tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79435393575775618612024-03-13T08:09:32.942-04:00Steph's Creative LifeStephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.comBlogger158125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-40792731400042139392013-03-16T00:35:00.001-04:002013-03-16T00:35:35.536-04:00The Mean Boy at Toddler Time<p>I took Bean to our local library’s toddler time for the first time about two and a half weeks ago. They hold it at 9:30am, so we didn’t get there until 9:45 since he only woke up at 9:15. But I was determined to get him there that morning since I actually got up and showered before him for a change! And he LOVES being around other kids and getting out and about, so I’m really trying to find more activities we can do, especially that are free or at least cheap.</p> <p>We missed the first story, but got there just in time for a song, which the leader handed out “shaker eggs” for (maracas without handles), and Bean, of course, thought that was the greatest thing ever! The leader was collecting the eggs, and Bean was being so good by going to put his away...until another boy grabbed it out of his hands and put it away himself. At this point, I’m not sure if that’s the same “mean boy” that this post is really about, but, gee thanks kid. My son was learning a lesson in helping and actually giving up something in his possession (something we struggle with now that we’ve hit toddlerhood). She then read another story, which we struggled with…he didn’t want to sit still for the entire thing, but I couldn’t let him run around either. After all the stories and a song, it’s craft time! Sometimes he likes to at least color, other times he’d rather just get to playing with the toys they have there. And enter the “mean boy”…</p> <p>There’s an older boy, actually I think beyond the age group for this particular toddler time, who was there that day. I could not believe some of his behavior. He was there with his younger sister and grandmother, and the grandmother did nothing to try to correct his unacceptable behavior (in my opinion). I’d say the boy doesn’t know how to share, even though he has a sibling, but he does apparently. However, he seems to have “selective” sharing abilities. He and another boy were playing with a HUGE bag of Mega Blocks. Bean loves his legos! So of course he sees the bag of legos and goes to retrieve one. He did not take it out of one of the boys hands. He did not even take it from the structure they were building. He took one from the pile not currently being touched or used. I saw nothing wrong with that. I was even hoping the boys would let him join in their fun. But no… As soon as that kid saw Bean holding the lego, he grabbed it and ripped it out of Bean’s hands so hard that I was afraid he would hurt him! Bean did not seem too phased by that (thankfully), but I wanted to cry for him! It broke my heart to see someone be so mean to him… I slowly led Bean away and said “I’m sorry baby, you’re apparently not allowed to play with them”, hoping the grandmother would hear me and reprimand that boy or at least tell him he needs to share with all the kids, since those blocks were not his own personal ones. But no. I tried to keep Bean away from the blocks as much as possible, but when the grandmother began to put them away and BEAN (not her grandson!) actually helped her, I thought he would finally get his chance at those blocks and that they would be out of there a lot quicker than they were. But no. The boys continued playing, the grandmother continued ignoring them, and the legos were still there. So, when I saw Bean go to retrieve a car lego that was sitting away from the boys, unattended, unused, I let him take it (because my boy LOVES his cars – first word by the way!). The mean boy went to take it from Bean, but I stepped in (since Grandma couldn’t be bothered to). He reached for it and said they needed ALL the legos because they were building something huge (which they hadn’t gotten very far with, and Grandma was already trying to get the kids out of there), but since I was now holding it, he did not grab it out of my hands. It took all I had to remain calm. But I did. And I said to the other boy, “But can we please share?”. He began to protest, claiming they needed every single lego in existence, and again, I just said, “Can we please share?”. At that point the mean boy backed down and then was out of the library a few minutes later (HUGE structure not even halfway completed, I might add). But really? I don’t feel I should be the one who has to teach other people’s children a lesson in sharing. However, I <strike>did</strike> tried to that day. At first I felt completely helpless for Bean. I never encountered a situation like that before, and I had absolutely no idea how to approach it. After seeing that the grandmother was doing nothing about it, I felt it was my turn to step in and stand up for my son. Yes, I realize that one day I won’t be there to defend him. I realize that he will have to look out for himself at times. But at only 20 months old, I needed to do something. Did I do the right thing? Should I have done something differently? It felt like the right thing. And I really don’t know what I would have done differently. </p> <p>We went back to toddler time the next week, and I was kind of dreading “the mean boy”. What would happen this week? How would I react? How would Bean react? We lucked out. The mean boy wasn’t there. We missed toddler time this week, because someone was a sleepy head (thanks daylight savings for screwing up our wake up time…), but I will continue to take him back every week we possibly can go. Especially because we did meet a very shy, nice little boy, a year older than Bean, who played with him the second week. And the boy’s mom is nice and easy to talk with as well. </p> <p>Have you ever encountered a situation like this? How did your child react? How did you react? </p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-43829209737116615272013-02-18T14:40:00.001-05:002013-02-18T14:40:39.490-05:00A scary day…<p><a href="http://www.frommrstomama.com/" target="_blank" border="0"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8F7GMAGovXATVGTJZqPsIxObxeRwm9CMBJvf9yC1x9VImWlcZsgeHlXjWR9yje5qEv-DAAO4pyMej5u3T2NxXg4sl57LkfxI353KTbLopxILV_GJYgwhGlxNfTAM9v-23IS_wBWBhbSG/s1600/Untitled+4.png"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="2">Hello again! I know I said I wanted to post more, and that really hasn’t happened. I’m not going to apologize. I’m trying really hard to find a balance between life, my Scentsy business, blogging, cleaning, relaxing….EVERYTHING! I finally bought a planner to try to organize my tasks for everything and make myself make time for each thing. I’m slowly working on it…</font></p> <p><font size="2">I saw <a href="http://www.frommrstomama.com/2013/02/writing-its-good-for-soul.html" target="_blank">From Mrs. to Mama’s post today</a>, and thought this would be a great opportunity to get a post in. So, here it goes…what’s been on my mind lately.</font></p> <p><font size="2">This past Friday was a somewhat scary day. Forgive the crudeness here, but I have been having irritation in my one armpit (that’s the crudeness…no other way to <strong>best</strong> describe that area though) off an on for about a month now. I couldn’t see anything there, so I was just attributing it to skin irritation from shaving. I had to buy a new brand/kind of razor around when this all started, so I thought maybe I just nicked myself, or was having sensitive skin issues from this new razor. Well, on Thursday, it started to feel the worst it’s felt since it started. I told Hubby about it and he said he would check it out for me if I wanted. Well, that night was busy, I didn’t have him check it out, and Friday morning I woke up with it feeling even worse. I asked him to check it out that morning, and when he felt around the sore area (which was so tender!), he said he felt a hard lump where I was hurting. My first thought was, “oh, I have some sort of cyst…no big deal, probably just needs antibiotics or something”. Hubby’s thoughts went in a different direction…a direction that had crossed my mind, but didn’t really sink in. I was trying to think positive, minor. If you don’t already know this, you have lymph nodes in that area of your body. Then it hit me. I have two aunts that were both diagnosed with breast cancer in the past year, and another person very dear to my heart and family who has battled cancer twice now in the last 3 years, first time being breast cancer that also came with tumors in her lymph node area. I kept trying to tell myself that this had to just be some sort of infection or something, but truth be told, I was worried. Worried enough, either way, that I made a call to the family doctor that morning and got myself an appointment for that afternoon. If it was just an infection, it needed treatment now. I could hardly move my arm without pain! IF it was something more serious, we had to find out…</font></p> <p><font size="2">Appointment time rolled around, and we all headed to the doctor. You better believe I wanted Hubby along just in case I got bad news, just in case there would be painful tests done, I needed support. I was so nervous and anxious the whole morning, I broke down and cried at one point, and as we were driving there, I started to feel sick to my stomach from it all. I was thinking about the dear family friend and what she has been through. I was thinking about all the what if’s. I was nervous about what might happen in the doctor’s office that day (would needles be involved, would he biopsy, would he tell me things I didn’t want to hear?). We finally get there, I fill out the paperwork I need to fill out, and we wait. And wait. He’s a good doctor, but there’s always a wait. Luckily I had a toddler along to distract me a little bit during our wait.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Finally at around 1:20/1:30pm (our appointment time was actually 12:45pm), the doctor comes into the room. I tell him what’s been going on, describe how it was feeling, and that we made the appointment right away because Hubby discovered the lump and we got worried. I was hoping for a more immediate answer of it just being a cyst, or maybe an infected lymph node. First thing he asks is if I have done a self breast exam in the last month, or ever for that matter. No. I have not. And also not the direction I was expecting him to go right away. That made me more worried about what it might be. Especially after informing him that I have a family history of breast cancer, among other cancers (skin and colon). So, after instructing me on how to perform one, he goes ahead and checks out the lump. Ouch! He then explains that it is definitely a lymph node. But apparently you have clusters of them in that area, and this particular one was pretty far towards my back for him to think it was related to the frontal area. He did know about the razor and what I thought the irritation was from. At that point, he said that he only ever had 1 case where the lymph node was sore and it turned out to be cancerous. Almost 100% of the time, the lumps are not sore. So, with the knowledge of the new razor, and the location of the VERY sore lump, he diagnosed it as just what I was hoping it was – an inflamed/infected lymph node, possibly from a cut from my razor that I didn’t know I had. He prescribed antibiotics and moist heat compresses and said I should start to feel better by Monday. If I was not feeling better by the end of the antibiotics and the lump was still there, then I have to call back and he will order photo imaging tests. </font></p> <p><font size="2">Well, it’s Monday. I have been taking the meds and (almost) diligently been applying moist heat compresses 3 times a day, as instructed. I will say that I do feel less pain today than I did on Friday, but it still is pretty sore, and I still feel that lump there. Even though the doctor told me not to lose sleep over it this past weekend, I’m still not “out of the woods”. I keep trying to tell myself that I have 3.5 days worth of antibiotics to take yet, so I can’t get too anxious until they’re done. But I would be lying if I said it’s not on my mind at least twice a day…</font></p> <p><font size="2">So, I’m waiting. Watching. Doing what I was told. And we’ll just have to see what it’s like on Friday when I’m done with the antibiotics. Hopefully it will be gone, and my worrying will have been for nothing. But for now, I wait.</font></p> <p><font size="2"></font> </p> <p><font size="2">And as a side note, I wasn’t really going to write this particular post until I was done with the medicine, knew for sure what was going on, etc. But after reading From Mrs. to Mama’s post today for this link up, about writing what’s on your mind, getting it out of your mind and on paper (or computer in this case!), I decided this would be the perfect time to make that time for me, for this post. If no one else reads it, I wrote it for me.</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-13403969307297564072013-01-20T17:36:00.001-05:002013-01-20T17:36:04.136-05:00Change is coming….hopefully.<p><font size="3">I last posted, I don’t even know when, about wanting to blog more now that Bean is a little older and I was able to put the Blogger app on my phone. We see how well that went! </font></p> <p><font size="3">I really do want to blog more again. I want to be able to make something of this space again. But, I also think I need to revamp things a little. I started this blog before we had Bean (who will still remain nameless and be called Bean, for now). I titled it “Steph’s Creative Life” because it was meant to share my life in general, my homemade crafts, my photography, and anything else creative I could come up with. However, since having Bean, I don’t get out to take photos, my beads are shut away in their container in a cabinet, all the crafts are out of sight. With extra time that I have, I focus on my <strike>new</strike> Scentsy business (that’s been almost a year now since I signed up to be a consultant!). Yeah, never got around to telling you all about that. If you’re interested in Scentsy, you can check out my website – <a href="https://ssgherza.scentsy.us">https://ssgherza.scentsy.us</a> (Enter shameless plug…)</font></p> <p><font size="3">So, I believe some change is necessary for this blog. And I think changing things will make me more motivated to post more often as well. Also, making time for it at least once a week and utilizing the little “Schedule Post” button will hopefully be of help. I’m looking to do a new background (if you actually come to the blog page and don’t just read through Reader), and even a new title!</font></p> <p><font size="3">Here’s my issue – I don’t want to change my blog name suddenly and lose any readers I may still have left (thank you if you are still reading this and have stuck around, or if you are new and checking it out for the first time!). Other Blogger peeps – is there a way to change the name of the blog and make it automatically change in everyone’s feeds/Reader, does it do that automatically on it’s own, or will I completely break and screw up everything?? </font></p> <p><font size="3">Thanks for the input and keep your eyes open for some new things!!!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-88708007460202002672012-09-22T15:05:00.001-04:002012-09-22T15:05:40.222-04:00It's about time...<div><p>Hello, hello!  I know I took a very long, unplanned hiatus from this blog.  Motherhood has been quite stressful and busy here.  I finally feel some motivation to want to blog again.  Thank you to those that stuck around and will continue reading as often as I am able to post.  I will do my best from now on to post more.  I have the motivation now, it's just finding the time.  I think the "schedule post" function will come in very handy for me.  I can't promise how often I will post, and I will try to catch things up on here, so just bear with me and I hope you stick around even longer now!  <br>
