In the Mean Time

Here are a few things Taylor is doing and saying these days! She understands almost everything and is learning something new every single day!

She builds towers out of anything... after building one yesterday I asked if she wanted to knock it down, after which she proceeds to knock gently on the top block as if she's knocking on a door. Then I ask if she wants to push it down - she pushed hard and the whole tower came tumbling!

bb b mppojjjn

(she just typed that...)

Anything can be her phone... the actual phone, remote control, camera, various toys. She always politely says "hello" which sounds a little more like "ello" or "ella" and usually she is talking to Grandpa!

She loves to cook in her kitchen. Usually she brings her daddy food on a plate - yesterday it was two crackers, spaghetti, and a waffle... followed up with a taco and a turkey. "Ummy!" (yummy).

Taylor LOVES books! And we love that! We try to stick to a couple books in the evenings before bed, but usually it turns into two or three (or FIVE if you're the grandparents and can't say no). It's precious.

Taylor loves to hide from anyone - although she gets a real kick out of it if it is her daddy that we are hiding from. Typically we are under a blanket or in a closet and the anticipation is almost too much for her and her excitement bubbles over! We all end up laughing.

Luckily, Taylor really enjoys spending time outside. Even just walking to the car is an adventure as we spot things along the way - leaves, flowers, birds, the moon... the list is endless and I love that she soaks in the world around her.

Anytime we're out she is quick to spot other kids - both babies and older kids! Typically she is very impolite and stares at them. It seems she really wants to be friends with them... even if they are 11 year old tweens texting in the booth behind us at Fuddruckers! Go figure.

Have I mentioned babies?! She LOVES babies... she has several. Actually she only has one babydoll, but anything can be a baby... right? This morning she lined them all up in a perfect line and stood with her arms crossed admiring her work - happy she was such a perfectionist, perhaps?!? She also loves to rock them and sing "rock-a-bye baby."

Taylor is talking quite a bit these days. We've definitely acted as translators, and this is such a fun stage! Some of the words sound alike, so we usually have to use context clues to decipher what she's saying. A few of the words she can say:

Milk and Book - they sound a lot like "bilka" or "booka"

Fee - Fish... she used to say "ish" instead... go figure!

BeeBee - Baby

Daisy - that's the name of BOTH Toby and Daisy

Wee - anytime anything is fun... swinging, playing with a new toy, etc...

E-I-E-I-E-I - when she wants to watch/sing Old MacDonald's Farm on the computer

La - Yeah

Mum More - One more - always said twice "mum more mum more"

There are so many other things she says... different foods, animals and animal sounds, and all sorts of gibberish... she's a bit of a chatterbox, actually. Rob is starting to get a taste of life surrounded by ladies! Ha!

She's testing her limits these days and we're trying to take the important things - like no hitting - seriously. Luckily, Rob and I have each other to laugh with afterwards!

The other day, she and I shared a moment where I caught her looking at me thoughtfully as I held her while we stood huddled under an umbrella in the rain. When I noticed, our eyes met and she sweetly smiled. I like to think we were both thinking that there was no place else we would rather be.

Anyway - I'm excited to see what all this means and how this BIG personality develops out of this little person! We'll keep you posted!

It's been a busy time for us... here are a few Christmas highlights!

We hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season - one filled with the HOPE that is found in the humble birth of a little baby, God with us.

She prefers to eat with utensils now.

And it isn't because it's a cleaner way to eat...

It's definitely more grown up and sophisticated.

And judging by the low key spooning on the video, it's just plain fun too!

She's growing up... quickly!

Where to start??

Let me tell you what we've been doing.

I played with my babies beneath the super soft pillows...

We went to the Renaissance Festival (actually, that was late October... but who's REALLY counting?). It was my first time... Mama's too. Luckily, Daddy knew where to take us and what to show us!

What is a Chupacabra, you ask?

Beats me, but we tried to find out last weekend...

Rob and I packed up Taylor and drove to Ft. Worth for the "Los Chupacabras de DFW!"

It was a 10k, night-time trail run through some awesome mountain bike trails just north of Lake Grapevine!

A little about the run - we were told it was a "fun run" not a race... yeah right, are you kidding me?! We definitely had fun, but it's hard to get that race mentality out of your head when you're all at the starting line, they shoot a gun to start the "run" and everyone takes off running underneath the big timer that keeps track of everyone's time. They even gave us shoe tags to keep track of times... or perhaps the shoe tags were to keep track of runner's that didn't make it to the finish line. Maybe they were worried about people being eaten by a chupacabra?! They assured us ahead of time that headlamps were required and that even though the trail was marked with glowsticks and signs that we WOULD get lost if not careful! Luckily we finished without any major mishaps and had a great time!!

Our generous, fun-loving friends, The Churchill's, graciously opened up their home to us as a place to crash. And crash we did - after the run and mandatory fire pit time at their house! S'mores anyone?! After a big breakfast of blueberry pancakes for me and sweet potato pancakes for Rob we headed home. A short visit with these special friends only leaves me wanting more...

Today is a special day.

Rob and I have been married for 7 1/2 years.

Before that we dated for 6 1/2 years.

For those that dated for a while before being married, you can relate - it feels great to surpass the time you spent dating with the time you've been married, doesn't it!?

And then a couple years ago I realized I have known Rob for more than half my life...

Crazy for sure... but not really the point... I'm back on track now, I promise.

Back in October of 1997, Rob asked me if I wanted to "make it official" which I guess is the less cheesy way of saying "Will you be my girlfriend?" We had been hanging out for a few weeks before that, but weren't exclusively committed until 10.10.97.

Rob always liked our 10.10 date - something about it being easy to remember... Of course, we had to go make it more complicated when we got married in May, but I still like to make mention of the 10.10 day whenever it arrives. In my mind it's just another excuse to get a kiss and a lingering hug from my man and think back to the good ole days.

And today - 10.10.10 - well, that's the ultimate!!

(Yes, Julie... that's my Gidget impersonation!)

On 10.10.97, I really had no idea what God had in store for us.

I can't thank Him enough for the blessings He's poured over us since then.

And I can't imagine what He's got in store for our future.

Sunday morning in our house,

Uneventful, as you'll see.

Here's a little video clip,

Of play time with Miss T.

I'm just soaking up the love,

And all the joy she brings each day.

It's the simple little things,

That I thank God for when I pray.

This poet is signing off now.

I know you're sad to see me go.

With T in bed, its OUR time now.

So... just watch the little show.