big girl, a new table and the bowl.

I recently took Nelly to her 2 year check-up. I know that I am a month late, but I didn't want her getting a bunch of immunizations when her body was already fighting something. And July just seemed like one sickness after another. I'm sooo glad that is over. Penelope is getting so big. She is 32 1/2 lbs and 36 1/2 inches tall (both about 95th%) (tall enough to go on Matterhorn at Disneyland).

We also just bought a new kitchen table. The table we have had I have had since college. So it's about 7 years old. It's been on it's way out for a while but I really did love it so I procrastinated buying another one. In the move before last when Russ and I moved into our apartment in Torrance one of the chairs was accidently dropped and was a little wobbily. The rod iron under the table and on another one of the cahirs had lost a couple of screws and so had been not as steady. And then the other day I was sitting in one of the chairs and the seat totally gave way under me. So it was time. We had one good chair in the whole bunch. But 7 years for a $300 table not so bad. Our new table is all pretty and shinny and new. It is pub style, rectangle shapped with 6 high seats. It's solid wood with the wood grain showing on top and the bottom a distressed black. And underneath there is all this storage. Which is really nice! Below is a picture.



We've been having some last minute summer fun over in these parts. We recently went to the Hollywood Bowl as a family. It was all of our first time. We went and saw three bands play Jazz and Big Band Music with our homegroup. (Instead of mid-week services at our church they have small groups that meet in people's homes. Our homegroup took August off and so there were a couple of fun activities we did instead. One of them was going to the Hollywood Bowl.) We really had a blast. I was so excitted about having a chance to go to the Hollywood Bowl that I didn't pay attention that it started at 8 pm. Penelope's bedtime is 7:30. But for the most part she did pretty well. We eventually got her to go to sleep. Plus it wasn't so crowded so there was room to move around a little bit. I really do love our homegroup. They are just so understanding when it comes to little kiddos and everyone is one big family helping each other out. We decided to take the shuttle there that left from Torrance so we didn't have to worry about driving in the traffic. We did go on a Wednesday, so there was the normal LA commuting traffic. We were a little worried about getting on the shuttle because they gave priority to people who had purchased shuttle tickets and I had waited too late to purchase tickets. But it ended up okay, we got on the second shuttle and had a fine time.

Here are some pictures of us on the shuttle.





And at the bowl.





Russell also got an opportunity with our homegroup to do a father/ child camping trip in one of the families back yard. It was a lot of fun for Penelope and him and they had really good bonding time.

vending machine coffee....

I know, who would think that vending machine coffee would be very good. But I'm telling you this vending machine at my work has the best coffee. But first let me express to you the kind of coffee I enjoy drinking. I'm not really crazy about coffee taste. I like it more for it's effects, then it's actual flavour as a stand alone substance. I would never ever drink it black no matter how desperate I am. So sorry to you REAL coffee drinkers.

This vending machine at work has the best coffee. I first had it from a friend. It was smooth, flavorfull, sweet, and yummy. As I sit and drink it now it is wonderful, like a little desert cup to savour. I don't know what it is but there is froth, and yummy flavors. It is my little drop of heaven at the end of a 12 hour day of work for only 75 cents. I don't know what it is exactly that makes it so wonderful, but it is. : )

The whole family pics

I couldn't find my camera. But alas, I found it today. So I was finally able to have Russell take a picture of my enormous belly. I'm not kidding, it's huge! Well you can see for yourself. You'll have to have mercy on me, I'm a little worn out from the day so I'm not my best. But here it is.



I actually took some bare belly shots but they are even less flattering. I don't think I have the guts to show my new strech marks on the world wide web.

He is kicking all the time. He seems to be more active then Penelope was but it could be just me. He especially kicks when I need to eat and right after I ate something. It's very "Look Who's Talking", if you remember that movie.

My cravings this pregnancy are completely different then last pregnancy. This pregnancy I ate a lot of trail mix. I think I have bought more trail mix since I've been pregnant then I have had in my whole entire life. I definatly prefer the salty over the sweet on this pregnancy. With Penelope I was sending Russell out to Granny's Donuts in the middle of the night for a little fix (It's open 24 hours and right down the street). I was thinking today that my breakfast of choice when I was pregnant with Penelope was a smoothie at Jamba Juice, hands down. I loved it! Now, it's a cheese bagel with cream cheese. So yummy!

Also here is a couple of pictures from our anniversary dinner. Russell and Penelope were both sick with a cold so we decided to just have a relaxing dinner as a family at Olive Garden. Right now we have had more anniversaries as a complete family then just as a couple, it works out for me. (For those who don't know our first anniversary we had a 3 day old Penelope on our hands. So we decided to do Sunday Brunch on the Queen Mary as a new family.)





