Alright, already!

Yes, I have heard the cries for some pics and video via Rachel and, rest assured, I am responding, slowly. The last part of August and Sept. have been very busy for us: School has started and that means my work hours are all over the place now, I started classes, the after school center I co-direct is back up and running, Trav was out of town for 2 weeks, we have a new roommate, and of course, there is Mara! Things have been crazy!!

Mara is doing awesome! Her PT and Speech ladies are really happy with her progress. She is walking/running everywhere now. She has some orthodics in her shoes to help correct some ankle/foot issues and this has helped tremendously in getting her to walk and feel more stable. One of the tubes in her ear has healed up so we are hoping that she can have the tubes replaced on 9/30, after two other tries in Aug. and early Sept. to have it done. The first time Mara was too sick to have the operation (temp was 105.6) and the second time there was a chance she had hand, foot, mouth. Last weekend we took her to Urgent Care on Sunday and she was started on antibiotics because of the strong possibility that she had the start of pneumonia. I am so glad we caught it early. I actually wasn't going to take her in that day cause I wanted to give the coughing one more day to go away. But as I laid in bed that morning wondering what to do, God totally spoke to me and said 'this could be pneumonia.' I didn't even think of this possibility before but I am so thankful that He is forever guiding this forgetful soul! But rest assured, she is doing great!!


We visited the Racine Zoo for the Taste of Racine. This is Mara in a bucket of a dozer.


Cool cat Mara with the baby calf at the zoo.


Mara, Mommy, and Auntie.

Mara waving to the Giraffe.

Check out the tonue on this giraffe. It was trying so hard to get some leaves!!

Rachel joined us at the zoo.

Family pic at the zoo.

Mara and Daddy in the Case Tractor.

Mara loves to walk around the house talking on her phone (remote).

Mara and I went to my company picnic while Trav was in LA and Rachel was home. She wasn't too impressed, but free food is nice!

The ladies at the picnic: L-R Rachel, Sara, Emily and Heidi.

Our new favorite player is #32 John Clay, from Racine. He is a sophomore running back, 6-4 275! We found his jersey and this became part of our pregame ritual of putting the Badger flag up, getting dressed in our Badger gear, and dancing to Jump Around!!

Mara terrorizing the house, with diaper in mid-flight! She really has an arm and throws everything. Promise, Dad, she will start Tee-ball as soon as she is old enough!!

Picture day at home.

Mara waving at the ducks that were quacking at her.

Mara pointing at the ducks.

Mara loves her Dora outfit (courtesy of Aunt Shelle).

Cutie PaTutie.

Mara loving her blueberries for breakfast!

Mara and Auntie Ray-Ray playing.

It's Been a Long Time...

Samara and her first taste of a chocolate cookie, all by herself. Looks like she likes it!



Samara, cousin Kameron, and Auntie Tanya, at a family get together this summer.



Mara going for a ride, lookin' pretty excited!



Trav and I.

Trav and Kameron, after a water balloon (Kameron) vs. water hose (Trav) fight.

The 'Men' watching the kids.'

Grandpa Jim reading to Mara.

WOW!!!

That is all I can say! Samara has just taken off in the past two weeks. She is doing so many new things that I just hate ever leaving her! She mimics everything. At night, we read and she holds her Junior Asparagus and I showed her to how to make Junior fly, with noise, of course. The she grabbed Junior and made him fly, noise and all. She also loves to make her cars tg Vroom! She likes to make kissing noises and is working on how to sign I love you. She signs for 'more' and 'eat' very well and without being asked. She likes to wear necklaces and watches and brush her hair. She follows commands very well, like 'come here' or 'stand up'.

And...drumroll....she is taking 3-5 independent steps!!! Yeah!! All this in the just the past 2 weeks. It is like a million synapses just fired and connected and Boom! There she goes, from being my little dependent cutie to an independent mama! Oh where has the time gone?

Around the House

I have some random pics from the past few weeks. We have been busy! Sundays are reserved for bike rides and picnics, which I absolutely love. I get my workout in and get to hang with my two fav people! Fantabulous! We also added in some around the house shots, some racing shots, a family picnic/reunion (from this past weekend, and many others...).

