Cousin Sydney's 2nd Birthday

On the drive up to Sacramento on Friday night mommy and daddy had a special present for me...a potty for the car! Below are two pictures of me trying it out before we left...so cute!





On Saturday we woke up in the hotel with Nanna and Papa...wow, what a surprise! We got ready and headed over to Sydney's house for her birthday party. After helping everyone get ready for a little while we headed over to the park where the party was at. What fun we had! Below are some pictures.

(NEED TO UPDATE)

Special visit from Deland Washburn

While I was in Kauai mommy's really good friend Jocelyn came to California to visit all her girlfriends. Since we didn't get to see Jocelyn and her son Deland they made a special trip to our house right before they left to go back home. They came to our house on Monday afternoon so we had just enough time to go have fun at the park, make pizzas, have a bath together, and then go to bed. We took Deland and Jocelyn to the airport in the morning which was so fun because we got to talk about daddy being on the airplane even more (daddy went to Florida for a few days for work right after we got back from Kauai). Below are some pictures of Deland and me in the bath.

Week in Kauai

Need to update

Happy July 4th!

This weekend Granny and Papa Bill came to stay the weekend with us. On par with other times when grandparents come to visit, Taylor got a fever and was sick most of the day on Friday. Papa Bill helped daddy put up flourescent lights in the garage on Friday while I stayed home with Granny M. and mommy worked for a bit. Granny went shopping while I napped and then daddy made us really yummy dinners. We all watched "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" on TV that night although we got so tired that we went to bed and couldn't watch the rest of it. On Saturday I had fun going to the park by our house with Granny and mommy, going shopping, and then watching the fireworks on the roof of our house! My favorite phrase was "firewort boom!" (and yes, the firework is spelled with a "t" because I can't say my k,c, or g sounds yet). Mommy was very nervous about bringing me up on the roof but daddy, mommy and Papa Bill took turns holding me and I loved seeing all the lights going off in the air. Even our neighbors, Damon and Jena, came over to enjoy the fireworks from our roof! After the fireworks were over and I went to bed, the adults enjoyed fireworks for a little while longer and then they sat by the chiminea in the driveway for a while. Daddy was so tired from working in the garage for two days straight, making us dinners every night, and then staying up for the fireworks that he fell right asleep on the concrete by the fire!

What a fun 4th of July with my Granny M. and Papa Bill. Thanks for coming!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy...I love you!

Love, Taylor

Potty update

Taylor is now going pee-pee on the potty just about every morning when she wakes up. We have been leaving her naked in the house after she comes home from school. She started off by having little accidents but stopping after a little came out and telling us "pee-pee" (in a sad whining voice) so we'd run to the toilet and she'd let go and empty her bladder. She then had a rough time when she stopped telling us and would just have accidents all over (this was one evening that truly frustrated mommy). Now, she is telling us when she needs to go without tinkling on the floor first! Yay!!! Our next step is getting undies for her to wear when she is off the toilet so she gets used to wearing something and not going in that something! Also, we will start sending her in a pull up to daycare and have them take her about every 30 minutes (since that's her minimum interval between incidents of going pee-pee). Way to go Taylor!

P.S. Still no BM's on the toilet...too scary for a little girl!

Potty update...serious training coming soon

No pee-pee for today on the potty although we have truly confirmed that she asks for her diaper to go pee-pee in if she is naked. This is so good to know for when mommy truly commits to the potty training. I asked daycare today if they would support it and I learned that they actually had a toilet IN her direct classroom behind this cubby where they change diapers, and they will take her on a schedule and give her the special treat when she goes, just like I do at home. They said that "some kids just aren't ready yet but Taylor is advanced so they're sure she is ready." After I told them what she was doing at home they were sure she was ready. So, mommy just needs to sit down and figure out about a week where we can be home and do the training all day, every day. We are going to Kauai in a few weeks which worries me if she is in the middle of training so I may wait until after. Although, she is so ready now that I'd love to just do it. Hmmm. Some pondering for mommy to do.

