Silly Laney, Vera Bradley Sale & Family Time...

All in the last week or so I feel like Delaney has become an ENTIRELY different baby. She is mobile. Her life has changed and so has ours. She can now get to anything she wants to play with (read: we don't have to bring her toys and pick them up when she drops or throws them) and can pretty much entertain herself by movin' and shakin'. She's experimenting with crawling on different surfaces such as carpet, wood floor and tile (and how to maneuver each of these). She's also starting to pull up and attempt the (two) stairs from our family room into our kitchen. Delaney is VERY brave and quite resilient; she doesn't cry when she falls. It's just so much fun to watch her discover new things...we're all getting such a kick out of Laney these days! So. Much. Fun. This age is.

Not so sure about the cold wood floors
Trying to get her knees and legs off of the cold floor. Or as we call this pose: Downward Dog.
Crawling
Some mornings Delaney gets up when I get up and she plays while I get ready. This particular morning she discovered herself in the mirror (and mommy's shoes!).

We packed everyone up and headed to Ft. Wayne on Friday night to meet my dad and step-mom for a weekend visit. Here is Anna with Delaney.

And dad with Izzy

Saturday morning Mike and I went on a 12 mile run and then Anna and I ventured off to the annual Vera Bradley outlet sale. I have been wanting to go for years and the timing has never worked out (the Mini Marathon is ALWAYS the first weekend in May; however, this year the 500 Festival has shortened the entire month of festivities by a week...allowing me to hit up the sale!). I had been warned of the mayhem that would ensue at this sale: long lines to get in, running shoppers looking for their pattern, fighting over items, long lines to check out, etc. Both Anna and myself had to remain calm and keep our anxieties in check; we would survive the sale and make it out with some good deals. And, boy, did we conquer! We walked right into the sale - no line. We shopped the entire sale - twice - in one hour. We got into line (which wrapped around the Coliseum almost twice) and the line was moving. Quickly. As we got to what we thought was the end, we were sadly mistaken and shocked; we were walking into the basement to where the real line started. And there were hundreds and hundreds of shoppers in front of us. We waited in line for a total of 1.5 hours. Insane in the membrane. Anyway, we both got FUN stuff and will definitely be going back again! It's quite the experience! (I just read online that there were 65,000 shoppers in attendance - a record for their sale. Phew!)

This was when we were waiting in the line upstairs and quickly moving. We were thrilled!

And this was the line just entering the basement. Anna kept on saying we were being herded like cattle. Indeed we were...right to the checkout lane!

Izzy getting kisses from Jazzy

Grandpa Bob & Grandma Laura returned from 10 days in Florida on Saturday

Izzy always loves playing the piano at Bobo's house. This time we learned that Laney also loves playing it - with her feet! We just hold her over it and her legs start kickin' away!

Grandma Laura always has fun crafts...these were new Crayola crayon/markers for windows. We couldn't drag Izzy away!

Delaney walking with Grandpa. I swear she is going to be walking on her own very soon! Quite the opposite of her big sis!

And just one more of Bug playing the piano...it just never got old how funny it was!

Delaney is 8 months old...

This little piggy is 8 months old and I can hardly stand it. WhereEVER has the time gone? I feel like just yesterday I was waddling around in a bathing suit wondering if I'd be pregnant forever. Nope. (Thank goodness!) Delaney is as active as ever: crawling, scooting, cruising, and sitting up (from her tummy) on her own. I am in disbelief that she is almost a year old. Happy 8 months Laney Bug!

3 Years & 301 Posts...

Yesterday marked the THREE YEAR anniversary since I started this blog. I cannot believe in 3 shorts years how much our lives have changed. But let me just tell you how happy I am that I have documented nearly every other week for the past 156 weeks with photos! I will forever be looking back at this blog with the fondest of memories and hope our girls will someday do the same. Let's take a brief walk down memory lane, shall we?

