Highlight: Our favorite grocery store just opened in Birmingham! We celebrated with a picnic in the trunk. :)

Lowlight: Our favorite grocery store just opened in Birmingham. What used to be a magical stop on many road trips--driving hours out of our way to stock up on cookie butter, ginger granola, chocolate-covered everything, and all our favorite treats-- now is just a grocery store. Funny how you always want what you can't have, and once it's accessible, the desire is gone. (We might stick to only shopping at Trader Joe's for road trips, just to keep the magic.) :)

Lowlight: Another tooth popped through on top. Good grief, teething is no fun for anyone.

Highlight: Kisses!!! 

Lately whenever we kiss Jane, she returns the love with a slobbery, open-mouthed kiss of her own. It's the best. The absolute best. :)

TWJ 37 - La Tour de Jane

We just returned from 2+ weeks on the go-- part vacation (Smokies), part work (Pennsylvania), part visiting family & friends (Ohio/Indiana), and all together a wonderful trip! I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

CVCA's littlest volleyball fan, with Professor LT and Coach Audra

The Gorge

Elkhart, Indiana

Amber, my bosom buddy since 6th grade.

Traditional chubby face.

Jenny, highschool classmate & Argentina amiga.

Jane looooved Max (which did not help my case in the ongoing debate around here of whether or not we should get a dog...). ;)

Great Grandma Marge

My precious cousin, Liza, and Frieda, who was visiting all the way from India!

Hanging out with cousins...

...and admiring Grandpa Dave's latest basement hobby! ;)

At last we are home again, home again, jiggety-jog. 

And just in time for Daddy's birthday!

We sure love this guy!!! Happy 30th, Danny!

TWJ 36 - Happy Fall, Y'all!

Last week we were on the go again with Danny's job. While he was hard at work, Jane & I explored the local outlet mall (not sure if we'll be allowed to tag along on these work trips ever again...) ;) and the beautiful, rolling, autumn-colored hills of western Pennsylvania. I just couldn't resist a little fall photo op. Jane loved the leaves-- picking them up and studying them with such intensity, paying no attention whatsoever to me or the camera. But every once in a while, she'd look up and give me that pursed-lip smile I adore that is just so "Jane."

So much sweetness, I can hardly handle it.

TWJ - 8 months

Janie Bear turned 8 months this week. Once again, the sticker was a total FAIL.

Oh well, we tried.

And, with one final debut in the Smoky Mountains where it came from, we officially retired the airbrush t-shirt. I guess all good things must come to an end.

The Smokies is one of our favorite places on earth. We honeymooned there, and now each time we return it kind of serves as a "growth chart" for our little family.

We never saw the sun this time (until we were packing up the car to leave, go figure...), but who cares if it's raining when you're holed up in a cozy cabin with friends?!

The three babies behaved themselves (for the most part), although they did refuse to smile for photos...

...even despite their parents' best efforts. ;)

We visited Tuckaleechee Caverns-- an amazing experience for me. I'd never seen anything quite like it.

And Jane enjoyed quality time with her Daddy.

Until next time, Smokies.