welcome baby leah!

Today we met baby Leah!  Bec, Corbin, and Caleb welcomed her yesterday and we couldn't wait to go visit.  Kirstin was smitten at first sight and really did a good job holding her.  If this any sign of things to come, little baby girl Ryan is going to get a lot of loving from her big sister!

Mommy, baby, Daddy, and big brother are all doing great... and Leah is just adorable!  At 6 lbs 9 oz and 18-inches, she's a tiny little thing... and her hair really is as dark and thick as it looks in the pictures!

Today I learned...

that playing hide-and-seek when you're 8 months pregnant takes on a new twist.  It seemed easy enough when Kirstin wanted to play, and the seeking went just fine - but I quickly found that my technique of hiding around the corner didn't work as there was more of me sticking out in front.  Hiding under something is pretty much out and if I were to somehow make it under the kitchen table as Kirstin would like me to, there is a very good chance I would remain there until Doug got home to help me out.  Crouching behind something works as long as I'm not hiding too well... can't stay that way for long so I need her to find me quickly!  Made me come up with some new hiding places... though the pantry is tried and true and still works (thank goodness!!).

Sleeping Beauty - or a sleeping zoo?

Well, we've always known she's our little sleeping beauty... and this picture proves it.  Yes, she still prefers sleeping on the floor - I have no explanation.  We get her in her bed for a week or two, think we're doing good, and next thing you know I find this when I go to check on her before I go to sleep - she's moved herself and her princesses and 'pets' (as the rest of her animals are called) into appropriate position on the floor.  (This pic was one night last week.)  She's still sleeping on the floor... and tonight as I tucked her in and watched her gather all her pets from around the room, I looked down at her snuggling in and counted 5 princesses, 4 teddy bears, 2 lambs, a chick, a duck, a giant frog (think pillow-size), a puppy, an elephant - oh, and of course, a bunny (in his regular place with an ear being 'snoozed on' by Kirstin).  So it appears she's now sleeping with a verifiable zoo.  Though I guess as long as she's sleeping, I'm not going to complain! 

Soccer Update

Well, more of the same for an enjoyable Saturday of soccer.  Kirstin even scored two goals (and after the first was seen jumping up and down - "I won, I won!"... still working on that 'team' concept.  After the second, she came running off the field for a congratulatory hug... also still working on the 'listen to your coach' concept.)  And I have to say thanks to the little girl, Emma, who passed to Kirstin as she happened to be in the right place/right time directly in front of the goal.   Doug and I have decided that Emma has older brothers and sisters who play soccer and that she somehow from this has a jumpstart on the rest of the girls, as she just seems to get the whole jist of the game  =o)  Never-the-less they all have fun!  And I will be proud that both of Kirstin's goals were kicked into the right goal - the opposing team had a little girl who 'scored' in our goal and was so proud of herself (and in case you were wondering, when you're playing 4-year-old soccer, the coaches still give you hi-fives and the crowd cheers for any goal you make - yours or the other team's).  Oh, and the 'Frogs' name isn't so bad now, as the coach handed out hair ribbons with frogs on them at this game.

Kickin' - Frogs Soccer

We spent Saturday afternoon enjoying the chaos that is four-year-old girls soccer.  (Really, that is the only word appropriate for the 'games' we watched, though I will admit the second one was a bit better.)   From Kirstin sitting on the sidelines playing/eating grass (at least she wasn't the only one) to frustration at 'the other girls run faster than me' to the thrill of kicking her first goal - quite an afternoon to say the least.  And let's not even start on trying to explain to a four-year-old the 'team' concept and that when her team wins, she wins...  we'll keep working on that!  (though I might mention they don't even keep score... might have something to do with the chaos part referred to earlier...)  Should be an interesting next few Saturday afternoons watching Kirstin and the Frogs (you might guess she was not crazy about that team name)!

http://picasaweb.google.com/meldryan/FirstSoccerGameKickin?authkey=Gv1sRgCKnklrWI99_MgAE&feat=directlink

Farmer Doug

As a quick thought, this blog would not be complete without at least a brief note on the cows... it's only too bad I didn't have this going when Doug and Wade were beginning their cattle experience, or you'd all be in for some crazy stories (they are likely both thankful those won't be posted here).  Our 'herd' consists of two cows, transported from Burdett, KS in a beauty of a horse trailer (yes, you read that right, horse trailer).  Oh, and it was raining that day - do not even ask how long that drive was.  Long.  It's been a learning experience for all involved, including the realization that cattle farming in eastern KS has its differences from western KS.  Somehow, both the cows and the farmers have survived the fence-building, feeding/watering, multiple attempts at corral-building, fly treatments, etc.  And in the end, things seem to be going smoothly at this point. Kirstin enjoys checking cows with dad - and ironic though it is, during one of the earlier trips to see the cows, our little princess asked her dad "when do we get to take them to the store so I can put them in my spaghetti?".  (Doug swears he did not tell her how this whole plan worked, but apparently she is not too attached to the cows at this point!)  And, yes, because I can see the questions coming from the pictures below, she checks cows in her sundress - this is Kirstin we're talking about after all!

A video from last fall (Oct 08) - Kirstin's school field trip to the pumpkin patch... complete with apple cider, pumpkins, and a hayrack ride!

Video of some of Kirstin's early tumbling attempts (January 09) - she's learned so much since then. Last week she accomplished backwards somersaults on her own - something she's worked and worked on... some days with more frustration than others. =o) She was so proud today when she could do them herself without help from the coach. Grinning from ear to ear!

She enjoys her tumbling class, though the slide is consistently one of her favorite things (of all the things they do there, the slide). She also enjoys the foam pit and trampolines!

Memorial Weekend at the Lake

Flower girl Kirstin with Nic and Matt - a fun day!