Happy to be so...

Hair AND More Important Issues

2011-08-26T01:01:00.000-04:00

Z and L in a loving moment with freshly cut hair!

I've been reading a lot recently about hair...yes...hair. Mainly, African American hair and how to keep it moisturized, fuzz-free, etc. Have you ever looked that up online? It's astounding how much there is about it. 7/8th of it is mostly about how to do all those cool styles you see on females of any age. Boys...haircuts...not so much. I have learned a ton about what to do to make Z's curls more defined and moisturized and really want to grow his hair out. L's is much coarser and tighter curled so...he will be the boy that gets his hair cut every couple weeks by his dad.

On to more important things...

I've also been reading this blog from this white mom of 2 black daughters and it seems with each post that I am reading, in a much more eloquent way, many of the things I've thought about. She's feeling the same things the hubs and I feel. It's astounding. Anywho...here's a post she wrote for a different blog that I think is GREAT and a must read for all people of any race!

Why White People Adopt Black Children

The better photographer

2010-09-25T12:55:00.000-04:00

Danny and I's personalities are very similar. We are also a little competitive with each other. There's an on-going "debate" on who is the better photographer. I really am the better photographer and take most of the pictures...I'm sure that get him riled up. Granted...neither of us are anywhere close to professionals.

We went to a pumpkin "patch" and a mini hay maze this morning and I gave Danny the camera to take pictures. I'd have to say, he was having an ON picture-taking day. Here are some from this morning.

I took the ones at the pumpkin wash.

"Smoking" some straw

See? Wasn't he good? I'll give him today. But that's it.

Funny Isaiah

2010-09-24T13:28:00.000-04:00

Isaiah has said and done some things in the past for weeks that are so cute.

He couldn't think of the name for Rice Krispies so he was asking for Crib Berries. Took me a little bit to figure that one out.

We were driving home from somewhere when Isaiah started talking. I was responding like I usually do when he said, "No mommy. I'm talkin to Wukey. (Luke)" He then began to ask Luke questions and Luke (who hardly speaks yet) says...Yeah. to four different questions Z asked him. They were talking.

Z is now saying phrases like ruin it and back loader. As he was showing me a book that he and Danny read the night before he pointed out a backhoe and proceeded to tell me it doesn't have wheels because they would break. Apparently he's been listening to his dad.

Isaiah has some friends now from our small group. They are anywhere from 2-4 years old. His one friend, C, is pretty high energy and is 4 years old. Z talks about him a lot. One time, I went to the top of stairs and Z and C were at the bottom. Something made them angry and they started hitting each other and crying at the same time. 5 min later, they gave each other a big hug. When we got into the car, Isaiah asked "where did my friends go?" (even though friends sounded like fire. He had never used that word before)

He's such a sweet boy and I sure do love seeing him progress.
But do you remember when he was this small? So itty bitty and yummy. So quiet and angelic. So squishy.

Ok. I'll stop.

No promises

2010-09-20T23:23:00.000-04:00

I would apologize for not blogging regularly...a blogging no-no...but then I'd be lying. I'm not sorry. I started this blog to tell the stories of our lives whenever they happened or whenever I could get around to telling them...so I have been around, just not here. I find myself lacking in any interesting anything to say by the time 8:30pm comes around. Ask Danny. We just sit and stare at each other.

Ok. We don't. But I'm tired most evening from running around after the munchkins. And I have no idea who really reads this anyway...so I just don't motivate myself.

Here I am again. I'll try to be around a bit more but, no promises. Ok? If I "commit" to blogging regularly again, I'll dry up with content again. So I'm using reverse psychology on myself. That'll work, right?

Recent things:
I've been trying to get Luke to talk more. He's a mumbler and he thinks if he says anything (even if it sounds NOTHING like the word) that it counts but not anymore bucko. You are going to speak English for real if I have anything to say about it...and I do!

Isaiah's been talking up a storm and is just a bundle of energy. Why walk when you can hop, skip, or run? He falls down probably 15 times a day. He won't let me pick out his hair without a HUGE fight. It's getting pretty long...haircuts are such a pain, too. I love his tight curls so I let them grow. I'm sure the barber who cuts his hair thinks we are just dumb white people who don't care about what their kids look like. Turns out, I don't care what he thinks. I love his hair so I'm going to grow it out and not shave it all the time.

Health-wise for me? Not too bad. I had another bout in the hospital even though my lung functions were the best they've been in 2 years. I had some hemoptysis that they got under control. 4 days in the hospital with IV's that kept busting. I had to get poked 8 times to get 2 different IV's. THAT was the worst part...for real. My skin must be getting more fragile because they hurt sooo much.

I'm now, off and on, working through the feelings that come with not being able to control the health of your body. I could do everything totally right and still get sick. Dang CF! I'm having to lay control of my life back down at God's feet. It's really a delicate balancing act to "take care of yourself" and try not to "take control." I've got people who depend on me. God is bigger and WAY more dependable than me but it sure doesn't feel that way when staring your own mortality in the face. Don't take this the wrong way. I'm not dying (read..at the end of my life as far as I know) but it death because a lot more real when you get sick just after you got better. It's not in my control, as much as I might think it is.

That being said...here's a few pictures from our vacation in July which was a lot of fun but quite a bit of work with 2 two-year-olds. Ha! Way to change the subject.

Crazy days.

2010-06-18T14:15:00.000-04:00

Not really for me. But for Danny and now, my mom.

Last week, my sinus' exploded and then moved to my chest...Oh, so much coughing, sneezing and blowing my nose. By the end of the week, I was at my doctors and they decided a course of IV antibiotics were needed (I had been on oral antibiotics a few weeks prior.) I agreed. It has been over a year since I've had IVs. This past weekend was hard with feeling gross and running a low fever. I just needed to get to Tues to get the IVs.

Tues came. They put an IV in and I came home with antibiotics. I ran a fever that night and then Weds. I talked to the doctor and they wanted to make sure there wasn't an infection because of my IV so I spent Wed afternoon BORED and coughing in the ER by myself. Danny had to watch the boys (getting no work done!) Nothing came of the tests but they wanted to admit me to the hospital to monitor the fever and get the aching that was beginning in my all my joints under control. All I could think was...poor Danny. I was admitted and am still here. We had help yesterday and today. Thank goodness...My mom also arrived today to help with the boys. Hurray!

The original plan was to get my IVs and then we'd pack up the boys (the little ones, not the big one) and go to Chicago to stay at my parents while I get better. Well...it still may happen but it won't be until middle of next week! Which means I'm in here (with a sinus surgery planned on Tues) until then!! And the weekend goes by soooo slowly here. It's soooo boring. But I'll survive. The question is...will Danny and my mom?

They will. I know. But, I feel for them.

New phrases

2010-05-25T22:05:00.002-04:00

Isaiah has been saying alot of things that I haven't heard before just today. They may not seem much to the regular person but to someone who has to translate his musings to everyone around, it's just amazing to me to hear his language developing. I've babysat when I was younger two year olds and heard their funky talking but never have I gotten to hear the little things that change and expand.

For example, today, Isaiah wanted his blankey but I'm trying to help him understand he doesn't need it all the time so we negotiate for five minutes at a time that he gets it. He seems happy to have five minutes and then he throws it over the gate. Today, I said if he went potty right now, he could have his blankey for 5. We went and then walked over and asked for popcorn (his "prize" for peeing.) I said no you can have your blankey and he said, "Popcorn first." Never has he used the word "first" and in the right/smart context. He got popcorn and his blankey because he cute and he's trying new words.

He got a lesson on dead bugs today from Danny. He learned that when Daddy smashes a "pider" (any sort of bug is a spider) he stops "mubin" (moving...fairly unused word) and is "dead (a new word he's never said.) He kept saying, "pider not mubin" trying to understand the concept of dead. Later, he repeated it and then was trying the word kill which ended up as "kun" or something. The double L's are really hard. We worked on it and he said it right a couple times but then was back to kun.

He's finally using the 5 W's a bit (where, why, when, what and how?) Today I heard him yell out the window trying to find Daddy who was outside,"Where r you daddy?" Where didn't exactly sound like where but I knew what he was trying for and he's never tried before.

He calls to everyone and sometimes me saying "Hey buddy!" He's also starting to say, "Hey Ducas? Dookey? Dukas?" and wait till Luke looks at him and tells him it's time to eat or that the clothes he's holding are dirty. He's trying to have real conversations with him. It's so flippin cute. Sometimes he'll even ask Ducas for the toy he has and Ducas shares with him...his brother understands his little 2 year old language. It slays me.

Off topic a bit, Isaiah is now ok with kissing Luke. Tonight Luke had his thumb in his mouth and was holding his blankey. I gave Luke a kiss on the head because of the thumb (and because that's what Luke offers me right now) and Z came over pulled Luke's hand out of his mouth and kissed him on the lips. Melt my heart...over and over.

Early Spring Cookout

2010-05-10T21:24:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago, before the leaves came out, we decided, spur of the moment, to do a quick cookout around the fire in our yard. The boys were so excited. Here are some of the happenings.

The boys are singing "Chuggington"

Always ready for a picture perfect smile

Isaiah was playing hard-to-get for a picture

Got 'em

Over the top

Eating!

I got this smile after I bribed him with marshmellows.

Love this!!

Luke and words

2010-05-05T21:33:00.004-04:00

Luke is working on his talking. He'll look at us with the most sincere face and just rattle off a story with no real words in it. And you have to act interested or he'll just walk away and act like he doesn't know you. So flippin cute.

He has a few words like, wa-wa (water), ba (ball), ba ba (basketball or football), daddy and mama, sit, bless you (can't really tell but you know what he's saying), and thank you. I'm sure there are others, we just don't know that he's saying it.

He prefers to not talk but to throw toys, cups and fists. He prefers to scream and yell when he doesn't want to do something or something is being taken away.

He's all boy and I hope I make it through without a few hospital trip for injuries from him!

We Have Not Seen

2010-04-22T21:00:00.000-04:00

I love it as it feels like my life, too.

