Cousins

Aunt Marcy, Uncle Stuart and cousins Lily and Jack arrived into town on Wednesday afternoon, to meet their first niece/cousin Casey.

Though the weather did not cooperate until Saturday, we still managed to have fun. Wed night we went to the Dillon Dam Brewery for an eventful dinner. Well, Stuart, Jack and I enjoyed dinner. Marcy had to take Lily home early, due to an unscheduled vomiting incident. Thursday we visited Frisco for lunch at the Boatyard. Friday we hit up Keystone to play on the playground and walk around, even though everything is closed because it's mud season in Summit County. However, our trip got cut short due to a cold front/snow storm that moved in rather quickly. We then did a drive through at ABasin, which is still open.

Stan arrived Friday night and so did the nicer weather. Saturday we were able to go out without bundling up. We headed to Copper in order to get a picture of Marcy, Stuart, Lily and Jack in the BIG chair. After walking around the ghost town resort we drove out to Breckenridge to have lunch. Luckily we did drive out there, because the weather ended up being beautiful and we found a blow up slide and trampoline for Lily to enjoy. She even got a butterfly painted on her face.

Sunday we walked down to Arapahoe Cafe for breakfast then took a stroll down to Dillon Marina. There is still a little ice in the Lake so boats were not allowed to be put in this weekend. Marcy, Tracy and Lily hit the outlets while Stan, Stuart, Jack and Casey watched the Indianapolis 500. We then all piled into the Burb and headed back to Breckenridge for more playtime for Lily and dinner at Mi Casa.

It was a fun time having Casey's Aunt, Uncle and cousins in town. She had so much fun playing with them. Can't wait to see them again over July 4th. Enjoy the pix.

Cousins playing.

Uncle Stuart in charge.

Casey hanging with Mommy and Lily.

Frisco and Jack having an intense conversation.

Casey ready for Breckenridge.

The Big Chair at Copper.

The new family.

All strapped in.

Look how high Lily jumped.

Aunt Marcy and Casey.

Lily on the 28 foot slide.

Jack, Lily and Casey.

She's Growing

Casey had her 2 week doctor's appointment today. She surpassed her birth weight, weighing in at 7lbs, 13 oz. Her oxygen level is high and her jaundice yellowish eyes are white and healthy. Doc says we have a very healthy baby and don't have to go back until she's 2 months.

She is still sleeping well. We put her down at 10-11 p.m. and she sleeps for about 4-4.5 hours, feed her, then she sleeps for another 3-3.5 hours. After her 5-6 a.m. feeding however, she likes to stay awake, so that's what we're working on now. Mommy and Daddy are definitely not ready to be awake at 5 a.m. Her cone head is disappearing and she definitely seems even more alert. She found her tongue on Wednesday and sticks it out all the time now.

Tracy is healing very nicely. Still pretty tired and now realizes that she is going to have to learn to nap. Stan has been enjoying working at home. He heads back to VA on Monday for a week, but then will be back working at home the following week. Should be interesting for all of us.

Gramma Lois is enjoying her time with her granddaughter and enjoying the crazy Colorado Spring weather. Today it hailed, then snowed, then sunny, then snowed, then hailed, then sunny, etc. all day long. Wednesday it snowed all day.

This bath thing isn"t so bad...

The Ward girls


what?

Getting ready to walk to breakfast.

mmmm...dog kisses

Dad, Casey & Gramma

More Casey...

Thought I would add a few more pix of our cute little girl and give you an update from the weekend. We're still working on a routine as far as our new life with Casey, but things are going very well.

Casey started sleeping in her own bedroom in her crib last Thursday night. She tends to do a quick cry and then pass out. Tracy wakes her one time between 1:00 - 2:30 a.m. to feed her and then she sleeps until 5:30 - 7:00 a.m.

She's pretty alert in the mornings, keeping her eyes open, looking around and staying awake for a full 3 hours on Monday, even while hanging out in the swing.

Her belly button stump fell off Sunday night.

We made our first "road trip" to Denver on Saturday to run some errands and pick up Stan's mom, Gramma Lois, in from Roanoke. On our way back, we stopped off at our friend Kristi's house for lunch and for a quick meet and greet with Casey.

Sunday was Tracy's first Mother's Day. Casey did great, getting mom some new mountain biking shoes and pedals...can't wait to use them. Later, Casey had more visitors...our friends Geoff and Sarah and their 1 year old Kaelin came by to play. Afterward, the group went out for a walk...using the jogging stroller for the first time, works great. Tracy did well and is looking forward to more walks this week. We're trying to get Frisco (and Tracy) back in shape. Frisco got up to 100 lbs during Tracy's last month of pregnancy. Not good.

We'll update again after her next doctor's appt on Thursday. Thanks for all the Mother's Day wishes and Happy Mom's day to all Mom's out there!!

Enjoy the pictures.

Could I be any cuter?...

Hi, my name's chubby...


Gramma Lois with her granddaughter.

Ready for a walk in the jogging stroller.

Sleeping in her tent...dreaming about football season...TOUCHDOWN!

Casey

Introducing our new daughter, Casey Jean...

Born on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at 4:41 a.m. Weighing in at 7 lb, 12 oz and measuring 20.5 inches long.

Stan, Tracy and Casey made it home Saturday afternoon to reunite with Frisco. Casey's going home weight was 6 lbs, 15 oz. Tracy's parents arrived in town Friday and stuck around to help until Thursday.

Casey has been a great newborn. She doesn't cry much, has been sleeping great, day and night (knock on wood) and has been eating pretty well. She can open her eyes wide and hold her head up for very short periods. It's been fun watching all her facial expressions and hear her funny noises.

