Ready or Not....

Here we are at 40 weeks! I had to save the moment to look back on, no matter how heavy, awkward, or puffy...and of course, I am eating!

Greta

Almost 22 months. Almost a sister!

Just Like a Summer Night

Fall is in the air, but we had a summer night out this weekend.  It is almost surreal to me that soon our family will be four - not just a couple with a baby, but a family of four.  We really enjoyed every minute of this weekend knowing it was the last with just us three...and not because we are savoring this selfishly, but because we are all so excited for what lies ahead. 

It also became very clear to me how much Greta is going to thrive with her new baby brother.  She adores other children - she runs to them and is so exhilarated by their interaction. I watched her from my chair as she introduced herself. It usually goes something like this, "I Gigi, dee Dadda and dee Mamma!" (as she points in our direction).  She wants to play. Her vocabulary is limited, so I always feel the urge to help her communicate - but I hold back, and she succeeds. Who wouldn't want to be her friend?

We found a wonderful spot to meet friends for casual dinner.  There is a great little shopping area near Town Center in Leawood that has a great restaurant called, "Ingredient" and a gorgeous open area covered in soft green grass and bright colored chairs for lounging and sipping wine , or tea, or....milk.  The kids love it as much as we do...and now you can even walk across the grass and get a gelatto! 

There are some photos of our fun. May there be many more nights just like this one. (add one chair.)

Best friend, Cohen, is brought to you today by the number 11....

Greta made some teen friends.  She said, "Mamma, Dadda, Elmo, Po?" They just smiled.

Greta and Niney...
Milk does the body good.
America's next top model...

Pigtails

She is no longer a baby. She is a little girl in pigtails. Oh, heartbreak!

Greta and Her Blanket

Greta and her blankie are inseparable. When it falls out of her view you are sure to hear, "Niney, where are you?" in her sing-song way. I am challenged with the task of washing it. I have to be stealthy and sneaky. Today she saw me toss it in the washing machine and our eyes locked. "Mammma, noooooo!" she cried. I grabbed it out as fast as I could and placed it in her arms where she brought it to her lips and said, "oh, niney." Maybe tomorrow, it will get a freshener.
The last time I washed it, Derek was in on my strategy. We distracted her with a drive to Einstein Bagels for fruit and chocolate milk. She was uncomfortable the whole time - just not herself and not complete. We swung back by the house and I threw it in the dryer and drove around some more...Counting trees, singing songs, looking at my watch... whew - it had to be dry, and we pulled in the garage. We walked inside the house and she sang, "Niney, where are you?" I grabbed it, all warm and soft out of the dryer and she stood in the doorway watching. She brought niney up to her cheek and said, "Oh, niney, I know, I know...." So much love in this child.

Heaven

It was dusk, maybe even several weeks ago, when Derek, Greta and I all got in the car to run for Greek salads and gyros for a late dinner. We turned off our street and onto 95th and the sky was a blaze! It really was the most amazing sunset I have ever seen in Kansas - the whole sky was filled with color and maybe I found it to be so beautiful because it came so unexpectedly.

Isn't that like life....the most beautiful moments are usually those not scripted or planned....Those you can't prepare for?...Just maybe....

First Kiss

It happened a little sooner than I had expected, and I can't say that I blame her, Cohen is quite a guy.  I think they will have many more sweet moments and that is wonderful, as long as she saves some kisses for us.