tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83461014602016447072024-02-07T01:35:09.191-05:00Where the Air is SweetTheresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-16235180302491759422014-11-20T21:41:00.002-05:002014-11-20T21:41:34.741-05:00Let's say hello<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I just got a new phone, my first smartphone. I am so excited to be able to easily take pictures and share them. Hopefully, since the photos back up to the computer, this will make blogging more frequently a little easier for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My three little ones all playing together before bed makes my heart so happy. The girls were so happy to push Patch all around the house to keep him entertained. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We went to the library today and they say a rhyme, "Bread and butter, marmalade jam. Let's say hello as slowly as we can: heeeellllooo." There is a lot of clapping and Patch was getting really into it. He would sway his arms, sort of clap, and throw both hands on the ground and just laugh. I wish I had a video because it was amazing. So often he just seems like the sweet baby on my him, but he is growing up and I love discovering different parts to his personality.</span></div>
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<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-48790690810634427452014-10-23T21:25:00.001-04:002014-10-23T21:25:06.619-04:00Fall family photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I am loving our new family pictures! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can't believe how grown up our Elizabeth is. She is five years old now, and we started Kindergarten this fall. She is the sweetest helper and loves her siblings so much. We are trying to get used to calling her Lizzie per her request but she has such an Elizabeth face. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our family of five, casually standing near an old barn and looking like it's natural. I really loved the place that we took photos because of the old barn and an old house. Nice variety. These were taken by Meg Willerer (you can find her on fb) who is so nice and fun. My girls loved her and I want to be her friend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Oh. My. Favorite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our three year old wild child. Adelaide is commanded by her emotions. She feels all the feels and lets you know it. When she is sweet, she is so sweet. And you can guess the rest. She loves strong and we love her back just as fiercely. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This face. I can't even. This was taken while he was grouchy. He is just the sweetest thing, as long as he has his mommy (or sometimes Daddy.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We had a good time taking these photos except for all the mosquitos that were out at 9AM-ridiculous. Now I have to find a way to frame every one of them and stick them all over my house without seeming obsessive. Good luck to me. </span></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-55940903468120298112014-09-18T13:51:00.000-04:002014-09-18T13:51:15.409-04:00Patrick's birth story(I wrote this 5 months after Patch's birth. He is now 10.5 months old)<br />
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Warning: This is super long and mostly boring. I just wanted to write it out before the memories get too hazy. I also want to do this for the girls' births because I never wrote their stories, but let's start with the most recent.<br />
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My due date was at the end of October. Anywhere between the 22nd and the 31st. I think it was the 28th. I really wanted him to be born on the 28th because it is the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude. I am a big fan of St. Jude... but the 28th came and went with no baby coming out. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law were rubbing the pressure points in my feet an ankles on my birthday (the 26th) which they did just hours before I went into labor with Adelaide. My mother-in-law had given me a gift certificate for a prenatal massage a while before this, but I hadn't had it yet because of the craziness of our life, what with my Dad living with us and requiring a lot of care, the girls, and sharing one car. We made it happen on the 29th. The masseuse knew I really wanted this baby out, so he did everything in his power to help the situation. He even used this very sharp crystal stone thing to push on certain pressure points.<br />
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As I was going to bed around 11 or so, I felt a small pop. I thought, "hmm, I think my water just broke... but I'm not going to get up because I'm giant and tired, and if it did, then I only have 12 hours to get into active labor before I will have to be transferred to a hospital" (crunchy mom problems). I went to sleep and woke up just before 2 to go pee. A good bit of water gushed out, I went pee, and went to wake Patrick up. I knew that I needed to get labor going ASAP. He called his mom and she and my sister-in-law came over to be there for the girls. I walked around, squatted, bounced on a birthing ball, walked up and down stairs (we only have about 3 stairs lol), but nothing was helping. I was definitely contracting, but it wasn't consistent. Theresa! You should have slept!, you say. Yeah, I hear you, but I was thinking that I only had 12 hours to be in active labor and I didn't want to waste any of it. Plus, my contractions, while few and far between, hurt like heck. I tried laying down, but I couldn't sleep because the contractions hurt, and in between, I was worrying about when the next one would come.<br />
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Morning came, my in-laws took the girls all day and we called an aid to stay with my dad, and we headed to the midwife to see how things were going and to get IV antibiotics since my water broke and I'm GBS positive (every dang time). We were planning on another home-birth, but it worked out better for our midwife if we came to the office at this point since I wasn't in active labor anyway. When we got there, she didn't think my water had broken. It had stopped leaking much earlier. She said, "Maybe you peed yourself." Ummm, nope, sure didn't. I know because I peed right after it broke, very different feeling. What I can best figure is that it was a high leak and then the head came down and blocked any water from escaping. I was very torn about what to do; you would have to know me to really understand. I could either demand to be taken seriously about my water breaking, but that meant that I would end up in the hospital in a few short hours, or I could just say, "meh, maybe it didn't break," and go back home to wait it out. The answer would be obvious to most home-birthers, but you have to remember, I knew my water had broken, so I was nervous for my son. I didn't want him to have GBS disease because I could have prolonged rupture of membranes. We decided to wait it out, discussing that even if it was a high leak, it wasn't leaking now, and if the fluid couldn't come out, hopefully bacteria wouldn't go in. (Don't know how sound that logic is.) We walked around a local mall for a while, then went home and tried to nap. That didn't work, same reasons as before. We walked around the neighborhood. Many times. People who saw us knew what we were doing and wished us luck. Around 4 or 5 we went to Zaxby's because we were hungry. I had been having intense contractions on and off all day. Not super strong, but nothing to be ignored. At Zaxby's, they moved into a pattern of about 5 minutes apart. We finished up and went home thinking the party was finally starting.<br />
