Memorial Day Weekend

I am utterly exhausted after our long weekend but we made a lot of fun memories and didn't take enough pictures! Nana and Papa flew in Thursday evening from Georgia for Race weekend. While Daddy worked and Papa golfed, we headed outside to do some shopping since it was too nice to stay inside! Phoebe loved the fountain outside and the three-way mirrors in the last store we hit.

Then Nana and Papa headed out with friends while we headed to Upland to celebrate Auntie Kate's hooding ceremony. We first hit Ivanhoe's for dinner (I think I only ate a meal there once while I was a student so it was kind of weird - but it proved that their ice cream is reason enough to visit!).

We got to tour the campus a little bit - I know YiaYia and Papou had visions of Phoebe being a student there in 17 years...

LOVE this picture!!!

We're SO proud of Auntie Kate and thrilled that she'll be gainfully employed in Pennsylvania this August at Messiah College. It's SO much better than Ireland or Washington so we're excited she'll only be 6-7 hours away. And we're really excited that she'll be home next week for the summer.

Saturday morning Nana helped us plant our garden (better late than never, right?). Papa was golfing (again!) so we planted tomatoes, corn, green beans, sugar sna peas, cucumbers, zucchini, green peppers and sunflowers. We'll be delighted if ANY of it grows! For now, Phoebe just enjoys helping us water it each day! That afternoon we headed to the zoo. Now that Phoebe is interested in everything, I've been wanting to visit and see how she'd do. She loved it, despite the crowds!

We even ran into the White River Gardens to see the Butterflies in Bloom exhibit. They were getting ready for a wedding - I'm sure it was a gorgeous ceremony!

Sunday we headed to church and had lunch with Aunt Carrie and cousin Lucas while Papa and Uncle Mike were at the race. That afternoon we headed to YiaYia and Papou's to celebrate Papou's 59th birthday. Holy cow! We can't wait for Phoebe to hang out with them on his new porch swing!

Monday was the only day it rained so we spent a lazy morning at home, hit the tail end of Shawn's birthday party (I left my camera in the car, otherwise I would have got some fun shots of the kids tackling Ryan and Phoebe just trying to keep up). Then we had dinner with Nana and Papa, Chris, Corrie and baby Bailey at Buffalo Wild Wings. Phoebe did really well around Bailey who is almost 3 months old now - I wasn't sure if she'd be jealous but she just wanted to touch her.


At lunch on Sunday, she slid sideways in the highchair at Maggiano's and banged her face. This is just to document her first (and we hope, only) black eye...

And now we're back to life as "normal" and thankful it's a short week. Nana and Papa flew back today and we're already looking forward to seeing them at the end of June when they come back for a wedding!

Getting SO big!

For part of her birthday gift, we got Phoebe this chair (thank you to all the Great Grandparents for your contributions!) because whenever I would visit her at daycare, she'd run to the little chairs and tables and climb up ready to go. It finally arrived and we were thrilled to see she loves her new chair!

And she wouldn't be a normal kid if she didn't enjoy the box it came in just as much! Do you see the little curls at the back of her head?! We're wondering if she might get more curls as her hair continues to fill in.

We got her "walking papers" at the end of this week saying she'd be moving up to the next class in daycare June 1st. Once I found out a few weeks ago that she wasn't being moved, I totally forgot about working on sippy cups and lack of pacifier. However, now that we're in countdown mode, I'm freaking out just a little. She's totally not interested in a sippy cup when she should be drinking her bottle. So...even though the pediatrician said no juice, I caved. And she drank practically the entire thing (watered down organic pear juice, no less!)! Now if only we can get her to do the same with milk, we'll be all set. Again, any advice would be MUCH appreciated!

She also enjoys this hand-me-down rocking Tigger from my cousin Cassie and her family. We got to hit the pre-sale to their garage sale last summer and are still bringing out new things for Phoebe to play with and wear (we still owe you guys, too!!!).

Ryan took this picture of her on Saturday - everyone says she's got the bluest eyes but no photo ever seems to do them justice.


Sunday after church, we headed to a birthday party and Phoebe got to swing and play with big kid toys. She had a blast while Mommy and Daddy got to catch up with good friends.

Here she is exploring their cabinets right before she took a face plant on their kitchen floor. However, she was a trooper and went right back to playing after a hug from the both of us.

She's getting to be such a big girl and is watching us so intently. Friday I changed her diaper and afterwards, she picked it up and walked into the kitchen to throw it away in the trash. Then she went to the hand sanitizer and "pumped" it and rubbed her hands together. I tell you, the girl is one smart cookie! She even grabbed my kabuki brush and pretended to put powder on her face while I was getting ready this morning. It's hard to believe she's 13 months and already picking up on so much.

