Michigan- arrival and camping

We have so many pictures from Michigan (Grandpa and Aunt Alli are connected to the camera)! We arrived to Michigan just after 11pm on 7/4 with our good little travelers. On Sunday, we had great-grandparents over for dinner and cards. I also got the car all situated for Mike to drive home on Monday (I had to downsize Kaitlyn's and my clothes to fit in one suitcase for flying back). Monday, Mike headed back to Oklahoma with the dogs, and Kaitlyn and I went camping with the family to Holland State Park.

Bailey is working on her tan

mama and Chauncey

Grandma, Kaitlyn, and Great Grandma Van




going for a walk to wind down, what a group!

A camping we will go... Grandma and Grandpa have a trailer (which made camping very nice with Kaitlyn) and we took the tent for Aunt Alli and I to sleep in (it would have been a tight squeeze without it). The weather was just PERFECT (low 70s, and no rain)! Kaitlyn really enjoyed being outside all day. All she wanted to do was explore, and have the occasional stroller ride (she fell asleep a few times in the stroller).

sleepy baby

napping outside

feeding the ducks

strollin' with grandma

swinging with aunt alli

Our site, the tent

The trailerAunt Alli forgot how to get in the hammock

At the Beach! Kaitlyn was a little unsure of the sand at first...
but it didn't take her long to love it!

21 flavors, Kaitlyn gets chocolate. Mmmmm

This is a video I got while we were waiting for Great grandparents to arrive for dinner.




Testing the sand at the beach

Pennsylvania

This post is a little late... Wednesday (6/25) evening was the start of our major road trip to Pennsylvania. Mike and I decided that we would drive as long as our eyes were open, and we had a very successful (and safe) drive (driving straight through). Kaitlyn and the dogs were very good (quite an answer to prayer) all sleeping most of the trip. Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Mark, Aunt Megan, and Cousin Luke were waiting for us when we arrived. Kaitlyn and Luke played very well together, and Luke really enjoyed feeding Bailey and Chauncey too.

Uncle Tim, Aunt Amy, and Cousin Hannah joined us early Monday morning. The girls were just so sweet! They are both very busy, but would play "kitchen" and "organizing" a lot. All the babies will be great buddies as they get older :)

Kaitlyn and I did get to take a quick trip into Cranberry to meet up with my Disney friend, Renae. We had a lot of fun playing in Target and going out to eat. Kaitlyn loved Renae even though she only got to spend a few hours with her. :) And of course... I left my camera and phone at the house!

Playing well together :)

Our second day there, we went down the road to swim. Kaitlyn loves the water!

All smiles in the water!



We thought that we would see if Luke would still look ALL BOY if we put a dress on him.


It was pretty funny... he was missing a bow. :)



Lasagna is delicious!

Luke just lights up for the camera :)

Is that your camera?

Sittin' on the tractor with Daddy at the bonfire

Going for a walk around the bonfire with my "backpack" on

Kaitlyn LOVES her corn on the cob. Gettin a BIG bite!

Kaitlyn and Hannah

Kaitlyn gives Luke a kiss goodbye

Kaitlyn really liked the pond

Kaitlyn and Hannah going for a wagon ride

I got a few videos too!

Luke and Kaitlyn play a duet

Splashing in the pool with Daddy

Private conversation?

Wagon ride with my cousin Hannah

Before the big trip

Before we left for our road trip to Pennsylvania, I got a few really sweet videos of Kaitlyn.

Mike loves to play hide and seek with Kaitlyn, and she thinks it's really funny when she "finds" him.




Kaitlyn is learning how to use a fork and spoon. I am hoping that she will learn to use a plate too. She's getting pretty good at putting the food in her mouth once it's on the utensil, but she has a little trouble sometimes getting it on there.





In the morning, Kaitlyn is just so angelic. I LOVE hearing her talk and see her innocent smile right when she wakes up.

Gabriel Michael

On June 22, we went to get our 18 week ultrasound and find out if we were having a boy or a girl. We cannot explain how or why... but our baby did not have a heartbeat. He measured at 17 weeks, which also meant that I had to deliver him. The hospital was wonderful in comforting us. The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice, and it was twisted at his belly which cut off everything to him. There is nothing we did that caused it, and it does not mean we will have at-risk pregnancies in the future. It is very unfortunate, and rare, to have a miscarriage in the second trimester.