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Then they disappeared. They were as sporadic as ever. I was so tired and just wanted to sleep, but couldn't. I was afraid of another labor like with Elizabeth, where I pre-labored for days, literally, and couldn't sleep. My in-laws brought the girls back to sleep in their own beds and my mother-in-law stayed in case we needed her. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't do this forever, and I was considering going to the hospital because those epidural things were sounding mighty nice. We were watching The Voice (love it) and finally, around 10, I decided to take some CALM (magnesium supplement) to help me relax, hoping to get just a little sleep.<br />
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Then. of course. is when the contractions picked up. Every six or so minutes, then 5, then 4. We called the midwife and she was at the birth-center with another momma. She said she wouldn't make it to us so we had to go to her. We were very bummed, Patrick more so, because we had both of our girls at home and it is awesome. He wanted to try to wait, thinking maybe the midwife will finish in time. (He may have been joking but my sense of humor had left me by this point.) Patrick quickly got some things ready for the birth center, mainly just clothes for me and the baby after I gave birth. Then we hopped in the car (I use the term, 'hop,' lightly) and drove the 15 minutes to the birth center. Oh, and Patrick stopped at McDonald's for a drink because he was thirsty, I got some water. When we were leaving the McDonald's, the light would not turn green. He had to go right and make a u-turn. Whenever we pass that McDonald's, I think of that night (and we pass it a lot.)<br />
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The contractions were coming closer but were still bearable. They hurt, and I couldn't talk through them, but they weren't super bad... yet. When we got to the birth center around 12:30 or so, my midwife checked me and I was 8 centimeters. Score! I knew it would be soon. She put me in the small birthing room and started my IV. There was mention of filling the tub because I have always wanted to try to labor in a tub. For now, I stood at the end of the bed, holding on to the iron frame. Patrick was behind me on a birth ball, applying counter pressure and rubbing my back during every contraction, just like he always does for my labors.<br />
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The other woman in labor was getting close to giving birth. I could hear her vocalizing ever so slightly. Then the beautiful sound of the baby's cry. So amazing... for HER. That was the worst part of the birth center birth: hearing another mother give birth and the baby cry during my transition. It was over for her, but at its worst for me. The midwife had just enough time to make sure they were ok and come in my room to say, "I think we are ready to have a baby." My water fully broke all over Patrick's legs. Remember how he was sitting behind me? Ooops. She took out my IV and said, "I'm fine if you want to stay here." Music to my ears! She did not make me lay down so she could check me, she knew I was complete by my freaking out and yelling and saying," I can't do this, " "Get him out, he has to come out!" etc. I felt bad for the other mother because she got to hear me be loud and in pain while she was bonding with her baby, but she probably didn't care. She probably thought, "Wow, I hope I didn't sound like that!" Don't worry lady, you didn't.<br />
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So back to where I was: standing at the end of the bed clutching the metal foot frame and pushing, now, with everything in me. I don't know how long I pushed, but I'm guessing maybe 5 minutes. Then came the most amazing feeling. That swooshing moment when the whole baby glides out and there is immediate relief from the tortuous pain you have been feeling. Then we had to sort of waddle to the bed and lay down. He was born at 1:45AM on October 30, over 24 hours from the time I originally felt the pop, but less than 4 hours from the time that the contractions became consistent and only just over one hour from when we got to the birth center. Patrick was surprised because he didn't think it would be quite so fast at the end. I guess I can try the birth tub next time.<br />
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The midwife cut the cord. That kind of stuff grosses Patrick out. I think he may have cut Elizabeth's cord, but that was probably it. I just lay there looking at my little man saying, "I can't believe he's here!" over and over. When he came out, the midwife and assistant were saying how big he was. He looked small to me because I hadn't been holding any little nuggets recently. He was 9 lbs 6 oz. A full pound bigger than Adelaide who was 6 oz. bigger than Elizabeth. He was so cute. It took him a minute to latch on, but when he did, he didn't want to let go. I love those first few moments when I get to look at the child that has been inhabiting my body for the past nine months. "It was you in there!" After a while, Patrick held little Patrick while I showered and got dressed. The birth assistant washed my clothes from birth and gave them back clean. I really didn't mind the birth center birth as much as I thought I would. People say that once you have a home birth, it is really hard to do it anywhere else. I really liked the birth center though, except for hearing the other lady. I wasn't worried about waking any children, and we didn't have any mess to clean up at home, but we did have to drive home. We loaded ourselves and our stuff into the car and made it back home around 5AM.<br />
