Memorial Day Weekend

This past Memorial Day weekend we took the opportunity to travel over to PA for a visit.  Grant, Rachel and Eli also made the trek, so it was a great time to catch up with a lot of family.

While we were there, we got to play games with Janna.  Geoff evened the playing grounds during a game of "Connect 4".

We enjoyed dining with everyone and Hylie LOVED Grandma's cooking!

Having a stare-down with Pap Pap.

Hylie and Braddock are not quite sure how to play with each other just yet.

Hylie was really sweet with Janna.  Normally, when anyone other than mom or dad were near, Hylie would have a melt down, but when we sat next to Janna, Hylie was holding her hand and exploring the design on Janna's shirt.

While we were there, Dad put together a campfire so we could sit around on a chilly evening and toast marshmallows.  Mom bumped up her s'more game and brought out yummy Reese's Peanut Butter Cups to use instead of a Hershey Bar.  Yum-O!

Hylie loved Grandpa's swing!

Eventually Hylie warmed up and enjoyed playing with everyone.

Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with everyone!

9 Months

Over the weekend our little munchkin turned 9 months old!  Hylie weighed in at 20lbs. 13 oz. and is 29 inches tall.

She's still not crawling, but she's figuring out she can support herself on all fours and rock back and forth, so it's just a matter of time before we're chasing after this little girl!  But don't let her lack of crawling fool ya, she will roll and stretch to get into anything and everything ankle height.

Hylie loves to go on walks, eat finger foods, play with her toys (but cell phones and spoons seem to trump all of her baby gadgets), gibber gabber the day away and even sing every once in a while (I believe she's a soprano).

Hylie has also cut four teeth and has been a trooper through the whole teething process!

One of her latest tricks is clapping.  She doesn't do it to celebrate anything, but we cheer when we see her do it and it usually catches her off guard and then she stops, ha ha!  However these past few days I've noticed that she claps after she hears me cheer, so we'll see if that actually becomes something consistent!

Having fun with Dad

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

The hotel where we stayed for the wedding had a floor length mirror that caught Hylie's eye.  We enjoyed watching her check out the cutest little baby on the other side!

Road Trip to Kansas City!

Geoff's cousin, Laurel, got married this past weekend and we had the pleasure of attending the festivities.  We hit the road Friday morning and drove down to Kansas City arriving just in time for the BBQ.  Hylie was a little angel in the car, but when she was surrounded by strangers and loud music she let us know she was done for the day.  Luckily, I was able to take her to a quiet room while Geoff caught up with family.  It was so nice to see relatives and get together for such a fun occasion.

Harold, Margie, Nana, Hylie and Geoff

On Saturday, we took a drive to St. Joe to see Nana, Margie and Harold before the wedding.  What a pleasure it was to catch up with them!  Margie arranged for a wonderful lunch and then we continued our visit up in Nana's place.

Hylie just as I set her on Nana's lap...and then 2 seconds later.

Hylie has officially reached the stage where she doesn't trust anyone except Mom and Dad.  I hope it doesn't last long.

Thankfully, Nana was content to watch Hylie play from afar.

We were sad to leave, but had to head back to Kansas City to get ready for Laurel and Jeff's big day!

All dolled up and ready for the wedding.

The lovely couple sealing the deal with a kiss.

They held their wedding in the Uptown Theater located in Kansas City.  We enjoyed the ceremony, gabbing and eating at the reception, and dancing afterwards with an amazing live Motown band!  What an incredible party!

The next morning we enjoyed breakfast with Heather and Lonn and said goodbye to everyone before hitting the road once again.

When we planned the trip we looked up a nearby LDS meetinghouse to attend church, but when we arrived at the said destination, there were only a bunch of condemned houses on a pretty sketchy street.  We called the listed number, but no one picked up.

So we got back on the road and Geoff suggested we at least swing by the Kansas City Temple on our way out.  What a brilliant idea that turned out to be.  Not only did the website provide the correct address to the temple, but there was a meetinghouse right across the street that had a meeting scheduled RIGHT when we pulled in!  Perfect!

We ran into a pretty crazy storm on the way home, but pulled over for a few minutes to let it get more ahead of us.  Hylie did pretty well in the car again but sure does enjoy being home and sleeping in her own crib!

My First Mother's Day

Being a wife and mother is a blessing I am so grateful to have in my life.  Geoff and Hylie have brought such joy to my life and I realize my role to bless them with joy in return is one I hope to improve upon.  

Geoff gave me the blessing of time Saturday morning to attend the temple and while I was gone he cleaned up around the house.  Later that day he also surprised me with a bouquet of beautiful roses.  He even got a little crafty and made a case for my phone!  Thank you, Geoff, for being in my life and walking along side of me as we raise Hylie.

I am blessed with a lovely, talented and giving mother.  She continues to strengthen and support me as I embrace the role of motherhood myself.  How grateful I am for my beautiful grandmothers who have also instilled in me a testimony of Jesus Christ and the importance of family.

Spring has Sprung!

We are definitely loving our first Chicago spring!  The weather went from overcast and cold to complete perfection this past week.

A day isn't complete without a nice stroll to enjoy the fresh air, warm sun and gorgeous blossoms.

When we first sat Hylie in the grass, she wasn't too keen on how it felt on her skin.  She even managed to keep one leg lifted for quite a while to avoid as much contact as possible, ha ha!

But eventually she realized grass wasn't all that bad after all.

Command Center

Recently when we visited Grant and Rachel, Eli was gracious enough to loan Hylie a toy he's outgrown.  This contraption has, by far, the most bells and whistles Hylie has ever seen on a toy and boy does she LOVE it! Geoff and I call it the "Command Center" but if Hylie had a say, she'd probably call it Disney World.

Doesn't that smile just say it all?

Thanks again, Eli, for all the fun!