Jordan is 12 Months Old!

Such an amazing, busy, awesome, bittersweet month with our baby girl. Or should I say, big girl? Jordan took walking to a whole new level this month - running all over Charleston as we tried to soak up every last bit of our time there. She developed a whole new love of beaches - especially a fun time with friends at Carolina Beach. Jordan was excited to have her Burgess/Bonus family visit just in time to have an early birthday party. The Heffners also visited from St. Louis - which was such a great time for all of us.

Doug coined a new phrase that we are loving for her this month. She is always so busy - picking up a blocks, moving things around, playing so well by herself or others. Doug started calling it her "baby work". And it's such a perfect way to describe it. The way she tackles each task, does make it seem like she is doing a job.

Walking/Running
Do you remember the scene in Forest Gump where he says, "Now you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I could run like the wind blows. From that day on, if I was ever going somewhere,I was running!" That is a great quote for Jordan this month. She wants to walk (run) everywhere. We struggle to keep up with her baby energy.

Stacking Blocks
Jordan has always loved to play blocks - usually knocking down any structures Doug or I would build. But this month, on her own - she started stacking blocks. It was so fun to see her doing it all by herself.

2 - It's the Magic Number
This month carrying things around the house became a big pastime. But it is always two things. And if possible, it's two matching things. In fact, one day, Jordan went into my messy closet and found a flip flop. She then went back in and found the match to the pair and walked around with them for an hour or so. So funny.

Words
Da (Dog), Ge (Doggie/Willie), Mama, & Dada are her words this month. Although she isn't saying a ton of words, I am absolutely amazed at how much she understands what we are saying. She really comprehends so much of what is going on. She throws away her own diapers and with very few gestures really follows commands very well.

Opposites
Someone gave Jordan an opposite book and she really loves it. This month - she was very into opposites. Up/Down, Asleep/Awake. It was so much fun to see her throwing her arms in the air for up or laying her head down to be "asleep".

Books
Although we have always read books, Jordan became very, very interested in holding and opening them this month. In fact, changing her diaper is so much easier now. When you lay her down, she points to her shelf with books and I give her one. She lays back while her diaper is changed, quietly turning the pages. It's too funny.
Teeth
Jordan's bottom two teeth got really big this month - prompting us to teach her how to "show us your teeth" as explained in this photo. She also cut her top two teeth - which are looking big, a little spaced out and completely adorable.

Other fun photos from this month:

Fun with Grandma & Grandpa at Middleton Place Plantation

Loving her new tent from James, Kim & Will

Dinner with the Moses & Heffner Families

Jordan was playing Hide and Seek...

Boxes, boxes. We are never moving again!

Beach babe on Memorial Day

On her birthday on the steps. My big girl.

Playtime with Chloe, Will & Parker

Sandcastle fun at Carolina Beach

Showering Baby B - Take 3

Blindfolded baby food testing

Opening the gifts :)

With Erin & Elliott - the surprise guests

Beautiful gift table - yes that is a handmade quilt (Thanks, G)

Cute hanging onesies

Our friends in Durham threw us a small Jack & Jill shower back in April. Everything was so beautiful - the adorable onesies hanging, diaper cake and the amazing flower arrangements from my very talented friends. Best of all - there was a surprise guest! Our friend Erin who moved to Miami was visiting with her new son. Such a great surprise and amazing to see them!

The shower was co-ed so we got to hang with the guys and even play a few baby games. (PS never try mac and cheese baby food!) Amazing food, great friends and of course - the most beautiful and thoughtful gifts. Once again, I forgot to take a group photo - so these few will have to make due for now.

We are so lucky to have such amazing friends in our lives here in North Carolina. They better visit us a lot in Charleston (hint, hint).

Happy New Year!

We had so much fun celebrating the New Year with friends in St. Louis - it was our friend James surprise 30th birthday. In addition, my mom came in from Kansas City to visit us for a few days - so it was great to see her and celebrate the New Year. Not to mention, I was sick. Let's face it - when you are sick - you just want your mom. Even if you are 30 years old.

Here are a few pictures from our New Year's Eve. I've got a feeling that 2010 is going to be a great year!

Happy 2010!

The guys - Jon, Doug, Pat & JamesDinner with the family - my mom and Doug's parents

Holiday Party

As we head into the holiday season, once again I am thankful to have a great job and work with such wonderful people. A few weekends ago, my agency had a fun holiday party with great food and lots of laughs. I enjoyed a few non-alcoholic beverages with my co-workers as we toasted to another good year of business.

With a few girls from work

Fun Fall Stuff

Our carved pumpkin on Halloween - it was almost 80 degrees!

The cutest bumblebee! Do you see the stinger?

We have such a great, relaxing Fall, but I have been really bad about taking photos. We had a fun Halloween party with friends on the Friday night before Halloween. We all carved our pumpkins - Doug did a great job on ours. On Halloween, Willie dressed up as a bumblebee and we gave out candy to a few neighborhood kids that stopped by.

We also celebrated Willie McGee's third birthday. He got a new football for his birthday, which he has already destroyed! November marks my last month in my 20's and the beginning of the holiday season. So much fun stuff to look forward to including my family visiting for Thanksgiving and a trip to St. Louis for Christmas. Is anybody else already listening to Christmas music?

