You're a dead ringer for Chuck E. Cheese!

Yeah, it happened. There were about 10 people in a silent restaurant last Friday night, and our family comprised half that population. We were cleaning up to leave when a woman enters. She has big, grey hair, a fairly large nose, and a red shirt. Kate spots this woman and her face lights up like up like Christmas morning, she points, and exclaims, "Mom, she looks like Chuck E. Cheese!" Everyone heard it. Ryan and I looked around searching for that darn kid's parents. Then we attempted to look extremely preoccupied and deaf to the uttered comment. Neither attempt to shift blame worked, so we hi-tailed it out of there. Here's the lemon juice in the open wound, the lady is blind, with the dog and everything.

Tondu

In my first glimpse at Kate I wondered and hoped at all the potentials housed in that tiny little person. I daydreamed about the wide variety of experiences she would have and, hopefully, the contributions she would make.

One specific fantasy included a bubbly, bouncing girl releve-ing, and tondu-ing around a dance floor. And her she is, living out that dream. Long new-born nights seemed endless and made two-year-old days like these seem barely visible on the horizon, but they have come into plain view so rapidly.

I know someday I will feel similarly when an awkward kid knocks on our door to pick up Kate for her first date or when boxes full of her stuff leave with her for college. It is hardly within my comprehension that this little baby of mine will grow up to be a woman; probably marry, have kids, grandkids, and live a long life. I have realized that time marches on without my permission, and these potentials will become realities in the blink of an eye. I survived those new-born nights on the sustenance of the hope that they would end, the sooner, the better. Now, I find my joy and sustenance comes in the hope that they won't.

PS I think I found the secret to happiness... watching a two year old ballet class ensures happiness for the viewer for at least a week. Every time I envision those little girls doing their best to follow "teacher Katie", I smile. Or when I think of Kate watching herself in the big mirrors more than the teacher. So cute.

Garden Variety

We visited the garden this year for Halloween.....




If you're unsure about Robby, he is a chili pepper. If you're unsure about Kate, well, you're on your own, that one is pretty obvious.

What Robby lacked in spiciness (nursed and slept through the whole thing), Kate made up for in vivacity. She ate up, literally and figuratively, Halloween. (I guess Robby did too, just not in candy form.) Although after knocking or ringing Kate did show some reticence and paced 4 or 5 steps backward before the homeowner answered. But no hesitation was present when the candy appeared, those backward paces were re-traced and candy was accepted. Kate loved it. I did too, Halloween is great for stocking up on incentives (bribes?) for the 2 year old.

These holidays just get better and better as our little girl grows up. Can't wait for Christmas!!




Yes the second to last shot is candid. Boundaries were a little loose on Halloween night, unfinished suckers stuck to your child's bum is a pretty clear indicator. But we did enjoy ourselves immensely.

pure and simple

Take a look at these sweet shots done by my friend, photographer, and fellow mom Meg when we were still in the hospital. I am so happy with the images she captured from this time, we are so lucky. When I look at these images and whenever I look at the new little one in our family I am struck by his purity and innocence. I am sure all newborns render similar feelings, how special those new little ones are.

You can see some more at her blog. Thanks again Meg, you're fantastic!

Robby (Robert Alexander Morgan)

He came! 12:23 pm, September 24th, 7 lbs 13 oz. Perfect. My labor with Robby pretty much represents Robby's perfect little demeanor. I went into labor at 9:30. Hit a 10 at 12:19, pushed 3 times, he was born 4 min later. In fact, pushing was so short and easy when he was was all the way out I had to look to make sure. It was a dream labor with a dream baby as the prize.

These pics are out of order, but there are some technical difficulties I am not willing to wrestle with right now. But you get to see the baby first this way!


I love this picture. Kate is doing her best to "smile". I don't think there are more precious moments I can recall than we all got to be together for the first time in the hospital room. Kate was enamored with this baby and full of one million questions. I love our new little family.

There we go!

This moment is soo exciting as the mom. I love that we got a good shot of it this time. Sorry to ruin the myth that babies come pink, dry, and perfectly shaped, this picture may be a little to realistic for some. I love it!

Note: smiles. Note: great nurse, the best ever, and fantastic dr. They were just about to break my water, I was ready and very excited.

Ryan bought these shoes for me when I had Kate. (What better way to celebrate a new life than with new shoes?) Here they are revisited with the new baby.

Baby Shower

I am so lucky and got to have another baby shower out here in Oregon. A group of my favorite people pulled together to throw a sweet shower for this new baby boy. Thanks to all those who contributed their time and efforts, especially to those who have so many other commitments in their life. Oh wait, I think that definitely applies to all of them!

Cute attendees, of course they put me on the end of the picture. So there I am, 9 months pregnant. But feeling pretty darn good nonetheless.

MMM, these were good and everyone got one. Plus, they were cute. Thanks to Meg for her talents.


Yahoo! 2 or 3 more days and we get to see the real live baby boy Morgan!

Sisters

Ryan's been having the time of his life working outside of Portland for the past 3 weeks. But there is a silver lining, since he takes the car and I'm minutes away from going into labor, we invited Audrey to come live with us for about three weeks just in case this baby makes his arrival while Ryan's out on his pleasure cruise.

Needless to say, Audrey has been the buoy to a sinking ship. If there were a way to imitate the last two weeks of pregnancy, it would be a great torture device for those really bad people at Guantanamo Bay, not that I am a proponent of torturing people. "Anything, I'll do anything, just get it over with!" Okay, it's really not that bad, but to have Audrey here truly has been a pleasure cruise for me. Four words are all I need to say for you to understand the magnitude of her help: she vacuums my stairs.

Not only is she a great help, but a great friend. The bargain-finding, treat -making, people-watching duo of the good ole days has returned and I am quite enjoying it and Kate has only good things to say as well (I want my Audgie). Thanks audge, love you!