First Swim Class

Ready to go swimming! Like the lobsters on my swim trunks??



Momma and me before we got in the pool



Momma and me after my class - I was not interested in having my picture taken. It was TOO cold!!


Helping G-dad eat his ice cream! Ummm, Yummy!!


Well, tonight Abraham and I did it! We had our first Mommy and Me swim class. And let me just tell you how much the boy LOVED the water and being in the pool. This boy is a born fish. He didn't want to do what the other kids were doing.. he was doing his darndest to wiggle out of my arms and to do his own thing in the water. He was more interested in getting out of the pool and jumping back in than anything!!This was a great idea for him. I know that he'll continue to love it.


My dad graciously joined us tonight so that we could have some video and pictures of it for the blog and for our GA family. Abe and I decided that G-dad needed to be treated for his video-ography so we took him to his favorite dessert place - DAIRY QUEEN!! Abraham helped G-dad down the Mud Slide Sundae - then he proceeded to eat part of my Blizzard. Hey, if you have food you are this kid's best friend!!

Praying for the Magnusson Family

I was sent this website by my brother in law. One of his best friend's name is Micah. Micah married Kara and Kara has a brother named Micah as well. Recently Kara's brother Micah has had some major health issues, putting him into a coma for the past weeks. I have been keeping up with this dear family thru their webpage and I wanted to share it on here for anyone else to be able to pray for them. Michael and I know all too well what it is like to watch a child be in the hospital and to feel helpless to help them. Because Micah is a bit older it is different but still I can identify with the emotions of Sherrie.

Longwood Gardens - Father's Day 2007

Italian water gardens





I'm gonna get that water if it's the last thing I do!!






Hurray! I got it and I'm soaked! What fun water is!!




Today, Father's Day, Michael wanted to go to Longwood Gardens. It is about 45 miles north of us into PA. This is a garden that was established by Pierre du Ponte (yes of the du Pont products you are thinking of!). He bought it to save over 1000 acres of trees in the early 1900's. The gardens have been kept going since he died in the 1950's. It is an absolutely gorgous place to walk through. You could spend all day and never see it all. We had beautiful weather and Abraham did really well, which is always nice! It was a nice day to spend together. Happy Father's Day Michael!




Darn it all - Daddy won't let me get in this water. But there are FISH in there!

Playing with friends

Maureen and Susan Carroll with Abraham






Giving kisses to Susan!


Give me food and I'll be your friend for life!!



Every so often, as a teacher, there is a child and a family that I really "click" with. This happens to be one of them. I had Maureen in 3rd grade Math and I got to know her pretty well. She is a sweet girl who I just love. Susan is one of the most kind and gentle people I have ever known. She just is wonderful, in fact she is the one that gave me Tami's name (our wonderful day care provider!) I have found a bond with this family and they have taken Abraham on as theirs. So we met on Saturday at the playground to hang out a bit and then we had lunch at Paneras. It was a nice time to spend together.

On a different note, if you are one of the 3 people who actually read this blog :) would you keep Susan in your prayers? She has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is having a masectomy on Tuesday, the 19th. Pray that they are able to remove all that is necessary to get rid of the cancer and that she will have a quick recovery. Thanks!

True Yankee! (sorry Southern relatives!)

What is that thing??


How EXACTLY am I supposed to eat this?


Ok, I think I've gotten the hang of it!


I love crabs!


Much to the chagrin of our Southern relatives, I do believe that the boy is a true Yankee - at least a true Baltimorian! He loves his crabs - whether they are in crab cakes or steamed. They sure are good, hon! :)
Good thing he isn't allergic to shellfish!!

Visit from PA family

Kari with her kids, Alex and Chloe and then Babe-ra-hams!



KK with Abraham


Uncle Mike playing with Alex - he "popped" his eyeball out and put it in his mouth. This really freaks Alex out and he gets all wiggy! Too funny!!



Joel, Kari, Uncle Scott and Pappy



Mimi, Aunt Hazel and Abraham - Abraham is Hazel's Great-Great Nephew (Doesn't she look good for being 95 yrs old??!!)


