Happy Birthday Friend!

I haven't posted in awhile. I thought for sure my next one would be a recap of our holiday celebration. Well, how could I do that when today happens to be not only the end of 2007, but also one of my dearest friends birthdays?

If you know her, you love her. She's absolutely hysterical and has a way of making people laugh even in the toughest of times! She's totally down to earth and very much an honest person. There's not a high and lofty bone in her body. She will relate to you and love you no matter who you are or what your going through. She is a tremendous friend. She has advice to give on almost any subject - and it is often very good. Her wisdom is deeper than she believes it to be. She's never at a loss for words (thank God for unlimited long distance); Yet she knows when silence is best. She's a fantastic mother despite her heavy load. And if I may be as bold as to speak for her husband, I bet he would say she's an exceptional wife and pretty good looking too. She's quite creative. The camera is proof. I won't disclose her age, but if you met her you'd know she has a child-like heart. And the best part is that I call her my friend!!!

Happy Birthday Courtney!!!
May your day be especially blessed.

Our Caribbean Cruise!

I am back after 4 nights and 5 days of vacationing with my honey! We had a wonderful time and Samuel did great while we were gone. Big thanks to Mimi and the gang! We sailed aboard Royal Caribbean International's Navigator of the Seas. I believe it is the 2nd largest ship on their fleet and it is truly amazing. The ship holds over 3,000 passengers and over 1,000 staff members. The staff of the ship come from 70 different countries and they treat you like kings and queens! We had a chance to sleep, nap and eat lots of delicious food at our leisure. We also watched a few theater performances, an ice dancing show, went to an art auction, mini golfed, got a massage at the spa, played in the arcade, sunbathed, snorkeled and relaxed on the beach. Needless to say, we feel restored and reconnected. Enjoy the slide show!

Wordless Wednesday

Baby's First Photo!

Baby made it easy for the ultrasound technician to tell the sex.
She wore a pink bow for the occasion!

Holiday Happiness!

This has been a fabulous week for being in the Christmas Spirit!

First stop was last Sunday at Grzenda's Christmas Tree Farm. This is a beautiful place to get a tree. We were a bit unprepared for the weather (mix of snow and rain and very windy) but thankfully we bumped into some friends and they gave us a wool blanket, a Carhartt jacket for Tim, and a bright orange hat. I didn't have a hat with me, so Tim gave me his black hat and he decided to sport the orange hat. He knew that was the proper fashion maneuver for his super sensitive pregnant wife. We hopped on the tractor and rode past a beautiful frozen lake, on to the field of trees. They were magnificent! Tim sawed down our tree while Samuel stood on the side lines holding his very large snowball.

I think our tree is the best one we've ever had! I was amazed at how perfectly shaped it is and how great it smells! We brought the tree home, stuck it in the stand and guess what else we did? FORGOT to water it for the rest of the day. Between Tim's usual absent-mindedness and my pregnancy induced spaciness. We both forgot to water the tree. I was so upset I could cry. We put water in before bed and checked it the next morning. It had barely absorbed any water and there was a ton of needles on the floor. Yikes! We had to save our tree. So Tim had to take it out of the stand and make a fresh cut the next day and it's doing fine now.

Samuel "helped" me decorate the tree by pulling the lights off as I was putting them on. Somehow we managed to get all the lights and ornaments on and Samuel is just loving the tree! Probably loving it too much as he is constantly rearranging the ornaments.

Don't go into shock. Yes, that is me in an apron. The second stop was baking at KT's house. For those of you who know me. I just don't bake. I love to cook meals but baking to me is tedious, controlled and way too precise. But I figured with KT's help I could enjoy the process.

We made Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls and Andrea's famous caramel corn. The boys played together and napped at the same time.

We enjoyed the silence and a cup of coffee or two!

I made a second batch of caramel corn at home and my little buddy found a new sweet treat that might have replaced lunch if I didn't intervene. Every few minutes a small hand would pop up and steel a few kernals of corn while it was cooling.

The end result was several lovely gifts all ready to ship out to friends and family. I delivered the cinnamon rolls locally to some of my favorite people. I then made these cute goodie bags filled with caramel corn, a Christmas movie and a few other treats to my family members who have children and live out of town. This was actually KT's idea, so I have to give her credit. All my packages are mailed out and I, for the first time in holiday history, will not be waiting on huge lines at the post office with just enough time to get gifts out for the holidays. I guess this week has given me a nice sense of accomplishment.

Who's in there?

