A can of laughs...

Dustin and I were doing some chores around the kitchen today and Rachel got a little excited about the new bag in the trash can...

6 month checkup.

Rachel had her 6 month checkup on Friday. The doctor is pleased with how she is growing and said that she is doing great!
Here are her stats:

Height: 25 in- 21%
Weight: 14 lb 5 oz - 16%
Head: 16.8 in- 54%

She is becoming more interactive every day. She laughs all the time, loves being tickled, smiles at EVERYONE (she can really turn the charm on for men!), she can pick up her paci and put it in her mouth by herself, even occasionally gets it in right side up! She sits up by herself, she can roll over from back to front, but rarely wants to. Rachel also loves her food. She has eaten everything that we have given her. We love our little girl and get so excited over all of her achievements- we can't imagine what we did before she was in our lives!

First trip to Indiana!

We spent the last part of our Spring Break in Southern Indiana visiting my Uncle Rod and his family. Rachel did really well on the trip. She did give up a few hours before the trip ended, so we had some bonding time in the back seat! She just wanted some company... can't say I blame her, looking at the back of the car for 8 hours can't be much fun!

Look! It's my feet!

Playing with the tie on her bathing suit!

So excited to go in a pool for the first time.


Ready for our first swim together

Not so sure about the really big tub!

Swimming with Daddy

The water's not so bad once you get used to it!

I can fly!

Gotta dry the hair in the towel.

Ready for a good nights sleep in a king sized bed! (No, she didn't sleep in the bed with us... she just looked so little in such a big bed)

Birthday Party- 50's style

Aunt Kim Nieter had her 50th birthday party that we were able to make it to. Here are a few pictures from the party! We were so glad that we were able to get to go. It was a lot of fun to catch up with some of the family.

Cousin Morgan taking a break from decorating to feed Rachel.

Rachel missed her doggie while we were gone, but Cayman was just as much fun to laugh at!

Morgan Elizabeth and Rachel Elizabeth!

Cousins Gregory and Morgan

Uncle Rod hanging out... love the jacket!

Aunt Kim lip syncing in her great 50's outfit!

Gregory is not the shy one of the family... he sang Love me Tender to Amanda!

Gregory dancing with his girlfriend, Amanda. It was great to meet her! (Not that my opinion matters, but I think she's great- I approve!)

Uncle Rod dancing with the birthday girl!

Rachel and her great Uncle. He gave her some great basketball tips!

Morgan and Uncle Rod met us for breakfast before we left on Sunday. Thanks for such a great trip!

Family fun

Here are a few more pictures from our time together as a family the last few weeks. I love the fact that the weather is getting warmer and we are able to spend more time outside.

"I love my Daddy!"

!I snuck in on rachel taking a nap... I love that she sleeps with her hands behind her head!

Watching Baby Einstein!

Our first family walk in the neighborhood. Zoe was so excited to get out and check out the neighborhood again. Rachel laughed at her almost the entire walk!

6 months!

I can't believe Rachel will be 6 months on Friday! Since we are on Spring Break this week, Dustin set up everything to take Rachel's 6 month portraits while she was napping. As soon as she woke up we were able to take some great shots. (She is the happiest right then!) We are so blessed that Dustin can do these portraits for us. It's a lot less stressful for me not having to worry about time and if she will be fussy or not!



Rachel's 6 month doctors appointment is on April 16, so I will post her weight, height, etc. then.

Happy Easter!

Easter Sunday was a lot of fun this year. It is so much fun dressing up a little girl! After church the three of us went out to eat at a local diner. We had some friends over for a nice Easter dinner at night. Oops, no pictures of Dustin with Rachel on Easter... I really need to do better with that! I didn't get any pictures of our dinner either.

Mommy and Rachel ready for church.

Daddy having a little too much fun with Rachel in the afternoon!

Rachel was a little tired at the restaurant and would lean back as far as she could. She was just watching everyone walk by... I guess it was relaxing!? At least we made people smile!

Rachel's first Easter! She got bath toys, a wash cloth that is a puppet, a purse (complete with cell phone!) and some sunscreen!

We took some pictures of Rachel in her Easter dress a few days ago. (We wanted to make sure she was happy and hadn't drooled all over it by the time we could take pictures on Easter Sunday!)

Springtime!

We are so excited that Spring is finally here. It has been such a long, cold winter! We spent a little time outside the other evening just to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

Rachel is chewing everything she can get her hands on now!

Look at how blue her eyes are!