Bananna Fananna Fo Fellon

So we said she smiled and here is the proof! We were at the zoo with the cousins and Grandma Marilyn. As we all watched the hippos dance in the water, Helen had a smile fest! Finally I was fast enough to catch it on the camera.

The cousins and Grandma left this morning. We were sad to see them go, but Life does have to go on. Right. I was forced to start changing Helen's diapers my self, and Isaac keeps calling me Grandma. Soon life will return to normal I am sure.

Also we took some nice pics as they were packing up. I mean why leave when you can procrastinate. Maybe for Helen's baby book I will edit out Ollie in the back, but for now here is the 3 generation photo. This one I look less dead in, and I don't have a crick in my neck.

Helen, Helen, Bo Belen....

This is little Helen over the last couple of days. In fact, the one in the middle is Helen just this morning when she got her Easter basket. We did Easter baskets on Saturday this year because Carol's brother Brian and his family are visiting and they do Saturday Easter baskets. Helen even went to an Easter egg hunt hosted by the University this morning...but I'm afraid it was the boys that did all the egg finding.

Carol is off of milk and Helen is a much happier baby. She is smiling now - and not just because of any gas. She's sleeping for 5 t0 6 hour stretches (at random times of the day).

She's our little joy to have around.

This bottom picture is of Helen and the silver cup that her great grandpa and grandma Ailshie sent.

Validation?

Ran on to this when I stumbled on to the web site of a guy I served a mission with. It also was sooooooooo California. At times I thought they were in the mall in Santa Barbara - minus the free parking...and the friendly guy.

And yes, that is the dude from Bones. I half expected him to start going off on how he loved her mass spec.

1 Baby, 3 weeks of a party!

According to Jason, I only wanted a baby so I could dress her up. Not true. I wanted her so we could have girly parties. She is only 3 weeks old and already we have had a traditional bash (with funny hats and milk shakes).





We have had a tea party with fancy cups and all our best friends.



And we have had a slumber in our jammies party as well.

It us so much fun to have a girl. Now don't get me wrong. I did the same sort of things with the boys too, but it is somehow more fun to do girly parties. What ever will we do next week when she turns one month?!

At the moment she is battling some raging baby acne, but it is no big deal. She still has the loveliest smile I have seen in years.

Four Generations

Carol, her mother Marilyn, and little Helen pose for the camera at Carol's baby shower. I call it four generations since Helen is named after her great grandmother Helen Foley who passed away when Carol was a teenager.

Look Who's Here! Welcome Helen Diane

Happy President's Day

Today started in a whirlwind. The boys slept past 7 am (a major accomplishment). So we had to wake them up to get them ready for school. We dressed and ate, and brushed teeth quickly, and then everyone (except Carol) jumped in the car to get Isaac to school before 8.

They pulled up. No cars. "Mrs. Cordray said we don't have school on Monday" says Isaac. OOPs! That's right it is a holiday.

Grandma Marilyn dropped Jason off at work, and then decided they needed to do something to make the day even more special. So they went for shakes at McDonalds. What a treat!

At home, Isaac expressed how difficult it was to get the drink out of the cup. He started to stir and plunge his straw up and down in the cup.

"You're making Buttah" says Grandma Marilyn.
When grandma explained that "buttah" was what you put on toast, Isaac said: "Oh! ButtER" and they laughed and laughed.

It has been so fun having her here to help. I thought I would share just a smidgen.