Head control - the first step to a driver's license

Noni must have very advanced neck muscles. She is going to be doing african dance in no time!

Noni reaches highest point in Arkansas

Only 3 months old and already she has been to Mount Magazine - the highest point in Arkansas. Not quite as intimidating as the highest point in Alaska, but a feat all the same.

Noni intrigued by the setting sun

Both cute...but one of them poops outside

Mom and Pop like to hang out with their respective "babies".

Narrow escape from menacing turtle

Luckily I escaped almost certain death from this rare species turtle currently residing in St. Louis. Turns out that Giganticus concretus doesn't like hairy legs.

Sairah and her cousin Annie (my brother's daughter) won this turtle over with their irresistable girlish charm.

Finally past the due date

8-08-08
Noni's prescribed due date

Our little baby couldn't wait

Life's too exciting to be late!

We finally have a "full term" baby on our hands. She is tipping the scales at 8 pounds and is doing fantastic. Her slightly red hair has not fallen out, despite everyone's predictions. Today for the first time she smiled right at me. It is a good thing she did because I was about to throw her in the weeds for keeping me up all night.

Not ready to go to bed

Almost convinced that sleep is not such a bad idea

Unable to resist any longer

Viva Las Vegas

Ricky and I were never good at following orders, so we decided to go ahead and take Noni out on the town a few months ahead of time. We took her to see her first movie at the Eureka Outdoor Cinema - Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas (she didn't really get to see it because she was tucked in a pouch, but maybe the songs will be fixed in her subconscious). Some people may claim that this is the corniest movie ever made, and I wouldn't argue. However, we had a blast. When Elvis started singing - the women in the audience started dancing like crazy. They were pulling out moves that had been securely locked in the closet for decades. I was astonished that I still remembered the words to all of the songs. After all, it has been almost 20 years since my mother forced me to spend quality time with her watching Elvis movies.
Long live the King (and the outdoor cinema).



Sairah dressed as a Who for "Horton hears a Who", another great cinema night. She won first place and a $50 savings bond.

Home Sweet Home

We Are Home!!!!!!!!!


On July 5th, Noni passed all of the tests and was released to go home from the hospital. She is not yet 5 lbs, about 4 lbs 12 oz. Reality hit hard on the first night...I hadn't realized how many times a day the nurses had been changing my little bumpkin's diapers. All in all though, we are adapting to life without monitors quite well.

It is wonderful to be back in the woods again. Jumping in our icy creek was one of the highlights of my first day home. The woods contain so many daring adventures for a little girl growing up.



Winona with her sister Sairah