Starting Solids...Kylie Tells All

You're finally going to let me eat!!


I don't know about this?


Ugh...the texture is making me gag!


This eating thing isn't what I thought it would be.
I'm a little disappointed.

Can You Believe It's Been 6 Months?

Kylie turned 6 months old today. When she woke up this

morning, I told her the story about the day she was born- minus

the gory details. She gabbered right back like she was telling

her side of the story. She's such a blessing in our lives... a

true miracle to me. To celebrate, I made chocolate cupcakes

with white frosting and an M&M that says her name!

Tomorrow we see the doctor for her 6 month appointment.

I am looking forward to hearing what the doctor says in

regards to her possible allergy. And then maybe I can enjoy

one of the cupcakes!

Piper and Kylie Finally Meet On St. Patty's Day

Here's a little background... Matt and Breanne went to
high school together, and last spring we met with her and
her husband to talk about our upcoming Hawaii trip. We were
both pregnant for the first time. After having our little girls
nearly 3 weeks apart, we finally get to catch up on all the mom talk!
The babes looked at each other as if looking in a mirror. They
grabbed each others' feet and hands- too cute!


Matt joined us for a little floor time. Piper moves all
around the floor... rolling place to place and jabbering!


Mom and daughter festive in their St. Patty's
Day color! Oops, I forgot my green.

Aren't Aunts Great!

Over the weekend, Kylie and I were on our way downtown
so I could register for the Shamrock run. My parents were
visiting my Dad's Aunt Margaret, so we decided to join them.
This was the first time Aunt Margaret and Uncle Emil got to
meet Kylie. It was a quick visit, but fun to see them.

Aunt Anne

Matt's sister Anne came over to visit Kylie yesterday
and see her sitting up. Kylie loves grabbing her head to
give her big kisses and pulling on her hair and earrings!


Easter Best... Aunt Anne bought this adorable
little Easter dress for Kylie. She's giving it a
thumbs up!

Sitting Up

Hooray! Kylie's new little trick is sitting up!


She's been practicing and getting close the last couple weeks.
And a couple days ago she did it on her own. Here she is
workin' her abs.

Little Bunny Foo Foo...

I can't wait for Easter....

Day Trip

Last sunday we drove to the tri-cities to meet friends. We
decided to make a day of it and spend a little time at one of
my favorite parks in Kennewick on the Columbia River. The
park includes a play structure, skate area, and a trail that goes
along the river (one of my favorite places to run). After a little
stroller walk, Matt opted for a nap in the car while Kylie and I
played in the back.


We had to get her some shades for the sunny weather!

You Zi

What are you talking about, you zi? I will explain...
As some of you know, Paul and Karyn Meier, our close
friends have a passion for China. Paul has spent lots
of time there, and has knowledge of the culture and
language. When they came over on Wednesday for
bible study, Paul saw a pomelo sitting in our fruit basket
and said "oh a you zi!" Matt and I asked him what he was
talking about. He explained what the fruit was called
in China, and that he and Karyn had seen a you zi tree.
Matt and I had bought the pomelos at costco thinking
oh cool a huge grapefruit, and it says they're sweeter
than grapefruit. We brought them home, and
proceeded to cut it up like a grapefruit! It was
slightly difficult to eat, as those of you who have
eaten pomelos (you zi) know. Paul explained to us
that you peel it like an orange to eat it. So the four
of us shared the fruit, as you can see Paul is
demonstrating the correct way to peel a pomelo.
After a little research of my own, I found the you zi
is also known as the reunion fruit or that of blessing.
The name is similar in Chinese for "to have" and
often means abundance, prosperity or having children.

Sacrifices

Over the last couple months we've been suspicious
that Kylie has a milk allergy. I've gone on and off
most dairy on my own, and saw the doctor at her
four month appointment and informed her that we'd
recently seen blood specks in her poo (sorry for those
with weak stomachs). She thought it was unlikely but
encouraged me to give up the basics and the most tasty
of course... milk, butter, ice cream, etc for a week. Since
that appointment I have still continued to see it in her diaper.
I made another appointment this week and saw a
different doctor who thought it is an intolerance to milk
and probably soy. She recommended that I go off these
for at least 3-4 weeks. So, 2 weeks and 2 days more
without milk and soy. I was unaware that soy is

in a lot of food products..ugh. I have to say, it's a

little easier of a sacrifice than I thought it would be...

thanks to rice milk, lots of fruit, and flax bread!

