Happy Birthday Louis! I can’t believe you are two already!
What a birthday week it has been! It started out tough with a dislocated elbow and later
an ear infection. But you had fun with Papa, Mommy and Mabel on your birthday and then had a great birthday party with your aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Here is what matters to you at age two:
1. Routine and schedule: eg breakfast with papa every morning, and Horton the Elephant book before bed.
2. Swimming lessons on Saturdays
3. Finding Obama on tv
4. Looking at our globe and learning about USA, Mexico, Canada and where in the world is Papa.
5. Kissing your sister and making her smile
6. Singing happy birthday to everyone, but mostly to Owen, Katlyn and uncle Pat
7. Playing your guitar while papa plays his.
8. Reciting the names of your Grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends and teachers – nearly every night
9. Playing basketball. “Louis dunk it”
10. Singing the ABC’s, counting everything, reading and coloring
11. Knowing the difference between, “What sound does a happy dinosaur make?” “What sound does a scary dinosaur make”
12. Learning your full name, "Louis Dean Budde"

13. Being silly.

As papa would say, “It’s the little things”. These little things make you who you are. You are becoming your own little person more and more. I know that you will become easier and challenging as each day goes on. It has been a very fun two years. We love you Louis.

(and for good measure we will throw in a picture of Mabel since she is changing daily!)

A Big Boy and A Baby

My favorite question to ask right now is “Louis, what are you?”. The response I get, “Big Boy”. I am not really sure where it started but the first time he answered that way, both Brad and I took a step back. He does in fact seem like a big boy. Last night I put him to bed and I could hear him singing, “Happy Birthday” in his room. When I went up to tell him to go to sleep, he had his socks on his hands, “gwoves on hands”. We spent the first half of winter trying to keep anything on his hands and now he constantly wants to put his socks on them. He is becoming more and more independent daily. Part of me loves it – it makes my life easier, but a huge part of me is fighting it (especially when he decides to runaway right before we leave for daycare). It was amusing to watch him climb into bed last night, to stretch his legs to climb in. I laughed as he buried his head into the bed for leverage. I never knew of a kid who liked the process of getting ready for bed so much…except for Mabel. He also does this Elvis thing right now. He raises his lip on one side and nods his head when he is telling me something affirmative, “Happy’s Bed”, “Sister’s Pacifier”. It cracks me up because he is so serious!

Little Baby Maybe. It is safe to say that she is simply adored by everyone in the family. I remember feeling this way with Louis, but I was always so excited for him to achieve the next thing. But now, because I can see how quickly Louis moved out of that phase, I just want to watch her every minute and have it go slowly. She loves to laugh and watch her brother. She is very curious right now and is always looking around for something new. I could just watch her all day long!

Last week I was sick, which makes it so difficult to be a mom. There were many days I left work that I didn’t even know how to get the energy to drive home, much less entertain, feed, bathe and put to bed to babies under 2! I would tell myself, “it is only two hours – you can get through it”. But then every night I would get them home and sit down, look at them and think, “it is only two hours , it is not enough”. My children have this amazing ability to energize me and exhaust me all at the same time…and it is just beginning!

Little Milestones

Both children seem to be changing everyday! Each has been checking off items on the milestone list, which of course is always bittersweet.



Louis officially calls his sister "Mabel". No more, "Manel". He tried so hard over the last two weeks to get it right. Everytime he started saying "Manel" he would stop and try harder to say "Ma-Bel". Right now he loves rubbing her head and saying, "Hello Sweetie". He is such a great big brother and we are lucky that he loves her like he does. On the other side, Louis is quickly entering the terrible twos; meltdowns at the drop of hat and stubborness that he inherited from both his mommy and daddy. Oh and by the wayLouis, when you are old enough to read this, you owe your papa an apology for your behavior the morning of 1/22/08 (you can't wear a dinosaur shirt everyday!).



Mabel is rolling over and reaching for toys. She has found her voice, and her cries are no longer soft and sweet, but rather she lets you know (and anyone in the vicinity) that she is not happy. She is such a joy in the morning. She wakes up cooing and smiles at you the minute you open the door. If only all of the Budde family members had her cheery morning outlook!



