The BRAND Bunch...

It's a BOY!

2012-01-13T23:18:00.001-06:00

We had our big ultrasound yesterday and were very excited to find out that we are having a boy. Joe is especially excited. Even though he would have been more than happy with another girl, I know deep down he wanted a boy.

Of course, Joe is already looking at all of the fun ways to incorporate sports into a nursery. This kid better grow to like sports or we'll be in big trouble!

There are no fun pictures to post. We gave the ultrasound tech a CD to burn the images on, but I won't get it back until I go back for my next appointment on Valentine's Day. I'm also too lazy to scan the ones we were given into the computer, so until then...

Hilton Head

2012-01-03T13:57:00.002-06:00

Finally got around to finishing our scrapbook from vacation last July. Better late than never!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Christmas Card Preview

2011-12-06T20:42:00.002-06:00

Elegant Script Wishes Christmas Card

Turn your favorite photos into personalized Christmas cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Turkey Trot 2011

2011-11-24T10:40:00.000-06:00

For the past 5 or so years, we've had the tradition of participating in the Chesterfield Turkey Trot. Over time, our group has grown in numbers. It was a beautiful morning for a run/walk...not too cold and not too hot! (Last year, Caroline and I stayed home due to sleet and freezing rain. Yuck!) With being pregnant and pushing Caroline in the stroller, I definately did not set any personal records. Oh well! We had fun, and I got some exercise in before eating way too much later in the day. Anyway, here's a big group photo, one with my parents and siblings/significant others, and one of the ~~three~~ four of us.

Fall Fun

2011-11-02T13:28:00.000-05:00

Joe and I were blessed to be a part of our friends, Anthony and Jody's, wedding on October 8th. It was a gorgeous day! Here is a rare picture of the three of us. Not very good of me, but oh well. My sister and her boyfriend, Chris, came in town for the weekend. They were a big help taking care of Caroline on Saturday since both Joe and I had wedding stuff going on.

Caroline and Collin

Aunt Jenn and Caroline

Caroline and daddy had fun making Halloween cookies to take to her class at school. Joe claims he doesn't have a sweet tooth, but he did manage to eat several raw and baked cookies along the way.

Caroline anxiously watching the cookies bake.

The weekend before Halloween we had fun carving pumpkins. Caroline wasn't that big of a help, but the overall experience was a good one. Maybe next year she'll be more into it.

Click Clack MOO...

2011-11-01T18:16:00.001-05:00

Happy Halloween! This year, at Joe's convinving, Caroline dressed as a cow for Halloween. I was torn between a duck and a cow, but Joe insisted on the cow. And why you might ask? Take a look at the pictures below. Joe's true Texas roots came out. He finally had a reason to dress as a cowboy!

We went trick-or-treating around the neighborhood, which was actually pretty fun. Everyone on the main street had fires lit in their driveways and were just hanging out. We didn't make it too far because Caroline was getting tired, but she seemed to enjoy herself. What she really liked was putting candy into her pumpkin, which she was kind of possessive about :)

18 Months!

2011-10-30T21:03:00.000-05:00

The poor blog has been neglected for quite some time! My goal this week is to catch up with all of the fall happenings, but we will see. In the meantime, here is a brief post to hold you over (I'm talking to you, Mom!).

Caroline went to the doctor on 10/28 for her 18 month check-up. Minus another runny nose, everything looked good. She got two shots, one of which was her flu vaccine. The older Caroline gets, the more she seems to hate the shots. It didn't help that there was only one nurse to give them, so she had to have them one at a time, one in each leg...BOO!

Weight: 25 lbs. (60%....Guess all those cookies and cupcakes from MDO are catching up with her..ha!)
Length: 33 in. (85%)
Head Circumference: 48.5 cm (93%...Still has a big ol' head.)

Her next well baby check-up won't be until next April when she turns 2 years old! We are going to try our hardest to stay away all winter long:)

Pumpkin

2011-10-03T19:54:00.000-05:00

Caroline is currently obsessed with pumpkins. We went to Thies Farm this weekend, and needless to say, she had a blast. Caroline is typically pretty shy when there are a lot of people around, so it was a huge surprise to Joe and I when she ventured through the hay maze on her own.

Walking into the maze...

and coming out the other side.

Caroline was not camera friendly on this trip.

Going down the slide with daddy.

On top of the pirate's ship.

Not sure how to get on the swing.

Swinging in the big tire.

Picture perfect.

Entering the corn maze. We didn't know what we were getting ourselves into.

Horse swing made from a tire.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

2011-09-30T23:11:00.001-05:00

Joe turned 29 today! He is officially on his way to the big 3-0!! At least this makes me feel young, as I still have a couple more years. We went to Longhorn Steakhouse for dinner and ran a few errands afterwards. Pretty low key.

Joe has been on a golf kick lately, so for his birthday gift Caroline and I got him a new set of clubs. He also got a new golf bag, golf balls, a couple golf shirts, and some money, which he plans to use for new golf shoes. Do we see a theme here?

I only had intentions of putting the first picture up, especially since Joe isn't even looking in the second one. However, these last two pictures are funny to me because 1) Caroline is signing 'eat' and 'more' and 2) they show what a little piggie she truly is. Yes, Joe did cave and let me try some cupcake right before bedtime. How could he resist?!?

Eckert's Pick Your Own...

2011-09-29T20:48:00.000-05:00

Apples! Yum, yum! Joe, Caroline, and I went apple picking this past Sunday at Eckert's Farm in Belleville, IL. This is the first time we've gone apple picking. Last year we ran out of time. It was a beautiful fall day, and Caroline really had a good time. She was able to "ride" a John Deere bike, feed some animals, push around a shopping cart, and most importantly eat some delicious apples. I plan on using a good portion of the apples to make a pie, but with work, school, and keeping up with a busy one year old, who knows when that will actually happen!

First Day of "School"

2011-08-29T21:03:00.001-05:00

Caroline's started the Mother's Day Out program at Immanuel on Monday, August 22. She will be going 5 days a week, which is very convenient for me. It may be hard for me not to sneak down and see her during the day, but I guess that's one of the perks of having her at school with me:)

Overall, Caroline is loving school and doing great. She has already come down with a cold during her first week of school . That, in combination with teething, made for a couple of not so fun nights. She is also working on learning to nap in a different environment. Caroline has always been a good napper, but a very light sleeper. Adjusting to napping with other kids in the room has been a definite challenge!

Our big girl on her first day of "school!"

Fun Facts!

2011-08-07T21:49:00.000-05:00

For those of you who don't see Caroline on a daily basis, her are some fun facts to keep you up-to-date.

Caroline loves giving kisses to her puppy, Cooper, and occasionally to mom and dad as well.

As previously posted, she enjoys wearing necklaces and bracelets. She is particularly fond of wearing Joe's running watch. She would take it everywhere with her if she could, but she is smart enough to know that when she gets out of the car, the watch must stay.

Her vocabularly now consists of doggie, daddy, mama, ball, hi, eye, uh-oh, uppie (for wanting to be picked up or if she wants out). I swear that she has recently said a version of 'no' and 'outside,' but we will have to see if it's consistent.

Caroline can point to her eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and toes.

Within the past couple of days, she has begun shaking her head no when she doesn't want something.

Caroline keeps us in check! We close all of the bedroom and bathroom doors each morning. After I close one door, Caroline will reach for the others, one by one, indicating that they need to be shut as well. She does something similar when we turn the lamps on in the living room. If we turn one on, she will run over and point to the other one for us.

Sometimes she's a little strange. Caroline has recently started standing on her tip-toes in the middle of walking for no apparent reason. Maybe she's trying to strengthen those calves!

Sorry if this was boring to some, but it's fun for us to see how much Caroline is changing each day. This is a way for us to remember these moments and milestones that we might have otherwise forgotten. Thank you technology!

It's Peach Season

2011-08-07T18:43:00.000-05:00

We went peach picking today at Eckert's in Belleville, IL. This is also where we went last year for the first time (Look back to August 2010 post for a comparision!). It was quite hot, as can be seen by the bead of sweat falling down the front of Caroline's face in the first photo. The pictures don't do the heat justice. Caroline was soaked from head to toe, and she wasn't even moving around that much. We only lasted about 15 minutes in the orchard before heading back to cool off, but it ended up being plenty of time to find some delicious peaches.

To beat the heat, we finished our trip up with a yummy peach concrete. We will also be feasting on some peach cobbler tonight and in the coming days!

Testing Out My New Teeth

2011-08-06T21:11:00.001-05:00

Caroline got her 7th tooth on 8/1/11. One of her favorite and one of the only vegetables we can seem to get her to eat is corn on the cob.

15 Month Stats

2011-07-22T10:14:00.000-05:00

Caroline went for her 15 month check-up today. She had to get two shots, but did great. She must have had a recent growth spurt because it is rare for her height and weight to be over 50%. Her head, on the other hand, has always been quite large! Hopefully this means she will be smart:)

Weight: 22 lbs. 13 oz. (51%)
Length: 30 3/4 in. (61%)
Head Circumference: 48 cm (95%)

We go back at the end of October for her 18 month visit, and then not again until 2 years!!

