Pre-Halloween Hilarity

Hello friends & family!

I don't know that this post will be truly hilarious, but it has been a silly time at our house. Exhibit A: Mom & Dad thought it would be worth a try to see if we could groom Jersey ourselves at home. $30 set of dog clippers later we are clear that it was a terrible idea. Jersey looks like a Bichon of the streets. Pitiful. I don't know why he doesn't run away.

Exhibit B: Wes is really digging meal times. Except for peas. And that he hasn't quite mastered getting the little sweet potato puffs into his mouth after he picks them up. Love this Peas face (well prunes was the 1st course, but this is the face post peas). Oh who am I kidding...I love all of his faces.

Exhibit C: Gboo and her classmates gave a fabulous Halloween program for all of the paparazzi parents (of which we are a part of course). We have some pretty good video and we'll try to add a post with some clips for your viewing pleasure. Let's just say she was right at home on the "stage." So much so that her teacher Mrs S made her the line leader so that Greta could "set the mood" for the rest of the class. Oh man. She's sporting her kitty costume which her mama made her. She threatened not to wear it as she decided to be a butterfly after the cat costume was complete. Um, tough kiddo. But she seems pleased and even let us paint on her whiskers (she has a thing about face paint....she's the only kid in the history of the world that hates face painting. ah well.). Good stuff. Everyone is excited about Halloween...so I'm sure we'll be posting again to share those photos with you. Mom and Dad just want to know...is it Thanksgiving yet? We're ready for a glass of wine and extra help putting the kids to bed :). A busy few weeks and then we'll be heading south for the holiday....can you tell we are excited? Enjoy our sillies...

Baby Wes.....6 months old!

It is happening so fast. Cliche, maybe, but absolutely true. Our little guy...or maybe I should say our YOUNG guy...is getting big. Sigh + mama tear. I'm doing my best to take in all of these sacred times, but for the first time I am really experiencing the classic "I wish I could make time stand still" moments on a regular basis. I'm really curious about what is going on in that Wessy noggin, but I so enjoy our daily snuggles and smiles that I'm ok with waiting a while longer to find out.

We went for Wes' 6 months check up today and here are his stats:

Height: 27 3/4 inches (88&ile)

Weight: 19 lbs 14 oz (85%ile)

Head Circumference: 17 1/2 inches (70%ile)

Mama is still shocked that he hasn't tipped the 20 lb mark as he FEELS like he has! Our doctor was pleased at his progress and thought he looked like he was right on track. Wonderful news.

Other exciting things our guy is doing:

sitting up unassisted

moving objects from hand to hand

doing a little bit of eating...which we will be ramping up now

lots of squealing...LOTS

giggling

pushing all the way up on his arms to arch his back and look up

lunging for objects just out of reach

rolling back to front and front to back

SNUGGLING (ooo mama loves this one)

Oh, he is a love. Even big sister can't resist him. So here's a post dedicated to our baby boy...already 6 months old! Enjoy the cuteness!

Pictures taken on yard clean up day...right after little pumpkin boy woke up from his outside nap.

Hello most lovely October EVER

Yes it is true. Last year on this date we had snow. This year....sunny and 80 degrees. YES PLEASE! A little slice of heaven right here in the Mini-apple! We've been doing our best to get out and enjoy the great weather and the gorgeous leaves. This last weekend we went to a fall festival (thank you Edina Realty) that had pumpkins, cider, s'mores and PONY RIDES. That's right...mama finally made good on daddy's promise to take Gboo on a pony ride if she started to use the potty train. Better late than never right! We had a lovely morning with Grandma and Papa and came home with 2 pumpkins (we now have a pumpkin for each family member...I'm seeing the birth of a pumpkin family in the works...yeah, I do). We've also had a chance to get some funny and occasionally cute pictures of our wee ones together. Fun stuff.

One quick story from Greta's preschool....on Thursday one of the preschool teachers was observing Greta's class in the muscle room (indoor playroom). Gboo had all the kids corralled in the corner whispering to them. She then announced...Mrs C, I am Greta the magician. Now I will do my great magic trick. I will make my class disappear....Hocus Pocus! One by one G's classmates loaded into the long pipe on the equipment until all 9 of them were inside. Mrs C talked Greta into making them reappear so G went over to the pipe and whispered something then yelled Abracadabra! One at a time they all came piling out. Greta was of course very proud. Mom and Dad love that story as well...I guess we'll have to see if she will use her powers for good or for evil.

for a little laugh...our little cherub in action

Last Sunday, Greta sang in worship for the first time with the other Cherubs at our church. You'll see that I use "sang" very liberally...waved is more like it!

Enjoy...just follow this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZ55iLB_r_Q

More fall fun

We've been doing our best to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather while it lasts. Lots of trips to the park & a visit to a local apple orchard with the young married couples group at church. Fun! Baby Wes has also had his first solid food. We are easing into that scene very gradually...so just cereal and pears so far. It has given us a break at dinner time...we aren't getting the happy "me too" wails that we've been getting accustomed to while we eat! Wes is also enjoying sitting up a little more (getting closer to unassisted sitting...def likes the view sitting up!) and has even been doing some standing at the ottoman with a spotter. Viking baby is strong! Preschool continues to agree with Gboo as she looks forward to what will happen in Mrs Shooooooooobloooooom's class each day. You'd think she was a southerner with her ability to stretch her teacher's name into a 10 syllable word! G has her first big head/chest cold, so we are watching her carefully and praying that her body fights this off with no trouble. Right now, it seems to be troubling her parents much more than her. So all is well up here. Hopefully some pictures with some fall color will follow...they are forecasting an exceptional year for leaves up here this year!