Second pee-pee on the potty...YAY!!!

So Taylor began to show resistance to the potty yesterday, wanting to sit on it for only a few seconds and then "ah-done?!" I had her naked downstairs while I was preparing dinner and after sitting on the potty a few times she asked for her diaper. It had been a while so I put one on and within 30 seconds she stood by the couch and said, "pee-pee." She had just gone in her diaper. I knew at that moment that she was asking for diaper so she could go in the comfort of her own diaper. After dinner and bath BJ and I kept her naked upstairs, playing. Once she asked for her diaper we immediately put her on the toilet. She didn't go the first time so after she asked for the diaper when playing again we put her on knowing that she'd go if we left her on. She was really enjoying her Little Touch Leap Pad so she played with that on the toilet and every once in a while large chills would run over her whole body, showing that she was holding something in. BJ and I were laughing under our arms so she couldn't see, so much that we had tears in our eyes. It was so cute...pretty much because we knew what was happening and knew she wasn't going to be able to hold it much longer. He ran down and got the chocolate and the special egg with the big chocolates inside just in case she went poo-poo. Sure enough, when he was downstairs she went LOTS of pee-pee, emptying her bladder. YAY!!! We cheered, clapped, and gave her the bin of chocolate chips to put her hand into and grab what she wanted. We played a little while longer and then it was bed time. What a good end to our evening...a successful potty.

Seaside Lagoon with my friends

Today I went to the Seaside Lagoon with some of my friends from here in our area and we had so much fun! We splashed in the water, ran around on the sand, played with our toys, and jumped off the concrete block in the middle of the baby lagoon. Thanks friends for the fun day!

Cadin with my glasses


Here I am snacking


Cadin and Henry


Kellin and his mommy (Jenny)


Marley and her mommy (Sarah)


Me and Cadin


Cute Cadin


Curious Daisy


Mommy and Cadin


Jackson


Hangin' out under the umbrella

Pee-pee on the potty...YAY!!!!

Today Taylor went pee-pee on the potty for her first time! She was enjoying her potty book on the potty but not letting go. She got off and we finally were about to put a diaper on (because she asked...mommy didn't make this connection at first) and as her legs were up in the air I noticed pee-pee coming out. We raced to the potty, she held it, and when she sat down she tinkled!!! She got LOTS Of cheers and clapping and a few chocolate chips. She was so happy and just loved walking arounnd after that eating her chocolate chips. Daddy came home right at the perfect time so we ran out and showed him what Taylor was eating (we all know what the chocolate chips mean!). Nana M. was on the phone so she gave cheers as well. Taylor asked for more chocolate and when mommy said that she had to go pee-pee or poo-poo on the potty she asked for the "pah-tuh" again. So, we went right to the potty (with Daddy) and she emptied the rest of her bladder! She got more chocolate chips and more praise from all of us.

We are so proud of our girl and can't wait for the weeks to come!

Cyclist Taylor

As daddy prepared for his race the night before Taylor enjoyed wearing his "hat" and walking around with his race bib belt. Do we have a cyclist on our hands??

My own potty and book!

We did it! Today we started toilet training with Taylor...18 months old. Well, not really "training". We are just getting her used to the potty and boy is she loving it! For about a month or two now she has been wanting to sit on the toilet for about 10 seconds to pretend like she is going potty. Now that she has her own potty seat and book to read while on the potty (which she only gets when she is on the potty) she asks to sit on the potty ALL THE TIME! Once daycare confirms that they will be consistent with her potty training and once I can take a few days off to do the actual "training" we are going to pull the trigger. She tells us when she has gone poo-poo or pee-pee and she even goes to certain areas in the house to go poo-poo in her diaper, showing that she is aware of when it is coming. She is ready! Here she is enjoying the toilet and her new book!

