PICTURES

I wanted to share some more of the family pictures we had taken this past Sunday. The very talented Julie Glascow took these for us. She took these at Jester Park and even though the wind didn't cooperate she was able to get some good shots. Check out her website at http://www.landryannadesigns.com/ Enjoy!

REFLECTIONS

When I started this blog, my goal was to update it at least weekly, well as you can see from my last 2 entries, I am getting a day behind each week! My other goal was to use this as a reflection of our week. As I was thinking about this my mind wandered to "What was I doing this time last year?" then I go on and on and try to remember past October's. Have I turned into my dad? I can hear him saying...I remember October of 1979....etc, etc. Anyway, it was fun to think back to a year ago, as at this time, Jeremy and I were in Italy celebrating our 5 year anniversary. So I had to pull out some pics to share with everyone.

Overlooking Vernazza, Italy and part of the trail to hike there!

Looking down the Grand Canal from Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy

Throwing a coin into Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy

Another great memory of this past week in October was running my first (and only so far) marathon. It is so hard to believe that was 8 years ago. I think of this experience often as it was very rewarding for me to set a goal and work long and hard to achieve it. I still tell myself today I can accomplish anything..I've run a marathon! It was also a great time to spend with my very close friends the St. Clair's. We shared many laughs, some tears, a few blisters, and giggles over bodily functions only other runners can understand. I am forever grateful to them for taking me on as a training partner! Love you guys!

Now for this week! I headed back to work on Tuesday and found this very thoughtful note and present on my desk.

It was good to get back into a routine and see my co-workers again. I was able to drop Claire off for her first day at Margaret's on Tuesday. I only called her twice that day to find everything was fine. It was good to hear but it still didn't make it any easier. I think I walked around work all day in a fog with red eyes and baby on the brain. I felt sorry for my patients as my mind just wasn't into it. I kept telling myself, get your work done and get out of here to go see her!

This week she began to bat at her toys in her gym and is making new sounds of "ah and oh" I think she might have laughed this week too, but I'm not sure if I heard her right so I didn't officially put it down in her baby book. She continues to make us all smile with her big grins and dimples.

Lastly, this is the picture of the week. Jeremy took this picture of Carter sitting on the deck in his chair. Carter drug it out of the toybox all by himself, set it up, and just sat there...wondering what he was reflecting on.......

THIS AND THAT.....

Where did the week go? And the bigger question..where did my maternity leave go? I am headed back to work on Tuesday with a very heavy heart. I took Claire over to meet her new babysitter, Margaret on Tuesday and was on the verge of tears the whole time. Nothing against Margaret, she is a wonderful lady who comes highly recommended, it is the thought of leaving my baby girl for 9-10 hours a day in someone elses care. Very hard to stomach when you are used to spending 24/7 with them. My mom keeps reminding me it is much harder on the parents than the children, nice advice mom since you were lucky enough to stay home with us when we were little! :) I thought since I had been through this before it would be a little easier, yeah right!

Anyway, on a happier note, Claire continues to be all smiles and experienced some "firsts" this week. She has finally decided she can use her legs to move herself around. She rolled from her back onto her side twice this week and has also decided she doesn't like whatever position I put her in for nap and bedtime, because when I go into to check on her she has made a 180 degree turn with her head at the opposite end that I put her at! She also made her first trip to the pumpkin patch. I think the bumpy hay rack ride did her in as she threw up all over my sister when it was all over! Way to go Claire bear! Carter got to enjoy Howell's pumpkin patch twice this week, once with his preschool class and once with us. This is such a great little place. His favorite parts were the pedal tractors, playing in the corn pit and chasing grandma and Aunt Darcie around the straw maze.

Lastly, we are still kicking around the red balloons if anyone is wondering. Jeremy's surprise for this week's Husker party was this very delicious chocolate cake. The cake was great, game not so great!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I successfully lost my son for about 10 minutes this week only to find him hiding in the toybox outside! He wasn't lost he told me, just playing hide-n-seek! We had a long talk about making sure the person seeking you knows you are hiding! :)

Agony, Acorns, Ouchies and Awareness

Okay, crazy title for a crazy week. Last Saturday Jeremy and Carter were so excited for the Nebraska/Virginia Tech game, they decided to throw a party. When I asked who was invited, Carter said anyone who wants to come. Well, as it was last minute, we ended up just watching the AGONY ourselves. The boys did blow up a bunch( a whole bag of 25) of red balloons to "party" with, however Charlie accidently popped one, so Carter was too afraid to play with them. So, needless to say, we have been kicking around red balloons all over the house all week. Of course, I have tried to get rid of them, but Carter feverishly counts them to make sure they are all still around. So the question of the week is "how long will these things last?" I've tried to shove them behind the chair but they seem to sneak their way out. Anyway, they are still good for the big game tonight. Nebraska vs Missouri. I am sure we will probably be feeling the same pain tonight we felt last weekend. Go Huskers for what it is worth.






On Sunday the kids and I headed home ( does anyone else still call their parents home their "home" I haven't lived at home for 15 years now and still call it home. )Anyway, we met up with my cousin and her 3 kids at the city park in Atlantic for a picnic. We hadn't seen them in a long time so it was good to get together. This park was absolutely covered in ACORNS. I mean you had to be very careful when walking because it was like walking on ice. They would roll under your feet and you would end up flat on your back. The kids had fun taking them apart to see what was inside. It was a beautiful day to be outside.








Claire had her 2 month check-up on Tuesday. She weighed 11lbs, 4 oz (50%) and was 23 inches long ( 75%). Maybe she'll be tall and skinny like her dad. She had to get three shots and drink a vaccine for rotavirus. I feel so bad when they get those shots. The cry they give you is one you have never heard before and you know they are truly in pain. Luckily it didn't last long and she was back to smiling before we left the office. Here is a picture of her OUCHIES. Wish my chubby thighs were that cute! :) The other pictures are her one month and two month pictures with bear. My friend gave me the idea to take their picture each month with the same animal so you can see how much they have grown, so here is the comparison.


She is such a great baby. She is really starting to interact with her environment and likes to look at herself in the mirror and play in her gym. She is so quiet we sometimes forget she is around. Well, not really, but she never seems to need anything. The only time she gets really mad is after her bath. She loves the tub, but once you take her out, watch out! Even if she wakes up in the middle of the night, it isn't the crying that wakes me up, I can hear her slurping on her hands. I'll go check on her and she is just lying in bed with her eyes open chewing on her hands. Her favorite thing to do is sit in her bouncy seat and watch Carter or the dogs play.





Carter is getting into the groove of preschool and tried his first full day there on Thursday. He loaded his backpack with just about every stuffed animal he had to take with him for nap time. He is starting to make some friends and is crying less when I drop him off. He is super excited to take his first field trip on Monday to the Howell pumpkin patch. They get to ride a school bus there so he is really excited about that.

Lastly, the kids and I went to Gray's Lake today for the annual Iowa Brain Injury Association's AWARENESS walk. It is always fun to go to this and see former patients and their families. It is a great event that boosts prevention and raises awarness about brain injuries. Carter got a new helmet today that he is pretty proud of. They had a scarecrow making contest, free food, prizes, kids activities, and a great band. You then walk around the lake in support of survivors. If you have never been, please check it out next year and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE wear your helmets and MAKE your kids wear their helmets. If they get into the habit, it won't be such a big deal. Carter knows he can't ride his bike unless his helmet is on. Okay, end of soapbox!