Peas Anyone?!!!

Rader Farm

Happy Halloween!!

Tanners Orchard and Pumpkin Patch

Happy Halloween, Y'all!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween!!

Some pictures from our Home to brighten your Halloween spirit!!

Happy 7 Month, little Pumpkin!

Uncle Rick, may the light of Heaven guide you to God's outstretched arms, as he welcomes you home. Watch over us, as we will live each day with your enthusiasm for life and love. You will be missed, and our hearts are heavy today.

Tough...

"Da, Da.."

Last week, Nik began saying in a whisper, "Da, Da, Da," and I knew that it wasn't far off before she would be mouthing the words, with an audible, "Da, Da." On Thursday, when I was off with her, I was changing her, and she said, "Da, Da." I couldn't believe my ears, to hear her little voice mouth these first words, I had been longing to hear. I responded with a very audible, "Yes, Yes, Da, Da, Good Job, Nikolina, Good Job," followed by some jumping and some clapping, and a little dance that involved some spinning. We worked on it all day, bc I couldn't wait for Josh to come home and hear those words. I was determined that I could get her to say them in front of him as he held her in his arms upon arriving home, and I tried desperately to make that happen. And, it nearly did, a couple times but not to the course that I was hoping it would. I saw his eyes perk up when he thought he heard it too, and I could tell he knew she was very close, or he accepted her muffled half "Da, Da" as the real thing. I didn't tell him, bc I wanted him to hear it for the first time as I did. On Friday when we were out to dinner with our niece and my Father-in-law, she really started saying it, and I outed that she said it yesterday, and that we had been working on it since then silently. By Saturday, and Sunday, despite her battling the Fall Virus of 2009 to end all viruses, she still managed to speak those words every chance she got, and became very good at it. She's now a pro, and is very impressed with herself and her language of one word that seems to elicit a parade from us with each audible "Da, Da" spoke. She has even taken to saying "Dad" and "Daddy." we can't wait to hear more from her and to broaden her vocabulary. Until then, she is loving communicating with us, and we are loving every moment!

102.5

That's what the thermometer said, when I took Nikolina's temperature at 6 am Saturday when she woke up screaming, her whole body on fire from head to toe, and I swear, my heart stopped...Everything racing through my head, and the dreaded thought that something terrible was going to happen to my pumpkin, and at that moment nothing else in the world mattered, Nothing. I went into 'Survival Mommy Mode,' maybe it was more like, "Oh my God, Oh my God, Mommy's Freaking Out Mode," but I like to think it was the former. I called her pediatrician... You always think against it, because you hear all these stories how doctors hate to be raised out of a deep slumber to be awakened to that First Mother Freak Out that occurs when their first child has their first sniffle or temperature. But, I pushed that thought into the back of mind, and rushed to find my phone to call him. What else is he there for if not calm my worst fears that something terrible is happening to my freshly 6 month old innocent child? He advised me to to give her some Tylenol, and put her in a room temperature bath, and see if her temperature goes down within 45 minutes. And, we could bring her in at 8 am to have her looked at if we were still concerned/could not keep her temperature down. Well, we held her temp at bay, but as you can imagine, I was there bright and early, and we were the first ones in the parking lot at 8 am. The pediatrician, I might say, the same pediatrician that I had when I was a child confirmed that she was battling a virus, but he wasn't sure what it was, and not much we could do, she had to fight it off for herself. Obviously, I did not like that answer, but not much I could do about it.
Bless her heart, she was such a trooper and hardly raised much of a fuss, even though I need she was fighting it hard. I gave her 5 baths Saturday bc it appeared that the Tylenol was not working as well as we had hoped in keeping her fever down. We switched to Motrin at night, and then began alternating them. I took her for a car ride to try and get her to sleep around 7. She did not get to sleep very well that night, and once she did, shortly after when I tried to move her, she woke up screaming, and continued for quite some time. My heart was breaking for her, and I desperately wanted to make her pain my own, or do anything to appease her. Ironically, Josh chose today to install a linoleum floor in our downstairs basement, and I thought I was going to loose my sanity as the night approached the day. He finally stepped on board and took the rains for a bit so I could regain some composure. Afterwards, I took them back as the sounds of her cries of pain were deafening to my ears, and I took her to our bed to lay with her and nurse her. Her temperature remained steady at 101.8 from 7 pm Saturday to 10 Am Sunday, and finally started to wean throughout the day.
Mimi came over to give me a break on Sunday, as Josh started some smaller projects on the house, and Papa took a break from raking leaves to come over and take Nik for some fresh air and a stroller ride, as it warmed up quite considerably early in the afternoon. I hesitated on the idea, but have read that getting children out in the fresh air when they are sick is actually good for them, as long as they're well enough, and it's warm enough. I talked with our daycare provider, who did admit to me that her husband came down with it last week, and one of the other children came down with the same thing on Friday. Nik's temperature subsided, but she was still quite un-comfortable, so I decided to stay home with her today in the hopes that she would get to feeling better. I don't know that she's much better than yesterday afternoon, but I hope so, as I am going back to work tomorrow, and hate to give her over to the sitter if she's still not feeling like herself.
This is the second virus in two weeks, she has battled, and it has my heart aching that they both seemed to have stemmed as a result of her exposure to daycare. I wish that I could remove that exposure from her life, and remove all this that a 6 month old should not have to fight on her own. But, I can't. So, what do I do with that, and where do I go from here? Only I can determine that and only God knows.

