Our newest addition to the family, Ella.
Suzanna wasn't too sure the day she came to the hospital. Seeing Mama hooked up with IVs and in a strange looking bed. (Do we need to say she didn't nap that day....too much fun with Grandma!) Suzanna the big sister!

Ella's stats: 8lbs 2oz and 19 1/2 inches long.

These are a few of her favorite things...
Cooking......and her now "inside" boots.

Although Suz's little sister is not expected to come for 2 more weeks (2nd July), we had a little scare yesterday. I was going in for my weekly Non-Stress Test and Biophysical (ultrasound) Testing when the Tech said she didn't see any tone or movement from our little baby. I was told to report to the hospital for further testing, and if I didn't "pass" those tests the baby would be coming via an Emergency C-Section. It wasn't only the tone and movement but with addition to having only a two vessel cord, it scared the doctor.

Yesterday the baby passed the tests, and again we went back to the hospital for a 4 hour ordeal, she passed with flying colors. So, no baby yet (thank goodness) and we're all doing fine. I guess the hospital time wore out Casey and Suz.....this is what I found when I woke up from my nap.
Did I neglect to say Suz has been such a Daddy's girl lately? She lings to him and cries for him, even if I am right there. Well, maybe that's good considering I'll be busy with a new little one in the next few weeks.

Where were you 7 years ago this month, you might ask?
Lance Corporal Shockley was going through the Defense Mapping School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. This was his first year in the Marines (Urrah).
Specialist Murray was finishing out her last year in the Army as a combat medic, this happened to be her first state side duty station (Hooah).

Day 5: News of the "Big Girl Bed". We took some advice from the "Baby Whisperer" (you know who you are), and found some really cute bedding at the Goodwill. Now Suzanna has her own Snow White pillow cover, hot pink sheet cover and nice bedding for the bottom of her new bed. By now Suzanna will protest us leaving her in the room by begging us to read one more book to her. We went to Grant's Farm today, I knew she would be worn out. This is what I found when I opened her door to let her know Quiet Time was done.

In 1848, Ulysses S. Grant and his new bride, Julia Dent, received 80 acres of Dent family land southwest of St. Louis as a wedding gift. This was right after he graduated from West Point. It was really nice, a petting zoo (you can actually "rent" bottles to feed the baby goats) and a slew of other animals.

This weekend marked a really big milestone in Suzanna's little world. We took out the crib.

Day 1: We laid the crib mattress on the ground and prepared for naps, telling her it is night-night time. She laid on the mattress with her eyes closed and we thought "Yes, she is taking to it VERY well!" As we shut the door, she came running to the door crying (she thought we were playing) and knocked on the door screaming "Mama! Mama!" for 20 minuets. (So sad!)
We kept in her in the room for an hour and a half, she did stop crying but never went to sleep.
By bedtime it was the same routine, but within 23 minuets it was dead quiet and we peaked in to find her on the mattress.

Day 2: As we laid her down for naps, she chased Casey to the door, cried and knocked hoping someone would answer. No more than 10 minuets this time.....and look what we found.

What a Big Girl!

Night time was a similar event, although she cried for only 3 minuets this time.

Day 3: Nap time she cried for 20 seconds. Humm.......I'm liking this!!

Leave it to Daddy to find the neatest places for a slide (off the back deck) and a swing (see picture below).

As some of you may know, we've been looking at getting a swing set or a "WEEEEE" as Suzanna calls it. Our neighbor was getting rid of his old wooden one and said we are free to take it. Casey spent a long time unscrewing it and carrying it over into our back yard. We were disappointed when it was set up and became too wobbly to hold its own. It didn't take Casey long to figure a makeshift replacement. Here is the much anticipated photo of our slide that comes off the deck.

We have such a Daddy's girl on our hands. There are actual tears when he leaves for work. Even the intonation in her voice when she says his name is sweet and high pitch. When she saw him mowing the grass, she had to be out there with him.
Here Daddy is helping her start her engine (a pretend one).