Pumpkin Season

It is that time again. Time for pumpkin carving. Honestly we totally forgot we had them until last night. Chloe was more into it this year than last. And well she wanted gloves, so Dave got out some gloves he keeps in the garage for when he does oil changes and such. Chloe helped clean out the pumpkins and separate the seeds from the inners. I think she had more fun with the gloves though. Caelyn just chilled in her punkin seat until the end. Then she started to get cranky and hungry.

Chef Chloe

Some of you will recognize her outfit from a previous post (here). But I was cooking dinner Monday and Chloe came running in saying, "wait for me, wait for me." I am thinking wait for what, but then I look up and here she is coming around the corner carrying her chefs hat and apron. She wanted to cook. So I helped her dress and she got her step stool. She was ready to cook. Thank goodness she was just cooking for us, cause (you can see in the last picture) she was sneaking licks out of the mashed potato bowl.

Family Pictures

We had Brigid of Ramblin Rose Photography take some family pictures as part of our birth story package. I asked my mom and dad to join in because of everything they do for us and well, I liked the pictures I had taken with my grandparents and wish we would have kept up with them. We went to the Missouri Botanical Garden to have them taken and the day we beautiful. Here are some of the ones I love! Now I just need to get both my aunts to be in town (the one to stay in town) so we can have a big family picture!

This is the one I am going to make into a canvas print to hang over our fireplace. I think it will look great. I am thinking at least a 16x20 print.

This is the cutest picture of them with their grandparents.

Do I really need words here?

Our happy family!

LYFAO

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Halloween Memories #4

These two pictures are not from the same Halloween. This first one I am, you guessed it, Dolly Parton. And I would also like to announce, that I wore my mother's bra that evening. I swear it cursed me to be larger than my mother's size. This same year Nicole was a witch (you can see her in the background to the left). And for those of you thinking, hmm that decor looks familiar, it was Grandma Howell's house that picture was taken at. I don't know why I remember that, but it is something I remember. This next picture is of Nicole. Can you guess who she is????????????????????
Boy George, my mom and Aunt Lisa got creative with our costumes. The picture I was seeking but never found was of me. I was the famous Michael Jackson. I had the one white glove and all. I want to say I had the red jacket as well. And of course my face was painted "brown." And for those Chloe lovers out there. Here is a picture from her first Halloween. I bought ths costume in July cause I had found it and knew it was exactly what I wanted her to be.

Check This out

Go here. That is all.

Funny

More Swim Class Fun

Friday nights are still swim class nights. Conner and Jeff are still truckin along even though the water is very cold. Chloe and Conner end up shivering after half the class. But Chloe keeps going. She knows that after swim class (if she does good) she gets to have "old McDonald's" for dinner (which is McDonald's if you didn't figure it out..lol). Chloe is really starting to get the kicking down and slowly is getting the arms circles concept. Not only is the class a great thing for Chloe but it is teaching Dave and I things to help her when we are at the pool on our own. We are having issues with her blowing bubbles. But I am not too concerned. I am guessing the blowing bubbles is for them to holding their breath and swimming (you know how you blow out the bubbles while under water then come up to take a breathe). Well my mom doesn't blow out bubbles when she swims, she actually wears nose plugs. I can remember swimming at my grandparents house and my mom always wearing nose plugs. So if Chloe has to wear nose plugs then be it, as long as she can swim.

At the end of swim class they play ring around the rosie. "Ring around the rosie pockets full of posies, splashes splashes we all do arm circles." Then they do it again "Ring around the rosie pockets full of posies splashes splashes we all fall down." And on the " all fall down, the parents are suppose to dunk the kids. It is pretty cute.

Stuckmeyers Pumpkin Patch

Today we met Jeff, Laura, Connor, and Cole at Stuckmeyers Pumpkin patch for our annual pumpkin picking day. It was alot of fun. This year Connor and Chloe were more into the process than before. They kinda knew what was going on. And well, they loved playing in the playground and riding the tractor train. Caelyn just basked in the sun in the carrier while Cole slept in his stroller. The weather was nice and very enjoyable compared to last year's 80 degrees. At least it was chilly to where it felt like fall and Halloween season.

Halloween Memories #3

Okay, I know some of you just get on here to see Chloe and Caelyn , so these Halloween memories probably aren't that exciting for you. So I will add Chloe in to the post today as an added bonus.