Mother's Day Weekend

Sorry for the delay in posting - last weekend was a rather uneventful and yet one weekend in the last year, that I'd really like to block from my memory! Phoebe began cutting her one year molars and two more bottom teeth all at once. She refused her pacifier and her bottle so it made for one hungry, cranky baby who could not be soothed. Long nights, early mornings and we thought for sure she either had an ear infection or swine flu, but the doctor assured us she had neither! Sunday morning last week, Phoebe and I were in her room playing while Ryan showered. I was sorting clothes since she's growing like a weed and she was just entertaining herself when all of a sudden she got the door open and was on her way down the stairs before I could even move. I can not explain the fear I felt in that moment as I raced down the stairs after my tumbling daughter. I think it scared me more than it did her because I was the one sobbing when the whole ordeal was over, not her! We went out and bought a gate immediately. So for those of you to-be-parents - hear me loud and clear - as soon as your child is mobile - buy a gate - it's simply not worth the anxiety that comes with a tumble. Not that a gate will always work, but we're kicking ourselves for not having one last weekend!

But the teething has eased and the bruise on her little forehead is just about gone so things are surely returning to "normal" around here! Friday night Phoebe spent the night with YiaYia and Papou. It was nice to be on our own for awhile - we've decided we need to do it more often! Saturday we ran errands and then headed to Anderson to celebrate my cousin Miriam since she graduated from seminary. We're so proud of her for pushing through and can't wait to see what she'll do next!

We got to see Jen, Joel, Bella and Gabby who were in from Phoenix - it amazes me that ALL kids seem to grow like crazy!



Phoebe got to play with Bella in the gym. It amazes me that kids don't get sick more often. Here Phoebe is kissing a ball that looked like it'd seen better days...


We just put together the wagon Nana and Papa got Phoebe for Christmas since the men's softball league has officially started at church. She saw the wagon at East Side while we were there for the party and immediately climbed in. Here she is trying to figure out how to pull Bella, who weighs a bit more than a few stuffed animals, like in the one we have at home...





Sunday we went to church and then had brunch with Auntie Kate and Uncle Steve before heading to Anderson to get family pictures taken and then celebrate Gabby's first birthday. The trips worked out perfectly as they were timed around her naptime. This picture she looks like such a big girl as she observes Gabby chatting away.

Here's Auntie Kate hanging out with Papou. She just defended her thesis last week and has two weeks before she graduates with her masters from Taylor. We're praying a job opportunity opens up closer to us - right now her options are either Pennsylvania or Ireland, so God is working on my selfishness right now. Oh how I want Phoebe to have at least one aunt close - so either Aunt Carrie and Uncle Mike better work on moving to Indiana or Auntie Kate better put her application in a few more places closer to home!

The kids were easily entertained with bubbles and stickers, cupcakes and gummi bears so the party was a great success!

Miriam borrowed the cupcake pan for Gabby's cake and it's now back in our hands so if anyone else is interested in borrowing it, please let me know! Gabby wasn't quite sure what to do with the cake at first...

But she quickly figured it out and managed to do more damage to her cake than Phoebe did with hers!

We had a great time seeing everyone and are already excited to see how the family pictures turned out. Not sure if we'll be able to post them but I'll certainly get them here if we're allowed.

Phoebe is turning out to be quite the cuddler and I couldn't help but post this quick head snuggle she shared with Daddy today.

It's hard to believe this is already my second Mother's Day. I stand amazed at my own mother and all that she has done for me, sacrificed for me and put up with from me over the years. I am so excited to watch her develop into a great YiaYia for Phoebe. I truly feel blessed that God found me deserving of a child such as Phoebe Rae. She is truly a delight - if only we could get her to say something other than "Dada" the world simply can't get any better.

Graduation & A Birthday!

What a full and busy weekend we had! Friday we had Phoebe's 12 month check up. She did great when it came time to get her shots. She weighed in at 19 lbs. 4 oz. (25th percentile) and measured 30 inches long (75th percentile). We're making the attempt to switch to cow's milk and somehow manage to give up bottles and the pacifier during the day since she's getting bumped up to the next classroom at daycare. It's because she's walking so darn well. Please keep us in your prayers as we make this quick transition (she moves next week!)

Nana, Papa, Aunt Carrie and Cousin Lucas flew in Friday night and met us for a late dinner. We had made plans to celebrate Phoebe's birthday a week late and they all so graciously bought plane tickets to make the day complete. Saturday morning, Doris & I headed to the MOPS Kids' Stuff sale at our church. We got there as the doors opened at 8:00 and there were already over 150 people in line. It was CRAZY but we got a few good deals which made it worth our while!

