a simple life of love

Two Beauties

2012-01-30T06:20:00.000-08:00

Ari (top row) and Ashlyn at 7 months
(click collage to view larger)

Happy Birthday Dadda!!

2012-01-26T07:39:00.000-08:00

We looooove you!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Ashlyn 7 Months

2012-01-24T11:30:00.000-08:00

Ashlyn is seven months! More than half a year has passed already? Cannot imagine what our life was like without her... quieter maybe! She's so sweet, and has such a different personality than Ari. Still opinionated though and quite vocal but more sensitive and observant of her surroundings. She's also more easily appeased and sleeps better.

She weighs in around 17.5 pounds (75 percentile) and is 28 inches tall (97 percentile). Ashlyn is eating solid foods twice a day. Usually an oatmeal mix with fruit and then a broth-based blend of a veggie like carrot, sweet potato or butternut squash. She likes to eat solids but still is nursing numerous times a day and sometimes once at night. She slept through the night a few times this month but we're heading into cutting teeth stage and inconsistency remains the only consistent thing.
Ashlyn is a roller and a sitter. She is not crawling (which is fine by me) but still manages to get across the room rather quickly by rolling and scooting. She loves chewing on anything she can get her hands on and is constantly moving or using her hands and feet to play and move. She talks alot but squeals more. If she's feeling left out, she'll shout and demand for whatever she wants (not unlike any human-Ha).

Ashlyn is growing too fast. That's one truth.

She's also voting Republican this fall, anyone else?

Just one pic please

2012-01-19T10:46:00.000-08:00

Not to be ungrateful with what a blessing a digital camera is... but I CANNOT get a single picture of Ari and Ashlyn where they generally look cute, happy or are both looking at the camera.

What is happening here? (Ashlyn has a bow in her 'hair')

Seriously... Ari looks like she's holding back aggression and is armed with wooden weapons.

Blurry and Blurry. I can't imagine being in the 'old days' (ie- Civil War time) when people would have to be still for like 1-2 minutes for each photograph!

They look like stoners here... too much rock music I guess.

And this one still makes me laugh a little every time!

An Afternoon Lesson in Sharing...

2012-01-15T18:26:00.000-08:00

Ari and Ashlyn,

Mommy knows that with sisters, sharing is tough. First, it is plastic cars and hair-ties but soon it will be shoes and jeans. I'm so not ready for slamming doors and screaming about who borrowed what. For now, I'll enjoy Thursday's lesson in sharing and being kind. Here's a photo-journal account of what happened:

First, Ari has the car and fuzzis. Casually playing on a random box in the hallway.

Somehow, Ashlyn gets a hold of the car, probably while Ari is putting the fuzzis on her eyes.

Ashlyn realizes quickly that Ari has taken the car back to its 'rightful' owner. (So quickly and violently, I cannot photograph it)

The look of shocking disappointment.

Mommy steps in and tells Ari to run to retrieve a toy for Ashlyn to play with instead of the car in dispute.

Ari runs to get the bird rattle. She is such a good listener.

"Here you go Ash."

Happy happy Girls!

Thanks Dadda!

2012-01-11T08:21:00.000-08:00

(Ari and Ashlyn told me today that they wanted to say a special thanks to their Dadda)

You are our favorite boy and we love when you make us laugh. Thank YOU for working so hard so that we can eat num nums, cheese, turkey, chicken, mustard, grapes and oatmeal (oahmoot). We missed you while you were gone in St. Louis on a 'twip'. Though we were asleep when you arrived, we had sweet dreams about you.

We know you are super busy but we thank you for taking time to play and chase us around in our jammies. We loooove to play with you and we are very excited when you come home for dinnertime.

Kisses, hugs and big smiles.

-Ari & Ashlyn

Caption CONTEST

2012-01-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

Ari was playing 'dress up' one afternoon after we got back from our trip. She found a few things she wanted to use...

Please add your comments and captions and we'll crown a winner this weekend

Ari turns 2!

2012-01-02T07:58:00.000-08:00

Our Ari Taylor turned two yesterday! We can't believe how quickly time has flown since that cold December night when she wanted to wait till 2010 to be born (while at the same time, prolonging our tax incentive an extra year). We have had hearts full of love ever since. We celebrate her two years every single day when we laugh at her personality, are amazed by her intelligence and are shocked at her ability to disobey! (ha, in all fairness though, she's very well-behaved).

ELMO CAKE was the motto of the weekend. As most toddlers her age, she absolutely adores that furry red monster with a positive attitude and sweet voice. Ari overheard me mention to Aunt Bex that I wanted to make her an Elmo cake and she's been asking for one ever since! I delivered... with some trepidation for my cooking/cake decorating skills.

For her birthday dinner, I made cheeseburgers and sweet potato fries. Ari's favorites (and some other goodies for the adults). Thank you to Grammy Claire for making her birthday Tutu!

Ari was in love with all the attention and was a pickle at the dinner table, making us all laugh out loud at her sayings and excitement with the people. She had a great birthday and we thank all those who made it and we missed all those who couldn't. Ari is well-loved and we are well-blessed!!

More pics/stats to come!

Katie's Pics

2011-12-30T11:29:00.000-08:00

Here are some of Katie Haller's Pictures from Ohio!

Christmas in Ohio

2011-12-28T16:40:00.000-08:00

Check out this lovely family: A Dad, a Mom, three sons, one daughter, two daughter-in-laws, two grand-girls and one more on the way! Such love. Christmas this year was spent in Ohio. We ate a lot of food, laughed and played with Ari.

Bill helped rock Ashlyn to sleep a couple of times; so sweet.

Yah, Katie in front of the camera and not just behind it! I loved watching Katie with Ashlyn, she was so tender and caring. I also am so looking forward to Mark and Jill having their sweet baby girl in just a few short weeks!

Christmas afternoon, we went and visited Grandma Haller. I'm sure we overwhelmed her with our crazy loud presence, but hopefully she was as blessed as we were to see our girls.

Oh, the bliss of a new toy on Christmas morn!

And lastly, here's Uncle Dave with Ashlyn who consistently smiled the entire weekend. I'm pretty sure people only heard her cry a few times! We had such a fun time in Ohio for holiday festivities and Jill's baby shower.

Ashlyn @ 6 months

2011-12-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

Update: I originally posted this post on her 6 month birthday but I wanted to finish writing about the things she's doing and eating but I went to Ohio and got lost in the crazy shuffle of Christmas. Updates are below.

Well, out little chunky monkey is 6 months old! Half a year? 'Oh-my-gooohness' (As Ari says). She is such a happy girl. Her schedule is not consistent but she usually takes two big naps and one short one at dinner time. She still wakes up 2 or 3 times in the night and we're beginning to feed her solid foods and hopefully, that will help her feel more full and sleep a few extra hours! Ashlyn's eyes might stay blue or green! I'll love it either way but I am biased for loving my green eyes. She weighs around 16 0r so pounds but we'll have more updated stats soon at her 6 month check up. The weight doesn't matter, check out those rolls!

Ashlyn is always smiling, mostly all day long. She rolls all over the house and thats her quickest way to escape or chase Ari's play. She is starting to use her consonant sounds like dada-dadda and making all sorts of noise when someone is talking to her. Ashlyn has the grab dexterity down pat and is frequently grabbing food off my plate and straws from my cups. She has such interest in food that we've begun to feed her a few things here and there: bananas, sweet potatoes, rice, avocados. She is flexible thus far. I'm fairly certain she'll pop a tooth out soon like Ari did at around 7 months. She has been gumming things and rubbing her tongue along her gums. So sweet!

Ari wanted to assist in the photo session and this is where she thought the 6-month card would look best. So funny!

Christmas with Grammy and Grandpa

2011-12-23T07:42:00.000-08:00

My parents came by for a short 24 hours between the Eaker's and Myrick's Christmases (I was in the middle for once!) I donned their new SUV 'Santa's Sleigh' because the trunk was filled to the brim with goodies for the grandkids! It even smelled like Santa's sleigh!

Ari received her first kitchen! She mixes up her letters and calls it a chicken. Hilarious. Its adorable, wooden and has all sorts of cute features. Mom also found her a blender and mixer that work 'just like mommy's' HA! Love it! She has been playing with it nonstop.

Here she is makin' muffs.

Ashlyn Claire received an adorable rockin' cow. She loves it!

Thanks M&D for coming and giving us such fun and nice gifts!

Now off to Ohio!!

2011-12-17T04:41:00.000-08:00

If you're wondering...

Ashlyn's still super cute!

Yep.

A friendship's beginning

2011-12-14T18:51:00.000-08:00

Ari has a new friend that she received as an [early] Christmas present. Her name is Raggedy Ann. Ari's Great Grammy Claire made her with love, including her heart. So sweet and special to me because I remember playing with my Ann as a girl.

Ari calls her doll 'Dan' because she just found out Dan's name and has therefore donned Ann, 'Dan'. Confusing, yes but I know it will change.

