The Stradlings

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Our family

Sorry it has been forever since I last posted. Things have been pretty busy here lately. It has warmed up a lot, so we have been doing lots of things outside. Here are some pictures of our work outdoors. If you look closely, you can see a hummingbird moth on the flowers. We have actually done quite a bit more than this, but I need to get some pictures and I will post those soon. Things have been going pretty well. Connor is doing a lot better. He is sleeping for hours at a time, so that is absolutely wonderful! Ariana just loves him, and lets us know all the time that he is HER baby brother. She likes to help, and does a great job. Bryan is still working long hours, but is trying to get home earlier to help out. I think I am starting to get used to life with two kids. I tell you, there are a lot of things to get used to! Well, I gotta get to bed and get some sleep before the kids wake up, but I will post again as soon as I can.

Connor

Are these shoes the cutest?

Sitting pretty!

This is Connor relaxing in the baby sling.

Look at that smile!!! How darling!!!

Connor enjoys hanging out on the boppy. He's starting to really enjoy his belly time!

Ariana

Ariana playing on our friends longboard. She looks like a pro!

Ariana and friend Rylee playing on our swing. Doing anything to get out of the house!

Here is Ariana throwing rocks into grandma and grandpas backyard canal. She had a blast! Her favorite activity is throwing rocks and dirt clods into water, even if it's just the water from the hose. It's almost impossible to drag her away when it's time to come in.

We did a little photo shoot and got a ton of pictures! Here are a few that I really like. My parents have the perfect tree to use in there backyard. This is a great spot!

She looks so sweet and innocent!

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Easter 2008

Ariana is looking for her eggs, she's thinking hard...

And Looking hard, where could they be???

Ah ha! she got one!

And there's another in the tree!

She found them all!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Big sister Ariana and her exhausted parents

Ariana was begging to hold Connor even though he was screaming his head off. I was cracking up because she didn't seem to know what to do, but she would not give him back to me. She held on to him so tightly when I tried to take him, I decided to let her hold him. She patted his leg and just stared at him trying to figure out what to do. It was so funny!

Ariana is such a great helper!

I thought this picture was so cute! I'm sure Connor hates to have his face smooshed like this, but Ariana just loves to give him kisses! She is such a good big sister!

Bryan took this picture of of me one morning before work. It is one of those rare, wonderful moments when I am actually sleeping!F

Bryan and Connor fell asleep together on the couch and I could not resist taking their picture! Father and son totally peaceful. What a moment!

Our beautiful baby boy

Connor loves to be swaddled

. It's a miracle he's actually sleeping in these pictures! Ever since he came back from the hospital, he NEVER lets me put him down. It seems like he always has to be eating and held. It makes housework and everything else almost impossible. Any suggestions?

Here's daddy helping Ariana feed her baby brother. She loves to help. Today, Connor started hollering while I was working in the yard. I went in to wash my hands (shocking) and when I came back out, he had calmed down and she was feeding him a bottle. It was so cute!

No longer a baby

Here is Ariana eating a donut and getting it everywhere. She sure enjoyed it! She's been eating so much better ever since she came back from grandmas house. While we were in the hospital with Connor, she spent 9 days at grandmas house and loved it! Thanks mom!

Ariana fell asleep in the bathtub and we spent 5 minutes taking pictures! I thought this was the funniest thing, but I have been so tired lately that 20 minutes later, after she was in bed, I asked Bryan "Wait, did we give Ariana a bath?" He has been making fun of me for that for days!

I started panicing because I could not find Ariana anywhere. I went through the entire house yelling her name, and then went outside (she has been crawling through the doggy doors to get out) After a minute of calling her, I hear this tiny little "yeah?" coming from the side of the house. It was Ariana, just hanging out in the doghouse! I thought it was so funny, I told her to wait there while I got my camera!

While we were in the hospital with Connor, my mom took it upon herself to potty train Ariana. She is a miracle worker, because when we got back, she was using the toilet! Mom, you're my hero!!!!!!!!!! We have not been as lucky since we've been home, but we are still working on it. The other day, I found her running around with no underwear on. When I asked her where her pants were, she led me to a secluded spot in the backyard where I found her wet pants, underwear and socks just laying on the ground. Little stinker!

Ariana loves laying in "mommys chair" with her little horned toad that she got from grandma, and her blanket. This was after her nap and she was still a little out of it.