and finally...the halloween photos

Three's Company was for work, with my friends James and Michelle.

Steve and I did The Nightmare Before Christmas

Hope you like them!

little monkey

yes, i am such a slacker. I have our halloween photos on a disk at home and I keep forgetting to post them! I'm sorry! They are really good too I must say! :)

BUT, I have to post the newest pictures of "my little monkey" These were taken this morning, Amy is trying to find "the perfect" picture of him to put on her xmas cards. I think they are all perfect of course because my nephew is a cutie. (I talk about him like he's my own! I can't help it, I love him)

He hasn't crawled yet, but he gets in the position in order to sit. He'd rather stand because he can stand with a toy in hand, can't crawl and bring toys with you! Lol. He also just had two teeth break through, so he's not been a real happy little camper. He's growing so fast!

been awhile

I know it's been quite some time since I've been on here, but nothing has really gone on, so I didn't know what to say! No drama lately, which I guess really is a good thing.

Halloween is coming up. I like Halloween, but not nearly as much as my husband or my employees. It's ok, actually I only like the candy. Ha ha ha! But I do participate because they like it. At work we dress up every year as a group and try to win the contest. We've won all three places in the past. I hope we win this year too, but this is going to be a little harder. There are only three of us this time, so we decided to be Three's Company. I'm Janet, James is Jack and Michelle is Crissy. We each bought wigs that match them almost perfectly, and we're on the hunt for clothing. My Mom let Michelle and I borrow some of hers. She had a storage container of some of her favorites from the 70's that fit us perfectly. We still need shoes though, and James still needs clothes. I think he may try Good Will today and see if he can find anything. I think it will work really well when we are all together, but if you see us separately throughout the day you may not have any idea who we are.

Then Saturday there is a party at a friend's house that Steve and I go to every year. Dress-up is mandatory, and we won last year. The first year we were Neo and Trinity from The Matrix, and last year we were Pirates from The Pirates of the Caribbean. We love movies. This year Steve thought it would be fun to be Jack and Sally from A Nightmare Before Christmas. I actually have never seen that movie, but know who the characters are, and the costumes are great! I'll post pictures next week of both. Should be fun.

Little Charlie has a costume this year even though he's only 7 months old. Amy hasn't decided if she's going to take him out or not though, he's so little. But she wanted him to have a costume so she could get a picture in it! Unfortunately, she bought it a month ago, and the little monkey is growing like a weed and his legs are too long for it now! If she takes him out she is going to cut the feet off of it. He's going to be a pumpkin. Very cute. Little hat with the stem at the top and everything. Don't think he likes it, he'd rather be naked, but he's cute anyway.

Well, think that may be it for now, hope everyone has a good time and be safe.
talk soon

christmas for the soldiers

My friend at "Mementos of a Military Mom" posted this picture so I have to too!!

She and "Her Soldier's" fiance have a "Christmas Presence" campaign going, please check out her blog about it, and I decided that my company needed to get involved. I love that soldier, he is a great guy, and there are approx. 40 men and women in his unit in Iraq.

Well, long story short, my company is wonderful. I have recieved SO MANY goodies to send over there, along with 12 baseballs, 6 mitts and a bat from the President of our company!! Lots of boxes! It is very touching how many people really care and will all come together to do something special to show their thanks.

The photo is of a desk in our office full of all the goodies, and there are more that haven't made it to the desk yet!! So exciting!!

Nice weekend

Ok, so it took me a few days to get on here again! :)

Steve and I had a great weekend. He went hunting Saturday morning (at like 4am, first day of Bow Hunting season) and (after I got out of bed) I went grocery shopping for our trip.

We left around noon or so, about a three hour drive, not bad at all. The cabin was very cute. The one we stayed in about 2 years ago was one big room, bedroom, living room and kitchen in one room like a studio apartment, but this one was like a little house. All separate. Very cute. Full kitchen, love seat, recliner and wood-burning fireplace, all that good stuff. It was decorated very cute too.

The bathroom was a little gross, but I am also very anal about a clean bathroom. I just didn't feel like I wanted barefeet in the shower, I hate that. and the bed!! That was hilarious! barely moving on the bed made the entire thing squeak and shake. so we didn't sleep well, every time either of us just barely moved the other woke up. we got smart the second night and just put the mattress on the floor. that did help.

Hot tub though, I love it!! I know I am anal about clean bathroom stuff, and this is a hot tub outside on the deck, but you can tell it is super full of chemicals to kill anything, strong chlorine smell, which was fine with me. It was blue marble inside and just wonderful! super hot and very bubbly. I loved it. It was a little warm to get in during mid-day, but we were in it in the mornings and evenings. so relaxing.

