here we go....

okay, family-- this is my feeble attempt to catch you up since the last time i blogged on family happenings. here's a quick sampling of pics from the last couple months....


that was henry's attempt at spelling his name with gamepieces...all on his own. not bad, eh?

here's the family pic that didn't make it onto the website where the church puts staff pics. guess why.... (compare with the one that did make the site)
a day in the pool-- or an attempt. after the photo shoot, merian decided that she'd take advantage of her diaper-less freedom....



random pics....first smile caught on camera....

jacuzzi time was the best this summer. even if she was grumpy, a warm dip would always put her in a good mood.

we currently can't figure out who she looks like...so we think she must be a good mix. here's an expression that's purely aunt kara-- the only one who ever tucked her lip under like that.

merian just discovered her hands the other day. she was kicking around on the changing table and suddenly stopped short as she noticed her hand & realized for the first time that it was hers. she was so excited as she would slowly move her fingers & turn her hand to study it at different angles. so cute. merian also has mastered the art of dodging naps. she's amazing at keeping herself from naps-- with a lung capacity that will allow her to scream in bed forever...until we finally pick her back up. generally, a really quiet, easy-going baby...until we dare doing naps.
it's amazing how much these two already love being together & playing with each other.
merian's favorite activity these days is just sitting back to watch the antics of her crazy brother. when he's gone she gets bored and lonely quickly-- she'd much rather be doing things with him. likewise, henry truly enjoys having a sibling. he daily comments how much he likes having her in the family. here's a sampling of our latest conversations...

h: i like having mew-ian in the family. can we keep her?
k: yes, of course. she's your sister. she'll stay in our family just like you have.
h: oh, good.

h: mew-ian is a giwrl. but someday she'll grow up and be a boy, and then i'll have a brother.
k: no, henry. merian is your sister & will stay a girl. don't forget-- when i was pregnant you wanted a sister, remember?
h: yes, i did. but now i want a brother.
k: well, maybe someday you can have another sibling that will be a brother. henry, i've grown up & i'm still a girl, right?
h: Ohhhhh, right! so mewian will grow up to be a momma. And you'll grow up to be a baby someday.

i recently realized that i really hadn't gotten any close-up pics of merian in my favorite of her dresses, so i squeezed her into it one last time for a photo shoot.
life at river shores is good. nothing makes a kid more excited to go to church on a sunday than knowing that he's arriving to a toy haven. what a wonderful thing to have a church plant in a daycare! though we do miss ts, we really do love the church family at river shores as well. mops is up & running-- and really fun. so many awesome ladies are helping make this ministry happen. a great thing.

there. i've done it. blogging has happened and will continue to happen...just you wait and see!