After eating at Olive Garden we decided to go look at the pond they have over there and see the ducks. It was a lot of fun and Penelope loved it!

What's in a name?

Right now we are in the process of naming a child. I have always held it with a lot of importance. It can't just be any name, because it is a name that they will be stuck with for the rest of their lives. It is a name that would mold how they feel about themselves. A name is a lot. At least in my book it is. Maybe that is the reason I am so indecisive about names. What if I name them the wrong name?

My mother always said she knew when she saw us what our names were to be. She had a name picked out but if it didn't fit when she had us, she changed it. However, I don't think the process took her as long as it took me. So when I had Penelope I really was expecting a big epiphany. Well the epiphany didn't happen. In fact when I looked down at my daughter to see "who" she looked like the only name that came into mine and Russell's head was Emily. She was the only other little girl in the family. We were not going to call her Emily. We had two names picked out, Kalisa Suzanne and Penelope Joy. I really liked Kalisa and Russ really liked Penelope. In the end I looked up at Russell totally not knowing who she should be and he decided.

This time I thought it should be different. I'm fine picking a name ahead of time. Anyways, nothing is in stone yet. We could always change our minds later, right? So the name games began. First it was Gideon. I really, really liked that one but there was too much teasing potential. We talked about all sorts of names, Micah, Silas, Jordan. I really wanted a biblical name this time. And of course it had to be unique and have a good meaning. I soon learned that unique biblical names is not a good combination. There isn't a whole lot of them that are unique and most of the "unique" ones are ones you would never want anyone to call their child, like Abihu or Cornelius. (I'm sorry if your named that and reading this, no hard feelings?) We went through a couple of ones that we really liked like Nathanael or Christian or Brayden. They all didn't work because of one thing or another. So I decided that I just had too many restrictions, we were running out of options fast. So we started down the road again. We have now fallen in love with Austyn. Yes, Austyn with a 'y'. I had to be unique remember. But you will be surprised about people's opinions about a 'y' in a name. It just looks good to me and I didn't want him named after the city. But I defiantly heard it all, it makes it look masculine, or too feminine, or they will always have people spell their name wrong. I have a name Jennifer and people still spell my name wrong.

Then there is the thing about a good meaning. Austyn means "majestic dignity". It sounds nice doesn't it. I really don't have a clue what it really means, but it sure sounds better then "red weasle". Russell wanted Thomas for a middle name after his own middle name. It means "twin". Not exactly the most profound meaning but it works for me. And the two Thomas' in the family are really nice guys. So he can be their twin. So there you have it Austyn Thomas. At least until further notice.

Scraping completion

I finally finished doing all the scrapbooking I wanted to get done before the new baby arrived. I had a pre-wedding album, wedding album, honeymoon album, and Nelly's baby album to do. Both the pre-wedding and the honeymoon were about 1/2 done. The Wedding album I had gotten as a gift, but it didn't hold all the pictures I got from the photographer, so I had 3 "albums" that represented my wedding. I ended up buying a new cover and putting everything in one album to match the first album. And Nelly's album, that I had nothing done on, ended up being 43 pages long! I went from pregnancy to Penelope turning 2. Anyways, since I technically received the shippment of supplies on the 23rd of July. I think I did pretty well in 2 weeks.

Here is some of the pages the represent the albums. My printer scanner doesn't do 12x 12, something I guess I have to consider when buying a new printer-all-in-one next time.

some pages from the pre-wedding album...




some pages from the wedding album....



a page from honeymoon album...


some pages from Nelly's baby album...







Now all I have to do is the little boys' album, when he arrives. But let me say I was incredibly blessed by someone who was getting rid of their old scrapbooking material and pretty much have all the supplies but the album! However I would like to do a family album to do our vacations and adventures. And maybe a small album to hold all of our family portraits each year. But I'm going to take a small scrapbooking rest on that one for a little bit.

Hopefully I won't neglect my blog as much as I have been. I know I pretty much neglected it while I was scrapbooking, well, because I couldn't fit it all in a day. But I do want to post more often. I still have to get Russell to take a picture of my growing belly. I don't have one profile picture of that yet.

Anniversary, Birthday Fun, and Pregnancy...Our life is full!

