June 23, 2010--Happy FIRST Birthday, Lauren!

Wednesday June 23, 2010

Today is Lauren's FIRST Birthday!  We have been blessed to have and love on this little baby for the past 365 days.  She has melted our hearts and changed our way of life in ways that I don't think we could have imagined and we have loved every minute of it.  There have been approximately 3,500 soiled diapers; 1,890 times of nursing or feedings of a bottle; 630 times of feeding a solid food meal; 125 times of asking "Where's your nose?"; 75 trips to Dada's office; 50 times of mommy crying because she's "happy"; 3 airplane rides; and 2 adults who are amazed at how fast a baby can grow into a toddler and learn so much in such a short period of time.

Here is Lauren smiling and getting ready to start her morning play in the toy room.  This little smile says "I think today is going to be a good day!  I can feel it!"

Taking a break to read her "My Daddy and Me" book

Accepting one of many phone calls from friends and relatives wishing her a "Happy Birthday!"

Lauren dressed in her Birthday dress and hat and ready to see Dada for lunch.  We had lunch at the house and just hung out after he was finished with his surgery center day.

Later in the day, we took her to Frank Brown Park Aquatic Center for some fun in the water.  She loved it!

I think that she thought she was as big as the other kids playing.

Going down the slide with Dada

Eric and I kept an eye on the big clock by the play center for 5:13pm.  And wouldn't you know it...I shed a tear or two when her birth time clicked by!

Afterwards, we escaped from the traditional cake or cupcake and took her to David's New Orleans Style Sno-Cone shop for hot dogs and sno-cones.

Lauren loved her orange dreamsicle.

Lauren had a great day and we're looking forward to our favorite boys from Orlando--The Bongiorno's!--to come in to town with their mom and dad for Lauren's birthday party this weekend!  

Pictures soon to follow!  

June 15-21, 2010: Lucas and Jackson's Parties and Father's Day!

We returned from our big trip to Orlando and got back in the swing of things this week.  Big trip to the grocery (since our pantry was BARE).  Lauren continues to have teething pains and is constantly sticking a finger in her mouth to gnaw.  For her, it takes forever for a tooth to come in.  I do think that she could be a lot more fussy considering that she only has 3 teeth but 3-4 areas of constant puffiness.  

    

On Tuesday night, we met Gabe, Stacie, the boys and Mr. and Mrs. Shockley at Uncle Ernie's for dinner after their fishing trip.  Lauren loves being around all of her boy cousins and, in the picture above, she is squealing to show how much fun she is having!  Although it looks like she is upset, but is really not.  Just very, very loud squeals!  

One of her recent fun things to do is crawl and sit under furniture.  Tables, chairs, you name it.  She must be pretending or something.  I wish I knew what went through her big mind throughout the course of the day.  

On Thursday night, we went to Pier Park for an outside concert.  The weather was perfect with great sea breeze and not very hot.  Lauren loved being outside and playing with her friends and listening to good music. 

Strolling back to the car after the concert...whew, so tired. 

On Friday, I took advantage of our beautiful Panama City Beaches and water and had a breakfast picnic with Lauren.  I feel like our days are numbered with such beauty in our backyards.  We swam in the water for almost an hour and a half and loved every minute of it...both of us. Poor dada had to work.   

This is what Lauren looks like when she is exhausted from swimming.  She was so tired!  You guys know that Lauren never lays or sits still for long and when I laid her down to change her out of her swimsuit, she just laid there without moving and closed her eyes!  It scared me at first because this is so uncharacteristic of LEB!  

On Friday night, we went to Chipley for Lucas's 2nd Birthday Party!  He is getting to be such a big, handsome boy!  

Lauren had a fun time playing with Ethan.  He always pays her a lot of attention.  

The Birthday Boy with his sandcastle cake. 

Uncle Ronnie and Lauren visiting together

Aunt Jeannie becoming Lauren's best friend with the cake and ice cream...and dare I say Sweet Tea!!!  

Pa and Lauren

Lucas had such a fun party.  There was a big kid water slide and Lauren loved watching all the kids come down the slide.  Here she is with Aunt Helen blowing them a kiss as they came down.  

And here she is clapping for them. 

On Saturday, we went to Crystal Lake for Jackson's 1st Birthday party.  

Lauren and Bo

Minnie and Gigi with their favorite babies!

And Aunt Kay, of course. 

Lauren playing with the Birthday Boy.  Uh oh.  They both see the play phone.  Who will get it first!!??!?!!

Lauren!  But wait...

Jackson says, "I'll take that missy!"

Lauren and Cooper

Jackson diving into his smash cake

Sunday was Dada's first Father's Day!  We went to church at FBC in Chipley and then had lunch with Pa. 

Lauren gave Eric a canvas for her toy room,  "My Daddy and Me" custom board book and a "Father and Daughter" advice book.  :-)  

The Bear-ry hug

With Grandma and Pa

Playing in the window sill with Grandma's tomatoes. 

Enjoying the outside with Aunt Helen

A few days before Lauren's birthday, we started practicing: "How old is Lauren?"  and she immediately caught on and will raise one little finger up then smile and clap for herself.  

Yes, Lauren's FIRST birthday is next week and wow!  what a year it has been.  A year!!  Eric said the other day, "gosh, we only have 17 more of these.  We better make them count!"