Keelie Update :)

I realized that in all my posts of the kids, I never post any life updates.

Corey and I have been looking for part time work to supplement his income. I had applied for a Census Bureau job and finally got a call and was hired for 4 weeks. I was so excited to have something...anything! Actually, I'm at my job right now as I type this - yeah, it's real difficult!:) This is the first year that the Census Bureau has set up Questionnaire Answer Centers in areas where they've had a low return rate so people can come in and get help filling out their form. My center has not gone over so well...I think I've seen about 3 people. I work two, eight hour days a week, and as boring as it is to sit in a room all day by myself, I'm getting paid and right now that matters! Plus, I'm getting lots of blogging and reading done!:)

Shortly after I was hired for this job, I saw a sign in our local coffee shop's window saying they were hiring, so I applied. I was hired 15 min after I turned in my application! I start training in a couple weeks.

I'm so thankful that my job will be right in town, flexible, and I know the owners and people that work there. I'm thankful that Corey's work is flexible so one of us can be with the kids - if not for that, an extra job wouldn't be feasible 'cause it'd cost more for childcare, and I wouldn't want to go that route anyway. And I'm very grateful for the extra income!:)

My First Pageant

My 16 year old friend, Sam, asked me about a month ago if I would help her with her talent for the Miss Bellaire Scholarship Pageant. I was happy to oblige! Her theme was "A Salute to My Soldiers" and so she picked out a tear-jerker of a song and I figured out an interpretation for it and taught her the signs. She was awesome! She didn't know any signs before we started. She learned the signs, learned to put them together...in a song...and make them flow beautifully! Oh, and one of the most important things...facial expression. She did it all! She was awesome! I was so proud! And the crowd cried!:)

I couldn't get a good video of her that night, so I'm going to have her sign the song for me again and I'll put up the video.

signing
(oh, and her talent was definitely the best!:))

She wasn't crowned Miss Bellaire,
although she should have been, but she WAS first runner up!

Dad had to get a piece of the action

a mother/daughter moment

I had fun helping out and playing a part, but I'm praying my daughter does not want to do such things one day!!! I think I was just as nervous as Sam was!:/

My Beautiful Little Girl

Carys,

A few days ago your brother and I watched you wake up from a long night's sleep. I love to watch you wake up in the morning! You are so beautiful! I say "good morning Sunshine" and you stretch and smile up at me. I've been wanting to tell you this for awhile now. As I watch you wake up like this, my heart is filled with love and joy all over again!

I love you, beautiful daughter of mine!

Gift Certificate Purchases

I received a gift certificate from my husband for my birthday and I finally spent it! I also won a gift certificate downtown the other night and spent that as well! Corey has been after me to spend his since the day after my birthday! I drove him nuts taking my time, but half the fun is the anticipation of spending it. Now it's spent and I can't look forward to it anymore...kind of sad. The language art is what I got with the gift certificate from Corey; the blanket with the other one.

Diapers, Diapers and More Diapers

There are times in life when people overwhelm and humble you with their kindness and generosity and this evening we experienced such a moment! Our neighbors up the road, who are becoming good friends, stopped by tonight with the back of their truck loaded! They got together with their friends, people we don't know and have never met, and took up a collection to buy us a year's worth of diapers! What a blessing! Words can't describe...

It is beautiful when you see the face of Jesus in the people around you!

THANK YOU!!!!!

My Birthday

Carys and my birthday are exactly a week apart. I didn't want to share my birthday, but it's kind of cool that our birthdays will be on the same day of the week, hers first and then mine.

Corey always complains about holidays and birthdays and it was no different this year as my birthday approached. So I told him he was off the hook for buying presents if he'd just take me to the Moka (my favorite local coffee shop) for lunch and I would get EVERYTHING I wanted (lunch, frappicino, dessert...:)).

It was a lovely time! I love my small town and knowing the people that own and work at area businesses so well! It was fun to get out with Carys and see some of the people that worked there that we've formed relationships with! Lunch was delicious as well as my frappicino and my cinnamon twist and then they gave me a birthday gift to boot and I picked out a chocolate chip cookie! (At that rate, I'll never lose weight!:))

On our way home for naps, Corey stops at the cutest shop in town called the Sassy Sunflower and leaves all of us in the van while he goes in. We're all wondering what's going on...he came out with a gift certificate for me for my birthday! What a sweetie! I love the way he does things; it cracks me up - no pomp and ceremony.:)

After naps, we went down to our loon nursery. It was a lovely walk through the woods and Caedmon LOVED being near the water. We heard the loons but didn't see any.

