September and October have come and gone already!
Theo has been having lots of fun with music class, open gym, and playing with friends. He likes to sing, dance, talk, play with cars, and give lots of affection to baby Declan. He has lots of his own ideas and likes to have fun.
Declan has been growing quickly. He has 2 teeth with several more just starting to poke through this week. He has been working very hard on learning to crawl these past two months. He hasn't quite mastered it yet, but does lots of rocking on his hands and knees, scooting, and turning around on his belly. He also learned to clap, wave, and sit up from a lying down position. He will be very excited when he learns to crawl and can really get into everything Theo is playing with.
In September, we spent the weekdays getting back into a routine and the weekends doing some fun things around the area. We went to a local Watermelon festival, my friend Frankie's baby shower, and celebrated my sister's birthday with a spa day and dinner out.
In October, we enjoyed some good weather for leaf raking/jumping, a visit to a pumpkin patch with the Laurie/Heckard family, a trip to the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells with the Lien family, a couple of Halloween parties (two for the kids, one for the adults), and Theo & Declan's first trick-or-treating experience. (We only visited 2 houses, which I figured was appropriate for a 2 year old.)
On to November!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Summer of Fun
After a week of vacation over Independence day, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take 6 weeks paternity leave, followed by another week of vacation. It was the fastest 8 weeks of my life! It was great to focus on having fun with the kids and catching up on neglected house projects. Theo and Declan had great times at the State Fair and Milwaukee zoo. To celebrate a great summer of fun, we rented a cabin a couple of hours North of Madison for the last week an got to spend some quality time with the Nelsons and Laura's family. Click on the pictures to see our summer adventures.
July
August
July
August
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Photos from the past two months
Here are the latest photos from the Matter family. We've been busy enjoying the nice weather, celebrating Mother's Day and my 35th birthday, going to Washington DC, and watching Declan's latest milestones. The boys are growing up fast!
- Laura
Second half of April photos
May photos
First half of June photos
- Laura
Second half of April photos
May photos
First half of June photos
Monday, April 16, 2012
Declan's baptism
This past weekend we celebrated Declan's baptism. Declan was surrounded by lots of love: besides Mommy, Daddy, and big brother Theo, all of Declan's grandparents (4) and cousins (8) were able to attend, as well as Uncle Ben & Auntie Trisha (also Declan's godparents), Auntie Sue & Uncle Scott, and friends Allison and Nathan. We were blessed with great weather and lots good food. Fun times for all! Thanks again to all who traveled from near and far to be with Declan on his special day!

I also added some new photos to the Easter and April albums.
I also added some new photos to the Easter and April albums.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, March 31, 2012
March
Thursday, March 1, 2012
3 weeks old (and a day)
I finally uploaded more photos from what we've been up to the past three weeks. Declan is doing great... eating, sleeping, and pooping like a newborn. At his 2 week doctor appointment, he had well-surpassed his birth weight... the doctor said he was showing off! Theo is a really good big brother. He loves to help (get me a burp cloth, throw away this diaper). He likes to know where Declan is, and even cried the other day when Jay took Theo to the grocery store, but Declan had to stay home. He's very gentle with him and definitely knows that "Baby Gek-in" is part of the family. Can't wait to watch them grow up together! In other Theo news, he counts to ten regularily (and sometimes adds twelve, fourteen, sixteen, and eighteen), and he sings the alphabet. He also repeats everything I say, so I will soon be learning if there are things I shouldn't be saying around him! So far, so good... in fact, he's extremely polite and says "please" and "thank you" without prompting. Is it possible that this behavior will continue throughout age 2, 3, and 4?? (Parents of toddlers, please don't answer - that was a rhetorical question!)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Welcome, Declan!
Here is an album that Jay put together from Declan's time in the hospital. Everyone is doing well at home. Theo is a great big brother and Declan is eating, sleeping, and pooping just as a newborn should!

I'll try to keep pictures current, but for now, you'll have to settle for the hospital pics from a week ago! Surprising how much his looks have changed in a week already!
I'll try to keep pictures current, but for now, you'll have to settle for the hospital pics from a week ago! Surprising how much his looks have changed in a week already!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
January & Theo's 2nd birthday
Monday, January 23, 2012
Christmas / New Year's
Before I have the baby, I figured I should at least post pictures from Christmas! We had a nice Christmas celebration with my family on the 23rd and then a low-key Christmas Eve and Christmas. Then the Mann family arrived from Germany on Christmas Day and we were busy with them until they left on January 5th. It was a very fun visit with some sight-seeing in Milwaukee and lots of shopping! We also had some professional photos taken of all of us. I scanned in two of the photos that I don't have in frames. We also had a cute photo with all of the cousins, but I have that framed in Theo's room now.

Next post will be Theo's 2nd birthday, which we celebrated yesterday!
Next post will be Theo's 2nd birthday, which we celebrated yesterday!
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