We have not seen...written by Julia Pickerill

The piles of laundry on the bed
Serve
-I think at times of great awareness-
of a sort of occupied life that has no space for whites and darks.
Occupied for better things, a lofty darkness and white
Which I serve. A greater good.

Goods and greats
Converge
- As I pick up a toy gun from the floor-
to remind even the most holy that there is still sacrilege.
Most remember nothing, a bending of the mind and memory
Which is necessary. For a still sort of living.

Evening buzzes in as the sky
Turns
-The light is gone and we have not seen the going-
and the laundry is swept to the floor while memory bows to stillness.
Certain things must be done, while whites and darks bleed, and grays
Which we have become incarnate, beg to be sorted.

We would rather sleep like cats and dogs and other ordinary things.
Minds which have no place for piles turn to simplicity like an animal.
Muted, ahistoric, novel:
we favor still and sweet
And much ease is taken in the forgetting.

Mini Marshmellows

2010-04-17T23:00:00.000-04:00

Today was a very nice day. Danny was here this morning (he's been working alot so seeing him when we wake up hasn't happened much as of late.) The boys and I went to Chuck E. Cheese for a friend of mine's son's birthday party. It was the first time for the boys and years and years for me.
The Chuck E. Cheese I remember was dark and old with freaky robotic characters and lots of rooms to get lost in. This one was not that way at all...very light, open, with a great security system to make sure you leave with the right kids, and only one robotic character in the far side of the restaurant. Isaiah had a couple freak-out moments with a life-size horse that you could ride. He thought I was going to make him ride it. I didn't really see any other kids freaking out but the average age of kids there is a bit older. The boys had fun just watching all the lights and the action of the games and people playing them.

I tried my hardest to keep Luke from falling asleep on the way home (for fear of him feeling like he didn't need a nap during naptime) but he passed out even while I was shaking his leg, talking VERY loudly, and having the windows down (was a bit chilly today.) Thankfully, he napped anyway later on.

Danny came home later and took the boys outside for quite sometime. We (Z and I) convinced Daddy to have a fire outside with hotdogs for dinner. It was very nice. We can never get Z to count for us. He just says random numbers but I know he knows 6-10 because I hear him practicing when he's drawing. Tonight, he did it. Mini marshmellow are the key to getting him to count. We would give him a mini marshmellow as he counted all the way up to 5. We were proud and he was like "easy peasy!" He, alone, was the only one who knew he could do it...until now!

He's has started to get out of his crib for good these days so we are dealing with teaching him how to stay in bed. Tonight was the worst, as it took him over an hour and a half to actually go to sleep. He was out a handful of times.

In any case, our boys are so wonderful and we are blessed.

Sisters, Sisters...there were never such devoted sisters

2010-04-14T22:21:00.000-04:00

My sister is awesome. She cracks me up. She's such a fun yet, deep-thinking person. Who knew those two things could be in one person...so related to me?!

It was really great to have her and her boys here a couple of weeks ago. We just spent time talking and ignoring our boys the best we could. We had alot to catch up and couldn't be bothered disciplining the boys. Ok, there was some discipline. Sarah was in Colorado for 2 years and then has been in Illinois for one. Before that, we were in the same town and could see each other whenever. I so miss that!

She's very thrifty-literally, an expert at thrift shopping. She gets amazing things at a thrift shop. She either has an amazing eye for finding things or the thrift shops were amazing in CO and in IL. She's artistic musically, in painting, sewing, and all things yarn (knitting, crocheting, weaving.) You can tell she's got a great voice in this video.

Did I mention she's hilarious? She sent me 4, yes, 4 of these silly videos and I was crying and peeing in my pants laughing.

I'm blessed to have a sister like Sarah even if she's 7 hours away!

A 2 year old Easter

2010-04-03T23:33:00.000-04:00

Today we gave the boys their Easter baskets, as Danny will be working at dear ole' Starbucks, tomorrow morning. They got some matchbox construction trucks, a shape sorter, shovels, books and fish....yep, real ones. We had originally thought about getting a frog but after realizing that frogs don't move much and you have to feed them live grasshoppers which means we have to GO GET live grasshoppers, we thought otherwise.

Both boys love fish. Some may think our boys are too young but, they are only young once and we only have clean the tank 2 times a week! (Another reason to not clean my house, I guess. "But, I had to clean the fish tank so I couldn't wash the windows!") So we bit the bullet and got them 2 beta fish. They loved them.

At some point in the afternoon, I said, "Do you know why we celebrate Easter?" to Isaiah.

Why do I open a can a worms so early in the child's life?

I told him because Jesus came because he loves us, he died, and then he rose again. He's alive! He looked at me and asked if He was coming (in the way only a 2 y.o. can do.)

I scrambled (knowing he was already lost) with "He's coming someday for us."

He looked at me again and that was about it. Subject passed. Good idea, Z. Your mommy is going to just confuse your cute, little brain even more if you press on.

Naptime.

After his nap, I walk in and the first thing he says is, "Jesus here?" (As in...has he come to visit?)

Bless his dear soul. Poor speechless and silly mommy. I suppose you've got to start somewhere.

To pierce my heart even more, a bit later he says, "Jesus shovel?" (As in...is he going to come and shovel with me?)

On the bright side, at least he knows that Jesus is person and wants to play with him now. It just might not be for quite awhile.

On a more elequent note, here's cool post from a blog I read about God and Good Friday.

Confessions of a CF Husband

Changes that confuse and disgust us

2010-03-27T17:00:00.002-04:00

Due-ty.

Dote.

Those are words you hear alot around here. Isaiah calls Luke (Lukey,) Duety and milk, dote. And he says both alot. It's been that way since he was just over a year and a half. No one else has any idea what he's saying but we do. Until yesterday.

Doke.

He's changed it up on us and it's causing confusion. Who cares that it's closer to the real word? It's making his parents wondering what he's saying...as though we were complete strangers not used to toddler talk. You hear it, scratch your head, repeat it over and over and then say, "Isaiah, I'm sorry. I have no idea what you are saying. " And then the poor boy is thinking, "I'm saying exactly what you've been wanting me to say for months. Doke. Doke. Duh!!!" And then I caught on.

Duke. Dukey. (Yes. Dukey. Poor. Child.)

Today. He's added the K to Luke. No L yet. Just the K. I only knew what he was saying because he changed up his milk word yesterday. And in Isaiah's world it's always been Lukey...so it's Dukey. So sweet and yet, so un-appetizing. We are praying for the L's to come into his speech everyday.

Sleepy Luke

2010-03-24T14:48:00.003-04:00

Spending time with cousins can wear a boy out.

To Do's

2010-03-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

We are back from Chicago and the To Do list has gotten pretty long. There are so many parts of our house that are out of control and need taming. Dust, for example. It's pretty dusty. Laundry, for another. It needs washed, folded and put away again. Bathrooms. Two toddlers lives here (enough said.) Ok...everyone's got stuff so I'll stop complaining. But this blog is just another to do on my list and I just keep putting it off.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy doing it when I get around to it. The thing is, I really enjoy reading this blog, this blog and this blog. I can't do it as regularly and artfully as they do and I find myself feeling bummed about it. So I skip it. And then I remember, I'm just doing it for fun and to keep family and friends updated on our lives and the boys' development. It's not a competition. I did not sign up to compete in the Blog Olympics. Stop it, Anne. Just stop it.

So I check another To Do off my list. It will become enjoyable once again after my long list shrivels to a short list! Also, blogspot is not letting me upload videos the way I used to and to research that is another To Do... so you'll have to make due with pictures till I can get to it! Sorry.

Isaiah's funny smile.

And then there's this smile.

Finger painting. I swear they HAD paper. Then then it became a paint-your-body-and-your-tray party.

Luke having a quiet time in the hall. He can be found at random times having a laydown with his blankey.

Headed to Chicago

2010-02-25T20:15:00.000-05:00

We decided to take the opportunity to head up to Chicago to see my parents and it couldn't have come at a better time. Danny will be working the Home and Garden show (which is pretty big here) for his business so he'll be gone alot. I'm tired of being in our house. And Luke has started a not-listening or responding phase that I'm totally over. He's a persistent little thing that is attempting to drive his mother insane. So all those factors come together to make me think all will be easier to deal with at someone else's house. Right...

Got the boys haircuts today. Isaiah has had a few but this is the first time he did not freak out. He was a little nervous before we got in there. We walked in and there was another dad with small boy ~~sitting squirming~~ screaming and flailing while the barber was trying to cut his hair. The boys were captivated. That's what Z looked like just a few months ago at his first time at the barber.

Z went first, sat on Danny's lap and was absolutely great! It was awesome. Luke sat in the chair all by himself as he's done everytime and just let him cut it. What a little bitty man.

Got some good videos coming for you.

Some pictures

2010-02-13T22:35:00.001-05:00

We got alot of snow over the course of a few days. Isaiah and Luke didn't like the snow at first because it was so deep. They adjusted and we enjoyed ourselves and so did the neighbor dog, Brutus.

Wearing his new sweatshirt from his birthmom Kiara.

Playing the piano with his feet (a move that is not allowed.)

Heater malfunction lead us to a day of 60 degrees in the house. We were cold!

In the potty

With the potty hat on

Trying to see his elmo on his tush

Luke is growing up

2010-02-10T23:22:00.000-05:00

I remember Isaiah starting to really understand and follow directions when he turned 18 months and I'm starting to see Luke moving toward this too. He's becoming more aware and wanting to help, by picking up even the tiniest piece of lint and running into the kitchen, opening the cabinet and putting it in the trash. He turns to me and gives a big grin. He's so proud of himself.

I was also floored, as I got the wooden blocks out the other day for the boys to play with. In months past, I would have to build a tower and then guard it so Isaiah can have a chance to knock it down before Luke got to it first. This time, I showed him how to build a tower and that he had to build and knock his own down and not go after Isaiah's tower. He got that on my first explanation and he spent a good 15 minutes just building his own tower and knocking them down. He had a blast and I was so happy he could finally do it!

I love the 18 month corner! Way to turn it Luke!

Potty Update

2010-02-09T16:20:00.001-05:00

I promised a potty post and I know you are dying to hear about it!

