22 Months on September 22

Lena is 22 months today! Who can believe she will be 2 in a couples months? She's growing up so much. She's getting really tall, and her hair is growing long. She's such an awesome little girl. She speaks very well now. She pronounces her words very clearly, with special emphasis on certain letters like T and P. She has more words than I can count and learns new ones every day. She even has some sentences like, "I did it", and "All done now, Mom". She is also learning her letters and numbers. She knows A, B, C, D, E, I, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, W, 1, 2, 3, and 9.

Even as she is growing, she is starting to develop fears. She is not a friend of the box fan and tells me it needs to be off- "fan off now". She also doesn't like the shop vac. But she's not afraid of jumping off of things, and into your arms. She loves her gym class and swings from the bars like a champ.

This past weekend we had some family time with the Brenner's.

Lena and Grandma Mills

Lena getting chased by Belle.

Swinging is a favorite activity.

Cousin Edy- we missed you!

Vacation, Part 3

We had a little kayak adventure on the sound. We paddled around the marshes and walked on the oyster-shell beaches. Lena loved it until the thunderstorm came. She normally loves storms, but not while getting drenched with hard rain and being right under the storm clouds. Seth paddled like a mad-man, and we camped out under the bridge. Lena was a trooper!

We're just hanging out at the Giggling Mackerel, eating some seafood.

Vacation, Part 2

More beach pictures

Family Beach Vacation, Part 1

After 6 months of Seth being gone for the majority of the time, we decided it was time for a family vacation. We went to Ocean Isle this week and stayed at the Islander Inn. This was Lena's first beach experience, and of course she loved it. She loved the water, the sand- digging in it, throwing it on me and Seth, drawing in it, the hotel pool, chasing the birds, kayaking, staying up late and sleeping in the bed with us. She was pretty confused about her surroundings the first night, she she slept in our bed. I got so much cuddle-time. It was heaven. She's a sweet little snuggler.


This was our hotel. We had a beach-front view on the top floor. Lena loved hanging out on the balcony.

Swim Lessons

Sorry it's been so long! I have been very busy with Seth being away again. On Saturday mornings, Lena has her swim lessons. Of course, she is a fish and loves it. She splashes, blows bubbles and says "more, more, more" when we "blast off" from the edge.


Blast-off is her favorite thing to do.



She's learning to lay on her back.



Backwards Blast-off

She goes after a toy while using the barbell to "swim".

Fourth of July 2010

We had a great Fourth of July with just the three of us. We swam and had hot dogs and french fries- All American food. For the first time, we kept Lena up way past her bed-time for the fireworks. She was a trooper and loved them. She "oohed" the whole time and then passed out when we got home. Such a good girl!

Cook-Out with Friends

We had a cook-out this past weekend, and invited lots of kids for Lena. There were 4 girls and 2 boys (although Jack is only 3 weeks old!). There were toys everywhere! Everyone had a great time, and the kids were exhausted! The adults had fun laughing at their little ones' antics.


Claire giving Lena a push in the swing.


Kai- look at that cute belly!



Meredith, Lena, Claire, and Maddie. The pool is always a hit.

Claire and Lena. I have no idea, but it was too funny not to post.

Lena and Maddie playing a duet.