Hole in One Dance

2011-07-17T20:26:00.000-05:00

Joe bought Caroline some golf clubs today. She's getting started young, and has already gotten more use out of her clubs that the ones that Joe bought for me several years ago:)

All things girly...

2011-07-10T13:08:00.002-05:00

In the past couple weeks or so, Caroline has become quite a girly girl. She discovered mommy's jewelry box and found these beautiful pearls from her great-grandma Klotzer. After almost dropping one down the vent, we have decided there will be no more playing with these. Caroline now has a green beaded necklace, which my grandparents probably got from Vegas...haha!

While vacationing in Hilton Head, Caroline had fun "putting make-up on" with mom's blush and powder brushes. She also loved carrying around Aunt Jenn's Coach wristlet (Yes, Jenn trusted her! In Jenn's words, she had no concerns about letting her have it because if ANYONE tried to take it away, Caroline would scream.).

Whether it's a bracelet, necklace, sunglasses, or purse, this girl knows how to accessorize! Look out world!

14 Months

2011-06-22T15:49:00.001-05:00

We celebrated your 14 month birthday by putting together "boxes of HOPE" for the kids of Joplin that were affected by tornadoes in May. You had fun finger painting pictures to put in the boxes! For more info on "boxes of HOPE" go to http://kids4mo.com/boxes-of-hope/.

Caroline:

You are walking/running everywhere now! There are occasions when you still crawl, but you much prefer to walk.
You get into EVERYTHING!! No place in the house is safe. Some of your favorite things to do are unplug cords, play in the tupperware drawer, and get into Cooper's food and water.
You current favorite word is "hi." You say it all the time, especially if someone has failed to acknowledge you.
Some of your favorite foods are watermelon, homemade fruit smoothies, goldfish, cheese, and peanut butter sandwiches. You also enjoy eating various kinds of meat!
You are very particular when it comes to eating your vegetables and some fruits, so we try sneeking them into different foods.

She Did It!

2011-06-08T10:27:00.000-05:00

Caroline walked! This post was orignally started on May 5, and I guess it's a good thing I never got around to finishing it. Caroline did "walk" for a day or two at the beginning of May, but really did not make much progress until this past Thursday (6/2). She would take a couple steps, but didn't have much interest in walking. For the past week (minus a weekend of being spoiled and held), Caroline has been getting better at walking and doing it more often. Here is a video shot yesterday of our little girl in action.

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T22:43:00.000-05:00

Our plans for Mother's Day were to go strawberry picking. This didn't work out because they aren't open for the season yet. Our next thought was to hit up the Zoo, which I'm sure would have been a big nightmare due to nice weather and the weekend. We figured if we went early though, we oculd beat some of the chaos. Caroline apparently had plans of her own. She woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Very crabby and clingy! Just what a mom wants on Mother's Day. Nothing like making you feel loved...ha! Needless to say, Joe and I did not want to deal with driving all the way downtown only with having to deal with meltdown after meltdown. Plan C...downtown St. Charles. After having Subway for lunch and running a few errands, we enjoyed walking down Main Street. Caroline played on the old train depot, we shared some yummy ice cream, and even dared to enter a few shops along the way. All in all, it was a nice day. Here are a few pictures taken with my new camera, which was my Mother's Day gift from Joe and Caroline.

One Year Stats

2011-05-02T17:00:00.001-05:00

Height: 28.75 in. (34%)
Weight: 20 lbs. 10 oz. (40%)
Head Circumfrence: 46.5 cm (85%)

Other than having a big head, which she's had since before she was even born, Caroline checked out just fine. She had two shots, one in each leg, and had to get blood drawn to check for anemia. The doctor said she was good to switch to whole milk and also recommended keeping her rear-facing for the time being. Her ears are doing great, and we don't go back until July for her 15 month check.

Happy Easter!!

2011-04-24T21:19:00.001-05:00

He is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia! Easter was spent in St. Louis with both Joe and my families in town (due to Caroline's big day!). We attended 8:00 a.m. church at Our Redeemer. Caroline was exhausted by the end, which is evident from most of the pictures.

After church Caroline enjoyed playing with some of her new toys before our family came over for lunch. Needless to say, our day was filled with candy, food, and most importantly love.

Dear Caroline...

2011-04-22T20:26:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe that you are already a year old. It doesn't seem like that long ago that we found out we were expecting you (ha!). We can't possibly imagine what our lives would be like without you in them, and we are thankful everyday that God blessed us with such a beautiful baby girl. It has been such a joy watching you grow, and we look forward to what the next year has in store for us. Happy Birthday, Sweet Caroline!

Some fun one-year facts:

You now have a total of 5 teeth, getting 3 of them in one week (3/28, 3/30, and 4/2). That made for a fun week!!
We made a trip back to the doctor on 4/13 where we found out that you had your third ear infection in the past 3 months. This one is in your left ear again, so they aren't sure if it ever went away from the one you had in March. You are finishing up your third round of antiobiotics tomorrow, and we go back to the doctor at the beginning of May to make sure this problem is taken care of once and for all.
You weigh somewhere between 20-21 pounds. We will find out for sure on 5/2.
A growth spurt must have taken place. When we measured you at 11 months, you were only 27.5 inches, but our most recent calculations put you at 29!
On 4/8 you were able to go from squating to standing without holding on to anything. Surely you will be walking soon! All the skills are there. It's just a matter of whether you want to do it or not.
Most recently, you have enjoyed climbing. Some of your favorite places to climb include on the dishwasher and in the cabinets.
You are beginning to throw more tantrums when you are upset or don't get what you want. It's actually quite entertaining to see you folded in half with your head to the ground and crying...haha!
On the other hand, you laugh and show you are happy a lot more. Sometimes, we aren't sure what makes you crack up, but it makes us smile to see you this way:)

Love you!
Daddy and Mommy

Happy Birthday, Princess

2011-04-22T20:11:00.037-05:00

Enjoying her first shake at Steak 'N Shake. Caroline and I met daddy picked daddy up for work and headed to Steak 'N Shake for lunch. Caroline thoroughly enoyed a few sips of a strawberry shake. Unfortunately, we ended up having to get our lunch to go since it took over 30 minutes to bring our food. Hopefully daddy didn'tget in too much trouble for taking a long lunch break!

First pedicure at K Nails. Caroline actually did pretty well getting her toes painted. Too bad she couldn't keep her feet still enough after the fact. Her right foot ended up having to get repainted three times. Oh well! They turned out super cute!

Yummy chocolate sundae at Applebee's. For dinner, Joe, Caroline, and I went to dinner at Applebee's with Joe's parents and brother and my parents and brother. It was quite an eventful evening as tornadoes touched down in the St. Louis area, hitting Lambert International Airport.

Happy Birthday, Caroline! We love you, princess!!

Ring...Ring!

2011-04-01T20:32:00.000-05:00

Over the past couple of days, Caroline has started associating objects with their intended uses. She knows that the phone goes up to the ear, though it usually ends up more toward the back of her head. Shoes go on feet, a toothbrush goes in the mouth (along with many other things!), and a brush is for hair. It is amazing how quickly she is learning!!

The Joys of Teething

2011-03-30T20:31:00.002-05:00

Caroline has been working on her four upper teeth for the past week or so. She has only had two teeth for the past 3 months, so we figured she was due to get some sooner or later. BUT, four at once is a little much! Her third one popped through on Monday (3/28) and tooth number four made its grand appearance today. All this teething has made for an extra drooly, runny nosed, and sensitive child. It's hard to imagine what she is going to look like with 6 teeth in that mouth of hers!

The Countdown Is On! One Month To Go!

2011-03-22T10:29:00.005-05:00

In one short month, our little girl will be ONE!! She seems to have changed more than ever in the past month, going from a dependent baby to an independent toddler. Caroline is definitely getting more of her own personality. She loves seeing dogs and being tickled! On the other hand, she HATES the grass. I guess she doesn't like the feel of it, which seems odd. She will literally start crying when you put her down in the grass. Here is our "princess" (as daddy calls her) on her 11 month birthday!!
Caroline:

You were plagued with your second ear infection the first week of March. EVERYONE is glad that is done and over with!
You started swim class (3/12) and went to the park the first time (3/17). I'm not sure if you enjoy the activities more or watching and smiling at other kids. You are becoming Miss Social Butterfly!!
You are talking up a storm now. You are able to say "light," "hi," and some other type of word for "doggie." They may not be the most understandable to others, but you say it the same each time so it counts.
Daddy taught you how to turn off lights. You are now mezmorized with looking at lights and watching them as they go on and off.
You weigh right at 19 1/2 pounds.
You decided last week that you prefer to be more independent while eating your food, which gives us a challenge in coming up with new ways to give you fruits and veggies. You tend to prefer meat and dairy products.

First Swim Class

2011-03-15T10:29:00.004-05:00

Caroline started her first swim class this past Saturday (3/12) at the Rec Plex in St. Peters. There are 7 kids total in her class. She did pretty good considering she was still recovering from being sick all week!

Note: She is not the baby that is crying in the majority of videos. He had a rough time in the water.

Here is Caroline getting dunked under water for the first time and playing Humpty Dumpty. In the bottom two videos, she is having fun swimming with Daddy.

