First Christmas and "walking"

Penny had a wonderful first Christmas. We started extra early this year on the 23rd so that we could celebrate with Uncle Joel, Aunt Abbie and cousin Ellie. Then we celebrated Grandpa H's birthday on the 24th with his traditional breakfast feast.

Penny got to play a sheep in this years impromptu Christmas pageant at church. She thought about crawling down the aisle but in the end daddy had to pick her up.

She received lots of fun toys from both sets of families. She now has two new toys that are helping her learn to walk. Here's a video from one of her first attempts:

Christmas Time

Penny loves all the Christmas decorations around the house!! When we walk around she points things out and says "please" because she wants to play with all the decorations. Yes, she says please, it is her first word, with her insane appetite we had to teach her a nice way of asking for more food rather then screaming. We are very excited for her first Christmas and her first birthday!!!
Penny and her 1st Christmas Ornament

From Penny December 09

From Penny December 09

Actual Crawling

Penny started crawling over the Thanksgiving holiday. She can only do it for short distances at the moment but she's getting better. Here's a quick video showing her progress.

Trunk or Treat

We took Penny to Kyle and Krista's church for Trunk or Treat. Here are some fun pics of Penny is her Giraffe costume. SO CUTE.

From Penny October 09

Ryne loved running around collecting candy, then was very sweet about sharing with Penny.

From Penny October 09

From Penny October 09

Reverse Crawling

Penny still isn't crawling in the traditional sense, but tonight she decided to try something a little different.

Camera Crazy

It was quite the weekend between professional shots of the three cousins and grandpa taking his own pictures. I have put a lot of grandpa's shots in September's album. I deleted at least half but there are still a ton so don't say I didn't warn you.
Penny still is not crawling but rolling everywhere.

From Penny September 09

From Penny September 09

Big Girl

Penny is now holding onto furniture and trying to stand on her own. Though mom and dad continue to try, she has zero interest in crawling. Most people thought she would be walking by 10 months, not gonna happen. She has learned how to hold her bottle while eating, which is sooner then Ryne ever did (not that we are comparing :-). She is also starting to mimic people; she will clap, slap the table and trying to repeat daddy's monkey noises. She is growing up faster then we can keep track of.

From Penny September 09

From Penny September 09

Rolling

Penny is now rolling all over the place which means she is sleeping on her stomach and nights are going much better; however, she is teething so she is much crabbier and has learned how to shriek when she is upset much to mom and dad's frustration. She is getting better each day at feeding herself puffs but is showing no interest in crawling.

From Penny August 08

From Penny August 08

Cousins Claire and Briana

From Penny August 08

She loves laundry

Cute Pics

Here are some cute pics of miss Penelope. There is also a video of her laughing at Gwenny in the backyard. We couldn't get her to laugh as hard on camera as she was, but she loves her puppies.

From Penny July 09

From Penny July 09

Tickle Time!

Looks like Penny is a wee bit ticklish :)

Video from Penny's Last Swim Class

Here's a video I took of Penny's last swim class with Mommy. I'm very proud of her swimming skills and that she looks at home in the water. Cousin Ryne and Aunt Krista make cameos as well.

July 4th

So everyone was together for the 4th this year in matching outfits. The kids did not cooperate for many pictures but we got what we could.

From Penny July 09

From Penny July 09

Penny went to the doctor yesterday and she is 16 pounds 6 ounces!!! What a big girl. She is sitting very well on her own, rolling over and is ready to move on to stage 2 foods. We predict she will be walking by 9 months.

Big Girl!!!

Ok, so I continue to be bad about updating the blog!!! Penny is now sitting up on her own and loves that she is a big girl. She is also rolling over from her stomach to her back and is working on rolling the other way.

From Penny June 09

Penny LOVES her exersaucer and hangs out in it playing with all the fun toys and attachments.

