A Week of G'ma Joan Spoiling

On Josh's fourth week of life Jeff went back to work, and G'ma Joan came to spoil us for a WHOLE WEEK! It was better than Christmas! :) Ellie was relieved to have the companionship and help with Lochhead I and Lochhead II.

Josh was spoiled...

...his first bath at home (yes, his mother waited until G'ma came to clean the sink!), endless kisses and snuggles, many a changed diaper, naps in the rocker with G'ma, and constant affirmation that he is the most handsome little man...

Gracie was spoiled...

...30-minute backyard swing sessions (G'ma is the best pusher!), snuggling with G'ma in her bed each morning after waking, new songs and rhymes to memorize (Good Morning, Merry Sunshine!), endless hugs and kisses, time outside in the garden, and constant affirmation that she is the best big sister...

Jeff and Ellie were spoiled...

... great food for dinner, loads and LOADS of laundry, floors vacuumed and swept, clothes closets cleaned out, rose garden trimmed back, kids' clothes organized and Josh's room closer to done, and constant affirmation that we were doing a great job adjusting to parenting two...

...and the funny thing is, G'ma Joan thinks this was a week where SHE was spoiled! She did receive constant affirmation that Grace and Joshy (and Jeff and Ellie!) love her very much.

(We won't talk about the week that Papa Greg had fending for himself--although I am pretty certain that two buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken got him through--but he got spoiled when G'ma came home!)

What a treasured week! We love you, G'ma Joan! Thanks for sharing her, Papa! :)

Baby's First Tattoo

Aunt Cassie has marked a very important time in her life by getting this tattoo on her foot. It is really cool--and Grace is mesmerized by it! When she saw it, she ran to my foot to see if I had one and I tried to tell her that Cassie's tattoo is kind of like a sticker. Well, she immediately wanted one too. So here she is with her giraffe "tattoo" just like Aunt Cassie's...

Papa's Stool

Thank you, Papa LeRoy, for this fabulous wooden stool. Gracie is thrilled that her world has expanded vertically by a whole foot! She totes this thing from room to room, making bathroom sinks, kitchen counters, and Josh's changing table easily accessible!

Apple Annie

Aunt Annie told Gracie that when she was a little girl she liked apples so much

that she was given this special nickname.

This story has inspired a young girl...

Apple GRACIE?!?

She likes the "fresh ones" best. She eats apple slices watermelon-style

and then says, "Trade you, Mom," and turns them in for a fresh slice.

Gracie's Apple Recycling Plan (ARP).

She's not sure what's cooler: eating apples

or getting to eat apples up on the chair at the table...

...this way she can "check on Joshy." :)

Sweet days.

Birthday Buddies

For the last nine months we joked about it happening, but were so excited when it actually did...

...Baby Kai and Baby Josh were born on March 25 and March 26! How fun to be at the hospital with Matt and Heidi too! Kai came 3 weeks early and we set our induction date (for the next day) right before we found out they were already at the hospital, preparing to deliver Kai. We were so excited! We had a fun few days of running between our rooms, just down the hall from one another, in the days following their births. We won't forget ooh-ing over each others' baby boys, sharing fast-food picnics, and nurses asking, "Now HOW do you folks know each other?"

A week(ish) after their birth days...peaceful Kai and not-so-peaceful Josh. (PLEASE tell me this is not a preview of personalities to come!!!) We know they'll be good buddies! So fun to share this time with you, Van Stickles!

TWO babies!

There are moments when Gracie slows down long enough to climb up into my lap to remind me that "Mommy holds TWO babies!"

She is such a sweet big sister. Each morning she wakes up and asks, "Where's Baby Joshy, Mom?"

And even Joshy's face and cheeks aren't immune to Gracie's touch--she loves to "hold Joshy's cheeks."

Easter Eggs and Papa Greg's...Birthday!

Easter fell the week after Josh was born this year. At one week of age he got his first trip to the Moser Farm to celebrate Papa Greg's 60th birthday--I have NO?!? pictures of this fried chicken extravaganza?!?--and Easter with the Weber clan. We had a great time celebrating my dad--his siblings came and we watched the Final Four games while anticipating the delicious fried chicken dinner that Dad requested. Easter was filled with egg hunts for the great-grandkids and lots of together time with my cousins, aunts, and uncles at G'ma Trudy and Papa LeRoy's house. We are so blessed to be RICH with family!

57 Years of Bliss

G'ma and G'pa Lochhead celebrated 57 years of marriage in March! If you ask Harvey, he will tell you the story of how he knew the moment he laid eyes on Dorothy Hill 58ish years ago--he knows the specific date, incidentally!--he knew she was the one! Such sweet stories they tell! Love to you both, G'ma and G'pa! (And for your information, 57 is NOT a prime number, folks!)

Morrow Love

The Morrows couldn't stay away for long! Three days after Joshua was born they came up for the day to meet and greet their new cousin. Abby reminded me that she was SIX and was big enough to carry Josh around, but she was very nice to let a worried mama do the carrying this time. Megan did a quick hold, and then Katie and Brady and Brooke got a good snuggle in. Josh didn't disappoint--he tooted while Abby was holding him (notice the pillow placed underneath Josh so that the toots wouldn't touch any girl clothes...) and snuggled soundly with his auntie and uncle.

"Baby Joshy." -Gracie, proud big sister

Cuddled up in G'ma Trudy's crocheted handiwork...

Kissable features...and a serious look he's becoming known for.

The one-eye peek is his other specialty--he seems to be deciding

whether it's worth the effort to open TWO...

And the cry that shows off his amazing lungs!

He is sleeping like a CHAMP during the day,

but he has been honing his vocal skills regularly

between the hours of 10 pm and 2 am.

Thanks for taking these pics, Auntie Julie!