1st Fathers Day

So I wrote this post once already, but the wonderful world of technology failed me and something happened that deleted the entire post! HOW RUDE!
So to make things short and sweet, for Fathers Day, Zach wanted to head down to Bloomington to spend the day on the boat! I was very nervous and skeptical about it, b/c I didn't know how Eli would do, but he did GREAT! He was so good! And if he did get too hot and cranky, we just took him to the big room under the boat and he watched "Finding Nemo." It was a great day...hot as ever, but great!

Thank you Zach for being such an amazing daddy to Eli and an amazing man to me! :) I couldn't do this alone! We loooove you!

The day Eli was born!


Leaving the NICU


First night home...I think?




Zachs Dad, Zach, Eli and Zachs Grandpa Lake


He looooves his daddyo








(random: but watching NEMO on the boat)


i looooove this picture. so funny. he HATED that jaket!


I hope everyone had an awesome Fathers Day! Thank you to all the daddys out there for being so grand! :)

xoxo
Tay

our little man :)

Helllllo! Sorry I've been MIA lately. We are seriously so incredibly busy...there is no time to blog!! One day I will get better, I promise!
We have been going to weddings and concerts and family functions....go go go! We are so so lucky that my parents and Zachs parents can't get enough of Eli and always volunteer to watch him for us so we can go out and be social. Tons O fun :)

Here are a few pictures from the boy from the last week or so. I dont remember if I blogged about his shots..but he did alright, it was sad, but hes tough! Eli weighs 15lbs and is 24 inches long!





Zachs cousin got him this exer-saucer thing, and he loves it...

That is until he starts getting extremely angry that he can't get

some of the animals into his mouth. I am waiting for a tooth to pop through

his gums...he chews on EVERYTHING! But really, its a life saver while I'm

making dinner :)







Here are the best friends. We laugh and say that we hope that they grow up liking each other, b/c after all....they do have a "prearranged friendship."

This kid is so mezmerized by the camera, it is SO hard to get him to smile! it drives me crazy!

GOT ONE!

2 seconds after that picture was taken, Eli decided to puke all over the carpet. :)

And there you have it! Thats about all I've got. I will try hard to update next week, and take lots of pictures this week for you!!

xoxo

Tay

[[060702]]

06.07.02....
the day I lost my best friend, my little brother.
Everyday I think about Bryce, every birthday I think about him more, on the anniversary of his death...I think about him more...but for some reason, yesterday...the 7 year anniversary was harder for me than ever. He died at 16....and I often ask myself..where would he be now? His best friend Cory just graduated from Ball State...would he be beside Cory? Would he have gone somewhere else to college? Would he be playing basketball? Would he have a girlfriend? Kids? What kind of job would he have? Its kind of neat to think about what he "would be."
But for some reason, like I said, it was harder than ever for me yesterday.....
I think it may be because I now have a son of my own, and I can't imagine my life without him. I think maybe its because I am so incredibly heartbroken that Eli will never be able to meet his Uncle Bryce. I think its because maybe, some people forgot what day it was and crushed my heart and made me feel like they didn't remember him. I usually get phone calls and/or texts from friends and certain family...and I only heard from a few. Or maybe its just b/c I'm a woman...and some days are just worse than others.
I remember the day as if it was yesterday. I try not to be morbid on my blog....I don't like to be sad at all...but its difficult to NOT remember the images imprinted in my brain from that day. You never know how you would react in a situation like that. But to be 19 years old, as I was, and watch your brother pass away........it stays with you forever. Its so hard not to think about everyday. I miss him so much.
We didn't do much yesterday. Morgan had some open houses to go to, Payton went to a friends house, we had a friends open house to go to.....so we all kind of were busy. Zach and I went to pick up Eli (we went to the Rascal Flatts concert on Saturday night and mom and dad watched Eli for us.) and hung out for a while. . .went to the open house. . .then Eli, Zach and I went to Zachs mom and dads for our Sunday night dinner :) I feel so greatful for them....they are so wonderful to me.
It was a sad day. I cried a lot. I think I just can't imagine losing my Eli....and I ache for my parents.
But I know our "boy" (boy is what we used to call bryce) is in a better place, looking down on us always.