Isaiah. I've sworn off diapers for him (the exception of nighttime) and I have not gone back (although I would have like to a few times!) He's wearing underwear all the time and peeing/pooping in it from time to time. Some days have been very good when he's worn the same pair of undies all day. Other days he goes quite a bit in them if I'm not saying "Hey, it's time to go to the potty." I'm praying for more consistency of him wanting to go by himself without my prompting.

We have found that he doesn't want m&m's (they worked for a couple days but then he started refusing them) but likes popcorn as a reward for going to the potty without whining and by himself (doing his own pants.) On the bad days, you may come into our cold, drafty house and see him almost naked (ok he's got a sweatshirt on) as he doesn't tend to go if he's got nothing to go in except the potty.

The other day, Danny and I decided that he needs to go to his room if he bingos (our word for poop) on the floor. (Nice! Right?) It's as enjoyable to clean up as it sounds. We don't discipline him if he goes in his pants...just on the floor, when he's pantless. He was squatting looking at books the other day and looked over at me and then...dink. NASTY! He spent 2-3 min in his room for that one. I went in and he immediately said "Sorry." I said, "What are you sorry for?" and for the first time in his life he actually answered the What question. He said, "Bingo...on floor." I was soooo proud! He's developing before my eyes!

Luke is enjoying the time he gets to sit on the potty. Yes, he's sitting. No action down in the potty though! It's such a bummer. One of these days he's going to realize he can control it. None the less, the earlier you start putting them on the potty and having it be an enjoyable experience the earlier (at least that's what I've read) they will start training. I blame the book Diaper Free Before 3 for all of this. If I'm pottying one, why not two? We'll see. Luke does (after a month and a half of off/on potty-sitting) come stand my me and say "Ssss" when he's going pee in his diaper which is much to late to get him to the potty to catch it. At least he admits it now. Then we do some more potty-sitting.

That's us in Never Potty Land.

Fun Thursday

2010-02-02T13:45:00.000-05:00

Sorry it's been so long. Nothing interesting seems to be going on and yet...we're busy. Mmmm. How does that work?

On Thursday, we went to library for storytime. Isaiah would just stand still and watch the other kids or me sing or do the actions. Then he'd walk away and find something to play with. At one point, he's sitting at the table with another little boy who's probably 6 months to a year older and they are coloring. Isaiah does a high pitched scream and the little boy who was talking to him says "Ow." and then very kindly says "don't do that again. It was too loud." Isaiah just looks at him. Later, he just comes running through the group who are all seated on the floor listening to the story and goes back around to the table to play again.

After the storytime was over, the lady who does it was passing out stickers. I was looking at books but I saw Z get a sticker and then he went to get Luke (who was playing on the furniture by himself) and took him by the hand leading him over to the lady so Luke could get a sticker. SOOOO cute!!!!!

Z did this same thing to me later today. He wanted a snack so he grabbed my hand and led me over to where the cheerios were and pointed them out. He made this cute little begging face and said "Cheerios?" He is quite the ham.

Tonight we start a new small group/bible study. We are very excited as it's been over 2 years since we've been in one and have noticed recently that we are wanting to be back in community again. It was a much needed break but we do miss it too. I'm excited too as the boys will be playing with some other kids during that time but also doing a "lesson" to learn about Jesus.

A potty training/diaper update is coming soon. (I know, you are on the edge of your seat.)

Dirty Floors

2010-01-22T22:54:00.000-05:00

Someone may walk into our house, look at our floors and say, "Man, don't they vacuum or mop?" I do. I swear. Many days it's a light vacuum or a light wash up. Nothing too hardcore. But just two days, I looked at the floors and thought, "It's time for a workout doing the floors for real." So I go into the mudroom and grab the vacuum. As soon as I get out the door, the boys attack!

Z wants to push it around. Luke wants to push the buttons and pull the levers. Either way, trying to move the vacuum back and forth to actually clean the floors is impossible as both boys enjoy jumping in front of it. Several times, Luke unplugged the vacuum. After what seems like an hour, the floors finally get done. I'm sweating and breathless. But they still need mopped.

Do you know that Luke is still drooling? That's 3/4 of the reason the floors are so gross...dried drool. Yum. And sad to say, as soon as you mop and it dries, here comes Luke and his drooling lips. Oh, and the other fourth is milk that is dripped, splattered, splashed or thrown onto the floor and then probably played in before I can get there with a clean-up device.

So considering the above...where's my motivation to do the floors? Where is it? Only when I get disgusted myself do I get motivated.

Let's just say this. If you plan to come over, just don't expect clean floors. Expect dirty floors and be surprised if they are clean.

The thing he hates, he imitates

2010-01-17T17:17:00.002-05:00

Isaiah really does not like going to the barber but as I sit here, he is "cutting" my hair and handing me a sucker. He also made me close my eyes and then cry because it hurt. He loves to be the barber and makes sure the sucker is apart of the process. Isaiah has an amazing ability to cry the whole time and suck on the sucker.

Just thought I'd share.

Also, if you get a stomach bug (a 24 to 48 hour thing) it may somehow be from the bug Z picked up in the pediatricians office. He had it, then Luke and I, gave it to my friend Nancy who came over when Z had, who gave it to two of her friends on Friday...it may be coming to you next if you know Nancy or her friends. :) Seven Degrees of Illness.

A Great Love

2010-01-10T22:32:00.004-05:00

I have decided to embrace my nerd-i-ness and record all of the Masterpiece Classics that they show. For those of you not to my level of nerdiness, it's different stories set in the 18th and 19th centuries England and shown on PBS. Many are adaptations of Jane Austin, Dickens and Shakespeare. I love them and can't get enough of them!! They are each an hour and half so I can watch them and see the whole thing while I am doing by breathing treatment.

As I searched Masterpiece's website, I could start a Masterpiece Book and Film Club. That would certainly up my nerdiness to an all-time high!

Yes. This is me. And I don't care what you think...I think. :)

Getting in a funk

2010-01-04T15:21:00.001-05:00

It's been really interesting when both boys have hard days of exerting their independence and just basically not listening are the days I'm most tired anyway. So we are a family (with the exception of Danny most of the time) of crabbies and it's not enjoyable. You might just want to stay away those days. This past weekend, we had 2 days in a row that way and I was in a funk. I just get so "whoa is me" and so annoyed at the little things.

I find myself by 4 o'clock crying out to God to help me change my attitude. That's when I realize how crappy my attitude has been. (It does take me awhile.) But, if I haven't spent much time thinking about God or talking to him I find my crying out doesn't go as far for helping me. He wants to have me surrendered to Him more and more, not only when I'm at the end of my rope. If I'm constantly "surrendering" (more focus on Him throughout my day...ie not grumbling about having to do the dishes AGAIN, and not snapping because I'm inconvenienced...looking to Him for a better attitude) I could handle the harder stuff better....sometimes. He doesn't promise an end to hardships...just more peace in the midst. I'll take any more peace that I can get.

5 minutes

2009-12-31T19:09:00.005-05:00

Isaiah did great at going to the potty with a good attitude until yesterday. All the sudden, he doesn't want to take the all important trip to the bathroom. I'm giving him 5 more minutes (like he has a clue what that is) before we go if he puts up a fight. Today, I told him we need to go to the bathroom and he said "No" in his whiney fashion and then stopped and said quietly, "5 minutes." At that, I turned, laughed and gave him 5 minutes. Hilarious and smart.

Christmas was lovely and tiring all at the same time. We were here (OH) for the day and that evening we left for Chicago for 3 days. It was snowy there which was fun. The cousins came over and the kids had alot of fun playing. The women went out one night (we saw Blind Side (great movie!)) and the guys the next (Danny said Avatar was awesome!)

We came home to a crazy messy house as we left on Christmas Night without time to clean so...I taking it all in stride. As my mom always said, "One thing at a time."

Happy New Year friends and family! We love you!

We can all see ourselves which is why it's so silly.

Choosing

2009-12-24T23:20:00.003-05:00

Isaiah got sick the evening before Christmas Eve was coughing most of the night. He didn't get that much sleep and neither did I. This morning started out pretty rough between the two of us but somewhere in the day we both chose to be in a good mood and try our best to experience the joy of Christmas.

We went to church and then to Danny's uncle and aunt's house. It was alot of fun. They spoiled the boys and the boys loved it. Oh, and they spoiled us too. Lucas was really animated about opening presents and kept cheering when he would rip paper off. Isaiah kept stealing goodies off the cookie plates on the counters. He's so tall!! Here's a few pictures.

Note to self

2009-12-22T00:43:00.003-05:00

When Isaiah gets quiet, take him to the bathroom. He probably has to go #2. If you don't, he'll #2 in the corner. True story.

In other news, all the Christmas preparations are in full swing. We are getting all the gifts wrapped, fudge made, and house "cleaned." But, it's now almost Tuesday and we need to pack for our trip on Friday evening to Chicago. Seems like there's time but, um, I need a week to make sure I have everything. That's just me.

So it's late and Luke is fussing. Time to do my job and then my other job...sleep.

#2

2009-12-17T21:03:00.004-05:00

This was a few months ago but, isn't he cute?! Sarah, you said you wanted to see pictures.

We had a breakthrough today. Isaiah told me he need to go to the potty, we went and he went #2 on the potty!! Oh, the elation! He requested once he sat on the toilet the "elmo potty" song on YouTube. As a dutiful mother who would do a whole lot of things to get him to #2 on the potty I went and got the laptop and we watched it while he sat. Then, I gave him his privacy to take any pressure away and he announced just a bit later that he went. There was much rejoicing. Ok, more on my part than his but he did walk out and tell Luke that he went which was cute.

There's not too much resistance these days to #1 and I'm hoping we are on the #2 upswing! He has also (for the last 2 days) been dry after his nap! YEAH!

Fudge

2009-12-17T08:33:00.002-05:00

Every Christmas, I see alot of my friends make cookies and even my mother and sister make tons of cookies (which I appreciate when I get there.) I don't enjoy baking (at all) and my cookies never turn out to be the deliciousness that I had hoped.

