I think Spring is finally here!

I have started to realize that as Taylor gets older and older the house is getting smaller and smaller. This is not just because she has more toys but because she is moving, exploring, and testing her limits. Her world is getting bigger, her attention span shorter, and the weather seems to be getting rainier! (Actually, that is a bit of an exaggeration, she has really started concentrating on certain things and you can just see her little brain working to figure out whatever it is she is focused on.) Anyway, we love to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and with there being several cold rainy days recently we really appreciate any sun we get. Here are a few pictures of Taylor enjoying the approaching spring! By the way, I am excited to be able to do "rainy day" activities with Taylor when she gets older, like arts and crafts, but for now her rainy day fun is making me chase her up the steps 100 times a day!

Simply Spring Photoshoot

Last weekend our friend (and talented photographer!) Danielle took some amazing pictures of us at Valley Forge Park. It was perfect timing because she had arranged a weekend of "Simply Spring" sessions and we wanted some pictures to mark Taylor's first birthday. Danielle did such a wonderful job, as always. Not only is she a talent as a photographer but a natural with kids... Taylor was enamoured with her and hung in there for over an hour! Here is a small sampling of the many pictures taken!

Birthday Party

So Taylor's first birthday party is in the record books. It was a great time and Taylor had a blast. She had all her favorite boys here to play with, tackle, chase after, and steal toys from. To me the party was a bit of a blur, it went so fast, and I don't think I really got to talk to anyone!

This is on Taylor's actual birthday... obviously she wanted to make sure she smeared the icing EVERYWHERE! She looks so pretty and innocent in her little dress- about two seconds after this picture was taken she was tackling Nolan to the ground. He is such a good sport though!

Taylor did great opening all of her presents and she had lots of help!

A little neater than the first time... I guess it was all the pressure

This has to be one of my favorite pictures. I love how protective Nolan looks of Taylor. Ashylnne told him to put his arm around her so she didn't fall off the back of ice chest and he is taking his job very seriously! What a sweet sweet boy!

Tyler couldn't wait for people to leave so that he could open the tunnel. He and Taylor loved playing in there. Which was awesome when we all needed to sit and take a break after the party. Here we are! We all survived the first year... bring on toddlerhood!

Happy Birthday

Taylor, Taylor, Taylor, can’t you see, sometimes your words just hypnotize me.

Well, we now have a little talker on our hands. And, yep, she confirmed what I’ve known for a while – she likes her daddy best. Her mommy may argue that point, but why else would her first word be “daddy?”

This is my first time giving an update on the blog – mommy has provided all of the posts up until now. (And after starting out like I did, I realize this may be my last.)

But today is Taylor’s 1st birthday, and the excitement of the milestone and the astonishment that the first year has passed already has me feeling rather expressive. It has been a week of big milestones, and I’m so proud of my little girl. Saying her first word, taking her first steps, and turning one – all in the same week! Growing up so fast…

I almost want it to slow down so I can have a chance to soak up every moment and relish in every little milestone. But it just goes by in a blur. Just flashes of memories of Taylor sleeping on my legs no bigger than my forearm, afternoons of bouncing her in the bjorn to get her to nap, the nights of waking her up every couple of hours, her first bath, her first solid food, her first tooth, her first cold and how her parents completely overreacted, getting up on her knees for the first time, learning to wave, to stick out her tongue, to play peekabo… Like I said, a blur.

It feels like just yesterday we brought her home from the hospital. She has grown and developed so rapidly. And lord knows, she has not wasted a moment sitting still. The ultrasound techs tried to warn us when each time we went they commented about how active her legs were and how we were in for it. They’re good, those Abington ultrasound techs. But I wouldn’t want her any other way. So bright, and so full of life. Okay, so maybe a little aggressive at times – tackling her little cousin and trying to pull his face off every week she sees him at Grammy’s – but we can look past that, right?

As I sit here and reflect, what a rush of emotions. (One thing that’s been clear for a while now is that I have become a sap every since this whole baby thing started.) Everyone says that the day your baby is born is the best day of your life and that the feeling is indescribable. But until I experienced it, I had no way of really comprehending how breathtaking and overwhelming and special that feeling really is. Such a powerful experience, and I am so thankful for having been able to experience it.

Well, Happy Birthday Taylor. I love you, and your Mommy loves you. You have brought so much joy to our lives, and we look forward to every day that we get to spend with you and watch you grow.

New Kicks

Maddie bought Taylor her first pair of real shoes today while we were at the mall. She looks so cute walking in them because she lifts her knees real high like the shoes weigh a ton. I feel like they instantly erased any trace of baby that she had left in her... it makes me a little sad.

11.5 months

Busy Busy Busy... haven't had a moment to write Taylor's 11 month post but I don't want to miss it!

Is our Baby really almost one? I can't believe how fast this is all going and just like months past Taylor seems to be changing just as rapidly as ever. I don't even know where to start. She has been getting in to things and exploring her little world more and more and she is always so proud of herself. The kitchen and her bedroom are her favorite rooms in the house. She can pull her clothes out of her drawers for minutes (ha ha-a long time for her) at a time, put them back, and start again. Folding laundry has become an impossible task with her around. In the kitchen she likes to pull the sandwich bags out of one drawer and put them in another drawer. There is a method to her madness and if I could understand her babbles I am sure I would get it.

Save me from this grass

At times Taylor's energy seems to be endless and sitting still for 2 seconds is completely out of the question, but she is starting to become more and more of a cuddle bug. She has this ability to completely melt us when she is going, going, going and then crawls over to us and lays her head in our lap. It may only last for a few seconds but it is wonderful- Emma thinks so too! She is starting to love her blanky and will take a break from playing to grab it and hug it for a second. Ahh, adorable.

Taylor is really understand general conversation and is picking up on things and doing things that we haven't taught her. The first time she did this we said, "Taylor you want to go night night?" and she grabbed her blanket and dropped to the floor pretending to sleep. Mike and I both looked at each other like, "did you teach her that?" She amazes us with these things all the time now... wiping her nose with a tissue, putting phones to her ear, brushing her hair, and trying to use qtips. It is amazing how much she can pick up ( it is time to curb the potty mouth Mike!)



Taylor has shown little interest in walking. She can stand on her own when she doesn't realize that she is doing it but when I try to tell to stand and try to let go of her, she collapse with what I call "noodle legs." Just over the past couple of days she started reaching from one thing to another, tries to take a step, and collapses to her knees. I think she may finally be starting to realize that walking would be better then crawling. I have a feeling it is just around the corner since things seems to progress pretty quickly.

Mom, we want to go outside

One thing that Mike and I will need and will probably get much practice with is not laughing when she does things we don't want to perpetuate. She is starting to know how to make us laugh and unfortunately some of these things are not really socially appropriate behaviors. I was feeding her lunch the other day and she refused to open her mouth. After trying and trying I was about to give up when she opened as wide as ever and I quickly put a huge spoonful in... only to have her spray it back at me. It was as if she was saying, "alright mom, I will show you what happens when you force me to eat something I don't want." I couldn't help but laugh out loud all the while knowing I was making a huge mistake! I guess we will just have to keep working on this one!

Boat Ride (more vacation pics)

Here is Taylor enjoying her first boat ride. She seemed to like being out on the water although the lifevest made any movements pretty tough.

Hats and sunglasses, always a good time.