Happy Birthday!

Caley girl turned 2 on Monday! We can't believe it's already been 2 years, the time has gone by so fast. She is so smart and nice (most of the time), and such a joy in our lives. Her language is especially taking off. Lately she's started saying, "Ready, set, go" and "I see blue car" and "Blue doggie night-night." She's also using a lot of describing words in new situations like "slippy" (slippery) when we're outside and it's icy, and "heavy" when she carrying something big.

For her birthday we had a little party with the Gerlach side on Sunday. I made a bee hive cake and the living room was decked out in black and yellow streamers. We all ate chili and cornbread as well. She had lots of fun playing with her many cousins. The guys went to a Sonics game afterward while Bill's sisters, mom, and I stayed home with the kids, ate popcorn and played Scattergories. It was really fun. We love being able to host people at our house, and it shows again how blessed we are to live here! Thanks Mom and Dad Bales!

Caley went to her 2-year well-child appointment and she weighed in at 24 pounds, and overall is in the 20% for her height and weight. So she's starting to level out more against her peers. She got a flu shot and a Hepatitis A immunization (just as a precaution, she's not necessarily at risk for it) and the doctor said she was beautiful and just great! We don't have to go back for another year (although we will visit again when Gerlach #2 arrives).


Speaking of whom, we're almost done with the first trimester and the baby is now about 1.5 inches long and the size of a fig. I can't feel him/her move yet, but my belly is starting to get more round (probably not just from the baby, haha). Next week we get to have another ultrasound so stay tuned.

Caley at playgroup

Every Friday we have playgroup at home with some friends (mostly from church). The kids have tons of fun playing and learning together. Here are some pictures that were just too cute to pass up!

Gerlach 2.0

As many of you may know, we're pregnant! We found out in mid-December and have been waiting until our first doctor appointment to announce it to the world via the blog. Baby #2 is due August 20, 2007 and Addie's 9 weeks along. We got to see a live shot of him/her at the appointment today, and s/he's healthy and normal. The little heart was beating away at a perfect pace. Here's approximately what s/he may look like now.
He/she is about the size of a medium green olive and most of his organs are formed as are his body parts like hands and feet. His eyelids are fused shut and will remain that way until about 30 weeks. Aside from making Mom a bit tired, she's been feeling pretty good. A month ago however, this wasn't the case. Thank goodness that's over! God is an awesome artist and we can't wait to meet our little baby this summer.

Caley's New Faves

Every few months Caley finds a new toy, book, or activity that she loves. Lately she has been infatuated with two stuffed animals, Ernie and Marshall Grover, both ones I used to play with at her age. I wonder why, out of the tons of toys and stuffed animals she has, she loves these two. I'd say because it smells like me, but it doesn't, it smells like 20-year-old toy that's been licked, dropped in the mud, and probably peed on at some point. And because these are plush and not plastic, I'm hesitant to wash in the washing machine, for fear of making it look freakier than it already does. But Caley loves these toys, and rarely doesn't have either of them with her.

She also is really loving her book about Jesus, meaning her Toddler Bible. Every night we read a few stories and she always cries when it's time to put the book away and go to sleep. "Jesus! Jesus!" she yells. Although while we're reading she doesn't usually comment on the people in the stories, but more the animals and picture of fire ("hot" she says). I'm glad that she's at least open to Jesus, it gives me hope that she will come to know Him at an early age.

Indiana Jones and his toy collection

Now that the 4th installment of Indiana Jones is well on its way to "greenlight" status, I couldn't be more thrilled. I grew up watching and re-watching these movies and have always been interested in Kenner's toy line. I decided to try and collect them and just finished recently - a few pieces insanely hard to aquire in worthy condition. Thanks to our friends Spielberg and Lucas and the continuation of the franchise, it could not have come at a better time, investment wise. (ignore the last photos, just need them up for links to other places right now...)