Later that morning, we'd planned to go up north for brunch to celebrate Mother's Day since we won't be together that day. You can imagine Doris' surprise when we pulled onto the Indiana Wesleyan University campus in Marion, Indiana 90 minutes later. She asked, "What are we doing here?!" and I said, "Well, Doris, we're here for graduation." She goes, "Who is graduating?!" It was THE BEST to see tears of pure joy on her face as she realized that Ryan had gone to school, completed his bachelor's degree in marketing and she hadn't had to pay a penny! We are ALL so proud of him for his commitment and discipline to get his degree. Every Monday night for the past two years, from 6:00 - 10:00 p.m. he was in class. I've already blocked the months he was doubled or tripled up to finish up his electives from my mind - we are SO glad his school days are over!

Even Granddaddy Alan came all the way from Virginia to surprise Ryan at his graduation! What fun to have the family together to celebrate! YiaYia, Papou and Uncle Steve even made it there to join in the ceremony. Of course, the trip up north wouldn't be complete without a stop at my old stomping grounds. And unfortunately, I'm referring to Ivanhoe's where they serve over a hundred different shakes and a hundred different sundaes. Holy cow - we were all on a sugar overload by the time we piled back in the car. I think Lucas got something called Chocaholics Anonymous and it was chocolate ice cream with a chocolate hershey's bar crushed over the top and drenched in hot fudge. He got his minus the fudge, but really, why bother?! And I had their strawberry shortcake - something I'd never had my entire college experience - let's just say, had I known it existed, I'd probably be 20 lbs. heavier! Yumm-o! We did make the loop around Taylor's campus afterwards just so we could show the rest of Ryan's family where I went to school. We'll be back up there next month for Auntie Kate's gradution with her Masters!

Sunday we went to church and then scurried around town trying to get all the last minute things we'd need to celebrate Phoebe's birthday. She did fabulous! Not sure she liked all the attention but LOVED all the toys!

I ended up caving and just bought a pan to make a giant cupcake. Anyone ever need to borrow it, don't hesitate to ask!

She wasn't too interested in eating the actual cake or frosting. She was more concerned with picking off all the little flowers we'd sprinkled over the top.



And I'm not sure what was going on here, but thought it too funny to not include!

THANK YOU Nana and Aunt Carrie for ALL your help in getting the house together and the cupcakes presentable. I would have been lost without you and probably up in our bedroom crying while everyone arrived if not for you! I owe you big time! And thanks to everyone who came to celebrate Phoebe's first birthday! It's hard to believe our little baby isn't so much a baby anymore...

Phoebe turns one!

Here she is bright and early on her first birthday. I could go on and on about how fast the time has just flown by this past year, but I'll save that for another post. Our little girl is growing up SO fast! We go in this Friday for her one year check up and I'm anxious to hear her stats - I weighed myself today (which was scary in itself!) and then grabbed her and she was an even 19 lbs. - what a peanut she is. I think all the walking she's doing has to be burning up the calories because gosh, the girl can eat!

We headed to the mall to meet YiaYia for dinner and Papou even got to eat with us on a quick break. They said they couldn't let her actual birthday go by without opening a gift so she got a puppy book that barks - she loves it - we heard it the whole way home...

We also tried out the indoor play area for the first time since it wasn't very crowded. She had a good time and was very interested in all the other kids running around. It's hard to believe she can actually play like this already!

Saturday morning we got up early to participate in the Race for the Cure with my office. We made sure Phoebe was wearing her pink and we even had her own bib made so she'd be official!

We had to stop on the way back to our car so she could stretch her legs. Of course she had to stop and examine this - it looks like a diamond - we have a very smart girl...

With the weather being so gorgeous, we spent most of the afternoon outdoors. I had NO idea a one year old could possibly get so dirty just by being outside! She got to spend time with Brutus, let's just say he tolerated her. She loves his kisses, I'm the one who's not so sure about them!

She helped Daddy do some yard work.

She even seemed to admire my green thumb (or lack thereof) - I planted over 100 bulbs when I was pregnant with her and am amazed that they've come up two years straight now!

And the oh-so-good news of the weekend...Pita's ultrasound on Tuesday came back with nothing definitive. They said that her stomach muscles were swollen which is typical of dogs with lyme disease, but since she's an indoor dog and we've seen no ticks, they're not sure what she has but they're treating it like it's along those lines. Let's just say we have a new dog! She's still a bit weak, but she's eating and drinking and going up and down stairs. Thank you for your prayers - we hope she continues to heal and will be back to her old self in no time. Here's a picture of her gnawing on Brutus' bone - what a brave girl she is!