10 Months

2011-02-23T21:16:00.008-06:00

I have realized now that Caroline is only 2 months away from turning a year old! It makes me happy seeing her grow and learn everyday, but sad that my baby is becoming a big girl.

Caroline now weighs right at 19 pounds, which is encouraging because that puts her on track for being able to switch to the front facing seat at a year! I'm SO tired of the baby seat. We won't go back until the week after she turns one for a check up, so not quite sure about height. However, she is basically in 12 month clothes now. She is still able to wear 9 month dresses, and with pants, she is right in between sizes. She can fit into the legging type pants that are meant to be tight, but her jeans and other styles of pants are too baggy in the waste to stay up. Nine month pants are getting too short, so something's got to give.

Caroline:

You started to let go of things while standing up (2/10), and have been doing it more often each day. Our goal is to have you walking by a year!
You FINALLY learned how to clap. We have been working on this for what seems like an eternity, and you finally did it (2/17). We are so proud of you!
You love food! Some of your favorites include, peanut butter spread on bread, spaghetti, Nutrigrain bars, and yogurt.
You are down to only 3 7-ounce bottles a day, as most of your calories are coming from food now.
You have mastered the art of using a sippy cup, and you much prefer the kind with the straw to those without.
You have become a lot more vocal; babbling in the car, talking to yourself in the mornings before we get you up, and giggling with delight when we play peek-a-boo or tickle monster.

9 Months

2011-01-23T10:10:00.005-06:00

Caroline continues to learn new things everyday. Just when we think that she can't possibly be anymore fun to be around, she proves us wrong. Caroline went for her 9 month check up on 1/24, and was lucky enough not to have to get any shots. She weighed 18 lbs. 2 oz. (37%), was 27.5 in. (49%), and still had a big old head measuring in the 76%. Her next appointment is scheduled for April 25, which means she will already have turned a year old!! It's so hard to believe that this time is going so fast!
Caroline:

You are becoming better at feeding yourself, and have experimented with foods like green beans, bananas, pancakes, tortillas, and Gerber puffs. You are not picky and eat pretty much anything we give you!
You enjoy cruising along the furniture, as it allows you to get objects (remotes) that may be on the couch.
Instead of falling down after pulling up on something, you are now able to gently lower yourself back down to the ground.
Your vocabulary has expanded from 'dada' to include 'mama' and occasionally 'baba.'
You are able to vocalize in other ways besides crying (opening and closing hand to indicate you want something).
You now have your two bottom-middle teeth, and based on the amount of drooling in the past week, you are working on more.
You are able to wave hello and goodbye, though not quite consistently.

DISGUSTING!!

2011-01-21T06:23:00.005-06:00

Enough said...

Snow Day

2011-01-21T06:22:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, Caroline and I enjoyed a snow day. We ended getting somewhere around 10 inches or snow, which is the most we had seen in awhile. Definately the most Caroline has ever seen. Even though it was a bit on the cold side, Caroline and I trudged outside so she could check it all out. She seemed to be doing fine at first, though a little cautious. She even went a little too far forward at one point and got a mouth full of snow, but even then she didn't seem to mind. This all quickly changed when Cooper, who is normally pretty laid back around the baby, decided to bolt out into the yard, running right over the top of Caroline. Needless to say, she was not so thrilled, and that was the end of that.
After going inside to dry her off, I attempted to take Caroline out in the front with Cooper around. As you can tell, she was done and wanted nothing to do with the cold or the snow!

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

2010-12-29T10:52:00.004-06:00

Here is Caroline getting ready to board on our return flight to St. Louis.
Caroline experienced her first plane ride when we went down to visit my parents in Warner Robins, Georgia over Christmas break (12/28-12/31). I was a little nervous traveling with her, especially because I was on my own. Poor Joe had to work!

Caroline did awesome on the plane. She really enjoyed looking out the plane window! The changes in altitude didn't seem to bother her, and she slept for the last half of the flight. To make our flight even better, we ended up sitting right next to the doctor who delivered Caroline and her husband. They were headed to Rome for their 10 year anniversary. Both of them were extremely helpful!!

Our flight back was a little more interesting. Let's just say that you don't ever want to lose your driver's license when trying to fly. A long ordeal, made more difficult from traveling with a baby, but we made it back to St. Louis.

All I Want for Christmas is...

2010-12-29T10:47:00.004-06:00

Caroline's one wish for Christmas was her two front teeth. Okay, so maybe this was mommy and daddy's wish, but we are certain by her demeanor the past week or so that teething isn't the most pleasant experience.

Christmas came and went, but still no teeth. Fortunately, Caroline didn't have to wait long. Her first tooth (bottom right) broke through on 12/27, and the second one (bottom left) followed shortly after on 12/28. They are still pretty low, so I have yet to get a good picture, but they are through enough to be felt. It counts.

8 Months

2010-12-22T23:05:00.007-06:00

Caroline shared her 8 month birthday with mommy's real birthday. A lot has changed over the past month. Caroline weighed in at just over 17 pounds. We will find out next month about her height. She is keeping mommy and daddy very busy these days, but we are loving it!!
Caroline:

In the past month, you have learned to scoot (12/7) and crawl (weekend of 12/17). You are now into everything, especially the presents sitting under the Christmas tree.
You enjoy pulling up on objects like the fireplace, tables, people, Cooper, and anything you can get your hands on. This has resulted in your first bruise, which of course is on your cheek!
Some of your favorite objects to play with are cords, shoelaces, and paper. People might find this odd, but they keep you occupied for quite some time.
Bottle wise, you are the same as you've been. However, you are now eating rice or oatmeal and a fruit for breakfast. For lunch you enjoy some type of veggie and at least half of another fruit. We have also been giving you some Gerber Puffs to help practice with table foods and tried you with a sippy cup, though you have yet to be very successful with the cup.
We are caking your poor red, winter cheeks with Aquaphor. They don't seem to bother you, but they don't look very pleasant.
You have become very vocal now! Your first word, which you began saying the first week of December, was 'da.' You enjoy repeating it over and over again. Daddy seems to think you understand what it means, but right now you use it indiscriminately.

The Scoot

2010-12-13T06:51:00.004-06:00

Last Tuesday, Caroline started scooting (forward) for the first time. Since then, she has been a woman on a mission. This weekend, she was all over the place. She would usually end up by the presents under the tree. Look for a post on that to come. Here is a cute video of Caroline going after one of Cooper's toys:)

A Visit with Santa

2010-12-13T06:39:00.022-06:00

We took Caroline for her first visit with Santa on Sunday, December 12th. We weren't quite sure how Caroline would do because she has begun to show signs of separation anxiety. Fortunately, she didn't seem to mind at all. The true test will come next year when she actually realizes what is going on.
Here is Caroline waiting patiently in line to see Santa. Clearly, she was very excited!
The first thing that Caroline did when she sat on Santa's lap was reach for his beard. Once she was done playing with that, she could have cared less about him (as can be seen by this photo).
We got a free picture of her and Santa, and she was actually looking at the camera. I'm not technology savvy enough to be able to figure out how to change it from a PDF to put it on here though. Oh well!

Caroline's First Christmas Tree

2010-12-13T06:39:00.018-06:00

On our way back from Chicago, we stopped by Eckert's to cut down our Christmas tree. Don't ask whose genius idea this was. It was freezing cold, and we were all tired of being in the car. Caroline fell asleep before we were even able to find a tree. Oh well! We got it done and over with. The trees weren't as good as the ones from the place we went to last year, but we still found a decent one.

Caroline hanging the first ornament on the tree...a pair of booties from one of my mom's friends that says "Baby's First Christmas."

Chicago

2010-12-13T06:39:00.017-06:00

We took our first mini-vacation up to Chicago for the weekend of December 3-5. It took us a little longer to get up there than planned due to snow, but we all made it safe and sound. On Saturday, we went shopping on Michigan Avenue and had lunch at Giordano's (Joe's favorite). We didn't do too much else just because it was cold and snowy, not ideal for a baby. Overall, we had a great time and can't wait to go back next year!!
The 1 1/2 hour wait was totally worth it. Joe had originally planned on having dinner here as well, but he forgot how filling the pizza was.

Clearly Joe was super excited to visit the American Girl store. He did, however, manage to make it through both floors:)

Getting ready to swim at the hotel pool. Too bad the water was freezing cold!

Caroline loves being able to stand up while holding onto things all by herself. It's a totally new view for her.

7 Months

2010-11-22T19:10:00.007-06:00

Caroline is quickly approaching the mobile stage. Within the past week she has started pushing up onto her hands and knees. Caroline also is beginning to show early signs of pulling up on things. She often does not want to sit down on the ground. Rather, she will tighten her legs so that you have no choice except to leave her standing. Good thing we recently installed the baby gate!!

No doctor's appointment this month, but our scale at home has Caroline weighing in 16.2 pounds (about 16 lbs and 3 oz). We have not a clue as to length, so we will just have to wait until the end of January.