Sunday, on our anniversary, we did go on some of the trails and go hiking. Ash Cave is my all-time favorite there. It is truly amazing and beautiful. Pictures don't even do justice to the impressive size of this cave, I just really love it. I brought a backpack and made sandwiches and brought pop and we could picnic out.
Once we got back we had dessert. We had attacked the top of our wedding cake the day after the wedding on the couch with two forks. and with everything that has been going on I forgot to order a small cake like I planned on. So, I found a small little two-person cake at Wal-mart before we left. White cake (Steve's favorite, I always go for chocolate) with the piped frosting all around it and little sprinkles. I brought our cake topper with us, and so when we got back I surprised him with it. I'm a dork, I know this, but those little things are important to me! He laughed at me but he loved it too.

We really needed this trip, and I'm so glad we had the chance to go.

Since then, I've been spending time with "my little monkey" who is just the cutest thing of course!! still trying to get him to crawl, he's so close!! it's almost like he'd rather be in his walker running around though. Amy needs to still send me the link to his 6 month pictures and then i'll post some, or I need to scan the ones I have, they are cute. My favorite is him in his little Cleveland Browns outfit looking at a football, which looks giant next to him!

Well that's it for now, hope everyone is wonderful!!
I'll write more soon.

out of town, and my little monkey

Hi all,
I wanted to get a post out there before I leave. I'm heading to Michigan for work for a few days, then when I get back Steve and I are going to Hocking Hills to stay in a cabin for a few days for our 1st anniversary! I can't believe it's been one year already!! Times goes so fast!

My little Monkey. That's what I call little Charlie now. He's so darn cute. Went for his 6 month doctor's appointment yesterday. Couple more shots, poor little guy. He's not quite crawling yet, but he tries. He can sit by himself unattended, and when he's laying on his stomach, he can get his knees up under him, or push his arms up, but he can't figure out how to do both at the same time. If you lift up his chest, he puts himself in the crawling position, but he just rocks back and forth, he can't quite figure out how to move yet. So cute. He is now 16 lbs, 10 oz, and 29 inches long!! long skinny baby for sure. His halloween costume is 12-18 months, but it just fits his length right now, so my sister is talking about cutting the feet out of it.

that's it for now, have a great week!

some more random happenings

i haven't written anything in awhile, so i'm trying to think back to what's been going on, just to fill everyone in....

this weekend was fun. Saturday we ran to Fin, Feather and Fin in Ashland so that Steve could use his "early birthday gift card" that I got him. His birthday isn't until mid-October, but hunting season starts at the end of the month so I got him a card so he could buy all the stuff he needed. It was a fun ride down there because I hadn't seen him all week, gabbed the whole trip.

Saturday night we went over to my photographer friend's house to play poker. There are 10-12 of us that try to all get together every two months or so to play. It's usually only $5-$10 to play, and we play all evening. I'm not very good, but it's fun anyway. Steve won! That was fun, it's always a different winner each time, so he was excited. We went to Michelle's house because she and her husband just bought a new house and we all wanted to see it. It was so funny because our friends Angie and Jim live just down the road from their new house and they came over ringing the bell and dressed like they were The Cleavers from Leave it to Beaver. So funny, they went to the thrift shop and got old outfits and brought a pie over "welcoming them to the neighborhood" they are so funny. and they love dressing up. They have a costume halloween party ever year that we go to. (but that's a whole different story)

So yesterday, Steve took me out to Lonestar Steakhouse for lunch with his winnings. Then I took him to Cold Stone afterwards for dessert! It was great to see him for two full days!

Then, of course, I had to watch the Browns game. and it was great!!!! I thought my team would get clobbered playing the Bengals, but man they pulled it off and it was a fantastic exciting game.

What a great weekend! Tonight I'm going to visit little Charlie. I should have more photos of him in the next few weeks. He's about to hit 6 months and Amy will get more photos taken. Such a cutie!!! Can't believe he's almost 6 months old already! I love him!

Well, there's a ton more I could probably start in about, but I'll leave it at this for now. I hope everyone is doing well!

misc stuff

Hope everyone had a great labor day weekend. We seemed like we were running all over, but it was fun.

Saturday we actually didn't do much, decided to have one day of nothing, nice.

Sunday we went to a 3D archery shoot in Canton. Just Steve and I, that was nice. We don't spend much time together, so it was nice to get too.

