Halloween

 We again celebrated Halloween with Lila.  This year Elizabeth was a Princess thanks to a costume from Auntie Laurla.  Lila was a werewolf named Claudia.  Their choices of costumes are very much a reflection of their personalities.  If there is mud or a puddle Lila is in it.  Elizabeth believes in pink, light purple and pretty dresses.

 Henry was a monkey.  Elizabeth was also a monkey back in the day.  You can certainly tell they are siblings.

 Apparently it is quite exhausting being a monkey.  I agree.

Cooing

DSC 0195 from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

Just a baby smiling and cooing.  That is all.

Big Couple of Months

Things have been fun and big around here.  Pops came for a visit while Jeff and Elizabeth headed back east for a family wedding.  Elizabeth LOVED her trip.  It was great for her to have something special just about her.  We went shoe shopping for the wedding as all she had was boots and sneakers.  She spent 30 minutes trying on EVERY shoe in the store as I was begging her to pick a pair and get it over with.  She looked at me as I encouraged her to just choose and said "I love shoe shopping and want to do this every day!".  These words have never passed my lips.

 She picked a glittery silver pair and has not taken them off.  There is glitter all over our house!  That afternoon she walked around the house in her dress and shoes and said "People at the wedding will say Who is that Goooorgeous girl?"  Since her return we have not stopped playing wedding which is a very odd game.

 Henry went for his two month shots which I was happy to get in him.  Makes me nervous with our lack of immunized folks in Washington state as seen with our nasty pertussis outbreak.  He now weighs in at a crazy 14 pounds 2 ounces and 25 inches long.  He wears 3 to 6 month old clothing and leans more towards the 6 month size.  My milk supply has always been my super power and apparently is made of only cream.

He is smiling and laughing like crazy.  Pops said it perfectly in that he is now even smiling with his eyes.   He is desperate to get his hands in his mouth.  Nursing and his hands in his mouth are his two motivations in life.

Elizabeth will ask for him to join in on all activities.  She will get his little bouncy chair, bring it in the playroom and then request that he joins her.  She will then spend time playing school with him.  He is captivated by her.  It is awesome to have a built in 4 year old sitter!

Just Hanging Out

We are having fun here in the McSpeert household.  Elizabeth loves her brother and remains the greatest little helper.  Bath time is a favorite and she is quick to chastise me if I get water in his eyes... 'momma watch out Henry does not like that' and then she'll pat him saying 'It's ok Henry, momma is sorry'.    

 When I'm trying to get things done she will say "momma you take a shower/make dinner/clean bathroom and I'll watch brover" and then she will proceed to read him stories or even better put on music and dance for him.

She is an expert at holding him.

Although sometimes he looks a bit concerned and I wonder if he is saying "Are you sure she has me??"

 Tummy time is not his favorite!

6 weeks and smiling

 Been a bit difficult to capture but he has started to smile.  Nice to get a little bit of positive affirmation.  We had taken to referring to him as 'our little bump on the log' but no more.  I love the 6 week mark when they start waking up and doing something.

Picnic Fun

We have had nearly two months of 80 plus degree weather with no rain.  A nice way to enjoy our new little man.  Jeff says September is his favorite month in Seattle.  Never count out the sun in September.  Great month!!                                                           

Henry's first camping trip

Henry had his first camping trip this weekend.  We went with two other families that go to Elizabeth's school and we had a blast.  It is great to just see the kids run free.  

 Jacob and Vivianne are biking experts and were a great influence on Elizabeth as she has been quite apprehensive.  By the end of the weekend she was taking off.  Yeah!

We were camping at a place that has old WWII bunkers which provided fun tunnels to run through and things to climb on.

 There was an amphitheatre where the kids gave many a performance.

 Do you like her turban? She complained that the sun was 'too bright'.  She is such a pacific northwest gal.  Jeff outfitted her with this head/shade wrap.  Then she peed in the grass and on her pants thus the winner of an outfit below.  We are proud!  Ha!

 Henry was there despite the lack of photos.  He spent most the weekend in the ergo and now wants to spend all his time in the ergo.  Always more fun in someones arms he says.

Four

Guess who turned four?  I can not even believe another year has gone by.  For some reason this past year has flown.  I sat that night and told her the story of her birth and silently promised to try and be present for every moment.  I wish time could just stand still for a bit.

