Mark Your Calendars::

It's that time of year again!! Crafters Boutiques are popping up on every corner all around town! I have been invited to participate in 2 of them but sadly had to turn one down because I just dont think I can make enough nursing covers in time!! Now I wish I had started making these a lot earlier!! Here is all of the info for the boutique on Friday, December 5th from 4-9pm! Admission is free and there will be prizes drawn every hour!! For more information check out the flyer below...if you are having problems reading it you can also go here(I am "Peek-a-Boo Baby")!! Also, be sure to check out Christias new creations...they are so adorable and I am honored to be able to sell them for her at the Crafters Boutique while she is away in Iowa. She just launched her etsy space as well! Show her some love and check out these darling hats shes making!

Baby Emily Update::

I have received a few e-mails from Amberlyn in the last 2 days. Here they are in order...
November 10, 2008
Today was my first news from Brie since we the last message I sent to you all. It's been very busy for her lately, so I am not complaining. I thought I should share how our little Emily is doing...here is the message...

Hey, things have been really rough today. Emily has not had a good day. One bad thing after the other. She was doing really good but this morning they had to have her on 100% oxygen and her chest x-ray came back really bad. One of her lungs has a lot of damage from the ventilators and her having such stiff lungs. So we had to start her on steroids to try and stop the damage, luckily she is young enough that with the steroids there is a possibility her lungs can heal. Its just kind of a waiting game on that. They gave her a blood transfusion hoping that will help her also. So needless to say she is a pretty sick baby right now. She needs all the help she can get.
Mike and I are pretty tired. We spent 8 hours there today. The past week we have been like zombies, I still don't even know what day it is most the time. I haven't had the time to take care of myself and relax since their delivery. It's just been an extremely difficult week. Jaden is doing fine though. He's been with my parents since last night and will stay there tonight just in case we need to go back to the hospital for any reason.
There are a lot of things I can think of that need prayer, but honestly my main concern is for Emily. That is who needs it the most. I just need her to make it through this. She has to because I can't lose her too. So please just focus everything on her. For her lungs to heal and for her body to respond to the treatments she is given.
As always, I will keep you up to date as I get information.
-Amberlyn

November 11, 2008
9:11am

Emily had a very very rough night. Please keep praying for her and their family. Brie and Mike are very worried at this point.
-Amberlyn

November 11, 2008
12:21pm
She is on the way to hospital. don’t think she is going to make it
I don't want to waste prayer time on typing...please pray for all of them...=(
-Amberlyn

November 11, 2008
5:23pm

We lost baby Emily this afternoon. I don't have any words other than to ask for prayer for this family in the coming months. Thank you for being vigilant in your prayers for Emily. I know the Lord will still use this for His glory as only He can do.
-Amberlyn

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

While I know it is a comfort that Emily and Allison are being rocked in the arms of Jesus, it doesn't take away the pain of not being able to rock them in yours. May God comfort you and your husband during this difficult time.

Jer 29:11 (NIV)
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Thoughts and prayers are with you both.
-Keren

Add 2 more to the list::

Huge Congrats to "K" and her hubby "B"!! They just got a BFP (big fat positive) this weekend!!! Eeeekkk, shes due just 3 days before Norahs 1st b-day!! I told her to hold out until the 22nd so they can be birthday buddies!! ( I cant disclose names yet...shes only told a few people :)

Also I am proud to annouce the birth of my 2nd cousin this morning!! Keet (boy) was born up in Alaska and I am told mom and baby are doing great!! Eeekk!! Congrats Maya and Da-Ka!! I cant wait to see pictures!!

Also, please keep praying for Brie and her sweet baby girl. I havent heard any updates recently (which could be a great thing) I know Brie was discharged and now back at home...baby Emily is still in the hospital and could still use your prayers!! I will be sure to keep you updated!!

Babies, Babies and more Babies::

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for"

It's that time of year again...

I am so excited for my friend Taralynn who just announced she is expecting another baby next summer!!

I am hoping Miss Keeley Elizabeth will be making her appearance into the world this week...sending labor dust your way Jessica, keep the text messages coming!

Huge congrats to Erin who welcomed Olivia into the world this morning, Im sad you're in Walla Walla now...I would love to meet her as soon as you guys come back in town!

Also, to Stephanie who welcomed baby Leslie on Oct 29th...in the car... on Hwy 167... delievered by Stephanies mom! I saw her today and she is beautiful! What a story she is going to have to tell her friends!

Michelle, I had a great time yesterday at your shower, Miss Megan is going to be one spoiled little girl (and well dressed if I may say so!)