And here is a recent picture of my little Bean, who is not so little anymore, but a big boy toddler now!  15 months tomorrow!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT0nwE0__XseFMoJHgv6keRrFbMCS7KsMrZXjwgV_kfVCR9HrFLfDgKg8IGtgPAiXTMx3vWu5WavYhXlyqLBhTQql00CT8O0uiP7yyez-6msmq60hZn6QCWRSmrhyY3u1nUxSsSmMwhYk/' /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-85650750773043481392012-02-19T07:00:00.000-05:002012-02-19T07:00:10.760-05:00Project 365: Week 7 (I think…)<center><a href="http://www.betweenthelinesblog.net/"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6559802933_69c60a55d2_o.png"></a></center> <p><font size="2">I had to double check on the week. I got so far behind in posting before, and time is really flying (Bean will be 8 months old on Thursday!), I had to check myself on what week we were on. Plus I am really really tired as I type this post from a not-so-great night last night. Here are my photos from this past week:</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 43 (part 1): Some peek-a-boo fun in bed first thing in the morning.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Fe5s-EbfVvw/T0CB3VnnqpI/AAAAAAAABCo/QMLXY_-jke0/s1600-h/Day%25252043%252520%2525281%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Day 43 (1)" border="0" alt="Day 43 (1)" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-F745-10b8bc/T0CB30jYa2I/AAAAAAAABCw/r6A5FUvLmWI/Day%25252043%252520%2525281%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" height="366"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 43 (part 2): Not as cute as the first shot, but a little brighter and easier to see.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IZWHI3JaReU/T0CB5x5pSVI/AAAAAAAABC4/Jy31xqt_Omw/s1600-h/Day%25252043%252520%2525282%252529%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Day 43 (2)" border="0" alt="Day 43 (2)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3O0cApwIl0g/T0CB6I1RgAI/AAAAAAAABDA/76GYIMiNnog/Day%25252043%252520%2525282%252529_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="229" height="341"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 44: Bean's slightly early Valentine's gift from his Great Grandmom. He absolutely loves this giant monkey - it's bigger than him! :)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dkUSZvCX35o/T0CB6qez0II/AAAAAAAABDI/GL8SQwVcIk0/s1600-h/Day%25252044%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Day 44" border="0" alt="Day 44" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_vaPe0TbOlk/T0CB7M8dmeI/AAAAAAAABDQ/j2AA2AQUy7U/Day%25252044_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="394" height="264"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 45: Happy Valentine's Day! Sadly, this was the extent of hubby and I's celebration this year. Just came on a busy day, and we're boring.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QqoTmEjXWEc/T0CB7nsG5LI/AAAAAAAABDY/0oCs3a48kpI/s1600-h/Day%25252045%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Day 45" border="0" alt="Day 45" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_l5wKTj-gQU/T0CB8IezGfI/AAAAAAAABDg/ck2xdz3n3b4/Day%25252045_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="237" height="353"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 46: Just hanging out with me on the couch, watching a little Chica the chicken puppet on Sprout TV.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YexSlgXS7Dw/T0CB8iWsSEI/AAAAAAAABDo/A1LvMLdvRP0/s1600-h/Day%25252046%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Day 46" border="0" alt="Day 46" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mgJYagJK7PQ/T0CB8ymayRI/AAAAAAAABDw/aQHvO-wZnEA/Day%25252046_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" height="357"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 47: This is where he sits when I take a shower (yes, he's strapped in). It was pushing naptime as I was finishing up in the bathroom, and all of a sudden I realized he was quiet. He decided to just take his nap right then and there.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-feFDHOo6cR0/T0CB9iL-k-I/AAAAAAAABD4/ikcQkdv8xRo/s1600-h/Day%25252047%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Day 47" border="0" alt="Day 47" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xcsmU91gJTE/T0CB-sgMX5I/AAAAAAAABEA/7ofP5ylVpio/Day%25252047_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" height="357"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 48: Feeding Bean has become a ridiculous event. We have to watch Sprout TV, play with a toy, and I have to sneak the bottle in around the toy....</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BsbkEJaYcw4/T0CCAGuDJxI/AAAAAAAABEI/xPOAgyFbW5E/s1600-h/Day%25252048%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Day 48" border="0" alt="Day 48" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SwbWP0vk-1c/T0CCA0-cHsI/AAAAAAAABEQ/aIzY1gMN5tY/Day%25252048_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="367"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 49: Out to eat with all Bean's grandparents and his uncle. First time in a restaurant high chair! :)</font></p> <p><font size="2"></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3lRzppOQapU/T0CCBZxd1yI/AAAAAAAABEY/YBLg65ajmds/s1600-h/Day%25252049%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="Day 49" border="0" alt="Day 49" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AHv7PxU7ySg/T0CCBxa_uuI/AAAAAAAABEo/mmZSa29iqUM/Day%25252049_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="232" height="346"></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><font size="2">I hope you are all having a great weekend! If you are here from Laura’s blog, welcome and thanks for stopping by! As you can see I don’t get to blog too much lately, but I am still looking for guest bloggers if you are interested! I’d like to keep more content on the blog than I am able to post lately, so that my current readers and any new readers still have something to come here for! Please message me or leave a comment if you would like to guest blog for me. It can be about anything you want, I just as that there not be a lot of curse words or anything else offensive (also, no politics – I don’t discuss politics to begin with, and I don’t want it on my blog). Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-600843315630039482012-02-12T00:13:00.000-05:002012-02-12T00:17:54.308-05:00Project 365: Catch Up! (Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6!)<center><a href="http://www.betweenthelinesblog.net/"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6559802933_69c60a55d2_o.png"></a></center> <p><font size="2">Finally back at the computer and linking up with <a href="http://www.betweenthelinesblog.net/">Laura</a>! It’s obviously been way too long as you can see by how many weeks I am behind. In order to shorten this post somewhat, I am going to list my captions for each week, and the photos will be on here below the captions as smaller images. I have been keeping up with it, and posting my photos regularly on Facebook, which I can do from my phone, because yes – all my photos so far have been phone photos. It’s handy for me, and allows me to post to Facebook as soon as I get the chance. We have been pretty preoccupied with Bean here, some health issues that I will explain in another post. So for now, onto the photo catch up!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Week 2:</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 8: Bean's first taste of avocado. He made a sour face with every spoonful!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 9: Enough said. You get the idea. This day can never repeat itself.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 10: The calm before the storm. Happily playing in his around we go.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 11: Very sicky boy. Not usually such a cuddlebug, but he just wanted to be held and close all day.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 12: Still recouperating from his illness, he fell asleep all on his own while laying on the sofa next to me. That never happens. Poor baby.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 13: He still wasn't drinking much, but he certainly demanded his cereal and bananas!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 14: Bean did not want to nap when I tried to get him to take one, so I had him do tummy time instead. He quickly tired of that and took his nap. ;)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1aqCHg5RFAM/TzdK-ZTl0OI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/-bLh87eMApM/s1600-h/Day%2525208%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 8" border="0" alt="Day 8" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nPpPQoq_PY8/TzdK-hmZtwI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/BctD5K2WjRg/Day%2525208_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x99HQjHT62c/TzdK_KDZj0I/AAAAAAAAA3g/A76HCyJfyNA/s1600-h/Day%2525209%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 9" border="0" alt="Day 9" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qr5xYlJkU68/TzdK_oCsGPI/AAAAAAAAA3o/amBnKkZIUXM/Day%2525209_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6iBPjg7wFJ0/TzdLAAUwgvI/AAAAAAAAA3w/-dKrlcMuAFg/s1600-h/Day%25252010%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 10" border="0" alt="Day 10" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-qOIlaoPBFxM/TzdLAf7q3iI/AAAAAAAAA34/okegYvrU9LY/Day%25252010_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Bsxwe2cYAtc/TzdLBJrFyqI/AAAAAAAAA4A/x9DenFLpLgU/s1600-h/Day%25252011%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 11" border="0" alt="Day 11" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f0OeLvCGj1o/TzdLBmi6AuI/AAAAAAAAA4I/wPFkLln1vac/Day%25252011_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mgK0oEaPFa4/TzdLBzSLX6I/AAAAAAAAA4Q/vMb9OsvhOB0/s1600-h/Day%25252012%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 12" border="0" alt="Day 12" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-80Ful3AMklc/TzdLCZcLZjI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/5aUR8iaerdA/Day%25252012_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nwU7jAlLFxw/TzdLC5y1pXI/AAAAAAAAA4g/ccD-k6dthbA/s1600-h/Day%25252013%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 13" border="0" alt="Day 13" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5xg-EFlcqgk/TzdLDCffTcI/AAAAAAAAA4o/U2uixeiUE-c/Day%25252013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JhFsJ2PdTAo/TzdLDcyhTYI/AAAAAAAAA4w/bN6sk2zLhFA/s1600-h/Day%25252014%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 14" border="0" alt="Day 14" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fXDdDymRc5Y/TzdLD3vCEqI/AAAAAAAAA44/ygnKZmBC9a8/Day%25252014_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><font size="2">Week 3:</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 15, part 1: Jasper just had to get under the blankets and get cozy...Day 15, part 2: ...he succeeded!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 16, part 1: We went out clothing shopping and Bean was trying to remove his hood...the wrong direction.... Day 16, part 2: ...he finally got the idea the hood doesn't go that way. So stinkin' cute!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 17: I finally got Bean's laundry folded! Thanks to his 1.5 hour nap, this basket finally got dealt with after sitting unfolded for a good 2-3 weeks! I just kept adding to it and taking out of it.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 18: Late night snack. I should be sleeping, but I was too busy eating these...</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 19: Picked up this outfit for Bean for our professional family pictures session. It's a 6-9 month though, but it was on clearance for $15 (originally $35!), and I had been eyeing it for quite some time. The problem is he is still in 3-6/6 month clothes, so it might be huge on him! *UPDATE – I was able to find it in 3-6, so I returned the 6-9, but now he is gaining weight well again, so I better schedule that session immediately!*</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 20: New sweater for me! There was another one I liked better, but they didn't have my size. I really miss my off white soft cozy sweater I used to wear, so I needed to get a new one!