She likes Ann to eat with her and to sit on the potty. She carries her outside and plays chalk with her. Ann has eaten oatmeal and cheese and was allowed to play in the fort today to read books.

Ann has red yarn hair, a triangle nose, red and white stockings and a permanent smile. Ann is currently wearing a diaper and Ari lies her down to change her when I am changing Ashlyn. Ari really cares for Ann. (We have a monopoly on all A names, by the way).

I love this new friendship and am amazed at how Ari is learning to play. Thankfully, she's never alone because Ann is there with her. Thank you, Grammy Claire, for making her.

our little counter...

2011-12-12T14:54:00.000-08:00

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

2011-12-07T08:20:00.000-08:00

Early last week, we went as a family to the farm up the road (where we get our pumpkins) to retrieve our Christmas tree. Temperatures have been in the upper 50's or 60's for the past two weeks and it feels almost sacrilege for me to get a Christmas tree in this warm weather.

But we did it anyway and brought home a skinny yet tall guy. Ari kept calling it a treat (and not because I bribed her with a treat if she would stop breaking the ornaments)! She didn't really understand what was going on but we decorated and hung the lights. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.... at least inside. Outside, rain is currently pummeling our house as wind blows furiously the leaves off the trees.

We tried getting some cute shots of the girls with the lights but they were too giggly to be cooperative. Ashlyn was trying to eat them (While plugged in) and Ari kept looking at them crossed-eyed. Dan and I cannot stop laughing at this picture below:

Here's our little Ashlyn Claire, sitting by the decorated tree! Yah for first AND second Christmases!!

Ari Taylor 23 Months! (noooo! Too soon!)

2011-12-02T17:59:00.000-08:00

Ari Taylor:: Miss Independent. Spirited. Adorable. Sweet. Sassy. Fiercely motivated. Strong. Spunky. Intelligent. Ari is growing right in front of us and I dont like it one bit. Tonight, I saw some teenage girls all circled together and my heart was heavy with trepidation for those future days. I just want my little girl to stay little.

She is learning so much lately. ABC's, numbers, colors, animals. We work with notecards for her letters and I can say with cautious confidence that she knows/recognize A-G. Still in love with Elmo and Sesame Street, Ari loves to color and use crayons and chalk on all the places she's not supposed to (walls, floors, furniture etc). Ari loves kitty cats (at the petstore next to Trader Joes), dogs, being outside, walking, playing with her tiny stuffed dog "Woof, Woof", reading books, playing "find you" with Ashlyn and me/Dan, sitting on Dan's lap using his computer mouse and much much more. Days are full of activities!

Ari is starting to use words and phrases to get her point across. Sure, she still screams and whines when she tries to get her shoes off and cant... but she is communicating so well! "Shoes, Off." "Dadda, push, cart." One of my favorites is when she wants something to eat, she'll say "Eat. Food. 'Nack. Pleessh. Ni-Ni (Thank you)." So that she covers ALL the polite basic phrases into one long sentence. That should cover it- Just give her food.

Speaking of food, Ari eats so much food! Our monthly budget is getting bigger because of her. She will eat anything, all day. Her current favorites: coconut meatball curry and paleo pumpkin bread. One afternoon, she was in the kitchen being quiet (which as all parents of toddlers know is bad news bears)...she had opened the junk drawer, somehow knowing the location of my secret stash of dark chocolate! I found her enjoying a piece or two of her own. "Choco-eat"

Ari loooved swimming in the water this past weekend. We had a blast watching her experience new things and spend time with family. So much is happening in her life and we are blessed to be able to watch it happen from her perspective.

Almost to two years. oh my. Tears.

Florida Thanksgiving

2011-11-30T07:44:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving in Florida. Quite possibly the best weather ever. Gorgeous breezes, sunny and cloudy afternoons. Naps with all the doors open... And "Schimmin" in the warm pool (heated)!

Great Grammy Claire came too and brought her homemade goodies like tutu-tutus for the girls and Panda! So wonderful to spend time with her and the Eakers, Myricks and of course, Grammy and Grandpa.

Loads of good food. Sorry, no photos of turkey and fixin's...just my favorite breakfast of French Toast and fruit. Diets were broken, with severe pleasure. Key lime pie was out-of-this-world. I dream about it.

Ari was so brave in the water. Fearless actually. Just walked right in and let the foamy and frothy November water splash and pummel her chunky little legs. Dan had a good time too boogie boarding in the ocean and running into the glass door... oh, and seeing how competitive my family is in cards (Rebecca and I won Nerts-Woop woop!!)

Ella Grayce was there in her sweet sweet spirit, generously giving out wet kisses to Ashlyn.

Zac and Allie are always entertaining and playing with Ari. She loves to watch them play and tries her best to keep up. All the kids were awake and hyper ready to go at 7am! Also, I'd like to note how much I love the way the kids say "Awww, she's soo cuuute" to Ashlyn.

Here are Grammy and Grandpa with their lovely brood (note the Notre Dame attire, bad luck obviously in our loss to Stanford).

We had a fantastic time and thank you for all the food, gifts, fun times, laughter and a place to stay. It was crazy-but-wonderful!

5 Months!

2011-11-23T10:32:00.001-08:00

Five Months!

Might me one of my favorite baby months. I remember Ari at this age; they grow so quickly. Ashlyn is such a little chunky little muffin. Her skin is so soft and her demeanor is sweet, gentle and kind. She doesn't even shout much when she's hungry. She just whines, grunts and moans. No shrieking or shouting (like her sister!). Ashlyn does NOT sleep well though. Naps are sporadic and infrequent. She wakes up frequently in the night and though she falls asleep after eating, I'm not able to get her to sleep longer than 5 or 6 hours at a time. I.AM.TIRED.

What she lacks in sleep consistency, she makes up for in smiles. This girl never stops smiling. She laughs, giggles and talks all day long! Ashlyn smiles with her mouth wide open, like she's shouting. Her toothless little gums are such a sweet sweet feature.

Ashlyn loves to roll around on the floor. She'll spot something and roll towards it till she grabs it and puts it directly into her mouth! The girls are learning to share and are beginning to play well together. They giggle often at each other making my heart melt daily.

Ashlyn might sprout a tooth earlier than Ari (7 mo) but we'll see. She is chewing on everything. Ashlyn loves her bunny and the taggie ball. She loves to stand in the exercauser thingy and stands there while I cook! She is a great baby and brings much joy in our home!

Just ornery

2011-11-20T10:02:00.000-08:00

sooooo cute!

(post dinner messy face & nose)

Sprout

2011-11-10T17:50:00.000-08:00

Check out Ari's pony-tail!

The Halloween Post

2011-11-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

Chipotle, the burrito place, has had for two years in a row, an opportunity to get $2.00 burritos! Last year, we were s'mores! Well, this year, the challenge was to dress up in support of small family farms.

Using the internet as a resource, I found a few ideas to make a couple of chicken costumes.

Here I am with my hatched chick and my baby chick. Super easy (less than $10 total) and really cute!

We did not go trick or treating, just out to eat and to bed!

(I dont know why this is underlined! annoying)

Ari's costume is a white boa cut and safety-pinned to a white sweater. I used washable paint in her mohawk. Her feet are cut-up Forever 21 bags (which are a perfect yellow color)!

So fun and cute our little chickies!

Thirty Day gratitude challenge

2011-11-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

Join me at:

www.groundedgirl.com

for a 30 day thankfulness challenge!

Fall Visitors!!

2011-10-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

B&P came to visit! Baba and Papa came and brought the chilly weather to Charlotte... We had such a good relaxing yet toddler-style-busy FUN time!

Barb and Ari made me an amazing (and gluten free!) carrot cake. Meanwhile, I went shopping with Ashlyn and used my birthday gift cards!

Ashlyn was a sweet and happy girl who loved being with these two! They wore her out so much that she slept through the night on Friday night! (but then... not again :( )

Barb helped me tame the craft-mess of carving and painting an Elmo pumpkin for Ari! The weather was a sunny, brisk fall day and Bill and Dan went out on a 9 mile bike ride to enjoy it.

We ate great food and enjoyed Sunday at church. It was nice to have company/help while Dans been studying so much. (He is doing great BTW and almost done!!)

4 Months!!

2011-10-24T11:08:00.000-07:00

Watchout: an overload of pictures here!

Ashlyn Claire is 4 months old! So stinkin' adorable and full of cuteness.

She weighs in at 14 pounds and is eating like a champ [still]. She is not sleeping as well as her sister but those late night snacky snacks are worth it for a little smile in the morning! Ari and Ashlyn are adorable together. My day is complete if I can get both of them laughing at each other at the same time. Sometimes, all it takes is for Ari to come sit on my lap while I am holding Ashlyn and they just giggle. I am really blessed by these two sweet girls in my life.

