The Constant Gardener

Andrew loves to lend a hand in the garden after seeing his daddy tend to it so often. Every time we walk into the backyard, Andrew points and grunts for the watering can.




He'll water anything: rocks, logs, a single leaf. Everything needs a drink. We put those logs there as a barrier, but we've recently learned that creatures live under them: We've been harboring the very same family of groundhogs that have been destroying Steve's garden!!! D'oh!


He chose to stand in the way of the sprinkler.


Neither playing in the sprinkler nor swimming in the pool EVER replaces an actual bath, Little Buddy.






Friend, Thy Name is Sprinkler

Choix du Roi

We had our ultrasound today. It's a girl! Everything looks great, and the due date remains the same (Nov. 25th). She was very squirmy but was cooperative during the ultrasound, letting us in to get a good peek. A beauty! (Thanks for the French term, Heather G.)

July Stuff

Hooray! We got our new camera (a Canon Powershot SD800 IS), and we simply love it. The camera that died was 5 years old, so it was time for a new one anyway. At last, we can photograph the boy again!




A nice father and son shot, save for Cassie relieving herself in the background


Picking berries




Both Andrew and Megan walk with their bellies sticking out these days.

Carlisle Summerfair 2007

Ack! Our digital camera died on us! While it certainly isn’t the end of the world, it does seem a little tragic when you have a little toddler running around and you have no way of photo-documenting his new talents, humor and experiences at this moment in time. We’re set to get a replacement (camera, that is) this week. Until then, words will have to illustrate the happenings of the Kretzing family. Anyone have a digital camera recommendation?

This weekend, we enjoyed the beginnings of Carlisle's Summerfair, a weeklong celebration that ends on the Fourth of July. On Friday evening, we watched the parade, and unlike last year when Andrew was too young to understand what was going on, this year he kept walking into the street, ready to get in formation with the rest of the parade participants. He marveled at the Clydesdale, the miniature horse, and the standard horse that clopped on by. He was mesmerized by all the fire trucks and their flashing lights. He waved his little American-flag-on-a-stick with the best of them. Saturday morning, Megan ran in the Summerfair 10K and earned an age group award, which will proudly go in Baby K #2's baby book. Andrew has his trophy from a 2005 Turkey Trot, so that should stop any competition between the kiddos if they should compare baby books. :-)

Steve has been HARD AT WORK (understatement) installing new wood floors in the downstairs living rooms. It's a lot of work, but there is instant gratification when you turn around to see the beautiful wood floors you just put down. At times, we wish the rooms were just perfect squares, which would be easier to work with, but Steve has done a great job working around our angled fireplace, bay window and stairwell. We've been lucky that the days he has worked on the floors have been cool and dry instead of warm and humid. That would make for an even longer work day.

Newport, Rhode Island

For a last solo getaway before Baby #2 arrives in November, Steve and I headed off to scenic Newport, RI. Andrew stayed with the grandparents in Carlisle. We stayed at the Cliffside Inn in the Garden Suite, courtesy of our Austin employer, RVi.

We spent our vacation wandering around the town, enjoying a stroll on the nearby beach, and going on the mansion tours, which sparked our interest in the Gilded Age, the people and the wealth that existed back then.


On the front steps of the Cliffside Inn


The bedroom of our suite


The downstairs of our suite, which had a reading area, whirlpool tub, separate bathroom, fireplace and private garden area


A view from the Cliff Walk, whose steps were right outside the B&B


On the Cliff Walk


We hadn't heard of this university before, and we were a little jealous of how lucky the students were to attend classes in such stately buildings.


Marble House


Chateau-sur-Mer


The Elms was easily our favorite.


Near the sunken garden of The Elms


The expansive lawn of The Elms


The Breakers - the most famous of all the Newport mansions; owned by the Vanderbilts


The Vanderbilt children's playhouse of The Breakers


The International Tennis Hall of Fame with grass courts open to the public


Even the mansions' TREES were huge and awesome.

A Cat Called Kitty

At times, Kitty can be a spaz and a stinker to Steve, me and the other pets, but with Andrew, she has always been very gentle and sweet. She always uses "soft paws" when she plays with him, she always wants to sleep under his crib or on its railings, and she always sits there patiently and without flinching when Andrew comes up to pet her or to show her a new toy or when he accidentally pokes her in the eye.



The good buddies sharing a toy

Misc. June

Andrew is almost 15 months old and has had 4 haircuts from stylist Dad at Salon Kretzing. We decided to take him to an actual kiddie salon to see how he would like it. Apparently, no type of distraction, be it an Elmo video, a salon chair disguised as a Jeep, or Nickelodeon-colored walls, will ever work on our little guy. He knows he's getting a haircut, and he will protest. Besides, Dad does just as good of a job, if not better, at home...for free. :)






This weekend we picked strawberries at a nearby farm with Grandpop and Grandmom Kretzing.

Faker, Faker...

Having perfected the fake crying, fake coughing, etc. that accompany toddlerhood, Andrew now hams it up with fake reading.

Carol's Wedding

This weekend, we attended the wedding of Steve's older sister, Carol, to Tom in Perkasie, PA. A beautiful ceremony was followed by an intimate reception at their house.


The newlyweds arriving in style in Tom's Barracuda with hemi


Tom and Carol making their way down from the house to the reception tent


Andrew and Grandpop Harold




Sharing a meal with Grandmom Jean


Andrew feeding his cousin Emily a cracker at the "kids' table"


It was a humid evening, so Andrew worked up a sweat by walking everywhere.


Like his uncles, Andrew passed out from an evening of partying with the Kretzings and the Brubakers.


The next morning in the hotel pool

Pool Time

Lead Me Not Into Temptation

While I only caught the very "tail" end of it, Andrew had been there for awhile trying to touch the far-too-tempting swishing tails of Reggie and Kitty. They couldn't be bothered by it as they were so enthralled with the bird action going on outside.

Mother's Day 2007

We ended Mother's Day with a picnic at Grandmom Jean and Grandpop Harold's house. Half of Jean's own children, their spouses and half of her grandchildren were present.

Next Stop: Learning How to Chew Gum

This is the Way We Wash Our Clothes

Whenever it's time to fold the clean diapers, Andrew is always eager to help. Unfortunately, he usually UNFOLDS all the diapers.