In other non-snow related news, Raegan is getting bigger by the day. Her first top tooth has finally started pushing through after weeks of drooling and chewing. She has been using her teeth to mash up pretty much all her food lately. She is, for the most part, on all table food. No more pureed baby food for this little girl. No allergies so far and she has loved everything she has tried.

She is also learning new things every day. She can now wave hello and good-bye. It's so crazy to think that she's almost one. She can also do her own version of the sign 'more'. I can't wait to teach her the rest of the signs that I know. I think she'll catch on quickly.

Other than that, we are all well. The school year is half way over and I think Mike couldn't be more excited about that. I am still looking for more kids to watch, but happy to have down time with just the two girls. Here are some recent pictures.Playing the piano at Grams'

Cheering for the Bears before they gave up

Loving Daddy

This is the, 'Aren't I so cute?' head tilt

Hanging with Ozzie

Blizzard 2011

Well, I didn't believe it when they started reporting on it. I kept saying, I'll believe it when I see it. Well...I believe it! The 3rd worst snow storm in Chicago history hit us early Tuesday, February 1st, afternoon and didn't stop til late the next morning. Luckily, Mike was able to make it home in just over an hour and the mom of the little girl I watch was able to make it here safe to pick her up. We spent the night listening to the wind roar and watching the snow swirl around the house. It seemed like it was blowing more than it was snowing, but when we woke up, we were literally snowed in! Our front porch had snow up to my waist cover it. It took us a while to shovel our driveway, but thankfully, we only have a small, one car one. Here are some pictures of our snow day.

Ozzie knee deep in snow

Before shoveling

Raegan getting to explore snow; Oz was waiting to eat it

So ready to go out

Christmas pictures

Alex and I getting ready to pass out presents at Grams...
just a little overboard!

Raegan getting a little help from her Nana

Yeah! I love paper!

Ladybug pillow pet from Daddy

Hanging with Aunt Tracy, Riley, and a very large gorilla

2011

Welcome to 2011! We hope this new year finds everyone happy, healthy, and ready to take on new adventures.

We had a very busy Christmas holiday making it four family filled days. We started the holidays celebrating Mike's 34th birthday on December 23rd. To do this, we spent the day doing 34 random acts of kindness which included dropping cookies and donuts off at various village places, giving away lotto tickets to random people, donating food to a pantry, visiting my mom at work and dropping off many things at the hospital, and so many more things. It was great to see the reaction people had and felt good to give back, even in a little way. Then on the 24th we had Christmas dinner with Mike's cousin Paul and his family. Raegan got her first Christmas presents there and was excited to open them. The candle-light church service, which is a family tradition, was made even better sharing it with Rae. She fought sleep, but finally fell asleep about halfway through. Mike and I woke up Christmas morning and were able to share a moment to ourselves without other family there. Once Raegan got up, it was time for Mike's mom and her family to come over and celebrate. Raegan was very spoiled, but very good through it all. We had a quick stop by my parents and then off to Grams for Christmas dinner. Raegan had fun trying to open everyone's presents and love playing with all the boxes. The day after Christmas found us at Mike's dad's house celebrating with them. All-in-all we had a great bunch of days spent with family, which is really the most important thing.

Apple Picking

In the middle of September, Mike had a free weekend from cross country (very rare!) and we took David, Amy, Alex, and Melissa to Apple Hollar to pick some apples. The day started out wet, but ended up full of sunshine and laughter. We had a great time and can't wait to go again next year! Here are some pictures ( just a few from the over 500 Alex took)

Everyone is amazed by the funny goat.

Climbing to get apples

Raegan is pumpkin sitting

Alex proud of his apple skills

I think Raegan likes apples

Really likes apples

Free rides

Auntie Amy and Raegan

Sugar Monkey meet Monkey

Awww.....

Delicious!

Job skills

Happy Baby. Happy Mommy.

I can't believe they let us out in public

Duck...

Our friend the scarecrow

Pig races

Too big to fit in the car

I'm a big kid now!

I am the best little pumpkin!

adventures continue...

One of the most recent pictures.

