MOMMA & POOPA OVIATT MEET DEAN!!!!
June 29th - July 1st, 2008

The day after we went to the China Light with Brian's family, we met over at my brother Ben's place for a family gathering. Ben's birthday was the next day, so we were kind of combining that with our gathering. Momma and Poopa had just gotten into town, and they were very excited to meet their newest grandchild. Momma got to hold Dean first, and she looked beautiful!

I thought it was pretty cute when Dean seemed to crack a smile.

I tried to get a picture of Poopa holding Dean, but I wound up standing in the light, and Dean was wiggling too much. Sorry Poopa!

But at least this one turned out. I LOVE this picture of Momma, Poopa and Dean! It reminds me of happy times growing up as a kid. I always felt very safe with my parents around because they made me feel that way. They were not only good parents, but good friends to me. Dean looks like he's in heaven.

Autumn and Prairie wanted to take turns holding Dean. Autumn looks so grown up in this picture! I can't quite put my finger on who she reminds me of. But I will say that I LOVE Autumn's hair when it is pulled back like this. It really brings your attention to her pretty eyes.

Prairie had just gotten a CUTE haircut, so when she smiled like this I just about died. She was very careful with Dean. She was so excited to hold him, as you can tell from the picture. Brian and I had to look at each other and grin when we were watching Prairie with Dean. What a CUTE KID!!! You did good Ben and Em!

Here's Poopa, Autumn, Prairie and Dean. I think at this point Poopa had to play referee for a minute because Prairie and Autumn both wanted to hold Dean so badly. It's hard for me and Brian too, although Vaughn usually wins out over both of us!

After a little while, Autumn took Vaughn under her wing and they went off to play together. Vaughn really liked having Autumn show him the ropes. Autumn is very patient with Vaughn.
It was cute to see them getting along so well together.

Poopa tried and tried to get Vaughn to sit with him, but Vaughn is a very shy kid. It takes him a while to warm up to anybody, especially someone he hasn't seen in a while. We were lucky to have him get this close to Poopa! It was a nice evening visiting with everyone, and extra special since everyone got to be together.

On Sunday after Church, Vaughn and I decided to shell some peas we had picked from our garden. It has been so much fun to go out to the garden with Vaughn this year and pick fresh peas. We have found that he loves to pick the peas as well as shell them AND most importantly, he likes to eat them!!!

As you can see, Vaughn couldn't keep himself from touching the peas. I couldn't even have them on the counter long enough to take a few pictures without him getting into them! I love that his little hand got in this picture!

Here Vaughn is, finally content in his high chair, shelling peas. ADORABLE!

I love how he concentrates on getting the shell open, and very carefully picking out each pea. Who'd have thought he would enjoy it so much?!

Just another picture I liked!

On Monday, July 1st, Poopa came by with Momma to say goodbye. Poopa had driven Momma out so she could stay for a visit after Dean was born. Then Poopa would go back to Iowa and return a few weeks later to pick up Momma and be here for Dean's baby blessing. Poopa had found a few really neat things at Goodwill out in Iowa, and wanted to give them to us before he went back home. Here Brian is checking out the AWESOME double stroller Poopa found.

Momma had a few cute presents that she let Vaughn open up. One of them was this adorable little bunny that made kissing sounds when you pushed it's tummy. Momma also got Vaughn a little bottle so he could feed the bunny. Vaughn really enjoyed doing that because it was just like me and Brian feeding Dean!

Vaughn was playing with a marble game while Momma and Poopa were here. Vaughn was a little nervous when Poopa came over to check it out. I think he wondered if Poopa was going to somehow take it away from him. It's funny what little kids think sometimes. But...

...Vaughn's worry turned to delight when Poopa made the marble do some cool tricks. It was so cute to see them interacting together! It was so nice to see Poopa for those few days, and to also know that he would be back soon!

I'll leave you with a few pictures that were taken that same morning before Momma and Poopa came over. Here's Vaughn and Dean next to each other in our bed. One of Vaughn's favorite things has been to come into our bed in the morning right after he wakes up and "hold" Dean. Vaughn is a very affectionate, tender and protective older brother. I can see Vaughn and Dean being best buds. Dean obviously loves having Vaughn as a big brother!

And here are my guys...
P.S. Vaughn was trying to be as still as possible so Dean wouldn't get upset and he would be able to hold him as long as possible!!! What a nut! You can see how much he is concentrating. I love it!

Love, Lisa