Current loves: rolling over, chewing on her hands/fingers/thumbs/toys, watching Ari, standing/sitting in the exersaucer thingy, her new car seat, being held by mom or dad, walking around facing out, smiling, when I 'play' the piano with her hands and Ari laughs, being tickled on her chunky thighs!
Current dislikes: burping, being cold, being on her tummy (yet she's rolling over a lot...), being buckled in the car seat, being away from mom

She sleeps from 8pm-1:30/2am and then from 2-6am and then has an early morning nap. She takes two great naps in the afternoon so I can't complain. I just need to get them on a somewhat similar schedule so that I can get stuff done/nap/exercise/eat/cook... HA! Juggling!

Milestones: grabbing a toy in front of her, holding a toy to chew on, rolling over from her back to her belly over and over again, 'talking' to herself in a mirror and babbling to Ari or me, dexterity to use her hands, making tons of eye contact and smiling, facial recognition to me, Dan and Ari, holding head up really well while on her tummy, 'standing' with assistance (just showing strength in legs), sits in the bumbo seat and has great head control.

She's growing up WAY too fast!!

Jammie Time

2011-10-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

They look so cute in their jammies. I always forget to take pictures of them (probably because its late at night and I hate using the flash) but they are adorable!!

Nigh Nigh!

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-12T14:13:00.000-07:00

There is a really fun pumpkin patch nearby and I took the girls last week with some friends! (all boys!) The site is a fully functioning family farm where we've purchased two of our last three Christmas trees! (and bought our pumpkins too!)

So many pumpkins, so little time!

Here's my good friend Lauren and her son Jones.... and some eager and friendly pigs!

Eli and Jones and some chickens!

It was a beautiful fall day and a fun time at the farm!

Mom/Shelley/Grammy's 50th Birthday Celebration!

2011-10-11T10:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday!! So happy we could all get together for you. Such a fun weekend full of good times and crazy kiddos! (And -I hope- yummy cake).

Ashlyn and Ari with their Grammy!

The older girls went horseback riding with Mom and she loved it! We enjoyed a nice trail ride in the Lake Lanier area and though no trotting was done, it was a fun little jaunt together!

Here is mom and all her babies!!

Check out the other sisters' blogs for some more pics: Rebecca & Raschelle

21 months [and a few days]

2011-10-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

Ari is growing too fast! And the months are just flying by so quickly. We are just living day-to-day, learning lots of new words and putting them together as sentences. She is learning ABCs and 123s and can count her way up the stairs. She is still sleeping and eating so well and loves to help in the kitchen and 'sashalt' things.

Ari loves: bubbles, Sesame Street (Abby-cadabby and Elmo), raisins, puzzles, balls, cat-cats, playing with Daddy, her toy barn, buckles (like on Ashlyn's car seat) sitting on the counters and helping me, playing outside, the water, bath time and walking.

She dislikes: the wipers in the car, getting her diaper changed, sharing with Ashlyn (We'll get there), pineapple, spiders and of course: when you take something away she isn't supposed to have!

Ari loves to sing songs and yesterday, we took a video of a few songs she likes to sing.

An interview with Ari:

Cute bird shirts & funny pics

2011-09-28T05:59:00.000-07:00

I Love birds and I love my girls. Such funny faces and funny pictures. Priceless!

Caption Contest: Add a caption to the above photo and win a prize (prizes are still coming to the two previous winners: David Haller and Rebecca Eaker!)

3 Months for the youngest!

2011-09-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

Hear Her Roar: Ashlyn Claire is 3 Months Old!!

She is 100% chunk and 100% sweet.

Some stats:

-More alert during the day

-longer naps; about 2 big ones, a few cat naps

-sleeping better at night

-coos, talks, laughs and holds things in her hands

-rolled over twice! (from back to front)

-loves to sit in the bumbo seat and watch me cook or watch us at the dinner table

-holds her head up really well and is much less 'bobble-y'

-is so excited to gain another GIRL COUSIN (Congrats Mark and Jill!)

Just came back from the gym after working on her fitness.

(Headband in honor of her namesake: Great Grandma Claire)

Daddy and Mommy making her laugh. She loves to look at her sister play and do what she does as a toddler. Ashlyn just watches wide eyed. Sometimes she'll even giggle at her too. So sweet!

Ari the [bald & big] girl!

2011-09-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

Dressed up in her Sunday best. The bow didn't last long...

Flushing her first poo poo [on the potty] down the toilet (I did take pictures of the real deal but didn't know how many of you wanted to see that via the internet).

Reading her sister some animal stories while wearing some matchy-match pants!

Events of Late

2011-09-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

Ashlyn has been spending a little time in the bumbo seat practicing sitting up! She likes it and is smiling and cooing more and more each day!

Ari has been a big helper in the kitchen lately. This night I made fish and a big stir fry and she 'helped' cut the veggies. Then, she ate all the veggies at dinner!

This past weekend, Grammy and Grandpa were here with Zach and Allie... for almost exactly 24 hours! We watched Notre Dame lose their first game :( and played with lots of toys. We went to a cool museum called Discovery Place Kids and really enjoyed the activities there (saved for another post).
We had our good friends John and Lauren over (parents of Ari's friend Jones). We were planning on grilling out, playing in the kiddie pool and throwing the football around. Well, a 30% chance of rain became a 100% chance of a severe downpour with thunder, lightning and an electricity scare. We managed to have a great time and enjoyed talking and eating with them!

Twenty Months

2011-09-02T05:34:00.000-07:00

20 Months!!

Ari's favorite hobby is still reading books! She is adorable when she opens it up and will tell you what is on each page. She has learned many, many new words and our current favorites are: yellow (lell-lo), much (for I love you THIS MUCH), hold you (holdchuew), broccoli (bra-key), the elephant sound (hand as a nose, phssht), wash, green, blue, red. She is working on her colors and is starting to grasp the concept. Oh, the wheels in that brain are moving and its amazing to watch it unfold each day. We wouldn't trade it for anything.

She still kisses upon request and has now expanded her imaginary play to include her stuffed toys to kiss one another. So sweet. She carried Elmo in the Baby Bjorn and loves to tend to her animals and brush their hair. She loves to play with chalk and the hose. She crawls under the tables and plays hide and seek with Dan. They also built their first fort this past week!

Ari is learning her letters and numbers but no rush... I don't want my baby to grow up so fast.

Being a Toddler is so exhausting! Ari is climbing around on everything and she gets her little sticky hands into all the "no" things in the house. She loves to carry around the fly swatter and swat imaginary flies on the windows. SO funny. She has 8 teeth on top and 8 teeth on the bottom. All of a sudden, a new tooth just pops up! She hasn't been affected by these at all! She is still sleeping 7-7 and is such a joy in the morning. That she gets from me! Ha. She imitates alot of the things that we do like gestures or facial expressions. We are making an impact! (which means we have to watch what we say and do much more...) My favorite 'sound' is when you ask her to choose something to do or choose between two shirts, she'll say "hmmmm" like she's pondering what it is she wants. Such a grown up.

She is super tall and uses those legs to run and finally does not trip when she takes off! She has peed in the potty a few times and we are working on it each day. She loves to play with my jewelry and likes to help Dan do projects around the house with tools. Ari loves dancing and doing 'somersaults' on the floor. We are loving this age and each day Ari surprises us with a new word or phrase, action or gesture.

Two Months: Ashlyn

2011-08-25T05:37:00.000-07:00

Ashlyn is two months old! It is hard to believe that two months have literally flown by ('they' always say that). She is so big and filling out. She's super sweet and adorable with her blue (!!) eyes and dark 'old man' hair mullet (balding in the front, long in the back). She makes some cute little faces and sticks her tongue out.

She weighs in at: 12 pounds 2 ounces

She is 22 inches tall

She is 100% beautiful and has a birthmark on the top of her head.

Ashlyn is smiling, cooing, jiving to music and waving her arms in excitement. She makes great eye contact and listens to her sister squeal and play (and smiles at her!). Ashlyn is sleeping and eating great too. Taking a big nap from 9pm-4am and then going right back to sleep from 4:30-7:30. We've had some very nice lazy mornings with Dan home. So blessed with his help.

Ashlyn sucks her thumb and hand and doesn't really love her paci unless I hold it in for her. Once she's asleep, its out and she doesn't want it. Ari on the other hand... we're working on breaking her before her second birthday (currently, she only takes it for nap/night time)

The girls

2011-08-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

Sisters

2011-08-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

Growing up with two older sisters, I knew what it meant to be 'cared for'.... Meaning, they helped me pack my lunch the day I decided to run away. I was blamed for making jello-fight messes and usually had to clean the bathrooms. (Ha! I love you Bex and Rasch.) Ari and Ashlyn are beginning to share moments of 'caring' too.

[above] Rocking Ashlyn to sleep

Helping change Ashlyn's poopy diapers and bring them to the 'rash'.

Ari helping Ashlyn find her 'noosh'.

Story time in the green chair.

Ari giving Ashlyn her paci (while baby is still very very asleep)

And lastly, framing her sister for stealing the remote, dirty laundry and camera lens cap. Ari is on her way to being a fantastic big sister!

Visitors in the Heat! (but bring cooler temps!)

2011-08-17T08:05:00.001-07:00

The Hallers came to visit us this past weekend! Katie even came to visit us despite her school priorities. That means we got to take some pictures of Ari and Ashlyn with a nicer camera and a very talented photographer!

