Update!

I haven't posted in a very, very long time.  It is time.

Quick update:  Gabe is 9 months old.  It goes WAY too fast.  I just took him in for his 9 month checkup and everything looks great.  He's 19.8 lbs (40-45%), 29 1/2 inches long (60%) and 19 inch head circumference (60%).  My doctor even said that he thinks Gabe will be taller than Josh!  Woo hoo!  There is hope for him to be tall!  

Gabe is eating table food and any food he can get his hands on.... he LOVES to eat.  He loves to play with balls, go on walks with me and sadie, and play in the tub.  He is full of smiles and loves all of the volleyball girls.  He is such a trooper coming to all of the practices and almost all of the games too.  And he takes great naps... I think that I am one of the luckiest moms around.  What a sweet boy.

Next update:  We finally hydro-seeded!!  We would have had it a couple of weeks ago, but after we raked we were unaware that our sprinklers were set to turn on and so our beautiful raked yard turned in to a beautiful muddy-raked yard.  Nuts.  Then it rained all week after that so we had to hold off.   This year we brought in probably 40 loads of dirt plus 10 loads of topsoil, got our sprinklers put in, laid an RV pad and a patio, put in a rock wall and steps off our back patio.  Finally... got our seed.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate so that we can have beautiful grass next spring.
  If we save up enough next year we are hoping to put in a fence, and maybe even a swingset!  I had no idea how much money and time it takes to put in a yard.  Oh, I forgot...we also planted 5 silver leaf maples in our park strip (which are going to have to come out... their roots are shallow and will tear out our sidewalk).  We planted 2 peach trees, a pear tree, a nectarine tree, and an apple tree by our garden.  We then planted two honey locusts, and two maples that turn bright red in the fall.  It's all coming together slowly!


And my last update:  I love my volleyball girls.  It's so fun to coach.  Sometimes I want to pull my hair out.  It's true.  But most of the time I am so proud of these girls.  They work so hard and have improved SO much!!  Truth be told...we for sure won't win the State tournament. BUT... we have a good shot of going to the tournament and that is success in itself.  These girls are so fun to be around and they are really starting to understand how to be a team;  how to get rid of their egos and play for each other.  I can see a bunch of these girls going on to play college.  How sweet would that be?!   They have taught me so much and have showed so much patience and love to Kayla and me as young coaches.  It's been a blast.

 Last night we beat Murray (who beat us easily the first 2 times we played them) and we have 2 more matches until the State tourney.  I'd love to upset some top teams this year...  :)  Volleyball is more than just a sport to me.  It teaches skills, confidence, teamwork, family, sacrifice, and love.  I hope you can see why I have such passion for this sport.  It teaches girls to be confident, strong women.  And...it's so fun.  Thank you Kayla and Heidi for letting me coach with you this year and for all of our Westlake girls for putting up with me.  I love you all.... and so does Gabe.  And thanks to Josh for letting me continue being in the gym and supporting my love of this game.