a little bit of this, a little bit of that

End of the year wrap up in pictures

2012-01-03T20:33:00.000-05:00

Eli just couldn't make it any longer

Mickey!

Happiest Place on Earth?

Eli's first birthday

Exploring at the park

Wyatt helped make the cupcakes so felt he could help himself to as many as he wanted

Meeting Donald Duck

Water Fountains are always intriguing

Animal Kingdom

Animal Kingdom petting area

Wyatt loved the chair for some reason

Climbing around

Eli Christmas Eve

Wyatt's new drums!

Wyatt enlisting anyone close to play his drum or guitar - following his direction, of course.

Eli with a little one on one time with Dad

Christmas Day, checking out the new books

Fall and Halloween!

2011-10-31T21:10:00.000-04:00

I got it!

This one!

Excited!

Walking with Grandma

Best ride in town

Helping his brother by carrying his pumpkin

Wyatt and his friend from down the street

Going through the goods!

Pictures and videos

2011-10-23T20:21:00.000-04:00

Having a hard time keeping up with this but here are some pictures from some of our happenings...

A future musician??

This is what Wyatt recites a dozen times a day (or more)!

It has been too long...

2011-07-24T13:33:00.000-04:00

March was the last time I posted anything? I must be preoccupied...so, here's a few things that have gone on in our Family...besides changing diapers, naps, etc.

Eli in the sand for the first time

Wyatt petting some sea animals

Cameron's Lion King pose

brotherly love

Caleb and Eli blueberry picking

Nana and Wyatt walking to the blueberry farm

Wyatt being a big brother - helping to feed Eli

Open Wide!

Building blocks at the Children's Museum in Boston

Wyatt found a car to drive at the Children's Museum

One of the several playgrounds we found in Boston

Riding the water taxi across the Harbor

Playing with the ducks in Boston Common from "Make Way for Ducklings"

Wyatt turned 2!

A peek at some March happenings

2011-03-26T20:51:00.000-04:00

Hard at work

Still sweeping...he will carry the broom and dustpan around the whole house. And even though we have a smaller broom for him, he insists on the big one.

A visit to Atlanta for a good friend's baby shower. It was Eli's first plane trip!

Tummy time!

Brothers

Pointing out his brother's mouth

Feeding the turtles. Well, feeding his own belly first, then the turtles.

Comfy in Nana's arms - until he got too heavy...16 lbs gets heavy real quick!

An attempt at a family photo...although Mr. Independent down front wasn't interested.

Practicing how to sit up

Exploring the alphabet

Little man

2011-03-26T20:24:00.000-04:00

Had a nice afternoon with little man - here are a few videos. (go to website to view)

Pictures to share

2011-03-05T15:43:00.000-05:00

Wyatt still likes to sit in the laundry basket to watch TV sometimes.

He will even push the laundry basket from the laundry room all the way to the living room sometimes - then point to the basket which means it is our cue to lift him inside.

Birthday Boy!

Ah Kong's Little helper

Happy Birthday!

Aunt Amy taking Wyatt for a ride in the wagon

Getting a breathing treatment before his bath

Making a stop to say hello to his brother after Eli's bath

Watching the fan go 'round and 'round

Oops! Something is not right!!

Strawberry picking! (oops...but that is someone else's basket...)

In a field of strawberries

Forget about the strawberries, let me at that sprinkler!

Eli slept the whole time (not in the sun like it looks from the photo...)

Let me give this strawberry a try...

Yum!

Sharing with Mom

Picking strawberries with Dad

Uncle Cameron carrying all of our fruit

2011-02-13T19:51:00.001-05:00

BROTHERS

Lounging

Relaxing with baby man

At the park with liitle man

What have we been up to?

2011-01-20T21:06:00.000-05:00

All about the boys:

Wyatt helping to clean the house

Eli snuggling with Daddy

Wyatt checking on his brother

Smile!

What's so funny?

An attempt at getting the boys to sit together for a picture. Not so successful.

Checking out the inside of the wagon

Need a lift?

Being chased

Hello world!

Eli resting at the park

Welcome, Eli!

2010-12-22T12:24:00.000-05:00

Here are some long overdue photos of the newest addition to our family. It has been interesting trying to get used to his 'baby schedule.' Wyatt seems to be taking it all in stride so far - he enjoys giving Eli his pacifier when he cries, sharing his blanket (if only for a short period of time) and giving him lots of hugs. We'll see how long it lasts!!

Shh...sleeping baby!

Proud parents

Happy Father

Wyatt hugging his new brother

Congrats to my Sista!

2010-11-29T20:48:00.000-05:00

There's a wedding in the near future!
Congrats to Jon and Amy :)

Jon proposed at the UF vs FSU game this past weekend!

Surprise!

2010-11-15T06:52:00.000-05:00

My Mother and Sister had a surprise shower for me this weekend :) The guest list was only family members and was the perfect afternoon for the occasion. My Aunt even came down from New Hampshire for the shower! The surprise was at the Windsor Rose Tea Room in Mt. Dora. It is such a quaint area. I don't think the afternoon could have been any better for some afternoon tea, mini sandwiches and sweets. The doors and windows were open at the Tea Room and the light breeze was perfect. Thank you to my family for a lovely surprise!

Below is a poem my Mother and Aunt wrote for little Eli that they shared at the shower:

Eli

There’s a reason our women

Are gathered today

It’s too early for Christmas –

Or Thanksgiving – Say!

That’s Jennifer Hamel

Eight months and still growing

Looking so lovely, so happy, so –

Glowing!

We know it’s a boy

What a thrill, what a joy

Please tell Wyatt this baby

Is more than a toy!

He’s a son, he’s a nephew

A grandson, a kid brother!

This child, Eli Hamel, he’s unique

Like no other.

Generations of women are gathered today:

Let’s celebrate!

A toast –

Eli’s on the way!

October Happenings

2010-10-23T13:02:00.000-04:00

There is pink everywhere you look this month for Breast Cancer Awareness Month - apparently I have pink fever - cherry chip cupcakes, yum!

He wants to go swimming!! (Showing off his new kicks, too.)

"I'll wait here until it's ready."

A few pictures from our trip to Clearwater, FL.

Sitting on top of the world!

Wide open space to walk!

View from the balcony

Hmm...too bright...and sand feels funny...

October fun

2010-10-09T21:27:00.001-04:00

We picked out our pumpkin this week! Wyatt had a ball walking up and down the pumpkin patch aisles.

As you can tell from the video...he is really moving now!

We celebrated some October birthdays today! The lucky birthday guests were the center of attention at our pie eating contest!

Wyatt's new car!

A rare moment

A few pictures...

2010-10-05T20:55:00.000-04:00

Fall is here!

Enjoying the view, watching the cars go by

Playing with the swingset in the backyard

Going down the slide (yes he's pantless...sometimes a boy just has to move...)