We shucked and ate Ohio corn (fresh picked!)

We played with the new baby and chased the toddler around.

We read lots of books and played with new [old] toys from the Haller baby years!

Baba loved cuddling with a sleepy and sweet Ashlyn. She also was extremely helpful with Ari and entertained her outside with a 'redneck' swimming pool from a cooler. So fun!

And Popsy was here and he played with Ari and read her books.

Thanks for watching Ari so we could go out on a date and thanks for having fun with the girls!

19 months

2011-08-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

(ten days late)

19 months!

I'm in denial about the whole TWO years coming up here around the bend. She's still my little baby... even though I have a new 'baby' in my life. Ari can't possibly be ready to be TWO YEARS old in a few short months.

We are loving this age. Ari is so smart and loves to read books. We say that a lot but seriously... she'd rather read books than play with any toy in house (except the hose... which caused her first huge tantrum... oh dear!). Sometimes, I'll be busy in another room and I'll look for her. If its quiet you'd think she was misbehaving. Nope, she's just sitting in a chair, reading a book. She also has figured out some of the 'older' baby toys we have like doing puzzles, stacking blocks, pushing buttons and using knobs that seemed to confuse her earlier. Oh, and she locks herself in rooms and hides in closets often. So funny!

Our favorite recent words: walrus (wallwash), home, Thank you ('NeeNee' with the sign language), zebra, goat, giraffe, raisins (ray-ray), nose (noosh), mouse... and so many more. We're trying to write them all down but there are too many. She knows a number of animal noises and growls a lot!

Ari is doing great with Ashlyn. She is very sweet and patient and even tries to get Ashlyn to drink her (Ari's) milk, even eat her raisins and say 'Thank you' in sign language. She is rarely jealous and seems to be adjusting fairly well.

I have noticed a lot of frustration in Ari when a) she can't do something b) she doesn't get her way c) you take something away from her and d) when me/Dan aren't paying enough attention to her. Typical Toddler behavior from what I've heard/experienced/read. She's a stubborn Belgian like her mom. :)

Results and Caption #2

2011-08-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

Caption Contest # 1---- THE WINNER IS....

[Uncle] Dave Haller:

Ashlyn: When I was born, we had to drive all the way to South Carolina.

Ari: Child, please! We were in labor for like 48 hours.

Caption Contest #2 begins today.

Same rules, same prize. One week to participate. Unlimited entries.

Picture 2:

Caption Contest #1

2011-08-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

We are having a contest on our blog and we're calling it the CAPTION CONTEST.

Rules: post a comment with what you think the caption should be on the below photo. Please put your name or initials and when I announce the winner, I will ask you to email me to receive your prize.

Prize: a framed photo of one or both of our girls

Photo 1:

(it can be a phrase, what they are saying to one another or a thought in general--be creative!)

Escaping the Heat

2011-07-27T16:47:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Dan had the day off and we traveled to Dupont State Forest (about an hour south of Asheville, our fav. city). We didn't know much about where we were except for a few pics online but we were pleasantly surprised. They have several waterfalls and they are massive compared to what we expected.

Ari's first science lesson included tadpoles, sand, water and rocks.

Though we came unequipped to swim, we did it anyway as our persistent Ari kept saying "wha-wash" to ask to go swimming. The water was a bit cold but she loved it and was mad when we left.

This is Hooker Falls where there is a large sign saying "No swimming"... please note the disobey-ers.

This is High Falls (which are huge); you'll see a video at the end to show this. The parking lot was about 1/2 mile from the falls and Ashlyn did fairly well in my Moby wrap. Dan carried Ari in a baby backpack which was super heavy with her in it!

Yes she has a sucker. We had to bribe her to get in it. The first time we tried at home was a screaming disaster.

Ari doing her usual brave dip into the water. This was in a 'pool' at the bottom of the waterfall.

Check out this pic of Dan and Ari! (getting it without other people in it was difficult) Ari loved the water but the mist and the noise of the waterfall made her more hesitant. But Dan liked having her be so adventurous!

These are two (gigantic) videos we took while we were there. The above video is me describing where we were and the video below is a view of High Falls and of Ari waving! Please note the people using the rocks as water slides... crazy! (But hey, the DeGeyters jumped off rocks at Silvan Lake in SD).

We would love to go back and take all our families! It was really fun.

one month: ashlyn edition

2011-07-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

Yep, believe it folks. Ashlyn is ONE month old today. One month since that wonderful Friday in June. She is doing fantastic. Eating like a champ. Sleeping... like a newborn... She weighs in around 10.5 pounds but we'll have an updated appointment in a few days.

Ashlyn loves: being swaddled, bath time, being in someone's arms, eating, sleeping upright/on her stomach, walking around the house, the rumble of the car seat in the car.

Ashlyn is a sweet girl, starting to smile and coo a little. She has some gas problems and is sensitive to certain foods but is overall a peaceful baby. Super cute and seriously loveable.

And we'll have an Ari update here soon!

Compare and Contrast:

2011-07-16T09:39:00.000-07:00

Ashlyn Claire:

Ari Taylor:

Our Pretty Peanut: Ashlyn

2011-07-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

Long, dark hair. Cute chubby, dimply arms. Long fingers still peeling with fresh skin. DeGeyter ears.

Slate bluish eyes. Thin and new eyelashes. A cute button nose. A crooked little smile. Tiny little mouth.

Long and lanky. Tiny fat toes. Wrinkly little feet. Dan's bowed legs and Jenny's knobby knees.

A sweet sweet girl!

The Help

2011-07-10T16:51:00.001-07:00

Wow. What can I say? Dan and I are certainly blessed with some seriously loving family.

Thankfully, my dad was here for when we went into labor. He had been here during that week working from my house and helping out with Ari and getting us ready for baby H2. When we went into labor, he was so excited and supportive of us as we got ready to leave. Thanks for all your help Dad! Ari misses her 'bonk' buddy!

Then my mom came to help out too and nothing excites my mom more than itty bitty babies. While my mom was here, Ashlyn lost her umbilical cord so we could give her a bath. She helped clean the house and do the laundry. She also cooked and entertained all my family for the 4th. Thanks for the help mom!

And our last visitor recently was Baba, Dan's mom. She came all the way from the cabin in Michigan! She helped cook us some meals and played with Ari non-stop. She made one of Dan's favorite: homemade chicken pot pie! Playing with Ari is a full time job but she penciled in some Ashlyn time too!

Thanks to all of my "Help"! I missed you tonight when Ari was running around naked and peed on the fancy glider while at the same time Ashlyn was screaming with hunger, had spit up all over and a poopy diaper! I dont know how Mom and Barb did it with two babies under 16 months.

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can"

4th of July Weekend

2011-07-07T04:28:00.000-07:00

We had company for the weekend of the fourth! The DeGeyters, Eakers and Myricks were here and we had such a good time! There was a lot of good food, fun games and activities... and of course, loving on babies Ari, Ella and Ashlyn. Zach and Allie were here to entertain and play with the Aunts and Uncles and teach Ari some new dance moves and tricks. So fun!

Ari 'reading' to Ashlyn.

Family of 4!

Sleeping beauty!

Happy 4th of July from the DeGeyter clan! 5 grandkids!

18 Months & 1 Week

2011-07-01T18:02:00.000-07:00

Our 'no longer a baby' Ari Taylor: 18 months old today! So full of energy, opinion and spirit. Loving and kind. a thinker. an eater. funny and playful. a reader. a big sister.

Ashlyn Claire, our one-week old beauty. a sleeper. an eater. a pooper. hehe.

The Past 48 Hours...

2011-06-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

...Have been a bit EXCITING!!!

Nope, it wasn't my annihilation of Mitch and Dan in a game of Gin on Thursday night. Or the amazing fajitas I made for dinner... or even the fact that Ari has said more words this week than I can begin to document.

Friday, June 24th, in the early morning around 3:30, I went into labor!! We would, later that afternoon, meet this gorgeous girl:

Ashlyn Claire Haller

born at 3:48pm

7 pounds 10 ounces

21 inches long

sweet as can be.

Labor was hard work. But WE did it. Dan was an amazing coach and I could NOT have done it without him.

We birthed at a birth center in South Carolina that is run by midwives. It was an amazing experience that I'll share with you if you're interested! Here's a glimpse of the end result:

Ari met Ashlyn that evening after spending the day with Grandpa playing and reading books. Unbeknownst to her, she gained a sister that afternoon! Here's a video of their introduction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsF-_hxNSys

We came home that evening (I know, shocking!) and slept fairly well. Ashlyn is adorable and calm thus far and her little wrinkly toes and long fingers are super cute!! AND, she has a head full of dark, soft straight hair! [My horrendous heartburn was worth it, I suppose]. She looks more like a DeGeyter than Ari did; that's for sure.

Thanks for everyone for their prayers and words of encouragement. We appreciate your love and support. Come visit and meet our new family of FOUR!

Oh, Ari...

