tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20863160510109403402024-03-14T00:04:20.457-05:00Blivit ContemplationsOf A Larky LadyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-77455843488031233882012-07-29T19:13:00.000-05:002012-07-29T19:13:18.376-05:00A Comparison of Babies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I thought I would give a side-by-side comparison of my two babies, at around the same ages. It's fun for me!</div>
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I know I still haven't written Little Mister's birth story (like the name?). I just am getting around to recording it in my journal and that is my next blog post project. I just haven't wanted to revisit the labor!</div>
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First picture in the groups of two is Pixie, second is Little Mister. I hadn't thought there was any comparison, but the smiling pictures of Pixie look a lot like Little Mister. Unfortunately, I don't have many good smiling pictures of Little Mister, since his smile goes away when the camera light goes on. :(</div>
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Within hours of birth:</div>
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First trips to church - 2 weeks:</div>
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Around 4 weeks:<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDKz_zJSQU4/UBW-S40oh7I/AAAAAAAACbA/McqGGNKms40/s1600/100_1528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDKz_zJSQU4/UBW-S40oh7I/AAAAAAAACbA/McqGGNKms40/s1600/100_1528.jpg" /></a></div>
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Not sure how old Pixie was, but Little Mister was almost 2 months:</div>
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Almost 3 months:</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-63401645428010111272012-05-22T15:36:00.000-05:002012-05-22T15:36:44.098-05:00So....we had a baby...almost 7 weeks ago!<div style="text-align: center;">
Goodness, I'm horrible! I kept thinking I would write my birth story down, but I just haven't felt like doing it. I'll do it sometime. Typing is not easy when you only have one hand free!</div>
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Our baby boy was born on April 4th, six days before my due date.</div>
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I have yet to come up with a blogger nickname for him.</div>
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We love him and he's growing like a weed!</div>
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Here is a close up of him not long after birth.</div>
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A few hours old.</div>
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With my mom.</div>
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Introducing Pixie to her little brother.</div>
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On Easter, 4 days old.</div>
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First trip to church- 18 days old</div>
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Blessing day, almost a month old.</div>
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This is normal when he's not on his mommy! 4 1/2 weeks.</div>
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5 1/2 weeks</div>
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Asleep with Daddy.</div>
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6 weeks old</div>
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Smiles! He's been giving them for almost 3 weeks now!</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-33707503346220700352012-03-06T14:50:00.001-06:002012-03-06T14:50:37.778-06:00Pixie's Tree Mural<div style="text-align: center;">
It took me forever to finish, but I finally did it! <br />Pixie kept pointing out to me that there were a few leaves not painted and I needed to finish it. So yesterday (while dutifully checking my blood pressure in between) I grabbed my paintbrush and paint and got to work on the last few leaves and leaf detail. </div>
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I have never had any type of art instruction, so this was a big thing to risk! Don't judge. :) <br />I am pleased with how it turned out. I wanted something a little odd and whimsical, but still pleasing and not so imposing. </div>
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Pixie's room is still not finished. The trim will be painted white, the floor will have carpet (as soon as the basement is ready to be laid with it...whenever that will be), I have some pink throw pillows to sew and her pink curtains will have ribbon/fabric rosette tie backs shortly. I also have to fix the curtains hanging on her closet. I haven't been able to pick out special furniture for her room, so I had to use a black bookshelf. Not the ideal color, but I'll keep an eye out for something else to revamp at garage sales this year!<br /> I will post when some of these projects are finished! Of course, at some point, her new baby brother will probably impose on her room for a while. Until we feel comfortable putting one or both in rooms downstairs.</div>
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Here is a picture after I sketched it, then painted it in. Scott wasn't sure about adding leaves, but Pixie was insistent. I was a little nervous, but I knew it 'could' look good. So I did it!<br /></div>
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Here it is finished:</div>
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I still can't figure out if I want to leave the bottom like this, add something at the bottom, or just bring it all the way down to the trim. I've seen them done all different ways.</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-71647269764247503062012-03-05T11:46:00.002-06:002012-03-05T11:49:55.159-06:0035 weeks....tomorrow.<br />
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Here we are: 34 weeks, 6 days.</div>
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The last few weeks have been rough. At 31 1/2 weeks I got sick, again. This time with a bad strain of the flu. I ended up running a high fever, even on Tylenol (which I had to have Scott go get!), but through self care and blessings, it came down within an hour. Severe muscle aches kept me awake for days. <br />
I had congestion, a cough and a sore throat for over 2 weeks. It's been over 3 weeks now and I still have leftovers from it.</div>
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Week 33, just like with Pixie, I started having high blood pressure. I met with my midwife. We added supplements, rest periods and dietary changes that seem to be helping a lot. I have only had a couple of high readings since visiting with her almost a week ago. </div>
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Week 34 has just been plain pregnancy related roughness. Sleeping is starting to be a chore (I'm sure all of the sleepless nights with the flu didn't help either!) and getting comfortable is almost impossible. We really need a new bed, ours sags and is much worse when Scott's home and there is less room to spread out to save my back! So many of these symptoms I did not have while pregnant with Pixie. When I went into labor with her at 37 1/2 weeks, I hadn't gotten to that 'I'm done!' point yet. Sure I had a harder time breathing and almost throwing up when I bent over, but I didn't feel so....cumbersome and tired. Of course I only had myself and Nova to take care of then. Scott was rarely home and there wasn't a 3 year old messing up the house and needing something constantly....or a very large 3 year old pup that loves to run outside in the mud.<br />
Moodiness and hormones abounded this last week. It was nuts! </div>
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Some good things are that by now the risks of health issues if the baby is born early, are very low. I only have two weeks until being considered full term! I have lots of things ready for his arrival, even if everything I want to be ready isn't. I want him to come before Easter. I love Easter, it's one of my favorite holidays. Also, Pixie's birthday is two days after that (which is my due date as well). I don't really want anyone to share birthdays in our family!</div>