Caroline:

Shortly after turning 6 months old, she decided that maybe baby food wasn't so bad after all. You LOVE eating food now, but still not as much as your bottle. Your favorite food by far is bananas. Though you also seem to enjoy peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, pears, and apples. You eat anywhere from 1-2 Stage 2 foods/day (usually a fruit and veggie...and sometimes more).
Still taking four bottles/day...anywhere from 5-7 oz.
You are reaching and into everything, especially computers and phones!
Sometimes you object when we take things away from you or if you don't get what you want...oh no!!
When you get excited you nuzzle your head into our shoulders or on the ground.
Cooper is you BFF! You find a tremendous amount of joy in watching/attempting to play with him.
Daddy has seen you pass an object from one hand to the other, though mommy has yet to see it.

We love you so much and can't wait to see what the next month will bring!!

Caroline's First Halloween

2010-11-01T20:43:00.006-05:00

On Sunday, we finally got around to pumpkin carving. Joe and I obviously did the carving, while Caroline had fun playing in the "guts." Needless to say, she was a huge mess to clean up:)
Later that night we celebrated Caroline's first Halloween over at a family member's house. Caroline was a ladybug...the cutest ladybug ever!!

Caroline was pretty much a zombie the entire time. Poor thing was so tired all she could do was stare into space as people tried talking to her. Better than crying I suppose.

Caroline was so worn out that she couldn't even make it back to the house! Oh well. She still had a lot of fun and got plenty of candy, which daddy and mommy will definately be enjoying;)

Current Stats

2010-11-01T20:37:00.004-05:00

Caroline went for her 6 month check-up today. She got 4 immunizations; three shots and one orally. She has to go back in a month (specifically for shots) to get her second flu shot and third Hep B. The doctor said she looked healthy, but did recommend we start giving her a daily multi vitamin. Dr. Mueller also gave Joe a big safety speech, so I guess that means it's time to start baby-proofing the house. We don't go back for an actual check-up until 9 months, so the end of January. I'm sure a lot will change between now and then!!

Weight: 15 lbs. 14 oz. (42%)
Length: 26.75 in. (79 %)
Head Circumference: 43.5 cm (76%)

Happy 6 Month Birthday, Caroline!

2010-10-23T22:37:00.012-05:00

It's so hard to believe that Caroline is a 1/2 year old! She is definately starting to develop more of a personality, and we love seeing her grow and learn new things everyday.

Caroline doesn't go back to the doctor until November 1st, so we still aren't sure of her exact measurements. Check back soon for updates! According to our scale, she weighed right at 16 pounds. Several friends and family have also commented on how long she seems to be getting. Must be going through a growth spurt!
To our big girl:

You are not a fan of cereal/food. We try feeding you, but you really don't want much to do with it. In fact, you have thrown-up several times at night, which we are thinking is because we are trying to feed you too much. Time for a new plan of action.
You are still taking 7-8 oz. four times per day.
Your sleep schedule is also pretty much the same. Sleeping through the night...two naps during the day (one longer, one shorter)...cat nap before bed. We may try cutting the cat nap out and putting you to bed a little earlier for the evening.
Yor biggest accomplishment this month was learning how to sit up!! You started practicing by holding onto toys (10/2), and within a few days you were doing it on your own:)
Your tear duct finally opened the weekend of 10/16! No more gunky, left eye for you!!
No crawling quite yet, but we aren't in any rush for that!!

Pumpkins Galore

2010-10-13T21:52:00.008-05:00

On Sunday, we made a trip over to Thies Farm in search of the perfect pumpkins. We couldn't have asked for a better day weather wise. Caroline, on the other hand, was a different story. Joe was kind enough to pass his cold on to Caroline, which resulted in a runny-nosed, tired, and cranky baby. These pictures were taken before her meltdown and falling asleep mid-trip.

She wasn't too crazy about sitting on the straw. Really she wasn't too thrilled about being put down in general. On a normal day I think she would have been all over it. Oh well!

A Week of Firsts

2010-10-02T08:22:00.014-05:00

Caroline has had an exciting past couple of days. After celebrating Joe's birthday, we went out in search of a new pair of running shoes for him. Unfortunately, we didn't find any, but we did end up buying Caroline her very first pair of Nikes:)
On Friday, October 1st Caroline enjoyed her first Cardinals baseball game against the Colorado Rockies. She must be good luck because the Cardinals actually won;) She was very excited and well-behaved, but ended up passing out by the end of the game.

To round-up all of the excitement, Caroline sat up (with the assistance of a toy) on her own today. She was able to sit without help, but only for a few seconds. Maybe she will be sitting up by 6 months after all! What a big girl she is becoming!!

Happy Birthday, Joe

2010-10-02T08:22:00.005-05:00

Joe turned 28 this past Thursday! We celebrated by going to dinner at El Maguey. Joe's present was actually a physical gift. He spent last weekend in Milwaukee hanging out with some college buddies. While he had a lot of fun, I'm sure he missed us;) How could he not, right? Caroline did make him a coffee mug with her handprints, and was even thoughtful enough to buy him some Dunkin Donuts coffee.

Due to a lack of time and motivation, I was only able to make Joe cupcakes. Though a cake probably would have been easier. Either way, they tasted delicious (chocolate with white confetti icing).

Joe is getting closer to 30 with every passing day! Hard to believe it's only 2 years away!!

What a Big Girl!!

2010-09-22T20:50:00.007-05:00

Caroline is officially 5 months old! She seems to have gotten HUGE over the past month. According to our scale, she weighs just a tad over 15 pounds, and I can definately tell she is longer than a month ago. Caroline will be going to the doctor for her 6 month check-up next month, so we will have more accurate stats then.

Joe, who is in charge of getting her dressed in the morning, decided that this special day called for a special outfit. Notice the tutu, which is connected to the pink, princess onsie. For someone who wasn't a big fan of having girly things, he sure did pick out a very feminine outfit:) On another note, Joe was also the one who decided we needed a pink/gray big girl carseat as opposed to a plain black one. Sucker;)

To our ever-changing baby girl:

You eat 8 ounces every four hours (4X/day). We tried you on cereal for the first time on 8/23. You seemed OK with it at first, but don't really seem to be crazy about it lately. Who can blame you? You are growing just fine, so we aren't too concerned.
You go to bed between 8-8:30, and we have to wake you up at 6:50 to go to the sitter...boo!
You are reaching for anything and everything in sight!
On September 14, you rolled over for the first time, back-to-front. You are rolling over all the time now!!
The next night we also put you in your big girl jammies for the very first time. No more swaddling or sleep sacs...WOOHOO!
One of your new favorite activities is playing in your exercauser. You love pushing the buttons and making noises with the toys.
We are now working on trying to sit up. Maybe by next month?!?

New Tricks

2010-09-16T19:20:00.004-05:00

Caroline rolled over for the first time back-to-front yesterday. We were lucky enough to get it on video tonight. She's getting so big...less than a week until she turns 5 months old!!

4 Months

2010-08-22T13:18:00.005-05:00

Caroline went to the doctor for her 4 month check-up on 8/23, one day after her actual 4 month birthday. Doctor says she looks great and to make sure we stay away until her next visit at 6 months...we certainly will try our best:) Caroline weighed in at 13 lbs. 10 oz (50%), was 24.5 in. long (60%), and her big ol' head was in the 76%. She has now officially doubled her birth weight and then some!!
Caroline:

You continue to be such a sweet, easy going baby. How did we get so lucky?!?
You are drinking a consistant 7 oz. every 4-4 1/2 hours.
The doctor told us we could try you with cereal (WOOHOO), so we will see how you do!
You are still an awesome sleeper...going to bed between 8 and 9 p.m. and sleeping almost 12 hours.
Over the past couple days, you have discovered your feet, which you now enjoy grabbing with your hands. Fortunately, you haven't tried eating those yet!
Also, very recently, you seem to love reading books with daddy and mommy even more. You now find pleasure in grabbing at the pages and feeling them.
You are drooling EVERYWHERE!! You must get this from mommy, who was a ridiculous drooler by the time she was 6 months.

Where the Peaches Grow...

2010-08-09T21:19:00.006-05:00

No, we are not in Georgia...the one and only peach state. We found our peaches a little closer to home, though I'm sure my parents wouldn't have minded if we had gone peach picking down there:)
On Saturday, we made the trek over to Belleville, Illinois to find some delicious peaches at Eckert's. We left the stroller behind, which ended up being a very smart decision. The ground was covered in peaches, so we avoided getting peach mush everywhere! Joe tried out the baby carrier for the first time. Caroline seemed to enjoy it, especially since she was able to look around at her surroundings.
We enjoyed eating peaches along the way, and we couldn't very well let Caroline feel left out:) She wasn't quite sure what to think about them. I suppose that's to be expected when all you drink is milk!

Another Project?!?

2010-07-27T15:41:00.008-05:00

What have we gotten ourselves into?!? Seems like just when we finish one project, another one gets started. It's amazing how quickly "talking" about redoing/fixing something turns into actually "doing" it. Our current project involves giving the downstairs 1/2 bath a makeover. The bathroom now has ugly mint/pea green walls with coordinating tile. The walls are textured, HATE!! You can't see in the picture, but there are two ugly glass, mirror lights abover the mirror and vanity. Also, the lights, mirror, and vanity were not centered above one another.

Our plans for the bathroom include: replacing the lights, mirror, vanity, and toilet, ripping up/replacing the tile, plastering/smoothing out the walls, repainting walls a different color, and getting new switchplates and fixtures. So far the project has taken two weekends with the first being dedicated to demolition and this past weekend putting down a new floor.

