<---so big.. in his little track uniform!







<--cutie






<---sitting on a VERY big rock







<--cute cousins






<---Chase and Great Grandpa





Not much to say here....same old same old...and Derrick wants to look for tires online so I better get off of here.....

pics

<---we took this picture so grandma could take it to the hospital with her






<---Riley with the sheep. It bothers me how un-afraid she is of anything. I worry that her hand will be bitten off!






<---looking at the goats










<----this was the cutest baby goat!









<---the kids in their Halloween costumes. My sweet little ducks. I ordered orange and yellow tights for them to wear!




Okay... I really think thats it for the day.....

So....

I'm searching the internet for a bumper sticker Derrick's dad saw today. Know those little Calvin and Hobbs bumper stickers? This one is similiar, but the Chief is in plave of Calvin. And the object is the NCAA. Ha. I will find it. I am still searching.

Nothing much else to report here... I have some new pics which I will put in a following post. Once I start typing, if I decide to add pictures, I loose everything.

Derricks mom is doing okay after her surgery. We stayed at the hospital until about 9 on Tuesday, but they still hadnt moved her to a room and we had a VERY tired two year old that we decided we needed to take home. She is home now, but still having a lot of pain. We went to go have breakfast with her this morning for her birthday, and I think that the kids and I will head over there in a little bit for cake.

Chase is growing like a weed. I can not believe how much they change at this age. He smiles all the time. I swear there is nothing better in the world than that sweet gummy smile!

Mom and Dad came down yesterday and we went to the second annual Wolly Worm festival in Camargo. It was pretty cute, but it was so hot! I think that we were all sweating by the time we walked to the park!!

Okay... of to upload some pics...

PIcs from the patch...

<--okay. So this one isnt from the patch, but isnt he cute?






<----almost three feet tall!!






<---in the wagon on our way out to pick pumpkins





<---Chase just kinda hung out in the stroller. Maybe next year....






<----helping daddy carry her pumpkin. I think that they picked the biggest one they could find!





We went up to Curtis Orchard today to pick out pumpkins, and just spend some time together. It was so hot! We walked all the way out to the patch, but it was so hot, and there was no room to push the stroller, so we came back up and got our pumpkins out of the already picked batch. Riley helped to pick one out for Chase, so they each have their own pumpkins. Dadd and her picked out a really big one, and Riley helped to carry it to the wagon! It was really cute...

Well, off to finish a scrapbook page while everyone is sleeping....

And now..... the update

So. Obviously we had Riley's b-day party already. I can not believe that she is two. It's just bittersweet. It seems like you are so excited for them to crawl, then walk, and talk, and in the blink of an eye you have a walking, talking, tantrum throwing two year old. It just amazes me! She got so much great stuff for her birthday! She was terrified of her tickle me elmo, which really shocked me. In fact tickle me elmo now has a new home on top of the entertainment center, where he can not traumatize her anymore.

Chase is doing well. He is sleeping through the night now, which is exciting, but a little sad. I dont have to get up with a newborn anymore! It's sad knowing that he is our last, cause everything he does signifies the "end" of something. Like I am never getting up in the middle of the night again with a newborn. Does that make sense?

Both kids are doing really well getting adjusted to daycare. Riley was a little upset the first day but she did fine. I think that she cries a bit every morning when Derrick drops her off, but I think thats just her typical response right now. She loves to be around other kids, so I think that she has a lot of fun there.

Work is going well. I am having a hard time getting up in the morning, but after nine weeks of sleeping in, I think thats probably a little normal! It will be nice when I get myself retrained to just get up at the time I am used too! We got up this morning around 6, so I really didnt sleep in too bad. I think that the more you stay close to your normal schedule on your days off, the better off you are. It is so nice to be back among all the people that I work with! I really do work with a great group of people, which makes it easy to go back. I really am just not cut out to stay at home!

Tonight we are headed to Tony and Cindy's for Katelyn's birthday party! I think that it will be so stinking cute, and I can not believe that she is one already!

Thursday marked a year since the miscarriage. I wondered how I would deal with the day. I think that it was a little easier since I already have another baby. I know that everything happens for a reason, and that Chase is the baby that we were supposed to have, but I cant help but mourn for the little one that we didnt have the chance to meet. It feels kinda double sided because I am so thankful for Chase and know that if we had had the other baby we wouldnt have met Chase. But yet I am sad that we didnt meet the other baby at all. I hope that makes sense, and I am not coming off as harsh or totally irrational. It does make perfect sense in my head, its just a little harder to type it all out.