Walking caught on tape!

2010-09-27T21:06:00.000-04:00

I finally got a small video of Wyatt walking...he's getting better at it every day. Balance is a tough thing to master! He has several more teeth in his mouth now - I believe we are up to 12 teeth.

He's also started asking with his hands where things are...so we know when he's trying to look for something because he'll put up his hands as if he's asking, "Where is it?"

And, within the last week or so, he's very interested in turning his toys on and off. He'll flip the toy over and turn it on, then off. Then on, then off...

This weekend we also made a bear for baby boy #2! We made Wyatt a Red Sox bear before he was born. He sleeps with him each night and loves to give Wally hugs. For Baby boy #2 we made a fishing bear. I think we've settled on the name Seabass for the bear. (We're still undecided about the name for our second little man...who will be here in a few short weeks! The first week of December is quickly approaching!)

A few steps!

2010-09-22T20:55:00.000-04:00

Wyatt has starting taking a few steps on his own!! He is getting very brave...this past weekend he could make it about 7 steps before plopping down. He's now up to about 14 steps. It is hard to get it on video. I'll try to post a video soon.

On top of Wyatt's new found walking ability, the poor little man has three molars and two incisors coming in at the same time. He's been drooly again lately and a little irritable at times. Who wouldn't with that much going on in your mouth?? He did seem to like the nectarine out of the fridge though - I like to think it felt good on his teet as he chewed.

On the move . . . heading into Week 26

2010-09-06T21:05:00.000-04:00

Wyatt is non stop action lately. He hardly sits still! It's one thing then another. He is constantly on a mission and has started telling me about it if something he wanted to do is not going smoothly. Here is a video of him having fun on his firetruck in his room.

And the latest on the pregnancy front - heading into week 26 on Tuesday. So far so good, just as easy (thankfully!) as the first. No big complaints. I have noticed that #2 is MUCH more active than Wyatt was when I carried him. He makes his presence known! The occasional heart burn has started a week or so ago but other than that we're both growing slowly!

Food fun :)

2010-09-05T13:56:00.000-04:00

He still enjoys eating with a spoon! It does make meal time messy...but you have to learn somehow!

A trip to the Winter Park Farmers market this weekend - walked out with some veggies and the boys got a refreshing pineapple drink (sans liquour...)

All about busy man Wyatt

2010-08-22T20:46:00.000-04:00

Coloring on the window (Daddy found some fun window crayons)

Serious work here

He's very proud of himself now that he can go up and down the step with ease.

He loves to take the spoon from me and feed himself. He hasn't quite figured out how to scoop up food with the spoon yet though.

Dance!

2010-08-03T20:07:00.000-04:00

Wyatt seems to love music. He's been dancing for at least 2 months now when he hears music but it has been a real challenge trying to get it on video! Once he sees the camera he usually starts reaching for the camera to play with and investigate. I finally got a fairly good clip of him clapping to one of his toys that plays music. He's also been caught swinging his legs to the beat and moving his arms. He's a joy to watch :)

It also looks like some molars might be coming along very soon - there is plenty of drool to prove it too! He has eight teeth so far. Number 9 might be a doozie though. (You can also see my baby bump here...I'm a little more than halfway there!)

Here's the sneaky little guy - I felt sure he was rubbing and yawning because he was ready for his nap...not so much, as you can tell!

Good news

2010-07-27T20:15:00.001-04:00

We had a good day today. This morning Wyatt had his dentist appointment which was a piece of cake compared to his eye appointment. Everything looks good though-no problems with gums and all eight teeth he has look great. We should be seeing some molars come in soon, the doctor said he felt them right under the surface.

This afternoon I had an appointment for a sonogram. This will be a house full of boys! Baby number two is a boy! (name to be determined) it was fun to watch Caleb and Wyatt during the sonogram. Wyatt could tell we were both excited about the news so he got excited and was exchanging high fives with Caleb. Too cute. I guess I should get used to being out numbered and out voted for the future!

A few more pictures from our MA trip

2010-07-22T20:45:00.000-04:00

Digging for clams

Biking trip

Small birthday celebration with cousins - I'm not sure he likes the candle...

A new book!

Opening a present

Massachusetts Trip

2010-07-20T22:07:00.000-04:00

We've just returned from a few days with family in Massachusetts. Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Bleacher Bar in Boston (in Green Monster)

Finding our seats at the Red Sox vs Rangers game

Having a beer at the oldest tavern in the US

Traveling

GP showing off his lacrosse skills

Family picture

Taking a dip in the Ocean

Taking a break, playing with Wally in the stroller

Strolling with Uncle B

Candlepin bowling

Fun with cousins!

2010-07-03T19:49:00.000-04:00

We met up with Wyatt's cousins at Amaya Papaya this past week - I think they all had fun!

Exploring the sand box

Sandy toes

"Are you my prince charming?"

Taking a break

Weeeeee!!!

Flowers and Cheerios

2010-06-30T20:31:00.004-04:00

We've finally got some nice color in the front yard. I planted these knock-out roses a few weeks back and they are doing well. It's nice to pull into the driveway and see some flowering plants.

Earlier this week as I was on the computer in my office at work and Wyatt was playing with his toys on the floor - I paused for a moment because it had gotten very quiet. I got a kick out of his careful 'organizing' of his Cheerios. Apparently, they had spilled out of the container and he was putting them back in so he could eat them. It was a hoot to watch. My apologies for the amateur video!

Summer fun

2010-06-13T19:42:00.000-04:00

Wyatt is enjoying his summer so far -

He watches the cars go by in the afternoon and waits for Daddy to get home...

He plays with the pugs until they get tired of being picked on...

He enjoys cold watermelon on the swing outside...

And joins Nana out for dinner!

Play day

2010-06-02T21:12:00.007-04:00

Wyatt and I met friends at an indoor play place in Casselberry this week: Amaya Papaya. This was the first time we have been but we'll go back before the summer's over. It's a fun place for children to explore and play. Wyatt didn't get to visit all the different areas this visit, but he did enjoy playing with the train, some dinosaurs and a rocking boat.

Busy Weekend

2010-05-31T16:27:00.001-04:00

We've been doing a lot of playing lately! Wyatt loves to be entertained and, when he's in the mood, he'll entertain you! Another tooth came in this weekend so he's up to 7 pearly whites now. (With another on the way I believe...) He had lots of excitement this weekend - playing with his Great Aunt Margaret, being whisked around the house in a box, climbing, climbing, climbing, attending Victor's wedding and staying up until 10:50pm!!!

Curious about the keys in the lock

Riding in a box

Funny look at the camera...

Picture Gallery

2010-05-17T20:17:00.000-04:00

Visit to the Park

Visit to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa

Mother's Day weekend

Mom's Birthday

#2 in December!

