New Playground Fun

There is a new playground at Concordia Seminary. The girls and I went there on Wednesday, and we had a great time! The playground is based on different bible stories, including Noah's Ark, Jonah and the Whale, Jacob's Ladder, and Daniel in the Lion's Den. There are various play areas that correspond with each story -- there is a lion's den, a giant whale on the side of a wall, and a boat-shaped play area complete with a steering wheel. There is also a Carpenter's House -- a freestanding structure complete with doors and windows.

It was really fun to visit and experience a new playground. Kaelyn had the best time discovering the new play area. We spent over two hours playing and only went home because it was time to fix dinner.

What a fun day! We will definitely be playing at this playground again very soon!

Breakfast with Mommy

So, Kaelyn and I have started a new tradition. We are going to go to breakfast one or two Saturdays a month. Just Kaelyn and Mommy. Kaelyn gets to pick where we eat. Last Saturday, we went to McDonald's. Kaelyn and I spent some quality time together, and she really opened up about how she is feeling about Gretchen and other things in her life. We both had a great time. It has been some time since Kaelyn and I spent some alone time together.

Thanks, Kaelyn! I really enjoy our alone time together. I love spending time with you. You are the best!

Kaelyn made a "fork man" complete with a pancake hat!

Special Treat with Daddy

On Friday, we picked up Daddy for his dinner break and we all went out to eat. After dinner, Daddy surprised us with a trip to Cold Stone Creamery. It was so good! This was Kaelyn's and Gretchen's (obviously) first trip to Cold Stone. Kaelyn really enjoyed herself. She spent a lot of time making Strawberry Soup with her ice cream.

Thanks, Daddy! We had a great time. The ice cream was delicious. We can't wait to go again!

Farm Camp

Last week, Kaelyn went to Farm Camp every day. Solomon Farm hosts Farm Camp every year through the Parks Department. Thanks to Aunt Laura, who told us about the camp, we signed Kaelyn up in April for a week on the farm. She had a great time! Every day she came home and told us about the fun things she got to do, like feed the rabbits, pet the goats, visit the sheep, and tend to the gardens.

On the last day of Farm Camp, the counselors and kids put on several skits. Kaelyn's group sang "You Are My Sunshine". Now, I have sang this song to Kaelyn every night at bedtime since she was an infant. So, naturally, Kaelyn's voice was the loudest during her group's performance. It was a proud moment!

This year, Kaelyn was only able to attend for three hours in the morning. However, next year, she will be able to attend the whole day, from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM. She can't wait! I already have it marked on the calendar to sign her up next spring!

Here are some photos of our visit on Friday. Kaelyn served as our tour guide, as we have never been there. She did a great job! When we finished walking around the farm, we all took a hayride around the farm and finished our visit with a tasty, refreshing popsicle. We can't wait for next year!

Kaelyn with the Yellow Group

Group Performance

Yellow Group with their Hand Print Banner

Kaelyn and her Counselor, Miss Sarah

Kaelyn and the bunnies
(her face paint was "a little itchy")

Baby goat sticking its head out of the fence

Mama Goat

Kaelyn and Chug-A-Lug the Sheep
(her face paint was still itchy)

Chug-A-Lug the Sheep

Milky Way the Goat

Donkeys

Kaelyn with the Chickens

Kaelyn finishing my popsicle for me

Kaelyn's hand prints from the group banner

Sherman the Three-Banded Armadillo

Have you ever seen an armadillo up close? We hadn't until we saw one at the zoo on Saturday. One of the zookeepers had Sherman the Three-Banded Armadillo out for people to see and pet. Kaelyn loved it! It is always amazing to me the variety of animals that the zoo has that we don't see during our visits. It is also amazing that we are able to get up close and personal with a wide variety of animals that we would not otherwise experience. I wonder how many more animals are hidden behind the scenes?

Can You See the Peacock?

