Talia's 3 Month Pictures

Swimming!

Talia went swimming for the first time!!! She loved it. I think the water is very calming to her because she is a water baby. Because Talia doesn't have a swimsuit we borrowed our friends. It is a little too big (18 mo) but worked great. I had to pin it in the back. Dottie and Talia getting used to the water.

After the fun.

My BIG Girl!

At a little over 3 months old Talia is developing so fast! She loves being up right and has very strong tummy muscles. Just a couple of weeks ago she discovered her hands and they are now her favorite snack. A few days ago she started grabbing at toys with a lot more accuracy. What a cutie!

Talia and I were both sick last week. :( I pretty much didn't eat anything for 4 days and lost 5 lbs in a 24 hour period. Believe me I wasn't happy about loosing the weight, not that quickly. I also went through more diapers than I ever thought was possible during those few days. I was so depleted that I wasn't producing much milk and I decided my starving daughter better have a bottle. I was feeling pretty guilty about giving her formula because I am a big believer in breast feeding when Kendra reminded me "its not like its poison." So true! We are both doing much better now. Preston and I thought it was so cute how she was holding the bottle!

Bedtime stories

One of Gavin's favorite things to do with Talia is read to her. This was such a sweet moment because we were all getting ready to go to bed and Gavin decided he needed to read Talia a couple of books. Talia just loved it! She was kicking and staring at the pictures the whole time.

Happy Birthday Preston!

Preston's birthday was on May 25th and we celebrated with the family on Memorial day. I have learned not to put to much effort into my cakes because the Hickmans don't like frosting. This year I decided to try an ice cream-brownie cake. The only frosting was the writing and a border. The cake was a hit with the Hickmans. (It looks like a lot of candles but we didn't have enough for Preston's real age. I guess we will let it slide this year.)

Grandpa Hickman and the Girls!

Alyson loves her Grandpa so much and she just had to be held when Grandpa was holding baby Talia.
Talia was a little fussy but decided her Grandpa was O.K. Talia also loves to look at the ceiling fan above the chair. I don't think we will be able to do this much longer because she is starting to get mobile.

Summer Fun - May 28, 2007

Crazy Hair!

Ann wanted to give Talia a bath so she kept rubbing Talias head saying "Hair dirty! Dirty hair! Tayeeya bath."

What a cute girl!

Singing with Daddy

Talia Cooing May 26,2007

Talia has been cooing up a storm lately and this is one of our attempts to catch her in the act. She tends to get distracted by the shiny camera.

3 Weeks old

This is a better video of Talia saying "e-o-e-o." It is so cute! The last 9 sec. are of my niece Alyson. I don't know why.

Addie Holding Talia - March 8, 2007

I really love the part when Addie tells her mom to KISS Talia!

Addie's First look at Talia - March 8, 2007

After everyone got a little sleep we were excited to examine our little angle even more. Addie was especially adorable with Talia! She is going to be such a great big sister!

First look at Talia - March 8, 2007

I finaly got some video of Talia's birth. She is so itty bitty!

Encore Finale

Final Round...Duel to the Death!

And the winner is... KARI HICKMAN

GREAT JOB EVERYONE! Check back later for the next game. :)

ENCORE!!!

I remember one of my all time favorite games...Encore! I am pretty sure that this game was made for the Hansen family. I would usually loose when I was put up against my older sisters but it was still fun. I am pleased to announce that they still make the game! What a great idea for a Christmas present. Oh I forgot...Marenda has me and I am pretty sure she finished her Christmas shopping by Presidents day. ;)

So here is the deal (I am copying my sister-in-law Kari because she is so cool) I am going to start a game on my blog because if I know my sisters they will go nuts. Any and all of my friends and family are welcome to play.

Here is how the game goes...

• I am going to pick a word - for example "Happy"


• Each person has to think of a song that has not been sung yet, with that word in it and be able to remember at least 8 lyrics or words in a row. Example: "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you"


• We will have one round each day until we run out of songs and you are out if by the end of the day (midnight my time) you can't think of a song.


• Who ever wins gets to pick the next word.

Sounds fun hu!?! I bet you can't resist playing with me.

Alright...In honor of Mothers Day the word is: Mom or any version of Mother

1. "Mother I love you, Mother I do. Father" (Children's Songbook)

Round 1 ... (Wednesday)I must say you were all extremely creative! And I am so excited you wanted to play. :)

Our current contestants are:

• Me
• Kendra Halterman
• Foote (Andrew)
• Neera Jackson
• Preston Hickman
• Camille Foote
• Trina Harding
• Serena Rosenhan
• Blair Rosenhan
• Brian Reynolds
• Kerali Reynolds
• Kalen Reynolds
• Trysten Reynolds
• Kari Hickman

Round 2 (Thursday)

Here is my song:

2. "The mama's on the bus go 'shhh! shhh! shhh!'" (The Wheels on the Bus)

Contestants are:

• Me
• Trina
• Kerali
• Preston
• Kendra
• Kalen
• Trysten
• Brian (Show off! I better only count that as one round)
• Foote
• Camille
• Neera
• Kari

Round 3...(Friday)OK lets clarify...The idea is to think of the songs from the nether regions of your brain and see how many you can come up with. Referencing your personal collection of music would be acceptable but searching the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS makes it a little bit unfair for the rest of us. OH and only do 1 song per day please. If the competition is still strong than next round we will do more than one to knock a few people off, like myself. So lets start fresh with round 3. I am not sure I have more than 1 round left in me.

