Shopping for Baby Brother

Lauren and I went shopping the other day and we picked up a few things for "Baby Brudder" at Target. 'Bout time too because this poor child was going to look fabulous in pink if we didn't start buying him clothes. So here is what we've got so far and you can click on the photos to enlarge them now because I updated the blog account. To get back to the blog after viewing enlarged photos just click the back button.

He's also got a a couple of bibs and socks and a blankie, which I had to have because it's very similar to Lauren's "bankie."

His blankie has inspired what I'd like to do with nursery, I just haven't decided on the pattern yet. I want to do the room in the colors of light baby blue and light green, like the blanket. However, I must say there are not a lot of cute boy patterned crib sets. Maybe I'm biased, but the girl ones are so much cuter. Anyway, these are the few I've found so far that I like. Vote for your favorite in the comment section.

Option 1: "Vintage Patch"

See online at Vintage Patch

Option 2: "Go Fish"

See online at Go Fish

Option 3: "Puppy"

See online at Puppy

Option 4:  I don't like any of these, but you still have awesome taste.

Like I said, vote in the comment section and tell me what you think or even offer up suggestions. There's really not a giant hurry because he'll spend the first five months sleeping in our room in the Pack 'N Play anyway.

What I did on my Summer Vacation

We've had a fun-filled summer and really the only way to hit all of the highlights is with pictures. So, without further ado, here is what Lauren has been up to this summer...

In June Patrick set up Lauren's pool on the patio for the first time and she enjoyed it a lot more this year. Last year she kept climbing in and out, this year she actually played in the pool. Sure she got out, but it was usually to water the plants -- she's quite the gardener you know.

The pool we have is supposed to be shaped like palm trees that rain down water from the center. However, Lauren still doesn't care for the rain aspect so we generally leave the top off. Maybe next year she'll both stay in the pool AND like the rain feature...we'll see.

She also had a major milestone this summer, her first haircut. Yes, it took 2 and a half years for her to grow enough hair to get a haircut AND still keep it long enough to pull into a ponytail. We took her to a cute little place here in Columbus that specializes in children's haircuts called pigtails and crew cuts. I was kind of afraid she would not take this well because she doesn't care for certain strangers. Sometimes she's great and sometimes she totally freaks out. For instance, she HATES the guys at Express Oil Change and the guy who sprays our house for bugs, so I was hoping she wouldn't mind the lady who cut her hair because that wouldn't make for good pictures. Fortunately, she was awesome.






A total pro at having her hair blown dry.



All done and such a ham! This is her new pose. Whenever I get my camera out now she cocks her head to the side and smiles unprompted. Sometimes she says "Hi Nonie!" I guess Bebe knows who looks at her pictures the most.

This summer we also took our standard two-week vacation to the beach. Lauren enjoyed the sand and she REALLY enjoyed eating outside. We would usually get outside about 9:30 or 10 a.m. and she would immediately start asking for snacks..."I want gapes, I want setzels, I want yunch." For those that don't speak Lauren, that translates to I want grapes, pretzels and lunch.

She also enjoyed having Patrick make her a "bed" in the sand, meaning she liked to be buried up to her waist with sand behind her so she could recline.

Her indoor activities consisted of decorating Maw Maw's kitchen cabinets with "tickers" (stickers)...

...and making puppy nervous.

We also did our standard twilight photos on the beach. Basically we take Lauren down to the beach in a sundress after dinner to get cute shots of her running around the sand while I chase her with a camera.

And once again, she posed. She ran up to this little hill, plopped down and smiled.

Running from the waves...

Here are a few other random summer photos. Here she is making her babies go night-night while I make dinner. She lines them up face down, covers them with a blanket and pats their backs. This takes place just about every night in the Gordon household about 6 p.m.


Helping Dadda on his computer.

Helping Dadda again, this time folding laundry.

Puppy got in on the action and helped too. He mostly lounged amongst the clothes though.

Finally, Lauren learned many things this summer, but most importantly she learned not to let Dadda pick out her outfits.

(In Patrick's defense, Lauren really picked out this outfit, but he did stand-by and let it happen.)