This peacock was camouflaged while we were at the zoo on Saturday. It actually surprised us! We didn't notice it until it moved and I saw something out of the corner of my eye. This just goes to show you, nature is amazing!

Five Peacocks in A Tree . . .

Okay, you can't actually see all five peacocks, but, trust me, they were there. On our way to the Family Farm at the zoo on Monday, there were five peacocks in the tree outside of the Farm. If they can fly up into the tree, why don't they fly away from the zoo? Maybe peacocks are smarter than we think . . . maybe they know a good thing when they see it. Free food and run of the place -- what is better than that?

Have You Ever Seen A Chicken Climb A Ladder?

Nope, it's not the start of a joke. This is what we saw when we visited the Family Farm at the zoo on Monday. I think it is hilarious that chickens actually know how to climb a ladder!

Two Pretty Girls Make Two Pretty Necklaces

While we were at the zoo Monday, Kaelyn and Lauren decided that they wanted to make a necklace in the African Journey. This worked out great because Gretchen was really hungry. So, while the girls worked on their necklaces, I fed Gretchen (note the bottle on the table). I think they did a great job! Two beautiful girls with two beautiful necklaces!

Wait, Mom! I Need A Drink From A Lion!

If you have ever been to the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, then you have undoubtedly gotten a drink from the lion water fountain. This is one of Kaelyn's very favorite things to do at the zoo. Every time we go, she shouts "wait, Mom! I need to get a drink from a lion!" I am always happy to stop and let her imbibe.

Who Needs To Go To Hawaii? I Can Hula Right Here!

This is Kaelyn doing the Hula. She loves all things tropical, including Hawaii. Don't ask me how she knows about Hawaii, unless she talked with Grandma about it. She loves Hawaii so much that we had a Hawaiian themed birthday party this year. Almost every day she dons her grass skirt and hulas around the house. I'm glad I finally caught her dancing on film, even if I didn't capture her in the grass skirt.

Sky Ride!

Monday, we went to the zoo with Lauren. Kaelyn was very excited because she finally had someone to ride the Sky Ride with her. Mommy rode the Sky Ride once and vowed never to ride it again! It is just too high and too scary for me. The girls and I loved spending the day with Lauren. She is a very sweet girl and we love spoiling her.

Thanks, Lauren! You made Kaelyn's day!

Happy Birthday, Nana and Grandpa!

Happy Birthday, Nana and Grandpa (Nana's birthday was July 11 , and today is Grandpa's birthday)! We love all of the time you spend with Kaelyn and Gretchen, and they love spending time with you. Brian and I enjoy spending time with you, as well. Thanks for everything that you do for the the girls and for us. We love you!

No One Told Me That This Was Part of the Growing Process

Poor Gretchen! Today was her two month well-baby visit with the pediatrician. At this visit, she received three vaccination injections and one oral, liquid vaccination. She was fine with the oral vaccination. However, she was not fine with the injections. Her little legs are so sore! Additionally, she has been running a low-grade fever. She has been sleeping most of the afternoon and all evening. She did wake up to eat, but promptly returned to sleep. She really wants to be held, and she keeps crying in her sleep. I think she is remembering the pain of the injections. Poor baby! I hope that she sleeps well tonight and feels better tomorrow! Someday she will understand that vaccinations are for her own good and that Dr. Barnes and Mommy are not out to torture her!

Lake Party

Over the weekend, Brian's Aunt and Uncle had a party at their lake cottage. While the weather was a little cool, Kaelyn had a great time. She was thrilled to play in the water (which was actually very warm), collecting shells, building sand castles, taking a pontoon ride, roasting marshmallows (she ate about ten), and playing with some of her second and third cousins. Brian and I had a great time, too. It was fun to visit with family that we hadn't seen in awhile. I am going to assume that Gretchen had a great time. She was not fussy, and she was held constantly -- mostly by Ashley. Thanks, Ashley! We can't wait to go again!

Post Number 100!