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My mother-in-law was awake and held Patrick while we slept for a couple of hours. I insisted that I wake up before the girls saw him. We got up at around 7 and let the girls come out of their rooms to meet their baby brother. That must be so awesome to go to sleep one night with a pregnant momma and wake up to see your baby brother. They were so so excited. They wanted to hold him and love him. We just hung out most of the day. I should have slept. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law were over to help, but for whatever reason, I didn't sleep. I did go to bed early though. My poor mom was really sick with some kind of cold, so she came over only for a short while, wore a mask, and didn't hold the baby. My dad was mad for a minute because the lady who comes to help him told him about the baby before we did. She walked in and saw the baby and was amazed because she had just seen me the night before still very pregnant, and I was already home with him. Amazing! So she went in my dad's room and mentioned it to him, but we hadn't been back there yet because we had just woken up when she got there.<br />
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It is hard to call him Patrick. We debated a lot about what we would call him. He is the third Roy Patrick in the family. I didn't want to call him Roy. We talked about calling him Roy Patrick all together, but it doesn't roll of the tongue very easily. We talked about nicknames; Red, Patch, Trey, Trip, Tres. Even after he was born, we still hadn't decided. I was talking to a friend and said that of all the names, I like just Patrick best, but it's hard because we already have Patrick, and my dad's name is Patrick. She said, "If you like it, just call him Patrick." We can figure out the confusion later. So we did call him that, but I am sitting here 5 months later and it still doesn't feel like his name. We call him Patch sometimes and I like that, but nothing seems quite right. I know it will happen in time, I just thought it would feel more normal now.<br />
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He is so sweet, so adorable, and so loved. We all love him so much. It is hard to believe he has only been here for 5 months, but time is also flying, and it's hard to believe that it has already been almost half a year since he was born. Welcome to the world, Patrick! It's a better place because you are here.<br />
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This is a more recent picture of him since I wrote this post and waited many months to publish it. He is 10.5 months old. I can't believe he is almost a whole year old!<br />
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Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-20199632325434797492014-09-07T16:32:00.001-04:002014-09-07T16:32:30.497-04:00I'm back, I thinkWell, it's been a long time. I recently went back and read some of my blog posts from a couple of years ago. A good portion of the things I blogged about, I had completely or mostly forgotten. I really want to post semi-regularly just so that I can look back and read about what my life was like when my children were young. I want them to be able to read it and see how loved they were/are. I guess, what I mean to say is, I'm back and hopefully for a long time. I don't want this blog to take away from my life, but to enhance it. To force me to look at the day to day as something worth remembering. We'll see how long I can work this into my crazy life... and I don't even know where to start.<br />
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Since my last post, I found out I was pregnant, and had a boy in October of last year. We bought a house with my dad and moved in together so that I could care for him last August/September. (He is bedridden due to many years of MS.) We will be starting to homeschool officially tomorrow. Elizabeth is five and starting kindergarten. She could not be more excited. That is life now, in a nutshell. We have a lot going on, so why not add blogging back into the mix? Oh, and we have a dog. good grief.Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-23941852939321327852012-12-03T14:57:00.001-05:002012-12-03T14:57:23.941-05:00A day at the park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These pictures are from a spontaneous park trip after going to an Arts/Farmer's market a couple of months ago with my mom. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We walked from the market which is held under a bridge by the river, to a nearby park. The girls had a blast even though there were no swings or slides here. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I can remember coming to this same park when I was 11 weeks pregnant with Elizabeth on my 21st birthday. Patrick and I had gotten bagels from Einstein's (their onion and chive cream cheese is so good) and ate them together under an old tree on a bench. It is fun to see my girls playing together here. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the far background of this picture, there are some people having a picnic. There was a little girl around Elizabeth's age, so she had to crash. It is so sweet seeing her make friends.</span></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-8201022585470766482012-12-03T14:52:00.000-05:002012-12-03T14:52:22.802-05:00Ballet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6Bo0dlPvOZh_VE-7ZM8DsXGf6m6Nz3IEFOWhTX6zmpbe21K1ImH0c3fejCvlYxAFzJ-pMUaWXg6MUtSvmKJh0Id460bFtMBy9TlNL6DsQtytqov5UOz8OEtC2EMa0ml2hopO_eltlmY/s1600/IMG_4333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6Bo0dlPvOZh_VE-7ZM8DsXGf6m6Nz3IEFOWhTX6zmpbe21K1ImH0c3fejCvlYxAFzJ-pMUaWXg6MUtSvmKJh0Id460bFtMBy9TlNL6DsQtytqov5UOz8OEtC2EMa0ml2hopO_eltlmY/s320/IMG_4333.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At the end of August, Elizabeth started a ballet/tap class. We were both a little nervous on her first day, but she did really well. No tears. She had a really good time. Other weeks, however, there has been crying. For over a month, she would freak out every week before we left for ballet. She would cry and give me all sorts of silly reasons why she didn't want to go. She didn't want to wear her tights or leotard. She didn't like to brush back in her tap shoes because she felt like she would fall over. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">If she could give me a good reason why she didn't want to do it, I wouldn't have continued to make her go. After every class, she would come out smiling. I would ask if she had fun, and she would tell me that she did indeed have fun. She said she wouldn't fight it the next week, but she still did. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's December now, and she usually doesn't fight it anymore. She has friends in her class and she wishes it was Monday a lot so she could go to ballet. </span></div>
