Beach Baby and First Haircut

We have been very busy getting ready for Lauren's first birthday and Aunt Stephie's wedding. Here are a few photos of Lauren having fun on the beach in Frankfort over Labor Day Weekend. I am sure I have mentioned this before, but this is by far my favorite beach in the world and ranks up there as one of my favorite places in the world as well.


Lauren just loved the sand this time. Especially eating it. She would put entire handfuls of sand in her mouth at a time.


Such a beautiful sky!


Last Saturday before Aunt Stephie had her practice wedding hairstyle, Lauren got her first haircut. She moved around a lot, but didn't fuss or cry. Her pigtails look even cuter now!

New Tricks

Lauren is just growing and changing so much each day. Here are a few videos of her new tricks.

Lauren, where's your head?


On the move

Job Share

I don't have any updated photos this week, but thought this photo showed how excited and thankful Lauren and I are for my job share.

This school year another teacher and myself are piloting the first job share in our district. What a fantastic way to keep working, but have more time at home with the little ones. I work every Tuesday and Wednesday, she works every Thursday and Friday, and we rotate Mondays. We are only one week into this new arrangement, but I just can't say enough wonderful things. We work so well together and the communication model we put into place seems to be working very well also. Our 8th grade students and parents have adjusted nicely to this arrangement as well.

Today was my first day at home, as I worked Mon-Wed this week, and what a great day it has been so far. I got up early and was able to get my workout in before Geoff and Lauren were even awake. It's only 2pm and I almost have all of the laundry and ironing done for the day. I signed Lauren up for another music class at Sprouts so we went to our first class at 11:30 today. We met some new friends and had a blast singing with Ziliah again. It's amazing how much Lauren has changed since our classes in the spring. She now claps along with the music, shakes all the musical instruments, crawls around, and interacts with the other babies. In the spring I was excited if she gave me a smile during class. After class we walked around Highland Park, ran some errands, and stopped at the library. What a beautiful day! So many people were sitting outside at the sidewalk cafes enjoying lunch. For the first time Lauren started saying hello to each person as we walked by. If you have ever heard her say hello, you know she uses a really cute voice when saying it. It's almost as if she has an accent. She has been saying hello for a while, but only to people she knows. It was pretty amazing today to see that she realizes when the appropriate time to say hello is and then says it. Anyway, hearing her say hello to random people was really cute.

Lauren is also fascinated by this book called Toes, Ears and Nose by Karen Katz. It is one of those books that has pull-down flaps. Great Gram and Papa Bruce gave this book to her for Christmas. She just loves it so much that she will go to her bookshelf, find this book, and then sit down and look at it. We stopped at the library this afternoon and picked up another similar book for our trip to Michigan tomorrow. I am sure she will enjoy this book during tomorrow's car ride.

First Days of School

Mommy's first day of the 2009-2010 school year

WOW! What a crazy week we have just had. With another school year starting, we already knew last week was going to be hectic and difficult, but we had no idea just how difficult it was going to be. Many, many thanks go out to Grandma and Grandpa Hanson for coming to our rescue numerous times last week. School started for me last Monday and Geoff had to travel to LA last week for business. So, Grandma and Grandpa Hanson came in last Sunday evening and then spent all day Monday watching Lauren for us.

When I arrived home from work last Monday, Lauren felt really hot so I called the doctor and they said to bring her right in. Lauren and I had both been battling colds for a few days at this point, but her fever was a new symptom. The doctor said she didn't have any other symptoms besides a cold and fever so just use Tylenol to bring her fever down. However, she could not go to day care until her fever was gone for 24 hours. What was I to do now? Tuesday was only my second day back at work, Grandpa and Grandma Hanson went home, and Geoff was in LA. I ended up calling in sick to work on the second day. It was actually a blessing in disguise though, as I probably needed the day to get better myself. So when Lauren was napping, I rested on the couch. She still had a fever Tuesday evening and Wednesday was the first day back at school with students. Grandpa Hanson came to the rescue by driving all the way back over here to stay with Lauren all day Wednesday so I could go to work. Then, Geoff changed his flight home and took the red-eye back home Wednesday night arriving home at 6:30 Thursday morning to stay with Lauren all day Thursday. It sure does take a village to raise a child! Needless to say, this calm weekend we have had around home has been wonderful for all of us. Lauren and I are still getting over our colds, but her fever has been gone since Friday morning. Let's hope this week is less eventful than last week.



