Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!

McKinley loves playing with her cousin Lizzy!  She especially likes her hair.  And Lizzy is so sweet interacting with McKinley!  It melts my heart!!!  I can't wait for McKinley to be a big sister someday.  More to follow on the Giles family visit... 

7 months old

Little Miss McKinley Ruth isn't quite so little anymore! She has almost mastered the art of sitting alone, she tipped the scales at 15 lbs, 11 oz at her last weigh-in, and she is super opinionated.  Her brown hair is gradually beginning to grow and there are some extra long pieces right above her ears that look like wings. She loves to explore the toys on her new exersaucer and still loves being outdoors.  Taking her outside almost always diffuses her fussing, and she enjoys watching the trees sway in the breeze.  She really likes to eat her solid foods and will let me know if I'm taking too long to get her meal ready. I introduced some sign language during meal time a month ago, but she has yet to sign back. I'm still working on showing her how to sign 'please' before she gets her food.  

 I love, love, love this one!

I love, love, love this one too!

Are we done yet?

Surprise visit

My Aunt Kathy surprised us last weekend, as she was headed back to Alaska via Portland. We had a wonderful time 'catching up'.  She even treated us to dinner at the Olive Garden....Thanks Kath!

Please pray!

My brother Ryan left for Liberia, Africa today.  The Navy is sending him there to be a UN Observer for eight months.  You can follow his African adventure at http://campoamoradventure.blogspot.com  Please pray for Ryan, Shannon and Baby C!  Please pray for Ryan's protection.  Please pray for Shannon's last ten weeks of pregnancy.  Please pray for Ryan's leave to be approved so that he may come home for the birth of his daughter in October. Please keep them in your daily prayers as they are separated.

All Caught Up

Benji was real supportive when I told him I wanted to train for a triathlon in order to shed my pregnancy weight.  The race was an all-womens sprint distance triathlon, which consisted of a 0.5 mile swim, 12 mile bike, followed by a 5k run.  Thanks to him, I was able to exercise five days a week in order to prepare for the race.

McKinley waiting to cheer on her Momma.

I was a bit nervous for the swim portion of the race.

Almost at the finish line.

Way to go Momma!

In the beginning of August we were invited to a birthday pool party.  McKinley couldn't wait to showcase her new swimming suit Momma bought for $2 at Target (I love Target clearance!).  It was a scorcher outside, hence the sunhat.  She had a great time watching the other children play.

Although she looks very serious, she was having fun.

We love family time at the pool!

Benji recently destroyed our old, rotted wooden deck and put in a beautiful paver patio.  McKinley and I have been eating picnic lunches on the patio, where she also is learning to drink from her first sippy cup.

Sunflower hunt.

Mastering the sippy cup.

Chillin' with Dadda.

Where's McKinley???

6 month photo shoot

...more like six and a half months, but that's okay.  July was a busy month for us...our trip back east, McKinley's first camping trip, Momma's first triathlon...to name a few.  McKinley's 6 month well-check went super.  She weighed 15 lbs, 6 oz and measured 26.5 inches long.  She dropped to the 31st percentile for weight but remained 71st percentile for height.  Her pediatrician wasn't concerned and again commented that she would be "long and lean."  She recommended introducing her to meat and was impressed with the amount of uninterrupted night-time sleep she was getting.

Only Dadda can make me smile like this!

 

Wanna see my fussy face?

Thank you Auntie Shawna for my pink, plaid coat!

Elk Lake and South Sister

This will be my third year as assistant cross country coach at Newberg High School. It's the only thing I couldn't give up after choosing to be a stay-at-home mom. I really love being a coach, but most of all, I enjoy building relationships with kids outside of the classroom.  Last year, Benji and I hiked Mt. St. Helens with the girls, while I was 5 months pregnant with McKinley.  This summer, Bruce (Head coach) and I decided to bring the girls to climb the South Sister, which happens to be the third highest peak in Oregon.  Nine girls, Bruce, Benji, McKinley & I, plus a whole lot of camping gear and baby stuff, piled into 2 vans and drove to Elk Lake Resort, where we pitched our tents for two nights.  While Bruce and I took the girls up South Sister, McKinley got to spend the entire day with Daddy.  She is truly an outdoors girl!

Eating some lunch in our six-man tent. 

(Thanks Rick & Christine....sorry 'bout the rip!)

Enjoying the campsite while wearing my

moose camping hat.

At the trailhead to South Sister.

McKinley loves hiking with Daddy!

Momma and the girls at the summit (10,300 ft)

Washing off in Elk Lake after a grueling climb.