In Arkansas!

A hectic few weeks!! Where to begin? The mad packing frenzy before Easter? The wonderful week long visit with family in Nova? The 16 hour trip through Virginia (including a brief visit with Kitty Ama, Chris' mom), terrible weather and tornadoes in beautiful Tennessee and hail damage to our car? Worst flooding in West Memphis and on I-40 since 1927? Tiny house 1/2 half the square footage of our Chesapeake house? We are adapting and thriving though. Chris enjoys going to work every day, Aria is already making friends and we are finding the people in our town to be warm and friendly. Aria will do a mom's day out program locally for the rest of this month to make some more friends.

More party pictures

Aria's Farewell Party at School

Aria's teachers Ms. G and Miss June had an amazing party for Aria her last week of school before we move to Arkansas. Here are some pictures

Aspen at 4 months

Photos by William "Kenny" Lucord.

Aria at one year, Rachel at one year

Guess who?

Fake coughing...

to get our attention which is pretty funny. Aspen also started squeaking, squealing and laughing which is adorable :) We are having such fun with her.

Celebrated Chris' 40th all weekend. Yesterday his dad, brother, sister and their families came for breakfast and a visit which was wonderful.

With a healthy second child and a full-time flying job there isn't much left to wish for when he blows out the candles. I'll have the same difficulty. Life is sweet.

Her favorite things...

Watching the "Sound of Music" tonight with Aria for the first time. We both love it. At bedtime we talked about her favorite things: ice cream, doughnuts, bright leaves, shiny things, lovey, blowing flowers (dandelions), Miss June (her teacher's aide), her monsters, bright lights and my favorites: the sound of lawnmowers in summer, the green "haze" of spring as the trees start to bud, thunderstorms, convertibles and running at night under a sky full of stars.

Aspen at 4 mos

Just back from Aspen's well child visit at the pediatrician. We were in last week for some issues, turns out she was only 11 lbs 6 oz at that visit, today's visit after adding supplemental formula (to the tune of 16 oz/day) she was 12 lbs 6 oz! Up a pound in a week. Guess she was hungry :) She is sleeping much better during the day. Her height is 25.25". I looked back at Aria's 4 mos stats just for kicks and found this: "Aria height 26", weight 12 lbs 14 oz. "

Almost 4 mos and gobbling up the rice cereal...

Aria wanted nothing to do with the rice cereal on the spoon...not so Aspen! My skinny minny couldn't get enough of it! We might get scolded by the pediatrician for starting a teeny bit early.

This Valentines Day, things I love about my daughters...

Things I love about Aspen We get the BEST BIGGEST smiles first thing in the am and all day...even when she's grumpy or hungry she'll give an ear to ear grin then grump.
She is ticklish and laughs if you walk your fingers up her belly to her neck
She has the fattest cheeks and the biggest blue eyes
When something is puzzling to her she gets a confused look on her face, wrinkled brow and all.
She has smiles for everyone (but first gives them a puzzled look)
She is so easily entertained by Aria it is ridiculous.

Things I love about Aria...She is such fun these days!! She is so good to her little sister and helpful to us. She loves her new school with Miss G and Miss June and her friend Jillian. She loves the blue cowboy boots and heart necklace we got her for Valentines Day. She is sweet and loving to just about everyone, teachers, classmates and neighbors. Learning big and small letters and some phonics. On the rare occasion that she makes Aspen cry (scares her with a noisy sound or accidentally brushed stuffed animal tail in Aspen's eye, she cries hysterically, so scared she hurt the baby or made her cry.

Sisters at 3 months

New School!

Aria has changed preschools. She's now attending the local primary school's reverse mainstream program. This is a program for special needs kids. Aria is a "role model" there is a 1:1 ratio of special needs kids to role models. She gets to ride the bus. The classroom is amazing. Huge, with two teachers, a reading area, a Wii for dance and yoga, 5 HP touch screen computers, a science area, stage and chest with dress up clothes, kitchen and on and on. Teacher seems wonderful and I already got a positive progress report for the first day. Here is Aria, waiting for the bus. The bus ride may be her favorite part ;)

Aspen, Aria, Abby, Will, Matthew and Luke!

Aspen at 2 months

Aspen is doing well. 10 lbs 3 oz at her doctor visit yesterday. She's been crying a lot and the doctor thinks its GERD. Of course all babies have it, but some are bothered more than others so he gave us Zantac to use twice a day. She has some very happy times lately and loves looking at big sister Aria who is such a great helper.

Christmas and a blizzard!

Santa was good to Aria this year!! She got a big Buzz Lightyear, a bicycle and a telescope! Loves them all...

Christmas night it started snowing and didn't stop until it had snowed 14"!

We have SMILES!!!

Aspen has started smiling this week, wide open-mouthed ear to ear grins. I'm trying to capture on camera but it is hard, she is suspicious of my iPhone camera. Here are a few pictures of the little sweetie at 6 weeks.

Aria and Santa...

Aria was not at all shy about sitting on Santa's lap and telling him what she wanted for Christmas: a big Buzz Lightyear, a bicycle with training wheels and a telescope. We also got an Elf on the Shelf this year, Browning, who flies to the North Pole every night to update Santa on the "naughty/nice" goings on in our house.

Back to birthweight!

We have a diagnosis: dairy protein intolerance. Aspen had been having a pretty rough week and we took her to the pediatrician. Apparently this affects 2-3% of infants. Aspen and mom will be dairy free for a while. Apparently this is a condition that usually remits with age--most infants with this issue can tolerate dairy after the first year or two of life. We seem to be back on track with a happier baby!

Some family photos

Photos by William "Kenny" Lucord of Bosco Image Works. So far, so good. Aria being a great helper to me with Aspen. We are settling in to a new rhythm being a family of four.