June

So I half forgot about the blog and half just haven't had time to update. Anyways, a lot of things have happened since my last post (over 3 months ago)! I plan to post what we have been doing all summer in a series of posts as time allows this week! So be sure to check back every few days! I have the majority of the posts written its just a matter of getting pictures and getting them uploaded! I had a hard time tonite as the iPad didn't want to cooperate!

We went up to Chicago in the middle of June so get Tori and Sofia's pictures taken together to give to my mom as a birthday gift. Needless, to say my mom loved it!

Later that same week, Rachel and Sofia came down for a visit and Rachel, Chris, and Claire were visiting from Texas so we met up one evening for dinner and playtime for the kids.

This is the best picture I could get of the three girls, from L to R, Claire (8 months), Sofia (9.5 months), and Tori (11.5 months).

Tori got her first kiss ever from a boy and it was open mouthed! Haha! We have no clue what prompted Chris to do this, but I am glad we caught it on camera!

We celebrated Tori's birthday on June 26th with a party at the fellowship hall at the church with our family and friends. The colors for the party were hot pink and yellow and Tori looked adorable!

I LOVE this picture of Tori! Right after we got her all dressed in her tutu she had to check herself out in the mirror!

I was (and still am) very proud of Tori's birthday banner. I made it myself!

Singing happy birthday to Tori. She couldn't wait to get her hands on that cake!

I have to admit she wasn't into the smash cake so I hid goldfish in it so we could get some good pictures!

Bath time at the church! She loved playing with the faucet.

On Tori's actual birthday we celebrated by going to the Peoria Zoo, lunch at Steak N Shake, shopping, and had our immediate family over for pizza.

At the zoo we saw Taylor, Tori's birthday buddy. They were born within two hours of each other! Taylor's dad plays softball with Devin and I went to school with her mom.

Wish there wasn't a smudge on the lens! Tori trying to check out the giraffes but she was too short.

Looking out over the Africa exhibit with Granny!

Tori picked out a stuffed turtle....she loves to chew on it.

That's all o have for now! I hope to update later in the week about what we did in July, August, and September so check back!

Thanks for checking in!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Just an ordinary day

I have some pictures that weren't taken for any special reason, but that are cute that I would like to share! Here they are! Enjoy!

As mentioned in a previous post we are teaching Tori some basic signs. She will be taking some sign language classes this fall, but for now we are using some DVD's. Tori will not sit still enough to watch TV, until one day I decided to give her Cheerios while I wanted her to watch! It worked for the most part!

Mocha was waiting (patiently) for a dropped Cheerio.

Cheeeeeeeese! So much for paying attention to the DVD.

Speaking of cheese, here is Tori eating leftover grilled cheese and fries for dinner.

Playing with her inflatable toy from her kids meal.

She loves the water so much! Whenever we start filling up the tub she crawls like a madwoman down the hallway.

Trying to reach a toy/climb in.

Maybe if she stands on her tippy toes...

Got it!

Mocha likes bath time almost as much as Tori!

Tori playing and Mocha waiting for a drop of water.

Mocha is up and wants to help.

Being silly!

When she starts to stand up in the tub, we get out!

Thanks for checking in!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Possums, Birds, and A Frog, oh my!

We have had quite the week animal wise at our house! One day last week, Mocha managed to catch and kill a bird in the backyard. One minute I looked out and she was just laying there chewing on a stick with birds dive bombing her and the next she was carrying around a bird in her mouth. Lucky for me, she didn't eat the bird. She just carried it around the yard "burying" it in various places until I could distract her enough to get her inside. Then, she didn't get to go outside until Devin got home from work and removed the bird from the yard.

On Monday, Mocha was digging like crazy near our fence. This isn't unusual for her, but she wouldn't even look up when we were hollering for her so we knew she was up to no good. Devin put on some sandals to see what she was after. When he got out there this is what he saw.

Some white fur under the fence no biggie right? He thought maybe it was just her fur as I had brushed her the day or two before. But he opened the gate and saw this..

A nice dead-as-a-doornail possum! The thing was huge! He threw it back further into the trees and I am sure by now, some other animal has carried it away!

At my grandparents cookout on Monday we got to see some baby birds! Devin and I both thought it would be fun to take some pictures of them. Hey we have this nice camera so why not? Here is what we got..

