Glad she arrived a nice healthy 8 lb 8 oz, she won't be in those 3-6 mos. size things very long. She sure took her time but some are slow at getting here. Hope you can post a pic soon! Glad they are in Italy(I mistakenly told someone he was in Iraq) glad the family is together!! That is so nice for new dad to actually get to spend time & bond with new little one!! Congrats! Kirk & Carol & just think, no sleepless nights like 2 yrs ago!! (there's a plus to being grandparents- GK's also often leave & go home when you are tired) Enjoy your new status in life!! It's so much fun!! Jan

I just looked up 'Fat Cat' in the hosta library. Wow, no wonder you are giving it room; It's a big, beautiful monster, isn't it?! Great choices you've made. I got 'Dark Shadows' earlier this season from Hallson Gardens as a bonus plant, and it's grown quite vigorously in just a few months. I wasn't really familiar with it; Well, I am now and I love it. 'Tokudama Flavocircinalis' I don't have, but I've seen many pics of healthy, gorgeous specimens posted by forum members. Again, Enjoy! And yes, please post pics at your earliest convenience. Regards, Don B.

Thank you all for your heartwarming words about Ruffin and the enormous milestone he reached today. My two angels are in bed (I also have a 3.5 year-old) and as I think about today, a date I'll remember forever (or until my brain gives out!), I just feel incredible warm fuzzies about his standing unaided and that step. The marble slabs / house remodel? Don't care. Doesn't matter. My sweet little button standing? I'm on top of the world!!! And you all totally understand. Thank you!!! Thank you, louisianapurchase, for telling me about your children and the work you did with your older son to help him overcome his fine motor issues. I just love hearing stories like yours -- I love hearing that children can and do get better. And thank you for writing that St. John (my older son) reminds you of your younger son! That's a nice compliment. mnhockeymom, holy cow that is remarkable about your son! Honestly, these medical professionals can scare the living daylights out of you (at least they have me with their earlier [mis]diagnoses of Ruffin) and to have heard the word "fatal" about one of your babies must have been incredibly frightening. I am so grateful your son is fine, healthy and "normal" for his age. When it comes to the health and welfare of our children, the world is a small place for people who care about children. I feel like holding hands with all the involved parents and singing "Kumbaya." I know it sounds goofy, but I just feel so connected to the other loving, concerned caregivers out there. I'm excited your countertops still give you a thrill -- since I am following your lead that'll hopefully be me later this year! katmandu -- I just have to tell you how much I like you! I'm so glad you joined GW. You wrote exactly what I'm feeling -- that Ruffin's steps are really all which matter to me. The countertops will be nice and the way this all happened (the rude lady, the "switched" slabs) was wrong, but keeping it in perspective, doesn't matter! Thank you, too, for telling me about when your children started walking. It is really helpful to my psyche to know that "normal" children (without delays / special needs) can and do start walking throughout their second year of life. Now about the marble: do keep it in mind when it's your turn. If it hadn't been for GWers who'd written out what to do for slab countertops (taking photos of your slabs as you pick them, being there when the templates are made, insisting on being there for the templates to be applied to the slabs and taking more pictures) I wouldn't have had the "proof" to both show others I was right as well as assuage myself! If I had to do it again you can bet I'd say to the first guy (with whom Ruffin and I selected our slabs): "Are you absolutely sure THESE are the slabs I'm going to get? Because THESE are the only slabs I want!" and then I'd check the claim tickets and make sure the numbers there matched up with the slabs I want. vwhippiechick -- reading your note brought (more) tears to my eyes! Bless you for all the incredible good you've given people. You truly are a miracle worker. I love (and I really mean "love" with my heart, not just a throw-away euphemism) all of Ruffin's therapists (physical, occupational and speech): these women, on a weekly basis, are vastly improving the quality of all of our lives (Ruffin's, mine, my older son's and my husband). You really are a miracle worker! You are 100% right -- marble? My little boy is improving!!! Your families are lucky to have you. Mindi -- you are so sweet. Thank you for your supportive words and advice. I loved reading your note, and a fine man like your son is exactly what this world needs! Yours is a kitchen I am going to be closely following -- you have such a fabulous aesthetic and with that marble -- that marble! -- it is going to be stunning. From an earlier note of yours, I want to say I can totally relate to your wardrobe: I pretty much live in black (don't feel comfortable in white -- I am incredibly fair and feel white washes me out, like a walking block of tofu!) and love "architectural" clothes (my mainstays are BabetteSF and Yohji, although since living covered by snot and cracker crumbs I wear more Eileen Fisher because I can wash it at home!). I think I'd love poking through your closet .... Ah Robin -- my virtual hand-holder. You give so much to so many of us here on GW. How are you? I worry that you don't receive as much as you give, and I don't want you feeling depleted. You are too valuable. You're too important to me! You have seen me go through it all -- beating myself up for yelling at my children, losing our beloved kitten (since, gratefully, found), getting a puppy (she's great!), these silly slabs, and now something wonderful: Ruffin! I'm so happy I could share something positive with you, friend. And thank you for the encouraging words about our kitchen. Listen, if my kitchen looks 1/88th as good as your kitchen then we'll be one lucky family! Maybe by virtual osmosis your good taste will rub off on me .... Hopefully the next time I post about our kitchen it will be to share pictures of things falling into place (doors / drawer fronts on, countertop installed, backsplash installed, appliances in / panels applied, and maybe one day, the whole kitchen done!). To a one, Thank You. -Brooke

I cheated and bumped it up so it wouldn't get lost in the shuffle - LOL. The electricians were here to finish up yesterday for the time being: I still have to decide about undercab lights - what is the difference between t4 and t5 lights? Today, we have a beautiful new white oak floor and the kitchen is beginning to look like a real room! Here it is in process. The floor installer came this morning and it only took him a few hours. He was done by noon. It won't be finished-finished till everything is in. Then the floor guys will come back and do the whole downstairs so everything matches. Anyway, we had a roof leak 4-1/2 years ago and have never gotten around to redoing the great room floor. Just as well. We still have the money from the insurance for the floor, so that's good. Here is where the floors come together: the yellow board just before the blue tape at the top is the floor in the other room. The new floor looks beautiful and smells delicious - ahhhh. Tomorrow, Michael comes back to patch the sheetrock and I will be taking my husband for his cataract surgery in the afternoon and coming home in rush hour and predicted snow. Oh joy.