This past weekend my family from outside of Pittsburgh were able to come for a visit. Uncle Scott is changing jobs and had some time off. It has been a while since they have been down to visit. Both Pap and Aunt Hazel haven't been in the best health recently. Scott drove them down on Saturday and they will go home on Tuesday. They haven't seen Abraham or any of the kids since Christmas. It was a good time for them to see how big Abraham is getting- he wasn't walking at Christmas!

Scott decided that he really wanted crabs so they got 2 dozen from somewhere - after calling about 10 different places. This happened to be graduation weekend and most places were sold out! Oops! But they enjoyed them - poor Pappy didn't like the Old Bay and washed each one off before he ate it. I know, I know you true Baltimorians! How dare he!! That was just his thing I guess.

I am so glad to have been able to see them and spend some time with them. Abraham and I will try and make a trip up to see them this summer sometime. It just made me more aware of how much older they are getting and that I need to make the most of my time with them. TIME is the greatest thing you can give a person and I fear that I have not given my own extended family the TIME that they deserve. I hope that I can be better about this in the future.

Daddy's fun with the boy!

So Daddy likes to have fun with the boy and tease him a bit. This shirt over the head is a favorite of Abraham and Daddy. Abe walks around like a drunk man cause he can't balance very well, and Daddy and Momma think it is pretty hilarious too! We're lucky he posed for a picture - he ususally is running around and knocking into things. Go figure!

Memorial Day

Time with Daddy


Enjoying being outside


That mulch sure doesn't taste goood!

Michael and I both had of on Memorial Day so we took the boy up to Rocks State Park for a picnic lunch and to play in the stream. We had the lunch and played on the playground for a bit but never made it to the stream. He got tuckered out pretty quickly and fell asleep in the car. Oh well! We had a good time as a family.

Baltimore Museum of Art

Michael with some Japanese statue


Abraham ripping down the caution tape!


I have lived in MD all my life and Michael has been here going on 7 years. Neither of us has ever been to the BMA - Museum of Art We took off about 2 weekends ago and went down to the city. We walked around the museum and enjoyed the art work. It's not really a place for an 18 month old. Abe didn't get the "quiet" part of the museum!! But once he fell asleep it was great. The museum was pretty neat. I'm glad that we finally went.

I love Pizza!!

A few days ago Abraham had finished his dinner when our pizza arrived. We sat down in front of the TV and he proceeded to climb up on the couch behind Michael, all the while smacking his lips and saying "Ummm!". He is quite the character. So as we are eating we of course give him a few pieces, since he IS starved (yea right!). He proceeded to crawl into Michael's lap and take the piece of pizza off of the plate and nearly put the whole thing into his mouth! Guess he was just hungry!!

Playing with the cousins

Last Saturday Kari and I took the kids on a Mother's Day gift shopping trip. We had in mind what we wanted to get mom but had to actually purchase it. So we drug the kids through Target and then to Mc Donalds for lunch. By that time they were really over the shopping part so we hit the playground. This playgroud is the one that Abraham really likes because of the sandbox. We played for a bit before the mommies got to hot and called it a day! The kids of course could go on forever!

PS. For those of you who know about my sweet niece Chloe and the accident, the playground is her favorite place to be. She runs like the wind and does pretty good keeping up with Alex! She is a good 2nd mommy to Abraham and he loves his CoCo! She is doing fantastically with her new leg. Thank you all for your prayers!

Happy Mothers Day!

Mom with her bracelet and angel


Me, Mom and Kari


Happy Mother's Day to me... and to all moms. I had a good day with my men and then with my momma. Michael and Abe took me out for lunch and then we walked around Barnes and Noble for a bit. We came home and I actually got a nap! I made dinner for the family - lasagne. We had dinner over at my moms and gave her the gifts then too. She of course loved them. She collects the Willow Tree angels and she is a sucker for unusual jewelry. So we got both!

It was a good day for me to reflect on what being a mommy means - I think I had a little bit of a clue about it from watching my mom and sister. But you just don't really know until you have lived it. I have learned that being mommy means sacrifice (of course!) It means you have dirty clothes but your child is neat and clean. It means that your house is a mess because you are spending time with the kids. It means a lack of sleep. It means lots of hugs, smiles and belly laughs. It means hearing "Momma" 1,000 times a day and loving each time! Being a mom is the highest calling I will ever have. It is also the biggest responsibility I'll ever have as well. I'm so blessed to be Mommy to 2 boys - one an angel with Jesus and one here on earth. Abraham is my world and I'd do anything for him. God has been so good to me with his life in mine. And I'm so grateful for that privilege of being his mommy. Thanks Father!


