First Date

How Sweet!

A kiss
Fixing the car

A week ago we got a phone call from our neighbors telling us to come outside. Jerry went outside and then called for Delaney and I to come too. Aidan (our 2 year old neighbor) was sitting in his red mustang convertible power wheels patting the seat and telling Delaney to "sit down".

His dad said he was there to pick Delaney up for a date! It was so cute! Aidan sees his daddy work on his car all the time so Aidan had to keep stopping and putting the hood up to work on the car! It was hilarious! He even gave Delaney a kiss! It's fun hvaing Aidan across the street. Delaney adores him and the first thing she does when we go outside is look over and call Aidan's name. (yes she does kinda say his name) If we go for a walk past his house she always walks right up his driveway to find out if he is home. It's so fun to watch them interact!

Baby Water Park

"This is so fun Mom!"

The whole thing!

Learning to pat the Jellyfish and make the water squirt higher!

Just posing sweet for the camera.

Learning to do the ring toss...

Yeah! She loved when I cheered after she figured it out.

Then she had to take them all off and do it over and over again!
We've also enjoyed some snacks at her picnic table/sandbox.

She is so proud of herself for sitting like a big girl!

My friend Rebecca is letting us borrow this awesome baby water park. Her twins weren't as interested in it this summer and she thought Delaney might enjoy it. She had a great time playing in it yesterday....Thank you so much Rebecca; Delaney loves it so much!

Summertime

Grabbing at the water

Running and giggling
She wanted the green cup...

she was a little surprised when the water got her face!

Hmm.. what is this thing?

I asked if she liked it and she said "yeah" and smiled!

The summer heat has finally arrived in town.. a little late but it's here! Summer as a kid always makes me think of running through sprinklers and eating freezepops; I just had to share this with Delaney. So yesterday she played in the sprinkler and had a freeze pop for the first time! I have some video to add later!

11 Months Old!

Gee- I'm cute!

Dance...
Dance ...

silly girl!
Pretty flowers...
smelling the flowers

"Really mom.. like you haven't taken enough pictures!"

"I just want to eat the mulch"

Babies R Us- this was free..
cause Delaney was looking oh
so cute and patriotic on the 4th of July!
She actually posed with her bear!

Dear Delaney-

While our country celebrated it's birthday.. we celebrated you turning 11months old! Just 1 month until your big birthday! It's funny to think back on a year ago... I just couldn't wait for you to arrive and we spent all our time wondering who you would look like and what your personality would be like... in the past 11 months those questions have been answered as we have seen you grow into the sweetest little person we know!

This month has been full of new accomplishments as you perfected your walking skills! You walk everywhere now and although you still fall down you don't mind a bit and will continue crawling or finding something to pull up on, and continue walking to your destination. You also love to try to climb things and you can hike that knee up pretty high in an effort to climb up something (most likely something you shoudn't be climbing on!)

You love to talk.. even when nobody is listening to you. Your favorite word is still "Hi" which you use for hello and goodbye. I really feel that you are trying to carry on conversations with me as it often sounds as though you are asking me questions. If I tell you to go get your baby, you will (and give her a big slobber kiss!) if I tell you to get your ball, you will! You also know who your duck is and your bunny.

After attending Alex Camp... you learned to stack blocks. Alex worked very hard to teach you this skill... but your favorite part is still knocking down the towers with squeels of excitement and tons of giggles!

In fact you spend most of the day squeeling and giggling. You are a very happy baby and that makes your mommy and daddy happy! You love to tease us with your paci! If we ask you for it you will act like you are going to hand it to us and then quickly shove it back in your mouth! You love to be silly, make silly sounds and dance silly! It makes us laugh which makes you laugh and be sillier.. and on and on we go!

You love to snuggle and kiss us! If we say "Delaney give mama kisses" you will reward us with a big slobbery kiss! If we say "Delaney give Dada hugs" you will snuggle up with your head on dada's shoulder! It's so adorable!

You do not like to be told no and you usually show that feeling by pouting! We actually have to try very hard not to laugh at you... because you look so so sad! You have thrown a few tantrums but usually you listen quite well! I can only hope that continues into your teenage years!

In the spirit of you being so advanced (fyi: totally a joke I by no means think Delaney is advanced!) you have given up your morning nap early... much to my dispair! I just have to make sure I get lunch in you before you pass out from exhaustion...it's okay I understand you are tired.. afterall you haven't stopped moving since you woke up! (I'm tired too) And speaking of food and being advanced.. you have also become a toddler a little ahead of schedule! You are the pickiest eater I know! The only thing I know you will always eat... cheese! (and lately mac and cheese)

It's hard to believe you are almost 1 year old and really will be a toddler! We are so proud of you and love you so much! We hope you continue to shine sweet baby girl!

