a photo summary

what my hubby put in my stocking...mind you, he is a dietitian. i think he loves me. by the way, caramellos and 3 musketeers are my favorite candybars. happy happy happy little boy. at uncle bill's house christmas day. i accidentally shrunk that little outfit. all wool, put it in the dryer. oops.

will david under one of the trees at uncle bill's. aunt lisa is such a talented decorator.


similar photo to one of my niece awhile back...
heehee....our 2008 family photo, minus the babe, who was too short for this timed photo. we were doing the christmas story with mask, if you couldn't tell. it was quite the production. my niece had the angel's words all memorized. oh and i didn't have a mask because i was taking pictures....
i'd love to chat more about christmas time and stuff, but time is short around here. much to do. very little free time to type. i love to browse though. one handed stuff like that. lol.

i hope and pray everyone's christmas was very blessed, very much like ours.

Just for laughs

I am being brave. LOL! Here is a video of Ella reading to Will David yesterday. She had actually been reading to him for awhile, while I was busy making a mess in the kitchen, because of baking and decorating cookies. He loved it, you can tell. So, here I am, makeup-less, trying to get the web cam in the right direction, struggling with that, and then a baby, who is trying to fall asleep and well, at one moment, is just being a baby LOL. It's funny. It's cute. Enjoy.



Okay, here's one of Buddy singing Jingle Bells. Mind you, I have a great old morning voice here and am very VERY tired. LOL. But, Buddy's cute at least! And the baby!

girl scout cookies, anyone???

let the selling begin!!! hehe so glad ella is a girl scout- great excuse to buy lots of cookies!! hoping to post better tomorrow..pics?

Half the cake is GONE

My grandma, dear, precious grandma, baked me a cake yesterday for my birthday today! And, it was one of my favorite flavors, too...Spice cake. The kids sang to me, Rich too, and then we all blew out the candles- a little early, but we wanted to eat that cake since it was here already. Yummy!

My birthday present, along with Christmas I suppose, is this lovely new laptop I am typing on. I think, truthfully, it is Rich's gift too. LOL. He has been using it lots as well.

The only other birthday plan we have is for Thursday. A friend of mine will watch Philip, since Ella is in school, and then we and the baby will go to the Outback. Rich was given a gift card there from coworkers. Perfect time to use it. I am craving steak so so so very badly.

Will David is doing wonderfully well, and he does not have days and nights mixed up really, but he is not sleeping the best anyways. Hopefully soon that will change.

Ella went to a Girl Scout meeting last night, as a neighbor who takes her girls came and picked her up for us. They went to the Ginger Jar, to paint a ceramic peice.

Philip had his first visit to the dentist yesterday....oh, how the tears fell when we got to the office. I had to sit on the chair myself, and hold him, so he would actually SIT there and open his mouth. Poor little guy. But, he made it through and did end up learning that there is nothing to fear (at least when you are little and your teeth are great!).

So, this is all I shall blog for now. I have to get a certain little girl ready for school!

My babe

Will David Has Arrived!!!!!

The night before....



And the morning after, plus a few days! ;)

He was 8 lbs 8.2 oz. Just so beautiful, as I can say that since he's MY baby boy...hehee....

The surgery went well, it's been a bit rough since then though. The eating thing isn't going so smoothly, due to the fact that I am in a lot of pain from that, but we have a plan, and are working things out. I am thankful for the help of a wonderful person at the hospital who has given me so much great encouragement and information. Third child, so I thought I had the nursing thing all figured out. Guess not!

He is so alert, and was quite a bit alert during the day today. So, hopefully we'll have a good night. The first night home, I didn't go to bed until 4:30 in the morning. Thank goodness, we've have not had anymore nights like THAT one.

Kids are coping well enough. Some behavioral changes have occurred, and we are praying we can turn that around with some effective parental skills and wisdom.

As you can see, not a whole lot of time for computer things. Took me forever just to get these photos uploaded from my camera.

