Without God's power, the Bauer's have no power!

Selah's arrival and a few other things.

2011-06-09T15:39:00.016-04:00

These pics are not in order.

This was the day Selah was born.

Reading Sports Illustrated.

Loved this pic of a double rainbow a few weeks back.

This was 2 days after Selah was born. Lily went looking for me in the house and here is where she ended up....in the dining room bay window.

This was the cherub choir singing at church. This pic cracks me up.

The kids preparing for Selah's birth 5 days before she arrived.

Selah within a minute of being born.

The 2 midwives on either side of me have been my 2 lead midwives for all 4 births.

Selah's first bath at 8 days old.

Mother's Day, plus a few extras

2011-05-22T13:52:00.008-04:00

I am way behind, but what else is new these days?

Mother's Day started out at church w/the kids singing a song, in front of the church, to the parents.

After church, we went home for lunch. Later, we decided it was such a beautiful day (it was suppose to rain) that we would take the kids to the park. They all 3 love to swing.

After the park, we went to Dairy Queen for ice cream and then a local Chinese rest. for dinner, where mommy got sushi!!!!!! (Yes, we did dessert and dinner backwards. It wasn't planned that way, it just happened that way. Oddly enough, the kids never complained.)

Earlier this week, Austin dressed up as Pharaoh (the one that was a burden to Moses and the Israelites). The other 2 kids were his minions. (Did Pharaoh have minions?)

Today...... The boys laid down with Matt for a nap after lunch. I needed to clean the kitchen floor so that Matt could set up the birthing tub when he woke up. I made Lily stay off the floor until I was done. She asked me several times, "Done?" The last thing I did was unload and reload the dishwasher. I told her I would sit down with her in a couple of minutes so that she could take a nap. Her reply, "Don't want a nap." Not 5 minutes later, there she lay.

Austin' s 5th b-day party...and what I learned about cake pops!

2011-05-07T22:25:00.013-04:00

Austin doesn't turn 5 until the 12th, but for the past 5 years we have had his b-day party in conjunction with a Mother's Day party since his b-day always falls right about the same time as Mother's Day. He plays in a Spring soccer league for 4 year olds. He loves it. I'm not sold. It has been a muddy Spring. Anyway, I wanted to make him cake pops, and I wanted them to form the allusion of a soccer ball...not individual ones, but one large one. This was my first attempt. I researched many times on line, looked at videos, and got some advice from a friend at church who has made them. Needless to say, I learned some lessons. As you look at the pics, use your BEST imagination.

View from very close up. Notice I ran out of black fondant on one of the black pops. I think if I had taken a pic from the roof top it would have looked more like a soccer ball.

Wider view of whole thing. The flower pops were the Mother's day dessert (Big thanks to my mom and g-ma who took them from the pink pops w/silver glitter dust to actually looking more like a flower. I was just out of time.)

Austin was proud of me before I even had it put together. That makes up for my own personal disappointment in how my vision didn't turn out. Happy birthday sweet heart!

Some b-day presents.

Austin going for a goal.

Some extra details about the pops (Extra meaning in addition to what you find on-line.). Be sure the cake is wet enough or the pops will want to crack apart. Be sure when you roll them they are firm/solid or they will want to crack apart. Be sure the cake is crumbled enough or the larger pieces and dryer edge pieces will not want to form into your ball. Kroger's white melting candy worked better than Wilton's. I had to add shortening to the Wilton's, but did not to Krogers. Be sure the melted candy coating is thin enough and deep enough to dip the pop straight into with very little twisting of the pop on the stick, or it will become unstuck and either crack or fall off. Let them air dry before trying to shape them as I did. I couldn't get them closer together because they were wet. Do not push on the pop end of the pop to secure it into the styrofoam, it will punch the stick all the way through. I made about 5.5 dozen pops and you can see how far that got me...not very. I secured the styrofoam ball to the styrofoam platform with wooden skewers, but it wasn't enough. The pops were so heavy I had to secure it further with toothpicks on one side when I was about 3/4 of the way done. It took me almost 2 hours to stick them and dip them and attach them. I baked a white cake and a chocolate cake on Tuesday. I crumbled them and added icing on Thursday afternoon. I then refrigerated it and rolled all the pops Thursday night. I did all the rest today. I read blogs where some people make these as a snack for their kids. Ummmm, I don't think so! Too much work. I also read where someone skips the baking cake/crumbling/adding icing part and uses doughnut holes. I think adding candy coating to a doughnut hole would make it too rich to eat. I had a vision. It's still in my head. Will I do these again? I hope not too soon :)

St Patty's Day foods and other updates....

2011-03-21T10:52:00.009-04:00

Matt's marines in training.

Karen and a few of/most of/all of her kids spent most of St. Patricks Day with us. Again it was all due to Karens ideas and planning. We started the day with breakfast. We had green ham with a green egg omelette, green o.j., green cinnamon sugar toast, and green sausage gravy on cream cheese biscuits. Looks a little strange but it was all DELISH!! Karen proceeded to read the kids Green Eggs and Ham, a book on Saint Patrick, and show them slide pictures of Ireland. She also helped them make shamrocks.

We then spent a few hours of that beautiful day at the zoo. We all met back up at my house for dinner. I made Irish beef & lamb stew, Irish soda bread, and Karen made an Irish apple cake for dessert. MMMMMMMMM!! Jonathan and I had a meeting at church, so Karen offered to watch all of my kids and hers at the church. Long fun day!!

Lily update: All 4 of her eye teeth are cutting. She can count to 13 (because we have 13 steps that we practice with). She has been done nursing for 2 weeks. (This is the first break I have had since Austin was born 5/12/06!) When I get through taxes and redoing the kitchen/bedrooms/bathroom/basement I will work on potty training her more consistently/regularly...all before baby #4 gets here :) Removing binky will have to wait until she is about 10 :)

Justin update: He had a kidney infection a week or so ago. Now he has to go for further testing to see if he is prone to recurring infections. he already had a bladder and kidney ultrasound. Next is a trip to the urologist....no fun! He can dress himself head to toe, occasionally things are inside out or backwards. He is already looking forward to his next birthday party....in December!

Austin update: He is doing very well at practicing his letters and numbers on paper. For the first time, a couple of days ago, he was able to write out the entire alphabet and his numbers without using a copy sheet. He helps me with laundry, but his new thing is folding towels. On his second try his looked like mine! We won't say what mine look like, but it works for me :) And he will be playing Spring soccer pretty soon.

They all take the time to talk to the new baby, and they have all enjoyed some much needed outdoor fun recently.

Random

2011-02-24T13:14:00.004-05:00

Justin, just because.

Matt's oldest son Nathan, 17, w/his siblings at his most recent basketball game in Bexley.

Silly & cute.

I made this dish one night last week. When I sat down to eat it I thought it looked colorful enough to warrant a pic. It's a dish we used to make at the Hyatt: chicken, shrimp, chorizo, linguini, colored peppers, tossed in a cream sc. Divine!!!!!

VALENTINES DAY FOOD & FUN!

2011-02-14T22:17:00.015-05:00

Karen and 3 of her kids came over this morning for a Valentine breakfast and lunch. Elizabeth needed to do some homeschooling fun, so we all benefited. Big thanks to Karen for including us and coming up w/all the great ideas.

We started with chocolate filled heart shaped doughnuts from Tim Hortons.

Then it was on to cutting hearts out of red peppers for the vegetable & cheese skewers.

Next was the task of making heart shaped pizzas. I made the dough but it was forgettable. However, the fresh mozzarella on mine and Karen's was scrumptious!

Heart shaped sugar cookies would have to be made, of course! After they cooled we iced them with a cream cheese icing and topped them with fresh sliced strawberries and sliced bananas.

The main attraction of the day was chocolate dipping strawberries.

Then striping the dipped strawberries.

The final lunch menu of heart shaped pizzas, heart shaped jello bites, vegetable (cherry tomatoes & red pepper hearts) & cheese (baby bell cheese cut into hearts) skewers w/ranch dip, and hawaiian punch.

The final dessert menu of chocolate dipped strawberries, heart shaped doughnuts, and heart shaped sugar cookie pizzas. Mmmmmmmmmmmm!!

My newest-old favorite piece of furniture.

2011-02-01T00:01:00.010-05:00

I came across this $75 solid oak church pew at Heritage Square Antique Mall. (My friend Polly and a friend of hers have a booth there called Motley Junket, B002, and she has a booth at The Old Shoe Factory in Lancaster called Sassafraas Stuff, and she has the cutest blog, www.sassafrasstuff.blogspot.com.) (I was looking for a piece of furniture to re purpose as a double sink vanity for our main bathroom.) On a previous trip there I found a large court house bench that got my mind thinking (scary, I know!). I have wanted to build (I mean, have built) a bench seat w/storage under our dining room bay window ever since we moved in 3 years ago. For extra seating because we never seem to have enough w/guests over. And more storage of course! I mean, really, who truly ever has enough of it? So when I saw the court house bench, I thought that it was the answer to the bench seat dilema. However, it was too long and too tall. So, I went back again, but armed with measurements and a tape measure! After walking the entire mall in almost 2 hours, I found 2 nearly identical church pews at 2 different booths. They had the PERFECT measurements! That was on a Tuesday. The following Saturday I was on my way to buy it when I ran into a guy I went to high school with. He told me not to buy it yet because he might be able to get me one for free. His brother-in-law purchased a church and was gutting it. It turns out he was in Hawaii on vacation and hasn't returned any calls. I told Matt I would give it a week before going back to buy my church pew :) Today was 1 week and 2 days. It was still there. Now it's home with me. It has some flaws. One side was coming apart so there is an extra piece of wood screwed to it to strengthen it. The middle support leg is gone (doesn't seem to be an issue at the moment--unless it has something to do with the other previously mentioned problem), and very worn. However, it still has both of its shelves for hymnals (on the back) and several pieces of gum stuck to the bottom! Ok, that grossed me out, but I think it helped to authenticate the pew. I had planned to paint it white, but now that it's in the kitchen, I may try to restore it to match the oak window and oak table and chairs. I will aslo be researching different costs and types of storage bins to put under the pews. They WILL be on wheels.

Now I have a new problem. My current oak table is oblong and not long enough. So, I will be researching ways to elongate this table, or make one myself (No, really. I saw it on DIY.), or buy another treasured piece for another great deal.

I am just beside myself with this find :) It looks a little bit like a restaurant, don't you think? Hmmmmm

Baby Bauer #4

2011-01-09T13:35:00.007-05:00

God willing, we will be welcoming baby Bauer #4 middle of June.

Lily has 4 front top teeth, still 3 front bottom w/a new one cutting in on the right, 1 molar on bottom left, and 3 other molars cutting through. I just love this picture of her from this past fall when we went pumpkin pickin at a local farm.

Updates have been few and far between, sadly. Lots of excuses tho.

The boys are getting bigger every day. Austin is a big help w/cleaning up rooms, putting away clothes, and other odds and ends. Justin is happy keeping to himself.

Number 5!

2010-09-23T00:29:00.005-04:00

Lily welcomed tooth number 5 sometime last week. It was on the bottom left, right next to one of her first front bottom teeth. Her vocabulary is expanding, altho we are the ones who understand it. I have been able to pull her bangs up into a tiny hair rubber band, which has been helpful in keeping them out of her eyes. She has begun shaking her head up and down in order to answer yes to something. Very funny to watch, it's as if her bottom jaw is in control instead of her head.

Austin is coming along in preschool. He can write most letters and numbers w/o to many problems. He can say most of his address (working on the zip code). The phone number is still a work in progress.

Justin, is, well, still Justin. Altho he is completely potty trained, including naps and night time. However, he has pooped in a friends back yard and our back yard. Maybe he thinks he's part puppy?

#3 and #4

2010-08-14T23:12:00.003-04:00

I'm a little behind (shocking, I know!). Lily got tooth #3 (front top right) a little over a week ago, and then tooth #4 two days ago (front top left). She is very facially expressive. She tries to repeat a lot of things. She tries to keep up with the boys. She hits me several times on the legs when I tell her "No, I can't pick you up right now." She is starting to get into 'real' trouble. Gone are the days of many many warnings, stern voices, and light taps on the hands or behind.

Austin is still practicing writing his letters and numbers most days. He likes getting a silly band for his hard efforts.

Justin is still, well, Justin. And he only cares about a silly band for a minute. Gummy bears tho, that's an entirely different story. I think they have helped us potty train him. He does GREAt at home, goes almost all the time by himself, and still no diapers at night or nap. The problem still remains that he doesn't know how to ask someone to go...like at church where that ability is necessary.

