playing at home

Ari doing her best Ray Charles impersonation to Natalya's complete delight
Natalya getting out of the shopping cart after a ride around the house
Last week some of us started getting sick, and for about 5 days--including the weekend--we were all sick together. The girls had croup/bronchitis, and Kathleen and I had bad colds. Both girls have been on antibiotics, and the best thing is that they both like the taste of the stuff. It's like offering them candy; they get all excited, perk up, almost drool even. Ari decided that Elmo should get the chance to take medicine too.
The big window continues to be popular

tim's favorite pics from vacation

Along with Kathleen's family, we rented a condo on the beach for almost a week in late-September. At times, it was a bit chilly; at times, a bit warm. Here's Ari asserting her independence.
The best moments are when the girls make each other laugh.
Sharing isn't too bad either...
Natalya is a really cuddly kid, much more cuddly than her older sister.

She likes piggyback rides, and, you know, I think they're fun too.

100 days--still a proud Obama mama

Ok, so she's clueless. But I'd like to think that this world has become a nicer and better place for all people since Mr. Obama took office (a few days after she was born). 

For her part, 100 days into her life, Natalya is an accomplished motorboating drooler. Its rather impressive what she can do. I'm not sure that any photo could capture the amount of spitty wetness that gradually accumulates on her chin...and rather quickly her shirt too!  

Tim in a suit

For some of you checking our blog, a suit is something you might not have ever seen on Tim. So, this is for you. Tim has always said, "I wear a suit for weddings and funerals... and that's it." Apparently, now that he's working at TLU, it's weddings, funerals, and those formal dinners he's required to attend.

I love this face...

Natalya can spend long periods of time just looking and cooing and talking to you... totally makes me forget whatever other unimportant things I was planning on doing.

Pigtails and Laundry Basket Treasures!

You know life is good when...

...you walk with this much exuberance!



...you can play with trains to your heart's content at the Children's Museum.

...you can put whatever you want in your grocery cart so you load up on Goldfish and mustard.

Growing up fast

Natalya seems a lot older than her age (9 weeks). She's big, she's strong, and she coos a lot.

Newest family photos

Growing up

Sorry folks, Natalya just isn't awake all that often when we're ready to take pictures. And when she is, we apparently haven't figured out how to hold the camera still...


The good news is that she's smiling and cooing a whole lot more these days.




Ari playing with and within the box of wooden blocks that her Grandpa
Barr gave her for Christmas.


These days, if you can't find your shoes, good luck--there's no telling where Ariana left them!

Galimoto

This is called a galimoto (toy vehicle made out of wire). It was a fair trade gift from Lilya, a youth from Houston Mennonite Church, who spent some of her birthday money last November to purchase it for Ariana during the annual Texas Mennonite Relief Sale. Ari loves to push it around all over the place!

A few weeks later

The last few weeks have been a bit intense. Just as I (Tim) was about to return to work at TLU, Natalya came down with RSV, a respiratory virus that is somewhat common in babies but maybe less common in 2 week old infants, or at least more worrisome. Thankfully, because we rushed her to the ER as soon as we realized her fever was too high, she came home with us less than two hours later. While we were there, I saw the final few minutes of the Super Bowl. Wierd, but nice, since we don't get good enough reception at home (in the bottoms) to pick up the signal.

She's doing fine now--we all are actually--and life seems to be a little bit more predictable, but maybe not any less intense! Yesterday was her 4 week birthday. She's been pretty congested for most of her life so far, and she definitely didn't like the steroids, so it's been wonderful to see her smiling every once in a while these days.

Eyes open

By request, a photo with Natalya's eyes open. Although this is less and less the case, her eyes aren't typically all that open until her parents are trying to go to sleep!

Natalya Grace Ahrens Barr

Thank God she has a name now! By law we had five days to choose a name, and we needed every one of them.

Natalya derives from the Italian word for birth--in fact, the root word typically refers to the birth of Jesus. That seemed fitting since we had often joked that we were experiencing an extended advent season this year. We plan to use Talya as a nickname, which has Hebrew/Aramaic origins and apparently can be translated as "dew from heaven". Grace, as the first of her middle names, seemed appropriate in light of our Lutheran origins, the fact that we met and were married at Grace Lutheran Church, and our appreciation of Bonhoeffer's differentiation between cheap and costly grace. Like Ariana, she has Ahrens as her second middle name in appreciation and honor of her mother's ancestors, and the last name of Barr to connect her to her father's ancestors.

One final piece of trivia: her name officially became Natalya Grace Ahrens Barr as Barack Hussein Obama was being sworn in as the 44th President (approximately 12 noon). That wasn't intended, and we didn't realize it until afterwards, but that just happened to be the moment when Kathleen called the midwives to make it official before they hurried off to a home birth.

She-who-will-be-named-by-tomorrow

Family

With Grandma Ahrens.
Ari (with Cousin It/Dad) is constantly identifying her body parts, especially her eyes, nose, and mouth.
Ari has been piecing together words and sounds into sentences lately. Most of her imaginary phone calls seem to be about the new baby.
Ari and her sister.
Another photo with Grandma Ahrens.

Sacrifices

She's such a great big sister that she voluntarily gave up her crib.

Another mother has given birth

At 8:08am this morning, Kathleen brought another life into the world. Labor was different the second time, but Kathleen was no less amazing, always seeming to be in complete control of herself, and doing it once again without any drugs or a husband fatality. (Actually, she has never once snapped at me during either of the births!) She began to experience regular contractions sometime yesterday afternoon, not long after visiting the midwives and discussing natural ways to induce the birth. She was well into the 42nd week of pregnancy.

Ari slept longer than normal this morning, waking up as Kathleen was entering the final phase. Grandma Ahrens whisked her off to a nearby friend's house before she had even fully awoken. Her baby sister was born before she finished eating breakfast.

More photos below...

More than mood lighting

One night a few weeks ago, the women of San Antonio Mennonite Church came to our house to give Kathleen support and pray as a group. Each person brought a candle and a written note. The candles burned throughout the final stage of labor--the last 25 minutes were in an inflatable pool in the middle of our living room.

The midwives

Sheila and Joanie, the midwife apprentices.


Amber, the midwife. Because Amber was at another delivery, Joanie did almost all of the coaching, directing and helping, with assistance from Sheila. Another midwife, Carrie, arrived just in time to assist with the birth, and Amber arrived only moments after. They were all tremendously supportive and caring.

Kathleen is very proud that this was a water birth at home. I think it's great too!

Small but definitely not tiny

For those of you who are into the numbers, she was 9 pounds 2 ounces and 21 3/4" long. And yes, that is definitely a double (or even triple) chin!

The Watchdog

It used to be that Ari was interested in this space between the windows and the blinds because she could "landscape" in the potted plants. Lately, she seems more amused with seeing her breath on the window, singing to her-self/friends, and alerting us to any wayward dogs roaming through the yard.

The family

This photo was taken exactly a week ago today. We're still three outside of the womb, but the fourth should be here any moment now...

Kathleen and Ari

The best toys are not toys

A snug cupboard for mom's craft supplies, dad's socks, mom's flip-flops, and a plastic container full of mind-boggling distortions.

A plate after eating.

Determination

Aunt Lynelle pointed out that it looks like she's walking a runway.

Alternatively, Kathleen sings "Bad girls, bad girls, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you..." when she sees this picture.