2010-05-09T09:25:00.000-04:00

It's official! We'll have an addition to the family by the end of the year! December 14th is my actual due date. The baby is only about 8-9 weeks old but has a strong heart already!
Here is the baby and the little yolk along side him/her.

And here's a close up:

The favorite toy

2010-05-02T19:26:00.000-04:00

The vaccuum. He'll crawl clear across the house to find the vaccuum.

5 teeth now! (But doesn't always like to show them!)

And some pictures from the organic garden where my friends are growing some awesome vegetables. Just picked up another load of lettuces, radishes and green beans this weekend.

Daycare?

2010-04-21T08:57:00.000-04:00

Is it a day care center? Nope, it's just my office at work. It has yet again been transformed....plenty of crawl and explore space for the little man!

He's mobile!

2010-04-11T20:37:00.001-04:00

Wyatt officially began crawling on April 5th (last Monday). Initially he was prompted with food but now he's all over the place all the time! I've rearranged my office this weekend to accomodate the VERY curious little mobile man and we've put some more soft padding on the floor in the house. (We have tile everywhere.) It's so fun to watch him explore!

Organic Veggies

2010-04-06T20:54:00.000-04:00

Two friends have taken on a project/hobby of growing organic vegetables. I just received my first harvest from them - some mainly some lettuce, choy and carrots. Delicious and fresh. In the near future I'll be getting some tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, pole beans, etc. (I had some pictures but somehow my camera now says picture error so I'll have to post pictures later ;( )

Outdoors

2010-03-30T17:43:00.000-04:00

Our Silver Trumpet Tree is blooming and the flowers are showering our yard as the wind blows. It's really very pretty (as long as you can get past the cleanup of wilted brown flowers in a few weeks and then the brown pods a few weeks after that!). I think it's worth it, and such a pretty site to see when I come home from work!

Our mailbox got a few new plants around it as well.

The flowering plant we had next to the carport had seen better days so we fished it out and replaced it with a gardenia variety bush.

Tea

2010-03-25T13:40:00.000-04:00

I am a fan of loose leaf tea but for some reason have drifted away from drinking hot tea. (Perhaps it was the need for more caffeine in the lattes I make...) Brady has just recently reminded me of my fondness for tea though- He has given me some flower tea. The tea comes compact, in a ball. When steeped, the leaves unfurl to product a flower. (It's man made, of course.) I think I'll be making a trip to the loose leaf tea shop around the corner from my house - Old Cup and Saucer

Weekend Snapshots

2010-03-21T20:52:00.000-04:00

Here are some of the latest shots from our Family:

Wyatt getting some time on his belly...still not moving forward yet...although he does manage to push himself backwards...

Daddy sharing a book with Wyatt

His eyes are blue/grey now...

Playing with his penguin

Going for a walk with Grandpa

Several attempts at taking a Family photo at Birthday World...

Happy Birthday, Jackson!

Updates...the latest and greatest

2010-03-05T20:23:00.002-05:00

I have not been keeping up well with updates! Here are a few happenings from the past couple weeks:
1. Wyatt got his first two teeth on 2/22! They came in at the same time, lower jaw.
2. Our trip to Indiana was great -a little chilly...there wa snow on the ground!
3. Paris has a new home :(
4. Skype is the coolest thing! Calling from computer to computer for free!! Let me know if you're a Skype user!!!

Here are a few recent pictures:

Trying to get a picture of Wyatt's first two teeth...he didn't want to cooperate.

Visiting cousins in Indiana

Visiting Great-Grandparents in Indiana

Taking a nap - meeting new people is exhausting!

Ginos Pizza in Chicago, IL (yum!)

Pictures, Pictures

2010-02-19T19:22:00.000-05:00

The newest addition to our home!

2010-02-07T07:15:00.000-05:00

It's a dishwasher!! We've been hand washing everything since we moved into this house, but now we can just put it in the dishwasher and press START. Unfortunately, since the house was built in 1950 and dishwashers weren't so common in the home back then, I had to sacrifice a drawer and a cabinet in order to fit the new appliance in our kitchen. So...the rest of our cabinets and drawers are a little more crammed and crowded...but very worth it!!!!

GSS

2010-01-23T20:31:00.002-05:00

Mr. President...

Little Man pictures

2010-01-19T21:54:00.005-05:00

Having fun :)

(I think I've aged 10 years in 6 months...)

Aunt Amy got a lot of laughs from Wyatt!

FINALLY getting used to being on his belly...

He's getting ready to move!

News brief

2010-01-13T21:16:00.004-05:00

A few happenings around here:

1. Caleb is recovering from his oral surgery this past Friday - he had four wisdom teeth pulled and one molar. Two of the wisdom teeth were impacted so he tells me that area in his mouth is still a little sore. And, there is a bruise on his arm, about the shape/size of a travel size toothpaste from where they tried, tried and tried again to get an IV in his arm.

2. The pugs are confused about what is theirs to play with and what belongs to Wyatt. Evidence below:

3. Jennifer has discovered a 'magical' laundry basket in her home - it magically continues to refill - just when she thought all of the laundry was done. Fabulous!

4. Wyatt has been on a roll for the past several days - managing to spread his mess out of his diaper and all over his clothes. (connection with number 3???)

5. Wyatt has started to enjoy some oatmeal once a day - sometimes with more success than others...(connection with number 4??)

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T19:50:00.003-05:00

2010 is here! Looking forward to a great year! Here's what has been going on this past week:

Watching a little Jaguar football

Taking a nap on the couch like Daddy

Take your pick - extreme laziness or efficiency: The irobot Roomba vaccuum (Pet Series). Does the vaccuuming for us while playing with little man or cooking a meal. Really like it so far :)

December in pictures

2009-12-26T08:13:00.006-05:00

It's been a while!

2009-12-14T20:34:00.006-05:00

My computer has been unusable and broken for the past week (has it been 2 weeks?!) But...it's fixed now! Thankfully, since it is still under warranty, DELL sent a tech out to my place of work to take a look at it and replace a few parts. Then, after that didn't solve the problem, it was sent to DELL and worked on at their facility. And now it's back with me! (The best part about all that service was it was FREE!)

Here are a few pictures taken recently:

(He really doesn't always have a pacifier in his mouth - I just noticed several of these pictures do!)

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-29T09:49:00.003-05:00

We had a family filled Thanksgiving this year which is always nice. And, rather then try to fit two family gatherings in on one day this year we had one on Wednesday and one on Thursday. It is much more comfortable on the ole belly.

No black Friday shopping this year - we stayed away from the crowds and the chaos.

Patty Cakes

2009-11-15T19:12:00.002-05:00

They are here! These are imprints of little man Wyatt's hand and foot from when he was just 23 days old. Thank you Charity and Don! It's a great keepsake!

