Spring Break

Although we understand that the term "Spring Break" doesn't apply to most working adults, this is one of the two weeks out of the year that Tim isn't bound to any snow plowing or lawn care contracts....meaning it's time for a little family vaca! We (okay, Tim) creatively packed up the Escape (luggage, baby, baby gear, dog, 2 adults) before dropping off Bailey in Portage and then heading south to Cincinnati to meet up with Tara (my sister), Mark and Myles. The next morning we all strapped ourselves and our gear into a borrowed mini-van and began our journey to MYRTLE BEACH, SC for a memorable vacation. There were definitely positive things that happened which we will cherish forever (spending time with Tara, Mark and Myles; Teagan's 1st vacation), however, we can't help but remember some of the more interesting happenings that seemed to plague the trip. Here's a little rundown of what happened as written by my sis with a few additions from me:

*night before we leave Mark and Tara leave their house keys in Anderson, IN and have to call a locksmith for $150;

*in the car next day Tim receives a phone call that his uncle has had a stroke and later we find out full recovery is hopeful;

*we travel with two babies in the same car - the google map estimated 10.5 hr trip takes 13 or so south and almost 15 north (to and from Cinci);

* finding out that the 100% waterproof luggage carrier is not exactly 100% waterproof (or maybe this was due to the way it was positioned on top of the van). I have my hubby to thank for spending a good portion of our first sunny morning sitting in a laundry mat waiting for my underwear and clothes to be washed and dried. :)

* the weather in Myrtle Beach is cloudy most of the week (and when it was sunny we had to learn to say "bye bye" to the days of laying out all day without a care or an agenda...welcome to the world of babies! We're grateful that Teagan was able to somewhat nap in a covered bouncer under an umbrella when we were out on the beach but poor Mark and Tara spent a good portion of their days sitting in a hotel room while Myles napped during the prime of the day)

*our hotel is crappy and on Monday we have our camcorder and brand-spankin new digital camera stolen from hotel room (thankfully we had recently downloaded all of the pictures off the camera and put them on the lap top which was sitting right next to the cameras in the room but was not stolen, however, we will never get some of the videos off the camcorder back) :(

* management at said crappy hotel are less than cooperative (ok downright assinine) and we pack up ship carrying two sleeping babies to much nicer hotel two doors down;

*on Monday night Mark and Tara receive news that his dad fell from the roof of their home and is in the hospital with serious injuries (he is now home and although in much pain, will recover);

* Tim loses $.50 to Pizza Hut jukebox on trip home (ok, not so serious.)

* Did I mention that the trip home took almost 15 hours(just from Myrtle to Cinci)?!

Moral(s) of the story: 1. Always stay at a hotel that has key card entry to the rooms. 2. If you are not happy about your hotel choice pay the fee and leave upon arrival. 3. Lock your valuables up or take them with you. Remembering to do this may be more difficult than you think...even after telling your sister to take hers and putting up a "do not disturb sign" on your door...you might still forget and then have something stolen 3. Be careful when you climb onto a roof (better yet - don't). 4. If traveling long distances with babies take a tranquilizer.

Thanks for the great pictures, Tara! :)


our cutie patootie!


kisses!

teagan and myles


the Foreman family!


teagan and mommy


our "Ocean Princess" in all her glory...she loved being outside!




so sleepy!


the Keeler family (can you tell that Teagan just woke up?) :)

reflections of a mother's heart

to teagan
love mommy


YOU


You,
My little ray of sunshine
You,
Who makes my heart beat with a love not felt before
You,
My affirmation that there is a God
(and He is good)
You,
My undeserved blessing
You,
In whose face I see a perfect combination of myself and a man I deeply love
You,
Who makes me desire no other place to be than lying next to you
watching you rest
You,
Who smiles first with her eyes;
My reminder…
That even early mornings can be greeted with joy.
You,
A life of prayers and dreams….
Past
Present
Future
Made into flesh (yet you resemble an angel)
You,
My Gift
My Teagan Alise
(The joy of my being)

just for laughs

I helped Daddy and Oma take care of Mommy as she got her wisdom teeth removed today. I think she looks goofy with the gauze in her mouth and the ice packs on her face (Daddy made this scarf contraption for her). I laughed at her. I missed talking to her today as her mouth was numb and she sounded funny. In fact...she sounded a lot like me when I talk. :)

sunday best

We hope you all had a blessed Easter! We enjoyed celebrating Jesus' resurrection at church that morning and then at Papa and Nana's house with extended family that afternoon!


I looked so pretty in my Easter dress!


Me and my Mommy!


Me, Mommy, Daddy, Nana, Papa, Great Grandma and Grandpa Decker


I love my Aunt Sara!


The Keeler Family

happy birthday

to my beautiful sister, Tara!!!!


We are better people for knowing you!

We love you and can't wait to see you in a couple of weeks!!

guess who.....

rolled over for the first time today??!!


I DID!! :)

Actually, Mommy's not sure if it was a "true" rollover or if it was by accident after she set me down on my play mat this morning (I may have been leaning farther to one side as she let go of me). Either way, I did it and I liked it!! :)

sleep is good!!

Yup...Teagan has been sleeping through the night!! Well, most of the time anyway. She's been sleeping an average of 6 hour stretches once she goes down at night...last night she actually slept for 8 hours!! Woo hooo!!!! This started the day she received her immunizations and we thought it was just a fluke b/c of how tired she was from them (I woke up at 5am and poked her just to make sure she was okay!). :) Ahh...sleep is good!

The past few days she has been doing better than usual in regards to sticking to a more routine schedule with feeding and napping which is nice since that has been a litle bit of a struggle in the past. This, in turn, is helping her to be a much happier baby (I haven't officially let myself believe that she was "colicky" but it sure has been a close call). We've enjoyed lots of outings lately and she has done so well!! It looks like we are turning a curve and headed in the right direction and we really hope it continues!!

It has been so fun watching her discover the world around her! She enjoys munching on her hands and blowing bubbles in her free time. :) She is holding her head up really well and she keeps trying to sit up on her own. Her smiles and coos make our world go round! She tries to mimic the facial expressions and noises we make at her. During her bath times we always listen to her praise music CD and I usually sing along (she doesn't seem to care that I have a bad voice...although maybe that's why she giggles so much). Anyway, the other day she actually started singing with me (in her coos and oohs language). It was great! :)

Here are some pics that we've taken over the last month. Enjoy!!


SMILE!

so sleepy!


I love hanging out with my Daddy!



"ooohhhh...."

Sometimes I demand that Mommy carry me around in her Baby Bjorn b/c I don't like to be put down...even when she's doing her hair....or cleaning the toilet!

A few of the people I love...(there are many more like Oma/Opa and Nana/Papa who've taken good care of me when Mommy and Daddy go away but Mommy needs to get some updated pictures of us together):


Aunt Jess

Aunt Andie

Mommy's friend (and college roomie!), Stacey

Grandpa and Grandma Keeler (I'm wrapped up in the beautiful blankie that Grandma made me!)