Monday we went to another shoot in Ashland, good times. I was much more tired this time. 3D shoots are fun. You walk through the woods and shoot at 30 different targets of rubber animals. Everything from traditional deer and turkeys (for the hunters out there) to dinosaurs and aliens. It's a lot of fun. But it's hot and you're walking through the woods uphill, downhill etc. You go up to the stake you are supposed to stand at and then you decide how far away the target is that you are shooting (in yards) anywhere from about 15 yards to 35 yards. It's hard, I'm terrible at that part. Then you shoot your bow at it and see how you score. Each target has a bullseye on it and points range from 5 (if you miss the bullseye altogether but do hit the target) to 11 (center of the bullseye) and of course you get a "0" if you miss it. which I tend to be good at sometimes.

Then you add all your points at the end and turn them in to see where you placed. It's fun.

By Monday though, being out of shape, I was already beat! We did well though.

Got to see little Charlie, he's such a little cutie. Now he gives "kisses". I was walking him around the front yard at my mom's and kept saying "Charlie give Aunt Jennie kisses" and he would open his mouth and lean into my cheek. and drool. so darn cute! I just love that little boy!

Went to my friend's baby's baptism on sunday too. She is 5 weeks old, Maia, and she's cute. She slept through the entire thing. I went as the videographer and Steve was the photographer. She has another little boy, 2 years old named Jack, and he was running around telling everyone about Mr. Noodle from Elmo's world on Sesame Street. He is so cute and such a smart little boy.

Hope everyone is doing well! I'll write more this weekend.

not much

I haven't written in a few days because I really don't have anything to say! I guess it's good when there is nothing different because at least everyone is happy and healthy! Just nothing very exciting!

Labor Day weekend coming up. Three day weekend, always nice! Steve may or may not work Friday night, I don't know yet. Saturday we don't have any plans yet, probably will end up going to his Mom's or my sister's. Sunday we're talking about a 3D archery shoot in Canton, and one in Ashland on Monday. That's always fun. Running around the woods shooting a bow at rubber targets. Something different to do. Sunday afternoon we are going to my friend's baby's Baptism. I am the Photographer for her and Steve is the Videographer. It'll be fun. Her babies are such cuties. One month old, Maia, and two year old, Jack. Such a great family.

That's about it, hopefully I'll think of more to say later. In the meantime, I hope everyone is doing very well. Take care.

so fun!

Ok, so I don't usually like being "tagged" for games and emails and such, but my friend at "mementos of a military mom" (which is a really great blog by the way) tagged me for the Middle Name Game. Although I had a difficult time with it (and I only have 4 letters unlike the girls that I tagged) it was really fun! I liked checking out everyone else and what they put down.

Thanks to all for playing, thanks for tagging me, you all are really special people!

The Middle Name Game

Here are the rules: You have to post these rules before you give the facts. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of your middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog post containing your own middle name game facts. At the end of your blog post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.



My middle name is Lynn.



L- Loving, I try to love everyone around me.

Y- Yuck, I have a huge gag reflex and friends think it's funny that they can gross me out.

N- New Creativity, as a graphic designer, I love all new, creative ideas that people come up with, as well as the new things I come up with on my own!

N- Never turn down oppurtunities for new things.

OK, so I didn't do this quite like I was supposed to, but I had a hard time with my letters!!

I am tagging Elaine at Artful Spirit, and Amy at Today is a New Day

freelance

Freelance is an interesting business as a graphic designer. I love picking up outside jobs to do for people. You never know in the beginning what you are getting yourself into, but it's something different to work on with each project that comes along.

Sometimes you get customers that know exactly what they are looking for, but don't want to do it themselves, or don't know how to. Those tend to be the people that I have trouble with just because I have to remind myself that I am working for them, and even if I don't like the finished project it's what they want and that's my job. But those are also usually quick projects. I just did business cards for about a dozen people at this company. They told me what they wanted and the info that needed to be on there, and we were done. Simple.

Sometimes you get customers that have an idea of what they are looking for, or don't at all, and just want you to come up with something. These projects take a little more time, but end up very interesting in the end. It's a lot of trial and error. You never get it 100% right off the bat, but you start with an idea and work from there. Trial and error. That's really the fun part for me. It's interesting to see the different ideas I can come up with.

With that, I have been working on a 50th high school reunion booklet this summer. My wedding photographer's cousin contacted me with the project. It's had its ups and downs. At first I thought how fun!! there were so many possibilities! they had their yearbook from 1957 with all the class photos in it, plus photos of everyone now, and bios of most of the class. i wanted to go all out with it. Didn't work that way.

