Pretty Paigey!

Just a few more pictures of Paige from our trip down to Valley Mills & Walnut Springs... Why didn't we get her into modeling?! We could have college paid for by now! (Just kidding -- I know, we're biased!)

More Paige & Reid

Here are a few more pictures of Paige & Baby Reid! (As our friend, David, pointed out -- our family must really like books!) I think that Paige will definitely love the new baby, but I might have to worry about her smothering the poor kid! ;)

Paige meets her Cousin!

Paige was very excited about meeting Reid! She wanted to hold him, kiss him, take his hat on and off, and make sure he had his pacifier in his mouth (even if he wasn't interested)! She didn't get jealous, so let's hope it's the same way when the baby is with us ALL of the time!

Meet Reid Travis!

Our nephew, Reid Travis Halepeska, was born on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 12:55 p.m. He weighed 6 lbs, 12 oz, and was 20 inches long. (Which is almost the exact same size as Paige, but with very different proportions!) Both Baby and Mother are doing great!

Beth & Jay - The proud parents!

Papa-Doc & Grammy with their Daughter & Grandson

Gran with her 6th Great Grandchild!

Uncle Eric!

Bath Time!

At over 20 months, Paige has fun in the bath tub, but still cries when it's time to wash her hair... Daddy decided to make it fun this time, and did her hair!

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Painting the Shed

We had the "brilliant" idea to let Paige help us paint our shed. She did it for a while, but of course, it was much more fun to paint herself! She had a blast. Until bath time!

Paige is getting ready!

Eric's parents came to visit, and you can see Paige teaching Papa-Doc how to feed the baby doll! She's definitely ready to be a big sister! She loves taking care of her baby, dressing her, pushing her in the stroller, and rocking her while singing... Let's just hope she likes sharing the attention too! ;)

Paige is going to be a BIG SISTER!

Yes, it's true! Eric and I are expecting Baby #2! I am due on October 8th, but they'll take the baby early by scheduled c-section because of some complications that happened during Paige's birth. We're not sure when that will be yet! It is definitely a different pregnancy than I had with Paige -- I didn't get nauseous until around the 8th week, and I'm definitely craving different things than the first time. I'm REALLY sleepy too, but maybe that's because I have Paige to look after and play with this time! We are very excited! And nervous too... We'll keep you all posted!

We think that Paige is going to be a GREAT Big Sister!

More Silly Paige!

Paige likes to get into Raven's cage -- and call her "Mimi"!

Paige looks like she's ready for a walk, but Raven doesn't look as convinced...

Paige sweeping the floors with Daddy!

Let's hope she keeps this up!

Nevermind.

It's more fun to bang the other pieces of the Swiffer together than it is to actually sweep!


She looks like little Cinderella!

Get a load of this outfit that she wanted to wear!

Beth & Jay's Baby Shower

We traveled to Austin, TX for Aunt Beth & Uncle Jay's Baby Shower for their little boy! We are expecting his arrival around March 18th, and we can't wait!

A baby quilt from Gran


The only Texas Tech outfit -- so far!
(Jay's family are all Longhorn fans... Boo!)


Beth & Beth -- pregnant together!
(Although it wasn't announced at the time)

Silly Paige!

Just a few of the silly things that Paige has done recently...

This is what she does if you say "make a funny face"!

Pretending to sleep in Raven's kennel...

She loves this dog!

Paige lying on the floor because Raven was!

Trying to "help" Mama pack!

18 Months!

Paige has been in our lives for a year and a half! She is now 18 months, and she is SO FUN! We knew we loved her more than anything in the world when she was born, but we didn't know that we could grow to love her even more than that! Yes, she has definitely started the age of temper tantrums, crying, throwing herself on the ground, and saying "no" and "mine"... and we know we have our hands full. It's easy to keep a baby dry, fed, warm, etc... but to teach her to be a good person, THAT is the hard part. But, we think we're on the right track! We are absolutely AMAZED at how much Paige's vocabulary grows in one week, and how much she learns and knows. She is so much fun with her constant dancing, girly ways, hugs, gentle kisses, marching around the house, playing with Raven, and trying very hard to be independent! We could go on and on. We really didn't know that it could get any better. Paige is our sunshine! What a wonderful 18 months.