This was taken at my 30th birthday party in February 2007 and was our very first picture on this blog. Izzy was about 5 weeks old in my TUMMY here. Love this pic. Single (no kids). Long blonde hair. Little bean in my belly.
Isabelle's birthday: October 7th, 2007. Man, do I look tired or what? We had no idea what tired meant!

Izzy just a few days old in our front yard

A few years pass by and Delaney's birthday: August 27th, 2009

My first baby is no longer my baby, but she's always going to be my lovey!

Delaney just a few weeks old and already full of sass

And here we are: a family of four. Every day brings a new adventure. And every day I love these three more than the next. Here's to another 3 years full of memories to blog about!

Delaney is crawling!!

Delaney has been working on her crawling for the better part of the last 10 days. She's getting so confident and so happy with her mobility; it's so fun to watch her discover her new talent! Here are a few videos:

High School Girls Visit

Two of my best friends from high school (elementary and Junior High school as well!) came down to visit: Erin & Jenny. I hadn't seen either in almost a year (!) and I had been looking forward to this visit for a long time. Per our usual, we played with crafts the majority of the time. We eat, we drink, we chat and laugh while we put together a project. It's just our tradition. Friday night we stayed in and crafted, as I had a long run Saturday morning (in the icky rain). The girls stayed home with Izzy & Delaney all morning and played. By the time I got home, we resolved to NOT go down to the museum, but rather to go to the craft store to buy MORE supplies to make more fun projects. We crafted ALL DAY Saturday. I kid you not. Saturday evening we went out for a late dinner and drinks in Broadripple and had such a fun time. I climbed into bed at 2am and am paying for that tonight. Regardless, I'm so fortunate to have such good friends that have been in my life for 20 years. I love these girls and can't wait to see them again soon!

This is what we did ALL DAY Saturday: Craft!!!

Just a few of our final products

Closeup of what I made for Delaney's nursery

**I'm sad to say that I took ZERO pictures of the girls playing with Izzy & Delaney :(

Gymnastics, Sister Sarah, & the Derby

Random much? You bet. The last 7 days has been so very random for us. We've been all over the place and back again. For starters, my company had its annual National Sales Meeting and Drew Brees was the guest speaker. I had seen him on several talk shows with his wife and child; however, something about seeing a young Superbowl quarterback in person was thrilling. And dreamy. Ha!

Secondly, Delaney has started to crawl! She'll get up on all fours and rock and then take a few "steps," if you will. She's embarking on such a fun age...I just love coming home to her every night to see what new tricks she has. The four of us took our first family run this week, as the temps have been close to 80 all week long. Pushing a double jogger is quite an adjustment from a single jogger. Nonetheless, the girls loved being next to each other and the having the wind in their faces.

Izzy had her 3rd gymnastics class this past week and she is slowly adjusting to the new environment. If you've never been in a gym, they are very loud and there is a lot of activity (many different ages and classes going on all at the same time). Her first class was pretty uneventful, her 2nd class she cried the. Entire. Time. No joke. And last week she cried for about 10 minutes and then warmed up (when she's crying, I have to go out and be with her...I'm sure they all just LOVE having a mom on the mat with them!). Anyway, I took some video again to document her first classes. Hoping one day this footage will come in handy for NBC's Olympic coverage of where her success started :)

And here is a picture of her team at the end of class; they receive stamps on their hands/feet based on how well they listened during class. Of course, Izzy is stamped all over the place b/c she is the most intense listener :)

I took the day off on Friday to get my long run in before we left town. I'm up to running 11 miles and had the most perfect weather to do so. Just wish my run was as perfect. But my girlfriend, Jaime (who is a marathon runner!), ensures me that I will have "off" runs and that next weekend's run will be much better and a confidence booster. Hoping she's right!

Anyway, we left town around noon and headed to Peoria to witness Mike's step-sister taker her final vows as a nun. Sister Sarah has been a part of the convent since she graduated from college (she's my age) and this weekend she took her final vows. There were well over 150 people in attendance to witness such an event and I'm so happy we were there to support her. Congratulations Sister Sarah!
Reciting her final vows

We had to bow out of the full mass towards the end...the girls were worn out from a long day!

