Fall is in the air!

It is my favorite time of year. We have been enjoying our evening walks with Taya bundled up in the stroller and me in my sweats (I love sweatpants weather!). I have been making some apple crisp about once a week to utilize the apples that are in season this time of year and also because the smell of apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg can't be beat!
Taya continues to get more fun every day. I have never spent so much time around a toddler, but they are characters! Some of the cute things Taya does is she likes to read and will sit with a book and jabber away or else she will back into your lap and want you to read to her. Her daycare owner told me one day Taya started backing toward her clear across the room. Her hair is getting very curly and is oh so cute. She is miss independent and will do voice influction so you know when she is telling you to do something.
Most recently we went to a wedding this past weekend in Atkinson, NE. Congrats to my high school classmate Miles Mundorf and his new wife, Becky. We were also able to stop in Wayne at Omi and Papa's (minus Papa) to get some pumpkins and for lunch. Grammy was also in town for the wedding and to visit us. We took a 'stay-cation' on Monday to go golfing.
Wish Ethan a happy 27th on Saturday!

Could it be true?

Yes, it's been a while. We are very busy here in Omaha. We have been to a wedding in Ogallala, a birthday party in Lincoln, visiting grandparents in Wayne, and to a parade here in town. During the week I have been busy preparing for interns and working on my Master's; Ethan has been working more on his research and doing some golfing. Below is a sampling of some photos over the past few weeks. I do not have any of my brother's wedding uploaded on the computer, so those will be coming (Taya looked SO cute in her dress).

We have babysat Eli Banks a few times this summer when both Ryan and Em have had to work. Taya enjoys having a human playmate during the weekend.

My brother's wedding was at the golf course in Ogallala. Taya had fun playing on the putting green. At that time (August 22) she was still mostly crawling, but she was taking steps here and there.

We went to Lincoln for my cousin's daughter, Emma's, first birthday. We bought her Taya's favorite toy (lovingly known as Mrs. Potts) and Taya recognized it right away. Emma we hope you love her as much as Taya!

Grammy was in town for a long weekend before heading out to Connecticut. Taya enjoyed some special time with her.

Taya moved over to the toddler building at daycare last week. She is loving it! She is very tired at the end of the day. Every day we get a report from the owner that Taya is "eating really well, she gobbles down all of her food".

We went to the SeptemberFest parade with Emily and Eli this morning. Em and I enjoyed some good conversation as well as Wheatfield's pastries and lattes! Eli and Taya had their own special treat as well. Taya was really interested in the music and the big balloons, such as the monkey below. **For those of you interested, Ethan and Ryan went golfing.

Eli and Taya were interested in the puppies beside us. Taya recognized them because they look like Nima.

They get along very well together. After communing in their strollers, they took a nap then played at the house for a couple of hours.

Emily and Eli Banks

I forgot that I didn't post Taya's one year stats (for those of you interested).

20 lbs 4 oz 29 inches long

She is now primarily walking. She gets around very well and loves the new challenge of stairs!

Have a great week (or great couple of weeks, depending on when I sit down to post more pictures!).

Our birthday girl

For Taya' Birthday we went to the zoo. This is in the butterfly pavillion. Taya was too overwhelmed to smile, but I think she enjoyed it...

Mr. Turtle in the aquarium. We hadn't seen him before.

Stopping at the penguins; there is a little smile behind that hand :)

Since Taya turned one, she can now have her car seat facing forward. She loves being able to see everything that's going on.

Grammy, my grandma Cena, and niece Jayden came to visit for Taya's birthday. We went out to eat one night. Taya was not very thrilled with her birthday hat or having her 'evening routine' messed up.

We had Taya's party on Saturday the 8th. She had her first bite of cake the weekend before because we had some professional pictures taken of her. Her reaction was about the same both times...she really didn't know what to think and she wasn't that excited about it. She loved the watermelon so much more.

Papa Les taught Taya how to do "fish face". She is really good at sucking in those kissable cheeks!

Jayden was our party mascot. Taya had a blast playing with her big cousin.

This was taken two days ago. Taya absolutely love to swim. I don't get a lot of pictures of her smiling (she usually smiles right after the camera flashes) but this proves that she does smile and she is a VERY happy baby.

Taya is looking at me holding a new "toy". You will see the "toy" in the following pictures. Guess what it is...

We have had a busy few weeks preparing for and recovering from Taya's party. She has been "busy" playing with all of her toys, especially her new ones. We will hear her just jabbering away and she is starting to mimic what we say. Her current fave is saying "one...two...THREE". She can't really say it but she does the voice fluctuation that Ethan and I do. It's very neat to see her grow and develop.

Speaking of growing, she was 20 lbs 4 oz and 29 inches long at her 1 year appointment yesterday. She is developing right on track (and maybe a little ahead of the standard).

Next weekend we have uncle Wade's wedding and I have two presentations to do at work so it will be busy.

God Bless!

On August 6, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. God blessed us with our first child, our little baby girl Taya Jo. She was 7 lbs, 3 oz and 18.5 inches long. She has filled our lives with more love than was ever imaginable when Ethan and I first met.
We love you Taya Jo...Happy 1st Birthday!!!

Taya's birth day

Taya at ~3 months. This was one of my favorite onesies...it was just a Carter's basic, but it was pink and said Love Bug. Taya's room decor is 'love bug'.

A few weeks before Christmas. She was just starting to hold her head up. This ended up as a Christmas card photo. I love this pic.

A nice day in the spring but I am unsure when. She still loves going for walks.

First Easter (April). I couldn't quite get her to smile, but she just woke up from sleeping through Mass. She doesn't do that anymore... Pretty girl in vacation mode with dad-o. This was in Connecticut for Memorial Day.

Below are the latest pics I have. They are from Tuesday morning. Taya is now interested in the cupboards; luckily the plastic containers are located in her reach, rather than sharp knives :). She entertained herself for at least 30 minutes.

Tonight Taya was a big girl. She ate her first full meal without any supplemental baby food. I tried a Gerber Graduates meal...macaroni and cheese and peas/carrots. She ate about half of each item. She then had almost a full piece of toast and a whole container of yogurt. She also tried a new sippy cup (with dad's help), so we can use a less messy one!

I have her birthday cake made (strawberry with pink frosting), so we are all set for tomorrow. We are hosting her big party on Saturday with friends and family. Tomorrow we hope to get some Taya-time just the three of us.