Ohio-July 17-20

We went straight from my sister's house and drove the 4 hours over to my in laws house in Ohio so we could spend a few days with Grandma and Grandpa Ward and as an added bonus, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Steph and cousins Stratt and Jada!  We had a great time and tried out several parks and splash pads.

 Harrison had a fun time with Stratt trying to get his Uncle Jeff all wet!  Grandma, Raegan and I mostly watched from the sides. 

 She is much happier chewing on her stroller straps anyway!

 Trying out the swings as we do at any park.

 Raegan and Jada are just days apart.  They actually seemed to enjoy playing around each other this trip so we will see how they do when they get a little older.  I have cousins close to my age and I always remember having a blast!  I hope they feel the same!

 Happy kids hanging out at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

 And since it was a 6 hour trip (actually turned into an 8 hour trip by horrible Chicago traffic-but I'm not going to vent about that here!), I was glad we made a stop on our way out of town for Donuts.  These are THE BEST donuts around!  We also had a night out at one of my favorite ice cream places (Graeters)!  It seems like every place we visit, we find some great food to migrate toward!

Anyway, we had a great time in Ohio and enjoyed really relaxing.  Every other stop along our way was a bit more hectic, but Ohio was low key and relaxing!  Thanks for having us Grandma and Grandpa Ward and we look forward to seeing you guys again soon!

Mesa, AZ July 13-16

 So, my little brother decided to up and get married this summer!  Crazy kid but we are so excited to have Tiffany in our family!  It was far and since my parents decided to drive the 30 hours each way, I decided to leave Harrison and tackle the flight with just Raegan to be there.  She was pretty happy when we left...

I wish I had a picture when we got there.  That day we drove 3 hours and then flew 3 hours with about 2 extra hours of wait time in there.  It was a long day!
We made it though and got Raegan to bed pretty early that night.  She woke up excited for the wedding the next day!
Too bad there was only one bathroom and 9 adults so guess who got to bathe in the sink!?  She didn't mind at all!

 All clean, dressed and ready for the wedding.  She loves that thumb!

 Just coming out of the temple.  It was a beautiful ceremony!

 The happy couple.

 Grandpa Willerth and Raegan.

 Most of the kids.  We are missing 2 sisters and 2 brother in laws.

 At the luncheon.

 She loved sitting in the high chair.

By the end of the wedding day we had been going since about 8 that morning and with a 2 hour time difference, Raegan looked like this by 8 that night. (It was 10 our time!)Poor girl.  She did fall asleep right after this and slept through the rest of the reception.

After the wedding, the rest of us came back and used the pool at the house.  It was really fun to swim at night.  Then Sunday was church and visiting with friend from back home and college who now lives in Mesa.  We had a relaxing time and got to pack up that night to start our adventure back north.

 Only the last night did she end up on the floor.  We were leaving early in the morning so we took her pack and play down so that we wouldn't have to in the morning.  Luckily she didn't roll anywhere.  I think she was too tired!

 By the time the crazy weekend was over, Raegan looked like this at the airport.  Too bad we still had the 3 hour flight and 3 hour drive ahead of us.  But she was a trooper for the day.  And we were both really excited to come back and see Harrison!  We missed our little man!

8 months

Raegan hit 8 months on the 22nd!  Time is just flying!  She is so sweet and such a stinker all at the same time.  I really feel like she has changed a lot from 7-8 months and her little personality is growing and showing more each day.

