A Wednesday in the Life

Who needs toys when you can just chat on your cell phone and then chew on a straw?















The girl loves a cell phone, so when I got a new one, we let her have this one. The Hurst girls were flabbergasted that Laurie already has her own phone. I don't think they quite got that it doesn't really do much other than light up.

We stopped by to see our cousins again today. We are so jealous that Meg is getting up on her hands and knees so well. I will have to add that to my list of things to work on.

And thank you, Laura, for snapping such a funny shot of Laurie giving kisses. She is so sweet about it, though it involves more sucking than kissing.

Teething?

So...any advice from you expert mommies out there?


I think she is teething anyway. Or maybe just out of sorts. She's been fussy and clingy. Wanting to nurse constantly, but stopping after a few minutes. And the worse sin of all, she has been waking up crying during the night and getting up early. Does she not know we don't do that anymore???

Fun Sundays

Grampa and Grama came to see us today. It took her a few minutes to warm up, but after that, she was all smiles.

Laurie has officially entered the clingy stage. More and more lately, she has decided she won't play with just everybody. It warms my heart to feel her hold so tightly to me, but I am guessing it won't be so cute all the time.

Sigh, we tried on more new clothes, but cute as it may be, we have not yet grown into this one.

After their visit, the day had cooled off a good bit, so we decided to head to our favorite haunt, the dog park. Poor Laurie, she would love for Josie to pay attention to her, but Jo has eyes for noone but Will.

Love Dada

Our girl has become so attached to Will and I. How her face lights up at the mere sight of us. It pleases me so, it reinforces that we must be doing something right for her to love us so. What I wouldn't do to know what is going on in her little head. I think it goes something like this...



Hey, Mama!



Oh, there's Dada!




I think I will give him some sugar on the face!







Isn't this the prettiest sundress? So many of her little clothes are to big. So every few weeks I try them all out to see what new fits. I had to shorten the straps, but I was so excited she was finally able to wear this. Thank you again, Grama!

Lunch with Mel and Amanda

Today we called up our dear friends, Amanda and Melanie, to come over for lunch. They were sweet enough to brave the downpour and come by to share in a little adult conversation with me. You can call me officially caught up on all news and gossip. Laurie was on her best behavior, I know she had them quite dazzled! I miss seeing you guys everyday, we'll have to schedule play dates more often.

The Girl Can't Hold Her Beverage

Laurie has been oh so attentively watching us drink. She has even started reaching for our glasses. So, the last few days, I have been letting her have little sips from my cup. She drinks like a dog, lapping at it with her tongue. It's hysterical. So, I videoed it today, though it didn't turn out very well trying to keep up with her, hold the camera, and not drown her with water. The gurgling at the beginning is the best part.

More Six Months

It's amazing what you learn when you read the instructions. I have been wishing my camera took clearer looking videos. So, after all this time, I finely thought, hmm, maybe I can change some setting, let's see. And lo and behold...a prettier video. Ok, so nevermind that, now I know why all my videos are grainy, they are way faster to upload, the nice looking video kept loading and loading and loading...you get the picture. So, I finally gave up and uploaded another same old grainy one. If you want to see the pretty one, then come over here!

And isn't this the cutest little bubble? Thanks, Grandma!!!

Six Months Old

Happy six month birthday, Laurie! I can hardly stand it, the time has flown by, I want to hold on to each and every moment with you. You have changed so much. Maybe the most in just the last few weeks. You stare so intently, I feel you can see straight into my heart. Tonight, you held so tightly to my hand, absorbed by the movement of my fingers. It is so hard to walk away, afraid I may miss 1 minute. I thank the Lord for you each and every day, for the blessing you are and for what I learn about how miraculous and amazing life is.

Design Star

I am not planning on submitting Laurie's room design for the next season of Design Star, but I am relatively pleased with the outcome. Judging from the before and after, you wouldn't think it would take one an entire month to get one small room finished. But you would be wrong. Please tell me it is easily seen which one is the after?

The Leaning Tower of Laurie

Going...going...gone. Laurie is just barely, barely, able to hold on to a semblance of sitting up. But you have to prop something up behind her. And every few minutes push her back up. And she gets sick of it after a little while. But other than that, you could call this sitting up. I don't think you can really see it here, but what is going on with that faux-hawk we have going on these days? I need to invest in some pomade to slick that sucker back.

Tea Party Time

Happy Birthday, Cousin Jane Gray!

I can't believe how grown up all our little nieces are getting. I wish they would just wait a minute before they leave little Laurie totally in the dust. Jane Gray looked so big today, and when on earth did she grow all that hair?

