The Mouse Family Blog

Thanks Poganys for the cute outfit! Here is another picture too...blurry but expressive. Lauren enjoys her feet.

Here is a picture Jace took of Lauren in the airport on the way back from OK. It's a good shot of her eyes...what color do you think they are? What color do you think they will be? Also notice her wild hair. She got sweaty when we had to board an airplane and sit for an hour before getting back off because the flight was canceled due to mechanical problems. Luckily we were able to get onto another flight a few hours later. Lauren did ok just sitting here in an airport chair and playing with toys.

Lauren is pictured here helping tear the wrapping paper off her first Christmas present!

Liz's mom's family celebrates Christmas on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and thanks to our flight schedule back from Oklahoma, we were able to attend. We enjoyed traditional holiday favorites like Aunt Kay's spritz cookies and Grandma's noodles. The kids all got to open presents. Below is Lauren with her Great Grandpa and Grandma.

Happy Thanksgiving. The Mouse family is celebrating in Oklahoma. Lauren was such a good baby on the flight out here. We got to visit with many family members - it was a great time! Here she is with her cousin Faith.

Lauren is pictured below playing with new toys under the watchful eye of Grandma Saundra and sitting in kid sized chairs with cousin Bryce.

Tomorrow we're leaving Chicago to travel to Oklahoma to have Thanksgiving with Jace's family. We're really looking forward to it since Lauren seems to have changed so much since we were last there over Labor Day. We hope she enjoys her time with Grandma Saundra and Grandpa Leslie and all her aunts, uncles and cousins - oh boy!! I am pretty sure the flight will be easier with Jace's help.

While in Florida, Lauren had a fall photo shoot at a neighbor's house. Here she is honoring the season with the only smile in 50 frames. And you can see why she smiled...a cat jumped into the picture! I also posted some out-takes :)

I found a way to accomplish a cleaning task and play with Lauren at the same time. I'm going to call this game Magic Carpet (thanks Beth for the suggestion). I plunked Lauren down on a blanket and dragged her around on the hardwood floors. We did loops through the kitchen and around the dining room table. Lauren was entertained with the new perspective and changing scenery and I got my floors swept.

Ah Florida, where a girl can fall asleep in her stroller and get wheeled right onto the porch to continue her nap.

We've had a great visit, but sadly we have to get back on a plane tomorrow and fly home to Chicago. On the bright side, Lauren will be really glad to see her Daddy (and so will her Mommy!) and we miss Indy dog too. Ah Florida, we'll be back soon!

Today was Lauren's first hot, sunny day at the beach. Weather was in the 80s so Gma Ann and Gpa Clark took Lauren and Mommy to the public beach at Siesta Key for Lauren's first time in a swim suit and her first dip in the ocean. The swim suit was perfect for the hot day as well as practical with a matching hooded cover up. We changed her poopy diaper in the parking lot (isn't that always the case) and put her in a swim diaper and her suit. We slathered her with baby sunblock and hit the sand. Lauren hung out in the shade behind the lifeguard stand while Gpa set up the umbrella and chairs. Then we headed down to the water. The tiny little waves got Lauren nervous before she even got close to the actual water. By the time Mommy dipped Lauren's toes in, the tears were coming. Oh well. Back at the umbrella, there was time for some play in the sand and exploring the umbrella pole before we finally had enough (enough sand everywhere)!

This morning we went to breakfast at a local place with a reputation for good waffles and cinnamon rolls. We had both. Lauren had to satisfy her teeth on toys instead of sugary goodness. Sorry baby, those are mommy's waffles.

We took Lauren to Siesta Key beach today. The weather was sunny with temps in the low 70's but it sure was windy. Lauren was mildly interested with kicking her feet in the sand and grabbing handfuls. Luckily she didn't try to put it in her mouth. We didn't stay long, but we plan to come back to the beach later next week when it is supposed to be in the 80s to introduce Lauren to the water. We posed her in the pretty beach grass for some photos. Grandma Ann made some really funny noises to try and get Lauren to smile.

Lauren and Mom traveled to Florida today. Grandma Ann and Grandpa Clark picked us up at the airport. We ate a late lunch at Crab Trap II (Lauren slept) overlooking a lake with an alligator, turtle and various sea birds providing some scenery. Then we headed to Target to buy some supplies for the week (baby sunscreen and swim diapers!) The next picture is Liz, Lauren and Grandma Ann relaxing on the lounge in the sun room. Lauren is playing with some of the toys that were waiting here for her - what a great welcome to Florida!

Lauren sure has been impressing us this past month. She has teeth, can sit up by herself and is pretty much a barrel of fun. We had her 6-month appointment at the pediatrician's office today.

Official 6 month stats:
Weight = 18lb 10 oz (90%)
Height = 27 1/2" (95%)

Her weight is slowing down but she keeps getting taller! Looks like she might have more of a future at basketball than women's shotput.

Labels: Monthly Photos

"Look Mom. I can do this by myself, no problem!"


Lauren was feeling kinda so-so about the rice cereal and then not so enthused about the oatmeal. But man, oh man - she loves carrots! Probably because she knows they get her clothes much dirtier than any other food.