Amamma & Appachen Are Visiting

Amamma and Appachen arrived yesterday and will be visiting with us for a week. Yeah!!! The kids are having so much fun playing with them, even though you can't tell by the looks on their faces in these pix.

Stella's 4 Year Checkup

Stella had her 4 year doctor's appointment today and all is well. She also cooperated well enough to have her vision and hearing checked. The nurse said that Stella's eyes were fine (20/30 visio,n whatever that means) and that her hearing was fine as well.The only thing she didn't tolerate was getting her blood pressure measured.
She didn't get any vaccines today but will have to prior to starting school next year.

Stella's stats are as follows:
weight = 36 lbs (60th%) (compared to 25th% last year at her 3 year checkup, which was prior to her tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy)
height = 40.63 inches (75th%)

Say Cheese!

During the evening when Mama was asking Stella to smile big for the camera, Des decided to follow directions and gave us his cheesiest "cheese" smile ever! His smile was so hilarious that we were rolling on the floor laughing, which just made Des laugh even harder! Too cute and funny!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Stella!

Wow, our little baby girl turned 4 years old today!!! We CANNOT believe she is 4 years old already. How time flies.

Stella's big birthday present this year was a bedroom makeover complete with a new twin bed, new bedding, an upholstered headboard (made by Mama & Dada), a little sling chair and table for Stella to read and lounge on. While Stella was playing games on the computer, Dada set up her new room. He then waited inside her room with the camera to take pictures of her reaction to the big surprise.

As you can see by the pix above and below, Stella LOVED her surprise and her girlie room!!!!

Stella then tested out her new bed...

At the time we surprised Stella, we hadn't put up her upholstered headboard or curtains up yet, (b/c the headboard wasn't finished). So this is what Stella's room likes like now.

We still have to get a few more items to complete her room, like a dresser and nightstand and put up some pictures, so it's still a work in progress. But in the meantime, Stella absolutely loves her new room and that's all that matters.

After Stella's big surprise was revealed, we all went to Olive Garden for dinner and then came back home to cut the cake.

Mama made Stella a butterfly cake which she just loved.

The Gup had to check out the cake as well...

We sang "Happy Birthday" to Stella.

Stella then blew out the candles and we all enjoyed some cake.

Since her big gift this year was not something that was wrapped up, we decided to get Stella one other gift that could be wrapped up so that she would have something to open.

It was a digital camera. In the pix below, Mama was able to capture Stella's sheer delight in getting a digital camera.


Stella testing out her new camera.

We had a great time celebrating our baby girl's 4th birthday. Stella...Mama, Dada, and Desmond love you so much!!! We hope you enjoyed your special day!

A Trip to the Playground

Mama took Stella and Des to the nearby playground near our subdivision's clubhouse and pool this morning. The kids had fun playing, despite the heat. Des just loved picking up and dumping the gravel that was on the playground.

Stella liked swinging and climbing up the rock wall.



After playing, we met Dada for lunch near campus.

Just Chillaxin'

Mama just loves this picture of Des relaxing on top of his Dada while watching a cartoon with Stella prior to getting ready for their bedtime routine.

Oh, those sweet lips and those cheeks...

Another Visit to Chuck E. Cheese

We all went to Chuck E. Cheese today and as you can see from the smiles in these pics, Stella loved it as usual. This time, Stella ventured out of the toddler zone and played a lot of adult games like, esp racing games with motion simulation.

Des, on the other hand, was not feeling the love for Chuck E. today! He was rather clingy and wanted to be held by Mama most of the time we were there.

At one point, while Dada was holding Des, Chuck E. Cheese walked by and Des was about to cry, but luckily, Chuck E. realized that Des was not a fan and he politely scurried off. Dada said that as soon as Des saw Chuck E., his grip on Dada's shoulder got very strong and very tight and stayed that way until Chuck E was out of Desmond's sight! Too funny!

At the end of our visit, Des walked away with a plastic grasshopper and Stella with a puzzle.