Its a......

Baby!! We have told almost everyone what it is (yes we know) but there are a couple people (like Uncle Matt) who we want to tell in person (or on the phone) before they find out online..... so here is the sneak preview...

Is it Spring?

<--- we took an early morning walk to Miss Opal's and the post office. Riley LOVES the wagon, even more than before!

<---playing outside this afternoon. The backyard is a mud pit, so it was a little messy, but worth it.

<---I dont keep her locked in the backyard...she was watching the kids play baseball in the back. She looks like a little inmate though...







Not much else going on here. I filed our taxes tonight. For someone that is pretty detail oriented, this is hard for me. I have to check. And re-check, and then check again. It was a half hour process, turned into a 3 day event. But they are sent in, so hopefully we will be seeing that return soon!

I felt the baby kick this afternoon. It was a good solid movement, that I could feel on the outside of my belly. Love that feeling. Now if we can just be patient till the 20th to find out what it is! Its so strange to think that this wasnt an option for people years ago. They had to wait the whole 9 months, and I get antsy waiting a whole 4!

I napped a lot today. Riley took about a three and a half hour nap, and so did I. I also slept when she went down for the night, until Derrick got home. I have had this nagging headache all day and cant seem to get rid of it. I was hoping to get a little scrapping done, but think I will be laying back down instead.

I guess thats all the updates..... Where are the comments??

Here is the pic I am talking about in my previous post... I kid you not, this is what my child looked like...

Ahhh.....toddler-hood

We can put ADORABLE pigtails in Riley's hair. They are so stinking cute. The minute she lays down for a nap, she takes them out. Not so cute. She got up today, looking like a little excaped convict. She reminded me of those pictures of Nick Nolte (I think thats who it is) when he had his mug shot done. Hair was everythere. By the end of the night, she looked like one of those bedraggled kids that you see on COPS, cause their parents are fighting, and the cops are having to hold the kids. Sad. But she is ours, wouldnt change it.

We didnt do much today. Went to Menards early this morning to get some stuff for the duct work for under the house. It was considerably more then Derrick "guess-timated". It wasnt too bad, he was thinking cheaper though. He wasnt going to buy the vent covers until I pointed out that he would have gaping holes in the floor when he rips out the door between the new room and the kitchen next week. Gaping holes and our child are not a good combination. We already have to go through the trash before we take it out, cause she throws EVERYTHING away. Shoes, socks, jeans. Anything she can fit in there.

Well thats it I guess. There is a new show on tonight that is supposed to have the Dukes of Hazzard before they were the Dukes of Hazzard. Kind of like Smallville. Derrick is sooooo excited. I am not. I think I will scrapbook....

Motivated?

So. Now all my pics are smushed together. Whatever. I did a layout tonight!! This is the first time I have scrapped since an donline crop in eary Jan. And cause I know you are dying to see it, I am posting for you.....

Only cause she is so dang cute...

Here are some more pics from today, that we took this morning after getting up. Riley gets up about 7:30 in the morning. I go get her, change her, and take her into our room, where she proceeds to annoy the hell outta Derrick until he decides to get up. Cute huh?

Cause Blogger Stinks sometimes......

<----new belly shot...











Ahhhh. Oreos. In the living room. Priceless.












So I have not been able to upload pics for forever. I cant figure out what it is. With my regular browser it doesnt ever load. I tried Firefox today, and hello... there they are!

We are all doing well. We have our next appointment on the 20th. Our Sono is at 2:00, and we see the Dr. at 3:00. So in like 17 days, we should know what we are having! Its starting to get real. In fact the picture above is the first pregnancy pic I have taken. I think I was scared to take one before this point. Sad, cause I am almost halfway through. Still no definate kicks, but I feel some swirling every once and a while!

We settled on the car, for a grand total of 1085.65. That .65 will get me far, I am sure. I am happy with settling, I just hate that what they are paying doesnt 1. cover the cost if we were fixing the car 2. isnt quite half what the car is worth. Oh well. It sucks that we had to buy another car, and are stuck with the neon, but life goes on. At least we are all okay. We refused to settle on medical until the sono. We want to see for ourselves that everything is okay.

Riley is doing well. Into everything. Cause what else would an 18 month old do? We had family pics taken. You can see them at Ambers site www.photographicsgallery.net They are SUPER cute, I am having a hard time deciding! I know for sure I want to get a HUGE black and white print though.

