Taylor's New Bed

Grandpa & Grandma P brought Taylor's new bed over this afternoon. I spent all day Saturday cleaning the girls room to make room for it and putting clothes away that are too small etc. It's actually a day bed, but it works and it's really nice! She's got Cinderella, Belle & Sleeping Beauty sheets on it.. now I just have to find a nice bedspread.



She loves it! Though, once we cleared out Hailey's crib, she thought that was pretty cool to play in too!





Already best friends.



The closet was one of the FUNNEST parts of the clean-up.






These are just some pictures of Hailey playing with this ball tonight, too cute. She's still playing with it and having a blast.

Rolling away...

Hailey just started rolling over from back to front a week or two ago, and now she's already rolling around the house. Once she got it figured out, she thinks it's pretty cool.









and she does the airplane belly balance act too :)

Taylor's Prayer

Ever since convention, Taylor has been getting into the habit of praying several times a day. It's usually just, "Our Father, thank you for something. Amen," then she giggles.

I always pray with her and try to remember some key things like the workers, Daddy, Mommy, Hailey, food, etc... well, this morning her prayer was, "Our Father, thank you for Hailey and something, something, and something." Then she was laughing so hard and saying,"I'm funny, Mommy!"

I swear I'm going to hook up the video camera next time we pray.

By the way, Karen & Heather, did you hear her starting to pray in meeting last night?

**Forgot to add that Hailey was 14 lbs exactly and 24 1/2 in yesterday **

Hailey's Heart Update

She's finally getting better! WOO HOO!!
One of the holes is gone and the other is finally getting smaller. We had a follow-up echo ultrasound on her heart murmer this afternoon and the dr said,"Don't want to say you're in the clear, but you're pretty much in the clear!" Did I say,"WOO HOO!" yet?!

I'm so relieved. It feels like 5,000 lbs has been lifted. Honestly, I don't know how I'd ever get through heart surgery on our sweet baby girl. Though I'd be strong for her if I needed to be, it's a big relief that we most likely won't have to go down that road. Thanks for everyone's thoughts today, they are greatly appreciated!

Sling

Here's the sling my mom made me. Of course we didn't take pictures when I was actually using it this past week! I used it a lot of different ways but here are a couple.


Hailey sitting on my hip.



and then laying down. When she was sleeping, she would actually go all the way down into the sling so she was all covered up. But, right now she was really mad that I was trying to put her down in the sling while she was wide awake so she didn't cooperate too well.

It was really great to have and I love it! Thanks Mom!

Our week

We're all sick, except Hailey. Physically worn from being outside for 4 days, but it was well worth it! Just a cold going around here so far, so hope it stays that way. Taylor's having a rough day at the sitter's so not sure how long I'll be working today, we'll see! Snotty-headed so not wanting to eat or really do anything for that matter. She's being a couch-potato. She has a little fever, so hopefully it doesn't get any worse. I have a major sore throat and sinus headache today too, fun!

Otherwise, we had a great few days away. The time went so fast and like always, we left wishing we had just a few more days. Taylor had lots of fun playing with her friends and cousins. She was very protective and concerned for Hailey when other people took her out of her sight.

I loved the sling Mom made for me and will try to get a picture of it on later! Who thought to take pictures until the last day??







Daryn, Madi, Megan & Taylor



Hailey's glad to be back home, though she did really well.

Sunday

Getting a picture of these two girls together isn't the easiest thing in the world, let me tell you! Even if Hailey is touching Taylor in the slightest bit she says,"No, Mom, she's too heavy for me."




It's been one of those days for Taylor.. moody. Can't wait until these girls hit puberty, should be interesting at our house.

Pics

Here's Hailey tonight in her bouncy chair, in between snoozes.

and here's Taylor being goofy.

and this is a picture of Hailey in her exersaucer from the other day. She's growing up too fast already!

Hailey's 4 month Checkup

We just got home from Hailey's 4 month checkup and it went pretty well. Ben met us at the dr for her 4:50 appointment since it's not far off his way home from work. Hailey is 13 lbs 11 oz and 24 1/4 in, so she's gained 2 lbs and 3 inches since her 2 month checkup. Her doctor was very happy with everything so that's always reassuring. She could still hear her heart murmer, but we go in Sept. 24th with the cardio dr to check on that. Dr said it's a good sign that she's growing so well, it means the murmer doesn't seem to be bothering her at all. Hailey's down to the 65 percentile for weight so she's slowing down a little bit anyway! Probably has something to do with the hunger strikes she pulls every now and then. LOL, not really. Taylor started slowing down in growth around 4-6 months too. I'd take a picture of Hailey for you, but she's sleeping right now. I'll post one later!