A few Firsts occurred during Casey's first week of life:

*First lunch in a restaurant

*First bath

*First Doctor's appointment (her weight has gone up to 7 lbs, 4 oz)

*First time to Breckenridge

Gramma Gail and Grampa Tom were a huge help the first week home with Casey. Holding her, playing with her, taking tons of pix, cleaning house and making dinners. Thank you guys so much!!!

We are still trying to catch up on all the sleep we lost in the hospital, but we're having a blast with Casey. We look forward to everyone meeting her soon.

Thanks for all the calls and emails this week.

We'd like to wish our Moms a Happy Mom's Day this Sunday. And another Thank You to Gramma Gail and Grampa Tom for all their help this week.

Enjoy all the pix.

Casey Jean...Day 2 of life

I'm a Summit Baby

The Family makes it home.


Frisco meeting Casey...check out the tongue.

Gramma Gail and Casey

Gramps and Casey snoozing

Our first outing...lunch at Red Mountain Grill.

Casey's first bath

Drying off...her favorite part

Getting ready to hit the town of Breckenridge

Close up

Almost There

The baby is on its way. We checked into the hospital this evening, and the doctors and nurses did their preliminary evaluations. They found that Stan was healthy as an ox, but we didn't need doctors for that diagnosis, did we?

They then turned their attention to Tracy. It turns out that Tracy seems to be heading towards labor naturally. So, there will be no hocus pocus tonight. "Take two sleeping pills and call me in the morning," they say.

The nurses here have been great. We are in good hands. Everyone is doing great. Here are some pics of our first night.

The room.

Mom-to-be's bed.

Baby-to-be's bed.

Daddy-to-be's bed.

They let that walk around?!

41 weeks

41 weeks and still pregnant. We went to the doctor on Thursday. Baby is fine and healthy in Tracy's belly. We have another appointment on Monday and if she decides she needs a push...Tracy is scheduled to be induced on Wed, April 30th, 1 day after Tracy's birthday.

This week, Stan worked from home again. We got snow on Thursday night...a Spring blizzard. Woke up with about 2 inches on the deck. It was melted within hours of the sun coming up.

The weekend consisted of house chores and somewhat patiently waiting.

We're getting new tenants in our lock-off apartment on May 1st. So we've been getting the place cleaned up and fixed up for them.

Now that the snow is mostly melted, we started cleaning up the yard a bit. That's about the excitement of the weekend.

Here are some pix of the melted snow and of Tracy's 41 week old belly.
Hopefully the next post will have pix of Baby Ward!!

Our backyard...it's still a little brown, but the green will come in the next few weeks.

Updated pix of the the back of our house.


The new hot tub and deck.

Here's a view from the side of the house...you can see where the apartment's front door is...below our kitchen window.

Updated view of the front of our house and our brown front lawn...with one of our new trees.

41 weeks...and counting...

Past Due

It's Monday, April 21 and Tracy is past due. Yesterday was the official due date for Baby Ward and she decided not to cooperate. We go to the doc today for some tests, so hopefully we'll have some news this week...

What have we been doing the past few weeks besides waiting anxiously? Well, we've actually been quite busy. Stan has been working from home since April 5th, which has been very nice for both of us. He has been able to get in a couple days of riding, including a couple weekends ago at ABasin...which had an 80's throw back day. It snowed all day while we hung out in the parking lot, played wiffle ball, grilled, listened to the bands and dj's and let the dogs run wild.

This past weekend was Breckenridge's closing weekend, so while Stan rode on Friday afternoon, Tracy hung out at the Peak 8 "beach," lounging in the sun. We then headed down to town for a concert, Grace Potter & the Nocternals. Saturday after playing some Wii Guitar Hero with Mark, Amy, Phillip and Emily, we headed back over to Breckenridge. Stan and Mark took in some final Breck runs then met us all downtown to watch Robert Randolph and the Family Band. Perks of a 9 month prego and Amy who has a broken ankle, we were given VIP seating!!!

Here are a few pix. Keep your fingers crossed for Baby Ward arrivial.

Congrats to Aunt Kel, who just found out she got into University of Colorado Business School in Boulder! Can't wait to have family close by!!

Stan with his new winter coat & hat playing wiffle ball at ABasin.

We finally got around to hanging our TV on the wall.

40 weeks.

Happy Birthday Frisco!

Frisco turns 8 today!

enjoying her birthday bone.

3 weeks to go...

Tracy is 37 weeks, which means if baby ward comes she should be alright!. Due date is still April 20th.

Stan stayed in Dillon all week and worked from home. Tracy finished up her final week at Keystone Ski and Ride School, working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, giving Stan plenty of peace and quiet to work from home. Stan did make it out on Thursday for a few runs (since his Jury Duty was cancelled).

Saturday we drove with Kristi to Vail to hang at our friend Stacia's condo in Lionshead Village, right on the slopes. Stan went riding with Mark and Geoff, while Tracy visited home depot for a much needed lounge chair!!

Sunday was a stay at home and get some much needed chores done. Our doorbell now works, thanks to Mr. Fix-It (AKA: Stan). We also hung the baby monitor, put together the baby swing, put together the lounge chair and much more!!

Monday we drove to Denver for some errands, while the snow storm hit Summit County. Tracy dropped Stan off at the airport for his last week of work in VA (and more importantly, a gig on Thursday at O'Sullivan's in Clarendon). He'll be back Friday night and will be sticking around until BW arrives (hopefully she won't decide she wants out this week).

updated pix of baby's room...baby video monitor is the white thing on the wall.

stan's new cut.

37 weeks