Fall Fun

I feel like all I've done lately is chase Henry around the house and say "no" a lot. He's pulling up on everything, crawling on all fours and nothing seems to be out of reach or off limits anymore! We took our monthly chair pictures last week and he tried to dive off the chair head first within seconds of putting him up there. Needless to say, Paul was standing just outside the camera's frame ready to catch him! Since it's been so long since I've posted, here are some pictures of all of the fun fall things we've been up to...

Henry is learning to cheer for his favorite football teams... the Irish

... and the Colts!

We took our annual trip to the apple orchard/pumpkin patch with the Taylor girls.

Henry explored his first pumpkin

My little monkey - a successful first Halloween!

Just working in the garden at the Children's Museum

Favorite game - playing catch with Daddy!

And here are the most recent chair shots of Henry... he's growing up so fast!

8 Months

9 months

10 months

Trouble - with a capital T!

As I sit here on the Eve of Thanksgiving, I am feeling so blessed to have this little man in my life and so many wonderful friends and family to share it with!!

American Heart Walk

I've been working for Browning Investments for 2 years now, and each year since I've been there the company has picked a different charity event to participate in as a group. It's a way to give back as a group and spend time together doing something other than work which I love. It just so happens that this year the charity we chose to support was the American Heart Association.

We lost my father-in-law in March to a sudden heart attack that was caused by cardiovascular disease. How ironic that this was the charity group that Browning had picked to support this year?? I felt like this was God's way of telling me that I needed to take part in this event and ask my family & friends to support me in memory of John. So, I signed up and the support I received was overwhelming and humbling. I guess you don't realize just how much love and support you are surrounded with until you ask. I was able to raise a total of $2,300 for American Heart Association!

We spent the morning of September 17th doing a 5 k walk in John's memory. It was emotional but also healing. It was felt so good to be doing something to honor John and to feel like I did my small part to help advocate for a healthier future for us.

Because I raised over $1,000 I was considered a "Super Star" and was able to put my name in for some high end door prizes!!

We took time out of the morning to sign John's name to the memory wall and reflect on his life.

It was so nice to spend this time together as a family.

I am a believer that God works in mysterious ways. I am grateful that He presented me with this oportunity and helped me to realize that this experience would be so healing.

Aloha!

Aloha from Hawaii! 

We spent the first week of September in Kauai for a Taylor/Glass family vacation.  I've always heard of the beauty of Hawaii, and it did not disappoint!  But I think what I was looking forward to most about the week was spending time as a family, especially with Lynn & Mike who made the trip from Japan.  This was the first time Henry got to meet his "Uncle Shot", and it was so much fun to watch them together!  The week was very special... a memorable trip for sure!

We spent a lot of time by the pool... Henry was a water bug!!

My big adventure for the week was a helicopter tour of the island - this was the NaPali coast line.  It is only accessible by boat or air, and it.was.breath taking!!

Unfortunately, Paul wasn't able to join us on the trip due to med school.  Henry and I missed him a lot.

But who could be lonely with the best family in the world?

My favorite part of the trip is that Henry got so much time with his Aunt Lynn...

and Uncle Shot!

Henry misses you both and looks forward to the next time he gets to hang out with you guys!!

This is just an overview of some of the trip.  The week was filled with lots of beautiful vistas, naps by the pool, long chats with sisters, and lots of love.  The highlight of the trip is that we found out that Henry will have two cousins in March!  No, not twins.  Both Katie & Lynn are expecting!  Lynn is due March 17th and Katie is due March 26th.  I wasn't sure the trip could have been any better, but it was just knowing that our family will grow yet again!  We are truly blessed... God is good!

Long Overdue Update!

This summer has kept us very busy! Between me working full time and Paul starting back to 3rd year med school I'm afraid I have fallen behind on my blogging! So, here is an update on what Henry has been up to lately...

We've started on solid foods...
And Henry enjoys it very much! This was is first meal - rice cereal with breast milk.


We hung a swing on our screened in porch, and it's one of our favorite spots.

We love to spend time on the back porch when it's nice out!

Henry is working on sitting up, and pretty much does it on his own but still face plants every now and again.

We have had so much fun watching him grow... I love these little moments I've been able to capture among all the chaos.

Six Months Old

So I've been slacking on the blog lately... summer has kept us busy and Henry has been changing so quickly! He had his six month birthday on July 16th, and I realized I totally missed posting his chair shots at 5 months. I decided since we've made it half way to a year it would be fun to look back at his chair shots thus far to see how much he's changed. Hope you enjoy!!

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months


Five Months

Six Months


I love my little monkey... the past six months have had a few challenges, but more than anything I feel overwhelming love and joy for my little guy. I couldn't be happier!!

