Summertime with Annabelle!

So much has happened since the last time I wrote I can not fit it all into one blog entry. I will let the pictures do a lot of speaking this time to catch us up. Annabelle is now over 4 months (18 weeks old) and is changing every day. We can not believe how big she is. She weighed in at 14lbs 2 oz and is 26 inches long. That puts her in the 90% for height, (not surprising coming form the tall May family) and is mid range for weight. Her cheeks continue to be her most noted trait as the rest of her face catches up to them. Within the last week, her ability to try to sit up from a recline position has drastically changed, her ability to grab a toy and send it directly into her mouth has drastically changed and each day a new sound is coming out of her. When Annabelle is tired, she starts talking to herself with her mouth closed using her nasal passages. For a good 5 minutes she is very expressively unwinding and telling us all that she has to say through sound.
We traveled to New Jersey for a week where she got to meet many of her east coast relatives and friends, and we spent a large part of the time in Ocean Grove, NJ enjoying some summer beach time. It was so nice to go to the beach where you can swim comfortably in the ocean! Although this past week, Jack and I both swam in the Oregon coast waters without a wet suit with George, Megan, John and Kellie! So refreshing to say the least. My throat was sore from all the screaming!
Annabelle went on her first camping trip to Saddle Mountain. Jack and I had been waiting for the opportunity to take her and it felt so good to be out there with just our family, enjoying what Jack, Biyou, Annabelle and I love most, the outdoors.
Last week we had a great time at the May's beach house time share in Rockaway Beach. Although the sun never came out, we had a very relaxing time enjoying what it feels like to raise our baby in a group setting...how relieving! i felt like a teenager when Grandma and Grandpa watched Annabelle for a few hours while Jack and I got to be on the beach alone, playing bocce ball, drinking beer and swimming in the ocean with George and Megan. I felt so free and as I write this I realized that was our first date time where both of us were together without our little miss enjoying some fun! It felt soo good..we really do need more of that.
Life has been really busy and challenging in so many ways. This month I have felt more of the struggle begin of finding time for myself, time with Jack and time with all of us together enjoying life amidst working, cleaning, eating and sleeping...basic needs now with a special twist! Finding our way within his new realm of parenting has proven itself to be hard, but I am sure all the ways we are growing are making us more flexible, open people to whatever life throws our way!