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 21, part 1: Thunderbolts banquet was western theme this year. Bean wore his cow outfit and at the banquet we were given hats and we used the mustaches for something. Couldn't resist trying them on Bean! LOL Day 21, part 2: Me and my cowboy...literally, he has a cow print onesie on and a cow face bib. Thunderbolts Banquet, Wild West Theme.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KFFEasFl4pY/TzdLEXoWVfI/AAAAAAAAA5A/iUTBFppXBZE/s1600-h/Day%25252015%252520%2525281%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 15 (1)" border="0" alt="Day 15 (1)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kx-YdEoaw_0/TzdLFCDiThI/AAAAAAAAA5I/ZAZzfMcWKLo/Day%25252015%252520%2525281%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EI8vZB41VgY/TzdLFvIXmpI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/sj8BiBLwqBc/s1600-h/Day%25252015%252520%2525282%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 15 (2)" border="0" alt="Day 15 (2)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jo63oJW3g80/TzdLGFgizUI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/YAkcQEhaBRQ/Day%25252015%252520%2525282%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ogNxMwgGmFs/TzdLGgQvVAI/AAAAAAAAA5g/ls5X8MwmA0A/s1600-h/Day%25252016%252520%2525281%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 16 (1)" border="0" alt="Day 16 (1)" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hb7OjwEyYN0/TzdLHLXLPeI/AAAAAAAAA5o/VI-WV7fYjJw/Day%25252016%252520%2525281%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HcpOPNiGX3s/TzdLHj8zY-I/AAAAAAAAA5w/IWGK9TYjSRY/s1600-h/Day%25252016%252520%2525282%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 16 (2)" border="0" alt="Day 16 (2)" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y1HiG7EPByI/TzdLIeq5pEI/AAAAAAAAA54/XEDp6YzkQEw/Day%25252016%252520%2525282%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YMW3rTvIsl8/TzdLItKQYtI/AAAAAAAAA6E/ocLPaYTAGkY/s1600-h/Day%25252017%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 17" border="0" alt="Day 17" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zE_8ik-YBPs/TzdLJH2tquI/AAAAAAAAA6M/QSJI0jV34So/Day%25252017_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-17mnbkxmQs0/TzdLJpbRrgI/AAAAAAAAA6U/7OETLGBhMPQ/s1600-h/Day%25252018%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 18" border="0" alt="Day 18" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BttTDgzoOW4/TzdLKBjE-FI/AAAAAAAAA6c/xwSh292q274/Day%25252018_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-5u0Pz-M_b1g/TzdLKc2bcdI/AAAAAAAAA6k/EIvV27FBIwo/s1600-h/Day%25252019%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 19" border="0" alt="Day 19" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TWkjk4fYMkY/TzdLK_ZU8sI/AAAAAAAAA6s/6OviZlYyZYg/Day%25252019_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-p0FX6yh-WfA/TzdLLFdVo9I/AAAAAAAAA60/Ko0mhQjx-3w/s1600-h/Day%25252020%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 20" border="0" alt="Day 20" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-E3PGyxR8qKU/TzdLLl0m5-I/AAAAAAAAA68/Wb9QAemq9Eo/Day%25252020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DAOG5HoeUwg/TzdLMM7o8MI/AAAAAAAAA7E/0SnbbV4Y3j0/s1600-h/Day%25252021%252520%2525281%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 21 (1)" border="0" alt="Day 21 (1)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FNNC7uPsZYM/TzdLMj4fmcI/AAAAAAAAA7M/BT5xZGU6PuA/Day%25252021%252520%2525281%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UD84UhaLsHc/TzdLM9QQQKI/AAAAAAAAA7U/LEetYGC4mgM/s1600-h/Day%25252021%252520%2525282%252529%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 21 (2)" border="0" alt="Day 21 (2)" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JWdlrLWs-JY/TzdLNUTQqCI/AAAAAAAAA7c/EDC5Fb2zFGU/Day%25252021%252520%2525282%252529_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="183" height="244"></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><font size="2">Week 4:</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 22: I did not feel like cooking. We had a late night before with the banquet, and Bean not sleeping well, so I was tired and all I wanted was some comfort food delivered to my doorstep.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 23: Bean is 7 months old today! Time is flying...I feel like I need to start planning his 1st birthday already (because it takes me so long to do things these days...)!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 24: Bean's first real blood test. He didn't cry until the third (!) vial, and then I think he was just tired of being held still. The lab ladies were wonderful with him, singing songs and making him smile.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 25: Bean's new "rattle", LOL. He was having so much fun with this.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 26: I put Bean in his around-we-go while I ate dinner (it was a late dinner), and all of a sudden it got really quiet....this is what I found. This is what happens when he doesn't get a short evening nap.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 27: My aunt having some fun with Bean at my grandmother's house. She definitely always gets a smile and giggle out of him! (Sorry for the poor quality...it was dim, but my flash made them look horrible.)</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 28: See that amount? 5 whole oz! Earlier? He drank 6 oz! The 5 oz is becoming a little more common than it used to be. Some feedings are still small, but hopefully we're getting somewhere now and he will catch up with weight gain! *UPDATE – He hasn’t been drinking these amounts again lately, but like I said, I will do a Bean update post as soon as I can.*</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-j-c6mDX5LgA/TzdLNy0-bPI/AAAAAAAAA7k/ZW3uIvduXQk/s1600-h/Day%25252022%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 22" border="0" alt="Day 22" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yQAh82IX8dU/TzdLOI6vYkI/AAAAAAAAA7s/0Zw5Hyoe7ac/Day%25252022_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GsKRb3zpw58/TzdLOupI4AI/AAAAAAAAA70/Sbjva_3XU3o/s1600-h/Day%25252023%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 23" border="0" alt="Day 23" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-85nHlAolcWk/TzdLPMAX6MI/AAAAAAAAA78/sK2vtjFsoDk/Day%25252023_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ScgFKsMgB6A/TzdLPed86lI/AAAAAAAAA8E/2xVy3kLqGeY/s1600-h/Day%25252024%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 24" border="0" alt="Day 24" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-b36oVuXVdho/TzdLPu_tSyI/AAAAAAAAA8M/CHVZwfjPi28/Day%25252024_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2yhjDUBvkao/TzdLQANlu7I/AAAAAAAAA8U/Dkm07_Bbj8A/s1600-h/Day%25252025%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 25" border="0" alt="Day 25" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-N3GCWAk4FZ4/TzdLQnR-J-I/AAAAAAAAA8c/ZwKdYevh4Wg/Day%25252025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XVaaN1GYf5s/TzdLQzDJJEI/AAAAAAAAA8k/W0FAXpx7JS4/s1600-h/Day%25252026%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 26" border="0" alt="Day 26" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-xSamNcznK6o/TzdLRQ2xmNI/AAAAAAAAA8s/NHAewBqtZfo/Day%25252026_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RJyBUWPawxg/TzdLRp8DNZI/AAAAAAAAA80/nXeLQ-pCwVs/s1600-h/Day%25252027%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 27" border="0" alt="Day 27" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sGl3u0RPHyQ/TzdLR70OcCI/AAAAAAAAA88/h79MgYnP5Xk/Day%25252027_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-d254Egrrqs4/TzdLSXyaLfI/AAAAAAAAA9E/rzaLKoVSqdg/s1600-h/Day%25252028%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 28" border="0" alt="Day 28" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_v0td63wyEc/TzdLShw3IJI/AAAAAAAAA9M/QjhrW0uFtHU/Day%25252028_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><font size="2">Week 5:</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 29: Finally had to change my Scentsy scent. Hazelnut Latte finally lost its strength, now melting Sticky Cinnamon Bun and I LOVE it!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 30: Bean's appointment with the GI specialist was today. We have to give him stronger medicine, switch to all formula and concentrate it a little more, hence the pump - I will no longer be needing it very soon, and I'm kind of happy about that because it will free up some time for me.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 31: A perfect demonstration of just how fat and lazy Jasper is....he can't even sit up/stand to drink his water!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 32: I don't know what was up with him tonight, but he had his tongue sticking out all night long!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 33: I guess officially this was taken on day 34, but it's my photo for this day. Someday I'll start getting to bed before this time...</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 34: The in-laws came for the weekend and brought these donuts from Dunkin. Big mistake...now I want them all the time!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 35: With the in-laws here I was finally able to catch up on laundry. My linen closet hasn't been this full of clean towels in months!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hQ4f006r-ns/TzdLSzMAn-I/AAAAAAAAA9U/xKuedExe2KM/s1600-h/Day%25252029%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 29" border="0" alt="Day 29" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P5mc2NeSIa4/TzdLTShSWZI/AAAAAAAAA9c/9o26Q2rEDxU/Day%25252029_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pJI0bFXYZvM/TzdLTi4n1FI/AAAAAAAAA9k/efWwtPynKIc/s1600-h/Day%25252030%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 30" border="0" alt="Day 30" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-_Es0Iu7NmvY/TzdLT1WBl3I/AAAAAAAAA9s/aoU2GDhRt84/Day%25252030_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FesmfEZAbUA/TzdLUGYj0xI/AAAAAAAAA90/mM9Mx8OEZEw/s1600-h/Day%25252031%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 31" border="0" alt="Day 31" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VkAuPFxdQNU/TzdLUT6C3cI/AAAAAAAAA98/6PZTJzRR8q8/Day%25252031_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hVQS1wdMl3Y/TzdLU57a8BI/AAAAAAAAA-E/TngcSttKK5I/s1600-h/Day%25252032%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 32" border="0" alt="Day 32" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-V5LE8NQTByM/TzdLVIZoz6I/AAAAAAAAA-M/UHV2SPT6igM/Day%25252032_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mid8NBPKL44/TzdLVRcUMeI/AAAAAAAAA-U/tIcRSWS1VwQ/s1600-h/Day%25252033%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 33" border="0" alt="Day 33" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PHKA74wPsr8/TzdLV38ZyRI/AAAAAAAAA-c/r0TzJKwuGiY/Day%25252033_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UM7d8SSZe5U/TzdLWQ770XI/AAAAAAAAA-k/otJzRX7akCw/s1600-h/Day%25252034%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 34" border="0" alt="Day 34" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KQOzpCUuRvI/TzdLWty1KRI/AAAAAAAAA-s/ze_aWexlf_c/Day%25252034_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xg_6LfMqIw8/TzdLW_m6HlI/AAAAAAAAA-0/akl7cK1UO9w/s1600-h/Day%25252035%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 35" border="0" alt="Day 35" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ADjmEZkFkIA/TzdLYTY9gwI/AAAAAAAAA_A/r8la8oINy0c/Day%25252035_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><font size="2">And finally…week 6!:</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 36: Our very own "Mr. Thomas". :) (Watch Chronicles of Narnia if you don’t know what I mean…)</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 37: Bath night for Bean! First time in his little ducky robe. :)</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 38: Bean woke up from his nap in the swing, but was still tired, so he decided to continue his nap on me. He pretty much never naps on me anymore, so even though it's not ideal, the snuggles were nice. :)</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 39: He was really pushing up on his arms this morning...now if we could just get the back half going, we'd have a mobile baby!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 40: He really wanted those socks! Launched himself forward from his daddy's lap!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 41: He was on his back when I left him on there to go put away a few dishes. This is what I came back to - somehow we keep missing him roll back to belly! Third time now!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 42: Bean, Daddy, and Grover hung out a lot today. I got some shopping done. (Really, Bean was making lip smacking faces at Hubby whenever he took a bite of his sandwich...I tried capturing that, but the little stinker wouldn't do it for the camera!)