Clifford Family Blog

2008-12-11T12:06:00.005-05:00

Recent Pics

We have been super busy lately, but here are some recent pics, including some of my sister, Tiffany, and her new baby.

2008-11-11T12:13:00.006-05:00

Halloween and More

This year was the first year that Ethan was really old enough to trick-or-treat...The week before Halloween we had a trunk-or-treat at our church, which we all had fun at. Then on Halloween we went to another church's trunk-or-treat. I have decided I kinda like the trunk-or-treat thing. It is alot easier for little children who do not have the patience to walk a whole neighborhood. We have found out that Ethan's favorite Halloween candy is suckers...during both events, once he got a sucker he stuck it in his mouth and would replace it with another as soon as one was gone. Soooo messy, but he loved it.

If you can't tell from the pics, Ethan is supposed to be a bat ($5 at Old Navy..can't beat it!) and Cara is a pink tiger.

Here are some Halloween Pics....better late than never, right?? :-)...and a couple of random cute ones.

I came across this picture the other day and thought it was soo cute...This is Ethan about a year ago...They grow up way too fast.

I will post my work recipes soon, since I am back to work now. It is next on my agenda :-)

2008-10-22T16:47:00.001-04:00

Dad's 50th B-day...

So my dad's 50th b-day was quite the day...the kids and I got up early and went to my parents house to wake Papa up and have breakfast with him..which was really fun. That afternoon my mom, the kids, and I were off to go to Tiff's volleyball game and I got in a nasty accident...needless to say the van was totalled. Thankfully Ethan and Cara were not hurt at all!! I had some big bumps on my head and bruises on my legs but nothing permanent. My poor mother broke her thumb and tore the ligaments that go to her thumb so she is in a cast for 8-10 weeks. So we were at the Quick Care until 8pm, which kinda put a damper on my dad's b-day. We did go to a late dinner at Applebee's (Dad's favorite). On Friday we made up for it and had a surprise b-day party for him. It went really well and there were lots of people there.

My New Van...
Yesterday my husband went to PA and picked up our new van (new to us). We got a really good deal and it is super nice! I will post some pics soon of my new toy :-) Hopefully other cars will stay away!!

Here is a couple of recent pics for your enjoyment

Papa, Ethan, and Cara...not the best pick, but it was real early in the am, so they have an excuse :-)

Me and My Honey..Aren't we cute!

Ethan at the party...look at those eyes!

Tiff and Bryan at the party.

The Collins Clan (and Cliffords and Hapers)
Note: Ethan is biting me in this picture, I tried to keep a smile, but it was kinda hard! I have no clue why he bit me, he was not mad at all, totally random!

Another pic of The Collins Clan
Note: I handed Ethan over to Bryan...He would never bite him!

Cara-how she sleeps best...SWADDLED

My Little Ones (It is so hard to get a 2 year old and a 2 month old to smile at the same time!..)

Cara sleeping again...I thought she looked real cute with her arm above her head all comfy in mom and dad's bed.

Our House...no we normally don't have all those signs in it, we woke up one morning to this...wonder who did it ??

2008-09-25T16:14:00.003-04:00

Cara's Blessing and Random Pics

So, I have not been posting alot lately, but I have a good excuse...2 children under the age of 2...need I say more!

Cara was blessed this past weekend and Andy's parents were able to come down for it, which was great. The blessing was beautiful...I think my children's blessings are the only times that I have seen my husband get emotional. The in-laws visit was also great. We went out to eat alot (Yum Yum) and we played lots of "Hand and Foot". Here are a couple of pics for your enjoyment.

Ethan all ready for church...what a cute boy (now if we could just get rid of that binkie)

Happy Family after blessing

My parents and us

Andy's parents and us

The whole gang

Cara's First Bath

This is how my little girl likes to sleep!

Brother and Sister...how sweet!!

Sleeping Beauty

2008-09-13T10:58:00.002-04:00

Clarification on Last Post

On the last post, I put that the "cold air" got to Cara....I should note that it actually was not cold at all, it was quite comfortable and warm. I really meant that the air got to her and her exposed bottom and got things going. I wanted to note this because the comment made my photographer seem inexperienced, which she is not. Sorry about that!

2008-09-11T13:13:00.003-04:00

Cara's Newborn Pics

Last Thursday we went and got Cara's newborn pics from the most wonderful photographer....she is typically a pretty chill baby, but she was a mess (literally) during the session. We had her diaper off for alot of the pictures and that cold air really got things going...she pooped on blankets and peed on blankets, me, and dad. Despite it all, the pics turned out great. Click on this link for a sneak peak http://hnmphotography.blogspot.com/

Secondly, this week was my first week alone with my two kiddos....I definately stay alot busier these days. I have gained a greater respect for all those moms out there with more than one child (Not that I don't respect moms with one child), it is not easy. It is a juggling act but I love every minute of it.

