It's a girl!

Here's our first pictures of baby number 2. First one was taken awhile back when we first found out we were pregnant and the second one was last Wednesday which is much more detailed. Since we now know it's going to be a girl, we've got some decisions to make in naming. I've posted poll on this page so you all can vote on what names you like. Remember, you can vote for more than one name.
Contrary to what Nana says, this first picture does look like a peanut or a slug.

However, I'd say this second one is looking more humanoid. Not quite as Terminator like as Vanessa's ultrasound turned out. ;)

A trip to Texas

It's been a while since I've gotten to post, so I thought I'd update the blog this time. We realized that with our classes coming up, the fact that Vanessa will be 2 soon (and not free on airlines), and the new baby coming (that would restrict travel possibilities even more), it might be awhile before we see Sarah's brother Jake, his wife Jess, and their wonderful daughters Katelyn, Jadyn, and Bryn in Arlington, Texas. So we decided at the last minute to use some frequent flyer miles and go out and see them. We had a blast!

Here Jadyn and Bryn show Vanessa how to bounce on a trampoline. She didn't quite figure out the jumping part, but she loved to stomp her feet and chase her cousins around.

After the trampoline, Bryn decided to take Vanessa for a spin in her Power Wheels. To you worried parents out there, Mommy was just out of the picture to the right within grabbing distance.
Next (from left to right) Jess, Bryn, and Jadyn got to enjoy the seesaw. Vanessa really enjoyed pointing to indicate where she wanted people to sit.

Vanessa also got to play on a scooter that Sarah used when she was a kid.
After playing outside, Bryn, Vanessa, and Sarah settle down for a nice story.
Vanessa loved all the electronics at her cousins' house. Here her cousin Katelyn shows her how to draw on one electronic gizmo.
Daddy got into the action to and played Tennis on the Wii with Katelyn and Jake. He held his own in Tennis, Golf, and Bowling, but Katelyn beat him up pretty badly in Boxing.
Here Jadyn and Vanessa are just chilling in their kid size recliners.

The next day we went to the zoo, and Jake and Vanessa decided it would be cool to have shades on. This car trip was the longest I have ever seen Vanessa keep her glasses on. She was probably entranced by the story Jake was telling her.
Once at the zoo, Vanessa could hardly contain herself. Here she is directing Daddy to look at the flamingoes on the other side of the bridge.
Vanessa loved riding the train at the zoo with Katelyn and Daddy.
The rest of the Kaylor crew got in on the picture starting with Jess on the left, Jadyn up top, Bryn to her right, Katelyn to the right, and Daddy and Vanessa front and center.
Bryn and Vanessa got to pet animals. She was so excited.

Look how happy she is with her Uncle Jake!
Here is Vanessa mid sign for alligator. There was a statue of one right next to a tank with a real one that she really liked!
Here her Aunt Jess shows her how to feed the fish near the Giraffes and the Rhinos.
After the zoo, it was time to unwind by playing Elefun at home. Here a bunch of paper butterflies get propelled out of the tube onto the ground and you have to catch them with a net while falling. You can see a couple of ones hanging in midair.
Alright, so this isn't Texas, but Vanessa really wanted to give her opinion on troop movements in Axis and Allies at our strategy game night last Friday.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We had a fantastic time celebrating Vanessa's second Christmas. While still too young to understand about Santa and still young enough to try to eat the baby Jesus in her nativity set, this year she is old enough to be truly excited about her new toys and to be really eager to get to know all of her extended family.

I think that Christmas lights have been one of Vanessa's favorite parts about this holiday season. She loves to try to find all of the blue or all of the yellow lights especially ("boo" and "yewow"). James and I are wondering how long we should wait before putting our lights away. It is New Year's already, but we know she will be so sad if she comes downstairs one morning and the lights are missing!

Vanessa loves all of her grandparents! She points to their pictures on the fridge and asks about them at breakfast or whenever she happens to think about them! Here she is having a fit of giggles with Nana and Grampa on Christmas day.

Vanessa lounges in her new rocking chair with matching ottoman. She really does enjoy climbing into chairs, especially ones sized just for her!

Here's the Maxted family on Christmas. Vanessa's Uncle John and Aunt Kalena are in the back, and her Uncle Brian and Joanna are in the front. Vanessa enjoyed taking roll call of the group, pointing out who was where when we asked her to tell us where a particular person was. She's becoming more and more attached to her extended family!

"Ooh," says Vanessa. "My first golf clubs!" Vanessa likes wielding them about while walking around, and even gives the whiffle golf balls a few whacks from time to time.

Vanessa cuddles with her daddy while enjoying some graham cracker snacks from her Christmas stocking. Last year, she didn't get snacks in her stocking because she was just starting solids!

Grandma Satterlee brought all kinds of exciting books to share with Vanessa. Here, Vanessa is reading The Very Quiet Cricket. I have a feeling that Grandma's lap will always be a favorite place for Vanessa when reading stories!
I was simply overjoyed to see my friend Sara and her husband Lee and baby Aryana a few days after Christmas. They live in Kentucky, and it's hard to see them as often as we would like. Aryana has grown up so much since I saw her last! She is a beautiful, smiley baby. Vanessa and Aryana are both enjoying vinyl bath books in this picture (Aryana has her own way of enjoying hers!).

We enjoyed hosting my dad, Donna, and Hannah this weekend. Vanessa especially liked being chased all over the house by her Aunt Hannah! The group of us visited my Aunt Teri, Uncle Bob, and cousins Brett and Danielle in Ashburn, just an hour drive from our house. Vanessa's Uncle Terry and Aunt Heather came too! Plus, my brother Zak has been staying with us for a couple of weeks, and he came with us as well. It was a fantastically fun party. Alas, I forgot my camera, so it might be a while before I can borrow some of my family's pictures to post!

As previously mentioned, Vanessa loves to be chased and loves to hide. She spends a good part of the day hiding under our dining room table as she is in this picture. That morning, she picked out her new dress-up tutu from her Aunt Jessica and Uncle Jake to go with her overalls. She's definitely been exercising her ability to make choices lately, from the clothes she wears, to the books she reads, to the foods she eats. I love watching her mature this way, and her choices are usually pretty good ones! Haha, but boy do James and I have it coming when she gets closer to two, or worse, adolescence!