My little piece of that azure sky: November 2005

Morgan in her new snow suit, showing Mama her teeth. Mom, the one you sent is a little big, which'll be perfect for next year, but my little Oompa Loompa couldn't trudge the snow in that getup. I got her a little more mobile with this purple number. She loves the snow!

Morgan in her sled. We drug it to the mailbox and back. I can't get over how awesome it is to live here! We passed by the donkey, and some horses, and no cars! Perfect!

A smile from my Snow Angel

Mommy and Morgan at the Starlight parade in Redmond. We bundled up for the 5pm parade at 30 degrees for an hour, and ended up having a great time! What was funny to me, though, is amidst the dark sky, the crowds, the lighted floats, and the commentator in a booth across the street, Morgan pointed out a plane flying overhead. What a silly goose.

The Redmond firetruck, lit up for the parade, driven by one of the volunteers

My latest TTDT auction - it's a winter/Christmas lunchbox. I have an address book for organizing your Christmas cards, wish lists, recipe cards for holiday treats, and a divider for holiday traditions and activities. Very fun! It took a long time to make!

http://tinyurl.com/7arzn

18 weeks

How your baby's growing: Head to bottom, your baby is approximately 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a large sweet potato) and she weighs almost 7 ounces. She's busy flexing her arms and legs — movements that you'll likely start noticing more and more. Her blood vessels are visible through her thin skin and her ears are now in position and stand out from her head. Myelin (a protective covering) is beginning to form around her nerves, a process that will continue for a year after she's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If your baby is a boy, his genitals are noticeable, though he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.

I have felt the baby a few times this week, lumping up and moving around, kicking off one side to swim to the other. This is about 1-2 weeks earlier than I felt Morgan. It's nice to know that I am not just getting fat! A baby is a' growin'.

Another contest entry. A surprise photo shoot for Steve's first Father's Day. I gave some photos along with a quilt I made out of his old fire t-shirts for the station. I need help, though. Why can't I scan so that it isn't obvious I scanned? And how do I smudge out where the fibers run under the red frame on the left? I have Photoshop, but I can't get the smudge tool to work where it isn't obvious I was messing with it. There must be a way where I can copy another section of the red and paste it over this portion. Alyca, help!

I did it!

I am so proud of myself! For once I did not procrastinate to the point of missing a deadline!!!!! I feel like I've won already! I entered a design team contest at a scrapbook website. I had to do an "about me" page, a layout with 5 pictures, a layout using only one manufacturer, a layout inspired by a sketch, all layouts that are original and not already posted on another website, plus I had to submit 4 additional layouts that may have been posted elsewhere. I occasionally enter constests, so the main requirements have kept me busy because I wanted to do a good job, but had a deadline. It would be AWESOME if I won and got a place on the team, because they have monthly scrap requirements which means I would be FORCED to get layouts done, which would be wonderful for Morgan's scrapbook. But, if I don't, because there are a ton of creative people out there, just finishing and getting my entry in on time is satisfaction enough. Someday I'll get a "toot".

Sugar & Spice - Summer 2005 - Use one manufacturer - I loved Alyca's layout so much that I asked her if I could scraplift it for the contest. Lucky for me, she said yes!

Pumpkin Carving 2004

Me - 2005 - I had to do an about me layout - I wasn't thrilled about that! I'd rather scrap someone else!

Valentines Day 2005

Huggin' Cousins - based on a sketch - summer 2005

Halfday 2004

Fall Frolic 2004

Easter 2005

Stampin' UP!

I went to my first Stampin' Up party last night.... and I think I'm hooked! I would consider being an independent demonstrator! I'd love to get my supplies paid for, and I am really interested in scheduling monthly or bi-monthly gatherings where we can scrap our little hearts out for a few hours. I never get the time otherwise. That would be cool! I am currently checking into the requirements, etc. But it was fun! We made a Christmas card, a Valentine, and a Christmas tree ornament. It was a little rushed, because our demonstrator was late and we were eating lasagna, but I was still there 3 hours. It started at 6. For my coworkers, that's late! It was worth it, of course, I bought a few stamps (it's already time for my own Christmas cards, egads!), and am anxious for the next class. I LOOVVVVVVE scrapping!

Mom sent down a copy of her latest celebrity publishing, and in an effort to preserve it, as I have already misplaced it a couple of times and keep fearing the page will be used as a dust pan or for Morgan's napkin, I thought I'd better scan it in. In the offchance she didn't send it to everyone she knows, I also thought I'd publish it on my blog. Pretty cool. Nice picture too.

17 weeks

How your baby's growing: Your baby weighs about 5 ounces now, and he's around 5 inches long — about the size of a large onion. He can move his joints, and his skeleton — until now rubbery cartilage — is starting to harden to bone. His sense of hearing is also developing. The umbilical cord, his lifeline to the placenta, is growing stronger and thicker.

Went to the doctor on Wednesday. I had to look through my blog to my last update, because I feel like I was just there and had marked my appointment wrong. Nope. Time's just flying! His little heart rate was at 144, and we are doing fine. We need to make an appointment in the next few weeks for the ultrasound at the hospital, where they check things like the spinal cord and other organs, but where I can also find out who the little bugger is. But we aren't going to! Surprise, surprise!

16 weeks!