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<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-16166848028483946802012-09-30T22:07:00.001-04:002012-09-30T22:07:19.120-04:00Choking<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today was scary. I know I recently posted about a couple of close calls with Elizabeth. Things that could have turned out so badly but didn't. Today we had another. Tell me that other parents have these, too. We can't be alone in this. Elizabeth and Adelaide were having a snack of strawberries and blueberries at the table today. I was in the kitchen, about to swap a load of laundry, when I heard Patrick ask Elizabeth if she was okay. Her back was to me, but I could tell she wasn't. She was choking. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The girls have choked before, a little. I have had to remove Elizabeth from her high chair when she was younger, turn her over and pat her back hard. That was always the extent of it. She was fine after that. I actually felt relatively calm about choking, but I had never really experienced full. on. choking. She could not breathe. Patrick and I took turns holding her and banging on her back. I reached in her mouth, but didn't feel anything. I am always afraid of that part though, because I don't want to push anything farther down. Patrick was doing the heimlich on her. Her body was trying to get it out. Little pieces of strawberry were coming out, and she was sort of trying to throw up. She was panicking. I was freaking out. I yelled to Patrick that she was turning blue. I was debating whether or not to call 911. He put his finger down her throat, did a sweep and pulled out a big hunk of strawberry. That did it. He put her down in my lap and went to sit in a chair in the living room. All of this happened in the span of less than a minute. Patrick thinks it was less than 30 seconds, but I think it was a little longer. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was shaking and holding her. After a couple of seconds, she sat up and told me, "I thought I was never going to breathe again." I thought the same thing. It was terrifying. A stupid strawberry not fully chewed almost brought down my beautiful 3 year old today. I am so grateful that my husband was there, that he was so in control of the situation. Honestly, if it were just me today, I don't know if our ending would have been as good. What if I hadn't even noticed her choking because of the laundry? What if I couldn't get enough control to get the job done? I don't want to think about the guilt and pain of what could have happened, but it keeps coming back to me. I am so grateful tonight for my two healthy girls and one strong husband. </span>Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-66037767192135457982012-09-07T06:15:00.000-04:002012-09-07T06:15:01.815-04:00What happens when your husband is away.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So my husband went to an Austrian Economics study student conference thingy for a week at the end of July. I missed him, but my mom came and stayed with us (she doesn't live far, but I don't like being without another adult at night... don't judge). If you know my mom, you know that where she is, things get done. Like the hutch that we meant to paint for a long time. Ta-da.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The garden that we had been meaning to plant. Shazam!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We also went to the beach, to Adventure Landing (a water park), and the downtown library. We had so much fun, but by the end... I was ready for my honey to come back, and my mom was definitely ready to be home. She didn't sleep well here, (thanks upstairs neighbors) and she was getting grumpy... but we did have fun!</span></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-11687249020756613622012-09-07T06:09:00.002-04:002012-09-07T06:09:32.960-04:00It happened.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A ponytail. It's amazing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It didn't last.</span></div>
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<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-59674160312958589842012-09-07T06:01:00.000-04:002012-09-07T06:01:22.970-04:00Our godson!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Isn't he the sweetest?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Clearly, Elizabeth thinks so. She reminds me of me as a child. I wanted to hold any baby any time, and she is the same way.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She gets a little upset when I try to help, but it's for the safety of whichever little blessing she is gripping/squeezing/holding.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is our third godson. The first two are the twin sons of my best friend. They became our godchildren the first year we were married and remained our only godchildren until little Maximilian, pictured above. Apparently we make girl ourselves, but only get godsons. I love being asked to be a godparent. It is such a privilege and a hard decision. You are asking these people to be a part of your life for the rest of it. To be there for your child even if only to pray- the most important part. Thanks for asking us, friends.</span></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-57700951035615961252012-09-07T05:49:00.001-04:002012-09-07T05:49:11.786-04:00Date night<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Date night. How amazing are those two words? I'll tell you: SO AMAZING! we had our first date night... maybe ever- in July. My in-laws came over to watch the girls, and we went to dinner at Outback and to the movies to see The Amazing Spiderman (which was awesome). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is soooooooo nice to go to a restaurant and be able to sit and eat and talk and take as long you want. It's nice to go to a movie and not have to worry about keeping a baby or toddler quiet. It's nice to be able to give my undivided attention to my husband for a little while and talk and joke and laugh. It's nice to help remember why I chose him to be with for the rest of my life. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">More often, I say! More date nights! Luckily, we have no shortage of people willing to watch our little boogers. My mom or my husbands parents or siblings... maybe we should call someone up this weekend...</span></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-67263912312698563302012-09-07T05:42:00.002-04:002012-09-07T05:42:37.457-04:00Friends and godparents<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the middle of July, we had two extra children for a few days. We were asked to be godparents for our close friends' new baby. Oh so much excitement! While they were in the hospital, we watched their older boys, so for a couple of days, I had a 5-year-old, 4-year-old, 3-year-old, and 1-year-old. It was busy, but fun. In some ways, having more is easier because they entertain each other really well. In other ways, like the mess-oh the mess, it's harder. We went to the zoo while they stayed with us because I wanted them to have fun and they really missed their parents. Don't worry, I brought my brother-in-law and sister-in-law to help me. It was good though, and the boys told their parents they had fun with us. They also told them that they were left here too long!</span></div>
