Neighborhood pool...

Kevin, Kien, Brandy, Jeremy, my mom and myself all went to our community pool to play. Everyone had a great time!

Family Visit

Uncle Steve and cousin Kevin came for a visit. Kien was very excited to see his cousin Kevin!

Fun Family Day and Hysterical Walk

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

What we don't do to entertain our kids! :)


First, Brandy played a guitar concert for Kevin and Uncle Steve.

Then Jeremy did. Both kids have musical talent!


Baby Gabe enduring the cacophony of a busy house.

I put a Sesame Street numbers video on for Kien. He sat very still in my lap enjoying the show.

Kevin well remembers being Kien's big brother. And Kien seems quite content and familiar with Kevin. At one point yesterday when I reminded Kien about who was coming, I pulled out the family photo taken 9/27/08, which I carry in my purse, to remind him again who Uncle Steve and Kevin are. He carried that picture around for quite a while before I was able to sneak it back into my purse!

We went for a walk around the block tonight. The walk began with me pushing Kien in his little car, Kevin riding Jeremy's scooter, and Jeremy doing stunts on his bike in the lead. Kevin was a bit concerned that Jeremy should not be doing those things!

Half way around the block, Kevin decided that he was too hot and too tired to scoot anymore. He walked while I carried the scooter over my shoulder and pushed Kien. Then Kien wanted to walk too, so here they are holding hands walking together with me pushing the car with the scooter inside.

I thought this was too crazy, and called Jeremy back to take the picture. ha!

The next stage was that Kevin decided he was too tired to walk any further! (In his defense, he had taken his evening med which does make him sleepy.) So I carried the scooter over my shoulder again, and pushed Kevin in the car while Kien ran ahead of us. We saw a bunny which Kien chased. Eventually, Kien kept heading for the road.

The walk ended with Kien back in the car screaming, Kevin walking unhappily, me pushing the car with a scooter over my shoulder, and Jeremy hiding behind cars peering at us while on his bike. It was a fairly funny scene!
The walkers were thirsty and sat at the table with cold drinks. Uncle Steve played making faces games and peek-a-boo with Kien. Kien is very comfortable playing with Uncle Steve and Kevin.

Kevin has his own IPhone (without service) from his Mommy, which he uses for games and music. He and Brandy had some IPhone fun together.

Secret picture...

Here is a secret spy photo of momma and baby Gabe sleeping. Notice he is wearing a shirt that says "My Mommy Loves Me"

Trash, Ham, and Reunions

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

This morning was trash day. Kien LOVES trucks -- all trucks! I told him that, when the garbage truck came to our street, we would go out to see it. He repeatedly said, "Garbage truck. See!" While he was eating breakfast, we heard the familiar sound and ran outside! This was his second time to see the truck as we went out the last trash day. That time the man on the back of the truck said, "Maybe he will be a garbage man when he grows up!"

His fascination is obvious!

I neglected to blog yesterday that a cooler appeared at the front door containing a Honey Baked Ham with side dishes from Aria's family, plus friends of Greg & Cathi's from their church small group brought fabulous food for two dinners! What a blessing! Noelle suggested that I blog that story along with the the arrival the THE official ham sandwich himself: Kevin!!! Karin had many pet names for Kevin, but "ham sandwich" was one of her favorites as it is so fitting.

Kevin burst through the circular doors in the background screaming, "Grandma, Grandma, Grandma!" and ran, jumping into my arms with the bystanders laughing. He hugged and kissed me yelling, "I love you! I love you! I love you!" He will always be a ham sandwich!

He was equally excited to see Kien when we arrived at the house. Poor Kien may have been a bit overwhelmed by the effervescence, but I had prepared him for their arrival.

Then he greeted "Uncle" Steve with a friendly hug!

Kevin assisted Jeremy with his chore of bringing in the trash containers. Kevin LOVES to be a helper, and Jeremy is willing to be helped.

Kevin had fun playing with Brandy too in her room.

Gabriel

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

Mommy is doing a bit better today. Today was clean-the-house-day and she chipped in. Hopefully, she won't pay for it tomorrow.
Mommy and Gabe resting.

Daddy and Mommy enjoying the babe this evening. Daddy thinks Gabe is the most amazing thing he has ever seen! And he is!
A friend emailed me today, "In my heart, she (Karin) somehow knew his spirit before it was put in him...For months I have been imagining Karin with the spirit of this baby, holding him and loving him and preparing him for her family." What a sweet perspective! Remember -- Greg and Cathi learned of the reality of a pregnancy within 24 hours of losing Karin, calling us 26 hours later at 2 AM 12/17. I say that they serendipitously chose the angelic name Gabriel because of his angel aunt.

