Cleaning and sorting...with help of course!

Today, I decided to tackle our bedroom. Sorting...tossing...washing ALL of the bedding, including comforter, mattress pad...everything!

And, I can't do anything without my ever-present helper!! I left the bedroom to put something in the living room, and when I came back, I found my helper decorating the bedroom - with kleenex. Megan found the box and started pulling out the kleenex...and, dropping them behind her. With every tissue, she said, "ah-oh!" (her uh-oh). Normally, I might just scoop up the kleenex and toss. But, I have a cold...and, Megan has a drippy nose...so, (after I took pictures, then told Megan no), I proceeded to pick up each kleenex and fold them...so that I can use them.

I'm told that when I was a wee lass, I have a similar story. I'm told it was naptime at my grandma's...and, instead of sleeping, I was playing with the kleenex. Wish there were pictures! It'd be fun to compare the two mischievous tots! lol :-)

And, yes...for those of you who wanted it, you CAN have the pie recipe!

MIXED BERRY STREUSEL PIE

pastry for a 1-crust pie (homemade or storebought)
1 can cherry pie filling
1 pkg (16 oz) frozen mixed berry blend, thawed and drained

Combine pie filling and berries and pour into crust.

Streusel topping:
1/3 c. butter
1/3 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. flour

Combine streusel ingredients and sprinkle over berry mixture. Bake pie at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. If pie edges brown too quickly before bottom crust is done, cover with aluminum foil.

Serve with vanilla ice cream or cool whip...yum!

*Hey, forget the crust!! Make this into a cobbler or crisp...! Just as yummy that way too!*

Another birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BEN!!!

Today, Ben celebrates his 30th birthday...and, this is what he really wants:

Awww!! Doesn't look so great on the blog... :-( The picture is really clear on our desktop. You can really see that the top deer has a nice big rack! Ben saw him a couple of weeks ago and called me out to the front porch. He looked with his trusty binoculars, and I zoomed my camera as far as it would go. So, big deer lives in the woods across the road from us...if only we knew who owned that land! Ben could just sneak up to big deer with his bow...and...happy birthday!!!!! :-)

Instead...and besides, bow season isn't open for awhile yet...Ben'll have to settle for the new coffee maker I got him. It's a single serve type...and makes coffee, tea, or hot chocolate! He's been using it for about a week...since UPS delivered, and the box was too big for me to hide. Ben's loving it so far...especially the Wild Mountain Blueberry coffee I got for him...hm, and the butter toffee and the breakfast blend and the swiss chocolate almond...and...oh, all of them! :-) They all smell really good to me...but, I'm just not a coffee drinker. All the more for Ben to enjoy!

Megan left daddy a card and some of his favorite candy by the coffee maker this morning. She's going to help mommy make daddy his requested birthday meal tonight -- my special burgers (it's a secret...!), fries, and a mixed berry streusel pie.

Happy Birthday, Ben/Daddy!! We love you!

:-)

We didn't do anything too exciting this weekend. Stayed close to home. Ben did some yardwork, and Megan and I tried to keep cool indoors.

Some of you have asked how I've felt... pretty good this last week. I never really experienced morning sickness with Joshua or Megan, but, this pregnancy has been different. I felt sick every evening -- and succumbed a few times -- from about 7 weeks...until about 12! It seems to finally be tapering off a bit. The tiredness, however, is still sticking around! Good thing Megan goes to bed about 7 pm...I am usually close behind! :-)

Here are a few pictures...

This stool is soo versatile!! Megan discovered that if she turned it over, it made herself a great chair!

I am still a paranoid first-time mom about choking! It doesn't help that Megan has only -- TWO teeth (oh yes! I forgot to mention that!! Discovered bottom tooth #2 poking out on Friday!) Anyway, I was brave enough to give her some pizza to gnaw on... MMMM!



Megan approved!


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*For those of you interested, I'm going to TRY to post a weekly update on the baby's development that I get from Babycenter.com. I always find it fascinating to read how a baby grows... It makes me appreciate even more what an amazing God we have!*
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Your pregnancy: 13 weeks (via Babycenter.com)

How your baby's growing:

Your belly may soon be big enough to announce to the world that you're expecting, but your baby is still tiny. In fact, he's only about 3 inches long crown to rump — roughly the size of a jumbo shrimp — and weighs just about an ounce. Despite the small proportions, there's a fully formed baby inside your womb now. Much more proportional than it was a few weeks ago, his head is now only about a third the size of his body. His tiny, unique fingerprints are already in place. His kidneys and urinary tract are functional, and he's starting to urinate out the amniotic fluid he's been swallowing. As you start your second trimester, most of your baby's critical development will be completed, and your odds of miscarriage will drop considerably.

*Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.*

Another miracle...

We thought Megan was a miracle -- and, she was! All children are! But...

WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BABY!!!!

And, believe me...THAT'S a miracle!!

We weren't expecting - or planning - any more children after Megan. Obviously, God's plan was different than ours! :-) (Isaiah 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.") To say we were surprised to learn that we were pregnant again, would be an understatement! Shock is a much better word! Once the shock wore off, though, we were/are truly excited that Megan will have a sibling...and, that we'll have another special member to add to our little family.

I added a ticker below Megan's so I can remember how far along I am. I don't have time with this pregnancy to look at books or websites to keep me on track! Our official due date is March 2, but, a c-section will be planned for sometime at the end of February. I will also be getting a cerclage again sometime in the next few weeks. It will obviously be a bit more difficult to "take it easy" this pregnancy with Megan to chase...but, I will be off my feet as often as possible throughout the day. Both Ben and I would appreciate your prayers for another healthy pregnancy and baby!

Oh yes, we've already heard the heartbeat...what a great sound! :-)

***SHHHHH***

I haven't wanted to say anything, in case she overhears...but...****ssshhhhhh!**** Megan has finally been sleeping through the night for almost 2 weeks now!!! JOYOUS! A lot of it was my fault that it's taken this long. Starting when Megan was 8 months old, I gave in to one of my "I'll never do that when I have a child!" Which was...never letting Megan fall asleep with a bottle. But, by 8 months, I was tired....and Megan was even more stubborn! It's amazing what you'll do that you never said you would when you're dying for sleep!

About a month ago, I realized that Megan wasn't drinking her bottles during the night...but, needed them as a pacifier to fall asleep...and, needed it every time she woke in the night. So, I started with daytime naps and went cold turkey not giving her a bottle. (It's easier to handle an angry baby at 1 pm...rather than 1 am!!) After an unhappy day or two, I didn't give Megan her nighttime bottle either. Amazingly, she didn't wake up for it during the night...because, she'd finally learned to fall asleep without it!! YAY!

We've had a few wake-ups...but, if we just lay her back down, she falls back to sleep with no crying. Two - maybe three - times, she has woken up when Ben is getting ready for work and won't settle back down, hearing daddy move around the house. So, she *has* gotten a bottle of water.

Ahhh...sweet sleep! For a few weeks...months?...longer I hope! ;-)

Here are a few pictures I took this morning. Megan is learning to climb...today she discovered she could climb into and sit in my footstool.

Pictures, pictures...and more pictures!

On Saturday, Ben and I took Megan to the Binghamton zoo. Not the greatest zoo in the world, but, a good starter zoo experience for a serious 1 year old! Megan wasn't all that excited. The most emotion she showed was shaking terror, but no crying, when a tamarin (a mini monkey looking thing) jumped right at the window that she was 6 inches from. Megan showed mild interest in the other animals. We still had fun together as a family.

Starting out the day with a healthy breakfast :-)


Getting strapped in for the adventure


Ready...


The reindeer came right over to the fence...made some noise...then, walked back into their barn


Watching some ducks

Oooh...look!

...a KITTY! (that's the only real sound Megan uttered. As soon as she saw the bear, she pointed and said, "KITTY!")

Mmmm! A picnic lunch! Megan just learned how to suck from a straw -- no problems when grape pop is on the other end!


Playing with mama's keys

Last night's VBT closing. The deacons get the job of ice cream scooping...


Uncle Paul took the messy job of giving Megan her cone


Good thing it's vanilla!


Mmmm! MORE PLEASE!


