Random Shots and stories

Family pic

smooches for Ella

Are we cute or what

Wonder how long this affection will last?

Close up!

Ella loves to pose for the camera

Nathan smiles for the camera

Nathan pins Ella

Here we are eating carrots

I think Nathan had more on his face than in his mouth

In my Sunday best

All these pictures make me tired

Ella is a natural with the camera

Serious look

We have been busy here at the Stuive's. We opened up "Hotel Stuive" this past weekend for my grandparents, aunt Marilyn, and my mom who came for the wedding of my cousin Joel. It was so good to have some of my family here to visit. We had a good time at the wedding and were able to spend some time with the Terpstra cousins. The even better news is that my mom is staying with us for 2 weeks. We are going home in the beginning part of June and so it worked out perfect for my mom to spend some time here in Michigan and then ride back home with us to Minnesota. It has been so fun to see Ella and Nathan spend time with grandma. She has been a huge help too. She helps with the babies, "enjoys" doing laundry for us, has made her famous chicken soup for us, and has become our short term babysitter. I was able to work an extra shift at work and Tim has been able to get more done outside.

Ella and Nathan have been enjoying trying out some new foods lately. We started with rice cereal. It took a little time to figure out the texture and taste, but now they are pros at it. They love bananas and are still trying to figure out if they like carrots. It is so fun to watch them roll the food around their mouths and Nathan often time triggers his gag reflex.

We had some panic and excitement yesterday at Spectrum Health. The aeromed helicopter crashed on the landing pad. We later found out is was a routine training run and the tail or rutter hit an antenna and crashed down and exploded. Thankfully the 2 passengers were able to escape without any major injuries. Smoke could be seen for miles and the biggest event was having to evacuate 3 patient floors due to a gas leak. It was very scary. Our unit had to prepare to take patients since the downtown campus was closed to any ER patients. It was all over our local news and even made a moment of national news.

Our First Fruits

Here is Nathan and Ella eating their first bites of banana. Yummy......they liked this a lot more than the rice cereal! Next week avocados!

Our first camping trip

We just got back from our first camping adventure with children. We went with Kurt, Carissa, and Trenton and we had a great time. It was a short trip. We were going to leave on Thursday evening, but ended up leaving Friday morning. Kurt and Tim were able to get some mountain biking in and we took some walks and got to take the "chariot" stroller off-roading on some trails. We set up our pop-up camper, but ended up sleeping in Kurt and Carissa's trailer because they had a heater and the nights did get a little cool. The babies actually did very well. They loved being outdoors. There were lots of hands to hold them and they enjoyed their stroller rides and sleeping in between mom and dad at night. We feel a little more confident for our next camping trip. The weather was absolutely beautiful and we it felt so good to leave all our work and such behind and just relax and enjoy God's creation.

Tim and I were able to go to a wedding of Tim's cousin this past Saturday (without the babies). It was nice to catch up with Tim's brothers and sister-in-laws. We had a fun time and even got the men out on the dance floor a couple times. The babies were well taken care of by our small group friends. We are attempting a quick camping trip tonight till Saturday. We'll see how it goes. We are going with Kurt and Carissa. We got a used pop-up camper, so we'll see how the babies tolerate camping. Tim and Kurt hope to do some mountain biking and Carissa and I will relax and take Trenton and the babies for a walk. I am sure we'll have lots of stories and updates for you soon.

Ella and Nathan's Dedication: May 4, 2008

All this for me? I think I'd rather take a nap

yummmm...my hands taste good ..who needs cake!

Reading our covenant letter to Nathan and Ella

Nathan chilling after the dedication

Ella finally is enjoying the day (after a good nap)!

"Cousinly love"

These dedications are exhausting

Great friends-Becky and Carissa

Family picture

We feel blessed to have so many family and friends there to share our special day

Dr. Van Genderan (whom I went to Africa with) was able to join us

Ella and Nathan were dedicated to the Lord this past Sunday. It was a truly wonderful and humbling experience as a new parent. We were surrounded by family and friends while we read our covenant letter to Ella and Nathan. We vowed to raise Ella and Nathan as children of God. It was a very special day and we were able to celebrate at Tim's parent's home afterwards.

I so wish my family could have been there, but I know they were there in spirit. As for other updates, we have been excited because Nathan and Ella have slept through the night for two nights in a row. Yeah.........

Mom & Dad...you don't need any sleep!

Not much to update other than mom and dad have recently been denied full nights rest

due to two cute babes who think they have to get up during the night and then are awake and want to play. Last night I worked a 3-11pm shift and got to bed around 1am, only to be woken at 3 by Nathan. I got him down at 3:45am (he wanted to play for awhile). As I laid him back in his crib, Ella decided she wanted to get up, so from 4am to 5am she was awake. They both then were up at 6:30am. Yeah.......not so great. So I should be napping right now, but after drinking my "pot" of coffee, I am rejuvenated!!!! I have to work a night shift tonight, so I am sure I will have another "pot" later!!!! Next update will be their dedication!

Nathan is happy in his bouncy seat

Yes..it is Janet Jackson playing in the background. Occasionally, I go back to my high school favorites.

Ella playing with mom

Thought I would put some video of Ella. Excuse my commentary. It is amazing what you will say or sing to get your kids to smile or giggle!

Go to sleep little baby!

Look at those lips when Ella is sleeping

Nathan can fall asleep any way in dad's arms

We just got back from Nathan and Ella's 4 month appointment. Nathan weighs 14lbs and 3 oz and is 23.5 inches tall. Ella is a little bigger at 15lbs and 5 oz and is 24 inches tall. The doctor says they're making all their milestones and said they're both healthy, happy babies. I don't know how happy they were after getting their shots. I think it gets harder to see them get shots as they get older. Ella cried and cried and tears flowed heavy. Luckily they are both exhausted and sleeping at present. Last time they did not get any fevers or reactions from the shots. I hope this time is the same. We are anticipating their dedication this weekend and wish that my family could be there. We plan to tape it and send it to them. These are the times when we wish we didn't live so far away from my family. I am sure we will have lots of cute photos to post after this weekend.

Nervous Nathan

Enjoy this little video of Nathan getting startled in his exersaucer. We cracked up laughing when we watched this.