New Sprout Harvested in June

We are expecting again! I have a good excuse to be a little behind on my blog posts since I've been sick growing a baby. The little sprout should be fully grown and ready to harvest the end of June.

Cadence is very good at lifting up my shirt and exclaiming baby! Or lifting up her own and saying baby. I have no tummy yet so she just thinks everyone's tummy is a baby :)

The pic is from when we just found out. Not the best picture of me, but hey it's a moment to remember so posted it gets. My parents and Michael's begged to be told immediately with the next baby so we told them. It almost killed them to keep it a secret all this time but now the world knows so they can spread the happy news.

TaraGay Loves Michael

I have the bestest husband in the whole wide world. My husband who doesn't celebrate sweetest or valentine's day got me a brand new cannon 50mm 1.8 lens! As you can tell from this great picture of Cadence at the Farmers Market it does an awesome job. Of course I now hate my zoom lens and a new one is on the top of Christmas list. And yes I was dressed and out the door within 20 minutes of getting the new lens to try it out, you gotta get the good light!

Detroit Zoo

We took Cadence to the Detroit Zoo today. The weather was sunny and warm, surprising for this time of year. We stuck to the exhibits that had bigger animals so she could see them and also the ones we didn't have to ditch the stroller. Michael didn't want to partake in any of the yummy bad for you eat at the zoo! Too bad Cadence and I were hoping for some french fries and ice cream. Cadence was very well behaved! Michael and I of course had a great time, we love Zoos!

Apples are Yummy

Michael and I both love apples. So I guess it was just a matter of time before Cadence discovered their yumminess! Today after our weekly trip to the farmers market she stole an apple and started biting. She loved it so much there was no taking it away from her. Of course I worried she's chock but she does have all her teeth except one canine back to the 1st year molars. She was completely fine and loved being able to hold and chomp. I think this will become a weekly ritual. You know giving her something that takes awhile to eat may help with dinner prep, plus it's healthy!

My Favorite New Place

Today Cadence and I ventured to Saline, MI and found the ultimate mommy/baby play date...Urban Toddlers! If you want a place where the under 5 set can safely play while you chat with friends and play too (of course). They have the play area monitored, each parent and child get a number on their hand that shows under ultraviolet light. You have to be scanned to leave. Shoe's go off at the door and everyone socks it.

The play area is divided into fun rooms. There's a room with comfy chairs, 100's of books and puzzles. The market has plastic food on shelves, like a grocery store. The kitchen has a giant play kitchen set for your little gourmet. The art room has a floor to ceiling chalkboard and a bunch of mini musical instruments. The center has a pit for the crawling or rolling playful ones. And there's a track to push around baby buggies and push toys. Then there is the theater with a tiny stage and puppets and oodles of play dress-up clothes.

For the grown-ups you can order coffee drinks and food from the cafe a few doors down. The Urban Toddler staff with run and pick it up for you. And there are plenty of unique items to buy in in the attached baby boutique.

I'm definitely going back. Cadence had fun for 3 and a half hours straight! We met up with Colleen, Matthew, Katie, Melissa and Gavin.

Up North with Cindy and Leon

For this first weekend of fall we expected it to be cool. But you have to love that Michigan weather, it was actually shorts and tank top weather! I love Michigan spring/summer/fall. There's nothing like being surrounded by nature, trees, the seasons. Cadence had a great time hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa. We scored some really cheap Melissa and Doug toys at the Amish store. The block set we bought at a baby boutique was $22, at the Amish store it was $12! I only with I would of discovered these great deals sooner, I've bought so many baby shower presents the past year.

Fall is in the air!

At work we have a walking club. We walk outside for a mile and a half at 12:30 on nice days. This past week has been amazing, beautiful sunny days and just warm enough. Today I'm home and it's dismal so that's alright! You can actually feel fall in the air and of course I'm really wanting hot apple cider and nice warm donuts. Cadence got into the fall spirit with this beautiful knit ensemble from Grandma Cindy.

Justine, Alexandra and Yolanda at work all knit. Justine is planning on having a knitting party so I'm going to learn to knit! I think winter is the perfect time to knit and hopefully I'll get good enough to do something cute like this!

Cadence is getting new cousins!

My cousins Robin and Jonathan are in Russia right now bonding with their two sons! The youngest Alexander was 14 months yesterday, he's 4 days older than Cadence. And Nicholas is 27 months. Jonathan set up a blog of the experience http://jondrop.com/blog

We are so excited for them and can't wait to meet our new family. The boys are just adorable, fair with blond hair and big happy smiles. They are so lucky to have Robin and Jonathan as parents. We do have a bit longer to wait, they should be done with the court hearing and waiting period by November 15th and be back in the states. It will be a really special Thanksgiving this year. A lot of prayers have been answered and we are so thankful.

