For All You Non-Facebookers

Our most recent family photos (minus Josh and I).  But, honestly, who really cares about me and Josh anymore anyway??

Train Ride

Spring has finally come to Arkansas.

And with it, the annual HIPPY train ride.

The girls so looked forward to it and all its wait-around-and-play-in-grass-with-Gibson-and-Lennon-beforehand splendor:

We rode in the dining car this year, which made all the over-priced snacks taste especially fancy.

But it was quite elegant.

And Christian took advantage of the gentle rocking and caught up on his Z's.

Speaking of Christian...he's been enjoying several variaties of mushy foods for several weeks now.

And he's sitting up like a pro.

We are happy. And thankful. And blessed.

Colorado

In early February we got to spend a week with friends at their cabin in Colorado. It had been a loooong time since we had been out West so it almost seemed as new to us as it did to the kiddos. We were all like gleeful little kids in a candy store.

You should have seen how ridiculous we acted when a little gopher-type fella poked his head up out of his hole at a rest-stop in New Mexico. Little did we know how much more impressive the wildlife would get and just how darn close we would get to get to it.

If you ask Edy what she did in Colorado, she'll say, "I got to pet a deer." It was the only worthwhile thing that happened in her sweet little mind.

Hattie, on the other hand, could have done without the deer (which were scary) and the snow (which was too cold.) This walk consisted of Hattie walking just long enough to take this picture. The rest of the time I hauled her around on my hip. It was better exercise for me, I suppose.

It was awfully nice just to get to see snow, which has decided not to make an appearance in NWA this year.

Mom question...How is she this big???

And, Christian, who had a cough and congestion most of the time we were there (it really wouldn't be vacation without one of our kids being sick) remained a pretty sweet little fella. Though he and I still have differing opinions on just exactly how long naptime should be and how often he should eat.

Good Morning.

So I am behind, again. For all you folks who have commented (Mom, Liberty, Aunt Carol, etc....) hopefully this will satisfy. Really, you should just come see us in person. It's a whole lot easier and more fun. :)

Edy had the thrill of her sweet little life when she got to be the flower girl in both cousin Travis' wedding and Uncle Caleb's wedding. She practiced being a princess...as if she needed any practice.

Hattie loves to show her muscles. And run. And growl. And play outside. And cuddle. And tear things up. She is a delight.

And Christian says, "Hi."

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord; children a reward from him." Psalm 127:3

Our Boy.

Our precious son, Christian Judah Hall, joined us one week ago tonight at 10:31 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and was 19 3/4 inches long.

We are truly overjoyed at his addition to our family.

I wept with happiness several times, but incident #1 occurred upon my first time to hold him. Several more incidences would follow. :)

Straight out of the womb, and he was already quite laid-back.

Again, can you tell we were joyful?

My sweet friend, Lindsey, stayed four hours after she finished a 12 hour shift at the hospital just to be there with us. Not sure what I would have done without her rubbing my back through some of those contractions. That is a true friend.

Freshly bathed and already deliciously adorable.

Grandmommy and Grandpa were there waiting to welcome him into the world.

Angela and her boys were our first visitors the morning after. Eight months pregnant and she can still get herself and her boys around and bring us delicious chai tea, all before 9 a.m. Impressive.

Grammy Kristine squeezed in a visit just before she jetted off to Hawaii for a week.

Upon meeting him for the first time, Edy was thrilled- despite having said she wanted another baby sister. Hattie, on the other hand, (who had correctly predicted that he was a boy) responded by first jamming her fingers into his mouth then sucking her thumb profusely.

Bless her heart, it's been a tough transition.

But things have gotten much better.

Since then, we've had first car rides,

first Daddy-sandwiches,

first baths,

and lots and lots of snuggles.

We are simply blessed here in the Hall house.

Life Since May...

I can see that I'm going to get no rest from my grumbling followers until I post some new pics, so we're going to go way back into the archives here to catch ourselves up.

We went to Houston in May, I think...

It was great to see Jake and Mindy and fam. We visited the Houston Children's Museum, which was well worth it.

We painted faces,

played in the make-believe city, where Edy checked the vital signs of numerous wounded and ill stuffed animals,

Hattie and Jax navigated the perilous roads of Tot-Land,

And in true Smith-fashion, we brough our own lunch and ate it right outside the museum. Take that, expensive sub-par museum food!

Also in May, to finish out the year in the HIPPY program, all the kiddos were rewarded with a train ride...

and graduation, where Edy showed off her multi-tasking skills. She can both accept a diploma and pick her nose.

We spent a very hot Memorial Day at Devil's Den with much of the Smith-clan,

and attended birthday parties. Here, Hattie was apparently playing the role of the Sad Clown. (Perhaps she had a premonition because it was at this very party that she contracted Hand, Food and Mouth Disease...)

which she then passed on to Jagger and Jax who had come to visit us in mid-June. :( So, so sorry, Mindy!!

But, heck, they had a good time while they were at it!

And finally, this is was happens when the girls disappear into my closet and it gets very, very quiet for a while.

Until next time (which will probably be a long time), adios!

For Sandy Mounce (my dental hygienist and loyal reader)

I can't seem to keep ahead of this silly blog. If I didn't occasionally have someone comment on it, I probably would drop it all together. So, to you folks who comment out there, keep up the good work.

I meant to post this one a while ago. Edy and her best friend, Gibson, were Mary and Joseph for our children's Christmas program at church.


They played their parts well. Edy even did a quick solo dance number while onstage. Mommy was so proud. :)


There's an outdoor ice skating rink open in Bentonville now. We went on Christmas Eve and had a blast, despite being pretty terrible at it in general.


The girls are growing. And growing. And growing.


Hattie is quite the dramatic.


And Edy must practically be pried out of her princess dress for such lowly tasks as bathing and bedtime.


We took a recent road trip to visit my grandparents in Bryant...

And our dear friends, the Greers, in Bismark.


Their trampoline was a hit.

Edy also got to sleep on her first bunk bed while at the Greers. When I told her about it she looked excited but quietly asked me, "Do they bump hard?"

And Hattie started going to "school" on Thursdays this week.


This was her first day. She loved her lunch bag.

(This update was for you, Sandy :)