Hanging out with her favorite guys

Playing peek-a-boo with Mommy

Trying to pick the perfect pumpkin

Our Adventures

Raegan's first pumpkin picking

White Sox last home game with Auntie Amy and Uncle Alex

Attempting to crawl

First taste of cereal...it turned out better than it looks!

First swim! Thanks Syzdeks!

A long time coming...

Well, I can't believe that it's almost been 8 months since Raegan was born. This little girl sure has changed everything in our lives. Since our last post (a really, really long time ago...we apologize), Raegan has begun eating solid food including fruits, veggies, and she had her first taste of chicken on Thanksgiving. So far, she has pretty much loved everything; we're not sure if it's just because it's food or if she really does like it all. Either way, she's a great eater. Recently, she's been having some juice and snacks just like a big girl. To go along with being a big girl, she has her two bottom teeth ( just in time for Christmas!), she is crawling all over the place, and attempting to pull herself up on anything she can. Looks like we might be in trouble when it comes time for Christmas! She loves paper (eating it, playing with it), so I think she'll be a fantastic 'unwrapper' when she gets her presents.

At the beginning of October, Raegan and I were able to get away for a couple of days with my family to the Dells. We had a great time seeing horses, going to the water park, and just hanging out. We missed Mike, but he was busy cheering on his kids during their race downtown at the marathon. It was the highlight of their season. Raegan's first Halloween was a hit. We didn't end up trick-or-treating, but she was the cutest little monkey. Thanksgiving was pretty busy, but everyone was excited to see Rae. She was a trooper through our 3 turkey day celebrations.

We are all looking forward to the next couple weeks. Mike is done with cross country and is now working on Academic Decathalon- basically a club where kids take a bunch of tests. As of January 3, I will be working from home. Raegan and I will get to spend the day together along with other kids I will be watching. So far, I have one little girl and am hoping to get more. And Raegan, well, she's looking forward to whatever comes next :)

Eating the table...

Why wouldn't she be eating the table?

Just a quick video...

Almost 4 months old

Here are some pictures of our latest adventures:

Rae has discovered a new friend; herself!

Swimming for the first time in Madison

She loves her exosaucer and all the fun toys it has!

Still a thumb sucking baby; so irresistible!

Our family outing to Sycamore, IL

All smiles on the 4th

Great Uncle Tom is fun!

It's the end of July already! Summer really is flying by. Mike spent a week at Tower Hill at Hug Camp in Sawyer, MI being a camp counselor at the camp I was formerly a counselor at. From all the pictures he took (1500) and the website (hugcamp.com) he put together, I think he had a great time. It was a hot week, but full of lots of memories and good times. While he was away, Raegan and I visited my friend Amanda and her two boys, Anthony and Elliot, in Madison, WI. We had a great time just hanging out and swimming in the kiddie pools (although, Anthony did most of the swimming). While we both enjoyed our time apart, I think everyone was excited to be back together as a family.

Raegan is doing great! Her first 4th of July was a big success. We had a very busy, full weekend. She really enjoyed her first fireworks show- she fell asleep on her Godfather Scott! Then we spent the day with Grandpa, Aunt Tracy, and Uncle Tom and Alpay. It was great to relax and enjoy the company. On the 4th, she slept through the parade. After the parade, we enjoyed food and games at Great Grams house with the whole fam. Altogether a great weekend! Rae is now so full of giggles, smiles, and babbles up a storm. She loves playing with all her toys and even telling them stories. It is so cute to see her interact with things and even more so when she is interacting with us. She loves to sit up and look around. Her latest thing is to watch tv; we might be in trouble a little sooner than we thought! When I last checked her weight and length, she was around 13 pounds and 25 inches long and is officially grown out of all her 0-3 month clothes! We'll find out in about ten days at her next doctor's appointment what her true measurements are. She'll also be getting her next round of shots; hopefully she'll take them like a champ like the first time around.

Mike and his dad have been busy building a shed in our back yard. The progress is slow, but it looks great and I can't wait until we can use the garage again! Other than that, not too much has been going on. Work is about the same for me and Mike goes back to school in a little over a month. He just got his schedule and starts at 8 and will be done at 2, so once cross country is over, he'll be able to get home before most of the rush hour traffic.

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer and trying to stay cool in this hot weather we've been having.