2008-09-05T15:06:00.005-04:00

So the first week home with Cara has been pretty good. Besides one night, she has been sleeping beautifully. Every night I am nervous that she is going to change and be up all night, but it has not happened yet. As you will see in the pictures, Ethan loves his sister and loves to cuddle with us. My mom has been with me this week to help, which has been wonderful! She even took Cara one night (just in another bedroom) and let me get a whole nights rest. It was great!

Here are a couple of pics from this week...

Cara leaving the hospital

Ethan and Cara chillin, watching tv.

Our little white trash boy...Ethan running around outside in just a diaper.

Cara in her favorite spot...the Boppy! Love that thing!

Mommy, Ethan, and Cara in all their morning glory.

Nana, Ethan, and Cara

2008-08-31T10:13:00.004-04:00

Cara Lynn's Birth

As most of you have heard...we have a new little addition to our family. Cara Lynn was born Aug. 28 at 12:23 and weighed 8lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long. For a quick synopsis on the labor....it was 3 1/2 hours long and required little pushing (16 min). I am very lucky to have quick labors! Cara is doing wonderfully...so far she is a very chill baby and sleeps wonderfully at night, hopefully that does not change! I actually had to wake her up twice last night to feed her, who knows when she would have woken up. Mom is feeling pretty good, recovery the second time around seems much quicker. Ethan is busy adjusting to his new little sister, but he seems to already love her very much. He wakes up saying "Where's baby" and likes to hug, kiss, and try to hold her.

Here are a couple of pics from the day of birth. I will post more pictures soon!

2008-08-21T13:51:00.003-04:00

Woah! Big Mama!

Here is one of the last pictures I will take being pregnant with Cara. I feel like I have grown a ton over the last couple of weeks. I went to the Dr. earlier this week and I was 4 cm dilated now. So, if she does not come on her own, than I will be induced one week from today on the 28th. The end is in sight and I am so excited to have this baby and have my body back!

Also, this weekend I had my baby shower. I got lots of great stuff for Cara and it was fun to see friends. A big thanks to Heidi for throwing the shower for me!!

2008-08-14T13:10:00.002-04:00

Is Labor coming soon???....and My Sick Little One.

Well, I went to my midwife for my weekly check-up and she says I am 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced. I was so excited, because I thought this meant labor would be coming anytime. Unfortunately, I could also stay at 3 cm for weeks to come. She said if the baby does not come on its own, then she would definately induce on the 28th...so only two weeks to go at the very latest. Who knows, maybe Cara will surprise us. :-)

Last night was probably the worst night poor little Ethan has ever had....he went to sleep at 9pm and woke up at 11pm throwing up all over the place. He continued to throw up until around 2am and then the diarrhea started at 4am. Mommy and Ethan changed clothes numerous times and both his bed and our bed got stripped. I don't know how Andy was so lucky as to not get drenched by vomit, I was always the one in the line of fire.

I felt so bad for Ethan ....he was shaking and pale as a ghost. It is a good thing he is normally a healthy kid because I have a hard time when he gets sick. (I know it doesn't make any sense, since I am a nurse and deal with sickness all the time, but it is soo different when it is your child). We survived the night though and now he is taking a much needed nap...hopefully this is just a 24 hour bug!

Well, off to do some laundry (from our eventful night).

2008-08-07T14:27:00.005-04:00

Consignment Buy and Birthday

There is a consignment store close to my house that I just found out about...dangerous, I know. I found a really cute winter outfit the other day and thought I would share..

Here are a couple pics from my birthday. I got a free massage from my massage therapist, which was awesome. I also got highlights, a purse/wallet, bubble bath stuff, and money! I also got one of my favorite foods right now for dinner...coconut shrimp at Outback. It was delicious! Ethan's present to mommy was eating his food all day...which is a rarity.

My mom and sister decorated my cake...thought it turned out really cute!

2008-07-31T13:02:00.002-04:00

Tuesday Night Recipe

Eclair Cake-This is super yummy and easy!!!

Cake:
1 (1-pound) box graham crackers
2 (3 1/4-ounce) boxes instant French vanilla pudding
3 1/2 cups milk
1 (8-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

Frosting
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/4-1/3 cup milk (to reach desired consistency)
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Butter the bottom of a 13 by 9 by 2-inch pan. Line with whole graham crackers. In bowl of an electric mixer, mix pudding with milk; beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Pour half the pudding mixture over graham crackers. Place another layer of whole graham crackers on top of pudding layer. Pour over remaining half of pudding mixture and cover with another layer of graham crackers.

For frosting, blend together sugar and cocoa. Add butter and milk, mixing well. Add corn syrup and vanilla. Stir until creamy. Cover cake with frosting and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Recipe Courtesy of: Paula Deen

2008-07-28T20:33:00.002-04:00

Here is what this website thinks little Cara Lynn will look like....I beg to differ.

What do you think about my little new baby Cara Lynn?
MakeMeBabies.com - What will your baby look like?

