Lauren's First Halloween

I had lots of fun dressing Lauren up in cute Halloween outfits! We took a picture out in the leaves next to a pumpkin and sent it to all the relatives as a Happy Halloween card. But my favorite was putting on the onesie and hat I bought on clearance last year before I knew she was a girl.

 

 

Then we added a skirt with leggings, cute socks and a cute hair dazzle, from who else, Catherine Washburn!

Then came the cute butterfly costume that I found at Old Navy only a few days before Halloween, already half off. We went to my parents house to show her off, then into the city to visit my Grandmother. She was a pretty good sport about wearing the costume and showing off how cute she is, especially since she was so tired!

 

The Saturday before Halloween was the trunk or treat at our church. We just went to see friends and show off our cute baby! Lauren seemed to enjoy seeing all the kids dressed up.

 

 

 

These are what I think look like her "drunk" pictures, they're super cute,

but I managed to catch her eyes in mid blink.

 

 

I refused to be one of those parents that took their child trick or treating before they're old enough to eat candy, so it'll be lots of fun to take her next year! And I can't wait until tomorrow to shop the clearance costumes and shirts for next year!

One of My Favorite Mommy Moments So Far

I had trouble sleeping last night, which had nothing to do with Lauren, so we didn't do much today. I took one nap with her and should've taken another one, but I didn't. Just as she was waking up I started feeling sleepy - of course - so I sat her on the floor to play and lay down on the couch next to where she was playing. She hardly ever plays well on her own when she can see me, and today was no exception.  So I pulled her onto the couch with me and read her a book. She curled right up with me while I was reading, it was so sweet! My brother is staying with us for a few days, so he took this picture for me. I need to remember to lie down and read with her more often!

32...Eek!

I've always loved my birthday. I love getting to do special things, I love being spoiled, I love not having to make excuses for buying frivolous things for myself, I love that it's all about me. What I'm not loving so much anymore is my age going up. Don't get me wrong, I know I'm not old or anything,  but I really don't care to be over 30. I will say it doesn't bother me as much now that I have Lauren.
Having Lauren meant I couldn't be completely spoiled, I had to actually take care of someone else! But Chris took the day off and we took Lauren to the zoo. Then the next day Chris watched her so I could get a pedicure and go to lunch and then my mom came out to watch her so Chris could take me to dinner at our favorite restaurant, Sakura.
A couple days before my birthday I found a pin on Pinterest of a list of free things to get on your birthday. That's how I got the cake. I also got a free cookie from Panera and $10 off from Victoria's Secret, which I spent on the two shirts I wore to the zoo.  I love my birthday!

 

Lauren and I in new clothes! Mine from the birthday coupon used at

Victoria's Secret, hers is just a 6 month outfit she's wearing for the first time.

 

"Mandatory" sitting on the turtle at the zoo pose

(I totally had flashbacks of taking a picture of Bekah and Briella on this turtle!)

 

Daddy was watching the elephants, apparently

Lauren thought Mommy was more interesting!

 

My discounted cake from Dairy Queen - YUM!

7 Months!

This month she:
-weighs 13lb 13oz
-can pretty much sit up by herself
-is soooo close to crawling, she just needs to figure out how to move her arms and legs at the same time
-is in the process of learning to sleep in her own bed
-has waved bye-bye a couple times, though we're not sure if it's just coincidence
-is still wearing 3/6 month clothes, except for sleepers
-is eating apples, watermelon, squash, carrots, green beans
-does not like peaches
-is learning to drink from a sippy cup
-won't take a bottle anymore
-got a new, bigger bath tub and now takes bubble baths
-went to the aqaurium for the first time and loved the turtles

 

Attacking her bear and doll after deciding she was done taking pictures.

 

Another Thing Checked Off My List!

For years now, but especially while I was pregnant I had a "list" of things I wanted to do as a family, and more specifically, pictures that I wanted to have. Things like pictures with the baby on Mother's and Father's Day, a family picture at the Fourth of July parade, pictures with friends and our babies. Sometimes I've made Chris grumpy in my quest to check these pictures off my "list", but then again, anything involving pictures usually makes Chris grumpy!
The most recent picture/thing to do I've checked off my "list" is the community fair where I grew up and where my parents still live. In my memory we've gone almost every year since I was in elementary school, but my mom isn't sure that's right. For several years now my dad has had a photography booth at the fair, so going has become a real family event - helping him set up, keeping him company during the day, helping him take it down. It's always fun to hang out with my family and help out and see old neighbors and friends and fairs are always fun in general. So I couldn't wait to take Lauren! She had a great time looking at everything and see her uncles and grandparents. She skipped a nap she was having so much fun and then crashed on the way home. This was her first time wearing sunglasses and she didn't seem to mind them at all.

 

Hat, check. Sunglasses, check. Binky, check. All set to walk up to the fair!

 

Hanging out with Unlce Shoopa

 

Hanging out in grandfather's booth, watching everyone walk by

 

 

The mandatory family picture!

 

 

 

The picture grandfather took just before we left, of an exhausted baby!