Today is mine and Russell's 3rd Anniversary! Happy Anniversary Honey! These past years have been really great. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. A year after and 3 days before is our daughter's birthday. And our next one is due right in the middle of the 4 weeks that separates our birthday's. We really know how to pick the timing, don't we! : )



Here is a picture of us at a recent date. Today Penelope and Russell are both feeling a little under the weather. They finally caught the cold that I have. (I still have a little bit of a lingering cough.) But Russell always gets over colds a lot quicker then I do. So I'm hoping we will be back to good state of health soon.

We had Penelope's birthday party on Sunday, on her actual birthday. It was really nice. We had a pool party at our pool and used the grassy area next to the pool to enjoy food, refreshments, and cake! We mostly invited family, seeing how that made up about 16 people and then a few of her friends. My original plan was to have a laid back party, compared to her first birthday where we had 50 people. But it was still a substantial party in the end. Maybe next year we will have a classic Stade party. Or maybe I'm just not the type to have them with my kids. Only time will tell. LOL. Here are acouple of cute pictures from her birthday.



Russell and I bought her a tricycle for her birthday so in the morning she came down stairs to her pink tricycle. As you can tell she is still in her pj's and she hasn't had her hair brushed. But she really likes it! Russell has to adjust the seat a little closer, she can reach the handle bars and petals but it is still too far away for her to actually cycle. When we are all better I can't wait to have a family day at the park and teach her how to use it!

Here are a couple of other pictures. Here is one of her eating with her friend Jada near the pool.



Her playing in the grassy area with the bubbles.



Her playing with her Uncle Darty.



Her birthday cake, isn't it cute!



And she actually blew out the candle for this birthday. It was so adorable!



Thank you everyone who came it was wonderful to have you all there and thank you for all the kind gifts. It was such a blessing. Here a couple pictures of Penelope enjoying her presents the next day. A castle with little people figurines that her Uncle Darty bought her.



One of the many dress up clothes that her Grandma and Aunt Nicky bought her. Yes we are going to become one of those ridiculous families that show up to Disneyland with their daughter in full fledged princess and fairy outfits. : )



My pregnancy is going well so far. I'm 25 weeks which is over 5 months. There hasn't been any complications, but I have been trying to take it easy. We are thinking about baby names. Right now we are calling him Austyn Thomas. Russell is in love with the name. I really like it too, but I don't know if I am finished looking at names yet. I don't think I am very decisive. Austyn moves all the time. He surely is a bouncing baby boy. And I seem to be getting bigger and bigger. I'll have to have Russell take a picture of my belly soon so I can post it up on here. Other than that we are slowly preparing for our little blessing to arrive. Penelope really doesn't have any idea. We talk about it and I rub my belly to say there is a baby in there. And right now she has only learned to rub her belly and say baby and when I do it to myself she fake bites my belly. It's somewhat of a joke to her. But I am sure that she will do fine with the little addition. She loves kids and babies. And she always had the personality that she wouldn't be good as an only child. So I'm not too worried about her with the little boy.

It's a boy

As many of you already know. We are having a BOY! We found out last wednesday. It is all very excitting. I've been thinking that I was having a boy, but I thought Penelope was a boy and we all know that that wasn't true. LOL. So now we have a lot more stuff to do. We have to repaint the babies room, since our little ones will be sharing. And I have to go through all of her clothes that I have been saving since I found out and I have to go through all her toys.

Here are some pictures from the ultrasound. Our little guy has his arms up by his face, just like Penelope had. And as I look over at Russell taking a nap on the couch he is too! Ha ha. Well we know where they got it from.




We are probably going to get a 4D ultrasound with this pregnancy. We had a lot more ultrasounds with Penelope because of the complications, so it would be nice to get to see our little boy a little more. I'm debating whether or not we are going to do a video of it because we don't have a video of Penelope. But it would be nice to show our little boy when he gets older.

Both Russell and Penelope were there at the ultrasound. At Penelope's it just so happened that we couldn't have a afternoon/evening ultrasound, and the technician was only available once a month. So Russell was totally going to miss it. He said he was okay with it but I felt really sorry for him. So I ended up planning a little surprise for Russell. I had Russ' mom call and pretend to be the doctors office saying they couldn't keep the apointment and had to have it rescheduled for a time Russell would be able to make it. That way he was thrown off the trail a little bit. Then I contacted all local family and friends and had a "surprise it's a girl" party, that upcoming weekend. He went out with his dad for coffee while everyone showed up at our place. Well Russell totally had no idea what was coming. Here is a video of him walking in the door.



I was so excitted that I remember being in almost tears as he approached me. It's a favorite memory. And it ended up that Penelope didn't completely cooperate, so we had another ultrasound that Russell was able to go to.

Well, our little boy, didn't get a huge party. But he did have his daddy and his sister there. And it was still a wonderful moment. : D