Megan and I are - hoping - to get the house picked up a bit. It's amazing how many toys a one-year old can have...and how quickly they end up ALL over the house! I'd like to find a toy box (Ben said he'd rather find a dumpster! lololol!)...actually, I'd love a storage ottoman type thing. Our living room is so small, it'd be nice to have something that doubles/triples for a coffee table, foot rest, and toys! However, even the ones I've seen on Walmart.com are $300!!! Forget that! Unless anyone wants to donate $300 to our worthy clean-clutter-free-house cause?! :-) You'd better not...I can't promise that our house will EVER be clean and clutter free!! LOL!

Ok, hope you all have a great week!

Another year of VBT done...

Our Vacation Bible Time is over for the year -- well, if you don't count our closing on Sunday night (complete with ice cream at the end)! :-) We had the most kids we've ever had this year! I think the highest number in past years was in the high 30's. Yesterday, there were 51 at VBT! We pray that each of those kids -- especially those visitors who've never been to church -- heard that Jesus loves them and died for them...and, how they can go to heaven!

Our VBT is run a little differently than other churches I've been in. At the beginning of the week, each child is given a memory book. For each verse they memorize (and a few other things -- like, the Gospel Hand and the Wordless Book), they get points. At the end of the day, they can spend their points at our VBT Store. The kids love it! It's fun to watch who's a points saver...and who can't resist spending all their points the first day on candy. lol!

The store is full of big markdowns on Friday, being the last day. Here's a picture of all the kids clamoring for their goodies!


Megan likes to find things on the tables she can reach

But, again...Megan likes snack (and singing) time the most. Here she is, complete with her very first koolaid mustache and her tasty rocks! :-)

Busy weekend...busy week!

We had a nice visit with my family this past weekend. Our Girls' Day Out was wonderful!! I say that every (girl) should get a massage at least once in her lifetime!! I was never quite sure how I felt about it, if it was weird or not...but, if you find the right person that knows what they're doing -- ahhh!! Very nice!

On Sunday, Ben and I decided to attend church at Pavilion Baptist. This is the church where I attended elementary/high school from K-12. There were several people I knew...some I didn't recognize...some I didn't expect to be there...and a few I expected to see that I didn't. The pastor (whom I didn't know), announced from the pulpit that "Stephanie Waldron who graduated in '96" was there -- and, I realized how long ago that was!!! 11 years!!! I was surprised ANYone remembered me!! For those of you Pavilion-ites reading, I saw RoJean, Hope, Charity, Jared (Em, he married Cathy P!), Brett and his mom (loved her!), Jill H, Miss Starkey, several of the ladies that I always thought of as "lunch ladies"...even though we never had "lunch." :-) A few others that maybe only I'd know... Anyway, it was really nice to see them.

Leaving you with some pictures!

My first manicure...



My first pedicure...


The finished tootsies! (Me, bottom; Mom, facing me; Stacey to my left; Leah to my right)


Megan at her cousins' house, between spoonfuls of ice cream!


Our picnic lunch on Sunday...at a rest stop




At Vacation Bible Time on Monday. Megan wishing she could hula hoop with the girls outside:



During playtime... never imagined Megan as the football type!



Rocks are yummy for snack time! :-)

TWINS!!!!

Nope, not what you think!!! Sorry to disappoint you, Rachael! lololol!! Gave myself a good laugh! :-)

My sister Leah turns 29 today...and, I'm 29 for another month! So, we're Irish twins (siblings born less than 12 months apart). HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEAH!!

And, tomorrow is my parents' (33rd?) wedding anniversary. Happy Anniversary, Dad and Mom!

We'll be able to help celebrate a bit. Ben, Megan, and I are going for a visit this weekend. I'm extra excited because my mom has scheduled a girls' day out for herself and my sisters and me. We're getting pampered at a local spa....ahhh!! Can't wait! Poor Megan's too little and will have to wait until she's a bit older to get her nails and toes done.

Then, Monday starts Vacation Bible School. It's going to be a very busy week -- starting today! :-)

**I'm STILL laughing... :-) **

A few pictures....

We often go outside in the evening to watch Ben when he shoots his bow. We're not sure why, but Megan finds it hilarious. As soon as he pulls back, she begins giggling...when he lets go, she laughs and laughs. Hey, whatever's amusing! Wish we could get a video...but, since I have to hold her while he shoots, it'd be a little difficult. Anyway, here she is with a special stick she found while following daddy to his target.



Maybe I'll get some good pictures this weekend of Megan playing with her cousins.