To be honest I did contemplate giving up breast-

feeding, then I thought how selfish of me. I can

give up these things for another seven months if

I have to! I will just say goodbye to Starbucks

for those months!!

This is just the beginning of sacrifices I will make

for my little Kylie....

Mommy Newell

Earlier in the week we went to see little
Lucy Piper Newell and check on how the new
parents were holding up! She's a month old already,
and they're fitting into parenthood nicely.
It made us laugh when Jason asked if we could
remember the days when Kylie was that small...
she never was! (Big 9 pounder)

Kylie is 5 months old!

Kylie loves her little jumperoo (Thanks Tom Fam)-

here she is getting her groove on!

Naples and Largo, Florida next

We stayed in Naples, Florida on our way to and
from Matt's Grandparents'. His Aunt Joan
and Uncle Joe let us stay with them. Here we
are out for breakfast on Aunt Joan's birthday.


We stayed two nights with Matt's Nana and Papau.
They were delighted to meet little Kylie;
she was equally excited!


Nana and Kylie wearing matching outfits on
our last day staying with them!


When we came back through Naples...
Matt and I got out for a jog together, and
lounged at the pool before heading back to Miami.
Aunt Joan and Uncle Joe were great babysitters!


Headed back to Portland!

Headed to Miami Beach

On our way to Florida...waiting in the airport!


Kylie can't wait for the sunshine


Curtis is almost 1 year old! He's so cute


We had so much fun visiting the Tom's! We loved
the walks along the beach, swimming in the pool,
and catching up.
Thanks for letting us stay with you guys!


Visiting the happening scene.. Lincoln Road

We returned home from Florida yesterday and our computer is dead...so I will have to get it fixed before I can present our pics from the trip. We had a blast seeing family and of course the Tom's (what a great family)! Kylie did so well with all the travelling in the airplane and car. We drove across the state to see Matt's Aunt, Uncle and Grandparents..they loved meeting Kylie. We're missing the sun already.

Rolling at almost 4 months! Yikes

On Tuesday I had Kylie on our bedroom floor
as I was getting ready in the bathroom. As you
can see, I had her on her back and was coaxing
her to get the block. The next thing I know,
she's on her tummy! And I missed the whole
rolling thing. I was a little bummed and tried
to get her to do it again, but of course she would
not. Oh well, sure there will be many more
opportunities. I am proud to say she's met
this milestone!

Celebrate Jonas.. shower style

Our beautiful friend Bobbi Jo is getting ready
to have her first baby.... So in her honor we had a
baby shower. Here's four of the book club hotties
who pitched in to prepare and celebrate the little
one to be. We missed you Candace and Tiff!


As you can see she looks amazing for being due
in early February!


Painting onesies- so fun!


BJ's mom got into the painting- Micah will like
the fish one! And Dexter will like the other.


We look forward to meeting the little guy and
watching Micah and Bobbi become parents!

East Wind Glory Days...and Nights!
Matt and I were rudely awakened by thrashing against
our house in the wee hours of the morn. We tried to go
back to sleep without investigating, but the banging was
so loud we couldn't help but look outside. The siding on our
townhome had a piece that had been blown partially off
and the remaining was banging up against the house! Looking
outside we could see it was directly below our bedroom
window. So Matt bravely opened the window, as cold wind
was blowing in, bent the siding in half and folded it into our
window so we could continue our dreaming. We shut the
window as much as possible and placed a towel around the
piece of protruding siding to keep out a draft! To say the
least... we fell asleep laughing at our ghetto siding.
And now, as I write, I await a call from a maintenance
man who will hopefully come out today and fix the siding
so I can shut our window again! I think the weather man
said the high would be 38 degrees- but feeling like 19 with
the wind! Atleast it's sunny.

Here you see the siding inside our window!

Four Months Old

Here's a typical day with Kylie-


She does her studies early....

then has her cup of Joe,

And listens to her favorite tunes in the afternoon!