Mandi, I am so sorry I was unable to make your shower today :( I feel terrible. The meeting at church went longer than expected (it was an important one too, unfortunatley) the kids started losing it and I started feeling nasty...ugh!...I have your gift in the car and would love to stop by this week, or maybe we can meet up for lunch in Sumner! I cant wait to see what Miss Lucy got this weekend

I am headed to Suzannes on the 21st for yet another shower for my 2 friends Trina (whos having a little boy) and Heidi (who's having a little girl, Addison)!!

Morgan is going to be welcoming another daughter in a few months as well! She will be joining big sister Sophia!!

And to Renee who had Mr,Boston a few weeks ago...what a *CUTIE*...Laneys got a big job ahead of her...keeping those girls away from him as he gets older (hehe!)

WOW, now thats what I call..."Baby Mayham"...and I LOVE it all!!!!

I am sending bucket loads of pregnancy dust to 3 of my really good friends who are trying to get pregnant right now...you know who you are (wink, wink!)"

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."-
Eda J. Le Shan-

Obsession::

I have been having a blast sewing with my mom the last few weeks... she has taught me so much, not to mention an incredible seamstress and can make practically anything without needing a pattern. If shes been to one of your baby showers, you'll know shes famous for her crib sheets. Jacob has at least 3 blankets from her as well as a dress or 2 for Norah.

I have been a "regular" at Sugarbabies the last few days and have gotten to know Ashley, the owner quite well. Ive been scoping out some ideas in her store on more baby items that I can make besides the nursing wraps. Im thinking about doing the diapees and wipees holder, bibs, as well as burp rags!! My mom and I are already planning our train trip down to Portland to visit Fabric Depot and stock up on some new prints! Thank you mom for dedicating so much of your time to me the last few weeks and thank you Dad for watching Jacob while we sew!!

This week I plan on finishing 16 more wraps ...pics soon to follow!!

Monkey See, Monkey Do::

The other day, I needed to get something up high in our cupboard, without thinking twice I grabbed a chair from our dining room, scooted it over to the pantry, stood on it and proceeded to get what I needed. I didnt think anything of it until I came into the kitchen awhile later to get something else and noticed Jacob was copying me! He had watched me on the chair and wanted to do the same thing. Problem is, we have his fruit snacks/crackers/Halloween candy and more junk up there he should not be getting into. I couldnt help but grab my camera because he was so impressed with himself. Now, as soon as Jacob gets up in the morning and Im still upstairs with Norah, he'll bring me up a treat...unfortunatley for him, I bring it back downstairs and exchange it for something healthy!!

Family Pictures:: Union Station

Last Saturday, we had the pleasure of meeting with Stacy yet again for a family shoot...go figure both kids had just fallen asleep right when we got there but thankfully, they both did great!! I must say I think the pictures turned out exceptional but I may be a little biased! There's one more picture of Norah that Stacy is turning from black and white into color! I cant wait to share that one with you! Not only did we get some great 2 year pictures of Jacob but I think we nailed our Christmas card picture!! Stacy offers "mini sessions" at different locations throughout Pierce county at a very reasonable rate, check out her blog and website for details regarding those awesome sessions!! You rock (like always) girlfriend!! Here are just a few pictures from Saturday....

**Stay tuned for information on a bazaar she is putting together on the 5th of December!!

It's Party Time!!

This is my 200th post, and I thought it would be fitting to share some pictures of Jacobs 2nd birthday party, get it? 200....2nd bday?? I try (hehe)

On Sunday, we had a few of our closest friends and family (30 to be exact) over to our place for lunch to celebrate Jacobs 2nd birthday!! Im not one for "character" type parties and was originally going to do a Seahawk/football them instead, but given the circumstances of the Seahawks current record (2-6) and the fact that Jacob is obsessed with Disneys Cars, I decided to suck it up and go with the theme he would love...after all, it was his party!! We hid all of the "Cars" decorations until the morning of, and as soon as Jacob noticed there were "Ka-Chows" everywhere, you would have thought he'd died and gone to Heaven. He was on cloud 9! It was so fun to see his little face light up. I can only imagine how much fun it will be in the next couple of years when he really understands what birthdays are. Jacob was given so many wonderful gifts and loved every single one of them...especially the many little "Cars" he got!! Steven and I especially loved the many pairs of pj's he got!! To complete his nighttime attire my mom made him a "Cars" pillowcase and got him some Lightening McQueen slippers...he hasnt taken them off since!! It was truly a wonderful afternoon and we are so blessed with amazing people in our lives!!
Here are just a few pictures from the afternoon...

