Rachel's first Christmas

 

Six Months!

 

5 months!

Rachel is a happy girl!  

• She loves being held and isn't a huge fan of the swing or bumbo...however, she doesn't seem to mind swings that go side to side.  
• She's rolling over back to front a lot and is still getting stuck on her front.  
• She kicks her legs super fast like she's riding a bicycle - oh man!  She's got "Jimmy legs!".
• She loves to "talk" and has a really cute squeel!  Hopefully it won't escalate too much!  :)
• We're going to start solid foods soon!  This has gone way too fast!  
• Ellie doesn't hit her very much anymore, thank goodness!  But we noticed that when we went to Boston recently that Ellie likes to hit bald heads.  I was holding her beside her uncle and then SMACK....his poor head!
• Ellie has leaned over and kissed her several times without being told....sooooooo sweet!!!  Love it!!! 

Rachel's age progression and 4 month pictures

I'm so behind on posting pictures!  I'm so glad we have the pictures for our records but I wish I had more time to post them to our blog.  Oh well....here's an age progression collage (click on it to see a bigger version) and a few from Rachel's 4 month "photo shoot" (haha...it's almost time for her 5 month "photo shoot"!).  Still not much hair!  But she's so cute! 

Happy Heart Day! 4 wonderful years!

Four years ago today, a HUGE MIRACLE occurred!  Ellie's AV Canal heart defect was mended...and her parents' hearts were mended too!  We are so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior who worked through a humble and inspired doctor to fix a heart smaller than an acorn.
We love you SO MUCH Elle-Belle!!!  We are so proud to be your parents!!!

Bath: Getting ready to go to the hospital early in the morning of 10/10/08. I wanted to get a picture of her chest before the scar from surgery. 

Ellie post-surgery


We were so happy when we FINALLY got to hold her post-surgery!

Discharge Day: She looks so happy and healthy! 
Her first smile ever (that we caught on camera)!  
 

Ellie 4 years later: She wore her heart shirt on this very special day!
 

This sweet picture reminds me of the peace and assurance I felt when praying for her heart to be healed.

Dr. Moga, the humble instrument in His hands :)

3 Months!

 Rachel found her feet this past month!

 Yo, wassup?

Thanks for the super cute headband Aunt Jessica!!!  

Rachel is "talking" all the time now and it's so much fun.  It's so sweet the way she smiles and coos when I hold her.  She is amazing.  Ellie is still adjusting but is hitting her less often which is encouraging!  :)  Today, Ellie actually let Rachel sit in her lap while daddy helped Ellie burp her.  Maybe she thought it was like hitting??  :)  I hope not.  I know Ellie loves her little sister and I'm excited to see them grow up and learn together. 

Morning park and stroll

 

 This morning was really fun.  First, got up and worked out with some friends.  Matt has been on a 75 mile canoe trip all week and got back at 4 AM so we went to the park behind our home (while he slept) where Ellie has mastered getting up on the "big kids" play equipment.  She could stay up there forever!  The only way I can get her to come down is by plopping her in my lap and sliding!  Her other favorite thing is swinging - another activity she could do forever!  Rachel was so sweet and just hung out while we played.  We took a walk afterwards and admired the beautiful flowers in everyone else's yards!  :) 
Someday I will have a pretty yard...

We are having a fun summer.  We've been swimming, running, canoeing, playing with friends, boating, grilling....seems like it's not summer unless you do those things!  We've been blessed.

Rachel's 2 month photos!

Rachel is such a sweet baby girl!  She cried almost nonstop for the first 6 weeks of her life but now she is very happy (as long as she is fed, has a pacifier or held).  She coos, giggles and smiles.  At her 2 month appointment, she weighed 10 pds 10 oz and was 22 1/2 inches long.  

She and Ellie have a love/hate relationship.  Ellie has been known to walk up and smack Rachel on the head (yikes!) but has also tried to help her put her pacifier in her mouth, give her a bottle and rock her in her car seat.  Whenever Ellie hears Rachel crying, she will go to Rachel's bassinet and stand there as if trying to let Rachel know she's not alone.  :)  

Having two girls is really wonderful.  I can't wait until they play together!!! 

Just stick, then click! Rachel's Growth Progress in Pictures

Rachel on Day 1

 

Rachel at 1 month!

I got this cute idea from my sis-in-law, Jonelle, where you put stickers on your baby's onesie to help keep track of their growth in pictures.  I love it!  

 

 

 Ellie is a caring big sister (sometimes!)

 She's worn out!

More pics of Rachel and a message to Utah residents

Dear Residents of Utah,

You are the luckiest people on the planet because you are soon gaining one of the BEST photographers and one of my dearest friends!  Consider it my favor to you.  You owe me, Utah!  

Love,

A very sad resident of Minnesota :(

Rachel's photoshoot

More to come very soon!!! 

Thanks JoAnne!

Welcome baby Rachel!

Born on May 20, 2012 at 11:07 AM

Weight: 7lbs 10oz

Length: 20 1/4 inches

Hair color: Brown

The whole process started Saturday morning around 6am when Erin started having regular contractions.  Matt went off to help his Grandma move into her new place.  The contractions were consistent throughout the day and gradually intensified.  Matt was still working on the move in the afternoon so Marie (Matt's mom) went over to be with Erin and Ellie.  When Matt got home at 6pm, it was time to go the hospital!  Erin was admitted on the spot and with the help of a special balloon, some drugs, a lot of great coaching from Barb T. and enduring some extreme pain on Erin's part, Rachel was delivered after 26 hours of labor and about 45 minutes of pushing. 

Everyone is doing great and we really appreciate all the support and well wishes we have received.

Ellie was really hungry when we she met Rachel so after just a few moments of "Hey, how you been?" and "How was the move?", she was ready for dinner but here's a picture of the reunion:

  The new family addition just minutes after birth

 Special thanks to:  

• Barb for being there the whole way and being such a wonderful comfort and support to Erin.  She probably got less sleep than Matt and braved some serious lightening and rain!

 

Rachel and Barb

• Mike, Niki and family for taking great care of Ellie and getting her all gussied up for Sunday.

  Rachel and Niki (Aunt)

• All of our other visitors: Larry and Marie (Matt's parents), Laura M., Mike, Niki, Adam, Anna, Camille and little Calvin!

Rachel and Grandparents Larry and Marie

Matt thinks she looks just like he did when he was born (the old grainy picture is Matt).  Let us know what you think...