My father-in-law, Jim helped me drive back to Iowa for the funeral. I am soooo lucky to have such a wonderful and generous father in law!!!! Jamie was raised in such a good family. We shared the driving and it was fun to have someone to chat with on that long trip back. He stayed for a day when we returned to Zionsville and took him to the zoo. The girls had a great time with Grandpa!


Jim petting a shark!


Juliette is as content as can be with Grandpa Miller! She never cries when he holds her!

Iowa

All 8 of us were able to make it to Bubbi's funeral. We were missing a few husbands and kids though!

Bubbi

Not quite 2 weeks ago my Grandma Koss (affectionately known as Bubbi to us) passed away. She was an amazing woman in so many ways. At the young age of 38 she had a massive stroke which left her paralyzed on her right side and aphasic in speech (she knew what she wanted to say, but just couldn't get the words out). She lost her husband 30 years ago and lived by herself on the family farm until about 8 years ago, battled throat cancer and lived, she was a survivor!!!!! And she had an unshakable faith, an unmistakable laugh and an unstoppable will to do whatever she wanted to do. My aunt said that she could do more with one arm then most could do with two! There are soooo many memories when I was growing up that are so distinctly Bubbi, the smell of her air conditioner, the rough scratchy feel of her carpet when I had to take a nap, the 7up, Schwanns sundae cups, chocolate, boxelder bugs that covered the front of her house, dollars, tiny candy canes at Christmas, getting a birthday card weeks before the actual day, the leather purse, the smooth worn out cotton dresses that she wore and bobby pins in her hair. We were so blessed to have her as our grandmother and could learn so much about having strength when faced with disability, being such a believer in God when she could just have given up faith, and all the things that she probably wanted to say...but just couldn't.

Being in my mid 30s now, I thought about how I would react to such a catastrophic life event. I don't know if I could have handled it with the poise and dignity and faith that my Grandma did! She lived life one day at a time for 89 years. Amazing.

After baths and in their jammies!

After church and breakfast on Sunday...

Isabelle cuddled with Izzy...you should see the scratches on that girl!

Allie drew...and posed for the camera.

Juliette enjoyed the exersaucer

and squealed with delight when flying through the air.

The reach

I am thinking that Juliette will follow her sister's footsteps in her gross motor development...crawl late...hate to roll over...walk at 14 months. And this time I hope I am right...because I am so NOT ready for her to be on the move!

Exer-saucer

The kitten thinks Juliette is one big toy.

The fun toys for babies that they so very quickly outgrow. How in the world did our parents contain us 35 years ago?

There is nothing sweeter then a naked baby in my opinion, and Juliette has rolls in her rolls when you let her lay around in her birthday suit. The I-have-rubberbands-around-my-wrist rolls and dimples-for-knuckles type. She chortles out loud when you kiss between her neck and shoulder. She holds her knees when she is on her back...(can't quite reach those feet yet). And she loves her freedom from clothes! She finally had her 4 month check-up at the doctor (a few weeks late) and weighs a whopping 16 pounds 7 ounces! I have never seen her take more then 4 ounces at a feed (although I do breastfeed her most of the time). She tends to hold on to those calories...just like her momma! She is 26 inches long which put her proportionally off the chart...somewhere in the 105th%.

Happy Monday!

Introducing the newest member of the family...

Miss Izzy! Our cousin in Layfayette is very involved in their local animal shelter and fosters kittens. She posted a picture of a kitten on facebook and it reminded me of Erwin when he was a kitten! When I found out her name was Izzy...I thought it was a sign. Although Erwin has expressed some displeasure about her arrival...I am sure he will come around in time. She is so playful....has limitless energy...and is very friendly! The girls LOVE her! She is about 3 months old and has explored about every square inch of our house.

Halloween

We went trick or treating in Zionsville this year with some friends and their children. The girls had a great time! Allie's short legs could barely keep up, but big sister Isabelle would wait for her and so they were always a step behind the group. Juliette was as content as could be in the stroller on a very chilly Halloween night! They definitely had a bag full of candy at the end of the night.


Almost ready to trick or treat!

I asked the girls to show me how excited they were! The look on their faces says it all!

Juliette lets me know exactly what she thinks about wearing the costume.

The cutest little ladybug ever!!! I do plan on cramming poor Juliette into this costume again when she is in a better mood so I can get some smiles!!!! It was sooooo adorable on her!!!

Attempt at solid food...take 1!

Juliette got her first tastes of solid food this week and enjoyed every bite of it! She had her mouth open as soon as the spoon was near even though most of the cereal ended up on her chin or the bib. The girls had a great time helping and thought it was pretty neat to have their little baby sister sitting up in her highchair
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Isabelle feeding little sister a few bites of rice cereal....

and now it is Allie's turn.

A natural! Got to get some extra calories to get my cheeks chubbier!

All smiles and ready to begin!