Bright Eyes

I know I shouldn't even write this for two reasons; the first is that I'll likely get stoned in the streets for having this kind of baby and second as SOON as I write this down for public viewing it will cease to happen again! For a week straight now, Harper has slept from 8ish to between 5 and 7 every night! I can't believe it, Pea NEVER did that, never. The first morning it happened, I woke up and it was light out: Panic. Is she still breathing? What happened, did I sleep through her crying? Oh, no. I walk in there, and this is the face I see: happy as a clam, staring straight up at me with her bright eyes...

Water Babies

This is Pearson's first week of swim lessons! At first there was some hesitation, but now I think she's taking to it. She still won't put her face in the water, but she does LOVE her teacher Nicole (whom she gives the grip of death to when asked to try "floating"). Here are some pictures from the first day courtsey of Andi. Pearson says she wants to Harper to join in the fun, but as of now, I think babe H is content to lounge in her car seat and call it a day...

Miracle on 236th Street

It's only fitting to post this Miracle (Part 2) on Father's Day...I write this as testimony of what I have seen God do firsthand, for those who are still struggling, and to give glory to Him:
If you know Sean & Stacia Walker; first: you're blessed. Second, no doubt on God's green earth you have witnessed a miracle. After 10 years of marriage, hope, patience, pain, and love this amazing couple is finally PREGNANT. No joke, a decade of waiting on God, wondering. For two years we have prayed alongside Stacia believing with her and not knowing how God would work I stand absolutely amazed. My Jesus, her Jesus came in at what would seem like the 11th hour and granted her and Sean's deepest desire. Amen. Rejoice with them and know God can do anything. Personally I am in awe and will continue to pray BIG, to unflinchingly believe, and most importantly never put God in a box of faith.

Two Girls, Two Cheers

for our Daddy! We love you and think you're EVERYTHING...
Love,
P & H

Happy Birthday Heidi-Ho!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Heidi-Hoser!! You are one of a kind & We LOVE you! A sweet girl who gives sweet kisses...

Muscle Memory

The theme this week seems to be high school for me. Recently, I got word that my best HS gal pals are planning a bachelorette party UP here instead of Portland. I am elated! Continuing on this theme, last night I was at Crossfit and when I wasn't crying (on the inside of course) because my hands are killing me from the pull-up bar, I was thinking back long ago to my senior year weightlifting class. A defense mechanism, to be sure. Might I add: I am proud of all my high school stats; Homecoming Queen, Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper, surviving the worst prom experience known to mankind, but none so much as completing weightlifting. It may have been my hardest class. May? No, for sure it was. At my high school, gym was required for all four years; the humiliations of public school never cease. Every senior had a choice: Team Sports or Weightlifting. Team Sports? Do you even know me right now? So it was weightlifting with Coach Lacey. Coach Lacey is a man of few words, I would use the word militant, but I'm still sort of scared of him. This man was ALL coach, ALL business, ALL the time. To receive a smile from him was like finding gold at the end of the proverbial rainbow; sufficed to say the "smile" was one part myth two parts legend. To save myself further embarrassment I'll save the gory details of how horrifically bad I started out being. I could not lift the bar, I could not do a squat, I would DREAD going to first period. I would walk around the weight room like I was intending to lift something and then move on when eyes were obverted. At some point I decided to really try like not as a joke, not half-a#$ed. And I ended up LOVING it. I received no smiles from Lacey, BUT I did incur a nickname: Tink (as in Tinkerbell). Not sure how or why, but it was a term of endearment and I'll take it. All this to say: Lacey if you're out there, I think you'd be proud of me at least trying to do Crossfit...maybe I’d even get one of those epic smiles.