One More Day

Thought this was worth sharing...

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.
Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.
Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.
Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard blowing bubbles.
Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.
Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up,or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies and I won't even stand over you trying to fix them.
Just for this afternoon, I will take you to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.
Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.
Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.
Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we eat on the porch and count all the stars. Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.
Just for this evening, when I run my finger through your hair while you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever.

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and the mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senslessly and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore. And when I kiss you good-night, I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing except ONE MORE DAY.

Baby Sling

I'm looking for an easy but effective baby sling pattern. Anyone have one they want to share? I was thinking this would probably come in really handy at convention next week but I really don't have $75-100 to buy a good one. Thanks!

25 - already?

What do you mean I'm 25? Someone must've miscalculated that somewhere...

How the time flies, let me tell you. I guess I always had it in my mind that I'd be married with children by now, but who knew that'd actually happen according to plan? I can't believe how much I've experienced already in life with so many more years to come!

Nice to hear from everyone in my family yesterday, even Jon - the thousands of miles away that he is.

We had a fun day at Mar & Jr's yesterday with Karen & Jared, Justin, Heather & Logan, Shell & Keith. Thanks for the fun day guys.

They surprised me at work today with a cake and a goofy card. Always nice to hear I'm appreciated, since the bosses don't always get around to saying it.

So, here's hoping these next 25 years don't go too fast. I want to enjoy my little girls for as long as possible :)

Shutterfly

We have a new shutterfly account so please feel free to check it out. http://papendorf4.shutterfly.com

I haven't deleted the old one yet, but I'm not updating it anymore.
http://taylordanielle.shutterfly.com

We Love Fuzzy Jammies!

They are always cuddly little girls, but they're even more cuddly with their warm, fuzzy jammies on! Don't know if they'll get to keep wearing them yet, but thought they were too cute not to take a picture of!

Library

We went to the library this morning and they have all these fake dogs in the front entry-way. Taylor always has to hug them all goodbye, just so happened I had the camera along this time. I had a productive day off. Got the oil changed, went to the library and borrowed a zillion books for convention, went to the post office, and pulled out a ton of clothes from bins for Hailey... then started laundering them all! Glad the rest of this week should go fast then only one more full week until convention!

More wknd pics

Here are some more pictures from Mar's camera from this weekend.

Helping Grandpa drive the boat.. Taylor did pretty good steering.

Mommy & Taylor swimming in our life jackets.

Hailey & Mommy checking out the animals at the Greenville zoo.

Taylor and the devil rabbit. haha

And Taylor holding onto "Gus Gus" and telling him to, "Be careful, Gus Gus" at the mall.

Greenville Special Memories Zoo

While Ben was off helping Lars with his garage, we all went to the Special Memories Zoo in Greenville. It was a hot day so we headed out right away this morning before it got too hot to enjoy. As always, Taylor was most excited to see the "puma" or any big cat - that is a puma you know.


Taylor started out in her stroller, but that got old fast.


My favorite animal was the camel.



Hailey hung out in the shade with Grandma while we went in the petting zoo.

Taylor wasn't too sure about the animals in the petting zoo. She HATED the chickens and thought they were after her, which they were a little too friendly for chickens. When she was in the pen with the bunnies, one of them was running around and must've scared her because she started crying and kicking dirt at it saying "no, no, no!" It would've been too funny if she wasn't scared to death.


The bambi licking Grandpa's hand.


Taylor petting the pygmy goat. This was really the only animal she would pet in there.


Hailey thought it was pretty cool for a little while, but after she got hot she wasn't too keen on the whole zoo idea anymore.

Pontooning Saturday

We had a fun day Saturday on a pontoon boat Grandma borrowed from her boss. Although it got pretty hot in the afternoon, we had a very fun day!


Hailey zonked out in the shade in her bouncy chair on the boat.

Daddy caught a fish, then Taylor was catching it in her net.

The net was Cinderella's slipper and it fit Grandma's foot! lol

Hailey bumming naked in the shade.


and Taylor "driving" the boat. She thought that was pretty cool and was "driving" it most of the day while the guys fished. We even went swimming in a deep part of the lake with our life jackets. Taylor was so brave! She loved it. Ben and I swam a little more before we left too, it got pretty hot outside.