2008-07-28T15:56:00.007-04:00

Cute Pics of Ethan

Ethan decided yesterday that he wanted to cooperate with us and take a cute pic and then again today I got lucky and got another cute picture....So I thought I would share. Also he has gotten into the whole "dressing up" thing....he loves to put on my high heels, daddy's ties, hats, etc. He thinks it is soo funny, and really it does look quite hysterical.

Here is picture of me at 8 months preggo....only 1 month to go!!! Hallelujah! I really do love being pregnant, but I am getting quite uncomfortable now.

2008-07-25T13:27:00.002-04:00

Every Tuesday night I have started baking something sweet for me and my fellow nurses to enjoy while working hard. :-) I have gotten alot of requests for recipes, so I am going to start posting them on my blog. Here is one that I made last week that was oh so yummy! Enjoy.

Oatmeal Fudge Bars Recipe

* 1 cup butter
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 2 eggs
* 1-2 teaspoons vanilla
* 2 1/2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats (or old-fashioned)

Fudge

* 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
* 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
* 1/4 cup butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions

1.Grease a 9x13 baking pan; set aside.
2.In a large bowl cream butter and sugar; add eggs and vanilla.
3.In a small bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture. Mix in oats.
4. In a heavy saucepan, mix sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, and butter; heat just until melted. Stir in vanilla and nuts if using.
5.Spread 2/3 of the oatmeal dough (will be stiff) into prepared baking pan. Spread with chocolate mixture. Drop remaining 1/3 of dough on top by spoonfuls.
6.Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Allow to cool completely (if you cut them while they are still warm at all they will be gooey and fall apart), then cut into bars.

2008-07-21T14:20:00.000-04:00

July 4th-Family Reunion

Every year on July 4th we go go to a family reunion (Mom's side of family) in south Georgia...this year was no exception, but it was a little different than previous years. The difference was I had my little tot (Ethan, of course) with me. Ethan had a rough time at the reunion, which in turn, meant Andy and I had a rough time. He could not go to sleep at night and could not take a nap during the day because of all the people around (75+ people in one cabin with 2 large areas to sleep)....this made for a very fussy child. Also, he wanted to be outside with all the other children the whole time, so my husband and I mainly socialized with each other and the rest of the children. Don't get me wrong, I love children, but I would have also liked to have a little more social interaction with adults that I have not seen in a year. So, we will have to see if we are brave enough to go again next year....hopefully it will be better. We have already decided that if we go, we will most definately stay in a hotel close by so that our children can at least sleep.

Here are some pics of the reunion. Not the best family portraits, but we tried.

Summertime Saturday Afternoons

Most Saturday's this summer Andy has set aside time to do yardwork (mow, edge, de-weed, etc). This has turned out to be a family affair. Ethan insists on being outside with Andy the whole time. This is probably Ethan's favorite time of the week. He loves to watch daddy mow the lawn and he will even help pick weeds. My job is to just watch the little squirt and make sure he is not getting in Andy's way...tyically, a very easy job! Here is a pic of Ethan intently watching dad mow.

Skinny Ankles!!!! Yippee!!!

I have to post this picture of my ankles because I am so excited to see them again...for the past couple of months my lower legs have been swelling, and I have not been able to see my ankle bones. Because of the swelling and varicose veins the Dr. recommended compression hose and they are working like a charm. I wear them to work and instead of coming home with fat ankles, they are smaller than when I left for work. Thank heavens for little favors.

2008-07-14T13:45:00.002-04:00

Out of Love....didn't last long!

Well, I received my bedding that I thought "I Loved", but I don't. The pictures were way better than the real thing. The quality of the fabric was not as good as I would like or thought it would be. So, the bedding is being returned and I am on a hunt to find some cute pink/brown bedding. My husband says he does not support this venture, since I already have bought some Ladybug bedding that he thinks will do just fine (I am going to return it also. :-) ).....but now I am really stuck on the pink/brown theme and want to find something in those colors. So, wish me luck, because I really need to make a decision quick so we can do the baby room before she gets here.

2008-07-14T13:17:00.003-04:00

Kenny Chesney Concert

Yesterday we went to the Kenny Chesney Concert "Poets and Pirates Tour" at Turner Field. In the 7 years that I have been with my husband, this is the first time we have gone to a concert together!! I know, that is really saying something about our social life, or the lack thereof. Part of the reason is, we are cheap and concerts are quite expensive...We got these tickets for free from a customer of Legacy's who works for 94.9 The Bull. We had alot of fun and it was good to see my husband in that sort of element, singing and dancing and carefree. We saw some really good artist, i.e. Gary Allan, LeAnn Rimes, Sammy Hagar (could have done without, but Andy loved him), Brooks and Dunn, and of course Kenny Chesney. It was an all day affair, so my parents watched the little monster for us. So, it really was a stress free day! My brother Bryan and his wife Sarah also got tickets for free, so they were there with us, which was cool.