Before...

Getting ready to rip up the tile...Scary!!
The floor is all ripped up.
Found the starting point for laying the tile.

Tile layed and grouted. Still have a bit of haze to get off the tile, but overall it turned out well. The goal for this coming weeked is to get the walls primed/painted and to put up a baseboard. We should be close to finishing! I will be so happy if this project can be finished within a month because there are already plans for another one...AHH!

Quality Time with Mim

2010-07-27T15:30:00.006-05:00

First of all, for those of you who may not have heard, apparently my mom is too young to be called grandma. Consequently, she is now referred to as Mim. So...Grandma Tschannen=Mim...

Mim was nice enough to come in town to watch Caroline this past weekend. Joe and I were originally going to Chicago as a late anniversary trip, but then we calculated how much we were going to be paying in childcare starting next month:( We ended up staying in St. Louis, but we did enjoy our time without the baby, relaxing and getting things done around the house.

Caroline and Mim had a lot of fun together. Mim showed Caroline off to all of her friends and old coworkers. I'm told that overall Caroline behaved herself, despite the fact that her entire sleep schedule was thrown off...thanks Mom:)

Caroline is already missing her Mim! We can't wait to see you again soon!! Thanks again for taking care of our baby.

Our Big 3 Month Old!!

2010-07-22T08:38:00.005-05:00

Here is our big, blue-eyed 3 month! What a sweet baby girl!! We don't have a doctor's appointment this month, but based on our scale Caroline weighs about 12 1/2 pounds. I'm not sure how long she is. Guess we will have to wait until next month to find out.
Sweet Caroline:

You are still sleeping through the night! You go to bed between 8 and 10 pm, and sleep until 6:30-8:30 am.
You are laughing and squealing out loud a lot more:)
At the end of June you discovered your hands. Needless to say, your entire fist is constantly in your mouth!
You rolled over for the first time (stomach to back) on July 14th, but we have yet to get it on camera.
During the day, you are eating anywhere from 6-8 ounces every 4 hours!! Hopefully you can start on cereal next month.
Over the last couple of days, you have started to scream when you don't get your way. Examples included changing your diaper before feeding you or letting you sit too long on your own. Hopefully we can learn to communicate in other ways!!
You aren't a huge fan of tummy time anymore. You would rather be up and checking out the world around you.

1 Year Ago...

2010-07-18T12:04:00.002-05:00

Hard to believe it's already been a year since we were married. It seems like just yesterday, and the day's events are still vivid in our minds. I guess when you are busy preparing for a baby, working, coaching, playing sports, etc. things tend to go quite fast!!

Joe and I didn't see much of each other this weekend. He played baseball in Columbia on Saturday and had to work on Sunday, but the time we DID spend together was enjoyable. On Sunday night, we went out to dinner at Lewis and Clark's in downtown St. Charles. The baby came with us (looking back we should have gotten a sitter) and of course, had a blowout in her diaper before our food even arrived!

Fortunately, my mom is coming in town this weekend for some quality baby bonding time. Joe and I will definately be taking advantage of the fact that we will be baby free for three days:)

Here's to many more great years!! Although we can do without all the excitement and changes that came with the first year;)

We're FINALLY Finished!!

2010-07-16T11:12:00.009-05:00

It only took almost 5 months, but we are FINALLY done giving our kitchen cabinets a facelift!! We started this project at the very end of Febuary, but due to a very special baby in our lives the whole thing took a little longer than originally anticipated. Joe did a great job of sanding and giving the cabinets a good scrub down, and I had a good time priming and painting (haha). We bought all nickel colored hardware to replace the brass. We are quite happy with the results:)

A new trash can to match!

We also replaced the lighting fixtures in the kitchen and eating area. Not only do they coordinate, but also provide us with more light to an area that was once too dim for our liking.

Our Little Firecracker

2010-07-04T11:26:00.008-05:00

Here is a photo of Joe and Caroline at Riverfest in Downtown St. Charles.

Happy 4th of July!! We have had a nice, relaxing weekend thus far filled with BBQs, festivals, and time with friends. I have been waiting to dress Caroline in her patriotic outfit, and the time finally came:) We had to get more that a one-time use out of it so she wore it Saturday night and Sunday. Thank goodness for no leaks;)

Caroline's First Road Trip

2010-06-30T12:54:00.005-05:00

We took Caroline on her first road trip this past weekend to visit Great-Grandma Campbell in Knob Noster, Missouri. It was a pretty easy drive both ways. Caroline slept most of the car ride, except of course when we were stopped for an accident and then construction in Columbia!! I guess she sensed we weren't moving and decided to needed to liven up the ride:)

As can be seen, Caroline had a wonderful time bonding with Great-Grandma. She's only two months old, but already looks huge compared to her Great-Grandma!!

Great-Grandma Campbell must have the magic touch. By the end of our trip she had worn out both Caroline and her new dog, George.

2 Months Old!

2010-06-23T06:48:00.013-05:00

It's hard to believe that Caroline is already two months old!!
Caroline went to the doctor on June 25th for her 2 month checkup. She weighed 11 lbs. 1 oz (54th percentile), was 22 in. long (33rd percentile), and her head measured at 39 cm (55th percentile). Other than having to get two shots and an oral dosage of a vaccine, Caroline is one healthy baby.

To our precious baby girl:

You are now smiling (quite often), which we are loving!
Occasionally, you seem to laugh out loud. Daddy hasn't heard you do this yet, but mommy promises that she has.
You coo and talk to us all the time. Sometimes we wonder what you are trying to say. Guess we'll find out soon enough.
Tummy time is one of your favorite activites. You are able to prop yourself up on your elbows and look ahead at a 90 degree angle.
You startle to loud noises, but still tend to tune daddy and mommy out most of the time. This must change:)
You are sleeping through the night!! Woohoo! We are very proud of you. Your first time was on June 20th. We woke up the next morning shocked to discover that we didn't have to get up the night before. Keep it up!

Overall, you are a very easy going baby. You are only fussy when you get hungry, tired, or have a tummy ache. We are so grateful to have a baby like you, and we can't wait to see what the next month will bring.

Father's Day

2010-06-23T06:48:00.011-05:00

Joe's first Father's Day was spent playing baseball. It was in the 90s, which definately didn't make for much fun!! Needless to say, Caroline and I did not attend. Perhaps it would have made it worth while if they had won;)

After Joe's baseball game we went over to my aunt and uncle's house for some delicious BBQ! YUM!! Overall, it was a pretty good day for Joe. Caroline wore her "I Love Daddy" onsie, which included a picture of her and daddy. She must already know what one of Joe's favorite things to do is because she surprised him with a golfing gift certificate. What a thoughtful little girl!

Happy Father's Day to the World's Best Dad!

Playing Dress-Up

2010-06-15T11:50:00.004-05:00

Contrary to what these pictures might show, we were not swimming at the pool. Although, with as hot and humid as it was this past weekend, I would have loved to be cooling off in the water. While Joe was out mowing the lawn, I decided to play dress-up with Caroline. We haven't been to the pool yet this summer...hopefully soon!!
Once we actually make it to the pool, I'm certain Caroline will have all the boys attention. I mean, "Who could resist those rolls?!?"

Caroline in her watermelon swimsuit and pink shades;)

Caroline's Baptism

2010-06-01T18:59:00.007-05:00

Caroline was baptized this past Sunday, May 30th at Immanuel Wentzville. We had a fun time celebrating the occasion with all of our family and friends, and we couldn't have asked for a better weekend. Caroline must be well-loved as she had visitors from near (St. Louis) and far (Springfield, Georgia, and Texas).

Caroline wore a baptismal gown that has been in Joe's family for 5 (I believe) generations now.
Caroline's sponsors were my sister, Jenn, and Joe's brother, Philip.

After the service we had a delicious brunch followed by cake. YUM!!

We didn't get a very good picture of just Caroline in her gown because she was a little hungry and crabby after church. Here is a photo of her later in the day.

Tummy Time

2010-06-01T18:46:00.002-05:00

Caroline is getting better on her tummy with each passing day. This clip is from about two weeks ago. I tried to put it up earlier, but had trouble with the loading process. Enjoy:)

It's a Rough Life...

2010-05-17T09:15:00.010-05:00

Babies have it so rough. They are constantly have someone to cater to their every need, and they really do have some pretty cool toys to play with. That being said, here are a few photos of what a typical day in the life of our baby looks like. Not too shabby:)

You can't tell from the photo, but Caroline is actually pretty good on her stomach. She can turn her head from side-to-side and hold it up for a few seconds at a time. Look for a video coming soon.

Not quite sure what to think about my bouncer.

First time on my activity mat/play gym.

Looking tiny in such a big swing.
Reading with daddy:)

First Mother's Day

2010-05-10T15:15:00.004-05:00

It's still sometimes hard to believe that I'm actually a mom and that this little baby is dependent on me for survival. Even though she's only been part of our family for a little over 2 weeks, she has been a huge blessing. So, even though Mother's Day may be a day to be thankful for our moms, on this Mother's Day I am grateful for my baby...sweet Caroline:)
Of course, I can't forget that Cooper is my baby too! He's been such a good boy since we brought the baby home. He probably doesn't get as much attention as he should anymore, but he has handled it all so well.

