The snow is cold...too cold for Gigi

It Cold...Inside...Inside...cold shoe..., originally uploaded by DerekandRebecca.

We woke up to our first snow! Derek and Greta went outside to see what all of the fuss was about. Greta marched in the snow...and then she was ready to come inside. We had hot cocoa and marshmallows for breakfast and warmed back up.

Thanks

We give thanks for joy and laughter. We give thanks for health and big hearts. We are thankful every day, but especially when we are together....with food!

Thanksgiving 2008 will be remembered as Chase and Jack's very first Thanksgiving and the first year Greta ate with a fork. (Actually, she was given 4 and used every single one in rotation loaded with mashed potatoes and cranberry. ) We all met at Nancy and Don's for dinner on a beautiful, sunny day... Nancy, Don, Bob Meyer, Phyllis, Chuck, Katie, Chris, Chase, Derek, Greta, Jack and me. Dinner was delicious and Katie even made Ruth's mandarin orange salad - I ate two helpings!

We ate and played with the kids by the fire place. Chase is just about to roll over! Don and Chris mixed drinks. I had an Aspen coffee. (it was Bailey's, Frangelico, whiskey, bourbon, and a lick of coffee...mmmmm. And I don't remember anything after that. (Just kidding.)

Kids

I know they don't really look that much alike, but I know that together they are VERY cute!

Jack at 7 weeks old

He is such a happy little guy! He smiles so much and coos and already laughs! He blows bubbles and holds his head up very well, now. Actually, it is hard to burp him because he is so strong and he stiffens up and holds his head high. He rides very well in the car and doesn't mind eating in restaurants like Greta did -he just looks around and then dozes off. We do have a rough time in the evenings when Jack just doesn't seem comfortable, but we draw a warm bath for him and soothe him with a baby massage. We still aren't sleeping more than 4 hours at a time, and every night is different, but we are ok with it and are doing what makes Jack thrive, even if we suffer a bit.

And, Jack is really starting to acknowledge Greta and react to her attention! He loves it and smiles at her and kicks his legs at her. I must admit that the joy he brings me is absolutely doubled by seeing how he and Greta love each other already. I get to watch their relationship blossom. Family is pretty darn cool.

A very good friend came to visit

My good friend, Rachel and her wonderful husband, David, and beautiful boy, Liam, came to Kansas City for a long weekend. Rachel is an artist and had a show at the Blue Gallery in Kansas City's ever popular Crossroads Art District. I love her work so much. I would have one in every room if I could afford it!

One reason this visit was so special, though, is that Greta and Liam were actually born hours apart. A moment in my life that I will never forget is one were Rachel shared her joyous news of being pregnant with me and then I shared mine with her! We were due days apart and we talked every day of our pregnancy. We laid on our couches - mine in Kansas City and hers in Shreveport, LA and we ate ice cream and shared our kick stories and our back aches. She thought she was having a girl and I thought I was having a boy. We were both wrong!
Now we talk as often as is possible between toddler tantrums and naptimes..still eating ice cream and sharing back aches. I was so excited to finally hold Liam and see his big brown eyes up close. Greta and Liam played so well together. We've decided they are getting married someday.

Not much to write about...

Sorry, it has been slow around here. We are getting into a good routine with Jack and Greta. We are loving the chaos, but also looking forward to sleeping again sometime soon.

Greta has a big birthday coming up in just a few weeks and Derek and I have been planning and preparing every little detail to make it special for her. She has a few BFFs that have rsvp'd and Gee and PaPa, too, so we know she will have a great time. Jack said he will be there, too, as long as it doesn't conflict with naptime.

Jack is still full of wonderful baby surprises! He is showing signs of being blonde with blue eyes and he has the most intoxicating toothless smile I have ever seen! He and Greta had their first squabble... Greta came up where he couldn't see her and she gave him a big lion roar. His eyes widened and his bottom lip came out and he sobbed like a baby! Greta gave him Niney for comfort. She was sad, too. I don't think that is the reaction she expected. When she roars at us we laugh.

I have a confession. I have Christmas music playing in the house much too early this year. I always wait until after Thanksgiving Day, but this year I found myself humming the tunes and had to hear my favorites. I also confess that I rationalized this by telling Derek that maybe Greta would learn the words by Christmas if we started now.

I told Greta about Jesus, too. She calls him Gigi. So, it seems she already knows him!

Halloween 2008

Greta was a republican for Halloween. She picked the costume out all by herself. It was both fabulous and frightening. Jack was a skeleton, of course! We trick or treated at Greta's Parents as Teachers Playgroup and I was so proud. Greta is a very polite little elephant that said, "Trick or Treat" and "nank you". We also went to visit Papa and Gee in Clinton were Greta and Jack had a wonderful time. Gee made a roast and the kids got Halloween mugs full of treats including spooky light up socks, cheezits and granola bars!
Back in Overland Park, Grandma and Grandpa Jayne and Tim were here to visit, too. We all went to the nearby park, Deanna Rose Farmstead and threw Greta a surprise early birthday party so Jayne and Tim could sing to her in person rather than from Kentucky. The theme was Elmo and the cupcakes were gobbled up.

I am blessed

To see my dad holding my son....my heart is full.

Jack's One Month Checkup

He weighed in at a whopping 12lbs 2 oz and is 23 1/2 inches long. That put him at the 97th percentile! Big boy! We are so thankful for his health and easy going nature. He is such a great baby....doesn't even cry when he is hungry, just smacks his lips and focuses his eyes on you.

He is strong and is lifting his head. He loves tummy time, but falls asleep - all that growing wears him out!

Blue beard

We painted (mainted) and then had to play in the bubbles.

Jack winds down...or up...not sure which