Smiles and Fun

I am getting more and more smiles and it is so much fun!!

This one is sick and on breathing treatments, although sometimes during the day I wouldn't guess it. It is amazing how she gets a little energy bursts right after a nap, breathing treatment, and a little tylenol....only to crash and sleep later.

The Girls

Brian brought home roses for his 3 ladies the other night, and Stella was sooooo happy. She couldn't stay away from them all night! (Sorry, I couldn't get the pictures turned around....frustrating!)

Violet is more and more alert and looking pretty!!!

And she is starting to smile.....love it!!

We had a little storm the other day and Stella wanted to sit outside on the porch and watch it rain. So we did. She was so content, and when I look at this picture I realize how grown up she looks!!

I think Vi's eyes are going to be just as blue....

Four Weeks

Violet has been part of our family for four weeks! That is amazing to me. It is awesome how life just keeps going, and a new person just fits into your family so perfectly. It is also incredible how the three other people living with her loved her from the moment they saw her and continue to love her more and more each day!

Bath Night

She had a mini-first bath in our sink. She was not impressed. However, Stella is little Miss Mother and had to be there for every minute of it saying, "It otay, baby."

Thanks to the Ringger's!

So many fun things happened at the lake it is hard to remember all of them!! A huge thank you to Dustin and Emily for opening up their lake house for all of us to visit. It is no doubt a crazy time with all the kids (and adults) running this way and that, but you guys are always great hosts :)

Before it got too crazy we attempted to get a good picture of the new sisters. This was the best we could get....


We got her some new armies, and I was shocked at how excited she was and how well she swam!!

And of course Grandpa Ringger was suffocated with grandkids every which way he turned...

And Uncle Dustin and Caden were having a GREAT time out on the tube. It is amazing how much of a dare devil Caden is.....and how much he is like Dustin!! This is when Dustin attempted to launch Caden from the red tube to the green tube....he fell short....

Lovin' Her Baby Sis

I just realized I didn't post this video and I love it! She was so excited to hold her little sister and sing her ABCs to her....

Fun Day

This week has been full of action, emotion, and whatever else you want to throw in. I have LOVED having Brian home with us, and am a little scared about him going back to work on Monday. But I guess it has to happen sooner or later. Today we had just a simple, do nothing, fun day. Below is Stella's famous "scrunchie nose" face. She loves doing it and I love seeing it :)

Spent the morning outside in the backyard (it is nicely shaded). She loves playing in the water.

And this is the little wet red head trying to get my camera....

Violet was pretty happy and content today, so we did some quick pictures. We had a weight check today and she is back to her birth weight. Doing good!

Welcome Violet!

We love to welcome Violet to our family, making us now a family of four!! Violet was pulled into this world on July 22nd weighing....

We were very excited, anxious, nervous.....all wrapped up into one. We arrived at the hospital and excitement took over. We could hardly wait for 2:00 to arrive. Finally, we were taken back to the OR. I had the most amazing anesthesiologist ever. We was so personable and calming. He walked and talked me through every step along the way explaining what the doctor was doing along with what they were doing with the baby and why she was crying so much, things were taking so long, etc. He was also a great photographer! This was when Brian first came over with Violet. I love that you can practically see the smile beaming out from behind his mask.

First photo with mom.....

He even managed to zoom in and capture every moment we would want to remember!

My first time holding her in recovery. This moment was overwhelming. Stella wasn't with us during recovery. I almost didn't believe that Violet was healthy and okay until this moment....

And of course Big Sister was VERY excited to hold her...

She was beside her every chance she got. Below is her "Cheese!" smile....

Sweet kisses....

She is in total love with her little sis....

Stella holding Violet's hand while she was watching TV, so sweet....

Ball Pit

We blew up our inflatable ball pit. We have been saving it for a good day and since it has almost been too hot to go outside in the afternoons, this was the time. The instant it was inflated she turned into a wild child! Brian attempted to bury her with the balls and she loved it....


Brian pretended to crawl in and she would have no part of it.....

I couldn't even get a clear picture because the child would not stop moving. Then she wanted to sing her "Alligator, alligator..." song she sings at swim lessons when they jump off the wall.....

RiverFest and The Fourth

A couple weeks ago, we decided to try something new and head over to the RiverFest at IPFW. We loved it! There were several games for Stella to play, a great selection of food and entertainment, and several places to plop down for a picnic. Stella was introduced to a little junk food alley and loved her hotdog and loaded curly fries!

Brian and I spent a lot of the weekend with the Adams' Family while my mom and dad vacationed. We put their pond to great use! Stella loved sparklers...at first....until she got burnt on the leg and then again on the finger. Nothing serious, but enough to scare her away for awhile!

And of course her and Millie were on the golf cart every chance they got. Even if it wasn't running, they would still figure out a way just to hang out on it. Stella is "fixing" it below with the needle nose pliers....