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4CmHv1afXo4/TzdLZKrBUuI/AAAAAAAAA_I/FtFETD5-OKU/s1600-h/Day%25252036%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 36" border="0" alt="Day 36" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Xlf_VkxvWPM/TzdLZv1Z0RI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/Hudp5sHF8vg/Day%25252036_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-75s3AQB05yQ/TzdLaf-_lzI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/ItaJURbFUTk/s1600-h/Day%25252037%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 37" border="0" alt="Day 37" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pY9K2QGGrCM/TzdLbPMAdHI/AAAAAAAAA_k/hYqPzBt7OP0/Day%25252037_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oTvBeUZpV9Y/TzdLbTfN5RI/AAAAAAAAA_o/lUqSUwMIIHM/s1600-h/Day%25252038%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 38" border="0" alt="Day 38" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lnU2AfeE6EQ/TzdLb8CJpvI/AAAAAAAAA_0/_XHri3_8N0Q/Day%25252038_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="164"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pL5rgQPyt2M/TzdLcWZYvLI/AAAAAAAAA_8/c5Lxl2rTmVw/s1600-h/Day%25252039%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 39" border="0" alt="Day 39" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uFdkcqw0vgQ/TzdLc7ZkUgI/AAAAAAAABAE/02TYqLRJ8qk/Day%25252039_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ET4tDYPHMpg/TzdLdPm8UFI/AAAAAAAABAM/ee5VdoapXb8/s1600-h/Day%25252040%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 40" border="0" alt="Day 40" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Jq8H6VUpkuo/TzdLdb_RCMI/AAAAAAAABAU/L_-6lgOSMNE/Day%25252040_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--LG33UOQamU/TzdLd0_55sI/AAAAAAAABAc/361O6_LGGK4/s1600-h/Day%25252041%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 41" border="0" alt="Day 41" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-grnP4ePe_VM/TzdLebU9CGI/AAAAAAAABAk/AGcvNQ6GGco/Day%25252041_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-m-IvSg84Bnw/TzdLfYFYniI/AAAAAAAABAs/tfcowJfurJM/s1600-h/Day%25252042%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="Day 42" border="0" alt="Day 42" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-TG5PsK_7r8Y/TzdLf3xTg9I/AAAAAAAABA0/BPkPbqfxeTw/Day%25252042_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><font size="2">So, now that I’m all caught up, sorry for the long post! Hopefully I will be able to get on the computer a little more and participate in this more on a weekly basis instead of a monthly basis. If you are here from the link up, thanks for stopping by! Leave me a comment and let me know so I can be sure to check out your blog as well. Also, thanks for looking at/reading the whole post! Hope everyone has a happy Sunday and a great week ahead!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-22946565473937892652012-01-08T22:32:00.001-05:002012-01-08T22:33:30.492-05:00Project 365: Week 1<center><a href="http://www.betweenthelinesblog.net/"><img border="0" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6559802933_69c60a55d2_o.png"></a></center> <p><font size="2">I decided to participate in this project this year, with a new addition to the family and the fact that <a href="http://www.betweenthelinesblog.net/">Laura</a> created this link up for it! I figured it would give me a reason to blog at least once a week, since I have been <strike>slacking</strike> too busy to blog as much as I’d like these days. Please forgive the quality of my photos. I do own a nice camera, but all of these pictures were taken with my phone, because that’s what I had handy. I will take photos with whatever I can as the year goes on. Maybe with my camera, maybe with my phone.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Day 1: New Years Day. I'm not ready for Christmas season to be over and to have to take this down. (It’s still up, along with everything else. <strike>I still don’t want to</strike> I have been too busy to deal with it.)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LtMQtzFvoig/Twpfrw6iBwI/AAAAAAAAA1U/W9UaN0SLw60/s1600-h/IMAG0049%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMAG0049" border="0" alt="IMAG0049" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6XN2IZmGqMA/TwpfsflrkAI/AAAAAAAAA1c/elJC3xHzSM8/IMAG0049_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" height="347"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 2: This is the Man of the House.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-94IClvfmPsY/TwpfsiRwY2I/AAAAAAAAA1k/sp81VU6ajjM/s1600-h/IMAG0051%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMAG0051" border="0" alt="IMAG0051" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VGx-8_VUGHo/Twpfs2-WCAI/AAAAAAAAA1s/lFpuGQXDgng/IMAG0051_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="352"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 3: There was apparently some snow in our county. At my house, this was the extent of the snow we saw.</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-110H1GdDgTI/TwpftMpuLaI/AAAAAAAAA10/SQhA9WzAR3w/s1600-h/IMAG0052%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMAG0052" border="0" alt="IMAG0052" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f7Xqidp3LWM/TwpftcBm7OI/AAAAAAAAA18/s_f4vx1pDWE/IMAG0052_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="238" height="355"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 4: Visit to the dermatologist. I dread going there more than the dentist now I think. At least I got this out of it to help with my eczema! (a few applications now, and the patches aren’t gone, but they certainly feel better! Now if only Bean could use this…his poor arms and back are all splotchy with it too…)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-iBQYCg5xgQ0/TwpftpHy70I/AAAAAAAAA2E/WOqn8HdVtJI/s1600-h/IMAG0061%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMAG0061" border="0" alt="IMAG0061" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-DiFraGOozeY/Twpft6wceTI/AAAAAAAAA2M/fe1X91_NmyY/IMAG0061_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="236" height="352"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 5: I made avocado for Bean with my baby bullet. Can't wait to see the face he makes when he tries that! :)</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nzz52j1eiI8/TwpfuDHGTnI/AAAAAAAAA2U/X6t81fP2lQU/s1600-h/IMAG0053%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMAG0053" border="0" alt="IMAG0053" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KEWRSdHyFQk/TwpfuZ5uE9I/AAAAAAAAA2c/0nzZgdv01jU/IMAG0053_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="237" height="353"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 6: My first home cooked meal at least for a week. It's been crazy with the holidays and taking care of Bean with Hubby working at night too. Cheese tortellini with three cheese pasta sauce, salad, and garlic bread. All easy, and dinner was made as quickly as it took to boil water and cook the pasta, but a meal at home that wasn’t fast food nontheless!</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NSjiYNwv4NI/TwpfulxjGLI/AAAAAAAAA2k/6FpgDo_zFVA/s1600-h/IMAG0055%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMAG0055" border="0" alt="IMAG0055" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zgI4wl7KFLY/TwpfvET9K4I/AAAAAAAAA2s/Yywm0as4MqM/IMAG0055_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="237" height="354"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">Day 7: Just awake after a 1 hour and 15 minute nap. This hardly ever happens as 30 minutes is usually his nap length. He may have slept longer if my mom hadn't called and woke him up. (He did it again today! Just shy of a 2 hour nap today! I don’t know if this little cold he has going is doing it or what, but this new “schedule” was nice. I don’t expect it to stay, but one can dream, right?)</font></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mIcVLpOBTO4/TwpfvfD0RWI/AAAAAAAAA20/9r_PdZhllUk/s1600-h/IMAG0059%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMAG0059" border="0" alt="IMAG0059" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uWrmKWq9R-E/TwpfvmZM5GI/AAAAAAAAA28/go6Rv8aY0b0/IMAG0059_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="241" height="360"></a> </p> <p><font size="2">If you’re here from the link up, thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoy my little blog here and the posts I get to write as often as I can. I’m looking forward to participating in this every week! </font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-91291205115924776942012-01-06T00:02:00.001-05:002012-01-06T00:02:04.850-05:006 months old! (A little late…)<p><font size="2">Bean is now 6 months old! I’m late with this post, so he’s actually 6 months and 13 days today. He hit the 6 month mark on Dec, 23rd. We saw the pediatrician on the 26th, and these were his stats as of that visit:</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">Weight: 14 lb. 3 oz., 4th percentile</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">Length: 26 inches, 25th percentile</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">He has always been right around the 25th percentile for length and weight, but as you can see he has dropped off his curve. The pediatrician guided us on how to increase his solids, and at my decision, we have started bottle feeding more and mixing my milk with formula. He’s currently at half and half, but we will be working towards all formula over the next couple week. Breastfeeding was never easy for me at the start, and now he needs more than what I have been able to produce. He also has not wanted to nurse as well lately either, and while I don’t think he’s trying to wean himself, there’s definitely something going on, and feeding him is of the utmost importance, so formula is making it’s way into his diet.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">I never did a 5 month post, mainly because I was very busy with him, and we didn’t have stats for him at 5 months. We can weigh him at home on the Wii, but those measurements are way off from the pediatricians, so they’re not reliable for anything other than how much he has gained, not his current actual weight. When he was 4 months old, we started solids. We began with rice cereal, and he eats that no problem. We tried oatmeal as well, but it just seems that he spits up more after eating that. He loves squash and sweet potatoes, and will eat store bought green beans now (but gagged on the ones I made), and tolerates carrots. We just tried bananas today, which he made faces at, and his next new food will be avocado. I also have zucchini made for him, and I have peas waiting to be made and store bought peaches to try. We also bought barley cereal to try at some point as well too.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Bean had his first ear infection about 2 weeks ago, and I’m wondering if he’s starting to develop one again today. We’re not having a great day today, and I’m wondering if that’s the reason. Hopefully he doesn’t take after his mommy! I had a lot of ear infections when I was little.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">He does not sleep through the night yet. Or at least what I would consider sleeping through the night. He still wakes up at least once for a feeding, sometimes twice, but there are also other wake ups in there as well when I have to go give him his pacifier or rock him back to sleep. Bedtime is between 9:15-10pm and he usually wakes up for the day between 8:45-9:30am. He still only naps for 30 minutes at a time, and starts to get cranky if he’s awake for much more than 2 hours at a time. Once in a great blue moon we get a 1 hour nap from him. Problem is, we never know when that’s going to happen, and then we don’t really take advantage of it.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">We have entered the separation anxiety stage as well. Whenever he sees one of us leave the room, he starts to wail. My parents tried babysitting one afternoon so Hubby and I could go Christmas shopping, and apparently he was inconsolable for quite some time. It’s sweet that he loves us so much and relies on us so much, but at the same time, it’s difficult to get anything done or leave him alone to play a few minutes or leave him with “babysitters”.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Two teeth have broken through on the bottom, but aren’t quite fully emerged yet. The first one cut through shortly after 4 months, and the second one followed at around 5 months. He’s been exceptionally drooly again, so I keep checking for more that might be cutting through.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">He absolutely loves his taggie blankets (any tag he can find, really), his new big playmat, and his favorite new toys from Christmas seem to be the steering wheel and the bumble bee. He likes to listen to us read to him, and tries to “help” turn the pages.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">His newest things? Growling, sticking his tongue out and blowing raspberries and kisses. My favorite thing, of course, is the kisses. It’s not a true kiss yet, as he just plants his mouth on your cheek or chin, but he does it after you ask him for “kisses”. He even goes “mmm” when he does it sometimes, because I sometimes give him a big “muah” sound when I kiss his cheek. The growling and raspberries are sometimes funny, not so much when you’re trying to feed him and he has a mouth full of food though. He’s also able to sit up on his own for longer now. We still are there to support him, since he sometimes topples over yet, but he’s getting so good at it! He has finally rolled belly to back a few times, but going the other way he only makes it onto his side. Which speaking of, he is definitely a side sleeper now. Always rolling to his side. I think he sleeps better that way a lot of times. We don’t seem to be anywhere near crawling yet though, since he is still not very fond of tummy time.