Rich has another week off, so that is wonderful. He has been such a great husband, new dad, and dad to two other children. I love love love love love him, dearly!

you always hope to awake happy the day before!

But sometimes it just doesn't happen! LOL!

It has been a trying morning. So many things to do all of a sudden, including some emergency laundry for everyone. Forgot to get breakfast. Very emotional. Tired, due to lack of good sleep. Hubby off to work, and not wanting him to go. Wanting to relax, but just not able to. Little things to focus on.....happy kids. A new baby to hold tomorrow. A wonderful family time later today. A set of the photographs I took, including the piano one previously posted, in a Top Ten list on twopeas! Having happy photography customers. Getting my point and shoot digital camera all ready for DH tomorrow to use. Smelling those wonderful baby clothes again. Reading scripture. Prayer. Hope. and finally.....

some peace.

Let me tell you a little story

Once upon a time, a mommy really wanted to do something special for her little girl.

But, what?

The time was coming soon for the mommy to have another baby, and she wanted her daughter to know that she was so loved and appreciated....even though she would be sidetracked for awhile.

The little girl was delighted when her mommy told her they'd paper her dollhouse and put snow on it.

The only problem was, the mommy had so many times of not feeling well or not feeling up to it, and the little girl was quite impatient.

Nonetheless, the project is finished. A little kraft dollhouse, that badly needed some decorating on the outside, is completed. No, no pictures of this little bit of creativity....but to have a vision, imagine a house with colors or brown, pink and maybe some red and green. Brown paint, as well as girly scrapbooking paper in dots and stripes. Green painted windows. White snow, placed with care by the little girl and her mommy. Let dry with coming excitement for the morrow!

Someday, perhaps near the end of November, small treasures will pop up in and out of this little house. Candy canes, wreaths.....a few trees on the porch. The vision is there...and the little girl is so happy.

"You're the best mom ever!" she told her mommy.

She told her mommy that several times, over and over. The mommy just basks in the glory of that comment....for it has been a memorable time to share with a most precious daughter.

Friday update

Here are some Halloween pics...better late than never, right? Daphne (look at THAT HAIR, it was truly unruly!) and a handsome, handsome Pirate...arrrr!!!

Also, a pic of my neice, Abigail, at her piano in her home. I LOVE this photograph, and oh so hope to get a photograph like that of Ella.

We are ready for a baby on MONDAY, not Tuesday like we had expected. There was a csection conflict. That's okay....no problem having this boy a day early! :) I've been very uncomfortable, and very much ready for the next few days to pass by!

I'm ETA that we need prayer, also, for sickies to STAY AWAY for awhile. AND, for Ella NOT to have the flu. Although, she has been throwing up this morning and doesn't seem to have any other symptoms. Sorry for the TMI, but it's so frustrating. I personally do NOT need to be sick, and since Philip had something LAST weekend, I do think it's possible. We're going to try to be low key this weekend. Rich works Saturday and Sunday, so this mommy will not be out and about. Only to go to my mom's for dinner this weekend...she's so sweet to want to do that for me. Love you mom!!!

just a few comments

*Saturday late evening, Philip woke up and thus was very very sick to his stomach, poor guy. :(
*Sunday, Ella woke up with a sick stomach as well, but bounced back pretty quickly.
*So did Buddy, however, we didn't make it to church as both Rich and I had been up with Philip throughout the night.
*I keep getting comments about the baby coming any day, when I am out and about ...just thinking I must have a face that tells all! LOL! Exhaustion, etc.
*Did some Christmas shopping today, but lost my coupon in the store. GRRR. Have to go back by the 8th with the one I got from someone else :) to get it adjusted.
*One (or maybe 2) more loads of baby laundry to do.
*Pack and play needs to be constructed.
*Covers with bassinet and carseat need to go back on.
*And, need to take pics of my neice, Abigail, this week too!
*Our first Kindergarten parent-teacher conference is Thursday. Shall be good, I hope!
*Saturday, I went with my SIL, her mom, her sister, and her friend to Medina for a great time away. Met my mom at the stores there, too. Oh, I got some neat goodies. And a feather tree for Ella that was sooooooooo cheap. A few ornaments. Vintage scrapbooking things for me. A few little gifts for teachers/classes Ella has at school. Hope to get pics of those things up by the weekend.
*I'm scouring Etsy for some wrapping goodies for Christmas. Love love love Etsy. **SIGH*** I need a job! LOL!