2011-06-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Ari is a character. Here she is in 2 videos, the first one eating corn on the cob for the 1st time (and bonking heads with Grampa), and in the second video she's in the pool. Ari has been very brave in the pool lately. She walks all over the kiddy pool and also enjoys (trying) to be independent in the adult pool. She started being brave by sitting down in the water until it got to her mouth, at which point she popped up. Funny to watch. Enjoy! (be sure to watch in 720p HD for better quality!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qflEwSTceWc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_jA6eYZ6bw

happy fathers day

2011-06-19T04:14:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to some of the BEST dads I know!!

Dan, amazing father and husband. Hardest working that I know and so loving. Thank you!

Dad/Mitch you are generous, kind and so fun! Thanks for adventures and crazy-funny times... Oh, and for being so competitive!

Dad/Bill thanks for being so wise and passionate about living life and for being a great role model for Dan to be a great dad! Enjoy your new role as Popsy!!

Love to all the dads out there too: Todd and Ryan: you guys are pretty awesome too!

Cleaned the Camera Out!

2011-06-16T16:12:00.000-07:00

In order to pack my bags for the birth center, I had to clear my camera and charge the battery... so I found some pics I wanted to share with ya'll and here they are: a random collection yes but Ari is in them and she's cute!

Me at 38 1/2 weeks (this morning). Phew! I've felt much better this pregnancy until now... but I'm trying not to complain, it IS less than two weeks.

Ari playing with the hose and a brown piece of chalk (no, not a cigar).

Runny nose but still able to help me pick weeds and flowers out of the garden. She'll sniff it and carry it around all afternoon; so cute!

Even with a runny nose, she's pretty content and adorable!

Updates:

2011-06-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

Schools OUT for the Summer (insert tunes here)... Dan's in Ohio at a wedding and yep, I'm still

pregnant... But, ready for Baby H2. Bag packed, tiny diapers purchased, a little nook in our room for her 'stuff', take home outfit picked out... the only thing we need is a NAME! (no Mitch, Gertrude is not an option anymore).

(excuse the poor quality of photo, it was taken on my phone)

We had/have a late spring cold. Our noses were stuffed and runny at the same time; we coughed and snuggled and watched Finding Nemo a few times. "Just keep swimming; just keep swimming...."

Our last day with Aunt Jennifer as our Monday babysitter is tomorrow. We will be very very sad to not have her and I KNOW Ari will miss her. I'm sure the feeling is mutual, Jennifer is such a good friend, helpful, loving and kind (and she loves to grow her own food too!) We'll miss her!

Another Jennifer, who is very very pregnant (due in 6 days) and I went out for breakfast with Ari and when we went to leave, my van was gone! Towed. Something tells me if those guys knew two very pregnant women and a baby were just enjoying some eggs and potatoes before the heat wave of noon came, they wouldn't have towed my van. I felt very discriminated against (though they're just 'doing their job') because I have a car seat and everything in there. Ugh. Annoying. Thankfully, Jennifer's husband was home (and their infant car seat made-do for the short 4 mile hike to the above compound). Yes, that is our blue minivan being guarded by an evil fence and dog photo (dogs unseen/unheard).

Dont know if you recall but Dan's car was STOLEN while I was in the hospital at 36 weeks pregnant with Ari. Ridiculous. What is it about full-term pregnancy car issues?

House update (no photo here): we had an offer, we made a counter offer and she accepted. As of right now, we are in a due diligence period until July 6th. During this time, surveyors are coming, inspections are being done and our house is technically still for sale; but our realtor has confidence that this buyer WILL workout and we will close on July 20th. Busy, busy summer ahead!

17 Months

2011-06-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Ari Taylor @ 17 Months Old

Such a pretty girl who is very affectionate and loving, sweet spirited and intelligent. Sure, she shares her opinion on occasion and shouts her needs a little loud but she has such a wonderful temperament thus far in life!

She is growing too fast and learning so many words and actions on a daily basis; its hard to record all the words she says and how well she listens to our commands and how she communicates what she wants (via signage and words). My favorites recently are: turtle which sounds like 'toetoe', nose, nuzzle, night-night, water, bear, lion and flower (followed by a sniff or two to smell).

She eats well still and loves to help out in the kitchen. Her favorite foods recently have been toast, strawberries and raspberries, eggs, pancakes (who doesn't love pancakes?), oat muffins and black beans.
Still loves to sit and look at books and be read to from her plethora of picture and word books. She likes to play in the pool, on the porch, in the garden and in the bathtub. She loves Elmo "Melmo" and likes to watch Sesame street while I make dinner.

We are still using cloth diapers and since she hasn't figured out how to climb out of the crib, she's still in one! She likes to have her teeth brushed and hands washed (OCD tendencies from me and Dan...) She loves giving kisses and blowing them at strangers and people she meets. She still struggles with going to the nursery but they tell me she does fine after I leave.

Can't wait for her to meet her 'sister' which she now says and points to my belly (and on occasion, kisses it).

Cute Pics Lately

2011-05-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

Ari is such a sweet girl. And now that she's walking and running all over, I have to chase her around to take pictures. Its not easy being pregnant and chasing an almost 17-month old!

The red shoes Ari is wearing in this picture above are my favorite.

Heres the most recent 'family' photo we have. Ari was ready to leap out of our laps in her pre-bed-time hyper mode!

Who doesn't love a little baby smocking?

Proud in her little bathing suit... She is so tall and walks upright. No more baby... all toddler!

Aunt Katie and Baba Visit!

2011-05-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

Dan's sister and mom were here visiting for a few days and it was fun! Ari was well loved and photographed. Windows and blinds were dusted and food was eaten. I appreciate all the help I can get around here waddling at 35 weeks...

We set up Ari's little outdoor pool and they sat out all three days! Ari loves to say 'waee' for water and plays well in it. She also is very interested and helpful in the garden. So sweet.

Ari has a new baby that she's learning to care for; to hopefully help transition our life with a new one. Though she drags it around and pokes it in the eyes, she does kiss and pet her head! Ha.
Baba and Aunt Katie got to see how Ari eats spaghetti. Girl makes a mess but its worth it!

Ari and Barb colored with some crayons. Ari still thinks they should be eaten but for the most part, loves to scribble.

Thanks for coming you two and for your help!

Plecia nearctica (the Love Bug)

2011-05-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

This past week, Ari and I took a mini mini vacay to Florida to see her cousin Ella, Aunt Shell and of course, Grammy and Grandpa!

The beach is gorgeous 99% of the time in this town. There are cold days and hot days but really, the waves and the blue green water fills me with such joy and peace. This May however, was the 1% disgusting time to go to the beach. Literally, it made me gag.

What you see here in PILES for MILES are DEAD LOVEBUGS. In this wikipedia article, it states that love bugs are not a favorable food for insectavores, therefore, their abundance. Their presence was a black snowfall that smelled horrendous.

If you're back from vomiting, here are some much better pictures from the week:

Windy sunset on the beach with my Aricakes.

Walking with Grandpa and Grammy.

Ari was super brave in the swimming pool! Brave meaning: has no depth perception! We tried to teach her to sit on the edge but she would just walk right in. So cute!

Early morning bird feeding with Grandpa. Ari talked so much about birds, bugs and babies and even learned some new words including 'tomorrow' which sounds like 'rowrow'.

Baby Ella caused quite a stir for Miss Ari. There were moments of jealousy but overall, Ari kissed and loved on Ella's head and repeated "Baby" a lot during the week. She was cute.

Thanks Mom and Dad for hosting me and Raschelle and our babies (and my crazy appetite). I appreciate the plane tickets and the mini vacation before our chaotic summer!

The Beautiful Lawn Sprinkler

2011-05-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

The Beautiful Lawn Sprinkler

by Howard Nemerov

What gives it power makes it change its mind

At each extreme, and lean its rising rain

Down low, first one and then the other way;
In which exchange humility and pride

Reverse, forgive, arise, and die again

Wherefore it holds at both ends of the day

The rainbow in its scattering grains of spray.

(Normally, I don't do poems or artistic posts but we enjoyed a late afternoon play time with Daddy in the sprinkler and I think the poem is gorgeous-as are the photos. I love to see their love.)

Spring Visiting

2011-05-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I briefly mentioned in my last post about birds chirping in my dryer. It seems to me that a starling darling decided to open some real estate in my vent. First, she built her own nest and harvested 4 beautiful blue eggs. Then, she proceeded to fill the vent of my dryer and all the way out of the house with enough debris to build 4 more nests. Unfortunately, we had to take some action to save MY motherly duties and prayerfully, the nest we placed in the bushes will survive to save HER motherly duties. Thankfully, my parents came to my rescue.

Zach, Allie and Rebecca came to visit too for my baby shower and naturally, had to take some family pics with Grammy.

We had three children and three adults trying to get them to smile/look normal... we obviously got some crazy shots like this one:

Grandpa took the kids on a little nature hike/exploration to catch some bugs and see the sights. Ari walked and acted like one of the big kids following Z & A everywhere. She loves her cousins and its adorable how excited she gets when they are here.

