Mary Susan Becker

Baby Mary Susan surprised us all by joining our family 2 weeks before her due date (October 6).

She was born just before midnight on Tuesday, September 21st.

I'll spare you the details, but suffice it to say, it was not my most graceful of the three deliveries.
Mary is a doll and we feel so blessed to have her as part of our family.

Ella and Anne LOVE having "baby Mary" home, and we look forward the journey ahead!

Note on the name: All three of our girls (Ella Jane, Anne Catherine, Mary Susan) are named after family - Mary is my mom's first name (Mary Lee) and Susan is Benj's mom's first name (Susan Jane).

Also, I was named after fictitious character (Meghann) in the novel Thornbirds. While I was pregnant with Mary, our book club read Georgette Heyer's "Devil's Cub" and the protagonist/ heroine is Mary.

Finally, in reading a biography by Joseph Fielding Smith, Benj has been sharing remarkable stories with our family of Mary Fielding Smith - her faith, courage, and service. For a time while I was in labor, I reminded myself of some of the hardships Mary Fielding endured, and it encouraged me to push on (no pun intended:)).

Girls

We love girls, and are thrilled to be adding another little lady to our family mix in early October.
We were able to see her again this past week - I know I'm biased, but isn't she a doll already?
And the great news is, placenta previa is no longer an issue.
Hurray!

4th of July

We blew out candles at every meal for weeks preparing for Anne's birthday -
Both Anne and Ella have become expert candle-blower-outers.
And they each had their moment to shine on July 1, 2010.

Anne opening her presents:

We went to the ward pancake breakfast on the 3rd,

then braved the masses and took a walk along golden gate bridge.

After church on the 4th we celebrated with sparklers,

and made smores.

Here's a secret to making excellent smores we learned at the Ritz Carlton at Half Moon Bay -

slightly melt Ghiradelli carmel filled chocolates to use as the chocolates in the smores.

Delicious.

Reading

I love our bedtime routine.

Anne is Two

Our little firecracker turned two years old, two days after we got home from Hawaii.

For Anne's second birthday we had people "pop" on over for Popsicles in the park.

Get it - pop, Popsicles (thanks Bethany:)). Anyway, I highly recommend park birthday parties - it's so much easier.

Minimal set-up and clean-up, you're not stressed that kids are trekking water, dirt, and melted Popsicles through the house, and most importantly, the kids have a great time.

Ryder park is certainly way cooler than our backyard.

Happy birthday Annie!

Two already - Where does the time go?

Year Six

"Thee lift me and I'll lift thee and we'll both ascend together."

~John Greenleaf Whittier

Happy Anniversary Benj.

I could never have dreamed so many wonderful things could happen in six years.

Thank you.

Beach

Time to play.

Aren't little girls fun to accessorize - hats and sun glasses!