Potty training update....'No, Mommy'.....name

2010-07-23T02:07:00.006-04:00

Justin has been in underwear and shorts this week. He does just fine getting them down (if he'll let go of his Buzz toy), he just has trouble getting them back up correctly, if at all :) He goes whenever he wants w/o being asked (altho I still ask), no pooh accidents, and he is still keeping a diaper dry during nap time and night time. He is still using the potty chair at home and at church. He will use a regular toilet when we are away from home. Next week we'll work on one of two things: either he learns how to open the bathroom door, or he learns to tell me he has to go so that I can open the door for him. Maybe then we can ditch the potty chair. All in all I think he is doing great. Harder than Austin, but better than I expected.

Lily started saying 'No', which was quickly followed by 'Mommy'. Not 2 words I would have chosen to be understandable together, and in that order.

Austin can spell his first name if you ask him. We are working on putting it on paper. He is very eager to learn, but is just as eager to give up when he doesn't get it right the first time.

Happy 4th of July AND Happy Potty Training!!

2010-07-13T23:57:00.003-04:00

Happy belated 4th of July!!

AND....Happy Potty Training!
Things are going well with Justin. He has been in underwear during the day for the past 2 days and stayed dry all day today (Tuesday) until evening right before bath/bed when he poo'd in them. I am so proud of him! During his 2 naps he also kept the diaper dry.

AND, Austin is doing well practicing his letters and spelling his name.

Very exciting!!

2010-07-06T23:18:00.003-04:00

I hope the excitement and enthusiasm continue tomorrow, and for many days to come. I decided to spend as much of this week as I could potty training Justin. Wasn't real sure what to expect. It went GREAT! He only used the kitchen floor 2x to potty, but used the potty chair to potty 6x, and 2x to poo. The last time he pottied in the potty chair was at bedtime after he had been in the pool for a couple of hours and then in the bath. Not bad! We have had a 3 Muskateers bar in the kitchen, up high where he could see it, for months, for when he decided he was ready to start going on the potty. He finally got it today, and was very proud of himself.

Things I forgot about Lily: She knows where her nose is. She will clean, with a wet wipe, her feet or face or diaper if you tell her too. She was 21.6# and 30" at her 1 year well-check. She can get off the couch by herself, which means she thinks she can get off of the bed and down the stairs too, which she CAN'T! She will hug and kiss on request, usually. She thinks her brothers are a riot, usually.

Austin has been able to write an 'A' for quite awhile, and for some time now has been doing an 'i' and 'n'(which looks like an 'm'). So, we have been working on the other letters, putting them in the right order, and recognizing them. It's a work in progress. He is such a big help. He loves to help cook or clean (altho he doesn't get to do much cooking since I hate messes).

They all love the pool, mostly Austin.

A little late...

2010-07-05T23:41:00.010-04:00

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY LILY, our July 4th baby!

Outfit #1 provided by the Steven's Clan.

Outfit #2 supplied by Grandma Paula.

The only pic of her w/her brownie flag cake and candle. Too many people to mess with a visit to the high chair.

Great-Grandma Sue made a beautiful brownie flag-cake.

Grandma Barbie made 2 great dessert pizzas.

Her very first doll baby, given to her by Grandma Paula.

She is easily amused by Uncle Josh and her new toy puppy from Grandpa Fritz and Grandma barbie.

She has been walking consistently for a month. She has been trying to run the past week or so, I suppose to keep up with the boys. Her new word is 'Uh-oh." Any 'B' word is fairly common: baby, bubby, balloon, bear. She says puppy, and "hi" to everyone and everything. She can tell you that puppies, bears, kittys, and pretty much everything, growles. She is very expressive, which makes for some drama. She looks more like a girl now with longer hair. She eats pretty much anything. She saw her first movie at a theatre today, as did the boys. It was Toy Story 3. She didn't much care, but the boys loved it, especially Justin.

Lily's tooth to teeth and step to steps.

2010-05-28T05:50:00.009-04:00

In the past 3 weeks Lily has gone from a step or two to six or more. She also went from 1 tooth to 2 teeth, and soon a 3rd will be in full view.

Various pics....

Grandpa Fritz 'the Snowbird" has returned from Florida.

Austin's 4th b-day a few weeks ago.

Lily sooo exhausted she fell asleep in her jumpy chair. If you know Lily, this seems almost impossible!

My little "helper".

First day this year in the pool. They had a blast. Lily was able to get in and out herself. Pretty good for never having been in it before.

Hello??

2010-05-05T00:12:00.002-04:00

I already posted about Lily picking up my cell phone or the house phone and putting it to her ear. Now she uses the remote, or just her hand, as well. In fact, if you say to her, "Hello", she will put her hand to her ear and say something to the effect of 'hello' or 'hi'.

I have said to her so many times, "Lily, what's in your mouth? Show mommy." And then I open my mouth and say "ahhh". Now when I say it she opens her mouth and sticks out her tongue for me.

I forgot to post last week that Justin slept in his own bed all night, one night.

It's re-official (is that a word?)

2010-04-30T21:35:00.003-04:00

Lily's first tooth went away after it showed up a couple of months ago. It is back today. We figured it was coming because she has been very cranky and chewing her fist. She was a different kids today.

She has also been putting my cell phone and the home phone up to her ear.

And I swear she nodded her head 'yes' when I asked her if she wanted a cheerio yesterday.

She has spent all day standing, bouncing while standing, picking things up and standing.

And she's up!

2010-04-29T23:27:00.002-04:00

Today was the big day for Lily to stand up w/o holding onto anything. She did it first for Grandma Sue in the living room. But during the course of the evening she did it many more times, some of them even on beds. She recognizes this is new for her, and she seems very tickled. It also appears that the tooth she cut a couple of months ago went back under the gum. However, this week also seems to be a big teething week as she has been very cranky and chewing on her fist.

Spit bubbles and standing alone.

2010-04-14T17:49:00.002-04:00

Lily has realized she can make spit bubbles these past couple of days. Great timing when she also has a cold. yuck Today she has regularly been pulling up with the help of something, and then letting go to stand alone. Big girl!

Overheard....

2010-04-14T09:53:00.003-04:00

Lsat night, while I was in another room finishing up with Lily after her bath, I heard the boys in the bathtub...(Justin had just gotten a spanking for getting a lot of water on the floor)....Austin to Justin, "Okay, turn over and I will spank you." spank spank Justin to Austin, "Okay, now I spank you. Bad boy." spank spank spank This went on for several minutes, back and forth. Then I heard Austin telling Justin he would wash the red off of his hiney.

Justin funny...

2010-04-12T01:38:00.004-04:00

I will never be able to write this down as funny as it happened, but here goes nothin.....Set up the scene; The kids and I were all outside Saturday (over a month ago now)enjoying the great weather in the backyard. We had a visitor (one of Matt's co-workers child) who was playing w/my kids. I had given them a bowl of grapes to share. While the 2 older boys were playing on the batter operated jeep, Justin was stuffing himself w/grapes on the patio. I was sitting in the middle of the yard on a blanket w/Lily. I called out to Justin to please bring me 1 grape to feed the baby. He looked up, chewing, looked back down at the bowl of grapes, picked 1, looked back at me, looked back at the grape, and proceeded to eat it. This went on for a couple of minutes until I called out to him again. This time, he filled his mouth w/ grapes, and began walking towards me w/1 in his hand. But by the time he got to me, it was 1/2 eaten. I had to giggle, asked him why it was half eaten, he looked at me as if I was speaking Swaheelee, and went back to the grapes. I peeled the grape for Lily, fed it to her in pieces, and then asked Justin for another one. Here we go again. Finally he comes out to me, again w/a half eaten grape. Stifling ,my giggles, I asked him to bring me a whole grape. After some time, he returned, chewing. I asked him for the grape, and he graciously opened his mouth and began to pull out the partially chewed up grape. I was quick to encourage him to put it back in his mouth and return for another. This time, after he picked it and began walking with it, I verbally encouraged him to bring it to me w/o eating it or biting it.

9 month check-up

2010-04-10T00:29:00.004-04:00

Lily had her 9 month check-up Thursday, and all is well. She is 18#11oz and 29" long. We still aren't doing any vaccines until 18 months, and the boys never had their iron checked while I was nursing, so Lily didn't either. So, it was uneventful....my favorite kind of doctor visit.

Tonight, while I was laying on my back in bed w/Lily to my right and Justin to my left, I was telling them the 3 Bears story. Lily has always had a funny fascination w/that story, but tonight it got really funny. As I told the story, she got closer and closer to me (which isn't saying much since she was already right beside me where she can nurse). I was almost at the end (and she was right in my face) and I had just said, "...and the baby bear said, "somebody's been sleeping in my bed..." when Lily popped me in the nose. It caught me so off guard that when I was finally able to react, all I could do was laugh hysterically. Guess you had to be there :)

A little more....

2010-03-30T23:27:00.004-04:00

Justin lasted 4 hours that 1st night in his bunk bed. He hasn't been back again, until tonight. We bought him a Toy Story bed set. His choice. It was between that and Spiderman. Toy Story colors go better in his room, so I'm glad Spidey lost.

Lily stood by herself, for probably 10 seconds, on the spare-room bed this past Saturday. Tonight she did it for a couple of seconds on the basement floor after she let go of the couch to mess with a toy. Last night she nearly sent me into cardiac arrest. I had taken the kids into the basement and had gone back upstairs to make myself dinner (they had already eaten). I was upstairs 15 min., and Lily was at the bottom of the stairs crying the entire time. I was almost done when her crying, all of a sudden, sounded closer. I thought, "Oh no! She's trying to climb the stairs!" I turned around to walk toward the stairs and there she was! She was on the last top step w/her hands on the kitchen floor. I nearly died! Not only had she never climbed 1 step up to this point, but here she had climbed the entire set of stairs (12) w/o falling....THANK YOU GOD! It is time to put the baby gate at the bottom of the stairs now.

Breaking News!!!

2010-03-24T23:17:00.004-04:00

As you can see we have new-used bunk beds for the boys. We have had them for over a week, and Austin has been sleeping up top, and really likes it. Justin has still been sleeping with us, knowing that I plan to buy him "special" sheets for his bottom bed. However, tonight he said he was sleeping on the bunk bed, and he is! I 'll let you know later if he stays there all night.

Lily info: her first tooth is the lower right. And she showed today that she understands peek-a-boo. I tossed a pair of pants on her head while I was changing her, and she pulled them off. I said "peek a boo" and she put them back on her head, and then pulled them off...you get the idea.

Lily updates....

2010-03-19T22:17:00.014-04:00

Ok, I'll work from most recent milestones to older ones, as best as I can remember. She has her first tooth (a couple of days ago (3/21) it finally broke through), she sat in a stroller like a big girl yesterday (3/18) when we went to the zoo for the first time this year (And then we went today (3/19) also because it was soooo nice!!). She has been waving for the past few days, she will sometimes 'silly' blink if she's asked to (that started Monday when Shelli came over to take some pics), she has been bear crawling regularly, clapping like a cheerleader, holding onto things and walking since she turned 8 months, she eats lots of different things, baby talks a lot, and loves to be played silly-with by her brothers.

2nd zoo visit

2nd zoo visit was w/Aunt Therese &Savannah

1st zoo visit of 2010 was with Great-Grandma Sue

What was left of the construction snowman early last week. So sad....

Lily's BFF!

Lily playing at Eastland Mall play area.

To binky, or not to binky? That is/was the question. And stuff....

2010-03-03T00:25:00.017-05:00

As you can see by the picture, Lily has taken up the binky. She is only 7.5 months old in the picture, so I suppose it's never to late to start. My dilema; the boys never used one and I have never been a fan of them. I didn't really try much with Austin. I felt a little guilty that maybe I had short-changed him so I tried a smidge harder with Justin (and he was VERY fussy at night his first 3 weeks). Lily became very fussy heading into week 3, so I tried more often, and she would take it for 1-2 min. and then out it would come, and then she wouldn't want to nurse because she thought I was trying to fake her out again. So, altho I tried more often with her early on, she still wasn't a binky baby. So, a couple of weeks ago she was being unusually quiet, and when I went to check on her, I found her asleep w/Matt with a binky in her mouth. The rest, as they say, is history. She doesn't take it at night since she sleeps with me and nurses when she wants. She won't take it if she is already really upset. But it seems it holds off the meltdowns.

Oh so pretty! (Lily, not mommy!)

Winter 2010

A few pics of the kids trying to play in the deep snow we had a couple of weeks ago. It was soooo funny that I never went back inside. I just watched, laughed, and occasionally rescued.

Austin was insistent on making a snow man this year. So, after we had some rain that reduced the amount in the backyard, it was easier to work with. Justin watched from the dining room window. After he had such a difficult time walking in it several days earlier (see above pics), he decided he had no interest in going back out.

Only in a construction household does the snowman have a safety harness and hard hat!

Where is my......

