Two Popsicles

Jan 2, 2008

Vintage Photo Shoot

by Erika

On our last day in Maryland, Gammie requested we do a photo shoot with Emma so she could hang the winners on her wall, along with the other pictures of the grandkids. I wasn't sure if Emma would cooperate with the pink boa and hat, but she did, and wait until you get a load of these pictures. The light was just perfect - and my new camera caught some AMAZING shots.

What do you think?! I was so inspired, that I ran right out and purchased an additional portrait lens for my camera. I can't wait to take more pictures!

The Arlington Girls: Next Generation

by Erika

For the Arlington girls, it's now an annual tradition to get together during the holidays to get caught up and give hugs in person. It's usually the only time the three of us are in the same place at the same time.

This year, the three of us got together at Potbelly Deli in Bethesda, along with the next generation - Charlotte and Emma. I daydreamed on the way home that our kids will all carry on this tradition some day in the future! How fun would that be?!

Jan 1, 2008

Emma's first Christmas

by Erika

.....and her first Christmas puffs! :)

2008 is gonna be great!

by Erika

Happy New Year! Boy do I have a lot of catching up to do. Stay tuned.....

Dec 10, 2007

Belly laughs

by Erika

Being a mom is the best. Waking up every morning to this little smiling happy face just changes your purpose for living. Every day is like an advent calendar. You open up the day with an unknown treat.

Last night, emma laughed at me for the first time. I got out of the shower and wrapped my hair in a towel turban style. When I bent down to pick her up, she looked up at me and gave me a big hearty belly laugh! I dunno if it was the funky hairdo or if she was just in a good mood. But that laugh was yesterday's chocolate-filled-drawer for December 9th. :)

Dec 9, 2007

Yay for dresses!

by Erika

Dresses aren't very practical on a newborn. But I had to break one out to celebrate Emma's 10-week birthday! I think she likes them after all :)

My warrior baby

by Erika

I got the nickname "warrior mom" in the hospital delivering Emma because in my quest to have a natural birth, I endured back labor without pain relief for 48 hours. All the nurses thought I was one tough cookie for holding out as long as I did. That was certainly never my intention (to go that long) we just thought that active labor was imminent. Anyway, that's a whole other story entirely....

Well, luckily Emma seems to exhibit some of the same warrior qualities, as she had to get her first shots last week and although she cried, she still managed to perk back up and give me a smile as soon as we got home. I had to take this picture to commemorate her war wounds: three pink hello kitty bandaids! :)

Dec 5, 2007

Television and Autism?

by Erika

I won't take this as gospel just yet, but it is very interesting. There can't be much good that comes from watching tv at a young age (or in general I guess). Glad we canceled our cable a few months ago! :)

http://tinyurl.com/35vw77

The missing reindeer....

by Erika

...and her double chin say Happy Holidays!

The many faces of my little peanut...

by Erika

Emma, the college professor:

Emma, the kitty-cat:

Emma, the kitty-cat after a tickle:

Emma observing the mobile I made her. In case you couldn't tell - she's in training to be a future NASA physicist:

And last but not least, Parker finds a good resting spot:

It FINALLY rained!!

by Erika

Most of you probably heard about the fires in San Diego a month ago. The fact that southern California was experiencing the worst drought in nine years was a major factor. Locals around here began to call it "Sandy Desert" despite the fact that we live so close to the ocean, everywhere you look, you see nothing but brown.

Add to this, that anyone who knows me has heard me complain about the utter lack of thunderstorms here. If you grew up on the east coast, you know what a good, hard rain and thunderstorm can do for your soul. It cleanses. It's cathartic. Well ladies and gentlemen, after 2.5 years of living here, I finally got my wish. It rained for 24 straight hours here. Hard, pelting, running-down-the-street rain. The best part was I took Emma outside one morning and we sat on the porch just watching and smelling. It was great. :) And this was our view....not much to look at. But it was so friggin cool.

Nov 26, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!

by Erika

For Thanksgiving this year, we were lucky and had family come to visit us. Because Emma is still so little, we thought it would be easiest on everyone to have Thanksgiving dinner out. Mom treated us to a four-course dinner at La Valencia hotel in La Jolla (overlooking the ocean!). It was fabulous! The food was great, the view was spectacular, and Emma slept the whole time!

I am so thankful to have such a great family!

Nov 25, 2007

We did it!

by Erika

We completed our first race as a family. It wasn't a race in the traditional sense - none of us achieved a personal best. But it was a race to see how long Emma (and Parker) would last of the 3.1 miles we had to walk. You'll be happy to hear that they BOTH lasted the whole time! Emma slept the whole way, and Parker trotted happily through the course with nary a treat to lead him on. It was the perfect day for a morning walk - sunny and crisp. The best part was that Aunt Rachael was with us for the whole week, and she joined us for the walk.

And now.......for the piece de resistance.........