I was not understanding what they were looking for, and once I did, I really wasn't interested in the project at all. I had agreed to do it, and that's why I was doing it. Plus, I really couldn't seem to get on the same page, or have anything in common with any of these people. 10 people on the reunion committee, 68-69 years old.

But now, I'm having a great time with it and I can't wait to see how it turns out when it gets printed. I meet with all of them tonight with my "almost final" version, and it goes to print next week. There is a main couple that I've been working with, and I really like them! We're very different, but I enjoy meeting with them, and I hope they like meeting with me. I think it took both sides a little time to understand our positions and respect each other.

Just goes to show that you shouldn't make rash decisions about a project or a person right away, because over time, whether you end up liking what you are doing or not, you can learn a lot and end up having a great time.

crazy tornados!

what a crazy day yesterday was! ok, just about one hour of yesterday. my Mother-in-law comes in my office freaking out completely. A tornado touch down in New London and Ashland (where my neices and Father-in-Law live) and she can't get any of them to pick up the phone. (because they were probably in the basement and didn't want to go up and pick up the phone)

Then the came over the intercom at work and said a tornado touched down in Lodi (about 10 minutes from us) and the storm is heading our way. if we would like to leave we could. who wants to leave when a massive storm is coming within a few minutes??? the building is safer than the car!

Then the power went out. So we were lighting all the candles we could find, we need back-up flashlights!!!, and all had to head to what we use as a "tornado shelter" which i've never had to do in the 6 years I've been here. Scary. Only thing I didn't like was 100 people in this little area, in the pitch black, only some of us with candles. Claustrophobia. Nuts. My group and I decided we were going back to our room. Our office is in the middle of the building, they call it the "dungeon" because it used to be Nabisco's freezer (when they owned the building) so it is all concrete blocks, no windows or contact to the outside world. We were safe there.

It finally passed, but then was heading towards my area of OH. I tried my husband and he didn't pick up (we are in an upstairs apartment) so I stayed here for awhile and then went home. Steve said it was craziness. He looked out the window and saw two ladies on the hill with their cell phones taking pictures of the sky so he ran outside to see what was going on. He watched a funnel cloud cross the sky above the apartments in front of us. He's never seen anything like it. Once he saw it though he came in and sat in the laundry room!

Crazy excitement for an hour or two! I'm glad no one was hurt though, and most have power back or will today. storms are so powerful and totally amazing.

My husband

I love my husband. I feel the need to say that today, no reason why. Just the need to get that out. I miss him too. I won't see him until tomorrow, and although we are used to this work schedule and it hasn't changed and it won't change, sometimes I am overwhelmed with the feelings of missing him and loving him.

He is a great guy. We have our differences, everyone does, that is why we are two individual people. But we "fit" well. Know what I mean? We see things differently, but that helps each of us see things in a different way. I don't know.

I love him very much, and I know he loves me too.
Sorry for a strange post, it just came over me and I felt the need to say it. I'll let him know tomorrow.

blogger is strange sometimes

I just wrote this long post, it told me it was published successfully, and it didn't show up???? I'll re-do later.

Oh! and thank you Amy for giving me info on how to set up Neo-counter! I appreciate it! I need to try it from home tonight. It keeps erroring at work.

ready for the weekend!

things are getting better. this has been a stressful week. Yesterday we all went back to the hospital with Dad. He woke up and his legs were cramping and swollen. Amy was afraid he might have gotten blood clots in his legs and got him to call the doctor. The doctor sent him to the hospital for an ultrasound on his legs. We were there for a few hours and luckily he was sent home free and clear. He must have slept wierd I guess. Thank goodness everything was ok!

Our air conditioning at the apartment went out yesterday, so right now it is 82 degrees in there. Not that that's really a big deal, but just annoying. I've gotten spoiled in the last two years with ac, and don't like living without it! especially when it's 90 outside all week!!

Tonight Mom is teaching me how to make her famous zucchini (sp?) bread. It is soooo goooood!!
This weekend so far is going to be slow. just laying low and not doing much is the plan. I'm looking forward to it! I know my sister is too! she's so funny, she called me last night to let me know that she's tired of us all! :) She hasn't gotten much sleep, none after working all night actually, and she's a little cranky. So funny, don't blame her, she'll be better after a weekend of lounging.