For supper, I think I reverted back to childhood since mac and cheese and hot dogs sounded good. We made a salad to go with it of course!:) Had to get something healthy in there! And for dessert - chocolate cake with cream cheese chocolate frosting! Oh it was sooo yummy!!!

It was a lovely day! I love birthdays and appreciate everyone making it so special for me!

At the Moka

Caedmon was up exceptionally early that morning:/

Walking the trail to see the loons

Hanging out on the deck near the lake

Looking for loons

Breakfast in Bed

No pics to go with this post, but I had to share.

As I was waking up yesterday morning, Corey walks in with a tray of breakfast! It even included a vase of beautiful flowers from our front yard! What a sweetheart! Breakfast in bed is always a lovely and much appreciated surprise!

Thanks Babe! I love you!

Quote of the Year

I was talking to my sister yesterday and filling her in on Caedmon and what he's up to these days; including the not so nice stuff, like hitting and taking tantrums (in the middle of the mall no less!:( ). She was slightly astounded and said,

' I just thought you guys were perfect parents and he'd skip the brat stage and always be an angel.'

I had a good laugh over this! Thanks for the vote of confidence in parenting skills Keesha! :)

Monday Fun

Corey has the day off on Monday and we had a friend up visiting, so we decided to take off to Petoskey for the morning/early afternoon.

It was lovely! I love hanging out in coffee shops and bookstores! Granted, it's not quite like it used to be, as I try to keep track of my son...but still a good time!:)

Contemplating his next move...:)

walking to the coffee shop and lunch
sitting in a chair like a big boy

enjoying a smoothie with mama and dada
(no, that's not coffee in front of him)

My Sweet Husband

I love when Corey does something special for absolutely no reason! He took off to town the other day and returned with flowers and a sappy romance for me to watch! He hates the holidays when you're "supposed" to do something, 'cause he'd rather do it on his own terms...and for the most part, that's okay with me. (Although I really do like birthdays!:))

My Valentine's Gift to Corey

I wanted to do a special dinner with Corey for Valentine's day, but since our babysitters are few, I opted for a candle light dinner after Caedmon went to bed.

I bought what I thought was a good steak ( I thought the price pretty much meant it was good!:)) and he cooked the meat while I put together a few side dishes. We got Caedmon to bed and enjoyed our candle light dinner!

We had a lovely time, even if we couldn't go out!:)

My Valentine's Gift

I might get pictures posted one of these days when my friend e-mails them to me, but for now, I'll just share the story.

I've been going to the chiropractor for a few weeks now and once in awhile get a chair massage while I'm there, but five minutes is never long enough! The therapist told me about a deal she was running for Valentine's day and I told Corey what a wonderful idea that would be! Now, I wasn't really hinting, just thinking that a massage sounded a lot nicer than flowers or candy or anything else. My shoulders stay pretty tight these days. Now, we don't neccessarily do anything for Valentine's day, so it was mostly an off handed remark...

About a week later or so, he's on the phone making reservations at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa for a night at the resort, breakfast and a spa treatment (massage was among the choices)! Now, we have yet to leave Caedmon overnight and Corey could care less about a spa treatment, so he made the reservations for a night when my dear friend planned to be up here anyway!

Needless to say, we were extremely excited and had the best time!!! We spent the afternoon shopping, ate a delicious meal at Olive Garden and spent the evening exploring the resort, swimming, and enjoying the plush beds in our luxurious hotel room overlooking the bay and the city lights at night. Words don't do justice to the massage we experienced the next morning! It was heavenly! And we've both decided this will have to be an annual trip!

I am so thankful that Corey is such a sweetheart and decided I needed some time away. It was the longest I've been away from Caedmon, and mother and son faired just fine! Good to know, since we'll be apart when his brother or sister is born.

Thank you love for the wonderful gift! And thank you my friend for sharing it with me!:)

A Date!!!

