Apple Picking…sort of

I've been wanting to go apple picking for months…and the season finally got here!  But, I couldn't find anyone to go with me…so I kept waiting and waiting, until I finally decided to just go alone with Elisabeth!  Well, on our way out the door, her Grammy called (Dan's Mom), and wanted to know if we needed any help, so we swung by to pick her up.  On our way there, Carra called and asked if we would take cousin Julia along.  So, in the end we didn't go by ourselves!!  However, when we arrived at the first orchard, they informed us that picking was over.  The second orchard said that there were only a few red delicious drops left, and we could take a look if we wanted to.  So, we dragged (litterally) the kids out to the orchard and picked apples…that is, picked them up off the ground! :-)  Oh well!!  Maybe next year I won't wait as long!!

Ready to go picking!!

Elisabeth's first apple picking experience!

Yummy apples!!

Lovin the apples too!! Even though she doesn't have any teeth!

Cousins!!

Gotta love the matching pig tails!

Grammy and the girls

She just loves the outdoors!!

4 Generations of First Borns

My Grandmother, on my mother's side, was an only child.  My mother was the oldest of four.  I was the oldest of three.  Elisabeth is our firstborn.  That makes 4 generations of firstborn daughters!  We were all able to get a picture together at a recent Ladies Bible Study held at MBBC.

Mommy, Nana, GG, and Elisabeth 

We added Elisabeth's look-alike, Auntie Dani for this picture!

Photo Update

We are so thankful to have Auntie Jo back!! :-)  She takes such beautiful pictures!!  Here are a few of her latest work…

The rest of these pictures were taken by me, before Jordan came home.

Pretty in Pink!

Getting into the trash…which is now kept ON TOP of the desk!

Ukata

Auntie Jo finally came home from Japan…and she brought home a tiny Ukata (traditional Japanese dress) for Elisabeth!!  We tried it on her and had a little photo shoot.  She was a real ham the whole time Auntie Jo was snapping pictures!

Blissful Chaos

I figured out why they say not to give toys with small parts to young children!!  Its because they strew them everywhere and then you have to pick them up!! :-)  Actually, I don't mind the mess one bit!  Children have to explore with all five senses in order to learn and develop.  Plus, its a good training opportunity to have them help you pick up.  I just loved this picture!  All three of them have a toy in their hand and a smile on their face!  While some may look at this picture and see a chaotic mess, I see three blissful children exploring their surroundings!

Feeding Time!

For the last few months, Elisabeth has grabbed at our food, cried while we were eating, and gazed longingly at our plates.  We wanted to wait until she was 6 months old, so her stomach would be developed enough to handle the new foods.  We are going to puree our own baby food.  Last weekend we decided she had waited long enough (even though it was a week early :-), and Nana fed her sweet potatoes for the first time!  She was so excited!  She squeaked and kicked her feet in excited anticipation as Nana brought the spoon to her mouth!  I'm sure she was thinking "Finally!".

She took her first bite, and was thrilled!  Although, I don't think the texture completely agreed with her, overall I think she was quite satisfied! :-)  

Then she washed her sweet potatoes down with a little bit of organic cherry juice!

What a happy baby!

Since her first feeding, we have expanded her food selection adding avocado and banana.

Yum Yum! Here it comes!

Elisabeth really enjoyed feeding herself some banana with the "food feeder" "Big" Grammie (Daniel's Grandmother) gave her.

It is so exciting watching Elisabeth develop, grow, and learn.  We are teaching her sign language, and meal times are the perfect opportunity to incorporate them!  Some basic signs we are starting with are; milk, eat, more, cup, all done, up, change (diaper), bath, Daddy, Mommy, book, and (go to) bed.  She hasn't started signing herself, but I know if we stick with it, she will pick it up soon!  Elisabeth is almost crawling and getting into a sitting position by herself.  Day-by-day she is progressing and it is so much fun watching her!  We are truly blessed!

An Evening at the Park

Daniel, Elisabeth and I went to the park with Carra, Julia, Jake, and Josiah.  We had a fun time, as you can see from the pictures! :-)

Adventurous Julia 

Silly Jake

Happy Elisabeth in the Carrier on Mommy's Back

Swing!

"Unkie Dan" and his favorite niece!

Jake…always reaching for the camera!

Both boys in the swing

Aww! Brotherly love!

Elisabeth's turn in the swing!

Thoroughly enjoying it!

Silly Goose!

Smilin' Siah!

Elisabeth's first sandbox experience

5 Months

I can't believe Elisabeth is already 5 months old!!  Wow, time really does fly! :-)  She is growing quite a bit (nearly 17 lbs!!), and developing more every day!

She is such a happy baby!  God has really blessed me!  It is such a joy caring for her!  We are starting to get into a bit of a schedule now!  She goes to bed somewhere between 8:30 and 9:30 pm.

Then she usually gets up between 5:00 and 6:00 to eat, then sleeps until between 8:00 and 9:00.  Naps are around 11:00 and 4:00.

She is putting everything in her mouth that she can get her hands on!  She is even learning how to hold her own sippy cup!

She is getting very mobile too!  I think crawling will be coming real soon!

She loves to laugh and giggle as well as smile her big smile!

She is rolling from belly to back and back to belly quite easily now!  She is trying to figure out how to move forward, instead of just side to side.

Her new favorite 'toy' to suck on is her big toe!