tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57179377313935613682024-03-13T07:17:21.890-07:00So anyway...the story always has a way of continuingUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-21248032842575055062011-05-06T10:44:00.000-07:002011-05-06T10:48:32.048-07:00What is a Mom's Work Worth?Why hello there, it's me Mike, the husband. I don't often blog, but I thought the occasion was appropriate. I designed an infographic at work for Mother's Day and I thought some of Lydia's readership would appreciate it.<br /><br />So to all you Mothers, and especially to you Lydia, thanks for everything!<br /><br />[click to view full size]<br /><br /><a href="http://degreesearch.org/blog/2011/05/what-is-a-moms-work-worth-infographic/"><img src="http://degreesearch.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/moms_salary.gif" alt="What is a Mom’s Work Worth? [infographic]" alt="What is a Mom’s Work Worth? [infographic]" border="0" style="width:498px; height: 1141px;" /></a>mikemetcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840201778279817674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-6598643900106098472010-12-08T14:03:00.000-08:002010-12-08T14:03:25.709-08:00Is that fun?<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1OBVRxnLvIQ?fs=1" width="425" frameborder="0" height="344"></iframe><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="if(typeof(jsCall)=='function'){jsCall();}else{setTimeout('jsCall()',500);}" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-57405686624671917512010-07-12T10:11:00.001-07:002010-07-12T10:18:10.028-07:00Pretty Girl<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYoiF0q26uE4c8mUsVG2lOeb-TK4Ln0KWSkkjZ0UMf3AAveMHzF-3kEniCGCr_YHHXsbeUwpoTs2VFoUU8T2Gif8_saN8PoS6LTCRFN-86AldhEJewf_jFBhV3sbR9gvjRK7IE3_m/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYoiF0q26uE4c8mUsVG2lOeb-TK4Ln0KWSkkjZ0UMf3AAveMHzF-3kEniCGCr_YHHXsbeUwpoTs2VFoUU8T2Gif8_saN8PoS6LTCRFN-86AldhEJewf_jFBhV3sbR9gvjRK7IE3_m/s400/DSC_0319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493069388733747890" border="0" /></a>I know I'm biased as her mother, but sometimes Kate's beauty just takes my breath away.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ldXFkzWw4iGAX2ZSgrXcjBSMCzPhgb5qHGvadVq5X74msA_hyphenhyphenoQal1NrkX3ee9WoZz2ziuMQ5LSfPVTXSk-7XEEDipYJdEoyNryuJfAVWJu803PZbzIRpSxTN5qIUmThP_ZEImW4/s1600/DSC_0321.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ldXFkzWw4iGAX2ZSgrXcjBSMCzPhgb5qHGvadVq5X74msA_hyphenhyphenoQal1NrkX3ee9WoZz2ziuMQ5LSfPVTXSk-7XEEDipYJdEoyNryuJfAVWJu803PZbzIRpSxTN5qIUmThP_ZEImW4/s400/DSC_0321.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493069382605098642" border="0" /></a>Love those big brown eyes.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw6-Czf-ueT4VLXdpsi-OeWjOqWqAaHCCeN2f0N__-23FSRNT7bBZ-rT7XfJOMBUQZGjJxwlsSGuKILf909C-Lux2qa3l5dSQ3aqLBh6YoTjuHmibmhQqbWZptRMhyphenhyphen-nHoElfWRli/s1600/DSC_0095.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNw6-Czf-ueT4VLXdpsi-OeWjOqWqAaHCCeN2f0N__-23FSRNT7bBZ-rT7XfJOMBUQZGjJxwlsSGuKILf909C-Lux2qa3l5dSQ3aqLBh6YoTjuHmibmhQqbWZptRMhyphenhyphen-nHoElfWRli/s400/DSC_0095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493069397805981490" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-9378550183946705122010-07-12T09:39:00.000-07:002010-07-12T12:10:12.606-07:00Handsome Devil<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FR-h-nwNIA4KaKNtbge8avael1y2qdH20VmQ3-r93OOBOC_s1h8LImr2hW6AztE4_x-p6CrrLGO4AZpXZYK1eMpQbQcV1u1Hw1vyHYSAYW7ibWWUrACxmNSqf5zmBTQHVHZM_oce/s1600/DSC_0298.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FR-h-nwNIA4KaKNtbge8avael1y2qdH20VmQ3-r93OOBOC_s1h8LImr2hW6AztE4_x-p6CrrLGO4AZpXZYK1eMpQbQcV1u1Hw1vyHYSAYW7ibWWUrACxmNSqf5zmBTQHVHZM_oce/s400/DSC_0298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493065720183502850" border="0" /></a><br />Little Owen is already 3 1/2 months old. Wha? How does that happen?<br /><br />He loves face time and gives the best smiles and giggles. He is a great baby, almost always happy; eats well, sleeps well, travels well. Doesn't care for baths or loud noises though.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Smiley Guy<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2u2hNezGo1qehxfaFVylvug6EyE4yDpOroTXWUdOSLIYTtJnaEo7bBMApjSBrP5aub542h81y9tw3jVFCDJwk4Oary2jQ4IsDNK_nJZpyIixYLMvfYD7pjktuQmvu6yCDmzlhpHVc/s1600/DSC_0364.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2u2hNezGo1qehxfaFVylvug6EyE4yDpOroTXWUdOSLIYTtJnaEo7bBMApjSBrP5aub542h81y9tw3jVFCDJwk4Oary2jQ4IsDNK_nJZpyIixYLMvfYD7pjktuQmvu6yCDmzlhpHVc/s400/DSC_0364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493098449594852946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd_EFAwahZF3cWVEUO-pKWgPhJr6jmkJnoaHpNJT9HWE6hyphenhyphenOUalaZHyrmepmO-pf6HlskoxmlZMStCYcw-X3YeHtrP8IJ0nLTg9ALcgMJb9TAcrRVME4uswRGgwNviLg0Dhh4UnE7/s1600/DSC_0366.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvd_EFAwahZF3cWVEUO-pKWgPhJr6jmkJnoaHpNJT9HWE6hyphenhyphenOUalaZHyrmepmO-pf6HlskoxmlZMStCYcw-X3YeHtrP8IJ0nLTg9ALcgMJb9TAcrRVME4uswRGgwNviLg0Dhh4UnE7/s400/DSC_0366.