It was a nice relaxing mothers day and I was blessed to have Rebecca and my mom here to celebrate it. We missed Raschelle and wished her a happy FIRST mother's day!

32 week update

2011-05-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

According to the web, my baby probably weighs in at 3 1/2 pounds and I should be gaining about a pound a week. If only I had the Biggest Loser scale to 'beepbeepbeep' my weigh-ins each Friday... Often, about an hour after a meal, I'll state that I am hungry again... which is up from my usual 3 hour mark. My baby will gain a third of her weight in the next 7 weeks. Pass the burgers, please.

Heartburn: if the myth were true that heartburn indicates lots of hair, then Ari should have had an afro and this baby will be Rapunzel. My heartburn is nearly unbearable and lasts all day. I loathe it.
Movement: Baby H2 moves a lot! She's had the hiccups recently too which makes me laugh. She kicks, squirms and practices her gymnastics most of the day and especially before bedtime.
Tailbone pain: not as bad as a few weeks ago; yoga and stretching has helped
Sleeping: as long as I fall asleep before Dan, who snores like a bear in hibernation, I am golden. Unless there is the threat of tornadoes or the baby birds in the dryer are chirping, I sleep fairly well. And pregnancy dreams are freaking me out. Jeesh. I also take a nap almost everyday; thankful to Dan for working so hard that I can be home most of the week to nap and care for Ari.
Cravings: salt and vinegar chips (specifically: Kettle brand), ice cold water; lemonade, raspberries, (seeing a trend in sour-ish things), red meat, spicy habanero wraps from TJ's filled with spinach and tuna (I hear Rebecca gagging), and an occasional chocolate.

We are really excited and are talking over baby names almost daily. We cannot agree on one but have some close calls; we'll probably wait until we see her face to face before we finalize it; its more meaningful for us that way.

And a post wouldn't be worth it if there wasn't a picture of Ari Taylor (in one of my favorite outfits):

16 Months...and oh, a Toddler

2011-05-02T17:01:00.000-07:00

Bath time Edition: 16 months.

Stats: Tall and lanky, like her rents, with a belly, like her mom! She's around 24.5lbs. Still has brown eyes; they're staying I think. Blondish Brown hair. Three birth marks on her face and a little tan line on her neck from all the outside playing we've been doing. She has strong thighs and triceps and her tiny little neck is my favorite.

I was sitting painting my toes outside and Ari was playing. She came to watch me and proceeded to communicate what SHE wanted. She removed her shoes and socks, reached for a bottle of polish and said "eh eh eh" and pointed to her toes. So, I did it! I painted my daughter's toes. I suppose many may gasp but Dan and I like it; its cute and funny. She loves it and shows as many people as possible.

Yep, same little butt and partially bald head! She's walking and talking all over; saying many many words and usually repeating whatever we say to her. She loves to sit and read books and loves to carry buckets or baskets or boxes around. For example: she emptied a tissue box, put her snacks, a camera lens cap, a small toy and easter egg in it; she carried and pushed it around for an entire day. Her own purse/collection of goods. So adorable.

She can name or point to a few body parts and will do the above face if you ask her where her tongue is. She names ears, nose, head, hair, hat, eyes, belly, toes, feet, hands, clap, and more. She also pats my belly when I ask "Where's your sister?" Sometimes, I'll ask her to kiss her sister and she'll kiss my belly. She loves to give kisses and makes a sweet "mmuuahh" sound when she does. Super Cute.

Here is a hair update: business in the front, party in the back: a toddler mullet. Its cute and I like it.

Ari is beginning to show a spirited temper and Dan and are I learning to tame it the best we can and we laugh at when she acts all sweet and tender afterwards say "Hi" and loving on us trying to make up for being naughty. If she knows she is somewhere off-limits, she'll sing a "No, No, No" song and open the cupboards and remove the contents. She'll look at me and sing "No!" I can't help but laugh but still remain firm in my discipline. She's a smart one already.

Adventures in [honda] Odyssey!

2011-04-30T17:48:00.000-07:00

Our new four year old baby:

Nope, not the blonde baldy sitting there but the blue shiny thing underneath...

Our new/used Honda Odyssey

Our Subaru was awesome and was a huge blessing but it needed a lot of repairs and it was going to be a tight fit with two car seats in the back. It was time to buy a car.

The facts: Minivans are bigger inside than SUVs, get better gas mileage and run a bit cheaper. The pride: they aren't the coolest/manliest/feminist things to drive. But, call us the practicals, we bought one anyway.

Toyota has a funny video: Check it

The Swagger Wagon

How to Ari-Eat a Banana:

2011-04-27T16:08:00.001-07:00

In honor of Rebecca's Birthday...

How Ari Eats a Banana

In the morning, Ari reaches for the fruit basket saying BanBa Bah Bah. I set her on the counter, turn the coffee pot on and give her half a banana.

Somehow, she inserts the entire banana into her mouth... and its gone in 10 seconds.

(This pic is a bit frightening; she looks concerned but would refuse to have it cut up)

Rebecca refers to this as eating a banana "like Ari". Allie, her cousin, eats bananas "like a normal person."

Happy Birthday Aunt Bex!!!

Easter

2011-04-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

This year, we discussed the 'traditional' Easter routine and decided that we'll just keep it simple. So, a small basket of a bunny, banana, some raisin-filled eggs and straws for color was all it took to get an "ooohhh" from Ari.

We did a 'hunt' for eggs and our little tee-tobbler waddled to the eggs and exclaimed as she discovered raisins and bunny crackers.

On Saturday night, I read Ari the crucifixion and resurrection story from a Bible that was in her room. She sat attentively as I struggled through the KJV of the story (it was from a childhood Bible of mine) and though she didn't understand, I prayed for her that she will grow to know Jesus.

Instead of a traditional lunch, we used what we had on hand... salmon! It was nice to chat with family and friends as we all celebrated Jesus' resurrection... Comforting to know that everyone else kept it low key this year.

Happy Easter everyone!

Ari is Walking!

2011-04-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

From two or three steps taken here by the windowsill on April 8th...

To full-blown walking across rocky-terrain at Zachary's baseball game on April 19th! We have ourselves an official Toddler!

Facts, Futures and [fears]

2011-04-13T04:55:00.000-07:00

Optimism: an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome. It is the philosophical opposite of pessimism.

So, here is what we do know...

Dan has a new job as an Edward Jones Financial Advisor; after successfully presenting himself on a phone interview, for 30+ people in cold-house-calls and a face-to-face interview, he was offered the job!
His start date is August 8th, 2011 and his location will be in Georgia. North-Eastern-outer-Atlanta region (Athens, Watkinsville area).
His current job situation is unbelievably stressful (two jobs, no break, no weekends). His new job will be much less stressful, more rewarding and a completely different change of pace.
Dan's last day of teaching school is June 10th.
Jenny is still pregnant with their second child (in case you thought it was too many donuts). She is still expected to deliver on or near June 28th, 2011. We are planning to deliver at a Birth Center in the Charlotte region.
Our house is officially up for sale today; April 13, 2011.
Houses on our street have lower prices, green grass and have been for sale for months and months. On average, houses sell in 6-9 months in this area. Our realtor is optimistic with a 3 month goal.
Our house is clean, well-decorated, large and has a great floor plan. We have a garden and woods and a flat yard.

What we dont know [fears]...

If the house will sell in this short time-frame (for something other than free)
Where we will be living in August when Dan starts his new job
When our second baby will come and if we'll be in this house at that time.
If we get to keep our beautiful and large refrigerator (hehe).

James 1:2-7 Consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault , and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

(look at how handsome Dan is!)

Walk This Way

2011-04-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

It may seem like I'm walking... but really, I'm just denying the ability.

I'll stand on my own. Take one to three steps. Become really excited and sit down.

Dont pressure me people. I'll do it when I feel like it. You shouldn't wonder where I got my stubbornness. I learned from the best.

I'm very independent. Excuse me, I'll just use my cart and make my way across town.

Happy Birthday Zach!

2011-04-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

Five years already? I can hardly believe it. We love you and wish you a happy HAPPY birthday!!

15 Months

2011-04-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Somebody is 15 months! And practically walking! She is taking her little sweet time to walk and its okay, we're patient! Here are some stats/pics.

I'm not really sure how long I will do this monthly posts/updates... I dont want it to be redundant or boring. She's cute and I like to take pictures of her so, I'll probably keep going. Maybe for two years. It would be convenient if this next baby could also be born on the first (of July) so that I could do them at the same time ;)

Some of my stats: I'm still pretty tall. I'm heavy and I have some adorable thunder thighs. I eat my weight in anything but especially love quality proteins like: beans, beef, salmon, chicken, cheese, tuna, eggs and grains. I love bananas and strawberries and will eat an entire banana at once.

I still love reading and my vocabulary is expanding immensely. Some of my newer words are: banana, strawberry, pretty, book, eat (both including the sign language), pray (in sign language), yucky/pfft (for gross things like coins...), bear (followed by a growl), and more!