Halloween Memories #2

And here are 2 clips for your viewing pleasure to compare. I think we look just like them. Don't you love my bulging muscles. I want to say I was stuffed with pillow batting but I can't remember for sure.

Halloween PJs

I broke out Caelyn's Halloween PJs.

Now to play catch up

So now that my computer is fixed. I can post some pictures that I have been meaning to post.

Our first family picture.

Check out that approach

Aww... perfect kiss

Really was it that easy?

For over 2 weeks we have been having computer issues. We thought it was the Internet so we have been working with AT&T to get it resolved. Well, today our friend Jeff came over since his wife needed some sleep (they just had their second son Cole Micheal on Wednesday Oct 8. More to come on that). So Jeff and Connor came over to play. Jeff worked on our computer and resolved the issue. The issue was our MOUSE!!! Can you believe for 2 weeks we could not do anything with our computer or get on the Internet because our mouse was fried. It would work but when we would try to go somewhere on the computer it would send us to a home page or the original page we opened. Really how was it that simple of an issue. Thank you Jeff!!

Saturday Naps

One Month Appointments

I had my 4 wk post pregnancy appointment yesterday and I am down 3 pounds from my first pregnancy appointment. a good start if I don't say so myself. On Monday, I am going to go to Weight Watchers and sign up too keep the pattern of losing. So I just might start a weekly weigh in post to let you know how I am doing. By no means will I "reveal" my real weight until the end. Trust me I am fat that is all you need to know. =)

Also on Oct 3, Caelyn had her one month appointment. By one week she was up to her birth weight (6 lbs 12 oz) and well on Oct 3 she was 8 lbs 13 oz. So she gained her 1 oz a day perfectly. She has grown an inch to be 21" long ( she was 20" when born). She is making eye contact and soon should start tracking. She is starting to turn her head when her name is said and she is showing a great temperament towards Chloe. Sometimes her big sister picks on her but not on purpose. Caelyn is just like Chloe on the aspect that she will scoot in her bed at night, she is a mover. I have found her numerous times up against the edge of the crib after I had placed her right in the middle. Caelyn also has been caught sucking her thumb so we have been really pushing a pacifier. She is slowly getting the hang of it, but she is picky, she will only take it will sitting up or being held.

Chloe is adjusting, slowly. We have been having issues of her waking up crying (sometimes screaming) at night. Dave and I started a horrible thing once Caelyn was home of letting her sleep in bed with us (partly for my sanity of getting sleep.) So this weekend we have implemented that she can sleep in our room but on the floor her bed. I put down my old twin comforter and her pillow. Chloe is not all to have her blanket or bear on our bed anymore and she can't be on the bed when Dave and I are both laying in it. Thursday she stared on our floor and we moved her to her bed. She did wake up twice but she put herself back to sleep right away. Last night because Dave and I were so exhausted, we just left her on the floor. She slept there from 10 till 8. It was very nice to get a good stretch of uninterrupted sleep because Caelyn actually slept through the night as well!!!

Toddler Tales

We were at our Aunt Cindy's house today trying to help her pack for her trip to Denmark. I was in her bedroom trying to get Caelyn to lay down so I could help Cindy more. Chloe was standing next to me. She turned to take off running out of the room but fell. Here is her explanation on why she fell -

Me: Oh no Chloe what happened.
Chloe: I fell mommy.
Me: Did you trip?
Chloe: No, I farted.
Cindy: You farted to hard it knocked you over.
Chloe: Yeah.

That my girl. But on a side note, we were unfortunately no help to Aunt Cindy other than running to get lunch. Caelyn did not want to be set down so I had to hold her the entire time and Chloe was very demanding with Aunt Cindy's "dbds" (DVDs). We were a "pain in my butt" as Chloe likes to put it.

10 years ago today

My sister passed away. It was a long month in the hospital wishing for a second transplant for her. But in the end we all know deep down it was for the best, whether we agreed or not. I miss her everyday. I like to think we had that "normal" sister relationship, we got along but man did we fight. I was the annoying younger sister that just wanted to be around her. We played together all the time, even if I didn't care for Barbies (well I did bite their fingers and toes off...lol) I really envied my big sister, I know that is why I wanted to be around her so much. She had this strength that I can't explain. I mean who wouldn't in her shoes.

I remember the surgery where they fixed her "cereal bowl" or pectis (I think that is the correct term, it was a little bowl like indention in her breast bone.) I can remember going into the hospital ICU and being scared to death cause she was hooked up with wires. She had an ET finger (well that is what I remember thinking it was but it really was just the O2 monitor) and I am pretty sure we watched ET too while I visited. This was one of many memories I had of visiting her. After this surgery most of the time it was because she was sick nothing surgical. But nothing compared to the transplant day.