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493098462370009890" border="0" /></a>Laughing at Mama<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzqq8-Ij-5RVJ4sgZRnOGenbrJEocYdNvp8R3sfFJHnb-9qgxfMGoMZMsplFF3KyTxCWlHbQzPlaLlExXH5IO5rd80UDQ9DkP7XGM0nyfEUNidpUPhUuqCGRiXbNeY5KAI1skdSrl/s1600/DSC_0226.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzqq8-Ij-5RVJ4sgZRnOGenbrJEocYdNvp8R3sfFJHnb-9qgxfMGoMZMsplFF3KyTxCWlHbQzPlaLlExXH5IO5rd80UDQ9DkP7XGM0nyfEUNidpUPhUuqCGRiXbNeY5KAI1skdSrl/s400/DSC_0226.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493065751706086690" border="0" /></a><br />He rolled over yesterday for the first time, but we missed it! After months of sucking on his knuckles, he finally found his thumb a couple days ago and seems to enjoy it. Loves Pat-a-Cake.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Finding his thumb<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNP6C13TOTy63wFyQyrj0NRxV3i3OkxyYG6bd1K_Tm5cNlwzVmclv3z_I2zsZzHnRTor_ZNMvp7ri1BO0Q1vEpX_ze_2PoG0ZcHGjUtjatVwtvaRc656fYx4iS1zZs1oeyB9DcLc8S/s1600/DSC_0292.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNP6C13TOTy63wFyQyrj0NRxV3i3OkxyYG6bd1K_Tm5cNlwzVmclv3z_I2zsZzHnRTor_ZNMvp7ri1BO0Q1vEpX_ze_2PoG0ZcHGjUtjatVwtvaRc656fYx4iS1zZs1oeyB9DcLc8S/s400/DSC_0292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493065728862789362" border="0" /></a><br />He seems to be growing well. Last time I had him on the scale he was just shy of 14 lbs, so he's nearly doubled his birth weight. He likes to stand and jump like his big sister. More updates on both kids after their doctor appointments in a couple of weeks.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This one's older (Owen was about 6 weeks) but it's fun to compare to the next one of Kate when she was about 3 months old. They look so much alike! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtds9dF8CmbEvF2YR_UqJvjNMFbdsA1T0ZdBJ2qRu3_myOXriO4dz4j13-zj9TQaq_TS9KyPAED1fnmwinfhpLKZem1RGeAN_Ic8qIU94IT3d8n2g0o9XzuYzrPglUCmKkbnWhYPE9/s1600/DSC_0039.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtds9dF8CmbEvF2YR_UqJvjNMFbdsA1T0ZdBJ2qRu3_myOXriO4dz4j13-zj9TQaq_TS9KyPAED1fnmwinfhpLKZem1RGeAN_Ic8qIU94IT3d8n2g0o9XzuYzrPglUCmKkbnWhYPE9/s400/DSC_0039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493065737672548658" border="0" /></a>Do you think so?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzjQ-DDP-Gf0oH43Ls1HLelCfiNjREcQ1m8OxBXgmgUxAdmb7MK3kRioeTdxXzb7pfle6Qcl1vfPbgR18bjmSohVf92g2l0SrhgLJNIHeKJAQGnVSspdgHy8Ae-2bLxRC1PWft3uO/s1600/DSC_0214.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpzjQ-DDP-Gf0oH43Ls1HLelCfiNjREcQ1m8OxBXgmgUxAdmb7MK3kRioeTdxXzb7pfle6Qcl1vfPbgR18bjmSohVf92g2l0SrhgLJNIHeKJAQGnVSspdgHy8Ae-2bLxRC1PWft3uO/s400/DSC_0214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493065754567966498" border="0" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-17844837667672913482010-07-12T09:08:00.000-07:002010-07-12T09:37:44.836-07:00Awfully QuietKate: Can we go to Nana's house?<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Me: Let me go talk to Daddy about it. (Proceeds upstairs for said talk.)<br /></div><br />....about 5 minutes pass....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Me: Hmm, I wonder what Kate is up to.<br />Mike: She has been awfully quiet.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">...come downstairs to find this....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD-Z7BEa65IFRa9nAUWORkb2eh_Rb_0l_1YI49MweiE-lWFpSLm7UFLdyXKq4qr7Y7oNa4XiyCedomN_n0sHJLI0svOZ1-U5e3oNyeoH6R6kLdtxNYfbyJJLfHJNb13wlGxd_ef1n/s1600/DSC_0352.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD-Z7BEa65IFRa9nAUWORkb2eh_Rb_0l_1YI49MweiE-lWFpSLm7UFLdyXKq4qr7Y7oNa4XiyCedomN_n0sHJLI0svOZ1-U5e3oNyeoH6R6kLdtxNYfbyJJLfHJNb13wlGxd_ef1n/s400/DSC_0352.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493054050718738962" border="0" /></a>It's pretty hard to discipline your child when you're laughing hysterically.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6OEsjSpMD8eLOdBaINlqov03_W8gNmUqXgby2cFI7tx-4iI3k7cij9kPGhbPGz7OmdNfbhLoOR4HQj9oauIrSxEpGyFiD4kzK1IYEfNMpjuaStEN4Up0aTC_Fx03zA7OfalzcoRk/s1600/DSC_0356.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy6OEsjSpMD8eLOdBaINlqov03_W8gNmUqXgby2cFI7tx-4iI3k7cij9kPGhbPGz7OmdNfbhLoOR4HQj9oauIrSxEpGyFiD4kzK1IYEfNMpjuaStEN4Up0aTC_Fx03zA7OfalzcoRk/s400/DSC_0356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493054062576725474" border="0" /></a>Yup Nutella.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJnoG0kx6NrxXWaeieCj65JfgkhdS0jTKvlAmLOyRPJnrb-XaBM5NB3SdMY0ZlsMU8aYoeMYYMlojp_w0g2-h9zen_Q9O47e53pkH5yBsjjAJpDd3saxrdmX2_-gEbzG6kVSgRlCv/s1600/DSC_0358.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJnoG0kx6NrxXWaeieCj65JfgkhdS0jTKvlAmLOyRPJnrb-XaBM5NB3SdMY0ZlsMU8aYoeMYYMlojp_w0g2-h9zen_Q9O47e53pkH5yBsjjAJpDd3saxrdmX2_-gEbzG6kVSgRlCv/s400/DSC_0358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493054085941706082" border="0" /></a>Kinda gives new meaning to, "The proof is in the pudding."<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmeMflvALlehRLsuL3vAT0XyHMhnGTq-ELF8JEd9LHWp4lYBwAAIn_NVwiqOpITrvNsdBFame8JCXPirtcLDwTsdHlTI918e33jlkzpPYD4VVDD3mi1Uc4RoF1KDRODEex8a_71WO/s1600/DSC_0360.