Jakey's Baby

Jake has a baby...she wears pink overalls and has a stroller he pushes her around in all morning. He screams when Ben bites her (which he does frequently since this reaction seemingly entertains him to no end...I on the other hand am on the perfect opposite end of this spectrum.)

Her mouth opens just enough that Jake can give her a bottle and we find random bits of crumbs in her mouth from her snacks.

She goes on the swing, in the car, to the library and to the table. He is gentle, and sweet and kind to her. I love watching him be so nurturing to her. He is a sweetie pie.

A Princess in the Family!

On August 27 little Onnika Alexandra made her much anticipated debut. I couldn't believe the instant connection I felt to her when Jon and I met her for the first time today. What a sweet little baby girl she is! A perfect combination of both of her adoring parents! Every tiny feature is perfect and she is stunning! I have a feeling I was cut out for Aunthood!

Welcome to our family sweet baby Onnika! We love you!

Ben's Party

Ben was not interested in a monster truck, fire fighter or pirate party. Nope. He only wanted to go back to the farm. So we had the same party we did...last year:) We fed goats, visited the calf and petunia the pig. We made grass heads, went on a tractor ride, had Gramma's famous ice cream cone cupcakes, opened presents, played in the straw and played games. He was thrilled...and thus, so were we.

FOUR

It seems like such a short time ago I became Mother to THIS little boy.


When you opened your eyes for the first time to look at me, I felt changed. When you smiled at me I felt like there was renewed purpose to my life and everything I was. To see you smiling, laughing, happy, gave me joy I didn't know possible.

Four years later you continue to make me so proud. I love your company, your laugh, your enthusiasm. You are so endlessly creative and imaginative. You can build anything, dream big and talk so much that it doesn't even end when your eyes close at night.

You are kind, thoughtful, and love your family so much. You love "Sebastian" stories that I tell you each night...and have no idea they are all about you.

You are developing a relationship with God that makes us so happy. There is nothing sweeter than overhearing you pray.

You are cautious and observant but when you feel ready and your confidence grows after you warm up, often you are the most enthusiastic participant.

You are not afraid to speak up, will ask anyone anything and are quite precocious.

You love fire fighters and often will only answer to "Fire Fighter- Ben" You are interested in space, construction and enjoy building blocks and puzzles.

Your favorite foods are anything with chicken, toast and pumpkin butter, apples, apple juice and rice milk.

Your favorite colour is green and you are getting ready to read and I suspect you will be an enthusiastic reader in the year to come if the rate you have devoured children's stories from the time you could lift your head is any indication.

We are so blessed to be your parents. You are an irreplaceable delight to our family and a light in our lives.

I hope you have a wonderful year Ben! We can't wait to see how you learn and grow in your fourth year and the joy that you continue to bring to those around you.

Happy Birthday my sweet boy! I love you more then you could ever know.
I love every moment of being your Mother and every inch of you!

Mommy
xoxo

Zoo

We went to the zoo last week. It was a LONG day but a fun day. Jacob loved all the animals. He bounced, squealed, pointed and laughed. His favorite were the seagulls...not on exhibit.

I enjoy the gorilla's but I find them unnerving to watch. It is a captivity that hits a little close to home as I observed their thumb to forefinger dexterity and loving way they nurtured new baby. I found their sympathetic glance to say "With the difference of a few chromosomes you would be in here!.

The polar bears were amazing to watch as were the penguins and the lemurs. Elephants are my favorite animals and we did get to see one of those as well as the pygmy hippo that I may have to keep in our bathtub.

She's Coming!

These are the proud-soon-to-be parents of my little niece! Excited doesn't even almost begin to cover how I am feeling about her impending arrival this month!

I get to put on her first dress. Me. The proud aunt! I am honored! Come out here Miss Onnika! I need to play dress up!

Our Ducky's!

We have a family of ducks who have adopted us as their own. Like Pavlov's dogs our ducks start salivating (or at least quacking their hello) when they hear our swing set creek. They waddle over, all 12 of them and wait for their snack. We were feeding them bread (bad for all birds we have since learned) and switched to corn, gifted to us by Gramma who was fortunate enough to witness the daily spectacle recently. Now they have taken to waiting for us by the back door and will eat out of our hands.
We watched them from the time they took their first little wobbly steps as tiny little fresh hatched ducklings and it is bitter sweet to see them almost match the size of their Mother as winter will come too soon! As for late summer, we will enjoy their company while it lasts.