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Here are his 6 month photos:</font></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sf_ZCR23N5c/TwaAF2CXWXI/AAAAAAAAAwU/ud-2yBp4shI/s1600-h/DSCF0625%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0625" border="0" alt="DSCF0625" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-k0k5A1xOngc/TwaAGeL_-lI/AAAAAAAAAwc/EBK6uxgYlDM/DSCF0625_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-INJbJv4HjD0/TwaAHJocSXI/AAAAAAAAAwk/Gf3fe0PLe9k/s1600-h/DSCF0626%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0626" border="0" alt="DSCF0626" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sNIdsEmBwOg/TwaAHhIVesI/AAAAAAAAAws/PIaoMRG-jHk/DSCF0626_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-21tGTQ-MniI/TwaAH9HsoJI/AAAAAAAAAw0/pSYSEHTZMvA/s1600-h/DSCF0627%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0627" border="0" alt="DSCF0627" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-97vz-TtG04Y/TwaAIZ1nsNI/AAAAAAAAAw8/B-HKESaDO2s/DSCF0627_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-afohMyG83b4/TwaAIj4yVII/AAAAAAAAAxE/3myCQpNM7-M/s1600-h/DSCF0629%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0629" border="0" alt="DSCF0629" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W5ERfa5kOXM/TwaAJFXuloI/AAAAAAAAAxM/YtGolv0RhNI/DSCF0629_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SjN_3CSOmQw/TwaAJWcMcqI/AAAAAAAAAxU/xyeNVghnF3o/s1600-h/DSCF0632%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0632" border="0" alt="DSCF0632" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TW2yLt5EKyE/TwaAJocgkBI/AAAAAAAAAxc/BbMV0-NcfMQ/DSCF0632_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SAlZPplRE9Q/TwaAKFhJiPI/AAAAAAAAAxg/pZPF3_vqMfM/s1600-h/DSCF0633%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0633" border="0" alt="DSCF0633" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Z_9oVl5MMAc/TwaAKUpsEcI/AAAAAAAAAxo/52tx5YOvAJI/DSCF0633_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-acwuG6XPx5E/TwaAK00ogcI/AAAAAAAAAxw/zyY-S2i7j0M/s1600-h/DSCF0634%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0634" border="0" alt="DSCF0634" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-f1f7yi8N-AY/TwaALXo47BI/AAAAAAAAAx4/kbZRk9nXqvE/DSCF0634_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-EZV0Klzw6ew/TwaALobX0hI/AAAAAAAAAyA/keso2FC_j5U/s1600-h/DSCF0635%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0635" border="0" alt="DSCF0635" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-q-XCRMHo9jk/TwaAL2CPoRI/AAAAAAAAAyI/yClGSRCHuk8/DSCF0635_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> </p> <p align="center"><font size="2">(We lost the pants because he was just too interested in trying to rip off Santa’s puff ball from his hat.)</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">And to compare the last 6 months, here are his birth, 4 week, 8 week, 3 month, 4 month, 5 month and 6 month photos:</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-sqCBA7qX0v4/TwaAMdsZUzI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/peYjp5V734E/s1600-h/at%252520hospital%2525202%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="at hospital 2" border="0" alt="at hospital 2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yw3oYGDwMz0/TwaAMmIuopI/AAAAAAAAAyY/znHZZbMz2UU/at%252520hospital%2525202_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="183"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-iOfBOcSJZkE/TwaANf350WI/AAAAAAAAAyk/3vjHd9OzsFM/s1600-h/4%252520weeks%252520old%252520-%2525203%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="4 weeks old - 3" border="0" alt="4 weeks old - 3" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HVNI78dWOkY/TwaAN1dfn4I/AAAAAAAAAys/TADTeLTgaZ4/4%252520weeks%252520old%252520-%2525203_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-odWUOghpJl4/TwaAOaDIgpI/AAAAAAAAAy0/K6zKk4ynag8/s1600-h/8%252520weeks%252520old%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="8 weeks old" border="0" alt="8 weeks old" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lfxR-wrdXms/TwaAOlVkhAI/AAAAAAAAAy8/o9rKj69hyTo/8%252520weeks%252520old_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-n0tMrvXKwYM/TwaAO0fMfaI/AAAAAAAAAzE/kEuHxvvskas/s1600-h/DSCF0416%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0416" border="0" alt="DSCF0416" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-M4Y0S1DdN9A/TwaAPEJlMSI/AAAAAAAAAzM/k-tZmuERv7Q/DSCF0416_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1fnZTqYOA2E/TwaAQMsBssI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/qJymjAX3hrc/s1600-h/DSCF0454%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0454" border="0" alt="DSCF0454" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-hgvOnHWfQ3Y/TwaAQu-ejMI/AAAAAAAAAzY/LJmtLfd30PQ/DSCF0454_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ekJ4i6oKF80/TwaAQ5YBAWI/AAAAAAAAAzg/zMO4HDOwxWY/s1600-h/DSCF0504%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0504" border="0" alt="DSCF0504" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SQWt6gueEVM/TwaARauunMI/AAAAAAAAAzo/gBQsOHFqn64/DSCF0504_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-flAKIbY-__A/TwaARqmRAaI/AAAAAAAAAzw/Hl57DzqEB-A/s1600-h/DSCF0632%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0632" border="0" alt="DSCF0632" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-yzGlrnExhWg/TwaASDlFOuI/AAAAAAAAAz4/tFAbUDpSf9I/DSCF0632_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a> </font></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>If you notice, he also had his first hair trim already! And since I didn’t get to post this before, here is us celebrating New Year’s Eve:</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bwQIqpxv-Rc/TwaASSr0G_I/AAAAAAAAA0A/0jFPgFkcxlY/s1600-h/IMAG0043%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="IMAG0043" border="0" alt="IMAG0043" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZXb_F5ijBu0/TwaASzpGGQI/AAAAAAAAA0I/_4IxwTFEiuo/IMAG0043_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="288" height="430"></a> <font size="2">Looking forward to what the next 6 months has to bring!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-87674607256156442582012-01-04T10:36:00.001-05:002012-01-04T10:38:08.293-05:00Wordless Wednesday<div><p>So sweet.</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKjaLV0nwb39Jc1gy_1pZVQSAcQE19GK_RV_mVTKO1VfoYjGWG-lGfnK3TSFlGfPQwdt-GnoLh1l_WYDWcErPeUlPPDncRsPw-W7OwTHv4jEVCuu2uNZlmzvrgHnT_4xpTsAEQgIwF0o/' /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-76744055459711022652011-12-31T01:51:00.001-05:002011-12-31T01:51:38.411-05:00Baby’s First Christmas!<a href="http://www.frommrstomama.com/" target="_blank" border="0"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UGEHbbkgSrWVKcsMi50s9PowSAPBp-wjnfw5g-vttxqsCAj8YIpHuUazb3BTfbbEO8rwLswokt39B5MlhYjcWH8DKeYgJNT5ksrQE3tBXmHez0ysO91BL28OS3m9WEy4PmYdEt_rKq8/s1600/christmas.png"></a> <p><font size="2">I’m kind of late for this link up, so I think it’s closed now, but I’m doing it anyway! It’s been a busy week, and I didn’t get on the computer much. I have been going to bed way too late, and even now it’s 12:15am, but I am posting this, even though I should be sleeping. This will also be a very photo heavy post!</font></p> <p><font size="2">I’ll start by talking about our Christmas weekend, then onto the pictures! On Christmas Eve, we always go to church and then head over to my parents neighbor, who is also the mother-in-law to my mom’s second cousin (follow that?), to eat, socialize and exchange gifts. We skipped church this year (bad Christians, I know) because we had to go to the neighbor’s earlier than usual so we could still get Bean home at a reasonable time for bed. Hubby’s family was also coming that evening, so we had to get home to them as well. On Christmas Day, we always go to eat at a local restaurant that serves a Christmas Day buffet, and my grandmother kindly pays for everyone’s meal. We eat yummy food until we’re so stuffed we can’t move, and then usually we would head to her house to exchange gifts. Another change in plans this year – since my in-laws were here, we couldn’t all go to my grandmother’s place due to space, so everyone came back to our house for the afternoon to open presents. Bean loved ripping the wrapping paper! He also wanted to eat it, but everything goes into his mouth these days! And as for the gifts? He’s not spoiled much, no sir… ;) </font></p> <p><font size="2">Here’s a recap of our holiday season through photos:</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9W654rBpvBc/Tv6wrATsFoI/AAAAAAAAAq8/LNV4uhWXPi4/s1600-h/2011_12100143%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="2011_12100143" border="0" alt="2011_12100143" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VLc_N8wdhuY/Tv6wrb9FvcI/AAAAAAAAArE/_rnEzAIu0EE/2011_12100143_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="272" height="362"></a> <font size="2">Bean’s very first meeting with Santa! He didn’t cry or get upset at all. He likes everyone! :)</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-km_eAFZDUto/Tv6wtuRKf8I/AAAAAAAAArM/TpYuJKO_PyU/s1600-h/DSCF0524%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px" title="DSCF0524" border="0" alt="DSCF0524" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5CU-eBwMXjY/Tv6wt9qsUoI/AAAAAAAAArU/V4r6EHApTfo/DSCF0524_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="431" height="324"></a> </p> <p></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">Shots from our Christmas card photo shoots:</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CyOeqKK8Ri0/Tv6wuFA6zaI/AAAAAAAAArc/jH7bcs9BXDc/s1600-h/DSCF0594%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCF0594" border="0" alt="DSCF0594" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DtdfM80tOJw/Tv6wuro8mzI/AAAAAAAAArk/E1oB4fE584E/DSCF0594_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="281" height="373"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-evuM0KH_Q60/Tv6wu-QFWXI/AAAAAAAAArs/85XGnRLMM0Y/s1600-h/DSCF0597%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCF0597" border="0" alt="DSCF0597" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0yJzNB2NiQ4/Tv6wxVqn7SI/AAAAAAAAAr0/8ne7rg-GiNA/DSCF0597_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="374"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zX11tFspc3o/Tv6wxi6scTI/AAAAAAAAAr8/-gaDyEhkPDg/s1600-h/DSCF0588%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0588" border="0" alt="DSCF0588" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-j9ICAs8Sz2E/Tv6wx7d71fI/AAAAAAAAAsE/aglZWQ2YSJs/DSCF0588_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="282" height="374"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2S3gip7j7o4/Tv6wyHH_-dI/AAAAAAAAAsM/0zrODKVk77Q/s1600-h/DSCF0601%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0601" border="0" alt="DSCF0601" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iy8_2ST01uU/Tv6wyr9H9bI/AAAAAAAAAsU/Qrw8KWB3uiA/DSCF0601_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="283" height="376"></a> <font size="2">With some outtakes:</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9vAK9LQc8lM/Tv6wy2aSPoI/AAAAAAAAAsY/UuXa0BSt2zQ/s1600-h/DSCF0592%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0592" border="0" alt="DSCF0592" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uva4nwwuIHw/Tv6w0szo3MI/AAAAAAAAAsk/Y3GN92Zi054/DSCF0592_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" height="309"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5NlFWtdNrjk/Tv6w0w7cjII/AAAAAAAAAss/_qmgVgbN-ts/s1600-h/DSCF0593%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0593" border="0" alt="DSCF0593" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rQzaHFwyms4/Tv6w1NTEWyI/AAAAAAAAAs0/E5JM1Clt6_E/DSCF0593_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="228" height="303"></a> “<font size="2">Mom, what are these things on my feet!?”</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Bean’s second meeting with an old-fashioned Santa (The baton group I teach for had a fundraiser night at a local Friendly’s, so we also offered pictures with Santa – so please excuse the crane game in the background, it was a small place with nowhere else to put Santa):</font></p> <p align="left"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-j_JX8AttMbQ/Tv6w1b1g2AI/AAAAAAAAAs8/_MInaQTs2zk/s1600-h/Santa%252520Edited%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Santa Edited" border="0" alt="Santa Edited" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UDY1IXrvWhE/Tv6w1mfmmjI/AAAAAAAAAtE/zvIiGyDyP_A/Santa%252520Edited_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="223" height="332"></a> <a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LFFRqLAxfNI/Tv6w1_zrYFI/AAAAAAAAAtM/RrpcZ3d1iIk/s1600-h/Santa%252520Edited%2525202%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="Santa Edited 2" border="0" alt="Santa Edited 2" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-F6_dOwZ3i3U/Tv6w2P7YrbI/AAAAAAAAAtU/waB5y5Ar5Qk/Santa%252520Edited%2525202_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="219" height="327"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TVhgf0yFUbA/Tv6w2igctLI/AAAAAAAAAtc/6h4KONLsm-0/s1600-h/DSCF0621%25255B2%25255D.jpg"></a> </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TVhgf0yFUbA/Tv6w2igctLI/AAAAAAAAAtk/2hhsLgd7fN8/s1600-h/DSCF0621%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0621" border="0" alt="DSCF0621" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-orPWYV6L9aE/Tv6w3SjZjHI/AAAAAAAAAto/2Bdsc1M0xOo/DSCF0621_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="318" height="240"></a></p> <p> </p> <p><font size="2">Christmas Day:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-K4r37v413SI/Tv6w3ga_2dI/AAAAAAAAAtw/CyqEBL7VeDo/s1600-h/DSCF0639%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px" title="DSCF0639" border="0" alt="DSCF0639" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MBEq4YmwZp4/Tv6w4Syo6NI/AAAAAAAAAt4/lGeia2S2ebc/DSCF0639_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="245" height="325"></a> </p> <p>Bean’s stocking – it will be personalized with his name, and a few embellishments added, but I didn’t have time to do it before Christmas, so I will have to get it done before it gets put away. We plan to actually use the letter to Santa pocket when he is older. We will get him to put his letter in there early, and then we will buy an Elf on the Shelf, and tell him that the Elf will take the letter to Santa when he reports back, that way we can see his letter early, and he knows where it disappeared to.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_RC86ZCkDCU/Tv6w4hnAS1I/AAAAAAAAAuA/Ie2CpPcUkOE/s1600-h/DSCF0638%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0638" border="0" alt="DSCF0638" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-c30DaNA9kNU/Tv6w4yPvLCI/AAAAAAAAAuI/m5ukEFMhqmY/DSCF0638_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="363" height="273"></a> <font size="2">This picture does not do justice to the amount of presents there were.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ptaphcIJ9js/Tv6w640J_vI/AAAAAAAAAuY/lc7boLmCRQM/s1600-h/DSCF0641%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0641" border="0" alt="DSCF0641" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-dAFyg04_gg0/Tv6w7KMqZlI/AAAAAAAAAug/BoEWKWM-pEc/DSCF0641_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="259" height="344"></a> <font size="2">Bean wearing mommy’s Santa hat.