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmeMflvALlehRLsuL3vAT0XyHMhnGTq-ELF8JEd9LHWp4lYBwAAIn_NVwiqOpITrvNsdBFame8JCXPirtcLDwTsdHlTI918e33jlkzpPYD4VVDD3mi1Uc4RoF1KDRODEex8a_71WO/s400/DSC_0360.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493054762892184754" border="0" /></a><br />And of course, this conversation from <span style="font-style: italic;">Baby Mama</span> comes to mind:<br /><br />Is that poop or chocolate? (tastes some). Chocolate!<br /><br />What if that had been poop?<br /><br />Like I said, kids are messy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD-Z7BEa65IFRa9nAUWORkb2eh_Rb_0l_1YI49MweiE-lWFpSLm7UFLdyXKq4qr7Y7oNa4XiyCedomN_n0sHJLI0svOZ1-U5e3oNyeoH6R6kLdtxNYfbyJJLfHJNb13wlGxd_ef1n/s1600/DSC_0352.JPG"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-9064036704410845182010-05-19T09:16:00.000-07:002010-05-19T11:03:11.799-07:00Pulling the Plug<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSo42MinPd-YJ4EfvKFxrMqJgnzsb3RWnxymI0_-a_FeHOSFsk6QCFaUo5cOzpVLqbmCAcp48J41RRkavNkMBvl3_dknsqaHBfC1EotN444DKZhQlCYcbcD9FbLhRghxl0W_Oi5nkz/s1600/DSC_0389.JPG"><br /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After nearly three years, Kate is BINKY FREE!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />That's right folks, we finally pulled the plug on this incessant sucker. We've been telling her for a couple of weeks that she's a big girl now and doesn't need it any more. Then on Friday night we told her that it was her very last night for the binky and that tomorrow we would be sending them to the cloud babies that need them.<br /><br />Come Saturday morning, Mike went to the store and got some balloons while Kate and I watched the Pixar Short <span style="font-style: italic;">Partly Cloudy</span> a couple of times so that she knew where her binkies were headed. We tried to make it a really memorable ceremony. Here are the pictures...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWwwY38xcl2DPuqVEezxmyc67vGPMQGCFwOSkdNtty8vZhjH2tsshppjLPPSyJ3WNkVpkO56EGLilMyDMMh5SPNrcN7JBYfd3AFBdvQSsmLOW6RPJVu98PVUVdWssssJUp8lFAp4i/s1600/DSC_0385.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWwwY38xcl2DPuqVEezxmyc67vGPMQGCFwOSkdNtty8vZhjH2tsshppjLPPSyJ3WNkVpkO56EGLilMyDMMh5SPNrcN7JBYfd3AFBdvQSsmLOW6RPJVu98PVUVdWssssJUp8lFAp4i/s400/DSC_0385.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473017474874831970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSo42MinPd-YJ4EfvKFxrMqJgnzsb3RWnxymI0_-a_FeHOSFsk6QCFaUo5cOzpVLqbmCAcp48J41RRkavNkMBvl3_dknsqaHBfC1EotN444DKZhQlCYcbcD9FbLhRghxl0W_Oi5nkz/s1600/DSC_0389.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSo42MinPd-YJ4EfvKFxrMqJgnzsb3RWnxymI0_-a_FeHOSFsk6QCFaUo5cOzpVLqbmCAcp48J41RRkavNkMBvl3_dknsqaHBfC1EotN444DKZhQlCYcbcD9FbLhRghxl0W_Oi5nkz/s400/DSC_0389.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473017488185401650" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh yes, and that is the half-eaten balloon cookie she got as a consolation prize.<br /><br />So it's been 4+ days and she's done amazingly well. Only asked for her binky a couple of times and has gone to bed at night without much fuss. That first night she asked for her blankie and when I gave it to her she said, "Please don't ever send my blankie away." So sad and so sweet at the same time.<br />I did say "at night" right? Oh, that's because since the flight of the binkies Kate hasn't had a nap. Previously she would skip her nap once a week or so, and last week she had a couple of WAY late nights after having had a nap, so we wondered if she was transitioning out of naps. I guess without a binkie, naptime just isn't worth it anymore. ;) Easier transition for her than for me BY FAR.<br /><br />Kate is an amazing nearly 3-year-old. She is really into names and relationships, and she remembers names so well too. She tells us who is a daughter and who is a son and who has a mama. She loves to make-believe play with just about any pair of animals or dinosaurs or mermaids or dragons or whatever! She just has to have a toy for each hand and she's golden.<br /><br />She comes up with the funniest things to say, too. She copies our words and intonations just perfectly. The other night when Mike got home she asked him, "How's your day, Daddy?" It was the way she said it--like an adult--that made it so memorable.<br />Yesterday as she was putting chapstick on my back (yep, my back) she was telling me, "Don't worry, Mama, it's just pressure. I'm making you beautiful." I tell her not to worry it's just pressure when I'm clipping her fingernails.<br /><br />Another funny Kate story while we're on the subject:<br /><br />The other night after having one of the biggest #2's on the potty Kate took a look and said, "Mama, I made some magic!"<br /><br />We love you so much, Miss Kate.<br /><br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-55481407151051039702010-03-20T14:08:00.001-07:002010-03-20T14:09:09.708-07:00First smile?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7vBmbr-ZQfB1iXtaq749xIlr0V02oZl_-BINvrki0LKJN02kEVi9KnnxTrjj4Jk331azceNT5hs13vo3EKmji_XTj9WwXaF3c0gJBvonladlqxEBYGq6N9sAbU-ThEMYxDKzFB-lOWjJ/s1600-h/DSC_0922.