9 Months Old!!!

I know it's so cliche to say, but for the love of Pete, where did our baby go?!?!?!?!
Here are the stats:
Weight: 19 lbs, 14 oz (50th %)

Height: 29 inches (90th %)

Head: 18.5 inches (99th%)

-Sweetest Noelle, you are climbing and crawling and cruising all over the place. You are still the happiest little thing on the planet and you make friends everywhere you go. I didn't know a 9 month old could flirt, but flirt you do. We will be out somewhere and you'll get this coy little look in your eye, and a mischievous grin and I just know that if I follow your gaze I will be staring straight into the eyes of a complete stranger and you'll have him or her already wrapped around your tiny finger. You can even smile when you have your pacifier in...it stays clenched between your gums and you just grin around it...your dad and I think you look like one of those old-timey, fat-cat, business men who grin while puffing on a cigar.

-You are beyond picky when it comes to food. You like Cheerios, Gerber puffs, applesauce, formula, and rice cereal. And that's it. Any time I've tried to give you something like carrots, you gag until you vomit. Surely that will change some day. Surely.

-You can now pull yourself up to standing, although you sometimes forget how to get down and just stand there, clinging to the ottoman for dear life, waiting for someone to save you. Unfortunately for you, Delilah is often first on the scene and she sort of bear hugs you from behind, then sits down, pulling you with her. Half the time you love it, and half the time you clearly would prefer to not be her tackling dummy.

-You love remotes and anything electronic that you shouldn't be touching. You love anything your sister is holding.

-You have started to clap and it's adorable.

-Your two favorite songs for me to sing are Heart & Soul and some random song I made up about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. It kills you every time. I love singing Heart & Soul to you b/c it talks about falling unexpectedly, deeply in love. I knew I would love you, but there really is a fear in almost every parent I know of how on earth you will love the 2nd child as much as you love the first. And now that fear seems so silly.

We are all crazy about you, little Ellie Bug.

Catching Up Part III: Avari!

The Hauschilds and the Huntleys had to take advantage of the 4-hour distance one last time before we moved. It's impossible for us to get together and not have a good time, and this was no exception. We hung out, went to the movies (where the girls literally danced in the aisles), went to the park, had our traditional Sunday champagne brunch, and they witnessed me having my first ever panic attack. It hit me that my husband was starting work in NYC in two weeks and we had NO idea where we were going to live, nor did we have one box packed. So I excused myself for 2 hours, got 10 apartment viewings lined up for the following week, and was able to enjoy the rest of the weekend. :)

I think these pictures speak for themselves!

Such a fun visit. And the last time we will be a group of 7...can't wait to meet Baby Hauschild who is making her debut next month!!!

Catching Up Part II: Rockport!

Okay, I think I'll only have one more 'catching up' post after this, then we'll get on to NYC!

For Memorial Day we went to my parents' beach house in Rockport. It was Team Huntley, Mimi & PopPop, Uncle Bryan & Marra and her 3 cuties, and the 3 Van Duzer boys. Full house, but so fun!

Ashton, Avery, and Delilah playing on the tube in the yard...who knew it could be so much fun out of the water?!?

Delilah LOVES Avery, and Avery was like a second mother to her all weekend. It was so precious.

Sharing strawberries and ice cream with Pop Pop. It's foggy b/c of the humidity, but how could I not put this sweet pic in?

Some various pics of all the kids horsing around.


Grammy Di bought this precious outfit for Red. She wore it Memorial Day and again on 4th of July and was a hit both times. Our own Miss Independence.


Another foggy shot, but I just thought this pic of Delilah seeking some solitude by the water was so precious.

It was a fabulous weekend. I went tubing for the first time in about 10 years and had a blast, but none of the pics came out. The girls were loved on abundantly, and, considering how off the adult to child ratio was, it really wasn't that crazy. I also haven't spent that much time in a row with my brother in a long time, and it was great.
Now that we've moved to the east coast, the plan is to go back to Texas every year and spend a week or so in Rockport with various friends & family coming to visit. Already counting down the days until next summer!

Catching Up Part I: Plano!

Okay, okay, I swear I will get to NYC soon, but first I have to catch up from some events of the past couple months. I took pics, I just could never get to my computer for long enough to download them.

First: our trip to Plano to visit Aunt Kim, Uncle Ted, Taylor, and Lauren. Chris's mom and Aunt Kathy flew down from Utah, so it was a lovely family reunion!The trip was way too short (only a few days), but we had a great time. Taylor & Lauren are growing up and it was so fun getting to watch them play volleyball and softball. Delilah was Lauren's shadow the whole time and was thrilled with all the princess paraphernalia that Lauren has. :)

On the drive up, we stopped for Red's favorite treat: popsicles!

Story time with Grammy Di

This trip marked an important first: Delilah's first trip to a movie theatre! We saw Kung Fu Panda 2 and Delilah was ENTRANCED. We walked into the theater, Red looked at all the seats and the giant screen, then turned to me and whispered, "Oh, Mommy, this is so coooooool!" I don't remember a thing about the movie b/c I couldn't tear my eyes away from Delilah's sweet little captivated face. (And Ellie Bug slept through the whole thing, which was perfect!)

Grammy Di, Noelle, Taylor, and Aunt Kathy

Wrestling around with Uncle Teddo!

My favorite pic of the weekend: Noelle and her Aunt Kimmy. So precious!


We miss y'all already!

She's Back

I will write a long post soon about this move to New York but I just wanted to quickly commemorate one thing: Delilah is back. All of the turmoil from the past year finally took its toll on our strong little sprite, and the move to Manhattan was the final straw. She was an angel on the flight, but once we got here she sort of went crazy. Chris & I felt like we were watching our daughter literally lose her mind. She was confused, and sad, and mad, and hurting, and there was nothing we could do about it. She even started fighting sleep because she was having awful nightmares.
But yesterday we turned a corner. Things just seemed to click in place and we had the best day. She was joking and laughing like normal, and went to sleep without a fuss.

We are so glad to have you back, Red. We missed you.