I can't believe I'm posting this photo. Sarah, I told you I would post one. Here it is, the belly shot at 18 weeks pregnant (and a great profile of my not so great posture). I'm really not big on showing people my bare pregnant belly for various reason... I'm pale, a bit fuzzy from my italian/romanian genes, and my belly button just refuses to stay in. I enjoyed 30+ years of having an "innie," but my first pregnancy took care of that. It's been sort of an "inbetweenie" since then and it decides to pop out whenever I eat too much. It has now been an official "outtie" since I was around 14 weeks pregnant.

Anyway, Monday is the big day!!! We get to find out who's in that belly. Will it be a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, a grandson or a granddaughter??? I will keep you posted and would love to hear your best guess. And you don't have to post any comments to make me feel better about my belly button. I've sought counseling over the whole thing and I've accepted the fact that I might be an "outtie" for life!

Big Boy Bed!

Thank you all for your input. We finally made the transition to a bed the night before last and Samuel is loving his new bed! We decided on the toddler bed. We just didn't have the funds to buy a twin mattress at this point in time, plus Samuel's room is exceptionally small. So, toddler bed it is and he's loving it. Tim gave Samuel a screwdriver and he helped his Daddy put that bed together. There were a few tears when we were breaking down the crib but it was short lived. Samuel found his bedtime buddies, "blankie" and "ducky", and climbed into his new bed. He laid down and pretended to snore. Then sat up and smiled. Somehow I knew this was a good move.


The first night it took over an hour to get to sleep. He woke once in the middle of the night and came into our room. Last night he fell asleep without a problem, but was in our room again at about midnight. He just needed a little comforting and he went right back to sleep in his bed.


I've been peeking in on him more often than usual. There's just something about seeing my "baby" sleeping in a bed. He's growing into a big boy slowly but surely and I'm privileged to help him along that journey. Sweet dreams Samuel Owen!

Crib Climbing - HELP!

If you've been through the toddler years with your children then I need your help!!! Samuel figured how to climb out of his crib several months ago but only did it once and that was it. He is now 2 1/2 years old and he has decided that climbing out of the crib on a regular basis is a fun thing to do or at least a good way to start training for the Olympics early. Tim and I discussed the possibility of getting a crib tent but it seemed silly to spend $70 on such a device when we'll probably be buying a bed for him really soon. Plus, I just don't think he'll tolerate the tent at this stage of life. It would probably be a distraction. So with that said, a few days ago we lowered the crib rail and put the ottoman next to the crib so he could get in and out safely. He loves it and thinks it's great that he can get in and out of his bed on his own. He's at that stage where he wants to do everything himself and let's us know that he is NOT appreciative of our assistance. Anyway, nap time has been fine - no getting out of bed. He's usually so tired that he goes right to sleep after a bit of singing and cuddling. Bedtime however is the problem. He seems to understand just fine that he is supposed to stay in bed and he obeys us. The problem is that he climbs on his pillow and tries to reach over the taller part of the crib to reach his dresser which is just a few feet away. He wants to get to his lamp and humidifier to turn them on and off on his own. Well, the other night he actually fell over the tall part of the crib because he was reaching so far to get to his dresser - he must of went right over head first. It's a miracle that he did not injure himself. So today I moved his dresser to the other side of the room thinking this would solve the problem. But no, again at bedtime Tim caught him scaling the tall part of the crib and for what reason I'm not sure. So, it seems to me that the inevitable must happen sooner than I hoped. I think it is time for a big boy bed. My question to you is weather to go with a twin mattress on the floor with a side rail or a toddler bed??? Samuel loves his crib. He loves the coziness of having his bumper and often snuggles right up against it. He also sleeps in a million positions. Not to mention his room is tiny. I like the idea of a toddler bed b/c it seems a bit cozier than a regular mattress and it's still the same size as his crib. But I'm not sure if that's just a waste of money. Any opinions??? Has anyone had this problem??? Any suggestions are welcome. We have to do something ASAP for safety reasons plus we are going away in less than 2 weeks and we need to know he's comfortable with his sleeping arrangement. Thanks. By the way I am writing this post at midnight so excuse the typos and poor grammar.

The last leaf has fallen!

Hallelujah! The last leaf has fallen. We have two beautiful, yet gigantic, trees on either side of our home. One is a red maple and the other must be the biggest oak that God has ever created. Ok, ok, a bit of an exaggeration. I still think it's the biggest oak in my neighborhood! Then we have a smaller oak in the back. I love the shade they bring in the summer and the beauty of colors in the fall. However bagging these leaves is an astronomical task! My one neighbor bagged at least 15 bags and we finished up this weekend with another 2o+. I lost count. All this from just 3 trees. Needless to say I'm glad we are done with the leaves for the season.