Kisses for my little man!


Happy Mother's Day!!

Back to School I GO!

Well, I have finally decided to go back to school to get my Master's Degree. I am taking the degree online thru a school called Walden Univ. The concentration I have chosen is Technology in the Classroom. The first week has gone well, and been relatively easy. I don't know what the rest of the class has in store for me but if you think about me, please pray! Pray that the school mind set will come back quickly and that I'll be able to balance work, school and home well.
Thanks a bunch!
Erinn

Mother's Day Pictures

Kari and I have started a tradition with our kids for Mother's Day. Last year we decided to have the kids pictures taken at Picture People and give that to our mom/Mimi for Mother's Day.
So we went to the mall to get the kids pictures taken today. I LOVE Picture People! Not only did the photographer really work well with all 3 kids, but she let Kari and I get in the picture with the kids. Wouldn't you know it? That is the picture that we got for Mom? Of course we are still waiting to see if we can post it on our blogs since it was a 10 x 13!!
Just wanted to share the pictures with everyone - so y'all could see what CUTE kids we have! :)


My little man, Abraham, 18 months old


BIG man, Alex, almost 6 years old


Princess Chloe, almost 4 years old



All 3 of our angels

NICU Reunion - April 2007

Some brave soul dressed up as this bear and allowed the kids to literally beat it to death! Abe thought he was really funny... he kept running up to "it" and hugging his legs or pulling his tail. Abraham thought it was great fun!!



This little boy to the Left of Abraham was in the NICU when we were there. I was able to spend a few times talking to the mom in the NICU. We talked about God's best and His will for our families. It was really neat. I don't think this little guy was as early at Abe was.




Last weekend Abraham and I went to the NICU reunion at the hospital. We were hoping to see the 2 nurses that took care of the boys. Unfortunately, Alice doesn't work there any more and Lauren was actually working. So we missed both of them. It was a bit of a bummer but we played with the other kids and talked to the parents. It was good to not have to feel like I needed to explain why he is so small - we all understand. Hard to remember that preemies come in all sizes and weights. Babies born at 36 weeks are considered preemie but they might be 6 + lbs.
Here are a few pics of Abraham at the reunion.



He found the wheels of the wheelchair great fun!

Our apartment - Before and After - Finally home!

Our Beautiful Mess!!



Abraham tried to paint a few times!


Helping Daddy push the couch


Before and After

We have talked for a while about painting the God awful white hospital walls in our apartment. We have lived here for going on 6 years and I'm sick of it! So we decided that before I started my Masters this week we should paint. What a long and horrible experience that was! We painted all Friday night, all day Saturday (thanks to Aunt K for watching Abe for part of the day!), most of Sunday and we just finished tonight, a week later. It's hard to describe the colors but they are blue toned. Like a grey-blue in the hallway and the darker color is more like a purply-blue brown. Like I said - hard to describe!

As much as we hated it, it looks really good. We installed track lights and a new dining room light to update the look and added other things to the bedroom as well. It looks like "home" and I'm happy!!

I just thought that I'd post a few pics of our masterpiece.




Living Room all done



Bedroom all done

Praise and Prayer Request

I posted a while ago about a sweet baby boy who was born at 26 weeks to a friend of mine, Mandy. I recently got an updated email that said he is doing really well. He is 10 weeks old and has doubled his birth weight! He has been on and off of the respirator but they are working to get him on the CPAP like our boys were on. This is a HUGE answer to prayer for this family. Thanks for praying.

And another prayer request for a little one - a friend from work, Karolyn, has a friend who gave birth to a boy 4 months ago who had Down's Syndrome. He was not early like our boys were but he had the same heart condition that Moses had. The doctors recently informed the parents that he needed the heart surgery and that there was a chance the baby would not survive because his lungs were weak. Yesterday he went in for open heart surgery. He came thru the surgery which is a big deal. And they were taking him off of the heart lung by-pass as well. I don't know this little ones name or his parents names, but if the Father brings them to mind please do lift them before the Throne. I do not know if they know the Father or not.

Thanks so much for your prayers!