Happy Birthday Ava!

My oldest turned 3 years old today. I can't believe she's soooo grown-up. Pics soon perhaps, if our computer doesn't go up in smoke.

Happy Birthday to me!

Today I turn 32. It has been a low key day really. I slept moderately last night. This morning I took the kids to daycare, as usual. Then I went to the gym. I was bummed I didn't get on my favorite machine, but it felt good to move my body regardless. Then I came home, played some Scrabulous, and took a loooooong shower. Then I got Keith for a lunch date. We enjoyed pizza slices from a new restaurant here in Corvallis that has the closest thing I've tasted to REAL New York pizza. We also dropped in a framing shop to get a painting framed that used to hang in my aunt's home (the one who died 2 months ago). Getting the painting professionaly framed is my birthday present (plus the awesome massage that I got yesterday). Then I took Keith back to work and went to a movie. BY MYSELF. I've never done that before, and it was pretty awesome. I love going to the movies. I need to do that more often. I saw I AM LEGEND and boy...it was spooky. As someone trained in the biological sciences, the concept of a super-virus (that we engineered, no less) wiping out the human population is pretty terrifying. And now, I'm home and relaxing with the kids. I'm going to pick something yummy for Keith to pick-up for dinner (Indian maybe?) and then I'm going to start baking my birthday cake, which will be shared this weekend when some friends come over to celebrate.

Yeah, it has been a pretty nice day. 32 feels a little different than 31 because I can vididly remember when my Mom was 32 (I was 10) and she seemed old. Guess I'm getting up there.

6 months!!

It was 6 months ago at this very minute that I was holding a newborn Alder. Just minutes old even! I can't believe how the time flies. Now he smiles and laughs, he talks his special language, he is nearly up on all fours and is trying to crawl, and he is almost sitting. AND he sleps through the night almost all the time.

We are really starting to see more of his personality now. We are seeing that he is more attached to me than Ava was at this age. He's very laid back and happy almost all the time. He loves his bananas, pears, and carrots, but is not nearly as fond of the sweet potatoes. His hair is starting to fill in and it appears to be light - maybe blond or strawberry blond, but possibly a very light brown too. There are quite a lot of red hhighilghts in his hair too. His eyes seem to be headed in the direction of hazel.

Alder's 6 month check-up was yesterday too, and he looked great! He weighs 15 lbs 14 oz (~15th %-ile), is 26.25 inches tall (~35th %-ile), and has a 17.5 in head (~65th %-ile)! He sure doesn't look skinny with his chubby cheeks, double chin, and rolly thighs.

Anyway, happy 6 months Alder!

Happy Birthday Nathaniel

Today marks the second anniversary of the birth of a very special little boy - a little boy who touched lives across the country. He was loved by all for the 5 days he lived, and he continues to be loved for the lessons he taught. Nathaniel became the youngest organ donor in Southwest history. He will live on in two little babies, and in all our memories. We miss you little boy. Happy birthday.