Berit's Summer

Waiting for a baby is pretty easy, so we did our best to fully engage in summer fun. By April I was feeling melancholy about the changes lying ahead. I am a first-born and, predictably, I projected (and continue to do so) my animosity and sadness about the arrival of my little brother onto Bear.  I wanted her to know that she wasn't being replaced, that we wouldn't be able to send the baby back (I was convinced for over two years that my parents were just being unreasonable about not returning Woody, and at any point, they were going to send him back so things could return to normal.)

As a result, I made a more deliberate point of having fun with Berit, even if my belly was getting in the way or there were things to do, like clean the house in the event we were burglarized. All of that could wait. Time with my first-born daughter could not, it is fleeting.

Exhausted after surveying the June flood  damage

Enjoying the pool with Yukon

Hauling baskets before our wedding party

Being cute...

...comes naturally

Enjoying the wagon from Uncle Woody (converted from her sled)

Hanging out with Aunt Ksenija (outside a wine shop)

Sun goddess and potty training extraordinaire

Exhausted after a morning at the St. Louis County Fair watching horses (go Jeff Anderson!)

Being silly in the basement (on one of those hot July nights) before bed

Hanging out with Eero and Hiver 

H-eee and Bear: thick as thieves?

On the way to school

Mimicry was big this summer; an afternoon sun break for food and PBS 

Watching Olympic divers...

I should have guessed.

Making Berit's toddler bed

Overseeing construction

Upholstering complete!

Final product gets approved

No seriously, ma, I can walk all three dogs.

Driving Double Great Uncle Rich's RV (why not?)

Taking the wheel at the fire hall

The helmet is a little big, but it will work

I could get used to a steering wheel this big

This girl is in heaven!

Enjoying a fresh block of cheese at the Coop

Meeting chickens at Ann and Pam's

Checking on her new fowl friends

Darn cute. Waiting for momma to take her to school.

Checking out Chester Creek with friend Greta

Taking a stroll in the woods

I thought this is what you meant when you said "get in your seat"

For much of the summer, she sported this orange knit hat which was a hand-me-down from the Boyle girls, quite possibly knit by Dr. Goltz (momma's doc). After seeing Eero in a lovely orange knit hat in May, Bear had to follow suit as soon as we returned home and she could get to her orange hat.

Happy girl

This was a common scene in our backyard

Running from the boys at an evening concert in the park

Hiding in the reeds during the concert

Greta entertains Berit

Berit tries to make Greta laugh by flashing belly buttons

Berit meets a baby kitten at Great Aunt Diane's, with cousin Maya

Meeting her first piglet at the Hemling farm 

She wasn't sure

But these adult pigs were really intriguing!

Great Uncle Bill graciously gave up the Gator; little cousin Billy gives direction

Now this is cool!!

Exploring the playground at Gigi's

Eating a forbidden treat (it was 95! look at the sweat) and watching kids at the pool

From a rainy afternoon at Ann and Pam's

Sleepy Bear saying goodbye to Gigi

Meeting Grandpa Doug at the playground

Working out at the fire hall

Greta has a trampoline!

Wolfie became a favorite this summer 

Wolfie needs to swing too

And slide!

Berit has gotten so tall from all that milk drinking

Cousin Aitan arrives! (With Uncle Woody and Aunt Rachael)

Berit checks out Papa's shed construction

This appears to resemble a diving platform

John Deere hat, firefighter Curious George tshirt = happy girl

Grandpa Larry gives Bear a turn at the tractor wheel

Berit shows Oscar the horse how to fly

Greta explains equestrian matters to Berit

"See, that's my horse, Oscar"

Styling at the horse stables

No seriously momma, I am ready for bed now (in PJs post-bath)

A ponytail!

You have to wear your baseball hat up high when you have a pony in.

Berit and Aunt Krista at the cabin, trying to get baby Sprout to come

Helping papa fix the refrigerator (he needed to wear safety glasses)

Sometimes you have to fix things yourself

One last waterslide

I'm not stuck in here; this is where I want to be

Flying with Greta

Eat your pizza!

proper bike wear 

Candy! Watching her first parade

Motorcycles, a fire truck...this is awesome!