Month Eleven: Friends Make Heaven

This past month has been a bit boring. Tony is in the dreaded term 4 here at SGU and has next to no time for anything but school. He still tries to be involved in our lives, but it's difficult and I couldn't ask for more time than what he already gives. We have had weekly lunch dates with Daddy though! That's been a kind of fun outing for us... stressful for me just because of timing and Bridget, but it's nice to see Tony in the daylight.

"Cheers!"

Oh, this is kind of exciting. I tried iguana meat the other day. A local from our church, Roger, cooked up a big guy for a visiting missionary and his family, and the other missionaries in town. It literally tastes like chicken. It's la little chewier, but tastes just like it. This was part of the tail.

It has also been extremely hot here on the island this last month. Between the rainy season (increase in humidity) and lack of wind, it's hard going anywhere if you're not going to be in the pool, ocean or direct fan or A/C. Those to things combined make for a long term. The other morning I checked the temperature at 10 am. It was 87 degrees, but felt like 98 degrees. At 4:00 that afternoon the "feel" of the island was at 105 degrees. I'm over this whole summer thing. I feel a little bit of hatred for those back in the states posting pictures of their adorable fall boots, comfy fall sweaters, apple cider this and that, and the leaves changing colors. Envious yes, but I can deal. I'm sure others would love to switch spots with me. To all those who would rather be here, please switch with me!

Humidity does wonders for your hair. Bridget has inherited Tony's waves and wings. It makes for interesting hair styles.
Seriously, that hair though

Since last May I haven't been running. Some days I would like to get back into it, but then I think ehh, better not. If you wake up sweaty, you know it's too hot to go do something that is supposed to make you sweaty. However, Zumba classes have started up twice a week and I've loved it. I've missed dancing. I feel bad taking time for me sometimes, but I know it's necessary. Especially if it involves getting those endorphins pumping. Tony really wants me to do it too, so I am making an effort. And as I said, I am really liking it.

Bridget eating a French Cashew, watching a TV show with me.

We as a family, have had a few fun things happen though. For starters Bridget took her first steps!! 

Nothing photo or video worthy, but she walked for the first time on September 10th 2015. We were watching a movie in the craft room and she decided to take 3 steps between her mommy and daddy. It was so cool! Tony was so excited to have been there for the first steps. :) Since then she has taken a step or two here and there, but no serious walking.

Bridget is also speaking a little more. She says Bear a tons as always, and is getting a lot better at Mama. She also says Uh-oh, Hi, Hey!, Yeah, and the occasional Dada. Tony worries that he talks too much for Bridget and that is why she isn't speaking sooner, but who knows. She also does a little bit of signing. She can sign water and all-done, wave and blow kisses. She is seriously the cutest thing.

Not a happy camper.. I said no to open markers...

She is also taking after her mommy and honing her gymnastics skills. 

What do I mean by this you ask? Let me explain. 

Tony's desk it very oddly shaped and under it there are 3 bars. One that is knee high when you are sitting at it and the other two that are about shin high. Well, Bridget used to just crawl under Tony's desk and grab his legs while he studied. Now that is too easy, so she goes under there and climbs onto the bottom bars and holds herself up by the top bar. Like so...

Don't let her wide mouth face fool you. She loves this and has to be removed repeatedly. She's just practicing for the parallel bars!

One of Tony's favorite new developments is her hitting. Tony teases her a lot and it makes her very angry. She used to just cry about it, but now has a new trick. Tony made this discovery the other night. He put her in a headlock with his knees and messed up her hair. According to him she then yelled Hey!, pulled her head out and hit him on the thigh 3 times and scowled. Hah.

Teaching her bad habits? Apparently Tony is. :/

Bridget is learning how to throw too. It's pretty cute, although not very accurate most of the time.

As a final point, Bridget loves her little friends. So much! It's the cutest thing ever. She loves playing with older kids even when they don't know how to play with her. It is the funniest thing to see. She crawls up to them full steam and they get a look of terror on their faces and run to their mommies. I can't help but laugh every time. Kids her own age have no fear of each other however. The other two little girls that are down here are Bridget's BFFs.

Friend watching by the poolside.

We watched her friend Mila, who is 2 weeks younger than Bridget, one evening and Bridget was just in heaven. She shared all of her toys, they tag teamed Bear in a mad fight to "ride the horsey" and took the messiest and loudest bath I've ever heard Bridget take. There was water everywhere because of all the splashing.

 

 It was so cute and so much fun. Tony even suggested that we hurry and have another baby so Bridget has someone to play with all the time. I graciously declined, so he then suggest we have twins the next time then. :/ I more strongly declined that offer...

Of course, we also needed to share this gem of a video with you. One night, prior to bedtime, Bridget discovered Tony's nipples... she was fascinated with them and kept poking them like a button. I think she was entertained for a full 5 minutes. I hope you find this as funny as we did.