Catching up - "before vacation"

I've got some catching up to do, I know. We have been busy lately - especially getting back into the swing of things since our WONDEFUL trip to Oregon. That 3 hour time change is a killer - for toddlers and their pregnant Mama's. Hopefully I can get caught up over the next couple of days because I have lots of fun things that are happening now that I don't want to forget.
So, our conversations these days frequently revolve around babies. Most of that isn't done started by David and I, but Sadie Beth is just fascinated right now. She's quite the little mommy herself. My good friend Jenn had a baby in June and Sadie Beth is learning the ropes through Baby Callie. Good practice for November.
We had a rough time at church for awhile. Sadie Beth was NOT loving the nursery and would scream the entire walk out of church and then cry "OTHER CHAIR!!!" and "Mommy HOLD you" then entire ride home. Wasn't the best of situations, though it seems to have gotten better. Now she says, "No crying at church!" and "Happy at church!" It reminds me of the line from A League of Their Own where Tom Hanks says, "There's no crying in baseball!" I think it helps that she is getting to know some of the kids at church and also that life has been fairly normal at home lately...it was crazy there for awhile. So anways, here we are sitting in the "Other chair" (as Sadie Beth calls it, meaning "not the rocking chair upstairs but the other one") and we are snuggling with the Big Bird Train.

Before each meal, Sadie Beth will often remind us that we need to "Prate" (pray). Lately, it's gone something like this, "Dear God, cheese, turkey, strawberries, crackers, Green Cup, Cookie Monster Cup, AMEN!" She forgets the "thank you for...."

We've had fun with friends this summer. Here is a fun picture of Kendra (4 mos younger) and Sadie Beth. I'm quite surprised that Sadie Beth isn't panicking over the fact that Kendra has confiscated her beloved Cookie Monster Cup. We take our Sesame Street Cups very seriously in the Balzer household. At most times throughout the day, Sadie Beth can be found carrying 2 cups....one to drink out of and one of her Sesame Street Cups....because the Sesame Street Cups are pretty worthless when it comes to drinking. Don't waste your money.

Speaking of things we take seriously in the Balzer family, Sesame Street is at the top of the list. I don't let her watch much television, but Sesame Street is pretty much a daily thing at our house. She LOVES it, gets into it, talks about what she sees on it, and has what you would think are close, personal friendships with each of the characters on the show.

Her all-time favorite episode is one that starts off with Baby-Bear having a baby sitter. David and I have it essentially memorized. And please take note that we most often watch "Street" very well prepared - (above) Elmo tucked underarm / (below) Cookie Monster and Ernie resting very nearby. Usually there is a "snack-cup" involved as well.

We were getting ready to leave for one of my OB appointments on this particular day. Sadie Beth was SUPER excited about going to see "Nana Helen." We packed this bag full of toys and books and then I went into the kitchen. When I came back into the living room I found that she had dragged it across the living room and was trying to open the door, saying "Nana Helen's house."

And finally, speaking of Nana Helen...doesn't she look cute in this dress that Helen got her? She calls it her "pretty flower dress." Next up.....OREGON!!!!