Caroline's First Week

2010-04-29T20:52:00.007-05:00

It's hard to believe that our little baby is already a week old. So much has happened since she came into our lives last Thursday. Caroline had many visitors during her first couple of days, including much of mommy's family, coworkers, mommy and daddy's friends, and daddy's parents. She enjoyed being held so much!

Unfortunately, Caroline had to be on a bilibed from Monday night to Wednesday afternoon, which meant that she couldn't be held much at all!! Poor baby! She had to get her foot pricked a total of 5 times to test her biliruben levels, but she took it like a champ:) Here is a photo of her sporting the bilibed. I think she's cute, even in this ugly thing.

We gave Caroline her first bath on Wednesday. We would have done it sooner, but with her being on the bilibed bathtime got put on hold. She didn't seem to mind her bath too much. No hysterical screaming, which mommy and daddy appreciated a great deal.

Today is Caroline's one week birthday. To celebrate, we went on our first walk. Mommy pushed the stroller, while daddy took care of the Coopster. Cooper actually walked pretty well for him. He seemed more interested in the baby than anything else!

A note to our sweet baby girl on her one week birthday: Even though you've only been part of our lives for a week, we can't imagine life without you. You are our mellow, easy-going baby. You very rarely cry, and when you do it's almost pathetic. I've never seen a baby content to sit in a wet/poopy diaper or lay in bed just looking around for over an hour at a time until there was you. You are our snuggle bug who makes the cutest cooing noises and faces when you sleep:) We are blessed to have you in our lives, and we LOVE watching you grow each day.

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

2010-04-29T20:50:00.004-05:00

As many of you probably know, I am not a very patient person. I do not enjoy the unknown or having to wait for things. Last Wednesday into Thursday taught me that there really is truth to the saying, "Good things come to those who wait."

The following is Caroline's story, how she entered this world and changed our lives forever:) It all began last Wednesday, April 21st a little after 12:00 pm. I had never really considered the fact that my water could break at any time or any place. I didn't think it was that common, and that even if it happened to me, it would be at home or something that would be very discreet. Not so! My water decided to break in the middle of a school day!! There is nothing like having a group full of coworkers in the bathroom as you are leaking amniotic fluid, having your principal drive you to the hospital with trash bags on the front seat, or laughing uncontrollably in the hospital parking lot as you leak even more:) If we weren't close before, we definately are now. (On a serious note, I am very thankful to work with such great people.)

I arrived at the hospital a little after 1:00 pm. After going through the typical admission/questioning process, which I had just gone through a week before, I was officially admitted to the hospital. Although my water had broken, I was not in labor. Around 3:30 pm, they started me on pitocin to start up contractions. They started with a low dosage and gradually increased it until my contractions were regular. It seemed like some type of game! My contractions were very irregular; sometimes close together and other times farther apart. I received an epidural around 7:30 pm, and am very grateful that I did! At this point I was contracting every minute...ugh! All I can say is epidurals are AMAZING!!

It was a long night to say the least! Fortunately, it was a fairly painless night, but with nurses coming in and out, there wsn't much sleep to be had. I had no idea when I went into the hospital that it would take that long for our baby to actually come out!! I was already dialated 3 cm and my water was broken. Seriously, who would have thought it would take 19 hours to get her out?!? I guess that's what happens when you get stuck at 5 cm and 7 cm for 4 hours each. At 8:00 am on Thursday morning, I was still only 7 cm dialated!

I was bracing myself for a C-section. Not exactly what I wanted, especially since it would have required 2 extra nights in the hospital. The doctor came in around 9:00 am to check my progress. She was fully prepared to do a C-section and had already cleared her schedule at the office. Baby apparently had other plans. Much to both of our surprise, I had gone from a 7 to 10 in just an hour. Thank God!!

After almost an hour of pushing, our sweet baby girl came into this world. And here she is again...Caroline Elizabeth! Isn't she beautiful?!?

Introducing Caroline Elizabeth Brand

2010-04-27T19:08:00.005-05:00

Meet our sweet, little bundle of joy. More pictures and details to follow.

April 22, 2010

10:27 a.m.

6 lbs. 12 oz.

19 3/4 in.

A Long, Exhausting Week

2010-04-17T16:07:00.005-05:00

In terms of baby, the week of events started out on Tuesday. I had my weekly doctor's appointment where I found out that I was about 2 cm dialated and the baby was at -3. The baby looked healthy, head down still and heartbeat in the 140s. I felt good about the appointment as it made me feel like at least we were moving in the right direction:)

On Wednesday (37 weeks), I woke up with a fever. After teaching half a day, I went home to rest hoping that the Tylenol I had started taking would do its job. Such was not the case! Joe and I had plans to go to the Cards v. Astros game on Wednesday night, and I didn't want to ruin them. I tried to suck it up and make the most of the situation. We made it through the first three innings, which is actually longer than I thought I'd be able to survive! When we got home, my fever was up to 101.6. I felt terrible!!

I didn't feel too bad when I woke up on Thursday morning. In fact, my fever was down to below 100, but things only got worse throughout the day. I called the doctor around lunchtime, and told them that my fever was up to 101.8 and I was having cramping in my lower abdomen. They told me to come in to get checked out. Anyway, to make a long story short, my fever was up to 102.1 and they baby's heartrate was in the 180/190s, which they weren't overly suprised by considering I was sick. The doctor proceded by sending me over to Labor and Delivery for observation.

I spent Thursday night and Friday morning in the hospital being poked and prodded and being pumped full of 4 bags of IV fluids (causing me to gain about 5 pounds...YIKES!!) as they tried to figure out what was wrong with me. Fortunately, my fever broke on Thursday night, which resulted in the baby's heartbeat going back to normal. They never really did figure out the exact problem. My white blood cell count was elevated and I was probably dehydrated, which didn't help the fever. They ended up guessing it was probably some type of flu bug.

I am very glad to be at home out of the hospital. Once I was feeling better, it was actually quite boring. After being in there for awhile, Joe and I found ourselves actually wishing that the baby would come. We were already there...why not have the baby?!? The baby has other plans, however, and apparently wants to cook a little longer. She is continuing to make progress, however, to the outside world. On Thursday afternoon, I was 3cm dialted, 50% effaced, and she was at a -2. It will be interesting to see what happens between now at Tuesday when I have my next appointment. Who knows...maybe we won't make it that far:)

37 Week Pic...Not too bad for being sick! She definately has gotten rounder.

Only One Month to Go!

2010-04-07T10:05:00.009-05:00

How Far Along: 36 Weeks

Maternity Clothes: Yes.

Weigth Gain: My weight stayed the same (13 pounds) since the last week when I went to the doctor. I guess it depends on the day. Sometimes it more like 14 pounds. Who really cares at this point, right?!?

Stretch Marks: None

Sleep: Minus the trips to the bathroom, I have no complaints. I'm sure I don't help my cause since I drink a large glass of water each night before bed;)

Best Moment This Week: Celebrating Easter this past Sunday and being off all week long for spring break!! I also had my weekly doctor's appointment, and everything with baby looked great. She measured at 35 cm again, but was being stubborn in allowing the nurse to get an accurate reading of her heartbeat. It was somewhere in the 130s or 140.

Movement: Her movements have turned into more squirming motions rather than kicking. The doctor says this is normal since she doesn't have as much room to move around anymore. Her movements have also been more noticeable at certain periods of the day since I have been off of school. She has had hiccups the past two mornings:)

Food Cravings: No...my appetite has seemed to be decreasing over the past week or so. I guess there is not as much room for the food to go.

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: Only BH...I'm assuming that when I actually go into labor, I would know the difference.

Belly Button In Or Out: In/Flush with rest of stomach

What I Miss: Not having heartburn on a daily basis!! Before I was pregnant, I don't think I had ever had heartburn before. Now, it's inevitable that I get it pretty much every single day!! At least my days of getting it are numbered!!!

What I Am Looking Forward To: Being able to see our baby soon (well hopefully not too soon). Being off from school has given me time to wash all of her clothes, blankets, etc. Hopefully by the end of my break we can get a bag packed for the hospital, and then we should be good to go! Ahh!!

Milestones: It's hard to believe that we only have one month left! What's really hard to believe is that the baby really could come at anytime, and she should be perfectly healthy.

35 Weeks!

2010-03-31T17:19:00.004-05:00

How Far Along: 35 Weeks

Maternity Clothes: With the exception of tshirts, everything I wear is maternity. I'm hoping that I don't have to break down and buy too many spring clothes. It's going to be hard considering it's been in the 70s and 80s the past couple of days!

Weigth Gain: 13 pounds

Stretch Marks: Nope...a little over 30 days left, so here's to hoping they don't just show up one day.

Sleep: Hasn't been too bad. I don't have to use a special pillow or anything...just sleeping on my side. Still waking up on a nightly basis to pee, but falling back asleep isn't difficult.

Best Moment This Week: Joe and I went to Springfield, MO this past weekend for his cousin's confirmation. We had a good time seeing his family down there. We were also able to have dinner with my dad, who is in town for work, on Sunday.