Pre-Thanksgiving Thoughts

The moment has arrived and I hope it is lasting. My morning sickness and indigestion have gone. I have officially enjoyed food for 3 days now. Yippee!!! What great timing for Thanksgiving this week. I hope I get as stuffed as the bird itself!


Just wanted to post a few things I am thankful for this holiday:

1) The season of joy and peace our family is currently experiencing. It's good to recognize and be thankful for the peaceful, uneventful seasons of life as they can so often be interrupted without warning.

2) A husband who is generous, caring and self-sacrificing. I love you!

3) A husband who will change his clothes when I tell him his outfit looks funny!

4) A son who makes me realize just how big my heart truly can be!

5) The way Samuel talks to my belly and rubs it ever so gently while saying "baby come out." He's going to have a long wait. Perhaps this will help his virtually non-existent toddler patience.

6) An awesome turkey dinner that I am not having to prepare - thanks Donna!!! Plan on a double portion for us. Chick pea and I are finally HUNGRY!

7) For the one pair of non-maternity jeans that I can still fit into. Well, maybe not after Thanksgiving.

8) That my son now asks for an m&m every time he poops (and it's not even in the potty) It's a long story.

9) My family (all sides) who are always thoughtful and supportive of all we do!

10) A God who never lets me go too long without reminding me that his plans for me, his love for me and his kingdom are not out of reach!


And of course I am thankful for you! It has been very uplifting to have this little circle of blogging friends. You are always a highlight in my day! I hope each of you have a beautiful Thanksgiving.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We are going on vacation!!!

It's finally sinking in...alone with my husband, sandy beach, yummy food, sleeping in, tropical weather. Thank God I only have to wait a few more weeks before we go on our cruise to Cozumel!!! I can't believe we are actually taking a vacation -alone!!! I never in a million years thought we could leave Samuel for that long (4 nights). But it's actually happening and I'm OK with it surprisingly. We tried to plan a family vacation but each time I tried it just didn't feel like a vacation. It just felt like we were going to do the same things we do at home in a warmer climate and in a strange place with no babysitter. Not my idea of vacation and God knows I'm ready for one. I look forward to taking a family vacation when Samuel's older. When naps, booster seats, diapers and the like are not part of the equation. So home he will stay with Papa and Mimi; and I'm sure he will have FUN, FUN, FUN! I know it will be hard leaving but I'm certain that once we are relaxing it will all be OK. I'm ready! I'm really ready! I'm ready to celebrate my 5th anniversary with Tim. I'm ready to lounge by the pool or the sea. I'm ready to be pampered at the spa. I'm ready to take my luxuries before our little "chick pea" arrives in May. And I'm ready to not have to pay for our vacation. Yup, that's right -F-R-E-E! I earned an all expense paid trip for one to Hawaii through Lia Sophia this year and we are unable to go because you have to take the trip in April. Not going to happen at 8 1/2 months pregnant so we took the cash alternative and paid for this cruise. What a blessing! You know, Tim and I took a lovely tropical honeymoon and we are about to embark on another tropical anniversary. I'm thinkng this every 5 year trend sounds really good to me! Maybe next time we'll make it to Hawaii!

Tagged!

Sarah tagged me for this meme:
(Funny thing is I don't even know what a meme is - I'm totally cyber-challenged. But I'm up for some fun)

Four jobs I’ve had:
1. College Bookstore Manager
2. SUNY Research Foundation Ed. Specialist
3. Art Teacher for Migrant Center
4. Bartender

Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. How to lose a guy in 10 days
2. Seabiscuit
3. Count of Monte Cristo
4. Princess Bride

Four TV shows I like - reality version:
1. American Idol
2. Amazing Race
3. Biggest Loser
4. ????

Four TV shows that I like - non-reality version
1. Bionic Woman
2. What About Raymond
3. Seinfeld
4. Friday Night Lights

Four places I’ve gone on vacation:
1. Anguilla (Caribbean)
2. Niagara on the Lake
3. Florida
4. Leaving for a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico in December (HOORAY!!!)

Four favorite foods:
1. Avocados any way
2. Steamed little neck clams dipped in butter
3. Japanese Beef Negamaki
4. Almost any Thai food

Four web sites I visit daily:
1. Lia Sophia
2. Friend's blogs
3. Pregnancy calendars (1x per week)
4. ????