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Pixie is getting even more interested in the whole pregnancy and birthing process. She watches the simulated animation movies on babycenter.com a lot. She always wants to know what the baby is doing and how he is growing. I think it makes it even more fun to see the excitement through the eyes of a sibling. It's also cute to hear a young child explaining the process of prenatal growth/birth and using words like 'uterus'. </div>
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One thing I have noticed interesting is that if you have a girl for your first, then have a boy, there isn't much hype. But if you have a boy and then have a girl, there is a lot of fawning and extras. Not that I need anything now (thanks to clothes from nephews and some bargain hunting from me!), but I think it's pretty darn exciting to have a boy! I'm so excited to get my boy and to have one of each gender!<br />
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I can't believe how much the baby gear has changed just in a few years. We have replaced a few things like our Pack 'n' Play that got destroyed in the lake house flood (thank you awesome Menard's deals!), got a new car seat, splurged on some bamboo swaddling blankets, etc. Very thankful for the hand-me-downs from Rebecca. I think I only had one baby blanket that was suitable for a boy! Over the last couple of years I built up my newborn fitted cloth diaper stash, won a few giveaways that gave me some bottles and yet another nursing cover, so I think I'm pretty set. It was fun hauling them out to finally use them!</div>
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I probably need to streamline the baby toys and gear a little more. Now that we know what we use and like this time around. Although....what will this baby use and like? :)</div>
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P.S. I'm so happy it's almost SPRING! AH! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-634657875924336702012-02-03T15:14:00.000-06:002012-02-03T15:26:26.599-06:0024-30 Weeks of Pregnancy and Birth Center Appointments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is a belly shot of me in my 24th week, a few days before Christmas.</div>
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Here I am this week in my 30th week! </div>
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This was from yesterday. Pixie and I decided to take a trip up to see my mom and dad, while it was 60 degrees and before the thunderstorms came for a few days.</div>
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I told Mom not to laugh at my basketball, but she did, and as she did she said "it's a boy carry!"</div>
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Yes, I have the classic boy carry. I don't mind. She says I don't look pregnant from the back, which I take to be a good thing!</div>
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You can tell he was head down yesterday, from the shape. He prefers the right side of my stomach or being mid-line. It's the first time I have realized he was truly head down.</div>
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I'm not having trouble breathing yet. I did with Pixie, I carried her right up under my ribs.<br />
I can still palm the floor, sit straight up without assistance from my back and cross my legs. We'll see if that lasts. :)<br />
Somewhere between 6.5-9.5 weeks to go! That is, if I don't go over 40 weeks. Maybe the professionals are right. I just might finish my babies ahead of schedule. Who knows!</div>
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I am starting two week appointments with my CNM at the birth center. I went in for my glucose test a week ago. It was SO much better than my experience at the hospital with Pixie. I got so sick immediately and for days after drinking that glucose syrup. This time I was sugar/white flour free for three days prior to my appointment, took in higher protein and only protein the day of. Then I drank ten oz. of 100% grape juice before the appointment. It was so much better and I passed the test with this pregnancy as well.<br />
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I love attending a birth center. It is way better than my experience even trying to have a CNM in the hospital. I love the one-on-one personal care I get from the same people every time. I am so impressed with the knowledge and solutions I'm given to questions and issues as soon as I ask, and the prompting of me to ask them. Not once has anything been glossed over or ignored, like it has been with multiple other caretakers, and I don't feel hesitant to ask or that I'm taking anyone's rushed time away.</div>
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Each of my appointments have been an hour long and never had any wait beforehand. Not rushed at all! There are toys for Pixie to play with and the whole family is treated with respect and inclusion. I see my CNM, Rachel, and one of her students at every appointment. The casualness of the appointment puts me at ease and makes a great atmosphere for getting to know each other and potential concerns or problems to come up and be addressed.<br />
They check for a wide variety of things when you do the urine test at your appointments, not just the 2-3 things that the hospital does. All lab results are gone over carefully and in depth with you.<br />
She even had me keep a three day food diary to make sure I was getting adequate nutrition. I did very well, thankfully! But I thought I would. I'm cool like that. ;)</div>
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I am very impressed with both the natural and modern medicine that is provided by the facility. Everything is well thought out and covered. There are some situations that would have happened no matter where you are, but there are many that would not have. I remember the doctor (whom I had never met and he wouldn't say a word to me) who delivered Pixie did some things that could have been bad. I tore badly probably because of pushing on my back so hard and for so long (no doctor present during pushing), then he didn't offer any support as she was coming out and did something that probably caused the tear. After I had her, he couldn't find where to fix that for a while. Then he pulled on my cord to detach the placenta before it was ready. I would have yelled at him if I was in my right mind, that can lead to excess bleeding. </div>
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Lots of drugs have side effects, but they don't tell you about them when they give them to you. They hit me hard with pitocin for a long time. I only recently have read side effects and potential complications from that.</div>
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The birth center statistics say that most women who transfer want pain killers. So it's not an immediate emergency. They have medical supplies (have RNs) and oxygen if it's needed. Emergency is most likely bleeding after the baby is born. They obviously don't do anything to promote that because they take a natural approach, but it can still happen. They have things they can do and give you to regulate it, but they also will make the decision to transfer and that is only a few minutes.<br />
I feel much, much safer not being in the hospital. And safer than being at home.</div>
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I'm so happy that I know who will be there when I go into labor. There won't be random nurses or doctors that change with shifts. I can eat and drink -it was almost a day before I had Pixie, how are you supposed to have energy without food? They don't normally put people completely under when having c-sections anymore. That policy is outdated and unnecessary. I can move around without being tethered to anything, which makes for a faster labor.<br />There will be somebody watching and helping 'me' and not a monitor or a reading in another room, along with a slew of other patients. So many things are missed because they are just stretched too thin and don't have the capacity (or enough training) to watch and help everyone every second.<br /></div>
