Whew!

This is Ben's "concerned" look. We see it often :)

Boy, it just seems hard to keep up with posting these days. So much changes in the early days of a baby's life, not to mention things that happen with Rachel, and it's a challenge to try to get a significant amount of it documented here.

It's been busy trying to attend to the needs of a newborn while also trying not to neglect a 4-year-old who is really social and likes to interact a lot and always wants to do things. Obviously, it's worth it, and I'm sure it will get easier with time, but it's certainly a difficult task for now, especially with the many nights of interrupted sleep.

Of course, this past Sunday was not only Father's Day, but it was also the day we dedicated Ben at church *and* the day that we had Rachel's birthday party. What's that you ask? Why, yes, we are insane. Way too many significant events happening for one day, but we made it through.

The dedication went fairly well, although there was a diaper leakage issue before the service started, so Ben was dedicated in a sleeper because that was what I had on hand for a change of clothes. I don't think anyone minded the casual attire, though. He did start to cry right as it got to be his turn, after the other two babies they'd dedicated. It didn't get too bad, and fortunately there was no one else after us, so we didn't have a screaming child for someone else's dedication. I'm not satisfied with the photos from our camera, so hopefully one of the other two people who were taking pictures from our friends and family will e-mail me some good pictures, and I'll post a few.

Rachel's party was fun, mostly. Our family members came home with us from church, and a couple who might as well be family (Hi, Corey & Gilda!) arrived soon after to help us get ready, and it all came together on time. Rachel seemed to really have a good time, and she had 3 little girls from church who came to celebrate, along with their parents and other family friends. The other girls were anxious to go outside, so the kids all ate their food quickly and plowed through the cake and ice cream. Then as Rachel tried to open gifts, she had more help than she needed from two girls who really wanted to open the gifts themselves and had a hard time understanding that was Rachel's job. She didn't seem to mind, even though James and I did, so at least she enjoyed herself. After that, they all went and played outside until it was time for people to start heading home.

Rachel had a hard time deciding what to play with after that and pretty much played with everything a little before going to bed that evening. All in all, a rousing success!

Poor James got the short end of the stick with a "Happy Father's Day!" greeting, along with cards and gifts from me and Rachel. But I think he enjoyed Father's Day nonetheless.

Here are a few photos from the day:The girls each decorated their own paper tiaras - don't they look sweet?
Mmm, I like cake :)

One of her gifts was a Snow White costume, which she's worn all or part of for the last 3 days.

Daddy & kids hanging out on the evening of Father's Day.