Time to Relax with the Kidos

Our favorite vacation destination over the past several years has been the condo in Steamboat. It's just one of those places that makes you relax the second upon arrival. It's homey, predictable and unassuming. We've spent the last three 4th of July vacations at the condo as Team Kirby. This year our new member was in tow with the team for 9 wonderful days. Graham, now 7 weeks old, was super baby brother on our trip. With not a peep out of him for the entire 8 hour drive out (don't worry we paid for this on the drive home). His sister, on the other hand, was a talking machine. She managed to chat the entire 8 hours, surpassing a nap, while entertaining herself and pink baby (her doll and partner in crime) in the backseat.



At the condo we had lots of time to eat, go on hikes and enjoy our family. Greta always looks forward to the parade on the 4th and our traditional chilli cheese slaw dogs. This year we got her some fireworks of her very own. Stefan took G fishing and we all got to enjoy hot springs pool. Graham put one hand in the water and fell asleep...yes it was that relaxing. Then to top off our already great trip, we recieved a visit for our dear friends the Alexanders. It was so great to see them, as we don't get to see them often enough. Finn and Greta played like old buddies and we talked with Jay and Nicki like it had not been a year since our last visit...the true testomonie of life long friends. It was sad to leave Steamboat. If only there was a way to call it home. But for now we're planning another trip in the fall and are back at our Sandy home.

He came out a Graham

Graham Stefan Kirby

Born May 24, 2011 @ 5:45pm

8 lbs and 20 in long

My phone rang as I sat in the hospital bed, It was Greta. She was on her way to come meet her new baby brother but she had a question for me first...."Did he come out a Graham?" she asked with a level of excitement I had never heard in her voice. I replied "YES!" Naming the new member of Team Kirby proved to be one of our biggest challenges to date. Stefan had his name, Henry. I had my name, Graham. Neither of us were certain that the others name would do. So we made a deal. If he came out with blond hair, Stefan would name him; if he came out with dark hair I would name him; and if he come out bald or red haired he'd be named after our granddad's, Charlie. This little man did not come out willingly. After entering my 10th month of pregnancy, our doctor advised us that it was time to give the little guy some help in entering this world. My fluid was getting low, his weight was on the large side and my tolerance of being huge and pregnant was waining.

I really did not want an induction, but a c-sections was not my idea of birthing fun either. So we gave him 5 days past my due date to make up his mind...either come out on his own or we're coming in. Of course he waited for us to give him a bit of encouragement! He would not be a true Denham-Kirby otherwise. After having my water broken by the doctor, gallons of oxytocin dripped into my veins, 9 hours later of labor and one strong push our baby boy revealed a big head full of dark hair. The deal was settled, he would indeed "come out a Graham."

But thanks to Graham's stubbornness, Nana got to be here for the birth! She stay 10 wonderful days with us! I am so lucky to have my mom. She swooped in, cleaned house, did laundry, made us meals, laughed with us, loved on her grandkids and then would disappear at just the right time to allow our new family to have our special moments. Thanks again Mom!

Gmom and Popa were the next round of visitors. It was great to have them here. They made it was very special for Greta, letting her go "camping" in their trailer for a night. Stefan and I really enjoyed this time to spend one-on-one with Graham. We know that there will be very few of these moments to spend with #2, so we were very grateful!

Greta is being such a great BIG Sister! She likes to help get diapers and blankets for her baby brother. She's been reading him stories and telling him all about the world around him. She's had her moments of jealousy but in general she has been fantastic with the changes in her world. It is still stunning to me how she instantly "grew-up" when we returned from the hospital, infant in arms. She will always be my baby but now she's my little girl!

Graham is now 3 weeks old. He's been sleeping good at night, a super eater and is masting his facial expressions. This week he started cooing, it's soooo cute, and he's keeping his eyes open more and more everyday. We've managed add a little normalcy back into our lives, getting in a few hikes, walks and even a tailgate at snowbird over the weekend while mommy,daddy and Greta took turns skiing.

Stefan had to return to work this week, leaving me to figure out how to care of a baby solo again. It's not exactly an "old hat" routine but I think I am getting it. I am off work until September and will cherish every day I have with my guy until "real life" takes me away from him as it did with Greta.

Snow Bunny Easter

This years Easter celebrations, were close to home and quite. For the last 4 years we've either had Easter brunch at our house making eggs benedict with all the fixings for all our friends or we've gathered in the desert camping with friend making eggs benedict with all the fixings....have you caught on that I LOVE eggs benedict! The only other thing missing this year, other then our friends, was the mimosa! I also LOVE mimosas! But with baby brother baking in the oven we took it easy and experienced a whole new Easter in our own back yard.

Greta got spent Easter at Snowbird being a snow bunny!

