Happy Birthday Dexter Rawlings Munholland!

I have to make two separate posts today, one for the arrival of numero tres and one for Kellan's first day of 1st grade.

This first posting being Dexter Rawlings birth on Monday, July 27, 2009 at 3:27 p.m. MTN, in Lone Tree, CO (5 minutes from our house) at SkyRidge Medical Center. Weighing in at 6 lbs. 7 oz. measuring 20 inches long.

Dexter is doing great. He arrived in the world on the cold side (95 degrees), um wonder who he's already taking after? Otherwise all his stats are great and we came home from the hospital on Wed. 7/29. Our first night home I "slept" with him in a chair sitting up. He had a certain male procedure done before leaving the hospital which left him pretty miserable his first day home. Not to compare him already, but I do think he looks like Kellan (minus the smashed in face for those that remember when Kellan was born) and he definitely has Jim's mouth and chin.

Kellan and Zoe love him a lot and constantly want to hold him...for now. They are even being nice to each other in Dexter's presence - "It's Zoe's turn to hold Dexter first" - "No, Kellan that's ok, it can be your turn." "Kellan will you get Dexter a clean outfit" "Sure Zoe, sure." - quite precious. We'll see how long it lasts. We finally had to let them both in on how he will eat over the next several months - Kellan is still grossed out. I just hope it didn't make for the first day of 1st grade conversation.

We're having a tough time coming up with nicknames. Zoe's thrown out "Pickles" and Jim's been calling him "Mr. 'D'" to the kid's dismay. Kellan, has taken on calling him "Little 'D.'" Any suggestions?

Thank you everyone for all the well wishes. There will be many more pictures and videos to come. As soon as I figure out how to get the videos off our camera and onto our computer I'll post videos.

Can't wait for everyone to meet him and him to meet you!

Love The Munhollands

Mostly Sports and Activities

We're wrapping up the last couple weeks of summer vacation.  Kellan is back at school next week. In the mean time Jim has kept the kids as busy as usual.  Two hours (at least) are still spent at the pool.  Another two weeks of T-ball on the calendar and football "camp" started today. Three hours a day Kellan goes with kids from 5-8 yrs old to play flag football.  He really enjoyed himself today, didn't have a favorite drill and did admit to getting tired toward the end.  

We're finally getting the kids in bed by 8:30 vs. 9:00 - the two of them basically just pass out. Otherwise Jim and I are happy to get some Rockie game watching in on TV, glad they're doing well.  I'm spending many extra hours working trying to tie up all the loose ends, but no sooner do I get something done one more thing lands on my plate.  Still hanging in there, very low on energy, but glad Dexter's staying put (though I'm pretty much over making it until my last day of work on 7-31).  

Kellan had a 4 month check up for his legs.  We were all very anxious.  We were hoping to hear he didn't need to wear his night braces anymore.  It's been a long haul and he's been great, but is done with them.  We gave him a one night a week break the last few weeks leading up to the appointment.  Unfortunately, as great as the doctor says he's doing, she's still worried without the day braces and the weekly pt sessions he's still not quite strong enough to sustain a growth spurt.  So we go back in 4-6 months, hoping he grows and is strong enough to support all his progress - and then the braces will come off.   We were all disappointed.  Kellan has a calendar in his room and looks forward to picking a night each week where he doesn't have to wear them. 

Not a whole lot of picture taking.  I'll take some soon - it will be evident which child has Jim's nice, easy tanned skin, compared to other who is as white as I am (though I have a bit of a tan going).  The videos are some I haven't gotten around to posting until now, including Jim pitching to Kellan for T-ball.  Enjoy!

x

Zoe "helping" me put away Dexter's clothes.

A busy few weeks...

Even though our last few posts have been weather related, more relevant events have finally happened.  We bought the kids a water slide a couple months back, but unfortunately they have not been able to use it until now.  It's been fun watching them.  With the 180 lb limit I was even able to get on it...not with as much flexibility and coordination as the kids which made for a scary time at the top of the slide for me (funny for others).

Kellan lost his first tooth...then he lost it a second time.  No sooner did it fall out then we warned him multiple times to leave it in the house.  He insisted on carrying it everywhere.  Somewhere in our backyard is his first tooth.  It made for lots of "Will the tooth fairy still come" conversations and of course she did.

The same week Kellan "graduated" from kindergarten.  He had a "special me" day we all attended.  We didn't take any pictures, but we did do a video.  For those who saw the first day of school video on You Tube, we have a follow-up, not nearly as funny (and not sure if I can post it to this site since it's on the long side).  We're proud of the boy and look forward to his next big step - 1st grade starting on July 28 (hopefully Dexter hangs in there).

We had lots of visitors for cousin Jenna's wedding.  Cam and Phoebe came and stayed with us and we were really happy to see Fred, Monica, Papa Jim and Grandma Lawna - who brought "big bus" and Sadie.  It was a non-stop, fun weekend.  Kellan and Zoe's favorite thing was dancing at the wedding.  Believe it or not dancing is one of the things they love to do together. We missed Tiffy and Lyla.   

Now for the Fourth.  Damn weather.  We had rain Friday and Saturday.  The kids couldn't stop talking about the fireworks.  They went out earlier in the week and bought a bunch.  It cleared up at about 8 pm and we went out at 8:45.  No sooner did Zoe get a sparkler in her hand she started freaking out.  This is the same child who last year loved the fireworks and doing sparklers.  She lasted maybe 10 minutes before I took her inside and watched Kellan and Jim out our bedroom window.  She said - "I wanted to come in because Duke is scared", which was true, but not really the reason. 

That's about it for the last few weeks.  Kellan continues with swimming lessons and t-ball.  Zoe absolutely loves the pool.  She jumps in on her own and "swims" underwater.  Since we moved the computer up to our loft she spends hours a day on there.  She's pretty good for a 3.5 year old and we can leave her completely independent on it for quite a long time.  Hopefully she doesn't start "surfing" to other sites.  We're finishing up on Dexter's room.   I'll take pictures when it is finally complete.  At least it's painted and we can now get in the door.  All his clothes are washed.  I'm still hanging in there, four weeks from 7/6 - or one week if I consider Zoe was three weeks early. AHHHH!

Love Us

PS - I have lots of pix and videos so probably won't post them all this time round, but will save some for the next post(s).