I don't have any pictures for this blog, but I have tell about our first date since Caedmon was born! Yes, we actually went out on a date!!! Without Caedmon!!!:) Some friends have been encouraging us to leave Caedmon with them and get away and we finally took them up on their offer, after they named a specific date and time for us!:) Needed the push!

We dropped him off and only the father was at home at the time, which I thought might be an issue since their little girl wasn't there to possibly distract Caedmon. But Caedmon walked right on in and went straight to their piano and began playing. So we snuck out right away!

We went to our favorite coffee shop in town which recently started staying open later and serving pizza. Right after we got there, Corey presented me with what I thought was a card in it's Hallmark bag, but it turned out to be a gift certificate for a jewelry store!!! Wow!! Totally wasn't expecting this! He had tried to pick out a piece of jewelry for me - I've been wanting a mother's pendant - but after realizing the bazillion choices he'd have to make, he just got the gift certificate instead. On our way up to his parents the next day, we stopped in Gaylord and I picked out my pendant and ordered it! I'm really excited to get it!

We had a lovely time out. We stayed our for an hour and a half and then got going, a little worried that Caedmon may have cried the whole time, and he can be very hard to calm down with mom or dad around...specifically mom. So we were more worried for our friends than for him!

We arrived at their house and walked in and the first thing I heard was absolutely nothing. I couldn't see anyone from the door we came in, but I was thinking I'd hear crying...I didn't!! In fact, he didn't cry at all and they said he didn't seem to even notice we were gone!! YAY!!! A success and now we can do it again and feel more comfortable!!!

He's growing up and adapting more easily and it's wonderful!:)

Another Special Gift...

Corey and I are expecting our second child! Caedmon has a brother or sister on the way!

I will be 14 weeks Tuesday - basically 3 1/2 months.

We thank God for his blessings and provisions! I found out I was pregnant just after Caedmon's first birthday. They will be 21 months apart. We didn't have any insurance, and that was scary! After much searching for individual insurance and finding out that the one insurance company that couldn't ask if I was pregnant still wouldn't allow the maternity services to be used till 6 months into the plan (not to mention the deductible!), I got online just to see if Caedmon would at least qualify for insurance through the state and found out that not only did he qualify, but I qualified for medicaid as well!!! Thank the Lord! What a huge stress off my shoulders!

I have also found a midwife up here and have had one appointment. She is wonderful and I look forward to working with her!!!

I struggled in the beginning with fear that I would not have enough love in my heart for two. Caedmon is so precious and I love him with all that I am, and I just wasn't sure where I'd find more love! But I was able to hear the heartbeat during my first appointment a couple weeks ago and I think that did it for me! What a beautiful sound! What a miracle!

This pregnancy has been different. I was sick in the beginning. Not as bad as some have it - I only threw up once. But I often didn't feel good, all throughout the day, and was so very picky about what I wanted to eat! Often, nothing sounded good! So unlike my pregnancy with Caedmon where I ate everything in sight! I am thankfully past that stage now and feeling good! But this being pregnant with a walking one year old is draining! But I'm starting to get some energy back - hopefully I'll be able to keep up with him!

We look forward to the birth of this new little one! Due around the very beginning of June.

Breakfast in Bed

I'm hesitant to post this picture...no shower yet!:) I had stayed up late a couple nights while my friend was visiting, and so Corey agreed to get up with Caedmon one morning, and not only did he get up with Caedmon... he also made me breakfast and served it to me in bed!!! What a treat!

New Vehicle

When we moved, we left behind one of our cars, 'cause we didn't think it'd make it all the way up here and even if it did, it wouldn't last long, so we gave it to a friend. It's been difficult surviving on only one vehicle for the last couple months. Not that people don't do it all the time, but we were spoiled! So we decided we'd start casually looking for another vehicle, but then we started noticing some things in the Honda that made us decide we better find another vehicle quickly in case something went wrong with the Honda.

Corey had wanted a truck at one point, for the hauling capability, but I didn't like the idea of owning a vehicle that really couldn't be used with children, figuring at some point in the future there will be more. So I suggested a mini van - you have some room for hauling things - more so than a car anyway - and it would be nice as our family grew, plus it gets fairly good gas mileage compared to other bigger vehicles out there!

