Update

Mariah's is 5 1/2 weeks now. She's just learned to SMILE BACK at us!!! :) :) :) So cool . . . I first thought she did on Sunday, and by Tuesday it was obvious that that was what she was doing. Grandma Ginia was suspicious, but agreed after witnessing it when we went over to visit on Wednesday. Tonight she added her voice (weak laughter) to it! . . . So awesome . . . :)

She also loves to hold things: your finger, burp rag, blanket, shirt, etc. So today I got her one of those little square cuddle/comfort blankie thingies. She held it to her from the second I gave it to her in the store, and still has it now as she sleeps. . . She's been perfect: sleeps well, eats well (and fast), burps easily, alert often, loves to cuddle, doesn't mind noise. She had a little phase where she fought 'bedtime', fussed for 45min - 1 hour at night. But she's already quit that. Perfectly healthy too, no joundice (sp?), no cradle cap; she does have a little rash or baby acne on her chest right now. I should stop, I'll jinx it. Oh, she does have blue eyes, so I'm guessing she'll have blonde hair.

Caleb made his first jealous comment the other night. He wanted me to rock him to sleep, and I said I couldn't. Daddy was gone and I knew Mariah needed to eat soon. He cried, "But Mommy, you hold Mariah all the time." He still loves her to pieces though, they all do. Michael got to show-n-tell her at school yesterday and Isaiah's going to in the morning. . . They all still ask to hold her all the time.

We've started gymnastics up again. Isaiah learned to land his kartwheel on his feet! Elizabeth is still working on hers. Caleb does great somersaults. They all love having their friends over. Michael enjoys those weeks (like Spring Break) when there is no religeon and he gets to join us.

Robert's back at work full time now, he still has to wear the boot (at work only) until his next check-up on April 8th. He says it itches him, gets tired easily, and hurts to walk without shoes. Basically the '6 ms til a full recovery' means mostly that he needs to continue to do all the stretches to build the strength and endurance back up. He can't tiptoe- when he tries to stand just on the left toes, his heel just slowly falls- no strength there, no endurance yet.

I have 1 1/2 more weeks of maternity leave, returning to work on Easter Monday. . . I'm ready and not ready, either way, here it comes. There'll only be 5 weeks of school left at that point, and then I'll have the whole summer again. Do I have big summer plans? 1) Potty train Caleb!!! 2) visit lots of parks 3) swim, play, make daily walks part of life.

Michael's made his first confession and is preparing for his first communion. He's also still really enjoying cubscouts. In fact, he has a busy three day period coming up. Friday, April 16th is his 8th b-day, April 17-18 is a cubscout campout, and Sunday April 18th is his first communion! Amy and Jenny had suggested that I let him choose if he wanted 2 parties or 1 big party, and he chose two (surprise!), so we'll probably have his b-day party on his b-day-Friday night, and then his first communion celebration after the mass (which is noon I think) on Sunday the 18th.

Michael and Isaiah are both signed up for coach pitch and t-ball teams at St. Mark's this summer. Isaiah is enrolled for Kindergarten at St. Mark's. Elizabeth is enrolled to attend preschool at Kidlink (maize and 21st, in Westlink church) on MW&F next year. She is SUPER excited about it.

Well, that's probably plenty for now . . . Love and God Bless to all!