2.13.10 - 2.15.10 Valentine's Day and We're Going to FSU !!!

We started our Valentine Weekend with a stroll in St. Andrews to take part in the the Mardi Gras Krewe of St. Andrews Festivities. We didn't stay for the parade (it was really cold and windy and mommy and daddy needed to get ready for their night out) but enjoyed festival food and walked around with Uncle Tyler.
Lauren trying out her mittens and winter gear. I told you it was cold!
Lauren's first Valentine's Day was celebrated with special gifts from Aunt Nan and Uncle Dick (Crazy dancing and singing dog), Gigi and Pops (pretty pink little outfit), Mama Lee (soft teddy bear), Elmo is SO Big Book (mommy and daddy) and Where is Baby's Valentine Book (JB and Noah).

Saturday afternoon, we met Grandma in Sunny Hills to do a "Lauren Exchange"! She spent the night with Grandma and Pa that night so that we could go out on a date for Valentine's Day at Flemmings in Sandestin. Eric and I had a great time and enjoyed delicious food and great wine during our very laid back 2 hour dinner. It was perfect.

Lauren got to play with Lucas and Uncle Gabe Saturday night and Grandma's report was that she was a good girl. She went to church and squealed and smiled at the 3 other little children sitting around them.
We picked her up Sunday afternoon and got to visit with Aunt Sarah and Uncle Lance.
Hanging out with Aunt Sarah is so fun!!
Practicing standing
Lauren likes the cows but I'm not sure she knows what to think of them just yet. I think that she must think they are big, loud Emma's. :-) She walked down in the field with Pa and Grandma to take a closer look.

We are practicing more and more on crawling, not that we are in any hurry though.
We then went for a quick visit to Granddaddy and Ganny's. Granddaddy was holding her and said his normal saying "Lauren is a sweet girl...yes she is!" All of a sudden, she laid her head down on his chest as if she was giving him a hug. It was so sweet! He did it two more times and both times, she did the same thing. It is so hard to imagine that she is acting out her feelings or thinking about situations so much, but I think she is! Amazing how much she has learned in 7 months.
Aunt Kay is going to FSU this Fall!! We are so excited for her! She found out a few weeks ago and on Monday, Lauren and I went with Gigi and Aunt Kay for her official visit. I'm not sure if a baby has ever been on a visit, but there has been now! Lauren took a good nap driving over to Tallahassee and was ready for a 2 hour walking tour in the Baby Bjorn. She was very good and at the end of the tour, yogurt bites and puffs came in very handy. Thank you, Jackson, for introducing them to Lauren!
I can not believe that it is time for Kaitlin to go off to college, (Sigh...) but it is! She will finish the Cosmotology Program at Chipola College this Summer and will move to Tallahassee this Fall. I'm sure that there was a day 18 years ago that we discussed this futuristic day: Kaitlin going to college and Tricia bringing her children to visit. Well, the time has come and what a great thought it is. I am so proud of her (all of you know that) and I can't wait to see what she does with her life. I am convinced that she can do absolutely anything she sets her mind to, except things associated with bandaids, blood or vomit. :-)
Lauren enjoying the outside 2 hour walk on campus.

We were lucky enough to see the football team practice on their first day of Spring Training. See the building behind the field? This is the dorm where I -- I mean, Kaitlin -- wants to live. We'll find out this summer where she'll be. I wonder if they would let a 30 year old sister, 1 year old baby and a mama have a spend the night party in the dorms?

2.9.10-2.11.10

Lauren is growing and developing by leaps and bounds! She seems to be paying attention to us and sometimes mimics things that we do over and over. She can now wave (it looks like a "queen" wave because she holds her hand up, palm facing out, and sways it back and forth) after we practiced in the mirror for a few days. Sometimes it's on command when I say "hi" but it is beginning to be on her own when she sees someone. She can also give "poppers" or kisses in the air. This is so cute to us. And when Eric is here, she will look at him and try to get his attention by doing it. When he turns towards her, she gives the biggest smile.
This week, I started moving the basket of toys near her to see what she would do. Now, it's a fun game for her to peer over the side and pull toys our herself. This is such a big girl thing to do, don't you think? :-)
Putting on my lipstick!

All ready for my road trip to Chipley. This is part of her warm attire that will come in handy on our Colorado trip in a few weeks! It has really been cold here lately, and so any trip out of the house is a welcome one. She and I both get cooped up quickly!

We had a surprise visit with Holly, Jackson, Valerie, and Aunt Madalene during our day in Chipley. Jackson and Lauren actually played along side each other for the first time and it was fun to watch them. Lauren gets REALLY excited to see other children and she scared Jackson to death with all of her hugging, squealing, and feet kicking maneuvers. He didn't know what to think of this silly cousin!!

Look how big we are Mama's!!





Jackson has started eating Yogurt Bites and Puffs so we gave Lauren a taste. Boy, did she ever like them!! She was probably thinking to herself "Mama! Why have you not given these to me before!" Aunt Madalene starting giving each of them one at a time but Lauren became forceful with wanting more so we just sat the baggy down inbetween them. It was so funny and the bag was empty before we knew it!
Proud Great-Grandparents
Lauren and I then to the basketball gym to watch Isaac and Austin play. They did really good and Lauren loved playing with Ethan while watching all the boys run by. We even got to see Pa!

I want to document my frozen supply of homemade baby food. I've done sweet potatoes, field peas, mashed potatoes, and cream corn. "Tricia Homemaker", huh! Ha!
We have advanced from the infant bather to the big tub. She is not a huge fan of rinsing the soap out of her hair sitting straight up in the tub but we are trying different techniques and hopefully ALL of bath time will be fun soon.
Now that she is becoming stronger with her legs, thanks to the exersaucer, she loves being in the doorway bouncer. Eric likes playing with her in it and swings her back and forth sometimes. He thinks she will be a cheerleader with all of her jumping.
Lauren entertaining herself while mommy buys daddy a Valentine's Day gift. Mirrors can be so fun...and can be good entertainment for a long time!
Here she is in the car seat after falling asleep while sucking on her blanket. She has started to develop a bond with her bunny (Thanks Sue Shockley!) and will suck on the bunny's ears in order to fall asleep for naps and at night. If we don't have the bunny, like on errands during the day, she will suck on the blanket that I usually have on top of her. It's kinda gross but plenty of blanket laundry never hurt anyone, right? Right, until "Bunny" is taking a "bath" and it's time for nap time and she really wants bunny. Oh goodness, I guess she could have worse habits.