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx7vBmbr-ZQfB1iXtaq749xIlr0V02oZl_-BINvrki0LKJN02kEVi9KnnxTrjj4Jk331azceNT5hs13vo3EKmji_XTj9WwXaF3c0gJBvonladlqxEBYGq6N9sAbU-ThEMYxDKzFB-lOWjJ/s400/DSC_0922.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450826081483567970" /></a>mikemetcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840201778279817674noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-29287857602288363452010-03-20T14:00:00.001-07:002010-03-20T14:05:21.274-07:00Owen Michael, the man, the myth, the legend7lbs 2 ounces, 19 inches long, healthy and strong. Welcome to the world little buddy :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0DbScfkteyR2liQf9CifCw2vyj8tClcVOhyphenhyphenvPSqjTuG45A-V5AMfSTSu8Sm6iOrXGZdvAy49bTveZ8wqG6QXin2JHCdhyXV62lsJ7mCMVgx1CztY0wZY9HjEzwmasui3y_iD6LeSqxHt/s1600-h/DSC_0894.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0DbScfkteyR2liQf9CifCw2vyj8tClcVOhyphenhyphenvPSqjTuG45A-V5AMfSTSu8Sm6iOrXGZdvAy49bTveZ8wqG6QXin2JHCdhyXV62lsJ7mCMVgx1CztY0wZY9HjEzwmasui3y_iD6LeSqxHt/s400/DSC_0894.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450824162229391314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDid5eaT4lhvCquOd4JdSocWbYZalOQoucjAOkVHOC2Dq7_K-eR9lUbpnm2-WefyXeBG3OKxezTfUeKHi4Ak6gHUyt8MOqTxWBmILtV7zphGuBsEkSe7f8CDw3jD4Rmp-eUWgZmY7FNTrh/s1600-h/DSC_0893.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDid5eaT4lhvCquOd4JdSocWbYZalOQoucjAOkVHOC2Dq7_K-eR9lUbpnm2-WefyXeBG3OKxezTfUeKHi4Ak6gHUyt8MOqTxWBmILtV7zphGuBsEkSe7f8CDw3jD4Rmp-eUWgZmY7FNTrh/s400/DSC_0893.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450824153697938242" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8_VAGy2rekcSir_X0NMptZSDJBXkYBmbDmveuZrF6jyUMTrkkreomNVo2EtSkfRYDWM6poYtEs4CVd6IgPy-Ilc0DIQlvL75W6a2IFWhDu_28TPeX4cFHQokDvK_iK953B1_4c0fhZkp/s1600-h/DSC_0915.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8_VAGy2rekcSir_X0NMptZSDJBXkYBmbDmveuZrF6jyUMTrkkreomNVo2EtSkfRYDWM6poYtEs4CVd6IgPy-Ilc0DIQlvL75W6a2IFWhDu_28TPeX4cFHQokDvK_iK953B1_4c0fhZkp/s400/DSC_0915.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450824182458129410" border="0" /></a>mikemetcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840201778279817674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-18050225087672252382010-03-20T12:28:00.000-07:002010-03-20T13:02:03.866-07:0013:27 - The end is nigh!<span style="font-weight:bold;">1:27</span> Lydia has now dilated to a 7.5! She's chomping on ice chips and grimacing pleasantly. We have 7 visitors present in the room, and we're very happy they could all join us for Owen's debut. More updates coming soon...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1:45</span> 8.5, Owen's in a tight spot. Everyone's getting excited. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2:00</span> Over a 9 now. Mama's feelin some pain now. Jed (Dr.) came in to check her out. Baby is looking good, and almost ready to meet the world!mikemetcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840201778279817674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-78896244479395643382010-03-20T10:47:00.000-07:002010-03-20T10:49:35.767-07:00Progress<span style="font-weight:bold;">11:30</span> We're dilated to a 5 and moving to 6! Well, Lydia is anyway. I'm not dilated at all yet.mikemetcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840201778279817674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-70596773050380539262010-03-20T09:53:00.000-07:002010-03-20T10:00:49.375-07:00URGENT UPDATE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlbsPsmDQBv9soRlgKRpj3X6yIIn4GaUyThI5xyRkzC5jUr7e4otWiErol1zkbWCYZoCckq-DgOSYXz5nc9TG5O_ywGtf_jJQREujjjhDJw2MeRho0pNUGMwCbFbVJ2uO_FxKNOpr7Cqo/s1600-h/popsicle.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKlbsPsmDQBv9soRlgKRpj3X6yIIn4GaUyThI5xyRkzC5jUr7e4otWiErol1zkbWCYZoCckq-DgOSYXz5nc9TG5O_ywGtf_jJQREujjjhDJw2MeRho0pNUGMwCbFbVJ2uO_FxKNOpr7Cqo/s400/popsicle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450760413941629202" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">9:43</span> Popsicle Given<br /><br />That is all.mikemetcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840201778279817674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-19486808673672595212010-03-20T08:59:00.001-07:002010-03-20T09:17:31.326-07:00Bring on the pain!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQdu3Lb30chMlUP7w3N7s74kzqBv3IhKdTNTp98W3lYLeGQuXLUt3NHW5ozaVwflaARsTP87HJRHL5buVx62CK5qZSSrOeLSS756z1JDNCmaUxg3ZH6L-pYeoQRAY7zhlvAcoi7bWAxiF/s1600-h/wifey.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQdu3Lb30chMlUP7w3N7s74kzqBv3IhKdTNTp98W3lYLeGQuXLUt3NHW5ozaVwflaARsTP87HJRHL5buVx62CK5qZSSrOeLSS756z1JDNCmaUxg3ZH6L-pYeoQRAY7zhlvAcoi7bWAxiF/s400/wifey.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450746617003213330" /></a>mikemetcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840201778279817674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-1729928321310085692010-03-20T08:23:00.000-07:002010-03-20T08:36:57.734-07:00Water broke!