So, this is our 100th post this year. I cannot believe that I have actually managed to post 100 times this year, since over the past two years, I only managed to post a combined total of 43 times. I hope you enjoy reading about our life as much as I enjoy posting about it.

To commemorate our 100th post, I thought I would share the girls growth statistics that I received at the pediatrician's office today.

As of today, Kaelyn is five years and three weeks old. She weighs 35 pounds (25th percentile). She is 39 3/4 inches tall (5th percentile).

As of today, Gretchen is two months and four days old. She weighs 10 pounds and 5 ounces (45th percentile). She is 22 1/2 inches tall (50th percentile). Her head circumference is 38.3 cm (45th percentile).

These statistics just solidify how different our two girls are from each other. They may look alike, but their personalities are very different. Additionally, Kaelyn was much tinier than Gretchen at the same age. Kaelyn has yet to make it out of the 50th percentile for weight and 10th percentile for height! We will have to see if Gretchen maintains the 45th and 50th percentiles or if she will drop off and stay tiny like her big sister. If Gretchen continues to grow in the same manner, Kaelyn's days as the "big" sister are numbered. She will always be older, but she might not always be bigger!

We hope you have enjoyed our first 100 posts of this year. Here's to the next 100!

Pick Me! Pick Me!

While we were at Nana and Grandpa's today, Kaelyn took a blanket and draped it over a wastepaper basket. Then she climbed in and tucked the blanket in around her legs. She then stood up and proclaimed "look! I'm a flower!" Too funny!

Kaelyn, if you really were a flower, I would pick you every time!

Cradle and All

We were at Nana and Grandpa's house today. In their play room is a cradle that my sister and I use to use for our dolls. As a lark, I put Gretchen in it. To my surprise, she fit. It was too cute! Even better, she really seemed to enjoy her time in it. Maybe we should invest in one for home.

Playing is Hard Work

Yesterday, I put Gretchen on her play mat while I did the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. When I was finished, I went to get her and she was fast asleep. I guess playing is hard work for a little baby! I wish I had known she was asleep. I was talking to her while I was in the kitchen. Maybe she didn't play too hard, maybe I bored her to sleep!

Kaelyn's Turn at Architect

Yesterday, Kaelyn asked for a plain, white piece of paper and a newly sharpened pencil. After receiving her materials, she disappeared into her room for a long, long time. When she finally emerged, she handed me this picture. She told me that "this is what she wants our house to look like". She "drew it so that we would know what to do when we changed it".

Awesome, Kaelyn! Daddy and I will get right on making big changes to our house!

Who Knew?

Saturday, we went had a picnic at Franke Park with Nana and Grandpa. After lunch, we went to the zoo. When we were ready to leave, Kaelyn asked if she could take some bread and feed the ducks. Since we had to park out by the lake at Franke Park, we grabbed some bread and headed for the ducks. However, the geese did most of the eating. In fact, the ducks were not at all interested in being fed. Kaelyn had a great time and was excited to feed ducks and geese sometime in the future. That is, until today.

Kaelyn has been participating in Farm Camp at Solomon Farm this week. Today, her group went down to the wetlands that are located on the farm. Her camp counselor asked if any of the kids had ever fed ducks. Then she proceeded to tell them that, when they feed ducks and geese, they should only feed them bird food or dried corn. The reason? Ducks and geese are not able to digest bread. In fact, it binds them up and they are not able to . . . well, you know.

So, the next time you have the urge to feed ducks or geese, be sure to invest in some bird seed or dried corn. The last thing we need around here are cranky, constipated water fowl.

Gretchen is Two Months Old!

Gretchen Margaret is two months old! I cannot believe how fast the time has gone and how fast she is growing! Here's what Gretchen is up to these days:

• She weighs about 9 1/2 pounds.
• She wears size one diapers.
• She wears size zero to three month clothes.
• She is beginning to make cooing sounds.
  
• She finally has perfected the motor skills necessary to get her thumb in her mouth. She loves to suck her thumb.
  