We are so thankful to have such wonderful friends and family during this time. My friend, Rachel, stayed with Kaitlyn while we were at the hospital. It's very comforting knowing we have such great friends and family during difficult times.

Our Angel, Gabriel Michael, was born at 8:05am. He was 8.5 inches long, and 6.6 ounces. The hospital nurses put together a beautiful memory box for us that had a little bear, rattle, baby ring, and a beautiful hand-made card. The hospital put a butterfly on our door which signified the loss of a baby. They also made a birth certificate for us with his tiny little footprints on it. I got a candle, and put a butterfly on it, to remember him. We received two beautiful flower arrangements at the hospital from Mike's parents and aunt and uncle. We are really looking forward to being around family later this week.

Flowers, memory box, and candle

birth certificate

The Lord will comfort us, and we cling to Him during this time. Psalm 23

Walk

Kaitlyn knows words that get our dogs super excited. We don't say "walk" (we usually spell it out) around the dogs because they go crazy! Kaitlyn has picked up the word and when she says words we like to repeat them to encourage her vocabulary. I took two videos to show what our life is like when you say "walk" in our house.

walk part 1


There is a break in the videos because I needed two hands to put on Kaitlyn's shoes.

walk part 2

Birdie

A few days ago, I let Bailey outside (as usual), and she was getting close to something moving on the sidewalk. I thought it was just a frog, but it was a baby bird! I looked around for where his nest might be (I even checked the gutter). Poor little fella... he was not strong enough to move much. I grabbed a paper towel and scooted him on there (I didn't want to touch him and leave my people scent on him), and placed him in the shade. Since I couldn't see a nest, I thought I would sit outside on the porch and listen for little birds. Then the mama-bird flew out of our tiny tree on the side of the house, I don't know how I could have missed it! I placed the baby bird back in the nest- I saved him! Today, all the birdies have grown strong and left the nest, but when they were still learning to fly Mike and Kaitlyn (and the dogs) had quite the encounter...

Birdie part 1



Birdie part 2

That's funny!

Kaitlyn thinks our dogs are funny; mainly when they fight each other, and when they chase her for food. Kaitlyn will look at me and say "more" when I am eating (which means she wants to have some), so I'll give her a small bite. She will carry it in her hand, and of course she's just the right height for the dogs to get a good wiff. The dogs will follow her around until they get a taste, and Kaitlyn thinks it's pretty funny. This video is a little longer than most, but it's really sweet.

New body part

Kaitlyn is learning new words every day! We have also been learning new body parts. She can point out her belly, nose, ear, and knees perfectly, and now she can show you "head." We've been working on "toes" too, that one she points to once and a while. She will also tap her head when she sees Daddy's head tapping while he's watching a game. I'll try to catch that on video soon!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

This post is a week late, but I thought I would share what we did for Mike's birthday. Kaitlyn let us sleep in a little, which was a nice surprise. I got a cute video of her eating cereal.




Right after I stopped recording, she picked up the bowl and almost spilled milk everywhere. I got the bowl in my hand just in time...

The day started out with my 15 week baby check up. Everything looks good, yay! I also scheduled the appointment for us to find out the sex of the baby (June 22)! We are so excited to find out! When I got back it was time for Kaitlyn's nap. Mike could not wait until after her nap to have cake, and since it was his birthday, I told him we could go ahead and cut it. Thank you to everyone who sent a card, you are so thoughtful! I think it made him feel special :)




We finished the day grilling burgers on the grill, and eating more cake! Kaitlyn liked the cake too! I think her favorite part was the frosting!

Pretty Shoes

As you may remember, Kaitlyn is getting bigger... which also means her FEET are getting bigger! Mike noticed that some of her shoes were getting snug. So I went shoe shopping for our little missy, and found some Jelly sandals (#1. I can't believe they are back in style, and #2. that they make them that small)! I also picked up tennis shoes, and water shoes. Let me tell you about these Jellies... Kaitlyn LOVES them. She takes them off the shelf in the morning and brings them to me so I can put them on her feet (while she's still in her PJs). I don't know if it's because they are pink... or because they sparkle, but she loves to wear them!






She will sit on my lap on her own, and put her foot out like Cinderella receiving a glass slipper. Once she has them on, she seems to walk more dainty and stares at her feet for a few steps. It's so funny, and just too cute!