2010-02-12T00:30:00.011-05:00

Are you familiar with the feel & learn books that go something like, "That's not my penguin (or puppy, or monster, etc.), his beak is too smooth." After several pages of that type of interaction, the last page says something like, "That's my puppy (or whatever)! His nose is sooo squashy!" You get the idea. Well, I have a story of my own. Here goes:

Where are my Eamon and Austin? That couch and that cushion are too empty.

Where are my Eamon and Austin? That bed is too cold.

Where are my Eamon and Austin? That bed is too small.

There are my Eamon and Austin! In my big, warm, FULL bed with the rest of my sleeping family :)

And see that little white space between Lily and Justin? That is where I crawled out of to write this great story.

A quick update on Lily before she goes to college....

2010-02-10T22:14:00.004-05:00

Lily is 7 months and 1 week old, and today she pulled herself to a standing position from the floor using the couch. Now, let's go back a little. Right around the time she was at the 7 month mark she had started trying to stand/walk by crawling in the bear stance or frog squat positions. She also went from infant babble to baby babble. Mamamama is common, along with dadadada, and many other sounds that will be words sooner than I care to think. She also started a fake whine/cry/fuss......thank you Austin & Justin for those influences. Also, thanks to Austin and Justin (and probably mommy and daddy as well....sadly) she has started a loud scream to get your attention...not the sad baby kind, the loud annoying kind. She has also been picking things up and putting them in her mouth and then crawling with them. Things like socks, small toys, and baby doll clothes. She looks like a puppy.

The boys went sledding for the first time this past Sunday afternoon. Justin never wanted to go down, but each time he did he smiled from ear to ear and said when it was all over, "That was fun." Austin wanted to go down many times, but each time he went down he cried. He did say later he wanted to do it again. Next time we'll nap them first. Lily went down w/me one time, and cried from start to finish. Again, nap needed. Hopefully pictures soon. They are on my Facebook account.

Lily crawling, and a few funnies (or not so much?)

2010-01-30T00:08:00.003-05:00

Austin to daddy in the car one night: "Daddy, which way did we turn?" Daddy, "Left." A-- "I wanted to turn right." D-- "That's the way we go to church, but tonight we're taking the highway." A-- "But I wanted to take the low-way."

Austin to me in the living room while pretending he was going somewhere: "Bye, I am going to hell." Mommy-- "We don't pretend to go to hell, it's a very bad place." (edited version) A-- "No, I mean hell at home."

She's a big girl now!

2010-01-29T23:51:00.003-05:00

Lily will be 7 months in less than a week. Today was her first time in the highchair. I don't put the kids in the highchairs until they can sit up mostly unassisted. This week she passed that milestone (in the bath tub, no-less). So, for lunch she had lots of Italian wedding soup that I made (mostly just the orzo, smidge of chicken and spinach...not lots to you and I of course) and probably 2 cheerios (in tincey pieces). She was quite a trooper. A couple of weeks ago when she started really getting around by army crawling, she was also doing the bear stand. I thought she might start walking before crawling or sitting up unassisted (not really, but you get my drift). This week she has been crawling on all 4's more each day. She also does a lot of a partial bear stand w/one arm off the ground, as if she is getting up (which she doesn't). Time to put the gates up! She has been crawling off of cushions onto the floor for awhile, but this past week she has made progress in climbing up....using my body to help. She may start out on her back, then roll to her belly, then crawl up onto my arm, then up to my shoulder, then up to my chest or belly or side, then she stands (while hanging on of course). I also need to move the recycling paper box, which she found, and can get into, and makes a mess, AND eats it if given time.

"Daddy, can we pleeeeease...."

2010-01-19T14:47:00.003-05:00

Conversation between Austin & Matt last night, Austin: "Daddy, can we watch Animal Planet?" 2 seconds pass....... Austin: "Daddy, can we watch Animal Planet?" 2 more seconds pass........ Austin: "Daddy! Can we pleeeeeease watch Animal Planet?" Immediately.......Matt: "Yes, we can watch Animal Planet." 5 seconds later.... Austin: "Daddy, can we watch Animal Planet?" They were in the basement & I was in the kitchen I had to laugh, out loud. Wonder where he gets his impatience from?

Today Lily went exploring, which means it's time to put the gates up. She used to stay in the room where she was put. But today I put her in the living room and then went in the boys room to work on laundry. The boys ran between the rooms. Eventually , when I checked on her, she was headed for the front door, which was new. Then she rounded the couch and was headed for the kitchen. Then she rounded the hallway corner and headed towards the bedrooms. She eventually went into the boys room and started paying. The whole time I stayed mostly out of site because I wanted to see what she'd do. She army crawled the whole thing, pretty quickly, and only stopped 2x, to check out the desk knobs & the tri-fold standing picture frame. And, I think we're beginning to hear "ma ma ma".

100,000 miles, No more blue and on the move, and Ohhhhh

2010-01-13T00:22:00.003-05:00

The van turned over 100,00 miles sometime this week. I don't think I have ever owned a vehicle, from new, that has done that.

Lily no longer has any blue in her eyes. She is definitely going brown like her mama. And, for the past couple of weeks she has gone from rolling and twisting everywhere to actually army crawling forward, and with pretty good speed if she has a purpose. She has been up on all 4's and rocking a lot, so we will see when the crawling goes upper level.

And Justin, he is just so stinkin' cute sometimes. When we read stories at night or for nap, he will repeat the last couple of words you say. Then, I will say "yes" and he says "ohhhhh". But it's the pitch he uses, it's so cute. And today for the first time at nap time he said "change my poopie". I can only hope this is going somewhere good.

Don't throw the baby out w/the bath water!

2009-12-19T22:25:00.006-05:00

I can't put very much water in her bathtub right now because she has been flipping onto her belly and wanting to stay there and play. She likes to pick the washcloth up and suck on it. Ewww!

Here she is getting ready to "dive" in....

......in.......

....success!

CORRECTION!!! Justin's b-day is 12/8 not 12/6.

2009-12-06T17:26:00.001-05:00

Happy 5 month Birthday Ilwy and almost 2 years Jutin

2009-12-05T00:40:00.003-05:00

Thats how Justin says his and her name. Actually, her 5 month mark was yesterday. Well, she is officially rolling all which ways now. I knew she was because she wouldn't be where I put her, but I hadn't seen her do more than a single roll. This past week has been full of back to fronts and front to backs and wiggles and squirming to get ahold of something she sees or just "taste" whatever is close. Neither of the boys were army crawlers, but I wonder if she will be. Her back end just wants to get up and go, but the front hasn't figured it out yet. During the last bath she had, she rolled onto her belly the entire time, each time taking in water through the mouth and nose. The boys both did that 1 time and never again after that. She must have a harder time learning some lessons.

Justin will be 2 on the 6th, and he is all boy. He always has bumps and bruises and scrapes and ouwies. He can count to 10, he is trying to learn colors (He seems to have "ilber" down really good. That would be because of the silver balls on the tree.). He is doing ok with shapes, altho octagon is his favorite to say. He sings along to a lot of the songs we sing regularly, and when Austin says prayer at breakfast and lunch, he chimes in. He seems to be interested in taking off his diaper to sit on the big potty, but not interested in making anything happen.

Confessions of a shopaholic

2009-11-29T23:42:00.004-05:00

I need help. I mean REAL help. I need a 12 step program. I need to cancel my Sunday paper and throw away the grocery store ads before I even open them. It's just that when I see them in the ads "On Sale" and I happen to have coupons for them, I buy them. Lots of them. I mean, really, LOTS of them. It's the thrill of how cheap I can get them. We can't even eat anywhere close to what I buy. I don't even like most of them. But I buy them anyway. The ones I do like I REALLY like. And a couple I actually cook with. I will be giving LOTS away as gag Christmas gifts. It's a disease. It's a silly disease, but a disease none the less. I think it stems from us kids not having them around when we were growing up. Mom had them, but they were yucky ones. Yes, I am speaking of boxes of cereal. I bought 24 more tonight. I already had about that many, not including the additional 10 I had set aside for Christmas gifts.

Clarification....the golf ball was under my lower back but NOT in my pants. Thank you.

2009-11-26T21:30:00.002-05:00

First laughs, Found fingers, Finally mobile?, Finally sentences, and a Golf ball

2009-11-25T00:05:00.005-05:00

Lily began laughing out-loud , for the first time, a couple of weekends ago. Matt was making faces at her while she was lying on the bed. (I believe that is the same way Austin began laughing out loud.) This past Saturday night I caught her staring down her fingers, for the first time, as if they were little aliens. That always cracks me up. (Side bar: Austin said to me the other night, "Mommy, do you crack me up?") Anyway, Lily started rolling from her back to her right side yesterday. Still just 1 roll 1 time.....I thought.....until today when I laid her on the floor, head facing the kitchen, between the living room and the kitchen. (I have found that if I turn the hall light on she sorta hangs out there for a bit w/o fussing.) We sat down to eat dinner and I would glance over at her just to see what she was doing. (I can't talk to her too much or watch her too long if she is watching me because then she tends to start crying.) At one point when I looked at her, she was gone. Part way down the hall, head facing down the hall, on her belly. I have no idea how she did it. She was wriggling a lot. But while I watched her for several minutes, she didn't actually get anywhere. So, did she roll several times to get there? Did she wriggle around just enough to push herself there? Got me.

Justin has been talking in longer sentences for the past couple of weeks, and answering with the right words to certain situations. For instance, when I call his name now, instead of coming to me he answers back "What?" When I tell him to do something, or not to do something, he asks "Why?" And, 2 days ago I was pretty sure he was trying to tattle-tale on Austin, due to the words that I understood in his very long sentence "Austin.......Justin....." and the ever-popular tattle-tale pitch in his voice. That was confirmed when the very next day he came to me crying and very clearly said, "Austin pushed Justin down." Oh boy, here we go!

A few nights ago when I was in bed for the night, in between Lily and Justin, I was reading something. As I lay there for awhile, I was a little preoccupied with a slightly uncomfortable feeling in my lower back. I assumed it was just the tag and seam of my pants being in a jumbled mess. When I was certain the kids were asleep, I got up to do some work, as I often do. I reached back to fix my pants when what do you think I found? Yes, a golf ball. Thank you Justin.

From the freezer to freezing.

2009-11-15T23:27:00.003-05:00

That's me with my head in the freezer, using my hair dryer to defrost our "frost free" freezer, sitting on a cooler full of frozen food, holding what soon became a sleeping baby. The picture says it all.

A very cool zoo pic from this past Monday, the warmest day of the week (the news said). I froze, and the ENTIRE rest of the week was nicer than Monday. Thank you God for a family day at the zoo .

Lily at 4 months

2009-11-07T23:19:00.003-05:00

She weighed in at 14#9oz and she was 25" long. The Dr. took notice of her extremely sculpted abs as she watched her do stomach crunches during her check up (that's what she looks like she is doing as she raises her head up as far as she can while lying flat on her back).

Fall fun and a Lily update

2009-10-31T00:00:00.031-04:00

Fall (summer?) fun today in the dry leaves. I wish I had planned to take pics. I could have coordinated outfits, weeded the mulch beds, repainted the house, and fixed the dent(s) in the van.

Ready......(I made 2 piles so they wouldn't be fighting over who messed up who's leaves).....

Set..........

Jump!!!! (Yoo hoo, Justin, you were suppose to jump!)

Close enough.

Austin had some really fun jump shots. Now, if we only had a better camera and picture taker.....

Awwwwww, my beautiful babies! Thank you God for these precious children!! 10/30/09

Lily stuff. Again, not sure how much of this will be repetitious, but here goes: During her 3rd month there have been quite a few developments. Most recently was yesterday when she began rolling from back to belly. Altho all the kids have done it a few times at less than 1 month old, under 2 months, and such, none of them will do it on the floor, only on our bed while trying to find me to nurse. So I don't count the early times. She is very close to laughing out loud when she is happy or excited. Right now she will do it with some prompting. I had to take her out of her bath sling and let her lay down in her bath tub because she has gotten to big. Now she flops around like a fish out of water, and I am usually soaked, and so is the floor. She is grabbing lots of things: my hair, anybody's fingers, clothes, reading material, and toys. She still licks everything. It cracks me up (unless it's something I didn't know she licked/soaked and I touched it unexpectedly....yuck!). She definitely knows when I am around and if I walk out of the room, she makes sure we ALL hear her protests. She has lots of new soft hair (it seems like a lot when she was down to almost nothing on top), and lots and lots of baby talking.

Lily w/Justin at 3.5 months old.

Lily w/Austin at 2.75 months old.

Lily looking a deer in headlights at 2.75 months old.

Lily asleep in front carrier at zoo at 2.5 months old. She was holding her head up pretty well, so I decided to put her facing out, which she prefers. It just looked funny when she fell asleep.