Lil Davin

That's Philip saying a name off our short list for the baby boy. Will David. LOL.

We have a new nephew, Rich and I! Ella and Philip's new cousin was born today..this afternoon. A baby boy, Brendan, to Rich's sister, Valerie, and her husband, Chad. Can't wait to see him. I was told he weighed 8 lbs 10 oz. And that he looks more like himself, LOL, than his brother Noah. Congratulations Valerie! Rich was excited because he ended up being right outside the door as he was delivered. He checked over in the unit during his work (he works at the same hospital).

I am so thankful for a few people, that I need to take a minute to thank....Elizabeth, Kimmy, and Beth. I had such a nice time last night drinking my free hot tea! AND, Beth, you are such a blessing...thank you for watching Philip while I had my OB appointment. I really appreciated it.

Short post, but I will post a page I made the other day of Ella, with a picture from this past summer. I made the flowers from some vintage papers about shorthand.

Balance

Hehe...what I don't have right now! LOL!

This baby likes to be on the right side of me..the other side is mushy, the right side you can tell he's there.

Morning routine, Buddy daytime routine, picking up Ella routine, and evening routine....it is taking work to get these balanced out and all the kinks out. I think we're finally getting some of the routines down though.

Oh, and MY sleeping routine is completely out of whack. Very uncomfortable belly of mine. And back pain....ugh.....this is something REALLY bothering me throughout the day. I am *trying* to focus on the "we have only 20 more days left" phrase to get through that discomfort.

I've been quite pokey at laundry lately, but Richie has helped so much. I am almost done with winter coats though, so we'll be all set and I won't have to worry about come Nov. 11 (or earlier....the hope!).

Trying to balance the weeks out here, with getting what we need. I was really blessed with finding some inexpensive clearanced baby washclothes (found out that after using some for Ella AND Philip, they are not worth keeping!), 2 playard sheets, and 2 bassinet sheets....and a nice green toile (I am a SUCKER for anything toile, especially GREEN toile!) swing from Once Upon A Child. Oh, and not a boppy yet, but this other nursing pillow that was clearanced that I heard is so much better, and I think, especially after a C Section. The boppy for the baby can wait!

I have loved washing the baby stuff...such a wonderful scent that Dreft is, and I think I may be repeating myself with that comment again!

Ella is starting to pick up on the reading process. I am so happy about that! I am thinking about trying to get the new Leap Pad pen/pad thing at some point.....it's just a pen that goes over the words in books, and seems to be a great tool with assisting literacy. More sophisticated then the "school bus" leap frog thing for toddlers.

More school news. She brought home a certificate and prize for being "caught" with good behavior. She bought lunch two days in a row last week, for something different, and did good with that change. She is a bit picky with what she eats (no PB&J, tacos, breaded chicken sandwiches, hamburgers..etc..). She likes her ham and cheese sandwiches and then she got a hot dog one day and pizza the next. Next week...breakfast for lunch one day. She's ALL about that! LOL!

This coming Monday, we'll begin Girl Scouts! They are supposed to do a craft, and it may be carving pumpkins, not sure though. I am so excited about GS! It'll be a challenge to get there some weeks, but one of us, Rich or I, will go.

I think I have my days and nights confused. All of a sudden, just a few days ago, I start really eating at 7 pm and on...LOL.....Of course, there's food throughout the day too..but come on. This is not well-balanced eating at all! I am loving pierogies lately! And nachos and cheese! And WHY did (we) buy Halloween candy already?