From Penny June 09

I took Penny to a splash park with my friend Melyssa on Tuesday, and though Penny didn't quite know what to think of of the water, she did look cute in her swim suit. On Tuesday Krista and I start Mommy & Baby swim class so I look forward to see what the kids think of that.

From Penny June 09

Cinci Zoo

Penny and Ryne went to the zoo for the first time this weekend!!! While the family was in Cinci for a Cubs/Reds game on Saturday we took the kids to the zoo on Sunday, sadly Ellie couldn't make it.

From Penny June 09

Both Ryne and Penny had a great time. Penny laughed at the animals and enjoyed sitting in her stroller like a big girl. We can't wait to take her to the Indy zoo sometime soon.

From Penny June 09

First Food!!

Ok so now that I have the lap top back I WILL be better about posts. Penny is 5 MONTHS OLD TODAY!!!! She is growing up so fast, but not sleeping through the night. Today she had her first big girl food, sweet potatoes. She loves to eat like a big girl and will lean in for mommy's spoon anytime. Here are some pictures of PenPen and her first meal. I have added pictures in the June folder and a video of Penny's first meal.

From Penny June 09

All Done

From Penny June 09

Finally a New Post

Ok so I have been pretty bad about keeping the blog updated, Easter was a good 3 weeks ago I think. Oops. Well I enjoyed my very first Mother's Day on Sunday with a beautiful necklace from Penny and daddy and a nice dinner out. In the last few weeks PenPen has discovered that she has hair and so do the dogs. She plays with her hair constantly and there is a video of her pulling on Callie's hair. She is now 4 months old!!!!!! and keeps growing like a weed. She goes to the doctor on Friday and we are very excited to see how big she is. I promise to be better about posts!!

See she does have curly hair.

From Penny May 2009

Sleeping un-swaddled. What a big girl.

From Penny May 2009

Happy Easter

Yesterday was Penelope's very first Easter. She was very good girl at church, and got the attention of many people, I think a few of the babies have a crush on her (I mean who wouldn't she's beautiful) and spent lots of time trying to eat her dress. Then over to see both sets of grandparents and hang out with cousin Ryne. Daddy had to help her with her Easter baskets but she had a great first Easter. We hope that you and your family enjoyed the special holiday.
Check out the shoes!!!!

From Penny April 09

From Penny April 09

Pregnant Josh

It just makes me happy.

From Penny April 09

Rice Cereal

So since Penny is almost 3 months old we tried out rice cereal, it went very well and she seemed to enjoy it. She especially like her "too cute to eat my veggies" bib. And again another picture of Penny screaming in her Bumbo, I swear she likes it most of the time.

From Penny April 09

From Penny April 09

Giggle Girl

Penny has become quite the giggle girl and we were finally able to catch a little of it on camera. Make sure you have the volume up.

From Penny April 09

The Old Man and the Sea-Horse

Ok so Denise (Josh's secretary) bought Penny this adorable sea horse that lights up and sings lullabys, Penny loves it and I wanted to get some pictures and Josh says she looks like an old man, hence the title. I don't agree but I will leave that up to your interpretation.

From Penny March 09 1

From Penny March 09 1

Happy St. Patty's Day

Penny had her first St. Patrick's Day party this weekened and we got her all dressed up for the ocassion. Everyone at the party loved her and thought her hair was fabulous, because it is.

From Penny March 09 1

We tried putting Penny in her Bumbo today and if you can't tell from the picture she HATED it.

From Penny March 09 1

It's Back!!!

