Happy Memorial Day!

Todd's Aunt Sandy and Uncle Jerel were in town from Texas, so we headed over to Todd's parents' place on Sunday for a cookout. Lauren stayed with them while we were in SC, so she was pretty excited to see us. Todd's sister and her family joined us as well, and as you can imagine, the kiddos were all just overwrought with excitement at seeing each other!

Mimi took the kids on a wagon ride.

When everyone tired of that we headed down to the lake to watch PapaFish teach the two older kids how to fish. Lauren and Kaitlyn hung out on the swing with Mimi.

A Family Portrait

All tuckered out, heading home at last!

Misty's Wedding

Kate & Todd at Falls Park on the Reedy

As many of you blog stalkers know, Misty on my team got married last weekend in Greenville, SC Todd and I made the 2 hour road trip with Debbi and met Nadra and her husband, Marcus, up there for the festivities. I had only been to our office there, which (personally) I think is in the armpit of Greenville because I fell so in love with their little downtown area! They have these great little neighborhoods of older homes that are being revitalized, the Falls Park on the Reedy is beautiful (!), they have a single A minor league team "The Greenville Drive". We just had the best time, and the wedding went off without a glitch!

Nadra, Kate, & Debbi (post-nuptials!)

Nadra & Marcus

Kate, Nadra, Debbi, & Misty

She just looked so happy all day!

Todd & Kate outside the church

Misty's reception took place in the brick building on the other side of the bridge. We crossed the waterfalls. It was truly an exquisite site!

Views of the Park

100th Post

Wow...What a milestone! Thanks for being a part of our journey.


Lauren went to the dr for her 15 month check up on Wednesday. I swear she knew something was up from the moment she got out of bed. She started whimpering in the elevator. She bawled through her weigh-in/measurements, quieted down for the conversation part of our visit, but once the examining began again, through the shots (one in the back of each arm, and one in the thigh).....she was a goner! The good news is that Dr. Leonard says Lauren is as perfect as can be and right on track in every way that matters.

Stats:

33 inches <95th%
27.10 lbs <95th>%

To be honest, I thought she'd be heavier and taller based on my at home measures, but regardless, she's still off the charts, and very consistent with where she's been all along. As the good doctor said..."She gonna be a tall one for sure!".

Sunday at the Park

She sure does love the swings!

After being totally overstimulated on Saturday during the cookout, Todd and I kept things pretty chill for Lauren during the day on Sunday. But, by the late afternoon we were all itching to get out of the house, so we took Ladybug to the playground at our neighborhood Swim & Tennis club.

Notice the label on this firetruck...that about sums it up around our house!

Hmmm...what to explore next. The choices were endless...

How about the slide with Daddy? Awesome! Let's do that again (...and again...and again...)

Peek-a-boo, I see you! Mama, can we get one of these at OUR house?!?!

She loved how everything in this little house was JUST HER SIZE. :)


Starting to get tired and zoning out. Dang! Is she tall or what? You can really tell in this shot.

Winding down with Daddy. Such a sweet moment.

Partying Like Rock Stars..

...or more like 'past-our- partying- prime- professionals' (how's THAT for alliteration?!) with lots of babies, toddlers, etc., around! :) I think it was definitely more sippy cups and matchbox cars, than champagne and limos. We decided very last minute to have a cook-out on Saturday, so we sent an email out to our circle of friends from Todd's childhood years, and the majority of them were able to join us. We had a great time and wonderful weather. Todd set up the badmitton net, and the Tournament of Champs continued from an earlier bout.

Look at their form, their concentration!

Jamie and Steph brought Haylie over for her debut at the cookout. She's a great little snuggler. Lauren adored seeing the "Baba" (read: Baby), and wanted to help swing her, pat her, whatever the little one needed.

We had to a work a bit on "Gentle Touch". (Side note: check out those toned arms on Mommy! Yeah! That's what happens when you lug around a 3o-lber all the time.)

Oooh! Ooh! Look at the Baba. She was so interested and excited and curious about this sweet little thing.

Oh Lauren wanted to touch baby Haylie SOOOOO BAAAAD!

