Family Pictures

Yesterday we went to church to get our pictures taken for the photo directory. Should have been simple, right? Sit down, smile, click, done. Oh no, not with miss Savannah. We live less than 10 minutes away from church. In the time that I put her in the car seat and drove to church, she completely blew out of her diaper, tights, onesie, and skirt. Thank goodness I grabbed another dress at the last minute. Otherwise church pictures might have been naked baby pics. Once we sat down for pictures, Savannah wasn't feeling the photographer and gave really weird looking faces. Let's just say, when you look the Joerger's up, our picture is not frame worthy. Oh well, there's always next time!

After the picture fiasco, we came home and tried to take our own family pic. It might not have been just the photographer. We had trouble getting a good one too. 

On Wednesday, Savannah turned 5 months old! We went to baby time at the library and the teacher even sang happy birthday to her. Savannah loved it! I had an early volleyball game that night, so Tom and Savannah got to come and cheer me on. Everyone had trouble focusing on the game because there was just so much cuteness on the sidelines. 

Savannah love to put everything in her mouth!

We picked up some new books at the library. She loves to touch the pages and...eat the book! (Try to at least)

Savannah to totally a tummy napper now. She's mastered rolling over from back to stomach. Now she likes to be put down on her tummy. So cute!

"Mom, why do you insist we take a picture right after I wake up!?"

Month 5 was a big one for us...Can't wait to see what month 6 hold for us. 

Grandpa Jim in KC

We had a fun fill weekend! Grandpa Jim came to visit!!! Savannah loved snuggling up and playing with him. I walked in the front room and found that he had put her IN her toy bucket. I hadn't thought of doing that, but it was a great idea. It helped her sit up and play. Jim is always good for new and inventive ideas. 

Tom's cousin, Madeline was the starring role of Milly, in 7 Brides for 7 Brothers. This is my all time favorite musical. I've probably seen it over a hundred times. Madeline and her cast mates did not disappoint! It's amazing how it seemed like she grew up and matured by 10 years while watching her perform on stage. Tom and I got to see the play on Thursday, while Jim went to see it with the rest of the family that came in town on Sat. Many of our Minnesota relatives came in town for the big event. Savannah got to meet great aunts and uncles for the first time. 

Anyone see the family resemblance?

What a blessing it was to spend some quality, one on one time with Jim! 

While Jim was at the play, our little family of three enjoyed the 73 degree weather outside! I'm definitely not ready for it to get cold again. 

Savannah loves sucking on her toes...

...and pulling my hair has become her favorite game. 

For the past week or so, Savannah has been able to get to this point while attempting to roll over, but always got stuck at her shoulders. Sunday was finally her break through. There's no going back, we have a mover!!

She loves playing on her tummy!

And just to show that it isn't always sunshine and rainbows over here...that big lip makes an appearance every once in a while. I guess we weren't feeding her fast enough. Poor girl!

Don't tell Tom, but I think this girl loves dogs. She couldn't keep her eyes off Kit Kat. {this is my parent's neighbor}.  Too bad Savannah's mean mom doesn't want a dog in the house. 

So much excitement this weekend. She passed out before we even started the car! Lots of love all around her!

We are so excited that my dad is back from his 2 week holiday in Hawaii. He had lots of adventures with Katie. All their pictures definitely made me jealous...that is until he told us that the yurt {the tent like structure my sister lives in} sprung some major leaks and they got rained on in their sleep...no thank you!

KC sunrises don't look quite like this. 

Ash Wednesday {one week later}

Lent is upon us! This is a time of reflection, connection, and rediscovery. Tom and I are giving up sweets. Sweets are definitely a struggle for me now that I'm home. I love having cookies in the afternoon. Looks like fruit is going to be a daily staple in my life.  

{late night DQ on Fat Tuesday. Oh how we miss our ice cream!}

In addition to giving something up, Tom and I are reading "Rediscovering Jesus" by Matthew Kelly. Our church gave us a copy to read and so far I'm really enjoying it.  We've also joined a group of young married couples in our area to discuss the chapters weekly. 