Love always, Mama

Special Occasions!

Hannah and I

Hannah and Delaney
Delaney says "Go Cards!"
The 5th year.. the best year... and the Cards Win!
Happy Birthday Uncle Alex
Kisses for you!"Hi Mabel.. can I have your sock please?"

In the last two weeks we have celebrated quite a few special occasions. It all started with Hannah's Baptism. Hannah's mommy Elizabeth is one of my very closest friends so I was thrilled she chose me to be Hannah's godmother! It was a very nice ceremony and a fun get together afterwards!

Then last weekend we celebrated Alex's 13th Birthday (yes he is 13... I can't believe it either!) and Jerry and I's Five year wedding anniversary. The last 5 years have flown by... time flies when you're having fun....but this year had a very special addition.. Delaney of course.. now we can't remember life without her! We celebrated Alex's birthday and our anniversary at the Cards vs Royals game in Kansas City!

Alex has recently gotten braces and fits the teen look perfectly! I am so proud of how much he has grown up this past year. He is so very helpful and loving towards Delaney.. and she just lights up when she sees him! He even accepts her open mouth, slobbery kisses... what a good uncle! Ankiel (Jer's favorite Cardinal Player) hot a homerun for Alex (so he says because it was hit right before 8:03 when Alex was born!) We had a good time at the game and the Cardinals won! Sorry Aunt Tammy and Uncle Jason! (we got to see them at the game too.... but they were wearing Royals clothes.. gasp!)

We also got to visit with Meghan, Aaron and Baby Mabel while we were in town! Delaney loved looking at Mabel and showing off her walking skills. Mabel is so adorable and as always it was good to see Meghan and Aaron!

Tomorrow Delaney will be 11 months old so be sure to check back for her 11 month photo session post!

Walking and Talking

This post is long overdue! However I just finally got the videos uploaded!

Delaney started taking steps on May 29th 2008. Jer and I were both lucky enough to witness those first 2 steps! Since then she has perfected those steps and added many more. Last week we decided she was officially walking and she was 10 1/2 months old! Now she can get anywhere on her two little feet! When she is excited it almost resembles a run as those two little feet go pretty fast! It is so fun to watch her get where she wants to go! She is so proud of herself too.. clapping often for herself!

Another thing Delaney has been doing a lot of is talking. Oh my this little girl can talk! Now, we might not understand everythign she says.. but she sure is trying to carry on conversations with us! We're figuring out what some of her "sounds" mean.... like "nah" usually means "no" or "I don't want that" or "stop". "mmmmmmuh" means more of yummy. If she starts panting or squeeling that usally means she wants cheese (or saw the cheese). But the best one of all is "HI"... she says hi to everyone and everything! The penguins at the zoo, the strangers in the grocery store and the flowers in the garden! It's absolutely the sweetest thing! She has lots of tones of saying Hi depending on her mood and purpose for saying it. She even whispers it sometimes! I think it is a great and very appropriate first real word!

Thanks for watching!

Fun with Friends

Delaney and Mommy

Zach, Rebecca and Addy
Olivia and Amy
Caden and Elizabeth
Addy- way to go!
Toasted CHEESE!

Bubble Time!

We all fall DOWN!

not everyone is looking... we'd be so lucky to get that!

Delaney and Luke watching the bigger kids!

I want to touch that water!

Gavin Maya

Luke and Addy

Delaney and Mommy

Playing Elefun!

The girls on the boat: Devon, Amy, Rebecca and Becky



Delaney and I are so lucky to have such a wonderful group of mommy and baby friends! We are all teachers so summers provide a wonderful time for us to get all our kiddos together! We started with an outing to the zoo and when that went well we planned a trip to the lake. Amy's dad was so nice to let us stay at his place and it was just gorgrous with an awesome view of the lake! Most people thought we were crazy.... five mommies and 8 kids under the age of 3! Amy's mom and sister came to help and we were all super grateful... but all went fairly well! We had a blast playing with bubbles on the deck, ring around the rosie, eating together and reading books together. The second day we ventured out to the water park and oh what fun! The toddler area was just perfect! Delaney loved the bouncer in the water... she laughed and laughed, jumped and spun herself! The kids all loved the slides and ride on toys! Delaney and Luke even took a short nap on the lazy river! They were exhausted on the way home that day! After the kids went to bed we had some time for us girls to hang out on the boat while Amy's mom and sister held down the fort! We all made it home safe and sound! We're looking forward to our next outing!