Well its almost 7am here, and the bean will be up soon.....

I forgot....

the one really FUN part of the day today? Letting the dog outside to pee in drifts that are taller than he is. Now that was amusing. Derrick and I kept letting him out over and over, just to watch him in the snow!

SNOW DAY!!

So you would think that I would have accomplished SOMETHING today. Maybe done my millions of loads of laundry. Cleaned house. I did "work" on laundry. However, it has not been as productive an activity as was planned. I did clean house, but got bored. I did about ten things today.
1. Put Rileys hair in pigtails. Twice.
2. Gave Riley a bath.
3. Looked out the window at the blowing snow.
4. Ate leftover veggie pizza. For snack.
5. Napped.
6. See #3
7. Ate lemon yogurt.
8. Napped.
9. See #3 (or #6 which ever you prefer.)
10. got really excited when they decided to close the clinic tomorrow.


And just about two minutes ago, I let Derrick have my last Mt. Dew. He better appreciate it.

I need to make my valentines day cards for tomorrow, so Derrick will at least have something to open. But as you can see, I am lazy today. I hope that we can go out tomorrow and take some pics of the snow. I have never seen anything like this, but I also have never lived in the country before. Its creepy and scary, all at the same time. Its weird to think that the whole Champaign Urbana and surrounding area has pretty much ceased to work. Its like it just shut down. I get to sleep in tomorrow though, so I wont be complaining! On to the pics!




<--- I know this is sideways. Bear with me. I am lazy. (see above if you want explanation for said lazyness). Riley has decided that the one and only place to play is on daddys sub-woofer in the living room. Ashley did her pigs like this at daycare yesterday, they were so CUTE!

<---- again sideways. She was standing on the back of the couch looking at the snow this morning. This was before I caught her licking snow of the mat in front of the front door. Its moments like that I have to start chanting "I am not a bad mommy" over and over.

I think thats it on the homefront. Bean is still growing and doing well. I think that I am feeling some movement, but cant tell for sure. I guess when its for sure, for sure, I will know for sure!! We may be getting a sex identifying sono sooner than we thought, since we have to get it done before we settle on the health part of our accident claim. Other than that, we are smooth sailing!! Alright. I am off to find something productive.

Sigh....

Contrary to popular belief, I am still alive. Just a horrible blogger. I would love to say that i have been incredibly busy, rushing here and there, and just have not had time. Thats not the case. If you want to believe that is the case, I will not choose to argue. The fact is i am lazy. Thats right. LAZY. I hate hauling my happy butt back here to the scrabook room, only to wedge my chair in between the computer desk and one of the towers of scrapbook paraphenelia, try to squeeze in, and type while my arm is hitting the cutting station (for scrapbooking of course). Then the heat turns on and all this warm air comes out from under the desk and I swear I am not pregnant, but in fact, approaching menapause, and having the worst hot flash in my entire life. There is the story. The whole truth. On to something more fun, kay?




<---- we got snow a couple weeks ago. I took Riley out in it, and she had a ball. Was adorable, as usual!

<-- I made oreo dessert last weekend for the superbowl party. I let her lick the spatula. She enjoyed every minute of it. Who doesnt like a sugar high at 8AM?









Well the good news is that insurance has decieded that the will go 50/50 on our car. Thats a lot better than the 70/30 they offered us. The 70 would be us, meaning that we were 70% at fault. Her insurance has also decieded that they will pay for my medical as well. I think that Derrick and I are just tired of fighting at this point. We give up! If they want to say that we are partially at fault, whatever. Just stop calling us and having us re-hash the whole day over and over again. And for the record to the lady in the white van: learn to visually measure distance, you moron. So. All in all, we will end up getting about 1,000 for our car, which is better than the 600 they initally offered us. It kinda sucks that our car is worth more than that (we blue booked it at 2300) but then again, we were not expecting to get anything, so something is nice. We went ahead and bought a new vehicle. We got a 2002 Dodge Durango. I like it, but am still getting used to the fact that its mine. I am sure it will hit me when we pay the first car payment. We have not had to pay a car payment in 3 years, so it will feel weird to pay one again!! Oh well, life goes on, and we needed something bigger anyway.

Baby is doing well. My belly is expanding. Its kinda weird to think that I will be 16 weeks on Tuesday. It seems like the time has gone so fast, yet so slow. Like the time until 12 weeks crawled by. Now the time is just flying. We go back to the Dr. on the 20th, and then we will hopefully schedule our sono!

