At church with Daddy

We went to Vidalia last weekend for the first time since Fathers' Day (waaay too long), and on Sunday morning we went to church at Tabernacle to hear Papa preach. After the service, Lily practiced climbing up and down the stairs in the sanctuary.

Bouncy ball crawl

Lily's daycare Little Prodigies had a Fall Festival on Oct. 2, with a petting zoo and a couple of bouncy tents. She had so much fun in there she didn't want to get out, and then asked to go back in again!

A horsie just my size!

Uncle James and Auntie Ali came to visit our little house in the country last weekend for a belated celebration of Lily and James' shared birthday, and we got to do something I have wanted to do ever since we moved here. We got to visit the miniature horses (NOT ponies, we were corrected on that) that live down the street. Our neighbors have about 20 mini horses on their farm, including some fuzzy little babies who are only about 25 pounds! One of the 'teenagers,' Lady, was sweet enough to let us take pictures with her. If we still live around here when Lily is old enough to say "Daddy, I want one!" then we are in so much trouble...

Riding off into the sunset

Happy First Birthday Lily Gaëlle

It's so hard to believe that this time last year, I was lying in the postpartum ward of Northwestern Hospital with a brand-new baby and a really sore bottom! So much has happened since then, and now I have a sweet, happy, and healthy (and sleeping!) 1-year old...how time flies!! Jake and I are so glad that you have shared this amazing year with us.

Here are a few pics of Lily riding her new tricycle tonight with Daddy. When you ask her "How old are you?" she holds up one finger!

Birthday FUN

We had the formal celebration for Lily's birthday on Saturday the 18th, when I threw my first official kids' party. And boy, it is a lot of work!! But I had plenty of willing hands to help, and it was a really fun day for the birthday girl, who enjoyed all the attention despite a double ear infection. (which we found out about the next day...eeek!) She woke up to a shiny new red wagon from Gram, and decided that it was absolutely big enough for her to ride in. We had blueberry pancakes for breakfast, some friends and family over for slip-n-sliding and lunch, and then we played in our cake. After her first real taste of sweets, Lily now thinks that sugar=good! We opened lots of cool presents including a new tricycle from Mom and Dad...YAY!! Then Lily took a long nap, and the grown-ups had a nice grown-up drink to wind down from all the excitement. ;)

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Kopp

We took a whirlwind trip to Indiana over Labor Day weekend for Dan and Marissa (Gee) Kopp's wedding, and it was wonderful to be back in Valpo/Culver, even for such a short time. It was even COLD enough over the weekend (cold? What's that?) that Lily got to wear her pink Culver sweatshirt while hanging out at the oh-so-posh Culver motels on Saturday afternoon!

She behaved very sweetly during the wedding, keeping herself entertained with Destanie's pretty jewelry so that Mommy and Daddy could watch the ceremony. Marissa looked beautiful and they both seemed so happy!

While waiting for the bride and groom to come out of the chapel, we got to snap a family photo and some pretty pictures of our little girl (thanks for the dress, Abby!). Then Lily's amazing Mimi came to take her back to Valpo for the night, and Mommy and Daddy got to have a parents' night out. Seriously, the most fun I have had a wedding since my own (which was a different kind of fun anyway). Thanks for the good times, everyone! We miss you more than you know!