The Friday before school started we took Lauren to Kiddie Land which is a small amusement park for little ones. It's been around for over 90 years, but will close this year. We just had to take Lauren while it was still around.


Lauren and Mommy on the carousel.


I love this photo. It's as if Lauren is looking into Geoff's eyes saying, "Thanks so much for taking me on the Dumbo ride, Daddy! I am really excited to ride with you." Geoff looks just as excited to be riding with Lauren too.


Good thing Daddy baby-proofed the house!

On the move!

Dear Aunt Stephie and Uncle Jon,

Mommy and Daddy have been helping me practice walking so I can walk down the aisle for your wedding. I wanted to keep practicing with Mommy many times today, but she kept sitting me down. I grabbed onto her hands and pulled myself up so I could keep practicing. I promise I am trying really hard and practicing for my flower girl duties.

Love, Lauren

Last Weeks of Summer Vacation

Lately I've noticed that Lauren crosses her ankles while eating and when sitting in her car seat. She's even more lady-like than her mom! Her eating habits have really changed in the past month. She started picking up almost all of her food on her own mid-July and started using only sippy cups the last week of July. She has also tried many new foods including yogurt, cottage cheese, pork, chicken, and even pizza and ice cream. Lauren is still not a fan of bananas though. She tried mangos for the first time today and so far doesn't like those either. I can't get her to drink water either. She takes one sip and then throws the cup down. I'll keep trying though.


One day last week I was busy getting ready for dinner with some friends and turned around to find Lauren playing underneath the ExerSaucer. She was so proud of herself!


A few Fridays ago, Rosemary, Grandpa Hanson's cousin, had most of the family over for dinner. Cousin Vicki, John, Lauren, and Stuart were visiting from Texas so Lauren was able to meet them. Lauren had a blast playing with Jack, Mia, and Uncle Frank and even enjoyed her first pizza dinner with some ice cream as a treat from Aunt Booty.


When Lauren was first born our friends, Annie and Ross, gave us a bike helmet for her. They know how much we enjoy biking and figured we would pass that along to Lauren. So one day a few weeks ago I decided to take Lauren on a ride in her Burley and thought I had the helmet adjusted correctly. Well, not even 5 minutes into the ride she had the helmet off. So I took Lauren and her helmet into the local Trek store and a very friendly and helpful sales associate helped me fit the helmet to Lauren's head.

Last Wednesday morning was beautiful so I decided to take Lauren on a bike ride down to Lake Michigan. Here's a photo of her busy trying to get the helmet off now. Needless to say, she is not able to get the helmet off anymore, but really, really doesn't like it. The guy at the Trek store told me this would happen so even though she was crying I kept riding. As I was riding I had half of the people looking at me like what are you doing to your daughter and the other half looking at me like oh, I've been there and I know what you are going through. We made it to the lake, parked the bike and headed down to the beach.



Because it was such a beautiful morning I thought it would be a great opportunity to take some photos of Lauren sitting in the sand with the lake behind her. I quickly found out that Lauren hates sand. She really did not want me to sit her down. I found this interesting because she loves sitting in the grass. I have heard of babies not liking the grass, but never sand. So I took a photo with one hand while holding her in my other hand. Then I had this great idea to let her hold on to me while standing in the wet sand by the water. She is doing a really good job standing up holding onto things now so she liked this plan. That is until a huge wave came! She was soaked up to her waist and in the scurry to pick her up, I dropped our camera in the lake. After a frantic ride home, with Lauren still screaming in the Burley, a phone call to Sony, and 48 hours of letting the camera dry out it works again. Thank goodness! As you can tell I take that camera with us every where!

