9 PM

With me back in work full-time, I am finding between 8:30 to 9 PM every night the house is quiet as my babies are asleep from a full day of fun at their daycare homes/centers and mom is not too far from joining them! Our lives have been busy with adjusting to two working parents around here. The house is left alone during the day- no lights are left on, no cartoons to watch and lunches to make, we leave our humble home and venture towards the city, me going the farthest to a job I am blessed to have and am enjoying with each day. It is not always easy- kids are in two different places right now, but soon that will change. I am lucky to have found such great people to care for Ella and Luke.

The focus of my days is my family and the work load Monday through Friday at my office and desk! So unfortantly my blog, friends and networking has played second fiddle. The following are a few pics of those precious babies asleep upstairs!

Eating my words

I know, I know, it has been over a week since I have posted a update. I need to get the photos of the kids up from Easter, and recap the last couple of days! Life seems to be at high speed right now, which to some degree is great. This staying at home job is a lot of work, but I will admit I am coming around to enjoying it. It was a bit more fun in Brandon with my best buddies, but I am making ways here and have made some new, great friends too.

More to come, promise....

Hello Blog, your author is terrible

Hi there, any and all loyal readers. Have you given up on me, wondered if I threw my computer out the window and moved again? Maybe we are Facebook friends, and you follow me there, but continue to wonder why there are no new posts, no new photos of my growing children, no new crazy stories to share. For those of you who know me and read my blog and have not given up on me, know that I always have a story to share. It seems these days I have had a few moments to check email, Facebook statuses and comments and my bank account and pay bills, and devoted no time to my blog, except to make a new background (did anyone notice??)

I have been reading several blogs and even a movie involving blogging and food (Julie and Julia) and it made me think of my neglected blog. I read the Pioneer Woman and wonder how a mother of 4, who home-schools and maintains her household, assists her family with farm life can write about her life, cook fab food I love and write about that too; take amazing photos (something I need to work on!) and get it all down online. And then there was Julie Powell who blogged for a year and cooked amazing food too. I am awaiting a great gift of Miss Ree's cookbook for a beloved friend, and was thinking maybe I could adapt the same concept Julie has with Julia Child and cook my way through Ree's book. She loves butter, as do I. And it would require me to speak out to you all (my loyal readers) on a daily basis.

Or I could get off my duff and require a half hour of my day go towards blogging. Posting photos for loved ones and dear friends to catch up with us and our lives. Still might cook my way through the Pioneer Woman cook book and Southern Living cookbook- this is presently on my night stand, I flip through it at night and think of the great future dishes I will make.

So, even though I have said I will blog more in the past, I am making it my new goal to blog more NOW. I also have a list of people to reconnect with, just send them a note to let them know I was thinking of them or the impact they had on my life and continue to have. And to top that off, I have this great idea to share with my close college friend a kind of Hallmark- like book- one that share stories of our friendship and is sent to each of them, like a card to read and then share their stories of each other. This is something I have been stewing over for some time now and again, have to get off my duff and do it.

My new moto is to Get Motivate and Act on Your Thoughts- touch a live in a new and special way. Next I have to put deadlines to everything, treat it like a job and it seems I take on more ownership in it and leave less room for excuses.

Well, I have rambled enough, get ready readers, I hope to not disappoint.

Have I mentioned...

That Luke is crawling/picking up food and feeding himself (every third puffy is successful) and into everything. Welcome to a great stage of motherhood- the into everything phase, cannot leave you for a minute or Luke will be into something he shouldn't be. This is my life right now, chasing is what I like to phrase it as, the chasing phase- love him! Enjoy.

Note how bossy Ella is to him!

Checking himself out in the mirror at the Magic House
Farmer Luke
Eating our first apple! He liked it.

Too Cute!

Ellisville or Ballwin

I live on the street that is also the city boundaries for Ellisville and Ballwin. Makes life a little complicated, as I do all my shopping in Ballwin, yet I live in Ellisville.

Maybe I should back up- everything I need- Target, several groceries stores, shops, Starbucks, Pier One, Maggie Moo Ice Cream, book stores, churches and so on are all within a couple of miles of each other.

We live right on the edge of Ballwin, so all the shopping and traveling I do in town is in Ballwin, yet I am zoned Ellisville and half of my neighbors have a Ballwin address while the other half and us have a Ellisville address. Kind of different, just goes to show we live in a big city with lots of little cities/towns within it.

