July 4th in Sonoma

Some great pictures of Zoe with Memaw & Boppa poolside at the Dexter's.

Two-Month Update

At Zoe's two month check-up with Dr. Piel (a day after her 2-month birthday), she weighed in at 12 lbs even (a couple ounces heavier than Hannah was at 2 months), 23 inches tall, with a 39 cm head circumference. All of which generally put her in the 75th percentile, except head circ. which was a mere 50th percent. Dr. Piel said that was exactly where we ought to be and gave her a clean bill of health. More warnings about her being a very active and alert baby, so watch out!


We finished off the appt with the dreadful vaccinations -- Polio, Hib, Pneumococcal, DTap and Rotavirus. Fortunately, they combined a few of the doses since Hannah was 2 months, so Zoe only needed two shots in the thighs instead of the previous four, and one oral (Rotavirus). We started with the oral, remembering Hannah's proclivity for getting all hysterical over the shots and usually throwing up. But apparently they don't flavor the RV oral gel, so it's rather nasty, and after administering about half of it, Zoe did actually gag and puke it up. I should have known better than to feed her before the appt! The nurse amazingly managed to get a bit more down after that, and we'll get round two in another two months, so no biggie. The shots were also not enjoyed, but she managed to calm down relatively quickly afterward, which was a big relief. So all in all, Zoe was a real champ and checked out great. Big thanks to Memaw who was there to help me out!

Needless to say, Memaw and Boppa have been having a blast during their month-long visit, and Zoe has given them loads of dimpled and double-chin'd smiles. She definitely has her daddy's dimples.

Princess Hannah

Hannah, you loved your blue princess dress from the moment you saw it. It has been tough to pry it off of you for baths, meals and bedtimes... You managed to keep it clean until your Parker School Halloween party today, and you looked great!

Lake Michigan... Without the Lake

Did someone yell 'SHARK' (or Asian Carp)?

Even though it is hot (mid-90s) and a bit humid, no one is going near the water...
The bacteria count was too high today, so health warnings kept everyone away.
Sorry Lake Michigan...

The sand is too hot to touch...
but at least the swings provide a minimal artificial breeze...

...Memaw and Hannah try to make the most of the situation...

49 Years may seem like a LONG time...

...to wait for the Chicago Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup again.....

But I'm sure it seemed like just yesterday that Ann & Tom got married.
Happy 49th Anniversary (June 10th)!!

Sunday Morning Skype

A Sunday morning Chicago/San Francisco Skype,
Hannah, Jack and Kate demonstrate their most
poised and professional Video Conferencing etiquette!

Hi Memaw, Boppa, Jack & Kate!

Happy Bday Uncle Eric!

November 1968
Happy Birthday!!
All our love,
Kristina, Jon & Hannah

Happy Anniversary Memaw & Bapa

...aka Ann & Tom ~ June 10th, 1961

And now for some real fun....!


48 Years and still going strong. Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!
xoxoxoxo

Big Love for Cousins Jake & Kate

Or as Hannah would say, "Kake" and "Dak," and usually in the wrong order, as the video will reveal (if we ever get that uploaded...). Hannah had the absolute best time ever with her cousins, from the very moment they arrived and first stepped foot in our house. It was as if Christmas in Chicago was only yesterday,... or more like the oldest, bestest pals in the world reuniting after years apart, without skipping a beat. The pictures below are just a smattering of the fun times the three of them had together - a time that was all too brief with all the hectic wedding-related details getting in the way of good old fashioned playtime.

May 7th : they're finally here!!

May 8th : Friday morning pajama party...wheeee!
May 10th : Mother's Day BBQ in Golden Gate Park

(You would never have known she was cranky, overtired, and having a meltdown before we spotted J&K up the street on the way into the Park...then EVERYTHING changed instantaneously!)My best memory of their togethertime will have to remain as such however - as it was when we ladies were getting ready in the final hour prior to the actual wedding. Hannah had woken from her nap (all went as gloriously planned there, phew!), but was a tad bit cranky, which was only made worse when we tried to put her into her flowergirl dress which she REALLY hated... Thankfully, Kate showed her how she had on the same dress, and they admired each other and their matching dresses in the mirror. And before you knew it, Hannah was smiling and running around, giggling like mad, squealing actually, playing tag with Kate and showing her all her toys again. If it had not been for Kate in that hour, who knows how things might have gone down! And if I hadn't been so busy trying to squeeze into my dress, I would have tried to capture the glee those two shared during that hour on our camera's video. But for the first time in our lives, we hardly ever turned our own cameras on that weekend. Thankfully, we have lots of pictures from friends who chronicled the events of the weekend.

If I could have bottled up Hannah's squeals of delight, happiness like I've never heard before, when playing with Jack & Kate, I would have. Thanks for coming out to San Francisco and bringing all of us so much joy!
XOXOXOXO
K, J & especially H