Mary might have more trouble adjusting to the loss of her playmate (or tormentor, depending on the minute). She was a little bit out of sorts yesterday and I think it’s because her older brother wasn’t around. But she starts preschool next week (don’t worry, another post to come!) so that should keep her busy for a bit.

And the baby is in mommy’s tummy.

And she is soooooo cuuuuuute.

And I will hold her. And hug her. And rock her.

She went on for a while, and Kate will probably remember more of what she said. but it was adorable. Simon seemed to take it all in stride. His demeanor seemed to say, “Yawn. Yeah, I’ve got a pretty good handle on this big brother thing. Bring it on.”

It’s mostly quilting and craft-focused, but it’s definitely worth poking around. I have very little interest in crafts and quilting, but even I find it interesting. So check out the newly resurrected KCQuilts Blog.

Oh, and we learned one more important lesson: Place gingerbread houses up high enough that the dog doesn’t eat the gingerbread bushes and gingerbread men!

I got the idea for this post from Kristen when she did it for her son last month. She’s a better writer than I am, so I’m going to let pictures do most of the talking. Thanks, Kristen.

Brand New

Casey wasn’t quite sure what to make of this new creature that had invaded her home. We weren’t quite sure either. All I knew is that he was cute as a button during the day and infuriatingly AWAKE at night. We solved that problem during the first year. One of many new parent learning experiences.

One

You turned one and the cuteness had only begun. Your exploded into a blur of motion and sound as you learned to walk and talk with gusto. It is right around the 1-2 transition that kids hit their “peak cuteness” and you did so with style, charming everybody from your grandparents to the grocery store clerk. You set a high bar for your sister.

Two

I feel bad for whoever coined the term the “terrible twos,” because I thought they were pretty fantastic. You were old enough to be able to communicate what you wanted, but not old enough to really be testing limits with any seriousness. This was an awesome age, and I wish I could remember more if it more clearly.

Three

Three was a big year for you. You got a sister (not pictured!), and you LOVE her. Sometimes a little too much. But man is she lucky to have a big brother like you. You spent some time in New York and Texas visiting your grandparents this year, and you’re still asking me when you can go on a plane again. Apparently it made a lasting impression.

Four

You started going to preschool at 4 (well, technically the first month you were 3). After one or two teary mornings, you settled right in. You also decided to seriously test some limits and cop an attitude. It was a rough couple of months, but you seemed to get over it, and are generally a very pleasant, sensitive, loving child. You ESPECIALLY love your sister. I love that you two are so close in age, and I hope that you remain close as you get older.

Five

So here you go at five. You’re getting bolder, but no less sensitive, and this time next year you’ll be in kindergarten. You’re getting so big so fast, I simply can’t believe it. I just have one request. SLOW. DOWN. But thanks for a great first five years. It’s been a blast.

Today, it’s Murray’s turn. A couple weeks ago, Kate, Mary, Simon, and I made the trek down to Blacksburg to help Murray celebrate his college graduation. It was a fun couple of days, and I really enjoyed meeting Murray’s friends and hanging out as a family at my (and Kate’s and my Dad’s) alma mater.

Murray has grown into a young man that any parent would be proud of. If my kids turn out half as well as their Uncle Murray, we’ll be doing pretty well. What strikes me about Murray is the awesome balance he has struck. He has been a solid student, while also getting involved in a number of extracurriculars at Tech, while still making plenty of time for his relationships with his friends and family. He is pretty unflappable, and is going to make a great addition in his new job this fall (working for PWC). They are lucky to have him.

I also count myself among the people who are lucky to have Murray. I’m really excited that he’s going to be in in NoVA to start his career, and I’m looking forward to getting some time to hang out here and there. I know my kids are looking forward to it, too. Yes, that means we’ll be hitting you up for babysitting oh. . . constantly. Mom and Dad will be glad for the time off.

Congratulations, Murray!

Okay, that’s not really my New Year’s resolution. Somehow everything I want to say has recently been magically condensed to 140 characters or less. Because my attention span wasn’t short enough to begin with. Darn you twitter and facebook. So to start 2010, I present you with a picture of my whole family, taken at our Christmas celebration this past weekend.

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