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NAUYntfTOlA/Tv6w7u_2YFI/AAAAAAAAAuo/yAZ0hUtqgX4/s1600-h/DSCF0648%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0648" border="0" alt="DSCF0648" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oGnec3CAnaM/Tv6w7zpNnoI/AAAAAAAAAuw/237M-zgDh2s/DSCF0648_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="251" height="333"></a> <a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_5Zi5z8pMbY/Tv6w8MPXBrI/AAAAAAAAAu4/sB_WaevqnUY/s1600-h/DSCF0650%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0650" border="0" alt="DSCF0650" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fyU5b099B2k/Tv6w8hcPuEI/AAAAAAAAAvA/8p7O5Samq2E/DSCF0650_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="246" height="327"></a>“<font size="2">Oh boy, I’m rich!” (This was one of 2 $50 bills. We think we are going to create an ING savings account for him and deposit this money.)</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-A5bR-pTk1V8/Tv6w88b--BI/AAAAAAAAAvI/QkGzvgwRk8k/s1600-h/DSCF0659%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0659" border="0" alt="DSCF0659" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fMTqBOhHbhE/Tv6w9EIjMdI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/YVHslHsidYE/DSCF0659_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" height="309"></a> <font size="2">Riding his new rocking horse from my aunt. One of his bigger gifts this year.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">The gifts:</font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; width: 470px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:b80c0148-c1f6-41c7-8951-e290a1b80582" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><a style="border:0px" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=f4abd9798f85b2cf&page=browse&resid=F4ABD9798F85B2CF!107&type=5"><img style="border:0px" alt="View Christmas Gifts 2011" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-bNZLm-eYRZ4/Tv6w9j-pfGI/AAAAAAAAAvY/DWvmZYlGfQw/InlineRepresentation857699cd-cc6e-45de-af12-8e93d7cc783b%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a><div style="width:470px;text-align:right;" ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=f4abd9798f85b2cf&page=browse&resid=F4ABD9798F85B2CF!107&type=5">View Full Album</a></div></div> <p align="center"><font size="2">He got a few books, some clothes, the very cute bear paw mittens, and toys consisting of the rocking horse, a V-Tech laptop, V-Tech steering wheel, V-Tech monkey jungle, V-Tech nursery rhyme “book”, ball poppin’ dino, Tumble Fun Park, Crawl Along Snail, an Eeyore rattle (obviously my choice), a stuffed Grover (because Hubby likes him best), his very own baby smart phone, a taggie blanket, some teethers, the bumble bee, a Hess truck and race car, a fire truck ornament, and not shown here is a wooden wagon from my mom. Along with the $100! See? Not really spoiled… ;)</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Hubby and I received restaurant gift cards to Texas Roadhouse, Olive Garden/Red Lobster, and Outback. We also received cash, and a few baby’s first Christmas ornaments. He received a batman computer game from his brother, the new Zelda Wii game and some underwear from me, a Roku 2 for our bedroom from me and my parents, a programmable thermostat from my parents, and I received a baby bullet system from my in-laws (can’t wait to try it out!), a cell phone case and car charger from my parents, and of course the cell phone itself and Harry Potter DVD collection from Hubby that I got earlier this month.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">It was a very nice Christmas, and I’m kind of sad that it’s over. From here on it’s just dreary, drab winter that lasts way too long. But I will always remember Bean’s first Christmas! :)</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">And here’s my little family (minus the cats, who got a stuffed sushi tray for Christmas):</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-GGWDHnXSV00/Tv6w961RMhI/AAAAAAAAAvg/iY6F3MYmGss/s1600-h/DSCF0674%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-right-width: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto" title="DSCF0674" border="0" alt="DSCF0674" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-j23ewqePtQQ/Tv6w-cnTUYI/AAAAAAAAAvo/DSClD4XKHqQ/DSCF0674_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="422" height="318"></a> <font size="2">Hope you all have a safe and Happy New Year! Bean’s 6 month post coming next – half a year old already!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-75516940666500306342011-12-21T20:58:00.001-05:002011-12-21T20:58:53.281-05:00Wordless Wednesday<div><p>Sleepy baby (2 words...)</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTx6GMZfqtTl60pUOc2g67wOFZ_v_J1Q0xalMSbwQTqYYmCU5s0RKf4RYtQZ6TXsRio6EIGx7x7oqcxmJPS3k4nwrzHlrarEOlDkGmGP1v2OsvI4kNHYaZnjhhoUkyZfuEDe2VR60xSnk/' /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-53093717825120386052011-12-20T08:00:00.000-05:002011-12-20T08:00:01.839-05:00Holiday Traditions<a href="http://www.frommrstomama.com/" target="_blank" border="0"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UGEHbbkgSrWVKcsMi50s9PowSAPBp-wjnfw5g-vttxqsCAj8YIpHuUazb3BTfbbEO8rwLswokt39B5MlhYjcWH8DKeYgJNT5ksrQE3tBXmHez0ysO91BL28OS3m9WEy4PmYdEt_rKq8/s1600/christmas.png"></a> <p align="center"><font size="2">Third post in the link up series! This week’s post is about holiday traditions that we have or plan to start. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">1. We always put up the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving day, or at least by the end of the weekend. This started when Hubby and I lived at the apartment in NJ. We do use a fake tree, and we didn’t really have the storage space for it there, so my parents would bring it and all the decorations with them on Thanksgiving since that was the only time they would be coming to us before the holiday and would have a way to transport all the stuff there. So, now we still do that even in our house.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">2. I always make a ton of cookies for people. I usually end up staying up until 4am multiple nights to get them all done. I don’t think that will be happening this year, but I am having a cookie exchange party with some friends, so maybe we can make that an annual tradition.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">3. On Christmas day we always get up, open presents here at home, then meet my family at a restaurant for lunch. After that, we head to my grandmother’s to exchange gifts there and spend the day with each other. I’ve never been a fan of eating out on holidays, but this has become our tradition and my grandmother loves it, so it will continue.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">4. On Christmas Eve we always go to the early church service, then afterwards go to my parents neighbor who is the mother-in-law to my mom’s cousin (follow that?). My mom’s cousin and her husband stay there every year at Christmas, since they live across the state. So, after church we head over there for some food, gift exchanging, and spend time together. We’re usually there until very late in the evening. I guess starting this year, we will have to do things earlier now!</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">5. Last year Hubby and I drove around looking at other people’s Christmas lights while we drank warm beverages and ate gingerbread man marshmallows. Bean probably won’t appreciate that very much until at least next year, since he sleeps during car rides a lot yet, but it’s something I would like to continue to do.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">6. Bean isn’t allowed to watch much TV (he does get some TV time though, due to us watching something), but Polar Express is one of my favorite Christmas movies, and Hubby gave me the DVD for Christmas last year, so I’d like to watch that with Bean at least once every year during the season.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">That’s all I have for now. Maybe we’ll start to come up with new traditions as Bean gets older. I love Christmas season!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-8508109229816092062011-12-16T05:33:00.001-05:002011-12-16T05:37:33.276-05:00Favorite Kitty Pic Friday!<div><p>I hope everyone is having a good holiday season so far!  I can't believe Christmas is just a week away already.  Time is flying and I'm not done with everything yet.  And Bean is going to be so spoiled this year!  I know he doesn't even know what's going on yet, but he will be 6 months old and can finally start playing with bigger, more fun toys, so we couldn't help ourselves.  But there will be a Christmas post later for the Christmas link up I've been participating in every Tuesday this month. <br>
Back to my photo choice.  Here is Jasper enjoying some lap time with me.  It doesn't happen often anymore, so he was purring up a storm!  (He looks a little grumpy, but I guess that's just his look.)</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGQlWXaCAX6Z4sb46cRHHmnR5DiId3L8gXvs2_p3b2HYPCmTCmh96pfgLumFBgFr9V5ocOgQF7E3qDvJXuJ13sASDlOoi43TJtY2V3XGknSvO36z7ENxOfM_KcQr-q1sworjZSoo7zRA/' /></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-70278693618295855922011-12-13T08:00:00.000-05:002011-12-13T10:48:08.514-05:00Christmas Decorations<a href="http://www.frommrstomama.com/" target="_blank" border="0"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UGEHbbkgSrWVKcsMi50s9PowSAPBp-wjnfw5g-vttxqsCAj8YIpHuUazb3BTfbbEO8rwLswokt39B5MlhYjcWH8DKeYgJNT5ksrQE3tBXmHez0ysO91BL28OS3m9WEy4PmYdEt_rKq8/s1600/christmas.png"></a> <p><font size="2">Linking up for the second Christmas post with From Mrs. to Mama! I actually did a post last year with pictures of all my Christmas decorations. Pretty much nothing has changed except for the addition of a stocking for Bean and a new snowman decoration. In order to save some time (because I have oh so much to spare to sit at a computer to blog lately!), I’m reposting my post from last year that shows all our decorations. It takes me quite a while to decorate usually, so this year is definitely interesting with my lack of time. But I love decorating for Christmas and will continue to put up this many decorations, if not more, as the years go on. It will be nice when Bean can help with some of it too! :) Now, in reading this post, my grandmother had passed away on Dec. 6th, so some of the post is emotional and sentimental about her. I still miss her dearly, and wish she was here to see Bean’s first Christmas. But enjoy the pictures of the decorations!:</font></p> <p><font size="2"></font> </p> <p>I wanted to share my decorations with you, even though these pictures are from last year. The decorations are all in the same spots this year, but my house currently looks like a tornado hit it with shopping bags full of gifts, and one ornament tub that still needs to be packed away, so you get to view last year’s pictures of this year’s decorations! <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9m3lvpWI/AAAAAAAAAcU/fiGCM7SqchM/s1600-h/IMG_20355.jpg"><img title="IMG_2035" border="0" alt="IMG_2035" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9nQkRVaI/AAAAAAAAAcY/yGQF3k4RgWo/IMG_2035_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" height="276"></a> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9n2oJxOI/AAAAAAAAAcc/z3SWTvZlEZ0/s1600-h/frontdooredit4.jpg"><img title="front door edit" border="0" alt="front door edit" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9oNOEz_I/AAAAAAAAAcg/E2Oz5LJ7KkM/frontdooredit_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="292" height="388"></a> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9oribc-I/AAAAAAAAAco/rM7H2SfTCJs/s1600-h/IMG_20073.jpg"><img title="IMG_2007" border="0" alt="IMG_2007" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9pF_kw_I/AAAAAAAAAcs/8E76oj6VXsE/IMG_2007_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="363" height="273"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9qLhKVqI/AAAAAAAAAcw/xaoIoxSvrqY/s1600-h/IMG_1996%5B8%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1996" border="0" alt="IMG_1996" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9qRd5vxI/AAAAAAAAAc0/5QNDuCymWyI/IMG_1996_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="386" height="290"></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9q1Yv4lI/AAAAAAAAAc4/OVkGC-r_FyU/s1600-h/IMG_2003%5B10%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2003" border="0" alt="IMG_2003" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9rGufOdI/AAAAAAAAAc8/3swdbi04UNY/IMG_2003_thumb%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="342" height="258"></a> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9rSLRATI/AAAAAAAAAdA/wm9W8jyDPAs/s1600-h/IMG_2010%5B6%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2010" border="0" alt="IMG_2010" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9ryOup6I/AAAAAAAAAdE/Lr-cfMP750I/IMG_2010_thumb%5B4%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="322" height="242"></a> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9sYY_ynI/AAAAAAAAAdI/DllRva6UkR4/s1600-h/IMG_2013%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2013" border="0" alt="IMG_2013" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9suUFmbI/AAAAAAAAAdM/ZPtMvCfghqg/IMG_2013_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="377" height="284"></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9tIH8krI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/Q2grTimCK5U/s1600-h/IMG_2023%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2023" border="0" alt="IMG_2023" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9tiR_MHI/AAAAAAAAAdU/HA3lMFjtJbw/IMG_2023_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="359" height="270"></a> <blockquote> <p>My grandmother made my stocking, probably about 5+ years ago, and I will cherish it always. As I said, she never had much money to give big, expensive gifts, but I always cherished everything she ever gave me because it came with a lot of thought, and straight from her heart. Last year’s gift from her was a set of dessert dishes because she noticed I didn’t have any at Thanksgiving, and even though they aren’t fine china or fancy, I love them and they are some of my favorite dishes. She also gave me an ornament that she personalized for our first year in our new home. I have to admit that I forgot about the ornament until I pulled it out this year, and it brought tears to my eyes. It has an up front and center position on the tree this year.