The Maine Event

Smokin Crazy

2010-01-26T06:26:00.001-08:00

Back In October I bought Brian a smoker for our 5 year anniversary. He loves it, so much that he has bought another bigger and better one. He has decider to start competing. Although it is nice to have help with the cooking I do get a little tired of BBQ. Last night was rib night, 6 racks at that. I have to say last nights batch was my favorite batch.

The bigger and better smoker

The Ribs..

Last week Lauryn had tubes put in her ears. It was so simple. When they took her from me I walked to the waiting room, looked at my e-mail, went to the bathroom and the doctor was back. It literally took 5 minutes. She has been better this week just very needy. It is great to have her wake up talking instead of a piercing scream. I am sure she feels much better. I got Lauryn’s nine month pictures taken about 2 weeks ago. I used Laurie Nowling. She did such a great job. She has a studio in old St.Charles and it is so cute. I am so happy with the way the pictures turned out.

The ending of 2009

2010-01-01T14:00:00.001-08:00

We have had a busy week. Lauryn’s first Christmas was great. Grandma Linda got her a rocking horse and she absolutely loved it. We got her a shopping cart to push around and she does such a good job. I really think she will be walking this month. SCARY! We left Christmas day to go to Florida. We stopped in Georgia on Saturday and had Christmas with Brian’s family. His aunt bought her a box..strange I know, but she loved it. We had a great time in Flordia, Brian had a race in Daytona witch is where his parents recently bought a condo. Lauryn and I would go watch him race and walk on the beach every day. The weather was not the best but it sure beat snow.

We did however have an exciting milestone as parents, Lauryn has learned to wave bye bye. It is so cute. We hope everyone had a great new years, we were asleep bye 9pm. Oh my, how the times have changed.

Lauryn with her shopping cart!

FYI I have been sewing and I made the skirt she is wearing, no it does not go with her pJ’s but I had just finished it and she wanted to wear it!

Her horse!

The box, what a great present.

Daytona race track

Driving dad’s car

Crawling my way to Christmas

2009-12-13T18:11:00.001-08:00

So here it is almost two month later. Where does the time go. Lauryn is crawling all over the place. She’s like a little puppy that follows you through the house. She has stayed healthy for the most part, I guess the runny nose will never end. I came down with the flu a couple of weeks ago, and let me tell you it was not fun. I am not sure where the super power comes from to take care of your child while you are sick but it is a good (necessary) power to have.

Yesterday Lauryn’s school had breakfast with santa. She got to sit on his lap and take her picture. She did not cry but she definitely wanted to. We are all excited for her first Christmas!

I have a new favorite flower…

2009-11-06T18:59:00.001-08:00

Halloween was fun! Friday night before Halloween was Lauryns Trunk-or-Treat at her school. I am so disappointed nobody told me I am supposed to decorate the trunk!!! I sure felt stupid. We had a good time anyway, they had a DJ and face painting for the kids. I can’t wait, next year Lauryn will really love it. Hmm what will she be next year? On Halloween night we had people over for a bon fire. My niece, Molly, was a butterfly, so cute! She loved the tutu that went with her costume and had no problem playing in the leaves in a tutu, in fact she would not get out of the leaf pile all night long. Mason was Handy Manny, but would barley let me take his picture. Oh and by the way , I think my next post will be “CRAWLING”.

I thought I would share some cute pictures of mason and molly too

2009-11-02T19:03:00.001-08:00

Fall has Arrived

2009-10-21T05:18:00.001-07:00

The trees are turning and the leaves are falling. The smell of bon fire’s travel through the air. I love fall! Don’t let my love of fall fool you for the love of winter, I have NO love for winter. Last Sunday we went to Eckert's farm in Grafton IL. We had so much fun. Brian, Lauryn, Mason, Molly, Jeff, Renae and I packed up the car and headed out. We rode the ferry across to Grafton, mason loved it. What a great place Eckert's is, I had never been there before. We took a hayride to the apple orchards. The tractor would drop you off at the specific type of apples you wanted to pick. That part was really fun for the kids, we all enjoyed a apple out in the orchard, even Lauryn. hen we picked pumpkins,we each got our own. Every year we all carve pumpkins together. it’s so much fun. They also had rides for the kids and even a petting zoo. Fun was had by all, especially later that night when we all enjoyed some apple pie.

