The Moment You All Have Been Waiting For...

Name: Casey James Simek
Born: Somewhere around 7:45 am (We're not quite sure of the exact time yet)
Weight: 9 pounds 7 ounces
Height: 21 inches
Head: 37 centimeters
Chub: 100%

Baby Girl

Can you believe this little dumpling is going to be a big sister in 2 days !?!?!? Seems like just yesterday... that she was "the baby." I think the footie pajamas and pregnancy hormones skew my view a bit. Sigh...

Go Pack Go

A Day in the Life of Dan and Chloe (While Mommy is at School)

See if you can follow. First she is asking all of her soft friends, "What one you want?" She did this for awhile before the camera was even on. Then they tell her in a very high pitched voice which little eraser they want. She delivers the eraser. Then she tells Daddy she has a surprise. Chuckles got a giraffe. Spunky got a hippo. Doggy got a pumpkin "just like Chloe." Finally, she's in a parade playing a trumpet. Of course.

Baby Update

So we went for our ultrasound today. My blood pressure is good (yay!), amniotic fluid is perfect (woohoo!) and we even saw him practice his breathing. It was awesome to see his little chest move up and down. Then she told us he's 8 lbs 14 oz already. What!?!?!? See pictures below to compare. They are both from when I was 8 months pregnant, but the 1st one is from Chloe and the 2nd is from now. Big difference.

Any guesses as to how big he will be when he's born? Person closest (without going over) gets a treat!!

8 months with Chloe (2008)


8 months with Baby Brother (2011)

8 months

Just a week late this time. I am 36 weeks and 5 days today... the exact day that Chloe Jo was born. So, unless he comes tonight, this will be unchartered territory for me in pregnancy land. Weird.

Baby Brother is still big. Last ultrasound (34 weeks I think) they estimated him at 7 lbs 9 oz already. I have another one this afternoon and will update you with their best guess.

So about 2 1/2 weeks from now we'll be meeting this little guy... can't wait!

Potty Party

You don't even want to know...

Butterfly Release

Chloe here. Earlier in the summer, Grammie got me a kit where you send away for caterpillars and watch them metamorphose (Mommy taught me that word) into butterflies! Then on a warm day we let them go.

Here I am checking out the last one before we released her.


The pattern on her wings was so pretty.


She found some flowers to rest in before she flew away. I don't think she was ready to leave me yet :)

My Boyfriends

Chloe here. We saw a lot of these guys over the summer. Just wanted to let you guys know how much fun I had on our playdates!

Here we are at Conner and Aidan's 3rd birthday part. Clockwise from girl: Chloe (2 1/2), Conner (3), Aidan (3), Reece (2 1/2)

My New Sandbox

Chloe here. A few weeks back, Nana and Grandpa came down to visit and brought me a surprise.

I ran out to see what it was.


A sandbox that Grandpa built for me!


Oh boy, I am so excited.


Ahh... the feeling of new sand beneath my fingers.


I immediately started playing in it.


Daddy brought out my trucks.


And a bucket and a spade.


Wait a minute, how did this happen?


Uh, hello? Where did everyone go?


I guess I have to haul myself out of here. Oh well.

Thanks for building my sandbox, Grandpa, I love it!

Running the Bases at Miller Park

Chloe here. After the Brewer game that you saw pictures of yesterday, I got to run the bases with Daddy. (I'm pretty sure that Daddy was more excited than me.)

Here we are waiting in line to get on the field. There were LOTS of kids waiting even though it was like 100 degrees.


Not the greatest video, but at least you get to watch me crossing home plate!


Daddy and I took a photo down on the field at Miller Park.


So proud. The magnet I'm holding says, "I ran the bases at Miller Park."

Summer Classics - Brewer Game Photo Montage

Daddy's Garden - Part 5

Chloe here. We are finally on the last installment of Daddy's garden. I know we spent a lot of time on it, but Mommy and I are so proud of Farmer Daddy and he makes such good veggies!

So here's a hint as to what this post is about. Can you guess?


If you guessed making pickles, you were right! It's very important to measure carefully :)


Although you shouldn't drop the measuring cup in the brine. Luckily, Grammie was there to help me fish it out.


Here are the cucumbers and dill (also from Daddy's garden) all loaded up waiting for the brine.


Aren't they pretty? Our house smelled so good during this process.


Ok, now here we are about one week later as I get ready to try my first pickle. I'm looking at it because I really can't believe that I helped make this.


Here comes the taste test.


And we have a winner!

Garden - Part 4

Chloe here. On to the "late season harvest." While the peas are my favorite, there is so much out there right now to pick and enjoy!

Here is our corn at the beginning of the month. While it looks great, we didn't get it in time and it didn't taste great. There's always next year, right?


Green pepper.


Eggplant. (Mommy loves this breaded with panko and baked. Yum.)


Some little green cherry tomatoes.


They look even better ripened!


Daddy tried his hand at watermelon this year, but we haven't picked one yet.


This one is just a perspective shot to show you how big that butternut squash is next to the watermelon.


These are some slightly smaller ones, but oh so good.


Cukes. (These will play a MAJOR role in tomorrow's garden post.)


Green beans.


Strawberries.


Blueberries.


And all of our onions drying in the sun to store for the winter months.

Good job, Farmer Daddy!