A quick update on us. There are still lots of boxes marked garage sitting unopened in the basement, however, we did have some friends come over and we have two more electrical outlets to allow us to hook up the treadmill and fridge- this means I need to eat less and work out more!!!! We have five boxes in the house (minus the basement) that we still need to open and go through. Not bad for week three in the house.

Luke received his flu booster today and did great. Ella is starting her second week of preschool and is loving it, which is nice to know she is spending time with kids and learning new things while I attempt to get us settled.

We have library cards- took me two trips to the library as I needed to have our current address with us (proof we live here) to get a card. Ella got a library card too and thinks she is pretty cool.

The refrigerate is here and in place, it has taken four trips to the grocery store to have it filled, well at least stocked with the majority of things we will eat.

And I met one of our neighbors this weekend, ordered Girl Scout cookies from her daughter, but did meet someone and learn a little about them. I am sure I talked nonstop, just excited to talk to a adult besides Kyle, in person that is.

Here are some pics to enjoy.

Future Snow White for Halloween 2010!

Luke is crawling backwards, it is funny to watch, though I am sure it is frustrating for the little guy.

Ella on her First Day of Preschool in Missouri (second preschool in the past year!!). She told me she was "So Happy" to be going to school.

New Year and what a story to tell

I have not blogged in almost a month, or maybe it has been more than a month! Our lives have changed so much I am not sure where to begin... the move from our home in Brandon, SD, traveling to St. Louis, the unpacking process, the damaged kitchen floors- from a leak in the copper piping for the fridge before we moved in, Christmas in Texas, Christmas in Oklahoma, coming back to the house and cleaning and cleaning, adjusting to a new place, Luke's first two front teeth, Mom coming to help get the house in order, enrolling Ella in preschool, adjusting, cleaning and more cleaning and starting to, very slowly adjust to all the new.

So I think I will begin from the start with the moving process- but it will take me some time to get my thoughts in order and promise to begin the writing process on our move.

Overall, we are all doing well and getting used to the house, the sounds, directions- still not always sure which way is west??!!

Ok, going to bed- both kids are in bed and I am going to bed. We are having a dinner with friends tomorrow and Kyle has Monday off- so a nice three-day weekend for the Freeman's.

Joined the Gym

I have joined a gym for the next month. I received a free membership after having Mr. Luke and decide I better use it now since our time here is limited. Sanford Wellness Center has a excellent gym with many choices along with a great daycare and children's fitness program for Ella.

I have gone three days so far, only skipped Wednesday, we plan to go tomorrow. It has worked out well to go on the days (mornings) Ella is in preschool. I can workout for a hour plus, then take my time getting ready and then I pick up Luke, who is loved on by several people working in the daycare and then head out to get Ella. And the best part, Luke sleeps the majority of the way to the gym and home.

I have a tendency to people watch while I work out, sometime there is a class taking place and I see the exercises they are conducting, or see guys bench pressing 200 plus pounds, I smile at them and then go over an pick up my 10 pound dumb bells with pride!!!

Anyway, I am hoping to go at least 4 times a week this month and depending on where we are with the house and moving, I might pay for a one month membership for November. It has given me the drive to find a wellness center or gym similar to this in St. Louis area when we move for me to get involved in. Granted we have a super nice treadmill, but I don't have someone to watch the kids while I walk for a hour each morning and then take a shower and get dressed with no interruptions!

So I am hoping to find something similar for me and the kids, plus it is good for Ella and Luke to get out and be around other kids and for Luke to be held and cared for ( a short time) by someone other than Dad and Mom. And it gives me some "me time," best of all worlds and maybe Kyle will get a skinny, trim wife again!!!!

My Routine these days

My routine has changed somewhat with the move, especially with us showing the house and trying to find a home in St. Louis too:

After the kids are put to bed I clean the bathroom-which means picking up the towels, hand towels, soap back in proper place.

Clean the dishes and dry them- something I never used to do, I am a firm believer in air drying things!!! Then it is on to measuring water for bottles, formula.

Clean the counter tops, pick up the toys around the house.

Do a quick load of clothes.

Then I move on to downstairs and Kyle and I begin our search for homes, we go back and forth between the homes we like and checking to see what school districts they are in and how the rank.

I come back up stairs, prepare Mr. Coffee for the next morning, might check Facebook and email and then head to bed- 11:30 or later, with hopes of Luke only getting up once.

