While we were in Gatlinburg we received the wonderful news that my newest nephew was born. Brandon Michael was born on July 20 and he and mom did great...so did my brother, I must brag! He even stayed at the hospital the entire time with Cher and Brandon except a few hours one night when, upon my urging, he finally went home to get a bit of rest! What a good daddy! Not that my husband wasn't wonderful, but he only stayed 2 of the 10 nights Michael and I were in the hospital!
Anyway, we left Gatlinburg to turn around and head to Denver...this time with David along and the promise of picking up Sheniah!
We arrived in Denver early enough to make it over to Cher's to see Brandon...what a cutie!
Over the next few days David, Michael and I played the "ulta-tourist's" and walked about all of the city of Denver!
We saw the capital building...
beautiful architecture and Colorado blue skies...
funky art...
and the ballet studio my mom drove me to 1 hour each way, 3 days a week for many years...thanks momma!
We stayed at my brother's apartment which is in the heart of the city so everything was within walking distance (except Starbucks! But we survived!) It was very cool to stay in the city and go for walks each day.
Michael got pooped out from the walks...
and so did daddy!
But there was lot's of playing and fun along the way...
Finally it was time for mom and Sheniah to arrive!
They were whisked off quickly to go visit the new baby, but it was so wonderful to see Sheniah again and have her back with me where she belongs...I missed her so much this summer, and so did her little bro!
Grandma's first moments with her newest grandson...
Sheniah's first moments with her newest cousin...ahhh...aren't they cute!
To celebrate all of us being together we went to the "must go to" place in Denver (less for the food than the experience)...Casa Bonita!
The food was good and the company was great! Everyone enjoyed the cliff divers and the arcade games...
Here are me and Michael in front of the waterfalls - it is too dark to see them, though!
And the "kids" enjoying the arcade games...
Michael even got into the games...
but mostly he was just happy to have his big sister home!
The next day we got to see Brandon again...
although Michael was more interested in a toy bike horn than his new cousin...
Then we played tourist's a bit more (with J-Rod as the guide!)
and then went to another amusement park outside Denver...
The next day we got to see Brandon again then we relaxed a bit.
The next day was a big day!
Jarrod and David got up bright and early to go fishing, and mom, Sheniah, Michael and I got to meet up with mom's best friend (and my godmother) Charlene for breakfast.
Here are Charlene and Michael getting to know eachother...
After breakfast we went to Golden where we went to a museum which was a lot of fun...
There was an old schoolhouse...
and even animals to see and pet...
and an outhouse that Sheniah found interesting and apparently very funny!
After that we went to Evergreen to meet the boys at their "fishin' hole"!
Then it was back to see Brandon again...
and then to Charlene's to enjoy dinner and the company of her dog, Blue...
Somewhere in all these travels we also went to the Colorado History Museum, Fairplay (the very LARGE town I grew up in), the Molly Brown House, swimming with all my cousin's and had a wonderful visit with Great Grandma. However, at this moment those pictures seem to be misplaced and I am long overdue for a posting, so I will try to find those pics and post them later.
Finally we were home. Sheniah was off on her beach trip with the youth group from church while Michael, David and I went to Albemarle to visit.
Here are the boys getting reacquainted...
and enjoying a stroll in our new double stroller...
why a new double stroller you may ask? Well, as will come as no suprise to most everyone who reads this...I am not just retaining all of my baby fat from Michael! It is time to make the official announcement...
Yup - we're having another baby! I figured I had waited 12 years between the first two, why not have a couple back to back?!?! And, in case you can't read the caption on the last image - it's another BOY!!! I am due December 17 - another December baby! Although I am known for going early, this will probably be the one time I go full term just to pack one more event into December!
Anyway, we are very excited and according to the Doc's - so far, so good. He is growing well and I am showing no problems (as I did with Michael), so that is GREAT news! At my last check up he weighed about 1 pound (which is right on track for his age).
Finally, I can't believe in just a few short days Michael will be one year old! He is trying desperately to walk...mom says technically he is walking now as he took his first steps (to daddy) on August 29, and since then he stands up and tries every chance he gets. His lip is fat and often bloody from failed attempts, but he keeps going at it!
He is also trying to talk a ton. He now says "dada" (first word, of course), "mama", "eat", "up", "ball" (one of his favorite's), "kitty", and "bath". I even think he has said "Sheniah" a few times - it sounds more like "Nyuh"!
So, my kiddos are great and life is great! We are so happy with all the events of the last year and feel truly blessed to have such beautiful, wonderful, healthy kids that grow up way too fast! Time really does fly. I was thinking this morning how crazy it is that just a year ago I was pregnant...hmm, that thought lasted about a second until I remembered I still am!