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This is perfect for me. I'm so excited! Okay, baby, wait until 37 weeks so Mama can get what she wants. :)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-60022818425537912322012-01-28T15:56:00.000-06:002012-01-28T15:56:58.960-06:00Pixie's Serenade<div style="text-align: center;">
Pixie and I are home today, as Scott's always working far away in our old town on Saturdays. </div>
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I got up the energy to start going through Pixie's toys and clothes and start organizing everything. She was helping me a lot (I was hiding the things I was bagging to get rid of!) and she came across the child's guitar that Scott has had for years. </div>
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I took a break and went on my laptop to check something. Pixie decided to take a break too, and serenade me. I quickly went and got the camera, then asked her to sing me another song.</div>
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She has a cold, so she isn't as easy to understand and I think her nose started running during the song.</div>
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I thought it was cute anyway. Here is what I got from the lyrics of "Pixie's Song".</div>
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Pixie's Song:</div>
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Is really fun and I really sing a song.<br />
Then I really say sorry.<br />
And I found the castle! When I see the things. And I see the lights.....E,F,G.<br />
And I found that letters are E,S,B and W and H and healthy, Q and S and Q!<br />
And I hear the presents not talking. And when I....when my mom told me to open the presents on Christmas. And my mom told me Christmas is over!<br />
And I see the coats when I was found the coats and singing a really quick song.<br />
How I want to....and I be a...when I found the...when I found the blankets and give it to me, when I was being alone.<br />
When I was singing really of my song<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/eFQ09Lx6pcg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-92058732146678205352012-01-23T19:14:00.001-06:002012-01-23T19:18:26.362-06:00Christmas Day Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm very late posting Christmas pictures, but here they are! Christmas fell on a Sunday, so Pixie was very good waiting to open presents. Scott gets home exactly when we have to leave and rush to church. I didn't know how she would react, but was very pleased. We took some pictures in front of the Christmas tree before church.</div>
(FYI, I did not ask her to pose!)<br />
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I found her Christmas dress on eBay (Hannah Andersson) for a steal. I made the flower clip to go with it.</div>
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Scott took a few after we got home. I thought this one was funny because neither of us were ready!</div>
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Don't you just love this daddy/daughter photo?</div>
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I shopped for Christmas very early, so in my opinion Pixie was spoiled. She opens one gift at a time, then plays with it, before going for another. Opening presents was an all afternoon affair. We even took a break and went back. Of course we saved the really cool presents until the end (you know, like a Rapunzel doll, Littlest Pet Shop, real ceramic tea set, tinker toys, Play-Doh, etc), so we didn't get any pictures of her opening those. We got bored with taking pictures and the battery was dying. She appreciated all of her presents, which was nice. </div>
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Got her own mat to do Pilates with me!</div>
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The women in a department that Scott manages, gave her a basket of presents. It was really sweet.</div>
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It was a little strange being at home the entire day for Christmas. We did get to go visit my parents the day before, so that was nice. Christmas was very low key and relaxing this time around!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-74894854960123714802011-12-20T14:48:00.002-06:002012-01-31T10:43:31.673-06:00Christmas Gratitude<div style="text-align: center;">
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I just sat down with my cozy faux fur throw, after enjoying a busy morning and fun lunch with Scott and Pixie.<br />
I made a quick vegetarian chili and some cornbread, I have regular bread in the oven right now and Pixie is 'reading' books in quiet time in her room.</div>
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I love the quiet in the house today. It's been raining out the last few days, which is so much better than ice or snow, and so we've left the Christmas tree lights on because it's so dark. The dogs are downstairs being quiet, even though cooped up due to the muddy backyard the last few days.</div>
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I decided to sit down to look up some craft projects I want to get done for Christmas, and look at some goodie recipes to make. I had this overwhelming feeling of happiness in my life.</div>
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I love my home. We've been here for almost a year now. A year ago at this time we saw it for the first time.<br />
It's so wonderful to be in a house that you love, even if it still has many home improvement projects to be done on it. It's warm, efficient, cozy and roomy. </div>
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I love our growing little family. I love this little boy growing inside of me already, even though it has been more difficult to carry him. I had wondered if the second time around would be less exciting, but it's not. I think it's even more exciting. Maybe that's because Pixie will be getting a sibling or it is because we are more familiar with what having a baby around 24/7 entails. Hopefully it entails much more sleep and less stress than with Pixie. I think I've relaxed enough this time around that I 'might' be able to fall asleep reclining in our comfy new furniture, while holding an infant that won't let you lie down. Ever. :)</div>
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The prospect of getting the birth I'm comfortable with and want, is so awesome. The beginning of this month I found out that the birth center I wanted to go to had some fee changes that enabled us to go there. I was so ecstatic. We visited the next night and set up our first appointment. My first visit with them is on the 28th.</div>
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I just need everything to go normally and this boy to stay in for as long as he's supposed to, to have what I want!</div>
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I'm so happy for this Christmas holiday. I'm happy that we will be able to meet Scott (in between shifts on the weekend) at my parent's house on Christmas Eve. I'm happy that he'll come home Christmas morning to be with us for church and the entire day. I'm happy that he has work off the next day. I'm happy that even though we'll be spending New Year's Eve apart again for a few years in a row, he'll be home the next day and the next day after that. We are seeing more of him than ever and we love it, even if it isn't for full days. I'm happy that the new year brings the prospect of him being able to be home weekends, towards the latter part of the year. I can't imagine what that would be like.<br />
Our whole family being home=happiness for all of us. </div>
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We've had many blessings come our way in 2011. Not that it's been easy, but it has let us gain experiences that are very valuable, and allow us to grow even closer together as a family unit.</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-59991048097199166882011-12-13T11:51:00.002-06:002011-12-13T11:51:58.420-06:00It's Finished!<div style="text-align: center;">