I wonder how long this will last, because I think a part of me will miss this craziness when we move and I am trying to get everything settled into that house. We will see...

It has been a while

So I have kind of forgotten about the ol' blog lately. Right now Ella is snoozing and Luke is swinging and sleeping in his swing, so I thought, why not check my blog and make some updates. So here goes:

• Kari, CJ, Ava and Kinzie were here a week and half ago and it was great. The kids were equal to the parents! We spent our days playing with the girls, Luke watched. We went to the Palisades State Park, went to the place Jesse James was chased and jumped 10 plus feet in Garreston, SD. and then headed to the Pipestone National Monument in Pipestone, MN. Lots of pictures were taken, none of which I have downloaded yet. 

We had the kids pics taken in Eskimo Joe shirts and they turned out great. We stopped in at the butterfly house in Sioux Falls and Ell and Ava got a kick out of all the butterflies, and one rested on Ava for a moment (good luck headed her way). 

It was nice to have family in the house and just hang out, once the kids were all down for the count, us parents played some fun board games and caught up on life in general.

• Luke is smiling. I love it! I have some video that I will be posting soon. He is getting new hair on his cute, round head too. His sleep schedule is off and on, some night we do great, while other nights are not as desirable. 

• Ella is participating in her second VBS for the summer, this one is a "Go Fish" theme and today I witnessed her dancing and sing at the front of the church, it melted my heart- she is such a cutie. 

• Interview!!! I had my first interview since Luke last week and it went really well, I hope to hear something soon. I am giving it to the Lord to help guide me to the right decision and I am at peace with whatever comes of the interview!

• South Dakota finally warmed up. We had 85 plus degree weather this weekend and Ella and I were able to play in the backyard with the pool. I read a book and worked on my tan and Ella played and splashed. 

• Kyle got pink eye, in both eyes! Yikes, painful and not a happy camper. He is starting to feel better.

• Have chatted with some friend before the start back at school, it is almost here. Ella starts preschool next month!

And this weekend we are headed to MN to see some of Kyle's coworkers and hang out at one of the state's 10,000 lakes. We are looking forward to getting away as a family.

Pics to come!

Day 9 and counting

Hard to believe that Luke is nine days old. We made our first big outing today to Lowe's for a ceiling fan and then went for lunch at Qdoba- Yum. 

Luke is sleeping in four hours time slots and is only up about twice in a night, which has been nice for Mom and Dad. He goes to bed about 9 then wakes to eat around 11 or 12 and then is up again around 3 or 4. He is super quiet, barely stirs in the night and give us small signals he is wet or hunger- so overall it has been really nice. He is a quiet sleeper, unlike his noisy sister!!! 

I am down to two pain pills and then on to the regular stuff, so I am saving them for the evenings, it is amazing how much you use your stomach muscles, so i am having to learn not to jump up right away in the middle of the night, but take it slow.

Luke is sleeping on the couch next to me right now as the golf game is on, and I should be napping too, but thought I should post what has been going on. 

Ella is with friends at a town parade and then on the farm for lunch and tractor rides. 

We had some friends stop by today and we got a diaper cake decorated with John Deere and Dekalb items. It is great. 

So that is us. We are just hanging out and enjoying the day- though there is a lot of rain and it is fairly humid. 

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there!!

A amazing blessing- Luke Warren

I might just cry- it could be the emotions of having a child or simply the new love I have for my family and new son. I sit in the hospital room, tidy and quiet with little (well not so little) Luke Warren sleeping in his bed as I admire him. 

He was born on Friday, June 12 at 9:31AM weighing in at 8 pounds 15 ounces and is 20 3/4 inches long. He might of been 9 pounds but the operating room was pretty cold and he releases some fluid right off the bat, getting a laugh out of the nurses and staff!!!

I will admit I was nervous and scared, but after the first cry and seeing him, all that went out the window and my heart was overwhelmed with a new love for him and my family. We arrive at the hospital at 7 AM to wait in registration while a lady in front of me was in labor and another lady behind me going in to be induced. We were admitted after a short wait and taken to the triage room to prep for the surgery. I started off really strong. My nurse, Audra, was very nice and got a IV going on the first try!!! Slowly the minutes creeped by and before I even knew it, Ella and Mom had stopped by to wish me good luck. 

I lost it with Ella though, she looked me up and down with the machines and monitors all around and touched my face and told me it was going to be ok- well the water works began then. How could a three year old have such insight to assure her mom it would be ok. 