Here is my song:

3. "Where cosily curl'd on mother's brest, my share o' the world, you'll rest till dawn." (A Lullaby, by Hamilton Harty) I did this one in voice lessons

Contestants so far are:

• Me
• Trina
• Kendra
• Foote
• Kari
• Neera
• Camille
• Trysten - (Yes you guys are still in and you can always catch up if you miss a day. I am keeping track)
• Kalen
• Kerali

Round 4 - Double Trouble (Saturday)...this time to stay in the game you must think of 2 songs. And the competition heats up!!! I am pretty sure that I am out unless I think of some songs today. So I have learned that not only do my big sisters beat me at this game but my nieces too (if they get two for round 4 and I am pretty sure they will).

Here are my songs:

4. "Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant" (Silent Night)

5. "Where a mother laid her baby In a manger" (Once in Royal David's City)

Contestants for today are:

• Trina
• Foote
• Kendra
• Shanda
• Kari
• Neera
• Camille

Round 5 (Sunday) We will do Double Trouble again. 2 Songs please. Man, you guys are good!!! I am pretty sure I am out this round.

Contestants for today are:

• Foote
• Camille
• Trina
• Kendra
• Kari

Round 6 (Monday) 3 for the Money!!! You guys are too good so today you must do 3 songs each. And if you see a repeat speak up because it is hard to keep track. Have a happy Monday!

Contestants for today are:

• Kendra
• Trina
• Foote
• Kari

Round 7 (Tuesday) 3 for the Money!!! All right...someone has got to win this thing! You guys are amazing!

Todays contestants are:

• Kendra
• Foote
• Kari (really...Spice Girls!?!)

Kickin

Just Hanging out with Dad

Feelin Hot...Hot...Hot!!!

Talia was so sad in the car because it was so hot! We stripped her down and she finally fell asleep.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

Here I am with my sweet Talia!
This mothers day I was thinking about all the mothers in my life (and believe me I have many) and how grateful I am and how I have learned from all of them! My 5 sisters - Serena, Kerali, Trina, Kendra and Marenda - have each taught me so many things by the incredible examples they are to me! Marenda even taught me how to shove clothes far enough under the bed so that mom thought we had cleaned our room. ;) I may not have always appreciated the mothering I received from my sisters at the time but I feel like the luckiest girl in the world now!

My mother-in-law has been an amazing example and so loving and accepting of me into the Hickman family.

And of course my own Mom! What can I say about her??? Well she is simply the best ever!!! Besides putting up with me when I was a sassy teenager, feeding me when I was a baby, keeping me clothed(in wonderful homemade clothes), hugging me when I was sad, teaching me a love of music and bailing me out when I had procrastinated my homework until the last minute (and many many many many many more acts of love)...My mom was with me when I became a mom! She helped care for me and encourage me (along with my sweet husband, Preston, my dad, and my sister who is the most mothering sister of all to me, Marenda) as I ventured into new territory! I will always cherish that sweet time in my life and the support I was given by my Mother! If only I can be half the mom she was to me as I grew up and is to me as an adult!

THANKS MOM!!! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!

Red Rompers from the Reynolds!

Thanks Kerali and crew! Talia looks adorable in her clothes from India!

Talia is 2 months old! 5-8-07

My Confession

All right...I am a little surprised to admit this but I am starting to really miss being pregnant. Am I crazy? My sweet baby is 8 weeks old tomorrow and I am already starting to count the months until I will be ready to get pregnant again. The way I am feeling right now I wonder if I will be able to wait that long. It is official...I AM CRAZY!!!

I didn't love the first trimester of pregnancy but I really enjoyed being pregnant and how special it is to be growing a person inside. I miss feeling the movement of my baby and I even miss the cute maternity outfits. As I told Marenda, I just thought of my belly as a temporary fashon accessory, so it was fun to accessorize with my belly. :) I love being Talia's mom so much but it is a bit easier (so far) than I thought it would be. Maybe I am just really lucky, or maybe I was bracing myself for an extremely difficult child. I am sure my perspective will change as Talia grows and gets to be more mobile and therefore more trouble.

I can just see my sisters and sisters-in-law reading this and shaking their heads. Especially those of you with multiple children who miss the quiet days when you had only one child. What can I say...call me naive if you want but I like my naivety. It works for me. :)

I look forward to what motherhood has in store for me!