Tagged

I was tagged (the blog way of forwarding an email survey!) by one of my faithful readers to fill this out. Never been "tagged" before...so, I thought it'd be fun to fill this out for those of you who don't know me as well as you think!

Four Jobs I have had:

**waitress

**summer custodian (hm, janitor? cleaner?) at our local high school

**secretary to the college Student Affairs' secretary ;-)

**MOMMY (the best job yet!)

Four Films I can watch over and over:

**Toy Story 1 & 2

**Anne of Green Gables/Avonlea

**Cinderella

**White Christmas

Four Places I have lived:

**State College, PA

**Lincoln, IL

**Beaver Dams, NY

**South Byron, NY

Four of my favorite TV shows:

**Iron Chef America

**Rachael Ray

**Andy Griffith

**Leave it to Beaver

Four favorite foods:

**Pizza

**Burgers (specifically BK Whoppers, hold the tomato!)

**Breakfast!! (eggs, pancakes, bacon...yum!!)

**Chinese

(ok, now I'm HUNGRY!!)

Four websites I visit daily:

**Any of my friends' blogs that are updated
**July '06 baby board at Babycenter.com

**currently visiting NC vacation rental sites for a future vacation!

**Statcounter

Four places I would love to be:

**wherever Ben and Megan are...

**a house on the beach...!!

**snuggled under my down comforter...asleep!

**a house on the beach! :-)

Four people to tag:

**Larry

**Moe

**Curly

**Joe Schmoe?

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Oh, yeah! I forgot to mention that Stacey had another appointment...and, they're having their third BOY! Stacey got to have her first 3d/4d ultrasound...and, she thought it was so cool! I remember a few of Megan's 3d ultrasounds...they ARE cool! Here he is! (the only picture I have for you today)...

Admit it...you want to know!

I don't know if any of you are as curious as I am (I'd hate to call myself nosy - hehee!)...but, I've actually had a few brave people ask, "Who's that?" or "How do you know her?" in regards to my repeat commentators. Sometimes, when you have as few friends/acquaintances as I do, I'd assume everyone knows who I know! Obviously not...

So, here's a quick lesson! Some of their names are links to their own family websites or blogs...if you're still nosy - ahem - curious! :-)

• The obvious parents/grandparents, Leah, Stacey -- all fam
  
• Emily S -- childhood best friend since 3rd grade; was my maid of honor in my wedding; now married with 2 cute kids of her own; we rarely see each other anymore...maybe once or twice a year...but, we keep up with each other's lives through email and our blogs
  
• Joy in NJ -- met her online in a group of girls with high-risk pregnancies when pregnant with Megan (and her, with Emma); rare to find a born-again Christian with similar values and like-minded church; we still keep in frequent contact...have even coupon swapped! (So, even though Ben thinks some of those bulletin board posters are hairy men from Nebraska....I think Joy's for real!) lololol
  
• Aunt Emy -- friend from church; just about everyone at church is Megan's aunt/uncle/cousin by love, not blood!
  
• Nana -- our pastor's wife; she's Nana - or Mrs. Pastor - to everybody!! :-)
  
• Heidi W -- my sister Stacey's childhood best friend...sister of Emily S! All four of us hung out when we were a bit older; Heidi sang in my wedding; she's now married to a guy in the Coast Guard and they have TWIN girl sweeties!
  
• Nancy -- good friend I met in college; I have lost contact with most of my friends from college; Nancy is among the, hm - 3? left that I still hear from; she has passed down many, if not all, of her daughter's clothes to Megan - for which we are VERY thankful!
  
• Melissa -- actually, 2 have posted on here; one, I knew as "Missie," I went to high school and then college with; she is married and they are expecting their first child - a girl! - in November; the other Melissa is married to my childhood pastor's son; he is a doctor in Rochester, NY and they have 2 adorable kids

That's the list of the friends who leave the most frequent comments. Now the rest of you never will, eh?? Afraid I'll tell the world who you are?! :-)

Ok, a few pictures for you -

A new hat from my cousin Riley! Fits just great!


Mama keeps trying to take a picture of my tooth...but, I refuse to move my tongue!


A visit from my college friend Nancy and her hubby. Here's her daughter Rebekah trying to keep her pizza away from Megan!


Rebekah, her dad Aaron, and Megan...all waving for the camera:


Playing is such hard work!!