The barrier fence is finished! It took a while to do it. We started a few days before Thanksgiving. Scott found this way of making our own custom fence panels, so nothing can be seen through the fence. There is an extra panel on top of the seams. We made them all ourselves, and measure the slopes, etc. It would have been easier if it didn't get so dark so soon and if Scott were home on weekends. Also would have been easier if I could help lift the thing more! I took it easy, don't want anything to happen with this pregnancy. Which meant Scott had to carry the panels pretty much by himself off of the porch. They were VERY heavy, due to the extra panels and that they are treated wood.</div>
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So now instead of this: (Minus the other two barking dogs; a fat beagle and poodle-type mix. Plus it's really awkward to be outside in the Summer when the lady and her teenage daughter are sitting in the pool, right there next to us.)</div>
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We have this!</div>
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This view is from our porch. When you are down in the back yard you won't see anything, except the neighbor's porch. I'm sure some of them might try to bark at us from there. No more fence fighting and biting through the fence. Nova teased them, but after Perrin got under the other fence and almost mauled to death, he's become even more aggressive towards them and a shock collar doesn't even affect him when he's in the heat of the moment.</div>
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I also don't have to worry about Pixie going up to all four of those dogs, and risk getting bitten. So annoying when they stood there barking at my three-year-old, who was the only one in the yard.</div>
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Eventually I'd like the other side of the yard done, just to be even, but because of cost (wood is expensive!) and the major slope down in the back corner, we're going to wait a while or hire it out in the future. There is an easement in the back and on the other side, the other neighbors are a really quiet older couple with one little old dog and some cats. They keep their yard in pristine condition. The way ours will be once we get it the way we want it! I've already started to think about all the fun garden things I can do on this fence. A place for climbing plants and maybe installing some gutter gardens I saw an idea for. Who knows! I think my ideas are bigger than my abilities might be next Spring. You know, with a newborn and all. :)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-27616644577595369662011-12-12T15:35:00.000-06:002011-12-12T15:35:37.333-06:00A Small Attempt at Family Christmas Pictures<div style="text-align: center;">
We had about 5 minutes before leaving to our church Christmas party, so I decided to try and take some pictures. It turned out to be a little difficult to get anything good, but it was fun. </div>
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Here are our three attempts at getting a timed family photo, using Pixie's dollhouse as our tripod. It didn't work out too well. I have no idea what got into her and the faces she made at the camera. I don't think she was holding them while we were waiting....</div>
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And this is the best one....oh dear. Between Pixie's face and my glaring spectacles...yikes. I''m opting for contact lenses next year at my optometrist's exam. :)</div>
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Santa made a visit at the church party. Scott got to for for an hour, unexpectedly, before he head out for work. It was nice, but he missed Santa and the treats.</div>
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Pixie is old enough not to cry on Santa's lap (btw, our Santa was British!), but she's still not comfortable being there. He asked her if she wanted to get off his lap, she said yes. </div>
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<br />She was happy to sit on the floor with her gift.</div>
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After I got home and got Pixie into bed, I decided to try and get a few side views of my pregnancy. I had a request from my sister, Amy, so I thought I better do it. I haven't had any pictures since Halloween I think. <br />So here I am, 22 weeks and 3 days pregnant with our baby boy!</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-27416908437715399432011-10-31T21:36:00.000-05:002011-10-31T21:36:02.836-05:00Happy Halloween 2011!<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are the creepy witches!</div>
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We went down for the downtown business trick-or-treating, then we went to a few neighborhood houses. Pixie was pretty tired when we started the second half, she also didn't want to wear her hat, but she had a blast eating candy after we came home. I even got to hand some candy out. Our old house didn't get any kids coming around. It was fun!</div>
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Riding her broomstick...<br /> </div>
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I love her face in this picture!</div>
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Being creepy.</div>
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My 17 week baby bump...or lump. :)<br />I've been feeling the baby a lot the past week. That's fun and a little weird.<br /> </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-58387744610949931762011-10-31T14:46:00.001-05:002011-10-31T14:46:40.755-05:00Halloween Trick-or-Treat Bag Craft<div style="text-align: center;">
I saw this trick-or-treat bag at Williams Sonoma's online store and I thought it was adorable. I knew I could make my own! Well, I didn't do it until today. I was in kind of a hurry, so some things aren't exact or to scale, but I think it came out pretty darn cute! </div>
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Here is my version:</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-73632062577726314452011-10-19T16:58:00.000-05:002011-10-19T16:58:09.093-05:00It Feels Like Fall!<div style="text-align: center;">
Even though autumn has been officially here, it hasn't felt like it in
the Midwest. Last weekend our weather turned from extremely dry and in
the sunny 80's, to overcast drippy days in the 40-50's. Last night was
our first frost scare, coming dangerously close to a freeze. Some areas
did dip down that low. I harvested my bunches of green peppers yesterday
(so sad leaving those little buds there to wither!) and will be
bringing in my green tomatoes, all in hopes that they will ripen. I have
plans for them all if they don't, however.<br />
Since fall has fallen, Pixie and I have made two soups this week. The
first, a vegetarian italian sausage tortellini soup, the second was a
vegetarian potato 'bakon' soup.</div>
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Here are a few pictures with my tiny chef. She was in charge of tearing
off the leaves of fresh herbs and putting them into the soup. </div>
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I know this picture might scare some, but the burner was off and I'm always right there with her. Pixie is seriously the most careful and calculating child I've ever known!<br /> </div>
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This is the first holiday we have decorated our front porch for. I finally got my candy corn decoration on the door!<br /> </div>
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<br /><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-76012446636689156322011-10-07T17:59:00.000-05:002011-10-07T17:59:13.574-05:00Halloween Craft - Candy Corn!<div style="text-align: center;">
