Ummm...it's been awhile :)

So, not sure if anyone even still looks at my blog, obviously I do about once a year now!  Since I've discovered Facebook, Etsy, and Pinterest, my blogging life has certainly dwindled.  I'll give a quick update, Allie is now 2 1/2, and Evie is 11 months.  They bring us so much love and joy into our lives, we cannot image life without them.  I still work full time nights, which puts quite a strain on my sleep patterns and sanity these days.  But I enjoy what I do, and who I work with.  My newest passion is sewing.  Since Mike got me a new sewing/embroidery machine about 7 months ago, I love to sew for the girls.  I did some sewing when I was younger, but it seemed so much more difficult back then.  I can actually start and finish something in one day now.  However, my obsession with fabric is growing out of control.  I love to hit the remnant bins, and it is great when I can make a dress for Allie or Evie and it cost me 1-2 dollars.  That makes it fun!  Also, I love using my Grandmother's trim and buttons that I have acquired.  That makes it fun and very special.  Just wanted to do a quick update, now that my Sleeping Beauty is awake, finally, I had better get up and around!

Stationery card

Sweet Dreams Birth Announcement

Personalized cards for babies, Valentines, Easter and Mother's Day.

View the entire collection of cards.

June Bug

My ultra sound went well yesterday. The MFM (maternal fetal medicine) specialist said her heart looks normal. He wants me to go to a pediatric cardiologist to have an echo done on the baby as well, in about 4 more weeks, just because he is a cautious fellow. It just so happens that we will be seeing Allie's cardiologist for that.

Since this baby is due in June, we've been calling her June Bug, for lack of a name so far. So now we have an alligator and a june bug!!

Two posts in one week leaves me with a lack of news to share! Who would have thought I would ever be at a loss for words!



I love the profile views.


She had her hand at her mouth most of the time.


She looks in despair here. Probably a drama queen to be.


I think her brow is furrowed. She must get that from her Granny!


A pouty lip too! Daddy watch out!


My sweet baby girl! Can't wait to meet you.

Time for Change!

It's about time I updated my blog! I've been playing around on http://shabbyblogs.com/ and love all of the fun designs they have...for free! So here is the debut of my new blog face lift!

I'm afraid Facebook is stealing all of my time and picture updates. I'll admit, it is SO easy to upload on there. So, unfortunately my beloved blog has taken the back burner for some time now.

Things have certainly changed since my last post. Where to even start! Well, Allie is almost 15 months old now and so curious, smart, beautiful, fun, ornery, and the newest love of my life! She makes me laugh every day. She has been taking my tiny black Bible to church now (the one I've had since 1983 when I was 5) and she loves it. It made it into her crib one day last week and Mike found her "reading" it in the dark! She loves books, purses, and baby dolls. She says "Mama" most of the time, sometimes "Dada", and "Duh" for duck and dog. She can roar like a lion very well, in fact at most everyone she sees. That is her and Daddy's call to each other.

Also, we are expecting another girl in June. We are so excited and nervous about having these two in diapers at the same time. I had planned on waiting till now to start trying for another, but as fate would have it we are about 5 months ahead of my schedule! I am following up with Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists this time because of Allie's heart defect. They are keeping an eye on this baby's heart development more closely. I actually have another ultrasound this Tuesday to look at her heart again. I'm 22 weeks now, and so far we've had nothing but good reviews! We haven't came up with a name I am satisfied with, we might even wait till we see her first! Funny how different baby number two is compared to the first!

Other than Allie, Mike, doctor's appointments, housework, and work keeping me busy, things are just sailing along around here.

I do have a friend I've been thinking about a lot lately. Her name is Courtney and I have a link to her blog to the right. She is a young wife and mother to 3 darling children. She was just recently diagnosed with breast cancer. She is now going through chemo and probably will have surgery in the near future. I mention her here so that she will be remembered in your prayers. Her first round of chemo really wiped her out, but she is so optimistic and such an inspiration to me!

Well, I can't have a post without pictures, so to follow are some recent pics of you know who!!