High School High

My sister Chandler graduated from Black Hills High School last night and it was truly a landmark event for my family. Chani can celebrate this accomplishment (she's all grown up) and my parents are officially empty nesters! On the drive home I lost myself reminiscing on my high school days; particularly graduation day my senior year. Almost 10 years ago now and this is the scene in my mind's eye:
Me, driving the same familiar route to South Salem High School in my Audi Turbo 5000 (this will be the last day I drive this beloved car as it will be totaled the next day by a crazy woman who ran into me scrunching up my trunk like an accordion) to pick up my cap & gown. The tradition is to wear (gasp.) nothing underneath said gown and call yourself brave: I am wearing pink capri pants. Even then I knew enough to wear SOMETHING under a sky blue gown. As I drive along blissfully unaware listening to LL Cool J or DMX (yeah, you read that right...) or more than likely Brittany Spears (pre-shaved head, umbrella-wielding meltdown), I am thinking how good it feels to be done with this chapter of my life. I am dreaming of going up to Seattle and starting college life at SPU: to be on my own and meet new people. Sitting next to me is my best girlfriend from high school known only as Manzo. She's probably trying to get me to listen to Garth Brooks "Friends in Low Places" or to do a drive by on some boy she's got a thing for. I know I am refusing both requests with love of course. We're going to meet my other best girlfriends and end this high school career. As I sit there ready to throw my hat, I remember looking around thinking this is uncharted territory, but I'm ready.
With Chani starting at SPU this fall I couldn't help thinking: is she feeling the exact same way? As I'm taking her picture with my digital camera I'm thinking: I took pictures of my graduation day with a disposable camera (because no one had a digital camera unless you were a professional). She throws her hat. The end of an era and a chance for two of us to reflect. It's amazing what's happened in a decade: September 11th, war, two presidents, college, marriage, the birth of my girls, trips, plans, friendships...oh the friendships. Life.
Now it's her turn, her story. So to you, Chandler: Congratulations! I can't wait to see how life shapes for you, for all of us, in another 10 years...

See Chel(an)

What a fun mini-vaca we had over the weekend! Our wedding extravaganza continues with the wonderful wedding of Kate & Kris at Karma Vinyards on Lake Chelan. The little girls got to come (all but little Harper whom we missed terribly) and we all loved every minute; except maybe the minute Ty was dared to AND ate a heaping bowl full of mash potatos (scandalous and shocking, yes.) at midnight! All in all, great wine, a wonderful time with family and friends, and one beautiful wedding:

T & C files: June

No picture today, sorry to disappoint those who love pictures! I love them too, but it's a writing day. Time to update my blog readers on life in this Bell household:
Harper is two months old this week. What? Where did these past months go? I must say in some ways it has felt like one continuous day since we left Tacoma General. There is nothing quite like sleep deprivation to blur the lines of day vs. night. Harper is getting bigger, filling out more, and is smiling. Her little face lights up when she smiles. She loves being kissed on the lips and cranes her neck toward you for round two if you quit after one kiss. She only wakes up ONCE a night and I am grateful! She's so mellow and I love her little personality as it begins to emerge...
Pearson is crazy! BUT as-ever: cute. She turns three in less than a month and I am getting her patriotic-themed birthday party up and running. She is mostly potty trained now except for number 2 and that is definitely a work in progress! She asks a billion questions and wants to know what EVERYBODY'S name is. Current obsessions? Toy Story, weddings, Barbie, Justin Beiber, & Alice in Wonderland. She has a shirt that resembles the coat of the Cheshire cat and MUST be wearing this while watching Alice. Pea starts swim lessons in two weeks and I'll be posting on that! Should be interesting...
Tyler and I are two ships passing in the night, but things are beginning to take the look of a routine so hopefully that will carve out more time for us. We are both doing crossfit right now. Tyler kills it. He also loves it. Me? Current status: sore, hesitant to go back, but on board...for now. Oh and p.s. At this point I honestly don't think I could do a REAL pull-up to save my own life.
Check your sanity at the door for the month of June: in the next three weeks we have two family weddings (out of town), my sister graduates high school, my niece Heidi has HER third birthday, MIL's birthday, Father's day, Pea's party to plan, and swim lessons every day.
I think I'll write these lengthier (and always witty;) T & C file updates more often. Off for now...

(Quad)ruplets

I know this is already up on Andi's blog, but seriously, I think this AMAZING picture could stand repeating...safe to say we will be using this one over and over as they grow up! This new toy of Enzo's was a HUGE hit:

Big & Little

Bell sisters...

Miracle

We can celebrate! Ty's cousin Tony, whom most of you know has been fighting an epic (it's the only word that seems appropriate here) battle with cancer is finally and completely in remission! He finished with Chemo in April and as of yesterday, the PET scan revealed that the tumors are GONE! Straight up GONE. As in not there, completely and totally. Amen, and praise to Jesus! He has healed Tony and we are so grateful. It's truly been a HARD (can't find appropriate word here) year for him and he is a testament to strength, Italian grit, and perserverance. We are amazed at what God has done and the favor he's given the Lombardo's. Simply put, if you know Tony: you've witnessed a real LIVE miracle, and if you don't: be heartened, God IS at work in this world and He answers prayer.
Please continue to pray for him and for his family and amazing wife Nichole as they go through this recovery process!