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<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-43620242371214671672012-08-08T13:54:00.000-04:002012-08-08T13:54:10.183-04:00A couple of close callsI was reading a story about a pit bull attacking another pit bull today. The mean dog went for the other's throat and caused some damage. It wanted to fight. It could have killed the other dog had someone not stepped in.<br />
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Last week, Elizabeth and I went outside to water her plants that we planted when my mom stayed with us for a week while Patrick was out of town. I ran back in to fill up the watering can again and heard Elizabeth screaming out of terror. I can see from the kitchen all the way past the patio into outside but our couch is right in front of the sliding glass door. I ran outside to find a pit bull in her face. All over her face. I grabbed her and brought her onto the (closed in) patio where I realized that there was no blood, no marks, no pain. The dog had been licking her. Praise God. I don't generally see dogs without leashes in our neighborhood. Pit bulls aren't even allowed here. This one had chewed through his rope and I don't know where he was from. Since it was so hot out and he didn't eat my daughter, I gave him some water. I had to water the plants for a few days by myself. Now, she will do it, but if the water has to be refilled, she waits on the patio.<br />
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But I'm not done. This post is called, "A couple of close calls."<br />
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We went to a new friend's house to go swimming with some other friends as a last hurrah before the one friend went back to teaching this fall. I could not go swimming for girly reasons, but I let Elizabeth go in with everyone wearing her puddle jumper floaty. She was having fun and doing fine. We all got out to eat some lunch. I took her floaty off so she could eat comfortably. When she was done, she kept walking over to the pool. She was wearing her crocs and thought it was fun to walk along the edge just in the water. I kept telling her that she needed to stay away from the pool because there was no one in it and we weren't paying enough attention for her to go swimming. She came back every time I asked her to, but she kept making her way to the water. I was sitting in a chair with a sleeping Adelaide on my lap when I noticed it. Her head bobbing up and down in the water. Thankfully, I had read a post on what drowning looks like, so I recognized it. (Although I would have gotten her out of the water regardless, because she wasn't supposed to be in it.) I got up, fully clothed and carrying poor sleeping Adelaide and walked into the water to pluck Elizabeth out. She was fine. She wasn't even coughing because she had been holding her breath. It was terrifying. The other moms were freaked out too. I am so grateful that I was sitting in the chair I was. So thankful that I looked up and into the pool. So glad that I had prayed that very morning for help keeping my girls safe because I have heard too often how dangerous pools can be.<br />
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The next morning Elizabeth apologized for going into the water alone. I think she realized, at least a tiny bit, how serious it was. We are starting swimming lessons on Thursday. I know they won't be magic, but I figure that they can't hurt. I was talking to Patrick who wasn't very freaked out, presumably because he didn't see it. I told him that I realize there are a ton of ways that your child could die any day... but that day I saw a specific way. I saw the potential... I don't want to see it again.Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-77501935885434917192012-07-23T20:20:00.000-04:002012-07-23T20:21:15.216-04:00Dress Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Isn't she gorgeous?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A couple of months ago, Elizabeth and I went through the costume jewelry collection my godmother passed down to me when it became clear that she would be the mother to a son and not a daughter. Most of it is awesome earrings that Elizabeth can't wear without pierced ears. But we managed to put on mostly everything else. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I love how interested she was in every little ziploc bag I opened. I love knowing that I did this when I was little with my godmother. I love that my daughter and I dressed up with the same jewelry. </span></div>
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<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-88066786941828800242012-07-23T08:29:00.001-04:002012-07-23T20:14:09.341-04:00A sweet girlWe try to go to Mass daily.<br />
The other day, we were taking our car into the shop early, and we weren't going to Mass. When Elizabeth found out, she was not pleased.<br />
She told me, "Jesus will be sad if I don't go to Mass."<br />
"Oh, I'm sure He will be sad."<br />
"And I will be sad, too."<br />
With that... my heart melted.<br />
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-1798458631241517002012-07-04T20:07:00.000-04:002012-07-04T20:07:00.673-04:00Another Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We have another baby. She is our first baby, and her birthday just passed. To celebrate it and mark the occasion, we brought flowers to her grave. We lost her at 9 weeks 2 days. It was a miscarriage early in our marriage. We were renting a condo and didn't know what we were going to do with her little body. My in-laws knew of a cemetery where they have a garden of innocence for any baby lost before 2 years old. They buried Felicity there, and we just recently got her a stone.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It is important to us that the girls know about their sister in heaven.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There was another family there whose daughter had the same birthday. Her name is Maggie. They took our picture all together. This is the first one we have like this of all of us.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The other family also brought cupcakes and balloons. They gave Elizabeth a cupcake and a balloon. We left the balloon for Felicity. Their daughter had only been gone a year... I was very touched that they went out of their way to give to us. I appreciate it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy birthday Felicity. We love you.</span></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-51039813972821335362012-07-03T19:53:00.004-04:002012-07-03T20:18:37.792-04:00She is one!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It happened today... sooner than anyone expected. Our little Adelaide turned one. One year ago... I was in pain, I was in labor, I was exhausted, I was ready to meet my baby. One year ago... I held her for the first time, I told her she was funny looking (I will only say this because she is beautiful... if I still thought it, I would keep it to myself), I nursed her, I snuggled her, I loved her face to face.