Farewell and Good Night

We think it is time for us to say goodbye to our blog readers. We thank you for taking the time to follow our journey and offered your love and support. Our experience would not have been nearly as full and wonderful without you. We hope you have enjoyed yourselves too.

We have been blessed with this unique experience in family building. We would not have wanted it any other way. The wait and the cost were more than worthwhile when we see the smile on our Caelyn's face. She fills our heart like no other and we love her more than words can express. Today, tomorrow, always.

For future updates, we will have Holiday letters and pictures. But most importantly, we hope to have lots of visits, playdates, and gatherings so she can interact with you in person!

Hugs and Kisses,
Zach, Amy & Caelyn

Big Sky

Zach fell head over heels in love with the big sky when we visited Montana a couple years ago. It was a rare opportunity. Living the fast pace, often stressful, lives...the open air just melts the tension away. When we got invited back this year we couldn't say yes fast enough!
This trip is extra special because we're traveling with our best buddies, Christian and Laura, who also became first time parents in June. And this trip offered the first opportunity for us to meet each other's new addition...so imagine the excitement upon landing at the airport. Our flights landed within 1/2 hour of each other.



Montana is home to Laura's family. We were invited to enjoy a few days in Moose City where her family owns shares of these wonderful cabins. Moose City is just a few steps away from the Canadian border situated along a gorgous river very similiar to the river in the movie The River Runs Through It (you can see our very own bratt pitt fly fishing in photo here). The other side of the river is Glacier Park. Moose City has year round population of 25. Yes, 25. Each family has their own small cabin for sleeping and during the day we gathered at the main cabin for cooking and hanging out. One day we made our way to Bowman Lake Glacier Park for a picnic and stopped off later for Elk burgers.

The babies did great during the whole trip! Everytime Caelyn gets into her stroller for a walk in the real grassland meadow (unlike the one I painted in her room), she immediately falls esleep...even after she's taken a nap! We played Bachi ball in the grass while she tagged along in her stroller inside a misquito netting.

After 4 days in Moose City we said good bye to the grassland and headed towards Big Fork. In Big Fork we enjoyed 4 more days of fun and relaxation at Laura's family's lake house. The water is usually warm enough to just jump in for a splash. However during our stay the wind had turned the water at the bottom of lake so it was a bit too cold for Caelyn (or me, but not daddy) to go in. She only dipped her tippy toe in and collected a rock. She enjoyed sitting by the dock looking at the sunset with mommy and daddy. For a couple of nights we got a ride in the family's motor boat around the lake while the babies fell espleep.

The trip was amazing...almost as amazing as our babies!

Quick Stats Updates!

We apologize for not posting for so long...life with baby just got in the way. Much much has happened over the last month since we have been home. A few quick updates on Caelyn:

• Had her wellness doctor visit and follow up. All checked out perfectly including her shots. At 9 month she weighs 20.5 pounds (73rd percentile); measures 27.75 inches long (48th percentile); head circumference measures at 17.75 (77th percentile)
  
• First tooth peaked through for 2 weeks now. No teething issues we have noticed yet


• We started teaching her last week to say "mum mum" when she wants food. This week she got it!! Turns out most of the time she fusses...it's because she wants "mum mum" and we haven't been giving her enough!


• She started to sleep through the night 3 weeks ago for 9 hours straight (with occasion discomfort cry in between but no feeding needed); she naps 3 times a day approximately one hour each.
  
• she now can feed herself cheerios fistful at a time
  
• Blows rasberries when she wants attention or express her dissatisfaction (like towards a food or if we put her in the stroller/carseat/highchair and she doesn't like it)
  
• Her attachment is developing very well. Her favorite person is mommy followed by daddy (although the first couple of days after daddy went to work Caelyn "forgot" who daddy was...and cried when daddy holds her without mommy around)