Happy Birthday Anna!

My baby Anna turned 5 today! It's official. She's getting so grown up! She had her first "kid party" on Sunday at her gymnastics school. They did bounce houses and gymnastics, then had cupcakes that she made. Her and her friends had a blast.

I asked her where she wanted to go for dinner today, and she said the Chinese place that we went to for daddy's birthday by Great America. She confuses Chinese with Mexican, because I know exactly what she's talking about...Las Palmas Mexican. I asked her it was the place with the fake palm tree outside and she confirmed. SO that is where we are headed tonight!

I took some photos of her today, and here is my favorite. This girl is a natural in front of the camera...she loves it!

Quote of the Day

"Not today, but we will be tomorrow."

Anna's reply when I asked her and her brother if they were hungry (it was lunchtime).

Impromptu Photoshoots

A few of my recent favorites...

School Started!

Anna and Ethan started pre-school last week. This is Anna's 3rd year at Montessori school, and Ethan's first! They are in the same class together since they group 3-6 year olds together. They go M-W-F, 12:30-3:30. I am loving my alone time. It's good to know Anna is there to take care of her little bro. Ethan seems to be doing well, even though he asks for me to come with him every time we're getting ready to go. He is still very much attached to mom, and I must say I got a little teary-eyed dropping him off the first day. The attachment is mutal I guess. And while we're on the topic of kids growing up...Anna has 3 loose teeth!! Two on bottom, and one top front tooth. The two bottom ones look like they be out within a month. I am shocked that this is happening already! One huge milestone I was NOT ready for. Here are some shots of the kids on Day 1 of school (remember to click to see larger if you want!):

Happy Birthday Ethan

My little baby bird, as he calls himself, turned 3 yesterday August 19th. I wanted to post some newborn photos of him and then I found his "birth story" and thought I'd post it. It was just my memory of the morning he was born...I had jotted it all down shortly after he was born so I wouldn't forget some of the details. I certainly don't expect anyone to read this novel, except maybe Eddie. :wink:

SCROLL PAST STORY TO SEE NEWBORN PICS

August 19, 2005

Shortly after midnight I was just getting ready to go to sleep and I suddenly started contracting like crazy. Very painful, every 4 minutes. This went on consistently for 2 hours and decided I should probably call the doctor. I still wasn't sure it was real - I was used to regular contractions and had been having bouts of them for weeks and weeks - but since I was so close to my due date now, I didn't want to risk it. I was due in 3 days. I reluctantly called the doc and she said to come in to get checked, especially since I was so far away, and I had a pretty fast delivery with Anna. So we called Grandpa Rob to come over and stay with Anna. I apologized to him in advance for waking him up, in case it was just false labor! After a 35 minute trip to the hospital, it was 3:15 am when we arrived. By then contractions were 3 minutes apart. I was wishing I had gone to bed earlier that night! I still hadn't gotten ANY sleep. As they were getting me situated, I still wasn't sure if I was going to get sent home babyless or not. When they checked me, I was 4 cm, completely thinned out, with a bulging bag. The nurse announced, "we're having a baby today!" YES! What a relief! I was no longer in doubt. Got checked again at 5 am and I was 5 cm. Things were moving along nicely. My water had started leaking slowly. The nurse suggested I get the epidural, because she thought my water would break any minute and then things would go really fast. I agreed and she ordered the epi for me. I think it was about 6 am when they checked me again and I was almost 7 cm, still anxiously awaiting the drugs. The nurses and my OB came in and everything got real chaotic and things are sort of blur for me here, but they were telling me the anesthesiologist could not do the epidural for me. There was another woman in labor that needed an emergency c-section, and he had to be there. I was so not prepared for that news. I remember looking at the nurse and saying, "does that mean I'm screwed?" She looked back at me with a look of pity on her face and nodded her head. Then she said she couldn't even give me anything in my IV because it was too late and would make the baby groggy. I almost started crying. I was so not prepared for natural birth. I knew nothing about all those breathing and coping techniques woman practice in preparation for natural birth. I laid there terrified for about 15 minutes. That’s right when my parents got to the hospital. They walked in right after I got the news of no epi, and I was having major labor pains. Then all of a sudden, the anesthesiologist showed up! The other woman's baby was doing better and didn't need the c-sec right away anymore, but he had to hurry up and do mine in case he was called back to her. GREAT. A rushed epidural. Um yikes. Once that was taken care, I was sooooo much more relaxed. My parents were back in the room with us, and around 7 the doctor checked me. My parents left the room and the decided to go get donuts downstairs in the cafe. When the nurse checked me, she was surprised that I was already complete and ready to push! Doctor Coll rushed in and got everything ready with the nurse. It was a surreal moment right there, watching the regular room transform into a delivery/OR room in a matter of a minute or two. Lights coming out of the ceiling. Surgical looking supplies all around. Doctor and nurse in scrubs. The little warming bassinet wheeled in ready for a baby! Such a HUGE moment about to happen, what an amazing feeling!! I pushed for about 5-10 minutes and out came Ethan! It was so easy! He came out screaming like a maniac! He had lots of blond hair that looked all kinky from being wet and he was absolutely gorgeous. I got to hold him right away as soon as he came out. He just kept screaming and screaming. I remember him smelling like heaven! It must be one of those mom things. I kept saying to everyone...oh my god..smell him...he smells so good! (he probably smelled awful to everyone else.) As I was holding him, Eddie cut the umbilical cord. I think I videotaped that part myself while holding the baby. His delivery happened so fast, that my unsuspecting parents were just coming back from grabbing their donuts and coffee when they heard Ethan's screams from down the hall. They couldn’t believe I had the baby while they were gone for such a short time. I spent a few minutes with Ethan, then Eddie went with him and the nurse to the nursery for a bath and whatever else they do there. They transferred me to another room where I’d stay overnight. A few hours later, Eddie’s dad brought Anna to meet Ethan. I let her hop into my bed with me and then had Eddie bring Ethan to us so she could see him. She wasn’t quite sure about him and seemed more interested in pressing the buttons on my bed to make it move. A little while later, we sat her down in a chair and let her hold him. She look a little timid about it. She would look at his face real intently, look at his fingers, then look at Eddie like what the heck is this? She was so quiet and serious. Little did she know how much our world was about to change.