Giving Haylie a little push on the swing. So proud of herself for 'helping'...

Steph and Haylie (Mom and Mini-Me)

They are both looking great at 6 weeks post-delivery!

Todd as a Toddler...

...and baby. As promised, here is the other half of Lauren's good looks. :)

Todd at 1 month

Ole! He can crawl....

Hangin' out with his Daddy

Todd and his Mother

10 months old...he still has that exact same smile!

With his maternal grandparents and Sissy (Lisa). I think you've all heard Grandpa Herb stories. :)

With his buddies, Bert & Ernie

Todd and Lisa

With his Dad and sister, Lisa. Look at that grin...

My little sailor boy...I must say I saore a "man in uniform" .

So there you have it folks! I think after looking at both sets of pictures, I personally think she's a definite blend of both of us.

Mommy's Mug

I have had several folks ask me if Lauren resembles me at all as a child, so I dug up some old photos from my baby and toddler years so you can all decide for yourselves! I'll see if I can't find some of Todd too, though it's clear she looks a lot like her daddy, so it may be a moot point here, folks... Enjoy!

Here I am at about 5 months with my Aunt Kathy.

No date on this one, but check out those dimples!

Check out that 'stach on Larry!

I definitely recognize that serious look of concentration...and those cheeks!

I look like I am ready for the Kentucky Derby with that hat...

Here am I, just a few months older than Lauren is now....What a tall little girl I was too! (and a BALD little girl!). This was taken at my grandparent's house near St. Louis. The knotty pine paneling always makes me think of them.


That little body makes me guess this is about Lauren's age right now. This is my mom's mother, Elvera. [Mom: is that Uncle Tim in the Addidas t-shirt next to Grandma???]

Here with my Poppa (mom's father, Earl). I think he's making an audio recording...we just found them all again not long ago. So neat to listen to Grandma and Poppa talk about farms, the Great Depression, and other life happenings. Gosh! I am still pretty bald in this pic, and I must be close to 2 years old........

And, finally, sitting with Grandma in their living room. Personally, I see this exact same expression on my little ladybug, though she has the same shaped face as her Daddy. Do you think I am so sad looking because of the crazy dress my mommy put me in that day?!

I'll try to post pics of Todd soon too, so you can "stare and compare"!

My First Mother's Day Art Project Gift

Sweet Moment -- had to share!

On Monday Lauren kept taking the goldfish she painted off school off of the refridgerator door. After showing Todd several times, he told her to "Go show Mama". She walked right over to me in the other room and said, "Mama?", and held up the picture. I loved seeing her follow directions and understand what was being asked!

It was such a sweet, grown up moment with her that I will treasure. Is that too sappy???

A Weekend in Paradise

The morning view from the condo we shared with Beth and David.

Todd and I had a weekend getaway to Amelia Island, FL. Two of my dearest friends from college married each other (FINALLY!) so we joined in the celebration. Ladybug stayed with her Mimi and PapaFish and had a ball.

My best friend Beth and her husband David's flight was delayed coming out of Chicago, so Todd and I had some time to kill. We checked out Walmart, Gander Mountain, and Old Navy. Exciting times. Then we realized there was a Budweiser plant just down the road. And wouldn't you know it? THEY GIVE TOURS. Tours that end with a hospitality suite where each guest is entitled to 2 - 12oz samples. Hot Dog!

Afterward we took some photos with Larry, the Clydesdale:

Todd and Larry

Kate giving Larry a kiss for luck!

We took this shot for my Dad, Larry. :) Sorry Dad. The horse's bum made it into the shot. Haha.

And Todd with his head up Larry's...yeah. You get the picture.

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Saturday we checked out the 45th Annual Amelia Island Shrimp Festival which was less about shrimp and more about arts and crafts before heading down to the beach to sun our OH so pale selves.

Here is my BFF Beth and me sunning ourselves before the wedding and watching our goofy husbands play in the waves. Thank goodness those two yahoos get along so well!

And here is the bride and groom during their first dance! Congratulations Megan and Jay...

And finally, the Three Amigos...reminds me of Senior Year.