Michael, Miranda, Madilynn, Elizabeth & Eva

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Soccer

Daddy played a pick-up game of soccer on Sunday evening. We went to watch, and Madilynn wanted to watch...but this is what occurred!

They played around for awhile then I decided we'd been in the sun long enough (without sunscreen). That's Daddy in the background with the white shirt!

So we left and drove around a little bit, until Daddy was ready for us to pick him up. This is what I saw on our way back to get him...a beautiful rainbow...first one I've seen here!

We ended the evening with Sonic...where we tried a cherry limeade chiller for the first time...yummy!!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Tuesday morning we had Elizabeth's 9 mo. appt. She now weighs 17lbs. 15oz. (25th percentile), and is 28.5 inches long (75th percentile). These are the same percentiles Madilynn always was...long and skinny!

A couple days before her appt. she began not eating her baby food well, not wanting to be fed from a spoon at all! She would close her mouth and shake her head. The doctor informed us that she could just start eating what we eat (except a few things) just in small pieces. So we came home for lunch and decided to try her out and see how she would do. I gave her mac & cheese and banana and she ate it so well. Since then she's also had green beans, carrots, potatoes, cheerios, pancakes and yogurt. Lots of fun and she has enjoyed it all!

The day before we headed back to Utah she began waving and saying "Hi"! And she has also recently started clapping her hands, as well as shaking her head no when we tell her "no". She's so funny! One day I was telling her "no ma'am" not to get into the magazines and she looked back at the magazines and smiled and shook her head no at them. She's learning...

Since we've been back home this is the view...toys strowed everywhere and both of them playing so hard!

After lunch here's a video of Madilynn playing peek a boo with Elizabeth making her laugh!

This is a short video of Elizabeth clapping and then eating her mac & cheese and banana lunch!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Journey to Arkansas - Part 2

We got back to Fayetteville Tuesday afternoon (May 18th) and just spent time visiting everyone and resting from all the travels.

Michael and I before our date night Friday night...Abuelos, of course, and then some shopping!

I think Madilynn learned something at Daddy Gene's...I caught her leading the horse around the kitchen

She took this ribbon off of a bear (that was mine) and had attached it herself to the horse's halter!

Spent some time visiting and Madilynn playing at Granny & Pepaw's house!

Madilynn's not in the picture because she spent most of her time running around the yard and picking pretty flowers!

Granny & Elizabeth

Papa got the pool opened while we were there, so we were able to enjoy it for a couple of weeks and the girls loved it!

Nana, Papa and the girls!

We got together with my cousin Lyndsi and her son Gabriel one evening. It was so great to see them I think it had been since last October since we'd seen them.

Elizabeth & Gabriel (he's 5 months older)

All of us...

Nana & Elizabeth

Daddy enjoyed the pool too when he returned from the conference...Elizabeth is obviously relaxed, and enjoying herself as well!

We really enjoyed our time in Arkansas! Michael and I even got a night away at Big Cedar Lodge to celebrate our 5.5 years of marriage (since we were celebrating his graduation on our anniversary)! We left Thursday, June 3rd at 9am and made it to Ogallala, NE at 9pm, then made it home Friday at 6:30pm. The ride back was challenging, Elizabeth decided she didn't like to be in the seat shortly after we left AR and there was some crying along the way. Everytime I told Madilynn we were going back to our house she would say, "but that's a long, long, way! We'll have to just drive, and drive, and drive.."

We made it, but I think we'll be flying next time we make the trip...Christmas time!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Journey to Arkansas - Part 1

We decided it was time to head south...We were able to enjoy 3 weeks in Arkansas, us girls anyway, Michael had a conference in Omaha, NE the second week.

The journey began on Wednesday May 12th we left Utah at 2p.m. and arrived in Cheyenne, WY around 10p.m. amid snow and slick conditions between Laramie and Cheyenne (interesting to experience in May) Thursday morning after breakfast at McDonalds we got on the road at 8am and believe it or not made it all the way to Fayetteville by 11pm. 15 hours on the road with two little ones was...exhausting, to say the least. We took turns riding in the back between them keeping them entertained..singing songs, coloring, peek-a-boo, etc. Madilynn did well with her movies for the most part.

Friday May 14th was Mama's birthday so we wanted to surprise her when we showed up and we did! Especially since we arrived at the party an hour late cause we had to take Elizabeth to the walk-in-clinic.

Mama & Elizabeth

It was so great to see everyone since we hadn't seen them since before Christmas!

As if we hadn't done enough traveling already, we decided to head down to south Arkansas to visit more family! Saturday evening we made it to Daddy Gene & Ladonna's house.
Sunday after church we played outside awhile...we were quickly reminded of the heat & humidity (as was my hair)!

A colt arrived just 2 weeks before we got there and Madilynn couldn't wait to see the "baby horse" and she was even able to pet it!

Monday morning we went down to visit Michael's grandparents and had lunch with them.

Granddad & Elizabeth

Madilynn saying "cheese"

Grandmother & Madilynn

After lunch we headed over to see my Dad & Pam (aka Grandpa & Grandma). They hadn't seen Elizabeth yet! Just after we got there

They invited everyone over, so we got to visit with aunts, uncles, and cousins I haven't seen in years. They were meeting Madilynn & Elizabeth for the first time in person. We had a great time!

Daddy took a picture of all of us just before we left Elizabeth had already fallen asleep! Can't wait for Grandpa & Grandma to come visit us in Utah this fall!

Daddy Gene & Ladonna with the girls before we left out Tuesday morning headed back to Fayetteville...

We had a great visit with everyone and are so glad we were able to make it down...lots of memories and pictures!!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Nine Months

Elizabeth at 9 months old!

This month has been one of significant development - lots of changes in a really short period of time. Here are some things she's been up to lately...

At 8.5 months sitting up in her crib when I went in to get her.

Now she is pulling up to EVERYTHING! Has made it up two steps, and has started couch surfing! Yesterday she had pulled up and was standing in the pack n play.

Loves sweet potato puffs she can pick them up and eat them by herself. Likes to drink water out of the end of a straw. She's gotten picky lately about her baby food and has decided that fruits are better than vegetables - ha! So in order for her to eat the vegetables I have to put a fruit with it. Had her first cracker last week...

First time in the pool on Monday afternoon and she loved it!! She never cried even though the water was freezing...

Found herself in the mirror and I even caught her giving herself kisses...pulling up!

She plays hard and likes to explore new things

Trying to put her doll in the car...so smart!

Says...mama, dada, and bababa and she's been saying what sounds like "Hi" for a while now!
Here's a video of Madilynn playing peek-a-boo with Elizabeth the other night and she loved it...lots of giggles!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Mother's Day

Sunday morning the girls woke me with a card and some snuggle time! The card was great with Daddy's "help" each of their hands were traced inside along with some wonderful artwork, of course.