Another lazy weekend at home...

Izzy & daddy fell asleep watching cartoons Sunday morning
Best buds
Crawling fool
Discovering the stairs & pulling up on them
Making sure mommy is watching
Mission accomplished: stair climbing!!!

Close up
Cruising queen
This weekend we spent putting the finishing touches on our downstairs bathroom and simply hanging out around the house. We love these weekends when we have ZERO plans.

It seems our little Izzy has become a big girl...almost overnight! As soon as she was crawling (on her hands and not her forearms), she started pulling up. As soon as she pulled up, she started cruising. As soon as she cruised, she wanted to WALK. She is into and ON everything. And we have to admit...it's so much fun chasing her and seeing what she is discovering!! From playing in the dogs' water bowl, to playing peek-a-boo behind the curtains....it's all new and fun to Iz...and to us. She's quite the toddler.

Izzy started her new school today...and she did wonderfully! Mike did the drop-off and said she was a bit leary at first and then soon joined the kiddos to play and eat her snack (at a big kid's table in a big kid's chair, no less). Mike snuck out while Iz was pushing a cart with one of her new Stride Rites in it :) I called around 1-ish and the teacher said she was playing and laughing all morning. And she just so happened to be sleeping on a COT as we were speaking. Is our little girl 4 years old or what?! Her daily report said they spent time outside playing...Izzy pushing a cart and walking. They also practiced holding a paint brush and crayons...I can hardly stand it. She has transitioned beautifully! I'm amazed at our little girl...she's so resilliant!!!

I couldn't make this up if I tried...

Folks, I'm laughing out loud as I type. It seems that Mike and I have a very flexible child on our hands: Izzy LOVES to grab her feet and pull them up to her ears. At the same time. I kid you not.

Last weekend my mother-in-law and I were shopping with Izzy and came upon a little girl in her stroller. This little peanut waves and says HI to Izzalicious. You know how Izzy responds? Not by waving (backwards) or by saying HI in her cute little voice. Rather, she grabs her feet and pulls them up to her ears. That's her greeting. And it was priceless.

A few nights ago, we caught Izzy in her high chair doing her famous pose...

...we put Cheerios in the tray to see if she'd put her feet down...

...nothing stopped her...she ate whilst keeping strong form...

Seems we may have a cheerleader (imagine the toe-touch she could whip out) or a gymnast on our hands.

I'm just sayin'...

We officially have a Toddler on our hands...

Crawling machine...
Cruising...
Trying to figure out how to get DOWN the stairs...
It's official, we have a toddler on our hands! This weekend was a turning point for Izzy...not only has she started pulling up to her FEET (used to just pull up to her knees), but she is cruising along furniture, walking with our assistance, AND drinking from a real cup!!! I just can't believe my eyes. It's like it happened overnight. She loves the walking so much, that we went and got her fitted for REAL walking shoes at Stride Rite. I returned ALL shoes from Target and Old Navy...all for these wonder shoes. She even got her picture taken there, as your first pair of walking shoes is quite the milestone. I just can't believe it. She's all grown up. Walking shoes, sippy cups, REAL cups. Her personality is becoming very evident: Izzy is very independent and knows exactly what she wants. Plus, she wants all eyes on her at all times...she even checks to make sure you are watching. Wonder where she gets those qualities from?!?!? Oh yeah, she is also talking REAL words these days (in addition to her constant babble). Her words include: Hi, Bye, Daddy, Mama, Baxter and Katie. Too freaking cute. She'll be at the bus stop in about 4 more months, I'm just sure of it.

In addition to Izzy growing up before our eyes...this weekend was also a transition in our house. Mike's dad and step-mom came down to help us pull up flooring and lay tile in our back hallway/bathroom/laundry room. We hadn't anticipated this project to be so big (as the space itself is not), but with all the thresholds and doorways they had to go through - the project turned out to be bigger than we thought. Mike and I were supposed to go to Cincinnati for the weekend with the Funsters crew; however, we felt far to guilty to leave Mike's dad here to complete the project alone. We literally turned our caravan around on the road and returned to help finish the tiling. You can see the slate tile we laid in the above pics; however, we have yet to grout (tiles needed 24 hours to set). Tomorrow night we will complete the grouting and replace our washer, dryer and toilet to their respective homes. Our living room is disarray, if you could only imagine. Oooooh, I also forgot to mention that Laura and I were able to set up my sewing machine (that they gave me for x-mas!) and I've already started some projects!

What a productive weekend for us!!!

Finish Line Coporate Olympics

Kim, Audrey, Megan, Lori, myself and Brenna
Allyson, me and Lori sporting our Pastry bands :)
This past Friday my company, the Finish Line, hosted its annual Corporate Olympics. There were over 200 participants and another 200 volunteers in attendance to participate in some fun and crazy activities. Tricycle races (I won that event for our team, of course), bungee races, inflatable obstacle courses, 50 yard dashes, tug of war, relay cornhole (!), & Knockout are just a few examples. It was a BLAST to get our competitive juices flowing and NOT be in our offices for the day. Plus, the day was sunny and beautiful. Great camaraderie and team building. I loved it. It reminded me of Field Day from elementary school. Who didn't love that day?

Rainy weekend...

