A little of everything

We are almost 2 weeks out from the arrival of Joslin and it has gone by so quickly. We were home in time for Easter and loved having the family up to celebrate. Joslin has been sleeping and eating like a real champ. Jason has been a huge help and having family out has been invaluble. My parents watched Patrick the night Joslin was born. Ted and Lois were out too and watched Patrick while we were in the hospital.

The flowers were on the altar at church on Easter Sunday in honor of Joslin's birth. They are so pretty!

Madeline, Meredith and Patrick get ready for the Easter Egg Hunt! It was a little chilly but they had a good time finding eggs. Laura and Jason hid some eggs under some leaves. Chris and I helped hide eggs too...in the trees, in the grass. It was fun!

Patrick shows off some of the goodies he found in an Easter egg.

A school field trip to a sheep farm!
This was Patrick's first official field trip. They visited a sheep farm in Gambier. They have one llama that helps guard the sheep. Patrick stepped right up to offer it some grain.

A baby lamb!

Patrick works on a building project at his new workbench courtesy of Grammie and Grampa Frazer.

Patrick loves, loves, loves his new sister. He likes to help burp her and just laughs when she lets a good one out. He wants to hold the baby and is very attentive to her. He is also a good helper to me. Patrick likes to check on the baby and tells people how cute she is.

Ahhh- mud puddles!

Heather and Lee came out for a visit this weekend. It has been great having them here to play with Patrick and hold the baby. Heather and Joslin had a nice nap together this afternoon in the recliner. Nothing beats holding a cuddly warm sleeping baby!

A brunch date with a fabulous high school friend. Cherstin was in town and I was so glad we were able to get together even though it was for a short time.
Cool 3-D glasses! These came with some sidewalk chalk Patrick got. Heather and Lee helped him get some pictures on the front porch.
So- wow. Almost 2 weeks as a family of 4. Jason said the other night that he really felt complete with our family. We have been blessed with 2 fabulous children and a wonderful family.

Joslin Ann

We are haning out at the hospital waiting to hear from the doc so I thought I would post some pics. First we have Meredeith and Joslin. Both the girls really wanted to hold the baby and they both did a great job. Meredeith did keep sliding off the chair but she did great.

Aunt Laura did not actually get to hold the baby after the birth. She stuck around for a little bit but had to hit the road before she got a turn. Finally yesterday she got to hold the baby. Shortly after snuggling in with her Laura said "We need a baby. We need a dog and a baby."

Madeline and the baby. Madeline had to cover her sparkly shirt since the baby wasn't too keen on the sparkles. Once the cloth went over the shirt the two of them sat rather nicely together.

Under the bili lights. This little bili-bed is not Joslin's favorite place to be. Who can blame her? She would rather be snuggled in someone's arms or swaddled up. We do have another bili light to use when nursing but she gets more coverage in the little bed. We think she looks rather cool in her shades!

Happy Birthday Joslin! Can you tell Patrick was excited to hold his little sister? He got to come back to see her about an hour after she was born and could not wait to hold her. He already wants to burp her and give her a bath all by himself.

Mommy getting some Patrick love!

So that's what I have got so far. We are hoping to head home today but have to wait on the doc and see what he says about the jaundice. We are so thankful to have our families here to help out and feel very blessed to have this new little addition in our lives. Let the adventures begin!

Oh yeah- In case you didn't hear Joslin Ann was born April 8 at 5:46 pm. 9 pounds 11 ounces adnd 21.5 inches long. Dr. Sullivan said if we have another one there is no way he is letting me go to 41 weeks. That is a big baby! And we love every bit of her already!

Let the planting begin!

Well- it has started. The garden is going in! I love spring! It is still early for a lot of stuff but the peas are in. Patrick and I were out there today- shovels in hand- to get the peas started.



