Pictures

We are adjusting rather well...well most of us. Bella is doing better but we have had our ups and downs. I know everyone would rather see pictures (such a surprise that I've taken so many) so here you go...



Not to be out done by the little one, but instead of napping the other day Bella reached under her bed and pulled out some shorts and put them on her head...it was hilarious.
Checking out the little sis

Bella finally wanted to try and hold her.
And then helped feed her tonight...this is quite a long way from Friday's first meeting.

She's Here!!!

Well, it only took one day after my 37 week appointment for Gabriella Joy to join our family.
She was born at 8:27 pm on Friday, May 23rd.
She weighed 7 lbs & 10 oz
19 inches long
Papa T got to help deliver her and daddy cut the cord. So far she's been a great eater and loves to sleep and cuddle. She has blue eyes and dark hair (lots of it - more than Bella had).

She looks just like Bella.
Big Sister meets Little Sister. Bella is still adjusting...we have a ways to go...but she's getting there. The first time at the hospital she didn't really want anything to do with her except run up and down the hall with daddy. Later in the day she walked in our room saw her again and walked out like "she's still here". Tonight we were all at home and she'd come over and bring Gabby a blanket and say Baby....so we're making progress.
Well...we'll post more later...we're pooped!

37 weeks

Well, I'm hoping the next post we have will include a picture of Gabriella Joy. I went to the doctor today for my weekly appointment and found out that I had dilated to 3, so the doctor so kindly decided to stretch me to 4. We are now hoping that this will be the big weekend, but I'm trying not to get too anxious. However, I have Dr. Watters home, cell and beeper numbers just in case. He did say it will more than likely happen within the next week...which would be good so that Joel can make Miriam & Shawn's wedding next weekend as long as she's entered into the world by then...so here's hoping!

Suprise Party for Papa T & Our Heat Wave

We surprised Papa T on Sunday for his 60th birthday. He had no clue and everyone had a blast. It was great to see people I hadn't seen in a long time as well as friends we see everyday at work. We also found out this weekend that Bella loves guacamole. We went out Friday night with Nana, Papa, Chad and Steph, since Joel went out with a friend from his old work, and she devoured the guacamole at the table and her enchiladas so Sunday night was no different.
It went from chips to fingers in no time.
We had a great turn out...and the food was wonderful.
Bella and Logan were the hit of the party. They would make faces at each other. Logan would pull her pig tails and then Bella would hold his hand. It was too adorable.
I know a heat wave in Arizona...what a shocker...but it reached 110 yesterday a little too early for this time of year, so we headed to Nana's pool after work/school (luckily it will be back to the 80s in a few days). It was the first time she had gotten in the big pool this year and it was no surprise she was fearless. Unfortunately that left mom and I busy keeping her on the step, she just thought she could go anywhere and refused her raft from last year...looks like I'm headed to the store for floaties. When I was this age I was swimming on my own, and it looks like Bella may follow my lead.
Playing with toys

Stealing Nana's Starbucks. Bella loves drinking from straws and big cups.

Let the count down begin...

I had my 36 week appointment today and am at 1 cm. I already know not to get too excited, but we can hardly wait for Gabriella to get here and meet her big sister Bella and two furry friends, Cosmo and Zona. With Bella I was at 1 cm and 4 days later my water broke...however that was at my 37 week appointment with her. Dr. Watters did say this one will probably go faster, but we'll have to see. My contractions need to get a lot closer and more consistent, right now they are typically sporadic but sometimes about 12 minutes apart in the evenings. This weekend we plan to finish the nursery and pack...trying to be a little more prepared than last time!

Hope everyone has a great weekend...can hardly believe tomorrow is Friday!

What a few weeks

Where to start. It's hard to believe it's May and almost time for Gabby to make her grand entrance into the world. Time has flown by this time around and I'm hoping she'll follow Bella's lead and come early, since she has now become a "big baby".

Our big news is that Joel has gotten a new job that will start this week. He was contacted a few weeks ago from the firm he interned with (Carmichael and Powell) to do bankruptcy work for them. We're all excited that he won't be on call on Saturday's anymore and may be home more during the week.

We moved the office last weekend, what a job, but it looks beautiful and it's so nice to be in one building. Mom and Ryan did an awesome job decorating and Chad and Steph worked so hard since I was not really one to be running around helping with the move. Joel even pitched in one night and hung artwork with Ryan. Glad that's over and I can hopefully catch up on my work this week before the little one comes.

Bella has moved to the older class and is doing great! She is talking so much more now that she is in there. We still don't know what she's saying most of the time, but she does. This past week we tried pudding for the first time. As you can see it went really well in the beginning...

but soon turned into a mess!!
So that of course meant bath time. That night she flipped onto her belly and thinks that is the greatest thing...

next to drinking the water from the faucet in Nana's tub.

Yesterday we went to the Oestreich's house, which was so much fun. Bella and Logan are a month apart and now actually play together. It has been so fun watching them grow up together. They went swimming and played in the sand.
Joel thought that this could be titled "Bella's Baywatch Picture" She loved Logan's swing.

and his big wheels, even though neither of them can reach the pedals. It's so hard to believe that they are almost big enough for big wheels.

Then it was inside for dinner. They looked so cute at the little table. They didn't stay there long, but it was worth a shot.

Finally we ended the night with shopping cart/car races around the house. They must have done about 20 laps chasing each other.

Last but not least, we have been trying to get the office turned into a nursery in the midst of everything else. It's getting there, we have everything it's just a matter of getting it into it's spot. It was fun going through Bella's clothes and thinking how tiny she once was and freaking out that we'll soon have another tiny one around. Joel put the GIANT double stroller together last night and we weren't sure it would work out. So Bella tested in out today and loved being in it, so it looks like a keeper. Now I'm just not sure how to lift it into the Tahoe....it's heavy, but hopefully once the giant bump in front of me is gone it will be easier.

18 month pics...a little late

So she's almost 19 months, but we got them done! What a workout chasing her around trying to keep her on the background for the photographer. All in all it went pretty good. Nana was there to help chase her back to the studio.


This is my favorite.
She loves to rock back and forth, so the chair was perfect.
And of course dancing!