I make candied pecans and we give them as gifts but, I'm bored with candied pecans. So, this year, I decided to make fudge instead. So if you are family...you know what's coming! I had a great time making it as there is hardly any cooking involved and I had an even better time eating it. So if you are family...you know what's not coming...I ate it all.

Potty Time!

2009-12-11T20:02:00.003-05:00

So as many of you know, Danny and I started with Isaiah when he was born, taking him to the potty. He has remained "in tune" with how make his pee come out but after 10 months of hardly any poopy diapers and a decent amount of pee in the potty, he decided he had enough. When Luke arrived, he decided #2 was for his diaper. He would still be taken to the potty for pee but it wasn't until 8 LONG months later did he #2 again in the potty for a short stint. All the while going #1 in his diaper/underwear or the potty, whichever he chose. He hardly ever would tell me when he needed to go.

Just the other day, after a week of trying to kick up the potty training and Z not really wanting to do it much, I decided to check out books. I got Diaper Free Before 3. I was saddened as I remembered reading "Diaper Free" when he was born. It worked for us but not as well as I had hoped. But the Before 3 has reinspired me as to what we were originally thinking with kids being in tuned to their bodies and fairly flexible if you are consistent and positive.

2 days, I've been consistently (at transition times) taking Luke and Z to the potty.

Day 1...Z wasn't happy but he did have success (not in the #2 arena.) Luke was just happy to be included...no pee in the potty but he's dry for long stints. Day 2...Z decides (FINALLY) that he likes being able to climb up on the stool, step up on the toilet rim facing the tank, lean over the toilet (his hands are holding him by the tank) and pee standing up. He can get up and down all by himself...and I KNOW he will fall in countless times! But I don't care. He took this position tonight 3 times before bed to squeeze just a little more out because it was fun.

And before we know it, Luke will be doing #1 and 2 in the potty too! I am confident.

I know you all care so much about this but when you want me to blog...here's what you get!

Unedited...so alittle long...Boys will be boys.

Christmas Train

2009-12-08T23:44:00.002-05:00

So I decided to get out the train that Danny's sister had given us. We wanted to put it around the bottom of the tree but seeing as how the tree has been placed outside the house, on the front porch (as I could even think of adding another "no touch" to the list,) I thought I'd put it on the piano. It's a baby grand and the track doesn't quite fit. I thought, "It would be fine...I'll just put a little support under the tracks."

Isaiah was stoaked when he saw it was a train until...I turned it on. I goes mock 10 and didn't quite make it around the track before falling off the piano with a big crash. Both boys immediately started screaming and crying. I had to hide the laugh that bubbled up. So I calmed them down and tried again. And BAM! down again (I'm such an engineer) and more screaming. This time, I had to cover my laugh.

I then gave up but Danny tried again later with the same engineering failings and the same screaming. HILARIOUS. So the train hasn't gotten any further. Still broken down.

Been a long time.

2009-12-06T10:11:00.003-05:00

So we're back on the blogging bandwagon. I've missed it but also needed the break from "responsiblities." This last year was a trying year and as we look forward it is with optimism and joy instead of hardships and trials.

I have some "boys" stories that will be posted soon so start checking the blog again!

For now, I leave you with the latest. The boys both got their haircut by a real barber yesterday and it was quite a sight. He was very quick but did a great job despite Isaiah putting up a real fight! Z had to sit on Danny's lap and screamed for a good 10 minutes moving his head around the whole time. He had a harder time trying to eat his sucker and scream at the same time so the sucker ended up in the hair on the floor numerous times! Then it was Luke's turn and he sat all by himself in the chair, cheerios in hand (never ate a one) and was really still! I was so proud of him.

Needless to say they both look dapper but much less like babies! I love it and hate it at the same time. Tomorrow we are going to document the occasion by going to get our family pictures taken. Pray for us! We need smiles and happy babies! :)

All work and no play...

2009-07-09T20:35:00.008-04:00

Makes Anne a boring girl. And I consider this blog play...so I'm taking the evening and playing.

Here's some fun videos if I can get this dang internet to stay solid.

Luke spotlight

2009-06-13T16:37:00.008-04:00

This is our last weekend in Chicago. We were going to go to the St. Charles River Festival but it was pouring all morning. We'll try tomorrow. Sarah and I are going out tonight for awhile. We need a little time away! Danny and I skyped this afternoon so he could see the boys and the boys could see him. As soon as Isaiah saw Danny he threw his arms up and down like he does when

he's excited. I know both boys will be so glad when they have their dad back! And I can't wait either. 3.5 weeks is a long time to be away. There would have been no other way (without costing a fortune) so it had to be done. Drywall is almost done and Danny is working on the hardwood floors. He has a ton to do but he's amazing so I have no doubts he'll do it quickly.

Here's some recent (within the month or so) stuff from Luke.

Pulling up on everything and proud

Cousin Gracie likes to keep track of her Knights in shining armor

Splashin crazy

Passionate about food

The many faces of Luke

First time in the sandbox. He loved it and did pretty well
until he got hungry then sand was eaten. Colon cleansing?

If you watch until the end, you'll see Luke's trying to take flight
when he does the "roll em up" move. Hilarious how fast he goes.

The house is being worked on.

2009-06-05T13:03:00.003-04:00

With the construction moving inside the house (we are redoing part of the kitchen and opening the kitchen up to the new addition) the boys and I had to leave. It was going to get uber messy uber quick. Luke has recently started crawling (army crawling...on his belly, that is) and I couldn't imagine the mess he would be after 10 minutes and how much it would be of just chasing the boys around. So instead, I'm in Chicago chasing them around at my parent's house. Much better! I will do a Luke post pretty soon. Lots of cute videos of him since he still likes the camera. :)

The backside of the house with the new addition

The front mid-construction...new porch, paint, roof, gutters and eventually landscape

Water time at Hudson's birthday party

Isaiah admiring his great aunt and her funny jokes

Cousins and neighbors at Hudson's party...water balloons that lasted 3 minutes

Uncle Josh and Gracie (the youngest cousin to the boys)

Isaiah Special

2009-05-17T11:13:00.011-04:00

I thought I'd do a little focus on Isaiah today. There are some cute things he's doing. He's loving having a bit of freedom when we go into a store by walking (or really, running) around and not being in the cart. When he starts to get stuff off the shelves he gets put in the cart. We went to Trader Joe's the other day and they have the mini carts for the kids to push. I gave him one and he took off, running with it and slamming it into the shelves. When he did that, the cart tipped and fell and so did he. I decided he may be a bit too young and CRAZY to be in charge of his own cart.Z's favorite thing- playing in the water.

Touch the Truck day. They had all kinds of vehicles the kids could get into.

This is our trip to the zoo on Mother's Day. This was Z's first time at the petting zoo area. Pictures are in order of events.
Not so sure. Just watching.

Touching the goat.

Petting the goat. If you can click to zoom in on the pic, Z's got a great little smile.

Giving the goat a hug.

Surprise!

Teenagers

2009-05-07T09:10:00.003-04:00

So I bet you are wondering why I'm concerned about teenagers when the boys are only 18 months and 8 months. I don't blame you. Danny and I have been time-warped into teenagerdom with the arrival of our niece, K, who has come to stay with us for awhile. She's 16 and has one year left of high school. We have been working through her transition and ours (of being teenage guardians) and it's been good and hard all at the same time. We are trusting God to bring healing and answers to life's hard questions. Not to mention the practical things like making lunches, getting up early and taking her to school (I haven't had to do the taking, as both boys are asleep when she needs to leave) and the picking up in the middle of the afternoon. Oh, and helping her to remember and do her homework...what a shift!!

I was wondering why I hadn't blogged since the beginning of April...and I realized that it's because our house has been in quite the transition (literally and figuratively.) They are also moving right along with the addition to the house. We spent most the day yesterday without a front door (getting a new one) which is challenging with Isaiah who loves the outside. We can't wait until it's done! The boys and I will be headed up to Chicago to stay with my parents when they open the back wall to open the kitchen up to the new addition and do all the work on the kitchen that we've planned. I'm hoping it will take the 2 weeks that they predicted but am assuming it will take longer. BOO! Pictures to come.

Z running

2009-04-09T21:59:00.004-04:00

We just love what Z looks like when he's running. He's so flippin cute. I didn't want to edit it so the clip is long and drawn out....do me a favor and don't watch the whole thing. The first 10 sec. are why I'm posting it.

Boys first bath together.

2009-04-09T20:23:00.002-04:00

Just got a little video of the boys first bath together.

My mom is here so I felt confident to tackle both boys in the bath at once. Luke was tired so he didn't enjoy it as much as I thought he would. There were will be many more.

Pictures in reverse order of when they happened.

2009-03-28T14:27:00.018-04:00

Scott is the Pide Piper.

My dad and Luke have the same face all by coincidence.

Danny and Z went to and OSU basketball game. Z loves them!

It's been awhile

2009-03-25T23:01:00.004-04:00

Sick Lucas.

Sick Isaiah.

So it's been awhile since I've blogged. A few of my reasons are...
1. Was lacking anything to talk about
2. I went to Chicago for a week to see my family
3. I've been sick and the boys were sick...which makes for long tiresome days.

Moving on.
Chicago was great fun in spite of me coughing my head off and wiping the boys noses all day long. It's been a really long time (in sister terms) since I had seen my sister, her husband and my nephews. They are now living in Chicago and I love it! We had a wonderful time. My dad and Scott (brother in law) took on the boys bedtimes so us girls could go out 2 nights that week. We went to Ikea one night (and only had 30 minutes until they closed, booo!!) and to an Irish pub and coffee anther night. We went to Caribou Coffee and played Kings in the Corners like a bunch of old ladies. It was great fun even though Sarah KILLED us!

Pictures to come soon.

Eating and PB & J

2009-03-05T15:44:00.003-05:00

So I love PB and J (Peanut Butter and Jelly for those who live in a cave) and I think it's a great lunch for me and Z. Z on the other hand, did not like peanut butter. No matter what I did I could not get him to eat it. Until today. I do believe we have a Peanut Butter lover in the making on our hands. I put it in front of him today and he whined. He was tired and didn't eat much of anything.

