a perfect beach day...

we headed out of church early to hit the beach... I feel like the end of summer is slipping away and this was an easy way to grab hold... Uncle Sean hadn't swam in the Atlantic so this was an exciting trip... we also have never been to the ocean with Mimi and Papa with the kiddos... we had a wonderful time... minus the seaweed and lack of waves.... there wasn't a cloud in the sky!... we finished off the night with Rota Springs ice cream...

california kid...

her hair just keeps getting blonder and blonder...
she belongs exactly where I was moving when I was her age..... beautiful Southern California...

morning routine... (I need help)

I have never been one to be able to go without breakfast.... so this really gets to me and my 5month pregnant body....

I first make C&D breakfast, serve them their milk....

while they eat I prepare mine....

and some coffee...

by the time I am done these are the looks I get.....


they think it time for them to have seconds and my breakfast gets pulled apart by the little "vultures"...

as a rule I don't share till they have completely finished their own or I am full....

but if I don't they scream fuss and this makes an awful start to our day....

what routine would work better? Any ideas veteran moms?

sweet red pepper baby...

the baby is now about the size of this pepper..... I know not a fruit but sometimes almost just as sweet as one.... Carter used my camera for the first time to get this shot.... he was so excited and had to have the strap around his neck and everything... we are starting to feel some great kicks from this little one and mama is getting her second wind- painting the office, designing a new room for Carter and dreaming of little girl crib bedding and quilting.... and I am trying to still get some sleep!

Blaney....

for those who cared, loved and sent loving remarks....


our Blaney is home from the hospital after an incidence of renal failure last week, she had been not eating, puking and then general lethargy before I (in my overgrown frazzled mind) realized there was something seriously wrong....

she spent a couple nights at the kitty hospital and on Thursday her levels were normal!... this was a surprise to even our new (and improved) vet which we are very grateful for!... she came home Thursday and has been recuperating very well... Carter was very concerned and the words "..... she may even die..." made him very scared...... I spoke too soon but I know he will have to know sometime...

in the mean time we have one loved kitty in our home who is starting to eat normally again and run away from Daisy like normal.... so happy to see her around and healthy!

why I will miss the Olympics...

I got a lot of scrapbooking done!


I can't say I was looking forward to it... and I regret those late nights but.... I did accomplish a ton of pages (I am caught up through March 2007) in the past two weeks!

he(Carter) was right!

I was wrong.....

this is our new baby girl!!!!!!

I am excited that Daisy will have a sister close in age to her.... I have ideas for their baby girl room swirling in my head tonight....





And I don't feel bad for Carter because he is so excited he (and most of you were right)...

the garden scene...

lets just say the garden looks much like my brain these days...



overgrown and frazzled....


the weeds have taken over, the last few zucs and summer squashes rotted and some of my tomatoes are too!


the cherry tomatoes are in abundance and have a great taste...


and the sunflowers are blooming...

the pole bean is as tall as the stick it's climbing up...

and this little bean is about the size of a tomato.... not the best specimen for the picture but it was about the right size...heard the heart beat again today... didn't catch the rate but Carter and Daisy heard it too!... sad news today... my doctor is resigning... I had to pick another one... choose the one who delivered Daisy... she seemed great even though I just met her that one time... we'll see, with my luck someone else will deliver me any ways (happened the last two times)... all my girlfriends will be sad since they go to the same doctor as I do... but she actually delivered their babies!... honestly the doctor only catches the baby... I do most of the work!

my little helper...

Daisy decided to help put the groceries away...



good thing I caught on before the Ben and Jerry's was too melted!

from the mouths of babes...

while I am salt and peppering a steak to broil for our Steak Gyros (they where yummy!) I turn the steak over and Carter walks by and ask:

"Why is that turkey so BIG?"


not a surprising comment from the son of the man who once asked:

"What's the difference between ham and pork chops? And Roast Beef?"


My culinary educating will never finish with these two around......
off to play kitchen with Carter!

thanks Mom!

I have my Christmas card right in the little spot on my scrapbook page.... wow! ask and you shall receive!

a mother of three....

Stephanie and Wes are in the process of adopting three children.... yes three!... ages 1, 3, and 5.... they are little Irish kids with Irish names- so fitting for Steph and Wes... the youngest a girl, oldest boys... we had a (kid) shower for her last night... kinda nice she doesn't need all that baby stuff!... it was fun shopping for older kids... Steph showed off her scrapbook (she's been doing such a great job! Marissa and I were impressed!) mostly I feel so happy for Steph... the blessing for these children to be brought into a loving home and for Stephanie as she fulfills a role of being a mother... something she has always wanted... if you think of it send a prayer out for them as they go through this process...


these two had issues over this little rocker....then they kissed and made up!

then it hit 8pm and they were crumbling!Stephanie practicing (we are so happy she will have a little girl the age of ours! Who wouda thunk?)

