4th of July

The 4^th of July was bitter sweet for us this year.  We had to suddenly go home to say goodbye to Cameron’s grandmother.  She had been ill for a little while.  We did not know how much time we would have with her so we had been trying to make a point to see her the past few times we had been home.  The service was beautiful everything from the flowers, the weather, the service, and the burial.  People traveled from everywhere to say goodbye to a lovely woman.  

Cameron’s entire family came together in Mitchell for the service.  The kids’ spent hours together laughing, playing and swimming.  Brynn shocked me when she even went down the big water slide at the hotel.  I think I have a little daredevil on my hands.  Next, we headed to Sioux Falls for the night to spend time with Grandma Sharon.  After a quick stop at the fireworks stand, Brynn was grinning from ear to ear.  Hours later, after snaps, smoke balls, parachutes, and ladybugs, Brynn was tuckered out.  Here we learned that Burke likes solid foods but wants to feed himself.  He had no problem eating avocado and bananas as long as we put it on the end of a toy that was large enough for him to hold himself.  What a silly boy!    

Lastly we headed to Lake Madison to spend the 4^th of July with Cameron’s family.  Here Brynn spent 2 days following Aiden and Cooper around, playing with Kinley and getting love from Grandma Nancy.  It was cute to watch Brynn develop relationships with her cousins.  She idolizes Aiden and wants to do everything he does.  Kinley and her played so well together.  They rarely fought over toys and were always right next to each other.  During nap time we could hear them talk and giggle – it was so cute.  The weather was beautiful and not too hot.   Burke enjoyed the fresh air and took long naps.

Despite having to say goodbye to a wonderful women, it was great to be together and spend the weekend celebrating Grandma Weber’s life and the 4^th of July with family.  

Five Months Old

Burke turned five months old on Sunday.  Brynn celebrated by baking cupcakes and Burke celebrated by taking an extra-long nap.  Over the past month Burke has started to eat oatmeal, is rolling over both directions, is trying to crawl and likes to stand.  The funniest of accomplishments is Burke trying to crawl.  His little legs get going so quickly that his arms can’t keep up and he ends up just scooting across the carpet.  I always worry his poor cheeks are going to get red from rubbing on the carpet so I am quick to pick him up or make him lay on his back and roll.  Plus, I am not quite ready for him to be quite that mobile. 

Cupcakes!!

5 Months Old

Burke loves:

• Being outside

• Toys

• Standing

• To belly laugh

Burke is working on:

• Eating  his vegetables

• Holding his own bottle

• Crawling

Holy Water

Father Cimpl held a lovely baptismal ceremony for Burke while we were home at the end of May.  As he did for Brynn a few years back, Father Cimpl gathered the family together at St. Michael's to welcome Burke into the Catholic community. 

Unlike his sister, Burke was happy to be there and happy to get the holy water poured on his head.  He smiled and cooed throughout the entire ceremony and was amazed by the candle one of his godparents lit for him. 

The ceremony reminded me of all the joys of the church, its community, and having the experience to go to O’Gorman and grow in your faith with all of your friends around you.  I hope my children can experience something as special as that one day.  The ceremony also reminded me of all of our wonderful friends and family that support us and are great role models for my kids despite us living 1,800 miles away.    

The Newest Addition

We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to visit Cameron’s sister over Memorial Day weekend and meet their newest addition.  Kade Weinstein was born on May 9^th and was only two weeks old when we arrived.  He is so sweet and such a good baby. 

The weekend was wonderful and too short as always.  Kade and Burke ate and slept all weekend.  Luckily for all of us, the two babies were “along for the ride” and cooperated the entire weekend.  Separate from the babies were the exhausted girl cousins, Kinley and Brynn, that had many late nights and played till their hearts were content.  The dads took the girls swimming every day where they would swim around the lazy river and relax in the hot tub.  The weekend included the zoo, barbies, bubbles, roasting marshmallows, and slumber parties. 

It is going to be wonderful to watch the set of boys and the set of girls grow up together and be close friends like many of us were with our cousins.  We can already see that with the girls as they remember each other and remember how much fun they have together.  Brynn is already asking when we get to see the Weinstein family again.  

Where to next?

How about the gorillas?

We made it!!

Four Months and Counting

I can barely keep up with these blog posts.  By the time I get them written and posted Burke has moved on to the next phase.   We went in for Burke’s four month appointment and as always he started to show off.  He was very chatty with our pediatrician and flirted a little too.  He held his head up high and even rolled over for her.  They ended up measuring him a few times as the first few height measurements were off the charts.  They ended up settling with 26.75 inches, but I am sure if they measure him in the next couple of days he will easily be 27 inches.  He seems to be changing so much lately.  And the doctor somewhat threw me for a loop when she started talking about introducing rice cereal and baby food.  Mentally I was not quite there yet.  And to be quite honest, whatever she said went in one ear and out the other.  The whole time she was talking all I was thinking was “didn’t I just have him a few weeks ago?"  I will have to call her back next week to get the low down on the ins and outs of starting solids. 

4 Months Old

Loving the outdoors

Stats:

• Weight - 15 pounds 12 ounces (50-75th percentile)
• Height - 26.75 inches (98th percentile)
• Head Circumference - 41.5 cm (50th percentile)

Burke loves:

• His big sister
• Sitting up
• Rolling over (from his back to front)
• Grabbing his toes
• Sleeping on his stomach (freaks Mom and Dad out)

Burke is working on:

• Sitting up by himself
• Rolling over from his front to back
• Holding his own bottle

Beach Life

When we left South Dakota at the end of April the weather was cold and rainy.  The second we landed in California the weather has been hot.  So straight to the beach we go.  

Some make snow angels.  Brynn makes sand angels.

Right at home at the beach



Future surfer



Happy Mother's Day!





Celebrations in April

April was a month of celebrations.  We took full advantage of my last few weeks of maternity leave, Burke turned three months old and had a great doctor’s appointment.  We celebrated Easter back in Sioux Falls and my best friend Sonia. 

Enjoying time with Grandma Weber

Getting love from Grandma and Grandpa Bain

Meeting Great Grandma

Scary Bear Fun

Easter in Sioux Falls was beautiful and we got to spend it with lots of family and friends.  Brynn was in heaven as she got to go on 3+ Easter egg hunts and play with kids till her heart was content.  While we were home the weather was up and down with lots of rain and wind to beautiful and sunny.  Burke got passed around from person to person and got lots of love from everyone he met.  He turned three months old while we were in Sioux Falls.  Of course we sang happy birthday to him while he stared and giggled at us all.  He is getting so big and recently weighed in at 15 pounds 4 ounces and 25 inches long.  

Creepy East Bunny

Coloring Eggs with Attitude

Happy Easter!

Beautiful Day

Easter Day Fun

 

We also took a day to celebrate my childhood friend, Sonia, while in Sioux Falls.  The celebration was wonderful with lots of friends, memories, laughs and tears.  One day was not enough to celebrate her and the wonderful wife she will soon be.  Unfortunately, April ended with one last hoorah before going back to work.    



Sonia's Bridal Shower