Watching "Bambi" in Her "Bumbo"

Anna likes to sit upright, although she is still working on the whole "neck control" issue. She spends a few minutes in the Bumbo each day practicing the art of holding her head up. The only way to get her to look up while sitting, rather than staring down at her hands, is to plop her in front of the television. I swore I would never do this... but alas, she loves it! What can you do? (At least it's Bambi and not CSI)
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Some Pics of Eric's last trip to Panama! AUGUST 07

Eric and Shawn... Buddies

Some members of the team: Shawn, Genaro, Eric & Alejandra

Lush vegetation...

La Chorrera (30 minutes outside of Panama City)

The boys...Genaro, Shawn, Eric, Pastor Ray, Pastor Bert

My Happy Girl!

Milestones and updates this month:

Anna is smiling a lot!

She is reaching for and grasping her toys!

Today she even held a toy up in the air! A First!

She talks constantly to her toys with the sweetest cooing you have ever heard!

She has been sleeping all night since 6 weeks!

She is wearing size 6 months!

We are very proud parents!!!

PASSPORT PLEASE!!!

Eric and I have been praying about serving as missionaries in Panama. For several years, we have been doing the necessary preparations at our church... and Eric has been down there twice in the past few months to scope things out. Now it is our turn! Anna and I get to go to Panama in November! Which means she needs a passport! Very exciting!

Say "Cheese!"

Anna Grace at 8 weeks! First photo shoot... (well, mom and dad's attempt at a portrait studio look)

Cousin Abuse!

This past week, while Eric was in Panama, Anna and I went to stay at Grammy and Poppy's. For a few days, we were joined by cousin Hailey. As you can see in this picture, the girls are already having conflicts! Uh-Oh!

(Just a note: Hailey is actually sweet as pie and would never intentionally punch her dear cousin Anna in the face!!!) :)

A Whale of a Tale

Fish have always been a part of our relationship. While we were dating, Eric and I would spend time walking around PetSmart looking at fish (not much to do in Temecula!) After we were married our love of fish continued... we even spent several hours in a fish store while waiting to go to the airport to leave for our honeymoon!

A few months into our marriage, I bought Eric a 20 gallon aquarium to fill with his very own fish! This birthday gift was a huge hit. After a successful go at building and establishing an aquarium, Eric and I purchased a large 75 gallon aquarium... it was beautiful.

Not long ago, we decided after many expensive trips to the Aquarium of the Pacific, to become members. It was very exciting to receive our membership packet and get ID cards! We now can go to the aquarium anytime and we even have our own special entrance (we feel very important).

While in labor, we made a trip to the aquarium that proved to be the transition from easy labor to agony! And so, it was only fitting that we take the result of that agony, our beautiful baby girl, to the aquarium for her first encounter with our beloved fish!


Clearly, she loves it! She especially enjoyed the Baja California exhibit.




A father imparting his hobby to his firstborn.

Taking a break in the Scuba Cafe (surprising, the aquarium cafe has great food!)

A Pain in the Neck!

Early Monday morning, I was awakened by the sound of Anna crying from her crib. I sat up in bed, ready to go pick her up, and I felt a horrible pain radiating from my neck. I tried to turn my head, but it was too painful. I slowly lay back down and tried very hard not to move my head or neck. I have no idea how it happened, but somehow I threw my neck out during the night. Eric only had a few minutes before he needed to get to work, so I quickly dialed my mom! Eric was able to stay home for a few more hours and help with Anna, and my mom arrived at my place soon after he had left for work. Thank God for Grammys!

I was able to get a chiropractic appointment soon after my mom arrived, and he did a quick adjustment. For the rest of the day, I was basically on the couch, trying not to move... it was AWFUL! My mom ended up staying the night and helping with Anna which was such a blessing! (Thanks Mom!)

During the course of the day, we were able to snap this picture of Anna smiling at my mom! She had begun to smile a little before, but this was the biggest smile yet and the first one we were able to capture on film.

Anna's First Trip to the Beach

Today was a beautiful, sunny Saturday, and Eric and I decided to take Anna and meet up with Chad, Mindy and Hailey at the dog beach. We love Huntington Beach in the summer and I just recently bought a little tent for Anna to nap in when we go! She was awake for about an hour and a half and then it was time for a nap. She looked so peaceful snoozing on the beach! And Hailey and Anna took turns sporting an stylish pair of pink sunglasses. Scarlet was miserable, of course, and when we got home Scarlet and Anna each had a bath!

