Seven Months!

My sweet Lilly is already seven months old and it's been another busy 31 days for our precious little girl. So milestones for this month: she's been babbling, which is hilarious to listen to, eating a lot more variety of baby foods (hasn't disliked anything yet other than prunes...that makes two of us Lilly!), is sleeping much better at night, enjoys playing peek-a-boo and "so big!", is figuring out how to clap, and is getting her two front teeth. We're at a weird in-between stage with clothes...she's a little too big for 12 month sizes (she's huge!!) and a little too small for 18 months - makes shopping fun :) I'm just amazed every time I look back at pictures what a blessing and honor it is to be a parent and have both Lilly and Grant in our lives.

Lilly's "so-big!" pose...it's hard to say what's bigger - her personality or arm rolls :)

Indy is always close by her two little friends and they LOVE her!

Almost have it mommy and daddy!

Misses a few times here and there!

Still Baking

Yep, in all the craziness of the holidays and a really busy start to the new year for work I still somehow manage to find time to fill more decorating bags with royal icing and prowl around the web for new recipes. I wanted to try monogram cookies for baby showers or weddings if an opportunity ever came up to make them...still need some practice :)

The brownie torte is a total winner that I made for a dinner we had with our small group this past weekend. Incredibly yummy! Pistachio and chocolate always remind me of my mom's dad who has pistachio cake for Christmas every year. Mmmmmmmm!

Pistachio Mousse Brownie Torte Recipe

Bubble Boy

Bath time at Nana's! Doesn't need much explaining other than Grant LOVES bubbles and anything associated with being in them, around them, having them on him, eating them...you get the idea :)

Hi there, 2010!

Thanks to our fabulous babysitters, my parents, Tim and I got to escape for a night to ring in the new year at a couple different parties. It was so great to catch up with everyone and spend time together as a couple dressed up and celebrating the new year with our friends! Thanks to the Blettner's for hosting a great party (although we felt SO old...especially after the "moms with cameras" comment). Ahhh, they'll all be in their 30's soon too, right?! Happy New Year! I hope 2010 brings many blessings to you and your families!

Our small group!

Jolly Days!

We enjoyed our first of many trips to the Indianapolis Children's Museum last Saturday for their Jolly Days celebration with Nana and Papa. I knew it'd be fun, but it was even better than I expected. Grant had the best time running around free and exploring to his heart's desire. Lilly was along for the ride as a happy passenger! I even felt like a kid again walking through the Barbie exhibit remembering the fun I had as a little girl with those crazy plastic dolls.

There aren't many other things better than seeing the world through your children's eyes. At the museum Grant was curious, uninhibited, laughed and smiled a lot, interacted with other children (even shared!!), touched everything he could get his hands on to study it, wasn't worried about his soaking wet shirt after playing at the water table, and just didn't miss a thing! Imagine if all of the rest of us lived every day like that...free from worry and just happy as a clam to be alive!

Christmas with Nana and Papa

We were all fortunate enough to get to spend a long weekend together for a late Christmas while my parents visited from Ohio last week. Grant loves having them around and is so sad when they leave! Grant particularly enjoyed a toy storage cart that my parents got him as you'll see from the pictures...boys!!

Lilly and Grant received a gift that I know they'll enjoy for many, many years - a fill in the blank, keepsake of Nana's life...almost like a baby book but for Grandma's :) It's so sweet, full of stories of her childhood, hopes and dreams, and wishes for her grandchildren's future. Those are the best kind of gifts - thoughtful, and straight from the heart!