Mom, Kate, Seth, Hannah and Me
Hannah, Kate and Mom by the lion
Getting ready for a pedi!
Story time with Gma!
When Dad returned on Saturday to get mom, he brought Joe and Kara for some added fun play time! Hannah and Kate love their cousins!!
Enjoying an apple snack with Grandma Cindy.
There were a lot of ladybugs flying all over and Hannah loved catching them.
When Jeff, Henry and Roger arrived Jeff took Hannah swimming in her life vest. She floated on her back and kicked all around. She had a great time with her daddy! As is was getting darker we pitched our tent and then Cindy, Roger and Henry brought the food to our campsite so I would not have to eat on the boat...let's just say that boating and first trimester sickness do not make a pleasant combination :(
The girls did a great job sleeping through the night in their sleeping bags. They love camping!
After a nice chicken pot pie dinner.
Making smores...YUM!
On father's day we spent the morning on the boat eating breakfast and opening presents. Jeff got a shirt and hat that says, 'World's Greatest Dad" and Roger got a shirt and hat that says, "World's greatest Grandpa."
Reading on the boat...Hannah in her big life vest and Kate chuckling. Good times!
Then we headed to the beach where I got sand in the camera, so the pics are really bad. We made sand castles and played in the water, went to the park for a while, ate lunch and then Jeff, the girls and I said good-bye and took the ferry home. Cindy, Roger and Henry are sailing back today, Monday.
On the way back we coordinated with my parents to eat dinner somewhere off the freeway in the direction of our home so we didn't travel out of the way. Unfortunately, since my camera was not working well I didn't get a picture with my dad, but I have the memory in my mind.
The same is true for new parents. Their sole task is to love and cuddle their baby, building trust for the bumps ahead. My friend and I were talking (and laughing a little bit) about her sister, a new mom with a 7 month old baby. The baby was beginning to cry and the mom said, "We don't throw tantrums in this house." She then scooped up the baby and said, "When you ask for what you want you can have it." I had to smile. She was perfect: loving and cuddling her baby, giving her baby what she wanted. We were laughing though because she does not realize that there will come a time when her baby asks for chocolate cake for lunch and even though your baby asked for it without throwing a tantrum, your child needs to learn how to accept "No," and, in the process of learning, "No," your baby will most likely throw a tantrum, not because you are a bad parent or your baby is a bad child, simply because learning to deal with disappointment is hard, even as an adult, and for a 2 year old it is even harder to process. And honestly, who has a rule where throwing a tantrum is okay? I mean, it happens and I tell the girls to go to their room, but I am working towards a better way to dealing with their emotions and praying that soon they will hear disappointing news and say, "Bummer."
Anyway, all that to say that we have entered that "learning No stage" with sweet Kate, and it is hard. It's like being a new parents all over again and realizing that my perfect compliant baby girl has a defiant and sinful attitude. Let me stress that I am grateful to be in this stage because I know that Kate will grow though it, and as a parent I want to see her grow and mature. She will be able to obey and respect Jeff and I better, and she will learn to respect authority figures more too. She will learn to voice her opinion and deal with disappointment.
I may not be able to post on father's day, but even if I don't Jeff's title is secure in our house as "WORLD'S GREATEST DAD EVER!"
Look at how young and in love we were...it only gets sweeter every year too!
Jeff and I went to the doctor this past Thursday and saw one nice strong heartbeat and are pleased to announce to you all, my blogging family that we are expecting, again. I am now 9 weeks along, feel like I am already showing, and very, very nauseous, hungry and tired.
Not only did they swing together, but they dug together...
...threw sand at the ocean together...
...posed for their mama together (okay, a promise of a chocolate chip was actually what got them to pose like this).
And then at Jeff's work during our picnic lunch they "flew" a kite together...
Hannah was throwing the kite up to catch the wind and Kate was running as fast as she could. The only problems was they were both headed the wrong way to catch the wind, and when the blind lead the blind, their parents laugh and take pictures.
I have the greatest job ever, and days like these where I see the girls love each other so much make all the other lessons of how to care of others, especially your sister, worth it.
What a week of blessings!
The happy family...doesn't Erin look fabulous??
He's already wrapped around her finger :)
There is nothing more precious than a sleeping baby. Congratulations Luke and Erin! We love you both and can't wait to meet baby Nate!
On Monday Jenna went back to the hospital and doctors told Jenna and Clint two new things: Natalie has jaundice and needs to be on photo therapy, and her lungs are not producing what they need on their own to prevent her lungs from collapsing.
With photo therapy they are again not able to hold Natalie, and the doctors also put the feeding tube back in so she is not eating any bottles at this time.
They are monitoring the lung development through X-rays, and hopefully soon we will see this little baby improving and going home soon!!
I had the privilege of taking care of Amy, my four year old niece, yesterday so my sister and mom could visit Natalie in the hospital. Amy is eager to be with her sister, but even more, to be home with her mom and dad again too!
Also, please pray for my brother and sister-in law, Luke and Erin who are now in labor with their first born son. She was due June 22, so the baby is full term, and we are hoping for a smooth and quick delivery!!
