We've got a tooth!!!!

New this week: Ari Vail has her first little tooth poking through the bottom of her little mouth! I can't quite get her still enough to take a picture, but I'm sure we'll get one soon!
After a hectic day of trying to unpack from our fun-filled weekend at the Lake, Aurelia started out her Monday by watching a little Baby Einstein...I just thought she looked so grown up!
On Tuesday, Ari and I met up with our friends Trisha and Espen at the Children's Museum...she really has a great time in the Habitot area...
Here is Ari on Wednesday posing in her "my uncle rocks" onsie (thanks Uncle Jonjon!)...
Thursday was a little hectic as we were getting things ready and packed for Friday in Jefferson...here is Aurelia getting out of her bath in her Elmo towel...
We were up and ready to roll at 5am on Friday morning...wish we were all this happy at this time in the morning!
Zac's Grandma had a beautiful service for a beautiful woman and we were comforted to see all the family in Jefferson.
Saturday we attended our neighbor's service and that too was a very nice memorial of the great man that he was. We spent the rest of the day with our friends remembering him and sharing our stories with good food and greater company!
Sunday, was our catch up day filled with unpacking from our trips over the past week and doing laundry and slicking up, getting ready for the week and our upcoming trip to Texas!!!

August...flying by!

We started off the week by going to a Nurse-Only visit to get a shot for Aurelia...she was quite the trooper...as usual...didn't even CRY!! Just kind of made a face and definately gave the nurse a dirty look! Here she is after her appointment... Monday night, we had Grandma Bena and Tia Bria over for some pizza. Mommy was so surprised and honored that Tia Bria asked her to be one of the Matron of Honors for her wedding!!! We had such a great time!
Ari Vail has gotten to be quite the little person...laughing and teasing us...here she is teasing Mommy with her "game" of drop-the-cup!
Along with her little personality shining through, Ari has gotten to be quite the smiley little girl...she is such a little treat! I walked into her room after her nap on Wednesday, turned on the light and sat and watched her "chat" and cuddle with her lambie...this was her reaction when she realized I was standing next to her crib...
We decided to leave for a Wand weekend at the Lake on Thursday night...here is Aurelia watching her Daddy pack up the truck...
We had a really fun time in Okoboji...Friday we enjoyed some sun time (wasn't much of it over the weekend!) with G-Uncle Nick and G-Auntie Kim, Brennan and Ashley, and Connor out on the boat, driven by Trevor. Daddy and Auntie Chelsea were on the wave runners with us! Saturday, we were joined by G-Aunt Deb and G-Uncle Tony and the girls, along with G-Grandma and G-Grandpa Wand, as well as G-Aunt Julie! It was a full house but soooo much fun! We got some shopping in and enjoyed a fun BBQ. Sunday greeted us with clouds too, but it was okay, we got some shopping in then too! It was a fun-filled weekend! Here are some pictures at the Lake...Here's Ari Vail with Ashley and Connor:
Watching the PGA with Poppa...
Cuddling with G-Grandma Wand...
Having some fun...
New this week: look out, Aurelia Vail is on the move!!! Well, almost...she's got the idea that she has to move her legs and arms, but has yet to lift her little belly...she does get up on all fours and rocks back and forth but moves via army crawl...really cute to watch her determination!
Also, our little Ari has moved out of our bedroom! Mommy is really sad about this, but it was a good move. She spent her first night in her own crib on Sunday night and only woke once for a couple of minutes and then went right back to sleep on her own. Our little peanut!

1st Week in August...

