Smiley, Happy Baby

Anna found her smile last week. It's not consistent nor does she really know how to use it yet, but she definitely has a sweet one! It's been difficult to capture it on film and as soon as we get it right, it will be all over this blog! For now we're enjoying that precious smile all to ourselves and we're loving watching her personality grow.

The Littlest Bengals' Fan

I couldn't resist posting these pictures. They're just too fun!

Happy 4 Week Birthday!

That's right ~ our precious baby is already 4 weeks old! We can't believe it. It's true that they change so fast. Anna's 1 month doctor's appointment is tomorrow so we'll find out how much she's grown. She's an eating champ and I'm guessing she's hit the 10lb. mark! Anna has been very excited to meet her friend Josie Bozeman and yesterday mommy Maria finally brought her over! The girls were very cute together and we can't wait till Maria and Brian move home (in a couple of months -yeah!) so we can watch our babies grow up together....sleepovers, s'mores, birthday parties, dress-up, over-protective daddies.....

Just Chillin'

(Check out her cute little legs!)

Riverwalk

Saturday brought a SLIGHT drop in temperature for the Ohio Valley and we wanted to take advantage of it and get Anna out for a walk. We decided to take the kids (Indi too!) down to Riverside Drive in Covington. Anna loves her stroller rides!

Pretty Little Anna....

Enough said!

Our First Family Photo
Tuesday was my 28th birthday and of course the greatest gift I could receive was our precious little Anna. After dinner and cookie cake, we posed for our first family photo. Isn't it sweet?! Then the big birthday plans included Anna's second walk around the neighborhood. It was definitely a good birthday shared with the newest addition to the family!

A Weekend of Firsts...

With a drop in temperature Saturday night, Anna (and big sister Indi) enjoyed a much needed walk around the neighborhood. It took 2 hours to get up the street because we had to show off the baby - of course the proud parents loved it! Anna also had her first daddy-daughter date out of the house as Matt took Anna to Grandma and Grandpa's while mommy headed to friend Katie's (and baby Norah's!) baby shower. Daddy turned up the Radio Disney tunes in the car ride and made sure little Anna had a fabulous time.

Thanks Aunt Becky!

This girl can't wait to use her rocking chair that Aunt Becky made for her. An adorable baby for an adorable chair! We know this will be a long treasured piece in the Zumbiel household - many stories will be read here, baby dolls rocked, and maybe even late night feedings watching little brothers or sisters. Thanks so much Beck! It's precious and perfect!

WHO-DEY!

Anna was ready for the first pre-season game on Thursday. Despite the loss, she feels okay about the season and predicts we will start strong with the Monday opener and finish 6 and 2 at home. Doesn't she look so cute in her outfit? We'll have to get her some more gear to cheer on her Bengals. Who-Dey!

How we pass time during the heat wave....

Mommy is getting a little more cabin fever than Anna. Baby Zumbiel is having a great time exploring her world inside our home. She spends the day mostly in Mommy's arms but when she needs alone time, Anna nestles into her swing or her pillow. Indi is especially loving these days with her baby sister. Don't worry - for those of you who know how bouncy our Boxer is, she really has turned on a gentle side with our little baby. Indi is extremely sweet with her and is a totally new dog.

Oh yeah, and there's nothing like Daddy's arms to end Anna's day....

BATHTIME!

Anna enjoyed her first "real" bath at home. She didn't cry too much and seemed to like getting cleaned up. We thought our naked little baby was adorable and of course we had to video tape it! FYI - this wasn't too difficult for Mommy and Daddy since her umbilical cord fell off during her first week. (She's advanced for her age =)

My First Friends!

This past week was packed with new adventures including visits from my friends Gweneth, Taylor, and Hudson. Hudson was already playing footsie with me! Can you believe that? And my daddy saw it all...

Loving on Baby Leaves No Time for Blog Updates
What a precious miracle! Since little Anna has entered our lives, we have been oblivious to the world around us....at least mommy has! It's as if everything else has stopped and these moments are just spent staring at this little person. She is absolutely beautiful and it's unbelievable to think that we have been blessed so immensely.

Needless to say, life has been crazy these last few weeks. We got to Good Samaritan Hospital at midnight on Tuesday night and I was 7cm dilated. We thought this little baby would be with us by about 5am. She had other plans and graced us with her life at 11:12 am. Our birth was amazing and everything we dreamed it would be. The hypnobirthing classes paid off and we would definitely do it all over again (and hope to with the next little Zumbiel!) Daddy was the GREATEST during labor and went beyond his call of duty as birth companion. (Sometimes he felt like this was his labor!)

Anna's birth was the most intimate moment we've ever spent together with just mommy, daddy, Dr. Kessler and nurse Becky in the room. We wouldn't have changed that for anything. We got to bond as a family immediately and have been doing it ever since!

Thank you for all of your prayers, cards, phonecalls, etc. They are greatly appreciated and we are grateful that our daughter has had such an incredible welcoming already.
Love, Matt, Jennifer, Anna and big sister Indi

Welcome Baby Anna Gabrielle!

July 25, 2007

11:12 AM

8lbs. 3oz.

21 inches