Natalie Turns TWO!!!!

Since Fran left today (Tuesday) we decided to celebrate Natalie's birthday a few days early. We had such a good time last night. Lots of Minnie and Mickey Mouse stuff, pizza (Natelie's favorite food) and yummy cake.

She loved her ballon so much she held it ALL THRU DINNER!!

YUMMY CAKE!! - even Rachel wanted in on the action :-)

After dinner, it was time for PRESENTS!! boy, did Natalie get alot of stuff! She is very loved by all of her immediate and extended family. thank you!

And a final picture with Grandma, Rachel and Daddy (Natalie was too excited about her toys to sit down for the picture)

Pictures of the girls

Here are a few random pictures that are too cute not to share with you all.


Daddy's girls


Rachel does NOT like to be cold or have her diaper changed (which = being cold). This is about her only complaint.

Pretty in PURPLE

Rachel comes home!

On Thursday, we brought home our newest little Zook :) So far, she doesn't do much but sleep, eat, and go through loads of diapers. But, boy does she ever sleep! (Except from about 11:00 pm-03:00 am which is her "party time" - very unfortunate for Mommy and Daddy). It's really been hard to get pictures of her with eyes open.

Momma is sleepy too.

Grandma Zook LOVES to cuddle little Rachel. She says she looks like a little "Anne Geddes" baby (sweet and photogenic when sleeping).




Rachel was awake and feelin' silly when she wore her snail shirt from Aunt Renee for the first time. (She likes her socks from Aunt Debbie too).


Dad's favorite things: cars and girls.

Just chillin' at home.

Super-exciting videos of people sleeping:

Rachel's first bath

Yesterday, we all gave little baby Rachel her first bath. I was surprised that she really liked it! She just cooed and squeaked, but did not cry at all. I remember Natalie putting up a much bigger fuss. But, being the good sport that she is, Natalie had no hard feelings and actually helped out quite a bit washing little sister :)

Pat-pat game turns into all-out WAR!!!

Natalie has been so good with Rachel - so gentle and sweet and kind to her sister. NOT SO MUCH WITH DADDY! Here's how it started: and innocent pat-pat (drum-on-dad's-head) game......

...but after boxing Daddy's ears (what a cheap-shot!), well, it was ON!


Dad attempted to win, but was unable to stop the mad toddler's powerful onslaught! After mopping up the floor with dear old Dad, Natalie breaks out her patented signature move to finish me off! (She calls this move "Bounce", but it is known to the rest of the family as "The Atomic Butt-Drop" - check the vid :)


No one can survive this move. She easily pinned me afterward for the win:

Now I'm off to the gym so that I can prepare myself for the next game of "pat-pat".

RACHEL LYNN IS HERE !!!!!!

Rachel Lynn Zook was born today, August 10, 2010 at 9:31am! She got here very quickly. (Erica and I got to the hospital at 6:45!) Rachel is 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 19 3/4 " long. Here's all the pics and vids :)






Natalie and Grandma Zook came to visit later in the afternoon. Natalie LOVES her baby sister!! :)

Getting Ready for the Hospital!

I was packing my bag for the hospital and Natalie decided I had missed a very important item - HER!!!!

My Little Big Girl

Last week, one of the boys at school had his 4th birthday party and the mom provided pink t-shirts for the girls and green t-shirts for the boys so they could do a dinosaur craft. When I picked Natalie up from school that day, she was wearing her pink dinosaur shirt (over her shorts) and had been given a ballon to bring home. The shirt was a 2T (the smallest size available) but it covered up everything including and looked more like a dress. She also decided that her shoes were no good and that she had to wear mine. When Matt came home, he cracked up at how little and silly she looked.

She was also VERY thirsty and there are no pictures of her without a cup.

Counter Elf

Natalie likes to sit on the counter when I'm in the kitchen cooking and I tell her what I'm doing and alot of times I'll let her "help" me cook. Matt calls her the little counter elf.

She is especially good at helping me pour the ingredients for pancakes (our Saturday morning ritual). Some mornings, she just likes to sit up there so she can be next to me before we all go to work / school. Looking at this picture, she may be practicing her gangsta signs as well. :-)