Vacation at Maumee Bay State Park

We took Ainsley on her first real vacation (staying in a hotel room and everything!) at the end of June - to Maumee Bay State Park at the western end of Lake Erie.  Ainsley was so excited when we got to the hotel room, she started hopping on the bed and shrieking with glee.  Good thing quiet hours didn't start until 11 p.m.! 

Ainsley went down to sleep each night around 10:30, and so did we.  She slept through the night - I think because she was so worn out from all the activities - waking around 8 a.m. each day.  What a wonderful, relaxing getaway!

We started the first full day by visiting several local nature reserves. We didn't realize this part of Ohio had once been known as the Black Swamp.  But only some of the marshes remain today, preserved throughout the area in state and federal parks.

We saw animals in their natural habitats...

...and one right on the resort propery!

Oh, it's just a fox walking by.

We spent both afternoons at the hotel pool, taking Ainsley swimming for the very first time.  She loved the water - started kicking and splashing as soon as she got in!

The evenings were spent watching the sunset over Lake Erie.  Ainsley walked on the sand for the first time.  She enjoyed playing with the sand, and we enjoyed watching her...until she started throwing it! :) 

Our second day was also full of fun adventures - sidewalk chalk, the playground and shuffleboard!

Daddy & Ainsley, going down the twisty slide

Ainsley is "getting her shuffle on!"

Mommy & Ainsley, blowing bubbles into the sunset

Ainsley's First Birthday Party

On June 25, we had our family over to celebrate Ainsley's first birthday.  She was a bit overwhelmed by all the people at first, but she warmed up quickly.  We started with lunch, then opened presents, as the guest of honor was getting a bit tired.  Ainsley made it through the whole afternoon, though, without really getting fussy.  I'm surprised at how well she did without a nap.  The girl loves a good party!

Opening presents with Mommy & Daddy

Ainsley and her new kitty in her new adirondack chairs

On the Princess Mobile

 After gifts, we moved on to the cake!  Ainsley wasn't so sure at first, but it didn't take her long to figure out what to do.

Happy birthday, dear Ainsley...

Hey, this is pretty good!



Having some cake with Uncle Brian

Ainsley celebrated with her party guests.



Ainsley and her Great Grandmas

Showing Aunt Meghan how it's done

Ainsley and Nana Wills

The whole gang

Half-eaten piece of cake, a mostly empty bottle,
and one tired little girl, who fell asleep with Grandma Molnar

Birthday Trip to the Zoo

On her first birthday, we took Ainsley to the zoo.  It was a lot of fun because she recognized many of the animals from her books.  I think her favorites were the lions (grrrr!), the camels and the sea lions.

Looking at the elephants

Looking at the lions



Looking at the sea lions. She kept trying to climb up the fence!

Ainsley picked out a stuffed snow leopard
at the zoo gift shop.

Happy First Birthday, Ainsley!

One year ago today, at 8:23 a.m., the doctor said, "It's a girl!" Our lives were changed forever.

Words can't fully describe the joy Ainsley has brought over the past year, as we watch her learn, grow, and interact with the world around her. It's amazing to me how much she understands and communicates with us. She has learned sign language for several words, including milk, cat, light, book and all done, and she gets so excited when we understand what she's trying to say. She is so alert to every detail and notices things that sometimes we don't even see.

Ainsley is such a happy baby - always smiling or giggling, giving hugs and kisses, or mooing like a cow (my personal favorite)! We're so proud of her and feel so lucky to be the parents of such a sweet little girl. 

We took Ainsley to the zoo today for her first birthday. She loved the lions, the camels, and the sea lions the most. We have a lot of pictures, and I'll post them separately. Ainsley picked out a stuffed snow leopard at the gift shop, and she's holding him here in her 12 month pictures.

We love you so much!  Happy birthday, Baby!

  

Look at that pointed toe.  Maybe a future ballerina?

Need a swig of water - photo shoots are hard work.

And since Father's Day was this past weekend, here are a few photos of Ainsley helping Daddy celebrate. Last year on Father's Day, we were heading to hospital (3 weeks, 3 days early!) to welcome our baby girl!

Daddy got a remote grill thermometer!

Say cheese!  She knows to smile when she's
getting her picture taken!

Our New Kitchen

On March 14, we started our kitchen renovations.  According to our contractor, it looked like our kitchen was last updated in the early '70s, and it had been a do-it-yourself job.  There were several places where things just didn't line up or weren't put together quite right.  The coating had long since worn off the floor, so we could never really get it clean - never mind the fact that it was peeling up and pieces were breaking off where the seams came together.  So we were long overdue for an update.

Since we needed somewhere to eat and "prepare" (I use that term loosely) meals during the renovations, we moved our refrigerator and kitchen table to the basement.  We used the washtubs next to the washing machine to clean dishes and an old tabletop microwave that Nathan had from college.  

The food prep area, complete with microwave and coffee pot.
Dishes were stored here, too.

Our fine dining area, also cluttered with boxes full of
everything that had been in our kitchen cabinets.

Eleven long weeks later, our new kitchen is complete!  We had a three-week delay around Week 6 due to a cabinet supplier/manufacturer issue.  However, we got a nice discount on our cabinets because of it, so we can't complain too much. 

Here are some before and after pictures.  I can't believe how nice it is to have a brand new kitchen!  We still need to add some decorative touches, but here it is!

Before

After

Before

After

A new built-in dishwasher.

Before

You can see in this one where the floor started to peel off.
There are three little dark spots in front of the old portable dishwasher.

After

A microwave with a digital timer -
so exciting!