Happy 4th!

Hope everyone had a wonderful fourth of July and was able to celebrate the blessings of living in our country! We were with Paul's family in Oxford Junction and Jillian had a great time playing with cousins. The neighbors even had a fountain Jillian was able to check out. Of course, it was hard for her to understand it wasn't just a giant "tubby".

We also got away on a vacation a couple weeks ago. We headed to Menomonie, WI to visit some friends we had lived across from at seminary and made a stop in Decorah on the way home to do a little hiking. We stayed at a hotel in Decorah and Jillian loved the pool! She is definitely a water girl! It was a great time away as a family!

Happy 4th!

Daddy holding Jillian back from diving into the fountain

Visiting the Weins Family

Paul and Jillian at our hotel in Decorah on Father's Day

Jillian and Mommy in the pool

Summer fun!

Now that the temperatures are rising, Jillian has been able to enjoy several outdoor activities. She has been able to go swimming several times and was able to try out cousin Leah's slide. She has also loved going to nearby parks and her current interest is playing with the mulch and dumping it up onto the end of the slide and then brushing it off. Forget all the fancy playground equipment...ha! Jillian has also made a couple trips to the zoo and almost shared her snack with the goats at the last visit!

It's been so much fun to hear her say new words every day. She's getting to the point of repeating everything you say. Today some new words were, "wow", "elbow", "Today show", and "sorry". Who knows what tomorrow will bring!

Parks

Jillian has been spoiled lately by her Daddy taking her to the park almost every day if the weather cooperates. We are fortunate to have two parks less than 5 minutes away!

Easter and Mother's Day

Jillian is enjoying the nice spring weather and being outside. Easter and Mother's Day were great opportunities for us to enjoy family and let our little girl run outdoors!

Jillian enjoyed her first Easter egg hunt but spent most of her time on the cement as she wasn't so sure about the feel of grass in between her toes!
Mother's Day 2011. We went up to Maquoketa in the morning to have breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa Hovey and Great Grandma and Grandpa Hovey.

Grandma Hovey, Paul, Jillian, and Great Grandma Hovey on Mother's Day.

Grandpa Hovey and Jillian taking a stroll in the grass on Mother's Day

Jillian LOVES to walk outside now!

First steps!

On April 1st, Jillian decided to change her world and ours by taking her first steps. We now have a walker on our hands! They funny thing is that she was with Paul all day and didn't show too many signs of really taking off. Paul worked that evening and as soon as Abby got home with Jillian, she took off walking. Just like she had been waiting for her Mommy. Guess it was an April Fool's joke on Daddy!

A Few Favorite Pictures...

" Someday I want to brush my teeth just like Daddy..."

"I love watching the neighbor's kitties outside!"


Jillian often waits with Grandpa by the window when it's close to the time Mommy should be home from work. Jillian just lights up when she sees Mommy...and Mommy lights up too! :)

Jillian LOVES "helping" with laundry. She can say "socks" and likes to always go for those first.

I feel like this is a shot a 16-year-old would have by their first car. Jillian is so proud of her lion walker and is constantly wanting to walk with it.

Birthday Celebration

Jillian had a great first birthday party! She was lucky enough to have a birthday party with each side of the family so she got to celebrate twice, even have birthday cake twice! This was her first time having cake and frosting but boy did she dig in like it's something she has every day. She didn't even bat an eye! Here are a few pictures from the celebrations:

Jillian had a smash cake but everyone else had cupcakes.

Cousin Leah showing Jillian how birthday parties are done!

Jillian with the Hovey girls: Alyssa, Kailey, and Brittney