Happy Father's Day!

As Austin would say, Happy Father's Day to the "Best Dad In World!"

Blog Hijack: J.P. @ 14 Weeks

Just a little update on Baby Kiefer #2 -

At 14 weeks -

"Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him -- a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches -- about the size of a lemon -- and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces."

Austin has named the baby John. John Puddin' to be exact, so we'll be referring to the baby as J.P. for the next six weeks! Morning sickness is better if I take my Zofran faithfully each morning at 4:15. I thought I'd be cool and skip it this morning. Big mistake. BIG! I ended up turning around about a mile out of Hecker to head home for a change of clothes. I'll leave the details up to your imagination. I just keep reminding myself it is ALL worth it in the end. 

First Picture @ 8 weeks

 

The spoiling has already started...

We head back to the doctor on June 30th for our 16 week appointment. JP will be hyjacking Austin's blog until I can figure out what to name our new "family blog." Hopefully the kids can share nicely and this doesn't lead to therapy sessions in thirty years.

Wordless Wednesday: Paper or Plastic?

Mother's Day in THREE states!

I was lucky enough to celebrate Mother's Day in not one, not two, but THREE states this year. We started off the morning in Iowa, had lunch in Missouri and finally ended the day back home in Illinois. Austin and Jay surprised me with a convection oven - and I was excited, really, I was! 

Kaylee's Baptism

We waited patiently to meet baby Kaylee. The time had finally come when it was time to travel to Iowa for her baptism. We headed out early on Saturday morning. The plan was to get to Iowa a few hours early to visit Kaylee at her house before heading to church at 5:00. Join us as I recount our "quick" trip to Iowa. Here's a picture of Austin somewhere in the middle of Missouri...

 

Wait, what? The MIDDLE of Missouri? Isn't Iowa north of Missouri?? Oh yes, Friends, it sure is...but we ended up on the scenic route. We finally got back on track and ended up in Iowa (I'm not sure how seeing as Jay thinks it's okay to drive with your eyes closed) eight hours after we left our house.

We slid into church (after getting lost on the way to the church from the hotel - not kidding.) as everyone was singing the first hymn. All our stress melted away as we got to witness Kaylee's special day. It was totally worth every single minute in the car - all 480 of them.

We enjoyed a yummy dinner in the church hall before heading to Kaylee's house for a quick visit. Austin was beyond done at this point. Do you have any idea how much energy a kid has after being an a car for eight hours? Trust me when I say I don't want to deal with that for a very long time! The next morning we packed up and made the short 5-hour (at least if felt short to us!) drive back to Illinois. We're so happy we go to experience this special day with Kaylee and her parents! I'm sure she'll hear the story of our trip to her baptism for many years to come! We love you, Kaylee!