Our little Buckeye Lily at 2.5 months old.

BFF'S

2009-10-17T00:17:00.006-04:00

Lydia at 7.5 months and Lily at 3.5 months at COSI.

"Girl, you have a boogie on your nose!"

"I'll take that binkie and raise you a dirty diaper!"

Just call me a copy cat.

2009-10-09T16:53:00.007-04:00

Another guessing game, altho only half as many to choose from as my
BFF :)

#1

#2
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#3

The things kids (and daddy's) say....

2009-10-03T23:20:00.002-04:00

Recent quotes from Austin:
"She's holding my breath." He was letting me know that he was done holding Lily.

"In a couple of 'while's?" That's how he tends to quantify time right now.

"He broke my feelings." He told me as he was sobbing. I finally managed to figure out that Justin had hit him.

Austin sobbing and saying "My leg hurts." And I ask what happened and he said "Justin did it." And I asked him how Justin hurt him and he said "With his bones." Come to find out Justin jumped on Austin and Justin's elbow came into painful contact with Austin's chin bone.

Recent quotes from daddy:
Matt yelling at Austin because Austin has Justin pinned to the ground with his arms around Justin's neck, "Austin! I told you to NEVER put your arms around someone's neck! You always have to have an arm too." huh?

Matt yelling at Justin for punching Austin in the side of the head a couple of times, "Justin! No hitting!! You don't have any gloves on!" huh?

I am SOOOOOO behind!

2009-09-11T00:11:00.017-04:00

I hope none of these are duplicates!

One of the boys (I believe Justin) w/his foot across Lily, sleeping, when she was only a couple of days old. I knew it was a sign of things to come!

Lily's first bath at 6 days old.

Aunt Therese bought this "My first 4th of July" onesie for Lily, and when she was 6 days old we got a 4th of July Ty Beenie baby at an event we attended....how appropriate!

Our family and Matt's sister Therese and her daughter Savannah went to the Ohio State Fair one night. This is just 1 picture of Austin & Savannah riding one of many rides that night. Matt went on several w/them. The kids had a BLAST!

The boys were pretending to be crocodiles. Grandma Paula says they aren't going to be very happy w/me when they see these pics in the years to come.

COSI
Justin is a structural engineer in the making! Look at that bridge!

OK, maybe not.

Justin was fascinated w/putting balls up in the air, and they stayed there. He played at that spot for a long time.

BFF'S FOREVER!!!!! It's Lydia on the left and Lily on the right, or is it the other way around? No matter, they each get called the others name often, even in their own homes!

Sadly, this was the first and last time the boys were in our little baby pool this year, in AUGUST!

This was just last weekend at a birthday pool party. The boys had a blast playing in this kids pool.

How cute! Not posed!!

Imagine seeing this guy in your backyard! In the city! Sadly, he couldn't fly away w/the squirrel, so after making sure it was good and dead, he left it under a pine tree and flew away.

Lily update

2009-08-14T14:07:00.004-04:00

She will be 6 weeks old tomorrow. Wow how time flies! She is gaining weight with NO problem, as did her brothers (at 25 days old she weighed in at 10#15 oz.). her 1 month b-day she smiled at me while watching me and in reaction to me talking to her. The 4-5 week mark turned out to be pretty big: following you with her eyes, laying on her belly for 5 min. with her head up the whole time and no crying (neither of her brothers would go on their belly for this length of time let alone w/o crying), staying awake longer and just hanging out in her bouncy seat or swing WITHOUT crying, and lots of baby talking/cooing. I just LOVE those sounds! Especially with 2 talkative boys, I can appreciate the cooing even more. I will try to post some new pics soon. The biggest difference is she has less hair than when she was born. She is losing it from the front back, just like Justin did. Austin was the only one born w/more hair and didn't lose any of it except a small patch on one side. If she wasn't in girly clothes she would look more like her bothers. As far as the results from her follow-up PKU goes, in 1 hour I found out she has a small degree of Galactosimia (sp?) and would need further testing done by a geneticist, we would need tested by the geneticist, she might have to have my milk supplemented w/soy milk, she and us didn't need to be seen by a geneticist because her percentage was so low that she would lead a completely normal life w/her 1 recessive gene functioning at 75% and only Matt or I carried the recessive gene so we wouldn't ever have a child w/full Galactosimia....any questions? Whew! Thank you Lord that it turned out the way it did.

Kiddie updates

2009-07-29T14:09:00.005-04:00

The boys at COSI with daddy recently (while mommy was at Children's with Lily.) .

Lily at 2 weeks old.

Lily is 3.5 weeks old. At 9 days old she weighed 9#4oz and at 18 days old she weighed 10#3oz. She needed to have blood drawn at Children's as a follow up to her PKU test. We STILL don't have those results! At 5 days old she was watching my face while I was talking to mom, and she got the biggest smile on her face. Then, 2 days later in church she did the same thing. At 2 weeks old she started hitting her toy giraffe rattle that hangs from her vibrating chair. And yesterday I caught hr staring down her fist. She was EXTREMELY fussy her 2nd and 3rd week so the midwives suggested I remove dairy from my diet. Ever since she has been much much calmer. Not fuss-free, but calmer. We don't have several times during the day where she has outbursts that last an hour plus, and at night we don't have 2-3 hours of crying. Hope its really the diary removal since I am dying for a glass of milk or a bowl of cereal. I tried the soy milk on my cereal.....that lasted 2-3 bowls.

Justin is doing better w/his new sister. He started asking to hold her about 1 week ago. He still has screaming fits when he can't nurse on demand, but the duration is getting shorter (I think). I think he is cutting his last 4 molars because he has been shoving all 4 fingers as far back into his mouth as he can and biting down. He is also biting furniture, toys, and occasionally his brother and daddy. He is talking a lot more and much better. Probably the cutest thing he does right now is stress his T's at the end of a word. Don't know why or where it came from, but its funny. A couple of weeks ago he got his first shots in his legs and he was pretty sore. He walked hunched over and wouldn't bend w/his knees to pick things up. Very sad to watch.

Austin has gown 4.5 inches in 1 year. Doesn't resemble a 3 year old in height. Watch him have a fit over something and he reminds you of a 1 year old! He seems very interested all of a sudden in learning school things: letters, numbers, counting, etc. He keeps asking me if he is going to go to school, and can I start teaching him now. I can only hope and pray that kind of enthusiasm lasts the next 15 years!

Cookies, Cousin's, and Grandpa

2009-07-11T00:24:00.008-04:00

Grandma Sue and Austin making cookies......they were delicious!!!

Cousin Sabrina (1 month old) came to visit her new cousin Lily. awwwwwww!

Grandpa Fritz holding Lily for the 1st time. Much earlier than normal for him. He prefers to wait until he can't break them.

Lily Renee' Bauer makes her debut!

2009-07-08T00:56:00.010-04:00

Lily was born July 4th at 9am at home in water, just like her 2 brothers. They were both there and eager to play in the water and throw things in the water, as well as give mommy some encouraging hugs, kisses, and words of advice. Austin said to me several times, "Just breath mommy," and "Don't cry mommy, just pray to God." Lily was 7#14oz, 19.5" long, and I think she looks like Justin did when he was born.

More birth details: My contractions started at 3:30am and were 10 min. apart and 45 sec. long. After 1 hour, went out to the couch to continue watching time and length. I wasn't sure this was the real thing. After 2 hours of this, Matt came, got an update from me, and then asked if it was safe for him to go to the bathroom (you would have to know story of Justin's birth to appreciate that question.). I decided to call 1 of the midwives to see if she would be willing to come check me and give me her professional opinion. I didn't want to call everyone over if it wasn't the real thing and ruin anyone's 4th. After she got here at 6:30am and checked me, my contractions immediately started coming every 5 min. It was decided to call everyone else. Matt had already started filling up the tub w/water. By the time Lily arrived, the water had just gotten warm enough for her to be born into it. My water hadn't broken, so as I was pushing it felt like trying to birth a water balloon. Matt was able to help deliver her, which he hadn't been able to do with the other 2.

Altho water birth is far from pain free, I can't imagine it any other way.

New baby #5 at RBC

2009-06-26T22:58:00.002-04:00

Congrats to the Knudsen family on the arrival of their newest son. Beth was scheduled for an induction next Tuesday, but after Beth was put through the ringers at a baby shower last night (she had to walk/waddle w/a water balloon between her legs from one end of a yard to the other....as did the other 4 pregnant ladies and all of the other non-pregnant ladies), the baby could wait no more. Only 4 more to go, that we know of!

A Few Pics....

2009-06-13T00:53:00.011-04:00

What happens when you allow a 1.5 year old to hold a baggie newly filled with cheerios/kix....

COSI with daddy.
I bet you didn't know the boys went to Cairo that day!

COSI slide fun.

Clifford at COSI.

After 3 hours at the Arts Festival and 5 min. in the car.......(anybody wondering what happened to the driver/picture taker?)

Couple of updates:
Austin is making an effort to move his tricycle by using the pedals after seeing his friend Jack from church riding his own big boy bike. Austin knows there is a big boy bike in our shed that he can ride when he is big enough and can peddle really good.

Justin is cutting his left upper and lower canines. They started coming through at the end of May. 4 more molars to go!

New baby is allowed to make an appearance anytime in July, so say the midwives. Possibly even late June depending on their general consensus. However, all 3 birthing tubs are currently out, so someone has to have a baby before I need it or it will be into my own bathtub, and after using a birthing tub twice, that doesn't sound very comfy!

Some interesting trends (and you know how Karen likes trends)....on Matt's side of the family they have had 3 new babies this year, all girls. At our church, we have had 4 new babies born this year, with 3 more due in July (me included), 1 in Sept., and one in Oct. All but 1 of the babies have been born/will be born to mom's w/other children. All of them have had or will have the opposite of what they had last (with the exception of the Oct. baby because they haven't found out the sex yet). So, based on both of those trends, we should be having a girl. However, I never really fit into trends well, no matter how hard I tried :)

New teeth/New sleeping arrangements/New baby

2009-05-23T23:05:00.006-04:00

I keep forgetting to post that Justin has 2 more teeth, the upper right and lower right canines. They broke through at the beginning of May. Only 6 more baby teeth to go!

Justin is talking a lot (altho still only understandable to mommy & daddy & Austin), and appears to be trying to repeat most of what he hears. It is very cute when we say we are going somewhere, albeit to bed or outside, he swings his little arm nearly out of its socket while saying "mawn, mawn", that would be "come on, come on". He says "I'll get it" which sounds like "i et it" and "meee" is "please". He does "thank you" pretty well, "oh man", "uh oh", "ball", "mommy", "daddy" , & "apple" are all pretty well understandable. He readily shakes or nods his head in accordance w/questions, appropriately most of the time. He understands and participates in meal prayer time, however, don't give him his food first if he's starving or you can forget participation. Love this age of discovery, hate this age of discovery (only because both of my boys miraculously became/become deaf when it comes to listening outside around cars & traffic!). The gray hairs just keep on coming! But once again, they will not be this age forever, and altho I occasionally feel guilty about not getting enough done at home, it doesn't take long for me to remember that some day there will be plenty of time to get my list done. I ask myself, and occasionally God, why I am blessed to have these experiences (its a rhetorical question really, because in all honesty I am SCARED TO DEATH of the answer).

Austin is finally in his own bed at age 3. Altho Matt and I are pro co-sleeping for our family, even a king sized bed isn't big enough for the 4 of us with me getting bigger every day. We had been telling him for 2 months, prior to turning 3, that when he turned 3 he was a big boy and he would have to sleep in his own bed (Funny side note, he has been very proud of turning 3 and being bigger, but as soon as it came to actually having to sleep in his own bed he has informed me a couple of times that he is only 2.). I fully expected the worst but prayed for the best. And, thank you God, we have mostly had the best. There were some tears the first night, less the second night, no issues w/getting out of bed disobediently, and so far no pottying the bed (Matt makes an effort to get him up at least 1x each night). He has noticed that if he gets up closer to morning and if Matt isn't in bed, that I let him get in the bed and stay there. He said tonight, when we went to Dairy Queen, that the reasons he can't sleep in our bed are: I'm 3 and a big boy, daddy coughs all night, the new baby is coming, & mommy doesn't have enough room. He got most of them right. Then he proceeded to tell us that when daddy's spot is empty he can sleep in it. He is very eager for Justin to join hi in the room, but we have told him that can't happen until Justin stops nursing (prayerfully no later than age 2, like Austin). He wants bunk beds for him & Justin, which we have told him they are to little right now, but they could have them some day when they are a little bigger.

