Family Pictures

Before we left for Wales, we had family pictures done with Dan at Guys and Dolls. We wanted to have Reese's 1 year pictures done too since we wouldn't be home on her actual 1st birthday. Reese did really well with the photoshoot showing off her great big smile. Dan was great with her and as always, his pictures turned out great. Here are a few of our favorites!

11 months

I can't believe our baby is almost 1, where does the time go? She is growing up way too fast but we're trying to keep up with as many pictures and videos as we can. I'm in disbelief over this each time her monthly 'birthdays' rolls around!

She started really walking (as per the last video) this month which has been so exciting. It was so fun to see her go from two or three wobbly steps to full on walking. Just a matter of a couple weeks and she got the hang of it. She LOVES to walk everywhere now, sometimes getting so excited she tries to run but gets ahead of herself and usually topples. She has started saying 'mama' again which is so fun to hear even though she doesn't really know what she's saying. Not too many other new 'words' or sounds. She also loves walking around with two little balls or blocks in her hands. In fact, most mornings it's the first thing she will look for out of her toy basket. She doesn't really do much with the balls, just likes to carry them around. Maybe it's due to her lack of entertaining toys, which we hope to remedy with her birthday that is just around the corner. It's just so hard to travel with too many toys but we plan on buying some over here. She's most definitely making do with what she has at the moment with no complaints. Speaking of complaining, she has started this little whiny noise and uses it fairly often. It's so funny but hoping it doesn't last too long. Maybe we'll catch it on video one of these days.

Reese has been to all of daddy's home games and done pretty well. She usually gets a little antsy by the end of the 3rd period but I try and save a toy or two or bottle for then. Now that she is full on moving, she isn't loving sitting still, especially on my lap. Unfortunately there really isn't anywhere she can walk around. She seems to stay more entertained if I give her her own seat. She loves to stand up and look at the people behind her. She always seems to win over a couple playmates!

Here are a few pictures over the last month.

Reese is walking!

Welcome to Wales!

Our trip over was great minus one little mess on the drive to the airport. Mommy left her chocolate eggs in Reese's carseat cup holder while she was fast asleep. We had to make a quick pit-stop for magazines and while Mommy and Daddy ran inside quickly, Reese decided to wake up and get into the chocolate eggs! Grandpa Dickers was in the car but thought she was playing with a toy mommy had left her. We came back to the car and Reese's mouth was covered in chocolate! Oops Mommy....chocolate eggs are NOT for babies!! Good thing we had a wee bit of extra time built in for a clean-up and quick change.

The actual flight over was pretty uneventful, Reese sleeping most of the way here. She had a rough couple of hours the first night here but adjusted better than we did to the 5 hour time change. She was back to her usual routine the second day here.

As for the city, we absolutely love it. Our apartment is great and seems to be in a really good location. Close to cafe's, restaurants, and shops. The downtown and castle are about a 10 minute walk from our place. There are some great running trails along the castle grounds and along the river that runs through the city. In fact, the great running trails have inspired me to do a 1/2 marathon in March in Bath. It's supposed to be a beautiful course and one of the top road races in the U.K. Good thing I will have someone to train with so I stay motivated!

Hockey seems to be coming along. The first two games weren't great but the team is getting in better shape each day. Scott just found out he was picked for an all-star team that will play an exhibition game against the Boston Bruins in Belfast. The team is comprised of top players from the British league so is quite an honor. The game will be a final tune-up for Boston before they start their regular season the following week in London.

Here are just a couple pics from our first couple days here. More to come soon!

Congrats Aunt Lola!

On our way up to the cottage in early August, we stopped in Port Huron to watch Aunt Lola play in the Robinson Tennis Tournament. We just made it in time for her final two matches and were able to see her win the Women's Doubles. Congratulations Aunt Lola (and her partner Barb), we love you!

10 months

Our last month at home seemed to really fly by. We had so much fun spending time with our family and friends in Mt. Pleasant, Grand Bend, and good old Kalamazoo! We were busy packing up to move out of our place in Kzoo and packing bags for our trip abroad. As usual, we ended up with probably too much stuff but it's hard to make cuts once everything is in the bags! Poor Daddy had room for only the essentials while his girls took over most of the bags. Thanks Daddy, we love you!

Reese decided to take her first steps this month which was exciting but a little sad too. It's so hard to believe how fast our baby is growing up. She took just 2 or 3 steps the first time and would only do so when she really wanted something badly enough. It didn't seem to matter how much encouragement we gave, it was more about what we could find to really pique her interest!

She is still making her usual sounds (ba and oooh) and haven't heard 'mama' again, outside of the one week in July when that's all she said.

We unofficially weighed her before we left and think she weighs close to 24lbs! She is quite the solid little girl. Will report back again once we have official weight and height measurements.

Here are some pics from our little beaner's 10th month- eating homemade juice popsicles from Daddy, trying on clothes, doing the bear crawl (much more effective in a dress!), getting her first real pair of shoes (thanks Grandpa Lewis), playing in Lake Michigan, and hanging at the cottage.