15 Months and 16 Months

 

Miss Sara is growing so fast!

We have been on-the-go

so here is months 15 and 16!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sara is expanding her vocabulary
and understand WAY more than I thought.
She can tell you the sounds
most farm animals can make.

She can now say her favorite book title
"Brown Bear, Brown Bear".

 

She knows who we all are,
(mama, dada, nana, papa, sissy, cash)

 

She takes about 2 minutes
to warm up to people.
After that, she is smiles and happy.

 

 

 

 

 

She can go up the stairs (not new)
AND down the stairs on her tummy!

She learned this the week she stayed
with her Godparents.

 

 

 

 

She has tried all sorts of foods.
She likes almost everything.

(Though she's not a meat fan).

 

She knows a little sign language.

She is VERY good at "more"

She motions the sign and says "more pease".

She also knows a version of "milk",

but uses that for water too.

 

I know if I put more time into teaching,

she would pick up so much more!

She is a sponge and wants to learn.

 

 

 

 

 

She still loves the water,
sleeping, and food.

 

She is learning how to toss a ball.

 

 

 

 

When I sing "rock-a-bye baby",

Sara rocks her baby doll back and forth.

It's pretty much adorable.

 

 

Sara loves talking on the "phone",

and turns ANYthing into a phone. 

Usually it's Mason or Gunnar calling.

 

 

 

She is an absolute joy.
I say this every month
but this month is my favorite!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Watercade

 

 

We were so excited

to be in town for Watercade

that Mommy decided

to do something silly...

 

I ran Lake Ripley!

 

 

I don't remember the last time

I was able to run all the way

around the lake.

(4 miles)

 

It was definitely before Sara.

 

I signed up three weeks prior

hoping it would be motivation

for me to start running.

 

I began running in Hudson

but only made it 2 miles

before tuckering out.

 

My cousin was supposed to run.

She was smart and ditched

at the last minute.

She asked her husband to run instead.

 

He was a perfect partner!

We stayed at 10 mph

and finished strong

in 41:50 minutes GPS time!
(Gun time shows longer).

 

No walking.

 

After the run,

Nana and Sara drove into town

and we did the walk.

It was raining once we finished

so we went out for lunch.

 

After an afternoon nap,

we drove in and visited with Ami & E!

We stopped by Sadie's to see Jude.

Then we watched the entire parade.

 

Sara loved seeing "neigh horseys"

and "woof woof puppies".

She also enjoyed the big tractors!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Godparents Week

 

 

We got to spend an entire week

with Sara's Godparents,

who are also expecting

their first baby in November!

 

Sara wasn't thrilled about Cash,
the big black lab.
Cash doesn't know he has a tail
and he whipped Sara with it a few times.

After a couple days passed,
the two were a little more tolerant
of each other.

Sara's auntie and uncle
spoiled her all week long.
They went on walks,
visited the playground,
and played, played, played.

 

 

Sara's cousins Nolan, Courtney, and Jadon
came to play with her
later in the week.



Play date with Ella

 

 

We snuck in a play date

with Ella

before she became a big sister.

 

We had a little lunch

and played with the water table.

 

We spent a little time in the pool

and on the trampoline.

 

We didn't stay long

because it was nap time

but we had fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Later in the week,

we got to meet Ella's new sister

Addison Ann Rothstein!

She is perfect.

 

 

 

Sara enjoyed meeting baby Addison.

Though she wasn't too sure

about Mommy holding the baby.

 

 

 

 



Mall of America

 

 

It was sad to take Daddy and fur-sissy

to the airport.

We wanted them to stay and play.

 

 

After dropping them off,

we went to the Mall of America.

Sara was mesmerized by the rollercoasters.

She was really excited to meet Dora.

 

 

We stopped for lunch at Benihanas.

Sushi for mommy and noodles for Sara.

 

 

After lunch,

we met our friend Brooke

and took the SEA LIFE adventure.

(a.k.a Underwater World)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brooke & I had a chuckle

over our wheat grass shots.