This pregnancy has definitely been the worst I have felt consistently, if that makes any sense. My lower back, which hurts often anyway, often hurts so bad I feel like I look like the Hunch Back of Notre Dame with the way I walk. My pregnancy induced carpel tunnel is HORRIBLE this time around. My hands/wrists are at their worst at night, but even during the day just eating breakfast or peeling potatoes or typing on the computer or writing causes them to go painfully numb (isn't that an oxy moron?). This baby has been very active the last month, to the point that I watch my stomach do the wave, back & forth. Of course we continue to pray for a healthy baby, a healthy pregnancy, and we continue to pray that I will be able to have this one at home in water just as we did the other 2. Having had 2 babies at home, in water, I feel very disconnected at the thought of having to go to the hospital. It seems like such a foreign concept to me. I hope it stays that way.

F/P/B

2009-05-11T00:05:00.026-04:00

F-Friends forever, Austin & his cousin Savannah

P-Playtime in the backyard!

"Hey daddy, I think the grass needs mowed."

"I think I can, I think I can, I think.....ok, maybe not."

B-Birthday celebration begins!

Austin mixes the cupcake batter for his 3rd b-day party.

Austin decorates the cupcakes with edible Diego faces.

We have celebrated Mother's Day & Austin's b-day together for the past 3 years.

"I wish you would just let me eat one already!"

"I am THRILLED to get yet another piece of clothing!"

One of 2 of his favorite gifts, new sandals from g-ma Paula.

2nd favorite gift, a goodie box from Karen Stevens full of things mommy never lets him have.

Bubbles anyone?

Busted! Thankfully, altho mommy doesn't approve of going potty outside if it isn't an emergency, Aunt Therese had the where-with-all to move him beside the shed where the very high winds wouldn't create a really big mess!

Busy Busy day!

2009-05-05T23:05:00.013-04:00

To the zoo, again! This was the best pic of 3 unrestrained kids I could get by myself. My 2 kids plus Matt's niece Savannah. They are showing off their $3.99 plastic elephants I bought them after we saw the baby elephant. The toys squeak like a dog toy. And that sounds like an elephant how?

Creepy bats! Their called flying foxes....I would much rather see a flying fox than one of these! I think.....

Fluffy the python.

Tiger kitty.

Markhors (sp?)

A pheasant.

A sunbear.

THE baby boy elephant.

I took a few cute pics of the kids outside in the backyard tonight while Matt was cutting grass. I will post later.

Easter fun

2009-04-12T14:51:00.010-04:00

We had Matt's family over for Easter yesterday. There were 5 kids who participated in the Easter egg hunt in our backyard. If you ask Austin "What is the Easter story?" (most times) he will answer, "Jesus died, He came back to life, and then He went to heaven." Occasionally you get an extra "and then He died" at the end. He did think Easter just kept coming because of participating in our church's Easter egg hunt last Sat., this past Fri. night he went to the zoo w/Matt to Egg's, Paw's, & Claw's, Matt's family Easter yesterday, and then today actually being Easter. What he doesn't really realize at this time is, he's right! It's Easter every day for believers.

Justin found 1!

Austin's spoil.

Most of the grandkids on Matt's side of the family. Only Matt's son Nathan and Hannah's (she is the tallest one in the back) brother Luke were missing. And then we have 2 new babies coming, 1 due in May and ours due in July.

Matt's friend Frank, his son Skyler, and our 2 boys, at the zoo for Eggs, Paws & Claws.

Austin's first ride that took him up in the air. Oh boy!!

Matt w/our kids and his friends son Skyler. We don't know what is standing next to them, but we decided it was a zoo rat.

Just some general stuff about the boys.....

2009-04-05T23:23:00.004-04:00

Where do I begin? This week has seen a lot of "new" things.

Tonight, while at the home of some friends of ours for dinner, Justin helped himself to the dog food. He was quite pleased with himself until part way through chewing he discovered he didn't like it and started crying. Daddy had to dig it out of his mouth and convince him that drinking some fruit punch would help make it go away faster. He LOVED their little jack russell mix. He was all about being as close to that dog as he could, even as the dog jumped all over him. He and the dog wanted to play w/the same little red ball, so that made for loads of laughs. And just within the past few days his talking has really come a long way. Altho it is still very much baby talk, he very noticeably is trying to repeat things he is hearing. For instance, he has been saying "oh man" and what sounds like a combination of "one, two, three, GO" and "ready, set, GO" as he throws a baseball and then runs after it, or just runs with it and tackles/crashes into something. If you count or say it with him, he waits until you say GO before he actually does anything. I have never heard him say "hi" or "bye" before, but he has been saying both all day, sometimes accompanied by waving. And probably for the past week he has been walking 95% of the time. We put him in size 7 shoes, altho he probably only needs a size 6.

Both kids enjoyed the Easter egg hunt at our church yesterday. Austin was very pleased with the number of eggs he found. We are doing one in our backyard (weather permitting) w/Matt's family next Sat. Austin can hardly wait. We tried explaining to him that Easter isn't just about plastic eggs and candy, but that Jesus died and came back to life 3 days later. He thought for a minute and then said, "We can peak around Jesus to look for our eggs." Needless to say, we have more explaining to do. He is very funny to read to. He will hold the book and open it up and begin to read, first telling us how good of a reader he is. He puts together several of the bible stories we have read recently into a couple of sentences. For example, recently we read about Jesus walking on water and Lazarus. Austin's shortened version went something like this: "Jesus walked on water and then his friend died, and the girl cried. The end." Other night time stories we read he knows virtually by heart, like Jack & The Beanstalk.

Austin, Justin, and their cousin Savannah at the Easter egg hunt at our church yesterday.

ANOTHER beautiful zoo day!

2009-04-02T23:34:00.014-04:00

Me and the boys and Karen and her kids went to the zoo again today. GORGEOUS!! Well, except for the blisters on Karen's feet. But that's a story for her to tell on her blog.

1st we have Justin in the Habitat House checking out the mushrooms.

Next we have Justin, still in the Habitat House, luvin a dog. Ahhhhhh!

Then we have Austin "sleeping" in the Habitat House.

And finally at the Habitat House we have Timothy ready to escape through a "rabbit hole".

Did I mention we went to the zoo today? Oh yes, we did see a couple of animals between the Habitat House and the snacks at the playground and lunch at the pond. Priorities people!

Here we have very active bears!

And Austin's favorite, the manatees!

Bowling, Birthday's, & Baby shower

2009-04-01T23:02:00.018-04:00

Our adult Sunday School class went bowling this past Saturday morning with their families. The kids had a great time!

This past weekend was Grandma's & Aunt Suzanne's birthdays, so we celebrated both after church Sunday.

Paul might be slow at some things (albeit not many), like eating his main meal, but NOT at getting seconds of dessert!

Our Sunday School class held a baby shower for Karen & Lydia at Applebees last night.

Some of the desserts that we had. These 3 were made by yours truly.

Some of the presents....

And the guests of honor!!!!!

Urgent care & then 2 trips to COSI

2009-03-27T23:22:00.010-04:00

On Monday night I decided to take Austin to the Urgent care because he had been complaining for several days that his right ear hurt if touched, bumped,or breathed on. When I looked in his ear that night, the outer canal was swollen shut. Ooooo! So, off we went. Turns out he has an outer ear infection (swimmers ear) and has to have drops for the next 7 days. They had to irrigate his ears just to see in, which was a nightmare! he screamed bloody murder the entire time, mostly due to the fact that the 2 nurses were pulling at his tender ear. Poor baby. he was very much looking forward to medicine until he learned it was going IN his ear. That has been another issue for the past 4-5 days! Altho it appears he doesn't have much pain in the ear anymore, the swelling hasn't gone down. So, when drops are finished, we may be going to his doctor.

I confirmed today that my dentist of over 25 years died at the age of 61 a week ago. Very little info. in the obit. so it took some time to determine if it was her. I am very sad :( She was just getting to know my kids.

Karen and her husband were gracious enough to buy my family a year pass to COSI, so me and the boys went w/her and her kids on Tuesday. My kids had a blast, mostly in the kids play area. However, the frog exhibit was very popular also. So, the next day it was raining, so Matt agreed to go w/me and the boys. Again, the kids had a great time.

Austin & Nathan in a 1962 kitchen in PROGRESS.

Justin on a 1962 Beetle in PROGRESS.

Daddy & Austin playing in OCEAN.

Justin & daddy playing in OCEAN.

Justin in the FROG exhibit.

A couple of cute pics...

2009-03-21T14:50:00.011-04:00

This is a pic I took this past Weds. night after church. Austin just couldn't quite wait to get into bed. Hilarious! Matt suggested leaving him there until he woke up himself...I think not!

This is a pic I took on our 2nd trip to the zoo this year (we've been 3x so far). Altho not very exciting, it was what happened minutes before that was.....The small ape right behind Austin had come up to the window when Austin was sitting there facing the apes, and the 2 of them put their lips to the glass and kissed! Very cute!!!

The kids have figured out how to turn on & off the clock radio in the bedroom. They also know how to change the station and turn the volume up & down AND change the time...yeah! Anyway, almost everyday they turn it on and dance to whatever music is on at that time. I don't even know what is playing, but Justin was too funny not to video.

new baby on the move

2009-03-16T23:05:00.003-04:00

I am pretty sure I was able to feel the new baby move from the outside of my belly Sat. night while in bed. The next day in church I could see my belly/shirt moving ever so slightly.

Justin is a walking madman. He looks partly like a monkey (hands up in the air) and partly like a beauty contestant (quite the swagger!).

Hope to take kids to the zoo tomorrow. Its suppose to be over 60 and sunny, and they LOVE it!

New Teeth

2009-03-13T09:45:00.004-04:00

I can't remember if I mentioned that Justin had tooth #11 come through in late January, an upper right molar 1 tooth away from the canine. Early this month he had #12 come through, a lower left molar 1 tooth away from the canine. So, currently he has all front 8 teeth, 4 upper & 4 lower, and 4 molars all 1 tooth away from where the canine's will be. I know I know, the excitement is just TOO much! :)

Well 'Boy's' visit.....

2009-03-10T15:39:00.003-04:00

Both boys had a well check up today, Justin, at 15 months and Austin at 34 months. Justin was almost 24# and 32" while Austin was 33# and 38". Last well-check was last May, and Justin was 17# and 26" and Austin was 29.5# and 35.5". Don't know where they are in percentiles, Doc didn't say. Embarrassing to say Justin isn't really walking or talking yet (not the way they asked it anyway), where Austin was saying 2 word sentences at 1 and walked at 13 months. Was HAPPY to say Austin is potty-trained. Poor Austin had shots in both thighs, now he is on his death bed. Not really, but I am hardly exaggerating his whining, crying, unable to walk or sit up or lay down, etc. etc. Matt vividly remembers those thigh shots, I do not.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STEVEN'S FAIMLY!!!

2009-03-02T21:59:00.001-05:00

Lydia arrived tonight at 9:18pm. Appears to be very healthy at 8#5oz. Yeah!!!!!

I forgot something from yesterdays BIG DAY....

2009-02-26T10:16:00.003-05:00

we decided to take the kids to the zoo for 1 hour.

Long week, BIG DAY!!!!!

2009-02-25T22:34:00.004-05:00

We have had well over a week of strep throats and upset stomachs. However, Justin decided that today would be a good day to start walking regularly. He has taken a couple of steps here and there, but he spent a good part of this evening walking between Matt & I w/a ball in his hands. The distance between us was about 6-8 steps. However, if you remove the ball, he doesn't want to stand and walk...back to scooting.

New baby news!

2009-02-20T23:04:00.004-05:00

Just one! I have always thought the ultrasound pictures were creepy looking. I rotated the pic so that he/she is looking at you w/big belly towards bottom of pic. The due date set by my family doctor was 7/24. Over the phone, C.H.O.I.C.E. said it would be 7/22. When I actually went in to see the midwives (C.H.O.I.C.E.) they said 7/26. Today, the ultrasound doctor said he almost always moves a date later if he moves it at all. Today he moved it closer to 7/5. This is going to be interesting.

New baby stuff...

2009-02-12T17:11:00.003-05:00

I finally have an ultrasound date to determine once and for all that there is only 1 baby inside me. It will be next Friday. Funny thing. My family doctor asked me today how I was feeling and if everything was ok and was I feeling the baby move. I told her I hadn't felt my 2nd child until 20 weeks (I am probably around 18ish weeks), but that I was pretty sure for the last couple of weeks I had been feeling faint fluttering. Later today as I was laying down w/the kids for a nap, I was never more sure of what I would call a slight kick & roll.

Stuff....

2009-02-11T22:37:00.021-05:00

For those of you who know how NOT eager I am to have children messy, I seem to do better when I "allow" it.

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Just too cute.

This pic is really very sad. I remember when I swore I would never allow my house to be so cold that my children would have to sit on the heater vents w/blankets to stay warm, as I had done as a child. WOW it hurts when your own words come back to haunt you!

