Halloween Happenings Round 1

Taylor at our front door modeling her Halloween costume
Practicing Trick r Treat

Taylor at the Library Infant Story Time Halloween Party

Check out this Charlie Brown!

Look at the sleeping lobster

Preston & Taylor - they weren't too interesting in posing

Taylor & Mommy

Taylor's Social Happenings

A fun cupcake date with Lilian who was in town from Brussels Picking out her cupcake!

Enough teeth to eat my own apple!

Visiting the Graham's new puppies (yes, we resisted!)

Watching the high school band performance Taylor vs. Katy

A Huge Milestone

Taylor has been on the brink of walking for weeks and I had a conference for 4 days and I was very concerned I would miss that first big moment - her first steps. She took them the night I came home and I teared up so happy to see her do it but that she actually waited for me to be home!Its not like she is running all over (thank goodness!) but she will stand by herself and occasionally take a few steps and she gets more brave!

Look, Mom, no hands!

The Pumpkin Patch

Its that time of year! After the first visit to the HEB "patch" we visited St. Peter's Pumpkin Patch and had fun picking out a few pumpkins

What do you think about this one?
Or this one? Like her foot rest?!

Love this girl! In keeping in the "orange" theme, we had dinner at Whataburger and thought of J&J! We'll have to send Johnathan this picture. He is now in the Dominican Republic (he arrived on Thursday) and is doing great - he is so optimistic and happy! He will be at the missionary training center in Santo Domingo there for six weeks for more language study and then get assigned an area.

Funny Girl

Taylor has this head shake going especially when she is eating and is happy. Got to love it!

'Tis The Season

Its time to start wearing our Halloween attire and finish decorating for the holiday. Do you like her "baby legs?!" - they are socks from Target that I cut the feet out of, I didn't even hem the bottoms because the rolled up perfectly!How is that for a nice pose?! Then we had to venture out and take the stroller for a stroll. She was pushing it all over our street, all by herself.

So while John hung the ghosts in the trees (this is a tradition started with Jordan years ago), Taylor visited the neighbors.Hi, Doris!

I love this shot -its my current screensaver pic!

And to end this post, here is a funny breakfast interaction. Eban was liking my whole wheat pancakes. Taylor sure does too!

Race for the Cure

We had a great time together last weekend participating in Houston's Race for the Cure.

They announced that Houston has one of the largest races and they were expecting 30,000 participants! The weather was cool and overcast and Taylor did great chilling in her stroller.

It was an extra special occasion as we were walking in honor of my dear friend Lisa who had just finished her last round of chemo that week. We also honored John's mom who has been a breast cancer survivor for almost 10 years

Its a great event - tons of families and friends together celebrating hardships, relationships, pain, suffering and the love of life. There were women (and men!) in pink tutu's, shirts with funny comments like "Ya Yas for Ta Tas!" and tons of signs and shirts in celebration or memory of a dear mother, sister, aunt, daughter, wife or friend.

We were able to keep a good pace because we jumped in the race right after the runners - otherwise the walkers go so slow you take forever to do the whole course! Here we are coming back into downtown to finish. Look at the crowds!

There were tons of vendors and giveaways - Taylor loved the sugar cookie with pink sprinkles!

The 1st Birthday Bash

Our sweet baby girl turned one last week. It was fun to have some friends come over and celebrate this huge milestone in our lives. So many people have been so supportive and loving along the way - we had to have them over to celebrate! Got a few decorating ideas from friends and Martha

I got a few ideas from my very creative friend Dicy and went with the "Sugar & Spice" theme - Sugar was chocolate cupcakes with yummy frosting (choc chips, butter, cream & powder sugar!) and strawberry cupcakes - the frosting is the best part - (i made a cake mix with butter & milk instead of the oil & water)

And the SPICE was a nacho bar since Taylor loves guacamole, beans, cheese, and we also did spicy shredded beef, salsa, etc. Yum!Watching Taylor eat her cupcake was the best part - it was hilarious - the video is the best - see this earlier post.

She did not hold back!Even licked the plate clean!

Mason & Taylor
Taylor showing off her new stroller with her buddy Jonas

Mason & Jane hanging out!
Anna - our babysitter!

Abbi is a great friend to Taylor

Amy & Taylor - the source of the fabulous strawberry cupcake recipe
Riley & Taylor

KelleyAnne & Taylor - check out the darling outfit she made for her - the zebra skirt!

John with our great neighbors, Talmadge & Doris

Mac, Anna & Hope