Tummy Time...

Our girlie loves to practice tummy time everyday. She has been holding up her head, reaching for toys and kicking her legs for several weeks. But today everything changed...she rolled over! While playing with "Betsy the Bug" she rolled from her stomach to her back--two times!! We could not be more proud!

Getting BIG (for a Tinkerbell)...

On the 23rd our Tink officially turned four months old. She is getting to be such a big girlie that her overalls now fit! We will find out how much she weighs at her January 2nd appointment with Dr. Kline. We are taking guesses...

Auntie Annie: 12lbs 7oz

Daddy: 11lbs 4oz

Mommy: 11lbs 12oz

Gamma: 13lbs

Ryan's First Christmas...


Tink has had a busy couple of days. We went to one of Ian's former co-worker's for an open house and then to Nana and Pop's for dinner on Christmas Eve. Our girlie had a tough evening (two stops in one night proved to be too much for her), but must have known that Santa was coming because she slept like a little angel! Then we opened presents from Gamma and Papa at our house on Christmas morning and headed back over to the Williamson's for brunch and more presents. She got to hangout with her cousin Sophie and play with her new sled (all they are missing is the snow!). Ryan had a great time opening tons of toys, books and adorable clothes. A BIG thanks to family, friends and Santa for helping to make her first Christmas a wonderful one!

Picture of the Week...

Our Tink is the cutest little snow bunny ever as she gets bundled up to go outside for our daily walk in the park! Thanks to Mrs. Lawrence for knitting the fuzzy hat, Auntie Natalie for the cozy fleece outfit that reminds everyone to tell our girlie just how pretty she is, and Auntie Annie for finding the coolest sherpa baby booties!

Tub Time (Take 2)...

We finally figured out the tricks to make Ryan's tub time fun time--warmer water, tons of bubbles, and as much water as her little bath will hold. Our high-maintenance girlie loves to eat the bubbles, practice her dolphin kick and talk up a storm in the bath!

Tink and the City...

This past weekend we had a last-minute visit from Papa, Gamma, and Auntie Annie. They stayed on Rittenhouse Square and provided our little Ryan with a proper introduction to the city (trips to the hospital do not count!). We had a full weekend with Ryan's first time in a restaurant (times 3), picking out her first Christmas tree (Carousel in Newtown, Bucks County), and her first downtown shopping excursion--Auntie Annie captured tons of pictures of it all! Hugs and kisses to Papa, Gamma, and Auntie Annie for a wonderful visit!

Picture of the Week...

So our little Tink has become a chatty kathy and we think that this picture captures her enthusiasm for "talking" perfectly!

Santa Claus...

Last weekend our girlie made her first trip to the mall to get her picture taken with Santa. She was enthralled with all of the people, sounds and lights of the Willow Grove Mall--who knew?! Our Tink waited in the long line very patiently and we have a feeling that she will get everything she asked for!

...and more Thanksgiving photos!

Thankful as can be...

The week prior to Thanksgiving Mommy and Auntie Annie took Tink on her first roadtrip to Ohio for a visit with the extended family--Daddy flew out to meet us on Thanksgiving day. The week held many firsts for our girlie...

...her first junior high night basketball game (great playing Rossi-boy!);

...an introduction by Miss Abby to the icon that is Hello Kitty!, as well as some tutoring in the fine art of making fish faces;

...a wooden boat of her very own from Papa;

...some great (early) Christmas presents from Auntie Kissy and Gamma, including a singing/dancing Elmo, a Leapfrog Lilly that counts to ten (her FAVORITE!) and some of the cutest clothes ever (see fushia bubble skirt in picture!); and

...many, many, many hugs and kisses from the people (and canines--we cannot forget Gunnar) that love her most!

Thank you all for a delicious turkey day and a wonderful visit!

Picture of the Week...

Ryan was modeling her newest hats one morning and we decided that she looks pretty darn cute in this one--thanks Papa!

Tink's BFF...

At first, Jack was skeptical of the new little person in the bassinet that knocked him down a notch on the family totem pole (human babies, before canine babies). Now where Ryan goes, Jack is sure to follow!

He is the first one to get up in the middle of the night when she fusses and waits impatiently at her bedroom door to make sure that she is okay. He naps in her room while she takes her bottles. He follows her around when she is being walked around the house. He whines when she whines. He cuddles up next to her when she is on the ground playing with her dollies--only time will tell if this is merely a ploy to get closer to the toys with squeakers?! All signs of a true best friend forever!

First Playdate with Jackson...

Tink had her first playdate with Jackson, son of our friends Jessica and Chris Rorke, last Friday. Jackson and Ryan spent some time staring at one another and then Jack proceeded to lick every inch of the "new" baby in the house--surprisingly Jackson didn't seem to mind!

Long overdue thanks...

The last two and a half months have been truly challenging for our new family with my illness and baby Ryan. As I continue to get better every day and we learn to navigate life with Tink, there are several people we would not have been able to do this without. Their unconditional love, moral support and selfless offering of time has meant the world to us!

Nana and Pop who took our Tink for her first sleepover at ten days old (brave souls!).

Uncle Brent, Auntie Melinda and Sophie for the private nurse/patient advocate services and always being there for us.

Gamma and Papa for coming out to Philadelphia to sit for endless hours with me in the hospital and taking care of our little girlie at home.

Great Grandma Johansen who made daily trips to the hospital with Tink to visit me, stayed up with Ryan all night and still had the energy to cook up a storm.

Auntie Kissy for being just a phone call away.

Auntie Annie (the bottle sterilizing queen!) for taking such good care of me, Ryan, Jack and our home.

October 31st...
Ryan, Mommy and Auntie Annie made a trip to the pumpkin patch at Winding Brook Farm to pick out a few pumpkins for Halloween. It was a gorgeous day and our Tink picked out three perfect little pumpkins.




Halloween...
Later on that evening we went to Uncle Brent and Auntie Melinda's house to trick-or-treat. Ryan was a red hot chili pepper (Ian's first purchase when he found out we were expecting!) and her cousin Sophie was the purple CareBear.

The Latest Stats...
Ryan's two month appointment this past Monday with Dr. Kline was great aside from the FIVE shots our poor girlie had to endure. It is still up for debate who cried more, her or me?! Staying true to her nickname, Tink(erbell) weighed in at 9 pounds 12 ounces (25th percentile) and is 20 1/4 inches long (5th percentile).

A Couple of Firsts...

Our little Tink went on her first stroller ride through Tookany Creek Park with Mommy and Auntie Annie. She had a wonderful time as long as we were "off-roading" it with the stroller--our girlie loves the bumps!

The first (and only!) time our stinky Tink enjoyed tub time with Mommy was a funny one! We are hopeful that her anti-bath stance is only a phase...

As most of you know who follow up on our little Tink, Erin was hospitalized on September 4th with a rare auto- immune disorder called, well for short, TTP. She is as of October 1st still in Pennsylvania Hospital recovering, and we are hoping that she will be home really soon. I need to thank everyone that has been helping out, especially Grandma Jo, Karen, Andrea, my parents and all those who helped take care of Tink and saw Erin in the Hospital. As soon as she gets home I will try to get some new pictures of Ryan and her mom for everyone. We are overjoyed that she seems to be getting better, and hope we can put this behind us and start raising our little family.

To all of you in the great state of Ohio, I can't wait for you to meet her. Heres hoping to be there for Thanksgiving.

More Ryan!

More photos of Ryan and her digs....Uncle and Aunt Williamson....still trying to get the pictures from you guys on.......One of my Niece, Sophie included....enjoy!