Over the 4th of July, we decided to head down to Charleston again to enjoy the beach! Lauren loved it and so did I! Paul liked hanging out under the umbrella. Even so, that didn't stop us from getting horrid sunburns!
Lauren has really tried to assert her independence. As I've redone Lauren's room, I need to update her name letters. Lauren wanted to help, so...
More independence. Lauren likes to water my flowers, too. She has a hard time, though, when we prune because she pulls off the blooms rather than the wilted flowers.We like to cook and bake. We made a funfetti birthday cake for Papa but he didn't get to eat it because he came down after it was all gone.
Grandpa O.F. came to visit. Lauren showed him how to use her Jack-in-the-box!
My brother moved in with us for a very short amount of time. Unca Josh has become a necessary part of Lauren's life! While with us, Josh's cat, Oscar, came to stay, too. Lauren was checking out Oscar in the carrier before we allowed him to socialize with Catlyn and Jinx. Lauren thought that Oscar was awesome because she could pull his tail and play with him. Lauren fed him cat cookies through the holes in the carrier.
Mommy and Aunt Suzy had a girl's day at the pool. Before, though, Mommy darted into Aunt Suzy's blueberry bushes. Lauren helped me to flash freeze the berries before putting them into the bags and while making blueberry muffins. Lauren had to put the berries from the big container into the measuring cup ONE by ONE...at least she had fun and participated!
I was outside one evening reading. Lauren helped me water plants and was all wet, so I took off her shirt. She took off her own shorts and diaper and attacked me!
Here are a few more pictures from Charleston. Lauren got to ride her first merry-go-round. She didn't like it at first, but then she really got into it! Paul and I rode, too, but I had to get the Daddy and Lauren shot first.
Then Lauren saw the BIG PINK car and had to off-road in it. She didn't like it as much, but now she has the bug to ride these mechanical toys!
Lauren is posing for me on the Fourth of July evening. We were in Mount Pleasant, SC, across the river from Charleston at Patriot Point. This was where the USS Yorktown is located and the AWESOME fireworks were actually shot off of the carrier. Lauren did well with the fireworks, but she took my hand to cover her one ear while my chest covered the other. She liked to watch the fireworks.
Lauren and Paul snuggling. We don't get many of these shots, so I got it while the getting was good!
I helped Josh look for a house so that he could have his own space. Lauren also wanted to help and found ads to scribble upon.
July 6--Helping Unca look for a house!
July 18--Our Sunday school had its annual Cadwallader pool party for the families and kids. Lauren and Harris had a great time together. They checked out another child's float.
Turkey-Lurkey One and Turkey-Lurkey Two
Lauren and I had a girls' night out and had to have a pretzel at the mall!
July 19--Happy Birthday, Papa! Here's an adorable picture of Lauren. (I just wish that the background was a little nicer, but we've not done anything further with the kitchen remodeling.) Lauren let me dress her up and put a bow in her hair before church! When we got there and Suzy saw Lauren's dress, she said, "I want that when you're done!" 
Paul and Suzy kept the nursery during Sunday school. Lauren and Cara got to play together. (Lauren LOVES Cara!!) Are they too cute together?!
July 20--Lauren did sticker art at school, so she thought she was allowed to decorate her car seat with her stickers!
Lauren's new love is ELMO!! (Help me, please!!) She was so intent while watching her video.
I can't believe I got such a good shot of Lauren...and it turned out blurry! 
July 21--I met up with my girlfriends, Lori and Elizabeth, the sweethearts who endured graduate school with me (and with Lauren, too, while I was pregnant). We went to Dos Amigos to have dinner and catch up. Lauren wasn't feeling well that night but was pretty well-behaved. 
Lauren and I had a girls' night out and had to have a pretzel at the mall!
July 19--Happy Birthday, Papa! Here's an adorable picture of Lauren. (I just wish that the background was a little nicer, but we've not done anything further with the kitchen remodeling.) Lauren let me dress her up and put a bow in her hair before church! When we got there and Suzy saw Lauren's dress, she said, "I want that when you're done!" 
Paul and Suzy kept the nursery during Sunday school. Lauren and Cara got to play together. (Lauren LOVES Cara!!) Are they too cute together?!
July 20--Lauren did sticker art at school, so she thought she was allowed to decorate her car seat with her stickers!
Lauren's new love is ELMO!! (Help me, please!!) She was so intent while watching her video.
I can't believe I got such a good shot of Lauren...and it turned out blurry! 
July 21--I met up with my girlfriends, Lori and Elizabeth, the sweethearts who endured graduate school with me (and with Lauren, too, while I was pregnant). We went to Dos Amigos to have dinner and catch up. Lauren wasn't feeling well that night but was pretty well-behaved. 
