Baby Boy is Getting Old!

Our little boy Benji was born in August. He is too cute! I am very busy and lazy and blogging is, frankly, not very convenient.

After a four-hour, epidural-less, whirlwind labor, Benji joined us. Yes I was upset that we only had our phones for his first pictures.

He was 7 lbs 2 oz and 19.5 inches long.

He was a sweetheart from the very beginning.

We got a huge surprise when our families drove up together from Utah to meet Benji. They are crazy and only spent 1.5 days not travelling. But they got to meet our little guy.

And since then, we have fallen even more in love with him and have taken him on many adventures including many walks, a trip to the zoo, and his first dip in the lake. I think he looks a lot like my dad.

Now that he is getting older (I mean, he is super old, 2 1/2 months!), it is really fun to see his little personality develop. Benji is so smiley and is constantly cooing and gurgling (not constantly, he is quietish when he sleeps and sometimes he screams). He is so chill and loves to be snuggled.

We love our Benji Boy!

Winnie-the-Pooh Nursery

Andrew's mom came to visit and was happy to paint a mural on our nursery wall! She said she always wanted to paint a mural in her kids' rooms but never was bold enough to decide on something and then follow through. I think she did a great job.


The base layer of the painting. She wanted it to look like a watercolor painting, as the A. A. Milne text's illustrations are.


Trees to frame the painting.


Rachel loved watching Oma paint.


Time to lower the crib! She's only 9 months old, for goodness sake.


Putting some finishing touches on the beehive.


Owl.


The honeybees.











More characters will appear on the opposite wall at a later date.

Rachel loves it. She waves at Owl when she wakes up and points from Owl and the honeybees whenever we go into her room.

Tripping on the Tulips

We really didn't trip on the tulips, nor did we tiptoe through them, nor did we trample them. But we did enjoy going to Tulip Festival two times this April!

Time Number One: With Aunt Jean, Uncle Kevin, and Cousins Marie and Henry


Family picture by the tulips


The happiest baby with daffodils and some lovely photo editing by Andrew




Sitting on a frog statue








Enjoying the VERY fragrant hyacinths.


I love daffodils and I love all the varieties there are here.


It was very windy and we were star parents again and only had a little blanket for Rachel.


I love it! Daffodils are my favorite flower.












Jean and Marie--maybe they did trample some tulips.

Time Number 2: With my parents

It is amazing how much the gardens changed after two weeks!






Rhodies




Karate Carl with Kung Fu Tulips





If you have never been to the Tulip Festival and you are in Washington in April---GO! You won't be sad!

A Clear Day

A clear day in Washington is usually dominated by this beautiful and famous volcano, Mt. Rainier. (depending on the direction you are looking--you may see Mt. Baker to the north)

It really is amazing.

Welcome Baby!

We are so happy! Our little girl Rachel was born on October 30. She is a tiny tiny thing. She was 5 lbs. 14 oz. and 18 inches long. Enjoy some pictures to begin with.


Welcoming my little girl.


The proud papa.


Changing a poopy diaper.


Our happy family in the hospital.


She has great brown hair and is so precious.


Rachel is such a beautiful girl.


We are so excited to go home!


Rachel was Minnie Mouse for Halloween. Her costume is WAY too big--literally mini mouse!


Those mouse ears may be the death of her, so I sat next to her and made sure it didn't eat her head in the car.


Rachel and Mom


Dad just loves his little girl.


That's my pretty girl.

We are so happy and are really grateful that everything went smoothly with her birth. My mom is here now and it is so fun to have some Grandma time with her. Of course, there will be more soon!