So funny...

One day I came home from work to find Lauren crawling around with socks on her hands. When I asked Jeff about it, he said that she had been doing it all day. In fact, when he put her down for her nap, she had her socks on her feet and when he went and got her up from her nap, they were on her hands. We have no idea why, but one thing is for sure, she is going to LOVE wearing mittens this Winter! It took Lauren about 5 minutes to pick up this piece of paper!
Playing away!

What's up Mom?

Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon

Sunday, September 26th, The women of our family (and little man-Colin) attended the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Tea at Avalon Manor in Merrillville, IN. I am so proud of my Mom and Grandma for fighting their battle with Breast Cancer and overcoming it! My grandma has been in remission for years and my Mom has been in remission for years. I thought so much of my friend Laurie during this luncheon as she is fighting so hard right now. I ask you all to pray for her and her family.

Auntie Ke-Ka and Lauren

Nana and Lauren

My cousin, Missy and Lauren

Apple Orchard

Michelle, Colin, "Ke-Ka", Lauren, and I took a trip to Beasley's Orchard in Danville. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time together.

Colin comfie in Auntie Ke-Ka's arms

Lauren looking checkin' out the apples with Mommy

Shell, Monica, and Colin

Lauren sitting at the picnic table

Ready to move on

When we got home, Lauren took a nap while we made some yummy apple pie. We had a fun, fall weekend together.

The Park

Lauren has loved going to the park in our neighborhood. Back in July, we introduced Lauren to the playground at our family reunion in NY. She wasn't really sure what to think about it. She fussed a little bit on the way down the slide but would want to go again. We would set her on our lap and swing, she would cry, we would get off and she would point and say, "swing?" We have gone on and off since and she has grown to LOVE it.

Lauren was VERY hesitant to go through the tunnel but after seeing another little one go through, she bravely crawled through!

Swinging with Daddy

Getting ready to go down the slide


"Weeeee"
Walking home with Daddy. I love this picture.

Dora and Diego

Lauren has always been interested in the remote and TV but has recently started watching Dora and Diego. She LOVES them. She will find the remote and bring it to us throughout the day and say, "Eago?" "Dora?" We only let her watch an episode or two a day so we often have to tell her "All done" or "Diego went Bye-Bye." Sometimes she does well and goes and plays with her books or toys and other times we have a temper tantrum. :) Overall she does pretty well though. Enjoying her TV time

Entranced by Diego

Sand and Water Table (18-19 months)

Lauren has really enjoyed using her Sand and Water Table over the past month or so. She will crawl over to the door and say "Outside? Outside?" She likes for us to keep the screen door open so she can crawl in and out of the house and navigate the small step. In and Out. In and Out.

When she is playing at the sand and water table, she likes to splish splash in the water and then take her shovel and dump sand in the water. A majority of the time when she is finished, we have to head up for a bath because she is soaked and covered in sand!

Splashin Around

Diggin in the sand

Going back and forth between the water and sand

Having Fun!

Sunglasses

Lauren has been loving her sunglasses lately. We went over to Ke-Ka's house one day and Lauren kept her sunglasses on for at least a half an hour after we came inside. We thought it was so funny and she looked at us like, "What? What are you laughing at?"

Nothing to see here. Just drinkin' my milk.
GASP---Paparazzi?

Miss. Independent

Lauren has really been asserting her independence over the last few months. Eating, wanting to sit on "big people" furniture, dressing herself, going up the stairs "herself," coloring, etc...

Apple Sauce

Yogurt

At home in the overstuffed chair


"Getting dressed"

Having a snack at Nana's and Pop's House

Lauren's First Haircut (Aug 16, 2010)

Jeff and I took Lauren to get her first haircut when she was 18 months old at Cookie Cutters in Avon. She loved it there.

Lauren loved sitting in the Tractor

The beautician did a great job...the haircut was short and sweet

Having Fun!

"I got to go down the slide and get a Balloon TOO?!"

"But I don't want to leave!!!"

Traverse City, MI Aug 13th-15th

Jeff and I left Lauren overnight for the first time. Nana and Pops (Mom and Dad Braden) thankfully agreed to come down and watch Lauren while we visited some of our very good friends in Traverse City, MI for a long weekend. We left Thursday night and came back Sunday evening. We had a blast. We went to the beach, enjoyed lots of yummy food and tasty drinks, went out on the boat, and of course enjoyed the wonderful company of friends.

Tony and Ava


Ava and Arden (Aren't they too cute?)

Old friends

Ava in her life jacket

Kate, Tony, Jeff and I

Thanks for a great weekend Kate and Tony! We appreciate your hospitality and look forward to you guys visiting next time!

Girlfriends

Hailey and Lauren playing together
August 8, 2010

BON JOVI

Monica and I went to see Kid Rock and Bon Jovi in Chicago on July 30th. We were on the field- 26th row! It was so awesome. We had a blast! The only thing that would have made it better would have been...1)Meeting Bon Jovi and 2) Having Shell at the Concert with us.

Pre-concert Car Photo!

"The Boys" and I

Bon Jovi's The Circle Tour 2010

Enjoying a drink before the concert!

Jon Bon Jovi!

The other highlight of the weekend was spending time with Colin.

Colin Ryan with his Pops

Auntie Ke-Ka and Colin
Colin (Almost 5 weeks old)