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!!!