Derrick is working on drywalling the addition tonight. From all the thumping I hear out there, I am asuming it is either A) progressing well. B) there are little peices of ripped up drywall shrapnell everywhere. I choose, while in the plush comfort of the scrapbook room, A. I should check on him soon though, as he has been known to fall of ladders. And you never know.

Well I promise, I will TRY to blog more. Try is the operative word here....

Christmas Pics.....

<----now that its out in the open.... this is how we told everyone that a new baby is on the way......
<-----Riley dressed to the nines for Christmas eve service!
<---opening presents Christmas Eve. Takes a lot of concentration you know.....









<---She said Santa wasnt coming. He did. He has the reciepts to prove it. And he brought these AWSOME barbie sunglasses......
<---- And she can drive. Did you know??









There were a whole bunch more pics that I wanted to upload, but Blogger will only take so many at a time!!

So the pregnancy update. We are, indeed, expecting number two. We were so hesitant to tell anyone after what happened in September, but we have made in to 10 weeks, and are feeling pretty good! We heard the babys heartbeat yesterday, it was 171 beats a minute. The nurse said that was really good, and really strong for a little bean! We are starting to feel more positive as my belly starts to grow. I think that Derrick and I were both so gaurded after our last pregnancy ended. We were torn between wanting to tell and waiting until we were in a "safe" place! We are feeling positive though, and even have started to talk about what the baby might be! My next appointment is on the 24th, and we should set up the sex identifying sono at that point. So hopefully sometime near the end of february we should know! I have been feeling okay. I have had some MAJOR bouts of morning, and evening sickness. I am really tired, but I am also chasing a 15 month old, so I think that is to be expected!

Not much else on the homefront. Derricks mom went for a stress test today and they found a gray spot on her heart. They are not really sure what it is at this point, but are thinking that they might have to send her to Springfield again for surgery. I think that they think it might be a blood clot. She cant take coumadin at this point, so i think that the only other real option for her is surgery. She should hear tomorrow or Friday what the "plan" will be. I cant understand why she has to go to Springfield, when Carle is one of the top 100 heart hospitals in the country. Seems a little iffy to me. I told her that I think that its time she retires!

Riley will be starting a new daycare on the 8th. As much as we love Miss Jen, she has four children to care for, and they are getting more and more active in things every day. I think that there is so many school activities and so much running, that it is probably wearing her down. Although we totally understand her decision, this will be a hard move for all of us. Riley will start to go to little lamb daycare, in Tuscola. We went and talked to Miss Ashley last night, and after a little bit riley really warmed up to her boys. I think that I am struggling because Jen has taken care of Riley since she was a baby. Its what Riley knows. Its what mommy knows. And Miss Ashleys is new. Mommy doesnt know it. Riley doesnt know it. Change is good though. I cant hate change so much that I teach my daughter to hate change. Thats not one of the life lessons I want to teach (to hate change). We will miss Miss Jen so much though! We love you miss Jen!!

I am wracking my brain trying to think if any other major points of interest. The Illini/Michigan game is on right now. We are winning, but only by one. I am not sure that I want to watch. I love a good game, but I also like to yell during a good game. And the wee one is sleeping already.

Well thats all the update for now.....

Cause there is nothing better than a naked kid with a snowflake.....

She is so rotten cute. I dont know how we are expected to handle it! I snapped these pics on Friday after we ran around in a diaper after bathtime. She loved wearing this headband (which is actually mine). I think that the novelty of it wore off after about an hour, but it was a very entertaining hour to say the least! I also posted a pic of our "tree" this year. I told Derrick that I didnt want to spend all Christmas telling Riley "no, no" over and over, so we got a little tree and put it on top of the entertainment center. She will walk over, stare up at it and say "ooohhhh", but thats about it! I am getting pretty excited for Christmas. Maybe not for all the running that we have to do, but for the fact that Riley will really enjoy it this year! She is getting the unwrapping part down, and I am sure will be a pro by Christmas morning! I still have a couple of gifts left to wrap, and one that needs to be finished. Its something that should take me an hour max. You would think that I would work on it tonight, but I am going to clean out my scraproom a little bit instead. I got a new order from ACOT this week, and need to get it put away (read: hidden). I also got a new tool last week, and have not even gotten to play with it yet! Well, off to get something done.....

