14 Months

Linnea,
Is it possible that time is moving even faster? The days and weeks just fly by. You are as awesome as ever - such a little person with SUCH a personality. You are such fun. Here's what you've been doing:

Eating and Sleeping:
You stopped nursing altogether this month. Up until now you were only nursing in the mornings, after having dropped other feedings on your own by being distracted or just plain too busy to "bother" with nursing. I could tell it was time to close this chapter of our lives. It was REALLY hard on mama to decide to be done, but I knew you were ready. You've adjusted great. You get a sippy cup with milk in the morning now - sometimes with a little snack (cereal, puffs, etc.). You are also now done with breast milk, drinking whole milk exclusively. Again, another easy transition for you. We are so thankful!

You are eating well. We are starting to teach you how to use a fork and spoon. You still need help getting food ON the utensils, but once it's there, you know what to do! You now consistently use the sign for "more," which is VERY helpful at meal times. You sign it so frantically when you get really excited about something!

You are officially done with your morning nap, and doing well. Some days are sleepier/crankier than others, but overall it's going great. You are down for bed most nights around 7:15. Some nights it's right to sleep, some nights it's chatter for 20 minutes. You're usually pretty happy, which is all that matters! We are SO SO SO thankful that you are generally an excellent sleeper (let's hope that's not bad luck for future siblings of yours).

Likes and Dislikes:
Likes:

• Your cozy coupe. You love love love crawling in it, sitting in it, putting stuff in its "trunk."
• Putting things in other things...toys in buckets, trinkets in shoes, your bath toys in your bath cup. 
• Blowing kisses. Pretty much the cutest thing ever.
• Pointing out people's noses.
• Laughing. You are so so silly, and lots of things make you laugh these days.
• Shoes (putting them on, taking them off, carrying them around, finding other people's shoes, saying shoe)
• Playing in dirt.

Dislikes:

•  Stopping moving or having to sit still.
• Getting your hair done and/or clothes changed.
• Getting your face or nose wiped.
• Getting stuff taken away from you (especially food).

 Growth: Not sure where you are weight/height wise, since your next appointment isn't for another month. With the change of seasons we find ourselves putting you in a lot more 18 month clothes - that's hard to believe! It's surprising how grown up some of them make you look! You are right on the cusp of size 4 diapers - I've started to use them at night since they help you stay drier. You've got at least one more tooth coming soon...

Talking: We've had a bit of a language explosion recently. Here are your new words you know pretty well: nose, shoe, bye, Mama, Dada, sock, no, apple, Magna. You also sign "more," "all done" (sometimes), and we are working on "please." You understand a TON more than what you can say or sign, which is really fun to see. You can show us your "pretty hair" - and went through a period where you mixed that up with "please." Ha ha...too funny!

Other Happenings:

• A trip to an apple orchard with the Getchi at the end of September. We had SO much fun. It was one of the first outings we've had where it felt like you weren't a baby. It was easier and fun, and awesome that you are able to walk on your own, and be a little more independent. You LOVED having an apple of your very own.
• Another trip to Grand Marais - this time with Grandma and Grandpa. We had SUCH a good time. We went for a couple hikes/geocache trips. We hung out, we shopped a bit, we played, we relaxed. You did great all weekend.
• You are going through a bit of a hitting stage, which is no fun! We know that it is just a phase, but it's hard to see you express yourself in this way.

We love you to bits, Miss Linnea!!
Mama and Daddy

Vote No

Five years ago today I got married. One month from today is a very critical election day in Minnesota. I am voting no. Here are some thoughts about why...

Five years ago today I sat in a salon to get my hair done. I put on a fancy white dress and veil. I got pictures taken with my family and my friends. I walked down an aisle with my mom and my dad, into the arms of my best friend.

We sang hymns. We exchanged vows. We poured sand into a jar to symbolize our life together. We promised to love each other for the rest of lives. This was the religious celebration of our marriage.

Beyond this, we signed a marriage license. I changed my name. We moved in together. We began being recognized as a family. We were entitled to benefits and rights as a married couple. This was the governmental recognition of our marriage.

A month from today Minnesota will head to the polls. They will vote for the president, and other governmental leaders. They will vote on constitutional amendments.

I will vote no on the marriage amendment. I don't think I've ever felt more passionately about a single vote. As I do, I will be thinking about where I was 5 years and 1 month ago.

I have never had to worry about whether or not I would be able to walk down an aisle, sign a marriage license, and be entitled to the benefits and rights of a married couple. I never had to worry about what people thought about my marriage. I never had to be told that my desire to marry the person I love was sinful, much less unconstitutional.

I didn't choose to be heterosexual, and I don't believe that people who love people of the same sex as themselves chose either.

I am a Lutheran. I have been taught that God has made everyone, and everyone got made is perfect and made in God's image. EVERYONE is precious in God's sight - male, female, black, white, gay, straight.

I have also been taught that God is love. The greatest commandment of God's is to love.

God did not create the governmental institution of marriage. This amendment will not force any religion to marry people who are gay (although let it be known that I see nothing wrong with this).

I can't imagine the pain if 5 years ago I was denied the right to marry Jeromy. I can't bear to think that there are people in this world who feel the same love and are told it is sinful.

People say that the Bible tells them that homosexuality is a sin and marriage is between a man and a woman. I have studied the passages they use, and I just don't understand it. Have they looked at translations more true to the original language? If they think the Bible says why aren't they sacrificing their animals, or covering their heads? Although I believe the Bible is divinely inspired, it was also written by a certain person, during a certain time, or a certain group of people.

I wish I could put this more eloquently. I have so many thoughts about this, and feel so strongly that the right answer it to vote no. To me it is an absolute no brainer.

This post ended up more random than I hoped... I hope that anyone who reads this who disagrees will talk to me to learn more.

Please. Vote no.