• She still has her heart monitor. Her cardiologist had the settings changed on the monitor, and, since the change, it never alarms. As such, we have started unhooking her during the day. We only hook her up at nap time and at night, when she is most likely to stop breathing. So far, no more alarms. Hopefully, this trend will continue.
  
• She still eats every three hours like clockwork. She is taking between three and four ounces at every feeding. She starts gearing up to eat about 15 minutes before the third hour. It is getting easier to hold her off until the third hour. However, sometimes we go ahead and feed her a little early.
• After her last feeding, she sleeps between five and six hours before her next feeding. This makes daddy really happy as he does not have to get up with her every night to feed her!
  
• She is still sleeping in her bassinet in mommy and daddy's room.
  
• She is sleeping between 18 and 20 hours a day. She has been awake a lot more during the day. She loves to look around and take in her surroundings.
• She naps every day between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Most days, she naps in her crib in her room.
• She still loves to sleep on her tummy. Although, she is starting to enjoy sleeping on her side.
• She loves her Grandpa blanket. She loves to grab the fringe and hold it. Sometimes she even chews on the fringe.
  
• She loves to lie in her crib and watch her mobile.
• She loves to lie on her play mat and look at the toys.
• She loves to lie on a blanket on the floor and kick her legs and move her arms.
  
• She loves to look at herself in the mirror. She smiles super big at her reflection.
• She has a new favorite song to add to her list. She loves I'm a Little Tea Pot. She kicks her legs and moves her arms whenever someone sings it to her.
  
• She loves, loves, loves, her big sister. She smiles and kicks her legs whenever Kaelyn talks to her. She watches everything that Kaelyn does. We think she is collecting information so that when she is able to sit up and play, she will know what to do!
• She still loves when people talk to her. She smiles and coos at anyone who talks to her. She moves her mouth around like she really has something to say. Someday we will find out just what she is thinking!
• She loves, loves, loves her bath. She gets really excited when we start preparing her for her bath. She is very content and happy throughout the duration of the bath. She especially loves having her hair washed. She closes her eyes and really enjoys her massage.
• She is still not a big fan of the car seat or stroller. However, she is slowly getting better about being in them. She does not have to be in perpetual motion to be happy when she is in them.
• She is still a very spoiled baby! Whenever we have free time, we hold her. She loves to be held. We hold her more than we put her down. This may come back to haunt us later!
  
• She is still a very happy baby. She is smiley all the time. The only time she really cries is when she is hungry.
  

That's what Gretchen is up to these days. Her days will only get more fun-filled from here on out! She is a sweet and wonderful baby who makes our family complete. We can't wait to see what she is up to next month!

Are Hyenas Cuddly?

Check this out! This is how close you get to the hyenas in their exhibit in the African Journey at the zoo. Isn't it crazy? It looks like Kaelyn is actually snuggling up to a wild hyena! So cool!

Three Ostriches Were Standing By A Fence . . .

No, it's not the start of a joke. This is what we saw when we were at the zoo one early morning a couple of weeks ago. These three ostriches were standing by the fence at the Serval exhibit. It looked like two of the ostriches were taking about the third ostrich. I loved it! It really gave me a chuckle in the early hours of a Friday morning.

Look Mom -- I Can Suck My Thumb!

Look what Gretchen learned to do! She can finally get her thumb in her mouth! She has been trying and trying almost since the day she was born to get that thumb in her mouth, and, Sunday, she finally did it. She doesn't keep it in for very long, but at least she can get it to her mouth without assistance. Hopefully, this will mean that the pacifier will not be the issue that it was with Kaelyn. On the other hand, you can't take the thumb away. On the other, other hand, if she is a thumb sucker, we won't have to worry about packing the pacifier or dropping the pacifier, or losing the pacifier. Overall, I was proud of Gretchen for finally accomplishing what she has been working so hard to do. What a big girl!