Sigh.....

I wish I would have planned better for Christmas. It seems as though we are down to the wire, so to speak, and i have bought two gifts. I have several left to go. This is problamatic. I am running out of days to shop. It just doesnt seem fun! I know that I will be able to go this weekend, and get some more done, I just wish that it was finished already! I have way to much to still do, and way to little time!
On a good note, Riley is feeling much better. I was home with her monday and Tuesday, because of a fever. Poor little thing. The put her back on her neb treatments, saying that it "could" be RSV again. Not that it was for sure, just being cautious. She is doing much better now. I just hate the helplessness that comes with being sick. And the lonely-ness that comes from staying home. I need my adult interaction!
Not much else goingon here, at the home front. Derrick and I are going to his "Christmas" party tomorrow night. We all get together and go eat somewhere. This time we are going to Alexanders. I think that it should be really fun. I really enjoy everyones company, a lot. Plus I can tell them funny stories about Derrick, and get away with it.
So thats it... pretty uneventful.....kinda the way that I like it...

New Pics

<---- Rileys new santa had. Best 1.87 ever spent! I am thinking that I might get a couple wallets of this one!




<--- we brush our teeth. A lot.


<---wearing my bra. Again.

<---two squirrels trying to "do it" outside our house. They succeded. We will have baby squirrels next year. This pic is mainly for my parents. For those of you that dont know, mom and dad have a picture of some squirrels "doing it" they always blame the picture on the other person (your dad did it! Nope, your mom did. Ect.) So when Derrick spotted this last week, he said "quick grab the camera, it will be like your mom and dad!" Enough said. I am sure that mom and dad are real proud right now. Happy anniversary, guys!!


No real updates on the home front. I started my Christmas shopping today, and bought a whopping two gifts. I still have a lot to go. But its not the day before yet, so there is still time. I am trying to motivate myself to get some scrapping done, but I am not feeling it this weekend. I wasnt last weekend either. Maybe later this week. Its not a requirement that I do it every weekend anyway! Derrick is off playing poker tonight. I hate when he goes when he has to work the next day. He will be so pleasent in the morning! No big plans for tomorrow. Hopefully the weebel and I will both get to sleep in a little bit!

new ones....

<-----this one is from today....
















<----this one is from about two weeks ago...There is journaling that goes with this, but its a little personable, so its behind the pic...

Lets talk Illini

I can not express enough my love for this team. One of my earliest memories of Illini basketball is watching the chief from the stands during halftime. Or hearing dad yell at the T.V. at home. I have to admit, I wasnt the biggest follower until a couple years ago, when I was pregnant with Riley. Then, I became obssesed. I lived and breathed Illini basketball. I devoured every magazine. Newspaper article. Online site. We had the best team in years! It was so exciting. Even hugely pregnant, I would sit my big ass on the couch screaming explicitives at the T.V. I was a fatter, raunchier versoin of dad. (and I am a little proud of it). So today there were two Illini issues for me. Obviously, there was the loss at Arizona. But, thats bound to happen. We cant win every game, every time. But earlier, something hit me even harder than that loss. We were at the mall, doing some Christmas shopping. The mall is full of those little kiosks, many of which are filled with junk. This one was filled with various pictures of the Assembly hall, filled to the brim, with orange. One picture focused in on the chief, in his famous stance in the middle of the floor. Above him were various pictures of him "in dance" fading into the stands. I seriously almost bought one of these cause I know dad would love it. And dad you still might get one, so act suprised, okay? Back to the point. I felt a sense of hoplesness. This symbol of our fighting Illini, one of my earliest memories will soon be extinct from the U of I. That bothers me, a lot. I know that everyone thinks its not politically correct, that its offensive to some. When did everyone still get all PC anyway? And when did people start getting offended over everything? I swear people are offended anymore when the sky is blue! Or the grass is green. I remember when the chief would come out. Even to this day, watching the chief, I feel so in such awe, and respect, that it can easily move me to tears. Its not a mockery. A mockery would be the chief running around drunk at a party. Waddling along the sidelines, throwing T-shirts. Signing autographs after the game. Posing for photo shoots.
I hope that I get to see the chief one more time before he is gone. I hope that my daughter gets to see him, and realizes what he is. A part of our history. A part of Illinois history. An awesome dance. A symbol that deserves our respect. Long live the chief.