way too long

2009-10-10T18:36:00.000-07:00

Okay so I didn't fall of the earth but I my computer had to be re-built??? and then I forget my password to blog and it took way to much time to reset the password with a 6 month old. ... So here I am on a sat night blogging, oh how the times have changed. Lauryn is so big. She has started daycare/school and loves it. Her personality had really come out since she started. She is full of smiles and always happy. I am waiting for the bomb to hit, I feel so lucky to have such a happy baby. I did get her ears pierced and they are super cute, of course mom(being me) had to buy her the cutest david yurman heart earrings. I know a little crazy but she wanted them and her dad said she could have what ever she wanted! Brian and I had our first weekend away, it was fun and I didn't cry at all. Lauryn has also had her first trip to the beach and loved it. She is sitting up all on her own and crawls backwards. She loves to dance and sing and still sings to the tooth fairy every night but she still has not come....

Food time

2009-08-26T11:36:00.001-07:00

Lauryn is getting bigger. She had her second round of shots on thursday. Someone could have told me that this round was going to be harder than the last round. I cried so hard. I definitely have a wimpy child, I guess she gets that from me. She tried food from a spoon for the first time. No crazy spitting just the squeals for more. She definitely likes to eat. She was in the 77% for height and the 33% for weight. I was a little surprised and the weight, I actually think she has that baby chunk. She started this past week at The Goddard school. The first day was full of tears but by the second she was loving it. Brian finally got a “poop” day while I was at work. He told me he thought something was wrong because there was so much of it and it was green. I could not stop laughing. I asked him what he did to clean her up and he quickly replied “I put her in the tub and hosed her down”. I wish I had pictures.

It really does go fast

2009-08-09T06:11:00.001-07:00

Everyone says it, '’they grow up so fast” and it is so true. Lauryn is now rolling over, playing in her exersaucer, trying to blow bubbles and this morning she woke up sleeping on her belly. Of course the most important part is she is getting more hair, so the bows are now staying. I am really loving every second of it. Dad gets home for good next week. That means a couple of things, re-adjustment, more hands, and I think I might be able to do something all by myself. Here are some pictures of Lauryn playing in her saucer, and no she is not tired. Everywhere I go people say “oh I think shes tired” when really she just woke up from a long nap. She just has her dads sleepy eyes, but it really irritates me.

The Faces of Lauryn Elizabeth

2009-07-11T19:09:00.001-07:00

First time for everything..

2009-07-08T18:56:00.001-07:00

So Lauryn and I have stayed busy. A couple of weeks ago she went to her first race track in Kentucky. Dad was there working so we went for a visit, and let me tell you she loved it. I guess it was the noise although her dad would say “no she just loves racing” regardless she had a good time at the track and with dad.

Today we had our first day at the pool. We went with her cousins mason and molly. She still might be a little young but she sure did look cute…

Great granny’s

2009-06-21T19:04:00.001-07:00

Lauryn is so blessed to have 3 great grandmothers. This past weekend she got to meet Brian’s granny. Yes she is “granny” or “miss molly” to all of us. It is so great to see the grandmothers face light up. She again did great on the plane. I think it’s a trap!

She really is getting bigger everyday. She wants so badly to roll over, if she could just figure out what to do with the other hand she would be there.

Well since it takes me so long to posting, we are now at fathers day. We had a great day and Grandpa Johns. Had a great lunch and watched some golf. We were really sad not to be with dad on his first fathers day but we will celebrate next weekend. Hope everyone had a great day.

First plane ride!

2009-06-10T16:59:00.001-07:00

Lauryn and I took her first plane ride to see daddy last weekend. Dad is working in North Carolina for the summer and Laur and I are doing the back and forth thing. She did really good.. She laughed all the way there and slept all the way home. I could not ask for a better trip. She really is getting big, last trip to the dr. we discovered she had her first cold and still has not even had her first shots. She weighed 10 pounds. We go back this week for her shots. I am so nervous. This will be the test. You see, I really want to get her ears pierced next month, but, I might have to have Brian take her for that one. ……Okay so we have had our shots and yes we both cried but only for a second. She is really wanting to talk and still loves to smile. There is nothing better than waking up to that smiling face. Last weekend we celebrated Lauryns great grandma’s 94th birthday. We of course took the “generation picture”. I think she looks pretty darn good for 94.

Does she have a secret !

