The Nine Month Flu

I'm PREGNANT! And I don't think this one could be any more different than the last two! Instead of throwing up everything all day long, I can actually EAT! And then I fight the urge to puke until I'm hungry again. I thought for sure I had the flu, complete with the body aches, fatigue, and upset stomach. When we were in Chicago, I woke up one morning feeling SO nasty, I thought maybe I had food poisoning. Chris didn't skip a beat. He simply said, "You're probably just pregnant." I was in denial. I waited about a week after that to take a home test, and it was SCREAMING positive before I had even finished taking it! That's NEVER happened! When I called to make an appointment with my Dr, the earliest they had available was six weeks out. By the time the appointment came, and we saw our baby for the first time on the screen, He (because we haven't been informed otherwise) was kicking and flapping his arms around! I was in shock once again. Where's the Lima bean with a spine?!?! We learned that I was 11 1/2 weeks along and our due date is November 22nd. It seems FOREVER away! Chris' first reaction to that news was to demand that I not be in labor on Thanksgiving, because it's his favorite holiday and he refuses to eat turkey in the hospital cafeteria. I'll see what I can do!

Sorry Folks...

I'm a BIG-TIME slacker with plenty of excuses, trust me, I will fill you in. In the meantime, I'll give you an idea of what to look forward to:
Our Canadian Adventure
Chicago Trip
Our Anniversary
A Positive Pregnancy Test
Ezra's Birthday Celebration
Easter Festivities
Ezra's 1st Ambluance Ride
Beach Trip~ San Diego
Finished House Projects
And a Fetus Photo Shoot

Adoption Fundraiser This Saturday!!!

My friends, Drew and Amy have been chosen by a birth mother to adopt her unborn child! You can read more about their adventure by clicking here: www.adoptionwishes.blogspot.com

We all want to be a part of this miracle, so we're doing what we know best: Boutiques! Each and every vendor is donating a portion of their profits directly to Drew and Amy's adoption fund!

If you can't make it out this Saturday, you can still order anything I have to offer directly from me at any time, knowing that a huge portion of your purchase is being donated! I want to contribute a certain $ amount before September!

Thanks for all you help!!!

Happy Birthday E-Baby!

My baby is officially two-years old today! Can you believe it?!?! I sure can't! He's growing up so fast! Ezra is such a fun little boy. Here are some things we love about our E-baby:

• he has an incredible sense of humor
• an insatiable sweet-tooth
• a smile that lights up the room
• the vocabulary of a child twice his age
• a special tolerance for his bossy older brother
• the biggest, saddest pouty face you've ever seen
• a special bond with his binky
• He LOVES:
• dogs
• big trucks
• fruit snacks
• granola bars
• cereal
• bread
• "noonles" (any kind of pasta)
• going for walks
• "hair-panes" airplanes
• helicopters
• bugs
• glue sticks
• chapstick
• cars and trucks
• brushing his teeth
• cuddling
• taking baths
• slides
• trains
• tattling on Kleven
• watching for Daddy to come home

Ezra is extremely well mannered. He is usually first to say "please" and "thank you" and "you're welcome", he's a great example to all of us. Kleven says Ezra makes him laugh when he says funny words, he likes being his big brother even when "he be's mean and throws toys at me" (I think he's confused), and although he won't admit it right now, I know he takes great pride in teaching him new things.

One of our most favorite things about him lately is how he "narrates" everything he sees or thinks and does. He never stops talking! He will count all the trucks he sees as we're driving around (always repeating 7..8..9 twice) He notices every airplane or helicopter or bird in the sky. He has impeccable hearing, seeing as he'll announce the passing of a train and the rest of us have to strain to hear it. His latest trick is escaping from the highchair. I can walk out of the room for a second and he'll find a way to get out. I recently asked him how he manages to do so and he replied, "I jump!" We'll soon be retiring the highchair...

So that's out Ez-McFezz, E-baby, Ezzie, Ezra-bo-bezra! Happy 2nd birthday sweet boy!

Happy March!

There are a lot of significant dates in March for our family! First off, my baby brother, Carson, will be 15 on the 7th. This fact is going to cause quite a bit of confusion with Kleven. For months, he has been under the impression that Everything important happens when you are 14 like Carson. You are a "Big Guy" when you're 14, you are tall, and you can do all sorts of really cool things, like Rollerblade and ride a big bike and play the drums. Kleven's dream world revolves around being fourteen. Unfortunately, Chris and I will miss out on the festivities this year, as we'll be in Canada for "Grandma Steele's" funeral. Sorry Carson! And thanks G-ma and G-pa Barnes for taking the boys!

Another spectacular event for the month of March is our wedding anniversary. We will have been married SIX years on the 15th! It seems like it's been much longer, but in a good way! Anniversary plans have been put somewhat on hold, seeing as we will be out of the country the week before. I've been dropping hints to Chris about booking me into a spa for the day and calling it good. We'll see! ;)

March 16th is my dad's birthday! He'll be 54?, but he still has bigger biceps than any man I know. He'll probably ask for socks again this year.

The 19th is my oldest, younger brother's birthday! Bryan will be 21! He gets to celebrate his birthday in Australia again this year~ lucky duck... He's serving a 2-year mission there for our church and having the time of his life! We're ALL SO PROUD of him and can't wait for him to return home this summer!

The 20th of March is my Grandpa's birthday! (mom's dad) He's an OLD man! This is the first year that he and Gg-ma haven't come to AZ for the winter and we've missed them so much. We're hoping the snow got the better of them and they change their minds next year.

Here's another fun thing about March:

We hope you have a Happy March too!