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is the same dress that Elizabeth wore for her first birthday. (see below)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIl0E4tsPuSZnol2SvCRZYyj3jbt1FQ-h196FE34GSOQEp8QnJ2MKlwZZg_jjgWZ83JRCLPjz5iAgmWCv_UI5Lk9F6yH7n086ZCWp3kIpeiSVd2O4qpG_sTRoeRLrg0DwXYBqtLqPCh64/s1600/IMG_4168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIl0E4tsPuSZnol2SvCRZYyj3jbt1FQ-h196FE34GSOQEp8QnJ2MKlwZZg_jjgWZ83JRCLPjz5iAgmWCv_UI5Lk9F6yH7n086ZCWp3kIpeiSVd2O4qpG_sTRoeRLrg0DwXYBqtLqPCh64/s320/IMG_4168.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She got a big kick out of the tissue paper... it took a while to get her to move past it into the present.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ch7iudXhOdRKEOKj_vg96n55uzvy_Tl0YaRI7pxjHeXp77tYUTx_Rm86PZUmYaITKFMcsEgQryhP_s_3vYVPPvjsocAqn7f-hM4zIh_hSqiXSvIJchfbjoV5TAPvcdvfiL69e160YIg/s1600/IMG_4177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ch7iudXhOdRKEOKj_vg96n55uzvy_Tl0YaRI7pxjHeXp77tYUTx_Rm86PZUmYaITKFMcsEgQryhP_s_3vYVPPvjsocAqn7f-hM4zIh_hSqiXSvIJchfbjoV5TAPvcdvfiL69e160YIg/s320/IMG_4177.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are going to have a small party on Saturday to celebrate our Adelaide... but it was important that today be just a little special.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc9V-NSih8zWJtD7SU-lVfxwio8V4uh3h0wbQXPLDFgyc_1NpqBwy59vmTwJICx-AsmDjJJjnu2QR5qWcOfKRnLZaq1MLRHlJsx5L55HqMPCgAnIEw7ZvQun8eVvLTCpsWQWZCILve4A/s1600/IMG_4178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc9V-NSih8zWJtD7SU-lVfxwio8V4uh3h0wbQXPLDFgyc_1NpqBwy59vmTwJICx-AsmDjJJjnu2QR5qWcOfKRnLZaq1MLRHlJsx5L55HqMPCgAnIEw7ZvQun8eVvLTCpsWQWZCILve4A/s320/IMG_4178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Patrick took the day off and we went to Mass this morning together. Happy feast of St. Thomas, by the way. We opened her present from us. We decorated the house with streamers and a banner. In the afternoon, we went swimming in the pool by the pond. We made dinner and prayed the rosary. We gave the girls a bath and now our precious one year old is sleeping: worn out after a hopefully wonderful birthday.</span></div>Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-3034934146697613722012-06-27T13:54:00.001-04:002012-06-27T13:54:17.356-04:00Confirmation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLwi44ymQCkc8eKCzX4bV4ygM73TjIKzQmDtMhJpouBIqWLONneJhyphenhyphen_tZpdMs8708IZjhGc0XMeC941-toZ5iG9GuSAyoltsnFoLgH3aLz-NOootcEMsS9rliRhyvdHm9la0MGPo6_KA/s1600/IMG_4039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLwi44ymQCkc8eKCzX4bV4ygM73TjIKzQmDtMhJpouBIqWLONneJhyphenhyphen_tZpdMs8708IZjhGc0XMeC941-toZ5iG9GuSAyoltsnFoLgH3aLz-NOootcEMsS9rliRhyvdHm9la0MGPo6_KA/s320/IMG_4039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A little over a month ago, Patrick and I were both sponsors for Confirmation. 4 years ago we were also both sponsors for his sisters. This time Patrick was asked by his brother, and he felt pretty special. He was a little let down when I too was asked to be a sponsor by the daughter of friends of our family. Again we were both sponsors and we were excited. It is amazing how much easier it is to pay attention at Mass when you sit near the front without any kids. My sponsee picked the name Agnes, and the Bishop read part of her letter aloud! I was so proud of her for choosing such an awesome Saint. Neil also chose an awesome Saint with a cool name: Sebastian. Congrats to our new adults in the Church!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImx-NlKuXR0Qs7RMWRUy6MY-y8GaSgufcWFNcfnnW192sQmXHjeicDbMv2kpxEzvczCcZ8BDYJJanzXdin4Srxc3H_0t8MJej5WSCmX8P4AQizbIqX0mIgH5nK02-zUWnlPBHz9uS78k/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgImx-NlKuXR0Qs7RMWRUy6MY-y8GaSgufcWFNcfnnW192sQmXHjeicDbMv2kpxEzvczCcZ8BDYJJanzXdin4Srxc3H_0t8MJej5WSCmX8P4AQizbIqX0mIgH5nK02-zUWnlPBHz9uS78k/s320/IMG_4041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-60244073412422085992012-06-27T13:49:00.001-04:002012-06-27T13:49:17.496-04:00Happy father's day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbC8_54l-AcNrFPaSCyMWpN12w7kxOk4Ew5_brio_TrtbeY0NiSvFQOGNswohPI4VIwcLi00waRFcllC83gapmQUItgVKyBzIwwBj5emWFN30KFkiPnL3eypLG3gWpIhGOSRiUB0bL68M/s1600/IMG_4116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbC8_54l-AcNrFPaSCyMWpN12w7kxOk4Ew5_brio_TrtbeY0NiSvFQOGNswohPI4VIwcLi00waRFcllC83gapmQUItgVKyBzIwwBj5emWFN30KFkiPnL3eypLG3gWpIhGOSRiUB0bL68M/s320/IMG_4116.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is one of the first father's days that I actually tried to make something special. We usually don't do much for mother's/father's day for each other, but this year (and from now on), I really wanted to do something cute/fun.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaw2slzQN19uQUMobD8P5nTbHogkQBYDA1KkN70GjcpGCm2ey-Puf6SNOY1Ac3Eex0Ue1zXiBHDsNTRSQ0bA8KNnl8ZQ5-5xsXcj6dT4H1URwLAOAwYjt1rwUvQC6KoE9diE-n_kCieCw/s1600/IMG_4119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaw2slzQN19uQUMobD8P5nTbHogkQBYDA1KkN70GjcpGCm2ey-Puf6SNOY1Ac3Eex0Ue1zXiBHDsNTRSQ0bA8KNnl8ZQ5-5xsXcj6dT4H1URwLAOAwYjt1rwUvQC6KoE9diE-n_kCieCw/s320/IMG_4119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know if you can tell, but in the first picture, you see the tie we traced handprints on for Daddy. I traced the girls hands on construction paper, then traced the paper hands with glitter puffy fabric paint onto the ties. We did two: one for Daddy and a red one for Papa. I got the idea from Pinterest (duh), but changed it a little to make it better (easier). Then we glued the paper hands to a card that Elizabeth drew.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HxgrNzWGfgOJhpOT5w2oZjz1oA4rB_GZEdZKwaKd5Jn6nbIpOKnaK-wVfxTXHrO77opck7wtBHEu0eXRK5xvOYpJNLXe6BCz6SyMup1I9ADU3tc4EymwPngyMJU6CEAyAWeD090y79k/s1600/IMG_4120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HxgrNzWGfgOJhpOT5w2oZjz1oA4rB_GZEdZKwaKd5Jn6nbIpOKnaK-wVfxTXHrO77opck7wtBHEu0eXRK5xvOYpJNLXe6BCz6SyMup1I9ADU3tc4EymwPngyMJU6CEAyAWeD090y79k/s320/IMG_4120.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Inside the card we wrote reasons why the girls love him. Elizabeth helped me come up with her list. I loved the last one, "because he says prayers." She came up with that one on her own. So sweet. Her other reasons included, "because he's my daddy, he makes up stories and songs, he snuggles with me, he's a mean bear sometimes, and he builds tents. Adelaide's list was guesswork. I used things that Daddy does that make her laugh/smile. "He kisses a lot, he lets me play with his badge and phone (I was later corrected because he does let her play with his phone!), he crawls away and hides from me."</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKS17PSV27A-sOx21wCQHRVrgCAIoU8uLw8Ag5Bm9tyKfAkYOdLu-P4dcy4OGlWK2vhcAGNAtg1Rr85OA8F1G47FP9Y38_JtIVyGvaHkxTcW1jGDJ5r5TramW4X54_n6TchFjcJMM7Ks/s1600/IMG_4121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKS17PSV27A-sOx21wCQHRVrgCAIoU8uLw8Ag5Bm9tyKfAkYOdLu-P4dcy4OGlWK2vhcAGNAtg1Rr85OA8F1G47FP9Y38_JtIVyGvaHkxTcW1jGDJ5r5TramW4X54_n6TchFjcJMM7Ks/s320/IMG_4121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I love this picture. I love these people. Happy Father's day to my honey.