Happy 4th of July!

We went to Grandma and Grandpa's House for the 4th of July. I saw lots of my aunts and uncles and just had a fun time! It just wore me out so I took a nap!



Fun in the Pool for the First Time!

Oooohhh - this is new! What a large bathtub! Mommy and Daddy get to join me in the bath??? Why is my diaper on???? I'm not sure what to make of this but it seems okay. Maybe next time I'll get to float in something like my cousin Kaitlyn has. That might be FUN!

Long Fun Day!

"Bang! Snap! Whistle! Pop!
Fireworks fill the air.
See them lighting up the sky
On the Fourth of July."

I didn't like the whistling fireworks too much! They hurt my ears but the colors in the sky were really neat! I could look at the lights and colors for hours.

What a Great Day!

Fun with Reading!

My sister-cousin, Morgan, loves to come over to my house and read to me. She is so patient with me since I don't really understand the words yet but she shows me all of the pictures! I can't wait until the next time she comes over to read again. :)

Mommy and Daddy read to me too! Mommy reads me Dr. Suess (I adore "The Sleep Book" right before bed.) Daddy reads me the encyclopedia. We're still on the A's but I've learnt all about the Aborigines and John Quincy Adams. So, I definitely have a variety of reading material and am learning lots and I'm not even 6 months old yet.

Daddy and Aelyn on Father's Day

A Little Girl Needs Daddy

A little girl needs Daddy
For many, many things:
Like holding her high off the ground
Where the sunlight sings!
Like being the deep music
That tells her all is right
When she awakens frantic with
The terrors of the night.
Like being the great mountain
That rises in her heart
And shows her how she might get home
When all else falls apart.
Like giving her the love
That is her sea and air,
So diving deep or soaring high
She'll always find him there.

Rob had a wonderful First Father's Day!

Aelyn with Great Grandparents

Aelyn has had many opportunities to see her Grandparents but she is a special little girl in that she also has Great Grandparents that also love her very much.

With Great-Grandma Nona

With Great-Grandma Bernice and Great-Grandpa Raymond

4 Month Doctor's Appointment

Aelyn is officially 4 months old. She weighed in at 11lbs 3oz and is now 23in long. She is in the 10th percentile for her true age and in the 80th percentile for her adjusted age so she is growing appropriately.

Of course, she is very stubborn. She holds her head up and will support her legs for us. But, she wouldn't do anything for the doctor. She just let her head fall back and didn't want anything to do with showing how strong she is. She didn't want anything to do with the doctor's office and especially once she had those shots....forget it....she wanted out of there as quickly as possible!

She is to stay on the same "preemie" formula until her 6 month appointment in August. They don't want to move her to solids yet and we have to agree. We think she will be ready then and expect many, many changes and "firsts" over the next couple of months.

Aelyn is definitely a healthy, growing girl.

Almost Four Months Old

I am almost 4 months old and am growing so fast. I love to eat constantly. Mommy and Daddy sometimes call me a "piggy girl." But, it's okay I need to grow big now. I'm trying to help Mommy and Daddy get sleep by only wanting to eat once during the night. They are feeding me 6-7oz before bed now so it really helps.

I have fun looking at myself in the mirror. I'm really beginning to see the contrast in colors and am smiling much more often. I've started giggling just this week.

And, would you believe I can hold my head up for 10-20 seconds at a time? Tummy time is really working! :)

I am always moving my hands and feet and want to be crawling around soooo bad! I know I'll get there soon and then Mommy and Daddy will have to chase me to keep up.

I'm having so much fun and I think I'm a good baby. Mommy and Daddy think so too and I know they are enjoying every moment of me.

Memorial Day Weekend Party

We had a huge family gathering and barbeque Memorial Day Weekend. Rob and Friends had built a deck the previous weekend and we figured it was already time to break it in. Would you believe 22lbs of meat was smoked and eaten within less than an hour. It is absolutely amazing!
It also became a Welcome Home Aelyn Party! People continue to bring gifts for our little girl and everyone wants to hold the "princess." I don't believe Rob and I held her until late into the evening. It continues to amaze us what wonderful family and friends we have. Thank you to all!

Babysitter Morgan and Aelyn

The babysitter falls asleep while holding the baby but won't give the baby up. Morgan is so protective of her new little sister/cousin that even when she falls asleep watching a movie she holds on tight.

What a beautiful, precious sight that shows the caring of a child.

Happy Mother's Day

To My New Mommy:

Thank you for waking up and feeding me every two hours. I know how tired you are but I just can't take care of myself yet.

Thank you for holding me when I cry. I'm just testing my voice and my lungs and I just want to make sure you are there.

Thank you for giving me a bath. I know it's difficult to hold my neck when I'm all wet and I'm crying. It will be easier soon.

Thank you for telling me how beautiful and smart I am. This will sink in one say so keep saying it.

Thank you for being there. I will miss you when you go back to work tomorrow but I know that daddy is taking care of me. I know you are happy doing adult things too.

Mostly, Thank you for loving me. All I need as a baby is to eat, sleep, and a clean diaper to continue living. But, Love will help me develop into the best possible person I can be.

Enjoy this time with me because I won't be this little forever! Happy First Mother's Day

Aelyn

She Reached Her Due Date

It's Official - Aelyn is "zero days old". She reached her due date and is doing wonderfully. She has had her eyesight checked again and things are developing properly. She is a bit farsighted at this time but the opthamologist will continue to check that for improvement. She is approximately 7lbs and is becoming a beautifully "chunky" baby girl, as it should be. She has discovered the "baby in the mirror" and will occassionally hold her bottle. Aelyn enjoys the bouncy seat but doesn't quite get the swing yet. She is fiesty and will hold her head up for as long as she can before collapsing back on our chest, crib, or mat. She absolutely adores music and will calm down immediately when you play the leapfrog worm classical music set. Oh yeah, and if you stand her on your legs she will straighten and stand for as long as possible. Our beautiful, smart daughter is growing every day. Now, if she would only sleep for longer than 2 hours at a time. :)