Hallers Visit!

2011-03-21T18:49:00.000-07:00

We rang in the 2011 Spring by planting flowers and trees... and with Barb, Bill and Katie! The Hallers came to visit and help us out (and obviously, play with Ari).

Look at how big she is! She continues to take a few more steps each day! (We took some video, we'll post soon)

Ari and Baba after church at Mimi's cafe!

Sleepy girls on the way home

My little girl, on her cell phone: saying "Hi Ari!"

Ari Talking

2011-03-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

Here is a short video of Ari talking/reading a book. Yes I took the video at a stop light. Yes, I shouldn't have. I was completely stopped until the last 10 seconds of the video and neither of our lives were in danger.

Ari says: dog, kitty-cat, cow, and fish.

It is a super cute video regardless of how it was acquired.

:)

I am so cute.

2011-03-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

Ari is 14 months! (for realz)

2011-03-02T10:37:00.000-08:00

She weighs around 21 pounds and is super long in the torso like her parents. She has brown eyes and a sweet little chin (like mom). She wears 18 month size clothing and some 12 month pjs and other things but mostly she is so long and lean, she has to have the length of the bigger clothes. She loves shoes and socks and will attempt to put them on herself. She can go up and down the stairs and plays well independently. Ari still naps twice a day and sleeps 11-12 hours a night (Praise the Lord for wonderful dad-like sleep habits).

Ari loves to read books. She'll go through each stack of books and name as many of the animals she knows and make up words for new ones. She turns the pages carefully and by herself and we sit in amazement at her interest in books. It makes me very proud.
She is still a bundle of joy, giggles, words, babbles and laughter. She's very opinionated however (wonder where she gets it...) and will let you know what she wants/doesn't want to do or play with. My favorite word she says is 'kitty-cat'. Her newer words include fish, pig, book, banana, byebye and cheese. The girl loves cheese. In fact, I spelled it once and she immediately said it. We got a sharp one.
Ari is not yet walking but is very close. She seems content to crawl and push her cart around but no walking or steps yet. She has stood on her own a few times and will realize it only a second later and sit down immediately. She gets very upset when you try to let go of her hands while walking. So, we'll just take it week by week. Whenever she wants to walk, we're fine with that.

Academy Award

2011-02-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

Nominated for this year's "Best Picture", Roadtripocalypse

Characters in this charade: Niece and Nephew, Allie and Zach and two monkeys named Jo-Jo and Jo-Jo, respectively.

Nomination for best supporting actors.
Allie dominated her role as pee-pee-er and van-stopper. Her routine requests for potty-breaks and drinks were long remembered after the movie ended.
The audience loved Zach's fear-filled dialouge entitled "Consequences to Bad Choices"

Ari: This little 14 month old who poops more than her weight per day... and eats three times as much.
Nominated for Best Soundtrack, including her debut single: "Hi". Ari's joy and spirit shined throughout the movie and one can pity her dire straits as you listen to her squawking and cries for more cheese.

And introducing, Ella Grayce Myrick, first time nominee for Best Actress. Adorable, lovable and so sweet. We'll be seeing much of her in the next few years.

And here she is in her red-carpet attire. Ella Grayce arrived earlier than expected for this year's Academy Awards but her debut was magnificent and worth the 9 month anticipation.

The final scene where the new mother and her two sisters talk of ice-packs and fear of walking closes Roadtripocalypse with such meaning... making the 19 hours of mini-van torture all worth the score.
We'd like to thank the Director, Mitch, for his amazing role and courageous spirit throughout the filming process. His generousity and goodwill should be awarded.

22 weeks

2011-02-21T13:20:00.000-08:00

Well, we're twenty-two weeks along and that means: [morethan] HALFWAY! Oh snap... I just realized that.

I've felt pretty good so far. I am eating a lot more protein than I did with Ari and I am feeling much less hungry... which is fantastic. I have been eating a lot of Plant City strawberries and trail mix bagels from Panera (very specific cravings...)

The baby (which is a girl, if you didn't hear via facebook or my parents/inlaws or someone else who is proud of another Haller girl!) is around 10 1/2 inches and weighs around 3/4 of a pound and is moving around and kicking all the time.

We're pretty excited about this next baby, our family is going to be so different. Ari's clueless but I tell her often that she's going to have a baby sister to help take care of and she just smiles.

Two Special Birthdays

2011-02-20T07:16:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Grandpa!! You are one loving, special, funny guy and we really appreciate your generosity, kindness, encouragement and friendship. Enjoy your day!

Happy Birthday Aunt Katie!!! You are a beautiful, talented, loving, and silly lady and we miss you a lot. We hope you enjoy your day at Taylor and we cant wait to see you in a few weeks!

Love to you both!

Happy Birthday Allie Marie!

2011-02-17T11:23:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Allie!

Ari Walking with the Wagon

2011-02-15T13:07:00.000-08:00

Much like her parents, Ari is one determined and focused task-doer. Here she is walking with her wagon...

Celebration Station in Tampa

2011-02-15T12:00:00.000-08:00

Someone in the house feels like this:

She's blowing snot bubbles and her cough sounds worse than it is...But, I just fed her some toast, cheese and water and now she's jammin' to Black Eyed Peas. I think we're on the upswing!! Dang, airport germs. We just returned from a very fast and extremely celebratory weekend in Tampa Florida to celebrate this guy:

My dad turns 50 this week and my sisters and mom planned a HUGE surprise for him. It involved four of his siblings, two of his nieces, three of his grandkids and some other Tampa residents who are somehow related to Dan or to me. (haha!) It was a really good surprise. He had no idea all those people loved him so much. There were lots of good times and family story swapping.
My sisters and cousins Karen and Jennifer. So fun to see all these people outside of Indiana where we usually reunite. (not pictured, Uncle Mark, Aunt Sis, Aunt Mary Grace and Aunt Carrie, Granny Claire, Uncle Denny, Aunt Jenny .... my camera was replaced by taking care of the baby).
We also had a tea party baby shower for Raschelle and soon-to-come Ella! It was a neat little Bed and Breakfast and we got to visit with more family and bless the Myricks with lots of lovely little baby things.

Here are the two pregnant sheilas in the fam: 20 weeks and 35 weeks...give or take a few:
Oh yah! David Haller lives in Tampa. Though the weekend seemed to be focused on DeGeyters, we penciled in some Uncle Dave time and saw him for a second or two!! It was a cold night on the beach but still so good to see him!

Lastly, we celebrated Allie's birthday! We had a strawberry shortcake themed breakfast and partied in the sunshine with Allie and Zach. Such a fun filled weekend

13 Months

2011-02-01T05:53:00.000-08:00

As a present, God gave us a 70-degree Sunday afternoon family funday. We packed up a picnic lunch and headed to a Huntersville park and playground.

We swung/swinged/swang on some swings. (help...grammar police?)

Ari is slowly learning to walk with our hands. She loves it. She'll walk really quickly though not yet 'on her own'.

(I love this pic above)

I was unbelievably grateful that Dan had Sunday off. We deserve a day like that more often!

At 13 months, Ari is around 21 pounds, talks and babbles all day. She says many words and will repeat anything that you say. Her favorite words are: dadda, mamma, dog, bird, bunny (or a word for it, sounds like gurney), shoe, sock, more, hi, hey, byebye, no, go...and some other words that she makes up along the way. Her word for most things is 'gah'. She eats a lot of food and sleeps really well.

Whats under there? 'UnderWHERE?"

Happy Birthday Dan!

2011-01-26T06:12:00.000-08:00

We love you!

Family Pics

2011-01-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, we got some family pictures and I finally edited and uploaded them. Look at our sweet ONE YEAR OLD!

Snow Day 2011

2011-01-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

SNOW has hit the South!!

We've had snow before this season (Christmas), but we were in Florida so we missed it.

Not this time...we took advantage of the heavy snow (and the school day off) and played in it with Ari. She was cold, but seemed to have a good time.

Our little Russian:

"Sledding" in our backyard, on a tupperware lid:

(If you zoom in on the above picture and look closely at the snowflakes on Ari's hat, they are so beautiful!)

We had fun "sledding" in the street:

January 2011

2011-01-08T09:05:00.000-08:00

Ari is a beautiful girl. She has such a sweet and funny spirit. Here are some pictures I've taken lately of her sweetness.

(Ain't no pageant queen here!)

Ari's First Birthday

2011-01-05T06:41:00.000-08:00

With this many people in the house, there was plenty of love to go around for our little Ari Taylor as we celebrated her first year of life! With plenty of football, food, photographs and fun competition, we sent her into her next year of life with an exciting celebration. Ari even joined us at 11:59 to ring in the new year!

Thanks to Hallers, Eakers, Myricks and DeGeyters for driving their distances to give Ari a fabulous time!

At 1 year of age, Ari is 19.11 lbs (25 percentile), 30 inches (75 percentile); lanky like her parents. She says many words including: dog, hi, hello, dog, mama, dada, more and a word for her 'bunny'.

