Busy

Tabitha has been busy. Busy popping bubbles, hiding under parachutes, chasing balls, playing the drum, and learning new songs in music class.

Busy grabbing leaves, both in the trees and on the ground.

Busy at the playground, swinging on swings and playing peek-a-boo in these tall plastic wavy thingys with holes cut out of them. (They don't make playgrounds like they used to.)

But mostly, she's been busy walking. She took her first unassisted steps just a week and a half shy of her ninth month. So far, it has proved near impossible to get a picture. Her mobility combined with a fascination of straps and of seeing herself on my camera has put a major dent in my picture taking. Just getting these pictures with my phone was a small miracle. But I'm working on it.

A Walk in the Park

This afternoon, Tabitha and I walked to Winnemac Park, one of my favorite spots in all of Chicago, to soak in the late afternoon sun and what might be one of the last warm days before fall sets in. 

There is so much to see in the park, like this large prairie with native grasses and wildflowers.

That provides plenty for bees, butterflies, and other bugs to feast on.

I was captivated by this plant, which looked like little pine cone flowers to me.

Scattered throughout the park are these grand weeping willow trees, as well as several fields, a playground, a track, tennis courts, and a meandering path.

Tabitha and I picked a nice spot on the grass.

Where she found some neat stuff.

And started making faces.

But most of the time, she ignored me. Keeping busy. Looking around. Soaking it all in.

Moody

Tabitha has many moods. She can be quiet and contemplative, content to pick a dried leaf off the ground, crumble it with her fingers, and play with the bits for hours.

Or, she can smile so hard that, eyebrows arching and cheeks puffing out, her face radiates joy.

 

Firsts

Tabitha has had a number of "firsts" during the past several weeks. She started crawling.

She can pull herself up to stand.

She can walk for miles as long as someone is holding her hands. (Like Cousin Nate and Aunt Ang are doing here.)

She also had her first trip to Deep Creek Lake, where my family has spent summers for more than 25 years.

There, she saw a family of ducks. 

She had her first dip in the lake.

She spent hours exploring inside the house.

And out.

She also watched mommy and daddy play.

And the rest of the family too. ("SORRY!")

Bye bye, Deep Creek. See you next summer.