Nov happenings

It's been quite a month (and it's only the 15th). When Uncle James was visiting recently with girlfriend Becky and he asked Nyla who her favorite football team was she shouted, "OBAMA!" That's our girl. Yes, we are all very excited about the CHANGE to come. Callie is excited about change too. She didn't get her first tooth, she got her first three teeth at the same time. Hardly a peep out of her about this. A couple days of complaining, but those teething tablets work like a charm. Not that we had to give them to her, but she really loved shaking the little white container. We actually found that a little clove oil (diluted in almond oil) rubbed on her gums took care of any tears right away. After scooting around backwards on the wood floors for several days we actually saw three tiny little forward crawls today. Watch out Nyla, Callie is mobile. Nyla is a great big sister and always on the lookout for Callie's safety. She's the first to announce when Callie is eating paper or that she wants to nurse. And she loves to tell everyone that passes that Callie is her eight-month-year-old sister. The fun just keeps coming...



Did I mention Nyla is taking gymnastics? She hangs and jumps on everything and I keep telling her, "that's not for hanging on" so we finally signed her up somewhere where she can get it all out.
AND she really wanted to do ballet too, much to my surprise. I gave her a week of this before she realized there wasn't enough jumping, but she is on week 8 or something and sticking with it.

"I'm smarter than the president" T-shirt. Callie wore this shirt on election day. Thanks Auntie Sara.

Oh, and for those of you that saw Obama's "infomercial" where he mentioned McKinstry, a Seattle company that is a leader in alternative energy, that is the company that Gabe works for. So we pretty much are close to being on a first-name basis with the new pres of the US. I'll post pics after we have him over for dinner.

Halloween 2008
The Skunk and the Wish Fairy

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Getting back at it...

YES, we are still here, getting back on our feet. Exciting times are upon us here in Portland. Nyla started her new preschool, which she attends 4 mornings a week and so far loves. Callie wakes up every morning smiling and talking and cooing and gooing. Sometimes she is so filled with joy that she has to wake up at 3 AM to tell us about it. The girls adore each other, and we adore them. Nyla's sense of style continues to develop, as does her vocabulary (new favorite: fableous - i.e. look at this fableous outfit!). She also loves to come with new names for Callie. Some of our favorites have been, Kit Kat Callie, Callie Pallie Spagallie, Callie-pillar, and very often Sallie. Here are a few pictures of our Punky B and Kit Cat C from the last few months.

Sitting up!

Nyla and her two babies.

Nyla struts to her last swim class of the summer.

Fun with Uncle D.

In Loving Memory

Things have been tough around our house lately, not that we haven't had an abundance of blessings as well. Our much loved Papa passed away on July 3, 2008. He was remarkably courageous and positive throughout the whole ordeal. He recounted daily all the reasons he was lucky and his sense of humor never failed, despite the bleak diagnosis of metastatic cancer. He did not complain. Nyla was his great joy and he was, in his gentle way, becoming acquainted with Callie. He passed at home with us, shortly after we all said goodnight and Nyla told him that each of us loved him. We miss him terribly.

May Day

Happy May Day!

A guest appearance from afar...

No time to type

Super Dad

Callie Arrives

Getting Ready for Baby

In preparation for the upcoming arrival of Baby, we pulled out a few old boxes of clothes from when Nyla was a baby. She, of course, had to try on all the clothes we pulled out.

Oh sure, NOW she wants to use the pacifiers...

Making Dada look pretty...



Just being Nyla...