She's eating more food!

Drew reports that Rachel has been quite willing to try new foods lately. Added to her repertoire: Ham. Gouda. Brie! String cheese! Together they all add up to a (somewhat) nutritious meal! Go Rachel!

We had a lovely time tonight blowing bubbles outside. Thanks to everyone who gave Rachel bubble mix for her birthday; and PopPop for giving her a cool bubble blower. She's having a great time using it!

Today was rainy and blech. Yes, it's July. Yes, we're sick of the rain. I took Rachel to visit our friends Paige and Ryan and their kids Parker (who is Rachel's age) and Ruby (their sweet little newborn girl! Oh, for a baby to hold again!!). Paige and Ryan were checking out of their hotel on their way back to Eugene and Paige was getting ready to go report a story for the magazine I edit, so it was a quick visit. But fun: Ryan grabbed a bellhop cart and pretended it was a train, so he kept Rache and Parker occupied while Paige and I visited. We had a really nice chat, and Rachel and Parker really hit it off. As they were about to leave, Parker gave Rachel a big hug and they somehow fell on the floor with Rachel on top of Parker hugging him! "Get a room, guys," Ryan muttered as Paige and I cracked up; it was so sweet to watch!

Then Drew took Rachel grocery shopping and to buy some rain boots since it is going to be RAINY the rest of this week. I went to an event welcoming new students to Northwestern which was sponsored by the NU Alumni Association, of which I am a member. It was lovely but I wished Rachel and Drew were with me (it was really a grown-up party, and Rachel would have been really bored). I was struck by two things: a) I could not possibly get into NU today and b) I am now old enough to be some of these kids' MOMS. A rather sobering thought.

I got back home to see Rachel had chosen some Thomas the Train boots. Oh, she couldn't wait to show them to me! She proceeded to wear them all night -- inside the house and outside. She should get good use out of them this week.