A trip to visit family

Our trip to visit Esther and her family has come and gone. It was really good getting to see them. It seems the kids are different people each time we see each other. Abby was quite funny bossing her cousin around. They played as if they see each other everyday. It was really fun to watch. Seeing baby Mary was the best part about the whole trip. I didn't know it was possible for a baby to be that good. Seriously, she cried once the entire time we were there. She sleeps all the time, Esther wakes her up to eat and she goes back to sleep. Esther had such a great delivery and fast recovery. It allowed us to have some good quality time together. What a blessing. We even were able to get out of the house and go to the Santa Monica pier as well as take a trip to Newport Beach to see GG and my Uncle Dave. GG took us shopping and out to eat at Tommy Bahama. One afternoon while Mary was awake, I was able to take some photos of her. There are quite a few, so I grabbed the one that I thought captured exactly what she looks like. I love her so much. I'll post more soon on my photography blog. Oh and something I thought was really funny... Esther and Rob said baby 1 (Ashley) looks like Rob, baby 2 (Mary) acts like Rob. Ha ha, so true!



















































































P.S. after tomorrow, I'll have some more REALLY exciting pics to share with you!!! I'm so excited :) :) hint, hint, if you check my brother's blog you may figure it out!

Going back to Cali

Tonight, Abby and I take the red eye out to CA to help Esther while Rob goes on a business trip. My freelance assignment is winding down, so it worked out for us to sneak out there and have some girly time. Hopefully I'll have lot's of photos when we return. I'm really looking forward to Abby having her own seat this time. I believe it will be worth every penny.

Also, Brian and I celebrated our 5th anniversary last Friday. We were able to sneak away for a night and relax a bit. 

Family came to visit

Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Kevin came to visit. We had all kinds of fun with them celebrating Abby's Birthday, going to the pool, park, Japanese steak house and what could be more fun than cleaning the garage? Looking forward to seeing and lauging with them again this summer when we make a trip to NC :)

Mary Katherine

My niece has arrived! She is beautiful, see for yourself :) :) I think she looks more like a Blankenship than Ashley does, but we'll see.





















Mary with GG Mary.

Wishing I was in California right now...

My sister was induced this morning and currently in labor. I can't believe I'm not there to hold my little niece when she enters the world. California seems sooooo far away right now. Just means this little baby is going to get extra kisses from Aunt Rachel when I see her!!! xoxoxox

Abby's party

We celebrated Abby's birthday on her birthday, so it was a small party (some friends and family were sick), but that doesn't mean there was a lack of fun and excitement. Abby was so excited for her party that night that she didn't eat lunch and couldn't take a nap. She knew it was her special day. She was so giddy, singing Happy Birthday all day long to everyone and talking about everyone coming over for her party. It was a lot of fun for us to watch her excitement. Quite a difference from last year, no sitting in her cake. Grandma and Grandpa Henderson even came to celebrate with Abby.

Her play kitchen from Poppy, May-May and GG. She pretended the box was a trampoline. She loves jumping on trampolines. She also loves to put her fake crocks on, whether she is wearing jammies or a party dress. It's the first thing she does when she wakes up in the morning.

























































Tell me this kid is not full of energy and this was before the sugar!













































































She was so happy that she was able to blow the candles out all by herself.

coming soon...

birthday photos :) our little baby is growing up!