Four places I would rather be:
1. Any white sand beach
2. Cruising through the Greek Islands with a final destination of Italy
3. Right at this moment - napping!
4. On the same spiritual plane as Pastor Dick Dreyer :D

Four bloggers I tag:
1. Courtney
2. Amanda
3. Denise
4. Tarah

A Tribute To Our Cat

She's quirky, a bit over weight, annoying at times, has beautiful eyes and responds to her name even though it's ridiculous. This is our cat, Chicken.

Her name was once Korky. Sometimes we call her Chicken Liver (when she's naughty). Every once in awhile we call her Chix, to build her self-esteem. Samuel just calls her Cat. I think she has as many personalities as she has names. Some of you reading this have experienced her bad attitude. Some of you might think she's just the sweetest thing. Well, I guess to us she's somewhere in between but we love her none the less. She is exceptional with Samuel. He counts all her body parts and tries to ride her like a horse. And every once in awhile she'll even let you stack foam letters on her head one at a time. What a great cat!

Taco Soup!!!

Well here it is...my first posted recipe! Even though its called taco soup, it's hearty and thick - a bit more like taco stew. This is an all-time favorite in my house and it's super easy to make. You just need a good can opener. Enjoy!

1 small onion chopped
1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
1 lb hot Italian sausage (pork or poultry) squeezed out of casing.
(You can probably use sweet sausage instead
but I've not tried it. I like it on the spicy side)
1 cup water
1 15.5oz can pinto beans
1 15.5oz can lima beans
1 15.5oz can dark red kidney beans
1 15.5oz can white or golden hominy
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes
1-2 small cans chopped green chilies
(you decide how hot)
1 pack ranch dressing mix
1 pack taco seasoning
(Simply Organics in Wegmans natural food section
has ranch and taco mix with no msg or preservatives.)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Shredded cheddar cheese
Tortilla chips

Rinse and drain all the beans. Brown the meat and onions in the bottom of a large pot. Add remaining ingredients except the cheddar and tortilla chips. Bring to a boil and let simmer at least 30 min. Serve with shredded cheddar and tortilla chips.

Still Lovebirds

This photo was actually taken last Saturday at a friend's wedding. Thought I'd share it with you all. Isn't my hubby handsome? Well... you don't have to answer that one!

Little Heartbeats!

Yesterday was the first chance we had to hear the baby's heartbeat. It was nice and strong at 162 bpm. Tim couldn't be with me so my mid wife suggested we send him a voice mail so he could hear as well. It was very sweet. I feel like I've been waiting forever to hear that sound. In an instant it made all the sickness, tiredness, and irritability worth it. I can't wait to see our little chick pea. (Samuel's nickname in utero was was Lentil, so we thought we'd continue the theme). I also must admit I'm having the strangest feeling this one is a girl. We'll know in another 5 weeks...

Fireman Sam!

Last night was our church's Harvest Party and it was awesome! The children's program is truly phenomenal and they did such a great job setting the whole thing up. There were tons of age-appropriate activities and the decorations were so creative. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Your hard work was evident.

When we first walked into "church", Samuel was a bit surprised and a bit cautious. Something was very different here. Once he saw the balloons, it was all history. Samuel REALLY enjoyed himself. Tim and I basically chased him around from one place to another. Surprisingly, he kept his fireman hat on the whole time because he was so distracted. He enjoyed cheese doodles for the first time and his favorite activity was the blow up jumping castle!

Wordless Wednesday

Haircuts and Ice Cream

Bribing my child was just about the only way to get the haircut finished. After 30 minutes of being strapped to his booster seat while watching Little Einsteins was all he could bear. I chopped as fast as I could (a little hair then a little finger - ouch). He began his little "all done chant" that I often hear usually at the end of a meal. It goes something like this... "All done, all done, all DONE, DONE, DONE!!!" (Repeat over and over in ever-increasing volume.) So I promised him an ice cream cone and it worked like a charm. Mission completion!

Better Then Yesterday

Shall I start with today or yesterday? Yesterday was a challenge, today a reprieve. Perhaps I should start with last weekend... yes, that's where I'll start. Tim has been working wild hours this entire week starting last Sunday. Leaving at 4 o'clock in the morning and returning just in time to scarf down some food and go to bed. Needless to say, we are sleeping apart (I'm in our spare room) and that's a good thing. The mad-woman in me gets aroused when I'm woken in the middle of the night, and I wake up to just about anything including the rustling of the sheets. That's why I like jersey knit - they are basically noiseless sheets. Needless to say, I miss my husband: his company, his help and his presence in our home.