</p></blockquote> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9ueWO3_I/AAAAAAAAAdY/d2W6s2PKSEg/s1600-h/IMG_2024%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2024" border="0" alt="IMG_2024" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9ug5RTYI/AAAAAAAAAdc/vPXbwBCcUKY/IMG_2024_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="358" height="270"></a> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9vITJdhI/AAAAAAAAAdg/_jHSRqSbsDc/s1600-h/IMG_2018%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2018" border="0" alt="IMG_2018" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9vvmeG1I/AAAAAAAAAdk/Ohr_jLKMml4/IMG_2018_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="354" height="267"></a> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9wMrKERI/AAAAAAAAAdo/g0i_jgNfLmA/s1600-h/IMG_2019%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2019" border="0" alt="IMG_2019" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9wWscRjI/AAAAAAAAAds/Ilx4Ehu6KBQ/IMG_2019_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="362" height="272"></a> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF9wsIAXgI/AAAAAAAAAdw/lqe61ysiB6M/s1600-h/IMG_2009%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2009" border="0" alt="IMG_2009" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF-HNZhn6I/AAAAAAAAAd8/19U8WzMKXXU/IMG_2009_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="272" height="362"></a> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF-HuTgRCI/AAAAAAAAAeA/R2-okcHBZfk/s1600-h/IMG_2980%5B1%5D%5B5%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2980[1]" border="0" alt="IMG_2980[1]" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF-IXdZpyI/AAAAAAAAAeE/3UCLP8QrTJM/IMG_2980%5B1%5D_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="296" height="393"></a> <p>The newest edition to the decorations this year. Bought this angel at a recent craft show. <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF-I2FrWWI/AAAAAAAAAeI/BEwrNcbmTRM/s1600-h/IMG_2016%5B4%5D.jpg"><img title="IMG_2016" border="0" alt="IMG_2016" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TRF-JObTVBI/AAAAAAAAAeM/hVCjZ4POGJ8/IMG_2016_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="367" height="276"></a> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p>***My preview looks totally screwy, so just in case, here’s a link to the old post: <a href="http://stephscreativelife.blogspot.com/2010/12/my-christmas-house.html">My Christmas House</a>***</p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-15940607369239422352011-12-06T08:00:00.000-05:002011-12-06T08:00:00.887-05:00My Christmas List<div><a href="http://www.frommrstomama.com/" target="_blank" border="0"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UGEHbbkgSrWVKcsMi50s9PowSAPBp-wjnfw5g-vttxqsCAj8YIpHuUazb3BTfbbEO8rwLswokt39B5MlhYjcWH8DKeYgJNT5ksrQE3tBXmHez0ysO91BL28OS3m9WEy4PmYdEt_rKq8/s1600/christmas.png"></a> <p><font size="2">I’m linking up with From Mrs. to Mama for these posts. If you don’t already read her blog, check it out!</font></p> <p><font size="2">At first I had no clue what I wanted for Christmas. I have my little man, and I felt/feel like Christmas should be all about him now. I really couldn’t even think of anything at first. But I have now. I have even received two gifts from Hubby already! Do I care if I don’t receive everything on my list or any of it at all for that matter? No. I never expect Christmas gifts. I never expect anything from anyone for any occasion. But if anyone is going to get me anything, these are the items I would like to have:</font></p> <p><font size="2">1. <strike>New fancy phone that I can use apps with so I don’t have to steal Hubby’s iPhone anymore.</strike> (Hubby got me the HTC Wildfire S on Black Friday, half off, so now I have a cooler phone, I actually have texting and internet access, and the cell phone bill will be about $12 less per month now that we switched my service to Virgin Mobile.)</font></p> <p><font size="2">2. <strike>Newest Harry Potter movie along with the ones I’m missing to complete the set.</strike> (Hubby also got me this. Found a great deal on Amazon on Black Friday – the entire 8 disc DVD set for $40, free shipping! Now I have some duplicates, but we would have spend more than that on just the missing movies to complete the set. I never did get to see the newest one in theaters this year because it was out shortly after I had Bean, and by the time Hubby and I could get out to see it, it went out of theaters that week.)</font></p> <p><font size="2">3. Bigger memory card for my new phone.</font></p> <p><font size="2">4. New CD player to use for baton practice. My parents got me a nice little one about 2 years ago for Christmas, but it’s not loud enough at all for practices. My louder one is finally dead. So I need a new louder one now.</font></p> <p><font size="2">5. New pants/short sleeve pj’s. I have a couple pairs, but 2 of them are really old, 1 is a hand-me-down from my mom and is actually a little too big, and one pair is too long, and I just never got to hem it. I have plenty of warm pj’s at the moment, and even short sets, but the in-between sets with pants and short sleeves are a little lacking/off sized.</font></p>
<p><font size="2">6. A car charger for my new phone. I am notorious for having a dead phone and forgetting to charge it. I don't think that will happen with this phone, but it would be nice to have a way to top off the battery while on the go.</font></p>
<p><font size="2">7. A case for this phone. I tend to drop things a lot. This phone has already seen the floor twice. I need a rubbery case to protect it from myself.</font></p> <p><font size="2">The rest is nothing anyone can purchase for me. I’d like a night where I wouldn’t have to get up with Bean, but that won’t happen because I wake up anyway and I would still have to pump once overnight since I am still breastfeeding. But sleep would be nice. A family friend even got him a onesie that says “All Mommy wants for Christmas is a silent night.” So true. I miss undisturbed sleep. I’d also like more time to get things done. More time to blog, more time to create and craft things, even just more time to do laundry and clean! We have so many photos of Bean, and I haven’t gotten many printed yet for photo books and frames. We even would like to make an appointment with our wedding photographer to do a family photo session (we have a free session from them to use sometime!), and I wanted to do that to be able to have photos for Christmas gifts, but that won’t happen at this point. So just some time would be nice. I love spending time with Bean, but I also would like to do things that need to get done, or things just for me.</font></p> <p><font size="2">That’s pretty much my list. Of course I wish for a happy, healthy family as well!</font></p> </div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-71202031495250003392011-11-18T09:00:00.000-05:002011-11-17T23:29:12.691-05:00Favorite Kitty Pic Friday!<center> <table style="width: auto"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://stephscreativelife.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TAMupatRt8I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/G5d0qk6FOV0/s800/Favorite%20Kitty%20Pic%20Friday%20Badge.jpg"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></center> <p></p> <p></p> <center> <form><textarea readonly enabled="true"><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://stephscreativelife.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TAk3Ii1zSeI/AAAAAAAAAKo/VCEQQOHE9C8/Favorite%20Kitty%20Pic%20Friday%20Badge_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></td></tr></table></textarea> <p align="left"><font size="2">I hope you all have been having better weather than we have the last couple days. Rain, rain, rain! Today is supposed to be sunny though, but slightly chilly, so Bean will get to wear his one new fleecy outfit for the first time (if it fits him yet – he’ll be 5 months old on Wednesday, but still wears some 0-3 clothes and some 3-6 are still a tad big on him!)! I can’t wait to see how cute he looks in it! Fleecy baby clothes are just too cute. :)</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Well, back to the original star of this post…here is my choice for the week:</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-keeUAIoVMGg/TsXdKlOv9rI/AAAAAAAAAqI/dwy-GOtJe8c/s1600-h/DSCF0356%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0356" border="0" alt="DSCF0356" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-MLfj_fOk_Mk/TsXdLMhisLI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/v_pePy1GWeY/DSCF0356_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="382" height="288"></a> <font size="2">Dusty sunbathing by the patio door. He’s such a pretty kitty! :)</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">I hope you all have a good weekend. We will be preparing the house for Thanksgiving, and hopefully doing some outside prep/clean-up for the winter. I also hope to buy my chest freezer between today and this weekend, so hopefully we will have that in time for Thanksgiving as well! I never thought I would get excited about having a chest freezer… Oh, the life of a domesticated, stay-at-home, breastfeeding mom!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-89874812136939399992011-11-13T22:52:00.001-05:002011-11-13T22:52:06.431-05:00Calling all bloggers!I have never done this before, but since I don't get to blog as much as I would like to lately, but would like to keep the readers I have as well as get some new traffic to the blog, I'm opening up to guest blog posts. If you are interested, you can write about whatever you want - from recipes, parenting, crafts, TV, etc. I only ask that you don't pick a topic that is too political or controversial, and no major profanities. Sound like something you want to do? E-mail me to let me know, and as soon as I get responses, I can figure out a good posting schedule. Looking forward to hearing from some fellow bloggers!Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-28727992054039331142011-11-04T09:00:00.000-04:002011-11-04T09:00:00.252-04:00Favorite Kitty Pic Friday!<center> <table style="width: auto"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://stephscreativelife.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TAMupatRt8I/AAAAAAAAAKQ/G5d0qk6FOV0/s800/Favorite%20Kitty%20Pic%20Friday%20Badge.jpg"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></center> <p></p> <center> <form><textarea readonly enabled="true"><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://stephscreativelife.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/__hi8sgcn-tU/TAk3Ii1zSeI/AAAAAAAAAKo/VCEQQOHE9C8/Favorite%20Kitty%20Pic%20Friday%20Badge_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" /></a></td></tr></table></textarea> <div align="left"> <p><font size="2">Well, I haven’t done this in a while either! But here’s a most recent picture that I think is just too funny:</font></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sZgZIfoqikc/TrMqmeOVBZI/AAAAAAAAAp4/Na2vHT873Jo/s1600-h/Ben%252520and%252520Jasper%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Ben and Jasper" border="0" alt="Ben and Jasper" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ezZpz-5o7ho/TrMqmjiylJI/AAAAAAAAAqA/nPN_BE0N6ks/Ben%252520and%252520Jasper_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="406" height="304"></a> <font size="2">Bean and Jasper! Bean looks very happy, Jasper not so much. But he actually stayed there and let Bean lay on him to take the picture! He makes for such a soft pillow. ;)</font></p> <p><font size="2">I hope everyone has a great weekend! We will be going to the Redner’s Family Expo on Sunday, where the twirling group I teach for is performing, and this performance I will actually be the announcer! Oh boy…I hope they like my voice, because I don’t really like it. I’m a little nervous, but at least I have cards to read from. Wish me luck!</font></p></div> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-8808802446444644242011-11-03T15:50:00.001-04:002011-11-03T15:50:49.098-04:00Seriously?! Thursday<a href="http://www.frommrstomama.com/" target="_blank" border="0"><img style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFEP0aS1jWQan6908fmr3VOP7TjQd0n2bw04RRaCDdlw4YpkA63KCxLtJIg7LyNArBxwH3TuqPatBkAWhcJPYcyEsqfuBPRZPdEthsecrVt5uoKZ3foCG2GpEALEMWwgwZJvY0b-GLIns/s1600/seriously.png"></a> <p><font size="2">I haven’t participated in this since before Bean was born, and I can’t do it from the iPhone, so I got him to sleep in his rocker and now I can finally participate this week!</font></p> <p><font size="2">1 – I have a 4 month old! I can’t believe it! Now that he’s over being colicky, he’s more fun everyday, and I can’t wait until we get into even more fun times!</font></p> <p><font size="2">2 – The builder of my house has yet again angered me. My driveway is sinking where it meets the sidewalk. It took my MIL tripping on the separation and falling face first in the street for them to decide it was time to fix it. 2 years we’ve been waiting for this. And now? They came and cut the driveway to remove that section, and left it like that! First we were arguing with them about re-doing the entire driveway because my car is also creating divots, but they say no to that, and now I have this cut in my driveway and no one has come to do anything with it since. It snowed, so they couldn’t then, but the temps are warmer now, the snow is melted, so where are they?!</font></p> <p><font size="2">3 – Speaking of snow, it snowed here! 2 days before Halloween, and a good couple of inches too! Crazy weather. I never thought we’d have a white Halloween!</font></p> <p><font size="2">4 – Old people need to learn how to drive again. I was leaving Babies R Us yesterday, did not have a stop sign but the old dude did, and he started to pull out on me and almost hit the side of my car…then he had the nerve to glare and yell at me! Seriously?!