Next I was wheeled to surgery, with Kyle to follow shortly. It was freezing in that room, was like 67 degrees, but with just a hospital gown, it felt a lot colder. The docs came in, and at 9:11 I got the spinal and before I knew it, my legs were heavy and I was on my back getting prepped for the arrival of my son. Kyle was in shortly and at approximately 9:31 AM- Luke Warren made his entrance into this blessed world. 

He cried for just a moment and then of course the nurses and Kyle were laughing, as Luke thought it was cold too, and peed everywhere. What a boy!!!

Within minutes Kyle was holding Luke and next to me. My OB told me everything looked great, sewed me up and congratulated us and we were left with a great new gift. We went back to triage for recovery for several hours and mom and dad made stops in to see their first grandson. The phone calls also began, mom had a list and Kyle made calls from the room. Ella loved Luke and wanted to hold him instantly, another teary moment for me. 

We took a elevator ride around noon to the maternity floor and got settled into a very nice, large room. Everyone but me got some lunch and we passed Luke around and lots of photos were shot. The nurses were great and very supportive of us. 

By the end of the day, I was able to get out of bed, with the help of my nurse, Maria and got some water, ice cubes and saltine crackers. Ella had a hard time leaving us that night, but overall was great. Mom and Dad got her a "I'm the big Sister" button and she wore it proudly. We had a couple of visitors, which was great to share the joy and share our excitement. 

We were blessed with a wonderful night nurse, that we had for the duration of our stay and our day nurse gave me great tips and tricks for feeding Luke. Overall, Luke did great, he did lose some weight, which was hard news for my heart, though our pediatrician, who happened to be on rounds that weekend- assured us it was normal and concerns were low. Funny how much we worry as parents, new parents all over again. 

Saturday and Sunday included lots of visitors and friends (thank you all for coming) and we spent family time together adjusting to being a family of four. We rested when we could, and took in as much of Luke as possible and preparing for going home. 

He is a much different baby from Ella, and quiet. Yes he cries but only for a short period of time and can be calmed much faster than Ella. He is smaller than Ella, though he weighed more at birth. Has less hair, but his daddy's chin and cheeks. He is a handsome baby.

Our trip home Monday went well, we were discharged by 12:30 and home by 1, just in time to feed Luke and get him settled in. Ella was so excited to see us and was bouncing all over the place, she has since calmed down and likes that we are all home! Mom made us a nice dinner and Kyle and I were able to rest some and relax at home.

Our prayers of a healthy son were answered. As a mother, the love I have for my son cannot be placed in words or actions- but it is a love I had for him long ago, that grows by the seconds. He is a precious gift from God, both of my children are. It is a joy to share him with you all. More to come!

9 Days Left

I might have gotten a little off track with posting every day!!

So the dentist appointment went fine. Afterwards I got some much need ink at the supply store for my printer, headed to the local bakery in Sioux Falls I love and stocked up on some sourdough bread- I hope the little guy allows me to eat it later on!

I picked up Ella from our friends house and headed to the library- were we returned a pile of books and DVDs and ended up with even more to check out later on. Once we got home, and I mean we were home for like two minutes, the guys from the Auto Glass shop were knocking on the door to replace the windshield. 

After that was taken care of, Ella and I hung out and played for a while and then I dropped her off at her first tumble class, I did not get to watch, they like it if parents either wait in the other room or come back in the 30 minutes allotted. So I went to a friend's house and returned some of the maternity clothes I had borrowed. I figure it is better to keep things organized now than later.

We grilled hamburgers for dinner and went to bed early.

Yesterday I had a day of pampering myself. I got my toes painted with a full spa service, it was great! Ella spent the day at daycare and had a blast. I had my first weekly appointment with my doctor and everything looks good. I had to talk to the head nurse about prep for the c-section next Friday and then the business office to see what I needed/have to pay! 

We ate a late dinner and then took bathes (Ella) and got in our PJ's (Ella and I) and the three of us headed to Sonic for their free root beer floats. The place was packed, but we got in and out with much success and some yummy free floats.  After we got home, Ella and I settled down with several of the books we checked out at the library and then called it a night.

Today was out turn to host a play date- 6 kids- one prego momma! It was fun, though both Ella and I took naps afterwards. Tonight we are dining on leftovers and tomorrow Kyle and I are going out for dinner and movie. We have a high school graduation party this weekend to attend, church and preparing for next week. I guess I could do some laundry- though I got the cleaning lady coming Monday- so the Freeman's may be dining out the remaining of the week- my way of keep the house clean.

