Decorators' Showhouse & Shorts

The spring weather is finally here, which means it is time for the 49th Annual Decorators' Showhouse. This year, the Booth Tarkington House was the featured home and it was so beautifully decorated! Sarah had a great time going through the house. I was glad to have Glamma's help carrying her through the home. It was nice that she isn't quite walking so we could carry her. The day we planned on going to the Showhouse, her morning was over two and a half hours so we had to meet Aunt Jody & Aunt Becky in Maggie's Cafe after they went through the house. It worked well for Sarah to go through on a full tummy.

Click here for new photos & videos.

Sarah wore her first pair of shorts today to lunch. They looked so cute on her and what completed the ensemble was the matching headband. I can't wait until it is warm enough to go to the pool with her! Just about two more months until Mackinac and we can't wait.

A day in the life of Sarah Margaret: A busy 13 month old

Click here for some photos and videos from yesterday.

Sarah is a very busy 13 month old. She loves to try to open the door with our keys. We think it is because she loves being outside and going for walks. At Glamma, she loves the Russian Nesting Dolls and could play with them for hours.

13 Months

As we also seem to say...we can't believe out little darling is already 13 months. Tonight, she was trying to walk and walk some more. She is building her confidence and taking a few steps at a time. She is so close! We had a great day today in the sun--going for a walk along the monon with friends and played in the sand for the first time. At a local park, the sand volleyball court becomes a huge sandbox for kids. Another new development is that Sarah Margaret is getting her first molar on the upper left. Andy started his work with the census as crew leader and we are extremely grateful for this opportunity and that it is a census year. Hopefully soon, we'll catch on video some of Sarah Margaret's first steps. We were so sorry to have missed Gramma Sue's surprise birthday party this past weekend on April 10th :( Happy Belated Birthday Gramma Sue! We hope to see you soon.

The Professor and Mary Ann

Sarah Margaret has a new word she learned while playing with the Gilligan Island bath toys at Glamma & Bon Papa's. Glamma has the Skipper, Gilligan, and Mary Anne and she loves saying Mary Ann! She says it pretty well for a one year old saying a three syllable word and will say it even when not playing with the toys. Next, we'll try Gilligan :-)

Now, at almost thirteen months, Sarah Margaret continues to be on the go and a very busy little girl. She is getting more adventurous with her walking and is standing more without assistance and will take about two to three steps at a time. She still is speediest with crawling. Now that the spring weather is here (for the most part), Sarah Margaret still loves her walks. Yesterday, it was too cold for a walk and she kept going over to the stroller and then reaching for the front door handle.

There are a couple new photos online. Click here for her 12 month album.

Next time you see Sarah Margaret, be sure to ask her to say Mary Ann!

Good Luck Bulldogs in the Final Four!!

Go Butler! We are very excited about the Butler Bulldogs going to the Final Four this weekend. Indianapolis has Bulldog fever! Everywhere you look you see a Butler flag or sign that says "Go Dawgs" around the city. We were going to go over to Hinkle Fieldhouse today to get a family photo with all three of us with our Butler shirts but Sarah Margaret took a three hour morning nap this morning and then a two hour afternoon nap so we didn't make it (yesterday she only took a morning nap since we were at Bon Papa & Glamma's all afternoon). We did take a nice hour and a half walk this beautiful early evening. Sarah Margaret loves looking at all the dogs (or in her words see all the"dadas").

Sarah Margaret is very busy girl. She is getting very good at pointing out objects you ask her to find. She can find the ceiling fan, the lamp (light fixtures), her hair, her nose, her toes, Mom, Dad, Chloe, Glamma's purse (one of her favorites) and the keys (another one of her favorites). She will point to the objects with her whole hand. If she really wants something, she reaches as high as she can towards the objects and makes sure we know what she wants with urgency.

This afternoon, she really wanted to go outside. We have a little lunch box cooler that we take with us when we go out to eat with her food in it. Today, she was carrying it around (empty of course) over her shoulder with her elbow in the air. Tonight, when she started to get tired in the kitchen, she put her little head down on the floor, her thumb in her mouth, and little bottom in the air. We have a video and that will be coming soon.

Enjoy the video!

One Year Old Update

Again, we are overwhelmed by the generosity and love of family and friends that have been such a blessing during this tough time. We appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for all the gifts for Sarah Margaret's First Birthday--all the toys, books and clothes are getting great use.

We know for sure that Sarah Margaret loves a party and loves to celebrate her birthday. Gramma Sue had a first birthday party bash this weekend. Gramma Sue went over the top with decorations, balloons, gifts, food, and love for Sarah Margaret. We were amazed at how social and smiley Sarah was to everyone. She crawled around saying hello to everyone and tickling toes. She found a stash of purses on the couch and was so excited. Watch your purse around Sarah for she LOVES seeing what people have in their purse. She had a great time with Snuggles (Gramma Sue's little doggy) and enjoyed throwing the ball to Snuggles.

The trip up to Toledo was the best yet with Sarah now facing forward in the carseat. She loves looking out the window and seeing Mom & Dad up front. She also has been talking so much. When she learns a new sound, she'll make it all day. Today, she learned how to say "Nana." So all the way home from Toledo she kept say "nanana" She will say "Mama" for me . For Andy she says "yaya" that is one of her favorites. And for a dog, she says "dada." She will still lift her arms straight up in the air to be picked up out of her highchair. If you don't get her fast enough, she'll try to reach even higher and twirling her hands. About 30 minutes outside of Toledo, she started doing that in the car because she was ready to get to Gramma Sue's. She has 7 teeth total and now eats pretty much anything and eats so much. Gramma Sue made a delicious egg bake and we have never seen her eat so much for her morning snack after her nap! This was after she had her oatmeal, yogurt and fruit a few hours earlier for breakfast. We'll see how she does during these toddler years with her eating :-) She takes a few steps on her own but just at Glamma Cislak's house.

This blog is meant to keep track the big and the little so sorry for the long post but just want to savor these precious moments as Sarah Margaret grows and changes so quickly.