Abram

Meet my newest nephew! Abram was born on Wednesday night and is just plain cute. He's having some trouble with his heart and lungs so he was moved to a bigger hospital in Madison.


Reagan and I have been staying in Wisconsin and bonding with the other boys and trying to help out when we can. :) Its been great and a nice change from snowy Iowa. (Who knew you had to go north to get away from the snow?)

A couple of highlights:
~Spending time with Reagan ~ after dropping off Grant and Riley in Cedar Falls, Reagan and I headed east on Highway 20. I stopped for gas and bought myself a pop and bought Reagan some fruit punch and Cheetos. She was surprised to get anything and was about as happy as I've seen her. :)

~Aidan and Reagan playing games: Aidan likes to talk as much as Reagan and it seems they've formed a common bond through board games... The first day we were here I found Aidan trying to teach Reagan how to play Stratego. I wish I could have heard at least some of that conversation.

~Picking up the boys from their friends' house: After I had collected Zech and Silas and we had visited Abram at the hospital, I drove out to go get the other three. It was about a twenty minute drive and when we got there no one was home. No problem, we'll wait. I tried to move the van out of their driveway, but it was narrow, winding, slightly uphill and icy. Before I knew what had happened I had two tires buried in the snowbank.

I was just thinking through how I would introduce myself to these strangers now that I was blocking the entrance to their house - and that was about the time they got home. The kids dug and the dad pushed and my van was freed. I was mortified thankful.

Updates

Reagan & Grant:
Grant's new thing is putting his arm around people. He's been wanting to cuddle a lot lately and after you sit with him for awhile he'll reach around your back and put his arm around you -- that's how you can tell he really likes you.

Today was the first day he did it to Reagan.
Watching a movie together. After a rough year, I think they're finally starting to like each other... :)
Riley:

Smiley Riley had her 1-year check-up today. She is 19lbs 6oz and is still in the 25th percentile for both height and weight. She seems like such a peanut to me, but her doctor said she is growing proportionately and she is not concerned. Be that as it may, Riley is still leagally under the weight limit for a forward-facing car seat and has to stay backwards for now. After all our big babies, its something I never thought I would see.

Riley has started pulling herself up on everything. She's not even close to walking and she isn't even 'cruising' yet, but she'll grab your pant legs and hang on for dear life. I took this picture of her because she stood herself up and then was actually playing with the kitchen. What happened to my baby??

Riley's party on Saturday went well -- all except for the few awkward minutes after she barfed up her lunch.

Riley eating her cupcake... (If you have a better picture than this can you email it to me?)

The Cats:

Last week between blizzards, the cats each had their front claws removed and their respective surgeries. Casey is supposed to wear the Cone-O'-Shame for the next 10 days. It's been 4 days and I still giggle when I see her. :)

Sorry, Casey.

Happy Birthday, Riley!

I can't believe you're one already!

This last month you got 4 teeth, learned to stand up, and scooted all over the place.

Today for my sanity your birthday, I took the three of you to the kids' play gym to wear off some energy... This is the video of you wearing off your energy; you made everyone smile :)