New this week...Aurelia Vail does NOT like peaches! We've tried mixing it in with other foods, alone, just a tiny little bit...nothing! She just doesn't like them...little goofball!
Monday seemed to fly by, but here is our Ari Vail getting ready for her nap!
Tuesday, Mommy and Aurelia met one of Mommy's old highschool friends, Rachel and her two little ones, Maddie and Owen, at the Children's Museum. Here is Ari waiting for the elevator...We had so much fun! We got to see Clifford the Big Red Dog and got to play in the Habitot environment just for babies! Ari had so much fun, seeing all the kids running around and loved to play peek-a-boo with Maddie in the giant ant hill! She especially loved being on her belly in the Habitot pond and looking at herself in the mirrors! About half way through our visit at the museum Ari just couldn't take it anymore and passed out...
Wednesday, Ari watched Mommy make her fruit and was in such a playful mood! She is so close to sitting on her own...we just fear that as soon as she gets to sitting, she may just take off crawling!
Thursday, Mommy and Ari took off to Harmony for a couple of days to spend some time with Grandma Bena and Grandpa Steve! But as we were getting ready to leave, Aurelia decided to show off a bit and hold her own bottle! We enjoyed some time in Rochester with Grandma Bena, shopping and then had a great dinner in Harmony and relaxed out on the deck until really late!
Friday, Daddy decided to join us in Harmony (mainly take his truck to Cresco!), so we decided to stay until Saturday. Auntie Chels and Trevor stopped by for a quick visit, so that was nice! And then we got to go to the HECO party on Friday night and see all of Grandpa Steve's coworkers! Here are Uncle JonJon and Ari at Grandma Bena's... thanks for the cool sandles Tio Ramon and Auntie D!!!
Saturday, we headed back home, with a stop in Preston to see Yaya and Poppa and had a nice lunch. We got home in time to enjoy a nice little gathering at our neighbor's with some great food!
Then on Sunday, we had a fun family day at the Mall of America...had a nice lunch, followed by some shopping, followed by some ice cream, then followed by some more shopping! We had a great time! Poor Frida couldn't make it...but she got some cuddle time when we got home!

Last Week in July...

We started off the week with Aurelia's 6 month check up. All went very well. She was evaluated for some of her motor skills and is doing some activities at an 8 month level. She now weighs 14 pounds and 12 ounces and measures at 26 1/4 inches long. So she is at 24th percentile for weight and in the 65th percentile for length and head size. She took her shot again like a champ with only a quick cry out in pain and I think was more in suprised than anything! Monday night we made it to our Stroller Stride class and enjoyed a good workout with our instructor at Arbor Lake.
Tuesday, was Auntie D's birthday, so we wanted to wish her a "cool" birthday!
Yaya also came up to visit for the day. It was nice to get to see her, Mommy only felt bad because she had to go to work.
Wednesday, Mommy was woken up by Daddy not able to "find" Ari! It seems she was "hiding" in her room! Little stinker! Mommy had to work again, but at least it felt like Friday. And Auntie Chelsea and Trevor also stopped by in the evening, so that was nice!
Thursday, Mommy didn't have to work, so we got a couple of things done around the house...and mainly relaxed! We were soooo relaxed that we forgot to take a picture for the day!
I think our relaxation ran into Friday morning because Aurelia just did NOT want to wake up! She would just hug her little buddy more and squeeze her little eyes shut...
I had turned off her music, turned up the light, and was even in her room, putting away clothes! She DID actually have to wake up because we had a playdate with Tim and Danica! We joined them at a nearby park and enjoyed the beautiful day and ate a great lunch! Then Friday evening, our little family went to St Anthony Main. Daddy took some great pictures of Ari for her 6 months! Can't wait to have them printed...
Saturday, we attended a funeral in Golden Valley and though it was a sad event, we were happy to see some old friends that we hadn't seen in a while.
Sunday, we ALL slept in a little, which was very nice...Here's Ari in her onsie that Tio Ramon and Auntie D gave her...Racer Chic in Training...looking at how fast her little feet would go!
Mommy had to work the weekend again, so again Daddy and his Ari Vail had the evenings to themselves!

6 Months Old!

We started the week on a relaxed note...Mommy didn't have to work on Monday, so we spent most of the day chilling...we didn't even do Ari's hair...
Tuesday, wasn't much better for the hair...we were just calling it a natural hair day!
As you can see...we've handed Aurelia a sippy cup to get her used to it...for now she thinks it's a great chew toy! The mouth piece is rubbery and you can hear her squeeking her gums on it! We did attempt to put some water in it, but its a spill-proof cup so she actually has to work at it and really isn't too interested in that. Her new food for this week was green beans and apples...LOVED them both!
Here she is saying "hi" from her changing table! She now makes a high pitched "hiiiiiii" its kinda cute! I don't think its quite a word yet but she repeats it when we do it...
Yes, ANOTHER month has flown by and our Aurelia is 6 months old! We had the chance to have a nice lunch with Grandma Bena and Grandpa Steve today!
Mommy had Friday off and we enjoyed the beautiful weather! Here she is before we went out...Totally passed out! I think she knows she needs to be resting up for later...
Our little family enjoyed a great evening walking around Lake Calhoun and enjoying the beautiful weather we are having. Even Frida was excited to be out!


