Back from vacation

We made it! Miss Lauren survived 6 plane rides, two time zone changes, and waking up somewhere different each of 5 days in a row. Considering she is teething and was around a million people, she did amazingly well. She went up a tram to the top of her first mountain (although she slept the whole time in my arms), went swimming in the lake, went on a boat ride, hung out with her cousins, and went to her first wedding. Overall it was a whirlwind, but a blast!

(sleeping at the top of Snowbird mountain in Salt Lake City)

(trying on ski hats in a ski store in Salt Lake City)

Traveling wilburys

The Brewer family leaves tomorrow for quite the trip! We fly on two planes to Salt Lake City to my best friend from college's wedding (one time zone difference). Then, while we're there, we stay in a different hotel each night. From there,we fly up to Washington to see my dad & step mom with all of our brothers & sisters and their kids and stay in two different places (another time zone difference). At the end, we fly back home on two different planes (and one long layover). Total: 2 cities, 5 planes, 4 different beds. Cross your fingers that Miss Lauren is a good little monkey for us this next week!

 

Climbing

Lauren has become such a strong climber and can pull herself up several stairs now. She hasn't quite mastered the super steep stairs in our hallway, but she's got the normal-size stairs covered. She's so determined to move around and she pulls herself up on everything. Yesterday morning I was in the kitchen and before I knew it she had pulled herself up to stand and was just standing there without holding on to anything. Agh!!

Play dates are fun

Lauren and I had a mommy and baby brunch on Saturday with 4 other moms and their babies. I love the fact that we have so many mommy and baby friends here! It's so nice to get together with them and talk "baby." And, Lauren loves playing with her friends!

Bigger by the second!

Lauren on her big girl car!

Crawling for...

I have had a tough time lately keeping up with Lauren crawling all over the place. Her biggest motivation for crawling these days is....well, just watch. 

8 month update

Holy cow----did I just type that? EIGHT months? Yikes.  Here are some updates on our not-so-little munchkin...

 

 - Changing her diaper is like wrangling a moose. She will not stay on her back. She flips over to her tummy in 2.2 milliseconds. And, she's strong. Changing her diaper is seriously difficult.

 - She understands quite a few words and knows exactly what or who they mean. These include: Willie, sit, stand, mamma, Lauren, dada...and a few others 

- She weighs over 21lbs. My arms are so strong - holy moly.

- She is 100% mobile and crawls like nuts. She is across the room in no time flat. 

- She has advanced to "more active" toys. She wants to play with things that make noise, have buttons, or moving parts.

- 4 more teeth are on their way in

- She stands constantly. You put her in her crib, and poof! She's standing. If there is anything she can hold on to she will pull herself up. She has even pulled herself up and stood hands free for a second or two! Scary.

- She is advancing to foods she can pick up. She likes puffs, and we're starting on other small diced foods.

She just keeps getting to be more fun!

Happy 4th of July!

All dressed up in red, white & blue, crawling and standing to celebrate her first 4th! Sorry for just now posting her crawling! 

Playing with Willie is fun!

Lauren is more entertained by Willie than any other toy or object in our house. If she sees him she just squeals with excitement. And, if she's with you when you are playing fetch with him she laughs so hard she can hardly contain herself. Now that she is getting mobile, she just leaps for him to grab him. Thankfully Willie is faster than Lauren--at least for now.