Cause there is nothing better......

<-----than wearing your mommys underwear around your neck, right? I mean, why not. Not all the other kids are doing it, just you, it makes you unique. Or something like that. I can not believe the amount of things this child gets into. These two pictures are just a little piece of the pie....

Some random stories from the last couple days:

-we get home from Ohio Sunday night. I go to put all the laundry in the laundry room. Come back to find Riley STANDING on her desk.

-thinking Riley is playing with her kitchen. Finding crayons all over the floor in her room.

-trying to poke the dogs eyes out. With a fork.

-flipping the rearview mirror to check on her in the backseat. Watching her turn her cup upside down, and shake out any milk she can. Into her lap.

-catching her wearing my bra. Repeatedly.

-trying to get her naked self to stop running around long enough to put on clothes.



then there are the pics like this. Wearing mommy's do rag, being as cute as can be. I love this kid.

New pages

I have been working on my AAM album quite a bit latley. Here are the newest additions. Hopefully more to come, as the ideas are flowing tonight!

Ahhhh......

I am on day two of a four day weekend. Quick! Ask me what I have done!! Yesterday we went four wheeling. It was really nice for us to get away together, sans baby. We had fun just kinda toolin around. Today is a different story. Derrick is back at work. I am fighting the urge to take a nap. And Riley has been asleep for an hour and a half. I kinda want to scrapbook, but am afraid to get anything started, as I can hear stirrings over the baby moniter. There is always tonight, right?

tons of new pics....

Okay, so its only four...but still!

<----this one proves she is her mothers child. She "read" this magazine intently tonight for about 10 minutes. I think that the fact that the magazine is upside down makes it even funnier!





<-----here she is reading the book that mom and dad got her for Halloween. Every time she turns the pages she makes this "gasp" like face. Like she is thinking "well now, thats shocking, here is a new picture". Its priceless!

<----- doing what she does best. Antagonizing the poor dog. This was after she tried to "feed" him out of her tea-cup. When he would not "drink" out of the teacup she was reduced to having to hit him with it. Why not right? And when that doesnt work try to get nose to nose with him. Poor, poor Harley. At least he is patient with her!
<---- my favorite from tonight. I think this one should be titled: "Mom. For real. Get outta my face. Put the camera down."







So. Thats about it. Although I have some funny "sayings" from the last couple days. Now that we are completly mobile, she is into everything. And trust me, thats an understatement. Here are a few choice things that I never thought I would have to say:

"Do not stick your finger in the dogs nose"

"Stop trying to open the crawlspace"

"Get out of the fridge"

"Take mommy's underwear off of your head"

"Dont hold food in your mouth, trying to get the dog to eat it."

"We dont eat leaves in our house"

"Dont put the remote in the dryer"

Well. That should leave you laughing......

I am alive....

I promise. Just severly unmotivated lately. I dont know if its the dreary weather or what. I even have new pics of the bean to post, but am to lazy to upload them to the computer. I am obviously not to lazy to scrapbook though......
This is just a simple one of a pic taken a long time ago....enjoy!

Derrick is playing poker tonight, so I am trying to stay up as late as humanly possible so I can find out if he won or not. Its 11:30, and I am thinking I would rather find out in the AM, I am getting sleepy.

I am searching for a burst of creativity. I cant seem to really scrap anymore. I used to be able to sit down, and whip out a couple pages a night. Now I am hard pressed to do a page a weekend! I dont know if its being crammed back here in this little room, or what. I am thinking I need a day to myself, to just do "me" things. No laundry. No running the dishwasher. Just me. Then maybe I can get some scrapping done. Knowing me though, I will use the time to nap! I need to start using all the supplies that I have in order to justify the many purchases I make! Shhh... I just ordered more off of ACOT. Should ship friday! Yay! But its "fancy pants big board chipboard" and I neeeeeeed it. Desperatly!

Okay. Off to bed. I need to get the remote before Derrick does get home. He is now the proud owner of season 5 of Smallville. Joy. Cant wait to watch that every night for the next month before bed. Actually....funny story to follow......When he bought the first four sesons (like all at once) I got so tired of watching them every night, I told him that I was getting nightmares. I told him that I was waking up so scared all the time. So he started watching them in the living room. And I got the remote. Pure bliss. Sometimes I think that I really might be evil!

OKay. off to bed. Will try to upload and post tomorrow....