Big Day

Boy, was yesterday was a very long day. We got up at 4am, flew to Spokane, met our awesome birthmother Jennifer, and flew home at 8pm last night. Lainey handled the chaos extremely well-making lots of new friends on the flight home, enjoying some not so good for you but boy do they taste good snacks, and coloring in her books. Boy did we get a nice tour of Spokane via the rental car while Lainey napped in the backseat! Anyone see the theme here yet? If not, check out the picture below. (For those that can't tell what we're looking at, this is a shot from below with his little legs on each side)

We went our for Chinese food for dinner and at the end the server brought 5 fortune cookies. We didn't realize there was an extra one until there was just one sitting on the plate. We realized it was the baby's (otherwise known as Beaux for now) and I melted when I read the fortune:

"You will bring sunshine into someone's life."

You already have little guy!

Animals!

On a recent visit with Grandma and Grandpa Reid we went to the Puyallup Fair. Lainey loved looking at all the animals and mooing when she saw cows, and saying bah bah when she saw sheep. She learned some new words that day: Goat, Sheep and Pig!

Checking out the sheep with Grandma

Playing with some sort of musical art with Grandpa.

Banging on stuff is a favorite activity for these two and they could do it all day but we heard there were two litters of baby pigs to be found!

Petting the bunnies was a big hit

Found the piglets! If only they stayed this small....

Just when I thought I'd seen it all, a goat walks right by me!

Great Friends

How cute are these two? Lainey and her good friend Paige who lives two doors down from us. These two are so cute together--squealing, holding hands, playing, drawing on the sidewalk with chalk, and chasing each other around the neighborhood.

Water Antics

I can't think of too many things this girl likes better than water!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUdR5qKa86I

Lunch with Daddy

Lainey went down to Seattle today and Daddy met us for lunch at the University Village shopping mall.

The milk in that sippy cup is about all Lainey ingested.

Smooches for Daddy




















After lunch Bug discovered the water fountain outside the restaurant.













Lainey saw this stuffed cat and immediately fell in love with it. Daddy took one look at that smile and melted like butter. Granted, it IS a great smile, but still the girl is GOOD!

Seahawk Season Kicks Off

Well....these two looked good at least!

Life is good

I had to be somewhere tonight, which is rare for me. I literally ran out the door the minute Robert pulled in the driveway and didn't get back until about 7:30p. I was maybe gone an hour and a half--not that long. The greeting I got from Lainey made me want to be out more often. I got hugs and kisses and big smiles. Then the three of us spent the rest of the evening chasing each other around the kitchen with Lainey's squeals getting louder and louder. We let her stay up past her bedtime because WE were having too much fun playing with her, watching her race off and hearing her laugh when we caught her. Nights like this are just one example of the things I envisioned while waited for her and way better than I ever dared to dream. I wish we had got it on video. We were just caught up in the moment and didn't want it to end. My life is good!

18 months

My sweet Lainey,


I can't believe you're 18 months old already. A YEAR AND A HALF! It seems like just yesterday we were walking around the house trying to get you to burp in the middle of the night with your little face tucked into mine or daddy's neck, only to discover that you were already back asleep before that ever important burp. As I type this you are playing in the playroom all by yourself, and I can hear you putting shapes into your shape sorter. You like to put them in the wrong holes. I think it's just to see if they will indeed fit and you usually find a way to squeeze them in. When it gets quiet in there I know you are probably sitting on the floor surrounded by a big pile of books. When I try to put them back on the shelf, you take them all back down again. You are getting to be such a big girl now and every day show us a new part of your personality. Daddy and I always talk about how precious you are and after he puts you to bed at night he often has tears in his eyes. You melt his heart like nothing I have ever seen before. You love to talk and always try saying new words, you're up to about 60 with your favorite being "Up!" Lately you have also started chuckling. All it takes is for us to look at you a certain way and you chuckle like crazy! You are so independent and on the go and the sound of you running through the house is music to our ears. You love to give kisses and we relish every sloppy one. Your favorite part of the day is when Ellie, Paige or Sam is available for playtime. You like for the girls to be wearing necklaces and usually share yours. Watching you and Paige interact and squeal together is so sweet and funny. I'm sure the two of you will be great friends. But above everything else, except maybe (and I'm not convinced about this) me, you love Elmo! He must be in bed with you at night, daddy and I have to give Elmo kisses and he also gets to read books with you at bedtime. If he could take a bath, I'm sure he'd be in there too!

Watching you grow and learn new things is the best experience of my life. When I walk into your room in the morning, that moment right before you see me is the best moment of my day. The happy look you give me fills my heart with joy. Then, I do as you say and lift you up. There is nothing we wouldn't do for you bug. We want you to always know how loved and desperately wanted you are.

See you in the morning Sweet Pea,

Love Always, Mama

Saying "Cheese" for the camera