I am in the middle of a new book. Nineteen Minutes, by Jodi Picoult. If you have not read this you need to. When I have the chance to read, its so hard to piut it down. It feels a little similar to her book "The Pact" but a different subject matter. I think it only feels similar because they both involve teens, tragedy and their parents. And Jordan McAfee. Is it weird that I am so excited everytime that I read him enter as a character in her books? He makes me want to go to law school. Seriously.

Okay. It about 7am, and I know that I can get some scrapping done before the bigger bean awakens....

More Two!!

Two!! Two!! Two!!

Cute pics..

We went to a wedding today at Rockome Gardens in Arcola. It was pretty fun to see Riley running around being cute as can be, but we were all so tired by the end of the night! Riley didnt get to nap at all, And was so tired when we got home around ten....

Tomorrow is my last day off work! I am gearing myself up to wake up on MOnday. I am getting excited to go back, but I am going to miss these kids like crazy...

Alright, its late, I'm tired. I still have some more pics to upload, and will hopefully do that tomorrow...

Cutest Kids... Ever

I am so happy I got these pics of Chase smiling!

















And of course Riley, in all her glory, doing what she does best.....






We had a laid back day today. Sent out birthday invites, washed laundry, scrapbooked, and that was about the extent of it. It was nice to be calm though! I am looking foward to going back to work still, but as the time gets closer, I get more and more worried how I will cram my day into a four hour time span between getting home and going to bed! At least Riley still goes down pretty early, so that is helpful. And one of my friends pointed out that we wont be here through the day anymore, which will cut down on the mess.

Scott and Julie's wedding is this weekend, and the kids will be decked out in camoflauge! I think that it will be really cute to see the girls together in their matching dresses, and little Chase in camo overalls! What cute kids we all have!

Ordered a new book from Amazon today... Jodi Picoult (again). The book is called 19 minutes. I really recommend her books to read if you have not yet. This is coming from someone who doesnt stray from what she likes and knows. I have read Harvesting the Heart, Salem Falls, and Plain Truth. Loved them all. I just started picture perfect, and will get it done by the time the next book arrives! I even paid extra for shipping so that it will be here Friday! This book is about a school shooting in a small town. There was an exerpt in the end of one of the last books I read, that left me dying to read this one (the nineteen minutes one).

Well I think that I should get some scrapping done while its quiet. Derrick just called and is running errands in town before he comes home, so I have about another 45 minutes to myself... Riley is already in bed, and Chase is sleeping in his swing....

pics

Four wheeling mama.....








Just cause she is so dang cute....





Riley and Daddy....







Riley wearing eyeliner. Everywhere.








My sweet little man....





Okay off to bed now...

Multi-Tasking

Okay. So. I am uploading new pics of my memory card as I type, and will post them tonight. I am also finishing Riley's birthday invitations. There is just so much going on this month, we decided to actually do her party on her birthday night. We know that there will be people who wont be able to come cause of the drive and what not, but we figured we would give it a shot. I have finished picking up all her presents, and all the decorations, and I ordered her cake today. We are good to go. A week from tomorrow, my little girl will be two! Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I was giving her bottles and watching her try to roll over. I hope that Chase doesnt grow up that fast! He is already big enough!

Chase slept really well last night. Besides needing a pacifier through the night, he is really doing well! We started cereal in the bottle at night only, at about six weeks. It was like he wasnt getting enough at all from the formula, and the cereal seems to help keep his little belly full! He is smiling on his own now. Its about the cutest thing ever. There is nothing sweeter that a cute gummy baby smile!

I have been working away on my Christmas project, and am about half done. I am hoping that I can finish this week, as I know it will be crazy when I go back to work! I go back on Monday, and although I am looking foward to adult conversation, I am going to miss these two something severe! I am lucky that I am taking a day off every other week, so the kids will never be in daycare more than three days a week, and I can have a chance to try to keep up with things around here!

