just for fun

Aiden is posing


He requested this picture, and set it up himself. " I want you over there and I'll sit on the steps while you take my picture" it turned out well, too bad he's naked

Natalie chilling with me in her blue bathing suit. Why does a not even 3 month old need a bathing suit you ask.... because it's so darn cute that's why!!

it's really a fake tankini... Modesty is important in our family, can't you tell?

lost in the leaves

look at how cute her tushie looks!

http://

we call this 'crazy hair'

http://

Yesterday in the yard Aiden was doing tricks while I video taped him. There was another video with lots of tricks but at the end he came over and farted bu the camera then announced it. I decided it wasn't the big finish I was looking for. We have been keeping cool in the kiddie pool, Aiden likes to trow things in it not actually play in it but oh well. Natalie has been keeping cool with cool baths at night and lots of nursing. I don't see how she could be in the 25 %, look at her! but oh well. Hope you enjoy, Happy 4th everyone!!

Natalie's list of Firsts..

So serious looking

Talking to me about those leaves... I sure am glad she likes this thing. We bought it for Aiden and he couldn't be bothered with being put down to play with it. It was a source of frustration for him.

Such a happy little girl, even during tummy time!

So this has been a big week for Ms Natalie. She had her first big laugh yesterday (June 30th) when I did the age old "how big is Natalie" bit and moved her arms. Also on Monday night during her tummy time at my mom's house she pushed herself up and rolled over onto her back. She kinda scared herself doing that one. She is also getting really good with her head (as you can see).

The weekend of Grandparents

Natalie and Grammie, I love how Grandpa Pat is peaking from the background

Natalie and Grampy

So cute at Grampy and Grandma Gustafson's

Aiden playing with Grampy and Grandma and Aunt Hayley's doll house. I think he played with it for 2 hours!

The official measurement.

Telling Grandpa Pat something exciting! Aiden helped build the fire, and get wood.

taking his boots off to run barefoot

Natalie and Great Grandma Stidham

Grandma, Grandpa and Natalie



Aiden showing me his trick

Natalie and Nonna

Bath time fun
http://

Natalie in her CUTE new jamies from second cousin Carolyn

Aiden showing Natalie the proper way to do the french press


So last weekend we went on a crazy grandparent trip. We saw all but one set of grandparents. On Friday the kids and I drove up to Astoria, we took it slow, stopped for lunch and a nurse break on our way and got to Olney around 3. We spent the night out there hanging out with Grammie and and Grandpa Pat, had s'mores roasted over the fire and general good fun. On Saturday we went and visited Great Grandma Carol then Grampie and Grandma Gustafson before heading back to Olney for dinner. On Sunday we went to Great Grandpa and Grandma Stidham's house to visit then down to the Astoria Sunday market, quite impressive, I must say. After heading back to Olney to pack up we headed to Portland for dinner, ended up staying until Tuesday morning and then headed home. Whew, I'm tired from just re-hashing it. We had a great time, it was too short as always but the kids did really well and we can't wait to see everyone again.

Natalie's 2 month Appointment

I borrowed a swaddler from a friend and now I can get her to sleep in the cradle for about 3 hours

Sleeping on Daddy Monday morning

wondering why I am documenting her nap

awww... look at those poor little thighs

Big stretch

Looking seriously at the shadows

She's so Darn Cute!!

All Smiles for the camera

https://width="425" height="344">name="allowFullScreen" value="true">

So Natalie had her two month appointment today. She was 9 pounds 12.7 ounces, the 25th percentile, and 23.5 inches long, the 90th percentile. We(I) have decided to follow an alternative vaccine schedule with Natalie and so she received only 2 shots today and the oral rotavirus. She got HepB and DTaP. The doc said she looked great, but that her hips were a little loose so we are going to have a ultrasound on them later this month just to make sure everything is where it should be. I felt awful when she got her shots but at least it was only 2 and not 4 or 5.

Father's Day Camping trip!!

Yep, that's right, this picture can mean only one thing. Two adult, one toddler one newborn and a stinky dog on the road. Can you believe we all fit? I can't. In all fairness Malaki only had about 4 square feet.

So I up-loaded these pictures backwards, so this is the last day and the last picture is the first day, but we'll get though it and maybe I've learned a lesson for next time. Isn't this cute? Father and son on Fathers day in matching Carhart's. I didn't even do it intentionally... I love how they are mirroring each other here.

The kids with their daddy on Daddy's day. Aiden is showing off his bobber that he found. It's now a bath toy.

Malaki watching Loren to see if he'll look away long enough for her to jump in the lake.

Aiden in my hat with my hat light on. He thought it was the best thing ever. He looks like such a big boy!

through the campfire (this is still Sunday Morning)

Saturday night around the campfire. Natalie looks so different in this picture, she looks square and so not 2 months old.

Aiden decided after all the work of S'mores that he really only likes the chocolate. So I had to eat his s'more. It's tough to be a mom sometimes.

Aiden blowing out his marshmallow (that's on fire)

Cooking his first marshmallow

Aiden took this picture

And this one. I can't wait to get him his own kid tough camera and see what he takes pictures of when he's on his own.

Father and daughter

Natalie hanging out on the picnic table (I bet you're wondering how we fit everything about now...the boppy, a bouncer, a cooler, dog, kids, tent, food, clothes..... oh the power of efficient packing)

She loved looking at the trees

Natalie and I on the shore, watching the dog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPxFPQGw00Y

https://

Father, son and dog

She is a spry old lady, I will say that

It was bound to happen, I just wish he had taken his shoes off

The family

Loren, Aiden and the dog before we accepted that dogs like the water, and for fat old dogs, water aerobics is good.

So we only went for one night, originally we had planned on two but we(I) were cold and somehow the full sized air mattress just wasn't big enough for Natalie, Loren and I and although we brought the porta-crib (another thing to add to the list) she only napped in it a few times and we (I) used it to change diapers on. Also it rained on us during the night and for a bit while we were making coffee in the morning. So we packed up on Sunday at a leisurely pace, had bacon and eggs, two pots of coffee and headed home. We learned a few things we need to add to our camping stuff and some things weren't used so they will be retired for now to make room for the new. It is always easy if the first trip of the season is a short one. Oh did I even tell you where we went? Just about 30 minutes out of town to Fall Creek Reservoir. It was a beautiful state park and we camped under huge trees, which helped to keep us fairly dry during all that rain. All in all it was a great trip and I think it was a good fathers day for Loren. Happy father's day to all the Dad's out there and I hope you all did something you love with those who love you like we did.