'Checking Horses' with Papa

On a beautiful September Saturday Papa announced he was going to check the horses and asked who wanted to come help. Four grandkids tagged along and I was just smart enough to grab my camera and join them. 

Some ordinary moments are more priceless when caught on camera.

 My Dad has the Pied-Piper effect, his grandkids follow after him all the time.

Papa collects lots of old things, including wagons (why? we do not know). But the grandkids appreciate them, so he is sure to show them off to the little ones. Here he locked them all in the 'jail wagon' and played Sheriff. 

Priceless.

Let me at those cheeks!

For the majority of this pregnancy, baby boy # 2 has been sideways. Two weeks ago we had an ultrasound to confirm he was indeed laying completely horizontal. Today we had a follow-up ultrasound to see if we needed to flip the little stinker, but as of today baby is head down and looking great!

The ultrasound tech today told me that the Dr just needed to see the position and fluid levels and I said well his mom needs to see his face today. She was gracious to give us some 3D images. 

 And a couple video clips.

I came home and re-sorted the dresser drawers of clean, folded, tiny, blue onesies and have looked at these pictures over and over. I can't wait to kiss those cheeks! Only about 3 more weeks, I can't wait!

Firestation

Our little playgroup scheduled a tour of the Firestation for today. Dax and I spent the morning looking at firetrucks and talking about what we'd see. Unfortunately, as we pulled up the firetrucks all were pulling out. So we saw an empty garage and no fireman, but had a good time chatting with friends and exploring the empty garage.

 Of all the fun things to find at the firestation, Dax found the basketball a top the lockers in the back. That was really the only thing he was interested in. 

Whenever I don't catch the balls Dax throws he says "Aw, good try Mama". That's how I felt about our Firestation visit, good try - next time maybe duty won't call when we have 15+ kids showing up for a tour! 

Moments of Perfection

On the start of a busy week for Curtis we looked over his calendar and saw that on Monday he only had about a 45 minute break for lunch that he could see Dax awake that day. We really try to let Dax see his Dad every day, though sometimes it doesn't work out. This day we packed a lunch and a picnic blanket, picked up Curtis and drove to our favorite picnic spot, Horticulture Park, just minutes from Purdue. For 45 minutes we ate, sang songs, blew bubbles and then of course there was football. 

 The weather was perfect. The company was perfect. We were all so grateful to spend time with one another. It was one of those perfect little snip-its of life.

I've had moments over the past several months where I wonder how life could be more perfect than our little family of 3. Life is easy and so often blissful. I remember having the same fear before Dax was born, that life was already perfect and it wouldn't be after a baby. The life that I thought was full of love and happiness now over-flows thanks to Dax and I have faith another child will have the same effect. We are truly excited and thankful for the little brother coming soon!

9 years at O'Charley's

Nine years ago today Curtis and I started officially "dating". Of course we were in high school and titles like "boyfriend" still applied. For our first date date as a couple we doubled with some mutual friends and went to the restaurant O'Charley's. Unlike most first dates, our friends took a picture of us. And so, every year since I have had my picture taken out front of O'Charley's on September 8th. 

2002

2003 (One year of dating!)

2004 (Curtis had been on his mission for 3 Months, his mom filled in as my snuggle buddy)

2005 (15 Months into Curt's mission, Melanie poses as Curtis)

2006 (Engaged!)

2007 (Married, at last.)

2008 & 2009- (Still working on finding these pictures!)

2010

2011

This maybe our last year of this tradition, since it is our last year we know we will be in Lafayette on our dating-Anniversary. It's been a good one, but has been an even better 9 years of dating!

Fiscally Conservative

Dax loves to put money in his piggy-bank. (Although he disagrees with us when we call it a pig and corrects us by telling us it is a "Hippo!"). 

The other day he came running out of his room and said "Mama, moneys please?... SURE!". 

(He adds 'SURE' and nods enthusiastically when he asks for something when he doesn't want me to say "no". I didn't know where he got it until Curtis pointed out that he is mimicking me, I answer ''sure' to him (and I guess enthusiastically) most of the time. I'm a sucker for anytime he says it.)

How could I say no?

I dug through my purse, found some coins and followed him into his room where he was impatiently pointing to his shelf and yelling "Hippo!". 

He carefully put each coin into his 'hippo' and clapped as each coin kerplunked inside. 

I hope he finds saving money this exciting for a while yet!

Playset

Thanks to Uncle Ry and family, Dax is the proud new owner of this little playset. We spend every morning swinging and standing perched on the look-out watching for buses, trucks, tractors, airplanes, helicopters, cars, birds, flowers, bugs and making comments about the weather.

Thank you 'Country Gibbs'!