Last Thursday, while the camera was still drying out, Lauren and I went to the Brookfield Zoo and then had lunch in Hinsdale with Aunt Stephie. What a wonderful day that was! Lauren was very interested in all of the animals. We saw the penguins being fed their lunch and a few baby monkeys playing with their mommies. What fun! Lauren's vocabulary has increased in the past weeks and she now says, "hello, hi, bye bye, doggie, wow, ut oh, mama, and dada." As we walked up to and then left some of the animals including the giraffes and elephants Lauren waved and said, "hello and bye bye." It's so amazing to me to watch her learn all of this so quickly.

Friday was another super fun day for us. Geoff and I went to a Cubs game in the afternoon while Lauren spent some time at Mariah's getting adjusted to day care again. We had Bleacher seats and were able to watch batting practice before the game even began. Then, I guess the Cubs were ready to end their losing streak, as they won 17-2. They scored 10 runs alone in the 2nd inning. That inning lasted almost an hour and was amazing as the planes were flying overhead to practice for the Air and Water Show the next day. I have a feeling those planes really bothered the pitchers from Pittsburgh, but that sure did help the Cubs out! It was just perfect to watch the Cubs play so well, enjoy a hot, sunny day in the Bleachers, and have the entertainment of the planes overhead as well.

When I picked Lauren up, Mariah said they had a blast playing outside in the sprinkler. I was so glad to hear Lauren enjoyed her afternoon as much and Geoff and I did. After I picked Lauren up we met Aunt Steph and Uncle Jon in Millineium Park for a classical concert. The atmosphere, music, food, and company were fantastic! What an all around wonderful summer day!





It's back to work for me tomorrow. I can't believe this perfect summer has come to an end so quickly. The good news; I'm only going back part time so Lauren and I will be back at the pool on Thursday!

Summer Week in Michigan

Now that the computer is up and running again, I finally have a chance to update from our adventures back in Michigan a few weeks ago. After cousin Shelby's wedding Lauren and I headed back to Rockford to spend time with family and friends. Lauren's first stop was at Grandma and Grandpa Hanson's house while I hosted a bridal shower for Laura, a friend of mine since middle school. It was so much fun to catch up and hang out with my high school and college friends at Laura's bachelorette party that night. Needless to say, the photo below is from the shower, not the bachelorette party!


On Sunday my parents, Lauren and I went to Millennium Park in Kent County. Lauren had fun playing Peek A Boo, swinging and going down the slides with help from Grandpa.



Lauren and I visited with Kate, Joshy, and her new baby, Abigail on Monday afternoon. Kate and I used to work together at Old Orchard, yet we also went to high school and college together. We didn't hang out then, but knew each other. The next thing we knew, we were teaching in two classrooms right next to each other. Kate and her family have since moved back to Grand Rapids, so it was wonderful to meet Abigail and catch up. Joshy played so nicely with Lauren. He was very willing to share all of his toys with her and Lauren loved playing with all his trucks. Must be we don't have any of those at our house. Joshy also loved putting this bowl on Lauren's head. What a great afternoon that was!



On Wednesday Grammie Sue took Lauren to get her first pair of walking shoes. Watch out, here she comes!!



On Thursday, Sara and Trevor hosted an evening BBQ at their place for all of the high school/college friends and their families to get together. The weather was perfect and it was so much fun to watch all of the kids interact. Lauren is the youngest, but Jake is only a few months older. Maybe we will use this photo at their wedding someday! :)


Here are all the kiddos playing with the set of band toys while the mommies cleaned up the kitchen. Good thing Aunt Lisa and Kim were there to supervise.


I guess getting 5 little girls together for a picture is not as easy as I thought!


Hanging out in Grammie Sue's sink.


On Saturday we traveled to Ann Arbor for cousin Amanda's wedding. Laura and Aaron so gratiously offered to come and watch Lauren for us so we could go to the reception. The reception was at the hotel, so little Lauren came to crash the wedding for a few dances. Here she is with Aunt Stephie trying to catch the bouquet. Aunt Stephie won't be out there much longer....2 months from today and she becomes Mrs. Mathis!



Dancing with Daddy before bedtime.