<span style="font-weight: bold;">9:15 </span>Water is broken, and we're on our way! A nurse came in and just poked her with some little blue rod. TMI?? Get used to it.<br /><br />She's getting a catheter placed now. We're waiting to increase the Pitocin for another few minutes so we don't stress him out with all of the sudden changes. Little does he know the worst is yet to come. Passing through the canal and learning how to breathe will seem like a walk in the park compared to circumcision. *wince* Poor little guy...mikemetcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840201778279817674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-40459547566482569102010-03-20T07:51:00.000-07:002010-03-20T09:18:39.754-07:00Pre-game showGood morning folks and welcome to the the second ever triennial baby pre-game show! I'm Mike Metcalf, and I'll be calling the plays today.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">8:30</span> We're checked in, and ready to go.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">8:50</span> Nurse got Lydia hooked up to an IV in her wrist (not the funnest place for an IV according to the patient).<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />9:00</span> Pitocin is going, and so are the contractions.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />9:10</span> Epidural is in!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSLI2CbC8boskxCF_3Ok7XtlFtfyH5t3XmQz4fOhyF8cyeMimq35dMkLFbIYk-wK6yZprseOtVpkOHCLXsT8vN0Wn-wDsvHQQloOpdBHx8VQkkPVT3mutTKVkB-4iEVZXUOuaq0SUVsHX/s1600-h/epidural.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSSLI2CbC8boskxCF_3Ok7XtlFtfyH5t3XmQz4fOhyF8cyeMimq35dMkLFbIYk-wK6yZprseOtVpkOHCLXsT8vN0Wn-wDsvHQQloOpdBHx8VQkkPVT3mutTKVkB-4iEVZXUOuaq0SUVsHX/s400/epidural.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450743100339293042" /></a><br />Click the picture to see that needle in it's full glory.mikemetcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840201778279817674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-45316643619326375102010-03-16T11:22:00.000-07:002010-03-16T11:29:07.168-07:00made the decisionSo at my dr appt yesterday, Jed said, "now why didn't we have you scheduled for induction today?"<br /><br />He was serious, and said that baby looks good and we can be started anytime. So funny that I want him out so much, but it seemed so hard to say, "ok, let's go!" <br /><br />So after a little thought and talk, we decided to just go ahead and schedule the induction for our due date of March 23rd. The reason? Overwhelmingly the date. Call me silly, but Kate was born on 6/26 and he would be 3/23, making their birthdays easy to remember. PLUS both on a Tuesday, and from the looks of it, they'll be really close to the same size, and maybe even born around the same time. All those questions will be so easy to answer when I am old and senile. Just planning for the future, folks.<br /><br />So stay tuned...a week from now I suspect Mike will be giving the play-by-play like he did with Kate.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-35575856695329189742010-03-15T10:47:00.000-07:002010-03-15T14:36:27.705-07:00thoughts on the eve of 39 weeksThis is the 3rd post I have started in the last 2 weeks and I am determined to get it published!<br /><br />If you had asked me 6 weeks ago if I would still be pregnant today, 1 week before my due date, I would have told you there was no way I would make it. While I am glad Baby didn't come early for his developmental sake, I truly can't believe I've made it this long. As of right now, I am thinking I will likely get started on my due date like I did with Kate. 8 days and counting...<br /><br />There are so many ways that this feels like I am pregnant for the first time. I don't know if I am super forgetful, or if it is just different this time. I don't remember having so many contractions, or being SO uncomfortable all the time. I don't miss the swelling that was enormously present with my first pregnancy though; THAT I can remember.<br /><br />It's amazing to me that our family will be changing again. Just like any life change--getting married, having your first child--I am in that state of wonderment when you think, "what IS it going to be like?" And you really don't know until you're there for yourself. <br /><br />Kate is doing awesome with the whole thing, although I do secretly suspect she thinks that "Baby Brother" is just the name we gave my big belly! We've been talking about it so long that in kid years, it must seem like I've always been pregnant. Heck-<span style="font-style: italic;">I</span> feel like I have always been pregnant!!<br /><br />More than anything, I am just anxious to get on with this next phase of life. The waiting is beginning to feel like I am watching water waiting for it to boil....<br /><br />Can't wait to meet you, Little Guy. Come out soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-7172181138115991192010-01-25T14:27:00.000-08:002010-01-25T14:29:36.149-08:00A following?So I am, as you can imagine, a little baffled by the rapid increase in traffic to my blog. Not that I mind so much, just curious. Anyone care to share where you are coming to my blog from?