August with Opal

Opal has had a big few weeks. It seems that everyday she is learning more and more and jumping through milestones of development. I think that John and I would both agree that babies are FUN at this stage. Nearing 14 months, Opal's personality emerges as quite a humorous and amiable one. She often laughs at herself and us and books and bugs and birds and boats. "B" words are a favorite. For awhile, everything was "ball." And Opal is beginning to speak a few words. She points to our eyes and says "ei," she says "ball," she says "boat" without the "t," and she says the beginnings of many others, including "ra" for "rock."
She also says Mama and Dada and said Papa once while her Grandpa was water skiing and she looked on.

We have only found one thing of which Opal is afraid...mooing cows closer than 10 feet away. She seems to show no fear of anything else - which is mostly good. It makes us feel like she is secure and confident. I'm sure that we will find detriments to this fearlessness one day, but right now it makes new things in everyday life fairly easy.

We just got back from a weekend trip to Table Rock Lake in southwestern Missouri. We spent time on Bill and Lauren's boat, swam in the clear water, and chatted with family. It was a great vacation and I will post pictures soon. Opal had a good time as well.

Not much else is going on with our family right now. We are going to New York in a couple of weeks and are just relaxing until then. We have a wedding to go to and then are staying with friends, Dave and Doug, in Brooklyn. We will also see my brother, Cortney, and my sister, Lauren.

Take care. Wishing you a lovely, happy day.