On to what was so wonderful the other day....

Rich and I went BY OURSELVES to a wonderful hotel in Sugarcreek, OH. The Carlisle Inn. Somehow, we were able to get a room. Rich called Saturday morning and checked for any cancellations, since they've been booked for awhile, and there were TWO. The man who answered was floored, and said we were really lucky. We only stepped out ONCE from our hotel during our stay (through Sunday around Noon). We had to go pick up our dinner, which we decided would just be pizza, something inexpensive since we spent a bit more on our hotel choice. Oh, totally worth it. Now, my job is to ebay something of Rich's so we can go again. LOL. He said, it's the carrot dangling in front of the horse. HA!

We had as much fun as we did on our honeymoon. So wonderful to be focused on each other. There was time for swimming, Scrabble playing (as they had a stock of board games in the lounge area), and even....piano playing! A beautiful baby grand sat on the second floor and welcomed pianists. I found a hymnal and other arrangement book in the bench, and had a delightful time with the music. Later on, Rich took out his mandolin, and we did several duets. There ended up being small audiences, and it was just a special time.

For down time, Richie played his music in the room and I scrapbooked. There was actually a scrapbooking/cropping weekend going on, and it's one that finds it way to a local inn as well, which was interesting. The couple running it was very nice, and I am thinking what a great way to get some scrapbooking done!

Beyond just having a wonderful time there, the place was stunning. We both hope to be there again. Well worth saving up. It had been years since we had gone away on our own! Now, be sure that we recommend it to other couples! We felt incredibly blessed this weekend.

Hopefully, there will be some layouts posted soon on here (that I've finished). Maybe another pic or two. And, a few links to some neat sites I've been finding as I search for educational, science, and nature toys.

Meanwhile, I pray that you all are safe, warm, content...and are feeling God's love. God Bless.

Please, view and pray

Our dear friend at SC, Stephanie, has a great deal to work with in her life. Her husband is away at war, and she has two precious little girlies to raise. She is such a beautiful, positive person..but these days are hard. Her husband's company was on the news in a few clips and he was interviewed as well( see clips 1 and 2)...seeing these was hard, and I cannot even fathom how hard it is for loved ones to watch. So, please keep this family, and all families with loved ones at war, in your prayers.

A little couponing

Well, I did do that today. With my savvy couponing and sale sleuthing I saved a little over 50% of my bill. Including 60 cent soap multipacks and $1.25 big juice bottles...yeah! I did feel badly for the other people waiting in line after me. It is tough just to watch someone else's coupons be scanned, especially when you have a HUGE pile of them!

I have about....um...200 coupons that need filed right now though LOL. Anyone want to help???! HELP!!!!!

That's the one thing that I hate....organizing and sorting and purging coupons. But, it is worth it. I am just not that organized, with anything I guess!

Philip did NOT help too much with this trip though (he needs a nap). It wasn't as bad as a trip as some other times though. He did help me the other day, quite a bit, when we scanned some items at a baby store (for a few family members to have a list of things we need). He had SO much fun doing that. I did too, because that trip actually helped me be organized a bit (and happy to be getting a coupon for list stuff soon in the mail!). I am trying little by little right now to get prepared. I have been so fatigued lately, so I don't get much done. I do have all the clothes washed for the baby, and he has enough of those. (Mommy loves to shop for clothes, you know!). Ella has been helping me fold them and put them away. I just LOVE the smell of Dreft. Lovely. I sneaked in a couple things of mine in those baby loads...heehee. Couldn't resist.

Rich and I are planning an overnight getaway- for the two of us- this weekend. I hope we can manage to do that. Sometimes, we plan and then it falls through. But, we do have babysitting lined up and hopefully the time away will be relaxing and refreshing. Things are busy around here and will continue to be busy. We'll have our new windows put in probably when I am at the hospital in four weeks....oh dear. It'll be real close. Probably will do them after, maybe 1.5 weeks after LOL. I HOPE. I cannot deal with a whole day of window working with a newborn AND recovering from a C-Section.

