It's a GIRL!!

I am proud to say that I have ANOTHER niece! My parents have acquired grandDAUGHTER #5. We've enjoyed our several visits to Omaha to visit them, pre and post baby. (LOVE her name too, but I will refrain from posting it on this public web site for the privacy of all parties involved.) Baby R arrived safely and healthy last Wednesday evening after my sister was induced at 34 weeks. She has my sister's nose, ear (one at least!) and fingers. Here are the baby stats!

Baby R
July 21, 2010
5 pounds 2 ounces
18 inches (she's gonna be tall!)



One of my favorite pictures - she REALLY favors my side of the family here I think

Courtesy of the proud daddy

Hanging out in her isolette incubator in the NICU

Happy 6 months!

6 months old today and such a happy little girl! We are loving the moments E blesses us with every day.

Doctor visit stats - updated 7/26:

• Weight - 20 pounds even (98th percentile!)
• Length - 26 5/8 inches (81st percentile)
• Head - 16 3/4 inches (50-75th percentile)
• Received 3 immunizations

She is growing well, just a little chunky!

Next visit at 9 months!

A Fun Age Emerging

Our precious little E has a new funny face that gets us all laughing. She wrinkles up her nose and inhales and exhales very quickly. As we giggle, she keeps doing it just to be humorous. She must have her daddy's sense of humor! Ha-ha!

Sadly, E is getting too big for her swing. She reaches out and grabs onto the sides and stops herself. Being almost 6 months, she is between the laying-around-all-day stage and wanting-to-sit-up-and-check-out-her-surroundings stage. We can't quite sit on our own yet so this makes things difficult! =)

Pool Weather...or Not

A couple weeks ago on a blazing hot Saturday afternoon we blew up and set out this little pool in the backyard.





Little A loved it! Freezing cold or not.





Unfortunately a few days later, we drowned a squirrel in it. Big A found it "swimming" at the bottom. Who knows how long it had been swimming. Let's just say things were smelly and rigor mortis had set in...

The pool is no longer in operation.

Watch Out, I'm SPOON Fed!

Last week E started rice cereal. She could take it or leave it. Not too thrilled about it. However, today she got her first baby food - carrots - and was pretty darn excited about it as she welcomed each bite. It's all about the flavor, huh?!

Another Baby is Coming [Not me]

I'm going to be an aunt again to a teeny-tiny niece or nephew any day now/by next Wednesday!! The baby has decided to make an early appearance as my sister's "water broke" prematurely [PROM] last weekend. We are excited to meet the little one but appreciate everyone's prayers as it is such a delicate situation. Please pray for my sister's health along with the baby's health.

She is going to be an awesome momma too!!

E thinks so...

A Glimpse of Our Nature

Spring and summer flowers around our house can be simply stunning. Since moving into our house nearly four years ago, we continually struggle with the immense and tedious task of keeping up the yard. Pruning, weeding and mulching is a necessity and priority for us because of the abundance of perennials, bushes and trees. The previous owners left the yard very overgrown and messy (we purchased a foreclosed home). The original owners had designed and landscaped the yard with vegetation lining each fence, in every corner as well as in the center of the backyard! During our reign here we have dug up stuff, cut stuff down and pulled stuff out of the ground. Anything from rose bushes to peonies and lilies to lilacs, you will find it in our yard. There are lots more for which I am still trying to find names. As for the edible variety, you can also find rhubarb, mulberries, mint and chives hiding out in the mess. If there is something you'd like to come dig out of our backyard, please come over and help yourself! I need to thin down the hostas supply. :) It has definitely been a work in progress, and I hope to have it more manageable one day! Every year we really have no idea what nature has in store for us during the flowering season. It seems as though there are new surprises all the time.

This pretty vinca was one of my Mother's Day plants.
I LOVE this annual plant!

It flowers ALL season up to the first hard freeze!

These mini roses can be found in the front and back yards

Owlets!

On this first evening in July, our family was surprised by a family of three young/baby owlets that flew in under the back awning. They perched on our deck fence and one of the deck chairs! They kept moving their heads in circles and looking at us! Very cool! And very photogenic. Apparently, they weren't too afraid of us all ooo-ing and ahh-ing over them since they let us take pictures and even stayed around while our loud 2-year old asked a million questions about them. Since the sun was starting to set it wasn't the best for taking pictures, but we got a few shots from inside and even a couple outside after slowly opening the door and using the flash. I was amazed until Little A jumped, and they left so freaking fast I missed the take off.

Here are the three owlets (they reminded me of our three babes!)

#1 from the dining room door

#1 and #2 from the bedroom window

#2 from the deck rug

#3 from the deck rug