Later, after his nap, it was put in front of him again and he whined...But here's the key to his eating that we have been finding. If there's something he thinks he doesn't want, give him something else on the tray as another option for eating and he'll then eat BOTH. Crazy, weird but very cool. I know there is some spiritual truth...in our relationhship with God...just like how Z likes to eat the stuff he doesn't want. I know there's something (because it touches me inside when he does eat the stuff he doesn't want)...just can't figure out what.

So he ate a half of a sandwich and then asked for more!! Go PB & J!

6 months

2009-02-25T18:38:00.004-05:00

So Luke is 6 months today so I thought I'd make an entry in celebration. He also got a bath (no, it's not his first) and a mohawk haircut. He's rolling over and really trying to sit by himself (not there yet!)

We spent some time outside today as it was in the upper 40's and sunny! It was so wonderful. I can't wait till the spring. Isaiah can make a mess outside vs. inside!

Some self portraits on the computer.

Z likes to make this scowl at strangers now. He must love their reactions. :)

Sick

2009-02-17T16:35:00.002-05:00

It's so sad. Luke has his first cold. He's so pitiful. Snot a plenty. And having a hard time sleeping, which makes me have a hard time sleeping. He's voice is a little raspy and he's starting to cough. Just trying to keep Z and myself from getting it! Please pray for the little man that he'll recover quickly.

Brothers

2009-02-09T20:18:00.011-05:00

The boys have begun really interacting and I think it is so cute! Luke loves to watch Isaiah and Z likes to tell Luke what's happening. Just a fun few pics.

Luke's straight smile. So cute!

Happy in the basket.

Reading time.

Chatting time.

Z's new haircut.

I know he looks like a toddler. He's closer! It's the haircut. But it's soo easy so it's staying awhile.

Z's "talking" more and doing movements with his hands. He patted Danny and then pointed to the floor because he wanted him to lay down so he could crawl on him.

Such a lover...that Z.

A lost video

2009-02-08T10:19:00.005-05:00

I forgot I wanted to get this on the blog. About a month ago, Luke started this thing that sounded horrific! He'd do it when you buckle him in his carseat, after he just ate, and random other times like this one. He just liked the sound of it, I guess. No one else did...thinking he was going to throw up at any minute.

Perspective

2009-02-03T18:03:00.003-05:00

So I was at the grocery yesterday sans children and getting my shopping done. I really HATE going with them because it's alot of lugging them around and then fitting the stuff in the cart around Luke's seat. Plus you have to keep Z happy all the while trying not to pass by the stuff I need in each aisle.

As I'm shopping, I run into a friend from awhile back and she looks rundown! She has 2 carts that she is pushing and pulling. One full of groceries and one full of kids! Her older son was kind-of pushing (he's probably 7,) two girls were in the basket, and another son was laying on the platform below the basket. She was telling me that she needed to be somewhere soon to pick up her oldest daughter. YEP! 5 kids and she was grocery shopping with all the younger ones who aren't helpful when it comes to shopping.

Boy, was I impressed. It really put my two babies in perspective and made me glad we never got, or will get, onto the "many children" bandwagon.

There was an old woman,
Who lived in a shoe;
She had so many children,
She didn't know what to do.

I already don't really know what to do so I would be really up a creek if we had more!

Dinner? Again?

2009-01-31T17:06:00.002-05:00

I'm in a food-making slump. I don't want to...ever. I can get through breakfast ok and lunch isn't too hard but...DINNER! AAAHHH! I want to go for a 26 mile run or fold 18,000 pairs of unmatched socks before I want to think about what to make for dinner. And then making it is a-whole-nother issue.

I just don't want to. I'm tired of it. I don't feel creative but I also hate buying pre-made junk at the store. So do we just eat out every night? Yes! No... (too expensive on the impending hard times we are supposed to be in.) Maybe we just don't eat. No, I don't want to lose my children over not feeding them. That's lame. :)

I have issues.

A crazy sight

2009-01-30T22:10:00.002-05:00

The other morning, it was about 9:15, Danny was talking to Luke in the living room. He looked out our front window, across the snow and said, "Anne, LOOK!" I came running over and there were 3 coyotes trotting across our front yard, into our side yard and through our back woods. We were FLOORED.

I had seen a silhouette of one when Isaiah was very small, in the middle of the night, go across our front yard, tracking the deer that were there 10 minutes earlier but never did I think we'd see them during the day. It was really cool to see.

We were very glad that Dierker was inside. He would have ended up getting eaten alive because they were looking for food.

New Heights

2009-01-29T23:08:00.009-05:00

So I hear some grunting in the living room as I'm in the kitchen cooking and I know it's Isaiah beckoning me to come out and see him. I peek around the corner to find him, in his shirt and underwear, standing on our narrow and tippy coffee table. He was so proud that he climbed all the way up by himself that he had to show me! He has not really been a climber yet, though his doctor warned me it was coming, so I was shocked and amazed to find him there. I got him down and told him "No," but was laughing on the inside.

Below are pictures of Luke's first experience with the snow. We bundled him first inside, before moving onto Z and myself so Luke was crying by the time we got him out the door because he was hot and he couldn't move. It was so cute!

He has a natural mohawk. We just enhanced it a bit.

First sitting in the snow.

Z putting snow on Luke's head.

Both falling backward. No reaction.

The boys.

And then they were tired of the pictures. Stoic Z and annoyed Luke.

Sunny Winters and Snow days

2009-01-25T23:09:00.011-05:00

Since the sun doesn't come out all that much here in Ohio during the winter, we relish the days that it does! The boys and I got out and delivered Christmas presents to our neighbors on the sunny day. The snow day was fun. Z didn't last long but he cried when we went in. Luke was sleeping (that's my boy!) Don't you just love Z's 80's snowsuit? Hilarious.

Super Cute Luke

I love the way he stands up. So toddler-ish.

The boys just having a fireside chat- They both love watching/"playing" with each other.

Z is not happy that I made him sit down in the snow.

Vibin' Crazy 80's

Chewing on something

Always with a stick

A day without kids...

2009-01-19T16:34:00.003-05:00

My friend Erin came over and watched the kids today from 9-4. Wow! I got so much stuff "done." Well, none of it's really done but, oh-so-much better. Taxes for Danny's business are close to being done and the clothes put away-ish in our room.

It feels so nice!! Erin also is alittle OCD about the kitchen, which I'm not complaining about so my kitchen is clean as well and i didn't have to do it!

Just thought I share my joy with you.

Oh, and I'm looking forward to watching the historic Inauguration tomorrow. It is so cool for our country to be turning over a new leaf!

A Christmas Story Retold

2009-01-17T22:39:00.007-05:00

This was the retelling of the Christmas story that we do with all the kids (and adults.) It's so cute and fun.

Pretty much pandamonium while the story is being told

I'm Mary, Jack a King, Dane a King and Danny...? A shepherd?

Cutest Shepherd around!

Luke was Baby Jesus. He's even got the halo.

Dane got a chef's set. So cute!

Snow!

2009-01-14T18:42:00.002-05:00

It was so great this evening. After Danny got home from work, he started plowing so I got Z ready and I got into my new snow gear and we went out in the snow. Luke was sleeping, in case you were wondering. It is too cold for him. Tomorrow it will be too cold for all of us!

Z and I had a great time walking in the snow. Z started to really like it at the end, so much he cried when we came in. Then as both boys took a short nap, I got on the 4 wheeler and had a blast! It was great. Danny's zooming around out there now.

Danny's mom made us some pork tenderloin so we eating high on the hog tonight too. Literally!

Dining Room table

2009-01-13T17:44:00.003-05:00

So it only took us 3.5 weeks to get through the mail, pay the bills and take all the things to be filed down to the basement so that we could actually see our whole dining room table.

Aaah, I love living in a small house.

Sorry, no time for blogging but will get back on the wagon in a couple days. I can feel it!

Momma got ran over by a deer...

2009-01-06T23:11:00.003-05:00

Coming home from Toys R Us after Christmas... (ok, I'll stop)

But yes, I killed a deer, in our new van, no less, the other evening. Dusk, rainy and she came out of no where even with rush hour traffic. I hit her and she left a patch of hair in my bumper. I screamed and then wept all the way home. I felt so bad for the sweet little deer. She may be one of the ones that hangs out in our yard!

Later, we joked that as she was dying, she probably didn't noticed she was dying. She was probably cold from the patch of hair missing from her body.

Plans for a quiet New Years.

2008-12-30T21:45:00.004-05:00

I'm excited for tomorrow night. Not a big party with loud music and dancing...an evening home watching a movie, eating gourmet pizza and having a glass of wine...We might even go to bed early!

Danny's been busy in the evenings getting his dad's house ready to sell so it will be nice to have him home and all to myself!

Here's some more pictures from Christmas. Still to come...pics from our re-enactment of the Christmas story and present opening.

Striped family on Christmas Day (ok, our family's Christmas Day)
The two little ones "playing"
Uncle Josh just wants Isaiah to love him. Sneaking in a picture
The result of Uncle Josh getting too close
Luke loves being entertained by Jack
Sweet Christmas happiness
Uncle Josh and Aunt Foofie and clan

Down Bottlescope
Danny on his 31st birthday
Cute boy
Smiley. Oh so smiley!

Chicago and Christmas

2008-12-25T23:33:00.002-05:00

Chicago was fun! It was wonderful to see the family interact with the boys. Luke was brand new the last time we were there and Isaiah wasn't nearly as funny as he is now. They both got some fun toys and Danny and I had a wonderful time eating all of mom's homemade cookies. We played a lot of games as my family is crazy about games (much to Danny's shagrin)-Farkle, Facts in Five (a really old game like Scattergories and I'm horrible at it!) Kings in the Corner and Double Solitare. I almost won at Farkle but my aunt has to win everything. Oh, and she even won at Slackjaw...look up the definition of that and just imagine how that can become an hilarious game.

