Home With Babies

We are home and could not feel more blessed. Everyone is doing very well.

Happy Birthday Justin and Megan!

Justin Jeffrey Kraupp: 6 lbs 4 oz, 18 1/2 inches long

Megan Deane Kraupp: 6 lbs 8 oz, 19 inches long

What Would We Do Without Grandma Jo?

A week and a half ago, we were strongly encouraged to move closer to the hospital. My mom and dad are only about 15 minutes away, so we packed our bags and headed in. The kids have had the time of their lives. Annie and Emma have had to get up just before six every morning in order to make it to school on time and they do it with a smile on their faces. Grandma has taken amazing care of us. We even got to plan the menu and then she did the shopping and made the meals! I have been able to just keep my feet up while she has busily cared for the kids and for Travis. Jake has really enjoyed daily if not bi-daily trips to the park and "driving" Grandma's car. Our friends and neighbors have been so kind to help pick up the girls from school and let them come to play until Travis is finished working and can pick them up for the ride back to Grandma's house. We are so grateful to everyone who takes such good care of us!

One day after school Emma brought home a library book. I read it to her once, and away she went reading it all by herself. Here she is reading it to Jake:

Though I wasn't much help to my mom, Jake was more than happy to help with the housework:

Oh, and do you think my pregnancy has had an impact on the girls?:
And now, for the most exciting news of all....we will be admitted to the hospital tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. to have labor induced! We finally get to meet Justin and Megan! What a special day! After starting labor twice and then having the little buggers change their minds, we are more than ready to finally meet them and welcome them to our family. This is something we never could have imagined for ourselves, and in many ways it still feels like a dream, but by tomorrow we are sure reality will have set in! As soon as we can we will be putting pictures of the babies up for you to see...

Back to School Night

I had an appointment with the doctor yesterday. Actually, I had an appointment with the nurse because my doctor is fishing in Alaska until one week from today. I was feeling a little different yesterday. It was difficult to describe, but I just felt different. She checked everything out and nervously told us I was beginning to progress and in order to make it another week I needed to do nothing. We would love to make it another week for the babies health and for the doctor's attendance. So, today was my first day of nothing. I suddenly feel very blessed to not have these instructions earlier. We were warned bed rest could come early, but it did not and I am very thankful because man was I bored today! I found myself making a lot of lists. I guess if I can't complete projects I will delegate them out. Bless her heart my mom will be nesting for me from a list I created. While she is nesting I am sure I will just be making more lists! I find it soothing...Thanks mom!

Since yesterday's development, Annie has increased her level of excitement and worry. Tonight was back to school night and she has been so excited for us to come see her class, her papers, and her desk. She quietly whispered three or four times to me wondering if I would be able to make it. By 6:00 tonight I was ready to go. Cautious but ready.

We decided to visit Emma's room first. I was so proud of the organization of her cubby that I had to take a picture:

Way to go Emma!

Emma really enjoyed showing us all around her class. She has some beautiful art on the wall and is doing so well. So far everything they are learning is a review, but she patiently does what is asked of her and then upon arriving home is anxious to do just a couple of things that are a bit more of a challenge.

Jake entered Emma's room as though he were a parent. He announced how cute the room was and how good it smelled. Soon he turned to the ever studious student and was ready to work. Mrs. Maybon gladly handed him a work sheet and he got busy right away. He drew a lovely creation then proceeded to count first in English and then in Spanish.

When he was done working he thought he had earned a sticker and made sure Mrs. Maybon got one both on his paper as well as on his hand. (Note her desk in the background....it is under the papers somewhere)

Emma and Mrs. Maybon

After Emma's class it was on to Annie's. As we walked through the door I could feel the order in the air. Mrs. Garrett's room is perfect for Annie. There is an abundance of structure, order and predictability. Annie had quite a few things to show us and gladly allowed me to clean her desk. She is so proud of everything she is doing and with good reason. There are no pictures of Jake in Annie's class. He went from the picture of parenting and studiousness in Emma's room, to a detention bound boy in Annie's room. He discovered the sink and for some reason or another was turning the water on and off and repeating, "what the hell?!" over and over again. Travis and I were just discussing how funny that is when it is NOT your child. Where he has ever heard language like that...must be all the time he has been spending lately with his dad...certainly couldn't be from me!

Farewell to Nina

We have known for almost a year that this day was coming, but it certainly didn't make it any easier. Nina has been working for us since this time last year and we couldn't help but fall in love with her. She is just so fun to have around and such a special girl. Jake in particular has found a very special friendship with Nina, or "my Nina" as he calls her. But, the day has come when it is time for her to leave and go away to college. She is going to have so much fun that it is hard not to be excited for her, but we are going to miss her terribly. She has been an answer to prayer for our family. There is no way I could have carried these babies this well without her continual help. I am so grateful to her for her willingness to do anything, and I really mean anything. Though we have been explaining to Jake that she is going to be gone to school from now on, I know he doesn't understand it. He is going to be so lonesome for her, and I am just not brave enough to fetch the frogs for him. Anyway, thank you Nina for everything! We love you and we miss you already...

When Nina came over to say goodbye she brought gifts for the kids with her. She brought Hannah Montana galore for the girls and a large adorable frog for Jake. He hasn't let it out of his sight. He is sound asleep with it by his side right now. He also enjoyed the Hannah Montana wig:

We also had gifts for Nina. We found the perfect fabric to make a frog quilt and we also made her a t-shirt with the following picture and a definition of Nina. Annie fully expects her to sport it around campus, I am thinking it may be better suited for lounge wear, but with Nina you just never know...

A Future Wrestler...

A week ago Saturday Annie was enjoying some time at the computer while chewing a piece of gum. The chewing of the gum was risky business considering how loose her tooth had been. Sure enough, the gum caught the tooth and it started to bleed. This caused her to stop eating, talking, and...swallowing. I know Annie is best suited to pull her own teeth, but considering the drool coming out of her mouth Travis decided it was time for the tooth to go. It went this well:



Annie is a skinny little button, but whoa is she strong. Travis could not hold her down despite all his efforts. He had a few places to go and encouraged her to take care fo the tooth while he was away. She failed, though every time she saw me coming she would pretend to really try. So, upon his return home Travis took to the tooth with some toilet paper and out it came. Only a few tears were shed.

I should also mention that as soon as Emma realized Annie's tooth was coming out she took to her own tooth with a paper towel. It was slightly loose, but not enough to have the tooth fairy come to both girls in one night. Nice try Emma! However, exactly one week later Emma's tooth really was ready to come out. She worked on it until it bled then came to Travis LAUGHING and he pulled it right out.

We will never cease to be amazed at the differences in our two girls.