Tuesday, October 28, 2008

false alarm

Quick update: I went to the hospital this morning after being up since 2:30 AM with contractions. They monitored the baby and me for three hours, and determined that I am simply not progressing much, so they sent me home.  This is the first time in my life I have ever hoped for something to get MORE painful.  I am hoping this is the beginning of the end.  Sorry to all who have guessed days gone by for the big day.  Also, I am worried no one has guessed a high enough weight.  The doc assured me that this is a BIG baby.  I will update or have Jon update if anything changes, but for now I am looking forward to a big Halloween week with the kids, while I suffer through these non-painful-enough-contractions!

Friday, October 24, 2008

fall carnival...

Here's a family photo from Olivia's school fall carnival. 

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

pumpkins!

We took a trip to a pumpkin patch.  The kids loved finding their perfect pumpkin!  Olivia hauled hers quite a ways once she found it!
Molly had a hard time picking one out. She wanted a "teeny" one, that she could lift and carry herself.  She finally found one that she could at least heft.
Max and Molly on the hay ride!
And, here is the finished product.  All decorated in their pirate and princess glory! 

We heart Halloween!

a little pumpkin or a little sucker?

I thought it might be fun to have a little contest.....leave a comment and let us know your guess for this baby, who will be arriving shortly.  Leave your guess for gender, weight and length (and if you are daring, when you think it might arrive).  All of you blog-stalkers that I know are looking, but not commenting,  now is your chance to speak up! 
The latest news is that I am HUGE, ready to POP (and yes, my arms are totally chubby, I hate this picture).  I am dilated to a ONE (that's it???) and having some irregular contractions.   I am hoping for a baby any day, but the reality is that it could be a week or two still.

Friday, October 17, 2008

a tribute to greatness...

My dear Aunt Carolyn passed away this afternoon after a long struggle with brain and breast cancer.  She was 62 years old.  This is a picture of her(on the left) with my mom, her younger sister.  I have so many wonderful memories and thoughts of Carolyn going through my mind tonight.  My heart is aching for those she left behind.  She was such a force for good in her family, her neighborhood and her community.  She had so many friends and touched so many lives.  She was amazingly kind to everyone.  We would always say, "Carolyn never meets a stranger."  I was so shy growing up and I would just look at the way she treated people, and the way she brought joy to people, and I was always awe-struck by the magnitude of her heart, and the fearless way she reached out to everyone from the bag boy at the market to the people she took care of in her long career as a nurse.  She had a love for her Savior that she was never afraid to share with others.  Her faith was inspiring.  It is a comfort to know that the painful ending of her life is over and that she has found rest with God.


She lived in North Carolina, but my best summer memories are of vacations at her home and at her beach home in Myrtle Beach.  She had no children of her own, and when my siblings and I would visit her, she treated us with amazing love and generosity.  She was a true Southern Belle, beautiful inside and out, and always the lady.  She inspired me in life, and will continue to inspire me as someone who walked her walk and lived life every single day to its fullest, all the while loving and serving everyone whose path intersected her own.  

Tonight my heart is broken for her mother, her husband, and her siblings.  Their family will be left with a hole without Carolyn's joyous laughter.  I pray that they will all feel comfort at this sad time.  I know that I will hold my memories of her close to my heart and try to emulate her wonderful qualities that touched my life and changed me for the better.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

No cavities!

M and M went to the dentist this morning and got a clean bill of health.  No cavities, no bite problems!  Yippee!  The bad news is....it's Olivia's turn on Friday (and her mouth is always a can of worms!).  We LOVE our pediatric dentist.  If any of you are in need, let us know.  We would refer him in a heartbeat.  His office is just what my kids need to feel safe in an otherwise scary situation!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Tubby Towels



Tubby Towels! Order one for your kids (or even for YOU, check out their adult sizes!)

Max Mosaic


My creation, originally uploaded by veggiegirl1975.

Who doesn't love a guy who does floors in his underwear?