And now some photos from his first few moments and first day:

I'm Officially Selling Designs

You may notice something different on my blog! I have some of my designs for sale in the sidebar to the right. Introducing "Nature Kid" - a set of digital papers and elements for digital scrapbookers - each pack for only $1.00!

Click on the previews so you can get a good look at the textures and details. These designs are only available here - I have not committed to designing at a store quite yet! We'll see how things go!

Who likes purses?

I do! I have to share this site...It's called Ellu. The owner, Leslie, designs and hand sews unique and colorful handbags - in all different shapes and sizes. I was lucky enough to get to design the website, and my colleages at Belniak Media did a wonderful job programming it. The site turned out beautifully, and her purses look fabulous! Now off you go...start shopping...you deserve it! =)

Free Paper Pack

I designed some scrapbooking stuff to apply for a designer call at Catscrap.com as a designer. I was not picked, but received very encouraging words from the women there. They loved my work, but they wanted a larger portfolio of work to see, and I just don't have it yet. Maybe when life slows down I will have time to pursue this some more. I am still freelancing with a web design firm called Belniak Media, selling and designing custom birth announcements online at Reliable Photo, and of course taking care of my family! Next month, and September and October I will be the proud mom of a 3 year old and a 4 year old! Then Anna turns 5 the end of October. I still can't believe I'm about to have a 3 and 5 year old. Two and 4 just sounds so much younger to me.

I'm going to offer this paper pack for free. It's called "Juicy" because it reminds me of watermelon.

(Sorry, no longer available!)

I'm putting a preview up of my very first, real kit, called Nature Kid. It's a great kit for girls or boys, and the papers have a ton of texture. I'm thinking about offering it for sale here on my blog, for very cheap, like a buck or so......just as soon as I figure out how to do that! HA! I had a lot of fun designing this, especially the papers. Elements are real challenge for me. It's unreal how time consuming it is!

The Big Camping Trip - South Dakota

We spent 4 days tent camping in South Dakota and had a great time. We camped just 5 minutes away from Mt. Rushmore. Some highlights and the kids' favorites were the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Devil's Tower in Wyoming, and Wall Drug! Here's some pictures from the adventure (remember you can click on these to make them bigger):

Buffalo Crossing the street in Custer State Park

A pronghorn on the side of the road in Custer State Park.

The three of us at the top of a cliff in the state park.

Sylvan Lake

Getting ready for Fireworks in Custer.

The kids petting a giant turtle at Reptile Gardens, near our campground.

Getting ready to catch a football at the campsite.

Sitting and waiting for fireworks (that we ended up not being able to see) with some friends they met at the campground.

We visited Mt. Rushmore on the 4th of July!

More buffalo in the state park.

Pretending to drive a covered wagon at Wall Drug.

Using super powers to lift a boulder, at Devils Tower.

Anna is the best poser!

Posing on a rock

Climbing rocks was a blast.

Devils Tower in Wyoming

The biggest "winchy poof" ever!

The fam in the Badlands.

I should send this in to Jeep! I love my new truck, I just wish it didn't guzzle gas.

Badlands landscape.

Checking out the mighty mississippi.

Another one of them looking out at the mississippi, a pitstop on the way.

This was taken before we left, but I had to throw it in here cuz I love it! His new garbage truck is his favorite...he picked it out after he went 5 days of pooping on the potty! YAY Ethan! He's completely potty trained now and he's not even 3 yet. I'm so proud!