I showed Cadence pictures and she got real excited and started her jabbering. She is going to have so much fun with kids her age at family events. And Michael and I will like it too because she'll have tots to play with while we talk!

A Little Person

One day you realize that you no longer have a baby but a little person is living with you. Cadence has begun to clean with anything she can find, paper towels, tissues, wash clothes. We had a period of drippy sippy cups so I was constantly wiping the wood floors so now she does too!

She also insists on watering the plants everytime we go outside to the patio. She also opens the cupboards when it's time to cook. And pretends she's cooking too. She grabs groceries out and puts them in bags when the new groceries come in the door.

Braving the Mall Play Area

So this was our first visit to the dreaded germ filled mall play area. And you know once you get over all the germs it was so much fun for both me and Cadence. Melissa and I caught up and our toddlers played with each other and other random kiddos. I'm not sure how often I'll go during cold and flu season but for a summer playdate it was fun! I had a free coupon for a yummy Godiva blended drink, it was soooo good!

Our Kitty Alley Died

Today began like any normal day. Cadence decided to wake up at 6:30am so I rolled out of bed to play with her in her room. Michael couldn't sleep so he got up and I took a nap. Then I took Cadence out on one of our fun long weekend hikes. We were gone for two hours to give Michael plenty of sleep time since he's working at St Joes tonight.

When we got back Michael told me Alley had died. I couln't believe it. I had to see her and even then she was curled up like she was sleeping, her face in a smile and her body still warm and fur so soft. She wasn't sick, she was so happy and playful. How did this happen?

Michael said they were sleeping and he was snuggled with her as they always sleep. She made three weird breathing sounds and then was gone. She died in her sleep. Probably a heartattack. She didn't meow so I'd like to think it was quick and not too painful. She was only 10 and a half, cats can live until 20.

Alley was our first baby. We got her shortly after I moved into my Troy apartment after undergrad, she was there to keep me company since I didn't have a roommate. Then a month later we got Myia to keep Alley company. Poor Myia we're really worried about her. I'm going to get some kitty prozack for her tomorrow. She's been really clingy all evening, I can tell she's mourning. We all are.

Cadence is Weaned!

I had a very easy pregnancy. I wasn't sick, I only gained 26 pounds, I never swelled, ran up to eight hours before I went into labor...etc. So when Cadence wasn't gaining weight I thought Karma was getting back at me for happily proclaiming that I loved being pregnant to everyone I met.

I was definately wrong! Payback was Cadence being extremely intolent to milk and soy and my diet being limited to healthy foods. Generally I like healthy foods, but I'm also a bowl of ice cream a day kind of girl.

I'm happy to report that Cadence is weaned! It's been two nights and it's fabulous to know I can eat whatever I want and no longer worry. Too bad Michael is on call or I'd have a nice glass of wine and a ton of dairy ridden cheese to celebrate!

Matilda Jane

My photographer (http://www.storybookchildphotograhy.com/) turned me on to Matilda Jane clothing. Her clothes are so cute and unique. They kinda have a urban hippie vibe. Cadence was
rockin in her ruffle bottoms and I'm with the Band tank.

Another Year Older

Dad turned another year older this year. So my mom, sis and I decided help him connect with his youth via ipod! He loved his present and spending time with his favorite (ok only) grandchild. Cassandra got Cadence that oh so cute outfit. Pink are Brown and still really hot this year, I love the colors together. Cadence also modeled my first birthday dress. My parents insist she's way taller than I was at that age. I bet she'll end up a few inches taller than me!

Another Year Older

Alley is so Good

I know that it's human nature to like babies, to protect them. It's instinctual. But somehow my cats know that Cadence is a baby and no matter what she does to them they don't act...well cat like. She body slams them, pulls their tails, grabs chunks of hair out and bites them. And still they do not hiss or scratch, they just run away or tolerate. Now if only humans were more cat-like~!

A New Little Ponce

Ariel and Kelly had their beautiful baby girl, Isabella. We were so lucky to be able to see her and them. She is such a doll. We stopped by Bangkok in Ferndale, our Favorite Thai place during undergrad and brought Ariel a fiest! He was loving it, Kelly isn't much for the spicey food. New babies are so fabulous, I love that new baby smell.

SLC

So sad today is our last time hanging out with Nick and Jackie in Michigan. They are moving far far away to Salt Lake City, Utah. Of course we've spent the last few months teasing that they won't be able to find anything to drink and if they do it will be watered down. And Jackie better watch out that Nick doesn't pull a "Big Love" on her :) We are really going to miss them. At least we'll have a nature friendly place to go visit!