Ella is done with soccer however, I signed her up for Girl Scouts! She is excited, so am I. I really think it'll be a great thing for her. Another kindergartner we know is going to be in it too, so I think that is an added bonus.

I have not gotten in the routine of having a time of homework for Ella each night. I have been BAD at that. It's frustrating. The time just goes so fast. I haven't given her another piano lesson in awhile too. Grrr.....I think the bedtime routine has been a major thing in our household, trying to keep it, I mean! That just takes up most the evening, really!

Well, I have some great scrapbooking ideas but no "umph" as of late. Hoping to soon. There are some fall photographs just wanting their stories to be told. :)

Thursday photos...in progress

I have so much to do...I've been a mad woman almost trying to get some things accomplished around here. Hopefully it's the big hurrah before the big day! LOL! Although, we have hmmmmm...exactly 33 more days!!!! Trying to do laundry, get some other winter things for the kids more organized, more laundry, trying to get my closet and Buddy's closet fixed up, so we have more room elsewhere..whew..anywhoo some more photos...

sneak a peek

at some of my timed photoshoot from yesterday....which, in fact, left me so very sore today....just thinking about all I had to do to do this makes me hurt! LOL! Up and down, set the camera up a gazillion times, RUN to my pose....but, it's done. I have a lot more of Philip and I, and of Ella, Ella and Philip... and just of myself, but most of the myself ones I'm not thinking will get to my blog...I like them, but they are not traditional. They are in NO way inappropriate, of course, but I think I'll feel awkward. LOL.

AND, if you have a few minutes, BTW (that's by the way, for those who don't know!), click FIRST on my friend Sam's blog (see the list to the right) and read his "It's over" post and THEN go to my friend Kimmy's blog..and read It's just begun...Hilarious...She really IS smug LOL.

another photograph blog entry

Ella in her pumpkin/fall outfit..she wore this to school Friday. Also, Buddy and his doggy (one from Build A Bear...do you believe that he LOVES going there? I think it's sooooo cute!!!)...and Ella with some soccer poses- in action blocking a goal and then whispering a secret to the other Ella on her team.

May I interrupt your daily blogging?

LOL!

This babe is 5 pounds 6 ounces! Can you believe it? Still waiting for Nov. 11th. That is maybe 6 1/2 weeks away? How many guesses that we'll have an 8 pounder? Well, most of your guesses SHOULD be that. Philip was 8, 13 a week early. Ella was 9, 4 TWO weeks early! Everything is fine and dandy, the doctor said today. The ultrasound showed a little boy who loves to yawn (just like Mommy!) and he (his head)was smooshed against the uterus, trying to get his hand in his mouth. So very cute. I cried. So sweet.

I hope to be back to regular blogging, um, next year? Seriously. I am just going to try to enjoy brief updates between now and then. And reading everyone else's although my commenting will be brief or nonexistant.

But, do you know what? I am envisioning myself really loving a Thanksgiving dinner (at my mom's!)...can't wait. Lately, my eating is very minimal b/c I feel so nauseated. But, I do enjoy looking at a Swiss Colony magazine, and wishing we had some of those wonderful sausages...
cheeses...
pastries...
nuts....
cookies.....
chocolate....
jams....
ahhhhhhh.....
How to justify getting some of this is the question!

A few photoshoots

I've had a couple photoshoots in the past week and a half. My friend Katie, with her daughter, Autumn. She always gives me these gorgeous eyes in photos. I do NOTHING with them I promise. Amazing. Then, my friend Alysha, her family...her beauitful children! Whew..however...now I know NOT to do photoshoots when I am in the third trimester. Ugh. It was tough. I like to bend down, lean over, stand in weird places, lie down on the ground...hard to do when you have so much extra weight in front of you!