Happy Friday!

Lauren wanted to show everyone her "pony." She came home from daycare like this on Wednesday. So cute. A few weeks ago, the teachers were giving some of the girls in her class "ponies" but Lauren only got a barrett because her hair really isn't long enough. She was devastated. They got it figured out this time and she loves it. In fact when I took it out before bed, she cried and cried "pony, pony, pony." Luckily Justin was able to fix the situation in the morning and re-do the pony before school.

Lauren is being very funny these days. In fact, this morning when Justin tried to kiss her she exclaimed, "No daddy, that's my face." Just trying to set her boundaries I guess. She loves to sing too. She has "Frosty the Snowman" down pat. Not sure what we'll be singing when the snow all melts away.

Have a great weekend!

Until next time--

Brrrrrr!!!

Who ordered the Artic weather?? It's miserable outside and it's only mid-January. I can't believe we have to endure at least two more months of winter! I need another vacation. Lauren doesn't seem to mind, as you can see from the picture, she'd prefer to go without clothes anyway.

Lauren was under the weather today, so I stayed home with her. She seems to be feeling a bit better this evening. We're crossing our fingers for a full night of sleep tonight. I can't take too many nights of being awake from 2 a.m. on with a screaming child.

In other news...and I'm sure only parents of toddlers would post such things on a blog...Lauren put poopies in the potty last weekend!! We were shocked. Justin bought her a potty on Saturday and she was so excited to use it. Half an hour later, she really did! She's used it successfully a few other times since Saturday, but I think the excitement and newness is wearing off already. We figured she was too young, but had our fingers crossed that maybe she'd just potty train herself since we obviously have no experience with this.

Well I thought I'd post some cute videos taken of Lauren recently to warm you up. Enjoy!!

The first is our Future Iowa Hawkeyes Cheerleader!!

When staying at my parents while we were on vacation, they would always ask Lauren whether she was Memaw's Girl or Papa's Girl. Apparently she can't decide which she'd rather be. Click here.

This Christmas she really become fond of Bing Crosby. In fact, we can't put it away! Everytime we walk through the family room, we have to turn him on and dance. Watch Lauren and Bing dancing here. This girl has some moves!!!

And you have to see her latest "silly face." She really thinks she's quite funny. Click here.

Thanks for checking in on us. Stay warm.

Until next time--

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I am a bit behind in my blogging updates, but with good reason. We've had a busy few weeks...we hosted Justin's family (19 total, including us!) for Christmas Eve and Christmas day, then we drove to Iowa to drop our sweet baby girl at my parents for the week, drove back to Chicago and jumped on a flight to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to celebrate the New Year, landed back in Chicago and promptly raced back to Iowa to see our little girl and celebrate Christmas with my family! Whew! It's been a fun, but exhausting two weeks. Luckily, life is still busy but basically back to normal.

Christmas was wonderful. We love to entertain and really enjoyed hosting Christmas this year. It was fun to have the house full of little kids (and adults too!) Lauren has figured out what opening presents means. As soon as she'd get something open, she'd hand it to Justin and say, "Open Daddy." She wanted the toy opened immediately. But it's really hard for an 18 month old to understand that she had to wait her turn to open the next gift. Luckily, she had a lot to open and could take multiple turns during each round. Everyone was way too generous and now we have to find places to put all of these new things.

One of Lauren's favorite new gifts is her kitchen. (Watch her playing with it here). We have already enjoyed many plastic food dishes! She likes to make "hot vegetables" and "eghhs" (translation= eggs). And of course, "Daddy coffee" because Daddy is the only one that drinks coffee in our house.




After Christmas, we took Lauren to Memaw and Papa's house for the week and Justin & I went to Puerto Vallarta for a few days. It was much harder leaving her behind than we had imagined. I don't think we'll be doing that again anytime soon, although Lauren had a great time and I'm sure was as spoiled as can be that week. She didn't seem to mind we were gone. Puerto Vallarta was beautiful though and we enjoyed the 85 degree weather every day. We had some really great meals, too. We flew back on New Year's Day and then drove straight to Iowa.



We spent last weekend in Iowa with my family celebrating our Christmas. Again, Lauren got way too many gifts!! She had a great time seeing Nick and Stephanie. (Watch Stephanie and Lauren playing ring around the rosey here.) Papa built Lauren a beautiful dollhouse bookcase for her room. She also got a new baby that you can feed and she wets her diaper. (Watch her feeding here baby here. So motherly!) She loved her new Princess towel from Aunt Melissa too and didn't want to take it off! Silly girl!


Thanks for checking in on us. We wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2009!

Until next time--

Lauren is 18 months old!

Where does the time go? It feels like just yesterday we were meeting our baby girl for the first time and now she's 18 months old already! How quickly they grow and change. This video was taken a few moments after she was born.

Now she's become a little kid and is talking constantly. And she's very funny. She likes to tease everyone now. She'll hide her hands and say, "Where did Lauren's hand go?" Or she'll do something funny and want your attention and ask, "What's Lauren doing?"

She didn't have to get any shots at her 18 month appointment. She was 25.6 lbs (66th percentile) and 33 1/2 inches tall (93rd percentile). Such a big girl!!