Spring!

Before I begin, let me say that I forgot that when I upload photos, they go in the reverse of what you think. So, all the photos below are in reverse chronological order.
It has been a long time since I updated our blog. Lots has happened, we have all grown, and are loving this spring weather! We took the children out to the Arch grounds yesterday and loved just frolicing in the green grass under the Arch. Clayton took some fun Arch photos that you see below. In addition, last night we ate outside in the yard and Clayton took a short video of Colin and Audrey (with a special glimpse of pregnant Kerri) doing what they do best. It is worth watching if you have a minute - literally.
Last weekend, Dad came down with his wife, Brenda, to help us put in a small garden. He was scheduled for his double bypass heart surgery Monday (and is recovering and doing well at home now). When I asked him not to come and help, he insisted saying, "I'm really looking forward to planting with Colin and Audrey." He had this certainty to his voice and I just couldn't resist. We didn't let him do any lifting or work other than planting seeds and racking a little dirt. Though everyone was positive and the surgery sounded fairly routine, I kept feeling like this was the last time I could spend with my dad. I looked at Colin and Audrey enjoying him (they REALLY do adore him - Colin most of all) and felt so pained at the idea that they might not get to know him beyond that day. So, the following photos of them together are, and probably will always be, very special to me. I'm so happy to hear that he will likely make a full recovery and be better than ever. I really want the bond he has with them to grow. I know how much they mean to him, too. But, I also want him to know how much he means to me. It was only recently (since Chad's death) that I really got to know him and have a good relationship with him. Hopefully, this surgery will lengthen his life a great deal. I love you, Dad.

See if you can see when she loses the fork in the grass...

It's a BABY!!!

I went to have my ultrasound this morning. It took a very long time because the baby was being onery and the tech. couldn't get a good picture of his/her heart. She finally did get the picture she wanted and everything looks fine - brain, heart, all ten fingers and toes, lots of baby movement, etc. She saved the gender for last so that she wouldn't slip and tell me. I thought about looking, but closed my eyes the entire time she looked down there. She took a picture for Clayton (two in fact) and put them in a card that I had prepared and sealed it up in its envelope. He'll open it on Christmas Day (probably on his way to work at 5:30 in the morning). Then, we'll see how well he can keep a secret.

Here are two pictures from the ultrasound. They are both upside down, but that doesn't seem to matter with these! The top is of the baby's feet - you can see the tiny toes to the right. The bottom is a side view. To the left is the head. In the middle is the chest (the black spots are the heart). No gender pictures. But, I think this is a baby boy because the heart beat was below 140 (138) and I just have a feeling. Time will tell. I'm just happy that there is not much of a chance for Down Syndrome and the baby looks healthy to the doctors.

Been a LONG time...

Well, I guess being a working mom of two and one on the way takes a toll. I've been sleeping earlier and earlier. These short daylight days really don't help, either! But, here are some pictures over the last two months to catch you up. Hopefully, I can get a handle on the exhaustion and get a good organization going during this winter break. I hope I can add to the blog more frequently.

We, actually, had Christmas early this year. Clayton's four day weekend was this weekend. So, my brother, Josh, flew to KC and picked up my mother and drove them both here Friday night - just in time to see Colin's first school concert. Yesterday, my dad and Clayton's dad drove in for the day, along with Clayton's best friend, John. We had a wonderful dinner, and lots of fun watching Colin and Audrey open their presents. What was the favorite? I guess uncle's know best this year. Josh bought Colin a container of "slime" and it was the big hit. I bought Audrey a baby doll (Baby Lucy)and stroller, and this was her favorite. She slept with her the first night and again tonight. My mom and brother left this morning, so we are left with an empty house until Clayton's mom comes tomorrow. I have my last ultrasound (maybe for forever!) Tuesday. So, I'll be sure to post that photo shortly after. Clayton will find out Christmas day. I'm making him wait a few days longer. I still choose to wait until the baby's birth. Well, enjoy these photos...

Hiking in Columbia. They are looking up from the Devil's Icebox!

Our first homemade popcorn!

Thanksgiving with Grandma Nancy in Tennessee.

Horsedrawn wagon ride in TN.

Getting some TN air.

Cousins (and second cousins) watching a movie on a mattress under the bed!

Do I look tired after an 8 hour ride with two small children?

Setting up the Christmas tree, 2009.

Christmas early (yesterday). Grandma Verna has little helpers stemming beans.

Uncle Josh helps Clayton set up Colin's new train table (Clayton made it.)

Audrey, saying "Cheese!"

Grandpa Steve got slimed! EEEEEEW!

Papa Larry taking it easy, watching us open his specially selected presents.


Audrey and her beloved baby doll. She insisted that the baby and stroller be on the couch with her at all times!


Priceless...

