Uncle Brad, meet your niece

Today Caleigh met her Uncle Brad since he is home for 15 days leave from Afghanistan. Brad was deployed for the birth of both our children and met Reese at 8 months and Caleigh at 4. I told him we weren't having anymore kids so he never needed to deploy again!!!

It was so cute to see Brad and Reese interact. The last time Reese saw him (December) he was barely talking and now he talks non stop. Both kids are sick but were both troopers today. Caleigh felt so bad but was still adorable talking and laughing with everyone. There aren't any girls in Rusty's family, so Brad was in uncharted territory.

Caleighs first day at school

Caleigh had school pictures today and I didnt want her in summer clothes. I do realize its hot out and this was just a temporary outfit.

16 weeks

Tomorrow is a big day around here- and I am not talking about it being the 1st day of the 4th quarter. I start back at work and Caleigh starts daycare. I am not nervous about her starting- I know she is in good hands. I am more concerned that I will forget to pack a vital item. She is only going for 3 hours and they already have her diapers- all you really need at this age. I will miss our special time during the day we have had while Reese has been at MDO. We went grocery shopping today for our last time- she is a good little shopper.

Caleigh is going to start her day off tomorrow with a bang because she has school pictures at 9 am. I am curious to see how long it takes Reese to figure out she is just across the hall from him. I predict he will be very confused when he sees her on the playground. Today we went to gymnastics (she stays home with a sitter) and as we left he asked where she was. Never asked where she was the hour we had been gone!

I logged onto my work email today and had 2450 emails. Guess what I will be doing for the next few days?

Visitors

This weekend our friend Colin and Sarah came for a visit. It was a lot of fun catching up with them. Reese and Caleigh were even excellent when we went out for lunch despite it being naptime. We saw all of the grandparents last week. Rusty's parents came last Tues, Dad stopped by on Friday afternoon and my mom came up on Saturday.

Caleigh is so adorable. I love on her and hug on her all day. I am sad that we are going to loose "our time" since she is starting to daycare this week as I am starting back to work. The first few months crept by (when you don't sleep) but the past 2 have flown. I am trying to take in every moment and file it away since we know we wont have any more children and wont experience this stage ever again. She laughs and talks all the time and is very very happy.

Face paint at gymnastics for the circus themed day

To bad she wore this dress backwards all day- even for her pictures. I have a lot to learn about girl baby clothes!

Caleighs 3 month pictures

I don't have the pictures from the photographer yet but there are 2 blog entries (Sept 15 and Sept 20) with pictures that you can see at http://www.butterflychaserphotography.blogspot.com/

Caleigh and I made a trip to the big city yesterday to see my college roommates baby. I say they are future roommies.

Sweet Moment

The other night we asked Reese if he wanted to lead the prayer at dinner and he started singing. Neither of us could figure out what he was singing because he was being really quiet. I finally decided it must be a song he learned at school. It was so sweet to hear such beautiful words and a sweet spirit come from him. I am always amazed at how he is constantly growing in his knowledge.

After listening to it several times I believe this is what he is saying

God our Father, God our Father,
once again, once again,
we thank you for our blessings, we thank you for our blessings,
Amen, Amen

It doesn't get any better than listening to your two year old pray to the Lord.

Fun in the City

I know this will sound silly but I had a shocker these week when I took Reese to the dr. Good news is he is finally 28 lbs. Bad news is I have gained weight. How this is possible? I eat healthy and I nurse nonstop so its very strange to me that I can gain weight in the past month. I am calling the ob tomorrow because this has really gotten me down. By this point with Reese I was back in my clothes and with her I am gaining weight? But the thing is I cant diet and cant exercise or I will have a starving baby so I may just have to come to terms with it for a while. I was ok with myself for a while but to see no progress and actually to go in the opposite direction is discouraging. Enough about me because I have fantastic kids and alot to be thankful for.

This weekend we didn't let the rain get us down. We started Sat am with our Chick Fil A breakfast ritual (so Reese can play on the playground since neither of us have figured out how to take both kids there solo) and to Gander Mountain so Reese and Rusty can bond. Then we went to the MOPS picnic in the rain. Everyone had a great time. More importantly we were able to enjoy cooler weather on the patio. Caleigh loved watching Reese play in his pool in the rain

Today we took a trip to the big city to see my family. It was Caleighs first time to my home church and my mother was so proud to parade her around. Afterwards we went to my sisters house where all the cousins played together. Reese loves Nathan, Micah and Conner and talks non stop about going to see them so he was really happy. Rusty and I snuck away on a quick shopping date where neither of us found a thing. Its always fun to gather all my coupons and gift cards to take a trip shopping in the city and find nothing! I did take Rusty to my dream house I found down there several months ago - for the bargain price of 600k of course. The selling point to me was an office off the bedroom - that's my dream. So I can have privacy and work without the world having to look at my desk (which is clean but still a workplace). He was a good sport about it. Caleigh did great in the car- she has gotten to be a great traveller. She even managed to take 2 naps with all the chaos at my sisters.

In my sisters pool. For those who know my family, yes there is a neighborhood kid in the picture.

Proud Granny