(We went for her wellness check this week, and everything is going great! She is healthy, and of average height and weight... she does have a really big head, and really small feet though... no wonder she topples over sometimes!)

A few of her favorite things....

Hats & Shoes!!!

are Paige's very favorite things. Yikes!

We walked into this children's clothing store, Paige immediately sat down, took her own shoes off, and then took several other pairs off the rack! It was hilarious! (Until she cried when we made her leave...)

Trying to walk in Daddy's shoes!

Filling Mama's shoes...

Shoes & beads & pajamas... Paige is so fashionable!

Shoes on, and nothing else!

She demands to wear her shoes to bed!

Paige's hat...

Dada's hat...

Mommy's hat...

Anything's a hat!!!

Cotton Bowl!

We celebrated 3 years of marriage on 12-31-08, and we got tickets to the Cotton Bowl as our gift to ourselves! Unfortunately, Texas Tech didn't show up to the same football game that we did, and lost to Ole Miss, but we still had a BLAST with some of Eric's old friends, and some of Beth's old friends... It was still a great day!

GO TECH!

The Pirates!

The ultimate tailgate... a grill that fits into the hitch of the truck. Only in Texas!

Cute Christmas Gift

Paige was just too cute with this dancing "Brobee" doll that we got her for Christmas -- I had to post her reaction, and her trying to hold his hands and dance with him! (This is a crazy character from the Noggin TV Show called "Yo Gabba Gabba" that BOTH Eric & Paige like a lot!)

Hugs!

and Kisses!

Daddy's Girl

For the first 15 months, Paige wanted her Mama all the time (mostly so she could hold on to my hair!) and now at 16 and 17 months, she has instantly turned into a Daddy's Girl! She just adores him and already seeks his approval. Eric is such a great teacher for Paige, and they cuddle together a lot too. I am truly thankful for this Father-Daughter bond as Paige grows up...

These are two of my all-time favorite pictures. Look at these faces of joy & laughter!!

Christmas with Grandpa!

Beth's Dad (aka: Grandpa) flew in from London on Christmas night, and we celebrated Christmas on Boxing Day (December 26th) as we always have with Dad/Ed. (We had a great time shopping and eating, which is really all there is to do in Dallas!)

Family Photo! All four of us!

Paigey-Paige & Grandpa

Buy her expensive gifts, and she wants to play with the 50-cent horses! What a great Christmas picture:

Sharing Grandpa's Chocolate Covered Cherries! How did she know that there was something so yummy inside of that red foil?!

The Chocolate Covered Cherry aftermath!

Hello! -- Paige talking on her new pink cell phone! What a little lady...

Working on Christmas Day

I have a new job at an Assisted Living in Dallas called "Monticello West" -- It has been such a wonderful experience so far. I am still the Director of their Alzheimer's Unit, as I have been doing for several years, but this place is special. Everyone is so welcoming and positive. The care is exceptional -- and honestly, the best I've ever seen! The management is down to earth and their priorities are in the right place. It is definitely worth the long commute!

I knew that I would have to work on Christmas Day, and I figured that since Paige doesn't truly know what's going on, and I'm the new kid on the block, this would be okay, and I'd get through it. It was much better than that! Christmas really was a joyful day at Monticello West! I was honored to spend the day with such wonderful people, and I was also glad that Eric & Paige came to visit for lunch!

Carolyn, Anne, me

(one of my Employees, on of my Residents, and me!)

Anne demanded to wear Carolyn's elf hat, saying that it was her hat, and then wore it for an hour laughing at herself the whole time!!! It was classic.