Photo Shoot.

We have been trying to schedule a Family photo shoot for some time now, and well, life happens, and things get pushed aside, priorities superseding. We have been talking about doing a Fall Photo shoot, and have tried to coordinate this between all our schedules. The weather got very wet and very cold fast...Now, I love Fall, rainy, gloomy days and all, but it doesn't make for a very open ideal light base for good photography and/or a very conducive environment for a 6 month old. It just so happened that the temperature rose significantly, and gave everyone that hint of perfect Fall weather that sort of brushed by us this year, and it just so happened that one of those days fell on our 2nd Wedding Anniversary. I asked Rach if she would agree to take our photos that day, and convinced my husband to comply, and here is a sneak peek at the results:
http://schiranotriplets.blogspot.com/
As, you can see, it turned out to be a perfect day, and we walked away with the perfect Fall photos, and much adoration and admiration for our very talented, very gifted sister.

Thanks, Rach. It was a beautiful, perfect day for us, and we are so very humbled and blessed.

Auntie Again!!

I just wanted to say, blissfully, that I can finally post this wonderful, wonderful news that has been bursting inside of me:

"Yes, I am going to be an Auntie once more!!" YEAH!!

It's more like 2 months than 5 weeks since I first mentioned that good news was coming, but I couldn't post about it till now. Well, that day is finally here, and I am sooooooooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My brother and sister-in-law, asked that we wait before exclaiming it from every rooftop that they were expecting their second child. We were all respectful of their wishes, though were were all screaming inside to tell everyone we knew. They told the pumpkin (the other pumpkin, my niece Savannah) and she is more than thrilled, you could imagine. She has been bombarding the two of them with questions, and has already taken to the Big Sister Role, taking care of him/her, and informing Daddy that he has to take care of Mommy bc she has to take care of the Baby! How I would love to be there every day to witness this! Tammy is 16 weeks, and her nausea has finally subsided. They are all planning a trip to Disney World in November. I am elated for my brother, sister-in-law, and for my dear, sweet niece. She has wanted this so terribly, and now, her one wish has come to life, and I can't wait to share every step of it with her. I know that I adored her attention to me as I carried Nikolina. I'm sure Tammie is loving it too (and/or will be driving her crazy by the time 9 months rolls around!!) Seriously, though, I's so crazy happy for you all, and I love you dearly. I'm so glad that you can experience this miracle again, and that we will have a new little person to love. It's the best. And, I know you are bursting with happiness and joy! Savannah, you will be the best Bis Sis!
Take care little one, see you soon....

