July flew by! The month was filled with baby snuggles, Fourth of July festivities, needlepoint (I’m obsessed!), World Cup watch parties, trips to the pool, Theo’s first visit to Turkey Hill, and Grant’s last day of daycare. At the end of the month the Chicago Smiths visited KC, and three weeks of true Summer break home with both boys began! While exhausting, it was so much fun watching Grant play at the Fairway Play Gym, visit Crown Center with Sophie & Winston and Sydney & Diego, and we took a trip to Wonderscope! We also celebrated my Dad’s birthday where Grant and Winston graced us with a harmonica performance. Sophie & Alex also moved right at the end of this whirlwind month. I’m looking forward to all August will bring as we wrap up the sweetest summer with Baby Theo!
Fourth of July 2026
Because we were in France last summer, this was our first Fourth of July in our new house and it was also Theo’s first Fourth! Our neighborhood hosts the sweetest parade – complete with a small band leading the way. It ended up being a somewhat rainy morning, but we had the best time strolling the neighborhood, had a wonderful lunch with Grammy and Pop at our house, and then headed to the Hanlin’s for an afternoon topped off with backyard sparklers.
June Memories
I took a TON of photos in June and I’m totally not surprised that I couldn’t narrow down. There are just so many sweet, everyday memories I want to look back on from our first full month with Baby Theo home with us. It almost perfectly works out to a series of diptychs, see notes on our month below!
Grant & Theo enjoying downstairs playroom rainbows
Garage Sale impulse purchase
Baby Shark 1
Theo is our tiny buddy! Some 0-3 M clothes are still huge!
Look at Theo stare at big brother!
I love Theo’s expression here!
Last ever Designer Showhouse!
& Baby Shark at rest
Snuggles with EB
Post photo-shoot scowls.
All the men celebrating Father’s Day!
Summer Lunches 1
The littlest World Cup Fans
Theo’s first trip to KC Needlepoint
Matching golf shirts for Father’s Day
Bashful Theo
Novel Anniversary Dinner (11 years!)
Otto getting used to a new brother
Soccer Shirt Day Who Knows
Dale’s first Father’s Day to two little buddies!
Summer Lunches 2
And our households biggest soccer fan!
My first needlepoint project!
& many wears after
Smiley Theo
+ Theo
Beginning to go on walks!
Rumpus room snuggles
Soccer Shirt Dinner Prep
Cubby’s Birthday
GP & Theo
Zoo trip to FINALLY see the giraffes!
Soccer Shirt Family Walk
Here comes the fire truck!
Grant & Mom Make Muffins
Theo’s first trip to the zoo
Little Goo Goo Snuggles
+ EB
Little walks with Pop
Break from soccer for dinner
Kick kick for Theo
Pretzels for Al’s Birthday Dinner
Break from soccer for books
Soccer shirt (again) for Grant
May Memories
I’ll always remember May of 2026 as the month Theo arrived, but before and after his birth there were so many joyful moments I don’t want to forget, too! The month began with our May Day tradition of brining a basket to Grammy and Pop, celebrating Graham’s birthday, and lots of time outside (especially enjoying puddles leftover from the rain). I also took some photos around Hallmark HQ since it has been announced the Royals will build their new stadium on the site of our current offices! At work we celebrated Jess’s anniversary, I took advantage of the stork parking, and I worked my hardest to wrap up a font project and lots of other tasks leading up to my maternity leave.
We made s’mores in our outdoor fireplace both before and after Theo arrived, we celebrated Mother’s Day (a very pregnant holiday for me), toasted Holly and James at their Boulevard Brewing Co. wedding (with a cute Theo plus one), and after Theo’s birth enjoyed three weeks home with Dale as we adjusted to our new family member. Grant had his last day of school, we introduced Theo to friends (including Laura and Trixie and Asad when they came to KC), and we even made it to a play date at the end of the month! The month ended with Grammy and Aunt Edna’s birthday party and another chance to introduce Theo to our extended family. I know I’ll always cherish all these little and big memories!
Meeting Theo!
It was so joyful to introduce Theo to our families, both in the hospital and after returning home. He’s already been the sweetest addition to the family and I can’t wait to watch him grow!
March, April & May Home Progress
It’s been an exciting Spring at the house! We have been planning some landscape updates for awhile now, and it was SO exciting to see the Soil Service truck pull up with tons of new trees, shrubs and plants for the front and patio gardens. I can’t wait to see how the plants grow and mature over the yers and bring some color throughout the seasons! Inside, my focus has been on Grant and Theo’s rooms. We moved Grant to his big boy room right after his third birthday, but we needed to get the walls painted. His favorite color is blue and EB and GPa spent a weekend painting for us before baby brother arrived, we are so grateful! The nursery also needed some attention, mostly curtains and some new decor. We have officially been in the house for a year, and it is really starting to feel like ours.
