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