Happy Half Birthday Baby!

The first picture she is just hours old, the second she is three months and sitting in the recalled bumbo chair and the last picture is today at six months eating her first bowl of cereal.

It is absolutely amazing to look back on the last six months to see how much changes. Bel was born 6 months ago today at 4:22 in the afternoon via unplanned c-section weighing in at 9lbs 8.4oz and measured in at 22 inches (tall). She has changed so much since then. She provides us with constant joy both in awake moments as well as those where she is sleeping so peacefully. Our little girl has gone to the cabin and she has traveled to Texas. She has rolled over and tried her best to not do it again (she doesn't like being on her tummy), she loves to smile and cuddle and like her mommy she loves to watch people all around her. She is finding her voice with baba's and dada's, goo's and gaa's and sometimes treats us to a very high pitched screech that her daddy just loves! Bel loves to jump in her Jumparoo at home and in her Rainforest Jumparoo at Grandma and Grandpa's. She loves her puppies (Kara,the Dalmatians and Gus Gus too.), spending time with family and going to Mary's where she has two more puppies to love and lots of kids to watch all day long! Our beautiful little girl has changed so much in such a small amount of time that it is hard to keep up with all that she does and is doing. We hope this blog not only helps us to hold on to everything she does, but we also hope it allows you to keep up with us in our ever changing lives.

First date after baby

We finally had a date just the two of us this Saturday. Bel stayed with Grandma, Grandpa and the three spotted puppies for the evening while DM and I headed out for a quiet dinner. We do realize that she is now 6 months old and that we should have tried to go out just the two of us before this, but some how the time just goes way too fast. My parents have watched her before, once when she was a couple of weeks old when DM and I went fishing with Nate at the cabin and her Auntie Stacey and Uncle Doug watched her one night when we joined DM's co-workers for their holiday gathering. Yes, the night before she was born (July 27th) was the last time it was just the two of us. So DM and I dropped the little pumpkin off at my parents and we headed out for a wonderful dinner at Ciao Bella in Bloomington. We got there before the service was busy which was very nice as we could actually hear each other talking. We had wonderful food including a desert that reminded us of the cruise we took last year with my parents, Jen, Nate and Ella. It was so nice to sit down for dinner without our little one grabbing at our plates or pulling the place mate with everything on it towards her. We returned to my parents where we waited until our dinner had settled and we headed out to the hot tub to relax in the hot water. WHAT A TREAT! When we were finished the little Bel had just begun to fight her exhausted self as she had been jumping in her Rainforest Jumperoo that Grandma bought for her and her cousin Lauren. She snuggled with Grandma for a little while longer and then we packed her up and headed home. It really is hard to imagine what we once were without her, but it was nice to have a couple of hours just the two of us.

The secret to having a good marriage is to understand that marriage mustbe total, it must be permanent, and it must be equal.
--Frank Pittman

The Palace Club House

Bel experienced her first and most likely last swim meet in the "Palace Club House." Some of you who read this know personally what its like to live in the water there, but sadly (or happily) the "Palace" will soon be replaced by a multi-million dollar natatorium/field house facility on the beautiful Saint Paul campus that many of us have called home over the years. The baby and I met Leah at the pool on Friday night after I finished practice with my team and picked up the princess from home and headed down in the cold of winter. Its a very different place to be when you are not the one swimming in the 5 lane pool (which leaks thousands of gallons a day) but brings back many wonderful memories like waking up for early morning workouts with the sun coming in the glass block windows which is nothing short of spectacular, or holding hands saying the Our Father, or praying to Mary before a meet. Such wonderful memories to look back on and knowing that such traditions live on with the new Tommies is very comforting. More than anything is was nice to take my LO to UST and though she will not remember the visit, maybe some day DM and I can go watch her swim in the new pool (which will be around 17 years old) when she becomes a little Tommie herself!

Welcome to the World!

Me (Auntie) & Lauren

Uncle & Lauren
Jen, Nate and Lauren

Well she has arrived! Jen & Nate are parents of two (three if you include their fuzzy baby), Ella is a big sister, Mom & Dad have three granddaughters and DM & I are Auntie and Uncle again! What a beautiful little blessing Lauren is. Weighing in at a whole 7lbs 6oz and 19 inches tall, Lauren entered the world on 1-11-08 at 8:59pm. She is so little when you compare her to Ella and Bel at birth that I hardly know what to do when I hold her. My sister looks wonderful and Nate is as proud as can be. What a miracle the birth of a new child is to this world.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb."

Psalm 139:13

Looking forward to the weekend!

Bel and Mommy back to "normal" schedules! There are no words to describe being home with your baby. I was able to spend two wonderful weeks with my baby over winter break and it was wonderful even with her stuffy nose and bad cough. I am so fortunate to have a job in which I get to have holiday breaks, spring breaks and a nice long summer breaks with my LO. In saying this I do believe that this first week back after break has been the worst week I have had to deal with in a very long time.

This week should have a wonderful ending though because My sister and Brother-in-law will be welcoming baby Lauren into the world. Ella is going to be a big sister and we are going to be Auntie and Uncle for a third time (Jake-is our nephew on DM's side). We are so looking forward to welcoming this new little girl into our family. I hope we will have pictures to share very soon!

As crazy as life gets I am finding on a daily basis what a blessing my family and friends are. Daily phone calls to my Mom and Sister. Visits from Doug, Stacey and Becky help entertain LO and DM while I'm gone coaching and phone calls to Bethy all bring smiles to my face. Its amazing how the little things in life make it all worth while!

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle, I just wish he didn't trust me so much."
Mother Teresa

One last Christmas Celebration!

Today we had the last of our Christmas gatherings with DM's Dad (Grandpa George) and his wife (Grandma Sandie). We were joined by all the siblings plus Uncle Justin, DM's step-brother and Brian (Auntie Brenna's fiance). Auntie Brenna (Dm's step-sister) works nights and was unable to join us this year as she was catching up on some much needed sleep. We had great food and fun playing games. Brian brought over their new Wii and many of us joined in by watching Auntie Becky beat up on DM in boxing and Uncle Andy go crazy for the bowling. Uncle Doug got a new Monopoly game that he has been waiting for and was joined by others to play a quick game. We left with more Toys R Us stock and headed back home for a little quiet time so the princess can get over her cough!

(Our Princess with a couple of her Auntie's and Uncles!)

Happy New Year!

We were lucky enough to spend a fun filled night with some great friends to ring in 2008! Mr. B, Mr. K and Mrs. K were able to join us for the night by bringing great food and bringing drinks to share. We are lucky enough to have friends that enjoy being at home on evenings like this because with Bel it is harder to go out, even for a bite to eat. The "crew" came over even though we were minus two of our heaviest hitters and we had a great time. We played games, watched a little count down and honestly enjoyed the wonderful company. Miss Bel has not been feeling well so off to slumber she went and in a timely manner joined us just after the new year began, she had a little to eat and back to bed she went. DM and myself joined her in dream land shortly there after as we bid farewell to a wonderful 2007 which brought us or Princess and welcomed in 2008 which we are greatly looking forward to as we will be welcoming a new niece from my sister Auntie Jen any day now. We hope that you all had a wonderful Holiday Season!