Since, this was a rare occasion for us, I insisted on a t-shirt and my husband gladly obliged. Now I have proof that I have been to a cool concert at least once in my life. :-)

The only mishap of the day, was "The Fall". I should preface this by saying that it rained quite a bit before we got there so there were alot of wet and slick spots on the ground. I was in a hurry on my way to the restroom (which, I frequented alot being 7 months pregnant) and lost my footing and face first. Luckily, I caught myself with my hands and knees before my belly hit the ground. It was quite embarrassing and even sad because no one even stopped to help me up. Oh well. I was just glad that I did not hurt myself or my baby.

Here are a couple of pics of our big day out.

2008-07-03T20:59:00.003-04:00

I'm In Love!!!

No, I have not found a new man :-)...Andy and Ethan are still the loves of my life.

I have found the cutest crib bedding for Cara...I actually already bought a 6-piece set, but found another set that is way cuter and cheaper and it has 9-pieces!! I bid for it on ebay today and won it for $100.00. I am so excited to start the baby's room now! (I have to thank my sister for this find, because we were looking for her when I came upon this bedding)

Here is a pic of the new bedding.... I think for the walls we are going to do a light pink on the top half and a chocolate brown on the bottom half with a chair rail in the middle. What do ya'll think??

2008-06-29T22:00:00.002-04:00

Belly Picture and Procrastination

Since it has been a month since my last belly shot, here it is, as requested by Heather. 7 months down and 2 to go!! Although I love being pregnant, I am starting to get some unfortunate side effects this time around...namely varicose veins and swelling...sounds appealing, right?? It is all worth it, though, to get a beautiful baby girl at the end of it.

Now about procrastination...we have not even begun to put the nursery together. I think I had Ethan's nursery ready by the time I was 20 weeks along...2nd time around we are a little slower with getting things ready. Hopefully we can start it this weekend since Andy gets a long weekend.

Now for some sad news....Ethan slept in his big boy bed last night for the first time. He did really good going to sleep, but woke up at 5:45am because he couldn't find his binkie and then it took him awhile to get back to sleep. All in all, it wasn't a bad first try.....but it made me really sad to think that my little boy is growing up, so he is back in his crib tonight. :-) I think he is more ready than me to move into a big-boy bed. We will have to make the transition sometime soon because Cara will need a place to sleep when she gets here.

2008-06-25T21:39:00.003-04:00

Here are a couple of pics from Father's Day.

Ethan and Daddy

Ethan and Aunt Nancy (Ethan really liked Aunt Nancy, and screamed for her the whole weekend.)

Mommy making icing for cookie ties

Ethan taking a nap in his big boy bed (growing up too fast, wipe a tear!)

Ethan and Grandpa Clifford coloring...Ethan instructed Grandpa to sit and then handed him crayons to color, and of course Grandpa listened.

2008-06-15T22:59:00.002-04:00

Family Fun and Fathers Day

First and Most Important...Happy Father's Day to all fathers especially mine and my husband. They are both great fathers and I would not trade them for the world. Ethan loves his "daddy" soo much. It is the first thing he thinks about when he gets up in the morning and he runs when he hears daddy's car pull into the garage in the evening.

Secondly, we have had visitors this weekend and it has been a blast. Andy's parents and 2 sisters are in town to visit. We celebrated Andy's Dad's B-day on Saturday. We went to the favorite Texas Roadhouse and then had some really good homemade carrot cake (that I made, pat on the back). We also baked sugar cookies all Sat. morning for the primary children to decorate on Father's Day. They turned out really good. I could not have done it without Andy's sisters. Ethan has been so pleasant this weekend! I think he really likes the attention that he gets from his aunts and grandparents. I will post some pictures of family and Father's Day soon.

2008-06-02T22:00:00.001-04:00

One of the Saddest Days!!

I went to the funeral today of a little baby....and I don't think I have ever been more sad. My friend had twin daughters 3 1/2 months ago and she had to say goodbye to one of those little girls today. I cannot imagine going through something like that..I feel for her and hope she knows she is loved by so many, especially our Father in Heaven.

2008-06-01T22:12:00.004-04:00

We Went Cold Turkey!

No, I did not pick up a nasty habit of smoking or anything.....I am talking about getting Ethan off the bottle completely. Although, I think the bottle might be as addictive as nicotine. :-) I decided to start this adventure over the weekend so Andy would be home to help me out. Surprisingly it has gone way better than I thought and bedtime has not even been rough...except for tonight he just doesn't want to go to sleep but I don't think it has anything to do with the bottle.

Also, here is my monthly belly pic. 6 complete months and only 3 to go (unless this baby decides to be sweet and come a couple weeks early).

Here are a couple of cute pics I have taken lately of Ethan doing his favorite things.

Ethan loves to sit in the drivers seat and pretend he is driving (car is off and keys are not nearby...of course)

Here is Ethan playing in the rain with his cousins...He had a blast doing this!

Ethan washing dishes...I know he will grow out of this...bummer!

Ethan loves to make messes out of his food instead of really eating it. He will often try to feed it to whoever is around.

2008-05-28T03:35:00.002-04:00

Terrible Two's Already?? and Wedding Weekend.

