Arts and Crafts

Lauren and I have been enjoying making arts and crafts together.



She worked very hard last week making heart decorations for our windows and some valentines to send to family. While Lauren was napping I cut out the hearts. When she woke up I put the glue on the hearts and she pushed the small hearts onto the large ones.



Friday afternoon I made some homemade play dough for Lauren to play with. I read about it in one of my parenting magazines and the recipe suggested added cocoa powder to make the dough brown. What an easy recipe and because everything was edible, I wasn't worried about Lauren putting the dough in her mouth. Amazingly enough, she didn't try to eat any of it!





Lauren is fighting a cold and fever right now. Seems like she gets sick every time Geoff goes out of town on business. Thankfully I don't have school tomorrow, so I can be home with her.

Dancin' Groceries

Lauren has been learning how to dance to "Ring Around the Rosie" at Mariah's house and is getting pretty good at moving with the tune.



Last Sunday Geoff took Lauren grocery shopping and the two of them had a great time! Lauren has really been a huge help around the house lately and continued this as she assisted with taking care of the groceries.

Winter Fun

We spent last weekend up at my parent's cabin in northern Michigan and enjoyed the winter wonderland!



Friday was a day full of reading, napping, and relaxing. Lauren climbed up in this chair and started reading her book all on her own.



Aunt Stephie helped Lauren get ready to go sledding.



Lauren loved using this orange sled that Steph and I used as kids.



Grammie Sue and Mommy helped Lauren sled down the hill.



Grandpa took Lauren on a few sled rides too.



Watching the birds gather food with Grandpa. Lauren has started pointing out birds in books, but I was amazed that she was able to figure out the real birds outside the window.



We were not even 15 minutes into our drive home Sunday afternoon and I looked back to see Lauren asleep in her car seat. I don't know if the music was too loud or if I was talking too much, but apparently something was too loud for Lauren's liking.

Walkin' On Sunshine

Guess who's a walkin'? Lauren! All of a sudden last Tuesday evening she picked up an empty tissue box from the bathroom, and while carrying this box around, walked from the bathroom to our bedroom, over to her bedroom, and then back to our bedroom. She's getting faster and faster each day.

This is a video from our weekend of winter fun up at my parent's cabin.

Where's Your Elbow?

The video, along with my last post, explains it all!

15.5 Month Update

Lauren is just growing and changing like crazy! Geoff and I just commented at dinner the other night, how different she is even since Christmas. Lauren is very aware of what's going on around her and loves to copy what others do. In fact, just last night our friend Amanda was watching Lauren for us and while reading a book about body parts, Lauren became very interested in elbows. Amanda told us Lauren kept saying the word and pointing to her elbow. We witnessed it ourselves today. Very cute!

I couldn't believe everything Lauren said and did last Monday night. She said "juice" and nodded her head yes and said "yes" when I asked her if she wanted to eat. She was doing the sign for eat, but sometimes confuses that for milk, so I wasn't sure what she wanted. She was very proud to let me know! She also laid her head down a few times and said "nigh nigh". I had no idea she knew what that meant, let alone is able to say that phrase. Cousin Shelby gets credit for this, as Lauren spent a few days and nights with her over break. Thanks so much for watching Lauren for us, Shelby!

Lauren has her top and bottom 4 teeth in now and is in the process of cutting some molars on her left side. She is such a good little teether. I didn't even know she had molars coming in until she laughed the other night and I saw them. She weighs just over 23 pounds now and is still nervous to take more than 2 or 3 steps on her own. She walks all around the house with her doll stroller, holding on to furniture, and our hands, but doesn't take many steps on her own.

Over the holiday break she mastered finding and saying, "ear" and "eye". She also loves Aunt Stephie and Uncle Jon's dog named Wilma. She followed her around my parent's house saying, "Ma ma" and once in awhile was able to get the "w" sound instead of the "m" sound. It really is cute even if a dog is being called the same name as me! Although the other day I walked in the door and Lauren said, "Hi Mom!" So maybe I am "Mom" and Wilma is "Mama."



Lauren continues to love playing with all of her babies. I wrap the babies in blankets and then she rocks them and feeds them using her pretend bottles. She also continues to love her colorful bead necklaces. At one time last Sunday she had 10 necklaces around her neck. She puts them on all by herself and then parades around the house. Thanks to cousin Jessie for all the necklaces we got from her New Year's Eve wedding.

Christmas Fun!

All dressed up for Christmas Eve mass. Lauren wore her beautiful red polka-dotted dress and handmade white sweater from Grammie Sue.


While spending the past week at Grandpa and Grammie Sue's house, Lauren became very fond of Aunt Stephie and Mommy's old rocking chairs. She loved crawling up into them and rocking her babies.


Lauren modeling her new tutu that Mommy handmade for her.


Mommy and Daddy were very thankful for the wonderful Christmas present Lauren made for them at Mariah's house. It's a wreath made of Lauren's hands with a photo of her in the middle.

There will be plenty more photos to come, as Lauren received a tunnel and tent from Santa and a green tricycle and tractor from Grandpa and Grammie Sue. She just LOVES playing with all of her new toys. We are very thankful for all of the extra time we were able to spend with family and friends the past week!