"niiiiiiine"

First of all, some big congratulations to our friends, the Spencers! Check out Joanna's blog (link on the right) to see the news.

Thanks to the short work week, I am thrilled to be once again looking at the weekend ahead.

Dan decided that since we had such a nice evening out last Friday night - just the two of us, that he wants to take me out again tonight. Most couples would plan dinner and a movie - but I think we're going to do dinner and then the gym. (yes - I'm obsessed again).

Since Katie and Jimmy will be babysitting Lauren, and since Dan and Jimmy will be going to the gym together early in the morning, I decided that it might be a good time for Lauren to have her first sleepover at Aunt Katie and Uncle Jimmy's house.

Katie is very excited and I'm sure Lauren will have a blast.

HOWEVER - I completely neglected to think about how I will feel when I try to go to sleep tonight and Lauren is not in her crib. Not sure how well I'll be able to deal with that!

But, at least we're doing this for the first time when I'm at home, practically down the street - and not far away somewhere.

I have to say... I am really happy with Lauren's progress at daycare. She has been there for a month now, and it's amazing how much she has learned! For example - she loves to count to 10. When I start counting out loud and with my fingers, she tries to do it with her fingers too, and tries to say the numbers along with me. Most of them are not clear, but she's pretty good with saying "two", "four" and "five". Her favorite and the one she always gets right is "NIIIIINE". Then after 10, she starts clapping with a huge grin on her face.

She's also loving puzzles and has gotten really good at them. Here's a photo taken this week. Her Uncle Alan and Aunt Roseann mailed her some books about fish, since they knew she loves them so much. She's in heaven with them... having a book, puzzle and fish in the same thing is the perfect thing for her! She loves taking the pieces out of each page and putting them back in again!