Airplane Rides

Good thing Eden has such strong legs!

Beautiful Girls

Fortunately I got this adorable shot of my two beauties.  It didn't come easy though because little miss is a little too mobile these days but she provided a few cute outtakes.

And then Bentley woke up from his nap and got thrown in.  He is so adorable too.  What a lucky mommy I am.

To Eden, from daddy

Things About Eden (written by Brad)

Here are a few things that have happened with Eden recently that I want to remember.  She is about five during all of these events:

·      The other night when I was putting Eden to bed.  It was after her bath and she was all wrapped up in her yellow towel.  She asked me if she could be a cocoon so I told her, “Sure.”  She bundled herself up and hid in this cocoon.  After a minute or two she slowly emerged and flapped around the loft area as if she were a butterfly.  All of the sudden, she came straight up to me, nose to nose, and looked me straight in the face while flapped her wings.  She said, “I landed on your nose!”

I laughed for quite some time, and she just kept looking at me every so earnestly, flapped her wings as if she were a butterfly.  Naked as a jay bird, getting ready to go to bed.

·      After waking up about an hour after bedtime she said to me all chatty, “I have too much to say so I can’t sleep!”

·      One night Eden was struggling to fall asleep.  She kept asking me to come back for different things—bathroom (twice), more water, etc.  I went in again and was a little frustrated.  On my way out of the room she said “Dad?”

“Yes, Deedee?”

“When do I get my trach out?”

“Hopefully soon.  We’ll have to ask Dr. Prager.  Good night.  Love you.”

I walked out the door.

“Dad?”

“Yes, Deedee?”

“I don’t like my trach.”

“I know sweety.  We’ll get it out soon.”

·      When I got home from work she wanted me to come to computer to watch her preschool graduation video.  I missed it because things were crazy at the office.  She was so excited to show me.

Eden: You will be proud of me!  But you weren’t there…

Me: Did that make you sad?

Eden: [Almost crying] Yes…

I will not miss something like that again.

·      While making brownies on a Sunday afternoon:

Eden: How long will we live here?

Me: In the house?

Eden: On earth.

Me: We will all die some day.  If we choose the right we can live together as a family with Heavenly Father.

Eden: [Thinking really hard.]  I will try to do that.

·      When Eden had her PH study done a few months ago, I took her to the hospital.  We went early in the morning together while Lisa cared for Bentley and Olive.  The poor girl was really hungry as they kept her without food until the procedure was done.

The PH study consists of placing a small tube down the nose all the way to the stomach for 24 hours.  There are measurements on the tube that monitor the acid to check for reflux.  The tube is taped to the face and attached to a machine that monitors acid levels during sleep, meals, etc. 

Before we went to the procedure room a child care specialist came in to visit.  She told me that it could be a very uncomfortable procedure and that she was there to help comfort Eden if things became difficult.  I told her that she was welcome to come to the room and that Eden was strong and followed instructions.  I would be close to her and there to comfort here. 

Eden and I walked into the procedure room together.  She bravely and obediently followed all of the directions.  They wrapped her tightly in a sheet to stop her from flailing her arms.  It proved completely unnecessary as she submitted herself to whatever was coming.

As she lay on the bed, all wrapped up and scared, I kept my arms around her and my face inches from hers.  I spoke softly and lovingly to her.  She kept direct eye contact with me as the nurse began to insert the long, cold tube into her nose.  I held and talked as she silently began to cry. 

Tears welled in her eyes creating pools of water—without a movement, without a sound, without a fight, without closing her eyes.  It was like she and I were alone in the room—she willingly going through pain and me close by.  Time went by slowly. 

When it ended it was as if people entered the room again.  The child care comfort woman came back from the edges having stood back in the winds.  She and the nurses cheered Eden for her strength.  They commented they had never seen so much self control.       

I personally witnessed an act of raw bravery that connected us deeply.  I have profound respect for the strength of my little Eden. 

Olivia - Photo Shoot!

These were taken in mid October so she has gotten a few more teeth since then, but I couldn't resist her cuteness and had to post several shots.  All of these pictures came in only about ten minutes of trying.  She is the easiest model. 

Olivia - 8 months!

I love this girl to pieces.  She is an absolute joy!

In the last month, Olivia has broken 4 new teeth for a grand total of 6 now.  She has four on the bottom and two on the top. There are now two more on the top that are very close to coming through.

She really loves peek-a-boo and is starting to play other cute games.  She is very ticklish and has the cutest little laugh.  I can get her laughing and being silly the best when she is tired.  It's adorable.

She is incredibly mobile now and starting to pull up onto things and helping herself to the toys.

With this mobility though, she has very quickly become curious about making messes and she is hard to keep up with.  One minute she's there and the next minute she's gone!  :)

Ruby just stood by and watched as the monster messed with her food and water.

Goodbye magazines!  I need to find a new place to keep them if I want them to be readable.

She still loves her baths!  She can't stand it if she finds Bentley or Eden in there and she can't get in too.

She loves to get snuggly in her blankie before falling asleep.

She hates baby food, or anything pureed really, but she loves to eat like the big kids.  Mac n' cheese this day - what a treat!

I love her funny expression in this one. She loves when I dice her up some tomatoes and avocados.

I love this girl so much.  She is complete and utter joy!

Bentley and Eden

I told Eden and Bentley to come lay by each other so I could take a picture - and then a wrestling match ensued. 

And then I finally got one!

I love these two and the sweet relationship they have.  

Olivia's funny faces