We are now owners of a mini van....and feeling a little old!:) We've received a lot of teasing for it, but that's o.k.! We had to go away for the weekend and I was thrilled with all the packing room and just the roominess of it period! Packing for a baby is nuts! Our car was always stuffed to the gills!

It's not the newest or most beautiful vehicle (quite a bit of rust), but it runs well and we were able to pay cash for it! I think we'll enjoy it!:)

Weekend with a Friend!

My dear friend, Heather, came to visit me last weekend! I've been waiting for her to come visit me ever since we moved! It was hard to move away from such a close friend. Those kind of friends are not replaceable!

Anyway, it was a last minute deal, and my weekend was already packed, but that didn't deter us from hanging out! I had to serve lunch at a craft show on opening dear season day as a fund raiser for our youth. Heather came along and jumped right in to help - don't know what I would have done without her!

She had planned to leave on Sunday, but when I found out she didn't have anything to be back for till Tuesday, I conviced her to stay an extra day! So Monday, despite the weather, we went shopping in Traverse City and Corey watched Caedmon. He had also watched Caedmon Sunday afternoon, allowing Heather and I to enjoy lunch at our local coffee shop and do some window shopping at our fun stores in town. I didn't realize how much I had missed my friend and how much I needed to get out by myself just for fun! We had a great time both days!

Then, due to snow, she stayed Monday night as well. It was soo wonderful to have her here! She was wonderful with Caedmon, often keeping him entertained while I vegged on the couch! And he loved her, bringing her his books and toys all weekend!

Enjoying a book together!

Caedmon is giving kisses - can you see the tongue?!:)

Often the teeth are felt too!:/

(This is the first he's given someone else a kiss -

I asked him too and he understood!:))

Working Again

I mentioned working in one of my posts and I've been meaning to post about that.

Shortly after we moved up here, I started calling surrounding area school districts to find out if there were programs for the deaf in any of the schools and offer my assistance in subbing. I found the area ISD that has a program and hires the interpreters and they were absolutely thrilled that I was available to sub. I'm their only sub! I had originally left a message and when they called me back, they asked me if I could come in asap to do the paperwork 'cause they had an interpreter out all week the next week! So I was off and running! Not sure I was ready for it yet, but jumped right in. I'd gotten used to being at home and I've actually kept pretty busy since we moved. But it was good to get into the school system again and work with kids and interpret! I like being able to say "no" if it won't work out, to get out of the house every so often, and to use my skills! It's been great to network with other interpreters in the area - they've all been wonderful and welcoming!

I've been working for four weeks now and I've been called every week so far! I've enjoyed it and it's great extra money! And Corey's schedule is flexible, so he watches Caedmon while I'm working and then he gets his work done when I get home. We're so thankful to be able to work it out like this!

Movie Night

I don't usually blog about movies, but...

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants...what a GREAT movie! So very touching! Cried most of the way through it! I love a good chic flic! Now I wish I had read the book first; still may have to do that at some point!

Thanks, Kathy, for letting me borrow it!

A movie about friendship and loyalty and growing up and discovering yourself and love...you can't get any better than that!
Well, I think most of us girls would agree....don't ask the guys though! I had to watch this will my husband was away and I could "hear" the eye-rolling through the phone when I told him what I was going to watch. Oh well...they're missing out!:)

My BirthDAY

Yes, another year older! I think I'm only feeling it in the number of my age though. Well, my hair is showing it!

I love birthdays but I've had to tone down my enthusiasm in the last few years.:) Corey was up north as it was his first official week working as a church planter.

A friend came over in the morning and the three of us (friend, Caedmon, and me) went to the farmer's market in town. It wasn't very big yet, so we finished there in no time. From there we went to the mall so I could get my hair cut, and my friend watched Caedmon. He thought the spray bottle was funny for some reason.

From there, we met another friend at Brann's and ate lunch. It was a fun morning!

The rest of the day was spent at home, just Caedmon and me. Another friend was working that night. Guess I need more friends.:) It was kind of a sad ending. I was going to make a cake for myself - I'd bought strawberries at the farmer's market and decided strawberry shortcake with pound cake sounded really good, but I didn't even have any flour and Caedmon was already in bed. Oh well...

Thank you to the friends who made it special!

Lunch at Brann's

Me and the little guy.:)