Russell Ranch

After putting on her pajamas and brushing her teeth, Annmarie and Daddy often watch a little TV before it is time for Annmarie to go to bed.   Annmarie must have really worn herself out today because she passed out in Daddy’s arms while watching TV – a very precious moment!

Ashley is 3 months old today – sadly, it is also the day Mommy is going back to work.  Ashley has grown and changed so much in the past three months – it really is amazing!!  Over the last month, Ashley has learned a few new tricks including blowing bubbles, tracking objects (okay, she really only tracks mommy!), grabbing her other hand as well as toys, and scooting and rotating while on her tummy (she is officially mobile!!).  While mom is at work, she will be bonding with Grandma Joanne who is going to take care of her until she is a little older and then she will be going to the same school as Annmarie.

Ashley and Daddy were enjoying some special bonding time today.  Will loved to hold Annmarie up high in the air and she would be perfectly horizontal – ’stiff as a board’.  No  surprise that Ashley does exactly the same thing! 

Will and I had the opportunity to have a night out to celebrate our Third Anniversary (boy does time fly!) thanks to some babysitting from Grandma Joanne and Grandpa Mike.  We drove out to Palos Verdes with the intent of revisiting our wedding site.  We showed up at the Wayfarer’s Chapel right after the gate had been closed at dusk so unfortunately it didn’t work out for us to walk around.  We decided we would go to the Portofino Hotel (where we held our wedding reception) early and grab a drink at the bar before our dinner reservation at the restaurant at 6.  We showed up at the bar only to find out that the restaurant was closed that night – and yes, I actually spoke to a person who confirmed our dinner reservation!!  Will was able to call the Charthouse in Redondo Beach (where we held our rehearsal dinner) and they had room to seat us right away!  We had a loving evening together (we remarked most about how quiet it was without the girls!), but it didn’t go quite as I had planned.

We took a trip to see Gigi today – the girls dressed up in matching outfits for the occasion!  We had a very nice lunch at California Pizza Kitchen and there is a park near the restaurant so Annmarie also enjoyed playing outside.

Grandma Susan made Ashley a beautiful handmade dress for her first visit with the extended family on Thanksgiving Day.   I didn’t take enough pictures while Ashley was wearing the dress so I am recreating the moment here – the only difference is that she is almost 3 months old as opposed to about 6 weeks!  Oh well, better late than never . . .

Annmarie gives Daddy a hero’s welcome when he comes home from work in the afternoons.  It is so neat to see her run to the door to greet him and give him a HUGE hug!  The afternoon is usually Daddy’s special time with Annmarie when he plays piggyback and tosses her ‘up high’.  

 Ashley was in an exceptionally good mood this afternoon and VERY alert – she was intently watching Annmarie play with daddy.  She is growing so fast and can be seen here wearing a new outfit since she has grown out of her size 3 month clothes already!