Baby Aloha is Healthy!

We had the joy of seeing Baby Aloha’s heart beating today at our first ultrasound! The pregnancy felt more real than ever when we saw the baby moving around, and we were happy to reconnect with our wonderful OB/GYN. The measurements were right on target for 9 weeks, so the due date remains the same. Dr. O’Leary was just as surprised as we were that we got pregnant so quickly, saying, “I guess you’re meant to have crazy lives for a few years!”

Emma posing for Christmas photos.

Ready for Christmas!

We enjoyed a visit with the Rahn Grandparents this weekend, which allowed us to get the house decorated for Christmas and for them to have some quality time with Emma. Nathan especially loves the new addition of a new outdoor doe and tree lighting. The official due date for Rahn Baby #2 ("Aloha" womb name) is now July 19th (only 5 days away from Nathan's; maybe another Leo). Kristin is increasingly nauseous (sp?), fatigued, and particular about food (a healthy salad, Taco Bell chicken soft taco, and Ruffles). She just can't seem to find the perfect combo of nourishment and settling of stomach.

Deer Camp & Emma's "Baby"

Last weekend Nathan went to “Deer Camp” with father-in-law (Carl) and good friend (Jim) at Jim’s rustic cabin near Big Rapids, where the family hunters gathered before opening day of firearm deer hunting season. Nathan enjoyed playing cards, telling stories, eating, and napping away from the “real world” of cell phones and running water. They recommend Carl James or James Carl as baby boy names, and wonder of the baby will be born on either of their birthdays (June 28th or July 1st).

Back at home, Grandma Bonnie stayed with Kristin to help with the “kids.” Emma started saying “happy, happy, happy” after Bonnie asked her if she was always this happy while they were playing. Other new things Emma started this week include her dragging around her “baby” and cuddling it close to her, and becoming more “selective” about sharing her toys with Daddy and Mommy during playtime (“No, ..Mine”). While we support Emma asserting herself, we hope this just remains only a normal phase of development.

Kristin is now 5 weeks pregnant and is mostly tired, so Daddy has been trying to help out a little more around the house. She is scheduled with her OB/GYN Nurse on December 1st , and we will see the first ultrasound on December 16th!

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations, Nate, Kristin and Emma! I'm so excited that we will be pregnant together for a little while! Emma will be a great big sister! You guys are a beautiful family.

Love,

Ana, Matt, Marcelo & (Isabella)

November 2008

The Fall always brings the mess of leaves, but this year Emma earned her keep!
Emma has something to add...

We're pregnant! We just got the positive pregnancy tests this weekend, so it is still VERY early on, but if all goes according to plan, Emma should have a sibling next July! We were especially grateful that Uncle Pete, Nana, and Grandpa Dave were visiting and could share the new news with us!

October 2008

The Thrall Family came to visit from Montana, and we all spent a Friday afternoon at the Three Cedars Farm. So many fun things to do there - doughnuts, playing, tractors, hayrides, pumpkins - what a terrific place!

For Halloween, Emma had difficulties in choosing between the two costumes that we borrowed. So she was a ladybug by day, for the Daycare Party, and a bumblebee by night, for trick-or-treating with friends.

Emma quickly vacated the wagon, so that she could walk like a big girl.

September

Over Labor Day weekend, we went to the Obama rally in Battle Creek. Unfortunately, we had to leave before actually hearing him speak, since Nathan was on call. But the experience and atmosphere were still awesome...YES WE CAN!! (and did!)

Our first trip to the Toledo Zoo!

Summer 2008

Emma and Cousin Jorga playing Emma and fellow taurus Aunt Amy
Emma at the Children's Museum in Marquette, now loving blocks!

Summer 2008

Celebrating Daddy's 30th Birthday- the cake is yummy! Bocce Ball BBQ w/Mayos and Booker/Langdons
Rahn Family Reunion at the Cottage - August 4th Week
Emma with Aunt Kristen

Emma loves the sand on Lake Michigan
Emma and cousin Jorga and Uncle Matt in Lake Michigan

Summer 2008

July 4th Cottage w/Rahn Grandparents July 6th Ryan Jeffrey Mayo is born!
Henry Ford Museum Outing w/Godson Nathan
July 14th Cottage Week w/Katterjohns
Emma sharing crackers with her cousin Alexus

Party Girl

Here are a few pictures of Emma helping Nathan celebrate his third birthday. She played in the sandbox with the other kids....


... and got a ride in the dump truck. Nice hat, Nate!!
One other June happening you guys forgot to mention in your previous post is your wedding anniversary. Happy 6th Anniversary! Hope you guys were able to enjoy some "Nate and Kristin" time! Life sure can change in only 6 years! Congratulations on the beautiful life you have created together!

Love,
Aunt Jamie

June Fun

Emma continues to be mobile, chatty, loving, and our “big strong baby!” She has been crawling for over a month now, and is always getting into things. She especially likes to grab and eat the grass when outside, and seems to b-line for the doggy water dish when we turn around for a minute. She pulls herself up to her knees pretty well, and has been getting to a standing position in the past few weeks (see bathtub photo). We’re still proud that she seems to have a good balance of playing well with herself (stacking blocks and smashing cups together) or with others. She loves to laugh, squeal, say “Ugh-oh” (especially in response to throwing her items from the high chair), and repeating our words (daddy is especially trying to avoid cursing). One of the most adorable things she has started in the past few weeks is to “head-but” people (and pets) softly, as if to give a kiss, b/c she has a very loving expression when she does it. We suspect she is just trying to mimic our kissing motion, although she doesn’t have the lips part down yet. She is eating more and more, and seems especially proud of herself when eating finger foods (crackers, green peas, and ground beef/spaghetti). Emma loves to feed Billy from her high-chair, which we are always trying to break up. She weighed 19lbs at her most recent pediatrician appt. Daddy especially would love to see her off the bottle entirely, but she’s not quite there yet, taking about 10-15 oz daily of whole milk. In recent weeks, Kristin finished school for the year and is looking forward to spending more time w/Emma. We celebrated Father’s Day on “Jim Harris Charters” (Grandpa Carl’s good friend) in Greenville (as Nathan requested), grandpa and Nana enjoyed babysitting Emma for Sarah Starkey’s 30th Birthday Fiesta Party (June 7th) and Elaina Goodman’s wedding (June 21st), and Emma enjoyed playing trucks with her friends at Nathan Mayo’s 3rd birthday Party on June 22nd. Otherwise, we’ve enjoyed landscaping the backyard and Nathan has been trying to train for an upcoming half-marathon (it turns out you can’t “cram” for a half-marathon like you could for an exam in college).

June Fun

Emma's 1 Year Birthday Party

Emma had a wonderful ladybug birthday party with all her close friends and family! Thanks to all who made this day special for us!

Wonderful cake made by Robin Smith

Nathan Mayo and Emma playing with a new toy.
Nathan and Alexus enjoy the sandbox (from Nana and Grandpa Dave) while Emma and Daddy watch from a distance.

Emma in her new swing and slide (from mommy and daddy). We are now

entering into the world of children's lawn toys.