Izzy riding her car
Had to get a pic of her new curls
Izzy and Baxter are best buds
Hanging out in the toy basket
Watching the rain
This weekend was another relaxing one at home. Many house projects and cleaning were checked off the list by Mike and myself. Isabelle had a full day of jammy time on Sunday, as it was raining all day. Izzy has taken to emptying any and all baskets & bins (including dog toy baskets). And she is really loving climbing and petting and poking her best bud, Baxter. Such a fun weekend of playing, singing, reading and exploring.

So special to have a friend like you...

As I mentioned in my last post, Izzy and I were able to spend most of Sunday with my very close friend, Meg. I was supposed to head over there after Izzy's morning nap. However, Izzy didn't want to take that nap. So Iz and I started playing and reading...and in my mind I tried to map out how the rest of the day would go (as all of us moms do with little ones, based on their napping). Before I knew it, Meg called to ask us our plans. I told her we were both in our jammies and I couldn't stand to be sitting in my house while Meg was at hers. Alone. Sans husband. Me too. So Iz and I packed up and took off to the Ripple. In our jammers. We just couldn't get there fast enough...

Meg and I don't spend a lot of time together, as we are both full time moms and full time working moms. Life happens. But nothing ever gets in our way of us having the deepest of conversations...in the most raw sense. We can pick up exactly where we left off on our last conversation without any hesitation. I have never had a friend like Meg. She can get me to laugh just moments after crying my eyes out. She can make me realize that there is more to life than what others think of us. Meg reminds me why girlfriends are invaluable in life.

Meg is a collegiate professor, as my mom was when I was growing up. I can relate to her life balance between work and home (and it helps me better understand what my mom went through when raising us)...and she can ask me what it was like to grow up as a child of a professor. Bottom line, she reminds me that we "working moms" are not defined by our jobs. Rather, we are defined by the family we love and the friends we keep.

I am constantly comparing Izzy's growth and development to Oscar's, when he was Izzy's age. I keep remembering the little tips and tricks Meg had when Oscar was transitioning from an infant to a toddler. My heart nearly lept out of my chest when she asked for MY advice on how I got Izzy to sleep through the night (!). This was the first time a *seasoned* mother asked for my *rookie* advice. I was flattered. Meg wanted to learn from me. If she only knew how much I learned from her about what kind of mother I wanted to be, simply from being a part of her family for those handful of months while nannying Oscar.

I'm so lucky to have her as a friend. I love my Meg...

Look who's 11 months old...

Little Miss Priss is 11 months old today...can you stand it?!?! I know I say this each month, but Izzy is at the most fun age right now! Lots of exploring by crawling, rolling, pulling up and climbing. She has such a fun personality...lots of talking and laughing and mimicking. And of course, she wouldn't be a (Keel) McCulloch if she didn't demand an audience. Her favorite things right now include: grapes, strawberries, any book you read to her, Yo Gabba Gabba, dancing, shaking her head no and waving at anyone & everyone.

Izzy and I visited with our dear friend Meg and Oz today...this is the family that I nannied for last year while I was pregnant. It's always so fun to see them and spend time together. Both kiddos napped for several hours, which gave Meg and I ample time for our good old heart to hearts. Meg is due with Moose #2 in 4 weeks (same due date I had with girl)...and I can't wait to meet the little *dude*!

This was our first weekend at home in 4 weeks...so we spent it relaxing and enjoying this beautiful Fall weather.

More Michigan pics...

After the race with Carla
Izzy loves her Aunt Kimmy
This girl looooves to eat and doesn't turn any food down!

Grandma Anna & Grandpa Keel
Sisters
Playing outside under her sun shade

**There are about 200 new pictures on our photo site...click on the link to the right -> "McCulloch Family Picture Site"**

Doggie Days and the Monon Pool...

Bubby thinking about jumping in, until he realizes this is not the lake
You'd never guess that we have to drag him out of the lake from this pic
Investigating...
Mayhem...
Katie, Rick & Remy
Baxter, Mike, Kelly & Izzy
Rem Dog
Yesterday was the last day of summer and the last day all public pools are open. The Monon Pool opened their doors to all (paying) dogs to enjoy the last day of swimming for their "Doggie Days of Summer." The idea was cute. The actual event was poorly planned. There were literally hundreds of dogs running, splashing, playing and sniffing in two pools. Baxter, who is usually a FISH at the lake (we have to give him designated nap times so he won't drown himself) was very unsure of the pool. Go figure. It was definitely mass chaos....and I'm sure we won't participate again. I think Bax gets enough swimming at the lake, where he doesn't have to share the waves.

Annual McCulloch Open in Wisconsin...

Izzy pretending to sleep...she loves having an audience
Great Grandma Linda
Great Grandpa Marcks

Honey Cheerios from a bowl...she was double fisted and loving it
Laughing at Great Grandma Betty singing to her
Captivated by her bedtime stories with Grandma Laura

She loves, loves, loves being read to...she points, turns pages and has big eyes the entire time
Bob and Mike on the course
Family pic
Steve and Grandma exchanged hats!

This past Labor Day weekend we made the trek up to Wisconsin for the Annual McCulloch Open. This year was the 25th Anniversary of the event, so would couldn't miss it. The men golfed while the women shopped and cooked. We also made a special visit to Mike's Grandpa Marcks who met Izzy for the first time.

This was quite a fun weekend for Izzy, as she started pulling up and climbing/crawling OVER anything in her way. So much fun...and I can't believe she's already 11 months old!!!