Recent Wyatt- 15 weeks

2009-11-14T19:40:00.005-05:00

Wyatt is slowing getting used to sitting up - in this video his eyes are afixed to the Gator football game that was on television. As you can tell he is starting to drool a lot which makes me think he may be starting to get a tooth! Wyatt has also taken to sucking on his thumb and index finger at the same time. Occasionally he'll just bypass those two fingers and go for the whole fist.

Garage sale find

2009-11-07T11:35:00.001-05:00

I'm a big fan of garage sales - on my way in to work this morning I stopped at a few...found this fun bouncer for $3! I think he likes it!

PDX pics

2009-11-04T19:03:00.008-05:00

Our trip to Portland, Oregon was great! It was so nice to have a mini vacation. Wyatt also got to meet his Aunt Carisa for the first time and his new Uncle Jon. He did well on the airplane, I'd give him a 6 out of 10. We were in the last row on every plane (4 of them) which was a good thing. That meant we were right next to the bathroom and in an area of the plane where there is more noise to drown on the infrequent cries from little man. Below are some pictures from the wedding, a little sight seeing and the trip in general. (no particular order)

Delicious!

2009-10-26T20:48:00.005-04:00

Here's a great recipe that a friend shared with me - I'm taking this one to share with my coworkers on Wednesday!

Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte

2c milk

2Tbsp canned pumpkin

2Tbsp white sugar

2Tbsp vanilla (not a typo, it asks for Tablespoons)

- OR 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/8 tsp cloves, 1/8 nutmeg, and a teeny tiny pinch of ground ginger

1/2c brewed espresso or 3/4 c strong brewed coffee

-garnish with whipped cream (optional)

Directions: This will make enough for 2 people to have a big mug with a bit leftover. Add the coffee/espresso and milk to the crockpot. Whisk in the pumpkin, spices, sugar and vanilla. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours if everything is cold. Whisk again. Ladle into mugs and garnish with whipped cream and additional cinnamon.

**************************************************************************************

A few more seasonal pictures to share:

Recent Pictures

2009-10-20T20:58:00.004-04:00

Wyatt's dedication

2009-10-12T06:01:00.003-04:00

Wyatt was dedicated to the Lord at church yesterday. He was anointed with oil and prayed over all while his parents stood by his side and family supported him from the crowd.

My morning treat

2009-10-07T06:22:00.004-04:00

I've started making my own lattes again in the morning - it is a little treat for myself. Several years ago I bought an espresso machine that was on sale for 50% off at Starbucks and have gotten a lot of use out of it! I figure since I've had it I'm sure I've saved a lot of money making my own lattes rather than buying one each morning. Plus, making my latte in the morning is a little nostalgic from my college and early post college days when I worked at Starbucks. That was a fun job :) If you enjoy your own latte or espresso a few times a week (or every morning) I highly encourage you to get your own espresso machine. It's really simple to make your own, plus you can create your own drink recipes. I'd be happy to give a tutorial to anyone who wants to learn!

Here are a few recipes that I use when making my own:

1. Skim milk/espresso/sweetened condensed milk/dash of cinnamon on top

2. Skim milk/espresso/honey

3. Skim milk/espresso/brown sugar

4. Skim milk/espresso/hazelnut flavor

5. Skim milk/espresso/vanilla syrup/sweetened condensed milk/dash of cinnamon and nutmeg on top

Short Video

2009-10-06T05:05:00.002-04:00

News catch up

2009-10-05T04:38:00.004-04:00

It has been a few days since I've posted any happenings so here are a few things that have been going on lately:

1. Wyatt's belly button is great. Our second visit to the pediatric surgeon turned out to be our last. He tied off the base of his belly button again and as he did it fell off which is what he wanted it to do. There wasn't too much blood and Wyatt wasn't too bothered by it. It now looks like a little nub, just like it should.

2. I had a garage sale this past weekend with what I would consider, great success! My parent's community had a Community Garage Sale so I camped out at the end of their driveway to take advantage of the traffic. My reasoning for having a garage sale is to get rid of stuff and give the buyers a deal. I figure there's no point in having a sale if there aren't any deals. So, I'd like to say we had the best prices on the block. (even a FREE box...) Basically, if I saw someone pick an item up, I thought to myself, "What price would make that person buy that item and NOT put it back down." Once an item is in their hand, they're hooked, I just have to reel 'em in with a price they can't pass up! I was really surprised at how many people bought clothes and shoes. My sister put out some stuff as well but I think we probably sold about 2 dozen pairs of shoes and at least 3 dozen shirts/skirts/pants. I've never had clothes do so well at a garage sale. It was a fun morning for me, I enjoy the whole garage sale package - gathering stuff to sell, putting up signs, talking to people who come to browse, earning a little cash . . . and packing up less stuff than I had before I started :)

3. Wyatt is starting to get a little routine during the day and night now. He's sleeping between 5-7 hours at a time then he'll wake up for a little food and go back to sleep for another 3-4 hours. During the day he's starting to take a nap in the morning between 9am and 10am and then another one in the afternoon somewhere between 2pm and 3pm. Naps seem to last just 30 minutes or so. Here are a few recent pictures:

Saturday

2009-09-26T04:34:00.003-04:00

Wyatt just slept from 8:45pm - 4am!! WOW! That's just over 7 hours! I hope this is a trend and not a fluke! It's a great start to the weekend for sure :)

On another note - his belly button continues to be a small issue. The pediatric surgeon on Tuesday sutured it and put silver nitrate on it in hopes of getting this growth to fall off. Last night there were a couple layers that fell off and what is left is a lot smaller. It was about the size of a pea when this all began and now it is half the size. We go back this Tuesday for a followup visit with the pediatric surgeon. He'll examine it and decide whether or not anothe silver nitrate treatment will do the trick, or if he will need to do a small surgical procedure to get it off. More to follow...(Thankfully, none of it seems to bother him.)

Pictures from the weekend

2009-09-20T20:13:00.005-04:00

Comfortable in Nana's arms

Fulton's 4th birthday party!

First time in the pool...not so happy...

Meeting up with Friends

2009-09-13T06:54:00.006-04:00

Yesterday we had a great afternoon getting together with some of the people who took our Lamaze class with us - we had a potluck and were able to visit with all the new babies. And, of course the parents could swap stories/advice, etc. Here are some pictures of the four little ones before we left - Wyatt is the youngest by about 7 weeks. But, he's keeping his own!!

And here are a few shots, just for kicks that didn't turn out so well...

Random notes

2009-09-12T11:21:00.005-04:00

Here are just a few random notes and happenings...

1. Poor Caleb was stung twice a few days ago - once on his eyelid and another time on his temple. For the past few days it has looked like someone clocked him in the face. After 3 days the swelling and puffiness is FINALLY starting to fade.

