August 18, 2007

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  Ervina, I miss you too!!!!!!!!!!

  Well, here we are, back in the Deep South, where the Civil War rages on. Okay, so maybe I’m exaggerating just a tad, but as we returned the contrast between the north and south seemed quite distinct again. I think I forgot some of the differences over the summer. Guess that means I had grown more accustomed to them over the past year than I thought.

  We drove back in Ben’s old truck [a.k.a.  the Blue Bulldog] that has over 250,000 miles on it. It rides a little rough, and poor Zoe’s chubby cheeks were bouncing the whole 12 hour trip. The truck has 3 seats, and we filled every inch of those 3 seats with ourselves, and the back of the truck looked like the covered wagon days – if we had a white canvas tarp out the back and horses out the front I think we would’ve looked like we were on our way out West. I was quite glad to see our little house again and be done with traveling for a while! And wow, when we got back home we couldn’t even tell two ladies had partied here all summer!! It looked just like it did when we left, except maybe… cleaner.

  It’s a bittersweet thing to leave after a beautiful summer. Sad that my family won’t be able to see Zoe grow and change on a daily basis. Just since we left a few days ago she’s started responding more, and will give us her biggest, gummiest smiles ever. It’s just adorable! She cooed at me today for the first time too, and it just melts mommy’s heart like melted butter. She really is such a good baby, and I am so thankful. I almost feel bad when I hear some of my friends stories about their fussy babies because Zoe is so good!

  Now for the pictures, which is what people want to see anyway.

   
  Announcing Zoe’s arrival to the mailman [our road was so quiet he was one of the only vehicles that traveled it]. Hey, it’s a celebration anyway!
  

  
  Mommy’s Precious Love… those pudgy cheeks are so kissable.
  At her 2 week checkup she had already gained back to her birth weight plus gained a pound.

  
  
  She has this little sneeze thing… She has to try to get it out for about 5-6 times before she can actually sneeze, then she’ll lay there exhausted.
  

   
   This is a treat for both of us. During the night she sleeps in her crib [actually, her changing table because we don't have a crib yet ], but after her early morning feeding she gets to sleep in with me. She’s such a snuggler, I love it!
  

   
  Nana giving her the first bath. Zoe doesn’t seem too thrilled about the idea, but I love her expression here.
  

  
  At Daddy’s birthday party! She got to wear her first little dress and surprised Daddy with a birthday card.
  

  
  The Cabin at Tucquan Glen
  [where we spent the summer]
  

  
  These little shoes hung in my car for months before she was born to remind me of what was coming!
  

  
  Uncle David and Cousin Katie
  

  
  Zoe and Esther, who were born 2.5 weeks apart. Check out Esther’s headful of black hair!
  Ruth and I spent overdue days together to take our minds off our late babies…

  
  
  With Bek and Jason. So fun to have babies together!

  
  
  Papa and Nana Barkman are the proudest grandparents ever. My family was devastated that we left when she was only 2.5 weeks old.

   

  
  
  
   

   

   

  • 3:13 pm
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