Spring is Here!!

It has been quite a while since we have posted and a lot has gone on since our last entry. I have now completed my masters degree. I have submitted my last assignment electronically and have prepared the manuscript to be sent to the publisher. Now, all I have to do is walk in the graduation ceremony next Saturday to make it official. Yes, I am walking...my research partner convinced me that I should. I invited our parents up for the weekend and promised them that this will be the final graduation ceremony they will have to sit through for me!

We are so happy that the weather has finally warmed up (hopefully to stay)! We have taken advantage of the beautiful weather by working a lot outdoors. We have received tons of rain lately so Derek has gotten into the swing of mowing, which is not his favorite activity. We also have some wildlife in our yard, which Derek affectionately refers to as varmints. Needless to say that he has been investigating holes all over our yard with the vengeance of Elmer Fudd! Adalyn loves the outdoors and always brings us our shoes so that she can go outside to play no matter what it's like outside--light or dark, rain or shine. She just doesn't understand that we can't be outside all of the time.

Addy is currently cutting lots of teeth--6 to be exact!! She has been very cranky for the past few weeks and has been biting and chewing on everything and everyone. She recently bit her best buddy at the sitter's which was a cause for concern.

Although she isn't saying many coherent words yet, she is making many sounds and tries to mimic the things we say. She is still dancing up a storm and loves turning in circles. She now tries to sing to the songs along with dancing to them, which is quite entertaining. She is quite the babbler. Addy continues to be quite the eater and has been successfully using the spoon for foods like mashed potatoes. Although the food on the spoon doesn't always make it to her mouth, she is making progress.

School will be over in about 4 weeks, which is both exciting and nerve wracking. We have a busy May filled with the end of a school year, my ISU graduation, Brian's graduation, and many other events. However, it looks as if June will be even busier as we have a wedding, graduation party, a baseball game, and Derek will be going on multiple business trips (several to tropical regions!). Hopefully we'll be able to relax in July:)