Whoever said that the "Terrible" does not begin until two, never had a child. Ethan is 17 months old and has started the tantrums and fights for independence. His new favorite word is "no" to pretty much anything I ask him to do, except of course when I ask him if he wants to go outside...the answer is always "yeah". Sometimes I honestly don't know what to do with the child when he is throwing these tantrums. I have started putting him in a "time out" chair when he hits/kicks me which is multiple times a day. My saving grace is that he will still cuddle when he is tired and in-between tantrums he will show me how loving he still can be (by hugging/kissing).

In other news, my brother Bryan got married this weekend....It was a lovely ceremony outdoors (no rain thank goodness) and the reception was fun. Ethan had a hard time because he kept wanting Bryan to hold him and obviously that was not possible. Ethan did look darn cute though! I helped my mom with the Rehearsal dinner and that went very smoothly. We had Macaroni Grill cater, with Cheesecake Factory for dessert, (Thanks to Mimi)and my sister and I decorated with the decor she used at her wedding (trying to be thrifty). Ethan had a blast playing with all his cousins (Parker, Clayton, and Wesley) and was really pleasant at the rehearsal dinner. My only regret is that I did not charge my digital camera before the wedding and when I started trying to take pics at the wedding, the stupid thing died on me....So unfortunately I have nothing to show for our fun weekend. Bummer! But at least I learned my lesson and it will not happen again (hopefully).

2008-05-16T13:13:00.005-04:00

Busy, Busy

Our lives have been very busy lately with work, graduations, and showers....and next week my brother gets married. All exciting stuff...but as a result I have fallen behind in blogging. Here are a couple of pics of Ethan and what he has been up to.

My Little Copycat

Ethan's new favorite thing to do is copy what other people do. Today at the DMV, Ethan was looking at the guy next to us who had his arms folded, so he dropped his sippy and snack and folded his arms just like the guy, then continued to stare at the guy until he looked over. It was very cute.

Ethan also likes to copy mommy and use my doppler (device to hear the baby's heartbeat). He puts the gel on the wand and then turns it on and rubs it around his belly. In the exact sequence that I do. It is soo funny how much they observe.

Here is a pic of that

Ethan also likes to empty his toy blocks out of the little wagon and then jumps in and wants us to push him around. The only thing is, he never wants you to stop, and after awhile it is pretty tiring.

Lastly, Ethan has learned to eat with utensils...Yippee!! He did not like us to spoon feed him, so he was limited to finger foods....now he can eat just about anything. It is a little messy, but way worth it.

2008-05-05T21:04:00.002-04:00

A Child's Love

The other day Ethan did something really sweet while I was putting his shoes on. He leaned over and started rubbing my arm, then leaned over and kissed my arm, then he gave me kisses on the lips (He has finally learned how to pucker and not open mouth it). It was such a tender moment, it made me a little weepy. It just reminded me of how perfect a child's love is! It brightens my day immensely. Just thought I would share.

2008-04-28T12:03:00.007-04:00

Laziness! or maybe just tired??

I have been a real slacker on posting....by the end of the day I am so tired that I don't even feel like getting on the computer, so I have not been keeping up with email, blogs, etc. I never felt this tired while pregnant with Ethan, so it is a little unexpected. My mom swears though, that with each pregnancy you become more and more tired. Maybe it is because you get busier and busier...who knows.

Ok, so here are some pics that we have taken recently..Enjoy.

One of Ethan's fav. new things to do is climb up on the table and throw all the fake fruit onto the floor...He climbs on anything and everything!!

Here are some pics of us at Texas Roadhouse on Andy's B-day.

Here is another pic. of my little one getting into trouble in mom's purse...about to eat my chapstick...but getting caught red-handed and knowing he is in trouble

Aftermath of eating dirt...need I say more.

We had a party at Aunt Deb's house on Saturday for Mimi and Papa to welcome them home. Here are some pics of that.

Lastly, here is my monthly belly shot....at 5 months. Definately a big change from last month!

2008-04-21T21:38:00.001-04:00

Busy Week!!!

Last week was soo crazy....Although there was lots of fun things happening, I am glad it is over and life is back to normal! Here are some of our big events last week:

1. Doctor's Appt.-Good news, bleed is gone and I can be a normal pregnant woman!

2. Mimi and Papa came home from Africa. We are soo happy to have them home. Ethan took very well to them and they think he is the cutest little boy.

3. Andy's 29th B-day-April 17....only one year away from 30, man he is getting old. We went to our favorite restaurant "Texas Roadhouse" with the fam and I made his favorite dessert (which I will definately have to post).

4. Stake Relief Society Enrichment Day- From 9-3 I sat and listened to people talk and did absolutely nothing...that was nice! My mom was one of the speakers and did a very good job..most certainly the most entertaining.

Those were the biggest things, and then there were a thousand little tasks that I needed to complete. This week my "To Do list" is lots smaller. Thank Heavens!

I will post some pics of Andy's B-day this week.

