St. Louis Science Center

Set 'em up...watch 'em fall!

Glorified "Bathtub fun" The water table was a big hit......and a big mess! Daddy explaining to Lainey the necessity to diagram Atomic particles with these magnetized toys

Lainey loved the doll house, so much so we may need to start hunting for one.

What do you get when you put two girls, a bucket of toys, and a naked baby doll in a teepee??

A whole lot of fun!!

Hey uh high uh, hey uh high huh...Cherokee Mommy sharing her "heritage" with Lainey

No matter the toy, Lainey is very focused...... for at least two seconds!

Lainey studying the complexities of civil engineering

What an Adventure...18 month old pics. at a studio

I don't know what it is about a photography studio that transforms a normally well behaved child into a crying, wild woman but we experienced just that on Friday. I was as prepared as a mom could be with Lainey's cutest outfits and coordinating hair ribbons. The pictures were scheduled at her happiest time of the day. We had a great morning and even had daddy on hand to help get the brightest smile. But wow...I forgot the most important thing...this little 18 month old has opinions of her own now. If she is anything like her mommy (and she is) she has strong opinions of her own! Each time the photographer brought the camera out, Lainey ran crying straight to mommy's arms. Even my bribing her with a cookie couldn't help me out of this one. We tried and tried but with little success. The pictures I am posting are literally the only ones suitable for purchase. Typically, when we go I have 30 great poses to choose from and have the hardest time narrowing them down. Not this time. The eliminating process went something like this...nope not that one she has tears on her cheeks...not that one either, there is cookie on her chin (from my bribery!)...she looks mad in that one...woops there is my arm in this one. What a day! So here you go...18 month old pictures that don't nearly reflect the process it took to get them. Hope you enjoy!

Meet Lainey VanGogh

While Jamie was at the men's wild game dinner tonight at church (probably eating alligator tail or rattlesnake) Lainey and I decided to channel our inner Picasso. This was her first time to paint and paint she did. The pictures don't quite reflect the giggles each time she stuck her fingers in the paint and pressed them on the paper. I think we may have a budding artist.

A Weekend With Family

What a great weekend Jamie, Lainey and I had! Living a few hours away makes going home extra exciting. We made the trip to Excelsior Springs Thursday afternoon and were able to spend a couple of days with the people we love most. Seth had his homecoming football game on Friday night and we were able to cheer the Tigers on to a victory. It is so fun to watch him play. Some of the catches he makes are just amazing. I don't watch a whole lot of ESPN (why would you when FOX news is available!) but I definitely think he had a catch on Friday night that could put the pros to shame.

It was a great weekend and we enjoyed spending time with our dear families. Kelly, Faith and I had fun discussing upcoming wedding plans...Valentines Day will be here before we know it! Jamie and my Grandma roasting marshmellows to perfection. The newest member of the family, baby Isaiah Michael 4 wks. old Lainey, spending time with Grandma O'Dell Goofin' around with Grandpa and Silas Lainey loves our Shitzu, Bailey. She had a lot of fun playing with Ben and Faith's new puppy, Boceifus ( I love the name but I have no idea if I spelled it right!) Lainey and Mawny Snuggling with Kimberlee's little guy

Maddie, Lane, and Lainey watching a Barney video. I'm not sure what it is about a singing purple dinasour but wow can he entertain toddlers! My handsome, little brother before the homecoming dance Lainey and her favorite wrestling buddy, Uncle Seth You know I'm gonna say it...Kissing Cousins

One more just for fun!

For Mawny from Lainey

Lainey "reading" her favorite book.

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.