Celebration number one was at school where she gave us a little performance with songs and poems.  So adorable.  

Came home that evening and she found a trampoline in the backyard.  As you can imagine this was quite the hit.  She even managed to get her Mimi on for some jumping.  In case you have not been on a trampoline in a while let me just tell you it is quite the work out.  Especially when you have a four year old that can jump for hours.

Celebration number two was a low key gathering with Lila and Anneka.  We had enough going on with a 2 week old so kept it all quiet although she was just as thrilled.  We ordered Thai takeout and had a Baskin Robin's cake.  It was so easy and relaxed.  I may do this every year.

Happy Birthday my sweet love of a girl!!!

 IMG 0367 from kathleen mcgregor on Vimeo.

Visitors

It has been a whirlwind here of fun here in casa McSpeert.  Laura arrived the day prior to Henry's arrival and just made everything go.  She made curtains for Elizabeth's room, carted E around town, baked goodies galore, cleaned my house, moved a houseful of furniture to accommodate our changing of rooms,  and brought me to the hospital but first brought me to have a pedicure.  My legs were the size of tree trunks so at least my toes would look good.

Laura was the first person (outside of Jeff) to hold Henry just as mom was the first one to hold Elizabeth.  Laura handed him to me to breast feed just as mom handed me Elizabeth.  A perfect moment again!


We dream of having Laura move to Seattle.  We prod and annoy her to try to get her to move to Seattle.  We have succumb to bribery.  Thus far we have continued to fail but we shall not concede defeat.

Bill and cousin Kathryn arrived next and made a difficult week loads of fun.  It was an enormous weight off my shoulders just to know that Elizabeth was having the time of her life.  It allowed me to focus on the little man and figure out our new life together.  Kathryn is truly a dreamy little girl.  Alison came over one afternoon when they were here and she put it perfectly by saying 'Don't we want our girls to grow up as sweet and engaging as Kathryn'.  Yes we do and this is why Jeff and I often turn to Bill and Lisa for parenting advice.  They have most certainly done it right!

Virginia arrived the day Bill and Kathryn left.  I managed to not get a single photo of Virginia while she was here probably because I was keeping her busy the entire time.  It was great to pass her Henry and spend a bit more time focused on Elizabeth.  I was missing my little girl for sure!  There is no hope that Virginia will move to Seattle but it is very reassuring that one phone call and she will be here in a moment.  She is our family.

Notice the double chin.  He was born with a double chin!!

And what was happening the week before he came??

Napping (I was out and had no idea photos were taken)

More napping.  

Long walks in the heat trying to induce labor.

Realization that he was gonna be a biggin'!!

Henry Keel Speert

Our sweet enormous hunk of a boy, Henry Keel Speert, was born yesterday weighing in at a gorgeous 9 pounds 11 ounces. 

He is named after some remarkable people in our lives and our hope is that this legacy will give him strength in life.  Kathleen's maternal grandfather was Henry and her mom, the last of four girls, was given the name of Henriette.  In high school she was actually called Hank by friends due to her tough tomboy nature.  She was an avid small boat sailor spending summers in the lakes of Iowa in her boat called 'Buoy Crazy'. His first name also comes from Jeff's paternal grandfather, Herman. Herman had an amazing sense of humor, was playful, generous and entrepreneurial. He was the grandparent Jeff spent the most time with and they had a very close and jovial relationship.

His middle name, Keel, is after our dear friend Keely who passed away this June.  The 'keel' is the underside part of a boat that traditionally was built first during construction. It provides the stabilization and strength that prevents capsizing. Jeff brought this to me and said 'isn't that just what Keely did for all of us'.  Her message to us all to be gentle, to be kind and to live life came from a glorious place of strength. She lived this message.

I hope our son is kind, gentle, strong and full of life.

Pops at work again

Pops was here visiting and once again we put him to work.  The garden was the focus and he managed to weed and clean and prune until he left.  

This allowed Jeff to focus on the basement remodel and me to spend time with Elizabeth.

With the approach of my due date Elizabeth has become my little shadow and requests me for all activities.  She is old enough to realize that all will change when this little man arrives and she is getting every moment with me that is possible.  I can't say that I really mind though as she is one fun pal to have around.