Children's Prespectives

From Braden:

He pretty much nailed it, if I have the time I would take a nap, and we do love to chit chat! I do love the color red and it does seem like my main job lately has been to take care of Stella. Definitely not 99 lbs though...

 From Carter:

Not so sure I'm good at running, and I definitely am not 14 yrs old!

Ma Spa

Beautiful Mother's day celebration at Braden's school---the "Ma Spa!" Cake, art project, and kids painting their Mom's nails! I am now very colorful!

As usual, Stella steals the show...

Carter's Art Show

Art show at Carter's school...all the kids were very proud of their displayed artwork!

The Great and Glorious

Just too cute not to document, Carter calls Stella "the great and glorious Stella Bella." I thought maybe a one time thing, but no, he says it constantly. He is such a wonderful big brother, so loving and protective, and obviously she adores him too!

Wasn't going to share this one, but I think it's funny and shows the case in point, Carter was furious with me at the zoo whenever any kids got near his Stella Bella!

"Uncle Skinny"

Scott's good friend from the Vermont Air National guard just got a job at Langley, so he's moved down and joined us on Sat night for a lot of catching up to do! Everyone is family in a fighter squadron, so all members get defaulted to "uncle" and then their call sign. Can't wait for his whole family to move out this summer!

3 Months Old

What a pure joy Stella Grace is! I haven't been able to capture her best smiles on camera, but she smiles a lot and makes the cutest cooing sounds when she is happy, which is often!

The routine is constantly changing, but I'm happy to report she is "sleeping through the night!" I take her upstairs between 8pm and 8:30pm, and she sleeps until 4:30am or 5! Much better for me! She wants to take a morning nap and usually takes a great afternoon nap, the only problem is that I have to pick up Carter from preschool so that usually interrupts her morning nap. Oh well, the life of the 3rd child!

She's been grabbing her feet a lot and chewing on her hands--maybe the beginning of teething?? Overall, she's very much more alert to all around her, noticing movement and sounds--and she LOVES her brothers! She's 11-12 lbs so I just started putting on the 3-6 month outfits---fun for me every day!

If you can't tell, I'm completely in LOVE with her! SO happy to have a daughter! I took her to the nail salon on Monday and she charmed everyone in there---can't wait to get her nails done too :) I can't go anywhere without someone telling me how pretty she is, and I totally agree :)

Norfolk Zoo

Zoo field trip for Carter's class today! We stuck with the Bates mostly and Stella loved being pushed around in her stroller :)

Carter with his teachers on the "terrific turtle" being camera shy

                                                   Silly me in the homo sapien cage!

Easter 2014

Beautiful and blessed Easter day...lots of fun in the morning with the Easter baskets (thank you to Grammoo and Gramma Seigfried and Grandma Linda for your gifts) followed by a lovely church service and then ham, mashed potatoes, cheese broccoli lunch/dinner at home--perfect day!

Egg Hunt

Fun day at Braden's school--both kindergarten classes participated in the Easter egg hunt, and then they had classroom parties where they made bunny projects. You can see Carter can't wait for kindergarten next year!

Easter Party

Easter egg hunt followed by Carter's class party...so cute!

Girls Day

My roommate from South Carolina (9 years ago) was in town so we spent the day with her...lunch with the girls, then to our house to show her around and introduce her to the boys! So awesome that, in the Air Force, only a matter of time before old friends reunite!

Lacrosse

Soft stick lacrosse has started and every Friday at 6pm Braden gets to learn the fundamentals..a bit hesitant at first but played the whole time this week! Since his daddy was captain of the lacrosse team at the Air Force Academy, it's kind of important that he learns to play :)

2 Months Old!

At Stella's 2 month baby well check, she was a whopping 9lbs 14 oz---so, she's gained almost exactly 3 lbs since birth, right on target. Only two ity bitty ounces more and you'll be 10 lbs...isn't that when they are supposed to sleep through the night?!?

Three Amigos

Carter's preschool lets you bring in siblings for their spring photos, so I figured, why not, it doesn't cost anything unless you want to purchase prints. Some turned out so cute, I've scanned my favorites, which to purchase?!?

My Favorite Girl