Look at what else I did! Wow, I'm on a roll. Today has been the best day I have had in a long time. I felt a little icky here and there, nearly tossed my cookies when catching up on dishes, but after that I felt pretty decent. </div>
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I saw <a href="http://sewtotallysmitten.blogspot.com/2010/08/candy-corn-door-hanging.html">this Halloween craft</a> idea the same time as my luminaries craft. I decided that I could sew it out of felt (since I have a lot of it). I noticed that there was something different about her product, then googled an image of candy corn to be correct. Yes, I was right. The colors were out of order. I like to be pretty accurate when I make something to look like a real product.</div>
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Here's the finished door hanger! I cannot find either of my door hooks to save my life, so I didn't get to photograph it in it's proper place.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-67706778710528005182011-10-06T19:54:00.001-05:002011-10-06T19:54:07.204-05:00Halloween Craft - Luminaries<div style="text-align: center;">
I've been keeping my glass jars from spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, salsa, etc.. because our local recycling doesn't recycle glass. I use them to store things in or give food in to people. So I was pretty excited when I came across this <a href="http://craftsbyamanda.com/2009/10/halloween-painted-jar-luminaries.html">tutorial</a> for a fun Halloween craft. It was easy, which I need right now. I did it at the coffee table one night while watching The Biggest Loser with my family.</div>
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It's just glass jars painted with acrylic paints, then sprayed with clear gloss spray paint. And yes, I got carded for it. I think it's awesome I could still pass for being at least a decade younger than I am. :)</div>
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Here you go, drop a tea light in it and you have Halloween luminaries!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-50038030228088216962011-10-06T14:07:00.001-05:002011-10-06T14:15:33.907-05:00Yet Another Surprise Funny of Pixie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As I was typing the last words of my last post, I heard the sound of Pixie singing behind the couch. This is nothing new, she sings anything and everything...which sometimes includes songs on the radio I am shocked she knows. Anyway, first, a little background.</div>
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Our living room looks like a Halloween tornado came through it. I had Scott bring up the boxes yesterday, hoping I would be able to set a few decorations out before mutual. It didn't happen. Pixie was so excited to see all of the holiday decor and costumes, that of course every item had to be spread out over the entire room. I have picked up random costumes over the last few years at thrift stores, etc. I've haphazardly put some things back into boxes until I get a small burst of energy to deal with it, and all the many other things that need to be done.</div>
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So while I was posting my last post, I heard Pixie singing "I love you, you love me..." from behind the couch.</div>
Now, I promise, she has only watched Barney one time. She usually tells me when it comes on after her other show, so I can turn it off. One time I was outside gardening and I missed the change of shows. It was too late. She was already singing along with every song they sang. Great.<br />
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I didn't think much of her singing, so I didn't pay much attention. That is, until she came out from behind the couch, looking like this........</div>
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I then realized what she had been singing and what she was wearing. I burst into laughter harder than I remember having for a long time. She said a string of unassuming sentences that I cannot remember now, but they made me laugh even harder. Then she proceeded to point out the different points of the costume. "This is my brown tail. It's for my body."<br />
I am so tickled that she has my sense of humor. She doesn't over-do it and has a pretty dry sense of humor for a 3 year old. I love it!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-57055558209940992942011-10-06T13:48:00.000-05:002011-10-06T13:48:21.042-05:00Mother's Day Gift that Keeps on Giving + A Pixie Funny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've always wanted my own rose garden, with roses suitable for cutting. On Mother's Day, Scott gave me the most beautiful rose bush. He spent lots of time at a nursery looking for a beautiful, fragrant, cutting rose. How gorgeous is it? I love that it's still blooming in October, we haven't had any rain for 18 days and I haven't been watering a thing. It smells heavenly!<br /><br />Completely unrelated, but Pixie just said something I thought was humorous. She cracks herself up a lot lately.</div>
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Here was our exchange:</div>
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Me: We really need to cut your nails.</div>
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Pixie: No, maybe later.</div>
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Me: No, we'll do it right now.</div>
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Pixie: How about tomorrow?</div>
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Me: Right now.</div>
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Pixie: (In a matter of fact tone) We can do it on the weekend.</div>
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Me: Did you say on the weekend?</div>
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Pixie: *peals of laughter*</div>
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I just love that she comes out with unexpected things. It makes me laugh a lot, which has been great since dealing with the sickness of this pregnancy. I love my little girl!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-8787848055978285552011-10-05T14:30:00.000-05:002011-10-05T14:30:35.810-05:00Update on the Last Few Months!<div style="text-align: center;">
I know I've been absent..a lot...from my blog lately. We had a pretty nice summer. I visited our stake's girls camp and went on the youth conference trip to Nauvoo, IL. Two days after I returned from youth conference, I discovered we were expecting baby #2. It's so exciting and I had high hopes of this pregnancy being different (better), but it has been exactly the same so far. I found out when I was less than 4 weeks along, so knowing for this long has been torture! Of course, I would have known pretty soon after that because around 5 weeks along, I started getting morning sickness. Which, I just call pregnancy sickness, since it's all day. I'm currently 13 weeks and it's starting to taper off. I hadn't heard about taking Unisom and vitamin B6 before for morning sickness, until the midwives/doctors at this hospital told me. It has helped greatly in the not actually throwing up as much part. I have actually gained two pounds in the first trimester, instead of losing 10!<br /><br />Pixie is pretty insistent that the baby is a sister, but we're preparing her for a brother as well.<br />My due date is on Pixie's birthday, April 10th. Which is pretty cool I think! That will make exactly 4 years between them. She has been such an amazing child during all of this. She allows me to sleep in and is so sweet. She'll even bring me food (snacks or apples) and throw things away for me, without asking.<br />I can't imagine how much worse this would have been if she was a year younger!</div>
