For Travis & Harmony

Hi there!  I'm so sad that we haven't been able to connect on Skype.

I've just caught up on your blog.  Looks like you are having a great time!  Are you enjoying it as you thought you would?  How is it different from your expectations?  Well I'm sure you would like to know what we are up to over here.

Lucy sure is growing into a very spirited little girl.  We have been working on potty training the last month and it's not going so well.  Heck I'd like to give in and just put her back in diapers because it would be easier for me.  It wouldn't be good for her tho so we'll just stick with this.  We signed her up for preschool at a local church preschool.  She will start in the fall but she must be completely potty trained by then.  Wish us luck!  She seems to be adjusting well to having a new baby around.  She's a little rough though.  She wants Penelope to play with her but she's just not old enough yet.  Lucy keeps pulling her arms (and hair!) to get her to move around.  She also keeps picking her up and rolling with her.  Penny loves it all (except for the hair pulling) and truly seems to enjoy when Lucy gives her attention.  This past week Lucy took a fall and has a nasty cut (more like a hole) on her gums and lip, as well as a little bruise on her eye.  She's OK though no major damage, I was concerned about her teeth but they seem to be OK.  Oh, she has an imaginary friend!  Her name is Emily and they play together every day, every where.  She's gone with us to the grocery store, the library, and Disneyland.  She seems to live in our hallway, Lucy always comes out holding her hand.  They play, hug, have tea, it's very cute.

Penelope just turned 6 months old!  My goodness she is growing so fast.  She is 14lbs and 26 inches.  She started crawling/scooting around last week, oh my!  She constantly is babbling and I am pretty darn sure she can say Mama and Dada.  She also will wave (fingers up and down, not side to side) at you if you wave at her, adorable!!  She LOVES food!  Well, carrots anyway since that's so far all I've given her.  She has rice cereal, carrots (pureed), and rice cracker snacks.  She is such a happy baby, we just love her so much.  Oh and as well as her sister, she had a little trip to the doctors next week.  Lucy took it upon herself to poke Penelope in the eye.  Penelope had a hard time opening her her eye which was red and swollen for the entire day, so we took her to the doctors.  Turns out she had two scratches on her eyeball for which she has to have antibiotic eye drops three times a day for seven days.  It's actually not as hard as I thought to get the eye drops in.

Well, Daniel's 31st birthday is this Tuesday.  Just as we did for my birthday last month we will probably go out to dinner that night.  He's been teaching art classes thru the city of Irvine one evening a week for several weeks now and he really seems to enjoy it.  He's almost finished with the current session and has agreed to a second session.  He is also still enjoying his time with Pepperdine.  I'm so glad he's happy there.  A happy Daddy helps make a happy family.  We recently attended a dinner for the Pepperdine donors... um I think it was called the Pepperdine Associates dinner?  We got to get all dressed up and Daniel sure does clean up real good!

I turned 30 last month.  It's really not much different than 29 but I think it feels weird since it has the stigma of being "old".  I have decided to stay home with the girls and not return to work.  It's been tough being at home all the time with the two of them.   Lately I've been searching for local mom groups, friends, and the like to get us out of the house.  I'm doing publicity for our MOPS group next year and I've decided to switch up from an e-newsletter to a blog.  I'm very excited about getting it going and I'm working hard on it.

As a family, we are enjoying this time in our lives.  Hopefully we will get to Skype soon but I wanted to update you now since the girls are both sleeping!  I show Lucy your blog and she loves looking at your pictures!  She misses you both and still talks about you.

Much love,

Heather, Daniel, Lucy, and Penelope