Our 3 year old pup. He's growing up so fast :)

Pool Party

I hosted a pool party last week to say goodbye to our good friends Erin & Jon. They are moving to Miami for fellowship and we are very sad to see them go. All of the girls are already planning a trip to visit them this fall! Best of luck to Erin & Jon - they have a fun year ahead of them!

All the girls - Annemarie, Gretchen, Erin, me & Trisha

Good Times, Good Friends

Number of hours I was in Kansas City: 40

Number of times I jump started a car: 2
Inches of snow on the ground: 4
Number of friends honored at the mega shower: 3 (one wedding, two baby)
Number of planes I was on: 4
Number of friends I got to see: 15
Number of times I laughed out loud: 1,000,000!

Thanks for the fun memories and a great weekend girls! I had so much fun seeing everyone. Thanks especially to April for driving up to KC in the storm to hang out and stay at my mom's house. (From the frantic run through Target to the ice hill - we didn't stop laughing! Thanks, A!) Also to Carrie for taking me out to lunch and to the airport on Sunday.

Such a fun weekend- can't wait till next time!
P.S. Pictures courtesy of Miss Katie Compardo, I forgot to take pictures- again! Thanks, Katie!

The entire group

With Laura & AprilWith the biggest hit of the party, Carter

New Orleans - Post Cruise

We got off the ship early on Monday morning, so we checked back into our hotel. We were able to stow my mom's and Steve & Connie's bags and get back out to explore New Orleans. We took the Trolley through the Garden District to Audubon Park. We walked through this beautiful park - taking advantage of the sunshine and beautiful scenery. Grabbing the trolley back to the Quarter, we had a a great lunch before the family had to leave for the airport.

My cousin John met us downtown to hang out before his flight. Unfortunately, we hung out a little too long because he missed his flight. However, we had a great night out on Beale Street and got John to the airport in time the next morning. Such a great end to a great vacation. Can't wait till next time.

With mom on the trolley

Monkeying around at the park

Walking through the park - with the moss draped cypress trees

With John at the corner of Orleans & Bourbon

At the oldest bar

Early flight, Louis was too loud!

Slayman Friends & Family Cruise

What happens when you get 30+ Slayman's and their friends together on one cruise ship? In one word - party. Such a fun time for my extended family - to be together for 5 days on such a great vacation. My in-laws were brave enough to come along - and made the trip even more special for Doug & me. While not everybody was able to make it (I especially missed my brother Aaron's family) - we felt blessed to have so many that could make it!

As for the roll call - 8 of 13 of my first cousins were on the trip. Plus several of our spouses. As for the next generation - 4 of 6 of my second cousins joined in on the fun. Fun fact - our party had the oldest & youngest on the boat. My grandfather took the prize - at 92(but still young at heart), while Parker at 22 months was the best behaved toddler on the seas.

Doug & I who usually speed through several books on vacation were amazed that we barely cracked open our reading material. There were way too many people to hang out and talk with! From the water slide to the hot tubs. From the great shows and music to the funny comedians. Great food, great friends, great family.

Our one excursion day was in Cozumel. While Doug and his dad went deep sea fishing and my mom and Doug's mom went on a tour of the island with my Aunts and Grandfather - I got to hang out at the beach with a bunch of the family. Such a fun day!

Luckily when we pulled back in to Port New Orleans the vacation wasn't over - one more full day in "The Big Easy" for us. But that's for the next post...

The whole crew

Doug, mom and me

Cousins with Grandpa

The three Aunts - there is a long story about these dresses. It started 20 years ago as a gag and hasn't stopped.

My mom and grandpa

Hanging by the pool

Formal night - we toasted to Steve & Connie's 35th Anniversary!

My mom and me in Cozumel with our ship in the background

At the beach

Parker- the youngest (and cutest!)

Celebrating Valentine's Day. Yes, I realize my mom and I are wearing the exact same outfit. No, we didn't plan it.
The Beatles Show!

New Orleans - Pre-Cruise

Our friends and family reunion cruise left from Port New Orleans, so Doug & I spent a few days in "The Big Easy". While this was my first time in New Orleans - Doug has been several other times.

Tuesday
We flew in early in the morning, checked into the hotel and walked around the French Quarter. Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, my first Po'Boy, and the French Market. Such an interesting city, walking up several feet to see the Mississippi River. We also took a trolley tour through the amazing old homes in Garden district - which was beautiful. We finished our evening off with an amazing dinner on a balcony in the French Quarter and a night on Bourbon Street. Hey, when in Rome...

Beautiful Iron Lace on the balconies in the French Quarter

Jackson Square

St. Louis Cathedral



Bourbon Street


Dinner on the balcony

Wednesday
My mom and Doug's parents flew into town for us to spend a day together before getting on the ship. A tour of the French Quarter including the beautiful Royal Street antique stores, boutiques and art galleries. We enjoyed a traditional New Orleans lunch right on Jackson Square - looking out onto St. Louis Cathedral. Such a fantastic afternoon of shopping, sightseeing and walking around the quarter. Coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde were a must. We all enjoyed another fantastic dinner and then New Orleans jazz at Fritzels.

The whole family - at Jackson Square

Listening to Jazz

The BEST Jazz Band

Thursday
Mimosas to celebrate the official start of our vacation & a bit more shopping before making the short trip to the port to meet the rest of our family and board the ship. - But that's for the next post.