Look Out!!

I will try adding a post tonight along with new pictures. It has been put off and way too long. A quick update until tonight....

Shiloh: 2 month appointment was 9lb 13oz and doing very well. A strong little girl holding her head up for long periods now and very alert. Really checking stuff out and watching her surroundings. In the last two days she has been fighting a little cold, but other than that doing super.

Alexys: Almost 2 years old!!! My sweetheart who is becoming clearer to understand every week now. Only thing is the binky has become a bad habit that we are going to have to buckle down and start breaking her of after our trip to Florida in a couple weeks. Alexys favorite things to do right now are; play outside, jump, dance (we love watching Glee together and dance to the music), and most of all her wood puzzles.

Duane: Keeping busy at work and working in a Price Chopper right now in Kansas City doing a remodel. Getting ready to finish our basement by adding the fourth bedroom and play room for the girls or family room. Also, hunting season has begun, so he is trying to fit in some time to play in the woods and look for his next trophy or at least some meat for eating. The trials bike that he enjoys riding with his Dad and best friend Steve gets a little time in but now that is hunting season may be put up till Spring now.

Laura: Back to work and adjusting to our new routine of two children, work, and trying to be involved in the community as much as time allows. Pretty much just Cops for Tots right now and our auction is October 25th, 2009 if you don't have any plans you should check it out. It will be on the local cable channel live that day or you can come to the production at the High School to bid. This will be my fourth year helping and second year on the board. Although my help the last year has been minimal due to the babies.

Our Family:

Preparing for my Aunt Carols visit this weekend and our trip to the Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival in Mound City KS. Our close family friend JJ Isenhower will be there with his creations Sticks & Stones, so if you go check him out and tell him your friend or family of ours. He just made the girls bunk beds for Christmas/Alexys Birthday, he'll have them on display. It started out as a bed for Alexys 2nd birthday but when Shiloh was born it turned into bunk beds for a later day when I'll have them share a room. The beds can be seperated or left together. They are AWESOME, Duane is a little jealous and envious of them. Saturday evening we are going to my friends parents house for a "just for fun" party where the guys will play croquet and the girls can visit. Steve & Dee hosted this party last year at their house around the fourth of July and we had a great time so we're looking forward to it.

The following weekend I'm trying to get my friend Bailee to come over and hang out with me, it has been a year now.

Next weekend we have Duane's best friends Steve & Char Holtgravers FANTASTIC Halloween Party and the COPS FOR TOTS auction. This two things are always the weekend before Halloween and an amazing time.

October 28th we are Florida bound for my brother Tony Hodgson's retirement from the Air Force, 20 years of serving our great country. Thanks for your committment and dedication Tony! We love you and can't wait to see you!

It has been a few days!!!!

Time for a new post for sure, let's see where should I begin.....Shiloh

1 Month Check-Up this last month on August 23, 2009

Whoohoo...we are growing and bigger than sister Alexys was

8 lb 13.5oz 50% tile

21.5 inches long 75% tile

Alexys is doing well and on the verge of being easier to understand. She is speaking sentences and becoming clearer in her speech every day, ecspecially in the last week. Still a very proud big sister trying to help with what she can and excited to show her baby sister off.

Cody is now acknowledging Shiloh's existence. He had been ignoring her and not going near her as if she didn't exist. This last week he has started cuddling with her and checking her out. Cody and Alexys enjoy playing, chasing each other during the day but by night time he is ready for Alexys to go to bed and leave him alone. :-)

Duane has been working and we are thankful for that.

Laura is returning to work a week from today. Daycare is on vacation this week so it is just the girls and her at home to play and enjoy our last week of just us. Talking about going to Grandma and Grandpa Hodgson's for a couple nights maybe. We'll see how our week goes.

Weekend of Family introductions

The Epp family traveled to Inman KS this last weekend for Shiloh to meet her great-grandparents and attend an Epp Family reunion. Duane's Grandpa Epp was one of nine children. Seven are still living and one sister, Maryann lives in Paraguay. This was her last visit to the states for her and her husband. All 7 siblings were present, 11 children present, 4 grandchildren present, and two great-grandchildren. Total attending the reunion including spouses was around 42 people I believe. It was great meeting the family and visiting. That evening we had dinner and stayed at Duane's cousin Greg & Heathers from his mothers side of the family. Connie's sister Diane & husband Paul joined us for dinner. Greg & Heather have two daughters, Taylor (5) and Brooke (2 in October), Alexys loved playing with her cousins. Sunday we enjoyed brunch with Uncle Steve, Great-Grandpa & Great-Grandma, Grandpa Bob and Nana Kim then we headed home. The girls did wonderful traveling. I will post pictures later....

Friday, August 14, 2009 Events

A picture of Shiloh sleeping at 3 weeks. We are having some issues with an upset tummy at times accompanied by a little crying for a couple hours at some times but overall she is doing great!
Friday we had some visitors in the morning and after everyone left I heard a toilet lid and then what I thought could be splashing of water. I immediately ran to the bathroom and found this...

Alexys was so proud of herself for giving her baby a bath. Apparently the lid was up and she had open access.

Friday morning the girls and mommy went for their first walk with the jogging stroller.

Welcome Home Uncle Tony!

"Welcome Home Uncle Tony!!! We love you...Alexys & Shiloh"

My brother made it home this week from his last active duty deployment. The girls can't wait to see you in October for your retirement!

Epp Updates

Alexys 1st Haircut at Simply U by Samantha DeGrande

Friday, July 31, 2009

Shiloh 1st Doctor Appointment-1 Week

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Weight: 7lb .5oz

Length: 19 5/8 inches

Doctor Comments: Strong, Alert, Looking great and that mommy & daddy make beautiful little girls!

Awwww, my sweet girls!

Baby Shiloh resting and smiling in her sleep...

My two girls, first night home, fell asleep in my arms...

Alexys has started getting brave on her bouncing zebra. Alexys says "Look at me no hands!", she laughs so hard while doing this and really can balance, of course I'm waitin gfor the day she falls off.

Alexys received her own newborn baby to take care of like mommy is taking care of her new baby sister Shiloh. This was one of her gifts coming home. Thanks to everyone also for the gifts they have brought to Alexys, she is loving them all.

Grandma Connie helped mommy attend a friends baby shower the afternoon we returned home and hung out with us for dinner that the DeGrande's brought over for our first meal home. THanks Samantha, it was great! Grandma Connie is such a big help and we love having her over. Alexys was ready to sleep in her own bed again and Shiloh did a great job the first night home as well. Cody was with my parents still and we were ready to get him home and have our whole family here. :-)

Alexys wouldn't hold still for a picture with anyone really, she is a little too busy these days for pictures I suppose but Shiloh does a great job. My parents returned Cody on Sunday around lunch and bought us lunch. Thanks for the time spent with us, it means the world to have our family close. That evening Uncle Bryan and Aunt Peggy brought over dinner and mojito's. They were awesome, I had been wanting a mojito for some time along with the dinner they prepared.

Last night the girls didn't sleep so well. I think Shiloh is having problems with her tummy and air bubbles in the belly, she was up for almost three hours crying in pain, Alexys then couldn't sleep so we had a late night. Pray tonight is better.

Finally a cute picture of Alexys, Grandpa Bob and Nana bought her to give at the hospital. It is a Mellisa & Doug wooden puzzle that makes the animal sounds. She loves it! I think this pictures says it all...