Happy Birthday Ellery!

We went to a dinner party - somewhere in Midtown. It was a Thursday night and you were coming into this world first thing Monday morning. We had a full weekend planned. It was the last weekend to get things together, to get our bags packed to get ready.

You had a different plan.

Around 2AM, I woke up. I was uncomfortable and I couldn't sleep. Maybe if I turn over, maybe if I reposition myself. Maybe if I...

I scurried to the bathroom. Then I woke up your Daddy, "I think my water broke." Before I could even utter another word, Daddy leaped out of bed. We gathered our things and headed out the door. George, our doorman, saw us get off of the elevator and quickly ran outside to get us a cab.

You arrived at 7:21AM. 5 1/2 pounds. You were teeny, tiny and so, so, so, so precious.

That was five years ago. And in that time, you have grown and become a curious, intelligent, spunky, lovable and kind little girl.

You are patient with your sisters. Always giving them what you have because it is what they want. Your kindness does not go unnoticed.

These sisters of yours - they are drawn to you. They want to play with you, be near you, be like you.

That is why Vaughan searches for you every day on the playground at school. She only wants to play with you - even though she is with you all day. What a great big sister you are! When she finds you - you run up to her and hug her.

Sweet Latham grins ear to ear when you sing to her. She loves how much you love her.

Each day you teach me something new. Sometimes you teach me facts I have forgotten or never really known. You know, teaching me about deciduous trees. Mostly you just teach me to be a better person. You stretch me - testing my patience, testing my energy, testing my faith.

I am grateful that God entrusted us with your care.

Happy 5th birthday Annabelle Ellery!

I love you!

To the White House

This past weekend we ventured to Washington D.C.. The trip was a success and I have photos to share and stories to tell.

Until then, enjoy these vicious creatures. Ellery's face painting compliments of Danielle. Vaughan's face painting compliments of herself!

Festivities

Fall has arrived. Can I hear an Amen? It happened over night and let me tell you - it was WELCOMED! Somehow, we went from 90 degree weather to a high of 70. October is my favorite month....by far. Do you have a favorite month?

You can literally smell fall in the air. And so, as you might expect, it was time for our annual Harvest Party. We invited some friends over, had fajitas and enjoyed the crisp outdoors.

Oh and the photo above, while taken the night of the Harvest Party - it really has nothing to do with this post. It sort of looks like a brain sucker....and I think it is starving! Ha - my jokes these days are on a kindergarten level. Sad but true.

Happy Birthday Danielle!

Today is Danielle's birthday. The girls are beyond excited. Cakes are being baked and plans are being made. I am so glad that we get to spend some time with Danielle today to celebrate.

Photo taken by Danielle

Danielle, we feel so lucky to have you in our lives. Spending time away from these precious babies is hard but I feel confident when they are in your care. Thank you for being such an excellent role model and mentor. Thank you for loving them so well.

Love -

The McKnights

(your other family)

Back to Work

Last week, I went back to work. You would think that working from home would make this an easy and relatively smooth transition; however, things don't always go as planned.

For starters, This picture above looks NOTHING like my "workstation" at home. Yesterday, my conference calls started at 8AM. Need I remind you how hectic things are at 8AM in these parts? I went from an 8AM meeting to a 9AM meeting to a 10AM meeting (all while crunched over my computer sitting on my bed.) There wasn't time for a bathroom break and certainly no time to pump for sweet Latham. So, at 10:10, I texted Danielle while on my call. "Can you bring Latham in here and I will feed her?"

So, there I was propped on the bed, crunched over my computer, trying to hold a phone between my shoulder and my ear while feeding Latham. Now that in and of itself would have made for a challenging situation but to add insult to injury....I had to talk on this call...a lot. Sweet Latham has been congested lately and this made for VERY, VERY , VERY loud nursing/snorting. So, in between me talking I was frantically trying to put the phone on mute.

After about 5 minutes I realized there was no muffling the sweet baby. I announced on the call, "Do y'all here my baby?" My boss sighed in relief (I guess I was stating the obvious). "Yes, Melanie we can all hear you feeding your baby." Before I could even be embarrassed, the sweet little angel unloaded in her diaper making the loudest farting sound imaginable. Within 10 seconds I could feel her diaper leaking all over my leg.

I quickly texted Danielle, "Can you come get her and change her?" I handed her off, and continued on my call. It was 10:45AM - the day was just starting.

All Tangled Up

Last week, Alan had a home nurse make a visit. It was routine - part of upping his life insurance with the birth of Latham. It seemed like a good idea at the time, more convenient you know? Alan had her come at 8AM so that he could scoot off to work without being too terribly late. It seemed like a good idea. Did I already say that?

Except....well, 8AM around here is pretty darn hectic. So it was no surprise that I was rushing around the house trying to get the big girls dressed for school, Latham fed and changed, hair brushed, shoes tied, breakfast served and (more importantly) EATEN.

I had no idea this "physical" included a CKG. So when I rushed in the living room to ask the nurse to move her car (so I wouldn't miss carpool) I was SHOCKED to see Alan laying on the floor connected to all of these wires. And I have to admit, I giggled because it was pretty darn funny!

Of course, we haven't heard if Alan passed the physical. And, with two girls jumping over him and climbing on him while he was getting his blood pressure checked and his EKG administered - chances are things could turn up out of wack!

Twins

I was carefully stirring the contents of the pan, making sure the garlic didn't burn. You know, the garlic - that darn stuff - it ALWAYS burns. Then I end up fishing it out of the pan because you know as well as I do that there certainly isn't time to start over.

While I am busy preparing dinner, my "helpers" keep an eye on Latham. Usually this entails pushing her swing or singing to her. But, this night the girls decided that sweet Latham needed a friend.

Vaughan tucked her baby right next to Latham and then the girls covered them up (with a burp clothe.) It made me chuckle...and not because it was cute but because that darn doll could be Latham's twin! I mean - honestly - it is a mini Latham. Looks like Latham thought it was funny too.