its a small world

Brian and I were watching Lawrence Welk on WXXI (I used to watch it all the time with my grandparents) and there was a man playing an instrument that looked like this:


Brian and I were both like "what the #$^$ is that?!" I jumped on the computer and googled "blow keyboard" because that was our best guess as to what it could be called. It popped up with a related search called "melodica" and so I clicked it and there was this beauty.

We then wikipedia-ed it and apparently this "you tube" sensation plays it. I clicked on her name and she is from Brian's hometown of Fairport, NY! How Random!!!!

check her out for yourself:

finally 20lbs!

Parker went to his 15m checkup yesterday!

He's:

20lbs 4oz -- 5th percentile

31 1/4" long -- 50 percentile

head circumference of 19" -- 75th percentile

Basically, he is still skinny with a huge head! =] That'a boy!

We changed his carseat around!

Really, he likes it!!! =]

daytime momma

Elizabeth Hasselbeck from the View is pregnant!

Holy baby boom. =]

Speaking of- Crystal had her baby! Baby Koby came on Tues! =] Congrats Crystal.
My friends from church- Racheal, Evee, Melissa, and Beth are all pregnant!
There are also about 5 other people I know that are expecting. How fun!

parker signing dog, cracker, and please

Parker signing more and milk

I just didn't get "mom" "dad" "thank you" and "all done"
I ran out of memory on my card.

I'm so proud of my little guy!

worried

At my 20 week Ultrasound they said that baby Jack was breech but that he has more than enough time (and space) to turn. Ever since then- at my appointments I ask them to try to feel the position and a couple times she was pretty sure he was head down but I have an appointment next week and they are going to do a positioning ultrasound.

If I have to schedule a c-section I'm going to be so heartbroken. I was so looking forward to trying to have a VBAC and natural birth. I want to feel like a superwoman.

I am worried that if I have to have a c-section I will be in unbearable pain again.
I am worried that baby will have complications (like fluid in the lungs) again.
I am worried they will tell me I can't have any more kids.
I am worried that not holding/seeing my baby right away that he won't nurse.
I am worried Brian won't be able to cut the cord again.

Please say a couple prayers for us between now and next thursday.

Thanks.

Looks a lot more comfy then being head down though, huh?

To my not-so-little-boy,

You amaze me everyday. I can't believe how fast you are growing up. Sometimes I wish I could just pause time, but I guess that's why we take pictures.

I love how stubborn you are. That you already fight for what you want. I hope that you never lose that.

I love how you say "mama" and it warms my heart.... and then I figure out you are really saying milk!

I love how you help mommy stack blocks, and color pictures for me to hang up on the wall.

I love how you try to behave when mommy drags you out in the freezing weather to go shopping.

I love how you sign please without being prompted and then I ask you what you want and you sign milk.

I love how fast you are picking up the signs.

I love watching daddy push you really fast on your little bus. I still have to get a video of that.

I love how you help me pick up the toys and how when I say we're gonna pray you fold your arms.

I love when you give us kisses and hugs and I can't wait to hear you say "i love you mommy".

This is a song from baby signing time that I really love signing to you:

Special To Me
Today will soon be over
Tomorrow will arrive
Right now I’m going to hold you
Until you close your eyes
Words can’t always sum up
The feelings that I feel
So peaceful when you’re sleeping
I know you’ll hear me still

Singing ‘You are very special to me
And I am very special to you
I know that this is where I am meant to be
I’m glad that my baby is you’

Exactly what I wanted
Exactly who you are
I know we’ll work together
And we will reach the stars
Families stick together
And family lasts forever
Forever, that’s how long
I’ll love you

Singing "You are very special to me
And I am very special to you
I know that this is where I am meant to be
I’m glad that my baby is you"
I know this is where I am meant to be
I’m glad that my baby is you

I love you so much. You have accomplished so much in your short 15months here and I cannot wait to see you grow older and learn even more. I can't wait to see you with your little brother- I hope you are best friends.

Love, Mommy

happy birthday bri guy

Yesterday was Brian's 26th birthday!
Brian's friend John-Michael and his beautiful girlfriend- Bridget were here to help us celebrate. I took Brian out to breakfast to enjoy yummy omlets before they got here. Once they arrived we hung out for a little bit and played games while Parker napped. Bri and JM went running while Bridget and I got to talk (well as much as I could for having no voice...) and baked his birthday dessert. Once Parker got up- we went to Fajita Grill (Brian and JMs favorite) for dinner. Then we came home, opened gifts (JM got Brian the Target Box Edition of the game Risk- he's been wanting it for a while.... I got him an assortment of essentials. I told him they weren't too exciting and it was stuff we needed but I thought that he would also like. I got him a nut/seafood craker, cheese slicer, mini cutting board [those were for a laugh bc a couple christmases ago I got a meat tenderizer from Brian and it was totally random.....], long johns, 2 crank powered cell phone chargers, and 2 crank flashlights with radio and siren-- those are for our emergency kits that we are preparing this year.), ate dessert, and relaxed a little before JM and Bridget left. We all had a really great time.

Bri- I love you so much. I'm so glad that I was able to make your day special.

My loves.... ready to celebrate Daddy's 26th birthday!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Our growing Family
Parker and Mommy before church

Kiss, Kiss I love you!

All bundled up and ready for church

35 weeks tomorrow....

i can't pass up a good....

BARGAIN!
Parker and Mommy went to the outlets today. Anyone who knows me- knows I only will buy baby clothes on sale. I just don't see the point in spending $40 bucks on a single article of clothing especially when I know they will only wear it a couple months and it's bound to get stained! I love looking for good deals and then I stock up when I find them!!

There's nothing more satisfying then getting a $15 thing for less than 2 bucks.
So, here are my finds for today... some I'm more proud of than others.... (the percent saved will give you a good idea of which ones I'm most excited about!)

^ christmas pjs for next year (couldn't decide which to get...)
Retail: $36.66
Paid: $14.96
Saved: ~60%

^ Outfits (I accidentally picked up 2 onsies- the same size and color! doh!) Some are for Parker this year and some are for the baby next year....
Retail: $80.00
Paid: $24.67
Saved: 69%

^ cute one piece outfits for the baby
Retail: $25.00
Paid: $2.98
Saved: 88% (wowsers!)

^ loungewear for baby/Parker to match this year! and one for parker next year.
Retail: $72.50
Paid: $8.70
Saved: 88% (wowsers!)

i'm it!

Holly tagged me!

4th pic in the 4th pic folder....

Aww.... this was taken almost 1 yr ago... my little baby is growing up.

my little alfalfa

watching sid the science kid!

^ for the past couple days, i cannot get that piece of hair to stay down for the life of me.
right now it's adorable.

when he's 12? not so much.

ha.

^ Brian's gifts all wrapped for Saturday

brian's birthday festivities

I have NO IDEA what to get him. He wants the game Risk and for me to play it with him... but, I really have NO interest in that game... so I'm at a loss of what to get. Any ideas??? Email me- hcsteffen@gmail.com

So, tomorrow his closest friend John-Micheal is coming up for the weekend! He is so beyond excited. So, I'm making Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo (the olive garden copycat recipe) for them. It should be soooooo good!

Then on Friday I have Tyler so we will all probably hang out here for a bit and then I'll let the two of them go see a movie (as long as they don't see one I've been wanting to see- doubt, the curious case of benjamin button, and i think there's one more that i can't think of...) and I will probably be here cleaning like a maniac.

Saturday, is Brian's actual birthday and John-Mike's girlfriend (weeeeeeeird) is coming up. We haven't met her yet so hopefully she'll like us! I'm sure we'll go to Fajita Grill since it's John-Mike's favorite. And then who knows what we'll do. It should be a good time. =]

I'll leave you with a picture of what I hope my dinner looks like tomorrow:

Oh! I forgot... we're having a couple people over for dinner tonight and I'm making Chicken Scampi.

If I remember to take some pics of the finished products I'll definitely (see mom, i CAN spell it) post them!

there's ALWAYS something

We took Parker to the doctor and we thought we were almost done battling the sickness... well, while I was getting him changed this morning I noticed a lovely rash developing. Great. He's allergic? Doesn't surprise me too much bc I'm allergic to Keflex and apparently a part of this medication is in the same family as Keflex. Here are some pics of the rash. Poor boy!!!!

I caught him snuggling his curious george after taking the pics.... he's such a lover boy. even though he refuses to snuggle- even when he's sick.... =[


So we're supposed to stop meds and then see if the rash goes away. If it does, we are going to call them and give him another dose tomorrow and see what happens. If the rash comes back, I have to call them again and they will switch the meds. If it doesn't go away by tomorrow, I gotta call them and go from there... oh boy!

things i would die for right now....

^ a lavender eye/sinus pillow

^ a nice big bath tub to soak in


^ a hospital bed
(no i'm NOT crazy... let me explain.... i need to have my head elevated and this is the only comfy way to do it when you're pregnant and have no recliner chair... i can't stack pillows. 1) it hurts my neck and 2) you're not supposed to sleep on your back when pregnant and this way i'm more sitting up)

^ i want to take naps on a couch. or at least lay down on one. we have a loveseat and it just doesn't cut it with your feet hanging off one end. i'm hoping to invest in one soon.....

thanks for asking!

Parker update: We took him in first thing this morning and he has an ear infection and a little upper respiratory infection. He's on antibotics and is doing a lot better already!

He's such a trooper!

Now, I'm off to the Dr at 3p to get my throat checked out. It literally feels like I am trying to swallow fire instead of my own spit. =[

heartbreaking...

Parky-Poo is really sick. Fever, runny nose, the whole 9 yards.....

=[

mmMmm Good

'nough said

so proud!

I am SO PROUD of Tyler!! He doesn't eat a lot of solid food and his mommy's on bedrest (with his unborn baby brother or baby sister) so I've been watching him. And I've really been trying to work with him to eat more solid foods. I've gotten him to eat some Stage 3 baby food and today we tried Macaroni and Cheese. (We've tried it before and he didn't even want to touch it). Well today he was gobbling it up. At first he didn't really want to try it, but after one bite he was loving it!!! =] Yay for Tyler!!!!!!

can't get enough

of this greasy goodness =[

good lil' helper

Parker loves helping Daddy with the laundry (its in the basement so Mommy won't go down there)!

=]

i saw a sign like this for about $30 and of course we can't afford to spend that on a decoration, and so i made a print with the same idea/saying.

you can click on the pic to make it bigger

i'm really getting into designing and creating invitations/ announcements/ etc....

random poll

New poll on the right.... vote!
If you have more than one child, vote once per child.

Thanks!

pj buckets

So, Holly gave me this awesome idea to make a can for the kids' christmas pjs every year.

Last night and today I've worked on them. I think they came out okay. I couldn't figure out how to get no bubbles/waving of the paper. Oh well!

The paintcan opener and photo album match the cans! This way, every year when they pull out their christmas pjs they can look back at all the past years.

Thanks Holly!

he's not 2 yet?!

So, Parker has been being creating lots of gray hairs for mommy lately.....

Today, I was washing the diapers in the bathroom- and Parker decided that the 5 clean diapers needed to be put in the toilet. I wouldn't have cared except I had just got done doing a poopy diaper and so the toilet water was disgusting! So, I got the pleasure of REwashing those diapers.

Then, while I was REwashing those diapers I hear crinkling in the living room. I peek my head around the corner and Parker had managed to get the cheerio bag out of the garbage and dumped the remaining cheerios (probably 3 cups- they were stale) onto the carpeted living room floor. When I cleaned up my hands and came to help him pick them up, he was not only eating them- but shoving them in his mouth as though he hadn't ate in years- as happy as a lark.

Now, I try to look at the humor in every situation. So the humor here? Brian and I JUST talked last night about getting a dustbuster. I guess we better get it sooner rather than later-- it appears as though we'll have lots of Parker mishaps!

.... sorry there's no pics. now that's asking for a little much, don'tcha think?!

I found Marylin's blog through my friend, Beverly's blog, and I've been hooked ever since.

She has a great heart and is very creative!

She has created a new crafty blog and I want you to check it out:

http://marylinscraftiness.blogspot.com/

32 weeks

happy 32 weeks baby Jackson!

speaking of jackson- i am not going to be surprised if this baby turns out to be a girl. for some reason i still have this nagging feeling that this baby is a girl. i hope he really is a boy because i think it would be great for parker and i'm definately excited to see what he looks like.... so we'll see.... =]

Here are some of the shots from the four generation photos!
These are priceless...

help

I want to buy an SLR camera (and learn how to use it ) before the year's end.

I need any and all advice....

Nikon vs Canon?
Suggested Lenses?
Any good classes in this area? Anyone wanna teach me a couple things?

I think I want a telephoto lens? ... Where you focus on one part of the composition?
Ahh! I don't know!
Help!