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-60297134671384229332010-01-07T15:32:00.001-08:002010-01-07T15:39:14.127-08:00the picture just doesn't do it justice, but here's the story<div style="text-align: center;">So I just opened the front door and there were several people standing in the street looking at up at the house to the east of ours and some were even taking pictures. So I asked what was going on and they told me there was a BALD EAGLE in my neighbor's tree. I had to see for myself, and I did. IT WAS HUGE! And beautiful. I went back in and got Kate's boots on so she see it too. We went back out and had another look. The others that were there said it had been in the tree for a while. I ran back in again to get my camera and when I got back out this time he was flying over the house to our south. This is the picture I got (zoomed in as best I could):<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_ruxGTh39Pcn5Mog1KDZkurAya2eqlS-YeE2H-xAxfqA8i1qBBjrwx6hg75jD9jO3KQRDN1BKgdJH5ZxN4i5gzg0-PaNfmbsjh9TmnxmhA9ay7ajQ3LDYFB8zgOsexuVANjyPVQ1/s1600-h/DSC_0747.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_ruxGTh39Pcn5Mog1KDZkurAya2eqlS-YeE2H-xAxfqA8i1qBBjrwx6hg75jD9jO3KQRDN1BKgdJH5ZxN4i5gzg0-PaNfmbsjh9TmnxmhA9ay7ajQ3LDYFB8zgOsexuVANjyPVQ1/s400/DSC_0747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424144982615637426" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-73405085083990224382010-01-06T09:22:00.000-08:002010-01-06T10:18:57.326-08:00He bite my finger a 'dil bit.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcYvKQmL1edJRy5JCgLlEAqkxheyiRGoRzxVXr1THJ5RrMjKnpLhJIWMfqg2BXdCazRJQcWn0uwSHktsaZFj717LvUyHlpp8VGo_ix8mD43qPzD0x69jFbAXdvKdK68Iu7fDUonIT/s1600-h/DSC_0708.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcYvKQmL1edJRy5JCgLlEAqkxheyiRGoRzxVXr1THJ5RrMjKnpLhJIWMfqg2BXdCazRJQcWn0uwSHktsaZFj717LvUyHlpp8VGo_ix8mD43qPzD0x69jFbAXdvKdK68Iu7fDUonIT/s400/DSC_0708.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423685525789319858" border="0" /></a><br />Kate has been totally into dinosaurs lately. She got some great ones for Christmas and has been playing with them everyday.<br />Last night she woke us up screaming and it took me a minute to calm her down enough to see what the matter was, though I suspected a bad dream. Once she was calm she told me there was a dinosaur under her bed. At first, I thought she just wanted one of her toy dinosaurs and it fell under the bed. But no, what she meant was there was a REAL dinosaur under her bed. So I told her I would check, and tucked her in telling her there aren't any dinosaurs under her bed.<br />After about 3 rounds of this, I pulled her into our bed in order to get some sleep.<br /><span dir="ltr" id=":fu">Right when Kate woke up this morning she went into her room without saying anything. </span>She came back a few minutes later saying "I can't find 'em, mama."<br />"Find who?"<div id=":fr" dir="ltr" class="kl">"The dinosaurs under my bed." That was all I heard of it for the next two hours, and then just now we had this conversation:<br />Kate: "I need to go check on 'em."<br />Me: "Check on who?"<br /></div>Kate: 'The dinosaurs under my bed." And off she went. Upon her return:<br />Me: "Is he scary, sweetie?"<br />Kate: "No, he's nice. I check on him and he's nice. I'm not worried about him. He bite me a 'dil bit. He's nice and bite me a 'dil bit. On my finger a 'dil bit." Then she went back upstairs again, this time with her binkie and her blankie.<br />"I give him my binkie and my blankie. He's nice. I'm not worried about him."<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf2uW_IM0h6ZBSEf1Lv2Xy7zJwA44KHfmhJfEUuzg1Oqm5Ii7w4G6rND83iJ-gNrgDGccDZJu1qaUwcHe8oZ7naTnV5sspxQAXKugeIlZwUAjnScMiqYYo1k7fD_EZmvkicKymqUm/s1600-h/DSC_0745.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf2uW_IM0h6ZBSEf1Lv2Xy7zJwA44KHfmhJfEUuzg1Oqm5Ii7w4G6rND83iJ-gNrgDGccDZJu1qaUwcHe8oZ7naTnV5sspxQAXKugeIlZwUAjnScMiqYYo1k7fD_EZmvkicKymqUm/s400/DSC_0745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423685527720256386" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I seriously wouldn't think anything of this wad of blankie by her bed if I didn't know the story behind it.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqPzgyQGJDUGWn47SALIdNOwnWp03GrLfQxsFom4jjH2oGJvXn9OQwpxjDRO9YrfV2dtToJe6PC_pNGVa_-As1zL1yZ7deah9nR-RMfnYVkotgu54C3pFl-YBK39AAOVo_ryXRz_H/s1600-h/DSC_0746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqPzgyQGJDUGWn47SALIdNOwnWp03GrLfQxsFom4jjH2oGJvXn9OQwpxjDRO9YrfV2dtToJe6PC_pNGVa_-As1zL1yZ7deah9nR-RMfnYVkotgu54C3pFl-YBK39AAOVo_ryXRz_H/s400/DSC_0746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423685533002953522" border="0" /></a>And binkie a little further under the bed.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-54461654462172243772009-08-26T09:25:00.000-07:002009-08-26T09:30:26.960-07:00SUCCESS!