Our first public pool experience - Castaway Bay

After swimming, we were sitting down and having some snacks. I was experimenting with some different things, and thought that the picture, though different, looks kind of cool!

Relaxing in my pool robe after a swimming!

She just LOVED the water!

Kaden and Rayna relaxing together!

I couldn't get those kids to look at me for anything! haha! But they still look awfully cute!

She just looks sooooo darling!!!

Random pictures and outdoor fun!

My little Angel face!!!

Rayna LOVED the bouncer at her friend Riley's birthday party!!

She is such a happy little girl!!

She loves this oversized bunny that Auntie Susan got her for Easter!!

She is always willing to pose for the camera!!!

Memorial Day, Great Grandma and Great Grandpa's Anniversary, and a Weekend with my Cousins

Just swinging right along.....

She is looking more and more like a "little lady!"

Her cousin, Britten, was making her smile!!

Britten and Rayna sure had a great time playing together at the park!

Getting more and more brave with each passing minute. She used to hold onto everything with two hands, and now she's turning around and only using one hand. Just this weekend she's started to let both hands go, and has taken a few trial steps!

Britten let her play with her soccer ball. Will she be a soccer player like her cousins Britten and Kevin???

On the slide with her cousin, Beth. I think that Beth likes her just a little bit...

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Rayna and Britten went down the slide together quite a few times. I think that Rayna is very lucky to have cousins that love and adore her!!

Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Werner at their 60th Anniversary celebration! What a great milestone! We also celebrated Great Grandma's 80th birthday. It was such a nice party, and was even better to have the chance to visit with everyone! Grandma said the key was to find a man that does not argue with you. haha!

The cake...YUMMMY!!!

Grandma Werner and Rayna swinging on Aunt Carol and Uncle Leonard's swing. You can not see it in the picture, but the swing is attached to a two story barn that Uncle Leonard built for Andy's cousins when they were kids. Yes, in case you were wondering, the wheels in Andy's heads are turning, and there have been talks of building one similar in Americus. But it would be very nice for Rayna to have a playhouse, and a place to store all the outdoor "things."

Rayna using daddy as a crutch. And she's chewing on her finger, as she is always doing these days. She is such a ham for the camera these days!!

Doesn't she just look so cute and innocent?

Well, who could believe that Rayna will be 11 months in a couple of weeks! I can NOT believe how fast time has gone by! She had a bit of a cold the past week, but she seems to be getting better with each day! We had the pleasure of watching Beth and Britten this weekend, and Rayna really enjoyed having her cousins here! And Beth and Britten seemed to be pretty fond of Rayna, too. They were constantly telling me how cute she was, and playing with her all the time. I am sure they will have loads of fun as the continue to grow up together!

Andy has finished our patio, and he added a big sandbox next to it for Rayna. That will surely be a hit at her birthday party! And it's hard to believe that her birthday is right around the corner!!

This coming weekend we are going to my cousin Katy's graduation party. It's hard to believe she's already graduating! I remember when she was born, and here she is...all grown up! Then, on Sunday we are going to Rayna's friend Riley's first birthday party. It is a pool party, and will be a great time (weather permitting).

9 months and Swimming Pools!!!

I loved pulling up grass to put into the pool with me!!

I LOVE MY SWIMMING POOL!!

Rayna Lynn went for her 9 month check-up on April 20th, and she is growing right along!! She weighed 18lbs 8oz and was 28 1/4 inches long! It is hard to believe that she is that big already. One 3/4 of an inch left and she'll be in a "big girl" car seat!

We have started giving her little amounts of table food. So far she's had mashed potatoes (loved), bananas (which you would have thought were poison to her), cheerios (loved) and some vanilla ice cream (loved). We have also started using some third foods, which have little chunks of food to help her learn how to chew. We have also started givng her some puffs (like cheerios) and yogurt bites. She is also drinking some water everyday between feedings, and she really seems to enjoy the change!

Rayna is standing up against everything, and scoots around the entire room now. She is actually crawling vs. army crawling, and she is getting so fast!!! She still loves talking walks, and we are taking walks everyday that the weather permits. She has started saying "da-da," so now we hear "da-da" and "ma-ma" all the time.

She got to try out her pool for the first time last weekend, and she just loved it!! She seems to love being in water, and she had a fasination with pulling up grass to put into the pool with her. I am sure that we will spend a lot of hot summer days outside in the pool.

We hope that all is well with everyone and I am looking forward to my first Mother's Day this weekend!!! Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there!!

In Loving Memory

The Day God Called You Home

Anonymous

God looked around His garden,

And He found an empty place.

He then looked down upon His Earth,

and saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you,

and lifted you to rest.

God's garden must be beautiful,

He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering.

He knew you were in pain.

He knew that you would never,

Get well on Earth again.

He saw that the road was getting rough,

And the hills were hard to climb,

So He closed your weary eyelids

And whispered, "Peace by Thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you,

But you didn't go alone.

For part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.

We miss and love you very much Grandpa!!

The Lord has called you home and it is

within the embrace of His loving arms that

you shall reside forever.

Happy Easter!!!

The Easter Bunny made it to our house on Sunday, and Rayna sure made out! She got some new pajamas, a summer play outfit, the movie "Mary Poppins", a pretty pinwheel and some new sunglasses (see pictures above to see those). I have one word about the sunglasses - Hollywood! Surprisingly, she does not seem to mind them being on her face!! We did an Easter Egg hunt inside the house, and she got lots of change to add to her piggy bank. Not too early to start saving, right? The Easter Bunny just LOVED the eggs that she decorated the week before. She did such a great job, don't you think?

Rayna is starting to say "Ma Ma", and she showed everyone in church that she could say it. She managed to say "Ma Ma" during a quiet spot in the preacher's sermon on Sunday. Ha Ha. The ladies around us thought that she was just "too cute" and kept smiling and turning around to steal a peak at her during church. Our friend Sara took her to the nursery for a little bit, and she seemed to really enjoy that because she got to play with the toys and other kids. Maybe next time we'll just send her there from the get go because I'm sure that's more fun to her than just being held by mommy for an hour. Rayna was definitely the best dressed little girl in church thanks to Grammy Werner. The Easter dress and shoes she got for her were just TOO CUTE (as you can see above).

Rayna is also starting to wave when you wave at her. Still in the learning stages, but definitely getting the hang of it. Also, she recognizes the song "Patty Cake, Patty Cake" and she is learning to clap her hands with the song. Again, still in the learning stages, but definitely getting the hang of it. She is just simply amazing!!!

Well, speaking of Rayna - she's getting a bit cranky. I think it's time for a little beauty sleep. Hope all is well with everyone, and next week - we have a doctor visit!!! It will be fun to see how much she's grown since last time.

Daddy Got Me a Giraffe Tricycle!!!

Daddy came home with a a giraffe trike for Rayna!! She just loves it when Daddy takes her for rides around the living room! Also note - you can see Rayna's two bottom teeth in the first picture!! Finally, I managed to get them in a picture!