30 Before 30...

As I approached my 29th birthday, I realized there were a lot of things I hadn't yet done in my life. For those who know me well, you know that indulging in myself is not something that comes  very easily for me. I have a hard time taking the time, energy, and money to do stuff for me. I decided it was time to get better at it.

So I created a list of 30 things that I will do before I turn 30. For the most part, the things are not super extravagant. It's not meant to be a list of the most fun, crazy, etc. things I could do before I turn 30. Rather, it's a list of 30 things I've always wanted to do, that for whatever reason I haven't allowed myself to do, or simply have not taken the time to do them. In some cases the things seem little and trivial (and maybe they are). But they are things I've always wanted to do. It's not a bucket list - I don't believe "my life is over" at 30. Quite the opposite in fact...perhaps it's just begun! :-) I plan to provide updates throughout the next year...so stay tuned!

Food & Cooking
1. Eat a Juicy Lucy at The Blue Door Pub.
2. Buy food from a food truck.
3. Dine at a hibachi restaurant.
4. Gain confidence in cooking, by cooking one new recipe/month on my own.
5. Have a lobster dinner.

Around Town
 6. Go to Mill City Market.
7. Explore the Walker Sculpture Garden.
8. Visit Midtown Global Market.
9. Take a trip to Fort Snelling.
10.  Go on a tour of the Surly Brewing Co.

Crafts, Hobbies, & Projects
11.  Hide a cache on my own.
12.  Crochet something.
13.   Create and order a photo book.
14.   Make a t-shirt quilt (or at least start it).
15.  Learn how to string my guitar.

Health & Fitness
16.   Participate in a mud run.
17.   Try water skiing (again).
18.   Try a new winter sport or two… skijoring, downhill skiing, and/or snowboarding.
19.   Climb a rock wall.
20.  Take a belly dance or hip-hop class.

Self-Care/Wellness
21.   Have a pamper day – at least 2 spa services and a meal out in one day.
22.   Get eyebrows waxed or threaded.
23.   Get a professional bra fitting done.
24.   Have a LASIK consultation.
25.   Get a make-up consultation.

Entertainment/Fun/Misc.
26.   Complete the 20 Before 30 movie list. **
27.   Take a carriage/sleigh ride.
28.   Go on a hot air balloon ride.
29.   Ride a mechanical bull.
30.  Learn how to drive a stick shift.

**

1. The Goonies
2. Back to the Future series
3. Star Wars trilogy
4. Sixteen Candles
5. Top Gun
6. Pretty in Pink
7. ET
8. The Princess Bride
9. Schindler’s List
10. Field of Dreams
11. Ghost
12. Footloose
13. Good Will Hunting
14. Rain Man
15. Big
16. Pulp Fiction
17. Can’t Buy Me Love
18. Zoolander
19. Robin Hood: Men in Tights
20. Ghostbusters

9 Months

Dear Linnea,
You are 9 months old! This last month seems to have been one of the biggest as far as growth, developments, and changes. I can't believe how much you are learning. Daddy and I talk a lot about how we hardly see any "baby" left in you...you're becoming such a big girl. I can't believe that you'll be a year old in just a few months! Where has this year gone?! It was another great month with my very favorite baby girl...

You got your first tooth...
We felt like you were teething for FOREVER!! I'm not sure if you were or not... We definitely saw a tooth trying to poke out for several weeks there. And then finally, on May 3rd, I stuck my finger in your mouth to check for a tooth as I had done every day for weeks, and lo and behold, there one was!! It's your lower right tooth that came in - and the lower left will follow shortly....we can see it coming. You love sticking your tongue out and feeling the tooth. In a not so fun development - you can use the tooth for biting, and have bit mama a couple times while nursing - hard enough to draw blood! Ouch!