Playtime and Prayers Please

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

When Cathi and I were ready to leave the house, Kien had disappeared, and this is where we found him --


This morning, Cathi, Kien, and I took Gabe to his follow up doctor's appointment. He is doing just fine with no problems. I entertained Kien in a very non-kid friendly waiting room for 1.5 hours! And Cathi had our diaper bag with supplies. Oh, well... we survived. Then we went to Daddy's work and had lunch with him.

After returning home, Jeremy was still lounging around. This time, in front of the TV with the dogs. Nice to be a kid on summer break!

This evening, I took Kien outside to play on his vehicles. I was quite surprised at how adept he is at handling the little motorcycle!

Then we played with his 4-wheeler and a neighbor (Barry) came over to play too.

Please remember to pray for Barry's wife Marilyn. When having gallstones removed a couple of weeks ago, it was discovered that she has stage 4 gall bladder cancer. She will be going to a cancer treatment center in Houston in another week.

Lackadaisical Day

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

Kien often says, "Help," or "Help me," or "Help me please," when he wants out of bed or is stuck somewhere or has a problem. We found Kien in his toybox this morning saying, "Help." I was thinking: Yeah, Kien. Play with the toys IN the toybox! ha! That thought is reminiscent of a family joke when Grandpa Walsh said to little Greg, "That's a good boy. Keep the toys in the toybox!" as he was perusing which toy(s) to take out.

Today was garbage day. I made of point of listening for the truck to take Kien out to watch it at work. He loved it, of course! One of the garbage men said, "Maybe he can be a garbage man when he grows up." I think he would rather be the truck driver! Or probably the manager/owner of the company! :)

Mid-morning, I made a run with Jeremy and Kien to get Starbucks for Cathi and me. On the way home, we stopped to watch Brandy's 230 piece band practice their marching. We never did see Brandy (nor did she see us). We watched them work on fundamentals and "slides" with a metronome. Very interesting to see how they teach them to perform. Much different than my high-stepping band.


They are not actually playing their instruments; just holding them in position for playing.

Practicing "slides."

Jeremy noted this deer face (actually, it is Bambi's face) in the bark of a tree in the school parking lot! Very perceptive. Can you see it? I identified the nose and one eye to the right of where they appear. There is a mouth and antler too!

It was a lovely 81 degree morning. Kien put on unmatched outdoor shoes and asked to go outside, so we did! :)

After sliding, he ran back and forth between Duke and Daisy giving them a pat.


This afternoon I ran a bunch of shopping errands -- one being to buy more size 1 diapers for Gabe. Take a look at the box! That is GABE pictured on the box!!! That means that he is one of the 10 most beautiful babies in the world since he is pictured on the Pampers box! But Greg says he is cuter than the look-alike on the box!

No real pictures of Gabe today. He and Mommy stayed hidden in the bedroom all day. He wasn't awake much today at all. We'll see what happens tonight...

Life in a Sleep Deprived House

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

Mommy and Daddy had very little sleep last night as baby cried all night. Strange thing... We slept on the other side of their bedroom wall and never heard a thing. Greg brought us the baby around 6 AM, and we took over the duty. I fed him, and he went to sleep! No prob! Here Grandpa is dozing holding him with Daisy lounging beside them.

While Grant took Brandy to band camp, picked up Starbucks and bagels, plus bought lightbulbs, I put Gabe in his pumpkin seat (don't know what they are called today! ha!). He came with me in the bathroom while I showered and went wherever I went -- still sleeping even after Kien was up. By 10 AM, Mommy and Daddy had to take over again. Kien accompanied Daisy, Grandpa, and Grandma to the vet's. The diagnosis is that Daisy has an ulcer on her eye. She is on an anti-biotic and two different eyedrops. Kien saw a box with a litter of ten three-day-old boxer puppies and petted a young kitty. His response: "Soft," and wanted to pet the kitty more.

This afternoon, Kien said goodbye to Grandpa before his nap. We realized that Grandpa had to have his picture taken with Gabe because they matched today!


Gabe had some awake times this afternoon. Hopefully, they were enough to make him sleepy for the night tonight! It is nearly 11 PM, and he is crying now. Hopefully, that is a good sign for sleep tonight...

The babies at home

Gabe still has some growing to do to fit his clothes.



Already looking cute for pictures!



Kien still looks cute in pictures too. hehe