Our trip to IA (6/22-6/26)

Willem and I took our first trip with just the two of us to Iowa a couple of weeks ago. I needed to wrap some things up at work but in the evenings we were able to catch up with our close friends. I was a little nervous about the flights because we had a connection, but Willem was great. We made friends on each of the planes and he got quite a few special treats for being so good on the flights. The airline stewardesses loaded him up with cookies and the gentleman across the aisle from him (luckily a grandfather) willingly gave his bag of Cheetohs to Willem after many signs for more and a few lunges toward the bag. I wish I had some pictures from the flights because he was super cute with his face covered in cookies and cheetohs while peacefully sleeping in my arms, his body layed out half in the aisle and half in my lap (he's gotten so tall!!). But I learned when traveling alone far fewer pictures get taken!

So here is what I've got from the trip:

A picture of the other Mom's and kids from the night the Renks' had everyone over for Pizza. We have all been friends from before there was a single baby in the group, it's crazy how much our group has multiplied in the past few years! Our get togethers are definitely more lively now, but thoroughly entertaining.

Willem loved playing with Isabella's toys, especially her kitchen. He spent many morning hours stirring the food in the pot and reorganizing the kitchen to his liking.

This picture was from a morning when I was too tired to take the paci from him. He just kept looking at me teasingly as if to highlight that he had found his paci and was so proud to be able to keep it when he wasn't in the crib. This has been a new game of his lately. At the end of his nap he always throws the pacis out to signal he is awake. Usually I get him from the crib and then put the pacis in the crib so they are ready for his next nap. But on occasion I forget to do so or one has disappeared and I make a note to look for it later. Well Willem almost always capitalizes on those occasions and seeks out the missing paci. Will put it in his mouth and then crawl to me to show me that he's found it. It's so funny because usually he finds the missing paci far under the crib so part of the game is he lays down on his stomach, lifts up the crib's skirt and scooches under the crib to claim the paci. I need to get it on video because his face is priceless when he comes up with the sought after prize.

Another game Willem has really gotten into is playing catch. While in Iowa he found his perfect partner for this game, Savannah(Savannah belongs to the family who was watching Willem while I was at work). The first day Willem stayed with them he found Savannah's tennis ball, he threw it where no one was sitting which usually would have been an end to that game, but not with Savannah. Savannah got up and retrieved the ball and dropped it right next to Willem. So the game began... Apparently they did this so many times that day that the next morning Savannah was too tired to get up. The next morning when I dropped Willem off he paid no attention to me leaving, he was in heaven there playing with Savannah and the girls who were caring for him!

In summary, our trip to Iowa was great in that we really enjoyed seeing our friends and Willem enjoyed playing with the other kids. But we were equally happy to get home as we were definitely missing Jason!