Misery

My daughter is in Alabama this week with her mama. I'm miserable. I miss you guys.
-Daddy

Babe in a Bikini

Whenever this yankee needs some good Suthin'-fried catfish, I stop by and see the good folks at Newburns. The service is amazing and the decor is simply divine (literally).

So a little over a week ago, just as we were beginning to cool off after our Easter extravaganza, we all got on a plane and headed down to Pensacola to take care of some church business. Since it was still cool (in the 40s) here in Jersey, we figured Florida was the place for Greta to try swimming for the first time.

After multiple delays we finally got to Pensacola by way of Atlanta. Again, Greta was a gem on the plane and during all those hours in the airports. We got on the hotel shuttle and zipped off to the Hampton Inn, which has a pool. We only had about an hour before my first appointment so we lathered Greta up with baby sunblock and we put her in her first swimsuit, a bikini. Now normally I would never let Greta get a bikini, but I'm told that the infant swimwear section at the Target in Brick is limited; so I gave in. But rest assured, she will be in a one-piece before long.

As you can see from the pictures, Greta absolutely loved her new bathing suit. She found it comfortable and fashionable. In fact, I think she wanted to keep wearing it. We eventually went down to the pool with our very happy baby. When we got to the water's edge, Greta was again overjoyed with her swimwear and shared her feelings with the other folks in a two block radius. So you can imagine how disappointed she was when her mother determined that the water was still too cold for Gretaboos. So we went back up the elevator with our exuberant child and changed back into our clothes.

Greta still hasn't gone swimming.

Boo-tube

Greta giggled for the first time today. We got a bit of it on video. You can watch it here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJvzM1vijqA

Oh the things I do to make her smile (and now giggle).

Easter Pictures 1

Easter Pictures 2

What name is given to this child?

I hope I don't fall asleep typing this post. I think I'm even more exhausted than I was the first week after Greta came home from the hospital. For those who don't know, Greta was baptized yesterday and I have to say it was one of the most amazing moments in my life. It was right up there with my wedding day, ordination and Greta's birth. It was about as powerful of an experience as I can ever remember. After Holy Week and an awesome Easter, I am physically and emotionally drained.

The guests started showing up Wednesday with the arrival of my sister, Jayne. The next caravan arrived late Friday night and the remainder of the guests came on Saturday morning. It was the first time Greta met her great-grandparents on my side of the family. She also got to meet Dan, Maureen, Peter, Ken, Ann and Bruce. In all there were fourteen family members from out of town that came to celebrate with us. Thank you to all of you who came from IL, KY, MN, AL and IA to be here for Greta.

As you might imagine, we took a couple (hundred) pictures. A few are posted above.

You Tube You Say?

That's right. The Increbiboo Gretaboo is now on youtube.com
You can see her video by clicking this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqDkiFjPBL4