Snapshot #1213: Daddy & Daughter

May 24, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Emily was blessed in church today by her father.  I want to remember this precious moment forever.

Snapshot #1212: Lava Canyon

May 23, 2015.  Cougar, Washington.  We loaded up and drove to Mt. Saint Helens today.  Unfortunately for us it was too foggy to see the mountain.  But we did enjoy a walk through Ape Cave and a beautiful AND TERRIFYING hike through Lava Canyon.  Okay, so only I thought it was terrifying.  Mom was on a natural high and started jumping up and down on the suspension bridge like a little kid--until I screamed for her to stop.  These photos courtesy of Tracee; I was too terrified to let go of the railing.

Snapshot #1211: Grandpa King

May 22, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Look who flew in for the weekend.  

Snapshot #1210: Tracee is Back

May 21, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Look who's back!  My youngest sister, Tracee, recently returned from a full-time mission for the Mormon church in Mesa, Arizona.  She moved in with us three weeks ago and has already found two jobs.  Her day job is at a local nursery.  Here she is, hard at work.

Snapshot #1209: Furrowed Brow

May 20, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  A typical Emily face--the furrowed brow.

Snapshot #1208: Baby Smiles

May 19, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  I'm all work and Dave is all play.  It's SO cute how he gets her to smile!!

Snapshot #1207: Sand & Water Table

May 18, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  This homemade (thanks Dad!) sand and water table has yielded hours and hours of creative play.  Mission accomplished.

Snapshot #1206: Emily's One Month Photo Shoot

April 18, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Hard to believe it's already been one month.

Snapshot #1205: Planting Day

May 16, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  It was much chillier outside today than last week, but we finally got my vegetable garden planted...only two months late.  Hopefully it stays warm well into the fall.

Snapshot #1204: Double Mountain Brewery

May 15, 2015.  Hood River, Oregon.  Our search for really good pizza--since our arrival in the pacific northwest--took us to the town of Hood River tonight.  We dined at Double Mountain Brewery and have indeed discovered really good pizza AND the most unique draft root beer I've ever tasted.  The bad news is that it's an hour drive from home.  The good news is that the drive is through the Columbia Gorge--"long journey part of gift."  Happy Birthday my one, my only, Dave.

Snapshot #1203: "Talk Each Other"

April 14, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Hazel's all-time favorite game is "Talk Each Other."  With one animal in her hand and one in mine we talk to each other with creative dialogue.  Hazel has discovered that I'm a captive audience to play "Talk Each Other" every time I sit down to nurse the baby.  We, therefor, play lots of "Talk Each Other."  And here I thought this was just a newborn shoe.

Snapshot #1202: Baby Gear

April 13, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  This baby spits.  A lot.  Trying to find some way to minimize the spit-up I thought we could try out some baby gear that elevates her head.  I have been very minimalist when it comes to baby gear and we had practically no baby gear with Hazel.  But all this spit-up (and the larger house) is making me re-consider.  A very generous neighbor responded by giving me her recently out-grown items...a swing, a bouncer, a rock 'n play, a bumbo, and a boppy.  We are officially geared up.

Snapshot #1201: Wake a Sleeping Baby

April 12, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  It's so hard to wake a sleeping baby...

Snapshot #1200: Candy House

May 11, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  For the last week I've gone in to Hazel's room and found one of the Christmas books on the floor opened to a page where they make a gingerbread house.  Then the other night she was lamenting that she wanted it to be Christmas so she could made a candy house.  I informed her that we didn't have to wait until Christmas, but could make candy houses for Family Home Evening...which we did--after a lesson about appropriate behavior inside our home, of course.  Huge, HUGE hit!!  The girl was in excited anticipation for Family Home Evening all day long.

Snapshot #1199: Preparation Day

May 9, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Still working on getting our vegetable garden seeded.  Did our final preparations today.  

ps  Those are 6-months blue pants on my less than one-month old.

Snapshot #1198: Big Sister

May 8, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Hazel received the book, "I'm a Big Sister" (by Ronne Randall) from one of the girls in her dance class...and she and I LOVE it!  We read the book at least once every day.  It's really motivated her to want to be helpful and do big girl things--rather than be jealous when the baby gets to use all her old things.  She's also become more tolerant to the 'noise' a baby brings to our home.  In the hospital, every time Emily cried Hazel covered her ears and made a face.  And then the first time in the car together Hazel looked at me with great apprehension and said, "But it's going to be noisy back here."  Hahaha.  She's made great progress.

Snapshot #1197: Play Date

May 7, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  We're returning to some semblance of normal over here...we're hosting Thursday play-dates again.

Snapshot #1196: Baby Bath

May 6, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  I already can't stop giving this little one kisses; right after a bath she is even more irresistible.

Snapshot #1195: Planting Peas

May 5, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  My mom planted these peas for us the week she was here helping with Baby Emily.  I haven't given them a second thought.  It was fun to walk outside today and see that they're growing.  Hooray for the rains!

Snapshot #1194: Sleep Baby Sleep

May 4, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Our first week on our own.  I think I can, I think I can.

Snapshot #1193: Lacamas Lake Trail

May 2, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  Grandpa Wood flew in to see us yesterday and we've already got him in the Moby Wrap with Baby Emily.  He's a good sport!

Snapshot #1192: Baby Girl Wreath

May 1, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  I had this vision in my head of a spring wreath that would also announce our baby girl's arrival.  Debbie created this for our front door and far exceeded my expectations.  Thanks again, for everything.

Snapshot #1191: Movie Please

April 30, 2015.  Camas, Washington.  She has worked so hard for us--doing the shopping and the cooking, it was almost impossible to get her to sit down.  Here's proof she sat at least long enough to get this photo.

Snapshot #1190: Feeling Loved

April 29, 2015.  Vancouver, Washington.  Having a baby is like starting over with establishing routine and daily life.  The support we've received from family and friends has been a tremendous blessing.  My mom was here the first week, the second week my dear Relief Society Sisters provided meals, and this week we get Nonnie and my sister Tracee.  This evening we escaped the rigor of Eat, Play, Sleep to enjoy some ice cream.    

Snapshot #1189: Off the Chart

April 28, 2015.  Emily had her 2-week well-check yesterday.  She's sitting at 97% for her weight and head circumference, but her length is off the chart.

Snapshot #1188: Emily's Newborn Photo Shoot

April 27, 2015. Camas, Washington.  Life is Good.