2. Our lovely red microwave has died. We're hoping to get another this weekend - it's amazing how often you use the microwave...it just seems that now that we don't have one I've wanted to use it more often - I really wanted microwave popcorn the other night, but that wasn't going happen. Then, I was going to heat up some fried rice for Caleb in the microwave and that wasn't going to happen either. I'm still trying to figure out how we went about 8 months without a microwave when we were in the one bedroom apartment a few years back.

3. This is an exciting weekend - Sunday is the Jacksonville Jaguars first game! I feel bad that the Indianapolis Colts will be beginning the season with a loss...

4. And here is a picture of Caleb watching Wyatt while I went to take a shower. Like Father like son, I guess...

7 weeks! (mostly filled with smiles)

2009-09-08T13:29:00.005-04:00

It's amazing how quickly time passes~ Here are some pictures of little man at 7 weeks old.

This picture is taken in my office at work. I've rigged up a little contraption to the oscilating fan so that as the fan moves, his toys pass in front of his face. Both toys hanging make a sound - one is a bell that rings, the other is a rattle. When he's calm (usually after eating) I'll place him in his chair in front of the fan and he's just follow the toys with his eyes. Every now and then he'll reach up to touch the toys and the bell will ring which makes him smile. He's even starting kicking when he's happy. Today he occupied himself with those toys for about 30 minutes!

This caught my eye today in the Orlando Sentinal...Moms Get Fit! I'm still trying to figure out if my husband read this section last or carefully placed the Health & Fitness section on top of the newspaper pile so I would see it...I'm leaning toward coincidence. Regardless, I may just try to win!

P.S. And...sometimes he gets mad...poor guy...it's hard being a baby.

Cleanser

2009-08-30T06:40:00.009-04:00

So the News is really getting me worried about the Swine Flu and the fact that the age group most at risk includes Wyatt. I've already been pretty careful in general about clean hands around him but there's this little voice in the back of my head that says, "What if that's not enough?" One of the radio stations had a guest Doctor on air this past week was talking about a product called Hibiclens and I did end up going to the store and getting a bottle. The thing that really sparked my interest about it was the fact that it says a residue (that you can't feel) is left on your hands that continues to kill germs for up to 6 hours after washing with the soap. I've also given a bottle to my Mom and sister who are school teachers and my brother who seems to get sick more than the rest of us. Anyone else heard or used this product?

On a lighter note, here are some more pictures of the little man! These were taken at my nephew's 14th birthday party yesterday. The party was at Blue Springs State Park - luckily the canopy cover and the pavillion made it much cooler than the 95 degrees it was in the sun!

Wyatt with one of his Uncles.

Birthday Cake time!

Wyatt's cousin saying hello...

Mom and son.

Dad and his son.

The Birthday Boy!

Wyatt in the arms of his proud cousin.

One of Wyatt's Aunts. . .

This is Wyatt's favorite position right now. He normally calms right down if you put him on your arm. His Ah-Kong does it best though, he has the magic touch.

Swingin'

2009-08-17T20:37:00.004-04:00

Several people have mentioned that a swing is a great thing for a baby (and Mom and Dad). So, this weekend I decided to give it a try. I found a nice one on Craigslist and picked it up on Saturday. It is true...he does like it!

We also had a visit from the Great Grandparents...

Wyatt is starting to follow things with his eyes...it's amazing that a week ago he couldn't focus on on object but now I can tell he's noticing things and is focusing on things in front of him!

Work

2009-08-10T19:26:00.003-04:00

Well, I feel like I got SOMETHING accomplished today. I went to work for about 2 hours. It is so nice to get out of the house for a bit and do something! Wyatt was so good too. What a good little man :)

This morning Wyatt also got a hand and a foot imprinted for a little bronze plate. It was a gift from my Sister in Law - can't wait for them to come back. They're called, "Patty Cakes" -so cute! It was pretty convenient too because the place the imprints were done are just down the road from work. It takes about 8-10 weeks to get the finished product back...I'll post pictures when we get them! Thanks Charity and Don!

Air conditioning is great

2009-08-07T19:57:00.003-04:00

The air conditioning unit at our house has not been functioning properly for the past week - Thankfully we have family nearby so were able to stay overnight at a house with cool air for several nights this week. Now, after 5 visits from a/c technicians the problem is finally fixed!! Hooray!

Some more pictures from our photo shoot

2009-08-06T08:33:00.003-04:00

Another blog

2009-08-05T16:36:00.003-04:00

In my new role as a Mother I'm learning a lot and finding that what I once thought to be true has now been replaced with a "better" truth. So, I've decided to write about some of those realizations and new truths on a different blog. I've titled it: Realizations from a Mom. Take a gander if you'd like! http://www.realizationsfromamom.blogspot.com/ .

Also, I should have more picture of Wyatt very soon for those who are asking!

Photo shoot

2009-08-04T07:34:00.004-04:00

One of the girls in the knitting group I'm part of, Jen, is putting together a portfolio so offered to do a photo session of our newborn, Wyatt. We were very excited about the opportunity so took her up on the offer. This Sunday was the photo session - I think there were a few shots that may come out well. He wasn't all that cooperative though. Fussy little man. Guess he didn't care for being the center of attention that morning. Here are a few she has sent us...there are more on the way.

Monday was his 2 week check up at the pediatrician and everything seems to be looking good. He weighed in at 7 lbs 13oz so he's been eating!! Normally they like to see newborns back up to their birth weight at 2 weeks old...well, Wyatt has surpassed that by 11oz! I'm glad he's getting what he needs during his feedings! There are A LOT during the day!

6 in the house

2009-07-30T13:07:00.005-04:00

Since we came home last Monday, the pugs have had to step down from #1 in the house to #2. Wyatt has naturally taken over the numero uno spot in the house. But, all three pugs seem to have adjusted fairly well. They seem sensitive when Wyatt cries and even quietly rest near his crib when he sleeps. With a lot of my time being taken up by feeding, I'm glad Caleb is finding extra time to give the pugs more attention so they know they're still loved.

We have found that Wyatt really likes to ride in the car - within a few minutes of riding he is either quietly looking around or sound asleep. So far he's taken four trips in the car and they all result in a content little boy.

One week old!

2009-07-26T10:19:00.003-04:00

Yesterday Wyatt was officiallly one week old - some of the hours seem to pass slowly but as I look back, that week really went by quickly. We have discovered that he really likes to sleep in a vibrating chair his Aunt had passed on to us - thank you!!! It gives us two free hands - everytime we'd lay him down on the bed he'd wake back up, but the chair keeps him resting just a little bit longer...

Wyatt got his first "bath" yesterday. His Dad wiped him clean with a washcloth and then proceeded to style his hair into a baby mohawk.

Some details...

2009-07-23T21:32:00.003-04:00

I just realized I haven't officially posted the birth details -
Edward Wyatt Yao Hamel was born on Saturday 7/18/09 weighing 7lbs 2 oz and measuring 19 inches. He was delivered by cesarean section since it was determined the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. We are pleased that he is with us!

