Remember being 10?

I've started nannying our next door neighbor, Kristen. She's 10 years old, full of energy, and a sweet disposition! I REALLY enjoy my time with her! Mikaela adores her... and Kristen loves to play with Mikaela! It's great! I love the imagination of a young one. You don't need much to enter into a whole other world :) When you're 10, life is full. There's excitement, curiousity, abounding love. Kristen's helping me rekindle the child-like passion/imagination/joy that I once had. I'm tired of letting "life" get me down. I'm tired of the pressure to be serious and always "grown-up". I want to run free. I want to love my Lord, my family, my friends recklessly. I want to forget the expectations that I've placed on myself because I thought others would want them there. I want my 10 year old heart back... but with a twist... the twist being my Savior. I want a child-like passion that makes my heart race with excitement and fear all mixed together. I don't want to be ashamed or weak or silent. My heart longs for more than this world can offer. Jesus, come fill me up!

What a cutie!!

Hey there! Mikaela is now 9 months old! She is a speeeeed crawler :) She is also VERY good at pulling up and cruises a little bit! She may be walking in the near future :) Mikaela has blossomed into such a social butterfly... it's absolutely wonderful! She LOVES people! It usually takes her about 20 minutes to warm up to a new enviroment, but once she does, it's all giggles and talking :)

This was Mikaela's first boat ride. She really did enjoy it even though she looks sad in the picture :) The water was still a little chilly for her to go swimming... maybe next time!

7 month happenings...

Hey there! Lots is happening in Mikaela's world! She is now a 7 month old with 2 bottom teeth, a growing appetite & love for solids, who babbles story after story to us, who sits like a pro, and has begun crawling! Well, the crawling part might be a little stretch. She did crawl forward (about 3 steps) towards Daddy the other day, but most of the time she gets on her all-fours, rocks back and forth for momentum and then nose dives forward :) She loves to go, go, go!

Her most common phrases are mama and baba. We're working on dada. The other day she was so close with daga... Kevin's heart sank! She still loves to blow her spit bubbles, especially in church :) She is also experimenting with her voice range, which sounds like singing to me :) She is full of smiles, squeals and laughter! What a joy!

It's so weird how she's a little person. I'm amazed by her growth! Not only is she learning how to maneuver around, but when things are out of sight they are definitely not out of mind anymore. Her little brain remembers where the T.V. remotes or cell phones are hidden... and she finds them! It's time to do a more thorough baby-proofing of our home :)

I am VERY thankful for these past 7 months with Mikaela. She has definitely brightened up our home! Her dimpled smile just makes our hearts melt :)

Doctor says...

Mikaela had her 6 month check-up earlier this week. She is a little bit over 15 lbs. and is 2 foot 2 (26 inches). Her first tooth is poking its way through. You can actually see the tip. She was having a hard time a couple days ago, but seems more at ease today :) Hopefully the little boogie-tooth will come soon... and her pain will be gone...at least until tooth #2 decides to pop up! Until then, she chomps on anything and everything!! I think she likes Daddy's fingers the best :) As far as food goes, she REALLY loves her yellow veggies, but isn't a fan of the green ones... go figure! I think she's a mini-Kevin :) Oh, how I love my family :)

Carrots... YUM-O

Today we had our first adventure with veggies! We tried carrots and Mikaela LOVED them! I sure hope this means she's a "good" eater ;) Mikaela has really improved with her table manners. She learned to keep her cute little hands on her lap during meal time. She is a LOT more focused on her food instead of the windows... the table... the plants... the microwave, especially when you can see a little reflection in it... the trash can... the ceiling lights... the mini-blinds... the doggies... well, not really the doggies, she still gets distracted every time they venture into the kitchen and up to her booster seat. Gunner desperately tries to lick the mush off her face :) And Grunt, well, he just wants to feel loved and noticed :) She adores them! Anyways, I'm so excited about introducing all sorts of new and yummy food to Mikaela! We're gonna have TONS of fun! Yippee!

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY!!!!

Yesterday was Mikaela's half birthday! She is 6 months old! Wow, how time flies!!! Yesterday was also my 26th birthday. I feel old :) Mikaela loves to blow raspberries, squeal in delight, and play with the doggies. We haven't been to the doctor yet this month, but I'm guessing she weighs 15 lbs. We'll find out in a couple of days :)

Happy Half Birthday little one!

Love,

Mommy & Daddy

Lil' sitting star...

Mikaela has been working really hard on her sitting skills and her practice has finally paid off! She can now sit all by herself for several minutes at a time... her little bumper must be growing :) She does really well as long as she stays focused and doesn't try to look up... once she looks up she tends to topple over :) We're so proud!