Gasparilla Kids Parade

Loryn's first Gasparilla and we decided that we had to take her. This was much more for us than it was for her, because she had no idea what was going on. We dressed her up in her little sailor outfit, because that was as close to pirate as we have, gave her a few beads and out we went. It was a great walk over to the parade, but we saw nothing. With a little baby, we were not about to push through people just to see the parade. Here are a couple pictures of Loryn with her friend Chase before we left for the parade.

Chase and Loryn getting ready for the parade

Loryn and Eric after the parade hanging outside of the Walther's.

Personality

Loryn is definitely coming into her own personality. We see it more and more each day. She is a very happy baby but when it comes to cameras, she shies away from smiling. She will smile all day and night at me (she is probably laughing at how silly I am) but the minute I bring out a camera, she stops smiling. Loryn talks (baby talk, so goo, gah, ahhh, ohh, etc) all the time. So you know she is definitely my child, because sometimes we can't get her to stop. She will talk to her mobile when it is time to go to bed, or she will wake us up because she would rather be socializing than sleeping. And boy is she stubborn. She has discovered that if she kicks her feet out, she will prevent us from sitting her down. She does this when ever we are trying to sit her up after she eats, or when we put her in her swing and especially when trying to go into her car seat.

Loryn in her bathrobe with her build-a-bear that is also in a bathrobe. Loryn's Great Grandparents bought her the pink bear for Hanukkah, and with the gift card from Aunt Jan and Uncle Rick we bought the bear 2 outfits.
Loryn playing in her exersaucer that Aunt Barbara got her. She is still trying to figure it all out.

The closest thing to a smile I could get out of her.

Weekend with Grandma

This weekend, Eric's mom came to visit. We started off the weekend with a trip to Lettuce Lake Park, where we enjoyed the nature trails and taking in all the scenery. Once again, Loryn slept through the entire hour long walk.

Loryn standing and trying to walk on Grandma Lisa. Loryn actually took a few steps on her own while Lisa was holding her up. Loryn loves to stand and kick.

We think Loryn is starting to teethe. She is now trying to chew on everything (her hand, her clothes, her bunny blanket, her pacifier, etc). She was a bit cranky on Saturday, but seemed to calm down when we tried teething tablets.

Loryn loves to talk now, and we are trying to teach her how to blow kisses. She thinks it is funny.



Loryn "practicing walking". Loryn's favorite thing right now is to stand up

We hope you enjoy these pictures and videos. We have been trying out our new camera that we got.
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Reality setting in

Well, this has been my first week back at work after maternity leave. Reality is sure setting in, as we are trying to adjust to our new schedule. Monday and Tuesday were the easiest days for our routine, I was able to get enough sleep and work out in the morning. As for the rest of the week, Loryn decided that sleep was for the weak, and made it much more difficult on us to get the sleep we really needed. Thursday and Friday after I pick up Loryn from the baby sitter's, we decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. I think she really enjoyed it, and it was nice to get out in the fresh air.

It was incredibly difficult to drop her off at the baby sitter's for the first time. She definitely cried when she realized I wasn't around. But, I have been told that she is crying less, and actually laughing. My favorite part of the day is going and picking her up. She is just always smiling and ready to talk about her day. Loryn even has a new friend. She is around 17 months old, and Loryn just loves to tell you about her. It is very cute, and I will need to get a picture of them.

All in all, even though it was a tiring week, I am enjoying being back at work. And we are pretty sure Loryn is enjoying spending her days with the babysitter.

Welcoming 2009

Happy New Year!!!!

My New Year's resolution this year is to update this blog on a regular basis, lose weight and to visit more family. Eric's New Year's resolution is to lose weight, to complete all the home improvement projects that have been here since 2006, to get his second degree black belt in To Shin Do and to get a new position within Publix. Loryn's New Year's resolution is to sleep through the night (we are almost there), start on solid foods, crawl then stand then walk, and maybe to begin talking.

2008 was a very eventful year for us. We had a lot of positive events: Chase Walther's birth, Riley Toombs' birth, Brian and Karen's wedding, Eric's 30th Birthday, Jodi and Jim's wedding, welcoming a new baby cousin Matthew, welcoming a new baby cousin Zach, Meri and Kevin's wedding, building a nursery, becoming USF football ticket holders, Savannah Waters' birth, Loryn's birth, The Segal Family moving back to the US from the UK, Loryn's Baby Naming, Eric and Jaime Ross' wedding.

In 2009 we have a lot to look forward to: Barack Obama inauguration & James' 35th Birthday and Jason's 30th Birthday, Baby Edwards' birth, The Reese's getting a baby boy, Jodi and Jim's baby Violet's birth Eric's 2nd Degree Black Belt Test, The Kersey's Wedding Celebration, Jayme and Ashley's 25th Birthday, Baby Fonseca's birth, Baby Gilmore's birth, Loryn's first birthday.

For the first day of the new year, our family celebrated by going on a nature walk, lunch with James and then watching Penn State in The Rose Bowl. We had such a wonderful time on our walk; it was just a bit cool in the morning, but we walked around Lettuce Lake Park, and we hope to be able to come back often since Loryn loved being outside.

First Anniversary

Eric and I enjoyed our first anniversary on December 30, 2008. We spent the day together with Loryn and then Aunt Karen and Uncle Brian came over to babysit. Eric and I went to a movie (something we haven't done since I was pregnant and the movie we saw then was "Horton Hears a Who") and then to dinner. We saw "Four Christmases" and then walked over to The Columbia restaurant. We were seated in the Don Quixote room upstairs. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner and then came home to enjoy our anniversary cake.

First Hanukkah

Loryn's first Hanukkah was very very eventful. We started the night before Hanukkah to celebrate with Loryn's Godfather. Loryn enjoyed looking at Jaime's Hanukkah Bear that lit up with multiple colors. Loryn's favorite part about her presents was playing with the ribbon. (It was very tasty)On the first night of Hanukkah, Loryn had a very very busy day. She enjoyed opening presents with Grandma Lisa in the morning, presents with her cousins and Great Aunt and Uncle and Great Grandparents in the afternoon and then more presents with Grandpa Steve in the evening.

Loryn's Grandma Susan even made her a Hanukkah stocking (it was filled with lots of goodies)

The rest of Hanukkah was very exciting for Loryn. We lit the menorah at home that we bought from Grandpa Marshall and enjoyed hanging out with Aunt Karen and Uncle Brian, Loryn had a great time celebrating Christmas with The Dopico's/Scala's