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Scott went in with his two siblings and we flew out his grandma. She's like a grandmother to me and I love her to bits. I never got to know any of my grandparents and they are all gone now.<br />We had SO much fun with her while she was here for a week. I wish I felt better, but it was nice to not be alone with Pixie all the time. Pixie just adores her great-grandma.<br />We knew we were going to have to get a big bed for Pixie, with the new baby coming, but Scott did it even earlier so that Grandma had a place to sleep. We found a coiled futon mattress with awesome reviews on Amazon, for a very reasonable price. Then Scott got lumber and made a platform bed. It's not painted yet, but it's cool! Now that Grandma is gone, Pixie has a full-sized bed to herself. I admit, I sneak in there and lounge on it quite often. It's firm, so it's nice on my back. I'm thinking a king sized one is in my bedroom's future. :)<br />During Grandma's visit I had a prenatal appointment for the baby's heartbeat. Grandma got to come, it was so neat. We had been preparing and explaining to Pixie what a heartbeat was, so she knew what it was when we heard it. It was cool. I don't think it's completely hit me yet, but there is a baby in there!<br /><br />Here are some pictures from Grandma's visit. Pixie fell asleep on her one evening! It was adorable.</div>
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Scott took a day off of work and we went into the city. We visited a children's farmstead. This calf was only a few months old. She was cute. Pixie wouldn't pet her head because she was majorly licking my arm..almost gave me tongue burn! They're so rough. (Pregnant or fat? Haha...probably both. Pregnancy doesn't like me at all!)</div>
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For anyone who has known Pixie since before age 3 will be shocked and amazed at these photos. This is a child who would go up to almost any animal as a baby, but scream if a person approached her. At 2 we couldn't go within 20 feet of men in the store, without screaming. They didn't even allow parents to go up to the loading dock. She walked up and let the guy put her on the pony. AMAZING!</div>
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I just love this photo. Sorry, dear! Grandma and I were sitting down on a bench, a little worn out, while they fed the koi in the pond.</div>
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We took a trip to the new Trader Joe's and I instantly fell in love. I just wish it wasn't an hour away!<br />After that we visited a park in a very well-to-do area. We saw nice things and nannies. Then we went to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. It was amazing, as always. I have to get the avocado egg rolls every time I go. I can make them myself, but they take quite a bit of effort. I did something different and got an alfredo dish. I almost never buy pasta out, but it was so good. Plus, there's no way I would add that much fat to my own!</div>
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We miss you, Grandma! We hope to see you in the spring, with a new addition!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-75902009522177139452011-08-15T18:19:00.000-05:002011-08-15T18:19:48.658-05:00A Cinderella-esque Pixie<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This happened a last month I believe. I heard some noise and went into the kitchen to see what Pixie was up to. She was sporting fairy princess garb that day and decided to clean my floor. She grabbed my spray bottle of All-Purpose Charlie's Soap and was hard at work. I took the perfect opportunity to snap a few photos.</div><br />
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</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-22295181753025834062011-07-14T17:16:00.000-05:002011-07-14T17:16:31.536-05:00Sing a Song of Pixie<div style="text-align: center;">We really like the movie "Tangled" and one of the extras is a montage of Disney movies, set to this soundtrack. I like the song so much, I've been listening to it on my YouTube playlist as well.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/MSBl8zD9J_M/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MSBl8zD9J_M&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MSBl8zD9J_M&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had to hide to get this next video. Pixie will not sing for the camera. She was busy playing with Play-Doh and singing the day away. I do not think she knows the words very well, but that didn't stop her!<br />
(The clip is a little long, but grandparents will not mind!)</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">At the end of the video, she asked me to take her picture. Here it is!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-89589706143297896042011-06-02T18:36:00.003-05:002011-06-02T18:39:19.982-05:00Pixie Fun...For Us!<div style="text-align: center;"> Pixie had a so much fun over the last few days, that I think it left her a little more tired and irrational than usual. Doesn't help that she developed some sniffles on the journey home, but thankfully it hasn't progressed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It was nap time and she really didn't want to go, but the only way she could comply in her mind was if I took a picture of her. I decided to take video of her silliness first to keep, but also to show her later on how goofy she looked. It didn't really work. She loves to watch the video now.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Happy that her wish was granted. Crazy how she cranked out a pose so quickly for the camera!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then I just thought this was funny. Having straight hair that looks the same, whether I am entering bed or rising from it, I find Pixie's curly hair amusing. I had given her a bath before nap time and this is what we found when she got up.</div><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-24517765944516332962011-06-02T17:53:00.000-05:002011-06-02T17:53:26.993-05:00Strawberries!<div style="text-align: center;"> Pixie loves strawberries. She would ask for them and gaze in awe of them at the grocery store. I have fought myself on it because I know they are on the "dirty dozen" list of conventional foods, but I have even more gained the desire to have my own patch after hearing about the possible approval of a new pesticide to be used on them.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">“I’m not in blanket opposition to the use of pesticides, but methyl iodide alarms me,” said Theodore A. Slotkin, a professor of pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University Medical Center and a member of the scientific review committee. “When we come across a compound that is known to be neurotoxic, as well as developmentally toxic and an endocrine disruptor, it would seem prudent to err on the side of caution, demanding that the appropriate scientific testing be done on animals instead of going ahead and putting it into use, in which case the test animals will be the children of the state of California.”</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Full article <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/us/20strawberries.html">here</a>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;">Besides all of that, they are simply so expensive to buy in a constant stream from the local grocer. I would love to have a bumper crop of my own and stuff ourselves silly with strawberries every year. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;">Moving a few months ago, with all the many things that have to be done inside and out in this house, I have attempted to get a strawberry patch. At first I tried to put some in one of those Topsy Turvy things that we found for almost free at Menards. Some of the root balls never grew and all but one of the plants died. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;">I discovered that on the less sunny side of the house, a previous owner had planted lots of strawberries, but I wasn't sure how much sun they got on that side, so I wasn't in high hopes for a good crop. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;">I took a look at the other side and decided to shovel out the rock garden, rip up the plastic, cultivate sand from the pit and peat moss into it. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">I was pleasantly surprised when the rocks and plastic came up easily and almost in one sheet, then horrified when I found a horrendous colony of ants beneath it. Sadly, I had to wait. I bought those granules that can be used around gardens, then had to endure torrents of thunderstorms until my patch was ant-free and dry enough to dig in. Yesterday I worked outside for hours and hand cultivated the patch. I planted my lone alive strawberry plant, along with three others I got at a local store. I meandered to the other side of the house to see if those part-sunned strawberries were, in fact, going to ripen.<br />
