My little running buddy..

I had to take these pictures this morning...my little running buddy with her giraffe hat on (quite appropriate since she just saw her first giraffes last weekend!) It was a surprisingly cool July morning, but quite perfect for a good run (and a good nap for Taylor :-)).

Getting ready to head outside...

Ready to run!

Peacocks, pea pods, and playtime....

Halfway through 2010 already - can hardly believe it!

We've got a couple of FUN weekends coming up (can't wait!!), so lots of pictures to come, but here are a few from the past week until then!

We took a trip to Binder Park Zoo last weekend, which probably more fun for Ryan and I than it was for Taylor at this point, but she was still very intrigued by all of the colors, people and animals as we walked around. I worked there one summer as a "zoologist-in-training", and it brought back a lot of memories! It was fun to take Taylor, and I have a feeling next summer, when Taylor is older, it will be even more fun to visit, again!

With daddy at the entrance

Watching a peacock show-off his tail feathers


Getting ready to head into the wild Africa part of the zoo...


Riding the train (Taylor got quite startled when the conductor tooted the horn)


Walking with grandma mem


Playtime is becoming much more fun with Taylor as she grows. She is almost rolling over...just gotta get over that little arm that is in the way!

Playing with a little pea pod that she grabbed while I was snacking on them...hopefully a sign of healthy eating habits when she gets older! ;-)



Loving on her little monkey (and chewing on his head a little, too :-))

Big Day...

Today was a big day for a number of reasons!

First - by around 1:30 this afternoon I finally finished printing off and putting all the pieces of my final project together!! There are a couple more pages that need to be added (a few permission letters from publishing companies that I haven't received yet), and I have to get it bound, but the writing is all done!! Since the day I began my master's degree program, I have been anticipating (and let's be honest...there were feelings of dread) this final culminating project. Research writing is not my preferred form of writing. Just looking at the handbook made me cringe - but it is done!! Yay! :-) All 150ish pages of it....

Second, we had Taylor's four month appointment today. Ryan got off work a little early to come along and I was very happy to have him there with us - he had the sad job of holding Taylor's arms during her shots this time (poor little thing!). The appointment didn't go quite as smoothly as her previous ones - there may have been a bottom lip out from the moment we walked into the room, but other than a few tears, overall we got the thumbs up that she is doing really well! She is now 15 lbs 12 ounces and 25 1/4 inches long. Those measurements, along with her head circumference, are all in the 75th-80th percentile - she's not the smallest little girl, but she is very well proportioned (and perfect in every way - you know, from the mom's point of view :-)). There was actually discussion about introducing some solid foods into her diet during the next two months - which makes me a little sad because she seems to be growing up so fast!! Mmmm....rice cereal...sounds tasty. :-D

Little girl at 5 days old.... (click on the picture to see a close-up...she is so tiny!!)


Little girl at 4 months old! (Where did those little skinny legs go? :-) We like the rolls, though, cute little chubby cheeks... :-))

Look at that happy face :-) Love that little face...

A very good Saturday :-D

It was a great Saturday!!

A good morning run, Taylor woke up laughing and talking (oh my do we love this little girl!), a fun lunch on 8th street with friends, Chad and Christen, (and Taylor got to meet a new friend - little Levi :-)), walk down to Farmer's Market, a great e-mail from my professor saying that I am 95% done with my final master's project (this made my day!), tasty dinner, then a trip to the state park to see the sunset at the beach. A whole day hanging out with my two favorite people!!

Pictures from the beach...

Four months old and tons of FUN!! :-)

Four months ago, my life was blessed in a huge way...with Taylor!! And at this stage, she makes me laugh and smile constantly every single day. She is such a talker!! And she isn't quiet about it either. :-D It is very different being home with her now compared with my maternity leave six weeks ago. She is much more playful and alert, and these next couple of months are going to be so much fun!

Can't do a post without pictures... :-)

With daddy before he left for work



Tummy time


Lots of toys!!



Love Me

Sleeping Beauty


(We have our four month appointment next week Tuesday, so I will update with her latest "stats" next week. :-))

16 Weeks Old... and SUMMER BREAK!!

It's SUMMER BREAK!! :-D

Being a teacher is a fantastic profession for so, so many reasons - but one of the big perks is summer break! And it was as though Taylor was excited, too, because when I picked her up she was very talkative and giggly, and cooed in the car all the way home.

We are one week away from the 4 month mark already!

At 16 weeks I love it when she...
snuggles her face into my neck when she is tired,
grabs her toes when she is lying on her back,
is happy and shrieks and talks loudly,
blows bubbles,
falls asleep in my arms,
smiles with a huge grin,
grabs my hair, shirt, finger, or face (when I'm giving her kisses),
sneezes 3 times in a row,
crinkles her nose when she is happy and smiley,
tries to shove her whole blankie into her mouth,
sucks loudly on her hands,
starts splashing her feet during bath time,
turns when she hears my voice when I go to pick her up at daycare...

so much to love!! :-)

This summer is going to be great - lots of trips to Charlevoix planned, lazy mornings, walks in the sun, strolls down Farmer's Market, watching daddy play softball, and hopefully lots of play dates with friends!!

Meeting her great grandparents (my grandma and grandpa) for the first time!




I got my toes!!


Playing, playing playing...

memorial day weekend

It was a Memorial Day weekend up north at Lake Charlevoix like we rarely get to experience. Usually we are happy with one day of sun, temperatures comfortable enough to sit outside without a sweatshirt on, and water that is at least warm enough to dangle your toes in for a little bit. This weekend was completely different! We had beautiful sunshine, temperatures in the high 80's, and the water temperature was 70 degrees!! Needless to say - it was a FANTASTIC weekend!! We swam, ran, threw a tiny nerf football around, ate great food, boated around the lake, read, napped, walked, and had so much fun just being with the family!! :-)

Ever since Taylor was born, I have been looking forward to her first trip up north, and it was as wonderful as I had hoped. She traveled as well as a 3 1/2 month old can (there was lots of playing with toys and making funny faces while sitting next to her in the backseat), and she seemed right at home at the cottage. She slept really well at night, and had some great naps during the day (I think the fresh lake air and soothing sounds from the water had something to do with this :-)). It was fun to watch her take in all the new sights and sounds. We spent time in Boyne City and Charlevoix, and she had her first view of Lake Michigan. She also got to wiggle her toes in the sand on our beach, and splash her feet in the shallow water. We didn't take her for an actual boat ride this time around, but it's on the list of things to do for next time!!

In the car...

In Boyne City...

On the dock

On the boat...





Playing with uncle Jeff...


Chatting with grandpa Randy
Sleeping with grandma mem...

Walking by the marina in CharlevoixLunch in Charlevoix

Walking out along the pier

Early morning view while feeding Taylor... a girl could get used to this :-)