She meet the Easter bunny...

found some of his eggs fill with goodies...

then spent the rest of the day skiing with Daddy!

She's really getting her ski legs this year!

I spent the day looking like the Easter bunny hid all of his eggs in my belly :)

Baby Madness

T-minus 3 weeks until the 4th member (5th if you include the big dog) is added to Team Kirby. Not sure what happened to the last 8 months. A recap of our adventures is long awaited and long overdure, as always. I honestlythink I may be the laziest blogger around...well it's time to jump back on the wagon.

Winter came on strong for the Wasatch front. Dumping loads of snow on our porch and backyard playground. I managed to get a few days in a the resorts before my ski pant button burst and before my "mommy conscious" told me that it just was not safe to risk it anymore. Cross country skiing was looking hopeful for the rest of the winter, but early contractions put an end to that fun and most any activity in my days. I figured I could it was better to stop and rest then have a 2lb baby boy.

We did manage to get one family ski trip to Southern Utah's Boulder Mountain, were we stay at our favorite lodge for a quite get away. We've spent most of the rest of the winter close to home "nesting". Time at home allowed us to finish the long awaited master bath remodel, putting the Raintree House remodel to bed, finally. There is not a surface inside this house that we have not proudly improved. Time to move...ha, just kidding.

March and April felt like a mad dash to the baby readiness finish line and as the month's end is creeping up on us FAST, I feel we are ready for the next chapter in our life to start. My belly has reached a point of no return. Even my doctor commented at my last appointment that I already look full term...and I am only 36 weeks. Not sure I have it in me to get any larger, I'll most likely just fall on my face. My only hope is seeing a friend of mine most recently bake twins in her belly to 38 weeks, and one day. Her pre-pregnancy frame is 1/3 of mine and she had twice my belly diameter, so I have some hope that I'll stay upright.

It's funny that the thing that gets me the most about this pregnancy, is not the pregnancy at all or the reality of our baby boy's arrival. No, it's the pure amazement of watching my #1 little girl grow up in what seems to be at an exponential rate right before my eyes. Greta has transformed into a full blown preschooler over the months. Her imagination is thriving and her speech is shockingly advanced. She tells fascinating stories of the adventures of "Pink Baby" (her doll). They travel the world together, cook, go to the play park, meet new friends together, but most of all they spend lots of time on Redondo Beach (her most memorable vacation spot to date, thanks to Dave and Shelley. I am convinced she will leave home to live there someday). She's also an amazing talent in the Art department. Creating masterpieces with any paper she can get her hands on, some scissors, markers/paints and a glue stick.

She is an emotional and caring girl, who is constantly bringing me pillows for my aching prego back and always remembering to give baby brother a kiss on my belly or telling him where we are going so he does not feel left out just because he can not see yet. So as the arrival of #2 is among us I can't hardly imagine that we'll be so lucky to have these experiences again, all be it in a totally new and different light then the first time. I never really thought I would be a mom, but now I can not see my life any other way. She has changed me, and he will too!

The baby timer is now officially ticking. I am not totally convinced that I will make it full term this time (May 19) leading me to believe that early May will be his arrival time, just like his sister. I'll keep you posted.

Team Kirby survived another Summer/Fall of whirl wind travels (ID, CO, CA, UT) family vacations, weddings, camping/backpacking/climbing trips, music festivals and Birthdays. In what felt like a blink of an eye the summer has come to it's end. Winter is on it's way and is always a welcomed season in the Kirby house, with cooler temperatures reminding us that our hibernation is approaching. Winter is our time to slow down, stay home and enjoy our own backyard from time to time. Don't get me wrong, we do love our "always on the go" fun, but lets face it, I'm tired! and you will be too after this post. I've attempted to photo document our summer and fall adventures...enjoy!

June

Beautiful California wedding for our

great friends David and Shelley

Early July

Jess turns 34,

Gmom Visits, Family Backpacking Deseret Peak

Mid July

Steamboat 4th of July Celebration

End of July

Sawtooth Yurt, Biking

and Music Festival

August

Stauter, Sherman, Kirby Campout

at Trappers Lake, CO

Early September

Montrose for Gmom's Birthday,

then off to through hike in the Uncompahgre Wilderness

Late September

City of Rocks Climbing Trip

Hiking in the Uinta's

Early October

Trip to Moab with Grandpa and Grandma Linda

Mid October

Miss Greta turned 3 years old!

I can hardly believe how much she has changed.

End of October

Annual Pumpkin Patch trip with Nana & Pops

and Halloween fun on Park City Main Street, dressed as Team Sushi.

Almost Done

There's just one more thing we'd like to share with all of you.......

...That's right!

We're adding a team member in May 2011!