Here are a few pictures that I have on the computer...I don't have any of him older scanned...so sorry about that. But these are my favorite.

the day bryce was born...our first meeting. :)

our first trip to the beach in NC

at our house on summer road :)

the beach :)

xoxo
Tay
sorry to be a "debbie downer" but I can't let that day pass without talking about it.

[[I'm Awesome]]

Just a couple awesome pictures. hehehehe :)

Amanda bought this shirt for Eli when I first found out I was pregnant and he can just now fit into it. I couldn't WAIT until he could wear it. He is just tooo stinking cute! :)





xoxo
Tay

[[state]]

So we have been going every Thursday for the last few weeks to see my cousin Adam (Hannahs big brother) Pole Vault for North Central. He took up this sport a few years ago when he stopped racing dirt bikes. He has improved so much and we are so so proud of him! He even made it to STATE!!!!
So me, mom, Eli and Payton (among the others that we met @ the meet) drove down to IU where they hold the state meet. It was so awesome. It was a really neat track. They started the Pole Valuters out at 13 feet 6 inches...which Adam has only cleared once or twice...so that kinda sucked, but he still made an AWESOME EFFORT!! ANNNND he gets to say he made it to the State track meet his Senior year of high school...not many can say that! :)
We are so very proud of you Adam!
Here are some pictures of Adam @ State :)












Eli being a trooper @ the meet. He was kind enough to let me watch Adam, then he decided he was hot and was going to scream for a while....until we found shade. ooooooh that little ellli. :)


cousins :) Danielle, Payton, and Hannah.


Sibling love :)


We are soooo proud of yoooooou!


**Family**


a mama and her boy!

[[SweetSixteen]]

My cousin Hannah (who wrote that awesome poem about bryce....http://taylorlynne34.blogspot.com/2009/04/cousins-tribute.html) turned 16 last week. Turning 16 is a huge deal...obviously! :) So some of us went out to dinner, @ Bucca De Bepo (or however you spell it) for her sweeeeet 16. Hannah is such an awesome young lady. . .always has a smile on her face, even if she isn't happy. She is full of talent and such a doll to be around. I hope you had a wonderful birthday Hannah Banana :) LLLLove you!

singing happy birthday to hannah :) yummmy red velvet cake!


hannahs yard sign!


if you know anything about hannah you know how theatrical she is. so nana bought her tickets to see WICKED!





I just liked this picture of Morgans hair :) hanging out at Aunt Kari's for Hannahs birthday


Eli in his jammies and his auntie kari


mommy and daughter.

Glad we got to spend your birthday with you, banana!

xoxox
Tay

really??

http://news.aol.com/article/man-arrested-153-times/510775?icid=mainmaindl5link6http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fman-arrested-153-times%2F510775

busy weekend!

We had such a busy weekend!
First, Eli and I moved in with Zach! We are so happy to be in one place now and not going back and forth and packing ridiculous amounts of bags/formula/baby stuff/dog/etc. Before Zach was living out of a backpack mostly at my condo, and we went to his house a few nights a week. I am going to miss Fishers hardcore, but we will be back in due time....: )...after all, we are only 15-20 minutes away!

Then on Saturday...Stephs cousin Jamies' little boy Alex turned 3 last week and invited us to his birthday party. We were fashionably late because of Morgans graduation, but we made it!! Then we headed up to Zachs parents house and they so kindly offered to give us a night out, and took eli from us. I am so thankful that we have such awesome parents that give us a break, JUST when we need it. They are wonderful! :)

Then on Sunday we moved the rest of our stuff and went to Karly's (Zachs cousin) openhouse. HOWEVER...I got no pictures of Karly...just a few of Eli in his adorable overalls that Zach's mom bought him.

So here are a few more pictures from our weekend!

Alex checking out his Bubble Mower we got him for his birthday!


I adore this little guy.


playing baseball with Zach!


my love :)




my punkin!


can't get enough of this giggle




in love with the crooked smile.


coming for the camera!


stupid cell phone quality picture...but this is Eli and Carter at Alex's birthday party, sitting on the couch...loves it!


xoxo
Tay