Our Oldest

John and I got some couple time this past weekend when we were able to go stay at the Westin Kierland for two nights.  My parents came into town to watch O for us and they (or my mom really) wore her out.  Or maybe it was the other way around.  Probably a little bit of both.  John and I had a wonderful time.  We ate, laid by the pool, read, slept and ate some more.  Though we were in the heart of North Scottsdale we did not venture off the hotel's property.  It was awesome.  Of course, we still returned home exhausted but refreshed.

With all that is going on in our lives I didn't want to forget getting new pictures of our first baby.  The summer has been busy on and off.  In June we had O's birthday and a birthday party for two other kids.  The pictures below are from Mavic's birthday (his sister is Emma, who is about 2 1/2 weeks younger than O, and whose party was the one where we went to see Sesame Street Live).  After last year we weren't sure if O would be at all interested in the pool, but we have now learned that our daughter is a fish.  She loved it!

She still isn't interested in putting her face in but we'll get there

Our 27 month old is starting to become very independent.  She loves to take pictures of herself and others and has finally decided that she is going to smile for the camera again.

She has also taken to not liking clothes, but don't worry, she is always clothed when we go out.  I will not be one of those that takes their kids to the store in a diaper.  When the twins arrive I can't guarantee that will continue.  I may be lucky to make it out of the house dressed.

One of O's favorite things at gymnastice is the trampoline.  She loves to jump on it (and on the beds at home) so when my mom told us that my aunt had a mini trampoline that she wasn't using we jumped (excuse the pun) on the chance to get it for O.  While it isn't always used appropriately (as evidenced by the pictures below) it has been really great to have.

Peek-a-boo!

This is a hippo baby pool that Erin gave O for her birthday.  It has been too dang hot out to use it outside so O has gotten creative (it is on top of the mini tramp).

O likes to pick out her own clothes and for the most part I just go with it.  She actually does a fairly decent job.  Below is a picture from one Saturday when she picked out her clothes.  What you can't see are the pink stretch pants.  Why she wanted to wear pants on a 110 degree day I don't know.  But the flower hairpiece is a nice touch.

John is a WONDERFUL father.  But he really hasn't gotten the fixing of the hair part down.  In the next pictures he was just trying to put rubberbands in O's hair to keep it out of her face.  I think he's afraid to make them tight and hurt her head.

It doesn't matter.  She always looks cute.