Be Careful, she bites.

We just went swimming. Reese LOVES the water! Although watching her bend over to lick up pool water doesn't really get me that thrilled. I think the part that she loves the most, though, is all the "friends" everywhere. She keeps looking at all these little kids that are running around like, "you are THE coolest people I've ever met". She had a great time, and came home completely pooped. Ah, good old summer days.

So. . .my baby is a biter. I've been thinking of making her a t-shirt as a warning, "Beware, I bite people"- or maybe something a little snappier- you know, something that just rolls off the tongue and yet at the same time serves as the proper hold-me-at-your-own-risk warning. On Sunday we stopped at Ryan's grandparents to pick his sister, Megan, up. She leaned over to Meg like she was going to plant a wet one, but instead she clamped down with all four of her little chompers (including the nubbins of canines she's got coming through) on her cheek! I have to say I was horrified. Only weeks earlier I'd seen the cover of a parenting magazine that said, "Parents, if you have a biter read this!" I think I laughed at it- so blunt, so funny. . .and now I'm wondering why in the world I passed it up. "Where is it?! I need that secret parenting know-how to stop this problem!" Alas. We'll just have to figure it out without the help of American Baby experts.

We just got back from Island Park from the Derr Family Reunion, which turned out to be a smashing hit, leaving all of us wondering why we've waited so long to do it. I hadn't seen some of my cousins for over six years and it was so fun to talk and catch up and laugh at all the kids (I know I shouldn't laugh, but Annalee running from the dogs about killed me- you would have thought it was a killer snake chasing her!) and enjoy how beautiful Island Park is. Man! Ry and I had a few free hours, so we decided to hike up Mount Sawtelle- I can't believe my parents have lived there for almost three years and I haven't been up- it was breathtakingly beautiful! I seriously felt like we were somewhere in the Swiss Alps (my braids really helped the whole 'Heidi' effect). It was amazing, I could feel the air catching in my chest as we drove to the summit because it just looked like we were on a road to the sky- amazing! Then later we came down a bit and hiked around and found this amazing (I'm not sure I've used that word quite enough yet) field of lupine- tall blue-ish-purple flowers. I lay on the ground, buried in the flowers, and looked up at the sun filtering through the tree above. It was just about the most beautiful moment in my life. Not just the surroundings but the sounds, being there with the man I love, and feeling totally, completely, 100% peaceful. Mmm. It was great.

I recently read Tuesdays with Morrie, and loved it. I'm sure that my experience with Marguerite probably made me love it all the more (man, I miss that woman and her lukewarm ensure and eucalyptus cough drops), but I don't know, do you ever feel like its just the perfect time in your life to read certain books? Like they were written just for you?

The last few years have been an ever-changing whirlwind that have left me feeling more unsure of myself than I can remember feeling in a while. I think I always have issues until I can identify the roles I'm playing, and it's been a crazy adjustment. Missionary to normal girl, engaged and then married, and suddenly I'm pregnant and now a mom. I love everything that has happened- I don't want this to be negative at all, because I love my life, but it feels like I'm just starting to get a handle on who I am. Because you change as life rolls on- I know who I was at this time or that time in my life but its been quite a journey (wow that sounds cliche) to figure out who I am as a wife and mother, and especially not just who I am in those rolls, but who I am as an individual in this time of my life. Anyway, I loved all the questions that arose from it- What's wrong with being number two? (seriously good for me since I have this idea that I have to do EVERYTHING, and not just do it, but that somehow I'm the only one in this world that's expected to be perfect at it) Will the ones you love know it when you're gone?, etc. Things to think about, and definitely work on. It's fantastic, and if you haven't yet, I highly recommend you pick it up.

It's ok, it's just fiber

Anyone seen that Orbit commercial where the girl is mad at her boyfriend so she tears everything he owns to shreds- with her teeth? I saw it last night and remember thinking it was weird, that was until today when Reese went on a rampage and I realized it was terribly parallel to my life. Cupcake wrappers dug out of the drawer, diapers (thank heavens they were the clean ones), a stack of papers, and then, the one that made me laugh- several of those little reply cards you find in magazines, each with a giant soggy hole in the middle. Did I give birth to a goat and just not notice? I do recall thinking her shoulders were a little fuzzy when she was born. :)

A little note here- these pictures are from about a week ago when she decided to sample some tree bark. Doesn't seem to taste too good, but that doesn't stop our girl!