This week probably would have been no big deal if I wasn't 11 weeks pregnant, narcotically tired, sick to my stomach most, and a mother of a very active toddler boy who would prefer to use me as a trampoline rather than a cushion. Not to mention that I am a highly social person and the lack of adult interaction seems like a form of torture for me. The week was like a lessen in self-control as I had to cook, clean, play with my son, attempt to run a business (this part has not gone very well at all) and hold up the fort despite the way I am feeling physically. The only thing I didn't do was clean the cat litter for which I have a very legitimate excuse. And thankfully I maintained some level of patience with my son who was getting bored and a bit stir crazy. I think he was climbing just about everything in the house and trying to ride the cat like a horse. As the week progressed, I began to break down. Let's see...Subway sub, McDonald's salad, then chicken parm from the local italian restaurant. Samuel's diapers weren't changed quite as frequently and the dishes were beginning to pile. The only thing that got me to do them was the fear of smelling them with my super duper pregnant olfactory system the next morning. That would be tragic.

Friday (we are finally at yesterday) was the breaking point when Tim told me he'd be home a few hours later than planned. He might as well said that he wouldn't be home for another year. All those hormones came rushing to the surface. Self-control break-down occurred as I wept on the phone. Samuel stood staring blankly at me then cracked a nervous "what's wrong with mommy" smile. I hung up, sat on the floor and cried and cried and cried. Jesus cried tears of blood, well I'm sure I was crying tears of estrogen! I was so glad to finally close my eyes at the end of the day in our bed since Tim would be home the next morning!

This morning I woke to Samuel's chipper morning sounds in the monitor. I'm pretty sure he was singing Happy Birthday to some inanimate object in his room. I looked over and there was my husband in bed with me! We all cuddled in bed for awhile while Samuel read the numbers on the digital clock for 20 minutes, Tim graciously cooked breakfast and we headed out to catch a sale at the mall. Samuel was so happy to have mommy and daddy together and I was so happy to be a family. It was a great day! Unfortunately Tim had to work this evening again. Ughhh... dinner alone again and what am I going to make? The all too familiar dread (nausea) came over me but there is a happy ending. Jennifer called right before dinner time and came over with fresh bread, soup and dessert (thank you Andrea!!!) It was so delicious and it really hit the spot! She was my hero for the day. I'm sure it was God's way of letting me know that he really does hear us when we cry out (even if it is tears of estrogen). Overall, today was much better than yesterday!

Wordless Wednesday

For all of you who think Samuel is a spitting image of his father

I actually did this two times. First this picture of Samuel at 2 years old, then I did one with a picture when he was about 12 months. The one at 12 months said he looked more like Tim by 39%. So I guess I'm happy to say he is looking more like me as he grows older. Maybe we'll try again in another year.

Thanks for the fun Gina!

Picking Pumpkins

We decided to go pumpkin picking at Stokoe Farm in Scottsville on Sunday. The weather is unseasonable warm so fall wasn't quite in the air yet. But none the less, we had a great day. Samuel enjoyed picking rocks just as much as he enjoyed picking the pumpkins!

Funhouse Photos

So we got a new computer - an imac. We are really moving up in the world. There's something in me that just doesn't want to keep up with the pace of technology these days, yet my husband is fast on track. So now I am an owner of this incredible computer and an ipod came along with it. I've had the ipod for about a month and haven't used it once. Hmmm...

Anyway, I thought you'd laugh at these funny pictures we were able to take with our new computer.

We survived Long Island

We made our annual trip to Long Island last week. We packed the mini van (yes, we have a mini van and we only have one child) full of every possible thing you could imagine: luggage, food, toys, laptop and more. It's trips like this that make me realize how much I LOVE that Ford Windstar. I actually swore that I would NEVER drive a minivan and now it is my best friend. I really do love that car despite the strange odor that I can't seem to remove, all of Samuel's crumbs on the floor and that annoying vibration in the floor that just doesn't go away no matter what speed you drive. It's like driving a small room around town.

We stayed in a really posh hotel with a suite and all those fine amenities. Samuel's favorite part was counting the numbers on the elevator as we went up to the fourth floor. We visited my Mom and George, for a few days then we visited my Dad and Lorraine. Samuel got his fix of cousins, aunts & uncles and grandparents to last him awhile. I think he might have picked up that Long Island accent too! Just kidding...