One worn out Izzy

Sister Sarah and Iz

There was an hour time change...and of course babies do not adjust with the time (unfortunately). Delaney was awake at 5 am and Izzy at 6am. The pool, conveniently, was open at 6am so the girls and I headed down. I loved the hotel and especially the pool, which overlooked a beautiful river in downtown Peoria. what a view!

There was a wishing well in the (very large) lobby...Mike and Grandpa Bob (Bobo!) taught Izzy how to make a wish and throw a penny in the water. Her faces were hilarious as she was trying to keep her eyes closed while throwing. So funny:

Saturday night I ventured down to the Indiana Fairgrounds to watch the Naptown Roller Girls with about 15 girls. This was, hands down, the best people watching and such a fun time! I am slightly obsessed with the movie Whip It with Ellen Paige, Drew Barrymore and Kristen Wiig...so I just had to check out the derby. It did not disappoint!

Lori and I

Sunday the girls and I visited with Jaime and her boys in the morning while Mike got his long run in. The sun was shining yet the temps were cool. A perfect day to relax out back. While Delaney napped and Mike played golf, Izzy and I hung out in the backyard. I just love the view from our deck...beautiful trees and blue skies.

Mike was laying the rest of the mulch and Izzy was helping

Here's to another fun week filled with randomness. My high school girls are coming this weekend for a visit and I cannot wait!!!

Picnic, Party, Bowling and Nature...

This weekend was BEAUTIFUL in Indy. Perfect Spring weather for a perfectly full weekend at our house. Saturday morning started off with a 10 mile run on the Monon for me. I ran on the new (to me) section, which is north of 146th Street all the way up to 161st Street...so this made my run an adventure; new scenery and new mileage to chart! When I returned home, Mike went out for his long run. While he was gone Delaney snoozed & Izzy and I had a picnic on her new playset.

Izzy has learned she can climb pretty much anything
PB&J picnic

Saturday afternoon we went to the Village to visit Mark, Amber & Etta Schroering. We could only stay an hour...but we had so much fun visiting with them and all their friends.

Delaney

Kel & Amber (Happy Birthday!)

Etta (2 weeks older than Delaney) and Amber

Amber had a babysitter on site for face painting, sidewalk art, and lots more fun activities

Izzy chose a butterfly...it was so cute on her!!!

Saturday night was the first Funster activity of the year, and we planned this event: dinner at the Smokehouse on Shelby and Duckpin Bowling, both in Fountain Square downtown Indy. Dinner was hands down the BEST BBQ I have ever had: pulled BBQ pork, wings, sweet potato fries, cole slaw and FRIED biscuits. I ate so much that I was near sick the entire 2 hours we bowled. But it was worth it. I will definitely be going back. And soon.

Mike reading the rules of the game...there are three very small balls and the pins are also smaller. This was so much fun...we were on the 4th floor overlooking downtown and there was a full bar right behind us. So. Much. Fun.

Me, Mags, Molly and Brandi. We had so much fun...which we always do...but I just love that we keep building all of these fun memories and inside jokes and beautiful relationships throughout the year. Love you guys!

Sunday afternoon we decided to go out to a park (Mike had sprayed grass-killer under Izzy's new playset so as to spread mulch over it soon...so we had to stay off) that is a hidden treasure. It's a nature walk, water over-look, and has a "prehistoric" playground.

More climbing

Sliding down a cement slide. I was weary of this, as it is cement. However, it was a very smooth slide (and fast)...which still blows my mind.

Looking down

I'm telling you, Izzy loves to climb!

Hiking

We hiked to an area that overlooks a river. It's so beautiful and was a perfect day to be outside. And now I need some rest. That's what Monday is for...work! Sometimes I feel like going to work IS my reprieve :)