 

Not long ago,

we would have taken shots

of something a little stronger!

 

 

 



Fourth of July

 

 

Daddy and fur-sissy stayed with us

the week of the Fourth

at the Lake Minnebelle cabin.
 

 

We had good weather for:
 

boat rides

kayaking

walks
swinging
swimming
naps

and fireworks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Flower Girl

 

 

Daddy & fur-sissy flew into town.

They didn't arrive until late

but Sara stayed up

and went with mommy to pick them up.

 

She was thrilled to see them both!

 

That weekend,

Sara was the flower girl

in her uncle Alex's wedding.

 

There were approx. 300 guests

and the aisle was long,

but she walked the entire way

with the ring bear!

 

Mommy cried.

 

She had fun dancing with daddy

at the reception.

 

Alex and Jessica gave her

a bracelet, necklace, and minnie mouse!

 

 

 

 



Como Zoo

 

 

We took off first thing in the AM

and met our Boll cousins

at the Como Zoo in St. Paul.

 

It down poured once we arrived.

Luckily, it was lunch time.

 

We found shelter in the Como Zoo cafe

and ordered a bite to eat.

 

Once we finished eating,

the sun was out and it was hot and muggy.

 

Sara LOVED watching the polar bear.

He swam back and forth

right in front of Sara.

Her mouth was wide open in awe.

 

After visiting the other animals,

the older cousins had a blast on the rides.

Sara napped in her stroller.

 

 

 

 

At the end of the day,

the kids put on their swim suits

and played on the splash pad.

 

 

 

 

Once we returned to Hudson,

Sara was still awake

so I treated her to the Wisconsin Mac 'n Cheese

at Noodles & Company.

 

My favorite - and hers now too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Play date with Eli

 

 

After breakfast with Esmae,

we met up with our friend Eli

for a play date at the splash pad.

 

It was a hot summer day.

Perfect for water fun.

 

This was Sara's first time

at a splash pad.

She is a big fan!

 

 

 

 

 

Sara & Eli still weren't sure

how to play together

but I'm sure they will be best of friends

just like their mommies.

 

 



Breakfast with Esmae

 

 

One of our first outings in MN

was to meet our newest cousin

Esmae Marie Boll.

 

 

 

We met at the Original Pancake House.

Sara loved seeing "the baby".

 

Esmae is a beauty

and she didn't even cry once!

 

I'm happy Sara has Esmae

to get into trouble with in the future.

 

Like her mommy did with Esmae's daddy!

 

 

 



NC to MN Road trip

 

 

This summer

Sara & I decided to take

an extended trip to MN/WI.

 

We asked Nana (Matt's mom)

if she'd be wiling to go

on a cross country adventure

with us.

 

She agreed

and flew out to Charlotte.

We had a couple days to play

before we hit the road.

 

We drove from our house

to Crawfordsville, IN.

Approximately 9 hours!

 

Sara was a great traveler.

Mommy drove while Nana entertained.

 

In the morning,

we took off after breakfast

and made it all the way to Hudson, WI.

 

We had a quick pitstop in Eau Claire, WI

to play with Sara's friend Lucy Kabat.

 

Mommy & Nana

were both impressed by Sara.

 

She is a

go-with-the-flow

type of girl.

 

 

 

 



Saying Goodbye

 

 

Sara & I took an impromptu trip

back to Minnesota

a couple weeks earlier

than we had planned.

 

 

 

 

It was good to see family,

despite the circumstances.

 

Sara was a nice distraction for everyone.

 

 

 

 

We also decided that Sara

looks an awful lot like her namesake.

And they both LOVED books.

 

So special.

 

 

Despite some allergies for both

Sara and Mommy

(see swollen eyes below),

and a three hour delay in Chicago

during our return flight,

our visit went quite smoothly.

 

 

Sara is a wonderful little traveler.

 

 

 

 

French fries help with

long delays at the airport.

 

 

 

RIP Uncle Art.

Your suffering is over.