These 2 snow pics are from our second winter storm, only this one had a lot of ice. Believe it or not Austin really did want to go out w/daddy. However, daddy hadn't shoveled the front steps yet, so as soon as Austin stepped out, he fell on his behind. The second pic was taken from inside because it was just to darn cold to go out!

The kids got to take home 3 helium balloons from great g-pa Paul's 80th b-day this past Sat. Justin has had a ball w/them ever since.

Justin can climb on to or up to most anything now-a-days. He thinks he is pretty cool.

?????

2009-01-21T03:05:00.004-05:00

It seems like forever since I have written any updates on the kids. Especially since I used to write every night.

Justin has 2 new teeth, 1 upper right molar (will be right next to a canine) and 1 lower left molar (again it will be right next to a canine). He still hops & scoots everywhere. However, he stands at length and will walk the length of most anything, holding on of course. Today he started letting go of things to stand unassisted and balance himself. He thought it was exciting. Still no real 'talking'. Lots of babbling and he can repeat back quite a few words, most of which you wouldn't understand. One exception, when he yells "Da!" Everyone knows he is yelling for daddy. He has been big with the "Uh-Oh" since around his 1st b-day. He is still a very big solid food eater. Doesn't turn down much of anything. I noticed a few days ago that while he was playing w/a ball and throwing it at a basketball hoop (which is way to big for him but thats what he sees everyone else do) he would raise both hands in the air and make sounds like he was cheering for himself. Very funny! And he regularly throws temper tantrums. He will throw himself backwards onto whatever is close, or throw himself to the floor. Nice!

Austin has decided his new pretend play thing is 'Dino's". I have no idea where it came from, but he made it up and wants daddy to play with him regularly. I am not even sure he really knows what he makes up from day to day, he is just thrilled when someone plays along and makes up things with him. He can be so pleasant and appreciative and mannerly that I am shocked at his '2 year old' behavior he regularly displays (ok, not really shocked, just in awe of the 2 seemingly different kids that live in one little body). He thinks he is a big boy now. He can put his own shoes on mostly by himself (the velcro ones), and he loves to put his slip on ones himself and his own socks too. To the point that trying to get out the door takes longer. But I know its for the best. He has been doing really good not wearing a diaper to bed at night. Only couple of accidents, including last night. It was actually this morning around 8:30am when he whispered to me in bed, "I pottied my diaper." to which I replied, "Your not wearing a diaper!" as I threw the cover off and ushered him off the bed and into the bathroom. Thank goodness the last time we had an accident I remembered to put a chux pad under the bottom sheet. Yeah!!

There are so many things I think I want to write about, but its late and I should try to go back to bed. Things like: there is to much yelling in this house so I have tried to make an effort to tell Austin its not nice to yell and mommy will try not to yell also, my step-sisters new born baby Jacoby and his life & death issues, and my own sinful nature that needs a super over-haul! Baby is crying!

Snow day!!

2009-01-14T18:55:00.010-05:00

The boys had a BLAST in the snow late this afternoon. My biggest regret is that I didn't take them out sooner (and that I didn't have a fresh set of batteries to take pics). I was sure we would only be out 3-5 minutes. It was more like 30 min. Austin made his fist snow angel and Justin hopped-and-scooted his way off of the porch several times, one time into the flower beds. He even crawled all the way past my van and then hopped-and-scooted his way into a snow bank. I had so much fun watching them. The only crying we had was when Austin received 3 separate spankings for dumping snow on Justin 3 times. It will probably be to cold to go out again for at least a few days.

Christmas, New Years, 1st's & 3rd's

2009-01-11T22:39:00.023-05:00

Christmas 2008

New Years Eve 2008
Each glass represents a person who made it to midnight. No glass for Matt or the 2 little boys, they were OUT! Aren't the frozen sugared grapes neat? Mom's idea, my technique. End result, yummy sparkling cider and juice!

1st's--Justin's 1st hair cut and his first hair cut bribe! The thing was so big it barely fit into his mouth.

3rd's--That would be baby number 3 (or 4?) Do you see the 2 little tiny dots? They might represent 1 or 2 babies we are expecting in late July. My regular Dr. (NOT an O.B.) said I appeared to be further along than the 'pregnancy' calendar said, so she joked that I might be having twins. What a laugh! Not! OR, the picture below could just be a bad picture of the one that immediately follows it. :)

Cedar Falls in Hiram/Garrettsville Ohio. The weekend we went out of town to get Justin's 1 yr. pics taken my uncle took us out to a rest. that used to be a wool mill and then a griss mill. It was at night and our table is the only one you can see the falls at night w/lights on them. It was beautiful. My lame pic doesn't do it justice.

Silly pic of matt giving the kids a ride in the basement on an office chair. They thought it was great fun!

One night recently as I was in the kitchen making dinner, the boys had been playing everywhere, as is the norm. But for a few minutes I couldn't identify by sound what they were doing, so I went to check on them. I mean, there was no obvious laughter, crying, or bloody murder screaming. No sounds of Dora's book singing or the toy chainsaw buzzing. This was what I found. They were truly just chillin. It was very funny and cute and rare.

Not surprising....

2008-12-25T23:25:00.003-05:00

Austin was more interested in the candy & fruit snacks (also candy in my book) that he received today than his new tidy-whities (just kidding, he only got sweaters), and Justin was more interested in the trash from the gifts. I can only hope and pray they will always be this easy to satisfy.

I forgot to post a week or so ago that Justin can climb our entire flight of stairs now. Great! NOT!!

Austin latest conversation piece deals with heaven. He will tell you that when he dies he will go to heaven to see Jesus. When you reply in any way, he then tells you he doesn't want to go to heaven. Then starts the conversation of why he really DOES want to go t heaven ONLY when he dies and so on and so forth. It never seems like what comes out of my mouth was clear to him. But when you start to make it TO simple for him, the true meaning is lost. And so, we will continue to have these "over his head" conversations for as long as he is interested, and eventually, it won't be so over his head. I have already realized he understands and picks up much more than I think, or wish sometimes. But this would be a good thing to "pick up".

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF OUR DEAR READERS (the 3 of you know who you are).

We're walking!!! Well, maybe....

2008-12-22T23:51:00.002-05:00

Tonight Justin started standing behind a toy that you can push, and walking behind it. Daddy helped him a lot. Justin would begin by standing behind it and pushing it against the couch. Then daddy started moving it out to the middle of the room and Justin would take one or two steps and then drop to his knees and push it that way. But daddy persisted in picking him back up each time so that he would continue on his feet, and he would. After about ten tries he was able to push it the length of the laminate floor and carpet that daddy had decided was his course for the evening. What is so surprising to me is that I have been watching him closely as he pulls himself up onto everything...watching for any sign of shifting feet. And there has been very little. Until tonight.

Just some funny stuff.

2008-12-21T00:24:00.005-05:00

This is an every day occurance. Justin empties out 1 cupboard of cereal and some other stuff, then moves on to the mixing bowl-filled cupboard to completely empty it out. This happens several times a day.

Do you recognize this Charlie Brown tree? Thanks to Mrs. Prince, we were able to enjoy this fun game, Decorate Your Dad Like A Christmas Tree, at Matt's family Christmas party this year. The kids have a blast, the dad's are very patient.

Another success!!

2008-12-17T10:34:00.004-05:00

We call this Justin's 'hop & scoot' method of travel. THANK YOU GRANDPA GARY!!!

This was a test, and I think it worked!!!!!

2008-12-16T21:23:00.004-05:00

This is a video of Justin & great grandpa Paul playing with blocks. It is pretty cute. Thank you Gary May for helping me through my computer illiteracy (for a minute).

Standing......

2008-12-12T18:11:00.003-05:00

I was going to post that today Justin pulled himself up to a stand on the l.r. couch and in the basement on the gate. But when I was telling Matt all of this, he said that last night Justin pulled himself up to a stand using the coffee table to get Austin's drink cup, and later pulled himself to a stand using Austin's legs to get at Austin's cracker. So, Matt saw him do it first...good for daddy!

Bunches of stuff....

2008-12-11T23:23:00.012-05:00

Lets start with Justin. The day after his 1st b-day he finally figured out how to go up the steps. Oh boy! Time to start closing the basement door or gating it. 1st pic is of him realizing he can get up the step. 2nd pic is of me thinking he is going to fall, so I bailed on the pic to save the boy. 3rd pic is of him happily sitting on the step before HE realizes he can't balance himself for very long.

Today, as he was crawling on all 4's across the floor, he would periodically straighten out his back legs in the air...a weird bear crawl if you will. And tonight he went to sleep on his belly for the 1st time. I was wondering how long it would last. He moves a lot, and we have a sheet and a heavy comforter on the bed that he regularly gets caught up in. It lasted 1/2 hr. When he started crying and I went in to check on him, he was out of all the covers and sideways on my pillow....and he doesn't sleep on a pillow.

Now, on to Austin. For the past week he has said "no diaper" at night. Scary, since he sleeps between Matt & I. Well, not only have there been no accidents, last night he woke up at 4am and crawled out of bed. I asked him if he had to go potty, and he said "no." However, he walked into the bathroom and asked for help. I quickly got up, helped, and praised him endlessly for being a big boy and getting up to go potty and not pot-tying the bed. I resumed the praise this morning when he/we woke up. I then got up to go to the bathroom, and Austin proceeded to tell me that he was proud of me too. If he only knew how proud of me I was for making it to the bathroom! :)

Back to Justin for a sec. A quick update on his vocabulary. When you sing him the song Ring Around the Rosie, as you get to the "ashes, ashes" part, he says it first. If he is nursing, he stops to be sure he gets to say it at the right time. Very funny! It sounds like he is saying "Austin." It sounds like "aw-sin." On his b-day it was pretty clear to me and most everyone else that he was trying to say "happy b-day." It sounded like "ha-bee."

He is 1 year old today, and he's only just beginning (Lord willing).

2008-12-08T22:44:00.007-05:00

Tonight we had a great time celebrating Justin's 1st b-day. Altho I know he didn't really get it, he seemed to enjoy himself just fine. Austin was quite the big brother as he helped me open cards and gifts, each time saying "what is it?" before it was even opened. I made banana muffins instead of cakey cupcakes. That way the baby could gorge himself on something healthy, Matt will have a special treat to take in his lunch, and I was able to use up more of my abundance of ripening bananas. Justin was blessed w/many family members in attendance, and many many pieces of clothing. Of course there were a few toys that were much more interesting to him and Austin.

He's almost 1 year old!

2008-12-06T22:39:00.004-05:00

Justin will be 1 on Monday. Where has the time gone? Into a clean house? Uh, no. Into teaching Austin chemistry, or maybe just how to identifiy the letters he sings so well in the ABC song? Uh, no. Into making sure I am nice and healthy for another baby (as the midwives demanded at Justin's 6 wk. check up)? Uh, no. Maybe into decorating the house more-better this year than last year? Uh, no. So, where DID it go? Well, other than into a minimum amount of cooking & cleaning & showers & laundry, it mostly went into hours and hours of enjoying my kids being LITTLE kids. These times and years won't last, and I want to suck up as much of them as I can before they are gone, like a fine mist of water that disappears before your eyes. I hope there will be time to clean more, cook more & better, and teach the kids (kinda important since I plan to homeschool). But for now, I am perfectly content to sit with my 2 beautiful boys and just watch, listen, laugh, and sometimes even learn.

Since I spent 3 weeks w/Austin on identifying the letter's A & B, he has had 3 more weeks to practice because we haven't gotten back to preschool. I hope to resume with him after the 1st of the year. His cousin Savannah plans to come over and learn too.

Justin was scooting/hopping on his behind before he learned to crawl. I assumed he would quit after the crawling started. Nope! He really enjoys bouncing himself around. It seems to work best on non-carpeted floors. He is a riot to watch. I would love to get a vidoe of him dong it.

This one was for you sis! We love you and we miss you and we pray for you and your family!!!!

Hmmmmmm

2008-11-26T23:12:00.004-05:00

Justin is really trying to develop a vocabulary. This past week he has been pretty intent on saying and gesturing for "baa." That would be 'ball' for the rest of us.

Austin was insistent on laying next to me on the couch today and telling me to push him out of my belly. I can't imagine where that came from. Ok, MAYBE it came from the maternity ward show we had just watched. My little doctor, or, my little weirdo! Or, too much t.v. Or, too many stories about his and his brothers births.

Ashes! and such....

2008-11-15T22:18:00.014-05:00

PRECIOUS!!

A baby shower cake I made today. REMEMBER, I am NOT a baker!

The reason for posting a pic of it is to see if you see what Austin saw in the side piping....feet! He said,, "mommy, that's very pretty feet on there."