That's all I've got for now. I hope everyone has a great weekend!

trying times and such a slacker!

what a crazy week!
My Dad went in for surgery on Monday. He was having three disks in his neck/back fused together. He did well, had some trouble breathing, they think he might have sleep apnia (spelling?) so they put him on oxygen and he did better. His throat is a little sore now, but it'll get better. They went in through the front of his neck, that's to be expected.

Since he was in all that, Steve and I took Charlie for the night. He's such a cute 4 month old, but geez! We aren't cut out for parenthood! He did great in the evening, lots of fun. He got a little fussy close to bedtime, so I took him outside (he loves outside) and showed him the neighbor's flowers and stuff and he fell asleep. We thought, great! this is easy! He usually gets up once in the night for a bottle and then sleeps until 6ish. Not that night.

He woke up at 12:30am, wide awake and wanting to play!! we played for awhile, but I think the strange house didn't help him. Around 1 he started wailing!!! really loud wailing!!! Couldn't do anything to help him!! He finally calmed down and went to sleep around 2:30, but was up for good at 4:30, wailing. Our neighbors hate us!!! It was such a terrible night! I felt so bad for him! and at 2 or 4 in the morning you aren't thinking straight. i started thinking something was wrong with him, but I took his temp and he was fine. I think it was just a strange house and he knows us but isn't used to us in the middle of the night.

Needless to say, his mommy didn't get any sleep the next day. she took him from us at 9 instead of sleeping a few hours first. I felt so bad, but I don't think I knew my own name at that point!!

Dad was released on Tuesday so I spent the afternoon over there. He's doing ok, just not sleeping well with a neck brace on. He said he feels like he can't breath like that. He was having a recliner delivered today though, that should help a little. prop him up at least. Again though, I am the terrible daughter. I was so tired yesterday it didn't even occur to me that we have a recliner and he should have stayed with us or we should have brought it over for him. I apologized this morning. I feel terrible!!

Steve and I went to bed at 7 last night, feel better today. I don't know how Amy does it!!

In the meantime, I'm sorry to everyone I meant to email in the last few days! I haven't been with it! I'll catch up tonight!

Harry Potter

Ok, I'm stuck on that boy! but, so is my Husband!!
we didn't move all weekend! for those of you that have no idea, the last installment of the Harry Potter series came out this weekend. It was laying on our doorstep when I got up on Saturday.

I waited a few hours for Steve to get up, did some freelance work, and then we got to reading, oh, and we got two copies so we didn't fight!

we're so pathetic, but it was really good! Finished it last night!

Patsy Cline

I just got back from the Carousel Dinner Theatre. I went with Mom and Dad for Dad's birthday. We took him to see "Love Always, Patsy Cline". I loved it!!! I honestly didn't think I would like it. I love country music, but Patsy Cline, I just didn't know.

For those of you that don't know that theater, it's great. You get there around 7:00, for dinner. Your advanced tickets include dinner, and there is a menu to pick from. The food is great and the choices are different every time. I had chicken parmesan, Dad had a sirlion and Mom had beef tips and noodles. We got appetizers and salads as well. So much food! They serve dinner, then clear the plates before the show. It's a big theater all decked out. Really fun. The actors are unbelieveable! The show starts about 8:30 with an intermission in the middle for dessert. They switch the shows out every two months or so. Mom took me for my birthday a few months back and we saw "West Side Story"...so good!

It was really fun, and it was nice to hang out with my parents for an evening. I'm such a Daddy's girl!

ready for the weekend!

I've been in Atlanta for work for the last while. what a crazy place that is!!! I may have written about this in the past, I was there in January, but I still can't relate how crazy it is.

went for the americasmart trade show. first of all, it is three building, all at least 15 floors if not more. we are in building two, and i know there are 18 floors there. thousands and thousands of people, and this was slower than the january show!

the show runs 8a to 8p friday and saturday and 8a to 6p the rest of the week. so tiring. granted, i like going because it's different that what i normally do, and change is good. but once i get home i remember why i like my job!! being a salesman is hard work, being on your feet for 12+ hours is hard work, staying in a crappy hotel is hard work....i'm a complainer today, sorry!

I had a great time to tell you the truth. but man.
I don't want to end up offending anyone that might love that city or the hotel that i was in, so i won't go into detail. i'm happy to be home.

on another note, my dad is getting ready to go into surgury here in another week. he's having some disks in his neck/back fused together. that's not going to be a lot of fun. i'm such a daddy's girl and i'm a little nervous. i'm sure it'll go fine though. mom and amy and i are going to be at the hospital, and steve is going to watch charlie. then steve and i are going to keep charlie while amy's at work because mom needs to be able to help dad out. should be interesting! it'll be fun.

what else. my friend is going in next friday to have her second baby, a little girl. i'm so excited!! can't wait to see that little one!

that's about it. steve and i are harry potter fans, and the last book is getting delivered tomorrow, so i'm guessing our weekend is going to be filled with relaxing and reading that. i'm so excited to lounge around, it seems like it's been a long time!!

everyone have a good one!

what's been going on...

nothing super crazy, just normal life.