2008-04-10T21:51:00.002-04:00

So Many Choices!

I am trying to pick out a theme for the baby girl's room.....The bedding set below is one that I am considering. I am digging the browns and pinks. What do ya'll think?? Got any ideas??

2008-04-10T21:40:00.002-04:00

We Live Outside!

I have decided that if we were to stay outside from sun up to sun down, Ethan would be perfectly content! He stands at the door all the time saying "ou-siiii" (meaning outside) and trying to turn the knob. He only cries outside when I am making him come him. We have been park hopping this week, a new park every day, and it has been quite fun. He is definately making me get over my dirt-phobia, cuz by the time we come in we are both stinky and covered with dirt. It is worth every minute though, because he is soo happy. It is also fun for me because I have met lots of new people and Ethan gets to socialize too. I will have to take some pics to post of my my little boy running amuck.

2008-03-30T21:10:00.005-04:00

The Results Are In....

We are having a GIRL!!! Yippee! Now I have lots of shopping to do! :-)

This little girl was being stubborn though. I actually went on Saturday to get the 3d/4d ultrasound and find out the gender, but she was not cooperating and the tech could not even give a guess as to what the sex was..It was a bummer and because the tech was trying so hard to find the gender, we did not get good pics. So they said I could come back today (Sunday) and try again. I ate a candy bar on the way there hoping to give the baby a jolt of energy so she would move around and show herself.....sure nuf she did. We had a great session and got lots of good pictures. My dad, mom, and sister went with us both days, they were troopers.

So here are some pictures of our baby girl....

2008-03-27T21:47:00.002-04:00

My New Cuddle Bunny

I don't know where my rambunctious little boy (who will not calm down to cuddle) went.....but he was replaced with another sweet little boy who wants to cuddle quite often, especially when he is tired. It is the sweetest thing in the world and I am enjoying it very much. He will only go to sleep right now if we are cuddling him. Tonight I let him lay in my lap for about an hour after he went to sleep...I just wanted to treasure the moment, because I don't know how long it will last! He must know that his unlimited time with Mommy is going to end soon..and he will have to share me. What a dreaded thought for my spoiled little boy. :-)

Picture Time

Here is another belly pic...I am trying to do these monthly to mark my progress...and it has already been a month since the last belly pic...So here I am! I am growing like a weed, can't ya tell??

2008-03-23T21:24:00.008-04:00

Happy Easter everyone!!

Here are a couple of pics from our Easter Day. Andy and I hosted the dinner and it was lots of fun and very tasty! Tiff, Sarah, and I were the chefs for the day and the boys were the clean-up crew, so it worked out well. Ethan liked dinner, but especially enjoyed the deviled eggs. After dinner we let Ethan "hunt" eggs, although we did not really hide them because he would have never found them. He did pick up a couple of eggs and then he was done and moved on to better things, like playing with pine straw. We took Ethan to see the Easter Bunny on Saturday and as you will see in the pictures he did not like the Easter Bunny! I am just thankful we got a picture of him not crying.

Note: the big slash marks on Ethan's head are from him falling down 4 stairs because he thinks he can fly...the joys of having a boy!!

Note 2: We could not get the booger to smile in the pics today, so I also have a pic of him from a couple of days ago when he was feeling like cheesing it.

2008-03-21T21:44:00.002-04:00

Friday Fun!

Ethan and I went to the mall today to find Ethan a Easter oufit and some much needed maternity clothes for me. I am sick of wearing baggy t-shirts and half-zipped jeans, so I broke down and started getting summer maternity wear. I found the cutest stuff...and it was affordable! Motherhood Maternity rocks. I got 2 springy dresses and 2 capris. One pair is camos (adorable) and the other is a new style of denim capris called "Secret fit Belly". They are seriously the most comfortable and flattering maternity pants! Maternity wear has definately come along way! Sooo long baggy shirts and jeans.

Now for Ethan's new clothes. We found a Easter outfit from Carter's (which you will see pics of on Sunday) and another springy plaid outfit from Oshkosh that I thought he could wear when we go get a picture with the Easter Bunny tomorrow.

To finish out our day we had dinner at a Chinese Buffet called Manchuria Garden with Andy, Tiff, and my Dad. I had never been to a Chinese Buffet but I will definately return. It was really good and they had a ton of Sushi.....In fact, Andy had 2 full plates of it. Ethan did not eat much but he did have fun socializing with people sitting at all the surrounding tables. He is such a Ham!

2008-03-19T21:08:00.002-04:00

Getting ready for Easter!

Since Easter is right around the corner, I thought I shoud start getting ready for it. This year my sis and I are making Easter dinner because my Grandma (Mimi) is in Africa on a mission and my mom is out there visiting them. So we are planning the menu....the only thing left to figure out is the dessert. I am thinking maybe banana pudding??