I had my first visit to the pediatrician with both kids this past week. I know lots of moms do this all the time, but I was very anxious and kept picturing all things that could go wrong. Thankfully, our pediatrician made sure she saw both children at the same time and we had plenty of treats. It went as smooth as an appt with shots, three ear infections, severe diaper rash and naptime interrupting can be!!

Blessings and Family Abound

What a busy weekend we had! We celebrated Auntie Kate's Birthday, Cousin Owen's SuperHero birthday and Mabel's baptism. To celebrate all of these events, all of the Kemper families and Budde families were in town (which means lots of laughs, good conversation and little sleep...and maybe a few bandaids).

For us, it was a buildup to Sunday, Mabel's baptism. The entire family gathered for Mass. Louis' eyes got wider and wider as he recognized each family member and called them by name. As he saw each grandma he would say, "another one", "another one". It was very sweet. At one point during mass I looked down the pew and over my shoulder and realized both literal and figurative brilliance of the moment. There we were the four of us and right there beside us and behind us was our family; sharing in our pride, supporting us and celebrating with us.

Mabel did great, lots of smiles, some crying. Afterwards, all 30 of us came back to the house for food, conversation and games. It was a circus, but it felt great. Thank you to our families who made the trip (Connecticut Kempers, DC Buddes, Milwaukee Buddes, Jordan Buddes, Edina Kempers, all the Grandparents, Jordan, Mindy and Kate)

Kemper Cousins

Mabel's Godparents: Matt Budde & Kristin Kemper

Looks like a fun time was had by all!

Last Look at 2008

My goal for the New Year? Well, there are many, but one of them is to document the lives of the Budde family. As I watch my children, I am amazed at how quickly time is going and that each day brings new changes. My hope that this will be our written history.

Highlights of 2008:

January 1st - Quite the New Year's surprise, We are pregnant!! We couldn't have been more delighted! Will it be a boy or a girl, what names, what will Louis think? Is September here yet?

February - Happy 1st Birthday Louis!! This was truly the fastest year of my life. It was such a joy to see you grow, you came so far in such a short time. You bring a smile to my face, every single day - thank you.

March - Vacation for mom and dad - too bad bronchitis and pneumonia came with us (and stayed behind with Louis). Welcome to cousins Keira and Riley (both born on 3/23)!

April - Ultrasound of Baby Budde, still amazing the second time around. Louis came with us so he could see the first pictures of our little baby.

May - What a special Mother's day, a baby in my arms and a baby in my tummy.

June - Uncle Adam's wedding in Madison! It was fun to have the whole Budde family together to celebrate the wedding, the Twins game and the announcement that Uncle Andrew and Aunt Kristy are having a baby!

July/August - third trimester during the summer, enough said. Louis started walking and not a moment too soon! But what he lacked in motor skills, he made up for it in verbal skills. How exciting it must have been to look around and just call out everything you see!

September - It's a girl! Welcome little Mabel! You fit perfectly. I will never forget Louis walking into our room with a flower and asking to see his "sista". Louis was showing us and telling us all about her; "eyes, ears, hair, nose, mouth".

Like us, he loved her instantly.

October - Happy Halloween - Louis was a turtle and Mabel was a "tiny dancer"

Louis really started to become a jabberjaws. He only referred to Mabel as his "baby sista". He was speaking in sentences and telling us stories. There were many nights when Brad, Mabel and I would sit on the couch and Louis would entertain us all night long. Those moments will always be dear to us.

November - Umm, Twilight the movie anyone? Brad...I think I am in love with a vampire ;-). In non-vampire news, Mabel continued to grow everyday. The smiles come so easily from her and her papa thinks she is the most beautiful little girl ever. Being a daddy's girl myself, it is incredibly warming to see the same bond happening with my husband and my daughter (I just didn't realize that he would be wrapped around her finger so quickly!) Louis continues to be so sweet to his sister, and it is fun to listen to him talk to Mabel (in a very high voice).

December - What a wonderful Christmas with two children. It was crazy, but we truly came to understand the meaning of Christmas. Welcome to Cousin Mollie and Congrats to Aunt Kristy and Uncle Andrew!!