Homemade juice

Mommy makes me such wonderful homemade juice. Today she made me juice with just strawberries and carrots. I am now helping her by putting all the fruit down the chute to be mashed up and spit out. Here I am enjoying the product of our hard work!

Daddy's shoe

Here I am being oh so cute in Daddy's shoe...slalom skiing!

Sick week with Nana

[Written by Mommy]
Today was Taylor's first day back to daycare after 10 days. On Monday of last week we were called from Taylor's daycare to pick her up early due to a fever (101). I picked her up and when I got there she was laying on a comfy diaper changing pad with her blanket in the back office with one of the directors. She was not complaining, just laying there quietly. This is NOT my Taylor. she looked at me, smiled, and said "up" and "bye-bye" to the director. I took her home, took her temperature and it was actually 103. I called the doctor that night and she said to give her tylenol and motrin every 3 hours and then bring her in in the morning.

The next day the doctor told us she had the "hand, foot and mouth disease" virus. She had no symptoms except for a very high fever and blisters in her mouth (which I never saw). So, she was prescribed lots of sleep, TLC, and tylenol and motrin every 3 hours. The doctor said it could last up to 4 days and her temperature can even raise to 105. Well, it did just that, and got higher (105.5 when Taylor started to urinate so I had to take the thermometer out). Nana (previously known as "Grammy") came to visit on Wednesday night so she was able to watch Taylor and give her lots of TLC until the next Thursday (7 full days!). Taylor showed no signs of getting better after 4 days and we could not go without giving her the medication. The following Tuesday we made another appointment (8 days later) and the doctor was concerned about the fever lasting so long and not being able to fade the motrin and tylenol. We got blood work done, a catheter put in for a urine test (which did not even work because her bladder was so dry), and then a bag put in her diaper for a second urine test (which we had to do twice because the first bag didn't work). I had a tough day watching my little girl go through all of this but she was a trooper. She was very lethargic in the morning but after getting some motrin she had a little more energy to play and get through all the doctor visits. All tests came back clear the following day although we found that a shot of antibiotics helped bring her back to normal for a full 24 hours! She was eating again, playing again, and staying up late wanting to hang out and play (she was going to bed at 5:00 when she was sick). So, the doctor prescribed her some antibiotics for 5 days hoping that she would continue to react positively to them.

Nana went home today and Taylor went back to daycare. She, of course had a tough time being dropped off although we're keeping our fingers crossed that she improves throughout the day and enjoys all of her friends and play time. Let's hope the antibiotics work!

Oh, through the blood tests we also found out that she was anemic so she is going to be put on iron supplements. At least one piece of conclusive information came out of all these tests that she had to go through!

Naked car washing

Today after daddy's bike crit we came home and it was a beautiful day! Mommy decided to wash her car and I wanted to join in. Mommy let me get down to my birthday suit and I had so much fun putting bubbles all over me (just in the right places!), running around giggling, and helping mommy to wash the car. Below are some of the cutest pictures you will ever see!

Barbeque at the Herdmans

This weekend we went down to Aunt Bridget's house for a casual BBQ. Aunt Lisa and Cadin came, Aunt Amanda and her family came, so I was able to spend time with all my friends (Cadin, Aren, and Sienna). Armen (Aren's little brother) made an appearance and has grown so much already!!! Below are some pictures of our fun day. Just click on the "play" arrow and sit back to watch some cute pictures.

Mommy's Day Weekend

[Written by Mommy]
This weekend we went to Palm Desert as daddy had a charity golf tournament on Friday for his work and it just happened to fall on my special weekend, Mother's Day. Taylor and I checked into the hotel on Friday and the three of us spent most of the days through Sunday at the pool enjoying the resort lifestyle. With our floaties and our hats on we lounged in the pool and had fun watching our little girl enjoy the water. The pool was a beach entrance pool so there was a sand area for the kids to play in and right beside that was a pool that gradually got deeper. Taylor loved running from the sand into the shallow water, and back out to the sand again. She did this over and over again as BJ and I just lounged in the shallow area, watching our beautiful girl. On Saturday night we went out to dinner and Taylor of course loved her rice and beans that she always does at Mexican restaurants. Back in our room we watched ET and as Taylor got sleepy she asked to be picked up to the bed where I was laying and before I knew it she was fast asleep in my arms on the bed...the best feeling ever. Taylor is not one to sleep in our arms and so it was such a special time for me. On Sunday we went to a Mother's Day breakfast at the Daily Grill and then headed back to the pool for a little more enjoyment until we had to head home. It was a very relaxing, enjoyable few days with my family.

