Leah at the Rally for Romney

She WALKS!!!

I realize it's been a while since the blog has been updated, mainly due to monitors blowing up, increasingly busy schedules, and plain old laziness.
Since the last post, Leah has begun taking her first steps (this week actually). Mom is always her motivation for walking, so she gets very excited when she makes the trek across the living room into Mommy's arms.
Her vocabulary (both sign and vocal) have also been developing rapidly. She can now sign 'Daddy' as well as say 'Da Da' and 'Pa Pa'. Jarrod prefers 'Pa Pa' but Kimberly is not very fond of the hick vernacular. She also signs 'Fish' and is starting to connect the sign with the word 'ish'. Her early fascination with fish just may be an indicator that the Pro-Walleye Trail lies in her future. She has been saying 'Ma Ma' for a while, but that's attributable to the brain-washing Kimberly does on her days off! The word 'Bear' is in progress, thus far she says 'Beau' when she sees a picture of a bear. Animal sounds are her favorite; mimicking a horse, puppy, cow, and monkey (ooh, ooh). Many of her other signs are:

• Banana (loves those 'Nanas!)
• More
• Eat
• Puppy
• Pig
• Mouse
• Please
• Help
• Folds her hands at supper to pray
• Thank You
• Baby
• Puts finger to mouth and says "Sssh" when dogs are barking

The tooth tally continues to climb, now totally 14 Teeth! Needless to say, there isn't much she can't eat.

Leah has also taken a big interest in taking care of her babies. Rocking them in a crib, putting a blanket on them, and feeding them a bottle are a regular part of her routine nowadays. Where she learns to do things like that, I'll never know. But it is quite interesting to see how her little mind works.

Merry Christmas!

Well the anticipation, the driving, and the cooking are over and another Christmas has passed. While this is Leah's second Christmas, it's her first where she could actually DO something. She had a ton of fun opening presents (with the help of Mom and Dad) and got to see all her cousins, aunts, uncles, and other relatives. Unfortunately, Great Grandpa Robran was in the hospital to get a pace-maker put in so Leah couldn't see him over Christmas...but she got a lethal dose of Great Grandma Robran on Sunday the 23rd. We enjoyed seeing the entire family together but did not enjoy the 2 hour ride home due to the 'White Christmas'.

Christmas Eve was spent at Tom and Vicki's where the traditional Christmas Eve pizza was served. As expected, Leah got spoiled by her grandparents and uncles and aunt. You guys are way too generous! Of course, 90% of the toys she received make some form of obnoxious noise or another, so daddy will be confiscating batteries!

After a (cue sarcastic tone) pleasant night's sleep, we went to Grandpa Kent and Grandma Julie's for Christmas breakfast. Once again, spoiled by all. She had a great time playing with her cousin Allie, and was very intrigued by the size of cousin Jacob! Cousin Cale is still just a peanut, but we remember Leah being the same way one year ago (Cale and Leah are 1 year and 1 day apart). My what a difference one year will make! Enjoy the baby stage while it lasts!

Between Christmas's, Jarrod visited Great-Grandpa Robran in the hospital on Christmas day and he looked pretty good for a guy who just got a mechanical device planted in his chest. Although tired, he wasn't too tired to complain about the Vikings.

Christmas afternoon was spent at the Peterson's, and Leah received her long-awaited toy box from Great Grandpa Gaylord! It's a beautiful knotty pine piece of woodwork that took many hours and ounces of blood - but well worth it for his favorite great-granddaughter. By this time, Leah was pretty worn out, so we headed home into yet again, another Christmas snow storm. Yeah. But we all made it home and survived another Christmas with the in-laws and out-laws.

By the way - don't forget to go 'elf yourself' (see link below)

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1633611825

5 Days Until Christmas!

To get everyone in the Christmas spirit, click the link below to watch the Robran family dance to "Jingle Bells". Trust me, it's worth the click.

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1633611825
And...
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1634265894

Happy Birthday to...ME!

Yet another milestone - The Big One, 365 days, 1/100th of a century, divisor of all numbers, El Numero Uno. However you call it, Leah Gwen is 1 Year Old!



Leah's birthday party was planned for Saturday, 12/1, at the Country Inn Suites in Mankato. However, due to Minnesota baring it's cold, wintry soul, we had to reschedule to Friday, 11/30, at Grandpa and Grandma Robran's house. Thanks to everyone that changed their plans at the last minute to attend and Grandma and Grandpa Robran for hosting!



Leah spent the evening getting reacquainted with her relatives. Those in attendance were Grandma and Grandpa Robran (hosts), Great-Grandma Robran, Great-Grandma Sanderson, Great-Grandma and Grandpa Peterson, and Great-Grandma Loverink (the first time Leah has been in one room with all of her Great-Grandmas...and we never got a picture!!!), Grandma and Grandpa Loverink, Grandma and Grandpa Thoms, Uncle Derek and Aunt Jenna (mere hours before going into labor), Uncle Josh, Uncle Joe, Aunt Amber, and cousins Timmy, Allie, and Jacob (he's almost as big as Leah!), and Godparents Jesse and Jenny along with their little one, Zach.


After a scrumptious dinner, Leah had a blast opening all of her gifts. Being the girly girl she is, she LOVES getting new clothes. She's been busy all week playing with her new toys, from her Go Diego Go Airplane (perhaps the noisiest toy on earth) to the baby doll from Jesse and Jenny (she likes to rock the baby and pat its back). Thanks to everyone for all the gifts!

After opening presents, Leah still had enough ambition to tear into a cake. Yes, like every parent has done for the past century, we let Leah dig in hands first into her cake. She was a bit skeptical at first, but once that sweet, sweet butter cream hit those lips, any restraint she had went out the window. See the slideshow at the right to see the play-by-play.

Despite having to battle a cold over her birthday weekend, she had a great time. Thanks to everyone for making her birthday so special.

Leah was pretty close to sharing her birthday with her new cousin, Cale Kiefer. We didn't get many details, but apparently Jenna and Cale are both healthy and doing fine.

Congratulations Jenna and Derek!

Click here to view Cale Dean Kiefer's pics.