You learned hands and knees crawling...
You have been army crawling for MONTHS now, and have gotten very, very fast. It had gotten to the point where I wondered if you would skip the whole "normal" crawling thing. But just like that, you figured it out! You are getting more confident every day, although you still use the army crawl sometimes on the wood floors because you don't slip as much that way! It's really cute - you'll crawl on your hands and knees on the rug, but then as soon as you hit the wood floors you switch to the army crawl. :-) You are (as you have always been) such a busy, active little babe!

You clapped...and waved....
You added clapping and waving to your "tricks" this month. Both of these skills seemed to show up over night - it's so crazy! I found myself being SO surprised to see you doing these things, asking myself, "when did you learn how to do THAT??!"

You've always liked being clapped at - you smile very proudly when people clap at/for you...but until recently, hadn't been able to return the favor. You don't make much of a sound when you clap because you aren't strong enough and/or don't quite have the hand-eye coordination to put your hands together just right, but you definitely have the motion down!

The development of waving was a bit more gradual.As you noticed your hands more and more, you started learning how to manipulate them. Before long, you had it figured out! Your wave includes lots of wrist action - and a lot of times, both hands! It's very sweet - you wave to EVERYONE.

You got pink eye...
Shortly after getting out of the hospital, you ended up catching a bit of a cold AND pinkeye. Poor girl...you can't catch a break. Daddy and I were pretty clueless at first. You'd wake up in the morning with your eyes goopy and crusty...we thought it was just because of the cold. Oops.

Magna ended up having to send you home because she suspected pink eye (smart Magna). After a trip to the doctor, you had eye drops and doctor's orders to stay away from daycare for 24 hours. Thankfully, Grammy and Grampy were able to spend the day with you. Pinkeye and your cold didn't slow you down a bit. You are SUCH a trooper.

You learned how to climb steps... 
As you've become more mobile, and crawling, and pulling up, you've learned how to climb steps! Oh my goodness! We scrambled to the store to buy baby gates. Grandma and Grandpa have enjoyed watching you learn how to climb the step from their family room to the kitchen. You are also itching to climb up the stairs from the basement. We have to keep a REALLY close eye on you, because you don't know how to get back down! We've got to teach you how to crawl back down, rather than fall back down!

You've grown and changed a lot too...
We just had your 9 month appointment with Dr. Khan. She said you looked great! You weighed in at 19 pounds, 8 ounces, which is around the 60th percentile. We are so glad you've gained all your weight (and then some) back after being sick. Yay for a happy, healthy baby! You were 29" long, which is around the 90th percentile.

With this appointment, we filled out a survey about the different skills that you are doing to make sure you are on track for your age. They asked about verbal skills, large and fine motor, and problem solving. Dr. Khan said you were right on track, and ahead in verbal and large motor skills. You make us very proud! It also was fun to see what types of things we have to look forward to - there are many more fun things to come! 

You continue to grow out of clothes pretty quickly - I'm finding myself putting you in 12 month clothes more and more. I make a point of putting you in things that I think look way to big because usually that means they'll fit just right! You have lots of cute summery clothes, which is good because it's starting to heat up a bit! You are still in size 3 diapers. 

Because you've gotten so tall, we finally decided to buy you a "big girl carseat!" I think you really like it! It allows you to sit up more so that you can look around and look out the windows as we drive. It's pretty fancy and plush - you're riding in style! We put a mirror on the headrest that you face so that we can look at you through the rearview mirror. It's fun to catch your eyes and make you smile. :-) The only downside of the new carseat is that when you fall asleep in the car, there's no easy way to get you inside. We always try to get you out and not wake you, but no such luck - you always wake up!

Magna has started to give you solid food at lunch. You are really starting to love solid food more and more...you gobble it up! The newest foods you've tried are peaches, squash, and blueberries.

Your sleep has gotten MUCH better within the last month. After we got through the transition from hospital to home, you are consistently sleeping through the night! You haven't slept this well in months! Woo hoo!!

You have REALLY had a great month. You are growing and learning and becoming more and more of your own little self. Your personality is just wonderful and we love experiencing everything with you.

We love you SO much,
Mama and Daddy