Movement: She is still moving around like crazy. She definately moves more on some days than others...usually in the morning and then again later at night.

Food Cravings: No. My appetite has been pretty consistant throughout the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: Just Braxton Hicks...thankfully no real contractions. The baby does seem to be sitting lower (at least that's how my bladder feels all the time).

Belly Button In Or Out: In...I'm guessing it will remain that way, which is fine with me.

What I Miss: Not being pregnant...I'm starting to forget what it was like (ha!)

What I Am Looking Forward To: My legs not being tired and swollen!! Over the past week, my ankles and feet have become quite swollen by the end of each day. The doctor, of course, suggests elevating them, but this isn't often possible when teaching.

Milestones: Only 5 weeks to go! The baby measured right at 35 cm at my doctor's appointment on Monday, and I start going for my weekly appointments now. Where has the time gone?!?

33 Week Sneak Peek

2010-03-18T15:42:00.013-05:00

I went to the doctor last Monday (3/8) for a routine visit. Everything looked good. I gained 2 pounds...putting my total up to 10. The baby's heartrate was in the 150's, and my blood pressure was great. The baby, however, decided that for some reason she felt like measuring big. She measured at 34 cm, which was quite a change from the 29 cm she had measured at just 3 weeks before. The doctor decided to order a sizing/positioning ultrasound. She couldn't have been that concerned since she had me wait a week and a half to do it.

So today we got a preview of our sweet little baby. We may not have been planning on having a third ultrasound, but after seeing the baby again today we were very glad that we did. She was pretty cooperative for the first portion of the ultrasound, but she made it clear when we were done by putting her face into the placenta. She's already trying to call the shots. This could be a problem:)

Anyway, baby was head down, which is awesome. Let's just hope that she stays that way. Her measurements put her in the 59th percentile of where she should be for her gestational age. She is estimated to currently weigh about 4 pounds 15 ounces...AHHH! That seems quite large! I've heard that these aren't that accurate and can be anywhere up to a whole pound off on either side. We will be hoping she is actually less than her estimated weight...or at least I will!

I've gained a pound since my appointment a week and a half ago (up to 11)! I guess that's what happens about this time. Apparently, she will be gaining about a half pound per week until she's born. I go back in 2 weeks, and then my weekly appointments start. Where has the time gone?!? I can't believe we only have about 7 weeks left!!

These pictures are way cooler than the last ones. She looks like a real baby:)

31 Weeks and Baby Class

2010-03-03T17:10:00.003-06:00

How Far Along: 31 Weeks

Maternity Clothes: Clearly!

Weigth Gain: According to the scale at home, 9 pounds. We will see what the doctor says when I go next week.

Stretch Marks: Still None:)

Sleep: Sleep has been more challenging the past week or two. I don't attribute my inability to sleep to the baby. Up until a couple days ago, I had a cold which made it very difficult to breathe and be comfortable at night. Just ask Joe:)

Best Moment This Week: This isn't really baby related, but finding out that we are getting back more money than expected from the government. Hooray for no credit card debt come May!

Movement: Baby has been getting all of her required movements (and then some) in each day, so the doctor should be happy.

Food Cravings: Joe says, "No." We'll stick with his answer.

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button In Or Out: Still in, but the depth of my belly button seems to vary on a daily basis...maybe due to how the baby is positioned.

What I Miss: Being able to put my shoes/socks on and shave my legs in the same way that I did before I had this big bump in my way.

What I Am Looking Forward To: Going to our very first childbirth class tonight...scary, but exciting. Who knows what we are in store for?!?

Milestones: The baby has now been developing for seven complete months. Onward we go!

29 Weeks and Counting...

2010-02-17T18:24:00.005-06:00

How Far Along: 29 weeks

Maternity Clothes: For the most part, it's all I wear. Still occasionally wearing some non-maternity shirts.

Weigth Gain: Weight was the same at this doctor's visit as it was 2 weeks ago at my visit, so I guess 8 pounds. I would say it's closer to nine on most days though.

Stretch Marks: Still none. I keep wondering when these usually appear on people, and hoping that I don't get them!!

Sleep: It' actually been better than two weeks ago, which I attribute to the fact that I've toned down the cardio part of my working out. My hips and back haven't been too bad the past couple of nights.

Best Moment This Week: Again, getting to hear her heartbeat on the doppler (150s). She measured at 29 cm, which is right where she should be. Just knowing that she is growing healthy:)

Movement: My doctor gave me a sheet to start recording baby's movement each day, so it has made me even more aware of the fact that she moves around a lot. Her kicks are getting stronger with every passing day.

Food Cravings: Still not really any. I do enjoy eating cereal, specifically Reese's Puffs, for a treat after dinner. I've also grown quite fond of grilled cheese and tomato soup (maybe because it's easy to make).

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: Nope

Belly Button In Or Out: Getting close to being flush with the rest of my stomach!

What I Miss: As of late, I really am missing being able to sleep on my stomach. Just to experiment, I attempted to lay on my stomach for a moment while Joe and I were finishing painting the baby's room, but that didn't last long. It did not feel good, and I'm sure the baby didn't enjoy it either:(

What I Am Looking Forward To: Being able to breathe normally again!!! Breathing well has suddenly become very difficult. Trying to sit down after eating is not pleasant, so I try to stand or lay back after meals.

Milestones: Maybe I'm just dumb, but did you know that baby's drink their own urine as they practice swallowing?!?

A Nice, Long Weekend

2010-02-15T10:17:00.005-06:00

What could be better than a four day weekend?!? We had a teaching conference on Friday and President's Day today, so I have been enjoying getting things done around the house.

Joe and I finished painting the ceiling and trimming the baby's room on Saturday. After three trips to Home Depot, Joe solved the "lack of good lighting" problem in the room by putting in a whole new fan. The room is pretty much done now, which is nice because it is getting more difficult for me to things (kind of annoying!). We just need to get a rocker and a few baskets for storage, but we still have plenty of time for that:)

Joe and I were like a bunch of old people on Valentine's Day going to eat dinner at Outback at 4:00 in the afternoon!! We are glad that we did, however, because by the time we were done the wait was exceptionally long and it had started snowing a decent amount. After dinner, we were FINALLY able to watch our wedding video...ha! It brought back many good memories, especially of the reception;)

I have a doctor's appointment later today, so be on the lookout for updates in my 29 week post.

She just keeps growing!

Because the boys have lately been neglected, here is a shot of Joe and I yesterday before dinner and one of Cooper in the snow.

Third Trimester, Here We Come

2010-02-03T16:49:00.005-06:00

How Far Along: 27 weeks

Maternity Clothes: Definately in maternity pants. Some normal shirts still fit, but it's more comfortable to wear the maternity ones. My tshirts that were smaller to begin with are getting tighter, and buttoning/zipping up my winter coats is becoming more and more challenging.

Weigth Gain: Officially 8 pounds...so says the doctor at my appointment this past Monday.

Stretch Marks: None yet!! Keeping my fingers crossed:)

Sleep: Sleeping has become more difficult on some nights. There are days when my hips/lower back kill. I actually "caved" and bought some extra strength Tylenol, which works miracles!

Best Moment This Week: Getting to hear baby's heartbeat on the doppler (140's).

Movement: Baby moves around a lot...some days more than others, but not to the point of being uncomfortable yet.

Food Cravings: Surprisingly, NO! In fact, I think I craved certain foods more before becoming pregnant. I guess it's a good thing I'm not trying to shove chocolate down my face:)

Gender: Still a GIRL...some things will never change!

Labor Signs: Thankfully none.

Belly Button In Or Out: Still in, but definately getting more shallow.

What I Miss: Being able to run with Joe:( Although I've been working out on the elliptical and doing the weight circuit, it's not the same. I'll probably look back at this and wonder what I was thinking!!

What I Am Looking Forward To: Being able to sleep in this weekend. Is the week over yet?!?

Milestones: Baby is 2/3 of the way cooked...only 1 more trimester to go!! AHHH!

Getting Bigger...

2010-01-21T20:41:00.006-06:00

Baby continues to grow bigger and bigger everyday. She moves around a lot now, but her movements aren't yet strong enough to be uncomfortable. Joe has even gotten to feel her kick on several occasions:) It's hard to believe that the third trimester will be here in just a few short weeks!!

19 Weeks

21 Weeks
25 Weeks

Nursery Transformation (Part One)

2010-01-15T17:36:00.012-06:00

Over the course of the past week, we have begun the process of transforming the one of the guest bedrooms into a nursery. Seems like just yesterday that this room was repainted...ha! Here are a few photos of the old room, so at least we have something to remember it by.

Joe and I ordered the baby her very own bedding , and we were very pleased with the real-life results when it came in the mail. Joe wanted something not too "girly" and "frilly." We tried to steer clear of too many flowers, lace, etc. For not wanting the nursery to be very girl-like, I must say that there is NO mistaking what gender this room is intended for. Joe was all for painting the wall pink:) I LOVE painting and getting to see immediate results from doing so. Consequently, I was very excited when I got the chance to paint the entire room due to a couple snow days at school!

Here is a close-up of the crib with bedding. The quilt and bumper have polka dots, the sheet is floral, and the bumper is striped. A lot going on, but it all looks good together.