</font></p> <p><font size="2">5 – There are way too many pictures of Bean. Well, not really. How can you not take a picture of his cute face everyday? But seriously, need to find a better solution for storing these digital images and sharing them with family. We’re running out of room with our current way.</font></p> <p><font size="2">6 – We’re already in November! Thanksgiving is coming up, my house is a wreck, Christmas is sooner than I’m ready for…I’m at a total loss as to how to handle Christmas gifts for Bean this year now too. He’ll be 6 months old then (half a year already?!), so he’ll start to be able to play with more toys, but how many do you get? What’s too much and what’s not enough? Usually Hubby and I just spend a certain amount on each other, so number of gifts depends on what we buy that fits into that spending amount. Is that how we handle Bean’s gifts too?</font></p> <p><font size="2">I guess that’s all I have for now. I am going to try to start doing Favorite Kitty Pic Friday again, but it probably will just be once in a while when I get the chance to sit at the computer and deal with photos. I hope to get one scheduled for tomorrow though! I have a few other posts I want to do too, including a photo heavy post of Bean’s first Halloween pictures, but I have to get them off the camera and into the computer yet.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Have a great evening!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-27353628884176571292011-10-31T22:16:00.001-04:002011-10-31T22:16:51.503-04:00Happy Halloween!I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween night! We obviously didn't go trick or treating because Bean is too little for that and we have enough candy for ourselves left over now. But we did go to my grandmother's last night and took some more really fun pictures tonight. I will try to post those ASAP - they are just adorable and funny! As you can see, Bean was a little candy corn, my favorite fall candy! I can't wait to actually take him trick or treating - maybe next year! :)<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJMRT692dXiJCZset_V1BHbNc070KmEh_fAffqomIGt3UnI8ZT3AeoDraWhW_AFR23DsE48UfGRPviY67x9JsA7HJ1eA0OO5Nm0BX3kmNm4u5N-UwBhpW22WN3SjfZQMLWnritEM4eBk/s640/blogger-image-979970557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJMRT692dXiJCZset_V1BHbNc070KmEh_fAffqomIGt3UnI8ZT3AeoDraWhW_AFR23DsE48UfGRPviY67x9JsA7HJ1eA0OO5Nm0BX3kmNm4u5N-UwBhpW22WN3SjfZQMLWnritEM4eBk/s640/blogger-image-979970557.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72sJOFvskUd-ffYZyBwAqfujNIZtFNBj7HeINfD9ohUQYZk3LKOWjpQhMwW-fdW49C01V4K8oXtvbxQUZz22fATIcnyoA6xZzi5HQRdo932sbML7tlboRJ3RF9Bi9g4-y4gt10we79Gg/s640/blogger-image-76263489.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72sJOFvskUd-ffYZyBwAqfujNIZtFNBj7HeINfD9ohUQYZk3LKOWjpQhMwW-fdW49C01V4K8oXtvbxQUZz22fATIcnyoA6xZzi5HQRdo932sbML7tlboRJ3RF9Bi9g4-y4gt10we79Gg/s640/blogger-image-76263489.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2WIloX_13eKllKd7BZ1ThbjdMQDzg7FTL64okMXBPuGlakHPN8k_8SK7FbWbxrsBa9oa3bfbz9-tHvDXiCyH4Ea_TPS3QDS5jEAyl4C5TXZ17m59aBWbEvvCHzwijYHcpdJ08PYi5UQ/s640/blogger-image--1981574869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2WIloX_13eKllKd7BZ1ThbjdMQDzg7FTL64okMXBPuGlakHPN8k_8SK7FbWbxrsBa9oa3bfbz9-tHvDXiCyH4Ea_TPS3QDS5jEAyl4C5TXZ17m59aBWbEvvCHzwijYHcpdJ08PYi5UQ/s640/blogger-image--1981574869.jpg" /></a></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-17225473858121234722011-10-27T19:12:00.001-04:002011-10-27T19:12:01.242-04:004 months old!<p><font size="2">Wow! Time is going fast! Bean is already 4 months old! He was 4 months old on the 23rd, but we just had his well visit yesterday. So here are his stats up to now:</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">Birth: 7 lb. 3.7 oz., 19 in.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">2 months: 10 lb. 7 oz., 22.25 in.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">4 months: 12 lb. 11 oz., 24.5 in.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">He’s gained a total of 5 lb. 7 oz. since birth! It puts him in the 10th percentile for weight and 25th percentile for length. We still have a little peanut. :)</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">He can now sit up assisted, holds his head very well, puts weight on his legs sometimes when you hold him in a standing position, and is reaching and grabbing at everything to put it straight into his mouth. He is very “chatty” these days, but not much in the consonant sounds yet. He hasn’t rolled yet, but the doctor wasn’t concerned. Tummy time is going a little better – he holds himself up on his elbows and tolerates about 5 minutes now before he gets frustrated and yells at the floor. No crying and screaming at the floor anymore unless you leave him yelling at it for too long. Literally yells at the floor. I wonder if he could talk what words he would be using. ;) His sleep has gone downhill though, but we were told what to do to try to get him to sleep better. This visit required all the same vaccines as last visit, but for some reason, he’s not tolerating them well this time. He’s had a fever and has been extremely cranky. He did sleep pretty well last night though! He’s still eating every two hours, with only a half hour nap between every feeding. We’re allowed to start him on solids now, so we bought a box of rice cereal to start. I know some people like to wait until 6 months, but this is our decision as parents, and we have decided to try now. Well, this weekend anyway, since he was cranky and feverish today. The fun mess we’re in for with that! So overall, he is growing well and hitting milestones pretty well also. He also had his first cold this past week, so that was no fun! My poor sick baby. :(</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Here are some photo comparisons of each month:</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PP1QeysQMPE/TqnlN7OMY4I/AAAAAAAAAoY/030QESupExU/s1600-h/4%252520weeks%252520old%252520-%2525203%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="4 weeks old - 3" border="0" alt="4 weeks old - 3" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K7N06nAAj2E/TqnlORU_oTI/AAAAAAAAAog/yuh2qLzzD4A/4%252520weeks%252520old%252520-%2525203_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="302" height="402"></a> 4 weeks old</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5o7owdFFyuw/TqnlOvU9_ZI/AAAAAAAAAoo/O7Oi7o3AJKU/s1600-h/8%252520weeks%252520old%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="8 weeks old" border="0" alt="8 weeks old" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-TB305ZIfG3M/TqnlOwB6yPI/AAAAAAAAAow/-KhQUWsNlYk/8%252520weeks%252520old_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="298" height="396"></a> </p> <p align="center">8 weeks old</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LWVkVk_Ly1M/TqnlPLpYGNI/AAAAAAAAAo4/nemksaDQYNw/s1600-h/DSCF0416%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0416" border="0" alt="DSCF0416" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3KWw3IFhUxg/TqnlPq9zcmI/AAAAAAAAApA/OvVLj-Ffbqw/DSCF0416_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="289" height="384"></a> </p> <p align="center">3 months old</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Qr3hv2CoOxg/TqnlP2DRdJI/AAAAAAAAApI/dmHhHJaoVLg/s1600-h/DSCF0455%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px" title="DSCF0455" border="0" alt="DSCF0455" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NFAA51RoXhk/TqnlQEDBWOI/AAAAAAAAApQ/p_9IbRTu0v8/DSCF0455_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="277" height="368"></a> </p> <p align="center">4 months old!</p> <p align="left"><font size="2">Maybe when I get the chance, I will do a photo heavy post. We certainly have enough of them to share! Right now, I must go change what I think is a poopy diaper (you know, because I just changed him right before!), and see if he will take a little snooze while we eat. Have a great TGIF and weekend!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-15647663607740661402011-10-19T20:48:00.001-04:002011-10-19T20:48:27.351-04:00Sick baby. :(Bean has caught his first cold. He was pretty cranky on Monday, then even crankier yesterday evening. Eventually it came to bedtime and I had a hard time getting him to sleep. After I finally thought I got him to sleep, he was crying over the monitor every half hour or so. I was already exhausted from the night before because we decided to put him in his crib to sleep for the first time that night and it felt very weird to me not having him in our room, so I couldn't go to sleep. When I finally did sleep, he wanted to wake up twice to eat. So I was already exhausted and then we had last night's disaster. Up every half hour or so until 4am! Nursing, rocking, swaddling, un-swaddling, pacifier - nothing worked! Finally Hubby thought he was congested and I then heard it too. We brought him down to the swing at 4:30am and he finally slept 2.5 hours. Needless to say, I ran on all of about 3 hours of sleep today with one short nap that was interrupted by phone calls. Bean sounds much worse tonight, so we now have saline nasal spray and Boogie Wipes on hand. I feel bad for my poor baby! :( He needs suctioning too, but the nurse said not to do it more than 3-4 times a day or we would cause nasal swelling. I really hope this clears up fast! <br />
Any recommendations for a baby with a cold that worked for you?Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-85266240266103275972011-09-15T11:13:00.001-04:002011-09-15T11:13:21.321-04:00Where&apos;s the sanitizer?Well, Bean is 12 weeks old today, and we've hit the stage where everything goes into his mouth! Hands, our fingers, toys, whatever he can grab! His new thing is grabbing my hand and trying to put my fingers in his mouth during diaper changes on the changing table. Doesn't make diaper changes easy! We now have to clean his hands more along with other things that go in his mouth. We also started introducing teething rings because he has begun chewing on said hands, not just sucking on them, and he's such a drool machine now! Teething starting maybe?<br />
Here's how we spent this morning's diaper change:<br />
<br />
He's growing so fast!<br />
<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxWMAFM3XwYv_RDqh2ozGH51XgqQNYvfF7B88rxmBRUeCCocqmT7CrojZN8R4vjqmWKYBUKlgaQ1OMjZ1euTB12vhf0VM5-0irudxnHHMRT0ohq4wBqHitDITmd9qakZyJ7fbb5GEkds/s640/blogger-image--1073740793.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxWMAFM3XwYv_RDqh2ozGH51XgqQNYvfF7B88rxmBRUeCCocqmT7CrojZN8R4vjqmWKYBUKlgaQ1OMjZ1euTB12vhf0VM5-0irudxnHHMRT0ohq4wBqHitDITmd9qakZyJ7fbb5GEkds/s640/blogger-image--1073740793.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxno_FUFcbO148f19MBq9fs79ZwFOtkYsDe8UbdnqT1Wy1EsA9yhT_RaK0PSCTqyvEUVywR1329Jo4Q_EQI56l3ZW5YVsekXQ-WRgDxSAVZE4KWtPq3ABJ5B0kvuUWJa-HLvbFyAfYLi0/s640/blogger-image--1356443343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxno_FUFcbO148f19MBq9fs79ZwFOtkYsDe8UbdnqT1Wy1EsA9yhT_RaK0PSCTqyvEUVywR1329Jo4Q_EQI56l3ZW5YVsekXQ-WRgDxSAVZE4KWtPq3ABJ5B0kvuUWJa-HLvbFyAfYLi0/s640/blogger-image--1356443343.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbujsK5Vi8aJkM7i0L212G52VPgsKp6akhByN27Xxsn5sgLGlp7qXr1lcesPvD3HJ1M7l-I1CoDiR-mfGmL9Y-_QF9EhC9-PPFQnC5m6RLAQRg160cVncMgw6d-4TT1lpyW8D5AzZQE3Q/s640/blogger-image--92338380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbujsK5Vi8aJkM7i0L212G52VPgsKp6akhByN27Xxsn5sgLGlp7qXr1lcesPvD3HJ1M7l-I1CoDiR-mfGmL9Y-_QF9EhC9-PPFQnC5m6RLAQRg160cVncMgw6d-4TT1lpyW8D5AzZQE3Q/s640/blogger-image--92338380.jpg" /></a></div>Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-35407155399675717432011-09-11T09:00:00.000-04:002011-09-11T09:00:10.485-04:00Baby Laughs<p><font size="2">Baby giggles and laughs is one of the best sounds ever. You can’t help but at least smile, if not giggle right along with them. As I said, Bean has started laughing now. He doesn’t do it a whole lot yet, but when he does, it’s awesome! So as promised, here’s his laughing video! :)</font></p> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px auto; padding-left: 0px; width: 425px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:f5931c41-507d-4504-99a1-a82ba8129a16" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><div id="a1410a8c-0906-464b-b78e-2a5b621cc2ed" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; display: inline;"><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk5ukxinbok" target="_new"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-42kcCZWumTI/TmwYfi71iTI/AAAAAAAAAoI/OEtXhxfRGJo/video6cfe2ea0d327%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-style: none" galleryimg="no" onload="var downlevelDiv = document.getElementById('a1410a8c-0906-464b-b78e-2a5b621cc2ed'); downlevelDiv.innerHTML = "<div><object width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><param name=\"movie\" value=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Kk5ukxinbok&hl=en\"><\/param><embed src=\"http://www.youtube.com/v/Kk5ukxinbok&hl=en\" type=\"application/x-shockwave-flash\" width=\"425\" height=\"355\"><\/embed><\/object><\/div>";" alt=""></a></div></div></div> <p><font size="2"></font> </p> <p><font size="2">Hope you enjoyed this and smiled just as much as I do every time I watch it or hear him laugh in person!</font></p> Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7943539357577561861.post-87991322633679156252011-09-09T09:49:00.002-04:002011-09-10T22:14:09.792-04:00There's an app for that...I love that blogger released the iPhone app! As I said, I don't get to sit down at a real computer much these days, but I am constantly using Hubby's iPhone for facebook and the Internet in general since it's handheld and I can type on it with one hand. Apparently this is a new app, just released the other day - it makes me happy! Now I might be able to blog a little more often!<br />
Fortunately I can add photos from the phone with the app, but unfortunately not video, so you'll have to wait a little longer for that.<br />
We're off to look at cars now. More on that later.Stephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09024482827716575723noreply@blogger.com0