The 18 Month Mark

...giggles and belly laughs (music to my ears), hugs, kisses, tickle monster, reading, splashing, running, climbing, talking, playing, baby dolls and strollers, swimming, dancing, play dates with friends...these are the things that come to mind when I think about Lauren Margaret at 18 months...what a fun age! I think the most exciting development I've noticed with LM this past month or so is how much her little personality is flourishing. She spends most of her day playing with her baby dolls, reading her little books, or playing with her toys. She holds and feeds the babies, takes them on walks, hugs, and kisses them...she's runs around and squeals with her little friends...Lately, I find myself just sitting back and watching her...watching her as she's playing with her friends or playing with her toys...watching as she goes about her day. I love how she's so happy and seems to be so content...now she does have her moments (like EVERY DAY around 5:00pm - ya know "that" time, moms?), but for the most part this is true. It makes my heart happy...makes me feel like we must be doing something right for her to seem so happy. As busy as life can get, and with all the things that fill our days, I encourage you to sit back and just watch from afar and notice the simple pleasures these little ones soak up each day...not worrying about what THEY ARE or AREN'T doing or what we ARE or AREN'T doing enough of, etc...you know, all the things parents think about...it makes me realize that loving them is really the best thing we can do for our children. I love this little girl so much it hurts sometimes...in a good way...know that feeling? I came across this poem the other day and I think it really sums up a mother's love...no matter the age of your child...

i carry your heart with me, (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)
-Edward Estlin Cummings

Happy 18 month birthday, Baby Girl!

Thought I'd post some iPhone pics from this past month. They aren't always the best quality pics, but they are the "action" shots...the everyday things that fill our days....

Being silly with Avery at dinner


enjoying ice cream on a Sunday afternoon

In her party dress on her way to a friend's birthday celebration


Post bday party with Twinkie all over her face...not the best car snack, but fun nonetheless


Having fun at gymnastics at the YMCA! Gotta get that energy out one way or another...seems to be working pretty well!

Still haven't snapped a picture of her on top of the dining room table...hanging from the chandelier....you think I'm kidding...I'm not! Did I mention she's a climber?? Ahh...the joys of being 18 months old!

Splishin' and a Splashin'...

This past Friday we headed over to Marcela's for a pool playdate with some of our bookclub friends. The kids had fun splashing in the pool and enjoying all the yummy poolside snacks. I'm sure everyone slept like a baby that night...including all the adults!

Dylan and Lauren Margaret enjoying their first popcicle of the afternoon....LM helped herself to two more before the day was over!

Olivia and all her cuteness...those cheeks!!

Sweet Aidan

Baby Lily...such a good baby...loved getting to hold her!

LM held Baby Lily...first time to hold a real baby...she was beyond excited. She just kept hugging and kissing her. It was really cute!

The whole gang...completely impossible to get everyone to look at the camera!
Lauren Margaret, Lily, Dylan, Aidan, and Olivia

Sunday we decided to head over to the local splash park. As you can see, LM thought it was really fun! She also had fun playing at the little park right next to it.

Red, White, and Blue!

We enjoyed going to the lake with The Weidenbach's on the 4th of July. It was the perfect day...no rain, not too hot. The girls had a blast playing in the sand and swimming. Here are a few pics from the day and a few from last year when the girls were younger...look how much they've grown!




Lauren Margaret and Lily last 4th of July:

This year:

Guess Who's Back? Back Again....

Dear followers, I will not name any names, but I will say thank you to a certain D@#dy J!m for the emails reminding me that I needed to update our blog. I did need a little kick in the old caboose to get things rolling again...so without further ado.....the last two months in review (yes, this is another marathon post...happy catching up):

May:
Brandon and I enjoyed our first trip sans baby with our good friends The Underwoods. We headed to Vegas for about four days and had a blast soaking up some rays by the pool at Aria, enjoying yummy food, and had some fun at the blackjack tables! We had a really great time but were super excited to see Lauren Margaret upon our return. Lauren Margaret's Nana came to stay with her while we were gone and they had a great time. Nana documented the entire four days on her camera. She managed to make it to a playgroup, storytime at the library, lunch at the mall with friends, and much much more. She even made her special bubble brew and brought her fancy bubble wands for LM to use. They had a great time together!