So I am sitting here typing this and listening to Caelyn fuss while Chloe is napping. I wonder like so many days before how I can keep Nicole alive for my daughters. I show them pictures but one day (probably soon) Chloe is going to ask where Aunt Nicole is. And frankly besides just coming out and telling her she passed away, how do you explain that to children? My cousin Drew was 6 when Nicole passed and I remember at Christmas that first year him asking where she was. I mean he was 6 and it was only 3 months after her passing. I know cognitively young children don't understand death. So how do you explain that to someone who has never met the person you talk about so much. I probably am putting way to much thought into it, as my mom likes to say.

My mom actually said to me one day, that Caelyn's birth was perfect timing. I mean normally this time of year is a very sad and hard time. From Sept 18 to Oct 10 of 1998 my sister was laying in Barnes Jewish ICU waiting for a second set of lungs to keep her alive. So yes, her birth gives this time a new light and meaning, but it doesn't take that pain away. My sister is suppose to be here to enjoy this with me. She should be here spoiling her nieces (and I must say Caelyn has so many faces that I have seen of my sister in pictures). She is suppose to be here to help me take care of our parents when they get older. We never got to get past that "annoying little sister" stage either. I mean we were suppose to grow up and mature to become the best of friends. I kinda feel like I was robbed of all those things.

Well here a some pictures of Nicole and I and at the very bottom some random memories.

We did these for our grandpa.

One of many Disney world trips!

Yes, our snow woman has boobs and a bikini on.

This was in January of 1998. This was the first time she was able to walk long distances without getting tired. This was our first post transplant vacation as a family and our last.

Things I remember that make me laugh and smile:

1. She would tease me by calling me "Lassie Cassie"

2. She threatened to kick Nicky Giacolone's butt for calling me names on the bus (this was also the first time I had ever heard her cuss)

3. I pissed her off cause I went to her senior prom

4. She was an extra in A Christmas Carol put on in High school and got caught on Rob with his mic.

5. She was (besides my mom) my #1 cheerleader in softball.

6. She would get me in all kinds of trouble when I didn't do it. ( no one believed me I wasn't the one who was taking Dad's hair brush out of his bathroom until after she passed. She was a sneaky little devil).

7. Here is a special note on the picture at the very top I was cropped out. That was taken for my senior pictures Dec of 1998 (3 months post transplant). It was the best picture we had of Nicole after she died and my mom went to the photographer and asked if he could crop me out. This was the last professional picture of Nicole.

Because I know it will make him happy

I just called Webster to re-apply to finish up my degree. I know this weighs heavy on my dad so I wanted to go ahead and do this not just for me but for him. That is all.

Partylite Party

On October 17th I am having a Partylite party to help a fellow stay at home mom. If you are interested in coming, please do, if you can't come but would like to make an order here is her website link so you can browse the inventory. Make sure you check out the special offers sections.

http://www.partylite.biz/cherylrobinson

If you would like to come and want directions email me with the link in the right column.

Grocery Shopping

We all went grocery shopping the other night and this is what Chloe put in the cart while we were waiting to check out. We now will have to keep an eye on her while shopping.

Halloween Memories #1

Halloween 1980

To those Preschooler's parents

don't laugh and think it is funny when your child chases me and my 1 month old down the hall yelling "oh look at the baby" after I followed you in the building and your child was coughing up a lung (or at least it sounded like it.) It is not cute that your germ infested child wanted to stick her head in Caelyn's car seat and get her germy germs all over her. Not cool at all. That is all!

Sleeping Baby

Calling my aunts...

Look for halloween pictures please, I am looking for Micheal Jackson, a full picture of Minnie and Daisy, and more.

In Honor of Voting Season...

Okay, we were raised in the political loop. This is my sister with a Teasdale shirt and hat on (he ran for Governor). I am guessing the boob on the right is my grandma and the arm on the left is my grandpa. But he (grandpa) trained us good and started us young. Look for more political pictures to come.

Not the only one

to have a Pooh cake for their baby shower cake. This is my mom's shower cake back in 1977 for her shower with my sister.

MIA

Sorry we have been MIA. Our computer is acting up. We are working getting the issue fixed so hopefully here soon we will have resolved the unknown issue. So there should be lots of updates soon.