**Not to take away any attention from Jacob, but Jessica got a hold of Norah and had her belly laughing for quite a bit! I couldnt help myself so I grabbed the camera and recorded away...the video below is too cute!!

*Blowing out his candle!!!*

*Papa John with Norah!*

*Cris and Jessica!*

*Checking out his presents...*

*Jessica and Norah*

*The "Loot"*

*Angela and Truitt!*

*Aunt Jan and Uncle Chris*

*Jessica and Chris*

*John and Pat watching the football game*

*Grandma Susy and Jacobs Great Grandma and Papa*

*The cake*

*Fruit Snacks!*

*Some of the food*

and now.....the video :)

Aloha Kari!!

Last night, our "mommy group" got to together at The Rock for one last dinner with our friend Kari, she and her family are moving to Hawaii.... yes Hawaii! I am so jealous! We will miss her and her so much and I cant wait to pay her a visit!! Thank you Kari for some great memories, our group will not be the same without you!!

A few more...

I got more than one request for a green and brown combo as well as pink and brown combo. I headed to Joanns last night in search of just that and was surprised to only see one pattern of pink and brown....I did see 2 green and browns so I picked those up as well...let me know what you think!!!

PS- Thank you so much on the great feedback from the other day, I really do appreciate it!

*A cute brown, green and blue pattern*

*Another green and brown*

*Pink and brown*

Update:: Brie

**I got these emails yesterday and today, wanted to keep you all posted. Please keep praying...thank you.

Email 1-
Mike, Brie's husband just contacted me and told me that they think that she is in labor. She is having hard contractions every one to two minutes. Please be in prayer this morning for the babies that we have become so attached to in prayer. I will let you all know when I hear more this afternoon. They have asked for no phone calls, but I am pretty sure that none of you would call her anyway. You might let her know via MySpace that you are praying for her today as an uplifting thing though. (For those that are friends with her there.)

Thank you for continued prayer


Email 2-
Brie is at 6 cm and 100% effaced. We are having babies tonight. Please pray for safe arrival for them.

I will send out an e-mail as soon as I find out more


Email 3-
Baby B, who was named Allison, was here for a short time last night and went home to be with Jesus. She got to be held in her Daddy's arms as she left this world and went to the next. Baby A is still fighting for life. Please remember them all in your prayers. What a hard time for this little family when so much is still in the air

More Patterns:: Nursing covers!! (opinions wanted!)

Alright, its opinion time!! I bought some more fabric to make 7 more nursing covers...let me know what you think!! Also, I *think* I've come up with a store name....
What do you think about-
"Domestic Diva Designs" ??

*Classic black and white polka dots*

*Black and white swirls*

*Brown and white polka dots*

Any Suggestions??

I am sitting here attempting to name my etsy site (a website that allows you to sell your homemade crafts) and am drawing a complete blank!! Its way too early in the morning for me to be creative. Its for the nursing wraps/covers Im making...and I'm getting ready to start selling them (if you were at all intersted in one, send me an email with the pattern you liked and I will make sure its one I have done). I am heading to the fabric store again today to get some more fabric!! The name of my shop doesnt have to have anything to do with the covers and I thought it would be cute to maybe incorporate Norahs name into the title. I'd love to hear any suggestions you may have as Im going nowhere with this!!
Thank you, thank you!

**Also, if anyone is interested in selling your own crafts with me at the Orting Eagles Bazaar on November 21st and 22nd I'd love the company!! Its only 20.00 a table and thats for both days (we could split it, so its basically 10/person)!! Lunch is also provided, you cant beat that deal!! Email me if you're interested!! It will be a fun time!!

MNO:: Moms Night Out...

