savoring the last nice days of the year

As I sit here on the computer printing pictures of Meredith for me to take on my trip to Las Vegas tonight, I couldn't help but share a few more pictures from our glorious weekend.

only a mother could understand

Ever since Meredith had an ear infection almost a month ago, her nose has been non-stop snotty. He cheeks and nose and lips are raw from all the wiping. Before I was a parent, I never understood how parents let their kids run around with snot all over their faces and, well, now I understand. I just can't make it stop. There are boogers everywhere. When she wakes up they are all over in her hair, it gets all over her shirt during the day, and all over me when she gets clingy and rubs her face on me. Pleaaaaase, oh, pleaaaaaase make it stop! I could attach a bunch of snot filled pictures but I'll spare you.

Last weekend we spent the day at Aamodt's Apple Farm. I had my battery on my camera all charged up and ready to go and by golly, we brought the camera but no battery so no pictures. That place is really nice but a complete zoo to get out of - I think traffic was backed up for at least a mile down the road. Glad we got there early. But I took home some tasy Haralsons and Honey Crisps and have some delicious apple bars in the fridge just calling my name.

Today I met up with a friend of mine and her daughter Erin, who is about 4 months older than Meredith. We headed down to Belle Plaine to go to Emma Krumbee's. It was fabulous - I can't wait to take Meredith there next year.

The girls!Erin wanted a hug.
I'm shocked there's not a snot trail in this one.

Right away, she ran up to kiss the donkey. You can see her puckered lips here.


And of course she was so proud of herself after drawing all that attention from kissing the donkey.

There was this huge hill with a tube slide built into it. She kept trying to run up the hill and of course she can't go up a hill yet so she kept tumbling down and landing on her back every time she tried.

The girls both picked a pumpkin.

Meredith has started doing some new things this week. She now sits like a big girl. It's funny because she will just plop her little butt down where ever she pleases like in this picture. She decided she wanted to sit next to Tabitha in her bed.

Meredith also started a new form of babbling. Instead of just saying da-da-da or ba-ba-ba, she now says something that sounds like this: jibba jabba yabba dabba. Maybe she is getting ready to start speaking all those words she knows. She amazes me every day with all her knowledge.

Well folks, I'm headed to Las Vegas tomorrow for the week so it will be another week or two before I update the blog.