I love peas fresh out of the garden and Patrick has developed a taste for them as well. Last year none of them even made it into the house. They were all eaten right off the vine in the garden. Yum. We will be putting in onions, lettuce, and spinache soon. Once it is warmer we have plans for cantaloupe, zucs, watermelon, beans and corn. The corn will be our second attempt after failing with it a few years ago. The seed packet for the zucs says "Feed the neighborhood". So- either keep your doors locked or you might find a cute little zucchini on your doorstep!

Patrick was a HUGE help in getting the peas in today.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Baby Named Hand

The big move for Patrick was this morning. He is officially in his new room upstairs. We have been talking about it quite a bit and the last few mornings he has asked if it was time. So this morning after breakfast he and Jason started taking apart his bed.

Patrick made several trips carrying the slats up and J took the mattress. I took the head and foot boards. Since we have been using Patricks new room as a playroom since it got carpet last fall there was a little rearranging of toys that needed to be done.
Then the bed was put together, all the stuffed animals in their places. I tried to get a picture of Patrick but the stipulation was that I wanted a nice smile without his hands on his face. This is what I got:More of a monster look...
Anyway- after everything was in place P got a present for moving into his new room. A baby. He has been asking for a baby for awhile and it seemed there were always more requirements on what the baby needed or what it should look like. For starters- it had to be bald. No hair. Then he and I were at storytime and another little girl had her baby there. He climbed up into my lap and whispered in my ear... "I want my baby to have ears." Ok. No hair but with ears. We can do that. Then the baby needed a bed and toys like trucks and airplanes. Ok. Bed, toys, no hair, with ears. Then the baby needed a potty and a bottle. Oh- a burp cloth. That was needed too. And the eyes- they needed to open and close. Ok. My mental capacity was quickly filling with all the requirements for this baby.
So Patrick got his baby. No hair, with ears, opening and closing eyes and a bottle, burp cloth and potty. The bed is coming- the one I used as a child- and we have toys.
Patrick said "This is the one I wanted! I am so excited! I think I will take care of this baby!" It was very sweet.
The baby has been on the swing out on the deck, has had a nap after all her drinking(as Patrick put it) and has been on a walk. He has even sung her Rock-A-Bye Baby. Too cute.
So I would like to introduce you all to the new baby in the house: Hand. Yes, that is her name. It was Foot but was changed to Hand after getting to know her a little.

He is going to make an excellent big brother. What a sweetie.

Per request: I would like everyone to know Patrick has selected a new name for his baby. She is now known as Andrea. Named after a fabulous friend of mine that Patrick enjoys hanging with too.

Another Saturday...

Another Saturday and another messed up dessert. We are seeing college friends tonight and I was in charge of making a dessert. I picked a simple 4 ingredient apple cake. How hard is that? Did I just ask myself that question?

Anyway- after baking, poking with a tester(which came out clean several times I might add!) and cooling, it was discovered that the thing didn't completely bake and the top of the cake stayed in the Bundt pan! I know- cake batter can be tasty but not when it is mixed with cooked cake. Curse you cooking fairy!

My knight in shining armor is trying to help me salvage this though and we are turning it more into a monkey bread type thing. I cut it up and put the pieces into a cooking dish. Jason actually tells me that the more I mess up the less likely I am to come into his kitchen!

This is after baking it again...kind of a mess. Jason made a sugar icing to go over top and we will take along some ice cream. Now I just have to hope my friends don't read this before they have a chance to eat it!

My Valentines!

Happy Valentines Day to my two favorite guys: Jason and Patrick. Jason has been my Valentine since 1996 and I love him more every day. I love our time together whether we are hiking in Aspen, scuba diving in the Cayman's, or sitting at the kitchen table in Mount Vernon. We have had so many adventures together and I look forward to a lifetime of more. Jason, you are a wonderful partner and a terrific dad. Thank you, Jason, for being you!


My second Valentine is Patrick. What a little sweetheart. This little miracle came into our lives in 2005. I love him more every day too. I love the way he runs through the house and the way he tells me stories while we drive in the car. I love watching him sleep all snuggled up with his blankets. I am loving watching him grow up into a fabulous little boy.

Happy Valentines Day to my two favorite guys!