Nine Months

Today Ariella is 9 months old! It's already been three quarters of a year since she was born! She is growing and changing so quickly...clapping now, climbing, pulling up on everything...Daniel saw her free standing yesterday. I love the way that she makes kissy sounds at me and how adventurous she is in trying foods. She enjoys eating beans, berries, banana, beets, cheerios, hummus, avocado, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, any anything else that we put in front of her or that she finds on the floor. At her 9 month check up yesterday I found out that she's very tall (with a rather small head). She is all caught up with immunizations now too (I had been a little bit behind because some of the ones I needed were "habis" sold out in Papua). What a fun and sweet little girl!

Yes, she is wearing a princess dress with a mermaid tail. :) She is an adorable mermaid!

Camping in the Boise National Forest

Just over a week ago we went for our first camping trip as a family of four. We borrowed a trailer (and an SUV to pull it) and drove two hours north to a camping site surrounded by big pine trees and near Payette River. It was a fun change of pace from our usual life and I really enjoyed the beauty of the woods and water. 

Some of my favorite moments included:

Zoe waking up on Saturday morning...

Z: My hands are cold!

Daniel and I laughed because this may be the first time she has had cold hands (having spent most of her life in Indonesia).

Z: Cold hands are funny! (and she joined in the laughter.)

Watching Zoe explore the river (with Daniel close at hand to help her get up when she fell down).

Sitting and talking with Daniel at the campfire for a couple of hours after the girls had gone to sleep.

I am so grateful for the fun time that we had...and we all want to go camping again! (At least Daniel, Zoe and I do...I can't really speak for Ariella on this one.)

Have you gone camping this summer? What did you enjoy the most about it?

Eight Months

Ariella was eight months old while we were in MA visiting my parents last month! What a lovely little girl she is!

This was taken 2 days after her 8 month birthday...her first time eating corn on the cob! Yum!

Zoe's 3rd Birthday

Just over a month ago Zoe celebrated her 3rd birthday. We were in Ohio with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins (on Daniel's side) for the week!

We took family photos on the birthday morning in Daniel's parents beautiful back yard.

Cousins!

Happy birthday Zoe and Seth! Seth was exactly twice Zoe's age on their birthday.

Zoe got into my make-up during her "nap." What a mess!

Beautiful birthday princess Zoe opening presents.

I am so grateful to be mommy to my precious daughter Zoe! Happy happy birthday, my Love! :)