Bath Time!

I generally don't believe in posting pictures of naked babies on the internet, no matter how cute. But these are too funny.

Our friends came to visit us and we put all three kids in the bathtub.


The closest we get to having them all look at the camera at the same time.


The little babies stare at the toddler's craziness.


The nasal aspirator: best bath toy ever. And dog-boy toy ever, too.


"Mom, this is the funnest bath of my life."

So the pictures aren't that funny. But it was a funny bath.

Woodland Park Zoo and Seattle Aquarium

I almost entitled this post "Willow Park Zoo," but that is the zoo in Logan, not in Seattle. How crazy that they are practically the same name.

These are our adventures with our friends, Sarah and Olivia. We walk together on the trail near us once a week. We are in the same ward. Olivia and Rachel look like cousins. Sarah and I don't, except we have the same name, brown hair, and glasses. Our husbands are nerds and mechanical engineers.

The Woodland Park Zoo

We went at the beginning of May. I have been lazy and haven't blogged it yet until now. I decided just to get a zoo pass. If we go three times in the next year it will be worth it. Since I don't think Rachel really understood the zoo, so we will have to go again.


Olivia rocking her sunglasses.


Olivia and Rachel looking at the penguins. Sarah taking a picture. The penguins ignoring the people.


We will force you two to be buddies.


Rachel and I in the jungle. It was humid and hot. Rachel thought it was weird.


GORILLA!


Hungry Rachel showing off her bottle-holding skillz.


A giraffe's behind.


A lion cub! It was so cool. He came right up to the window and seemed really interested in the kids. It seemed like he was looking at Rachel's bottle, or maybe he wanted to eat Rachel.


Of course, he walked away as soon as we tried to get a picture.


An elephant with only one tusk.


Rachel fell asleep. I guess the zoo was not all that thrilling for her.


Flamingos. Not as noisy as the ones I remember from my childhood.

We had a great time at the zoo. It was a beautiful day and we spent it with our lovely friends. :)

The Seattle Aquarium

At the beginning of June, we went to the aquarium with our friends.

We began the journey by locking Olivia in the car. We had to wait for 45 minutes for a locksmith to come because the 911 dispatcher was dumb and said the police couldn't help us, but she should have had the fire department come. Anyway, Rachel actually helped cheer Olivia up by patting the windows. She handled the whole situation pretty well.

Be brave, Olivia...

Blessings include:
The car was in the shade
Only one baby was in the car
The older baby was in the car
It was not a hot day

And then we made it to the aquarium.


Rachel enjoying the Puget Sound fish exhibit.


Olivia enjoying the tide pools.


Rachel enjoying the tide pools.


Rachel eating my sandwich bag.


Rachel liked watching this tropical fish.


Rachel and me looking at fish.


A funny picture of Rachel playing with her bottle.


Cute sea otters! They were all playing and barking at each other. I love otters.


A beautiful day in Seattle!


A harbor seal.

We had a really great time at the aquarium with our friends. I think Rachel "got it" better than the zoo, probably because the animals are all right there and are generally bright colors or swimming around.

Snuggles

I am not much of a snuggler. But I do sometimes. Like when we get a new couch and I snuggle with an adorable baby.

Nothing Like a Cousin

Rachel only has one cousin.

His name is Nigel.


That's Nigel.

Nigel and Rachel met for the first time before Christmas.

Rachel was thrilled.


Andrew had a lot of fun throwing Nigel around. You can't throw around a two-month-old baby.

For the most part, Nigel could care less about Rachel. And Rachel could care less about him.


Nigel was interested in Grandma's toys and his Aunt Leslie.

But when their mommies forced them to sit by each other, Nigel and Rachel really hit it off.


This must go on my wall.


Sitting with Grandpa.


Nigel looked away from his drum for a minute to look at the little person.

I was always amazed at how big a difference six months made! Maybe someday they will be friends. Or, more likely, they will torture each other. It was a fun holiday spent with a cousin!

Christmas Things That Actually Happened At Christmastime!

Merry Utah Christmas! We had a holly jolly Christmas and I was very happy that it snowed a ton! I love snow!


We got caroled to by the Stevenses. They are really good--like with legit harmonies and skilled singers. How nice to be sung to by talented and enthusiastic carolers.


Rachel got stuffed into her stocking by her Oma.


Megan, Zachary, Me, and Rachel in our PJs for the Christmas Eve party. Rachel and Zachary were due at pretty much the same time. I think Rachel was born on his due date, but he went a week late. Now they can be friends! Oh, Megan is Andrew's aunt and Zachary is Andrews cousin! Ha ha...


Hungry Rachel and me on Christmas morning with our stockings.


Rachel the little elf with her elf stocking.


Rachel with her presents from Santa Claus! What a nice guy!


Going to see the lights at Temple Square. Andrew, me, Rachel (in the pack), Maren, and Wesley.

Merry Christmas! A month late, but, oh well. More pictures from our journey to come, I promise!

We Survived!

We survived our road trip to Utah and back. It was so fun. I will post more about it later.

Right now, I'm trying to clean up some messes and spending Andrew's hard-earned money on large appliances. Until then, enjoy this cute picture from my phone of two, slightly possessed-looking babies enjoying their first Christmas. What cousin love.

The Only Pictures on My Phone

Pretty much the only pictures on my phone are of Rachel. How can I help it when she is so darn cute?


Wearing her cute gingerbread outfit from Grandpa.


On a walk with mom and she is actually awake! It didn't last too much longer. Usually she zonks right out when I put her in the Ergo Baby (which we love). Also, I look like a dork and have my eyes closed.


"I'm awake!" Even in the car. Such pretty, big, blue eyes.


First trip to Cabela's and trying out fishing poles with dad. She is wearing her little elf outfit from Oma.


I accidentally captured one of her first conscious smiles!


A beautiful girl who is finally happy again. Hooray for modern medicine! (more on this later)


The tail end of a smile. She is so cute. Her mohawk and mullet are both getting longer.

And, because all the other pictures on my phone are of him that Melanie sent to me, here is my adorable nephew, Nigel.

He also has big, blue eyes. I'm so excited for them to "meet" (Nigel whacking Rachel in the face) at Christmas time.

So many baby pictures. Being a mom is interesting, to say the least.

Have you realized that parents are like 20 times the size of their babies?