Three babies hanging out. Every year one of my grandma's hanging baskets becomes a home to some baby birds!

Making noise waiting to be fed.

Momma found a worm!

Feeding it to her babies.

Our last encounter with animals happened Tuesday night as Devin was taking out the garbage. He was walking back into the house as something caught his eye. This is what he saw...

Can you tell what it is?

Its a frog. Just chilling on our wall in the garage. Who knew frogs could do that? I didn't. Oddly enough it was right next to a frog chair that Jason's parents got Tori.

I like animals and all, but I hope non-domesticated ones stay away from us for a while!

Can you believe I did a whole post and didn't include a picture of Tori? :)

Thanks for checking in!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Learning to share

Tori of course is too young to know how to share, but it is something I try to "work" with her on when we are around other kids, like a breastfeeding group, playmates, etc. Well the other day she decided to "share" with Mocha.

The green thing Tori is holding normally has Cheerios in it.

Tori was trying to share with Mocha.

But the Cheerios were all gone!

They both look so innocent!

Mocha is pretty good with Tori. She has a few toys that she is protective of, but that is it really. She has snapped a few times, but nothing major. The other day Mocha was letting Tori stand on her as she was trying to climb onto the ottoman! I hope that they will be good friends in the future!

Thanks for checking in!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

11 Months Old

On May 29, Tori turned 11 months old. I can hardly believe it! I haven't gotten to weigh her lately so I have no clue how much she is at. I think she is probably close to 19 pounds. She seems to be growing! We are still working on transitioning to table foods. Tori eats chicken nuggets for lunch and we give her a little bit of whatever we are eating for dinner, and baby food for dinner. It seems as though she has a little bit of a texture thing and will only pick up certain things. She loves to eat chicken nuggets, fries, pizza crusts, cheerios, puffs, graham crackers, and animal crackers. Anything else she really won't pick up. I know, I know, I need to have patience! Devin was in Texas for a few days with work and while he was gone I taught Tori to raise her arms when asked how big she was. It is so stinking cute! We are also starting to teach her sign language. This morning during breakfast I am pretty sure she signed "more" two separate times! Here are some pictures from her 11 month old

Not too happy!

Trying to escape, but smiling!

Uncle Bryan helped her stand!

Thanks for checking in!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend was a busy weekend for us this year. On Saturday, we had a wedding for one of Devin's fraternity brothers in Springfield. It was a great time seeing all of our college friends, but man does it make us feel old. We are the only ones out of the group with a baby! Crazy! Anyway, we skipped the wedding and just went to the reception. It was gorgeous! Great food and friends! There was a lot of talk of the big wedding coming up in September in Puerto Rico! It is about 100 days away! We can't wait! We are traveling down with and staying at the same hotel as the couple that got married. It should be a good time.

On Sunday, my mom and I headed up to Earlville to two of my cousins graduation parties. It was fun to show Tori off as this was the first time my dad's side of the family has met her! Here are some pictures!

We weren't sure what all food would be at the party and Tori can be a picky eater, so we stopped and got her a happy meal on the way. She wasn't that impressed.

Happy to be out of the carseat!

"Choking" Aunt Betsey.

Reading a book with Aunt Betsey. Betsey always wanted a little girl...she has four boys!

Tori wasn't a fan of Uncle Gary for some reason.

She didn't know what to think of Aunt Debbie either.

Aunt Shelia was okay though!

On Monday we had three cookouts and a yard that needed mowed! We had lunch out at Grandpa and Me-Maws with Brittany and Jason, Patrick, and Grandma Burks.

Tori used to hate the grass, even when she was on a blanket. She will now play on the blanket, but won't touch the grass. Baby steps right?

Working on standing on her own!

After lunch we headed home so Devin could mow and Tori could nap. When she work up she and I headed to my grandparents and Devin joined us when he was done.

Who needs toys when you have a water bottle and a little table?

Getting ready to climb the chair.

She made it to where she was standing on it, but I couldn't take pictures because I had to catch her if she fell!

Showing off how big she is!

After my grandparents, we headed over to Nick's house for a cookout with our friends. Tori was pooped by this point and slept through that cookout! Then we came home, had bath time, and went to bed! It was a busy, but fun weekend!

Thanks for checking in!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad