Kissing Cousins

Poor Riley has to put up with a lot from his adoring older cousin Valerie. We caught this little kissing exchange during Grandma's birthday celebration last weekend. These two little ones were sharing time on Grandpa's lap when Valerie just couldn't contain herself any more. She started rubbing his soft head and covering him with kisses. These pictures are going to be great blackmail someday.

Future Tennis Pro

Move on over Anna Kournikova - there's a new tennis star on the horizon!

Uncle Steve and Aunt Kim bought the girls a Wii last summer and the tennis game is by far Sierra's favorite. You can see why we enjoy it too!

Fangs

I am a little concerned.

Valerie's teeth are coming in - OUT OF ORDER!!! (Her mommy likes order.) She has had one tooth on the bottom jaw for several weeks. This week two of her top teeth have finally pushed though. But not the two in the middle. The two on each side. YIKES! My poor, beautiful baby is going to look like a vampire if the others don't come through very soon. Thankfully they are all still very small so no one can tell. Have you ever heard of this happening?!

By the way - I think that I forgot to mention that SHE'S WALKING!!! She started taking steps on her own just before she got so sick a couple of weeks ago. Now she can go anywhere and she loves to be on her feet. Here's a very brief video of some of her first real solo steps:



Last night she was pacing the hallways at church and drawing a lot of attention to herself. She just looks too small to be cruising around on her own. She will be 11 months old on Sunday. Time to plan that birthday party! Maybe I'll make it a "Twilight" theme. (Wink to Julie.) JUST KIDDING!!!

Family Time

After a week of the icky sickies, Spring Break was WONDERFUL! In spite of the snow, sleet, hail and rain, we packed a LOT into the nine days off. Marc got a new camera half way through the week, so we took way too many pictures. I couldn't decide which ones to display, so you can see the best ones here.

Back to reality tomorrow morning...

Little Things...

...that mean a LOT!

• Lunch date for Sierra and Ally with Grandpa.
• Mid-morning vanilla latte drop-off from Summer.
• Lots of help from friends with the lasagna dinner at church.
• Precious drawings and get-well notes from the Berggrens.
• Susie stopping by unannounced with a yummy dinner in hand.
• Chuck and Missy taking the big girls overnight so that Marc and I could get some rest.
• Mom calling to check-in and offer help everyday this week.
• A husband that cleans up dinner dishes for me EVERY NIGHT!

Thanks, everyone!!!

We feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. Valerie is pretty much back to her old spunky self. We are really looking forward to spending this week of Spring Break together as a (healthy) family.

Poor Baby

Teething - check.

Pink Eye - check.

Ear infection - check.

Roseola - check.

In other words, this has been a miserable week for Val-Val. Where we got all these germs, I have no idea!!! This poor girl has only wanted to sleep on me for the last 5 days. Her fever completely knocked all the energy out of her and she really hates all the medicine she is taking. BUT - today I have seen the first signs of life! She has tried to play and is eating a little more. I have even heard a squeal or two come out of her. Her energy doesn't last long and she soon crawls back to me for a cuddle. Although it has been a difficult week, my last post helps to keep things in perspective. Thanks for praying for Tim. The update today was that his cells are beginning to engraft. Praise the Lord!

Please pray with us....

...for Tim Beck.

He is my brother-in-law's (Benjy) younger brother. There is no blood connection, but he's part of the family. Just the fact that we've attended the Caldwell Night Rodeo together gives us a bond that is stronger than blood. ;)

You can read the whole story on his blog called "Fighting Hodgkins", but tomorrow is a very important day.

He is receiving a stem cell transplant after a week of intensive radiation and chemotherapy.

Please pray that his healthy cells (which were harvested a couple of months ago) would do their job and fight off the cancer that has been attacking his body. Most importantly, pray that he would be strengthened in the inner man.

Thank you!