Ashes. That is Justin's new word. It sounds like "assuzz." He did it last night when we were all in bed and I was singing my usual 10-15 bedtime songs to the boys that puts them all (all 3) of them to sleep. When I got to Ring Around the Rosie, all I did was look at Justin (who was sitting up in bed instead of laying down, now that he can sit up on his own) and repeated "ashes" at the end of the song. He smiled and then repeated it. So I said it again, and so did he. I was so tickled and made sure Matt heard it too so that I wasn't imagining things. This went on for several minutes. Interesting word for a kid that only says "mama", "dada", "bubu" like bubby, and lots of babbling. I think I blogged sometime ago on 2 words I was sure he said in bed, but they haven't been repeated since. We are really milking ashes. If you ask him to say it, mostly he complies.

I noticed a couple of days ago that when I told him to go get the football (which was quite a ways away and he hadn't been playing with it and we have somewhere in the neighborhood of 10), he looked over at it and started crawling for it. I was shocked! So in bed last night, before the ashes thing, I told him to go get daddy, he looked at Matt, and then started crawling to him.

Altho this is a weird new word, I will say again what I said when Austin was learning to talk, "I am glad his first word wasn't french fry!"

Its MOMMY official!

2008-11-12T23:34:00.003-05:00

Justin is finally crawling on all 4's. I mentioned in an earlier post that nursery workers at church had seen him do it. However, I had not. Late this afternoon that all changed. I suspected he was based on where I would see him 1 minute and where he was ending up, still on all 4's. But when grandma Paula came over for a surprise visit, she and I witnessed it together! Funny thing tho, I took him to the Dr. yesterday, turns out he had a sinus infection and they put him on antibiotics, and they asked me if he was crawling and I said no. Question is, where do we go from here? He has been pulling up to his knees for a couple of months. He never did the army crawl (neither did Austin), just rolled around a lot. Today he was sliding off the couch feet first, so I just let him go to see what he would do. He landed on his feet, stood there, and then kept pushing himself backwards until 1 push too many landed him on his backside. They grow up so fast! Now, about the talking. By the time Austin was 1 he could say many single words and say 2 word sentences: 'hi mommy, bye daddy, hi puppy," etc. So far Justin still only says mama & dada and lots of babbling. On request, he can wave hi and bye, growl or grunt in chorus to you, head butt, give kisses, and "get you" which means steer clear because he gets his mini claws out and goes for whatever on you he can grab/scratch. I'm in no hurry, I love him still being a baby, albeit not for long.

A few updates....and an apology or 2

2008-11-06T23:13:00.011-05:00

Austin, Elizabeth, and John finished their 3rd week of preschool today. We reviewed the past 2 weeks of stuff: square, circle, blue, red, A, & B. We spent 1 day this week at the zoo, so it gave them an opportunity to find all of the things they had learned. (We took pictures and they made a collage. Elizabeth & John are holding their's.) We gathered a bunch of red leaves for one of their crafts. (Austin is holding that one.) Here they are: #1 at the zoo, #2 showing off their crafts from the last 2 days, and #3 having their last red & blue snack.

Austin has been very generous w/the compliments lately. Now I am a good dancer. Sadly, since I'm really not, I am less excited about his other compliments.

Justin's 8th tooth broke through 3 days ago (bottom left next to traditional 1st bottom tooth). That makes an even 4 on the top and bottom. Justin finally fell off of our king sized bed for the 1st time tonight. Thankfully he was on his belly w/his feet hanging off the edge as he went down. He was a little scared but didn't cry. I say "finally" because Austin had fallen off head first a couple of times by this point. He certainly isn't having any trouble getting around even tho I have yet to see him actually crawl.

1st apology: Our Sunday school class attended a bonfire at the home of one of the class members this past Saturday. It was fabulous! However, I owe everyone who was there, by the time we were ready to eat, an apology. As I was giving some announcements my husband said something to me and I snapped at him. As soon as I did it I was embarrassed for myself. I was very convicted over the next couple of days to offer an apology to everyone. However, I let sin take over and I didn't do it. So, after admitting and apologizing to the ladies in my bible study tonight, I decided to post an apology here.

2nd apology: It has come to my attention that while discussing specifics of meals with other ladies in my supper swap group, someone overheard what they thought was inappropriate talk about the women in the supper swap. I have had 3 lengthy conversations with 3 of the supper swap participants, and at no time did we ever specifically discuss any woman's bad cooking abilities. I was mortified and saddened that someone may have thought they heard such a thing, and in no way would I want to dishonor God by gossiping about another woman. My professional cooking background makes me feel like I can "help" others with small, easy food cooking techniques. I would want the same feedback from others who might happen upon my cooking. However, my point is this, if I have offended any woman in my supper swap group w/such talk, I am truly sorry and deeply ashamed. (I did offer this apology tonight at our supper swap, but we were missing 2 of the ladies and I know they occasionally read my blog.)

Now I am a good cooker too....

2008-11-03T00:14:00.004-05:00

A couple of days after telling me I was a good cleaner, I received a new compliment from Austin. As I was fixing breakfast Saturday morning (fried mush, yummmm!) and cleaning the dining room table, Austin told me once again "your a good cleaner." After thanking him & kissing him, I went to the stove to check the mush. He came over and hugged my leg and said "your a good cooker mommy." I promise I have not been coaching him! How cute! It just makes your heart melt. Then today, I was outside with both kids and Austin patted my back and said "i'm here for you mommy." What a cutie!

Two weeks ago I started preschool w/him and 2 of the Steven's children. The first week they learned the letter A, the shape circle, and the color red. The second week they learned the letter B, the shape square, and the color blue. This coming week will be a refresher week on all of the above things, and maybe I will throw in a number. ooooo But this past week has been interesting with Austin because he now points out the things he recognizes by first saying "look mommy, we learned that." The biggest one for him has been the letter A because he sees it so many places while we are driving. Karen said John even drew the letter A for her. Teaching can be very rewarding.

Kiddie updates...

2008-10-31T00:29:00.010-04:00

Matt & I haven't decided how we are going to handle halloween w/the kids. But for now, Austin just knows that we bought a bunch of candy to give away to other kids that were dressed silly. He had a blast. He was trying to give candy to everyone (every jogger & car that went by). As you can see, Justin was getting into the act as well. Both of them were waving boxes of nerds in the air like they were anticipating the candy buzz. Notice the large bowl FULL of candy. We were only able to get rid of half of it, and that was with Matt giving hand-fulls in the last 1/2hr.

Justin is rolling all over the place to get to where he wants to go. He also gets on all 4's and rocks, but then ends up on his belly or back or on his behind. At church Wednesday night the ladies that watched him in nursery said he actually crawled some. I suppose I forgot to tell Justin he is only to have his "firsts" around mommy & daddy. Austin rolled a lot also. He never did the army crawl. Went from rocking on all 4's to crawling. Justin is a big solid food eater, but still predominantly a nurser, just as Austin was at this age.

As I was reading our women's bible study book Feminine Appeal, there was a part in the latest chapter I read where the writer remembered her child running around in circles in the kitchen, at age 4, singing "your the best mommy" over and over. It immediately reminded me of a few small things that Austin has said that I should be remembering and cherishing. Thursday, I was cleaning the kitchen and the floor. I stopped a couple of times to nurse the baby and give him a different piece of real-estate to hang out in. At one of the breaks I was sitting in the l.r. in the recliner and Austin came up to me and hugged me from the side and said "mommy, your the best cleaner." I told him how nice it was of him to say that to me, and I thanked him. (It's a good thing he's only 2 and doesn't really know what clean is.) Often he will come to me in the kitchen and hug my legs and say "mommy, I love you" or "I love you more."

Austin's funny saying of the week, "mommy, only girls have rest raps." He means bra straps.

Potatoes, potatoes, and more potatoes...

2008-10-29T17:13:00.014-04:00

Quick funny....

2008-10-28T00:25:00.004-04:00

On Sunday, as I was getting the kids and I ready for church, Austin said "mommy, you're wearing a dress." I explained that it wasn't a dress, it was a skirt. Later, before we actually got out the door, he said to me "you're wearing a curtain." Later that evening after we had gotten back from the evening service, he and I were washing our hands and he said "mommy, I love your curtain." Out of the mouth of babes....maybe I should rethink the look of my wardrobe. Funny thing is, we don't have any curtains. However, it did bring to mind one of my favorite all time Carol Burnett skits.

The letter A, The color Red, & The shape Circle.....

2008-10-25T07:52:00.008-04:00

After 3 days of preschool, I decided to end the day with some play time outside. Ok, MAYBE I made them dig dirt around the foundation of the home, but they thought it was fun! :)

Here they are after 3 days of intense pre-schooling. They are proudly showing some of their art projects and yummy snack choices.

Those were our first 3 things we tried to identify and remember in our first 3 days of preschool this past week (see above title). At the end of day 1, Austin was the only one who could remember what letter we were learning, but they all could remember the shape and color. At the end of day 2, only Elizabeth could remember the letter. And at the end of day 3, only Elizabeth and John could remember the letter. Don't know what happened to Austin the last 2 days. We did may coloring activities to reinforce shapes and color. We looked at books and magazines and toys to help identify all 3. We read Raggedy Ann & A Raggedy Andy in the Deep Deep Woods (a collection of short stories). We sang a lot, they danced a lot, we played listening games. Each day we had snacks that were red: apples, peppers, jello, red pop (thank you miss Karen!). All in all they all seemed to have fun and look forward to the next time. Last night Austin asked me "when are we going to play school again?" There is so much I want to do, but it looks like they will set the pace and amount we tackle. Looking forward to next week. Thank you Karen for suggesting I try it, it got me off my lazy duff!

Tooth #8 & A scare for mommy

2008-10-20T23:36:00.003-04:00

You can see Justin's 8th tooth coming in, bottom left next to traditional 1st tooth. You can't actually feel it, but it is So right there! He had his biggest solid meal yet: mashed potatoes, chicken, mac & cheese, peaches, rice, cheese, and a little cinnamon roll. Mostly he ate chicken, followed by the mac & cheese. I think he might have kept going. Normally when he has had enough solids, he waves his hand in front of his mouth or shoves the food off the tray. Not tonight, he just let it keep going in. These are all things he has had in the past, just not this much in one sitting.

My scare: a few days ago I was out grocery shopping w/the boys. I haven't been able to use the remote to unlock the car, probably due to the fact that Justin chews on it in the grocery. No surprise there. However, after I got home and put the kids in the kitchen in their chairs and gave them lunch, I proceeded to unload the car. As I went out to get the first load, I heard the car door locks locking and unlocking, as if someone was playing w/the remote in the house, which has been known to happen on occasion. However, I was pretty certain the kids were out of reach of the keys, and they were strapped into their chairs. So, as I took the first load in, I scanned for the keys. There they were, where I had left them, out of reach of the kids. So I decided to look for the spare set in the drawer where we keep them just in case they had been taken out. Nope, there they were, just lying there, buttons side up. Great! Now the car is locking and unlocking itself w/o keys in it or even around it!

They say things happen in 3's. Well, this makes 3 scares: gas leak, Matt's incident w/the baby monitor, and now mine w/the mysterious electrical system of the car. Or do they say deaths come in 3's? Whichever it is they say, I don't believe such silly nonsense! Which, of course means, there could be a #4! :)

THE Circleville Pumpkin Show & more Austin sayings

2008-10-16T23:00:00.019-04:00

Austin feeding carrots to a deer

Isn't the baby goat just precious?
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Motorcycle ride anyone? Savannah and Austin had a blast on this!

This was as close to a horsey ride as they got.

How about that!

That's 1375.5#'s for the King and his Queen came in under 1200#'s.