And this is what I found! </span></span></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">They were delicious! And I say 'were' because Pixie at almost the entire bowl. There are more ripening and I'm planning on taking some cuttings to plant in my new patch on the other side of the house. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Hooray! Get rid of your rock gardens and plant strawberry patches!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-66920671545143355832011-06-02T17:29:00.002-05:002011-06-02T18:42:54.267-05:00Memorial Day Getaway<div style="text-align: center;"> We had just bought a couple of kayaks off of Craigslist, when we realized we might not be able to go on a far away nice vacation. Why not set ourselves up with fun for years to come instead?</div><div style="text-align: center;">The only thing we needed, was somewhere fun to take them. Scott asked around at work and found that a co-worker's sister owned a small house a block from a very nice (and large!) lake near the Ozarks in central Missouri. We found a really nice and affordable place to board the dogs, and took off on Sunday afternoon.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We were impressed with the amenities and the cleanliness of the house, even after not being used since last season. We settled in for a nice quiet evening and decided to do the bulk of our kayaking on Monday.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">We relaxed on the back porch while waiting for the coals to turn ashen and ready for our homemade <a href="http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2008/03/homemade-sausages.html">veggie seitan polish sausages</a>. I really outdid myself there, changing up the flavor and adding more moisture so the middle stayed tender. The best I have made so far!</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">In the meantime, some odd close up pictures were taken....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8O8QTvV_m8/TegGqlRrgHI/AAAAAAAABpY/JWtY-Ko5-hw/s1600/IMG_3226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R8O8QTvV_m8/TegGqlRrgHI/AAAAAAAABpY/JWtY-Ko5-hw/s320/IMG_3226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2FKky1eJ290/TegGyX0_opI/AAAAAAAABpc/nfQdfSiudU0/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2FKky1eJ290/TegGyX0_opI/AAAAAAAABpc/nfQdfSiudU0/s320/IMG_3227.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RbWIcJOVfHk/TegG3QjAIBI/AAAAAAAABpg/TOZR6tvrQWs/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RbWIcJOVfHk/TegG3QjAIBI/AAAAAAAABpg/TOZR6tvrQWs/s320/IMG_3229.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Don't you love the contrast of our eye color? It'll be so much fun seeing what our kids get. We thought Pixie might be taking the green from Scott, but recently I'm not so sure.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(Ignore my melted make-up look. It was hot and humid that day!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UfCKnMm8tYY/TegG8HOKiUI/AAAAAAAABpk/nW4ciO4_QyM/s1600/IMG_3231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UfCKnMm8tYY/TegG8HOKiUI/AAAAAAAABpk/nW4ciO4_QyM/s320/IMG_3231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pixie found some sticks to play with..</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fno6mm7WbbA/TegHDhkrP2I/AAAAAAAABpo/B43nUOpNAYg/s1600/IMG_3232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fno6mm7WbbA/TegHDhkrP2I/AAAAAAAABpo/B43nUOpNAYg/s320/IMG_3232.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">..and I realized I had packed two different colored flip flops. At least they were the same kind of shoe and the right feet!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V8WU4WWsY28/TegHNs1IwOI/AAAAAAAABps/RIN1NklLluI/s1600/IMG_3234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V8WU4WWsY28/TegHNs1IwOI/AAAAAAAABps/RIN1NklLluI/s320/IMG_3234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Scott and I went to bed at around 9:30pm on Sunday night. It was lovely to get a good night's rest. Even better for him since he only gets to sleep in once a month or two, during holidays normally.<br />
We had a leisurely morning and headed out to kayak at around 10:30am. The weather was perfect. It was so nice of it to go on hiatus from the thunderstorms and tornadoes we've had for weeks on end.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VfXKo5Eg91M/TegHbBh5MPI/AAAAAAAABpw/5x3Ov_k7qoU/s1600/IMG_3235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VfXKo5Eg91M/TegHbBh5MPI/AAAAAAAABpw/5x3Ov_k7qoU/s320/IMG_3235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4FzwH0DjTE/TegHmTVldaI/AAAAAAAABp0/Ej0YrmgiMaU/s1600/IMG_3236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d4FzwH0DjTE/TegHmTVldaI/AAAAAAAABp0/Ej0YrmgiMaU/s320/IMG_3236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We weren't sure how Pixie was going to handle it. She had been asking to go boating ever since we got the first kayak a few weeks ago. She took to it immediately.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PUBlD8Q2fjs/TegHwQ4SflI/AAAAAAAABp4/JsfxMXxeZ2c/s1600/IMG_3237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PUBlD8Q2fjs/TegHwQ4SflI/AAAAAAAABp4/JsfxMXxeZ2c/s320/IMG_3237.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My kayak is made for the ladies. It's an eleven foot ocean kayak, so it does better with choppy water.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U9IdEFno7hA/TegH7pm0O2I/AAAAAAAABp8/uvuYnr3dh-4/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U9IdEFno7hA/TegH7pm0O2I/AAAAAAAABp8/uvuYnr3dh-4/s320/IMG_3239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pg-9wgWwjc/TegIH1YZFCI/AAAAAAAABqA/choe3Wq55bA/s1600/IMG_3240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9pg-9wgWwjc/TegIH1YZFCI/AAAAAAAABqA/choe3Wq55bA/s320/IMG_3240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Scott's looks like a canoe hybrid and is fourteen feet. It's more suited to lakes and hauling children in the cargo hold. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TwTHZK1V0HQ/TegION3QQLI/AAAAAAAABqE/PiEA-KTG2xA/s1600/IMG_3241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TwTHZK1V0HQ/TegION3QQLI/AAAAAAAABqE/PiEA-KTG2xA/s320/IMG_3241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqAKi_6ooB8/TegIUBrjMEI/AAAAAAAABqI/iYVQ3X0GnR0/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OqAKi_6ooB8/TegIUBrjMEI/AAAAAAAABqI/iYVQ3X0GnR0/s320/IMG_3242.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u52mHLZZRYU/TegIdAuuNsI/AAAAAAAABqM/zEZTBFiNzfY/s1600/IMG_3243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u52mHLZZRYU/TegIdAuuNsI/AAAAAAAABqM/zEZTBFiNzfY/s320/IMG_3243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had such a blast stopping at inlets and exploring the area. We waded around in the water some too and I found two small white snail shells for Pixie. She's still carrying them around the house now. It was the least I could do to give her a fake beach experience!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rk0VYsPUwbU/TegImicNQ0I/AAAAAAAABqQ/wSxsGjQXlW0/s1600/IMG_3244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rk0VYsPUwbU/TegImicNQ0I/AAAAAAAABqQ/wSxsGjQXlW0/s320/IMG_3244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">She was not happy when she couldn't reach the water. We had to situate her so she could.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrhMBXI80Xs/TegIvv38hFI/AAAAAAAABqU/5Za-faJfAt8/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XrhMBXI80Xs/TegIvv38hFI/AAAAAAAABqU/5Za-faJfAt8/s320/IMG_3245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We had a fun and relaxing Monday evening. We went back out to kayak Tuesday morning, got into some windy and choppy water, so we turned back because we weren't comfortable getting into that with Pixie. I had fun crashing over those little waves though.<br />
