Gwen's latest road trip!

Gwen's first trip to the zoo!

Gwen headed for the north to visit Gammy and Gampy (aka Dude), as well as Auntie Erin and Uncle Don Don.  She was great in the car; sleeping almost the whole way.  We had a great visit at home, at Grandma Delores's house, meeting some friends, at the zoo...she was very busy all week.  Gwen is growing fast and trying her hardest to start crawling!  I never thought that I would have a 4 month old like this!  She truly is amazing!  I have 2 more weeks before I start back at work and I am spending as much time with Gwen as I can.  I am really going to miss staying home with her.  Other than our trip, not much is going on here.  I am working around our play schedule to clean the house and finish some projects while I have some time.  Brad is working as hard as always.  What can I say, we are super exciting!

So Barbaric! Gwen eating ribs already! Okay, not really...just for laughs and a picture

Brad and Gwen hanging out with the giraffes







Gampy and Gwen showing off their shades!

Molly (6 mo.) and Gwen (4 mo.) playing for the first time! How cute are they?!?!?!?!?





Gram missed Gwen so much! She couldn't wait to play with her when we came home!

Happy 4 month birthday to me!

Happy Birthday to me!  Happy Birthday to me!  Today I am 4 months, Happy Birthday to me!

Today is a very big day because I am 1 month older!  I guess it is also 1 year ago that Mommy and Daddy started to share their exciting news!  Unbelievable I know!  To think that I was already center stage and only 6 weeks in the making!  I am a lot more active now and keeping Mommy on her toes most of the day.  Daddy is playing with me every chance he gets and says that I am more fun now that I do "stuff."  I can't wait to visit the big city again next week and see my family!  Look out here I come Chicago!

Happy belated Father's Day to all the Daddy's out there! It was finally chilly enough for me to wear my "I heart Daddy" shirt--believe it or not, but Daddy wearing his shirt was not planned!

I have discovered potato chips! I love the crinkly sound the bag makes when you grab it in your hand, the crunch it makes as Daddy chews, the salty taste on his fingers when I eat them! I can't wait until I can munch on them too!

Taking a nap on my favorite buddy!

Check up!

I  had my 4 month Well Baby check up this morning, and I passed with flying colors!  I weighed in at the light weight of 15 lbs. 2 ounces, and the petite length of 24 3/4 inches.  This puts me in the 50th percentile for both height and weight, according to my pediatrician. Woo Hoo! I even took a moment or two to show off my new tricks of smiling up a storm and rolling over for my doctor--who was very surprised to see me rolling already and that I was so social!  I may look just like Daddy, but I am my mommy's little girl!  

Thank you to Auntie Erin, Dude, and Gammy for visiting this weekend--I loved seeing you all.  I can't wait to see you in 2 weeks!  The time won't fly fast enough Mommy said!  Kelley, we want to see you too, but we need to figure out when Mommy can handle flying with me.  I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!! MUAH!!!!!!  

Mommy, Gammy, and I also drove to Mt. Vernon, IL yesterday to visit with Aunt Kerry, Colleen, and Mr. Hunter.  We had a lot of fun playing and hanging out together!  Here are some pictures from out visit: 

Me with Colleen and Hunter at lunch

The Grandmas with their babes

Don't I look silly?!?!?!  I did it to myself!  Just ask Gammy!

Gwen's Baptism

Gwen was baptized Saturday June 28th with Auntie Erin as her Godmama and Uncle Joey as her Godfather.

She was wonderful and adorable as usual! We love having everyone here and playing around. Gammy, Dude, and Erin were even able to witness Gwen laughing (and it was caught on camera). The laughing is contagious!

We finally have air!

After melting for about the last 3 weeks, we now have air conditioning!  At least now we can sleep.  The downstairs was finished yesterday after a long wait from when the upstairs air conditioner was put in (apparently the downstairs was more involved).  One of the many joys of home ownership!

Gwen finally got the chance to meet one of her second cousins (I think--she is Brad's cousin's daughter) on Tuesday June 17th.  Lydia was born just 2 days after Gwen on March 8th, and neither knew what to think of the other.  It was so cute seeing them together, and amazing how different the two are!  Lydia is tall and skinny and Gwen is short and plump.  Gwen also wouldn't stop talking during our visit, so even if Lydia wanted to talk, she wasn't given much opportunity. Sorry Lydia, Gwen will hopefully be better next time!

The girls are holding hands already!

The parents were having fun checking out the height difference--Gwen did get something from her Mom, shortness!

More fun at the Tempel house!

Gwen has learned that if she talks, we will listen.  So, here she is telling Brad like it is.  Although she sounds like she is upset/mad, she is actually smiling during most of this!

For those of you who didn't think she actually has learned how to roll over, or just didn't like her dirty diaper, here is another video of proof!  We just taped it this morning! 

Gwen is 3 months old!

At 3 months old, Gwen is the happiest baby in the world!  She is weighing in at 14 lbs. and is filling out steadily.  Gwen is rolling, chewing on everything, sleeping about 6 hours at a time at night (woo hoo!), smiling, and laughing, and just an absolute joy to be with.  She has been battling the heat wave amazingly; better than Daddy most days. Gwen has learned that the pool helps cool you off on these very hot days, but doesn't know quite what to think of it yet.  Mommy loves it though!  I wish all of you could see her!  We love you all and miss you!

In case you were worried about us...we have not been affected by all the rain at all.  In fact we would love some right about now!  The flooding was to the north and south of us, but we are about as dry as can be.  Thank goodness!  

I love Meeka and Deeter (my stuffed animals from Kelley).  I like to eat 'em!

Big smile!

Rubber Ducky your the one...you make pool time lots of fun!