Not sure what this is about...

Ever since Lainey started drinking out of these "take and toss" plastic cups, she has used the lid as a plate. She takes whatever she's eating (raisins, goldfish, ground meat, blueberries, you get the idea...) and piles them onto the lid. Then she takes a drink and they start to fall off. Or she'll just eat them one by one off the lid! I finally got a picture of her in action with her raisins this morning. :) Notice she's still in her sleep sack. She really likes to be in the sleep sack for a while after she has awakened - she holds onto the zipper and won't let you take it off! It makes it a little hard to squeeze her into her chair, however.

15 months old!

Little Punky is 15 months old! I wish I had a lot of neat and new things to report, but much of it is kinda the same as las month. We're experiencing the normal new things - new babbles, new frustrations, new climbing techniques... Our handouts from the doctor have given us an idea as to what to do when she throws a tantrum or does something she's not supposed to. Hard to believe that this baby is truly turning into a toddler.

*Weight: 26 pounds, 4 ounces (75th-90th percentile)

This is the first time we have dropped from the 95th percentile! I wasn't expecting this. I thought for sure we'd still be in the 95th percentile. I can't look at those cute little thighs and round tummy and think less than the 95th percentile...
*Height: 32 inches (that is in the 95th percentile)

*Head Circ.: off the charts (big) It has always been this way, though - even since birth. Mary (Yiyia) reminded me that it was even this way before birth, when her little noggin measured 38 weeks when I was only 35...

*Favorite foods: pretty much everything (at this point)

*Favorite sleeping friends: her sleep sack and her binky

*Sleeping habits: Bedtime: between 8-8:30, sleeping until about 7:30-8 in the morning. She takes a fabulous, wonderful, beautiful nap in the afternoon, usually JUST after lunch. Cleaning up from lunch is hard because she's tired and ready for bed, meaning that she wants to be held while I try to clean and put things away. This nap usually lasts anywhere between 2-1/2 and 3 hours... GREAT for her pregnant mom. We always read books and have milk before naps or bedtime.

*Overall: Lainey is a very engaging, loving little thing who gives really tight hugs and big smiles. She loves to say "hi" and wave bye and imitate the "woof woof" that a dog says. As far as we can tell, dogs are still her favorite animals, followed closely by horses. She's rarely ever quiet or calm. We love our little busy baby Lainey!

I guess the saying could also go, "Girls will be girls"? She LOVES shoes and purses. These are Ben's flipflops - but hey, they work!

"Where are we headed, Mom?"

Here's Lainey, hanging out in the waiting room at the doctor's office. :) She did great with her shots and checkup. Our pediatrician even let Ben and I look inside her ears to see the little blue tubes in there!!

Weekend away

Ben and I had our first baby-free weekend together! We went to San Antonio to attend the wedding of one of my closest friends from college. We left Lainey at home with Bud and Yiyia (and Reagan, too). They had a blast together, and we were so grateful for the time that we were able to spend together and with friends.

I just had to include this shot. This is me, 11 weeks. 11 WEEKS! Please tell me that someone else's belly popped out this fast with their second...!

Congratulations to Anne and Adam! :)

And the survey says...

I took a gender-prediction test this morning. My mom told me about it a few weeks ago, and the more I thought about it, the more I thought it might be fun to take. I am so convinced this baby is a boy because this pregnancy is different than the first one...yet, my test this morning definitely said GIRL. I even checked the website's results so I wouldn't second-guess myself. We shall see in 9 weeks time... I still don't know if I believe it or not! :)

Happy Birthday, Ella!

We celebrated Ella's third birthday today at Aunt Tisha and Uncle Greg's pool. We had a great time!! Thanks for hosting, Tish and Greg - and to Ally and Chris, thanks for inviting us and providing yummy food and cake!!

Collin

the birthday girl - who's THREE

Here's our little hula-hoopin' baby; I think she thought of that as a permanent circle. She was so hesitant to step over the ring!

