This has been such a special, spooky month! Weekends spent watching (and then finally joining in!) soccer for Grant, our annual trip to Red Barn Ranch with the Hanlins, Trunk or Treat and a Halloween party, a trip to Spooky Hallow at Deanna Rose, celebrating Dale and Sophie’s October birthdays, antiquing with EB and Grammy, Spooky dinner at EB and GPa’s and lots of baby snuggles from Theo and Lillie – it’s hard to even capture all the Halloween fun that was had before Halloween! Grant, Theo and I also got to participate in his school’s Halloween Ball and I spent lots of time soaking up every bit of my last month of maternity leave with Theo. We went on lots of walks and I completed my goal of learning to finish the needlepoint ornaments I stitched over the past few months. November is going to be full of transitions, and the true kickoff of the holiday season, but I’m so grateful for all the memories we made this October with my two little guys in their astronaut costumes!
September Memories
September didn’t quite feel like Fall outside but was a full month with a few special highlights. Most importantly, we celebrated Sophie and Alex’s newest addition, Lillie Ella! Our family spent Saturdays at the soccer field with Grant, enjoyed lake time with the Smiths, Grant had his first full month of preschool adventures (including the school carnival), my mom and I (plus Theo) headed to Nell Hills to pick out fabrics for the living room, Theo turned four months old, I finished more needlepoint ornaments, I toured the Wornall House with Barbara, the boys and I spent some time at Turkey Hill with EB and GPa, and Halloween festivities kicked off early with the arrival of Grant’s space suit and a trip to Family Tree for the first corn pit of the Summer. My maternity leave is flying by and I can’t believe I only have one full month left before heading back to work, I’m enjoying every moment!
August Memories
August was a big month for our family with lots of transitions! Grant, Theo and I had a fun few weeks of adventures before preschool started with lots of time with friends, swimming, and Theo’s first time on Mama and Papa’s boat. We also had some big celebrations including Winston’s 2nd birthday and I hosted a sprinkle for baby Lillie! Grant and Theo both started the school year and I couldn’t resist some matching outfits and lots of photos on their first days. Theo is the sweetest three month old, I can’t believe how fast the summer flew by! I can’t wait for all the Fall fun ahead!
July Memories
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!
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!