It was wonderful to see Aunt Susan and Oakie (even if that was just for a millisecond.) They are great and should move up north! We missed my sister and her family but hope to see them soon!

We drove back overnight (it took Z 3 hours to fall asleep in the car when we left at midnight) in the snow and freezing freeways but Danny's a great driver. I had a hard time sleeping in the back as I was worrying he was going to fall asleep or that we would get run into by the less-than-good drivers out there.

Sleep
Then off to the Fickel celebrations. Christmas eve at Danny's uncles, Christmas morning with Danny's mom, sister and niece, Christmas naps, and Christmas night with Danny's grandparents and aunts/uncles. Phew! We had a really nice time at each and Isaiah was really getting into playing with whatever anyone opened. Luke really got into taking his naps and sticking to his schedule. Everyone was so generous with gifts and really went overboard even though we tell them not to!!

Despite losing Danny's dad we still celebrated. We are so thankful for what Christmas means... that God sent us Jesus as an example of how to live and then paid the price for our sin by sacrificing his life for ours. Those facts bring us peace in the midst of feeling sad and missing Randy. We know that he is celebrating too!

Merry Christmas, friends.

Taken to disco dancing

2008-12-19T16:18:00.000-05:00

Our Family has a new routine.

Check this out! (click here)

The moves didn't stick

2008-12-17T22:26:00.007-05:00

The Michael Jackson moves that Danny was teaching Z at a young age (click here)
didn't help that much. I see some semblance of past learned moves but he needs to keep practicing. We could blame the bad music.

Landed in Chicago at Gramma and Grandpa's

2008-12-15T22:42:00.010-05:00

It took us 10 hours to get here and it felt like we made good time. Scarey, huh? 2.5 stops that lasted over 2 hours total-thus the long trip with two babies!

Here's some pics from the last couple weeks.

A Family Picture

Z and Danny reading a book on Z's new Gigantic Bear

Hugging the gigantic bear

All the boys at their first OSU Basketball game. We had a great time.

Smiling, happy baby

A pirate in the making

Or maybe just a three-eyed man

My advanced son

2008-12-13T00:31:00.002-05:00

So Luke is laying on the bed in Isaiah's room while I tinkering around and Z was playing in there as well. He is really quick so I closed the door to get something in the next room so he wouldn't escape and run down the hallway. I come back...his door is locked. Isaiah LOCKED his door. What the heck?! He's 13 months old. He's not supposed to do that yet!

He began to cry...probably thinking I wasn't letting him out. So Essi and I shoved his blanket under the door while I called Danny to ask how to unlock it with that little hole in the handle. Wire hanger...doesn't work. Skinny screwdriver (at the time)...didn't work. Regular screwdriver...take the handle screws off, worked! It took 5 or so minutes but I was a little concerned but not too bad, thankfully! When we got in, he had scooted himself nearly under his diaper holder by his changing table. It was pitful and sad but a little funny. Luke, on the otherhand, was blissfully happy. Oh, to be a baby!

New, fun pics to come! ...Teaser pic...

What do The Lord of the Rings and Anne of Green Gables have in common??

2008-12-05T22:11:00.005-05:00

I recorded all 3 of the Lord of the Rings movies and have slowly (and I mean slowly) been watching them. There are so many cool intricacies in the movies (and I assume the books) that mirror the journey of a Christian, the life of Jesus and the concepts of faith. I noticed them here and there when watching them for the first time but see them more clearly as I see these again. But what's even better about watching them on the DVR and slowly is I can basically watch it in fast forward. I don't care for some of the gore, so I skip it. I get bored here and there, skip. I hate certain scenes, skip.

Another set of movies to watch in Fast Forward are the Anne of Green Gables movies. She talks WAY too much, but in FF you get the action and the story line without all the blabbering. Both sets of movies are great...but only in FF.

A decorating update...So Danny decided for me with the whole Christmas decorating thing. He borrowed a fake tree from someone and brought it home. He had it set up before I could say otherwise. We are going to put it on the back porch but by the sliding door so we can see it well. I'll decorate it and we'll just leave it up. The back porch is enclosed but really cold, as a three season room...so we won't be out there...neither will the kiddos. I'll also do some decorating but now the question is, "When?"

To decorate or not to decorate...that is the question.

2008-12-03T22:45:00.003-05:00

So we are going to Chicago to visit my folks and brother for the week before Christmas. We'll be back Christmas Eve. I want to decorate and get a tree (although a place to put the tree is quite an issue) but Danny doesn't want to be bothered. Mom always said make a list to decide...so here's my list.

Pros to getting a tree
1. Fits my festive mood
2. Helps get us (others) in the spirit
3. Looks pretty when we get back from Chicago for a week or two

Cons to the tree
1. Where the heck will we put the tree so that we don't have to say "no touch" and "gentle" OVER and OVER?
2. The needles...lots and lots of needles (potential eating issues)
3. We aren't here for some of it and trees cost money

So what do we do? Any thoughts?

2 babies

2008-11-30T12:54:00.002-05:00

This morning I was feeding Luke in the rocking chair and Isaiah came up to the chair by Luke's head. Z looked at the top of Luke's head and patted it pretty hard. I said, "Isaiah, no!" pretty abruptly which made Isaiah and Luke jump. Then Isaiah started to cry and Luke started to cry. It took about a minute for them to calm down.

Inside, I was laughing because I realized I have 2 babies. It just cracks me up sometimes when little things like that happen to remind me.

Just a few Z moments

2008-11-27T22:52:00.006-05:00

A little Luke love

2008-11-25T22:34:00.013-05:00

So just got some more pics put onto the computer. I thought we'd do a spotlight on Luke since many of the pictures were of him this time. I do have Isaiah talking on video that will come tomorrow or so.

Pacifier or Microphone?

Mr. Animation

Got his thumb like a champ. Makes my heart sing!!

Preppy boy for church

Bath chunkalicious

Luke laughing

Aah. Sweet sleep.

2008-11-24T10:32:00.002-05:00

We had a busy day yesterday. The boys were pretty tired when we got home in the evening. Luke ate 6 oz. at 10pm and then went to sleep. Danny and I were in bed soon after...next thing I know I'm waking up at 7am thinking, Luke never woke up!! He didn't wake up until 7:30am!! 9.5 hours.

And the angels rejoiced. Ok, the Fickel's rejoiced. So I'm not expecting this to happen every night for the next month but if he can do it one night, he can do it every night!!! So I am expecting this to happen. But, I know it won't.

He's such a sweet baby and so easy going. I couldn't have asked for more from our boys. They are wonderful! We are blessed.

Meloncholy

2008-11-22T22:28:00.002-05:00

Today was a bit meloncholy for both Danny and I. OSU v. Michigan was great that they won but it was bit sad for D because his dad's not here. We spent some time by the fire tonight just chatting and catching up on things but also talking about Christmas and then things we'll miss about not having Randy here. To boot, there was no chocolate in the house so Danny ran to a close store and got a few pounds of chocolate (ok, not that much, but a good amount.) We felt better after that.

You never know, if we keep dealing with our feelings with chocolate we may gain a few 10 pounds or so. Good for me, not so good for Danny.

Sweet relief

2008-11-21T13:22:00.004-05:00

We are down to one overnight feeding with Luke, even though we have to feed him at 11 or midnight. But getting 5-6 hours of sleep at one time can sure make you feel like you are becoming a normal person again. We were feeding Luke every 3-4 hours which meant 2 nighttime feedings. But as you can see from the pictures, he's gained weight (13 and a half pounds) and is eating more sometimes at a sitting.

So we aren't as cranky all the time...and loving life a bit more these days!

We are biding our time til he sleeps through the night...and OH GLORY. That will be the day!

Getting out of the house

2008-11-20T00:50:00.005-05:00

It's a day like yesterday that makes me realize why I don't leave the house with the boys very often.

After their morning nap, which ended at 1:40pm for Z, I fed Z. Then Luke woke up and I fed him all the while trying to continue feeding Z food. Then Luke wanted to poop so I helped him. Z kept eating until he was out of food and then threw his tray on the floor. He pretty much inhales his food.

So...Luke pooped. Z finished eating. Then I started to get Z ready to go. Z tried to poop. Wasn't coming quickly. I let him run around diaperless for a bit since I'm right there. He's working it out...and eventually does on the floor. Thank goodness for hardwood floors and disinfectant!

Yes, I know what you are thinking. "Anne, you brought this potty stress on yourself. And then you let Z go diaperless!" Ok, but, the story gets better after it gets worse. Soooooo

We finally get out the door to run 3 errands. I take both boys into Meijer (no carts outside so I carry them both together!! inside) to the pharmacy. That goes well.

We load back into the car (it's freezing outside) and head to the post office. But I can't just go into the post office like any other normal person, I have to get the double stroller out to put both boys in. Z must be contained or I will be chasing him around and not mailing anything. And boy, is that stroller heavy!

Mail our stuff and get back in the car, again, loading both kids and that dang stroller. Then down the street to the bank. Unload the stroller, the kids and then try to get in the bank doors (now that's a challenge.) Finally in, no line...thank goodness. Start talking to the teller, Z starts fussing loudly. I get out the raisens and start feeding him. Luke wakes up then and starts to cry something fierce (apparently hunger hit) all the while 2 bank employees are trying to talk to the kids and me while I'm trying to get my bank junk done with another teller. Come on people, you are not helping!!

Needless to say, a bank employee, opens the door for me on the way out. Load the boys and the cursed stroller.

Z fusses and Luke cries off and on all the way home (thankfully only 7 min. away)

BUT< the cool part of the potty stuff...got home, Z had a dry diaper.

Z goes to bed, Luke gets fed, I lay down pooped from my 3 errands that I ran!

Z wakes up later, with a dry diaper again. He's a year old folks! Yeah. Now this dry diaper thing was probably more of a fluke but boy was I encouraged. So it wasn't all bad!

A noise from Luke's bedroom

2008-11-14T21:51:00.002-05:00

There's a loud (very loud) kissing sound coming from Luke's room. I thought maybe it was some munchkins in the corner making out, or a kissing monster giving Luke kisses. So I snuck in to see what it was.

