Between Here and There

I am very excited about the next two months. Not only will we have a new addition to the family but are going to be traveling to Durham and Columbus in December. I was talking to Lillian today about the trip and all the different family we will see. (We were having a nice snuggle time today after a morning bath.) Her new favorite phrases are "I'm so excited" and "I'm so proud" though usually this second one doesn't come across with accurate meaning. Anyway, I asked her what she was most excited about after just describing this grand trip. She replied "Play with Gideon!" I was really happy to hear her say this since we've only managed to see Gideon around once a year - not enough for same age cousins. I don't have a picture from last January when we saw them briefly but here's one from the year before. Gideon was born in December and I remember him just starting to walk around. Lillian born a month later did not walk until ...

So I couldn't NOT share this with all of you. We've been enjoying some really good Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread lately. Here's the RECIPE (thanks to Jenny) I had to make four loaves instead of just one because I knew it would be that good. Also, thanks to Mandy for letting me use her kitchen aid and oven since my oven likes to bake everything in half the time and at it's own temperature. I wasn't really to risk it. Also, if you are in the pumpkin mood, try her Pumpkin Crisp too - it's easy and super good. HAPPY FALL EVERYONE!!!

Well, it seems Lillian is growing up. Here are a few of her antics from the last few days. We were at some friends house last week. All the adults were inside, so I (kyle) was outside monitoring the kids. When I got too close Lillian said: "Daddy, go inside now. I'm talking to the girls." I knew this would come, but I was thinking it would be during junior high. A similar story: We were sitting on the couch together, and I had just turned on some of her PBS programming. Sensing that I might be staying for the show, she said: "Daddy is working now. Time to work." I got the hint and went to my study. Recently, Katie told Lillian that she was going to wear a white dress in Aunt Rachel's wedding. Lillian's response: "I don't think so . . . [smirk] purple dress." And she nailed the 'I don't think so.' And just tonight: Katie was at a church function, so Lillian and I were messing around/getting ready for bed. I told he...

I just had to tell someone how excited I am about the weather today. Two days ago I had to turn on the a/c again due to the ridiculous humidity. I've been sweating too much and not enjoying it as a fully pregnant woman (minus 6 weeks). So...I'm on my way to a nap under the down comforter with the windows open and wind blowing at 63 degrees! It's beautiful. The downside to the cooler weather is that I only have one or two pairs of maternity pants and Lillian also is still squeezing into last years winter clothes. It's a nice problem to have though. Here's Lillian last Christmas in Durham.

Rachel is leaving us on Thursday so we had to make sure she made it to a football game. Baylor played #1 ranked Oklahoma on Saturday. Although they did lose it was still a fun and exciting game. Unfortunately it was in the 90's and very sunny. Some of us got more red than others... Sunday was church of course, though a little different than usual due to an outdoor service of The Blessing of the Animals. Lillian stayed with us during the service, she usually is in nursery. There were cats, dogs, guinea pigs, a snake and a baby alligator. The service was much as usual, just a few extra voices during the hymns. Here's Lillian after church dancing around. Sunday afternoon friends threw me a baby party with lots of good food, advice and prayers.

View Larger Map Kyle spent last weekend with a group of guys from church on Mustang Island. It's a little more than 5 hours away but a beautiful spot. Although not directly affected by Hurricane Ike, it did lose quite a bit of beach - though no buildings or houses were destroyed. Here's a shot of the group. I don't think anybody went surfing but a couple did get in the water. Kyle said they spent a lot of time on the beach playing petanque. Kyle also went last year and is still hoping we will be able to get down for a visit as a family soon. I'm not sure when we are going to work this in, but it's a nice idea.

Although she looks like she's having tons of fun, she still has not gotten over her nervousness around water. We kept having to really encourage her to run through the fountains. Rachel's site has more photos and thanks to her for this one. Our camera is being fixed and hopefully will be home soon. Rachel arrived Friday and will stay until Oct 09. Yeah! Kyle's been away for the weekend so it was nice to have some company. He should be back any moment from his Men's Retreat on Mustang Island. Lucky him. And no, this area did not get hit by Hurricane Ike - it's farther south, closer to Corpus Cristi.

September is here and our summer adventure seems be forgotten. We are back in the routine of things for the most part. These are all the things that keep us busy during the week: 1) Potty training, and it's going nowhere 2) Constant sweating when not in AC 3) Going to the grocery store 3-4 times a week 4) Cameron Park Zoo, the library, MOPS, 5) Baylor sporting events including football and soccer games 6) Walks, if I can convince Lillian (looking for acorns with hats helps) 7) Sesame street 8) Cleaning and not cleaning 9) Naps 10) Dinners with friends 11) Lillian calling grandparents - her new favorite thing to do 12) And missing everything cool and wonderful from the summer I thought I would show all of you some of the wonderful projects Kyle worked on this summer.

So I thought I wouldn't be as excited the second time around to see the ultrasound pics. But we got to see the 3-D version which was pretty cool. Apparently, he or she has a lot of hair already and a cute nose. But the really good news is we have a very healthy baby and even a little bit big weighing 2lbs 13oz so far (which is completely the opposite to Lillian). Exciting, exciting. The baby is still expected to arrive around November 24.

On the MV Coho from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, BC Gampa with Lillian and Phillip in an Arbutus tree (Beacon Hill Park, Victoria) 'Captain Crunch' Uncle Bill's first and only tugboat - isn't she a beaut? The crew before leaving

So here I am again, way behind in posting. Lots of stuff going on, tomorrow we are heading to Victoria (and on to Duncan) for the week. (Sorry Mom W you can't be with us.) Rachel will meet us up there on Tuesday. If the weather gets nice maybe we'll even head to Cowichan Lake for a ski and tea (that's to entice all the far away Miners). So for now, here are a couple pics from the last couple weeks. Fourth of July - red, white and blue     Kyle doesn't stop his woodworking even for the holiday.     Manchester Park for a picnic and a swim, maybe. Too cold and too much seaweed. Actually, we visited this park again a couple weeks later with my parents and she did get in and made me get in too. It wasn't too bad but I prefer to leave the cold water tasks to Kyle.

Thought I would put up some pics from our visit with the Howards in Vancouver two weeks ago. As some of you remember, Jake and Lillian are 11 days apart and we spent a lot of time with them those first 6 months. They've come along way since then. Wonder what the pictures will look like from the next visit?        

Finally I'm able to post this. Enjoy. We sure loved the rolls. Now it's time to make some more!

As the Oregon coast boasts some of our favorite spots, we were excited to travel up the coast again. We enjoyed a beautiful night and pleasant morning on the southern coast before the rain came. Unfortunately the weather forced us to alter our plans and truncate our itinerary. Sadly, we headed east to catch I-5 south of Tillamook. Oh well. Thanks to Hannah's excellent grocery shopping skills, we're making up for that most evenings in Port Orchard.

Upon departing Walnut Creek, we traveled through some of California's wine country. Although it was quite pretty, we kept moving in order to save a little time for the Redwoods in northern CA. After an unsuccessful attempt to find a particular stand of trees, we enjoyed a short walk through an impressive grove.