Sisters

Right when they first met at the hospital, I think Anna thought this little bundle shown to her was just a cute, squishy faced doll. The cutest thing was when we were leaving the hospital and we put Elise in her car seat next to Anna. Anna looked over with a big smile and kept pointing at Elise over and over, and kept babbling something to us in an excited voice as if to say, “Look mom and dad, look, she is riding next to me in the car! I have a back seat playmate!”

When Elise sneezes, cries, or makes any funny noises Anna squeals in delight that this little doll we brought home actually does something. She loves to come over and give baby sister kisses, but usually she wants to kiss Elise a little too much or too hard and almost smothers her in love. We are glad that Anna is too young to be jealous though.

We have been teaching Anna not to touch Elise’s face or poke her eyes out. We have tried to help Anna understand she can't lay on top of Elise, step on her, roll over her, or pat her too hard. Basically Anna is Elise’s biggest fan and most dangerous Enemy.

When ever Elise cries, Anna is the first to run to her, and point out to us that she is crying. Anna sometimes will point to Elise’s diapers wanting to make sure I get her diaper changed. Anna will try to climb up the pack and play so she can see her little sister asleep inside.

We love our girls and glad they will have each other as sisters and friends forever.

Kisses

Three Weeks Out

It has been three weeks now since Elise was born and we basically trying to survive the newborn stage with lots of night time awakenings, little sleep, lots of blow outs, diapers, and laundry. We are constantly trying to keep a 14 month old from loving to death/ squishing her beloved little sister. Trying to squeeze in meals, showers and naps in when we can and enjoying our new life with all the adventures that go with a young family. Here are some noteworthy events that have happened in the last few weeks.

Blessing: When Elise was 5 days old Kent blessed her in church while everyone was in town. Brigham, her Papa, Granddad, Uncle Brian, and Brady were all there to help in that blessing. She wore the beautiful blessing dress her grandma made. It was a special blessing. We are so grateful for our little Elise. Her middle name Margaret is after my mother and great grandmother, two special people; and the name has skipped a generation every time.

Family family family: Lots of family came into town when Elise was born. Grandma Slack made Elise a birthday cake when she arrive home from the hospital. Nana was here to help me birth her. Both of our dad’s also came in to town. Shayla, Brigham and Elizabeth came down from Utah, and even the Uncle Chris came in for the weekend to play. Shayla took lots of pics. Anna would take Chris’s finger and walk him around the house. It was great seeing everyone and having the extra help. With all the tiredness and craziness I forgot to get a picture of either grandfather! Dang!

Number 100: My grandmother, LaDawn Powell, has been counting all the people who enter her family, whether by birth or marriage, and assigns each a number. Granddad is #1, she is #2, when I was born I entered the family as #25, Kent entered as #89, Anna as #95, not that she thinks of us as numbers, but anyway... when grandma was approaching her 100th member of the family she got excited and decided to give that individual a 100 dollar bill as a prize for being 100. For about a year people were speculating as to who it might be. Well Elise won, she was born as the 100th member of the Powell family and received her reward.

Pickin them Peaches: While Kent’s brother Chris was in town we went peach picking in Queen Creek. Fresh peaches and cream is our favorite thing ever, ever, ever!

BBQ'd Chicken Anyone?

“Anna, open up,” I said as I put another piece of BBQ’d chicken in her mouth. “and watch out! Be careful not to step on your sister.” We were sitting on the picnic blanket with some friends at a Memorial Day BBQ. I was trying to enjoy the conversation that was going on around me and at the same time eat my pork and beans, cut up and feed Anna some chicken, keep Elise from fussing, and keep Anna from squishing Elise, from stepping on everyone’s plates and from stealing another little boy’s spoon. I took a bite of my dinner, put another piece of chicken in Anna’s mouth, added to the conversation; and at the same time I grabbed Anna before she stepped on my plate of food, patted Elise to keep her calm, gave the little boy his spoon back, and broke off another piece of chicken to give to Anna. I began answering a question my friend asked me as Elise began to fuss. Then, all of a sudden I realized....... the piece of chicken, meant for Anna,........ was in Elise's mouth. OH DEAR!

My Car Was Torched

“It smells like smoke out here,” I said to Kent as we locked up our place heading to the car for a trip to Grandma’s house. I turned the corner and stopped in pure disbelief; there, right next to my car, a blaze of fire was growing larger quickly. I yelled “Kent!” not knowing what to do and with a 4 day old baby in hand I wasn’t about to go near the ragging flames. I looked around and Kent was already in action running in search of a near by hose. I realized it must be that old mattress that somebody had thrown out near the dumpster that was burning and it was sure burning; the flames grew to a considerable height. 911 was called. Neighbors started coming out of their houses and not knowing what else to do they watched, some scared of an explosion started spraying down there houses. No hose could be found within reach, and there was nothing we could do but watch my poor little car be burned and melted away!!! I went around the corner of the building not wanting to watch. I heard the fire truck pull in and saw police walking about. I let Kent deal with the mess while I stayed away with my new born. When the fire was put out and things calmed down I came back and looked to see what had become of my sweet little car and this is what I saw. I cried.

Elise Margaret Slack

We are pleased to announce a new addition to our family!

Elise Margaret Slack

7 lbs 9 oz

20 inches long

Born 9:21 am 17 May 2011

Mother’s Day Weekend

This Mother’s Day weekend was great. We had the privilege of having Kent’s mother come stay with us for a few days and we certainly enjoyed the visit. We made all sorts of good food including cilantro dip, Thai food, lasagna soup, and home made apple pie. We had a lot of fun with splash pads, swimming, fruit bouquets, farmers market, parks, and just hanging out. The best thing was Anna got to know her grandmother a little better.

Side note about this fruit bouquet. I have been wanting to make one for my grandmother for several months and this was the perfect opportunity being mother’s day and all. Plus we found this awesome farmer’s market deal. The strawberries were 25 cents a pound, pineapples a dollar and the rest of the fruit had awesome deals. So together, my mother in law and I cut and put the fruit on skewers into the pot to form this fruit bouquet. It was actually really fun to make.

Second side note: Yes, I was due on Mother’s Day… I am still big and pregnant!!

She’ll be Here Soon