2009-05-24T15:08:00.001-07:00

So the question is..Does she have a secret? This question applies to Stephani! How does she find the time to take care of an almost 2 year old, a dog, a husband, house work, work and still find time to BLOG everyday! I swear she must be super women. I can barley type this entry. The time does slip away in my life these days. Although a bit stressful that I cant always keep up with the laundry, I do love my new life. Lauryn is getting bigger everyday and loves to smile at 7am! She really wants to talk but has not figured it out yet, any day now. She loves to be outside, so lots of walks fill our days off. Grandmas and Grandpas battle to babysit and friends and family continue to pitch in and help. I really don’t think I could do it without all the help. So the question still stands does stephani have a secret or just super powers?

Life can’t get much better!

2009-05-09T20:23:00.001-07:00

2009-04-26T13:53:00.001-07:00

She really is a good baby! Super cute too, although I am a little bias!

Sunny side up !

2009-04-23T18:30:00.001-07:00

Okay so I have been a little busy adjusting to my new life. I love it! Lauryn was born March 30 at 8:43pm. She was 7 pounds 5 oz and 21 1/2 in. long. She joined us after 14 hours of labor including 2 hours of pushing. My doctor told me that most first timers push for an hour, after the first hour she continued to tell me “3 more pushes she's almost here. “ When she arrived, well after “3 more” she was looking up at us..sunny side up! T his explains the long pushing, and the continued pain “down there”. Although it was painful, of course it was worth it. She is beautiful! She looks and acts like her dad. She already sleeps 5 hours at night and hardly ever cry's. It truly is amazing.

Happy “tired” mommy

Happy Daddy

Mason, Molly and Lauryn!

She loves to sleep with her hands up..

Three down two to go!

2009-02-18T06:06:00.000-08:00

I have be so lucky to have such wonderful people in my life! All of my showers so far have been great. One cake more beautiful then the next. I am overwhelmed with all the gifts, and still wondering if a simple thank you card is enough. My third shower (yes third) was quite interesting, I think! I unfortunately was unable to attend. I woke up that morning with some sort of 12 hr flu or a food bug of some sort. I spent the day in the hospital getting fluids and trying to subside my contractions. Go ahead ask what I ate. Well those of you who know me, know that I am generally a pretty healthy eater. Although it was valentines night and Brian was gone...surprise, surprise! I didn't feel like cooking and had some errands to run so, I did it, I ran through the drive through at McDonald's! I figured I had to eat it once while pregnant. Never again! Poor Brian was in Daytona trying to find someone with a private jet to fly him home! I am so much better now, thank the lord! Now better and ready to go with 5 weeks and 4 days left! Brian and I really hope you all know how thankful we are to have such great friends. The house is starting to look like children are involved and I can see the look of "what have I done" in Brian's eye. Not really, but I do think all the toys, bouncy seats and pink stuff kinda freak him out. In a good way of course.

Prego and Painting!

2009-01-19T05:51:00.000-08:00

Yes that's right I painted the whole thing! Well, I had a little help from my good friend Toni in the beginning, and I wish I painted the murals, I also should tell you my dad painted the trim, but it sure felt like I painted the whole thing. The bedding turned out better than I had imagined. I told you before my mother in law made all the bedding and the curtains. I picked out all the fabric and she worked her magic. She is still working on finally touches like a blanket and pillows but most of it is complete. It is strange to walk past the room and see all the pink. I am not scared or nervous just excited for the day to come. I am sure I will eat those words some days, but never the less I can't wait. She sure is a active little girl. Especially at 4am, it never fails she gets the hiccups. At first it was such a neat feeling but now at 4 am not so "neat". I guess she is just leading the way!

Moving right along...

2009-01-07T16:28:00.000-08:00

Only 10 weeks to go and Lauryn will finally be in our arms. It's hard to think how are lives will change, for the best, of course. Her room is almost complete. I was lucky to have a mother-in-law that is a wonderful seamstress. She has been busy making the bedding, and it is turning out perfect. Brian and I just returned from Playa Del Carmen where we spent 6 days under the sun. Lauryn seems to already love the beach, she wiggled the whole trip. I came back with a great tan, on the front side that is. It was not till the last day that I thought of digging a whole in the sand to stick my belly in. Oh well, one dark side and great memories is fine by me.

2008-10-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

Okay here is my first attempt at this! I thought it was a great way to show the progress of Lauryn Elizabeth. We had our "gender" ultrasound today and obviously she is a girl. I am 17 weeks and will have another ultrasound at 20 weeks. Brian and I are both very excited, both had no favor towards girl or boy. Although, I will tell you, a mother is always right, I knew about 4 weeks ago when I started buying girls clothes. I just knew! Most people think Brian wanted a boy so he could take him racing, but please don't be fooled. Brian is fully prepared to work on a pink race car.