</span></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-84850069038947308682012-06-16T07:09:00.001-04:002012-06-16T07:09:42.737-04:00Family!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3EhR1a4OdlKz_uzSUxFZ01j_HuAtWbQKPCPf_3hDLOf79LQRSL8Rz850-0nkcpcqqPzbyG3Bt-b1xLB2nvInp1nsnPkcrVX_kTsy5qXl7fOmIJSMGnHkGMhYyp0Df4SgpPG2yUrqDZI/s1600/IMG_4001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3EhR1a4OdlKz_uzSUxFZ01j_HuAtWbQKPCPf_3hDLOf79LQRSL8Rz850-0nkcpcqqPzbyG3Bt-b1xLB2nvInp1nsnPkcrVX_kTsy5qXl7fOmIJSMGnHkGMhYyp0Df4SgpPG2yUrqDZI/s320/IMG_4001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is the girls with my cousin, Dylan.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUXGbbrol_fZnuhrWPypSYgZYRfOY_DIITTXjdoYgBLnhdKl0ytrdH6s0t9mILyb8xCWQK0iu-l1VwQqEsVoEGYueCnO4eVbangWCq8UMRSvE-kPNy7xYYOz4_NoRYEhim9w6TniOp0Y/s1600/IMG_4004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUXGbbrol_fZnuhrWPypSYgZYRfOY_DIITTXjdoYgBLnhdKl0ytrdH6s0t9mILyb8xCWQK0iu-l1VwQqEsVoEGYueCnO4eVbangWCq8UMRSvE-kPNy7xYYOz4_NoRYEhim9w6TniOp0Y/s320/IMG_4004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This was my dad and Elizabeth watching Finding Nemo. She only watched for a few minutes, there was too much playing that needed to happen.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWxSASIITWMdNO2688lOY6E7DTChIkbABDRbZOPB4evV740mg0mUUxWUxg43wPNBKFWBAoYv74aG-h3VtEAJ8AAyvW_xpZ9dKppsoGlRF4JD8029DXdA77qqIAcdmRWOnke6TO7cu0Wo/s1600/IMG_4007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWxSASIITWMdNO2688lOY6E7DTChIkbABDRbZOPB4evV740mg0mUUxWUxg43wPNBKFWBAoYv74aG-h3VtEAJ8AAyvW_xpZ9dKppsoGlRF4JD8029DXdA77qqIAcdmRWOnke6TO7cu0Wo/s320/IMG_4007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My Aunt Patty holding Adelaide. It looks like Adelaide liked her.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO7ea2P9jwfm3JOgl1uR6_FE6r8sPJ8hTUY23NuR6-9btQBrXD_-UyU8uoPrX40llDo2iDdaH7xxRVNrJsH_MiKAQC_ZnARJ8MeImbFzBT05OK1xoq4ia48xRle5JIF2nLxR4giT1rOU/s1600/IMG_4008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghO7ea2P9jwfm3JOgl1uR6_FE6r8sPJ8hTUY23NuR6-9btQBrXD_-UyU8uoPrX40llDo2iDdaH7xxRVNrJsH_MiKAQC_ZnARJ8MeImbFzBT05OK1xoq4ia48xRle5JIF2nLxR4giT1rOU/s320/IMG_4008.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is Taylor and apparently this is the first time she ever held a baby.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They had so much fun together. Taylor was so good with Elizabeth.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My Aunt Kathy from California is</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> giving Elizabeth an underdog.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Gigi or my Gram was holding Adelaide. She started crying a few seconds after this picture was taken. Adelaide, not Gram. It was so nice to see everyone even if just for a couple of days. </span></div>
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<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-55426696748957981252012-06-15T20:30:00.000-04:002012-06-15T20:30:01.038-04:00New York<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Early in May, our family spontaneously drove up to New York. Most of my extended family lives there. This time we were just visiting Poughkeepsie where my dad's family lives. We went to see my dad who was staying with my Grandma. He normally lives in Thailand (don't ask- long story that has to do with easier access to medical care and such- he has MS), but had been staying with my Gram for the past year. I drove up last April/May to see him because he had come back into the country, and I was under the impression he would only be here for a few days/weeks. He just left a little over a week ago. My Gram called me and told me that he would probably be leaving soon and that his condition is very bad so this would probably my last chance to see him. My wonderful husband took off work and we were on the road a few days later.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The weather when we go in Spring is amazing. We also love to play in the grass. We don't get to do that here thanks to those lovely little fire ants. Plus- grass up north is so soft... our grass is prickly, right? Not fair.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We made wilderness stew and Adelaide really did try to eat most of everything.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Elizabeth had a great time. We also got to seem Aunt and her family that live in California. They came back to NY for the first time in seven years. The last time I saw them was 9 years ago. I really like hanging out with them and my Elizabeth loves their daughter, Taylor. She is my cousin and I've only met her twice- it's sad. She is the sweetest 9 year old ever.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Seeing my dad is bittersweet. His mind isn't the same and we don't really have a relationship anymore. We can joke back and forth a little and talk about old times some. He has very bad short term memory and can't remember my girls' names. He loves them though and that's what's important. One night, after the girls had gone to bed, I went downstairs into my dad's room and watched Law and Order: SVU with him. It was simple but it is a memory I am glad we made. He told me he liked the female cop, I agreed. We talked about how everyone seems to love SVU the best which is kind of creepy because of what it's about. Then The Break Up came on and he told me that he liked Vince Vaughn and I again agreed. Then Adelaide woke up so I had to go upstairs. Part of me felt bad because we didn't talk of anything important. But another part of me knows the simple times are good, too. If you can spare a prayer, please pray for his conversion. He doesn't have much faith as far as I know, and I think he could use some.</span></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-38280557380660352292012-05-25T22:15:00.000-04:002012-05-25T22:17:45.463-04:00Three...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dear Elizabeth,</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tonight as your father was reading you books and saying prayers with you, I mentioned to you that this was the last night you would go to sleep as a two year old. Tomorrow you will be three. Can it seriously be true that you are three? Three years ago right now I was in labor... so eager to hold you but I still had quite a few hours of pain ahead of me. Pain that was worth it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Enough about 3 years ago... what about now? You talk up a storm. You love Mommy and Daddy to make up stories and songs for you. You will occasionally make up stories for us, but they are very short. You love to tell people about things that happened and end with, "It was pretty funny." I think you got it from me. You love to dance. You turn on the music on the jumperoo and start bustin' moves (or doing ballet- as you say). You are in for a rude awakening when you start ballet classes. You always pray when you hear sirens, and sometimes you randomly tell me you are going to pray for someone you know needs it (like cousin Aaron who was in a car accident.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You are my sunshine. You often tell me that you love me because I am your sunshine... if you only knew girlfriend. You also tell me that I'm your best friend... but apparently you hand out that title like it's candy because I've heard you tell many a person that they are your best friend. (I still believe you though.) Tomorrow, we will not have a big party at a park which is what we did for your first and second birthdays. We will have family over for dinner along with your godparents. We will eat, talk, and celebrate the fact that God blessed us with you. Tomorrow you will be three. Slow down.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Love, Mommy</span><br />
