Fire

It was a fiery June in Colorado.  On June 2nd we were headed home from swim lessons and I saw a plume of smoke coming from behind the foothills. We looked online and couldn't find anything about a fire.   A few hours later it hit the news and for the next four weeks we watched in horror as close to 90,000 acres of our beautiful mountain forests burned and hundreds of our "neighbors" lost their homes to the High Park Fire.  We frequently had the smell of bonfire filling our house and sometimes couldn't see just down the street.  When we were in the NICU with Laura, the bonfire smell even permeated the hospital as the winds shifted.  Here are some pictures of the smoke plume at different points during June from our neighborhood.

I love you!

Oh, Grace, we love you so much!  Here are some current Grace-isms:

• "Where is the commodte?" (a.k.a, where is the remote?)
• "Laura eats off your booty, mom." (I should have called it a breast instead of a booby!)
• "When I was little..."
• "Mommy, you can [fill in the blank] because you don't have a baby in your belly!"

Laura's First Trip to the Farm

My mom and Mike left on June 22nd.  We had lunch with them before they left town and then we headed to the Farm for milk, cookies, and story time with our friends Myra and Siena.  Grace and Siena loved the story and the treat and Laura slept the entire time we were there.

Siena was all about volunteering!

Best friends playing in the water pump

Creekside

Papa Mike and Mama

We were so blessed to have my mom and Mike here for almost a full month as we waited for Laura's arrival.  They were able to stay until the Friday after Laura was born and then headed back to Michigan.  We loved having them here and have missed them since they left!  Thanks for a great month!

Just Born

Aunt Megan got Laura these great stickers that we can put on onesies and take monthly photos with.  I had taken the "Just Born" one to the hospital but we couldn't get pics since we were in the NICU with our monitors.  So here are Laura's "Just Born" shots a few days after being born.

Grace Time

New babies are great but big sister's still need some attention.  Grace got just that with Mama and Papa Mike still here.  Here are pics from their trip to Chuckee Cheese's.

Alert!

Laura has been so alert--even during her first two weeks!

   Checking out her animals!

Bath time!

The scab on Laura's belly button fell off the second day we had her home (I freaked out!) so we got to have her first bath (and remove all of her NICU band-aids--so sad!)