Amanda Rachel
Amanda was
born on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 at 3:16 pm
July 2009
This month was full of fun in the sun with Summer Camp. Amanda loves going to camp, wearing her bathing suit every day, and having a dress up day each week. She also gets to do lots of arts and crafts, many of them quite messy. She transitioned up to the older class (she was one of the oldest in her class last year, and many of the younger kids stayed in the younger class for the summer) and made the switch seamlessly. She already knew most of the kids in her new class from seeing them at school and day care all last year. She asks every morning, "Is it a camp day?" and is disappointed when the answer is no.
Amanda also learned that her birthday only lasts one day. A day or two after her birthday, she was very upset when she was told that it was no longer her birthday, but then began to understand. However, all month long, when she'd see someone who wished her a happy belated birthday, she would immediately reply, "It's not my birthday anymore." Stacey then had to explain that Amanda didn't mean to be rude, but that we'd been working on that concept for a while.
We also continued our Countdown to Baby Bam in earnest, celebrating both Stacey's birthday and Luna's birthday, as well as the birthdays of Amanda's friends Lexi and Carly. And then we waited. And waited some more. Bam is of her own mind already and will clearly not be rushed. She has decided to be an August baby and there's not a thing we can do about it.
Camp is the Best!
Amanda loves summer camp and all of the fun activities they do. Luckily, they also take lots of pictures.
Once a week is a dress up day. For July:
Pajama Day
Hat Day
Inside Out/ Backwards Day
With Amanda, we wondered how anyone would be able to tell the difference
Costume Day
Sports Day
**Overheard this month**
"There's a lot of love in this house."
Amanda has lots of water play, creative movement, and art
Special guests also come weekly. Here, Amanda got to be a flower in the play
Amanda's bunk also made Gak, a gooey, smushy substance, which Amanda was clearly very excited by.
**Overheard this month**
"When I'm bigger, will I turn into a boy?" (She was dismayed that the answer was No.)
"When Luna grows up, she will turn into a person!"
They also had a week learning how to heal the earth
But perhaps Amanda's favorite week was Messy Mania, complete with a whipped cream pie eating contest (far left)
**Overheard this month**
Leaving a message on Grammy's phone: "I think we're losing her."
Luna's Dog Party
Amanda has no concept of time, especially in the long term. In an attempt to help Amanda gauge when Bam might be coming, we decided to celebrate Luna's birthday with much fanfare (meaning dog ice cream for the pooches and popsicles for the people). A great time was had by all, human and canine alike.
Luna and Bugsy enjoy some Frosty Paws ice cream
When it's not Amanda's turn
on the swing, she still likes to be part of the action. She likes to push
Maggie (far left), Hannah (center).
Marie also got to push Hannah "super high."
We also got some good use out of the Tee Ball set. Hannah hit some out of the park while Elijah got some pointers from Tonya.
Ricky was more interested in the balls than the rest of the set.
**Overheard this month**
"That was a super extra fun dog party!"
Come Out Soon, Bam!
After Luna's Dog Party, Bam was supposed to come out (it coincided with Stacey hitting 37 weeks). But she was not as cooperative. Perhaps it's Amanda's daily sing-song taunts of, "Bam, you're coming out soon!"
**Overheard this month**
Happy 4th of July!
The Swing is Up!
Amanda loves her swing and plays on it daily. She loves to go Super High.
**Overheard this month**
"This fork has strong muscles."
Lexi's Birthday Party at Chuck E. Cheese's
Lexi turned 5 in fashion with a princess themed party at Chuck E. Cheese's. This was Amanda's first time there and she loved it.
Amanda and Faren play together; Amanda rides a roller coaster simulator and the carousel
Dinner with Sean
Merrie was using chopsticks to eat her dinner, so Amanda decided she would use some, too. To eat her macaroni and cheese.
**Overheard this month**
"Mommy, you can go to work and sit at your desk and push the buttons."
Fashion Forward
Taking from the notion that 2 heads are better than one, Amanda tries out 2 hats
Of course she matches. A striped shirt clearly goes with a striped skirt.
**Overheard this month: What the L?**
See all of these pictures and more at our photo gallery