Alyne, me, Geri

Moments that can only be caught on a Cell Phone Camera:

Coloring with (aka: on) Daddy in the bath tub!

Clipping her baby dolls' finger & toe nails!

(She found that pacifier in her room right before this, and we weren't about to ruin the picture perfect moment by taking it away! She actually stopped using them around 8-9 months!)

"Driving" with her foot...

Addressing Christmas cards just like Mommy was...

Throwing herself on the carpet that Daddy took outside and was trying to clean!

Of course, he wasn't mad!

Already playing with the "presents" that Lee-Lee & Aunt Trish sent!

(Don't know why they spent all that money. She is happy with boxes!)

Oh, Christmas Tree!

While Paige was taking a nap, Mommy & Grammy put up our Christmas tree, with lights & ribbon. We will never forget Paige's face of awe and wonder when she first saw the tree! She had wide eyes and an open mouth, and said "ooo-ahh"! She has been much better with the tree than we expected, and has only removed one or two ornaments along the way. She loves when the lights are on, and she just points to it and says "tree" and "star"!! We are truly enjoying this laid back and wonder-full Christmas before she starts begging for Barbies, Webkinz, and iPods! ;)




Paige wearing Mama's Santa hat!


and the skirt that Grammy made her for dress-up!

That is definitely a mischievous look!

Thanksgiving in Maryland!

THANKSGIVING WITH G-G & Lee-Lee!

Hugs for G-G!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Paige is pointing at the Sponge Bob balloon...

Mags love parades!

Sweetest moment of the night: Maggie walked over to G-G's coffee table, picked up this silk flower arrangement, walked over to Tricia, and said: "Flowers for Mama!!"

So precious!!!

We used to play Scattergories after Thanksgiving dinner... now, it's a riveting game of Simon Says!! My, my, how times have changed!

Paige feeding Mama!

All of the festivies wore her out!!

Reading with Lee-Lee!

THANKSGIVING WITH DAD/GRANDPA:

Out to dinner! -- Paige is happy and her face is surely showing it!

(really, that's the song we were singing when the picture was taken!)

Grandpa & Maggie & Paige eating Thanksgiving dinner!

Everybody is tickling Maggie!

Playing with Grandpa...

Dancing with Aunt Trish!

HILARIOUS VIDEO of Paige dancing while Aunt Trish sings, while we were home for Thanksgiving! If the music stopped, she stopped. If Tricia was singing, Paige was dancing to the beat. We couldn't stop laughing! This is just a short part of it:

Paige dancing with Aunt Trish!

Just a few MIRACLES!

Babies, Babies, everywhere! Other than expecting our NEPHEW in March (around the 18th), we have welcomed several other little ones into the world recently. Beth got to meet most of them while up in Maryland for Thanksgiving...

After several years of trying to start a family, Lindsay & Jason welcomed TWIN GIRLS on November 12th! Here they are in the preemie outfits that Beth had to get them! They were so healthy and big for twins being born at 37 weeks. Quite the little miracles!

Avery Elizabeth &

Addison Kate



Our friend, Keri, welcomed her 2nd child -- a boy this time! He was born on November 21st, and Keri's sister, Kellie (seen below) delivered her little boy on the 22nd! Sisters delivering two rooms down, less than 24 hours apart!!

Andrew Louis

Our other G's -- Kellie & Seth, welcomed Seth Howard Jr. on November 22nd! He is very handsome, and as you can see, Paige really liked rubbing his head and consoling him as Mommy & Daddy changed his diaper! (No, she will not be a big sister any time soon!)

In September of 2007, we spent our first over night away from Paige to go to Leah & Derrick's wedding! In August of 2008, they welcomed little Caden! Paige was definitely checking him out at "Ladies & Babies Night" in Baltimore!