June 12- 9 AM

Set your watches and date-books, for this is  the day baby boy Freeman is to arrive!!! I go in for my last two week appointment tomorrow (I thought it was today!!) and then I am down to two one week appointments. 

How I have gotten ready-

Moved Ella's wall decor to her side of the room

Washed the crib decor and items

Washed sleepers and onesies

Purchased Newborn and size 1 diapers

Purchases some bottles and accessories

Reviewed how to use the pump

Found one diaper bag

Purchased some nice PJs for the hospital

Scheduled a pedicure, haircut and other pampers services for the coming weeks

Found several recipes of meals to freeze- made veggie beef soup and froze this weekend

Wrote thank you notes to friends we have received gifts from

Began the call and email list

Now I am thinking a nap is in order. I will shop next week for other essential food items the fam may need, get the house in order and the week of just play with Ella and enjoy this special time, go on a date with Kyle and take naps!

A fun Friday with Ella

Ella and I have come to a tradition with shoe shopping. We check out the store and try on many style (Ella that is) and I shop around for deals and cute shoes that are just too cute to stay at the store. After many trials and we come to a conclusion, we then head to lunch.

This past Friday we had a garage sale at the church for MOPS in the morning and then around 11 AM headed to Sioux Falls and StrideRite. It was the first day I was off the pain medication and feeling ok. Since I had been a pretty lazy mom this week and spending two days away from Ella, I felt I owed her some one on one time. We made it to the shoe store in record time and looked at all the new styles. Ella is wearing a 9W. She still has not kicked the wide shoes, but they seem to have lots of selections for wide footed kids at StrideRite, so it did not phase us. Ella tried on many styles but of course being the nerd I am, we ended up with the same style as last year. The are versatile and can be worn not only to church but for outings. 

We looked at some other fun styles, and promised to come back in the future. Next we, went next door to Ruby Tuesdays for a nice lunch. Ella and I were I think the only mom and daughter pair, many work lunches taking place. I refused to let it get me know and thought my company was much more fun than the other tables. Ella surprised me with wanting salad for lunch. Ruby Tuesdays has a big salad bar in the front of the restaurant that we passed on our way to our table and that is what Ella wanted. 

Together, we had healthy salads for lunch, along with many crackers and lemonade. Following our fun lunch, we headed to Target to pick up a few things for her Easter basket and for the nieces. 

We wrapped up the afternoon together with a ice cream cone from McDonalds that we shared on the way home. We hung out for a couple of hours at the house, and then went back to the church for the garage sale that evening.

I treasure these times that Ella and I get to have time together, there is no price tag you can put on them. They are priceless and I can only hope they will continue after Junior gets here. Not working has turned out to be a good thing for Miss Ella and I. We hang out together, and in some ways Ella is helping me as a Mom more than she knows. 

Very late in posting

I have fallen off the horse with posting, really, like the horse died. But I have found a new horse, or energy to post again. I love to do this, but it seems life has taken over lately. This past weekend was nice, we got caught up around the house, went to a art festival and on Sunday we signed Ella up for Sunday School and I am a Shepard in the first grade class, but I am worried. It is the largest Sunday school class before youth and all the teachers warned me they are a handful. I wanted to help with Sunday school as Ella will be learning great things and I wanted to give back, but the Lord may have given me more than I can handle. At this time, there is no teacher, appears to be me until they find one, insert FEAR. There is another teacher who may come to my rescue, I pray she does. Overall, I am excited but nervous, I know it will be a great experience.

Really excited to get home, I am in Nebraska right now at a windy farm show, but it has been a great turn out and potentially a success for our client. I have been doing lots of work and wanted to reserve some time to post tonight. We are having friends come up this weekend and that should be fun. I am getting a haircut Saturday and need it bad, the gray hairs are winning.

MOPS starts Friday and I super excited for this, as co-publicity chair, we have been working hard to get several big items ready! I am looking forward to seeing the moms and catching up!

Oh and the best news...I found a super cool bright OSU orange purse in the hotel lobby and bought it without even thinking, should be interesting to explain to Kyle. This is the second purse I have picked up during these farm shows, I am noticing a trend....

Anyway, better get back to work items and get ready for bed. Thanks for reading, and sorry you have been reading the same post so much lately!