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<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-31419131313320626102012-05-25T22:13:00.000-04:002012-05-25T22:13:00.621-04:00The Butterfly Hollow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Our zoo has a new exhibit: The Butterfly Hollow. It is a giant tent with a fairy garden inside. I enjoyed it more that I thought I would. Elizabeth enjoyed it much more than I though an almost 3 year old would.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We were sitting still to see if a butterfly would land on us. After I got up, one landed on my shoulder for a second. When we went a few weeks later, one smacked me in the face- Not cool.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I love how, in the picture above, Elizabeth is clearly telling us something as you can tell by her hands. She must be Italian- not.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Daddy really likes the Kangaroos and Wallabies and somehow they are always doing something when he comes. When I come to see them without him, they lay there.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These are storks. I don't know what they are doing, but it's strange (at least to me).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Elizabeth amazed me in the butterfly hollow by being so patient. When we went again, we were in there for more than 30 minutes I would say. She just wanted to sit on a stool and look. I think she was partly interested in the butterflies and flowers and decorations... and partly interested in the mini stool. It was fun nonetheless. </span></div>Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-16838579840693337212012-05-03T10:33:00.003-04:002012-05-03T10:34:25.954-04:00Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We had a wonderful Easter this year! We went to the Tridentine Mass and had breakfast at Patrick's family's house afterwards. It was so good. I forgot to take pictures there... or I didn't have my camera. I also didn't take pictures of E and A with their Easter presents and the Resurrection garden for some reason, but Patrick has some on his phone. Maybe I will edit this later and add them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We went to my Mom's house in the early afternoon to hunt Easter eggs and hang out with my family that was visiting from New York. I took Elizabeth and her (2nd?) cousin Alyssia for a walk so the eggs could be hidden. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cousin love. Oh boy. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The basket she has was my favorite one growing up. It has a bunny built into it. I love that my mom still has this stuff and my toys because it is nice to see her play with my things. I wish she had saved some of my clothes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">FOUND ONE!!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Elizabeth found the most; Alyssia found a good number with some help; Adelaide found none... but she didn't mind.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The girls playing in my mom's tupperware cabinet. It was so cute that my mom was actually excited for Adelaide to play in there like Elizabeth did... and make a ridiculous mess. If you know my mom and messes- that's a big deal.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Easter is an amazing day and the most important holiday of the year. I am glad we had so much fun spending it with family.</span></div>
<br />Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8346101460201644707.post-343232372943945702012-05-03T10:30:00.000-04:002012-05-25T22:18:27.455-04:00Easter prep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is Elizabeth in my sunhat-- the cutest thing. She looks like she should be going to the Kentucky Derby. Moving on- I know this is late but I wanted to do a post about getting ready for Easter. I have seen may versions of a Resurrection garden online and I thought it sounded like a really good idea. It reminds me of the Nativity set at Christmas and how when the girls wake up on Christmas morning, baby Jesus is finally there! We go there before presents...it's first on the list of things to do that day. Elizabeth loves this.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We just got some dirt from outside and some leaves, grass, and small berries. We used a potato as the tomb, which was closed until Easter Sunday. We made the garden on Saturday- I wanted to do it on Good Friday which would have made the most sense... but we were busy- ugh.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We also dyed Easter eggs at Gramma's house with my cousin and her daughter. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMFol1AigaZQapbTIp_nn_QxOwkFlbuzODdgwu53yCw1I-v_R91mKuPpoZBEc3GT4YoA1M3K-v01YwP5wzRTNFpSUnpabjrLukNMQmLsz0J4fF2pjAfI4veQXOGDtrvCRqC-u1UnEAuE/s1600/IMG_3906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMFol1AigaZQapbTIp_nn_QxOwkFlbuzODdgwu53yCw1I-v_R91mKuPpoZBEc3GT4YoA1M3K-v01YwP5wzRTNFpSUnpabjrLukNMQmLsz0J4fF2pjAfI4veQXOGDtrvCRqC-u1UnEAuE/s320/IMG_3906.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb2q293BaLQ1eLmbNQwmDrCg7w-RF5VcrheLbo2n09axPEl_cYWXOAVdqNNzGUoGtOkPtZue3pOsVdR7UjdEKDKKnWA8YdLkhLNFhuXGXfv-e6rlaYm74NajRRtHGM5s060MPGyqnBao/s1600/IMG_3907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUb2q293BaLQ1eLmbNQwmDrCg7w-RF5VcrheLbo2n09axPEl_cYWXOAVdqNNzGUoGtOkPtZue3pOsVdR7UjdEKDKKnWA8YdLkhLNFhuXGXfv-e6rlaYm74NajRRtHGM5s060MPGyqnBao/s320/IMG_3907.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswCEdLvIRVpG4yUmrzofFpc-ZloDxAAgKGUXHWtCASL6kHL6lqyMg3QFN9m2XWoI53wbX_1rEasBMg7_yejpvuOmzH-TEZnc1wI_6YSDqUCuPgBDji93aUdyH2I1XejjyQTFLFnBETVQ/s1600/IMG_3908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswCEdLvIRVpG4yUmrzofFpc-ZloDxAAgKGUXHWtCASL6kHL6lqyMg3QFN9m2XWoI53wbX_1rEasBMg7_yejpvuOmzH-TEZnc1wI_6YSDqUCuPgBDji93aUdyH2I1XejjyQTFLFnBETVQ/s320/IMG_3908.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Theresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171627134084413195noreply@blogger.com0