How your baby's growing: At 4 1/2 inches long (head to bottom) and 3 1/2 ounces, your baby is about the size of an avocado. In the next three weeks, she'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, though, doubling her weight and adding inches to her length. Her lower limbs are much more developed now. Her head is more erect than it has been, and her eyes have moved toward the front of her head. Your baby's ears are close to their final position, too. Some of her more advanced body systems are working, including her circulatory system and urinary tract. Her heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, circulating her total blood volume through her body many times. (By the end of your pregnancy, this will increase to about 190 quarts.) The patterning of her scalp has begun, though her hair isn't recognizable yet. Although closed, her eyes are moving (slowly), and she's even started growing toenails.

............ I can't seem to get the website I signed up on to send this info to me on the right day, so I have been waiting since Wednesday to update! I can't believe it's already 16 weeks! Time is flying so fast, and I am so grateful, because I can't wait to meet this little one! I am anxious to see who is right on the sex, mommy or daddy (I think daddy is just being a stinker, though!) I guess we each have a 50% chance! I don't really care who it is.... we are going to be soooo excited with whomever is chosen to join our little clan. Morgan is getting more maternal every day. I think she is going to make an awesome big sister.

I need to get to the NE Nick house and get my maternity clothes too! Unless I have been wearing them for a week straight, I'm starting to have a hard time wearing my clothes. I have to do the rubberband trick in order to keep my jeans together. I'm anxious to look pregnant to a stranger. Right now, it just feels like lunch. But I guess that's about to change in the next few weeks!

Well, it's Veteran's Day, so we are off to join the girls in Bend to go to the parade, and then we are doing lunch. Rylee's 2nd birthday party is tomorrow, so Morgan is going to have an action packed weekend with her girlfriends! Good for her.

Yesterday I finished planting 125 bulbs in the planter by my front door while Morgan and daddy played around the yard. She found a mud puddle, and proceeded to get filthy, but it was fun, because it's so awesome to now live in a place where she can explore like that. I'll never forget the picture in my mind as I walked around the corner and saw her holding her bucket of outdoor chalk, running after her daddy in these glittery white dress shoes she picked out to wear outside, while daddy was carrying some hose to put away in one of the sheds, Cooper not far behind. That's my family. My two favorite people in the whole wide world. And the dog. I'm lucky to have such precious angels.

Anyway, 16 weeks! Almost halfway to the new beginning!

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What about now?

Grammabon, this is for you. Morgan has finally noticed this fabulous stick horse you made me, and she is now lovin' to waddle around the room on it. It is so cute to watch! She might need a slightly smaller one of her own some day! I think she loves horses. She NEIGH'S all the time... but we do have several horses in the neighborhood. Thaaaaat's my cowgirl!

This is a TTDT auction. I have used some Gin-X patterned cardstock for this one. It's for that wallet sized photo and the class picture that little kids get every year. I'm not too sure Iove the Gin-X papers I used for this one.... but I like the idea of the layout!

http://tinyurl.com/bhn3j

I am finally back in the groove with another TTDT layout. Our theme is Gin-X, and that is the brand of most of the patterned cardstock that I used in this fall themed layout.

http://tinyurl.com/bhn3j

Pics

I am trying to get a few things organized and just now managed to load some picture CD's on the computer. Consider yourselves updated! No more picture CD's to load now that I have my fancy digital Rebel!

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I'm gonna be a daddy again! Soooo excited!

Super Slide!

Hi Mama! See you at the bottom!

Go!

Yippee!

Woo hoo!

All done.

Humpty Dumpty Sat on the Wall... Humpty Dumpty had a great FAAAAAAAALLLLllllll!

Raegan enjoying her swim with her daddy

Good job Morgan! Use that floaty toy! (She wanted Mama to get in and swim with her).

Raegan on her back! One of the two times she didn't throw a fit.

Matt, looking oh so excited.... to be in the pool.

Daddy and Morgan in the pool

Bean, Rae, Mama, and Morgie Pie at the pool. One of the clearer photos we took with that disposable camera. What a bummer that the one day the daddy's went, the pictures are fabulous because I took them with my regular camera, but the days when the mom's went, allllll the rest of the classes, none of those pics turned out. Oh well. We were there!

Mama putting Morgan on the slide. What a bummer this stinkin' disposable didn't have enough light to show the photos properly!

My sloppy juice drinker, cute as can be!

What a great swing chair! I want to try!

15 weeks

How your baby's growing: At around 4 inches long, crown to rump, your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 ounces. He's busy inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, which will help develop the air sacs in his lungs. His legs are growing longer than his arms now, and he can move all his joints and limbs. That means his hands are more functional, too. Sweat glands are appearing, and although his eyelids are fused shut, he can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, he's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but his taste buds are beginning to form. And if you have an ultrasound, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or girl!

It's Halloween! We had plans to join our friends for the big night. I wasn't 100% enthusiastic because I thought Morgan was a little young and wouldn't even understand what was happening. I didn't even bring all of her costume, just the main part. But after we ate dinner and started making the rounds in the neighborhood, we all started getting into it, and it was so much fun! Morgan would never say "trick or treat", but her eyes got as big as saucers and she'd just stand there with her bucket while they loaded it with goodies. She got into it and was giddy as we kept going. We only did a few houses, but she had a great time, and so did the parents! That was a blast! Can't wait for next year. Krysta's neighborhood is definitely the best spot for trick-or-treating! It was packed! That was fun! Happy Halloween!