A Fun Interaction!

Six Month Milestone!

Taylor is six months old! We celebrated with John's favorite cakes - Italian Creme - Taylor just got to observe but she tried to get a finger full! We are so blessed to have her in our lives. She is so funny and giggly and darling. She had her six month check-up and is doing great - 15 lbs and 26 inches long.

Mom & Taylor in our matching brown coats - Happy Half Birthday, Taylor!

Just Like Mom

Taylor might not look much like her mom, but she does suck her fingers like her mom did. She loves her fingers and finds various configurations to suck or she'll suck on your finger so watch out. Not interested in her thumb, I wasn't either!

Spring is Here!

After 4 days of rain and 45 degree weather last weekend, spring has officially arrived! Sad to say good-bye to all the fun sweaters and buddling clothes, but love the gorgeous weather we are having. If only it stayed 75 degrees all summer! In honor of spring! Bunches of dafodils were only 2/$3 at Randalls - when else can you get a huge bouquet and not break the bank! We are going back for another week of fresh flowers at our house!

No Turning Back...

Taylor has officially started on "solids"! Since our pediatrician shared with us that there is current thought that if babies start solids a little later (at 6months instead of 4) they may have less chance of having food allergies. Since I was in no rush to start this messy meal, we did not start until this past week. She was ready (grabbing out our plates!) and is just a week shy of 6 months. What a face!

Five Months (okay 5 1/2!)

Taylor is now 5 1/2 months. We can't get enough of this sweet baby, she has such a happy disposition and brings true joy. This month she has moved to her crib in her room across the hall and is sleeping through the night after a few weeks of not! She now falls asleep on her own and actually is quite content in her crib. She is rolling and scooting more and is rarely in the same spot that she starts in. She is very smiley and loves to jabber. She likes her carseat again and so car rides and walks are much more pleasant! Oh how blessed we are to have her in our lives!!

She wiggled out the swaddler blanket on the top and the bottom!
She usually wakes up very happy, but this time she was not up for pictures!

She enjoys being outside (though she tries to hide her face from the sun) and has spent the last 2 Saturdays with us outside in the yard.

The End of My Birthday Week

My birthday week has officially ended. It was a great week starting with a surprise cake last Sunday, a pedicure and a Thai restaurant for dinner, great gifts from John, lots of calls and cards and packages, a fun enrichment evening, attending the River Oaks Garden Club Azalea Trail (private homes & gardens tour in the beautiful River Oaks area) with some girlfriends on Friday - so fun to spend time with them! On Saturday John and I went back to finish the tour. And we stopped for breakfast at the Corner Bakery that just opened in West U! It was such a wonderful week, I think Birthday Weeks will be a new tradition at our house....!Yummy food!

The Azaleas are in full bloom in Houston!

Rienzi - a private home & gardens left to the Museum of Fine Arts

An orange tree topiary at one of the private homes -Taylor is going for the orange!

February Catch Up & Wrap Up

A few items to catch up with February ending and March beginning...Taylor had quite the social calendar!

Another Chinese New Year Party at the Kong's - Angie, Stephanie, Megan, April, Jamie, Taylor & I
Joy, Mama Kong & JamieA Valentine for Taylor's little crush on Mackey BranningCute Bum on the outfit she is wearing for Mackey!

Bill Michie's retirement dinner - Bill was a scientist at Dow (and prior at Union Carbide) and developed many of the products that I market. He was my "gut check" and was a key member of my market leadership team. Dow is going through some tough times and lost some great people, some by choice, some not. Bill had invested wisely and got a great package enabling him to retire early and jumped at the chance. I am so excited for his new adventures for him and Cindy, but I will admit I cried when I learned I would loose him. He is a man of integrity and wisdom and will be a great loss to our business. Nice golf balls, a cap with our brand's logo and a crystal ice bucket for the "bucket list" from the team (we have a tradition on our team where each put one thing on the list of something they want to accomplish that year). Our team each wrote a wish or an item for Bill to do now that he is retired!
Some of my colleagues, Dane Chang, Jason Brodil, Sarah Patterson, Cindy & Bill Michie & I

A Funny Laugh

Taylor has been exploring her vocal range. She has become pretty chatty, talked all through church today! She usually stops when she sees the camera so I was peeking over John's shoulder after her bath this week. Please don't mind the countertop mess - we still bring her baby bath into the kitchen!

Yum! Favorites Come To Houston

is now located in walking distance from my office and Corner Bakery just opened in West U! Five Guys is a favorite from home and I have fun memories of breakfasts at the Corner Bakery in Chicago with mygirlfriends. Now if only Trader Joes will come to Houston.....

This One is For You, Squish

Aunt Michelle lives across the pond and can not get enough of her little niece...so here you go Squish, Taylor singing along with Josh Groban and telling some stories. Its a little long, so you may be the only viewer! We love you!

Happy 70th Granddad!

Granddad just had a milestone birthday!

To celebrate, the Lau kids & grandkids listed 70 things we love about him...here it is!

list of things we like about dad
We love you Dad/Granddad!

A Shout Out for My Sweetheart

Kind, thoughtful, gentle, spiritual, patient, active, handsome, supportive, loving, assertive, constant, industrious, insightful, disciplined, charitable, helpful, solid, secure, strong, amazing. This is who I get to wake up next to each morning. Lucky me! How can you not love the man in this picture!

Happy Valentines Day!

Wishing you a heart-felt holiday! Here is a review of Taylor's Valentines fashion... I didn't make any special purchases, just put her wardrobe to use!

I had intentions to decorate a onesie but that didn't happen. Her House of Blues onesie matched her red pants well and i like the "tatoo" heart that reads MOM - perfect for my little valentine! Headband courtesy of Pineapple Hill Designs - we love their style!

A little advertising....

Mommy & Taylor's valentines PJs

Zerberts and Giggles

Valentine Cookies

Valentines Day is the one time I love making sugar cookies and decorate them with detail. Inspired by my cousin, Chelle's artistic work, I've tried to do the same. In my single days I'd often had a few girlfriends over to decorate and this year I decided to make it a tradition and put my heart cookie cutter collection to use! We made sugar and gingerbread cookies and decorated with royal icing and buttercream frosting (because it tastes so good!)

Cynthia's art work!
KelleyAnne
Cynthia and Julie

Taylor supervising...

Taylor Discovers Her Pony

Taylor has recently discovered Eban. Its fun to watch her watch him!

District Band Concert

Jordan is a very talented percussionist so when he made district band last month, we booked flights to NC to see him perform in their concert. We love spending time with the boys so we try to see them as much as possible. Johnathan came down from App State, it was great to see him too. Unfortunately he got really sick so we didn't get to spend as much time with him. Taylor was a great traveler and was adored by all.

District Band Concert Saturday night

John & Jordan after church at Lisa's house. Lisa and Josh are our homebase in NC and always take such good care of us!

Not sure which one is cuter!