Fall is here!

Well we've had a busy and newsy start to our fall. Perhaps I'll just give you a summary in list form (pics will follow in reverse order):

1) We had Ty's family over for Labor Day brunch. A good relaxing day, even if the weather was meh.

2) We've had a big round of doctor's appointments. The Preacher and I are

finally getting around to getting a regular doc to give us a once over each year. Wes had his 4 month appointment (3 weeks late...). Wessy Woo was 27 inch long (94%ile), 18 lbs 10 oz (93%ile), and had a 17 1/4 inch noggin (79%ile). Our little beefcake. Greta has had 2 follow up appointments...one with an eye dr, one with an immunologist. So far everything with her health is checking out great. We continue to watch carefully and be grateful for our healthy family.

3) Greta transitioned from daycare with our beloved Joannie to preschool this week. We are 2 days into preschool and all is well. Gboo misses Joannie & her friends at daycare, but likes the independence and fun of something new too. It thrilled the Preacher and I to see her walk through those doors...we felt tears of gratitude that we were able to see this 1st day at school.

4) Wes has rolled over several times and is on the verge of sitting up by himself. Wes is a drooling machine and puts everything in his mouth which makes us think he's beginning to teethe too. Our next update should have some pics of him trying solid food for the first time too...that's on the horizon! He's still not a great sleeper, but we're trying to pick our nights to start working on that too. Here's to hoping that we might actually get a real night's sleep by October! G loves Wes and he adores her. Good thing, because she's always doing things like making make-shift tents for his camping expeditions....

5) G&W's parents are pooped. We are uber busy at work, as is typical around Rally Sunday. It is all good stuff, but we are looking forward to a quiet weekend....someday!

6) We celebrated my 36th birthday today. While not "eventful"- it was happy in a glad to be right where I am kind of way. I must admit...35 felt like I was firmly planted in my 30s...36 feels like I'm on that slippery slope to 40. Ah well. It's better than the alternative, as my dad often says!

Happy Ides of September! Enjoy these cute shots of our darlings.

August updates....under the wire

Well...I couldn't get more under the wire than Aug 31st but here I am trying to sneak in an August update all the same on the last day of the month. We are left scratching our heads wondering where summer snuck off too. Ugh. I am not ready for fall. I am not ready for cold. I feel like we've squandered summer. I also know that it is not true that we squandered it...we just haven't been able to do quite as much as we usually do with a new baby and a return to work after 6 months away and a new basement that is a tempting haven to hole up in and...and....and... We have had alot on our plate but now that it finally feels like we're getting into the swing of things we have to say goodbye to summer.

Don't get me wrong, there are some great things on the horizon. I'm thrilled that Greta starts preschool 2 weeks from today. I think she is going to LOVE preschool. Kids, a great teacher, new books, toys, things to learn...yeah, I'll be shocked if it isn't an instant love affair. Wes is getting to the next fun stage too. He's interested in sitting up and playing, so out comes the jumparoo & exersaucer. He's found his voice and his feet so our house is filled with squeals. Wes is also really interested in what we do at the dinner table...REALLY interested. I'd like to wait until 6 months like we did with Greta, but I don't know if he'll tolerate that. I plan to talk with his doctor about it at his (late) 4 month check up on Friday. Speaking of...if you can't tell by checking out the pictures, he's a chunkaroo. Around 20 lbs at 4 1/2 months. Start praying now that he's an early walker (for my sake!). I also like getting into the fall routine, so as unprepared for that as I feel at the moment, I know I will enjoy it when it arrives.

ENOUGH looking forward...let me fill you in on our August.

1) Camping trip. Our whole fam didn't get to go (ie mommy & Wes), but daddy & Greta packed up and went camping on the banks of the Mississippi with another daddy & his 2 girls. They hiked (a mile long hike to the water and the big girls did GREAT), they set up camp, they ate- s'mores were the highlight, and had a ball.

2) Canoeing- this last weekend Daddy, Grandpa, Greta & Mommy got to go on an afternoon canoe trip down the Minnehaha here in Minneapolis. It was a lot of fun, especially because Mommy & Gboo got to ride and didn't have to paddle! It was a beautiful day and very fun.

3) Visit from the Aasbos (or 2 of the 3 A's): last week we welcomed Mommy's friend Abby and her new baby Soren to Minneapolis. Soren is just 6 weeks younger than Wes but just about the same size! We did a little shopping, a little walking, and a lot of lounging and enjoying our boys. It was a gift.

4) Fam time: We've made amazing use of our basement...the carpeted floor is heavenly for play time with the munchkins. Our family has really enjoyed it this summer and I can only imagine how grateful we're going to be that it is finished this winter. Yay daddy....it made for a hard spring but we just live down here now. We have used it well during these hottest days of the summer. We haven't been complete hermits either. We manage to get walks in several nights a week...the wagon and our double stroller have been great for this. Other family members have also entertained us and our children which has been fantastic too.

We hope to have some video up for you soon. We're working on getting our new computers and our old video camera synched up so we can share some of our hilarity with you. So our life has been wonderful and full...but like everyone, we just wish we could squeeze a bit more from these sacred days. Pray for us as we enter this new season of the year and of our family. We have a few follow up doctor's appointments for Gboo (eye, immunologist) that we hope end with the same miraculous results as we have seen throughout this year. Please continue to pray for the Woo...he seems to be doing great, a thing we will never take for granted again! Blessings as the fall creeps up on you too!