Last {Sunny} Weekend

Last weekend we spent lots of time outside prepping for our new lives as "people with a yard" - we  attached the rain barrel to the house, got the compost bin started, built the raised garden bed, busted out the summer toys, talked over possible scenarios for the swingset, and daydreamed about the months of June, July and August as Four Schneiders. Beatrice spent lots of time in the Ergobaby Carrier and Josephine spent lots of time in the sunshine.  As usual, Lou spent lots of time working hard and I spent lots of time snapping photos.

In other news, my camera and I are finally hitting our stride.  All those words that used to perplex me - aperture, shutterspeed, ISO - finally clicked! I think this was the combination of knowing my "time off" was ending because I had to go back to work (and mastering my camera was on my time off to-do list) and a beautiful day outside with great lighting that made that "manual" setting a lot less terrifying.  If you haven't been over to Four Austins lately - get your buns there stat. My sister (who made a vow with me at Christmas to get this photography stuff figured out) took some stunning photos on their recent vacation. 

Here are some more pics on my phone from last sunny weekend. We are hoping for lots more this {sunny} weekend.

Hooping

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Smiling

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Cuddling

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Tossing

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Basking

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9

Zoo Member's Night

We heart the Cincinnati Zoo (if you haven't already figured that out).  Last weekend was Members' Night. It's an annual event that we highly recommend all members to put on their calendars. The zoo is open from 5pm - 9pm. There's live music, free games, bounce houses, glitter tattoos, food and oh - animals!  Here are some pics from our third Members' Night.

I love the Hokey-Pokey pictures of Lou and Josie dancing.  Seriously, does it get any sweeter than that? I totally had a "wow, life is good" moment standing there in the sunshine watching these two twirl around while holding sweet baby Bea.

Smiley Bea, 10 weeks

Little Beatrice is just like her big sister - all smiles, all the time - and so so close to that first real giggle. Enjoy!



Google Video (that I used for all the early Josie videos on the Three Schneiders blog) recently transferred everything to YouTube. When that happened, it made all of the videos of "Sweet Baby Josie" my most recent videos. It's been so fun going back through them, and I've found that the ordinary, everyday moments of Josie are among my favorites. The changes in her little voice, watching her little brain working as she figured out something new - these are the moments that I am most grateful that I captured.  I'm so thankful for these videos and this blog as a way to record all of this. Thanks for sharing that journey with us.

On that note, here's a video of Josie from around this same age - hilarious but just by coincidence they happen to be wearing the same outfit. :)



Also - good reason here that "Aunt Amanda" became "Tia" - much easier.

The moment we became Four Schneiders

Today, as soon as I hit "Publish Post," I will return back to work after eleven weeks with sweet Baby Beatrice. I've been holding off on sharing this video until the perfect time and right now seems appropriate - a look back at where it all started as the "maternity leave" chapter ends and "the rest of our lives" officially begins.

Here it is - the video of the first five minutes of our family of four! I hope you enjoy this video of Josephine meeting brand-new baby sister Beatrice just a couple of hours after she was born.

Sunny Saturday

We spent the whole day today in the new and improved yard. It was a busy day of setting up the compost bin, attaching the rain barrel to the house, and prepping the garden for planting tomorrow. Oh and there was also time spent just sitting and admiring the new lawn. Life is all sunshiny sweet here for the Four Schneiders. Hope your weekend is just as lovely!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

BIRTH STORY POSTED

This just in... right up there ^ Bea's official birth story is now posted. Enjoy!