This was on the Amtrak to Chicago for her birthday.



I love the hair!





At Shedd's Aquarium.


Christmas Eve.


Christmas Day, what fun it was this year!



There's that face that makes me laugh!

Almost a Year Already!

I know, I know...I have so neglected you blog. I can't help it that face book is so addictive! Allie and I just got back from a week at Granny-Nanny and Papa's. It was so much fun. Allie learned so many new things and came home almost a toddler! She loved being able to walk around in the walker and being pushed by her cousins! She can make kisses now and drink from her new straw sippy cup. She is much more mobile now and so much more curious. Great for her, bad for Mommy! We celebrated her birthday with Granny and Papa a month early. Her Aunt Jennifer and cousins, Daniel, Micah, and Jaycee were there too! She was in Heaven!!


Swinging at Granny and Papa's


Sitting pretty in her new shirt made by her Aunt Jennifer


Yay Elmo!! Thanks Jennifer and Mom for making an awesome cake!


Birthday party (one month early)




YUM!


What am I supposed to do now? Thanks boys for helping her out!!




Granny's new pony, Trigger! Ain't he cute?

Gone too soon...

Miss you John Paul. You had a beautiful smile and spirit. I am lucky to have known you, and better for it. You will always be remembered.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/belleville/obituary.aspx?n=john-paul-ryterski&pid=141418849

New Pics

If Allie didn't look so much like Michael, I'd swear they switched my baby at the hospital!


I love how serious she gets when she looks at Sophie the Giraffe.


She was sound asleep, and it looks like she is smiling.


This was her first time to go to Church. I was saving this dress for Easter, but I could barely button it in the back! Time to find a new Easter dress now!! Crazy how fast she is growing!

My Little Razorback!

Granny Barb and Papa David were able to come visit a few weekends ago. It was so nice to have them! We hadn't had any company for trying to keep Allie from getting sick, and it has been hard! They had brought Allie's Christmas presents and this outfit was too cute, and fit her perfectly. I guess all of the grand kids are Arkansas fans, whether or not their Mom's and Dad' are!! :)


She was worn out after getting the turtle neck on!


Then she gave me a little cheer!




She is so much fun!

2 Months Already?????

My big girl just had her 2 month doctor's visit already. Other than the silent-hold my breath-turn purple-and scare mommy and daddy-cry during her shots, she did great!! She weighed in at 11 lbs. 9oz. and 23 inches long. She is right on track, and we couldn't be more grateful. I have been cherishing every moment with Allie on my time off and it has been absolutely wonderful! Now I'm starting to count down to having to return to work, and I'm getting a little nervous. Never in my working career have I ever had 12 whole weeks off and a girl could get used to this. However, I have been inexcusably lazy, so I think I will do better when I get into some sort of routine with work.


All bundled up for another doctor's appointment.


She ALWAYS falls asleep in her car seat!





Love that smile, love making her smile!!






That's my girl!!

Granddad Quentin

http://www.fohnfuneralhome.com/index.cfm

My grandfather, Quentin Epperly, was laid to rest on January 5th. He was 90 years old. He was an amazing man. I have so many wonderful memories of him through out my child hood. He helped to build a church in Shell Knob, MO, and probably shouldn't have been on the roof as much as he was (it wasn't that long ago!). He was always a part of the Church, and for that I am truly grateful. He was a great carpenter and wood worker. He was always a hard worker. He had a wonderful smile. He lived in his own house until very recently when his health started to fade. We celebrated his 90th birthday last March, and Michael and I went to his house after the party to tell him we were pregnant. I wasn't very far along, and didn't want to tell everyone just yet, but we wanted Granddad to know. He was able to spread the news to my aunts and uncles shortly after he found out!! Because of the weather and with Allie being so dependent on me right now, we weren't able to travel to Cassville, MO for the funeral, and for that I am quite sad. He will be greatly missed. I'm so glad Michael was able to meet Granddad as well. We will have quite a lot to tell Allie about him!!