My Daddy, My Hero

There are a lot of things that I love about Jamie. He is so many wonderful things but one of his greatest strengths is that he is an amazing daddy. Lainey wakes up each morning and the first thing she says is "dada?" She wants to know where he is every minute. It is a very big deal each day when daddy gets home from work. We wait for him on the front porch and you should see the dance she does when he pulls into the driveway. Then the fun begins! Such adoration from a little girl to the #1 man in her world.

Signs of Fall

We are finally connected to the rest of the world again! After much delay (long story) our internet and cable were installed today and I am updating our blog before anything else so that I can avoid having some angry grandparents on my hands!

These pictures were taken yesterday behind our house. One of the things I like most about O'Fallon is that we are literally five miles from any kind of store you could want but it still somehow has a small town, community feeling. There are corn fields everywhere...I have never seen so many... and they somehow make the colors of fall even more vivid. When we moved here I wondered if this new place could feel like home. They don't have a Dairy-B, with the best sangrias in the world. They certainly don't have Pisgah, full of some of the most loving people I've known, and our wonderful families are not here. However, we are growing to love our new community. God blessed us with a house that I know He hand picked for us. Our next door neighbors attend our church and have been so welcoming to us. Our church is great and Jamie is thriving in his new job. I am able to stay at home with Lainey full time and invest my time and energy into raising a wonderful little girl.

While I am not sure I will ever stop calling Excelsior Springs home...this somehow feels like home too. I love knowing that we have a God who knows just what we need. I have seen His work in so many ways since we moved. I think in some way leaving the comforts of home to start a new adventure makes a person lean a little more on Him. I am so thankful for His perfection.

Our new home 1221 River Birch Drive To celebrate my 30th birthday (yikes!) Jamie took me to St. Louis for a night on the town. We left Lainey with a new babysitter from church, and drove about 20 min. into downtown St. Louie. We went first to the arch and I tried out my new camera . I love how this pic. turned out.

I have been to the arch before but never really appreciated how amazing it really is. Standing at the foot of it you see the incredible architecture...I really was amazed by it...Maybe it is my new 30 year old perspective! Little Lainey 18 months old and full of fun...Mommy 30 years old and a little scared! Just kidding...30 is the new 20 right! Jen, this one is for you. There is an exhibit at the botanical garden that my sister in law, Jennifer, told me about. It is named after me, but someone forgot to tell them how to properly spell it! A scenic view of the park at the foot of the arch.

The Gymnast Within

Lainey began her training this week for the USA olympic gymnastics team 2024. I think we are looking at a future champion! Look at this summersault...such perfect form!

Sweet victory!

Our New Almost Home

Thought all of you might enjoy having a picture in your mind of where we are! This is our "home away from home." We are really enjoying the church and the area. There is always a lot going on which helps to get to know new people. The villa where we are staying is great...but we cannot wait until our house sells and we are able to settle in our own home.

Our new church First Baptist O'Fallon, Illinois Saturday we took a trip to the St. Louis Zoo. Lainey seems to love animals and gets excited any time she sees one. The penguins and giraffes were a favorite. This chimp was on the other side of the glass and scared Lainey to death! She was happily staring at him until he turned to look at her. Suddenly our little girl who knows no fear grabbed her daddy's neck and burst into tears. She quickly recovered however and tried her best to go for a swim with this elephant. Next up was the sea lion show. I thought Lainey would love this and she did until the sea lion started barking loudly. Once again...grabbed my neck and burst into tears. Lucky for her Bailey, our shitzu, neither barks loudly nor catches raw fish in his mouth!

Random Summer Fun

Maddie trying to convince little miss busy that it would be fun to stop for a picture in their matching outfits from Mawny.

Attempt number 2 at a picture

And we finally gave up... This was as close as it was going to get!

Waiting for fireworks on the 4th of July
Daddy and his girl
One of Lainey's many new faces...
My favorite picture of the summer

A summer favorite of Lainey's...riding in her wagon from Grandpa and Grandma O'Dell

Another favorite activity...the backyard swing

We love to take Lainey swimming...she kicks and giggles and really seems to love the water. It's a little nerve wracking for mommy however...she has no fear and would jump right in if I would let her!

Have you ever seen anything so cute and so onery? A special thanks to daddy for teaching her to stick her tongue out at him! Only problem...she sticks it out at other people too!

Our recent trip to the Eggen family reunion. We stopped by and visited Lainey's Great Great Grandma on the way.
Some of my favorite memories as a little girl were my trips to visit Great Aunt Jessie and Great Uncle Hardy in Wichita. It was so nice to see them at the reunion and introduce them to our little Lainey.


In June, Lainey and I tagged along with Mawny and Papa to visit Chad and Jennifer and the girls in Georgia. We had a great time visiting, swimming, and playing games. Lainey loved playing with Ava and following Julianna everywhere she went.

All ready for an evening walk

Two peas in a pod!
Julianna looking so pretty and so grown up with her grandma. I was amazed at how much she has changed. Such a little lady.
I love this picture of my dad being "dolled up" by his girls! Thank goodness for he and Uncle Seth we have baby Isaiah on the way. Maybe there will be some action figures or car races in his future! Although I don't think papa minds at all.