Turns out, it's not a monster. It's just a little 13-pound guy. He can't quite figure out how to keep his thumb sticking out so he sucks his hand. And he has some staying power...he'll suck his hand for 30 minutes or so to make it to the time he's allowed to eat. It's hilarious.

An unexpected blessing

2008-11-13T22:42:00.002-05:00

So in my last post, I wrote that Danny's been working overnights. So I had arranged for a couple friends to come over during the day so I could get a nap. I did that today and our friend, Kathy came over. Danny, while I was napping worked out a deal with her so that we, he and I, could go out to eat alone in exchange for some yardwork for her.

How GREAT! We went to The Cheesecake Factory and had a wonderful time of dreaming about house improvements and eating great food. I had the Bang Bang Thai Chicken and Shrimp and Danny had the Chicken Mediera. Both very good...but, the best...Cheesecake!

I get teary over really great tasting food. The Chocolate Kaluha Coffee Cheesecake paired with the Ravenwood Zinfandel...Weep-worthy! So yummy.

It was so unexpected because I knew he had to work tonight. Thankfully, it won't be too late/eary (2pm) for him and it could be his last night so he arranged it and we loved it.

It's the little things.

Recent action shots

2008-11-12T22:37:00.008-05:00

Danny's working late nights this week as they finish the Christmas mall decoration hanging. I'm on duty every night! AAAHH! I am getting a nap everyday thanks to a few friends and Danny being home during the day some. Life is just movin' on and there's not much happening except here at the house...yep, we (me and boys) hang here alot! But we are having fun.

I'm beginning to wonder how I am going to go Christmas shopping this year. It may have to be a family affair (Danny coming with us!) He'll definitely (sp?..it doesn't look right) watch the boys but will that give me enough time. I suppose we'll just see how it goes. Everyone may just be getting stuff from around my house. A lamp, some of our socks, a used candle. Bet you can't wait!

A wheelbarrow his size!

Yep. Dirt around his lips and you know what that means...Dirty mouth.

Our neighbor gave him this hat, and the gloves were still attached. He looks like some sort of animal...A Jack-A-Lope?

Happy boy.

"GQ-in" it on his actual birthday.

Another birthday outfit. Not feeling so smiley.

Isaiah now says bear and carries it around. He leaves it on Dirk's bed and then guess what happens.

Big Foot and Smiley

2008-11-10T12:02:00.005-05:00

What a pair!

A dream come true for my birthday

2008-11-09T16:32:00.006-05:00

So for my birthday this year (yes, it was many months ago) my friend Maggie (and her husband Dave, for that matter) gave me a choice for a present...a spa visit or a house cleaning by a professional. I thought for one, maybe two seconds and then decided to have my house clean. I have to live in it day in and day out, and it's NOT clean.

So today my dream became a reality and it was beyond my wildest to see how great of a job Heather did! She dusted the fans. She put things in piles (I can't seem to do that because I think I should just put it away...except it's alot of stuff so it never gets fully put away!) She made my floors spotless. She cleaned my range-top and the rest of my kitchen. She washed the windows. JEEZ!!

I feel like a new woman.

Here's the deal though, friends and family. Occasionally, our house is clean but people never seem to come over when it is. It's only when it looks as though a bomb has gone off, that half the population of Columbus comes by! So I documented the clean so you can see how nice it looks...clean. :)Don't expect to look like this when you come over.

Undecided but just decided

2008-11-03T13:36:00.002-05:00

So I went away this past weekend for a retreat with my women's bible study. We went to a Presbyterian camp that has alot of trails and wide open spaces. It was so quiet there. When you live with noise day in and day out, it's only when you get into the quiet do you realize how noisy it really was. We had 5 hours of silence on Saturday. It was so good for me to have even just a little bit of time to spend by myself, praying and sleeping and just being silent. There was such a flurry of emotions including still grieving over Randy's death. Other emotions...being overwhelmed at times with 2 babies and no "me" time (except for naps, which happen when someone else is here watching the boys!) It's just part of life and transitions.

So the title is actually about this election. I was undecided until this afternoon. The girls and I talked about it quite a bit this weekend, as my friend is also undecided. It's just hard to know how to vote...HUGE pros and cons for both candidates and BIG problems on my part figuring out which issues I think are the most important to focus on.

That being said. I've come to a decision and will stick by it...because I certainly mulled over it long enough! A weight has been lifted.

Well, back to life here at the ranch. Can't wait for the election to be over. Do you realize it's been talked about for almost 2 years and will start again in another 2 years!?

PARTY! Isaiah turns one on Wed.

2008-10-25T23:18:00.011-04:00

We had a First Year Birthday party for Isaiah today. It was an Ohio State Tailgate party. He had his first taste of pure unadulterated sugar (and wasn't all that enthusiatic about it) and had a fun time with some family and friends who have watched him over the last year. He was given some very nice presents and everyone looked so great in their OSU gear. The first is us singing Happy Birthday to him at the beginning of the party so he could get his sugar rush early!

I got one good picture with the boys together before Isaiah was done.

Z and T-ma

A basketball hoop! Surprise!

Z's friend Addy and her parents

Suz and my godkids. Aren't they hilarious?

Kathy reading Z a book for a second. :)

So I finally added pics...so two posts with pics

2008-10-25T23:08:00.006-04:00

Z loves to give head-hugs to Luke. This one they were both looking at the camera. My niece Kyla is holding Z.

Yes, Luke was actually asleep and Danny wanted me to get a pic of his foot. Turns out L was smiling at the time too!

In his new outfit, from Slate Hill Elementary staff (T-ma's workmates.) Delicious!

New shirt from Kiki and it fits him (even though his belly is showing in this one)...Free Gas...Inquire in Rear. So appropriate for Sir Toots Alot!

Trying on his halloween costume and making a scarey face!

A long time comin'

2008-10-22T23:28:00.002-04:00

So this posting is way overdue. Long and the short?
Got out of the hospital, stayed on antibiotics for another week. Getting better but still had stomach stuff. Stomach stuff cleared up 2 days ago all on it's own after FOUR weeks! More importantly...

Danny's father unexpectedly died early last week. We are extremely heartbroken as we weren't planning on losing him for another 20 years or so. So many lost plans that we have now where Pa-Rah (Danny's dad's grandpa name) was going to be apart of the boys lives and ours. He was such a help to our family in so, so many ways. He loved me from the time I met him and I felt it! And he loved our boys from the time he met them. He will be missed over and over again. Please pray Danny and the rest of us.

I have some really cute pics a-comin'. Just need to upload them.

In the hospital

2008-10-05T23:28:00.002-04:00

So with the stomach thing (2 weeks of it), I think I got dehydrated and felt so horrible. My docs decided to put in the hospital to give me liquids, time to sleep, and IV antibiotics. I'm feeling good today so hoping I'll be out tomorrow...we'll see.

Danny's on duty with the boys. It's been a challenge but going pretty good. His fam has been helping out so that's been good.

We had to put Luke on an expensive formula, Alimentum because he was pretty uncomfortable with the other formulas. So hopefully, he'll grow out of it. He spreading his eating time out some which is GREAT. Eating every 3-4 hours...glorious.

Isaiah is walking like mad. In just the day and half I've been gone, he's walking many more steps and turning in circles now, without falling. His next feat will be to conquer standing up from a seated position vs. pulling himself up. He's so cute and very proud of himself.

Ema Judy...I'm sorry I haven't called. I hear ya! Hope you all are doing well in FL and staying cool!

Nausea for over a week

2008-09-29T21:41:00.010-04:00

Got some nasty stomach bug that is lasting waaaayyyy to long. So I've been really out of it mentally. Still, we are surviving thanks to the kind support of our friends and family and...I'm surviving when they are not around thanks to Danny. Oh, and God has been my helper too. :) But that's all the time!

So we have some pics. Luke just started really smiling...for real 3 days ago. It's so cute!!

Isn't this the best!!?

Yep. It happened multiple times when he and I were just chillin.

He's feeding himself and Daddy taught him. YEAH!

Sweetness.

Pals. A boy and his dog.

Got a van!

2008-09-26T23:10:00.002-04:00

I've never had a new car...and we have one and I get to drive it! We traded Danny's diesel guzzling truck in for a Honda Odessey! It's slate grey and yummy. The boys look great in it and Dierker likes the back seat.

Just thought I'd let everyone know that if I don't answer my phone, I'm driving with my music blaring...oh, wait...I don't really answer my phone anyway. So sorry.

Luke's homecoming party

2008-09-23T00:56:00.011-04:00

Random pictures...And then Luke's homecoming party with Danny's family

Two thumbs up.

Love ya. (You gotta do something when you are stuck at home with 2 babies)

Seriously, a smile after touching his cheek. Isn't this the cutest? Look at those cheeks!

Danny's grand parents, Dave and Barb and aunt, Laurie

Another aunt, Cindy

Danny's mom, Terri

The whole fam

Danny's cousin, Abi

Our little family

Z loved Abi and Grant

A big day for Z

2008-09-18T11:32:00.013-04:00

He took his first steps. He was so flippin cute when he started to try. He'd look up, raise his eyebrows and then go one or two steps before falling. He did it twice, earlier this morning. So later in the day we had some fun out in his walker (which we haven't actually used at all...WE are his walker (he hangs on your pants and practices walking)) on our driveway.

Later, I called Danny up from his office because Z seemed like he wanted to practice and I knew Danny would want to see it. I had the camera and as soon as he noticed, the show began. The videos are the order of events.

This falling act...new today. He's been so happy today and I think the falling thing got some laughs so he kept doing it.

And now, the moment you've been waiting for...Notice his face when he walks. HILARIOUS!

Why no bloggin

2008-09-18T11:32:00.002-04:00

So I haven't blogged in awhile because technically we aren't supposed to be home and I couldn't write about what was happening without lying some...which is stupid. The State of FL has given us permission to leave but OH has not given us permission to come back to the state because they are WAY behind in paperwork. Last I heard, 3 MONTHS. So needless to say, we decided to come home anyway. I needed to be close to my doctors (my secondary insurance only works in this state) and the boys both needed to go to their doctors for check-ups. So we will tell OH if they put up a stink that it was because of medical reasons (disregarding the fact that OH is being disrepectful of their residents' life by not being current in adoption approval land...3 MONTHS, come on!)