I need some help....

looking for a copy of our Christmas card from 2006 (the green background with red print paper on the front with the window and the pictures with love, joy, peace, hope).... if anyone still has a copy and doesn't mind giving it up I would love it!... I am missing it in my Christmas scrapbook... (Mom, I think you might still have it on your fridge)

three little Indians....

we are finally in the mode to have quest over for dinner... the house isn't perfect but we are in the state of mind that we are ready to share it with our friends and family...

so we had Brian and Rebekah over for dinner this past week... the play room was in full swing....

us adults were hanging out in the living room digesting BBQ and having brownie Sundaes when all the sudden Carter ran in and yelled "MARKERS!!!"... the guys ran to check out the scene and brought back three little Indians.... covered in war paint.... Carter the least and Daisy the most... which makes me think he was coloring her or the chair.... thank goodness it was all washable...


I am sure we will laugh about it for years!.... and we are so happy to finally share our new home with others....

a new favorite...

thinking about names tonight... and found this.... loads of fun!

a gift...

we were greatly surprised earlier this week when we realized were feeding our compost to blackberry bushes... just on more of the many things this home has to offer!

a lime baby...

at 14 weeks our baby is a little bigger than this lime.... excitement is growing over this little one.... Carter ask how the baby is everyday and Daisy lifts my shirt when you ask her where the baby is.... it is fun to see them so interested... we can't wait for the ultrasound in 3 weeks to find out the sex... lots of conversations about it being a boy or a girl... and seeing the baby on the "TV" in the office... we are starting to think about redoing the kids rooms but can't make any definite decision till we know what the baby is and who will share a room with the little lime.... since this baby can't be a lime forever lets take a poll and see whose right.... I say boy.... Carter says girl but also says it will have body parts like him " 'cause that's cool!"... take the poll to the right and we'll see

go play Rock Band....

Keith and Al recently purchased this fun toy! they had a little get-2-gether at their house a few weekends ago... we had lots of fun!... of course Kevin took it so seriously(he looks constipated here) and I stunk! Keith was the best as usual.... the kids had fun but Carter's keyboard from Auntie Tina came in handy to keep their hands off the real game... I highly suggest this game for a group we could have played all day! Even Kev's parents had a whirl!

starting fresh....

this week i started a new position at work....

I am now part of the critical care float pool.... this means I float to all the ICUs in the hospital (all 5, one being the 7ICU where I came from) which all have there own specialty, the Emergency Department, the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and pediatric ICU.... I will still visit my old home but am pleased to be float around the hospital seeing new things, meeting new people and learning new skills.... I am still working two 12 hour shifts per week but only every 4th weekend and holiday....

I like it thus far.... I spend 1 and 1/3 nights in the PACU and 1 and 2/3 nights in 3ICU (the surgical ICU)... every one seems to be welcoming and very nice... amazed to see how many people in other areas I already know....

making this change has been on my heart for a long time... I didn't want to get burnt out where I was and our patient population was less than desirable (I know that sounds rude but let me explain)... they ware mostly people who were infection filled, were on deaths door and had abused themselves in many different ways for 30, 40 or 50 years (drugs, alcohol, not taking there meds or seeking appropriate medical treatment, or eating right) and they (or their family) wanted us to do everything in our power to save them... this included a lot of pain and suffering for our patients which is hard to see 24- 36 hours a week... some of the nurses I worked with just didn't care anymore and were very complacent... I however never want to be this way in my attitude toward my job... shortly after having Daisy I thought I should do something different and now I have... I will still float to this ICU but won't have to face it day in and day out... the whole thing felt very bittersweet... leaving a place I had friends, stability, had learned a lot and shared a lot of laughs!.... and this new job is scary.... seeing traumas come into the ED, working with people I don't even know, asking lots of (sometimes stupid) questions, seeing little kids not make it.... wow! it will be really hard!!!! but I feel up for the challenge!

Thanks Kelly! Here are my quirks!


1) I tend to order the same thing at restaurants. You know if you liked what you ate the first time why chose something different? (Kevin is starting to hate this and I also would have never guessed myself to be predictable but I guess I am).... here are some choices: Friendly's- a 3 scope sunday with chocolate almond chip, hot fudge, whip cream and a cherry, Texas Road house- Country friend Chicken with a house salad on the side with bluecheese drsg and a loaded baked sweet potato (not so healthy but I split it with both kids), Moe's-an Other Lewinsky hold the sour cream, extra guac and cilatro on it, Dunkins- a medium Cocunut (or Toasted Almond) iced coffee, Panera- Cream of Chicken with wild rice soup and an Asian salad, just to name a few

2)I have to sleep with socks on..... this may be gross.... but my feet always sweat so if I sleep without socks they dry out and I hate the feeling.... Kevin can't stand the thought of it but my ice cold, clammy feet in bed are not that great without socks either

3) I can't stand it when people don't put their shopping carts where they belong.... even with two kids and one on the way I put my cart (and others) in the carral or back in the store... New Englanders are the WORST at this!!

4) I hate plastic bags... the texture, the sound of them in the car, and I have huge fears of my children suffocating in them.... needless to say I have many other alternatives I use and love

5) in the summer I have to keep my toes polished... without it they look naked to me!

6) I cringe every time I hear the Law and Order music from the living room.... I can't stand Frasier (they seem to yell not talk).... and when we went away a few weeks ago and vegged out with cable TV I almost freaked when I heard the Sport Center intro when I got out of the shower.... I do love not having cable at home!
Mar
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