Visit to Nashville

Madigan giving kisses (and vice versa)

a very milk-drunk Declan

Daddy reading Bundle's favorite book

Holding my one month old new grandson. Could I be more pleased?

These are the times that enrich and infuse a grandma's life with pure unadulterated joy! I was able to spend a week with these two awesome little boys. How precious the moments. Eryn, even though often sleep-deprived, is the most patient and innovative of mothers. I marvel at her creative solutions to everyday emergencies and the way she so placidly carries on with all that home-making, goat-keeping, child-raising, husband-nurturing entails and always with such an incredible sense of humor. God most definitely gave these children the right mother. I think she is quite perfect for them.

One of the most delightful events of each day is when Kris or Virginia give Bundle a time to dance...he is perched on top of their shoulders and up and down, back and forth, round and round they go to the sounds of Matt Carney or Vivaldi or whatever strikes their fancy. Madigan is totally stone faced for the most part, NEVER holding on, hands free at all times, letting a smile escape only with a fast twirl or quick drop down. He is very funny...and VERY serious. When he wants to dance, he turns around and backs into his daddy. So cute. He also loves to move to the beat of whatever music is  being played on the piano, usually something in the Suzuki repertoire. He doesn't know it yet, but I got him a miniature REAL guitar for Christmas. We found it at Once Upon a Child for $20.00. Can't wait for him to see it.

Declan is a most delightful baby. He only cries if hungry or uncomfortable (wet or poopy diaper, being mauled by his over zealous big brother, etc.). The milk-drunk demeanor is quite the norm as he seems to be eating incessantly. He is also quite the little scrootcher, even in sleep, and not a silent scrootcher either. That's why Eryn has such a hard time getting any period of sustained rest for he is in nearly constant motion (oh wow, where did we hear of such a thing before?). He has very dark complexion...SO different from anyone else in the immediate family. I think it must be from my mother, who was a bit Cherokee and had very olive complexion. His eyes are a very deep dark blue and he is very intentionally smiling already. He was even interacting with the happy faces of Kristen and her bride's maids in a photo up on the shelf. What a hoot!