Cute and Funny things the kids have done

So, Mira's experiment in sleeping in her crib didn't go too badly last night. She made it 'til around midnight before nursing and moving into her carseat in our room. Then around 4ish she came into bed with me. Tonight, I put her down in her crib around 9pm then swaddled her and shooshed her to sleep.

Mira has been pulling her feet up when rolling on her side. She likes to lay on her back, roll around and talk. She sticks her tongue out of the left side of her mouth and it is really silly looking. Tonight she grabbed her toes for the first time. Maybe they'll make it into her mouth soon!

While on an evening walk with the kids, Jason picked Joshua up because he was having trouble walking on his own two feet. He was holding Joshie cradled like a baby when Josh said, 'Don't squeeze me daddy, you'll make the milk come out of my belly button!'. We both just stopped in our tracks to laugh it was so unexpected.

The weather is cooler today than yesterday after a nice spring thunderstorm last night. I went with Christine, Yana and Val out strawberry picking. Josh picked about 10 berries and did a good job of it before wondering around the rows. I had Mira in a backpack on my back. The berries are great this year and prolific so it didn't take anytime at all to fill our baskets. I made freezer jam tonight and we'll have berries for pies and such, too.

Mira is Baptized

A whirlwind of events and festivities took place these last several days. Let's start with last Thursday, we recovered from being out late the night before for the graduation and Trina and I went shopping sans kids for a few hours. Then Jason and Josh went out to see Indiana Jones. It was nice to have a bit of adult time! Friday, I did a bit of food prep for Saturday and Sunday. Trina, the kids and I went to storytime in the morning and we ordered in pizza for dinner then Jill and Tara arrived. Saturday I put everyone to work on food for Sunday and then we all got ready to go to the big grad party. The party was held at Ron and Christine's as a joint venture. It started at 2 and we had a fantastic day for it. Ron had picked up a keg for the event and we had over 80 people there. They were able to get the keg to float by the end of the evening but there was a lot of beer left.

I think that everyone had a great time. We were so happy to have so many people come to celebrate! Jill, Tara and Trina, brave souls that they are, took the three kids home while I stayed back to help clean up and drive Jason and Josh home around 9:30. I am so thankful that they were here to help!!

Sunday was Mira's baptism day and we had everyone back up this way again for church. Mira did well. She fell asleep during the service and woke up when Pastor Jane place the water on her head. She wasn't happy about waking up that way but fell back to sleep quickly. My mom made the beautiful gown that Mira wore. She looked like a little angel and I cried to see her looking so beautiful. My daughter.

After the service, we had everyone back over to the house for lunch. It was another lovely day and we thoroughly enjoyed the company. After the festivities died down we enjoyed a walk with the JT's, the 'ira's, Jason and Joshua.

Monday, Jill & Tara headed home and we went on a nice long walk along an old rail road trail that has been made accessible for walking, running and biking. We stopped on the way home at my favorite farm resturant for lunch and ice cream then home. After we all took a nice nap we kicked Josh and Trina out of the house so that we could enjoy Kirra on our own. They only stayed away an hour, next time we will lock the door so they can't come back so soon :-)

It was so fun to see the girls together, Kirra and Mira, and to see Joshua playing with both of them. I loved having the house full of family. I wish that we could always be so close and that the kids could grow up together. Maybe it will be possible someday.

For now, I am having empty nest syndrome and just picking at cleaning up the house. We took it easy today after taking Josh, Trina and Kirra to the airport and just watched Bambi.

Mira is currently sleeping alone in her crib for the first time. We tried to start Joshua in the crib at this age. He didn't do so well but I am sure Mira will be fine. She is so laid back. We are also starting the infant potty training with her now and she is getting REALLY close to rolling over. She gets way over on her side but hasn't made that final little bit over yet. She likes to grab things and pull them towards herself and she loves to talk and laugh.

Joshua is enjoying Real Flight Simulator that Uncle Joshua and Daddy showed him this weekend. He can actually get the plane to take off and fly around occasionally.

As usual, pictures will follow when I have a chance to get them all together and posted.

Jason Graduates.