Yes, today we (me, Austin, Justin, Therese (Matt's sister), Savannah (Therese's daughter), and grandma Paula) went to THE place to be seen if you want to be seen w/a giant pumpkin. I have always wanted to be a food critic, and I can certainly put away the food. I decided that, for YOUR sake, as possible future Pumpkin Show attendees I would taste as many foods as I could and let you know what was worth eating. Ok, let's begin. Rating from a scale of 1-5 w/5 being the best.

crab corn chowder, approx. $5.50 for approx. 8oz.-- 3--I ate most of it, not much crab flavor
chicken & sausage jambalaya, approx. $4.50 for approx. 8oz--3--I ate less than half, rice overdone
fried swiss cheese, approx. $3.50--4.5--to small, I ate most of it
thick cut french fries, $???--5--yummmmo--I ate maybe 1/4 of them
steak on a stick, approx. $5 for approx. 2oz.--3--it was tender just not very exciting, I ate most of it
pumpkin doughnut, $1--3.5--it was better because it was warm but Circle S Farms has the best!!!, I ate half
elk chili, approx. $4 for approx. 8oz.--3--to sweet, I ate most of it
shredded chicken sandwich, approx. $4--4--little to much pepper, I ate most of it
chicken & noodles, approx. $4 for approx. 8 oz.--5--we asked for little broth, I had 1 bite
deep-fried snickers bar, approx $2.50--5--need I say more?, warning--don't get the powder sugar on it, TOO messy, I ate ALL of it
hot chocolate, approx. $2 for 12oz.--3
nacho chips in a bag (they were part of a meal-deal for Austin that cost a total of $4)--2--I only had a few
caramel apple w/nuts, approx. $3--5--I ate 1/2 of it

Austin sayings: When he gets in trouble and has to go to his room, he is asked "tell me what you did wrong that got you in trouble?" Now, when he comes out, w/o being asked he immediately says to me "tell me what you do wrong?" He has been saying lately that Jesus is in his heart and in mommy's heart and in daddy's heart and in Justin's heart. Well, the other night, after reading a few bible stories he starts telling me the whole "jesus is in my heart" thing again...but adds "and Noah is in my heart." I told him Noah wasn't in his heart and that Noah had been dead a long time. His reply was "but the animals aren't dead..the giraffes and the elephants."

I am sure he is talking! :) & A small scare for Matt!

2008-10-15T22:26:00.003-04:00

This morning when the kids and I were waking up, Austin and I always say "good morning" several times to each other and to Justin. I am sure he said it also. It sounded more like "gu mo." I know parents understand their kids talking way before others do. But when you don't expect it, and the same words/sounds come out during the same conversations or times, you can't help but wonder.

The other morning, Matt was sitting at the dining room table drinking his coffee before work. He said he kept hearing what sounded like wind. After trying to ignore it, he finally decided it was coming from the basement, AND, he decided it no longer sounded like wind but that it was definitely breathing. Now he was getting spooked. He thought for a second it might be me w/the baby, but he knew he had just left us in bed. Now he wanted to know who was in our basement! So he quickly turned the light switch on and went down stairs. He looked around and listened. Definitely breathing, heavy breathing! Then he saw the source, the baby monitor. Apparently someone (that would be me) had accidentally left it on the night before while I was cleaning. Ooops!

List found!

2008-10-14T23:06:00.004-04:00

Austin: He says often "thats a loving heart" when he shares something or, more importantly, when you have something he wants. However, the other day, he went to the bathroom after Matt had gone, and then I went. He said to me, "You pottied and daddy pottied and I pottied in the same toilet, that's a loving heart." Who am I to argue with that? If you ask him what he is doing when you can't see him, sometimes he answers "just chillin."

Justin: He very nearly had himself pulled up on the back of the leather couch today to look over and see what Austin was doing. He is purposely leaning all the way down to the floor and then stretching out on to his belly to reach for things. And I swear (well not really SWEAR) he was trying to sing along w/a toy that sings different songs. He does occasionally sound like he is trying to sing w/Austin, but this was different. There seemed to be real music there, for a 10 month old. Also, tonight in bed, I was talking to Justin about his big brother and it sounded like he kept trying to say "butt ta."

Update on the other night when I took Austin's diaper off. He actually slept all night w/o an accident, and w/o a chux pad. At one point Matt had taken it off the bed, then later Austin took it off. Whew! We squeaked thru. Haven't done it since.

The Bauer's ABC's of Life

2008-10-12T22:59:00.003-04:00

To serious of a title for a christian preschool? In all seriousness, please pray for our family and the Steven's family. Beginning in a week, I will be 'trying' to teach preschool to my Austin (2.5) and their John (3.5) & Elizabeth (4.5) 3x/week for 2 hours. I am doing this for a few reasons: 1st, we need the money. JUST kidding, there is no money being exchanged! 1st, I needed a reason to start researching homeschooling for my kids. 2nd, Karen needs extra help these days w/2 home schooled kids, a baby, 2 youngsters, and a baby on the way. The reason we/I need prayer? I have my own insecurities about raising and teaching my own children, let alone somebody else's. I want to honor God in this new endeavor without making enemies out of 3 small impressionable children! I am feeling overwhelmed w/so much info. out there that it is easy to shut down and quit looking. So, I pray.

Speaking of praying, continue to keep Matt & I in your prayers. These love notes I have been writing aren't producing the immediate change in Matt that I thought they would. Oh, they weren't suppose to change him? They are suppose to transform the way I think & feel about him? Ok then, its going to take awhile! I will say this, each time I write one at night, its sort of like not letting the sun go down on my anger. I know the note can't be a replacement for truly talking things out, but its a much bigger step in the right direction for me.

Austin says.....Justin does

2008-10-12T22:34:00.006-04:00

Not really like it sounds. This post is about some funny things Austin has been saying and something new Justin did yesterday.

Austin: If you say to him "we don't have the money for it" he says "then get some out of your purse" or "go get some from the bank." Referring to a food item he wants, if you say to him "we don't have anymore" or "we are all out of it" he says "we need to buy some more, its on sale." When we go to the store he says "am I going in mommy? Don't leave me by myself, I can't drive." If Matt talks about his paycheck, Austin will say "that's money in the bank." He still says "hold me" when he wants you to hold him. I know there are more cute things, I have a list, somewhere.....
Altho he has been "potty trained" since early summer, we still put him in a diaper at night. Tonight he informed me he didn't like how the diaper felt and wanted it off. I obliged, but in a little bit I will be putting a chux pad under him just in case. Especially since he sleeps w/us!

Justin was sitting upright on our bed today, as he does often. I had my back to him and when I turned around he had turned towards the edge of the bed where the rail guard is and had pulled himself up onto his knees and was very excited to be looking down over the edge of the bed. over the next few minutes, every time I sat him back down on his behind, he immediately turned himself sideways and pulled himself back up. Altho the rail is 12" high, I am not comfortable with this new ability. I remember when Austin was able to do it, altho it was after he could crawl, matt and I had to stop letting him do it for fear he would push himself up and over. Altho Justin is still not crawling, he dives head first off the couch now (no more setting him there unattended) and rolls enough that he can't be left alone or unattended on anything that is up off the ground. He has been rolling to his right side to go to sleep at night.
He is going on 2 weeks w/a cold. We pray he gets better soon. We're running out of toilet paper to wipe his itsy bitsy nose!

Many things to talk about....

2008-10-05T22:25:00.033-04:00

So much has gone on in the past few weeks, besides the gas leak, I'm not sure where to begin.

Justin is rolling quite a bit now. Still not as much as the Timothy S. or Ryan T. You can't even put him on his belly now because he automatically rolls to his back. He began clapping 2 weeks ago, but is really into it now. Even when someone starts saying "patty cake patty cake" he puts his little hands up and starts clapping. Last Monday he started having a runny nose. By Wednesday night he had a fever. Tonight it looks like we might have turned the corner, as he is back to eating solid foods and was able to fall asleep laying down instead of being propped up. However, this past week of him being miserable brought about consistent calls for "ma ma ma ma."
Great Grandma Sue picked a 20# bag of Jonna Golds for us Sat. morn. We were suppose to go, but Justin was to sick. This apple is almost as big as his head! He doesn't seem to mind.

Austin is starting to play with puzzles and shape toys correctly. His new funny thing to say is, "I had that/did that/saw that yesterday." Yesterday refers to any time frame in his past. 1 hour ago, last night, 2 days ago, 1 week ago, 1 month ago, etc. Poor kid needs to wear 24 month/2T pants for the length, but the waist is to big on most of them, so they fall right down. I have been saying, what seems like forever, that I need to find a baby belt. However, with a potty training toddler, that's probably not such a good idea.

Our Sunday school group went to Circle S Farms Friday night. Altho chilly as the sun went down, the scrummcious doughnut made up for it. It looked like all the kids had a blast. There was a corn maze, sunflower maze, hay bale cave, hay ride to pick out your own pumpkin, petting zoo, apple juice, and many many photo opps. They have their own bakery on site and they make the BEST glazed pumpkin doughnuts anywhere!!!

The Bauer family w/grandma Paula May.

Austin and his cousin Eamon.

The Knudsen's

"What do we do with it now?"

Future farmer of America.

All of the kids in the hay bale barn/cave.

"THE HAND OF GOD WAS KEEPING US SAFE DURING OUR JOURNEY THROUGH THE PUMPKIN PATCH!" Ok, maybe not exactly like that. But isn't it a beautiful pic? Thanks grandma Paula!

Some of the Steven's Clan, all of the Schmidjel's, and most of the Joesph's.

That's Cassie Blevin's with her little blondie Tony.

The Prince's.

Who is that girl in the braided pigtails and glasses? I've seen her in other blog posts. I think she was the one who was sick at a Clippers game from eating to many hotdogs. :)

I have started reading a new book w/a group of women from church. I will probably use this as my source for "spiritual" blogging over the next 9 weeks. It is called Feminine Appeal, 7 Virtues of a Godly Wife & Mother by Carolyn Mahaney, and it is just what I have been praying for lately. Chapter 2 is about loving your husband. I'm not sure if I ever have really loved Matt, but I have been praying fervently for some time that I will. After reading chapter 2, not only was it convicting, but I genuinely felt differently about Matt. Don't get me wrong, I have a long way to go, but I decided to write him a note each night and put it some place where he would see it each morning (and that was before the chapter actually suggested doing something like that!). I was skeptical if I could feel something sincerely nice enough to write, and would he perceive it sincerely. I discovered that the Holy Spirit has control over my heart during those few minutes of note writing. I haven't felt that it was forced or made up. I have written 3 so far. Tonight will be 4. The first morning I was asleep in the l.r. in the recliner w/Justin, and as he was leaving for work he kissed my cheek (I assumed he must have found the note in his lunch box.) The second day I was awake when he left and he came into the bedroom to tell me "thank you for the love notes", and that he liked them. The third one was this morning, and I put it on his wallet. I added a p.s. that included a reminder/to do list. I didn't hear anything about that note. Maybe I should just stick w/the "love note" part of it. Earlier tonight I thought note #4 was going to be hard, if not impossible, to write. We had a little disagreement/tif. My first thought was, "no note tonight for you!" But as I prayed, I realized that I would still be able to leave a love filled note, regardless of my black, sinful, vengeful, prideful heart. This is going to be an exciting study!

Gas leak update

2008-10-01T23:14:00.004-04:00

We were told that Columbia Gas would be back today to do the outside repairs. They came yesterday and were here all day. Great! They dug a 3x3x3 hole in the front yard near the street. They dug a hole up by the house to find the line and to reposition the riser from in our garage to outside the garage. They did a fantastic job putting back grass, dirt, gravel, and mulch! At 4:30pm they said they were ready to call for a tech to come and put the new meter on the new riser and turn the gas back on. WAIT A MINUTE! We still had leaks inside that hadn't been fixed yet. That's another story. The insurance company told me Monday that someone would be calling us Monday to come out and fix the inside leaks Monday or Tuesday. By 4:30pm yesterday, still nothing. When I called, again, to find out what was going on, they informed me that they couldn't send someone out until the outside work was done. Thanks for letting me know! I figured as late as it was, we wouldn't see anyone until today. At 6pm yesterday a plumber showed up at our door. It took him 3 hours, but now the inside was done. Great! I called Columbia Gas at 9:30pm last night to get an appt. for today to have the gas restored. I was told that the computer showed that we still had work to be done outside, so an appt. couldn't be made. I assured her that it was a mistake because the 4 guys who worked all day outside in my front yard told me they were done. ALL done! She assured me that she had informed me of everything she could and that she couldn't tie up the emergency line anymore. If I wanted to register a complaint I could call back in the morn. and talk to customer service. Register a complaint?! Uh, no, I just want my gas turned back on. Sheesh! So, I called back this morning at 7am and found out I was scheduled for service between 8am and 12pm. Great! Well, 12 came and went. I called at 3pm to find out that we no longer had a time assigned to us, just that it would be restored today. Normal business hours are until 4:30pm. If they don't make it by then, they do work until 11:30pm. If they can't make it by then, then and only then would I get a call. Not so great! 9pm tonight was the golden hour!!! I have never been so happy to see a work truck w/blinking lights outside my house. If I had to pick losing gas or electric, it would be gas. We have an electric stove and a dishwasher that self heats, if necessary. The furnace and dryer both work off of electric and gas, so its a lose lose there. What a day, but thank the Lord we are back in business! Shower anyone?

Isn't it the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?

2008-10-01T23:08:00.002-04:00

It is when seeing one of these added to your home at 9pm, 3 days exactly after having smelled the gas leak, means gas has been restored! Amen! Thank you God! I can't wait to jump in the shower!!!

Yikes!

2008-10-01T23:04:00.004-04:00

10/1/08
Not exactly something you want to see in your front yard! Unless, of course, you want your gas turned back on.