We paddled around the sheltered inlet for a while, until Pixie asked to go eat.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We returned home that afternoon, picked up our doggies and went home. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The next day, yesterday, Scott called into work because the sunburn he got was worse. On Monday we all slathered on the sunscreen, but while we waded around it must have come off. Pixie and I didn't get burned at all, but look at what happened to Scott's delicately white legs. Can you see how swollen the left one is? He's home today too. Poor guy couldn't even walk on it!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpEMkUO1KiU/TegI5X-klXI/AAAAAAAABqY/PxzS7Zbuf4c/s1600/IMG_3253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zpEMkUO1KiU/TegI5X-klXI/AAAAAAAABqY/PxzS7Zbuf4c/s320/IMG_3253.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-32418181071064863832011-05-28T18:41:00.002-05:002011-05-28T20:17:13.691-05:00Home in Progress<div style="text-align: center;">So, my intention was to show before and after pictures of each room in our house as I finished it. Well, here are <a href="http://larkylady.blogspot.com/2011/02/our-new-house.html">before</a> and 'progress' pictures. It's just taking too long to do it all! We went on hiatus to start doing the gardening and landscaping, now we're putting it off to start on the basement. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I painted the dining room and kitchen walls (our bedroom too, but I'm waiting for furniture and new carpet for the transformation pictures). The dining room and kitchen were two different colors, so I had to prime first. It took about 4 coats total! Quite the pain. Eventually I want to paint the living room (maybe!) and definitely the trim, but that will have to wait. I reused lots of our furniture, hiding all of it's falling apart flaws, but we did get to pick out a new leather double reclining sofa, glider/recliner chair and dining room table. I love them! We took forever to find exactly the right ones at the right price.</div><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbshHt7MzSU/TeGDQ8bjwII/AAAAAAAABog/5ZQ00q4qFFI/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VbshHt7MzSU/TeGDQ8bjwII/AAAAAAAABog/5ZQ00q4qFFI/s320/IMG_3204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-unKWVb06l_0/TeGDZJBfb5I/AAAAAAAABok/rIfUo5Zjumw/s1600/IMG_3206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-unKWVb06l_0/TeGDZJBfb5I/AAAAAAAABok/rIfUo5Zjumw/s320/IMG_3206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Haven't found my candles for my candlesticks yet....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GubNCB0OR6M/TeGDhy3VBgI/AAAAAAAABoo/n44Noa5zlME/s1600/IMG_3207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GubNCB0OR6M/TeGDhy3VBgI/AAAAAAAABoo/n44Noa5zlME/s320/IMG_3207.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our first picture we've picked out together. We looked through hundreds, maybe even a thousand, prints before I settled on this one. I like it because it's not too realistic, but not too abstract. Perfect! It's called "Aspen Glow". I recycled a frame from a print I found at Salvation Army for $7, just cleaned it up and applied Old English stain to it. It looked so much better! Frames are so expensive, especially big ones like this!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f27ZJgpTyNY/TeGDql5n04I/AAAAAAAABos/JTBhZh4Zy2A/s1600/IMG_3211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f27ZJgpTyNY/TeGDql5n04I/AAAAAAAABos/JTBhZh4Zy2A/s320/IMG_3211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2gkaZ3vTio/TeGDy0qHoBI/AAAAAAAABow/5D2vCx1Ulow/s1600/IMG_3208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2gkaZ3vTio/TeGDy0qHoBI/AAAAAAAABow/5D2vCx1Ulow/s320/IMG_3208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The kitchen cabinets are a work in progress too...they are taking f-o-r-e-v-e-r.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AnKtDvv6gCc/TeGD76fu4GI/AAAAAAAABo0/P_s5c1LSyq8/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AnKtDvv6gCc/TeGD76fu4GI/AAAAAAAABo0/P_s5c1LSyq8/s320/IMG_3212.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDAJ-f1AuU8/TeGEEEMAgmI/AAAAAAAABo4/rOREOHNE3-8/s1600/IMG_3216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDAJ-f1AuU8/TeGEEEMAgmI/AAAAAAAABo4/rOREOHNE3-8/s320/IMG_3216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Framed some prints from our photo shoot with Sam last October after she started up her photography business called <a href="http://orangephotographie.com/">Orange Photographie</a>.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I7eprD6nFFo/TeGEMw_sDWI/AAAAAAAABo8/CsjhOO7-oZw/s1600/IMG_3215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I7eprD6nFFo/TeGEMw_sDWI/AAAAAAAABo8/CsjhOO7-oZw/s320/IMG_3215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfrtJA4K9kg/TeGEVR8b-wI/AAAAAAAABpA/bOXqJ-s-GBo/s1600/IMG_3219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tfrtJA4K9kg/TeGEVR8b-wI/AAAAAAAABpA/bOXqJ-s-GBo/s320/IMG_3219.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This bookshelf is really falling apart, but I rigged it and it doesn't look too bad...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTSB4W7h3nE/TeGEyGEzRhI/AAAAAAAABpM/92A2YkYG20w/s1600/IMG_3222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mTSB4W7h3nE/TeGEyGEzRhI/AAAAAAAABpM/92A2YkYG20w/s320/IMG_3222.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pixie wanted me to take some pictures of her with Perrin. We never did give him away and I want to keep him anyway. Put a bark collar on him and he's an angel outside, even with the 4 dogs next door.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She loves him and he's good with her, unlike Nova who wants to be alone and finally bit her last week. He's a good watch dog, even though he is a stubborn dummy at times. He's very loving. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RIfPRhchoc/TeGEekgG6MI/AAAAAAAABpE/rQ_HXr1scck/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_RIfPRhchoc/TeGEekgG6MI/AAAAAAAABpE/rQ_HXr1scck/s320/IMG_3220.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1-v22Z7CoQ/TeGEn4UyZqI/AAAAAAAABpI/TiZZgFkFw7s/s1600/IMG_3221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D1-v22Z7CoQ/TeGEn4UyZqI/AAAAAAAABpI/TiZZgFkFw7s/s320/IMG_3221.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyway, we are still loving our house and can't wait until we just have to maintain it!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2086316051010940340.post-23163056585684282692011-05-20T19:30:00.000-05:002011-05-20T19:30:21.455-05:00My Little Garden Gnome<div style="text-align: center;">We had a few hot days in a row. I set up the kiddie pool and let Pixie try out her new rash guard suit from Old Navy that Becca snatched up for me for a great deal, now that I don't live near civilization!<br />
I hauled lots of soil to make raised beds (hurt my lower back in the process!), Scott helped me make the boxes out of wood we recycled from the deck stairs we replaced.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pixie decided she wanted to help. It was so cute, I had to run for the camera.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2Jej1SEQY8/TdcGWGKk3sI/AAAAAAAABoU/MQcBIYzv4ZY/s1600/IMG_3098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2Jej1SEQY8/TdcGWGKk3sI/AAAAAAAABoU/MQcBIYzv4ZY/s320/IMG_3098.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1B93AMPYic/TdcGfSwsyJI/AAAAAAAABoY/0KZOwNIEGiM/s1600/IMG_3100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1B93AMPYic/TdcGfSwsyJI/AAAAAAAABoY/0KZOwNIEGiM/s320/IMG_3100.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V0FPk8tor_0/TdcGqMopixI/AAAAAAAABoc/FsWorJaxs5g/s1600/IMG_3102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V0FPk8tor_0/TdcGqMopixI/AAAAAAAABoc/FsWorJaxs5g/s320/IMG_3102.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09090575075557106361noreply@blogger.com0