Summer's Almost Gone...

So much for keeping up with updating the blog. Last update was in May. Much has happened since then, a finished basement, a new baby (who is now almost 2 months old), changes at work for Tim... here's some pictures of what we've been up to!


June 20th - Abram Dean! What a precious gift God has given us!


July 20th, one month old already!


Abram enjoying his first swim with Grandma!


Little Sosie enjoying the water!


The girls are enjoying the swings (thanks Grandma and Papa) in the backyard!

More to come later... baby just woke up from his 'short' nap!

It's Spring!

We've had lots of fun so far this Spring. The weather has been hot and sunny, cold and snowy, and very rainy... typical Michigan. Needless to say we haven't had a ton of time to play outside. We bought a picnic table for the girls (for the back yard) to use this summer but have been enjoying having indoor picnics at lunch time!

Here's some pictures, I'll start with Easter!


Amelia all dressed and ready for church on Easter Sunday!


Sophia smiling pretty in her Easter dress!



Easter Baskets! After a wonderful worship service at church we gave the girls their Easter baskets - sans candy since they had enough at the egg hunt the day before!


Sophia, trying to figure out what was on her head!


Amelia got her first haircut - thanks Auntie Cara! Amelia wasn't really sure what to think and refused to wear the cape, she sat with her head down for the most part but at least she sat still!


Amelia loves to have piggy tails! They completely go with her personality. There is rarely a dull moment with Amelia!

Enjoying a blue popscicle on a rare 70+ degree day in April! Notice the spot in the middle of her forehead!


We took a road trip to Lansing. Unfortunately it was for my great grammy's funeral. Both girls did great in the car, Amelia even kept her pants dry! She had lots of questions about why grammy was sleeping, she was very curious about it all.


Sophia has learned how to undress! She is constantly taking her arms out of her sleeves!


Amelia loves to pull Sophia around the island in the kitchen for rides. Thankfully this is how they entertain themselves while I'm getting dinner ready! At least it keeps them busy!


We are well under way with our basement project. Framing and electrical were finished up this week and we are waiting on two inspectors to come in the next couple of days. Drywall is starting either Monday or Wednesday next week! Once the drywall is in then it's paint, flooring and the details! I'll post pictures when it's finished... right now it just looks like lots of pieces of wood and wires! But we're almost there, which is good because there's only 7 weeks until baby boy will be joining our family!



First planting

4 weeks later!

Amelia is LOVING helping me in the garden. We put Sophia down for her nap and then we got out and pull weeds and plant more veggies! She loves to dig but hates getting the dirt on her hands! So far we've planted Sugar Snap Peas, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Romaine Lettuce, along with 4 other kids of lettuce, and Strawberries! We are waiting a couple of weeks for some warmer weather before we plant the Tomatoes (Amelia's favorite), Green Peppers, Okra, Green Beans and Cucumbers!


Amelia planted a flower seed in a cup and we've enjoyed watching it grow!

and grow!



In baby news... I'm almost 33 weeks and feeling it. As pregnancies go this has to be my most difficult, nothing in particular, but having to chase around two toddlers and dealing with construction in my house has added to the stress of being pregnant. We are very much looking forward to meeting this little guy and seeing what it's like to have a little boy in the family! Amelia is beyond excited to meet her baby brother and asks me daily if he's coming soon (we told her when it was hot outside and we could swim in Grandpa's pool then he'd come). She can't wait to give him the paci's she picked out for him!

Playing Catch Up... Yet Again!

I cannot believe I haven't updated since October... YIKES! A lot has happened in the Gates home since then. Let me see if I can hit some of the highlights.

Some things I don't have pictures of, like :
*Amelia is POTTY TRAINED! We did a three day bootcamp back in November and she did great!
*Sophia is DONE with bottles! And eating more table food than Amelia at most meals!


Christmas morning, snuggling with the blanket Grandma made for Sophia! This was a really special Christmas, not only was it Sophia's first one, but we were able to celebrate with extended family. My aunt and her family recently moved to the area, so along with my siblings, nieces and nephews and my parents we also were able to celebrate with aunts uncles, cousins and my grandparents. It was wonderful, just like I remember it from when I was a child. We all got together on Christmas Eve to celebrate!


The girls opening their stockings, Amelia loved opening presents, and kept asking for days afterward where more presents were! We had a nice quiet Christmas morning just the four of us!


Amelia playing in the snow on the back deck, the snow was as deep as she is tall. She wasn't super fond of the cold, we only went out to play maybe 3 or 4 times all winter.


Sophia hamming it up in her winter hat! Amelia thought it was hilarious to make Sosie (as we call her) wear her hat, luckily Soph doesn't mind too much!



The girls snuggling in the rocking chair. They love to play together, and for the most part get along wonderfully!


Amelia 'almost' ready for her valentine's day party. Just waiting for mommy to do her pig tails!



The girls got bored one day and decided to empty out all the bins on the changing table. (Actually they do this at least once a week now.) Amelia usually makes the mess and Sophia cleans it up - which of course drives Amelia nuts because she wants to play with all the things she got out.



Basement remodel! We are finally starting work on the basement. Dad, my brother and Tim got the walls up for the bathroom and we are hoping to get the rest of the framing done this week... then the plumber, electrician, and heating and cooling guys can come do their work! Gotta get it done by June!


Sophia turned 1!!! How in the world she is a year old already is beyond me. She started walking about 3 weeks before her birthday, has seven teeth and doesn't talk nearly as much as Amelia. She has a few words, dadda, momma, nana (banana) and this week her new word is humhum (hommus - which is a lunch staple around here)


And our biggest news... WE ARE EXPECTING A BOY IN JUNE! We actually found out the week of my last update back in October. We are beyond thrilled, although I will admit I'm slightly freaking out over having a BOY! We are hoping to have the basement finished before he arrives at the end of June. Amelia asks me daily "where my baby brother?" or "when baby brother comes can we play with him?"

We started our garden again, but I don't have pictures of that yet, since nothing is growing. We did plant some seeds already but they won't be up for another week or so. I'll post pictures of that soon.

Tim is still on 3rds at GVSU and praying for something new but we are leaving that up to the Lord. Trying to find contentment in that situation!

I think I say this every time I update but I really will try this time (now that we have internet at home) to update more regularly!

Until next time...