So we had Danny's family over on Sunday so they could all meet Luke. It was alot of fun even with the lights off. The crazy windstorm (thus the lights being out) blew over 2 big trees in our woods and one ugly tree in our front yard (so it did us a favor!) It was certainly fun to watch. Luke and Isaiah were showered with wonderful gifts and the food was great! Pics to come.

Power was out here for 24 hours and then back on. Some of my friends still don't have power...oy vey.

So there are my excuses. I know I've probably lost readers...but life happens.

A potato for mom

2008-09-12T22:36:00.004-04:00

So my mom has had a stomach bug. You know,

This Commercial

...hump, Pepto Bismol.

Anywho, she's been way bummed that she hasn't been able to help with the boys as much. She's hadn't been able to really eat much for 2 days or so. But today, she started to feel better and was able to do some stuff around the house. She tried to eat a baked potato and it seemed to help the nausea. So we rewarded her. If she did something helpful, she got to eat one potato. If she did something not-so-helpful, her potato was taken away.

It's only fair, right. You gotta work for your food.

A sad transition that every older sibling makes

2008-09-08T16:48:00.011-04:00

Luke went to the doctor today for his two week check-up. He's grown an inch and gained a pound. I talked to the doc about Isaiah and his transition.

For the last two nights, he's woken up at 5am screaming mad. He'll be comforted but once back in bed, screaming again. He'll continue it for up to 2 hours.

The doctor said any sibling, up to 7 years, doesn't have the ability to understand why all the sudden the world stops revolving around them. The feelings they feel are to the extent of how I would feel if I walked in and Danny had "another" woman with him. That's how he feels. Wow. Very interesting.

He'll push through. In the meantime we are going to love him as much as we can!

Chicago.

2008-09-06T22:01:00.003-04:00

It's been fun to be in Chicago with my parents. My sis-in-law and a few of their kids came over on Labor Day to play in a pool. We took some great pictures of the kids and of Luke...those will be on here soon...as an announcement. Isaiah had a bit of trouble when we started using the bottles that look like his for Luke. Everytime Luke got fed, Z would throw a little "fit" until we distracted him. It took him a couple days to get over it. He's fine now.

I pulled my neck/back muscles a few days ago which has been slightly painful to sleep etc. But I did manage a trip to Ikea in spite of it!

More later.

Luke pictures from the last few days

2008-08-28T20:55:00.009-04:00

Sitting in a hotel room tonight. Isaiah is sleeping in a pak-n-play in the bathroom. Danny is feeding Luke...or trying to (Luke is asleep.) I'm doing my breathing treatment. Looking forward to being at my parents in Chicago.

On the way to Orlando. Look at Z's lip.

Little face, big hand.

Danny fooling around at the hospital. Already having hopes of a Heisman trophy.

Little squishy face.

A date night was still possible (ok just going out to eat) but was wonderful!

The difference in the sizes is so amazing!

Luke sleeping at the hotel. Already filling out!

Lucas Daniel Fickel arrives

2008-08-26T20:04:00.004-04:00

Yep. It's true. He arrived at 9:50am on yesterday. He was 6 lbs., 14 oz. and 19.25inches long. He has just been sleeping. We have not heard him cry yet, except on the voicemail before we got here. He slept in our room (at the hospital) last night and we are hoping tonight as well. Tomorrow is the birthmom's sign day before she is discharged so we don't officially have custody yet. She could still change her mind but we are hopeful. Great girl, pretty quiet, wonderful mom and grandmom, very funny and chatty.

This all happened so fast but we're hanging with it. It's been a pretty relaxing time. We are meeting the birthfather tonight. Heard he's super shy. Better and more pictures to come in a day or two.

#2 ?

2008-08-21T10:22:00.002-04:00

So my aunt called and wanted McCain's mug off the page...I don't see why? I mean, it's such a flattering picture of our potential-future leader.

I'm adding this to our blog for the faithful readers (most of which have probably heard about this yesterday) to ask you to pray.

The short story is, next week, we may be traveling to FL to pick up another son! He's not born yet but is due to arrive next Thurs. We are cautiously optimistic. You may be thinking, "WOW!" like my friend Maggie would say. We are saying that too. It's a bit early for us (the boys would be 10 months apart) but it took us 18 months to get Isaiah so we wanted to get the ball rolling. We did and it landed in our laps QUICK! So we are jumping on board what we feel God is doing!

I've been in IL all week but will head back tomorrow to pack!
Please pray:
-The Lord's will will (?) be done.
-The birthmom to remain steadfast in her decision
-Healthy delivery for both birthmom and baby and for a healthy baby report
-That our homestudy will still be current in both states (FL, OH) with no problems
-That my health remains steady!
-That we can come up with a name for this boy
-That we will trust in the Lord throughout this process.

Thanks for praying and being on this roller coaster together.

A funny presidential race moment

2008-08-07T09:10:00.003-04:00

So regardless of the presidential candidate you plan on voting for a funny moment happened the other night that you might find humorous.

Danny and I were getting ready for bed and we were talking the presidential race and the media. Danny was saying something about how much we hear about Obama vs. ..."Mc- Mc-" and he named some other last name that started with "Mc." And then I couldn't remember his name. It took us a few minutes to remember. That certainly provided proof for his point that Obama is much more memorable or at least has gotten more media coverage to help us remember his name vs. that other guy.

A fun little site that I found...

2008-08-01T22:48:00.003-04:00

Creative Thursday

Her main website

Then go to her Etsy store (top right) and check out the cute prints she has for sale. Such a great gift for any kid you know.

So cute and lovable.

Hiking in our woods

2008-07-27T15:38:00.002-04:00

I wanted to go to Hocking Hills and go hiking with Z, Dierker and Danny. Danny didn't want to drive all that way to hike when we hadn't even explored the woods behind our house. So we went out yesterday on a hike behind our house...and all the others too (since behind ours... you don't have to hike to see it all, you just stand there and look.)

We had a great time. Z was super happy to be in the backpack carrier and I was happy it wasn't blazing hot. We saw a small fawn go bounding out from his hiding place and we climbed a hill to stand at the top (not much else to do at the top of a hill.) A few of the houses around here have horses and the owners dump the manure in the woods...they lay it out to make trails. Some of it was bit too fresh for our taste. :) But we did it and it was fun.

So, Danny, when do we get to go to Hocking Hills?

I'm dreaming of floors

2008-07-25T14:58:00.003-04:00

Danny and I were talking about how much we HATE our carpet. It is so gross and there's no way to make it look better. We got the carpets cleaned when we first moved in and it barely helped. So we are thinking, let's bite the bullet and put in the hardwood floors we so deperately WANT and need. Granted, if you the see the outside of our house, knowing we own a landscaping company, you'd think..."maybe you should start with the outside (Mr. Professionals)"...but, we can enjoy the inside all winter and we live so much more inside than out. SO there!

I'm thinking Bamboo floors! Yipee!

Recent fun things.

2008-07-18T22:01:00.009-04:00

I'm so excited! My friend, Carrie, crocheted me (I mean, Isaiah) wool shorts and a wool soaker for his diapers. They are great! It's perfect for cloth diapers because I don't have to put on a cover before putting on shorts. And his pants stay dry. I put on his dipe, then the shorts! SO easy! I also ordered a couple pairs of pants for the fall. They are a bit big but so Buckeye-feverish. I'd love to add more wool pants to his collection because they are so handy, for future reference. :) heehee

So happy to be modeling.

Obviously, these were the first pair he tried on. Much happier.

His OSU pants! He's not walking but standing.

With is OSU shirt on too!

Drum CRAZY. Makes Danny's heart sing.

We all love a baby in PJs. He's ready to eat, thus the face.

I'm sick

2008-07-17T21:11:00.002-04:00

Yeah. I knew when you all saw the post before this one about Isaiah being sick you thought, "oh dear, Anne's going to get sick." Well, you nailed it on the head. My sinus' started acting up
a month ago and slowly but surely I started coughing more. I think Z's gig was the straw that broke the camel's back.

I'm on oral antibiotics, starting yesterday, and hoping they kick in sooner than they usually do. Fever, coughing, sinus pain, oh my!

Z's cough is getting better slowly. His nose snotting less. My father-in-law came over to watch Z today so I could sleep. That was GREAT! My neighbors bought us some food. Danny's doing a great job of caring for both of us.

We'd appreciate your prayers. And mom, wanna come down? HA! Dems jokes.

Isaiah's sick

2008-07-14T10:02:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the long delay in posting. Life just goes by, don't cha know.

So this weekend, Z started coughing and his nose started running. Last night, he coughed off and on all night. When I got him up this morning, he had dried snot all over his face. Poor little guy. He's breathing a bit raspy so we're going to the doctor later on today. Hopefully, they can give me a little something for it.

Did you know that cough syrup for kids is in general for kids over 6 years of age?!!! I couldn't believe it. What do you do for the first 6 years of you life? Cough your head off? I LIVE on cough syrup.

I haven't overly cautious about him coming in contact with germs. I feel a bit guilty of it but at the same time I do want his resistance to bugs to increase so getting a couple things earlier in life is a good thing, right? Did I dream that thinking up or is that true? I don't know where I heard that. Maybe it's an old wives tale.

Either way, the only problem with him getting sick is that I could get sick. BOOO! I'm contemplating getting a mask out to wear around the house. He hasn't quite gotten the "cover your mouth when you cough" thing yet. HA!

Vacation

2008-07-09T11:17:00.010-04:00

Before we left, we went to the zoo with my sister and kids.

These are really in reverse order that they happened but you guys don't care. :) It was great but it's great to be home, too.

Finalizing Z's adoption with the judge.

All you can eat crab for me!!

This is a great picture of my mom and Z.

Z in the shade at the beach. See the 2 teeth?

Z loved the water.

With Dave and Maggie at Busch Gardens in King Tut's Tomb

Always playing games