I'll Sleep Anywhere, but Not in My Bed

So, I have learned from past mistakes and I have been trying to put Gretchen down for her nap in her crib. She has been doing really well, usually sleeping between two and three hours in her crib. However, for the past couple of days, she does not want to be in her crib at all. She will sleep in her swing, in her bouncy chair, on the sofa, or in her bassinet, but not in her crib. I have tried making her room a little noisy by adding a fan and leaving the door cracked, but these efforts have been futile. At least she is napping! Hopefully, over the next few days, we can get her back on track. For now, though, I will just follow her lead and let her sleep where she wants to sleep.

I'm Awake . . . Let's Play

Gretchen is awake a lot more these days. When she is awake she likes to be held so that she can look around at her surroundings. She also like to lie on the floor and kick her legs. Right after she was born, Kaelyn and I went out and bought Gretchen a play mat. Now that she is awake more and likes to lie on the floor, we have been putting her on the play mat. She really seems to enjoy looking at the toys and trying to grab them. She also likes looking at herself in the mirror. She really cracks herself up -- she always smiles at herself in the mirror! Another big life moment caught on film.

Thanks for the New Dress, Grandma!

Grandma and Noelle went shopping a few days ago and they found this dress on the clearance rack at Kohls. Noelle thought that it would be perfect for Kaelyn because of all of the red in the dress. Does Noelle know Kaelyn, or what? As you can see, Kaelyn really loves her new dress. Thanks, Grandma! Once again, another winner!

Sidewalk Chalk or Works of Art?

A couple of weeks ago, Kaelyn had some fun drawing with sidewalk chalk with Aunt Mary and Emily. Aunt Mary and Emily drew lots of animals on the basketball court at Nana and Grandpa's and Kaelyn colored them. Kaelyn was thrilled to have people who could actually draw (Mommy's talents lie elsewhere) and she had a great time coloring!

Thanks Aunt Mary and Emily! Kaelyn had a great time!

Kaelyn and Emily coloring an elephant

Kaelyn perfecting her two-handed coloring technique

Giraffe

Butterfly

Elephant (pre-colored)

Coral reef with fish

Whale

Turtle

Frog

Smiley Baby

Today, as I was snapping photos of Gretchen, I discovered that I actually captured her smiling. She has the greatest smile! She smiles with her whole face. Her smile, like her big sister's, makes her even more beautiful -- if that is possible!

I Am Not A Boy!

It never ceases to amaze me -- when I take Gretchen out in public someone always askes me "how old is your little boy?" My little boy?! SHE'S A GIRL! Nine times out of ten she is dressed head to toe in pink. She has pink blankets, pink burp cloths, pink everything. Recently, I have started putting hair bows on her head to try to make her look more like a girl. I thought I had that covered with all of the pink, but, oh well!

Easy Bake Cake

Kaelyn recieved an Easy Bake Oven for her birthday. Tonight, she baked her very first Easy Bake Cake. She did a great job, and the cake was actually pretty tasty. Easy Bake has come along way from when I was a child!

Way to go, Kaelyn! I can't wait to taste your next Easy Bake creation!

When Life Hands You Rotting Bananas, Make Banana Bread

So, we had some rotting bananas hanging out at our house, so Kaelyn and I decided to make banana bread. Kaelyn basically makes the bread by herself. All I do is pour the batter in the pan and bake it. It turned out great!

Kaelyn, as always, you did a fantastic job! Your banana bread is awesome!

The Next Ringo Starr

Kaelyn loves music and loves to play instruments. Her friends have a stage complete with keyboard, drum set, and microphone set up in their garage. She loves to go over and play "rock star" with the kids. When we were there for Fourth of July, I snapped some photos of Kaelyn making her rock-n-roll debut. Enjoy!

Fireworks!

This year, like every year, we celebrated America's Independence with friends. July 4 also happens to be Mikey's birthday (Gretchen's boyfriend). So, we celebrate double! We had a great time eating, swimming, playing games, and watching fireworks.