Babysat my nephew last week while Amy and Scott went to a wedding (it's the year of weddings and babies, I have another wedding this weekend) it went OK. I was more panicky then I expected to be, but we survived. I just love him!

Amy went back to work this week. She's very sad about that, feels like she is always leaving him. Mom (grandma) is the babysitter. Amy works three nights a week, Mom by herself for one, with Scott for the second (so Scott doesn't have to get up during the night since he has to work the next day) and Scott by himself the third (which I think is good because then Charlie can hang out with Daddy a night) Seems to be going OK, although my Mom is exhausted. She's not used to this, hasn't had to do it in awhile. I think Uncle Steve might try to step in a little during the day so Amy and Mom can take some naps!! Everyone will get the hang of it eventually though.

Steve and I bought bikes! we decided that we needed some fun form of exercise, I get bored easily. So we went to Walmart and bought just cheap-o bikes. He had to teach me to ride though, which was interesting. I had a bike when I was little, but I was never aloud to leave the driveway, so I didn't really learn what I was doing. It went well though, and it's a lot of fun! we figured if we keep it up maybe we'll by nicer ones next summer. I am very out of shape though!! Flat ground and down hill is simple, but going up any little hill is rough!! It'll get better though.

I think that might be the excitement for now, if I think of anything else I'll fill ya in!

the wedding of the century...

Some of my work friends and I attended the biggest, most expensive wedding I've ever been to. It was really beautiful! not something I would want really, very formal, I like more relaxed atmosphere, but it was really fun to go to and see.

It was downtown Cleveland at the Renaissance Hotel, but Jacob's Field and the Q, and it was impressive. We had "cocktail hour" where we all stood and socialized in this gorgeous room while servers carried around Tiffany Blue Martinis and hor'deurves, then went into the formal dinner room.

Dinner was an appetizer crab cake, an iceberg wedge salad with tomatoes, bacon and blue cheese dressing, and then dinner was a filet mignon (the best one I've ever tasted!), garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. Dessert was Creme brule and wedding cake. it was really nice.

We totally don't do that kind of thing normally though, the place settings had all the crazy utensils (work from the outside in!) and both a white and red wine glass. There was an actual live band performing and the centerpieces were gorgeous giant vases full of flowers.

I have only a few photos to show of us on this computer. the first one is the Bride and Groom with two of their friends, and the second is my work group. My friend James came with me because Steve had to work. :( He's sad he missed out.

still so cute, plus hot weather!

Well, it's been a long time. for everyone too! all of my blogger friends have disappeared! i hope everyone out there is doing well!

it's finally warm outside! took a little while, but yesterday and today have been mid-80's, which is actually a little high for this time of year, but i'll take it!

Little Charlie is still cuter than ever. the photos below are of him at one month, he just turned 2 months, but i don't have those yet. so, they are old and he looks different now, but still cute.

he was baptised last Saturday, it was really nice. I'm his Godmother and Scott's brother is his Godfather. Scott wanted one from each side of the family, so Amy told Steve that he would be Godfather the next time. Anyway, it was fun.

next weekend going to a HUGE wedding. can't wait. it's downtown Cleveland in a giant hotel there. very elaborate, $220/person for the reception and very formal. can't wait to see it. i'm very happy for the bride and groom, i just wouldn't spend that kind of money. i'll post pictures of that afterwards.

anyway, think that's it for now! hope everyone is good!

April weather

It's still cold!!!

I'm so tired of multiple clothing layers, winter coats, gloves, scarfs, hats etc...I need 80 degrees!! I'd even be happy with 60 right now. Someone told me once that if you go on vacation yearly, February and March were really the best months to go because you are starting to get fed up with the weather and need to see some sunshine. Sunshine makes you feel better.

I think April would be a great month to go! Especially when you live in Ohio and it's still snowing! Ok, right now it's just windy, but it's supposed to snow tomorrow night again. I guess a giant storm is coming across the Northeast. They even moved the Cleveland Indians game from 7pm tomorrow night to 1pm in the afternoon to try and actually get a home game or two in!

Where's the sun!!!!!

