Dear Stephanie:

Dear Stephanie:

Thank you SO MUCH for asking me and my looney tunes kids up to Minnesota for almost an entire week.  I'm still in awe that you were brave enough to do that, because I'm not sure I could have handled that kind of crazy in my own home when Peter was barely three months old.  I'm flattered that you thought of our visit as help rather than one big headache.  Miss Whiny-Pants-Two-Year-Old and Mr. Crawl-Super-Fast-and-Get-Into-EVERYTHING-Eleven-Month-Old can be a lot to handle.

You are a terrific mama.  Quinn is growing up to be a scary smart little dude with a great smile and and an infectious laugh.  Maisie is gorgeous and getting stronger every day.  Watching her do tummy time should scare you a little -- she's going to be rolling over before you know it!  It's a slippery slope to crawling after that.  You have your act so much more together than you give yourself credit for, and please believe me when I say that it only gets easier and easier as the kids get older.

I think we got two great things out of my visit this week -- the cousins got some really quality time together and you and I worked out a really good rhythm that will serve us well when we invade NanaB and GrandDad's house in Michigan the week of Thanksgiving.  Even though Quinn and Maisie live a 15-hour drive away, Charlotte and Peter will grow up knowing them well if we can work out a couple of quality visits like this each year.

I feel like we're closer than just sister-in-laws now.  If we could keep that house running AND manage to get all four kids down for naps on several occasions, we could rule the world!  Now if we could just figure out how to get Miss Maisie to take a bottle...

Love,
Niki