Learning to save

Kaitlyn has a porcelain piggy bank that sits on her dresser (so she can't reach it and break it). She's been doing so well with her plastic piggy bank and coins that I thought I would get her real piggy bank down for her to start saving. It's never too early to teach your child how to save money. Her pig was pretty hungry! She fed it almost $2 in coins.




I was very cautious that she didn't put any coins in her mouth, and that she stayed on the carpet with the bank so she wouldn't break it on the kitchen floor. She did a good job!

New Car

I recently made a little trip to the store to get Kaitlyn some outside toys. Now that the rain has stopped, for a little while anyway, we might get to enjoy a sunny day! We got a big bouncy ball, bubbles, chalk, and the best toy... a new car! This is similar to a wagon (for one) but more fun because it looks like a car, and even has a horn (a squeaky sound). Kaitlyn loves to sit in her new car and "drive" around... although mommy and daddy are doing all the work to let her "drive."

Varooooooom!!

Getting bigger

Kaitlyn had her 15 month well check up yesterday. Doctor says she is healthy and looks great! She must be eating table food real well because she's grown 2 inches since her 12 month check up! She's 30 inches tall (50%), and 20 pounds (10%). Tall and thin- her string bean years are around the corner :)

Kaitlyn is also getting longer hair in the back too. I have always thought I could probably put it in a little ponytail, but I never tried it until today. It's so cute! Just a little tail. :)



I can't believe I almost forgot to mention that Kaitlyn got some new sandals for the pool!

She loves Minnie!

Play, play, play

This was taken after church on Mother's Day. She doesn't stand still for a picture anymore... she constantly needs to be moving. It may be a tiny bit blurry, but it's a great picture of her :)


With Kaitlyn climbing onto anything she can, I thought she needs a toy that allows her to get on it. (her shopping cart is put away now, because it's no longer a safe toy... standing on it is a bad idea) I showed Kaitlyn the Sesame Street "car" at the store, and she was pushing the buttons and playing with it in the box.





Kaitlyn loves to play with her dollhouse that grandma got her last month. While I was at work, Mike got a darling video of her playing. I just love hearing her little voice!





Kaitlyn be nimble, Kaitlyn be quick, Kaitlyn climbs on the table... ok that did not rhyme, but she certainly is fast when she climbs!

Movement at 11 weeks

Mike and I were watching a movie tonight, and I felt a "bubbling" feeling at my pant line. So I rest my hand there to see if I was feeling our baby's movement. This is so early to be able to feel our baby moving! He/She must be very strong!! It's almost like he/she is swimming in there, and the "bubble" feeling is coming from all the twists, turns, and kicks. I could also feel "kicking," like a gentle tap on my skin. Mike could feel it too! Just amazing...

15 months and mischievous

Kaitlyn is almost 15 months now, and she gets into and ONto everything possible! Not only can she climb on the couch, but she has learned to climb onto the dinning room chairs to get onto the table! And to think... it all started with climbing on top of the dog's cages. She is learning new words everyday, including more about herself. What will she get into and learn next?

Bailey likes Kaitlyn's little couch too

I think someone wants to go to the grocery store

It's fun to sit in my shopping cart.

New summer outfits (she didn't have any shorts that fit)!

My new bathing suit :) I'm ready for a swim!!

Watch me climb on the table!



Playing after church



I'll show you...

Expecting #2

Now that we have a little proof, we are excited to share that we are expecting our second baby! Estimated due date is November 22. I have been fatigued and nauseous, but it seems that it's been getting better the closer we get to week 12. Today, I am almost 10 weeks along. I have the most precious movie (very, very short) of our "little bean." You can see him/her kicking his leg- oh it's just so amazing!!!

The things she does....

Kaitlyn is a silly girl. I still catch her in the dog cage, and now she will walk playing hide and seek. What a gal!

Grandma Van visits

On April 2, Grandma Van came for a weekend visit. All the pictures I took are on her camera. I have a few videos.

While she was here, we went to a baby expo, out to eat, shopping, went to the park, colored Easter eggs, and more in-between. Kaitlyn enjoyed having her Grandma here to play with her. She really enjoys her new toys that Grandma got for her too! A new dollhouse and a mini couch! Sometimes she will take the dolls on the couch and play.


Coloring Eggs :)


We colored about 6 eggs before we realized that they weren't the batch we hard boiled! It took Kaitlyn breaking the egg on the table for us to even know it! hehehe



Kaitlyn loves bubbles! It doesn't matter how they come, in a bath or for dishes... she just wants to play with the bubbles. :)