Spring!

Spring may have arrived today on the calendar, but the temperature here doesn't feel spring-like. I thought I would make "spring" our post title and perhaps it will finally arrive.  Caroline is still happy as ever and growing like a spring weed. She likes an audience and has learned to clap in response to "yay!" Here are some photos that evoke a feeling of spring... 



On one of the few warm days, Ted and Caroline laugh on the field at Butler University, within our neighborhood.

Our honorary Irish kiddo on St. Patrick's Day

Caroline loves to eat and mug for the camera!  A self portrait of sweet potatoes on St. Patrick's Day

Caroline, a cousin

Caroline is lucky to have cousins on both ends of the age spectrum. There's Katie, Kim and Anthony on Ted's side (ages16 to 22). Now, with the addition of baby Elmer on Shannon's side (age 13 days old as of this post), she gets to be a big cousin! Fun times are ahead!

Caroline is so excited to meet her new cousin, Elmer, on Shannon's side of the family.  She wanted to lick him!  Ted photographed too.

Cousins Elmer and Caroline- only six months apart in age!

Caroline and cousin Anthony with their guitars.

Anthony, Kim, Caroline and Katie- cousins on Ted's side of the family.

Winter Escape to the Conservatory

On a cold, cloudy January Saturday, wise Ted said to his cooped up wife: "Let's go to the Garfield Park Conservatory!" This gem, just a few miles south of downtown Indianapolis, has been a favorite escape during winters past. It is tropical, bright, full of flowers, water and fish and only costs a dollar to enter- what a perfect hour or so "vacation." Now that Caroline is six months old, she likes to experience everything (by grabbing and putting it in her month). She is also really into "pets" (after the squealing, she tries to grab and....), hence how perfect to offer a new experience like a greenhouse.  How fun it was to escape as a family.  Enjoy some photos of our adventure below.  

First Christmas

Laughing, grabbing and chewing all the way... 

Caroline's first Christmas was a happy one. We celebrated with the Kelley side of the family the weekend prior here in Indianapolis and the Feeney side of the family in the Detroit area the 24th through 27th. Caroline stayed up late to open gifts, enjoying the festivities in her ever present Bumbo seat (thanks Neil and Megan!). The lights, music and people watching seemed to be Caroline's highlights this holiday season.

Caroline at home- the best present EVER under our tree.

Gift chewing was the popular activity this year.  Caroline at Mom F.'s

Hungry!

Caroline has never been one to miss a meal. In fact, our happy baby only really cries (and we mean REALLY CRIES), if you aren't quick enough with the bottle at the appropriate four hour interval. The addition of food has made a hungry little bird out of her. She loves everything thus far, from the cereals to the carrots, to the mangoes we tried this week.

Mashed potatoes on Thanksgiving

The little mouth opens everytime the spoon nears!  Eating carrots with Mom.

Our Little Pumpkin

Halloween is a favorite holiday at our house, probably due to several reasons: the change of season, the trip to a pumpkin patch/ corn maze with Brad and Cassie, the ability to decorate the house (Easter was forever ago by now!), the candy (all Ted on that one). We were excited to share our enthusiasm with our daughter this year. Here's a few photos taken during the last couple weeks of October...

Three pumpkins: Ted, Caroline and our jack'o'lantern

Caroline, the busy bee, during the parade at "school"

T, a tree and a bumble bee

Arty photo of another Halloween outfit

Caroline in one of her many Halloween themed outfits- this dress was bought by Grandma Char

Football Fan

A mini Indiana Hoosier at 14 weeks

Bald and beautiful at 9 weeks and ready to say "Go Team"!

We all know that babies love to signal "TOUCHDOWN".  Here are a couple photos of our household football fan.  And yes, sometimes she looks like a boy.  The bow on the head helps... but Ted thinks they are "oppressive".  It would be for me, so bows are for photos only thus far.  Perhaps when she has hair...let's hope it doesn't look like Troy Polamalu's!