To get Ethan ready, we went and got his haircut. This is his 4th or 5th already!! He is such a good little boy during haircuts. He just sits in the little airplane and looks in the mirror as the stylist works on him. I swear this is one of the only times he is still!! I will take a picture so everyone can see his new do. Also, tomorrow we have to go find a Easter outfit for him. He will be the cutest boy in church! (Sorry, a little prideful :-) )

2008-03-12T21:10:00.003-04:00

The Flu Bug Finally Caught Up With Us!!

So many people have been getting sick lately and I thought we were just getting lucky and somehow avoiding the bug...well it hit Ethan full force this week. Ironically, he got sick within 12 hours of coming home from his weekly visit to the day care. He woke up Tuesday morning with a 103 temp. He was very lethargic and laid in my lap for 2 straight hours that morning when he woke up. For anyone who knows Ethan, this is very odd for him. He is not a cuddle-bunny and likes to be on the go. I kept him on meds and kept his temp down for most of the day to around 101. But last night the medicine was not touching that fever and he got up to 104.5. He was soooo pitiful!! He did not have enough energy to move and only wanted me (his momma). We went to the ER because we were scared. They gave him more meds, took blood and did a chest x-ray. They wanted to test for the flu, but couldn't because they have run out of kits. The blood test showed an increase in the White Blood Count and the Chest x-ray showed pneumonia in his right lobe. The Dr. said he could also have the flu. So now he is on antibiotics and round the clock tylenol and IBprofen.

We had a really rough day today! When he was not lethargic he was really whiny and I could not get him to take a nap today. At 7 I laid on the couch with him and he was out within minutes. He has not fallen asleep in my lap since he was 6 months old. So it was really sweet but sad. Too bad we have to wake him up at 10 for more meds....then at 1, 4, and 7...so we dont have a repeat of last night.

He is a picture of my pitiful boy.

2008-03-06T20:39:00.004-05:00

OB Appointments

Well, Tuesday I had another Dr.'s appt and another ultrasound (yay!). I love getting ultrasounds and seeing this baby grow. I have had 5 already this pregnancy because of my bleeding and will probably have many more...don't like this problem, but I won't argue with getting a ton of ultrasounds. The doc said the baby is growing like a weed. Measuring at 15 weeks and weighing around 16 weeks (4 ounces already). I, however, am only 14 weeks pregnant....I hope this does not mean I am going to have a 10 lber (Yikes)! The bleed is still there but stable. So I was feeling ok about things after my appt until Tuesday night around midnight.....

I was at work and got an awful surprise...more bleeding...left work early and went to the Dr. AGAIN on Wednesday. The baby is fine and unphased by all of this. The Dr. put me on more work restrictions. They don't want me lifting anything and want me to work a desk-type job at the hospital, where I am not standing for 12 hours. So now I am out of floor nursing until this gets better. :-( Also, I am not supposed to be lifting Ethan...it is soo hard not to lift my baby!!

Dealing with this has made me sooo thankful for the healthy pregnancy that I had with Ethan.

Here is a pic of our little one.

2008-03-03T21:44:00.004-05:00

Fun In the Park on a Warm Day

Finally, we had a warm sunny day!! Since Ethan and I have been staying in the house lately because of our cold rainy days, I thought I should take advantage of a warm day and go outside and play! Today the weather was absolutely beautiful with highs reaching low 70's. This was Ethan's first time on a big playground and he loved it. He especially loved the swings and the slides. The whole time on the swings he was laughing uncontrollably. I guess it was soo much fun he could not contain himself. He is such a daredevil though, I could not look away for one second. We had lots of fun and got really dirty. Dirt in the hair, ears, etc. I guess I should get used to it, because there is soo much more to come. Here is a picture of Ethan on the swing. He looks a little tipsy, I know, but I was having a hard time getting a good one.

2008-02-29T11:07:00.002-05:00

Friday Fun!

My little boy, Ethan, is quite the climber. Today he was climbing on his little tikes chairs and standing up on them and then wobbling back and forth. I saw him doing this and walked over to help hold his hands so I could steady him and prevent a fall. Unfortunately, I did not succeed and he went tumbling. This is not a big deal because he falls all the time, but now with his mouth full of teeth, these falls many times turn into bloody lips, or gums. So he starts pouring blood out of his mouth and I did not want to even look in his mouth, because I was scared of what I would find (broken tooth, loose tooth, etc). Luckily, he just bit his lip real bad and all his teeth were intact. But boy do mouths bleed ALOT and it seems like it takes forever to clot!! I tried to put a wash cloth in his mouth to catch the blood and apply pressure but Ethan was not having this. He was running around the house, dripping blood. I was praying he would not get blood on our new carpet, which luckily, he didn't. When the bleeding had practically stopped, Ethan walked over to me, took the washcloth out of my hand and held it to his mouth for quite awhile. It was soo cute but just a little late. I guess next time I should just give him the washcloth from the start.

2008-02-26T13:41:00.004-05:00

Picky Eater!!!