Brooke

I love this one of Ben and Lainey.

Ben with Lainey and Cally (Lainey is wearing Cally's old swimsuit!!)

Kate and Lainey

Ella

At the TMC Water Park

Today we met friends Tracey and son Dylan at the Tom Muehlenbeck Center to swim! This is a local rec center in Plano, and it's actually the one that has Ben's name on the plaque as you enter because he was on the Parks & Rec board when it was built! And today was our first time there. It's been open almost 2 years. Tom Meuhlenbeck is the current city manager so Ben hangs out with him during City Council meetings.

The elementary school where I taught was next door to this place, so we got to see it constructed every single day while the kids played at recess. I love how it's turned out because it's beautiful and clean and has a ton of lifeguards - not something I really took notice of until I had a child. It has the coolest baby/little kid pool and wonderful slides for the bigger kids and a pretty neat big pool for them, too. We aren't members, so we had to pay to get in, but it was worth it. Lainey loved it. Despite losing one of her $45 custom-made earplugs, we had a great time. We found the earplug in a gutter (thankfully they float!), and ooooh, I am grateful. Lainey, curious angel that she is, has found a way to pull them out. After a couple of months of daily use, she's never tried this, but she's tried to yank them out both yesterday and today. Hm. Might have to pull out the beautiful headband that I purchased to hold those bad boys in!

Sweet Dylan, who will be a big brother in November to a baby girl!

Some final pictures

We're preparing to leave to go back to Texas. As we speak, the washing machine is running, suitcases are opened, and toys and things are being put away. It's been a great trip! A little sad that it's 106 degrees right now in Dallas.

Lainey with her best bud, Bob. She absolutely has to say "bye" to Bob every time we go on a walk. And, she'll even turn around as we're halfway up the driveway to say "bye" to Bob again. When we're able to see the front porch on our way in, she'll run, run, run down the hill to say "hi" to him. It will be a sad parting for these two.

trying to get something she's not supposed to get

Got it! Pretty sure this container holds all the remotes.

I know what you're thinking...why don't my thighs look this muscular?

post-bath (an especially dirty day), pre-evening walk

ATV trips

Ben and my dad went on the ATVs a total of three times, and Matt was able to join them for one. Here are some of the pictures they took! They were able to get to some pretty amazing heights and the pictures show it!

Wildlife Park, Pagosa style...

We took Lainey to the Wildlife Park in Pagosa this afternoon. It's the closest thing we get to a "zoo" out here. It was a really neat experience. The park is family-owned, from the grandparents on down. Their grandson (about 10 yrs. old) was selling some lemonade and cookies and also gave tours to help get the animals out of their habitats. The only one we really missed seeing was the moutain lion, but the little boy said he was a hard one to see.

Here we are "not touching" the animals.

This cat cracked us up. He was asleep on the rack of stuffed animals! Which one of these is not like the others...

Had to see the horses...did I mention that the Wildlife Park doubles as a place that offers trail rides?

The Grizzly Bear was huge. I wouldn't want to meet him anywhere.

baby bunnies eating apples

Hello, goat!! Lainey squealed every time she saw an animal. You know they loved her. ;)

Hello to the wolves. No, Lainey, those are not big dogs.

Tuffy, the Black Bear who was in the tree above us.

He finally navigated his way down the tree to take a bath.

Hi porcupine. If y'all remember, we saw one last October outside my parents' house. This one looked so tiny compared to that monster in the tree!

Ben and Lainey on the trail around the Wildlife Park

Lainey LOVES these bears. They are a total tourist trap that yes, we bought into - they are sold everywhere and of course, our kid loves them. My parents found this one - Bob - on the way to Durango and Lainey is his new best friend. Here she is giving him a squeeze...

Oh, a big hug for Bob.

Pointing at/smelling/eating the flowers...take your pick. Each has been done.