The latest baby news

2009-07-21T09:19:00.002-04:00

Well, Wyatt Edward Yao Hamel (and Mom) were released from the Hospital yesterday around 2pm. So we spent the third night at home which was nice - no interruptions from the hospital staff at home ;)

The pugs are only semi interested in him - they each are reacting differently to the new member of the household. (Paris is so cute to watch as she tries to figure out the crying) Dad has been very helpful both at the hospital and at home. We're thankful that he has this week off so he can help out. There's already a list of things for him to do for today (errands, etc).

So far so good!

Wyatt has arrived!

2009-07-18T20:43:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday, Wyatt! Details to come, but here are some pics!

39 weeks and still waiting

2009-07-12T20:54:00.003-04:00

Yes, no Wyatt yet...I'm officially 39 weeks and 1 day along in my pregnancy. AND, I honestly don't feel any different than I did 2 weeks ago. I have another appointment this Tuesday so perhaps I'll get some encouraging news that day. We are ready to meet Wyatt! The calendar is wide open!

Wyatt's room and 38 week pics

2009-07-05T21:45:00.007-04:00

Well, Mom (Nana) and Dad (Kong Kong) have been busy trying to add some finishing touches on Wyatt's room before he arrives. Together they made the window treatments for his room. The fabric she found matches the border in the room perfectly. I think it looks great. Here are some pictures of his room.

You can see part of the border here along with his crib, his cubbies that hold his clothes and some toys and the blanket that Grandma (Caleb's Mom) made, hanging on the wall.

Here is the view when you walk into the room. You can see the rocker, CD player for some soothing music and the little blue container on the bed has all of the diaper changing supplies.

And here are some of the latest pictures of the baby belly...these are taken at 38 weeks!

My poor vegetable garden did not seem to make it this year...I've said my good byes to the garden this year...I'll try again next year. BUT, some of my other plants are doing well - the ponytail palms I have in the front of the house and my jade plant look great. AND, I have two plumeria stalks that I planted that are now rooted and have a lot of leaf growth already. I did plant some lychee seeds recently and they've just sprouted but I'm not sure if they'll keep growing. This is my second time around trying to get a plant from some lychee seeds.

One of my ponytail palms from the front of the house.

My jade plant (there is another succulent plant in there too but the jade takes up the majority of the pot).

Pregnancy Update

2009-07-01T20:17:00.002-04:00

I had another Doctor Appointment this past Tuesday - an ultrasound was done to see how big Wyatt might be so far. Being that I'm 37 weeks along right now it was MUCH more difficult to make out the different body part of Wyatt. He's just taking up so much room in my belly right now. BUT, from his measurements they estimate he's about 6 lbs right now. So, he's not the big boy we thought he might be! Unfortunately, Wyatt wasn't so cooperative with trying to take a picture so we did not get any photos to take home. We're scheduled for yet another appointment this Tuesday...if I make it that long, of course!!

Testing out the new camera

2009-06-22T17:12:00.004-04:00

Caleb has a new toy - Nikon D5000. Here are some shots taken with the camera below...

35 weeks

2009-06-17T14:33:00.002-04:00

35 weeks...and still growing! Caleb took this picture of me two days ago...little Wyatt is growing...the anticipation is almost too much! Last night we (yes, husbands were encouraged to attend) a Breastfeeding class that the Hospital offered. WOW - there is a lot to learn about breastfeeding. Breastmilk is amazing stuff. (Not to mention, free!) The istructor used the term, "Liquid Gold."

One project complete!

2009-06-07T21:11:00.002-04:00

One of the projects I was hoping to get done was completed today! I finished making a soft seat for the bench near the front door at the house and also made new liners for the baskets that fit beneath the bench. I'm pleased with how it turned out :)

Baby Shower

2009-06-07T20:47:00.005-04:00

I had a wonderful Baby Shower this Saturday! (The picture above is a diaper cake my Mom and Dad made - it's just too cute to take apart!!) It was so nice to have friends and family gather to get ready for Wyatt. Grandma Jean, Amy and Mom did such a great job transforming the house for the event and preparing a delicious buffet for everyone!! We played three games - guessing the name of a baby animal for the adult animal (example - did you know that a baby ferret is called a kit?? or that a baby penguin is a chick?), guess what's in the diaper (example - rattle, pacificer, etc), and a baby food taste test (yep, taste the baby food and try and guess what it is).

I also received some great gifts. I think Wyatt will be very well outfitted and should have everything he needs to be a happy baby!! Thank you to everyone who shared the special day with us. It was wonderful!!

Getting ready . . .

2009-06-03T20:52:00.004-04:00

Somehow I keep coming up with things in my mind that "need" to get done around the house. There are a few projects that I'd like to finish in the next week or so. A few involve trips to Joann Fabrics which means I need to keep my eyes open for coupons. Hopefully I'll get them done.

Dad helped plant a tree for Wyatt in the backyard on Sunday. It is a loquat tree so it will bear fruit in a few years. It was started from seed in the greenhouse a few years ago so it's a healthy plant. Here's what it will look like when it bears fruit: link

I've started doing my own version of aqua aerobics too. Moving too quickly or jerky movements has started to be a little painful in the belly area but swimming and moving around the pool is no problem at all. I use the water as resistance and try to focus on several different muscles. I figure at least it's better than nothing.

I went to a beautiful baby shower this past weekend too. A friend of mine, Jamie, is due just 3 weeks after me. She's having a little girl and the shower had a lovely garden theme and gorgeous decorations. It was such a fun shower - I think everyone there had a good time. And I'm so glad that Jamie was able to receive such nice gifts! Her daughter, Hannah, will be joining such a wonderful family!

So far so good...

2009-05-26T21:46:00.003-04:00

I had another doctor appointment today and everything is going just as planned. No problems what so ever. I've gained a total of 23 pounds since the start of the pregnancy which is right on track - they recommend 25- 40 pounds. I haven't been able to determine where little Wyatt is positioned (some people I talk to say they can tell by feeling around the belly) but the doctor we visited today said his head is down. Which means it may be his little butt that is jamming into my ribs. That was her guess anyhow.

So, upcoming visits - I have three booked for June - one two weeks away, another two weeks after that and then another one week after that. June 30th I will have another ultrasound. Since Caleb was a 10 lb 15 oz baby boy, they want to check the size of Wyatt, just to see if he's taking after his Dad.

1 year anniversary!

