First Steps...

I can't believe it has been just short of a month since I have updated this blog. Time is just flying and August is just around the corner. This past Sunday we arrived back in Baltimore from a long trip in MI. It was very, very nice to see everyone, and I mean EVERYONE. We were so fortunate to see so many of our friends and family members. Our camera died half-way through the trip, but I do have some pictures to share. (I'll let the pictures tell the story!)

Lighthart/Walker visit

Alpena Pictures

Though Reese has not had her official first birthday, we did celebrate it with both sides while in Michigan.

Birthday #1-Alpena, MI

Everyone just sang Happy Birthday to Reese.

Birthday #2- Plymouth, MI

Birthday #3- TBA

Our stop in Frankenmuth

Katie & Evan's Wedding

On a side note, I have good news. Reese took her first steps today. She finally let go of our fingers! She screamed with excitement with every step she took. It was adorable.

Finally, blogger cooperated!

Two weeks ago we traveled to Michigan for a friend's wedding and my cousin's wedding shower. We decided to drive, and it was long. We are driving to Michigan again in two weeks and will hopefully be a little more rested and prepared for such a long drive with two little ones. Here at the house I have had tired babies, runny noses, a little boy resistant to using the toilet and a cat (prone to UTIs) who urinated on our couch! I think we have finally made it through this storm, knock on wood.

Here are some pictures from the wedding and shower.

Shower

My cousin, Jill, had her wedding shower on the same day as the wedding Brian and I attended. I was really excited when I found out that I would be in Michigan for her shower. Maryland has treated us well, but it is hard when you have to miss all those little get-togethers with family. Auntie Fran with Reese and Addison (Angeline's (my cousin) little girl)
Jill, me, Lisa and Angeline

Wedding
Nuri and Bill were married later that evening. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception. Nuri and Bill were glowing.

Me and Brian

Me and Mel

Nuri and Bill

Me and Julia
Me and Nuri

All us girls from Stevenson

Annapolis

Brian and I LOVE Annapolis. I don't think I can stress the word LOVE enough. If we could live here, we would. Whenever Baltimore starts to get to us, we go to Annapolis to see one of the reasons we love Maryland. Braden had a great time looking at the boats and motorcycles that seem to flock to the bay. These are some pictures of us taking a look at the sailboats as we walked around the Naval Academy.

our summer, so far

We have been having the most beautiful weather lately. The windows are actually open in our house, which is unheard of during the summer months!


If you have never been to our house during the summer time, you haven't seen our flower garden. It sits along the side of our house and every year I try to keep the flowers alive for the entire summer. To those of you where this comes natural, I am jealous! I have a very brown thumb. Things are going well so far. These are pictures of my lilies! I can't take much credit for their growth since they come back every year with out my help, but they are pretty!




Before this beautiful weather we all enjoyed the pool. Braden, of course, loves it. Now Reese is not as much of a fan. Braden dumping a bucket of water on her head probably didn't help.








We also visited some friends of our this summer. Here are some pictures of Braden playing in the big pool!








Reese eats table food now. She will scream and cry if you try and feed her food from a jar! So here she is with her first serving of pasta! Braden is also enjoying his bowl of pasta! Yes, I do know his hair is long, I am working on a hair cut. Brian wants me to have it cut very short, but I refuse. I love the curls too much. Speaking of his curly hair, I was asking Braden if he had blond hair and he reaches up to touch it he says, "no mom, I have curly hair."








We have also started going to our local library for story time on Wednesday mornings. We had to switch libraries because Braden had such a hard time leaving the one with the train table. I was tired of walking through the library with a screaming 2-year old!


(He is in the yellow shirt dancing.)

The last picture I have is of Braden at the park on the big swing. Going to the park will be so much more fun when Reese can walk. She is just too nervous to take a step on her own.

A short video

Well, I finally have the camera up and running again today. It was having a little trouble, but now is back in business. I took some pictures of Braden and Reese today having fun. I hope you like it! (The video gets a little dark when Reese is climbing the stairs, FYI)

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)

I passed! I received notice on Monday that I passed the CHES exam that I took in April. I now have a new certificate to frame and a few adjustments to make to my resume. I am still looking for some part-time work so hopefully this will help!

Odds and Ends

Wedding Bells......

Well, I have two engagements to announce. The first is of my brother Steve. He and Yi have announced their engagement yesterday. I couldn't be happier! They are a great match. The second is of my long-time friend Jenine to her boyfriend Miles. Another wonderful match. The unique part of both of these couples is that their career is highly specialized and they found someone who understands them and can appreciate their talents.

Trip to Philadelphia.....

This Sunday I went to visit my Aunt Alexie and Uncle Joe in Phili. My Aunt Emilia was also in Phili visiting from South Africa. I haven't seen her in 4 years! I had a wonderful time talking and catching up. There is nothing like family!

Reese & Braden......

Well Braden and Reese are doing well. It is HOT here and we haven't been able to do too much outside. Going in the pool isn't even much of an option right now. Reese is climbing the stairs well and is much sturdier when she walks with assistance. Braden seems to be transitioning into the 'terrible twos'. He is in time-out at least 2 times a day. There are days I am praying for patience when the first time-out occurs near 7am! Despite his sassy little self, he still can make us laugh. My favorite thing he does is say,
"mama, I NEED a snack (pause) pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!"

A better update...

Sorry about the short baptism update. I was in the middle of reading, Loving Frank. It an amazing love story between Frank Lloyd Wright (famous architect in Chicago) and Mamah Brothwick Cheney (a well educated writer). It was incredibly moving. I just couldn't put it down!

Here I go......

Me & Brian

Brian and I have been very busy for the past two weeks. It is good that it is rainy today because it is letting us relax and catch up on our sleep. After the weekend we had Reese baptized, Brian had to travel for work. Brian came back on Friday from his conference and I stepped onto a plane Saturday morning to attend a bachelorette party for two friends from high school. They are both getting married this summer so they had a joint party. It was a lot of fun. I got back on Monday (Memorial Day). Tonight Brian and I are going to dinner. We have been meaning to spend some time together, with out the kiddos, for a while now but just haven't had a chance.

Here are pictures from the bachelorette party.

Ange, Julia, Katie, Nuri, Mel & Me (all friends from high school)

Julia and me

Me and Mel

Braden

Braden is doing wonderful. Lately I have been working with him on using pronouns, which is going quite well. Reese is finally 'she'! He also doing more things, 'all by himself". I have been encouraging him to do tasks he asks for help with on his own with hopes that this encouragement of independence will lead to a little boy who will go the bathroom on the 'big potty'. He is NOT interested in it at all. Not one ounce of him wants to go anywhere but in his diaper. He is still our champion eater asking for snacks ALL day long! We have also recently bought our little pool for the summer and he is already asking to 'swim in the pool' every day!

Reese

All Reese wants to do is walk. She won't go with out holding on to you, but she wants to go. I thought she might be walking on her own by 10 months, but I am not sure anymore. She loves to play with her brother. He is patient with her, at times, and will share some of his toys with her. Her favorite stuffed animal is Braden's monkey. He is nice enough to let her play with it. She has been taking it to the gym with her which has made our visits much easier. She used to cry the entire time I worked out, but now she is fine. I have to look for her in the room when I get there to pick her up because you never know where she is playing. I used to just look for the daycare workers because she was always crying and they were trying to console her.

I hope you enjoyed the update and I will be back on sooner than later!

Reese's Baptism

We recently had Reese baptized. We were joined by many people from our family. We all had a very nice time. My brother Steve and his girlfriend Yi are her god-parents.