Presents

It's 8:15pm on Saturday night. The hum of saws and nail guns still permeates the humid hot air outside. The renovations continue...

My friend Robin put together a little 'mail baby shower' for me this week. People sent gifts in the mail and Ken and I opened them up with Lucy this afternoon. It was such a fun idea and we got lots of great new clothes for the baby boy to be.

Lucy got a snazzy princess skirt from Robin too. At first she wouldn't put it on, but later in the evening she was posing for photos.


















The bangs continue to grow and I'm still pregnant. But I think this baby will be coming sooner, rather than later...

30 Days

With thirty days to go until my official due date, I thought I'd give you a quick state of affairs and what's on the top of our list in the next month:

The official 'party deck' as Ken calls it is being constructed and I'm hoping this deck will live up to all my hopes and dreams. Those hopes and dreams mostly consist of putting Lucy out on the deck for hours of fun while I tend to a new baby. And then after the new baby and I have bonded, putting myself out there for hours of drinking! So here is where we stand with the deck project. Everyday I'm told they will 'finish it today'. So far, we are only about a three days behind schedule.

This view from the window is where a set of french doors will be. French doors that are still on order...

Next on the project list was to install a simple new counter top. The island in our kitchen had no overhang, which rendered it useless as a place for eating or hanging out (in our already small kitchen). So we decided to go ahead and put in new counter tops for the entire kitchen and island. Seemed simple enough. But then we were told our base cabinets were in such bad shape they would not support the new counter top (after, of course, the old one was ripped out). So then we got new base cabinets. Then new counter tops, then our new sink - but now we have no back splash because the old one had to be ripped out for the new counter top. Asleep yet with boredom? A simple new counter top turned into that plus, new base cabinets that we still need to paint, a new back splash - that we will be paying someone to install and a new sink - which Ken plumbed. Sorry baby, we shall not be able to afford diapers or food for the entire family for several years. But our kitchen will look smashing!

A blurry picture of our island counter top and posts that need to be painted.

I seem to remember going through a home renovation once, and swearing to never do it again. Maybe it was something like 'I never want to go through a home renovation again unless I am 36 weeks pregnant and have a 2 year old'?

In Lucy land, Dora has taken a major back seat. Dora, the one who used to go everywhere with Lucy now lives at the bottom of the bathtub. Thankfully, Boots is there to keep her company during the long nights.

There is a new licensed character in town and her name is SNOW WHITE! Do you feel the love?

Not 2 minutes after I posted this entry, Ken came into the office and noticed a HUGE leak in the ceiling. The new water line to the new fridge had been leaking for a week, and saturated two tiles of the dropped ceiling Ken installed in our office. All in all, it will be an easy fix and we are thankful it wasn't worse. We will be so excited when this is all over and we can enjoy our beautiful house!

The Life of a Popsicle

It's officially hot and humid down here, but the pools are open and we have lots of popsicles and air conditioning to keep us cool. Lucy has really grown up lately and we are enjoying her ongoing monologue of our daily activities.

Perhaps the biggest change for her has been total elimination of artificial colors from her diet. Through research I've discovered that Red 40, and Yellow 5 and 7 cause hyperactivity in children. This is so well documented, that Britain is actually phasing out these artificial colors from all their food. Honestly, the LAST thing I wanted to do was to add one more thing to the list of things Lucy can not eat, but after only a few days, we all could clearly see the difference. I wasn't giving her large amounts of artificial colors, but I would give her lollipops and selected candies when in situations where she could not eat what the other kids where eating (because it contained milk or eggs or peanuts or nuts). The biggest score was the day I discovered Organic lollipops at Trader Joe's with no artificial colors.

Exciting life we lead, I know.

Other than monitoring everything that goes into Lucy's mouth, we have been busy with LISTS! PROJECTS! WE HAVE A BABY COMING! Our home improvements projects just never seem to end. And neither does this pregnancy. Please, please let this one be even a little bit early. I don't understand how there can possibly be any more room for this baby to grow. I'm maxed out.















































And yes, those popsicles are artificial color free! And cost lots of Mo-ney!

Family Vacation

We went to the beach - again! Living in The South really has it's advantages. We took a family vacation to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Lucy had a wonderful time with her cousins on the beach. The biggest news of the weekend was that Lucy was an absolute dream child during the 8+ hour drive to and fro. She's changed in remarkable ways in the last several months. Less whining, more interactive!

And for those of you still getting snowed on - it was 80 and sunny everyday.

As usual it's late, I'm tired and my creativity is low. Here are some photos to keep you coming back:

Warning: We are in the middle of Operation Growing Out Bangs - Phase One.



















I can't even believe I'm posting this pregnant photo of myself...
























And lastly, if I had to sum up Lucy in one photo, it would be this. She's STILL into everything and doesn't give up. She tried to get into this chain-locked gate (to the pool that wasn't open yet) everyday, multiple times a day. She's no quitter.

Moving Forward

Or at least trying. Lucy pushes us, whether we want to go or not. Spring planting season is here and Ken has already tackled several projects.

Karen Marlow Wilkenloh

July 3, 1943 - March 27, 2008

It is with great sadness I announce my mother passed away on Thursday, March 27, 2008 after a three year battle with ovarian cancer.