2009-05-25T20:49:00.000-04:00

It's so hard to believe that one year has already passed since we were married! We had a low key celebration - exchanged small gifts, went to Melting Pot for dinner and ate the top of the wedding cake! Surprisingly it was still very tasty :)

31 weeks and counting

2009-05-19T21:22:00.004-04:00

This weekend marked the 31 week point...and the point when I'm just going to have to get used to being uncomfortable. I really haven't felt too bad up until this weekend (and it continues...) I'm starting to get some swelling in my feet - for whatever reason it's always my left foot more so than my right foot. Back pain is present about 40-50% of the day right now and there are several times a day when it feels like there's a foreign object jabbing my lower ribs. Night seems to be the worst. I can no longer sleep on my right side, it feels painful and now, I actually do get light headed if I try to sleep on my back. So, I result to sleeping only on my left side since laying on my belly is just out of the question. But, all in all, still enjoying the experience! I figure I have somewhere between 7 - 9 more weeks to go!

Caleb and I traveled to South Carolina (with the pugs) very early on Friday morning and got back on Sunday - trip took about 8 hours in the car which wasn't too bad. The pugs were VERY good considering they were in the back of the car and going to a new place. We stayed at a hotel that accepted dogs so it worked out well. My friend, Jen, got married on Saturday and I was glad to have been part of her special day as a bridesmaid. The whole event was really nice - nothing but the best to Jen and David!! Here are a few pictures from the wedding.

This is from the rehearsal dinner - I must say I'm looking a little bit large...

Mother's Day

2009-05-11T18:54:00.003-04:00

Technically this was my first Mother's Day - I even got a rose at church like all the other Moms. We had a get together with Caleb's mother and mine on Sunday - first stopped over at my sister-in-law's home for a late lunch then met up with my mother at Seasons 52 for dinner. (yum!) Here are some pictures from after dinner . . . and a view at the ole belly at 30 weeks. (Honestly, I think the baby grew a pound overnight - today I just feel heavy!)

Mom to be and Grandmother to be!

30 weeks

Pictures!

2009-05-08T19:58:00.008-04:00

I've been neglecting to post some of the pictures I mentioned in earlier posts...so here's a post full of pictures ;)

These pictures are from 2 weekends ago when we had a picnic with Caleb's family at the park across the street. It was very windy that evening but it was a nice picnic dinner.

These are pictures from my Grandmother's 70th Surprise Birthday Party...after the initial surprise of family gathered for her birthday there was another surprise - a belly dancer!!

Dr. Results

2009-05-05T18:54:00.003-04:00

Well...the visit from the Doctor's office this past Tuesday went well - I had to have a diabetes test done (standard test done for everyone) which made our visit to the Doctor a little longer than normal. First, I had to drink a very sugary liquid, then wait an hour. During the hour wait we had our regular visit and spoke to the Doctor, listened to the heart beat and also got a pediatrician recommendation. When it was my time...I had to get my blood drawn for the test. This time it was done laying down, not sitting up, and I'm pleased to share that I did NOT pass out :) Caleb was glad about that too. And, today I checked back with the Doctor's office about the results and everything was fine. Hooray, no gestational diabetes!

After the Office visit Caleb and I went to the Hospital to pre-register and take a tour. Winnie Palmer is such a nice facility. We were able to see a birthing room, a mother/baby room and test out the cafeteria. The room that I will stay in has its own bathroom and a murphy bed for Caleb! The Hospital seems to really try and make the birthing experience as nice as possible for Mom and baby.

Updates on the pregnancy...still getting bigger...and I can tell that Wyatt is getting bigger too. He's starting to find some crevices in my belly that sometimes doesn't feel so great to me, but as long as he is comfortable...I figure I've got somewhere between 7-11 more weeks before he's here!

Computer - grr...

2009-04-26T21:32:00.002-04:00

Yes...we've still had computer/internet issues since I last thought they were fixed. BUT, thanks to my lovely husband - he has solved the computer issues and we are now back in business for good. So - later this week I hope to post some pictures from this family packed weekend! Friday we had family down from Indiana and Saturday we took a trip to Sarasota for a surprise birthday party for my Grandmother.

Tuesday of this week I have another check up so, more news about the pregnancy will be here soon!

Posting Lapse...but here are pictures!

2009-04-19T14:01:00.008-04:00

We'll we've been without internet use at the house for some time now...I'm using the computer at work right now to do some catching up with emails and a post. I should be back up to snuff at home by May 1st...but until then...

I wanted to share some pictures -

This is a shot of Caleb and I from the zoo a few weeks ago - they had an event at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, FL where you paid a flat price then could walk around and have food and drinks from different local vendors throughout the zoo. It was a really nice event - with 8 different food vendors (there was plenty to eat!). There was a wine/beer option too which I could not enjoy, but Caleb could. They had wine and beer at every station as well. So it was basically an all you can eat/drink for a flat price. Plus you got to visit the zoo and see the animals, etc. We went with Mom and Dad - great evening. This is a shot of us next to the cougar...although I think the cougar got cut out of the picture. Somehow Caleb seems to be losing weight as I am gaining...

There were also several place throughout the zoo where they had live music playing. Toward the end we found these adirondack chairs and sat down to listen to some music and chow down on more food.

Two Fridays ago Caleb's brother, and my brother in law, was on Spring Break so I took a day off from work and we all went down to Tampa, FL to the Aquarium. I don't think I've ever been there so it was nice to visit someplace new. Here are a few pictures from our adventure...

And, for no reason other than I love the pugs, here is a picture of the pugs! They are sitting on the bench I got from Keith this past Christmas.

Another visit

2009-04-02T19:59:00.000-04:00

Had another Doctor visit this past Tuesday...everything is going just as it needs. I've gained a whopping 25 lbs already though - that's about a pound a week. Yikes!

Wyatt's first gift from Mom and Dad

2009-03-22T19:15:00.004-04:00

Caleb and I went to the Altamonte Mall this Saturday and, on a whim, made a gift for Wyatt. (Caleb chose the clothes...but I would like to note that my vote was a Jaguar outfit).

There has been a lot of movement in my belly this weekend - he's getting more active, bigger and growing! Pregnancy is such a journey!

Vegetable update and Birthday pics

2009-03-15T17:35:00.008-04:00

Here's the latest pictures on the growing vegetable garden. A few weeks ago (when we had another freeze) I had to move all of the little seeds inside so they sat warm and cozy in the house for a few days.

They have since been moved out of their little growing cups and into larger containers. The original plan was to have the containers elevated to reduce the amount of bending when I'll be bigger, but that may not happen. So, the garden itself is not pretty to look at, but what is inside will be great ;) Just look past the mismatch of containers, etc. The zucchini and beans seem to be growing really fast. The rest are following behind - tomatoes, peppers, squash (and my watermelon just sprouted so that will move to a bigger area soon)!

The growing area (they have lids to try and keep out squirrels and raccoons)

Lettuce

Beans

Tomatoes

This past Saturday was Jackson's 2nd birthday...here are a few pictures from the fun!

