Farm

This past weekend we were back in Essex going through all the things on the farm.  Though it was sad to see everything that will be sold, we had some fun too!

Here I am getting a refresher course on how to get the tractor started from Kim.

I'm off and running!

Then Josh had to have a turn

We had beautiful weather all weekend.

Of course - we couldn't forget Abram

One of Abram's latest interests is fitting himself into any small space.  He may have had some help this time.

I saved the best for last.  Abram giving Uncle C lots of love!

Ultimate Frisbee Friend

Abram is my biggest fan.  Abram and Josh came out to the fields this week to watch my team play ultimate frisbee.  If you've never played before it's kind of like soccer but with a frisbee, not to be confused with frisbee golf. 

I think the frisbee may be bigger than he is.

He even wore our team colors!

Go team!

We don't have a telescopic lens so this is the best action shot Josh could get.  If you look way in the back near the cornfield you can see me - after just catching the disc for a point.  Luckily he didn't have a camera the next day when I fell flat on my face running down the field for no good reason.

14 Months

Abram turned 14 months old yesterday.  Every day it seems Abram learns something new.  I can't believe how much he's grown in the past year.  We are so blessed to have him in our lives!

We spent the first part of the day at the Iowa Natural Science Museum.  This is a free museum on the University of Iowa campus and on a hot weekend day this was the perfect adventure.  

So I made Josh pose for so many pictures since he and Abram looked like little explorers.  I think they turned out pretty good.  Here they are overlooking the Mississippi River.

Venturing into wetlands...

 

One of Abram's new tricks is pointing at things.  I think we take for granted all the things you actually have to learn as a baby.  Since learning that he could point - he hasn't stopped. He's pointed at every page in every book and at the museum he pointed at every animal in every exhibit.

 

The Giant Sloth is my favorite exhibit in the museum.

 

Last night we attended a wedding for our good friends Dan and Amy.  We are so excited for their new life together.  Here are some shots during the reception.  Peter, Liz and Abram greeting guests.

 

We spent most of our time outside of the reception since all Abram wanted to do was scoot around and get into trouble.

 

Here are a few more pictures I found on my camera from when Liz came to watch Abram.

 Kitty Cat doesn't have many more places to hide from little hands.

 

This may look like a picture that I didn't rotate properly but the angle is correct.  When Abram gets tired he just puts his head down on a pillow.  What a tired guy!

 

Bag Lady

Who is that bag lady?

Why it's Auntie Lisa!

We were lucky to have Aunt Lisa and Uncle Mike here for a visit this past weekend.  Even though Abram hadn't seen Lisa since March he acted like they see each other every day.  It is wonderful to see him have so much fun with family.  We are so excited for Abram to have a new little cousin in November.  Lisa and Mike found out a few weeks ago Abram will be joined by a little boy cousin, which is a good thing since he likes to wrestle and play rough.  Yeah for babies!!!

Sock Monkey

Sometimes you just need something to smile about.

Family Time

If there is anything good to come of this past week it was being able to spend time with family.  We were back in Essex from Tuesday - Sunday.  We were able to visit with many relatives and friends that we had not seen for a long time.  I can't believe it's been 10 years since I lived in Essex.

The first picture is at Aunt V's house when Abram was caught red handed emptying out the potato basket.  

Abram had some quality time reading with Nana Comstock.

Abram got the orange kitty cat after he came out of his surgery and it is the only stuffed animal he actually will hug.   You can see how much he loves the cat.  It is pretty adorable.

We were also able to make several trips to see Great Grandpa Clayton.  Abram and grandpa got along great, In this picture Abram was picking up invisible toys off the floor to share with grandpa. 

We have four generations together in this picture.  We loved spending time with grandpa Clayton.   

We were also lucky to spend quite a bit of time on the farm.  Abram loved being outside and taking walks out among the buildings.  In this picture he is sitting in a little lawn chair that used to be Aunt Vicki's and then I used it all the time as a little girl and now Abram was using it.  He felt like a big boy.

He also got to ride around in the golf cart with Grandma and Grandpa.  Don't worry - the rule was that the cart couldn't go faster than I could walk!

Last but not least, Abram made his way up onto the pig.  You can also see how beautiful the view is if you can take your eyes off the baby on the pig.  Happy 4th of July!

Uncle Randy

 

I normally only discuss the fun things happening in our lives but this morning I felt the need to write about my Uncle Randy, Abram's Great-Uncle.  I am overwhelmed right now because we found out he passed away yesterday.  This was very sudden and unexpected.   Writing updates on this blog about Abram has helped me process my feelings of joy and excitement this past year so I feel compelled today to share  some of my sadness about an Uncle that Abram will unfortunately never get to know. 

Uncle Randy is the type of Uncle every child should have.  He took us boating in the summer, I can't count the number of hours he spent on the lake teaching us to ski and driving  around and around and around in circles as we tubed behind the boat.  He would take us to amusement parks and let us eat too much junk food and then get on spinning rides, things that our parents would never let us do.  Since we lived in the same town growing up, he was there for every birthday, Christmas, sports events, etc.  Once I went to college and moved away, it has been harder to get together, especially since Abram was born.  He actually bought me a plane ticket home one summer during college so that I could surprise my family with a visit.  He was the kind of Uncle who would give us Christmas presents and then sneak up to you later and give Josh and I extra money to go out for a nice dinner because he knew we couldn't afford that kind of luxury during college.

Today my heart is sad and a little broken that Abram will never be able to know the Uncle that I did.  I am fortunate that they were able to meet and below I have a picture taken last Father's Day.

 

We love you Uncle Randy!