P.S. No pictures...just very good memories (even though our girl was soooo cute in her bathing suit and hat!)

Wildflower Triathlon

This past weekend we went up to Lake San Antonio for Wildflower...another 1/2 Ironman triathlon for daddy and his friend Jason. Sarah, Jason's girlfriend came and we all camped Friday through Sunday. I had so much fun playing with Sarah, I found a new friend! I was a really good camper, going to sleep without a face both nights and sleeping completely through the night (probably b/c mommy and daddy kept me up until 9:00 both nights...on purpose!). Mommy took no pictures of daddy as she was busy with Sarah cheering EVERY single racer on as they came by, with the cowbell and all. I was kept busy by yelling "yay!" shaking the cowbell, trying to walk into the road (i.e., the bike and running course!) and eating my food on my blankey. Below are a few pictures.

The only pictures mommy got of daddy racing (the swim):



Content with my feast watching the racers:


Now I'm really getting comfy:


Andy Potter (First Pro racer):


Playing Donkey Balls after the race:

Yosemite

This past weekend we went to Yosemite for Grammy's 60TH BIRTHDAY! Wow! Happy Birthday Grammy! Liz Torok came from San Francisco, Julie Keenan came with her family, Ryan and Maya came, Cadin and his family came, Cousin Sydney came, an old friend Andy and his family came, and so many other people were there that made it so much fun! It rained on Thursday night which made it a very sleepless night for mommy since she was so worried about me being cold and I didn't sleep that good so with every noise I made mommy was right there awake with me. After the rain continued on Friday and I took a nap with daddy while mommy went to Yosemite Village on the bus for some shopping and warm soup, the rain finally started to let up and give us some sunshine. We had a nice dinner that night and had good weather (a bit chilly) the rest of our stay through Sunday. Some highlights were me eating spaghetti (Lady and the Tramp style with Grammy) on Thursday night; me being so giddy and wild all day on Thursday (I felt so free in nature with no boundaries!); Liz and mommy ruling at the Donkey Ball court; Aunt Shelly, Liz, Mommy, and Aunt Kiki having lots of fun together Saturday night; and then me and Sydney taking our annual cute pictures on the rock on Sunday. Below are pictures of our cold but fun Yosemite trip.

Easter Day

On Easter Day we started our day by going down to the beach bright and early. Daddy went on a long bike ride with Taylor and I went down to the beach to enjoy the early morning calm. Taylor loved playing in the sand, of course, and even enjoyed getting closer to the water. After touching it once or twice with her feet (while I was holding her) she was done with the water though. We then headed back home and saw daddy riding his bike home on the way...perfect timing! Taylor waited for daddy in the drive way, saying, "dada!" the entire time until he got home. We then enjoyed eating some Easter Morning Pie after cleaning up from our early morning activities. Before nap time we did a little egg hunt for Taylor in our front drive way. Again, she loved searching for the eggs and putting them in her small little basket. The only problem was that her basket kept turning over when she'd bend down so she had more than enough opportunities to pick up eggs! After a noon time nap we headed back to the beach as a family with our wagon and toys. It was a perfect ending to a perfect Easter Sunday!

Playing at the beach in the morning:


My bowling bunnies on the beach:


My shoes kicked off on a lazy Easter Sunday:


Eating sand (eeewww!)


Closer to the water:


My adorable feet!


Eater Egg Hunt at home:








Playing at the beach in the evening: