notes I took during Parker's labor

I was cleaning out the attic- bringing baby stuff down and i found my birthplan for parker. With it- was a notebook where i took notes during labor.... here they are:

"Childbirth is a very long process
Childbirth is painful.

I didn't want an epidural I
think I might get one. This
pain is incredible. I had a day of
pain w. getting induced.

I want sleep but I know
"sleep" won't be like it used to.
I want good sleep- not just sleep.

I want to meet Parker.

contractions= NOT fun.

I wish I had a natural labor.
I don't want to be here anymore.

---
Epidurals are needed w. pitocin
I <3 Stadol

I can't wait to hold my son.

C-Sections make you really really sore."

I read it. I sat there. And cried.

Brian's Bday Gift

Mary & Elliott A Novel by Brian David Steffen | Make Your Own Book

For Brian's birthday I published one of his novels. You can check out the first 15 pgs.
You can even order your very own copy by clicking the link above.

:)
Enjoy

Happy [early] Birthday Brian

Brian is celebrating his birthday this weekend, his real birthday is Monday.
He planned all the events....

First: We will be going to the temple

With Britta and Greg:

Britta and I will go put her kids to bed, and Greg & Brian will go to:

to pass time before we all enjoy a nice dinner at:
This is what Brian will get (he gets it everytime):
This is what I will get (I get it everytime):Saturday we will have dinner with his parents and then come home because I have to do sharing time on Sunday... I'm not sure what else he has up his sleeve... :)

Happy Birthday B. I love you.

MK vs NYR Organic

You all probably remember my brief stint selling Mary Kay Cosmetics:

I bought inventory, couldn't sell it, and had no success in booking shows. I left the company about 7 months after joining.

I truly believe that my lack-of success came from one thing: I didn't BELIEVE in the products. With all the research I had done on cosmetics and skincare, there was no way I could stand behind the Mary Kay products I was selling.

I found NYR Organic and fell in LOVE. They are a skincare company based out of the UK. They have been there for 30 years. NYR started off as a small store in covent Garden in the UK and then branched out to more stores and direct selling. Recently, on 9/9/09 the company launched a US branch.

Let me tell you HOW Mary Kay and NYR Organics compare- both the companies and the products.

PRODUCTS-

MK- Uses fillers such as TALC in the "mineral" powder foundation.
NYR- Uses NO fillers or petroleum, It is in our promise to our customers.

MK- Full of chemicals.
NYR- ALL NATURAL. Made from HAND PICKED herbs that are CERTIFIED organic and grown in the UK or under fair trade with places when the UK doesn't have the climate to grow certain herbs.

MK- Products made in factory.
NYR- Products made in a lab and HAND MIXED by an herbalist/chemist

MK- Mostly plastic containers.
NYR- Uses glass and 100% POST CONSUMER recycled plastic.

MK- (as far as I know) Does not test on animals.
NYR- Does not test on animals. Some products are vegan.

MK- Some people are allergic.
NYR- Haven't ran across anyone that has had a problem.

COMPANY-

MK- Minimum $400 retail every 3 months to stay active
NYR- 50personal points every 3 months. (equivalent to about $100)

MK- Book Facials/ Parties
NYR- Book Facials/ Parties

MK- Influenced to have inventory.
NYR- Inventory discouraged. Shipping takes about 2 days to Syracuse Area.

MK- Directors hound you.
NYR- Our leaders are a Support System. We are not pushy.

MK- $99 kit
NYR- Two kit options- $99 or $199 (Currently being offered for $130!)

MK- 50% profit. you pay shipping. you pay host rewards and gifts.
NYR- Start at 25%. Customers pay shipping. Host rewards are from company. Gifts are $1.75- $3ea

MK- You pay shipping.
NYR- Customer pays shipping.

MK- You "pay" host rewards.
NYR- Host rewards come from the company.

MK- You buy hostess/party gifts- ranging from $5 and up.
NYR- You buy hostess/ party gifts- $1.75 and $3 for Product gift.

MK- You pay for your website
NYR- FREE website

MK- You pay for propay to take credit cards.
NYR- Doesn't charge you to take credit cards- you just enter them on the order page!

MK- I don't know who owns it.
NYR- Family owned.

Interested in knowing MORE?

Go visit my FREE website: https://us.nyrorganic.com/shop/naturallybeautiful

You can see our catalog, our products, our business opportunity, and watch short videos about how we make our products and our company.

Feel free to grab a cup of tea, sit down and spend some time browsing all we offer.

If you would like to see some products, I'd love to get together with you. Seeing is believing.

Thanks for reading,

Holly

Forgot to tell you!

The tentative date of arrival is:
AUG 31st 2011
That's right, I'm due on my birthday.

snowy days and baby pictures

Where the tracks are-- that's the road!
Brian's YM was cancelled so we got to have unplanned family time. It was great.

pretty, but crazy. You can see the snow coming down in the lower right of the photo

There's the first pic of the baby!! 133bpm. It was the sweetest little heartbeat ever.

First Family Photo of 2011 with all 5 members!

new year resolution

We are doing the family photo everyday for 2011. :)

find them here: http://steffen365.blogspot.com

Enjoy

riddle

Q: What do the year 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 have in common?

A: I have been pregnant sometime in all of these years.
Parker- Jan 07-Oct 07
Carter- June 08- Feb 09
Baby 3- Dec 10- Aug 11

That's right. Steffen Baby #3 is due sometime about late August. I go to the OB Thurs and will know more then.

We found out a couple days before christmas with 2 little pink lines and can't keep the secret any longer.

We plan on waiting on the sex of the baby. :)

Parker's a sunbeam!

Parker's OFFICIALLY in primary!!

What a SPECIAL day!!