Cedar Rapids

 For Steve's birthday (on Sunday the 22nd of July) we rented a canoe again and this time made a right out of the channel and headed towards Monona Lake. We paddled until we saw the capitol building. Thankfully it was a cloudy and cooler day. It made for a very nice lunch on the canoe and overall canoeing experience. Emma was very at home in the canoe; we had to remind her a few times not to lean too far over the edge!

Emma and I visited Steve in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the following Wednesday. The doctor cleared me for travel and after getting some BOGO free muffins at PDQ we headed off.  Emma was very excited about visiting Daddy's apartment and especially loved that there was a pool right out his back door. We spent two hours at the pool Wednesday afternoon.  When we got in the apartment Emma checked out every door and reported that "the hall closet has a vacuum, a broom and something else and is really quite small."

After tucking Emma in bed Wednesday night she came out into the main room and said, "There is a flashing light coming from the pool. When it flashes I can see the mountains."  Steve tried to explain that it could be the pool lights under the waves. I suggested lightning without really thinking. We both wondered out loud about the mountains since there aren't any in Iowa. 
Back in the bedroom we opened the blinds and the sky was lit up with lightning. We had a spectacular show of flashing lights from all sides that lit up the "cloud mountains." After that Emma fell right to sleep and slept through the louder parts of the storm.
On Thursday morning since it was cooler outside we went to a local park. Emma was excited about the diggers. She wouldn't let me take a picture unless she was scowling. The picture shown is the result of her posing and getting her face just right. (She did approve the picture when I showed her on the camera.)  She attempted the climbing wall, but it was a bit too technical for her. I think she might have done it if I hadn't of been watching.
Emma is looking forward to meeting the baby. She gives us both hugs and surprisingly enough, smiled for the camera back at the apartment that afternoon.
Emma didn't want to leave Daddy's apartment and is looking forward to going back soon!