Falling summer

Last week, we had a picnic in the park on Saturday night, spur of the moment and direly needed. The air nipped crisply and we nuzzled into our hoodies. Our boy, "fatso" is smiling now and it is delicious.

Contemplatively feeding the ducks

PB & J smash mouth

Blessed

Gabriel Thomas Bunnell

Of course, when I went to take pictures of him in his outfit, my usually quiet little man screamed himself into a tizzy. Mom and I made this outfit during the many days we had before Gabe decided to show up.


We were so grateful for the friends and family who came to the blessing. We felt blessed. Truly. I loved watching Gabe encircled by his great-grandfathers, grandfathers, and his uncles as Mike pronounced a blessing on his sweet, bald head.

After church we had a little picnic in the park. I thought it would be unbearably hot, but the shade felt pleasant.
Grandpa Bunnell and Jude

Nate and his miracle baby Bella

One Sara Barclay and Gabe

Mike giving me the eye to stop taking pictures of him

Victoria, Bella, and Nate

Anne Bunnell II

Mama Jan

Pete and Meags

Grandma Karen and Gabe

Clark and Kelsie

Katie and Evan

Claire, Vern, and Meredith

Grandpa Steve

Clark and Jude the Dude

Tom and Ashlynn

60 Years and Still Rockin. Party On.

Grandma and Grandpa with some of the grand kids
Grandpa Stanfill looking studly. Once when I was staying in Montana, Grandpa showed Amanda and I a picture of himself as a young thang. Seriously handsome, folks. I exclaimed, "What a stud muffin you were, Grandpa!" and he retorted, "I WAS a stud muffin??? What do you mean WAS?" You still got it, Grandpa!
Grandpa and Grandma cutting the cake for the second time. Stand back when these two wield a knife.
A family of four. When did we become, like, a real family?
My papa
Jude and his second cousin, Peyton. Notice the intently closed eyes and carefully-placed hands. Don't worry. We shut down the kissing train.
Steve Stanfill family contingent. (We missed you Michael, Vanessa, Jed, Zoe, Zane, and Anne!!!)
My momma and I The party was wonderful. It started out a little rough with some rain and serious winds (a few flower vases down, some blown over sandwiches), but it cleared up and turned into a beautiful evening. Friends and family came from all over to celebrate with Grandpa and Grandma and we partied all night long.

Party Weekend

A few weekends ago, family descended from all over for a party weekend. First we had Grandma and Grandpa Stanfill's 60th wedding anniversary party (60 years, people! 60!), and then the next day we had Gabe's blessing. We loved having family around. I'll post about the weekend in a few posts. On Friday we gathered at Penny and Craig's house for some pre-party partying.

Grandma Stanfill looking fabulous

Amanda and I (and yes, you are seeing correctly. I chopped off all my hair in a bout of postpartum madness. And I tell you, I am loving it. No food in my hair, no boys pulling my hair. I have entered the "mommy" stage.)
Gabe the babe flirting with Great-Grandma

Jude jumping wildly in the baby play pen. He loved it at 6 months and at 2. It's a classic.

Leavings

My Mom and sister, Anne, came out from Indiana to help post-birth early in July. We thought Gabe would arrive early, like Jude, and he did not. Day after day, he did not. Eventually, Mom and Anne had to put a final date on when they had to go back home, you know, back to my dad and to work and to their lives, and that day was Monday morning. They have taken such good care of me and my little family with their awesome meals and cleaning (yeah, even my blinds, people, which I have never cleaned myself, Anne cleaned my blinds...) and massaging, and taking care of my little Jude. I felt incredibly (incredibly) sad to see them drive away. Jude has been mournfully calling their names through the quiet house, and I confess, I have too.

Sister Anne, the amazing "blind" cleaner, baby-whisperer, and massage-giver extraordinaire
A gratuitous Gabe picture

Jude and his best buddy Grandma

Grandma and a cross-eyed Gabe

Doula-mother Jan and the newly arrived Gabe

Montana 2010: Day One

Over Labor Day, Mike, Jude, and I and Mike's brother Pete, his wife, Meagan, and their little guy, Tyler, all made the trek to Montana to enjoy some family time and some beauties of the area. The first day we spent the day in Glacier National Park. So beautiful! Here are a few pictures of our first day!