A Lazy Morning...

Today we have no plans and began the day just hanging out... the three of us. Scarlet really enjoys the baby, and is constantly trying to get close to her. We have to monitor their interaction, however, because Scarlet doesn't seem to realize that her paws and claws can hurt the baby... but I think they will grow to have a special bond, and I am really looking forward to that!

A First for Mommy and Daddy

Anna is a little over 4 weeks old, and Eric and I decided it was time to go on a date! Grammy came up to watch Anna while we went to Benihana's. It was so awesome to sit down to dinner together (although we ended up talking mostly about the baby!)

Anna is getting bigger everyday (and her hair is getting longer as well!) Today she began smiling, first at Grammy and then I received the honor! It is so fun to see her little personality emerging each day. I love her so much... I can't even remember life before Anna.

BAD HAIR DAY?

Check out all this hair! Some days it is tame, some days (like today) it is WILD!

The Birth

I had my first contraction at 3am on Saturday morning, June 30. I waited awhile to wake Eric up, because at first I wasn't sure if it was the real thing! By 8 in the morning, my contractions were coming steadily every 10 minutes or so. When my mom arrived at noon, not much had changed. I decided that we should get out and keep busy, hoping the activity would speed up my contractions. Eric, my mom, and I drove to the Aquarium of the Pacific. When we arrived, it was about 2pm, and I had been having steady contractions for 11 hours! We walked around the aquarium for about an hour, with little change. Then, around 3pm, I had a doozy of a contraction! Whoa! For nearly another hour, I had a strong, long, and very painful contraction about every 8-10 minutes as we continued to walk around the aquarium... although now that last hour is very much a blurr. After a few horrendous contractions, we decided it was time to leave, but at that point I was in so much pain, that we had to have the security guards drive us to our car in their little golfcart. All I remember is pain, pain, pain and then a golf cart!

When we arrived back at our apartment, I curled up on the floor in a quilt, trying desperately to relax during each contraction. After a few hours, I was having painful, long contractions every 5 minutes, so we decided to head to the hospital. After being examined by a nurse, it was determined that I was only dilated to 3, and I had to go home! We were told to come back when my contractions were every 3 minutes for 2 hours. I was so upset, that by the time we got home, my contractions had already sped up, and for the next few hours I endured the most agonizing pain of my life!!! By the time we went back to the hospital around 10:30 pm, I was barely coherent. I decided I could no longer tolerate the pain and was told the anesthesiologist would come and give me an epidural. THREE HOURS LATER I finally got the epidural. The moments that immediately followed the epidural were some of the best moments of my life! As much as I was hoping to give birth without drugs, I had endured 22 hours of contractions and had "experienced" enough labor! The epidural was a blessing from heaven!

After receiving the epidural at 1:30 am on Sunday, July 1 I laid in bed for 7 more hours, with no change. When the doctor came in around 8, he broke my water. Two hours later, I was still not fully dilated and was given a small amount of Pitocin. By 11 am I was fully dilated and ready to push. After 2 1/2 hours of pushing, Anna was born at 1:25pm on Sunday, July 1. It was the happiest moment of my life to date.

A picture with the midwife, Tom, who delivered Anna.
Eric and Anna cuddle in the hospital bed.

Her first bath, 1 hour old!

Our Baby Girl

Anna Grace Tharaldson
Born July 1, 2007
1:25 pm
7 pounds, 15 ounces

Waiting for Anna

Eric had the day off today, and it was perfect weather for a beach trip. After a yummy cinnamon roll breakfast we packed up and headed to Huntington Beach. The dog beach is so much fun during the summer. Scarlet is not the least bit interested in playing with any other dogs, so she rests comfortably under my beach chair the entire time. But Eric and I love to watch the "real dogs" play in the water, chase balls, and have fun. It's so fun to try and figure out the breed or breed mixes, and is especially entertaining to check out doggie outfits. Today we sat next to two white poodles each sporting a light pink tank top with the word "Princess" in rhinestones! How ridiculous! The water was just beautiful and it felt so good to dive under and jump over the cold waves... Scarlet watched from afar of course!

Lunch With The Girls!

For no particular reason, me, my mom, grandma, sis Mindy, niece Hailey, Aunt Linda, Aunt Laurie and Aunt Jane gathered together for lunch. (Cousin Steph and Kelli are missed!) We spent a relaxing afternoon at Laurie's eating pizza (and the most delicious lemon cake I have ever tasted) and taking turns with Hailey! The ladies in my family are such a blessing!