On Saturday, I met up with some girls from Mops for an "Amazing Race" around Orting. We were divided up into teams and given our "clues". We had so much fun!! First, we headed to Trinas house to complete our first task of decorating 3 cookies each. They were supposed to describe you and your family. I decorated a cross, a football and a kitty. After we were all done with that we had to take a group picture as proof. Each task completed had a point value and thats how the judges verified what we had done (by taking pictures). From there, we had to go to Safeway and locate specific food products with a team member holding them, also documenting it on camera. If we were able to get a picture with a store manager we got extra points!! (Our team did it!) Next, we were off to the Orting Fire Department! We had to do a few things like dress up in bunker gear, sit in the engine, slide down a "poll", get a pic in front of the station and another with some of the firemen!! Thankfully, the other team had already been there so we didnt need to explain what we needed once we arrived. They were already waiting for us! Next, we were off to Heidi's house where we had to watch a clip from last weeks "Amazing Race" we had to put note cards with phrases on them in order as they were said by the contestants. Once completed, we took a picture! The next challenge was a Road Block. We were sent to Subway where one person (me) was given 6.00 to make 1 ft long sandwich including 1 bread, 1 cheese, 1 meat and 2 sauces and 4 toppings. We were all supposed to eat the sandwich once I was done making it, and yes, take a picture! We were off to our last challenge, a "Detour", at Blockbuster video. We had to unscramble a movie title (from 1989), locate the movie, and then document with a picture -OR- come up with a movie title with each letter of the alphabet starting with "a" and ending with "z" (and I think take a picture with them as well) we were unable to complete that challenge because time was running out. We were only give 10 minutes per clue. If we were back early, we got bonus points. We opted to go with the bonus points instead of try to figure out the movie title. Both teams made it on time for the extra points, the race was over and it was time to go to Suzannes house to eat appetizers, upload our pictures and enjoy each others company while we watched the slideshow of the race on a projector. I think everyone had a blast....I know I did..but the most important thing is that our team won!! We were given a great prize including a free Emerald City Smoothie!! Thank you so much to Heidi and Trina for a wonderful evening out with the girls...and thank you Steven for taking both kids during the race!! I truly appreciated the time to myself :) and to Alicia and Claire...better luck next time (hehe)!!
Here are just a few of the many pictures from last night...
*Posing in the firetruck*


*Suzanne in her bunker gear!*

*We didn't hide the chips from the other team......wink wink!*

*Our team at Trinas house!*

**Stay tuned this week for family pictures we had taken at Union Station on Saturday with Stacy Jacobsen.....

"Trick-or Treat...."

When I woke up yesterday morning, needless to say, I was a little bummed to see it raining out. I decided to make alternate plans in case we were unable to go out that night. I wanted to make sure Jacob got a chance to trick-or -treat and I wasnt hopeful the rain would stop. While I shopped for clothes, Jacob shopped for candy! (In a trick-or-treat sort of way) I was surprised to see so many toddlers and their mommies...it was a blast, all the kids were having so much fun in their costumes! I dressed up both kids and they got many compliments on their costumes. Not one person thought my "little kitty" was a boy!! And all the young men were freaking out that Matt Hasselbeck was in the same mall as them ;) We came back and I made sure both kids got naps just in case we were able to go out that night. Since my dad has been gone for the last 30 days, my mom came over to our place and brought dinner!! By the time she arrived, the clouds had seperated and the sun was shining. I was so relieved! My mom stayed at our place and handed out candy while Steven and I took Jacob around our development. I had bought some candy at Target that had 100pc in it. I thought that was plenty. My mom brought over 2 more bags...I thought that it was too much. I was wrong. My mom had to shut off the light at 8pm because we'd already ran out! We had well over 150 kids, my mom did mention we got quite a few comments about our McCain sign in our window, all of them good too..phew, I didnt want eggs on our house anytime soon!!! This was the first year at our new house for Halloween because last year we were at church. I now have a better idea of what to buy next year. I didnt realize so many people were going to be coming in from off the hwy to trick-or-treat our development! I dont blame them though, our neighbors were so generous! When the first kids came to our door, we left with Jacob. I pulled him in his wagon while Steve wore Norah in the Baby Bjorn. We started around 6pm and didnt get home until after 8! Jacob did incredibly well! He shocked us both! By the end of the night,he was going up to the doors by himself (with us close by of course)! Everyone got a kick out of him and his costume, we've got a lot of Seahawk fans in our development. He even scored some special candy from some of the older neighbors. One lady was saving a toy car for that "special" trick or treater. She decided Jacob was it! Another lady was giving away playdough and we were also surpised with cookies!! Jacob got quite the variety of goodies and mastered the art of "trick-or-treating" he would open his wagon door, grab his bucket, walk up to the door, comment on the pumpkins, ring the doorbell (just once!) and say "trick-or-treat!" they would get a good laugh at Jacob, place the candy in his bucket and he'd say "Thank You!" It only took him a few houses and he had it down! He's recently gotten into Curious George so when Jacob saw "The man with the yellow hat" and his son "George" in a monkey costume walking around our development, he was in Heaven!! We were so proud of him and quite relieved actually! It could have gone either way...thankfully, he did awesome and we may just have a new favorite holiday!!
Here are a few pictures from our night....


*my little kitty*
(she wiped her whiskers off on one side...)



*Kisses for daddy!*

*Smiles for daddy too!*

*Daddy and his girl!*

*My mini stud muffin!*
(aka Mr. Hasselbeck!)

*Going through some of the loot!*

*Just some of the stash!*

*Jacob being silly!*