Finally, our dear friends, Kerry & Todd, were so blessed to adopt Alexis Ryan (aka: Lexie)... They were able to spend a lot of time with Lexie's birth mother, and be there in Florida when Lexie was born on October 1st. I hope that she knows what a blessed and lucky child she is to have Kerry and Todd as parents. I know that Kerry & Todd feel like the lucky ones though...

M&M Weekend!

I was SUPER excited when two of my very best friends (Missy & Mary -- since I was 8 & 14!) came all the way down to TX to visit us! It was the weekend after my Birthday and we had a blast. It really meant the world to me. We spent lots of time shopping and eating (Babe's Chicken, Sprinkles cupcakes, and Rudy's BBQ) and even went to Gilley's of Dallas and rode the mechanical bull. Thank you guys so much for visiting us in Allen!

Even Paige got in on the action -- joining our dance party as we got ready for a Girls' Night out... and trying on Missy's jewelry! :)

Playing in the Dirt!

God made dirt, so dirt don't hurt!

While Eric's parents (aka: Grammy & Papa Doc) were in town last weekend, they spent a lot of time in our yard (THANK YOU!) and Grammy took Paige outside...

They played in dirt.

A lot.

Paige was filthy, but adorable.

They BOTH had a blast!

What a beautiful ragamuffin...

Aunt Beth!

Eric's Sister (aka: Beth #1) came up for the Beths' Birthdays! Beth & Beth were both born on November 5th. What a small world!!! (although, it was 1978 and 1979)!

Beth is expecting a BOY on March 25th, and we were so excited to see her little belly, and spend time with her! Beth, Beth, and Sherry registered at Babies R Us for a few hours on Saturday, but other than that, Beth #1 was busy with the dogs and Paige! Beth is an amazing Pre-K teacher, and can interact with Paige in a special way. We also swear that she is a Dog Whisperer and trained Raven to relate to her two dogs & Eric's parent's dog....

Beth is 30!

Hello everyone! I am now 30! I don't feel old at all. First of all, my husband is 31. Also, we have a 15 month old daughter, own a home, and we both have great professions. Finally, I work in an Assisted Living.... where you are YOUNG if you're 79! I'm a spring chicken!

Regardless, Eric threw me a great 30th Birthday Party at Pete's Dueling Piano Bar, where our friends could come, sing along, and have fun! I can't tell you how wonderful the night was. Eric's parents babysat Paige at our house, which was wonderful. Several of my friends who lived with me in Russia, came from all over to celebrate. I was truly touched... and had a BLAST! And, friends who I have known for only 6 months, also came to celebrate. I am loved, and it was so much FUN!!! 30+ is going to be a wonderful thing....

Beth & Shannon -- Freshman year Roommates at Tech!

Go Tech! -- Beth, Melinda, Salena, Neal, and his wife: Shannon!

Eric & our great friend, Scott!


Some of Beth's Russia group came from Houston, Austin, and Colorado! So much fun! The definition of friends...

The girls! (HI NIKKI!)

Beth & her co-worker, Lanna!

Us.

The newest addition to our Family...

Meet Raven -- our new doggy!!!

Beth's co-worker rescued this dog a year ago, and has been looking for a good home for her. Actually, she and Paige were both born in July of 2007! We decided to babysit her for a few days, and we fell in love. She came with the name, Bitsy, but we decided to rename her. So, it's "Raven" in honor of Baltimore... ;) Raven was raised around babies, so she let's Paige do whatever she wants! Raven has let Paige poke her in the eye, pull her tail, hug her, and even take a bone right out of her mouth! (Although, we are trying to teach Paige that this is probably not a good idea!) Raven also has a really deep bark, so she will scare people away and protect our house, but as soon as new people come in, she either rolls on her back or hides. She really is a sweet dog, and we're glad that she and Paige will grow up together!

Paige usually giggles whenever she pets or plays with the doggy!

She's going for the tail!

Paige in a caige! Ha. Ha.