Florida Girl

2009-03-11T20:21:00.003-04:00

I love the warm weather. Out with the cold in with the warmth. If I had my way I'd have the windows open more often and the air conditioning set to 78 degrees when it got REALLY hot in the summer. But, a compromise has been made since I don't live alone...which works out well because then I get to get more use out of the porch.

Caleb and I have been attending a Parenting Group based on the book, "Shepherding a Child's Heart" by Tedd Tripp. Parenting looks to be one of the most difficult things that both of us will start in just a few months. As we discuss the book and listen to other parents in the group it is a little overwhelming to say the least. Both of us agree that this book has done a great deal to encourage discussion between us and start talking about our parenting role. Even though I think we are taking the class a little prematurely (everyone else already has children) I am thankful for the discussion and feedback that develops. Hopefully we'll be able to apply it all when necessary!

P.S. My vegetables are growing nicely...I've moved most of them to a larger growing container already. I'll post some pictures this weekend.

2nd Ultrasound Pictures

2009-03-03T18:40:00.006-05:00

Caleb and I had another appointment today for the little one! Amy and Mom came along for the "big show." So now we know it is a little boy, he was moving around so much this morning as we were watching him on the screen. Today he had a healthy heartbeat of 162 and weighs about 14 oz. We saw his kidneys (2 of them), legs, feet, toes, brain, stomach, heart, skull, hands, arms and the umbilical cord. It seemed so surreal as we were watching this little human moving all around. I have yet to feel him move (surprisingly since he seemed quite active on the screen) but apparently my placenta is in front so it's an extra layer of padding. Below are some pictures of Wyatt Edward.

There are his two little feet (and his cute little toes)!

This is his side view, you can see his spine here.

Here's a picture of his whole body, the large thing on the left is one of his legs.

This is the view from the bottom of his butt. This is the shot they used to determine it was a little boy!

The weekend is over...

2009-03-02T18:27:00.005-05:00

But it was a news worthy weekend none the less.

When I got home on Thursday I had a package waiting for me! It was a gift from my pen pal, Becky! She had made a quilt for me (and the newborn). I love it...see pictures below. (In one picture you can see a bit of the front and the back and then a close up). She actually had the instructions for the quilt on her blog several weeks ago and I thought to myself, "What a cute quilt." Here is the *link* if anyone is interested.

Friday night (or early Saturday morning, take your pick), around 1:30am, Caleb discovered that the washing machine still have a full load of water sitting in the basin. It was not draining. AND, it would not respond to any turns of the dial. Basically whenever it got to the "drain" step in the cycle it just stopped. As he messed around with it, he eventually found some plastic piece that apparently had come from somewhere in the washer. By 2:30am he called it a night and would tackle it in the morning. And, true to his word, the next morning as I was a training, he was busy scooping all the water out, hauling out all of the soaking wet towels, taking apart the washing machine and then putting it back together. The best part of the whole story...it's fixed! Thanks, Caleb!

Saturday evening we visited the Brantley Fair to get out and walk around a bit. We found some good people watching there...not so nice carny workers...and delicious funnel cake :)

Sunday was a special day because Caleb accompanied me to Church and then after service to watch my water baptism. It was a VERY cool day here in Florida (windy too) but it was a wonderful afternoon anyway. The event took place at the house of a couple's home and when we arrived they had a wonderful lunch prepared. After lunch, we sang a few songs (with live guitar accompaniment-sp?) and had prayer then we all went outside to the pool area. There were a total of four people who were baptized on Sunday - one of which was in my first Life Group, so I was glad to have been there to witness her baptism. I was the last of four to be water baptized but didn't really mind waiting. Below are a few pictures from the event. I'm so glad that my sister and Caleb were there!

Updates around the house

2009-02-27T18:09:00.005-05:00

Caleb has figured out how the spa/hot tub works and has been enjoying it all week when he gets home from work. (Apparently it needed a new breaker??? Or something along those lines...) Right now I'm just putting my feet in. We don't have a thermometer to test the temperature of the water so I'll stay out for now. Most things I read recommend nothing higher than 100 degrees for the pregos. (That's Brantley in the picture)

I am excited to share that I ALREADY have some sprouts on the seeds I planted!! The lettuce has little sprouts and one of the cucumber sprouts just broke the top of the soil. I think that the beans are not far behind. It is so exciting to see and care for the plants. (And even better when the fruit or vegetable is ready to eat, but I need to wait for that.)

We have several trees in our front yard - three of which are a similar variety. I've been trying to figure out what kind it is though because it produces these beautiful bright yellow flowers. Right now the tree has no leaves, so that's no help, but I did go online and tried to find a flower that looked similar. I think it is a "Silver Trumpet Tree."
Here are pictures I took of the flowers and of the bud:

Here are links where I found info on the tree.
Link #1
Link #2
I'm pretty sure that's it. The bright yellow brightens up the front of the house a bit and I just love when I pull up to the driveway and I see yellow flowers scattered on the grass. It looks so peaceful.

First Pregnant Pic - 19 weeks

2009-02-22T19:56:00.002-05:00

I have had several friends who don't live near me right now ask what I look like now that I'm pregnant. Well, I'm right around 19 weeks and starting to show a little. I do have to wear the pregnant pants, my regular ones have gotten way too tight. I have been fortunate to have been the recipient of plenty of maternity clothes though. So I am set.

So for those who are wondering, here I am...thanks for taking the picture, Caleb! (P.S. I just finished eating dinner when the picture was taken so it might be a little skewed.)

Been behind on the posts

2009-02-22T19:24:00.004-05:00

This month has been a little sparse with the posts so I hope to bring everyone up to speed on the goings on around here.

I've started my vegetable garden, again. I actually started it a few weeks ago...but for different reasons they were ruined so I've tried again. I've decided to start everything from seed this year. Last year I started most things from a small plant I bought at the store, this is year is all seeds. So far I've got the following seeds planted: cucumber, zucchini, squash, tomato, string bean, lettuce and bell pepper. I hope to add watermelon to that list very soon. Since I've started everything by seed (and Caleb and I are only two people) I didn't use all the seeds I have, so if anyone is interested in some seeds for a garden, let me know! Here's a pic of my little seedlings. No sprouts yet!

I'm also pleased to share with all the joy I have with Christ in my life! It has been a great weekend for me which began on Thursday when I accompanied some of the girls from HighPoint
to a Joyce Meyer conference. It was there that I declared that I had accepted Christ in my life. Saturday, while doing my typical Saturday chores and such it gave me a chance to think, reflect and study a little more about my new path. And, this Sunday, the service at Church was just a reaffirmation that this is the right path. I have a lot ahead of me but I am so glad that I have the right focus now.

Caleb mentioned the other day that we have only a few more days left until we find out the sex of our baby! And that is so true...March 3rd will be the day! I am looking forward to that day (even though they will have to take more blood...) My sister and Mom are planning on joining us to that appointment so they'll be able to see the sonogram too. (Apparently my office encourages family members to participate)