Josh, Trina and Kirra arrived on Tuesday night just after midnight. We had a mostly restful Wednesday as the kids acclimated themselves to each other. The weather was unusual and every time we tried to go outside (because it was sunny) by the time we got our shoes it it would be raining! Jason came home early and Godfather (Chris) came over to watch Joshie then we headed downtown for the graduation ceremony. We met my parents down there. It was a very cool rainy evening and Hopkins had not provided tents for the graduates and their guests. But, just as the ceremony began the rain stopped. The speakers were very good. One acknowledged the sacrifice that is made not only by the graduate but also his family. The other discussed the need for continuous knowledge and requirement to take risks to a advance technology. He also talked on the need to look outside your field for inspiration and answers, that was the president of Bell Labs.



There was a lovely reception afterwards where we enjoyed fresh strawberries, meatballs, cheese, wine and other appetizers. The we headed out to a nearby Irish pub for a celebratory drink. It was a great evening if not memorable.



I am so proud of Jason's accomplishment in spite of a difficult fall for us. Others might have given up but Jason perservered and with my mom's help and the help of other family and friends was able to finish his degree and achieve straight A's. I hope that when Joshua and Mira are older they will recognize the hard work of their father and will be inspired to do likewise.

3 months

Happy 3 month birthday to Mira! It was Thursday but it is never too late to celebrate! I don't have exact numbers but she is between 15-16 pounds and about 23" long. That is just from weighing her with me on the scale. She likes to grab toys now and is enthralled with the caterpillar that we have. It plays musical and has little toys hanging off of it.

Joshua seems to have a little cold now. He is raspy and whiney. I hope he feels better by the weekend. Aunt Trina and Uncle Josh are coming with Kirra on Wednesday and we have lots going on!

I haven't written much but a week and a half ago now Joshua got to see a newborn foal. It was about 12 hours old. There was another foal that was a couple of weeks old. Joshua was just as interested in the tractor that he saw as the horses. We didn't get out for our Mother's day weekend hike but the weekend was very nice anyway. Just a little rainy.

This past weekend we had a yard sale and then Memaw and Grandad came out. We all went together to pick out fabric for Mira's baptism dress while Daddy worked. It was really nice to have them out to visit. On Sunday, I made it to church alone with the kids, a first! Joshua behaved well enough for me to try it again in the future. :-) After church there was a Mother Daughter Luncheon that I stayed for since Jason was working again. Now he is out of town and we are managing on our own. It will just be for tonight and then he will be home very late tomorrow.

Joshua has had 4 days in a row now of being dry after his naps. He is consistently making it to the potty during the day and we are only focusing on nap and nighttime now. Yippee!

Mother's Day Etc

Mother's Day was lovely. We again had Amy and Mom and the accompanying family over for an afternoon tea in the garden. Aunt Jo joined us this year which was so nice. It is great to see so much of her! Grandma was unable to make it though and she was missed. Jason and the kids picked out a gorgeous bouquet of flowers for me along with new gardening gloves, can't get enough of those! I was also treated to a very yummy breakfast Sunday morning and time to work in the garden.

Videos

I have been trying to get a few videos up of the kids. Here is the link:

http://gallery.mac.com/robocoder#gallery

We had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend and lots of fun things going on. But... I'll write about them later :-)

New Tricks

Mira Jean is adding all sorts of tools to her baby tool belt. She now scooches across the pack n play on her back, mostly when she is frustrated, but it is movement none the less. She is rolling to her side and I don't think rolling over is too far behind. She brings her hands together now to put them in her mouth and chew on her fingers and thumb. She and Daddy have warmed up to each other and they laugh and 'talk' these days. He can get her to laugh in ways that I cannot and it is fun to hear her noises.

Joshua held Mira for the first time yesterday. I sat him in the corner of the couch, propped Mira up on the pillow next to him and took a few pictures. That was about it.

May is a crazy month for us but we have one event down. Grandad retired and had a birthday over the weekend and we had a little bash for him. It was a really good time and the kids did very well. This weekend is Mother's Day and we are having folks over for a Mother's Day tea as we did last year. Then the end of the month is Jason's graduation & party and Mira's baptism & party. Then we get to crash!! :-)