Seventh Month

August 25, 2017

Though I was a touch late doing photos, Laina is seven months old! She's can roll/crawl and cruises around in her walker like she's been doing it for months! There aren't any signs of any new teeth yet, though I keep looking, but she's loving eating now and almost always wants to grab the spoon. That makes it a little tricky but sometimes we can keep her hands away and the mess is a little less. She's got the biggest smile, but she can tell you what she thinks pretty quickly when she's mad!

I've suddenly started thinking about Laina's 9- and 12- month photos. AND her birthday party. I'm not really ready for it to be January but honestly, I'm so excited for her to be a big girl. And at the same time, I'm not. I don't expect we'll have another baby, and I just don't want to let go of the cuddles that I still get. It's not quite the same with the big babies, though I still love it. Oh Laina, don't grow too fast!

^Julie only wanted ONE photo, and we got the standard "toddler smile" but I love it anyway!

Miss Laina: Week 31

August 30, 2017

She can crawl. Uh oh... I hope Mike will come around to my suggestion to put the gate back up because it's going to be really tiring chasing a baby who doesn't understand what you are saying about why she should touch this or put that in her mouth... anyway...

We had a fun weekend up in Houghton Lake with Grandma Charyl and Grandpa Ron. We got to see Grandma Patti and Poopah too, so that was fun. Laina is mastering her walker, which she was in all weekend since the floors were dirty. She did okay sleeping (even slept in one day) although Julie didn't... oh well, it happens. It was a fun time. A little cooler but we still got to ride around on a pontoon (Laina's first time on a boat!) and enjoy the campfire for three days straight.

These photos are super cute of Laina. This is the first completely matching outfit I got for the girls so I put Julie in hers too, of course. But she was not into it. At all. Laina always gets so excited when I get the camera out. I don't know why, although Julie did it too so that's cool at least. It's not the case anymore with my big girl. These would have been so cute! Oh well... Laina looks like a happy little lady anyway.

I just realized how busy my September is going to be... it's kind of scary, but hey, it is what it is! Hopefully Mike doesn't mind chasing the girls around, and I think I mean that literally now!

^Toothy grin.

^Awwwww!

^Julie gets involved, but not the way I was hoping!

^Sometimes sitting up!

^Well she looks happy in this one...

^How do you really feel Jules?

^Yup...

Louie Lu: Week 30

August 23, 2017

Though we took the photos on time, it took me a little long to post! We took last Thursday off at work so I missed time to edit. So I'll go back and talk about LAST week! I had a wedding on the weekend, so Mike was in charge of the girls. He took them to swim class without me AGAIN (I've only been to ONE of them this session!) but it went all right. We then had family photos with Ryan and Holly Gauper at Wildwood Family Farms on Sunday night. The Ronas's came too, and even though I'm still waiting to see the photos, it was lots of fun and entertaining. I hope they came out okay... haha! Julie and Allie weren't the most cooperative, but I am not surprised. We went for a late dinner after and had fun at the restaurant in Lowell. The waitstaff gave us a free dessert BEFORE dinner so I was off the hook about the bribery treat I promised Julie during photos.

Otherwise, nothing too exciting. I think you are pretty close to mobilizing. You get up on your hands and knees and rock back and forth. Usually you drop down and roll off to whatever you are wanting, but I can see you are capable of the crawl, you just don't know how quite yet. Also the walker is coming in handy, though like everything else, you still get mad in it after a few minutes. Oh Lu!

^That smile is so sweet! No new teeth yet!

^She knows to smile for the camera!

^Goo!

Family Trip to Houghton Lake

August 24-27, 2017

To end the summer, we did a quick AirBnb trip up to Houghton Lake with Charyl and Ron. We stayed right on the lake, got a pontoon a couple days, had a campfire pretty much the whole time, relaxed and played with the kids. Mom and Dad came up for a bit on Saturday, and that was fun! They stayed the night and even though it was a little tough for the girls, we all had a great time. It was a little chilly but still a great mini vacation.

August 24, 2017
On our first day at the cottage, we got the fire going to hang out around. It was a little chilly but still not too bad. We had some dinner and watched the sunset from the backyard and the dock.

August 25, 2017
Our first full day was still a little chilly but we made the most of it. As you will see, I tried to take a nap because the girls didn't sleep too well. Julie didnt' want me too but Mike managed to coax her outside so I got a little bit of rest. We rented a pontoon and hung out in the water for quite awhile. Too cold to swim but the girls still liked the ride. Laina snuggled with me. Julie loved playing in the dirt (I did NOT love it) but eventually I just tried to let it go ;) Charyl and Mike tried to teach Julie how to fish, but her patience didn't allow it (Julie's, not Charyl's!)

August 26, 2017
On Saturday, we all slept a LITTLE bit better. Julie fed the ducks for the millionth time (they even started coming up to the picnic table when we were sitting there, the buggers!) and we rented the pontoon another day. My mom and dad stopped up after a few hours and hung out with us there. We had steaks for dinner and generally just relaxed and had a good time. Laina didn't want to sleep but Julie was ready by the time we got her ready for bed. She fell asleep by the fireplace!

August 27, 2017
Time to head home, but it was a great weekend!

Julie Meets Gracie

August 13, 2017

Last year in the fall, Julie got to ride a pony at Klackle Orchards. She really enjoyed it and since then, I wanted to see her get to ride again. Not just in a circle like at the fair and the orchard, but something a little less structured. I asked earlier this spring on Facebook about anyone who knew where we could do this and I heard from a few people but I really just didn't have time to worry about it then. I thought of it again a week or so ago and the awesome Amber Lansdale spoke up. She's one of my recent clients and such a sweetheart.

Sunday, we went out to the ranch she boards her horse, Gracie, at in Rockford. She let us give Julie a chance to ride a real horse. This girl was so excited. I told her about it Wednesday (because I just can't keep stuff like that quiet ;) She got a chance to meet Gracie when we got there. Even though Julie had a cold, that didn't stop her from riding. She had to wear her bike helmet and then she was off.

Amber led her around on Gracie inside the barn and outside. There were lots of other horses around that we got to see. Julie was loving every second of it. She was chatting to Amber and Gracie too. And whenever they would stop, she kept saying "Let's go! Let's go! I want to go!" Thankfully, in a nice tone of voice ;)  She even got to feed Gracie carrots and brush her when we were all done. What an awesome time. I hope I am not spoiling her, but it's so fun to be able to do cool stuff like this. I can't wait until Laina can do that sort of thing too!

Thank you so much Amber. You made my little Julie SO SO HAPPY!

^Meet Gracie!

^Yup, not one bit scared!

^Loving it!

^Barn cat.

^Riding with Amber.

^Gracie smiles.

^The trick they are working on.

^Laina wakes up like "Where are we? What IS that?"

^She likes Gracie too!

^What a beautiful, sweet horse!