C is 3 Months Old

February Fun & Valentines Day

Just b/c you're only (almost) 3 months old does not make you immune to wet willies...


...or nose-tweaking.


The end-of-the-day disheveled hair says it all. That goes for all of us.


A, the Attention "Grabber"


Despite the afore-videoed "harassment", Sophie still gave A (and C!) a Valentines Day card.

Misc January

A run in the crisp winter air lulls them to sleep. Well, one of them anyway.


Catch and Release


If "purity" had a sound...


Nothing says "ready for a big boy bed" like A escaping from his crib. We had a couple of rough nights when A didn't want us to leave his room at bedtime. He would be fine when we put him in the crib, but as soon as we turned to leave, he would cry, climb out of his crib and walk out of his bedroom. The best part of this (if there is one) is the forethought he puts into the escape: he sends his "geggy" (blankie) over the railing first for easy retrieval once he himself makes it to the ground. For an idea of how long this went on in one night, replay this video 50 times. No kidding! Things are better: He has a big boy bed now and S stays with him until A falls asleep. This too shall pass, right? *No toddlers were injured in this filming.

The Bigger, The Better

Yesterday we got more snow, which meant more chances to build a snowman. At 10pm last night, Steve and his friend Matt built this gigantic snowman on the grounds of the middle school near our house. They made sure to take pictures of it right away, knowing that the next day, the middle school kids would knock it down. Little punks. Steve and Matt or the middle school kids? You be the judge.

Pennsylvania Farm Show 2007

The Pennsylvania Farm Show, held in Harrisburg, is "the nation’s largest indoor agricultural exposition" showcasing machinery, livestock, etc. It's huge!! We were only there for 3 hours, but we were pooped (no livestock pun intended) by the end of it.






This is made out of butter, which will be recycled (melted?) and used to power farm equipment.


Little Slugger


They looooove looking at each other.


Admiring her big brother


A helps when he can.

The Snowman Cometh

New Year's Eve 5K Resolution Run

Christmas 2007

We had a very nice Christmas. While it may be awhile before he understands the true meaning of the holiday, A did learn quickly what opening presents was all about. C slept through Christmas morning, but later in the day, she gave us the gift of her first social smile.




We put the yule log to good use since our fireplace needs a-fixing.


Our cats and our toddler made us rethink getting a tree this year. (Next year, promise.) So we hung the stockings and heavy stocking holders WAY out of arms' reach and placed our presents on a Christmas bookshelf (not shown completely) instead of under a tree.

Misc December

Ah, bliss! C at 3 weeks old.


A modeling his hodgepodge outfit and new snow boots.


A always asks to hold C, but it doesn't last long once his request is granted.


Cute as a button, but sometimes her newborn cross-eyed look reminds us of Buddy Hackett.


Cute as a button sans Buddy Hackett-ish-ness (C at 5 weeks old)

Christmas Card Outtakes

These are some of the pictures that didn't make our Christmas card this year.


Our goal was to pose the kids on the stairs, with A holding C. Yeah, right! Good luck with that. A was too busy running around and re-arranging everything, and C was...well...a newborn.




We could use this one if we ever do a Christmas Mugshot theme.


This one too, although this could also be the Christmas Criminal Lineup.

New Babies All Around

The Sunday after C was born, we visited one of S's high school friends, who was in town for Thanksgiving. Stephen and his wife, Mijanou, welcomed their first child, Eli, this past September.


The young happy family


Two months old and all smiles

Snow Business

We've had lots of cold, wind, snow and rain lately, which means extra time indoors.


Daddy and his little girl


When the Nutcracker is still, A likes him, but when you make the Nutcracker "talk", A becomes a little leery.


His first time walking in snow


Driving through the Carlisle Holiday Lights at the fairgrounds




Not so smitten with snow on his mittens

Misc November

Bedhead and playtime with Grover


How C spent most of her 1st week


Watching "Sesame Street" with one of its stars

Charlotte Mila's Birth Day - November 21, 2007

She's here! Charlotte Mila (middle name pronounced "Mee-la" after her maternal grandmother) arrived Wednesday, November 21st at 7:52 AM. She came out with "the keys already in the ignition", as the pediatrician said, with a hearty cry. She weighed 8lbs8oz, is 21.5" long, and is the sweetest little girl.


Lots of dark hair and big brown eyes




Not done on purpose, S wore the same sweatshirt and cap for our quick rush to the hospital for the births of A and C. We've named it his "lucky birthing outfit". Steve is a great birthing coach.


Pam, the awesome midwife who delivered C, and M postpartum


Vital stats


A came to the hospital later that morning.


A gets a closer look at his baby sister.


Grandmom Jean, A and C. C is Jean's 21st grandchild.




The Kretzing Four




Those cheeks!


Thanksgiving lunch in the hospital - yet another reason we asked to be discharged early. :)