Back by popular demand is the 2 am post!!!! This time however, daddy and the puppies are warm and snuggly up in bed while mommy is anxiously waiting to see if Penny is going to go back to sleep, I have already had one false alarm so I want to make sure before I head back upstairs. Penny has been doing well at night and it has been a while since I have been up at exactly 2 am (she has become more of a 3-4 am girl). Anyways... I am sure you are all waiting for the big announcemnt about how much she weighs...............she weighed in at 10 pounds 5 ounces this moring. That was 4 of the total votes (I think three of those belonged to Josh, my mom and myself) so whoever the 4th vote was congrats, and your only prize is bragging rights. So little miss Penny is not so little anymore, I can't beleive how much she is growing. She smiles all the time now and is attempting to giggle which is quite entertaining. It is so much fun to watch her grow each and everyday. My great-grandma always said that it is a new baby each morning and she is right, Penny changes a little each day. Enjoy the post and excuse any spelling errors, after all it is 2 am!!

My New Favorites

Here are my new favorite picutres of the family. So sweet!!!

From Penny March 09 1

From Penny March 09 1

Generations

Here are some family pictures with the Hilgendorf side of the family from a couple of weekends ago. There are several 4 generation pictures which is a rare thing anymore. There are more in the March albumn.

Josh, Penny and I with Grandma and Grandpa Hilgendorf

From Penny March 09 1

Emily and Penny with Emily's Dad and Grandma

From Penny March 09 1

Emily and Penny with Emily's Mom

From Penny March 09 1

What will Penny weigh?

The Aunts and Uncles are in debate about what Penny will weigh on Friday at her 2 month check up. Ryne was 8lbs 13 oz when born and Ellie was 9 lbs 3 oz when born. They all seem to think that Penny is still smaller then Ryne and Ellie were at birth (especially Joel and Abbie who I think are in denial). So you tell us what you think Penny will weigh on Friday? Cast your vote by Fridy at 11:00.

Finally a happy baby!

From Penny March 09 1

After about 36 hours of crabby-ness Penny is finally happy again and having a good day. Farewell to Penn-yell-ope.

New March Photo Album

We've created a new March photo album and will continue to put pictures in it throughout the month. Here are a few samples:

From Penny March 09 1

Above: Penny enjoying the nice weather and the nice breeze.
Below: Penny and "Uncle" Devin

From Penny March 09 1

Smiles

Since the last post, Miss Penny has started to smile!!! I had a hard time getting a great pitcture, she's just too cute her pictures never do her justice. It is so sweet, when I get her up she just smiles up at us, she is growing up so fast. Penny has also perfected "Blue Steel" (for my Zoolander fans) Josh and I are trying VERY hard to caputre that so stay tuned!! There have been more requests for the 2am post but Miss Penny is sleeping so well I haven't been up with her at 2 recently. She gave mommy and daddy a break by sleeping 7.5 hours Saturday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From Penny February 09

My new hat from Grandma Taylor.

From Penny February 09

Valentine's Day

Penny went to Grandma's house to spend Valentine's Day with Ryne and Ellie. Check out the sweet shades grandma got Penny and we love the special outfit Jenn picked out for her!!!

From Penny February 09

From Penny February 09

Thank your Russ for all of the recent comments on the blog. Sorry to disappoint that this post was at 2 pm not am.

2 am

Well back by popular demand, the 2 am post. The funny thing is that the whole family is not awake this time. Obviously Emily is because I am posting and Josh is because he got a call, but Penny is alseep and has been since 8. That is over 6 hours and counting, nursing moms know that is a long time. I just keep thinking that she is going to wake up, that was about 45 minutes ago, I guess not. Here are some recent pictures, they are not great but they are cute.

From Penny February 09

Daddy finally figured out that she gets really fussy at dinner time because she is hot, is he a good daddy or what.

From Penny February 09

I-Pood

Well it is 2:00 am and my whole family is awake. Josh is on call and has been woke up 3 times, and Penny is up therefore I am up, perfect time to update the blog. Any of you who know Josh know how important his i-phone and i-pod are to him, so a friend only thought it was fitting when he came across the i-pood onesie.

She is so precious when she sleeps!!!

From Penny February 09

With the weather being so nice we took Penny on her first walk, it was more for the dogs than anyone. It was nice to get out and as you can see Penny enjoyed the fresh air.

From Penny February 09