Laundry Dog

This is pretty classic of Charlie. Whenever there is a clean basket of laundry he will make himself a bed out of it. As you can see he pushed some of the clothes out to make it more comfortable to his likings. From the looks of it he was probably warmer than usual. He typically curls up in a ball.

Family Vacation 2008

Second annual family vacation. This year we went to Indio, CA which is by Palm Springs. We spent most of our time lounging and playing at the kiddy pool, going out to eat and Landon spent a couple days golfing.

Halina is untying her bathing suit, again, as we prepare to hit the kiddy pool.

Halina's shoe fell off again! This is about the third time her shoe fell off on our way to the pool. Good thing Daddy was there to put it back on... again!

Taking a break.

Smiling for Daddy as we get ready to go out on the town.

Halina decided she would color her face as well as her book.

This was the best swimming device ever! Halina felt very comfortable diving around the kiddy pool and going under water in this innertube.

On our way out for some great Spanish food!

Tiny Dancer

Catching Up

Our trip to Washington, D.C.

Halina before her first time Trick or Treating

Halina's First Birthday!

Some Recent Pics

Halina Is Officially Walking!!!

Look out world here she comes! Technically Halina took her very first steps about a month ago, but now she is walking constantly. She definitely has the drunken sailor act down well. So far we've counted 15 steps in a row without falling. She typically run-walks and takes big falls. She makes great entertainment these days.

Tutu Fun With Daddy

Daddy's Home! Halina always lights up when her Daddy gets home from work. Today we dressed up in a tutu especially for Daddy. Thanks to Freda, Hallie has a great collection of her very own tutu's! Posssibly a ballerina in the making?

Baby Ace Ventura

We Got a tooth!

Halina finally got her first tooth yesterday!! We are so excited! It is really sharp but it hasn't seemed to bother her. Stay tuned for more exciting firsts!

9 Months Old TODAY!

Halina is 9 months old today!!! She is very active these days. She crawls all over the house looking to explore new things. She especially loves to pull all the books off the shelves in the office and in her room. She has recently been responding to music by bouncing and swinging her arms up and down like a conductor. She loves to watch Landon play the guitar and sing, but as he plays she is inclined to play the guitar for herself. She currently can play the recorder and piano all by herself. It's likely we have a musician in the making.

Every Thursday her cousins Katelynn and Kloe come over to play. She has so much fun singing nursery songs with them and being entertained.

Halina doesn't have any teeth yet, but she's eating more solid foods. She loves anything and everything edible. So far she hasn't had anything she didn't like. She really loves her fruits and vegetables (thank goodness) but we think she may love meat more! She gets very excited when she has meat, so excited she starts panting for it. Charlie and her are more alike than we thought! Charlie is probably her best friend these days. She loves to pat him on the head and play with his ears. He really loves her too. He's always anxiously waiting to clean up her messes after meals and he loves to smother her in kisses. That is true love!!!

Halina is still a Mommy's girl. She loves her Daddy too, but when she's having a rough day nothing seems to settle her but Mommy. She says both "Mom-ma" and "Dad-da." She typically says Momma when she's upset and needy and Dadda when she's happy and playful.

Over The Weekend

Sunday was Halina's dedication day at church. She woke up at 5:30am with lots of excitement. The dedication service was awesome, except that Halina was the only baby that couldn't hold still. She really wanted to get on the floor and explore the stage full of instruments and cords. For awhile now she's had an obsession with cords. She likes to swing them around and bite on them. Mommy and Daddy have to keep a close eye on her so she doesn't get her first electrifying experience.
Above right Halina and Mommy are heading out the door to church for Baby Dedication Day.

Landon, Stefanie & Halina at the Oakes Game.

Friday night we went to a baseball game to see Landon's Dad sing the star spangled banner with a realtor's group. This was Halina's first time to a baseball game as well as our first time to a baseball game in California. Go Oakes!!! Halina had so much fun at the game. She really enjoys the outdoors and experiencing new places.
Above left is Halina with her "Bebe" at the ball game.

8 Months of Fun!

Halina is having a blast with her new found skills. She's standing and climbing on just about everything. She's been balancing for a couple of seconds, so walking is just around the corner! Halina recently discovered where Charlie's food & water is, so she is constantly trying to get some dog food in her mouth. We guess it can't hurt her, right?