I think my child is one of the most pickiest 1 year olds...It is soo hard to find foods that he likes. For instance, he will not eat any fresh cut up fruits, or canned fruit. I can occasionally get him to eat a couple bites of applesauce, but that is all. Now, for meats...he will only eat chicken if it is a tyson chicken nugget, or my buffalo chicken (which give him the runs). Grilled chicken is totally out. He will not eat fish or red meat. He does like hot dogs though..I just buy the healthier kind. He will sometimes eat waffles, nutri-grain bars, and other bread products, but it is totally random. Now here is what he will always eat or drink: milk, ice cream, yogurt, mac-and-chesse,fries, and any type of vegetable. Oh, and chocolate. He loves it, but I rarely give it to him.

Now, how in the world is he going to get all the nutrition that he needs when he won't eat alot of the healthy stuff I give him. I need to quit stressing about this, but it makes me crazy, and meal-times are not a fun experience right now. I am just praying that he will grow out of this.

I welcome any advice! Sorry I had to vent, but I was to the point of tears today when I could not get him to eat until 11:30 am.

2008-02-24T21:38:00.003-05:00

My First Belly Picture

Well, I figure since I am at the end of my first trimester, I should take a picture so I can keep track of my growing belly. I know it does not look like much, but I am bigger now than I was with Ethan at 18 weeks. I cannot wear any of my jeans zipped and buttoned....so now its time for flattering maternity wear (so sarcastic!). If anyone has any favorite places for maternity clothes, let me know....

2008-02-21T21:21:00.006-05:00

Consignment Treasures and Bathtub Fun!

It's my favorite time of year again....Consignment Sale time!! I am trying to be a thrifty mom and this is one way I do it. Buy gently used toys, clothes, beds, etc for a fraction of retail price. (This is how I justify it to my husband.) My favorite buys this year were my double stroller and race car bed for Ethan. Also, I bought some really cute girl clothes....thinking maybe this baby is a girl. We will know in 5 weeks!

Here are some pics of my consignment deals.

To check consignment sales around your area go to www.thebargainwatcher.com

Now on to our Bathtime fun today....Ethan was playing in the tub and being really happy, just sitting down and playing with his toys (which he rarely does)....well when he started to stand up, little poop balls started coming from under him and soon we had a tub full of poopy and a previously clean Ethan. This is the first time Ethan has done this....I thought since I went 14 months with no poopy in the tub that I was just lucky and that Ethan could control his bowels in the water...Well, I was wrong. You just never know what to expect with children! After a good clorox scrub for the tub and a second bath, we are as good as new. :-)

2008-02-18T21:07:00.004-05:00

Best Sugar Cookie Recipe! (from Grandma Grillo)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 c. sour cream
3 1/2 - 4 c. flour
1 tsp vanilla
dash nutmeg (optional)

In a bowl, combine baking powder with flour and set aside. Mix baking soda with sour cream and set aside. Cream softened butter with sugar; add eggs and beat until fluffy and add 1 tsp. vanilla. Add flour mixture and sour cream alternating in about 3 additions. Chill dough at least 1 hour or until firm. Do not over handle dough. Roll out about 1/4 inch thick on floured surface and cut into shapes. Bake at 350 for 7-8 minutes (or 12-14 min for thicker cookies). Do not overbake! Let cookies cool slightly before removing from cookie sheet. Frost and Decorate.

Butter Frosting (Better Homes and Garden)

3/4 c. butter, softened
9 cups sifted powdered sugar (about 2 lbs)
1/4 cup milk or more to reach desired consistency
2 tsp. vanilla

Beat butter until smooth. Gradually add 2 cups of the powdered sugar, beating well. Slowly beat in 1/4 cup milk and the vanilla. Gradually beat in the remaining powdered sugar. Beat in enough additional milk to reach spreading consistency.

2008-02-17T21:22:00.003-05:00

Determined to Blog Regularly!....And Ethan Dancing

For awhile I have been looking at everyone else's blogs, but not participating myself...So I have decided it is time to be a participant and try to keep family and friends updated on our growing family. So here we go!

Our first big announcement is that we are pregnant with our second child that will be due Sept. 6. We are excited but I am not enjoying pregnancy yet with all my stomach aches. I will post belly pics when I start really showing. Right now I just look like I have gained a little around the middle! ;)

Ethan has recently started dancing on cue...but he especially likes to dance to music. Here is a little clip of our 14 month old who has more rhythm than both of his parents. Enjoy!

2007-12-26T09:09:00.000-05:00

2007-10-09T21:07:00.001-04:00

2007-10-09T20:44:00.001-04:00

2006-10-28T21:39:00.000-04:00

Here is JeNece at 35 weeks. We are getting awfully close!

2006-10-27T09:10:00.000-04:00

Some of the latest pictures of Mommy and the nursery. We are very excited for the arrival of our baby. Just a couple more weeks!

2006-10-24T14:23:00.000-04:00

2006-10-23T07:28:00.000-04:00

Just a little blog to keep family and friends up-to-date on what is happening with our family. Please feel free to post as you may. We will get this updated as soon as we can.