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikHl3NwmF0aPTlnO_dCbVEyBZY8XEg1N16E7VbeevjVpd3DBPk__cOi6nXfgpP9vGkq6YU_6CDKhVRm1fmfDIKKpk5U_wJ8vB6QV7SJDF1mVS06TLSJ-oaFo9FxgdhO6iRHtqf4w4/s1600-h/DSC_0310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikHl3NwmF0aPTlnO_dCbVEyBZY8XEg1N16E7VbeevjVpd3DBPk__cOi6nXfgpP9vGkq6YU_6CDKhVRm1fmfDIKKpk5U_wJ8vB6QV7SJDF1mVS06TLSJ-oaFo9FxgdhO6iRHtqf4w4/s400/DSC_0310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374310636308537810" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Hooray for Miss Kate! She has been doing <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-style: italic;">AWESOME</span> on the potty for the last couple of weeks, but this week has had several accident/diaper free days. Today she woke up dry and held it for another hour before we finally remembered to get her to the potty.<br /><br />Good Job, Kate. We sure are proud of you.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-13993091754528462482009-08-21T14:58:00.000-07:002009-08-21T15:05:01.550-07:00To all my MJ fans out there<div style="text-align: center;">Have you see this clip? It's taken from a Larry King episode where they toured Michael Jackson's house after his death. It's kind of freaky, but cool too.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwOyoL2EtXUcYkhPQsmhO7tFk1vwuwa5odIjr5xY8o8PwiShFEVp6QsR4p0amjF3VfYBNqavRy64LQU8O0dJg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-92225214547874514122009-08-19T11:22:00.000-07:002009-08-19T11:51:43.680-07:00Seeing Kidney BeansI had my first prenatal appointment this morning. What a relief it is to see that little growing embryo and hear its quick little heartbeat. I also found out that I am only 8 1/2 weeks along (not 9 1/2 like I thought I might be) making my due date March 26th.<br /><br />Just thought you might like to know. :D<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> Oh, and until my next post (heaven knows when that will be) enjoy this hilarious clip :<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pampers.co.uk/en_GB/video/babyseyes.jsp">http://www.pampers.co.uk/en_GB/video/babyseyes.jsp</a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-73775906114589330552009-08-17T13:54:00.000-07:002009-08-17T14:30:47.495-07:002-year-old moments<div style="text-align: center;">Kate turned two in June, and we had her party at my dad's pool again. Here she is blowing out her candles. We practiced singing Happy Birthday and blowing out candles for several weeks prior to her party. Just look at that honed in focus!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ffNGcl_seZHdOT_ENwRli9ljhq1bwejMcSS_zhmu03Q6qWVphfnIjxp0km5LpFaHJMgP2GgtCZGE2Lv1DL7PdjsFm6ws9MPxF-rPq_Z5RWpT4pwCFFA-crkVbUrHFmVIeHqBh5H6/s1600-h/DSC_0054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ffNGcl_seZHdOT_ENwRli9ljhq1bwejMcSS_zhmu03Q6qWVphfnIjxp0km5LpFaHJMgP2GgtCZGE2Lv1DL7PdjsFm6ws9MPxF-rPq_Z5RWpT4pwCFFA-crkVbUrHFmVIeHqBh5H6/s400/DSC_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371041703435861394" border="0" /></a>Kate got a kitten for her birthday. She loves her "Mittens" dearly, and tortures her daily. :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_h9qvTqJXCmFUgcGW_BHDBYyFbqNJNkbK_HyQ7qqW5SyqTMm1F-Fc86LN4OauNUQts5a1_isErRqD9X0FafS1Y5gH_S7npo6lyw4cDU5Ps0b_VdMOp3j4MM7O5L_fnqxW6fNUre8D/s1600-h/DSC_0125.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_h9qvTqJXCmFUgcGW_BHDBYyFbqNJNkbK_HyQ7qqW5SyqTMm1F-Fc86LN4OauNUQts5a1_isErRqD9X0FafS1Y5gH_S7npo6lyw4cDU5Ps0b_VdMOp3j4MM7O5L_fnqxW6fNUre8D/s400/DSC_0125.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371041715299996322" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">In the month of July, Kate's cousin Eli was in town from Ohio and they went on lots of adventures together. This is them at the Dinosaur Park in Ogden.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJS9FK0-bYHQA8NdXDeK7F3hgvJoRthrGuczUKcgYEzi9UWwb41ALCy6Zz_xtyNl1cKiyU57JV1-ktvJOlo7AwgITCS-KoM0LJR5VCm-wyyslXttFsJERSmajLCcOFx3tvFp0d60T/s1600-h/DSC_0142.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJS9FK0-bYHQA8NdXDeK7F3hgvJoRthrGuczUKcgYEzi9UWwb41ALCy6Zz_xtyNl1cKiyU57JV1-ktvJOlo7AwgITCS-KoM0LJR5VCm-wyyslXttFsJERSmajLCcOFx3tvFp0d60T/s400/DSC_0142.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371041721661466082" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Kate thoroughly enjoyed the fireworks, and I was lucky enough to get this awesome reaction in a picture. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHFmz4QyKXvxdrX4Jg_9Ri9PiejDFIpuwPJsT3JHMP549zsQUJic2u8TyMyZb4vuzbBDMzpQhgOoOfawqw8_hdQojnipFvXDjrAS_KeliHUX8-kJd6OWx03F2_hERL1SKpf-BHrWY/s1600-h/DSC_0320.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHFmz4QyKXvxdrX4Jg_9Ri9PiejDFIpuwPJsT3JHMP549zsQUJic2u8TyMyZb4vuzbBDMzpQhgOoOfawqw8_hdQojnipFvXDjrAS_KeliHUX8-kJd6OWx03F2_hERL1SKpf-BHrWY/s400/DSC_0320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371043547060790754" border="0" /></a>One of Kate's favorite activities is playing in water in the backyard, be it sprinklers, the hose, or this bucket. One day she was wanting to play in the sink while I was doing dishes, so I added dish soap to her bucket. She had the time of her life!