Remy Week by Week - She's 1!

We had a great (sleepless) year watching Remy grow and develop. We are thankful for all of the love and support we all have received, and appreciate every ounce of help we've been given. Remy is a joyful and happy girl because of the massive amount of love she has in her life! THANK YOU!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We love Remy!!!!!

 And we are moving this week . . . let me know if you like to move things and I can keep you entertained!

Remy is ALMOST 1

Before Remy turns 1, in like a week and a half, I thought I'd do another quick update!Some more cool things are going on in our lives, again, and we are so thankful for them. It's not very climatic, but here they go:

1. I've received a promotion at work, I'm now the Director of Operations for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington. I loved being Unit Director at the Crestmont Unit, but now I get to go on to the next challenge!

2. So Dan likes to surf homefinder.org, just for fun, and happened to find a potential dream home. Long story short we are moving June 21 (yes, a week after Remy's birthday)! We have an offer on our current place (thankfully :), and are currently looking for awesome friends who want to help us move the 20th and 21st! I'll share pictures of the new place when I can!

3. Dan and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. We had a night in Indy without Remy as she stayed at her BFF's for an overnight. I don't know who had more fun? We're thankful for the very roller coaster 5 years together, and can't imagine what the next 60+ hopefully holds.

4. As for Remy, who is almost one (do you hear me preparing for this), is so awesome and gets more awesome every day! Here are her updates:

• She says tickle in a really cute way
• She is a crawling maniac, trying to stand, is up on her feet when possible
• She likes to put things under to couch to then find them, it's hilarious
• Anything with two legs is "Dadadada" and anything with four is "doooooooh"
• She recognizes her family on Skype!
• She only wants to eat finger food, that she can feed herself . . . and Henry
• Her hair is long enough for a clip bow now, it's actually really cute
• She is talking up a storm, we are still translating, but she is nonstop communicating
• She drinks from a straw
• She gives the best kisses
• She loves animals, music, and being outside
• And is for the most part (knock on wood) sleeping from 8pm-7am

I'll update more after her birthday, eeeek, and share our new address with pictures when that time comes! Until then, here is her sweet face:

 

Family Vacation!

We just got back from our first almost real family vacation! I say almost real, because the whole reason we went where we did is because I had school work at Clemson (Clemson, South Carolina). HOWEVER, it was still mostly vacation! Pictures are below, but before we get to that I've got some updating to do:

On Thursday, April 18th my Grandpa McKibben passed away quickly and peacefully at home at the age of 78. He had a long life and he filled it by taking care of others, especially his family. While death and grief are something I don't deal with well, the unfortunate event brought family together which is always nice. We even had one last family meal at Ponderosa!

Dan is is keeping REALLY busy at work, but enjoying the challenge. On the 16th of April he organized a community event to bring awareness to child abuse and recognize the hard work and dedication of those individuals fighting on their behalf. There were about 50+ people and a ton of pinwheels :)

I'm enjoying work as usual, some stressful weeks in the past but isn't that ordinary? Class is going well and I'm excited to get into my Master's project : Examining Higher Education Opportunities in Youth Development in Indiana. That's all I'll go into, let me know if you want to know more! This past week I got the great honor of receiving the Clemson University YDL Professional Service Award for my efforts in academics and work! However there are a lot of people doing equally important things!

Remy, let's get to her! She is crawling like a crazy girl all over the place. She likes to pull herself up and stand, and then fall! It's great. Happy as always. She now says dog and duck, and lots of dadadadada of course. I am baba, the mmmm hasn't clicked in yet. She's still small but extrememly mighty. She did a GREAT job on the road and on vacation and she doesn't stop amazing us! We are SO thankful for our little joy maker!

Below are some pictures from our vacation, my battery died so they run short!

The Greenville Zoo! Her favorites included the ducks, pig, giraffes, and monkey!


We were outside as much as possible. This was on of our day trips hiking around at Cham Ram Park outside of Clemson.

 

 

Swinging, her favorite!

Go Tigers!

At the Georgia Aquarium with Great Godmother Melody in Atlanta, GA. This was one of the best days of my life, seeing Remy filled with so much excitement! She squealed and kicked non-stop at all the creatures! It was SO cool as an adult too! The whale sharks, beluga whales, coarl reef, and other fish were just incredible. This is such a cool place, and massive too! We LOVED spending time with Melody too :)

 

 

 

Spring is coming . . . right?

It's been awhile. I'd apologize but I just really don't have time to! With my current availability I'll give you all a quick update on the Nieder-Meyer crew since you've been so patiently waiting!

January and February were dark, dreary, and cold for us here. I spent every available second studying and learning Masters Level Statistics . . . I don't want to go back to it, so I'll end with saying I succeeded! PHEW! I've moved onto my next class, with joy, and have started my Masters Project! I'm a whole lot closer to the end my friends! We also celebrate Judy's 60th birthday with a surprise party and family get together which was great! It was an exciting weekend in the Niderman household! Dan is enjoying is challenges at work and has some really cool side projects both professionally and at home that he is tackling including some gardening 101! I can't wait for good weather and tomatoes in the backyard!

This gross weather delayed our first family trip to Phoenix in February, but ended up working out quite fine when we arrived in 75 degree weather the following week. As always, we had a wonderful Meyer family gathering with Dad, Em, and the whole Thompson crew. Remy did GREAT on the plane and every grandparent within 100 yards came to talk to us. She's just a little joy maker.

Which leads me to what I know you really want to read about, REMY! She is awesome, so cute, and gets more fun every day! She isn't quite crawling, but she is moving fast with her little kick, scoot, wiggle, army crawl thing. She babbles all the time with "Da da da, bahhh, ba ba ba, oooo" and the such. I'm pretty sure she is saying "I'm so happy! I love you!" We're trying to soak up every second and enjoy her. She weighed in just under 17 pounds (10 percentile) and over 28 inches (90 percentile). She stands, dances, plays with Henry (he is doing fine by the way and getting loved), laughs, reads, and LOVES bath time.

That's all for now folks, I'll update with some more photos later! Hopefully the next time I post, spring will actually be here and I'll be in flip-flops!


 

This will make you smile on a snowy spring day

 

Eat - Drink - Remember

It's been 5 years since we've been able to sing happy birthday to my momma, and it doesn't get any easier. As a means to cope, remember, persevere, and continue on I like to try and celebrate the 23 years I got with her and in her honor enjoy two of her favorite things, chocolate and coffee. Each year, I find a picture that captures her essence, as a way to recognize that somehow she is still with me. Next to her family and friends, my mom LOVED chocolate and coffee and I inherently do too! Take a moment and do the same remembering the joy she brought you. I found this quote in a magazine I was reading, which I find important for anyone dealing with someone who is grieving should understand: "This is a moment for your friends and family to practice compassion. True sympathy means respecting the grieving process, selflessly and without expectation."

 

Remy Dancing!

Remy Rue shakin it (I'm ok with this now by the way . . . )