It was another weekend that Mommy had to work, but it was still a nice weekend. Saturday, we did some grocery shopping with Daddy and on Sunday, Mommy made all kinds baby food...Ari tried zucchini this weekend...and liked it! Not too much that she's fussy with...yet anyway!

Wuelo's visit...

We started off this week doing a little cleaning and cooking...Aurelia tried (and loved!) butternut squash, as well as apples (REALLY loves!). Here is Ari watching Mommy make her squash...
Tuesday, we spent the morning at the VW dealership, while Mommy's car was getting some maintenance done...here we are enjoying the family room...
We spent most of Wednesday, slicking up the house for Wuelo's visit on Friday...here's Ari, waiting for her lunch (thanks to Auntie Chels for the cute onsie)
Thursday...Mommy ran around getting last minute stuff done, while Ari chilled in her crib!
We also got a chance to catch up with our cousin Arthur who was passing through on Thursday. It was a really nice visit and dinner! It was great to catch up with him...it's been too long!
Friday morning we were excitedly waiting for Wuelo's flight to come in from Houston...here's Ari, dressed warmly on this odd cold July day!!!
We spent most of our time indoors, since it was pretty chilly out...it was perfect weather to do a little shopping...Aurelia got some new wheels (a new jogging stroller!) Thanks Wuelo!!!
Here are some more pictures with our visit with Wuelo...
Wuelo got to feed Ari...
Ari was showing off a little in her favorite toy...
Wuelo and his Baby Vail...
We had such a good weekend...can't wait for Wuelo to come back!!!
THANKS WUELO!!!

1st Week in July...

We started out our week by going to the Dr's for Aurelia's DTaP booster shot. She did great as always. She now weighs just shy of 14 pounds at 13 pounds and 15 ounces. She's still 24 inches long and is now in the 25th percentile for her age group. Little peanut! After her Dr's visit we got some groceries and spent some time making some of Ari's food and freezing it. Here she is watching Mommy make her peas! Aurelia and Mommy decided to go try out a new stroller strides location in the afternoon...here is Ari, ready to work out!! Thanks to Tio Ramon and Auntie D for the cool sneaks!
Tuesday was a pretty relaxing day, considering that Mommy had to work in the afternoon. Here is Ari, feeling pretty good...full belly, just played with Frida, read a couple of books, and is now ready for a good nap!
I do have to say that our Babies have quite the life! Below is a picture of Tio Ramon and Auntie D's fur-baby, Petrie in their bed...followed by Ari in our bed!

Thursday seemed to get away from us and we totally forgot to take a picture!!! I think we had so many errands to run and we must have been so excited to have Grandma Bena spend some time with us!! Here are a couple of pictures of Ari after her bath...

Friday, we (Grandma Bena, Aurelia, and Mommy) spent the morning at the Como Zoo. Ari LOVED the animals! She got so excited with the monkeys, giraffs, and the colorful fish! Here we are for a quick break in the visitor's center... Here are a couple of other pictures from our visit to Como...
Looking at the flamingos...
VERY excited about the ducks!
Grandma Bena and Aurelia and all her new friends...
Mommy and Ari...
Aurelia LOVED the fish!
Looking a little tired...Thanks, Grandma Bena for a fun time at the zoo! After the zoo we met Daddy for a yummy lunch at the Tin Fish at Lake Calhoun... Followed by wedding dress shopping with Tia Bria!! It was so much fun watching her try on dresses...she's going to look like a princess! We left St. Paul and met Daddy and Grandpa Steve at the Depot in Minneapolis. We had a light dinner and then Ari and her Daddy went home and Steve took us ladies to a Twins game. We had a really great time! It was kinda fun letting Steve take us out on the town and just hanging with Mom and Bria...We need to do that more often!


Saturday, Grandpa Steve and Grandma Bena stopped by in the morning before heading home and Ari and her Daddy had the afternoon to themselves since Mommy had to work.
Sunday, we enjoyed a fun time with the Wands and the Wuebkers at Tony and Deb's place. I think Aurelia was excited to see everyone...since she was in such a good mood and hadn't had a nap all day. We were just bummed that we had to leave the party early, so that Mommy had to work again...but it was still fun to see everyone!