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Monday, 02 November 2009

WATER BABY
OK, 'bout time I get another posting up here. Summer's over, so here's to the memories. Come next time around, Arie will probably like the water even better than she did this year. Her mommy sure loves it! Since Nathan and I like sailing and he got interested in fishing towards the end of the season, we got a lot of time to be out on the water. Here are some photos of the fun.
Arie's first experience in water other than for bathing

Arie's first time 'swimming' She loved it and didn't want to get out when I handed her to Nathan. The water was pretty cool, so I was getting a bit chilled myself just staying in one place playing with her, but she didn't even seem to notice the temperature.

Gotta add the perfect ending of a day on the water. =)

Wednesday, 02 September 2009

SAILING WITH BABY - 2009

Starting at age 3 weeks back in January, we got Arie out sailing for the first time. Don't worry folks, it wasn't a big dangerous body of water with heavy seas; it was a calm peaceful lake... the first few times anyway!

We get to see lots of breathtaking sunsets out on the boat. I always love them because each one is unique and will never be repeated.

We enjoy sailing and always like to take others along. When Mom and Dad were here, we did a lot of trips, some in Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay.
Growing up, my family always loved to visit any lighthouse within range of our planned vacation routes. But this one above is the spookiest we've ever laid eyes on. Nathan called it 'ghastly' when we sailed by. Damaged by ice and the only remnant of a once sizeable island and the small community that was on it, Sharps Island Light on the Chesapeake Bay is a forboding presence, its dark windows leaking black streaks down the dried-blood-colored steel plating. No sounds came from the forsaken beacon, but imagining some eery ones would be easy enough. If there had been a misty fog, it could have looked the part of a horror movie even better.

Here is Nathan as the able skipper of our boat with a fast-moving vessel traveling down the shipping lane in the background. Everyone on board needs to keep a sharp lookout for these ships as the can seem to be on you in a moment, cannot turn or stop quickly and therefore can be extremely dangerous to small craft such as ours.

Built in 1896, the sloop-rigged Rebecca T. Ruark (to the right) is the oldest working skipjack on the Chesapeake. She is still used today for her original purpose of dredging oysters. but can also be taken out for tours.

Mom relaxing at Lake Marlburg with our sailboat tied up behind her.

Friday, 05 June 2009

OK, here's some more pictures of Arie. I have too many now to post even just the best ones, but here are a few. Totally my own fault, I know! My updates have been pathetically lacking.
My folks were with us from about December 6 to March 15. Then they were in Easton, MD only two hrs away! Amazing! Here I was just hoping they would get an assignment somewhere out East so that we could see them one more time before they headed back to MN or some other assignment in the Midwest. I was so surprised and grateful for how God arranged things! Every two weeks or so, they came up and visited us for a few days. We hoped the hospital would extend Dad's contract, but they didn't. Even if hospitals really need the help, many are trying not to hire travelers because of the economy and Easton was no exception. Ironically, Easton was Dad's first travel assignment seven years ago and it might be his last. At the end of June, the folks are headed home to Minnesota, maybe for good- who knows?! This has been a wonderful time spent together making many special memories. I didn't expect to have my parents close by for more than half a year and even more, for them to have been able to be here at such perfect timing for their first grandchild.

At 1 month old, Arie was fascinated with her daddy's shiny black hair

Bath time- sometimes fun, sometimes not

Arie at 1.5 months old

Bouncing Arie on the trampoline is the only absolutely fool-proof way to calm her down or make her happy. She loves it!

All for now! I promise I'll post more recent pictures soon!

Thursday, 01 January 2009

Happy New Year!!
Alright, I know I was negligent in posting photos of me 'fat' like some of you insisted on seeing. So, to make up for it, here is what I'll call 'Before and After'. Enjoy the photos!
Sorry to disappoint those who don't think I got fat enough!
I did only gain about 13 lbs and less than a week after delivery, I weighed 4 lbs less than I did before getting pregnant. I can fit into almost all of my normal clothes and am thrilled to be out of my very limited maternity wardrobe. Retaining some of the weight would have been nice though. I really would have liked to. Maybe next time...

At 7 months

At 7 months
The next pictures were taken one week before Arie was born. Also, since so many have asked, Arie is pronounced ' Are-ee' , is of Hebrew origin and is short for 'Lioness of God'.

Me in our kitchen

Nathan was a tremendous support throughout my pregnancy and Arie's delivery

Mom has helped me so much with everything! I'm sure I would not be near so rested nor would the house so clean and orderly.

Minutes after delivery

Arie's facial expressions at one day old

Arie at 2 weeks old

Arie at 2 weeks old