Baby Blues

I really should be patient and just wait until I have more pictures edited to post, but I just loved these pictures and wanted Monica to be able to see them. I babysat Ryan today (if you can even call it that) and we took a few pictures while we were playing. Annika is so much happier when she has a friend around; Monica was really just doing me a favor by letting us hang out with Ryan. More to come later!

Ryan's One!

Ryan turned one in February, but we were not with her in Arizona to celebrate. Lucky for us, they are back in Germany now and we can party all the time! Annika is certainly happy to have her friend back and they both get very excited to see each other. The weather has finally been nice the last couple of days and so we headed out to get some one year pictures. I love seeing Ryan standing -- she is getting to be such a big girl! 

I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home

I've been waiting for months and months to be able to take pictures of my little girl and her Daddy. Annika loves having her Dad home, and I love seeing them together. 

Beautiful Bella

It is easy to take pictures with a subject as cute as this one! Isabella was wide awake almost the whole time, but considering how pretty her eyes are, it is probably a good thing. I don't remember Annika ever being so alert at that age -- Bella just kept looking around with those big beautiful eyes, checking everything out. Annika was Isabella's age when Brad left; it was crazy to see how much she has changed since then. Brad will be home for R&R in less than two weeks and will have the chance to get to know his daughter again. We can't wait! 

. . . and just for a little color . . . 

Introducing Isabella

. . .  more pictures to come! 

Scary Santa

The weekend after Thanksgiving, as family tradition dictates, we went hunting for our Christmas tree. When we arrived at the tree farm Christmas carols were playing, people were drinking hot cider, and in the distance I could see a Santa Claus happily greeting tree hunters. I figured this would be a great time to introduce Annika to Santa Claus. As I started to hand Annika over, I realized that this may not have been the best first Santa experience. This Santa was scary! He was friendly enough, but he had a scraggly beard, crooked, yellow teeth, and really bad breath. Annika was apprehensive at first, but after she really checked him out (and got a whiff of that breath) she was sure that she DID NOT like Santa Claus. I really can't blame her. I was a little afraid of him myself.

Sneak Peak for Jana

It was cold outside today, but we braved the weather, avoided the rain, and had a great time. Even Annika was happy just chilling in her stroller. So, thanks for letting me hang out with you today, Jana. I can't wait to meet your little girl!