Little Charlie

Here are some updated pictures of my little nephew Charlie. I've been in "charlie land" lately, sorry for not posting more. he's so darn cute!!

I have a Nephew!!!!

His name is Charlie (Charles Scott) and he is SOOOOOO cute!!! I'm including photos, there are from about 10 minutes after he was born, I'll post newer ones later.

Amy actually had him on her due date!! (it's been a crazy week) Her water broke on Tuesday night and she had him Wednesday morning about 7:30. I got to be in the delivery room, and she was a trooper! She did great!

Mommy and baby (and Daddy) are happy and healthy. Mommy was born at 7lbs, and Daddy around 6lbs, but little Charlie was 8lbs, 9oz and 23" long!!! Very long and thin, just like Daddy. He looks like Amy though for sure.

He's getting his picture taken today and yesterday he went to his first Doctor apt and they said he is 100% healthy. He's just great.

Steve and I went over on Saturday so he could meet his new nephew, and he did great with him. He didn't get a chance to be there when he was born because he couldn't get out of work.

Anyway, all is good, and I'm so excited! they like an hour away unfortunately, so I think I'm going to visit Friday night...I'll fill in more about this little cutey later!

due date

well, Amy's due date is tomorrow! She goes to the doctor in the morning for another ultrasound to see how big the little guy is getting. I guess if he's getting really big, which he won't be because Scott was born a little over 6lbs and Amy was a little over 7lbs, then they'll decide what to do at this point.
If he's little, they are going to keep waiting it out. The doctor said he won't let her go over the 1st. She's excited but extremely uncomfortable. She has a rash that has been all over her belly for a few months now, but said now it's spreading over her arms and legs. she's constantly trying not to itch! The doctor said about 3% of woman get this. That's our family!!
I always get the small % reactions from medication and stuff.....

Can't wait to see him!!!

too many projects, still no baby

I've been so busy, but I love being busy. I work approx. 50 hours per week, and then I picked up way too much freelance work. This printer I know decided to start his own company and wanted to be able to offer graphic design work as well as printing, so he asked me if i'd jump on board for some extra money. it's fun to do work other than "country giftware" which I do my 50 hours per week. He's had me make brochures for mortgage companies and verizon as well as business cards and logos for a motorcycle company and his printing company. I like the wide range of projects.
but I'm so busy!!! I can only work on that stuff after I leave work, which is anywhere from 5-6:30 or so. plus I'm trying to do it all when Steve isn't home, which is Wednesday through Saturday, so sleep isn't happening much! but hey, I'm busy and it's fun.

No baby yet. Amy goes to the doctor every Thursday and then calls and updates me. she gained 5 lbs. this week and in the last 2 days is really holding water. her socks are leaving marks on her ankles and she can't put her rings on, she's not real happy. but she isn't dialated any yet either, so I think we have some time still. She's not really due for another 1-1/2 weeks or so, and the doctor said he wouldn't let her go past the 1st without inducing her, so within 3 weeks we should have a baby in the family!! She bought him a little Easter outfit to wear over to mom's this year, and mom thinks she needs to get him an Easter basket, even though he'll only be days to weeks old, but hey, whatever, we're all excited!

that's it for now! hope all is well in blog-land!

New Blog

Oh also...I finally switch over to the New version of Blogger....yep, joined the rest of the world! but I haven't had time to figure out what's different. Can anyone help me? I don't really understand this stuff. I just create new posts and that's about it...

thanks!

quiet weekend

what a quiet weekend, which is good of course. Steve had to work all weekend, so I had it to myself. I must say, I didn't do much! at least anything interesting!

Saturday I came to work for a few hours. Figured I might as well try to catch up on a few things. Plus I had a freelance job to do, this guy wanted a new business card, not too difficult. Then in the evening, since it was STILL snowing, I decided laundry, changing sheets and cleaning the bathroom would be fun! what good times! :)

Sunday was a long day of the same. More laundry, a little grocery shopping and more snow. Steve had a hard time sleeping during the day yesterday because he said since I changed the sheets his pillows were too "poofy" so I told him I would never change his pillowcases again, but they'd get quite nasty! :)

Glad it was quiet, didn't really want to go out in the snow so I can't complain, doesn't happen very often. If fact, I'd really like to do it again today! but I'm at work....

have a great week everyone!

scary night

My sister (and the whole family) sure had a scary night! Amy was going into work (Cleveland Clinic RN) Thursday night and fell on the ice. She is front heavy of course, so she started falling forward. She caught herself with her hands, but then her hands slid and she went sliding across the floor on her belly!

