First food: Avocado!

Eliza has been showing a serious interest in food lately. I have been letting her suck on things like cantaloupe and other non-allergy fruits.

We decided to give her a little taste of avocado. We mashed it up and Mark put some on the tip of his finger. She devoured it. She struggled with the concept of chewing and swallowing, so about half of it ended up on her shirt, but she really liked the flavor!

4 Months is a huge difference!

Ardun and Eliza

and now...



Ava, Ardun and Eliza

I would like to formally introduce Dr. Mark Alan Hanses, Chiropractor

Mark graduated yesterday with his Doctor of Chiropractic.





We're beyond proud.

Mark's grandma Betty (Elizabeth- Eliza's namesake) , Aunt Marilyn, Cousin Nate, sister Lisa and Mom and Dad were all in town for the festivities.









Mark received a research award and was presented with a plaque.

HA!

Mark and Mitchell's BBQ! Catered by Chet!

Here is a photo round up of the party! It went late and we had a great time!



Tough guys and their babies!



Auntie Suzanne and Uncle Matt




Chet the BBQ master



Jen and Olivia



Mitchell enjoys the BBQ



The January's and everyone in the kitchen



Katie and E



The band




Bradley Babies!

Potato Pig after!

As you recall, the potato pig before was something large and in charge.

Here she is almost two years later, spry as an 8 year old, all her fur grew back, she can walk and run, she jumps up on people (we discourage this, but what can you do? Its like yelling at your grandma), and she is generally very happy. We have to stop her from jumping off her bed and hurting herself. She has also been known to jump off the deck.





Ta-da!!!!!!!

Awesome little bit about our family!

http://www.gamedogguardian.com/help-people-help-dogs/owner-profiles/rachel-mark

Check it out! Great website!

HOLY COW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! er Potato Pig!!!!!!!!!

This is Sassy 6 months after we adopted her. She had already lost 20 lbs at this point...



Ill post a pic of her later today.... WOW... WOW.... WOW!

Blonde or Brunette?

What do you think looks better on Eliza?



or



Ha!

Eliza's first boat ride!

Yesterday our good friends Chris, Kylee and baby Bob invited us out on their boat. We met up with them and Casey, Rachel, Finley and baby Scarlet. We ended up spending the entire day out on the water, the babies were amazing!



Eliza seemed to enjoy the constant movement of the boat and took a few short naps.



Eliza and Mommy


Eliza and Daddy


And the ham of the day, Finley. She was adorable and a really good sport. I think she ate an entire large bag of sun chips!



We got home and had to check the baby a few times. She was out like trout.


So was her sun burned daddy

Another amazing thing from my neighborhood!

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/08/architecture-survey-slideshow-201008?currentPage=18

From Vanity Fair:

"Architecture’s Modern Marvels
When V.F. asked 52 experts to choose the five most important works of architecture created since 1980, they named a staggering 132 different structures. Here are the top 21, in order of popularity. "



The building is on the left.

Ava and Poppa

Ava and Gramma Hope

I will post one soon of Jenny and baby Ava, I just want to find one where she isn't in her hospital bed :)

Ava and Daddy Joey!

Welcome to the world Ava Rose Cooper!

Eliza would like to formally introduce her new cousin:



Ava Rose Cooper
Born at July 17th, 2010 at 9:09 PM at Kaiser in Walnut Creek, CA!
7lbs. 3oz. (just like Eliza!) and 19 3/4"

Eliza is thrilled to have a female cousin to grow up with! Pictures on the way!

Eliza's first big BBQ!

Our friend Christie took a sabbatical in Hawaii for a few months and returned to a huge bbq. It was tons of fun. Eliza got to meet a lot of people for the first time.

Taya holding Eliza



Missy talking to Eliza:



Kill kill kill (our old volley ball team)


Wherever we go, volleyball follows:



The baby sayin' "YEAHHHHH, PARTY"



Last but not least, the best picture ever with Christie and Dustin:

Eliza's first rock concert!

This weekend we were invited out to see our friend Anthony (of www.gamedogguardian.com) and his band play. They're the Green Goddamnits and they play a lot of old rock and roll. We brought Eliza, and she was a little over stimulated. We brought her home after 3 songs, but she still seemed to respond well to the live music.

The family:






Her reaction: