Our week

We are leaving tomorrow for St. Simons for 2 weeks! I am SO looking forward to being in St. Simons for the 4th, and I can't wait to introduce Liza to the rest of our family that haven't met her yet!

Here are a few pictures from our week...

Will - our boxing monkey

Daddy and daughter after church Sunday

Getting ready for a stroll to the park!

My handsome little man

Will is our expert digger with his "shubbels and buckets"

And here are a few random pictures of Liza I took this week...

My smiling girl!

She first started smiling about 2 weeks ago (the first picture I got of her smiling was in the one month post) but in the last couple of days she has really started smiling and responding to me more! Yesterday she was smiling so much I ran and got my camera to capture this sweet face...

I love this girl so much!!

Father's Day weekend

Friday night I had my turn at a stomach bug that made its way through our house, so Matt took both kids to Chuck E Cheese! What a good daddy! Will had so much fun, and Liza slept the whole time!

Saturday night we went on a date to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. I thought it was pretty funny and made me want to visit India!

Sunday morning Matt woke up to a Father's Day message in the shower and then he got a handmade card from Will and a Keurig machine! He'd been hinting at one for awhile:)

Our little monkey watching daddy open his cards and gift!

I made baked oatmeal for breakfast! Matt's coworker Kelsey gave me the recipe and it was SO good! It was easy to make too, and will feed a crowd.

Will approved!

I love these guys SO much!!

Matt's first Father's Day with a daughter!

We ate steak fajitas outside for dinner per Matt's request, and afterwards we sat outside a long time listening to music, eating watermelon, watching fireflies, and just giggling! We finally went inside when we couldn't see anymore...it was the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Baked Oatmeal

3 cups of rolled oats
 1 cup brown sugar
 2 teas. cinnamon
 2 teas. baking powder
 1 teas. salt

½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted

 1 cup milk
 2 eggs
 2 teas. vanilla
½  cup dried cranberries

Mix oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.  Toss with melted butter.  Whisk milk, eggs and vanilla; stir into dry mixture.  Add cranberries.  Spread into shallow baking dish.  

Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

Serve warm with yogurt , milk and/or cream.

Random

Here's what we've been up to the past couple of weeks...

Will found this little kid's suitcase at a garage sale a few weeks ago and LOVED it, so we forked over the $3 or whatever it was and let him have it. Oh my goodness. It is his most prized possession. He dragged it all over the farmer's market and he likes to put all his toys in it and drag it around the house. Isn't it funny what kids like?

Some Northwestern drama students were doing a Dr. Seuss play in the park and we took a picnic for Will and met up with friends there. Afterwards they had face painting, bubbles, and other stuff for kids to do. Will had a great time!

Yes, his trusty suitcase came with us:)

I love this face!

Will is into making "pirate ships." This started out as piling pillows all around and hiding in them...

And them somehow progressed to finding every available object he can get his hands on and positioning it around the room in some order that makes sense to him. And you can't dare touch any of it, because it is his "pirate ship!"

Why telling Will to smile for the camera isn't always the best idea...

Will is going to summer camp through his school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. He has the BEST time! They start out at a park down the street from his school, and then they walk back to the school where they have an outside area set up with sprinklers, a pool, bicycles and cars to ride, a sand and water table, an arts and crafts area, big blocks, etc. When I go pick him up they are playing little kid music and Will is always having so much fun! I am so thankful for things like this. Here he is at the park with his friends Wyatt, Elise, and Arden...

Liza sleeping as I strolled Will to camp (which wasn't on purpose - Matt had accidentally taken both sets of keys with him to work and the walk nearly killed me - I haven't exercised in quite awhile!)

And finally here is Will and daddy having some fun outside in the pool. (And in case you are wondering, Will won't get in the pool if it has more than about an inch of water in it!)

Liza is one month old!

Sweet baby girl,

• According to your one month doctor's visit (at five weeks), you weigh 10 pounds 3 ounces (50th percentile), and you are 22 1/4 inches long (75th percentile). You are growing perfectly!
• You are on a pretty good schedule of eating every 3 hours during the day. You are usually awake for about an hour at a time (including eating) and you are pretty alert and happy after you eat.
• You sleep great during the night and usually wake up once to eat. You've also started sleeping in your own room!
• Your big brother loves you to pieces. He likes to comfort you when you are crying and says "Don't cry baby Liza! It's ok!" I saw him trying to play peek-a-boo with you last week, and he tells me at least once a day "I LOVE baby Liza!"
• You got baby acne about 2 weeks ago but it looks like it is starting to clear up now. You also have blocked tear ducts. Dr. Christian says this can last until age 1...let's hope not!
• You are such a sweet, content little baby. Second children have to be able to adapt so much more than the first child (napping on the go, etc) and you are handling like a pro!
• Your momma and daddy and big brother think you are just the greatest thing ever! You bring us so much joy and we are head over heels for you! We love you!