Not the best thing in the world when you are over 8 months pregnant!
She called both Mom and I in tears and said they were taking her to the hospital (Cleveland Clinic doesn't have labor and delivery) for the night for observation. Steve drove me over there and we met Dad and Mom.

She's ok. and so is the baby. Thank God!! They monitored her all night, monitor on her belly for the baby's heartbeat. She finally kicked us out and made us leave after a few hours because we couldn't help it, but all we were doing was watching the screen and his little heartbeat! it was nerve wracking! But their both good.

it was scary! she's got 5 weeks to go and we need that little fella, as well as her around!

That's my excitement for now, now we all just need to catch up on sleep! :)

Atlanta, Babies and lots of snow!

Atlanta went well. I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. I need to be like my new blogger friend and make it a resolution to post something everyday! I love that!

As I said, Atlanta went well. It's a crazy show. Three buildings, all over 18 stories, thousands of people. what an experience! rough days! twelve hours on your feet, which is a lot for a baby like me that sits at a desk all day! but being a salesman for a few days was fun. talking to people and just seeing the entire thing....

Amy's got 5 weeks to go! she's so cute! we went and got pedicures last night (a birthday present for Mom) so that she could have "cute toes" when she went to the hospital!

We've gotten dumped on as far as snow goes today! so much! granted, not as much as NY, 12 feet! we're only supposed to get 12 inches by morning, but I bet we have 6 already! we're used to snow, but not this much at one time! Not very excited to drive home from work today! Makes me nervous, but it'll be ok.

gotta run, but I'm going to try to do better! hope everyone out there in blogger-land is doing well!

misc stuff going on...

Poor OSU fans. Ohio State had a rough night last night! I am not a college football fan, but I am an NFL fan (and yes, I know the Browns are even worse!) but I met with some friends last night to watch part of the game. (They actually took today off of work, so I left mid-second quarter) I really only went because I have a friend that is a traveling nurse and she was in town this week. She has a great deal, if you want to travel constantly and don't have a family or anything! Every three months she gets offers from a few cities and picks which hospital to go to. They pay travel expense, housing and utilities and she just pays cable and phone. She's been all over. She keeps saying "just one more trip" but she said the money is so good she just can't quit! She's paid off all her school loans and her car and is saving for a house. Anyway, she just left San Diego and is heading to Philadelphia, but had a little time off.
It was fun to get together with her, she's always full of energy. Needless to say, OSU wasn't!

I'm heading to Atlanta for a trade show on Thursday. It'll be ok, I've never been there but it's only for five days and being a sales person for a few days will be something different. I usually go to Portland, OR, but they didn't need extra people this time (I have to go to a show once a year). Kind of disappointed about that, only because I've gotten to know that city and it's beautiful. Plus I just had a friend from Pittsburgh move there. But Atlanta will be fine. There's a lot of us going and my Photographer is going to be my roommate which is great.

My sister's husband bought her a 3D ultrasound from her doctor for Christmas! She wanted to do that but didn't really want to pay the money. It was the coolest thing I've ever seen! She brought over a 25 min. DVD of it for us to watch. That little baby boy is so cute! (I'm his Aunt and all, but he is!) :) He blinks and opens his mouth and moves around, so cute! I'm amazed at how much of a baby he looks like with her at 7 months, chubby cheeks and all! It was really amazing!

Ok, that's it for now, I'll get back here when I get home!

New Years

Well our New Years Eve celebration was great! Steve asked me in the morning what I wanted to do for the day, and I actually decided on nothing. It was perfect. There are very very few days that we actually get the entire day together, just the two of us, and that's what I wanted. So, we ran to Walmart, bought some stuff to make for dinner, rented some movies and went back home. Sat around in pj's all day. It was great. Turned on Dick Clark's Rockin' Eve around 11:45 (I never miss that!) and then I was asleep by 12:15.

Perfect day.

As a resolution, we both said we would find some ways to spend more time together. With our crazy jobs and different shift schedules, we really don't see each other much, and never every day which is just sad. We need to work on this. This it is a little bit out of our control since it involves work, it could take some juggling, but we'll make it happen...

My sister is at around 30 weeks now, and she's getting scared. It's very strange to see her like this, because she is usually the tough one, but not right now. Don't get me wrong, very excited, but still nervous. Any suggestions, tips, words of wisdom for the expectant mother?

I have a few friends that have told her some things, or funny things that happened to them, or things she doesn't need to worry about, and it seems to be helping her a little. The rest of us are very very excited though! I can't wait to see the little guy!