The founding members of Pyromaniacs Anonymous, Brian North and Mike Maddy, put on a great fireworks display! They shot off fireworks for over 40 minutes! Gretchen did not get to watch the fireworks this year because we were worried that the noise would damage her hearing, but Kaelyn loved them! Although, at one point, she decided that they were too noisy and had to wear earmuffs to block out the noise. What a character!

Overall, we had a great day! We can't wait for next year!

I Love It When You Smile

It isn't very often that I get a picture of Kaelyn where she is smiling her best happy smile. When I do, I feel the need to share it. Kaelyn has the best smile! She smiles with her whole face. She is even more beautiful when she is smiling -- if that's even possible!

Water Bug

Kaelyn has always liked to swim. When she was younger, she would jump in the pool whether or not there was someone there to catch her. However, this summer, she has really been afraid of the water and needs someone to hold on to while in the pool. With two kids now, it is not always possible for me to hold her in the pool. This is why I let go of her while we were swimming the other day. She was screaming that she would sink if I let go, but I explained to her that, with her floaties, she would definitely not sink. After a few seconds of panic, she began swimming all around the pool. Now we just have to figure a way to get her out of the water!

Eyes Open at the Zoo

While we have been to the zoo several times since Gretchen came home, she never has her eyes open. She always sleeps through the entire zoo trip. I think the movement of the stroller keeps her sleepy. However, on Friday, I happened to look in the stroller and I saw two big blue eyes looking up at me. Kaelyn was very excited! She began "showing" everything around us to Gretchen. When she is older, I am sure that Gretchen will be as enthralled with the zoo as her big sister. For now, we will just be happy that her eyes were open for a few minutes.

Pretty Girl in a Yellow Dress

Aunt Lisa, Uncle John, and her cousins got Kaelyn a beautiful yellow dress for her birthday. She wore it to the zoo on Friday and looked absolutely gorgeous in it. I could tell that she felt pretty when wearing the dress. Later in the afternoon, we bought some pretty yellow flip flops to go with the dress. Now her ensemble is complete!

Kaelyn Has an Elephant on Her Head!

Apparently, last week was the week for elephants on heads at our house. Kaelyn got the Horton Hears A Who game that requires players to wear an elephant face hat when playing, and when I peaked in on her before going to bed one night, I noticed that Mr. Winks was resting on top of Kaelyn's head. What a weird coincidence!

Kate

Isn't Kate beautiful? I never do this, but, will you please pray for Kate? Pray hard and pray often!

Kate is five years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. I don't know Kate or any member of her family, but I saw her story on another blog that I read faithfully and it really touched my heart. I don't know if it is because she reminds me of Kaelyn, or if it really drives home the fact that life is not fair, but I cannot get her out of my mind or my heart. Here is Kate's story . . .

Kate's parents noticed that she was having hand tremors. So, on June 29, Kate's parents took her to the doctor where they were told that she has a very aggressive, malignant brain tumor. The brain tumor is very vascular in nature, which means that the tumor is entwined with the blood vessels in the brain.

Kate underwent brain surgery on July 2. Surgeons were only able to remove half of the tumor due to the involvement of the tumor with the blood vessels. Following the surgery, Kate is not able to move her right side. She has not spoken since before the surgery.

Kate has a long recovery ahead of her. She will have to undergo chemotherapy and, probably, future brain surgeries. Please pray that she will fully recover and will be able to live a normal, happy, long life. Also, please pray for her family. Her parents have been living at the hospital with her. They have two other children in addition to Kate and they need support now, as well.

Thank you for your prayers. I am sure that Kate and her family appreciate it!

Buddies

Our Lexington family was here this week for a visit. We love when they visit and always have fun when they are here. Kaelyn especially loves when they visit. She loves playing with her cousins, especially Mary. Kaelyn and Mary are four months apart in age. They play so nice together. When they are together, we don't see or hear from Kaelyn until it is time to go home. How great is it to have a best buddy that is part of your family? According to Kaelyn, "pretty great!"

