be one of the above for Halloween.
• She has recently figured out how to put the shapes back on the spindles on her shape stacker, instead of just how to take them off.  

Brandon and I celebrate 7 years of wedded bliss tomorrow. On Thursday, the Renners arrive for a short, weekend visit and we will probably celebrate Brandon's birthday and our anniversary.  Then, the next week, I'll be spending three days at a business conference—Devyn will spend one day with her daddy, one day with her Aunt Wendy, and one day with our friends Tiffany and Logan.  Then, the week after THAT, I spend the weekend at the annual SCBWI conference.

And then, the week after that, I collapse and don't move for at least a week or two.