Dr. Paul Critser

The morning of June 3rd, Paul defended his thesis for his PhD! His thesis had to do with ECFCs (Endothelial Colony Forming Cells). If you want any sort of explanation, I invite you to contact Paul himself because I can't come close to explaining it, nor did I understand most of his hour long presentation!

What I can explain is how incredibly proud I am of my husband! He has put so much time and effort into this degree... during his graduate studies he published 7 articles and 3 book chapters, and his PI and colleagues had nothing but good things to say about him. I know he has really enjoyed working/studying in this lab and it was fun to be a part of this culminating event with him!

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to be there to watch/listen to him during his presentation. Mind you, I did not understand 95% of what he said (I consider the 5% I did understand a huge success on my part!), but what I enjoyed so much was getting to see him in his element. When he discusses his work with me at home he dumbs it down so that it can be in terms that I understand. This means I often forget just how smart he really is.

After the presentation he had a 2 hour questions/andwer session with a pannel of professors who were previously determined. He had a few minor revisions to make to his thesis but otherwise passed with flying colors! Now that he's finished his PhD he has the last 2 years of medical school to complete. He starts his first rotation in July and in the meantime has been finishing a few projects in the lab and studying/reviewing things from the first 2 years of med school.

I am so proud of this accomplishment... when we were seniors in undergraduate and we were looking ahead at this combined graduate degree, it seemed like it would take forever (well, eight years, but it felt like forever!) Six years later Paul has finished the first degree and done so not only with amazing academic acheivement, but also has maintained a wonderful family life and friendships. I could not be a prouder wife!!

Cheers to you, Dr. Critser!!

Little 500

You thought the Indianapolis 500 was the greatest spectacle in racing... think again!

The Friday before Memorial Day Henry's daycare hosted a "Little 500". Each classroom had a team name and dressed in matching t-shirts. Henry was a "Fast & Furious Infant". For the infant room, the parents pushed the kids in decorated strollers, and the older classrooms rode their tricycles.

Paul decided he would be the parent to push the stroller for the race... during the parade lap one of the other mom's in Henry's class saw Paul's t-shirt from one of the local 5k's he had run and asked, "Are you my toughest competition?". Little did he know that she would take off right out the gate, which in turn caused him to turn up the gas. He took the inside corner on turn #2 and was gone after that. He and Henry won their first race!

The teachers and parents were laughing and saying things like, "Henry's eyes were as big as quarters... we had no clue anyone would run that fast!". Needless to say, they don't typically have parents take off like Paul and Laura Beth did. We all had a good laugh and it was a really fun afternoon spent getting to know the other parents and spending time with Henry's teachers. My mom and I were the designated photographers... I love that the daycare plans fun things like this!!

All smiles prerace...


Obligatory family shot with the decorated stroller.

The infant room is lined up and ready to go!

Off they go - this is just before Paul took the inside corer.

Crossing the finish line.

Victory Lane

Cuddling with Mom & Grandma after the big win

Master of Tummy Time

Henry has mastered the art of tummy time and actually seems to enjoy it! He has come a long way since "Mr. Squeaks"!!

He rolls from his tummy very well, and is working on rolling over from his back to his tummy. He's getting closer too!! Won't be long before he's rolling across the room...

Four Months

Henry is four months old today... he is quite the "Mr. Personality" these days. He's smiling all the time, and has definitely found his voice! He likes to carry on conversations in baby talk that you know make perfect sense to him. If only we had someone who could translate! :-)

We are getting into the swing of things with daycare - I really like the poeple he is with, and I've been able to nurse him on my lunch break which has been wonderful. The daycare had a Mother's Day event, and it was really special. Henry even made me an art project with a card (it was a clay outline of his footprint and a card with his handprint on the inside.) I loved it!!

The time seems to be flying by even more - I can't believe I've already been back to work for a month! He's gotten so big and fun... here are the "chair shots" this month.

Four Months

Three Months

Baptism

On May 1st we had Henry baptized at St. Monica Catholic Church. It was a wonderful occasion! Henry did great - he didn't fuss at all through the whole thing, even when Father poured the water over his head!

My sister Laura and our good friend Chris Mader are Henry's Godparents, and we couldn't be more thrilled for them to fill this role in his life. A lot of our family joined us for the ceremony and then came back to our house for food and fun to celebrate. It was the perfect day to give thanks to God for blessing us with this little guy in our lives.

Fun Pictures

Here are some pictures I took a few weeks ago... I asked Paul to get Henry dressed for daycare, and he came out in his ND outfit. I guess I shouldn't be surprised! Ha!

I also took some pictures of Henry Easter weekend in his beautiful blue sweater that his Nana knitted for him. I really liked how they turned out. Enjoy!!