Tearing up Daddy's side of the bed. That is what he gets for leaving out the Kleenex!

Samara watching what's happening outside.

Samara has mastered crawling into things, standing on them, teetering on them, and generally making me scared that we will be on our way to the ER soon!

The race course, courtesy of Travis.

Sunday Picnic with the belly girl (after seeing this pic, I promptly packed away this 'too short' shirt).

Trav...'nough said.

Samara with her cheese and crackers for our snack. She especially loved sharing with Trav and breaking up the crackers all over the blanket.

Samara with the Mississippi River lock and dam behind her, on our way to Northfield.

Samara pointing at something and Trav pretending he knows what it is.

Mommy and Mara.

The Fam: L-R Top row: My stepdad, Jerry; uncle Steve; uncle Bill; Grandpa Darrell; uncle John. Bottom Row: My mom, aunt Jane, aunt Cindy, Grandma June, aunt LuAnn.

Mara, having a pretty great time after tacos and a cupcake.

The Whole Family: L-R Back Row: Brother-in-law Tom, Sister Rachel's boyfriend Will, Stepdad Jerry, cousin Thomas, uncle Steve, uncle Bill, Grandpa Darrell, uncle John with grandaughter Mady, cousin Gretchen's husband Gary with son Riley, cousin Amanda.

Front Row: Sister Shelle with son Michael, sister Rachel, Trav and Samara, Me (croutching), mom, cousin Andrew, aunt Cindy, Grandma June, aunt LuAnn, cousin Gretchen. Dogs Jersey and Murphy.

I'm a big girl now...

Mara went in her potty all weekend! Granted she can't stay dry in between, but we don't really care. She goes when she wakes up, after naps and before bed and only had two times where she didn't go. Oh yeah, she also took a dump in the bathtub. That wasn't so fun! =(

Zit in my ear!

No, that is not the topic of this post, but I sure got your attention. Yes I had one, it was very painful, but there are better things to blog about: Samara.

***Late Breaking News: Mara just peed in the toilet for the first time ever! It was only her second time sitting on the pot!***


Samara and her pink potty. She doesn't get it yet, likes to get off of it and play in the bathtub instead, but it is a start.

Samara and her garage sale treasure: a great little car that makes lots of noises and is tough to get off of without falling!!

HELLO!!

Trek Women's Triathlon

On Sunday, I completed my first triathlon of the season. It was a sprint distance triathlon (1/2 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 3.1 mile run) on the Ill-WI border. It was great fun. I did it with a friend from high school and a few other friends were also there. Trav and Mara had a great time cheering me on and I was so enthused with them being there! I shaved 17 minutes off my personal best time, so that was awesome! I am scheduled to do another one on August 16th and maybe a few others after that, into Sept. I definitely think that Triathlon's are my new passion. Very empowering!!!


Mara and me before the swim start (first leg of the triathlon).


Me, looking like a stuffed sausage in my wetsuit, about 5 minutes before the swim wave start.


Blue top, black 'pants' (wetsuit) is me, out of the water and sprinting to the transition area, where I peel off the sausage casing (wetsuit), throw on my socks, bike shoes, helmut and sunglasses, and jump on my bike.


Bike on the far right of the frame is me, coming into the transition, ready to get off the bike and onto the pavement for the run portion. I love my bike!


Sprinting to the finish line!!

Long awaited camping photos

The bike trail.

Daddy and Mara resting after a long day. The roof of our new 'tent' (really, it is a portable house) is red, which explains their color.

Mara entralled by the exhibit about the pheasant and turtle at the Ice Age Visitor Center. We had to stop here while hiking because of a downpour. We left after waiting about 45 minutes only to be rained upon again on the trail. What a mess!

Samara and Daddy in the beginning of our hike, the dry part.

Mara's first experience at a lake (I think?).

Mara and Mommy taking a snack break during our 12 mile bike trip.


A random pic of Travis dressed in my swim training gear (Don't ask).