First night out at The Bellagio. Next stop, dinner at Sushi Roku

Attempt at a self portrait of Allison U. and I

Cabana we rented for a few days

View of pool from cabana

The travelers


 
fun sign entering one of the casinos
 
cool ice sculptures in the hotel mall
 
I loved these mosaic steps in the hotel....so cool!
 

Sculpture outside our hotel

A playgroup that Nana and LM attended. Pictured are LM, James, and Caleb

Reading a book after storytime at the library

Having fun chasing the vacuum cleaner

Playing with Nana's special bubble wands and Nana's special bubbles (will try to post her bubble recipe when I find where I put it)

Girls night out at Chuy's with Nana and our neighbor, Ms. Judy

Grocery shopping...buying mommy some pretty pink tulips...what a nice surprise

Special Sonic lunch! Yummy!!
What a great few days for everyone! Thanks Nana for keeping out little angel and for making some special memories with her!

Fun with friends Lily, Avery, Jackson, and Will:







Memorial Day Weekend:
We started the weekend on Friday doing some fun summer things like splashing in the sprinkler and finger painting (or toe painting if you will):

On Saturday, we attended Marisa and Jerome's wedding. Marissa has been coming to play with Lauren Margaret every Tuesday since she was pretty itty bitty. We are so happy for this sweet couple and were honored to be a part of their special day!



Daddy and LM at the wedding
Sunday, we headed to the lake with The Underwoods:

Chillin' on the lake with my BFF!

Geoffrey having some fun!

Two little red, white, and blue cuties

My little baby face...love her to pieces!

worn out from another fun day at the lake!

June:
We kicked off June with a surprise baby shower for Kimberly Slade and Jackson Thomas Slade. Kimberly already has one little boy and was expecting another little boy, so we decided to have a "Shower Mommy" shower and we all gave Kimberly fun little gifts for her to use...pedicure gift card, gift cards to restaurants/ice cream places, etc. We enjoyed ice cream sundaes at the shower and the kiddos played their little hearts out. I think we really surprised her which was so neat! Here are some pics of the shower:






Next on the agenda...Grand Cayman with my parents (Gammy and Granddaddy...a.k.a Pops...name LM has started calling him) and Aunt Katie. Fun was had by all! Here are a few of my favorite pics from our trip:
























Aunt Adrian came in to GC with some friends the day we were leaving, so we got to visit with her a little bit before our flight!

Girls Week:
Each year my mother in law, my mom, and I...and now LM get together for a girls week. This year we met in Houston after our vacation and had a great time celebrating Nana's bday, shopping, eating, laughing, watching movies, and having a lot of fun. Daddy Jim even came through town to hang out with us for a night. We also had fun hanging out with Aunt Sissy, Uncle T, KK, UncB, and Will, and Grandaddy Pops.







We returned back to Dallas on our 6th year wedding anniversary, June 19th. Brandon and I enjoyed a nice dinner out and even went to a movie to celebrate (at the movie theater...a rarity these days). Brandon, I heart you! Anyone who knows Brandon knows he's always happy...wearing a smile everywhere he goes, always optimistic, and an overall great friend, dad, and husband...I've loved these things about you since the day I met you and they are still the things that make me love you more and more each and every day!


Welcome babies!!!
Three special friends were welcomed into the world over the last two months....we love our new little friends.
Welcome Lily Arden Rosenkranz, May 20th (Proud parents, Missy and Todd. Big brother, Dylan)


Welcome Jackson Thomas Slade, June 10th (Proud parents, Kimberly and Jeff. Big brother, James)


Welcome Eleanor "Elle" Sofia Sanders, June 16th (Proud parents, Jen and Jody Sanders)



We are also super excited about The Underwood's baby #2...due February 3, 2011. He or she may even share a birthday week with big sister, Avery!