Cadence Takes a Dip in the lake

Well we were so excited to put Cadence in the lake, but the water was cold and baby did not like it! She loved her trip up north to the cottage and watching all the birds and walking. She can go 10 steps or more now and loves to walk holding onto your hands. We were pretty impressed that she went to sleep easily and stayed down for the night! I guess it's a go we'll come back up and have a friends trip again this year.

Michael's Residency Graduation

I'm so proud of Michael. He's been in school or training for 13 years and finally has graduated from Residency. He has three weeks of vacation now too! My parents came and stayed the whole weekend so we could go out and party as late as we wanted Friday and Saturday. That was so nice of them. Too bad for us we ended up getting the flu! Tamiflu saved us from it being severe but it did make us pretty tired after all our our partying. We have way too many shots of these event you'll have to check out Michael's facebook for a full account. It's sad it's the last weekend we'll all be together. People are starting to move out of state as early as Monday!

TP Trails

This was the first time Cadence discovered the toilet paper. Of course in the future we don't want to encourage this but since it's the first time Michael yelled go get the camera! Now if we were trailing tp is would be oh so embarrassing.

Birthday Invite is Complete!

So you can order fancy birthday invites online with pictures for about $2 a pop. That just seems so expensive. My friend Jodi told me about having invites printed at Kinkos and it's way cheaper and you can make any design you want. For this invite I just used Microsoft Publisher and I think they turned out really well! Of course I had to edit out the phone and email for rsvp so just pretend it's there. It's like a little filmstrip showing her doing her favorite things: walking, crawling and playing with anything that feels cool!

Memorial Day

Michael had to work today so it was just Cadence and I hanging out at the Kellies with the family. It ended up being a nice day and Cadence got to try her first rice crispie treat. She's still eating diary free so Grandma insisted on making her a prototype of her diary free flowers that she's bringing to the big first birthday :)

Gavin, Grant and Cadence

Gavin, Grant and Cadence are the best little playmates, they are all within 6 weeks of each other in age! It was nice when Cadence was first born to meet up with Jill at the mall and get used to feeding our babes in the luxury of Norstrum's mommy room. It's really the place to go. And Melissa and I liked to hang with the babes at each others houses. Now that they are older and the weather is warm again it's time for the great outdoors. What a nice day we had!

Tree Huggers?

Today we celebrated a belated Mother's day at my parent's house. Cadence sat in "the" tree for the first time. My parents bought the house my dad grew up in and there has always been this great climbing tree. It has been attached by pests and disease so the branches have been chopped but it's still there. And today Cadence got her first chance to sit in our climbing tree.

There are also too big trees that were planted for my sister and I by our Poppie. My dad planted on for Cadence when she was born. Our family isn't quite tree-hugging material but we do like our trees!

Burley

I am so pumped I got a Burley for Mother's Day! We are going to have so much fun biking around as a family. Michael waited forever to give it to me and I thought he hadn't gotten me anything at all which did not make me too happy. I expected a card or dinner at least. Well I got a Burley instead and love it!

Favorite Picture

This is Michael and my favorite picture of the momement. There is just something about it we both love. Outfit by Aunt Roz, Photography by TaraGay, Subject by God

Week with my Mom

Michael is off on his second conference in three weeks. Each night he's eating at wonderful yummy and expensive restuarantes and enjoying the single life. I must admit I am a bit jealous!


He did send beautiful roses for my birthday and my mommy is staying with me. We had an adventure, she actually went to the dentist twice and liked it! My mom dental phoebic, but my dentist is so gentle and nice that she didn't think it was bad at all. After a few years of no cleanings she had zero cavities and not too much build up, amazing. She also got a new cut from Cindy.


Of course Grandma's having fun spending time with Cadence. This week is getting her ready to come with my dad and spend the weekend of Michael's graduation. We plan of going out everyday that weekend and living it up so they are coming to babsit the whole weekend!


Cadence took her first step this week. She was at the ballet bar, turned and took a step out in the open to get to me. She was just shy of 9 months. I have a feeling walking will be coming sooner than we'd like. We still have a ton of baby proofing to do.

China Doll

Cindy and Leon are moving to China for two years! They just went for a visit (first time for Cindy) and decided they should make the move. While they were there they bought Cadence this gorgeous dress at a silk factory, she loves it. Michael and I pretty excited to go visit them, although they have no idea when they'll leave. We are hoping it's before we add baby number two to our family.

Lazy Day

Remember when you were a kid and just had lazy days playing and relaxing. Wearing comfy clothes and knowing you had no need to leave the house or do anything productive. Well once you have kids of your own, every once in awhile you get to indulge again and have a lazy day. Today was so nice, go have a lazy day yourself!