Isn't the crib beautiful?!? Many thanks to baby's Great Grandma Campbell!! Without her, it would not have been possible. There is even a shelf below the crib for extra storage.

There was a special going on this past week in which you got a free changing table with purchase of a crib. How could we resist?!? Joe did an awesome job putting both pieces together. I think he enjoyed being able to use his tools again, too;)

It's a Baby...

2009-12-18T16:21:00.014-06:00

GIRL!! We had our big ultrasound yesterday, and we were happy to find out that Baby Girl Brand is on board. The ultrasound itself was really neat, as we were able to see baby's stomach, kidneys, and all 4 chambers of the heart. Baby looks healthy with a heartbeat in the 150's, which is what it has been in at all of my appointments so far. All of her measurements placed her in the 19 week range, so a little smaller than my 20 weeks and 1 day. I guess this could mean one of two things: 1) She will not be showing up before her due date of May 5th, or 2) She will be a smaller baby. Here's to hoping for option two!!

It's a GIRL!!

Two cute baby feet!!

Baby was very active during the ultrasound and not very cooperative. Hopefully this is not a sign of what is to come:) I still am not able to feel her kick more than the "fluttering" that I've been feeling for a couple of weeks. The ultrasound tech discovered the reason for this during our ultrasound. Apparently a baby usually implants itself on the posterior side of the uterus, but mine, go figure, decided to make its home on the anterior or front side. Guess I'll just have to wait for baby to get bigger and stronger before I can really feel her moving around!

Baby's butt, legs, and feet...they look awfully long!

Bottom portion of baby's leg and two baby feet.

She had her hands up to her face throughout the entire ultrasound. Apparently, she didn't want us to see just how beautiful she is until she decides to make her grand entrance:)

Baby looks like she is smiling!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2009-12-06T17:32:00.006-06:00

Yesterday, Joe and I went on the hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. Our search lead us out to the Warren County to Pumpkins and Pines. Here is Joe with our 7 foot Scotch Pine, which fits perfectly in the house.

I had to make it look like I did some work!

After returning home, we decorated the tree and hung the stockings by the fireplace. Cooper's is the green one, and there is a special spot for the baby's next to his:)

Joe and my brother, Kevin, spent the Saturday after Thanksgiving putting up Christmas lights. Lucky them, temperatures were in the 60's so they couldn't really complain too much! Doesn't look half bad for our first time putting lights outside the house:)

Fourth Annual Turkey Trot

2009-11-30T14:13:00.009-06:00

On Thanksgiving morning, we competed in the Chesterfield Turkey Trot. This is the fourth year that the Tschannen family has participated, and with each new year more family and friends are added to the group. It was a cold, blustery morning, and my throat is still feeling the effects! Overall, a good time was had by all. What better way to start off a day filled with too much food?!?

Below is a group shot before the race. I didn't see most of these people again until afterwards, but I'd like to think I had a good excuse;)
Joe and I at our pre-race photo shoot. A special thanks to Jody for the smiley face scarf. Without it, my face would have frozen!!

Run, Joe! Run! That's him in the blue shirt...number 247.
Family photo taken after all was said and done. All six of us managed to survive, and I, especially, look forward to improving my time next year!

October in Review

2009-11-01T09:31:00.008-06:00

The basement now looks like a finished product instead of just a work in progress. Although, we still have some touch-ups to do, like trim work (YUCK), it is now actually a livable area. The bar is complete with the exception of a few more coats of polyurethane and some furniture.

In addition to all the work that has been going on with the bar, we somehow found time to paint the whole basement and hang new blinds on the windows. We were also able to start furnishing the rest of the basement, so we can spend more time downstairs now. All of our hard work was put to good use when we had friends over for Halloween last night.

Football Fun! Last weekend, Joe and I went to Mizzou's homecoming game in Columbia. Conventiently for Joe, they happened to be playing the Longhorns. The game was ugly for Mizzou fans, but we still both had a lot of fun. We tailgated beforehand with my sister and some of her friends. One bright point of the tailgate included trying spam sandwiches...texas toast, peanut butter, cheese, jalapenos, and grilled spam. Sound quite disgusting, but it was actually pretty good.

My Aunt Kaye invited Joe and I to go to the Rams v. Colts game with her and my cousin, Shane. So, last Sunday we headed to the Edward Jones Dome to watch the Rams get their butts kicked yet once again. A rough week for Missouri teams! It was, however, an experience that we'll always remember. Our seats were only six rows from the field behind the Colts bench. A lot of good views;)

Fall Festivities

2009-10-04T16:52:00.009-05:00

We celebrated Joe's 27th birthday this past week. It was pretty low-key considering it was on a Wednesday. We went out to eat at Applebee's and then came home to enjoy the cake I made. It turned out pretty good and didn't taste too bad, either:)
Today was a beautiful day outstide, so we decided to hit up the pumpkin patch. It was packed, but we were still able to find some good pumpkins. We also tried fried oreos for the first time. Joe isn't big on sweets, but he surprisingly liked them more than I did. Below is the smallest of the three pumpkins we picked out:)

The house is looking more ready for fall now that we added our

pumpkins to the outdoor fall decor.

Joe has been busy getting the yard ready for winter. He spent the weekend putting down grass seed and fertilizer...and, as you can tell from the pic below, got rid of a much unwanted yard guest. Disgusting if you ask me, but Joe is proud of the fact that it took him only 24 hours to kill our mole friend!

Bad Blogger...Lengthy Updated Progress

2009-09-07T08:54:00.029-05:00

Life has been CRAZY lately! There is always something going on, which doesn't leave much time for this blog. Joe has been playing baseball and spending every last minute studying for the National Board Exam, which he passed this past Tuesday!! HOORAY! Since school started back a couple weeks ago, Michelle has been busy grading papers, writing lesson plans, and coaching volleyball. Hopefully, life will slow down soon, but I don't really see that happening anytime in the near future.

We were able to go shopping for master bedroom furniture a couple weekends ago, and it finally arrived at the warehouse on Friday. Joe picked/set it all up on Saturday, so we are now able to actually sleep in the master bedroom rather than one of the guest rooms.

A shot of our bedroom from the doorway.

Close-up of Joe's chest of drawers.

My dresser and mirror.

Our very own bed and nightstands:)

Sometimes I wonder if we will ever be done working on the bar?!? When we began this project last month, I had no idea what Joe was getting us into. A lot of progress has been made. Most recent progress includes installing under-the-bar lighting, replacing the lighting above the bar, beginning to sand/stain the bar top, putting in a sink, and having a plumber come to move water supply lines and add a drain. We have also hung a rather larger mirror, stained/put up two new cabinets, and created a baseball bat towel rack for the back wall of the bar.

Here a is picture of the backside of the bar. Notice the

lighting and running water from the sink!

A shot of the majority of the bar, minus one cabinet and

the end of the bar. It actually looks much better,

which makes the project well-worth it.

Maybe there is an end in sight? As far as I know, unless Joe has another idea for improving the bar, all that we have left is to sand/stain the bar. WOOHOO!!!

The Bar "Nightmare"

2009-08-16T22:23:00.013-05:00

I agreed to let Joe start working on "improving" the bar area in the basement last weekend. What was I thinking?!? :) It has turned into a complete overhaul, but I must say, it is starting to look pretty good.

Here is a before pic of the bar area. Little did we know how much

work this project would become!

Uhh...what have we gotten ourselves into?!?

Framing the Bar

End of weekend one pic...

It may not look like we accomplished much this weekend, but trim work is tedious. We also ripped down the cabinets and mirror from the back wall, which was a nightmare in itself! The refridgerator, which was once an ugly almond color, is now painted a lovely black and according to Joe, well on its way to becoming a kegerator:) Also, notice the new green color on the wall.

This is how far we are at the end of weekend two.

A plumber will be probably be coming sometime this week to install a sink in the bar. Our goal for next weekend is to get the bar stained, hang new cabinets, and put a foot rail at the bottom of the bar. Will this project ever end?

Home Improvement Projects

2009-08-07T13:16:00.000-05:00

With moving ino a new house, we are realizing that there is always something to repair, replace, or improve. Just when I feel good about completing one project, another one pops up. Below are photos of the entryway from before and after we moved in.

Before...

After...

Here are some photos from last weekend's project. We sanded/repainted the front door, hung a new door knocker (courtesy of Joe's parents), and installed new door knobs/locks.

Look for more home updates in the near future. We will be completing a backyard project and plan to begin work on a new, renovated bar area in the basement this weekend. Lots going on!!

New Beginning...New Blog

2009-08-04T11:27:00.000-05:00

As most of you know, if you are reading this blog, Joe and I are newlyweds (7/18/09). To keep our family and friends up-to-date with all of the happenings in our lives, we decided to start a blog. We have had a lot of changes this summer. Aside from getting married and honeymooning in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, we moved into a new house and Joe graduated and started a new job.

Here is Joe on his first day of work (7/27/09). He looks like he is ready for his first day of school!

This is a photo of Joe and I in Cozumel. The trip to Cozumel wasn't quite what we expected, especially since no planning went into it:) We did, however, have an incredible time in Mexico and hope to go back soon.