Family updates and pictures...

How time flies, it is so amazing how quickly the days and weeks pass! Berlin is growing so fast and Laera is getting more beautiful every day. Here are some things that have been going on lately with us.

Paul is working for KeyBank as a Branch Manager, and has been gradually making some changes in staffing and scheduling to keep things running smoothly. In this economy we are so grateful that he has a good job to go to every day! When he gets home he plays with Berlin and sings her silly songs and does anything he can to get a smile or a giggle out of her, which doesn't take too much effort as she is a very happy baby. He is happy for the warmer weather lately which has allowed him to utilize his love of grilling to cook up lots of yummies for family dinner.

Janisa is teaching piano and doing photography and is very grateful to have marketable skills. (Thank you Daddy for making me practice on your pianos and cameras!) The rest of her time is spent feeding/holding/changing Berlin and cleaning up all manner of various substances that are produced as a result. She has also recently become obsessed with learning French in addition to freshening up her German skills to pass on to Berlin, so you may often find her with headphones on, listening to language CD's or German Kinderlieder. At last she has given in to the short "Mom" haircut and is much happier now that Berlin can't pull it out by the handful!

Laera is in 5th grade and is still a voracious reader, gobbling up 500-page books in 2 or 3 days in between homework, playing sports, or practicing piano and violin. She also keeps busy drawing, especially imaginary characters for whom she designs unique and quite innovative fashions. She is a HUGE help as a big sister, extremely capable in caring for Berlin but also making sure to let us know she is doing us a HUGE favor. She is the chief outfit-picker-outer and loves to decide what Little Sister will wear.

Berlin is a sparkling sun around which we all seem to orbit lately! She has 3 devoted slaves who all make it their daily duty to smother her in hugs and kisses and receive payment in giggles. She has become so interactive and expressive and is playing the "uh-oh-it-fell-on-the-ground-again" game with great success. She has recently starting eating solid foods and is therefore likely to be covered in mashed carrots, banana, or graham crackers at any given time. She can sit up unaided for a few seconds at a time and can go backwards in her walker but not forwards yet. She loves putting everything she can reach into her mouth, including any type of food (after she got over her first taste of squash), and lately has the burning desire to control the spoon by herself, so it's a good thing she also loves taking baths!