Thank you, Jane Gray, for including us in your big day, we had fun watching all the girls dress up. Laurie is growing to love Meg more and more. Either that or she just wants to poke her in the eye some more.

It might not have been her party, but I still think my girl is the prettiest princess of them all.

To the Geographic Center of the Universe

We took off to Will's hometown on Saturday. It is always nice to see Dicey and Pop, they reinforce the idea that Laurie is the most amazing baby. I think we get an A+ for being on our best behavior. We won't talk about our future career as a plumber.

Then finished off the day with some tasty carrots. Laurie says I do it myself.

Oh My Goodness

Whew, I think we are back online! It will be a cold day before I mess with this thing again. Yeah, I know, who am I kidding, I can't help but mess with everything!

If I had known I would get so many comments, I would have changed it immediately!

I was tired of Laurie's original blog layout and have been looking for something new. I didn't realize it was going to be so ad crazy, but I was tired of the internet after I loaded it and Laurie was calling for me. So, I just decided to ditch it. I am so sorry for looking like I have ads printed up on Laurie's diapers. I hope our fans can forgive me!

Fun with Cousin Meg

We stopped by Aunt Lala's today to visit with our little cousins, Jane Grey, Charlie and Meg.
We put Meg and Laurie on the floor to see if they would play together. Laurie just wanted to poke Meg in the eye and Meg wanted to pull on Laurie's ear. So much for playing well with others!

Don't worry, Laurie, we'll work on stealing Meg's pacie for next time!

We may not know what to do with Meg, but we sure do like Aunt Lala anyway!

Steal the Pacie

The pacie has been a love/hate relationship for Laurie. When she was first born, she loved it. But she quickly realized it wasn't giving her what she wanted and she solidly rejected it. Slowly, she has allowed pacie back into her heart. Especially now that she can manage to pick it up and put it in her own mouth.

I like to play a little game with her I call "Steal Mama's Pacie." She is so funny frowning at me with pacie in my mouth. She gives me her fiercest look as she reaches over and plucks it from me. It may take her several tries, and some help from Mama, but she can usually get it into her own mouth. (I know, I am setting her up for trouble when she attempts this with another child.)

We were playing steal the pacie last night. But this time she already had her own pacie. I roared with laughter watching her bonk pacie #2, repeatedly trying to get both pacies in her mouth! Laurie was not pleased with my little joke.

Lake St John

Laurie and I took off to spend some time in my hometown with my family. It was easier to be there for several days to have her settled down. I think Mom and Dad got their fill of us. As we left Dad said, "Babies are a lot more work than I remember." Does that mean he was glad to see us go?

Then on Friday, Will drove down to meet us at Lake St John for some relaxation. Neither Laurie nor Josie seem to care for the lake.

In a Month

Wow, what a difference a month makes. I was looking back at some old posts and watched this video. This was just a month ago. I can't believe how different Laurie is now, she can manipulate all the toys and is constantly circling to play with each one. But that stinking car is still the bane of her existence, she just can't figure out how to make him play music! She has recently discovered the mirror on the apple, that is what she can't seem to take her eyes off below. But who can blame her, I would want to stare at such a beautiful baby all day too.

In other news, Laurie tried out the jumper thingy for the first time. It was a hit, but I don't think anything beats the exersaucer.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Fourth of July to all our readers! We had a fun day. We stopped in to see friends Claire and Charles before they move. I am sad to see them go, but excited for them also. And then off for a good old fashioned cookout with the Hursts and Mimi and Pop! We are always happy to see Pop, he does bad things like give us ice cream. Laurie barely held out through the firework show. I think if we had not missed a nap, she would have enjoyed the sparklers much more.

Great, Just Great

If you know me, you know that I can barely stand to live in a house and not paint at least one room. But we've been in this house for over a year and I have managed to hold out. Even when we found out we were expecting Laurie (mainly because I knew I couldn't paint while pregnant), we discussed it and her room seemed adequately neutral, it would do. But as we moved in her crib and added bedding and drapes went up, it became obvious to me that those ugly dingy taupe walls did not match with her cheery pink room.

So, I bit the bullet and much to Will's chagrin have been slowly painting her room a pretty sunshiny yellow. Laurie has most graciously agreed to sleep in the pack and play in the guest room, but we are all ready to have things back to normal. I hoped it would only take 1 bucket of paint and 1 coat, but I had to go back to home depot to get a second can.

I made a horrific discovery after applying the second can of paint. It is a slightly lighter color than the first can was. And you can see an obvious stripe all the way around the room where I cut in. Great. That is just kick you in the shins great.