New pics finally!

So what's new with Lauren? I have seasonal allergies and have been sneezing a TON lately. Now, every time I sneeze, Lauren responds with "bluh!". Now, is she copying me or is she copying her Daddy when he says "Bless you"? Not sure.

When you ask her what a cow says, she moo's. She'll also climb into our laps with books and start mooing until you find the page with a cow on it. I think this is hilarious :)

She surprised us this week by climbing up onto the barstools at our kitchen counter all by herself! How on Earth is she big enough to do that?

Cuddle time! Why do these two prefer laying on the hard, tile floor together?Well, here she is wearing Daddy's socks (on HIS feet, they stop below his ankles!!)

Well, okay....her Daddy's socks on her feet and her own shoes on her hands. That's QUITE a fashion statement there, kiddo!

Enjoying our backyard patio. Lauren loves my Craigslist finds- her picnic table and slide!Grandma and Grandpa Steighner came for the weekend and read many stories with Lauren.The kitchen floor, seriously? I promise we let her sleep in her crib, she was just impatient when I was emptying the dishwasher!

Have a good rest of your week!

Love,

M& L

Zoo Fun and More...

My new favorite picture :)
I had to do it....Lauren's first pedicure! She sat SO still and didn't even flinch while I painted them. Good girl!

We've got a drummer on our hands! (Note the skinned knees from that day's trip to the zoo. See below...)Sorry it's been awhile...things are hectic around here. Westin has been sick--really sick. He's vomited up blood a few times and has been to the doggy ER and his own vet for many X-Rays and a full panel of blood tests. The most recent XRays came back abnormal so he could be headed for an ultrasound and/or possibly stomach surgery if he doesn't start showing some positive signs soon. He isn't allowed to have dog food right now; he can only have plain white rice and boiled hamburger in very small amounts. He's on some antacid meds (think Pepcid for dogs) and we are watching him very closely. His vet said he can't have dog food until next Saturday or Sunday and that's ONLY if he doesn't throw up at all between now and then. The X-Rays revealed that it's one of three things:

1) A SEVERELY irritated stomach lining that is bleeding and needs about a week to heal without much food.

2) A tumor or growth of some kind in his stomach that would likely result in surgery.

3) Some type of foreign object he must've ingested, such as a plastic bag, lodged in his stomach that could likely result in surgery.

So....unless he throws up this week, we are first trying the food-withholding route to see if this is just an irritated stomach lining. Please keep your fingers crossed for Westin!

As for Lauren, she's getting her upper molars this week and spiked a pretty high fever this weekend. Luckily, my mom and sister Karlee were with us for the weekend helped tremendously.

In the past few weeks, we've enjoyed warmer weather with a trip to the zoo and we also had a blast at the surprise Dinner Club baby shower for some close friends of ours. Enjoy the new pics!

Relaxing in her old bouncy seat, which she has clearly outgrown!
The mommy and daddy-to-be!

I love this picture. I think her smile is just adorable :-)

And now for our first trip to the zoo in '09!
That peacock doesn't stand a chance."Wait! Just one hug! Please?!?!"Lovin' on Daddy~Waving at the ponies.No, she isn't trying to milk a goat here. Actually just giving it a hug.
This was moments before she ran and fell, causing both knees to scrape and bleed. Thus the end of our zoo trip.

I'm off to bed. L is sleeping really well lately, despite teething. Yikes, hope I didn't just jinx it. G'night!

M & L

PS- Karlee, why didn't I take any pictures of your visit?!?! I was too wrapped up in Westin's and Lauren's health issues. Did you get any on your camera?

Spring Break in PA!

We took Lauren to Pennsylvania for a few days to spend time with Chad's grandparents, affectionately known as Mum-Mum and Pap. They are Lauren's great-grandparents and had only met her once before, last Memorial Day. So they were thrilled to see her and to get some cuddle time in with her. Lauren travelled well and stayed cheerful throughout our flights to and from PA. We brought an entire suitcase full of toys for her so that she'd have lots to play with while we were staying at their house. Unfortunately the weather was cold and rainy while we were there so we stayed indoors the whole time and she got a little hyperactive from being so couped up. Oh well. It was so nice to spend Easter Sunday with Mum-Mum and Pap. We went with them to church and Lauren ended up napping through the entire service, which was MUCH better than what I had feared she would do. (I had envisioned many hollers of "Mom! Mom? Mom!!" during all prayers and the sermon. Luckily that didn't happen!)

During an unexpected flight delay in Cincinatti, we had time to explore the airport and "get the wiggles out". Lauren passed the time entertaining herself (and many others) by trying to walk the wrong way on the moving sidewalk. She got nowhere fast!We borrowed a portable DVD player from friends of ours and Lauren got to watch her first DVD! Baby Einstein kept Lauren entertained for a few minutes at least :)Easter Sunday with Lauren's great-grandparents.On our way to church.On Monday, Chad's cousin Stephanie came to visit with Chad's aunt Sally and Sally's mom Jean. Lauren loved finally getting to meet them! Here she is spending time with Stephanie.

Playing piano with Aunt Sally.
Playing with Pap's hat.
Mum-Mum surprised Lauren with an Easter basket. She decided that it'd make a better hat!
Reading and cuddling with Pap.
Reading books and cuddling with Mum-Mum.

Enjoying a spaghetti dinner with Mum-Mum and Pap. We brought Lauren's booster seat with us so that she could eat at their table with us. Worked well!

Lauren is sitting in Daddy's old rocking chair. Awww....

Smelling the fake flowers on Mum-Mum's coffee table. What a goofball.

Lauren enjoyed riding the hobby horse at Mum-Mum and Pap's house.

For all you non-believers...Allie REALLY DOES like Lauren! They were cuddling together this morning. Ha!

We got home Wednesday evening and I'm enjoyed some time off at home with Lauren. This morning, we went to the toddler storytime at Barnes and Noble and she had a great time singing and dancing. It's supposed to be nearly 70 degrees here tomorrow for the first time this spring, so I'm thinking about taking her to the zoo. We'll see...

Enjoy the new pics!

Love,
M&L