The 42 Month Version

...to those of you that are mathematically challenged, that would mean that baby girl is three and a half years old today.  She came into this world in a stubborn, stubborm way.  The NICU doctors described her as the most easygoing and laid back baby they had ever seen.  Ever since then she has been that way.  To this very day, she is the easiest to get a long with.  She can go with the flow.  She is so adaptable.  She is my little love.  I couldn't imagine my life with out her.  We are in this together for many, many, many more of these to come.

PS - for those of you who don't know, I have took a picture of her in this chair every month on her birthday for the first year of her life.  Since then, we have marked the half and regular birthday with the tradition.  To see the entire progression of her growth, visit the album on my Facebook page.

Merry Christmas = Tired Girl

Presents with Daddy yesterday morning.  Family at our house and church last evening.  Hanging out at the Siebrecht's where Mrs. Claus delivered the jammies.  Spending the night at Grammy and Hampa's.  Presents from Mommy.  Stocking.  Presents from Grammy and Hampa and the Siebrecht's.  Playing. Nap.  Back out to Grammy and Hampa's for extended family time.  Home to cuddle with Mommy.  No wonder we have a tired girl on our hands.  That is a lot for 36 hours.

Here are the Mrs. Claus jammies (and, yes, she's pretending to pick a boogie to irritate me)...

And here are two of Lauren and Grammy working on the tradition of cinnamon rolls...

There are many, many more pictures...but they are all the way across the room.  Tired Girl = Tired Mommy!!!!  I am so glad we are in this together.

A Beautiful Day

Thanksgiving is such a blessing in the fact that 60ish of our closest family members gather at my Aunt Retha's house for time together.  This year we were doubly blessed with the fact that it was PERFECTLY beautiful weather out.  The kids were outside all day playing without their coats on...not bad for Iowa in late November.  Mother Nature can keep this up for another month before she can give us a little bit of winter for a week or so. 

Lauren took advantage of the time to try her hand at rollerskating, which is one of my biggest memories of Thanksgiving at the Harrington's...either in the basement on Court Street or at the Skate Palace.  It is always amazing how these traditions carry on in different ways. 

As always, I am thankful that this little thing and I are in this together.

Happy Halloween

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween.  It was totally different with a three year old.  We did a little trick or treating and she was very outgoing and cute. Then had supper with family and friends. This is how new traditions start. Daddy even came up to go get candy with us.

And Mommy had to give the Monkey a ride home...

Another time full of fun and excitement...together.

3

The tradition that started on the day she was one month continues.  On the 20th of every month for the first year and then on the "big" ones after that, Lauren has gotten her picture taken in the rocking chair.  What a way to see her grow.  But it only shows her outward growth.  You can't see how she has grown in her thoughts, her actions, her words and her love.  The things she thinks of amaze me.  Everything she does amazes me.  The words she can say amaze me - my current favorite it flamingo.  Her love amazes me. 

Vacation

Our annual family vacation to Minnesota has come and gone.  We went to a new-to-us resort this year near Alexandria, MN.  It was awesome to be back in the area again after an absence of many years.  We first came to the area in 1981 to go to Ironwood Resort, which friends of my parents owned.  We went there for 20 some years until it closed.  We have been search for a new home away from home since then...we think we found it this time.  Our cabin was literally feet from the water.  There was no traffic and good neighbors, so the kids could run wild.  Most important - we were all together.  I am 35 and go on vacation with my parents.  I can only dream that Lauren will go on vacation with me when she is 35.

Lauren and Cody share a moment during our packing.

Taking a potty training toddler on vacation was an experience,
but she was wonderful.