Updates

Colin

He had his 4-month appointment this week. He weighed in at 15 lbs. 2 oz. and is 26 1/2 inches long. That means he's gained almost 3 lbs. and 3 1/2 inches in the past two months! In fact, he grew so much that the nurse measured him several times because she couldn't believe it. He's jumped up to the 95th percentile in height.

He still loves to laugh and giggle and is starting to reach for toys and books when they're held out to him. He rolled over from tummy to back a few weeks ago and now we are working on going the other way.

Megan

She still has her cast on but life continues to be lots of smiles and laughs for her. We went in a week ago for another x-ray to make sure it was healing correctly. We have an appointment in a week and they'll take the cast off, x-ray her arm, and decide if she needs another cast put on or if her arm has healed completely.

This week she had her first ice cream cone and of course, loved it! It's kind of sad that she is 2 years old and has never had one, but if we have dessert it is almost always after she's in bed and we never buy ice cream cones for ourselves. We let her go at it and she had Cookies n' Cream all down her dress but hey, that's what being a kid is all about.

After lots of discussion and lots of prayers, we have decided to start Megan in speech therapy. I had been praying about it intensely one night and the next day, my visiting teachers came and one of them asked "Does Megan talk much?" and then proceeded to explain that her son (who is Megan's same age and is very similar developmentally) is been in therapy for six weeks and can already say a whole list of words. I felt like it was an answer to a prayer. We have tried everything we can think of to help her and yet she says fewer words now than she did a year ago. Someone will be coming to the house next week to evaluate her and we are excited that she'll finally be able to express herself and not get so frustrated sometimes.

Marilee

Sorry, no pictures. Not that I am embarrassed to post pictures of myself - there simply aren't any recent ones! I think I now understand why there are only a few of my childhood pictures where my mom is actually in the picture with me. :)

I am happy to report that I am faithfully following my new running program. It is not always easy to get out the door since by the time the kids are in bed, I am usually so tired. But I am determined to do this and it helps that Peter is so encouraging. I can already see changes it has made in my life. I feel better physically and seem to have more energy. I am sleeping better. I am making healthier eating choices - I no longer eat a huge dish of ice cream every night! I feel like I am calmer and more patient throughout the day because I have an outlet. I am thinking of switching to morning runs but that means getting up early, early so I can be back before Peter leaves for work. So, we'll see.

I have been spending my "free time" trying to catch up on scrapbooks and editing my sister's wedding video. Our new printer (our old one went crazy on us after a plant fell on top of it) prints directly onto DVD's and I am so excited to get our edited home videos some proper labels and cases. I have a list of projects a mile long whenever I want to take a break from cleaning, paying bills, etc. - all those fun things I get to do while the kids take their afternoon naps.

Peter

We gave Peter his big Father's Day/Birthday present early so that he could actually enjoy it on his big days. He has talked about wanting a grill since I first met him and so the kids and I presented him with a coupon to go pick out a grill of his choice. He is having so much fun with it - in the first week and a half, we have already grilled 4 times. I am having fun with it too - if we grill, it means I don't have to cook!! I should have thought of this four years ago and bought him one then.

Peter is battling a head cold right now and we are hoping he will recover in time to celebrate his 29th birthday this Saturday. Somehow he always seems to get sick on holidays! Hopefully he will recover in time to enjoy the Barbecue (yay for grilling!), cake and presents, and our date!

Family Stuff

We enjoyed a quick visit this week from my sister Melissa and her husband Kevin as they drove from Provo back to Ohio. Melissa and I went shopping for baby things (she's due in 4 weeks) while Kevin and Peter went to Best Buy and bought Kevin a new Ipod. Megan and Colin loved having them here (Kevin and Colin were inseparable) and it is strange to think that the next time we see them will be when they bless their baby!