Here is Ari with her Baba and Grammy, sporting pink for her first birthday!

Thanks for all the gifts and words, she is well-stocked for this next year and we are blessed!

Happy Birthday Ari!

2011-01-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

I am not a failure as a mother!

I am just in denial about Ari's birthday. I'll post later...

(When I'm ready)

New posts coming soon...

-Ari's cake

-Ari's presents

-Ari's visitors

-Ari's sweetness

holiday snapshots

2010-12-27T16:52:00.001-08:00

Christmas was tough this year! Dan started the week out sick and then Ari got really sick right before we left. When we arrived, she worsened as did our worry. After a short trip to urgent care and some serious medication, she seemed to have a lower fever and started having an appetite back.

Here is what she did most of the weekend:

Zach and Allie received an awesome John Deere tractor and entertained us for a few hours! It was nice to have pretty weather at Christmastime!

The [crazy] DeGeyter clan:

Ari and Great-Grammy Claire's dog! Some of the only smiles we were able to capture...

Panda received his own purple tutu and Zach received some stylin' boots.

Here's Ella!! (A present to be opened in March!)

The family football game tradition

AND, The food, Oh, the FOOD! There was a lot and it was gooood.

Ari's Gym

2010-12-21T15:19:00.000-08:00

Ari has been practicing her pull-ups, getting ready for the beach this Christmas. Here she is workin' on her fitness.

And, here are her 6 teeth:

Teeth update

2010-12-15T15:57:00.000-08:00

Ari has 3 teeth on the bottom and 3 1/2 on the top. So, almost 7! She's eating like a toddler now too! I keep having to put more food on her tray. 2 more weeks of being 11months... oh no!

(this bottom picture looks like Jenny, no?)

Oops we did it again.

2010-12-12T06:36:00.000-08:00

There is no point in hiding it anymore.

Here are the facts:

12 weeks along
Due date June 28
No we did not plan this. But we didn't prevent it either.
Ari is excited. She told me.
Found out before my 26th birthday in October.
Baby H2 has a healthy and strong heart beat.
Women who are on their second baby show much more quickly than the first.
Poopy diapers contribute greatly to nauseousness.
Dan's face turned from white to green rather quickly when I told him. Shocked.
Wow! Here we go again. Yeah Babies!

(The dark circle in the picture is my uterus. The tiny bean-shaped object is our baby. The picture was taken at a 7 week ultrasound. Baby H2 is much bigger now)

Oh Christmas Tree

2010-12-09T17:13:00.001-08:00

We asked Ari which tree she wanted. She showed us to a little dainty about 5 feet tall. She bargained with the little farmer who sells them and he gave us ten dollars off.

It was a perfectly freezing trip to the tree farm and during her nap, we decorated the tree.

She was enamored by it and has pretty much stayed away from it after the first few times. We are excited about this Christmas with our little baby.

11 Months

2010-12-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

Ari is 11 months old. One more to go! Jeesh.

So. Not. Ready.

Ari is around 20 pounds and is 30 inches tall. She is very wonderful and happy all the time. She sleeps 7pm-6am. She eats pretty much everything and loves broccoli, cheese and toast.

She currently says a few words: dadda, mama, gaahd (dog and other animals). She can tell you what a dog says! She loves to blow raspberries and sing to music. She shakes her hips when music is playing. Ari crawls all-over the place and has stood on her own a few times. She likes to crawl up the stairs and walk around with assistance.

She recently found her tongue and loves to stick it out and play with it! It is adorable. She is growing way too quickly and is getting more fun each day. With Christmas coming and her sweet spirit around, this December is shaping up to be wonderful!

Our Blue Ridge Thanksgiving.

2010-11-27T14:11:00.000-08:00

We traded turkey and pumpkin pie for hiking boots and backpacks and we took a trip to Pisgah National Forest for Thanksgiving. We made this decision after realizing that Dan would be working sandwich days Wed and Friday and as a result, it would be difficult to have company. We also realized that we needed a break! Dan has been working a lot and I've been cooped up inside with Ari so a mountain trip was necessary!

First, there was a lot of this: sleeping! Grateful for the time away, we were able to talk and reconnect about the past year and the coming year. We played a few games and laughed at our silliness. We also planned our future and dreamt big about jobs, mountain homes and vacations.

We hiked Mt. Pisgah which is named after the Biblical Mount from which Moses first saw the promised land. The peak gave some amazing views (though dead trees) of Western North Carolina (including Cold Mountain!).

Dan wore Ari for the first part but she is 20 pounds now and it was very difficult to carry her. We will definitely be investing in a more rugged back-pack baby carrier if we decide to take longer hikes! She loved it, she clapped and squealed and waved at all the 'gaaahs' (dogs) that we saw on the trail.
Though it was a sunny 50 degrees, we knew the top would be windy and possibly chilly so I purchased a Russian-inspired fur hat and Ari wore it proudly. She was super cute but didn't love it the whole time.

Right inside the "Cradle of Forestry" of Pisgah is Looking Glass Falls, a large waterfall that we've always passed but never stopped. We stopped this time and really enjoyed the majestic beauty of such a large waterfall. (This picture is up at the top and we went down to get closer and get sprayed by the fall).

Though we missed our families and sweet potato praline, we really enjoyed our mini-break from our busy life. Special thanks to Mitch for his generous hotel rewards. Ari slept well in the bathroom (in the pack-n-play!) and we were grateful for a warm dry place to sleep!

Cute faces

2010-11-18T12:19:00.000-08:00

Her little eyes!

The teeth!

Uncle Dave and Ari have similar expressions!

Woopsies, I forgot!

2010-11-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

"Seriously Mom, you forgot to do my 10 month update."

Well, Ari is 10 months (and 1/2 if you're counting...) She is a-movin' and a-shakin'. Crawling and standing all over the place. Ari is probably 19+ pounds and is not too tall (no exact measurements). She popped 2 top teeth and is super cute with them now. She eats pretty much anything but especially loves bananas, peas and green beans! She is sleeping great, except for a few early mornings but we can handle those! She is such a joy to be around, travels well and loves to play with non-baby items.

We are SO NOT READY for her first birthday. Really, has it been that long? Everyone tells you that it flies by and they're right!!

If you are wondering, I made that headband. Thats right, "Jenny-most-athletic" actually crafted something. It wasn't too difficult and its modern enough to show gender without being obnoxious! (obviously, I'm proud!)

Ari, on the other hand, is NOT so proud and tries to remove the headband at every chance.

Lalalala

2010-11-13T07:25:00.000-08:00

Enjoy this short video of Ari playing her own tunes. And with a little assistance from Dan, she does it even more!

Hallerween and Booritos

2010-10-31T15:57:00.000-07:00

This year for the 'holiday' that is currently upon us and nauseating me with it's lawn decor and massive amounts of high fructose corn syrup, we did things a little bit different. I had heard about Chipotle's initiative to encourage people to ban processed foods by giving $2 burritos for people who dressed as a grotesque chemically-laden food. Though Doritos and Cosmic Brownies were our first choices for processed foods, we decided on doing something a bit more simple: S'Mores

Here we have the graham crackers and the marshmallows. Dan's costume was a simple camp shirt with tons of graham crackers glued on; we also included the ingredients so that anyone who asked could easily read for themselves.

Ari's costume was easily assembled using a hot glue gun, an old onsie and a bag of marshmallows. We also had old socks that I made into leggings for her and they too were covered with those white and gooey things... in NC heat, we were a little sticky afterwards.

Because someone had to carry the diaper bag, camera and child, I wore the least amount of food. but I still got to be chocolate!

The manager informed us that we were early. The event wasn't supposed to start until after 6pm but noone told us that...and we have a baby who goes to sleep at 7... they let us anyway!! No wonder there was noone else there dressed up; we received quite a few interesting looks!

All in all, worth it for this burrito goodness.

Happy Birthday Great Grammy Claire!

2010-10-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

Baba, Pumpkins and Fevers

2010-10-27T09:49:00.000-07:00

This past week (wait, its only Wednesday?!) has been a little rough because Ari got sick with a little virus. She had a fever for a few days and was up all night unable to sleep in pain. Barb came to visit and it was a blessing to have help for a few days while Ari struggled with her sickness. We did have a few minutes one afternoon to go to the pumpkin patch.

Ari rode a little wagon and held on tight while I looked for the perfect pumpkin. Round, a cute stem, no bumps, and a rick orange color.

She was a little sleepy but had a good time with her Baba.

Maybe those top two teeth are going to come in and that is what this chaos has been. Her smile will change but it will still be stinkin' adorable!

And we were 'swingin'

2010-10-14T15:56:00.000-07:00

There is an amazingly large park in south Charlotte that we have been to a few times. We went on one of the first crisp fall Fridays (and I'm just now posting about it!). We ordered a local pizza and headed to play catch, swing and play.

Obviously, it was very different from the usual park visits because we had a little cutie with us. She received a lot of attention from fellow swingers and was a trooper while Dan and I played catch!

She has dreamy eyes, do you agree? She loves to play football already. Throws a perfect spiral.