Awaiting Katarina

February 2010 was busy, not just because of the usual activities, Valentine's Day, and Gabi's birthday.


Bella at her preschool Valentine's party


Gabi enjoyed helping bake banana pudding
(but then refused to even taste it).
We spent much of the month anticipating the arrival of our newest family member (and hoping that she would wait until after Gabi's birthday celebration before making an appearance). We bought a nice rocking recliner, a new bassinet, and even a minivan for the baby.


Daddy practicing lullabies


Our neighbor, Liz, hosted a diaper shower for me!


Diaper shower guests
Continuing the pictorial account of my baby bump progress:


7-month baby bump (Jan. 1)


7.5-month baby bump (Jan. 17)


8.5-month baby bump (Valentine's Day)


A week before delivery (Feb. 21)


About 30 hours or so before delivery (Feb. 28)
That last picture was taken the evening of our trip to Labor and Delivery, when I felt significant back pain and thought the baby might be coming. We were sent home, though, and didn't return until I had the baby in my arms! And now for the "after" picture:


Mommy with newborn Katarina (St. Patrick's Day)

Merry Christmas!

We enjoyed many holiday preparations here in Little Rock. Then we drove to Texas for four days, where we saw real snow on Christmas Eve which stuck around for Christmas morning. At church, the priest mentioned that in his 77 Christmases in DFW, this was the first one that brought snow on the ground Christmas morning! Poor Bella had a stomach bug on the day we drove down there and Christmas Eve, so she was still a bit under-the-weather on Christmas but recovered that weekend before we returned home. Afterwards, we had another mini-Christmas back in Little Rock with Michael's parents and sister.


Gabi cutting gingerbread cookies


Tito and Tita in town for Thanksgiving


Bella posing under the Christmas tree


Bella declared naptime


Gabi after riding a horse-drawn carriage at school


The girls' gingerbread house


Gabi coloring a new "mural" (giant picture)


Snow in Texas on Christmas Eve


Bella playing with a new puppet


The girls giving a gift to Gramma Jane and Grampa


Gabi pouting


My husband :)


Bella opening a present on Christmas Eve


Uncle Scott


Aunt Alicia and Uncle Stephen with the girls in their new pajamas


Gabi crossing off Christmas Eve on her calendar
(just one last link in her chain-link count-down to Christmas!)


Bella and Mommy on Christmas morning


Bella opening her stocking


Playing with Uncle Brian's iphone


Gabi's new pattern blocks


Bella rocking her new doll, Hannah


Bella's new sewing cards


Real baby Hannah (a cousin) with Amy and Uncle Scott


Gabi telling a story


Gabi opening a present back in Little Rock


Mommy and her girls


Gabi taking a picture with her new camera

Easter preparations

Playgroup Egg Hunt
Collecting one of each color egg at Chenal Valley





Neighborhood Egg Hunt
Racing the other kids to find eggs on the St. Thomas playground (and then hunting for our own re-hidden eggs, because our girls definitely lost that race, each being the youngest child in the two age groups)





Dying Easter eggs

Gabi stamping eggs


Preston painting eggs


Gabi writing her name on an egg


Bella found a puppy to join her for lunch


RJ got stuck in his brother's crib


Sibling hug


Alex learning to drink from a straw


All our eggs in one basket
Baking cookies

Cutting out bunny shapes


Gramma Jane iced the cookies


Gabi decorated with sprinkles