Love Grows

Is it possible to love someone more every day? Can a piece of your heart walk around outside your body? Does God provide us with a glimpse of His love for us through the gift of children? Yes Yes Yes

Today has been a treasure: walking this morning with neighborhood friends, shared breakfast of scrambled eggs and grapes, so many kisses that I was doubling over with laughter, a little dancing, and a self-portrait or two after naptime.

I packed away all the maternity clothes today and put them at the very top of my closet. All except the maternity tank tops. They are so stretchy and wonderful. Here is the evolution of the maternity tank top wearing justification,
1) I will just wear them for a month or so after I have the baby
2) I will just wear them until I go back to work
3) I will just wear them until I am not nursing
4) And finally, I will just wear them during my childbearning years...

Bathtub Playpen

This has been a crazy week for Grant, Cadie, and I. So crazy that we had to call for backup and Cadie ended up spending the night at DD and Big John's on Tuesday night. I have had a number of work milestone that have required me to stay up half the night on Tuesday night and Thursday night. Then Grant has had a lot to do at work and a few early morning hearings this week. Plus Cadie hasn't been feeling 100% and I finally took her to the Dr. yesterday evening and she has an earache. Poor baby! She is such a good sport that I think it took me awhile to go to the Dr. because she was still sweet most of the time.

Anyway, even though I stayed up most of last night, I feel good today because I have gotten to spent a bit of time with Grant. Last night he got home from work at about 9pm (after waiting an hour at Walgreens for Cadie's perscription, ugh), and I didn't have to get on my work conference call until 10:30pm. It was quiet and we were both in the mood to talk. It is getting more and more rare for Grant and I to be together, have some peace, and both be in a good mental and emotionaly place to discuss our hearts and minds. It felt so nice to connect with him, even for that hour. Then, this morning, Cadie and I were Dad's shadow. We just kinda followed him around while he got ready for work and we all played and talked. It was fun to have a sliver of family time.

That is how Cadie ended up playing in the bathtub. We were hanging out in the bathroom singing and talking with Dad as he showered, and I plopped Cadie in the bathtub. It turns out to be a nice playpen and she had a great time. The good time ended when I accidentally hit the bubbles and it started blowing air which scared her.

Oktoberfest

Cadie, Big John, Grant and I went to the Addison Oktoberfest on Saturday night. We had a great time dancing, listening to music, eating, checking out the rides, hanging out, and drinking a bit of beer.

Catching a ride into the festival...

A little dancing with Big John...Listening to some tunes. Playing with the hay bale was one of the highlights for Cadie.Cadie's typical serious face. She is not a super smiley child.Playing with an empty beer stein, Dad emptied it not Cadie.

Why is Cadie Poking Grandma?

My last few favorite pics from our time in Kansas City:

My sister, Bethany, and I with our kiddos and our grandma's.
Aunt CJ and Uncle Ryan helping Cadie to ride their dog, Chauncy.

My extended family. Lots of wonderful Aunts, Uncles, grandparents, and cousins.

The Cousins

Cadie and Samuel got to meet each other for the first time while we were in Kansas. Cadie was more interested in Samuel than he was in her :) I know they will be great friends! This is Cadie trying to pull Samuel out of the swing so that she can get in it! She is way too big for the swing, but that didn't stop her from trying.

Gullickson's

My entire immediate family was together over the long weekend for the first time since Christmas, and the first time every together with the new cousins (Cadence and Samuel). Here is the run down of the players:

- Ron and Nicki Gullickson: My AMAZING parents live in Overland Park, KS in the house where I grew up

- Erin, Grant, Cadence Walsh: I am the oldest child, I think you know our story...

- Bethany, Nathan, Samuel Chapman: Bethany is the next oldest and she and her husband and son live in Washington D.C. (way too far!). Bethany is an accountant at KPMG and her husband is an attorney. Little Samuel Thomas is 3 months old.

- Courtney and Ryan Gallet: CJ is the youngest sister and Ryan is the newest add-on - they got married Dec. 27th, I think he is still getting adjusted to our crazy ways. CJ is in nursing school and Ryan is a graphic design artist and they live in Wichita, Kansas

- Eric Gullickson, the only boy, graduated from college about a year ago but is living the dream as a mountain guide on Mt. Rainier in Washington St.

During our time together, we went to church, played 2-base Whiffleball in the neighborhood, ate LOTS of food, played in boxes (ok, that was mostly Cadie), held the babies, had a picnic with our extended family, climbed up and down the stairs (again, I guess that was mostly Cadie), and relaxed and caught up. It was wonderful. I have the BEST family.

Deanna Rose Farmstead

The Deanna Rose Farmstead is near my parents house in Kansas City and I spent lots of time there growing up. It is a wonderful place for kids, and my Dad took Cadie on her first trip to the Farmstead yesterday. She saw a Bobcat, chickens, sheep, goats, and who knows what else. Cadie LOVES animals. I think her first word was probably "Piper" which is Grant's parent's dog. Even though Cadie was feeling great, she loved sharing her Cheerios with the goats (probably not allowed, but Cadie didn't know), petting sheep, and hanging out with Granddad Ron.