Are you listening to me?

Last week I turned 29 (even though I still look 19- how is that possible?). I always joked that I needed a "birthday week" when I was younger, and this year I really got a whole week of birthday celebrations! Lunch at my grandma's house on Thursday, a birthday dinner on Sunday with my family, and a morning of shopping and a nice lunch in Petoskey with my mom and my girls on my actual birthday, which was Monday. In 29 years I've traveled the world, been married for 6 1/2 years, and have 2 beautiful girls. My mom always says flowers bloom in my path, and I couldn't agree more. If I were to order a life, I'd almost certainly order mine. I don't think there are many people who can say that.

We were up north again last week, and FINALLY had a campfire down by the lake. We enjoyed smores and a rainbow-- it was the perfect evening! Construction is in full swing for the barn- they have poured cement and put up some of the metal structure. It won't be too long before the house gets started! It will be my mom's field of dreams- if they build it, we will come. All 4 of us kids (5 with Paul!) love Up North, and have such great memories of it from growing up. We will come. And we won't mess it up. We promise.

Katherine is 3 months old and is blowing every benchmark out of the water. She is the happiest baby, always smiling and laughing. She will try to sit up if you lean her against a pillow- she's a very independent and active little lady! She isn't rolling quite yet, but I think any day now she'll be on the move. The pediatrician said when she was born that she was "lean and strong" and has continued to assert that she is one of the strongest newborns he's ever seen. She has perfect head and neck control- which opens the world of front facing carriers pretty soon!

Evelyn continues to be hilarious. She catches me off guard by repeating things that I'm not even aware that I say! She was putting her baby doll to sleep the other night, and she said, "I've had enough! Put head down and close eyes!" She has also been known to whip out the, "are you listening to me?" every now and then, which just makes me laugh. She loves the pool and the outdoors- I don't know what she's going to think when it starts getting cooler and we can't play outside every day. Until then, we're enjoying every minute of the sunshine that we can!