It's already March?

Sorry, postings have been light, as we all have been preoccupied with my mothers deteriorating health.

But here is a little Lucy sunshine to brighten your day. I let her play with scissors tonight, something I know I will regret. It seemed like a good idea at the time. And we introduced Jelly Beans. Another questionable parental decision.


















Too late - it's already a regret. She cut her thumb with the scissors. No joke.

Winter Break

We drove to Florida, and it took less than a day! We left in the morning, and got there mid afternoon. If living in Minneapolis, it would be like driving to Chicago. We weren't in Southern Florida, but it was Florida, and there were beaches and ocean and I know none of you in from Minnesota would complain about that.

Lucy loved swimming in the pool. She liked to talk a big talk about GOING TO THE BEACH, but once we would get there, she didn't really know what to do with herself.

It was nice to get away and enjoy some 'warmer' weather. Lucy did really well in the car and even in the hotel. We were very nervous about the whole sleeping thing, but she had no problem. She looked a little cramped in the pack n play, but she slept, and we rejoiced.

It's been harder and harder to take photos of Lucy lately, as she doesn't seem to like the camera. Here are the best photos of the 4 day trip.

Becoming A Person

This photo was taken after she pushed the upholstered rocking chair in her room up to her dresser and pulled out most of the CD's and necklaces in the top drawer. I went to see what she was doing, and this is what I found, standing in the rocking chair.

She calls her new piece of clothing a hat. Obviously, potty training is going really well.

I put her down for her nap, with the underwear still on her head. And she still had it on, two hours later!

















Today she also said the following phrases:

Oh My Gosh!
Brown Shoes - CUTE!
Stop Whining

I guess it's time to reel in the language. Thankfully, no audible swear words yet. Utterly amazing!

A Little Bit of Minnesota, Right Here In Jaw-Jaw

*Note: That's GEORGIA for all you Northerns who don't understand the bastardized southern version of the English language.

Everyone put your hands together for....

Baby Bonk number two! We've had a little secret that we've only told a few (hundred, it seems), but now that I'm almost thirteen weeks, it only seems right to make the announcement official on Baby Coffee. We've got baby number two on the way. If I haven't returned your phone calls, or even made contact with you over the holidays, it's simply because this tiny little baby has been beating me down. Making me sicker than sick. It's been a miserable three months. It seems I'm starting to feel better since I'm eating more than crackers, soup and water.

Today I went in for one of those ultrasounds they give OLD pregnant women, and everything is looking excellent. The doctor asked if I wanted to see if it was a boy or a girl and I was surprised they could even determine the sex that early. I thought it wasn't until 20 weeks. Oh so wrong! We could see very clearly that this Baby Bonk is a BOY. I was so stunned and shocked I forgot to get the ultrasound image from the technician. I was SURE I was having a girl. I've been saving pink outfits for 2+ years now and have a pretty good store started in my parents basement.

Now it's onto to the name game for the next 6 months. Suggestions always welcome, but not necessarily taken.

The next Bonk chapter arrives sometime on or around July 20th. Thankfully, before the dreaded month of August in Atlanta.

Happy 2008

The Last of 2007

Christmas Eve: The cousins enjoying a bowl of frozen blueberries before heading off to bed.

















Christmas morning. The most adored present in the place. And it wasn't Lucy's!

















Christmas afternoon. The only way to get her to smile was to include a lollypop in the photo.

Projects. Lucy loves nothing more than projects and a screwdriver. Finally, the laundry room is getting the addition of cabinets which will now make it my studio/laundry room. Then, I can finally unpack all my studio stuff. It's been in boxes since March!

Stay tuned in 2008...

Merry Christmas!

As you can see, Lucy is very excited for Santa to come with lots of presents!

In other exciting news, Lucy got her cast off on Wednesday. She's taken long luxurious baths each day since and is very happy to have her pink friend gone.

Happy Holidays to everyone. Our holiday card is a little late this year, as we've all been sick, sick and sick. Look for it remarketed as a Happy New Year card.

Still Tickin

Thanksgiving was mellow and mild. All enjoyed the visit from Grandma Sue. We were just settling into a late Sunday afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa's when Lucy tripped and fell in the kitchen. When the crying lasted a little longer than usual and she played, but without using her right arm, we suspected an injury. One fairly quick visit to the local childrens emergency care station and this is what we came home with:



















First xrays, then a splint for two days. Then on Tuesday morning a full cast.
























Poor child broke both the bones in her right arm and will have the cast for at least 3.5 weeks. After that, she may still need a smaller cast for another week. All things considered, it hasn't slowed her down a bit. It's like everyone says - kids are incredibly resilient and adaptive. Now our biggest challenges are to find shirts to fit over the cast. And, to bath a dirty two year old without getting the cast even the wee teeniest bit wet. Any suggestions?

The Pensive Side of Lucy

This photo is a long overdue picture of Lucy's favorite toy from Wendy.

Halloween '07

As I gather my belongings for an out of town weekend without Ken and Lucy, I leave you with a few holiday photos. Lucy gives Halloween and CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY CANDY a big high five.

And her version of Trick Or Treat = Cracker Treat.

























An ode to Grandma!