Father's Day

I recently heard the expression, "If you're not early, you're late." Well, let's just say I am very rarely early to anything, which explains my delayed Father's Day post.

I'd say we had a really nice Father's Day: church, delicious lunch at She-She's, orange "palm" cake, elderly entertainment, and hours and hours of golf. What more could you ask for?

Father's (and Mother's) Day is a little bit different when your new role is being celebrated. The Primary songs you've heard sung year after year sound a little different when you realize your little guy is going to be up there singing them in a few years. Gifts and words are perhaps a little more thoughtful to one's own parents when you've assumed the role of these persons you admire.

Dave is a great dad and I am so appreciative of him and all he does for me and Winston. Oh, and Winston says thanks for the 10:30 night cap, introducing me [Winston] to hockey, pushing me in the stroller, and even loving me when I spit up all over your sheets just before you're going to bed.

We love you Dave/Dad!

xoxo

Let me count the ways, cont'd

The more time I spend with Winston and the more I get to know him, the more I love him.  

Here's some more reasons why I love this boy:

**he loves the wind in his face, but not the sun in his eyes; walks are a favorite

**watches hockey with his dad and enjoys every minute of it

**smile, smile, smile

**always has something to say (unless the camera comes out)

**he often wakes up in the morning and, without so much as a peep, will just lie in his bed and look around.  When I go to get him, he has a big smile on his face

**prefers to stand up, particularly when it's time to burp

**like a human clock

**great road-tripper

It's easy to be a mom with a baby like this guy.  

Growing and growing

The stats are in; he's still growing.

Length:  24 inches  

Weight:  14 lb. 13 oz.  

Recent milestones:

--Winston's getting really good at holding his head up, which makes tummy time not such a drag.

--Winston can successfully get his hand in his mouth, though he hasn't figured out how to get his pacifier back in his mouth.  Instead, his whole hand becomes a pacifier.  I suppose that works for now.  

--He's also graduated from the "hammock" into the bath.  This boy is so long; he kept pushing himself off the bottom end of the tub.  Now the little tub seems just right, but I'm sure not for long.    

--He isn't sitting up just yet, but I'm sure he will be soon.  His once docile temperament has turned into a more curious, animated one.  He's turned a new leaf and now squirms all over the place and loves to stand up.  He's become quite the talker, too.  I'm determined to get some video of him talking, but he becomes a little distracted as soon as the camera come out, making it a little tricky to get him to smile or talk.    

We love, love, love this baby.  

Guess who's 3 months old?

Photos and stats coming soon.  

Stitched

The longer I live in St. Louis, the more I pick up on the little quirks/qualities of the local lifestyle.  Aside from the (nasty) Imo's Pizza, Cardinal baseball, the Arch and toasted ravioli, you know you're a real St. Louisan when you have your own customized needlepoint belt.

I began working on Dave's belt in January in preparation for his 30th birthday...which was in April.  I figured three months was plenty of time to pull everything together.  I was mistaken.  

It took about a month for me to figure out what to put on the thing.  Then the design has to be painted, colors chosen, stitched and then actually made into a belt.  Three weeks here, three weeks there...alas it is done!  Our good friend Debbie actually stitched the belt, and it turned out beautifully (can't thank you enough, Debbie).  So what was supposed to be Dave's birthday present, turned into a belated-birthday/early-Father's-Day present.  

Congratulations Dave.  You're officially a St. Louisan.  

***Sorry for all of the near-duplicate pictures.  Belts are hard to photograph.  

Winston's Blessing

Mother's Day was special for me this year (obviously), but Winston's blessing was euphoric.  It was a beautiful day surrounded by so many people who love and support us.  Truly, the best thing in the world is family, and I feel so fortunate to have the family I do:  parents who love me and help me to grow; siblings who support me and make me so proud; in-laws who love me like one of their own; and a husband who is solid in who he is and what he believes...plus, he makes me laugh.
On this special day, I felt so proud to be a mom, to be married to such a great guy, and to be able to watch as a father blessed his son -- my son.  It felt like I had come full circle.  I felt closure from the last year and a half, yet sweet excitement, comfort and peace at this new chapter in our lives

And thankfully, our rockstar friends captured the day for us.  THANK YOU!!  

Best weekend ever

There is little else that could make me more excited or happier than having (almost) my entire family visit us in St. Louis. Few weekends have I anticipated so much.
The family arrived Friday afternoon after 18+ hours in the car or 8+ hours in the airport; ouch! Despite the arduous trek of getting here, the rest of the weekend went off without a hitch.  

Trips to the City Museum, Ted Drewes, the Arch, Dewey's Pizza and the Zoo highlighted the weekend.  But they were all here to meet and celebrate Winston and his blessing day (pictures coming soon).

MaMom got to hang out with ALL of her grandkids at once...never happens.  We love her!

Uncle Mark -- the graduate -- actually showed some love and affection towards his nieces and nephew.  Thumbs up, Mark!

What Waterfall gathering would be complete without a good game of speed Scrabble?  Even Kate gets excited.  I love, love, love this game.  Probably because it's one of the few I am good at.  

Poppi Scott and Winston are quite the snoozers; perfect for each other.  

Maria can't hold her enthusiasm in at finally meeting her cousin Winston.  

Baby talk.  It was the cutest thing.  We put them on the couch facing each other and they just looked and squawked and laughed at each other.  It was darling.  

I love this girl.  

Winston's first stroll through the museum at the base of the St. Louis Arch.

Fun at the St. Louis Zoo, in a torrential downpour, of course.  

Maria's "goggles" and/or "glasses."  

Too cute!  These kids are exactly two months apart.  I think Maria taught Winston a few things during her brief visit.  Winston is like a new baby now.  He smiles and laughs and talks and squirms around just like Maria.  

I hate goodbyes.  Perhaps I'm a baby, but it doesn't get easier for me any time my family leaves or I leave Utah.  I miss them terribly, but we are so glad and lucky we got to spend a whole weekend with them.  We can't thank you enough.  Come back soon!