I'm too excited to sleep...

We are leaving for Tahoe very early tomorrow morning and I can't wait! With Mark working like he does, whole days together are so precious and I'm really looking forward to this trip.
Then we're stopping in Yuba City on Sunday. I talked to Mark's grandma today and she can't wait to hold Marlo. I can't wait to see all the remodeling that Lane has been doing at her house.
Then Monday on to Napa to see lots of friends and family. I talked to Cassandra today...so excited for her wedding next weekend.

Tutu

My sister-in-law Amy made this tutu for Marlo. I wanted to get some photos of her in it today, but I was pretty unsuccessful. I wish I would have thought to have Amy take some when she was here!




Most of them turned out like the ones below. Marlo was more interested how she could get the tutu into her mouth than looking at the camera.

Three years!

I am so HAPPILY married! I am thinking today of everything we've done together, the places we've been, all our great memories. The best times of my life have been with Mark, and there are more ahead of us. It really does get better every day, especially now that we're a family. The capacity for love just grows and grows.

Do-nothing day

Not even a photo. We are still sick round these parts and I'm having a hard time doing anything. We leave for Tahoe on Friday, then I'll be in Napa on Sunday, then Mark comes on the following Saturday, then we come back home Monday the 2nd. A lot to pack for! So I'm just thinking about it all, because I don't have the energy to do anything about it yet.

I'm sorry

but these just make me laugh. She is just so dang cute. She's not as fond of oatmeal as she is of rice cereal, but she will be. A dietician from the Well Baby program is coming tomorrow so I'll get more info on feeding.

At work

Marlo is very serious in her exersaucer. She has work to do. She'll look up and smile at me or Mark, but then she goes right back to concentrate on the task at hand.
My sister came up today...hadn't seen her in so long. We went out to lunch and went shopping. Then she watched Marlo while I took a bath, and then she rubbed my feet. It was grand!
Everyone here is still under the weather. We couldn't get any sleep last night. Marlo did okay...I can't even remember. But Mark and I tossed and turned and my mind wouldn't rest. I kept thinking about pajamas, new comfy pajamas...

Those lips

This is a typical Marlo expression. Brows together, lips pursed...as if she isn't quite buying it.
She got a fancy new high chair today, very Big Girl. I somehow got Mark to go to Babies r Us and Costco on a Sunday during football season. He was a better sport than I was, actually.
Costco on a Sunday is worse than a root canal. Tons of people with no manners and no idea where they're going, then throw the free food samples in the mix and they're way too stimulated. It's like the petting zoo. The demo people have handfuls of pellets and everyone turns into billy goats, bumping carts together. Or worse, they stand there and salivate as they wait for the next batch of canned tomatoes to be ready. Yes, you're waiting for a spoonful of canned tomatoes.
I should stay away from there for a little while, ya think?
And Auntie Di, not wanting to disappoint you, Marlo does get her foot in her mouth. It's actually hindering her from sitting up. See, I put her in a sitting position, but then she sees her foot and takes a nosedive for it. She was much better at sitting before she discovered her feet. Ahh, milestones...

Newborn Marlo

I finally broke down and ordered a photo package from the hospital and they just came. She was so tiny! That cowgirl outfit was the tiniest thing she had and I loved it on her.
And those long fingers...I should have known that like a puppy that she'd grow into her paws.

just playing

These are from yesterday with her new toy that she got at the zoo.

Her cold seems much better, though not completely gone. But now I'm getting sick and I have no energy. But at least Mark is home to help.

MarshMarlo

Of all her goofy nicknames, that one is my favorite. Thomas came up with it.

Big Cheese

Well here she is in a high chair at lunch today. She's still a little wobbly but don't tell her that.

Saying bye to Grandma...

Mary left today. It was so great to have her here. Marlo came down with a cold yesterday and I was so glad she was here, not just as a nurse but as Grandma. I think it made us both feel better!
This is how great she is: she made her super yummy dinner rolls last night because she knows we love them. She fixed up the bumper pads in the nursery just perfect. I came downstairs this morning and she had tidied everything up and was washing the bedding from the guest room!
Thank you for everything Mom! We love you!

Group shots

Family

We've been too busy to blog because my in-laws are here! We're having so much fun!

Grandma feeding Marlo last night. She LOVES her rice cereal and was crying between bites because Mary couldn't get it to her fast enough.


With Auntie Ann and Uncle Adam before the cruise today.


It was just a one hour cruise from downtown to Coronado. It was a perfect day for it.

Here she goes...

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Sittin' pretty

I'm looking forward to the day when she can be in a high chair at a restaurant. Won't that be something?

Happy Birthday Gramma Helen!

My grandmother Helen is 84 today and there's no stopping her. She lives by herself on some beautiful property on the edge of Napa. She loves taking care of her plants and her flowers and she's been blessed with really good health. I can't wait to see her at the end of the month!

SO HAPPY

She is having the best time just talking and smiling, even though she's so tired.

She has grown so much. That polka dot outfit is now capris, but I can't let it go. I went through her clothes today and packed up everything that no longer fits. It's the second time I've had to do that.
Kind of sad, not just letting the cute little outfits go, but to think of how fast the time goes.
She has been having a ball today rolling over and playing with toys. I know I'm biased, but I think she's brilliant...

A favor

My sister Amy called me with some bad news today. Her husband's mom Shelly was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer. She just got out of the hospital after a week's stay and is on medication, but there's not much more information than that. But please keep her in your thoughts and prayers and I will hopefully post some good news soon.

Photos from Aunt Lane's

We went there today for a barbeque and it was a lot of fun. Great food, especially the Texas sheet cake topped with chocolate frosting, whipped cream, and butterfinger pieces. Not like I had any of it, with my steely will power.

With Uncle Walker, who looks even thinner holding Chunker.



With Uncle Tom



Exhausted from working on that candy wrapper


Finally home, can you tell she's tired?

What have I done...

I'm trying to convince myself she liked the texture and sound of the candy wrapper, rather than the chocolatey remnants inside. Good thing my mom's out of the country and won't be seeing this.

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First bites

Or second bites, actually. We tried to feed her last night but she wasn't having it. She did a lot better tonight.

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Wild Animal Park again

although we were only there for about a half hour. It was about 102 degrees...WAY too hot for little Marlo. Who am I kidding? I couldn't take it either.

punkin

Happy Birthday, Aunt Dianne!

It's my crazy aunt's birthday today...here she is at 9 months, looking a little like Marlo's body type. Love you Aunti Di!

Tough Cookie

Marlo had a fever that's now winding down and she's been kind of fussy, but she's doing pretty well. She is making so much noise today...I've really got to get a new camera so you can see video of this little blabbermouth.

Big girl...

Smiling at her daddy in the waiting room this morning...



She is still in the 97th percentile (surprise), but she's in proportion, so that's good. She weighed eighteen pounds but hadn't had her morning poop, so I don't think she is quite that heavy.
The doctor said she can start on rice cereal, so we'll try that in the next few days. Should be pretty funny.
She took her shots like a champ and I didn't cry this time. As Mark says, "Pain is weakness leaving your body".
She seems perfectly normal right now, although even cuter than usual.