•  She still loves to smile.
• She is not such a great sleeper, still waking up in the middle of the night, but when she hit 8 months, I started laying down the law and letting her cry it out more so we will see if she starts sleeping through the night soon!
• She is a good eater.  She is still nursed for the most part, but will take a bottle.  She also eats breakfast and dinner and has tried rice cereal, carrots, peas, apples, watermelon, cantaloupe, pears and just last night avocado.  She seems to like most things (Except those nasty vitamins I have to give her!)  She kind of drinks from a sippy cup, but all I have put in it is water.
• She started sitting a little just before 7 months, but now sits really well and she can also go from laying to sitting and back to laying all by herself.
• She started scooting about a week ago and has already gotten a lot better!  Harrison really has to watch where he puts his stuff or she will swipe it!
• She loves to be around people.  You don't have to hold her most times, but as long as she is in the room with you, she is happy.  Walk out of the room and she will usually yell or cry for you.  
• She answers to her name but also we like to call her baby girl, Thumper, RaeRae, and Harrison always calls her Babers.  I love to hear him tell her when he sees her "Hey Babers" or when she is crying "It's okay Babers!".  
• She loves her big brother.  She will gravitate towards him and loves to watch him play and now get in the middle of whatever he is playing with.  She has even started climbing on top of him if he is playing on the floor.  It is too cute!
• She loves to go for walks and be outside, but the poor girl sweats anytime it is even a little warm.  If the AC in our house is above 77 the poor girl starts sweating.  
• She is a water baby.  She loves her bath and loves the pool.
• She continues to suck her thumb but uses a pacifier as a toy now.  I leave one in her bed just in case she would rather have it then her thumb, but so far, the thumb is the best soother we can find.  
• She loves to play with toys, loves things that make noise or light up and loves to play with her toes.  She almost uses them like hands and will grab at toys with them or stabilize toys that she is playing with using her feet.  She will also thump her feet when she is excited about something. 
• I think she might have minor allergies.  As we were traveling she seemed to have a hard time being too close to dogs or on the ground where dogs have been.  She also didn't do well with the climate change from Houston to UT so I wonder if there is more dust or something there.  She seems to get congested a lot!

Raegan is such a joy and we are so happy to have her be in our family!

Champaign, IL July 10-13, 16

We left my parent's house to spend a few days down in Central IL with my sister and her family.  Harrison loved the cousin time and it was a good thing, because he spent the weekend with them while I  took Raegan and flew to AZ for my brother's wedding (see next post). 
Harrison loves the cousin time and I love spending time with family!
Walking to the park.

 Not quite sure what I was thinking taking 4 kids and walking to the park by ourselves, but we survived and had a fun time!

 Trying out the swings for the first time.

 Trying out Karate with Talon for the first time.  Harrison didn't really know what to do, but the instructor was great and he really enjoyed it.

 Raegan was just starting to sit up while we were there.  Still tipping over a lot, but she is getting the hang of it.

 Best buddies and worst enemies...I think most people who know cousins who are only 5 weeks apart can relate!  They insisted on playing superheros with their shirts off!

Thanks Decker family for letting us come and visit and for watching Harrison a few extra days!  We all had a great time and Harrison still talks about getting back to see the "Decker boys" soon!

Chicago, IL July 1-10

After arriving in Chicago from our crazy UT trip, it was fun to settle in for a little while.  There is certainly more space at my parent's house then at the little house in UT.  And the pool is on site!

Harrison quickly settled into his new role as Grandpa's shadow and if I ever needed to find him, I just had to look for Grandpa.

We also celebrated the 4th at my parents and enjoyed a day at some friends and even painted Raegan's toe nails for the first time in honor of our great country!

 Me and my babies!

That night I wanted to get Raegan to bed somewhat on time so we stayed at the house with glow sticks and little popping fire crackers and Harrison had a great time!

 And nothing woke this sleeping beauty!

 The next few days we just spent with family and Raegan tried out some new foods.

I did manage to squeeze in a few visits to my favorite Hot Dog place!  It isn't much to look at but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in its dog and fries...TO DIE FOR!!!

 And it is close to my Grandparent's house so Raegan got to meet her Great Grandpa and Grandma Willerth for the first time!

I realized later that I was so fixed on getting pictures of her with each of them that I forgot to get Harrison in a picture too!  Oh-well, I will have to remember next time.