Snow Angels? No, Sand Angels!

While we were at Fox Island for Kaelyn's birthday, she made sand angels on the beach. When I asked her what made her think to make sand angels, she said very matter-of-factly, "well, you can make snow angels in the snow, so why not sand angels in the sand." Why not, indeed!

Happy Birthday, Kaelyn!

Happy Fifth Birthday

Kaelyn Marjorie!

June 30 was Kaelyn's fifth birthday. Brian and I cannot believe that it has been five years since we welcomed her into the world. It seems like just yesterday she was as tiny as Gretchen!

We had her Luau Party on Sunday complete with family, friends, cake, and ice cream. Then, for her birthday, we went to Fox Island. Kaelyn had a great time playing on the beach, swimming in the lake, fishing with Grandpa, and eating hot dogs and strawberries (her two very favorite foods).

Kaelyn, Daddy and I love you very much! You are an amazing girl and you constantly surprise and astound us with your abundant energy and thirst for knowledge. We love watching you grow and change and hope you will always know just how much we love you. Happy, happy birthday!

Future Buddies

This is our youngest niece, Carly. Isn't she adorable? At Kaelyn's birthday party, she wanted to hold Gretchen. So, with some help from her Mom, she did just that. She even gave her a kiss on the forehead. So sweet! Future best buddies, for sure!

The World's Newest Gamer

Last year for Kaelyn's birthday, Brian and I bought her a V-Tech V-Smile video game system. This system is specifically designed for young children and the games teach necessary life and educational skills. Kaelyn showed interest in her video games for a couple of days, but then forgot about them . . . until recently. She rediscovered her video games a few weeks ago and Brian hooked them up to the television in her bedroom. Since that time, Kaelyn has spent some time every day playing video games in her room. She really seems to enjoy playing her games and, I think, she enjoys some quiet alone time, as well.

When I see her playing her games, she looks like such a big girl. Judge for yourself . . .

Early Birthday Present

A birthday present was purchased for Kaelyn that couldn't wait until her birthday . . . a brand new bike! Not just any bike, mind you, a princess, two-wheeled bike complete with opaque streamers on the handlebars, training wheels, a water bottle, and a pouch for carrying important necessities. Kaelyn was thrilled! She spent most of her day riding her new bike on the basketball court at Nana and Grandpa's. For her first time on a big girl bike, she did exceptionally well. Now there is no stopping her!

Planting Flowers with Nana

Last week, Kaelyn and Nana went out and bought flowers to fill the planters in front of Nana and Grandpa's house. When they got home, Kaelyn insisted that they plant the flowers immediately. So, on a very hot day, Kaelyn and Nana spent quite a bit of time planting Impatiens in the planters. I'd say that they did a fantastic job! Well done!

Very Happy Girl

Last week, Kaelyn was playing in her wading pool when she grabbed her blue tube and said "Mom, look! I am super happy!" When I looked at her, this is what I saw . . .

Gretchen's Boyfriends

That's right . . . Gretchen is only six weeks old, and already she has two boyfriends, Will and Mikey. They are both adorable, so whoever she chooses is considered a catch. However, she may have to battle big sister for the rights to Will! Kaelyn thinks he is pretty special. The battle over boyfriends has started already . . . what will life be like for us when both girls are teenagers?!

Gretchen and Will

Gretchen and Will

Gretchen and Mikey

Gretchen and Mikey
(he loves her "little feet")

Alien Baby

Doesn't Gretchen look crazy? These are pictures of her all hooked up for an EKG prior to her visit with her cardiologist. As usual, she took this in stride and did not make a peep during the test, examination, and subsequent heart/lung ultrasound. Her cardiologist is fantastic! He said that she has a couple of non-life-threatening issues, and, as a result, he would like her to remain on her heart monitor for another six months. We see him again in December, and, hopefully, the heart monitor will be discontinued at that time.

In the meantime, enjoy these pictures of our alien baby!