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcS5b5ISmJ8K7UTe3Sz_S8LFVhbLenvU36DbpsMMH2lDEygZYYKGcOUVuBNo2gPplYYE-8X4Nr974_hEwncdf8BMHLhIYg2q2pfuxLiqi1iGAkq3d27Ex33V5W7kuzpN6zazny8ic/s1600-h/DSC_0330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcS5b5ISmJ8K7UTe3Sz_S8LFVhbLenvU36DbpsMMH2lDEygZYYKGcOUVuBNo2gPplYYE-8X4Nr974_hEwncdf8BMHLhIYg2q2pfuxLiqi1iGAkq3d27Ex33V5W7kuzpN6zazny8ic/s400/DSC_0330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371043555509291714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">On a recent visit to Orem, we went up to Bridalveil Falls in Provo Canyon. The lighting was absolutely perfect that evening, and I took about a hundred pictures. These two are my favorites! The two loves of my life.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSa1p3OP44oHyztA3MrVrlrvY8ZzXCVT8Xv7wIU6iq7ZfmSUEhyphenhyphenUTPCvWTmi2uR1hI06cVQJvpCHfVeZfaNwqrrogHQmNLCX08xP5YtpfhbTokvsLvScm-RjCaNCrUglHfN7KUREl/s1600-h/DSC_0189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirSa1p3OP44oHyztA3MrVrlrvY8ZzXCVT8Xv7wIU6iq7ZfmSUEhyphenhyphenUTPCvWTmi2uR1hI06cVQJvpCHfVeZfaNwqrrogHQmNLCX08xP5YtpfhbTokvsLvScm-RjCaNCrUglHfN7KUREl/s400/DSC_0189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371041732533366786" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYGQGL1XRqPlqQq8rAaVdAeC_HhDNryaOhtoDswW92nYgDgWlhi-98AeQT8BLj8fGUDvMagwrEe2n6coZgZtW7fyZ6XMsN8irTT5AXQCanTCvAKAdd4JpW6LPM74xWmRL_-KRBq70/s1600-h/DSC_0197.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYGQGL1XRqPlqQq8rAaVdAeC_HhDNryaOhtoDswW92nYgDgWlhi-98AeQT8BLj8fGUDvMagwrEe2n6coZgZtW7fyZ6XMsN8irTT5AXQCanTCvAKAdd4JpW6LPM74xWmRL_-KRBq70/s400/DSC_0197.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371041741325650418" border="0" /></a><br />I found out I am pregnant (yay!) a couple of weeks ago, and this weekend we announced it to Mike's family. I printed about 25 pictures that I had taken over the last month or so and put this one at the end. It was so fun to see the delayed reactions as each person read the sign Kate was holding. It was a fun and memorable way to announce.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdBrCpvg3axzjuzREKJmqZmMluwo_mw1cRSQLsMsY96y0v1mSCmFdK7I4jA3wJoTYJ1S9mBZpldiezOXDurIoL7T3ddGe8kQZYLA30D1opkARYDweggNWHXcCpHtUcTvYBOdRze6B/s1600-h/DSC_0415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdBrCpvg3axzjuzREKJmqZmMluwo_mw1cRSQLsMsY96y0v1mSCmFdK7I4jA3wJoTYJ1S9mBZpldiezOXDurIoL7T3ddGe8kQZYLA30D1opkARYDweggNWHXcCpHtUcTvYBOdRze6B/s400/DSC_0415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371043574597461314" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-27602172229877406162009-07-20T08:31:00.000-07:002009-07-20T08:41:52.082-07:00Body-for-LIFEA few days ago I stepped onto the scale to see a whopping 170 glare back at me. I have only been this weight (not pregnant, that is) one other time in my life--right after high school. It hit me hard that I am at my heaviest weight ever and something's GOT TO CHANGE.<br /><br />In January of 2000 I rang in not only a new year but a new millennium and kicked it off with a diet/workout plan I had been reading about: <a href="http://bodyforlife.com">Body-for-LIFE</a>. If you haven't heard of it, you should check it out. Anyway, at that time, I didn't participate in the 12 week challenge but I did incorporate the priciples the plan is founded upon into my life. I lost 33 lbs over the next several months and more or less kept it off until I got pregnant almost 3 years ago. I let everything go, and I haven't gotten it back yet.<br /><br />Until today that is. Not only have I recommitted to getting back the health and confidence I once enjoyed, I have entered the 12 week challenge and I have dragged Mike into it with me. He's a good sport, and a great ally to have on my team. Together I want to lose those 35 lbs again and Mike wants to add some muscle tone and definition.<br /><br />I just took my before pictures... not a pretty sight. I will consider posting them once the challenge is done, but for now they're just to keep me motivated. I letting you all in on the loop so that you know I am 100% committed to this and any support or encouragement you want to throw my way will be received with gratitude. Oh, and don't be offended if I decline dessert or alter any food you have prepared. it's not personal, it's business.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5717937731393561368.post-12367363202676882252009-02-12T14:00:00.001-08:002009-02-12T14:08:50.938-08:00Valium goes ViralI can't get enough of David. Not sure if you've seen this yet, but the first time I saw it was Feb. 2nd and I was amazed that 3 days after it's posting it had been viewed over 200,000 times. Right now (13 days after it's posting) it's at 8,230,724 and it already has a ton of spin-off videos. Enjoy!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/txqiwrbYGrs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/txqiwrbYGrs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Mike and I quote this daily... "Is this real life?", "Why is this happening to me?", "You have four eyes.", "Is this going to be forEVER?" Such classic lines. Makes me want to get to know this kid when he's not completely wasted.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7