keepin' cool

some friends and i spent a few days out of town last week for a homeschool practicum, and after our long days, it was so nice to relax and chat. the first night we went to jim 'n nick's bbq and oh.my.goodness. the cheese biscuits are so stinkin' good. i can still taste them. the next night, we headed over to the fountain play area at the local shopping commons. my kids have been pretty cautious of these fountain places in the past... but i had a feeling that amelia would have a ball in the water. for the first time in the last 4 months, i was so glad she wasn't walking. she could crawl all over the fountain area without me worrying about her slipping and falling. and that she did!


she was so curious about the fountains and the the intermittent spraying. she loved putting her finger in the holes...


don't know where she got that idea.


it was completely entertaining to watch amelia when the water came shooting out.





amelia did this over and over. she loved getting sprayed in the face! i knew she was just fine, but one of the boys in our group was so protective of her. as soon as he saw amelia all by herself, samuel would sit with her and make sure she wasn't leaning over the hole when the water came out.


so after dozens of water blasts to the face, amelia started standing up to wait for the fountains. she clapped and clapped at the quiet holes, as if to say, "c'mon! spray me already!"


and then my baby girl walked! on this slippery ground, with plenty of wild boys running around, amelia walked! over and over again!


and with each step, her smile got bigger and bigger!


i had to laugh that she did not choose the safest and most stable conditions in which to make her walking debut... maybe she'll be our little dare-devil! (she's been taking more steps at home now, too, and she is receiving a ton of applause from ethan and caroline for her new-found skill!)

and amelia wasn't the only one having fun at the fountains! these are not that clear because, well, caroline was having a blast. caroline kept running circles around amelia as she tried to walk... yes, let's make this even harder for her, you silly goose!!



ethan pretty much steered clear of the fountains and spent most of his time on the (dry) playground, so you'll just have to take my word for it that he was there. :) i bet the next time we visit these fountains, amelia will be running all over the place with the rest of the kids. until then, look forward to seeing many more pictures of my baby girl in her newfangled upright position! i knew she'd get there.