Catching up

I've been pretty bad about may blogging duties. I'm hoping as I leave this first trimester and enter the second soon, that more energy will be in store for me! Falling asleep at 8 each night with Colin is a bit of a killer, but total darkness, a sleepy pre-schooler, and a silent house are hard to resist. I did want to post some recent photos of Halloween, fall hiking trips, and anything else that has happened since the last blog. So here they are...

Meeting up with friends at Grant's Farm.

A hike on a beautiful Sunday. Gotta love Missouri!

Clayton with our two, holding Audrey still.

A short rest from the long hike up the bluff.

The moss just called them to rest. Ten seconds, tops!!

Halloween 2009 - dragon, cat

(Colin is just tired in this photo.)

Party with a fellow dragon friend at the Soulard School.

At the end of another hike on another day at

Powder Valley.

Surprises.

We are loving our new yard and fence, but are very sad that winter came so early. We still get out as much as possible, but we'll just have to wait until spring comes to fully enjoy it. Clayton surprised me the other day by giving me permission to use the back part of our yard as a small garden. Actually, he gave me a larger spot than I even wanted! Who is this man? So, I'll have a fun time gardening this spring, if I can get around because....

Well, just when you didn't think we had any surprises this year...our little baby surprised lots of family and friends. I am very happy about it and, though we planned it, still a little stunned. We were going to wait until next year, but something started nagging me in my mind. "Your 35, it said. If you wait, you'll be 37 when you have your third child and you won't have your body fully back until 38." It also said, "wouldn't it be so nice to have your family established and there won't be any large adjustments for a while after a new baby?" I also worried, though, that I wouldn't get to enjoy Audrey as much because a new baby would take over my time. So, I asked Clayton what he thought and he was happy with the idea that we could have our little family complete. So, we tried with the idea that if it didn't happen right way, we would wait so that the baby wouldn't be too young before I went back to work. He/She has great timing! I thought I was due May 25th, but I was a week later than I thought. So it looks more like June 1st. I hope the baby is born a little early this time so we can have a May baby. And, it wouldn't be terrible if I had to miss the last couple of days of school. I haven't told the head or principle of our school, yet. So if you know them, keep this under your hat for a while longer.

So here is a little look at our little surprise.

Fancy Chef

I just wanted to share a story and some cute photos from today. I have been pretty tired the last few weeks (even before the cool weather came our way). So, when an opportunity came to lay my head down for a few minutes, I took it! Audrey had just woke up from a three hour nap and Colin had encouraged her to play with him. I have kept the last two boxes that her diapers came in and he turned them into "boats" this morning. Flashback to this morning..."Mommy, look at our boats!" "Wow, Colin. Where are you going?" "We're going to....Jamaica!" "What do you know about Jamaica?" "It is warm there and there are sharks in the ocean." Seriously, what three year old knows such things? I LOVE his school and the children he is surrounded by.
Anyway, flashforward to this afternoon. So they were playing in the "boats" and I was laying down in another room close by. Colin was playing so well with Audrey and telling her to watch out because sharks might get her. It got very quiet for a few minutes and then he started saying something about animals. He had gone to get lots of stuffed animals to put in the boxes to make the play more creative, and comfy! I only knew this from listening because I couldn't hear them. I tuned out to what they were saying for a little while, but then I heard Colin say, "watch out the monsters are coming up the stairs!" Audrey didn't say anything. Then, Colin said,"you know Mommy is really a monster, don't you!? She really is." Then he went on to play with her and that was that. I just thought that was funny.
Later, we went to Target and I bought some dress up clothes for Audrey's school. I couldn't help dressing her up in them before giving them away. She is a pretty fancy chef! The feathers would just get in the way.

Weekend of work.

This is the last blog about the yard - I promise!! This past weekend my dad came down to bring us pumpkins and some cut cornstalks for decorations. We decided to go ahead and ask him to build our fence because our yard was complete. So, despite the off and on rain on Saturday, it is finished. Well, Clayton just has to attach the handle to the large gate and it will be done. He is also repairing the deck and will then give it a nice coat of new paint. We both decided that, after our beautiful brickwork was finished, it didn't look very nice. We did take the grill down and clean it off. This makes it look much nicer and it is roomy. So, enjoy these new photos. This was the set up on the drive pad. They had to "dog ear" each board before putting it up. My dad works HARD! This was one of his only breaks for the whole weekend. Clayton has a new respect for him, I think.

Okay, this is only the second break! Colin loves him. He was outside basically all weekend long - finding worms, playing with his trains on the sides of the fence, etc.

Privacy - ahhhh! Children can't get out! This is a new concept. I still can't be outside without getting nervous when they go towards the alley. I guess that will wear off eventually.

This is the adorable little picnic table my dad made for Colin's birthday. He took half the measurements of the one he made at home (his house) that we used for years. Both Colin and Audrey love it.

This is a funny look on Audrey's face. She was just eating and I caught her. She's not mad.

I couldn't get a good picture of them both together. They were spitting their milk out and laughing. I love our yard!

Clayton and my dad worked well into the evening to get the gates completed. This is at dusk and they are still hard at work.