The Outside Bug (and other updates)

Oh dear, well I'm not even going to apologize for not blogging for so long because seriously, I would be apologizing every post from now until eternity since I don't know how much I'm going to be able to post this summer.

How are we? We're doing just fine. I guess this is why I haven't blogged a ton because although things move along and change, there really isn't anything super exciting going on. We've been enjoying our summer, playing in the water, taking walks to the park, watching airplanes, skinning knees, playing with new friends, getting into average toddler mischief and getting scarily close to the terrible 2's with every waking moment.

I guess here are a few things worth mentioning:

• 3 weeks after Lexi's tube surgery one of her tubes got clogged and she got ANOTHER ear infection. Instead of taking oral antibiotics we can now administer ear drops instead. Sounds simple right? Well, not really since Lexi screams bloody murder everytime we hold her down and ATTEMPT to get the drops in. Emphasis on the attempt because I'm not positive that I've ever gotten them far enough in her ear amidst the thrashing side to side and batting my hands away violently. We'll find out tomorrow at her follow up.
• Lexi cut two canines and is working on her third plus a molar. Life has been interesting. My long, hard teether does not do well cutting teeth. There are moments of pure bliss when she's happy, sweet and cuddly, but there are also many many looming terrible 2 tantrums that I know are related to the pain she's experiencing.
• Speech therapy and tubes have helped immensely. Since her tubes Lexi has been so much more vocal and now makes animal noises and is trying to finally say more words, or at least attempt it. Today she was saying "Apple" and has been starting to try to say "Dog" and a few other words. I'm sure the fact that she can finally hear much better makes a big difference, and her speech therapist is pretty stinkin awesome too.
• As if our feeding issues weren't challenging already, lately Lexi loves to throw anything and everything off her highchair tray. She's been doing this for awhile but not to this degree. EVERYTHING goes onto the floor. Now to paint a picture, she is still eating mostly purees with oil. Take about 4 oz of something like sweet potatoes, add 1 tablespoon of oil and then hurl it across your wall. Then take some blueberry puree with the same amount of oil and splatter it over the floor and now you have somewhat of a picture of what our kitchen looks like after almost every meal.
  
• Lexi's obsessed with going outside. So much so that if she can't go outside "RIGHT NOW" even if there's a thunderstorm or it's 100 degrees, she throws a fit. Yesterday we ended up feeding her on the deck in the shade when it was about 97 degrees outside simply because she would not eat unless she could go outside. I wish I could show how vigorously she signs "outside" and then the whine that accompanies it every time she has the urge.

And that's about all. We leave for a 10 day trip to the Northwest for my cousin's wedding in early August. We're looking forward to seeing family and getting away. We have a 3 night stay on the Oregon coast that we're really excited about. We also get to head back up to the Seattle area where I grew up near the end of the trip to stay with my parents and see some old friends. Should be a fun time! Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!