Something kind of silly {but needed} is that we committed to eating every meal at our kitchen table. We had got into a habit of eating on our couch in front of the TV. We're both exhausted by the time dinner is ready so we would just crash on the couch and watch one of our shows while we eat. I've loved eating at the table again. It gives us an opportunity (even if just for 15 minutes) to talk to each other about our day, without distractions. 

Savannah is full of smiles all the time. She really loves to ham it up at mass and smile to all the people around us. She and I went to stations of the cross last Friday (one of my favorite things to do during Lent) and the women around us said they had a hard time focusing...oops :)

Savannah really loves playing on her tummy. It's amazing to think that just last month I was worried she wasn't getting enough time on her tummy. 

She has been rolling over in her crib recently (mostly because she's upset about napping and rolls herself over). Today was the first day she stayed on her stomach and slept like that. It made me a little nervous so I kept going in to check that she was breathing. She survived :)

She's a professional at rice cereal by now. Hopefully tomorrow we will start her on sweet potatoes. I can't wait for her to try different foods and watch her reaction. If she anything like her dad, she'll eat anything! 

Weekend Fun

We are obsessed with the weekends over here! Savannah loves hanging out with her dad.  Tom is one of a kind.  He knows just how to make Savannah giggle and smile.  Savannah gets the biggest smile on her face when she hears her dad's wacky voice coming through the door. 

Savannah loves touching our faces.  Tom can't wear his glasses around her anymore because she can get pretty aggressive.  

She loves hanging out with her crazy dad.

Savannah and her buddy Ean got to hang out this week when we went to visit our favorite 88 year old neighbor.  I grew up two doors down from Joan.  Ean was our next door neighbor.  They have since moved away as well, but we all get together to visit Joan.  She always tells me it is the highlight of her week.  Thank God for neighbors that turned into family!

This is Joan and Savannah (3 days old).  When we were released from the hospital after the little miss was born, we went straight to Joan's house.  She is a special lady in our lives!

 This is the face of a little girl getting ready to try rice cereal for the first time.  Last week, we went to see her doctor for her check up. She said we could start trying solids.  She said to try rice cereal first.  I was excited to try this and asked the doctor, "So, I just mix some rice crispies with breastmilk?"  She smiled, and very kindly let me know that rice cereal is something you find in the baby isle...who knew!? This first time mom learns new things everyday! (Thank goodness I asked. Can you imagine Savannah's face when she got a mouth full of that snap, crackle, pop??)

 I tried taking some Valentine's Day pictures with Savannah this week.  She was NOT in the mood during our first take. 

She was in better spirits the next day. 

Weekends are for long walks with mom and dad. Savannah has upgraded from her car seat, to sitting in her seat like a big girl. 

Back in the Groove

When I was teaching, Sundays used to make me a little sad. I knew the weekend was coming to an end and I usually waited until then to start grading piles of papers and lesson planning. Now I have a whole new appreciation for Sundays. We've been going to 9:00 mass as opposed to 11. Before Savannah, we could hardly drag ourselves out of bed before 10:00. Man, has she changed that part of our lives. Now we wake up, go to mass, and have the whole day ahead of us. Sundays seem to be a bit lazier than Saturdays, and I love that!

Tonight, a few girlfriends got together and swapped freezer meals. (Pictures of my meal are below). I love any excuse to get together and have time to talk with friends. I truly feel blessed to have made such great friends. We had planned on watching Steel Magnolias, but I don't think anyone stopped talking long enough to watch. Good thing we all know how it ended. 

Savannah just started spitting and blowing out of her lips. It is adorable! I just love her little facial expressions. 

Best purchase ever! Savannah still loves playing in her jumper. 

She loves tummy time! What a ham!

I came home from the grocery store and found Tom taking a nap over his lunch break this week...yep, that's Savannah's boppy. 

This adorable outfit is from Tom's cousins, Joslin and Paul. We couldn't save it just for Valentine's Day. It's too cute!

Freezer meals - it was so fast and easy when you make 4 of the same meal. 

The recipe I used. 

I can't wait to try the other 4 meals I got! I'm looking forward to "cooking" for the next few weeks.