August

Some days I feel like I really have it all together and I’m all that.  Other days I feel like I run around all day putting out fires caused by my own spaciness, over-scheduling, and procrastination.   Today was one of those days.  Wednesday is supposed to be my desk day.  I pay bills, do piano bookkeeping, make meeting agendas, etc.  Today, through a series of events that aren't actually that interesting or worth mentioning, I didn't get any of those things done.  Clara has one more meal left before we go to sleep for the night, so I thought I would try and squeeze a blog post under the finish line on my otherwise unsuccessful desk day.  Plus, August was a really great month that I would like to have blog evidence of.  Because really, if you don’t blog about it, did it actually happen?

August is rodeo month.  Longtime blog readers knows what this means to me.  Clara did great at her first rodeo, and Erik and I had a fun time together.

Please note the Jeep stroller.  We are nothing if not brand-loyal

Cute Cowboy daddy

Clara rocking the Moby wrap

The highlight of the month is that Clara and I went to Idaho for a week.  My brother Alex and his sweet wife Emily were visiting from Virginia and I wanted them to meet my girl.  In keeping with Bylund-style chintzy-ness, instead of flying out of the airport 10 minutes from my house, Clara and I drove four and a half hours to fly out of Spokane to take advantage of Southwest’s $60 flights.  All in all, it went pretty well.  It was a little stressful getting through airport security and getting from the economy parking lot to the airport, but Clara was a good little travel baby.

All of this was my carry-on.  Southwest is awesome like that.

We had a blast in Idaho. My mom held a little open house for her friends to meet Miss Clara, we went shopping, we had a fun visit from my favorite high school teacher, and my dad took Clara swimming.  She loved the water, it was way cute.  She also slept through the night 8+ hours every night we were there, which was awesome.  Unfortunately, we both caught colds on the flight back, and came home to a few pretty sleepless nights. 

Clara and Auntie Em

Little Joe was Clara's guard dog. He would go sit by her whenever I wasn't and watch everyone.  He even slept against her play pen one night.

Clara going swimming with her Papa

Clara meeting her future friend, Aleah

Clara with her Nona.  My mom has lost a lot of weight and looks fantastic.  I'm really proud of her.

At the very end of the month our college friends Zach and Emily came to visit with their two cute little boys.  We had a great visit with them.

When I was pregnant Erik said he would never wear a front carrier.  Once I got it on him he thought he was all that. 

This reminds me of the dad club in "what to expect when you're expecting"

 We are all busily adjusting to our new fall schedule, but doing well.  Come see my cheerleaders this Friday at the Homecoming game.  They've been working hard, and I think they'll look great.