I left the kids with Derrick today so I could head into town for a doctors appointment, and do some last minute shopping. I stopped by the Childrens place, and did some damage. I got the little ones some cute little outfits, and I bought their Halloween costumes. They are both being little duckies. The outfits are so cute. We tried them on the kids already. Chase's little hat is so big, but it looks adorable!

Chases pictures are up online now too..... www.photographicsgallery.net They are so rotten cute! I ordered a big one of Riley kissing Chase. I think that it will look perfect on the wall here in the new room! Now I just have to find a frame! I did manage to get a ton of frames today for 50% off at Hobby Lobby. NOw I just need to get pictures in them and get Derrick to hang them!

Well... I am going to post these pics in a new post, and head to bed...

Monday, Monday

<--- I love this picture. Love it.








<---dont his eyes look so blue??









<--too cute!







<---Sliding







<----so much fun!





I took the kids to the park here in town this morning. Riley loves the slides, and had so much fun going up and down, up and down. It was really cute! She does have band-aids on both knees, but no injuries I assure you. She wants a band-aid for every "owwie". There are no owwies, but she felt the need for bandaids. I gave up arguing and just gave in. Its much easier that way...she is about as bull headed as her father!!

After the park we went to the post office, where I was suprised to find my Amazon.com order that I ordered on Saturday waiting for me! I have been reading books by Jodi Picoult, and really enjoying them, so I ordered a few this past weekend. I had no idea that they would get here so quickly! I am so happy that they did though, as I have already started reading them!

Well I hear Chase stirring, and its about time for him to eat....

Random Pics.....

<--- the kids...sharing the couch together......






Riley in her new crocs. We are going to a camoflauge themed wedding, and we got crocs for her and her baby cousin to wear...so cute!





<----the little man....in his Illini gear






<---me and Sarah last night....goood times....





Not a whole lot going on here, same old same old. Kinda nice that way! We have been busy shopping, and doing not a whole lot else! We will have to stop shopping soon....our checking account wont be able to take it much longer! :) Then we will just have to stay home!

We have had a pretty uneventful weekend. I went up to Sarah's last night, where I enjoyed my first pot pregnancy adult beverage...most of the girls from work were there, and a few new faces. It was really good to see everyone, and get together outside of the office. I really miss the people that I work with! I dont miss work as much, just the people.

Derrick is out putting the new siding on the shanty. It seems like he always has a project going on! At least it keeps him out of trouble! I think that we are going to go get the sidewalk pavers on Tuesday night, so then we will be starting that fun project. Should be interesting. I kinda miss being pregnant, cause then I didnt have to help with all this stuff! Now I know I am going to have to help! We plan on starting the kitchen remodel this winter, so I know that I will have to help with the trim/drywall/painting. At least we dont have to re-do cabnits or anything! I would like to change out the hardware, and possibly look into new counter tops though. We will have to see what I can talk derrick into. I just hate my light colored counters, they show everything! It seems like a waste to take them out if we dont need too.

I think that i am going to start a new baby boy scrapbook page tonight. I have been working on some christmas projects. While they are fun, its a little hard to do stuff like that on demand. I hope that makes sense, without giving to much away...

off to print some pics.....

One month.... already?

I know that today he is technically a month and a day, but I assure you that these pictures were taken last night, when he really was a month old! It seems unreal that he has been in the family already for a month! Where did the time go? He is just such a perfect fit with us, its hard to imagine what life was like before him! Such a sweet little man!

Derrick is home today. He is out putting shingles on the shanty (shed). When Riley gets up from her nap we are going to run into town to get him fitted for a tux, and to go to Target. Should be a good outing for us! It feels like its been forever since we have been anywhere. I think that in reality we were out on Thursday, but that seems like it was ages ago!

Not much else going on around here. I am watching my time off dwidle by. Its kinda sad! When will i have time to scrapbook when I go back to work? Notice I dont worry about laundry or housework, its all about the scrapbooking.... I did get some paper in for a Christmas project I am working on, so I am super excited to get that started and done! I also placed a HUGE order on ACOT last night. 12 bottles of prima flowers should be on thier way today. Along with several BG bookplates, and of course, paper!!! Its scheduled to arrive Friday, which is perfect, since Derrick will be working. This way I can just intergrate it into my stash, and he will never know!!

Alright, I have cinnamon rolls cooking and they are almost done, so I better ice them real quick...