Gratitude

I just wanted to say thank you to my sister-in-law, Rachael, for taking our photos today, on our anniversary. It was very special to us, and we have this day and this memory, to re-live over, forever through film. Thanks. We are so blessed and so lucky to have you!! We know the images will be beautiful, and can't wait!! You are so talented, and amazing and surprising us every day with your talent.

Thank you too, for lending me your lens. I am loving it!
Loving playing, loving exploring, testing...

You're the best!!

Best Husband Ever!

So, that's why you were late getting home...

Ok, I forgive you, just this once...

These pink boxes are kind of a significant mark as gifts for me, and I always feel special whenever I have the opportunity/occasion to receive one, or in this case TWO! Yeah!!

Love the Pink Boxes, even more than the

little blue ones!

Happy Anniversary!!

My darling, my love, my best friend...Happy 2nd Anniversary!!

I love you today as the day I knew I could love no other as I loved you, as much as the day you asked for my hand in Marriage, as much as the following "Yes" that insued, as much as the day our two lives became one, and as much as the two blissful weeks we spent as Newlyweds!
I love you as much as the day I told you, you would be a Daddy for the first time, I love you as much as the day our first Daughter took her first breath in this world, as much as the moment I saw her in your arms, and she took your breath away, I love you as much as the first time I watched you rock her gently into sweet slumber. I love you today, more than ever, and each day that I live, I love you more, and each day, I fall in love with you all over again.

For you and our dance in Ashley Kohn's Garage:
"Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
You been out ridin' fences for so long now
Oh, you're a hard oneI know that you got your reasons
These things that are pleasin' youCan hurt you somehow
Don' you draw the queen of diamonds, boy
She'll beat you if she's ableYou know the queen of heats is always your best bet
Now it seems to me, some fine thingsHave been laid upon your table
But you only want the ones that you can't get
Desperado, oh, you ain't gettin' no youger
Your pain and your hunger, they're drivin' you home
And freedom, oh freedom well, that's just some people talkin'
Your prison is walking through this world all alone
Don't your feet get cold in the winter time?
The sky won't snow and the sun won't shine
It's hard to tell the night time from the day
You're loosin' all your highs and lows
Ain't it funny how the feeling goes away?
Desperado, why don't you come to your senses?
Come down from your fences, open the gate
It may be rainin', but there's a rainbow above you
You better let somebody love you, before it's too late..."

It's late, but a peek back in time before I go...
http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/view/co_main.aspx?legacct=1&coupleid=3295902616179654&guestpassword=

Good news!

I just wanted to share some Great News with you!!
My dear friend, Mitzi is pregnant again, and I could not be happier for her and her family. I wish them the best of luck, and can't wait to be there for every step of her pregnancy!! And both little ones practically sharing the same birthday, WOW! Little Mia and I already share the same birthday! I'm surrounded by preggers, isn't it amazing!!
You can share in their joy and see their announcement here:
http://themorrisonsfamily.blogspot.com/

God Bless you Jim, Mitzi, Mia, and new baby Morrrison!! Could it be a little Jim in there??!! Can't wait!!

Sniffles...

The little Pumpkin has a cold, and a bit of a bad coughus. It seems to have started after her Flu shot, and we thought, initially, that it was just a reaction from her Flu Shot, but now, we're not so sure. She started sneezing shortly after her shot Friday, and started to get a bit of a runny nose. Sunday night, she wouldn't sleep, and nothing seemed to calm her, not even nursing her. We thought maybe, she was teething. Then on Wednesday, the poor little pumpkin started coughing, and she hasn't stopped since. It makes me wish that I was home with the poor little pumpkin, to comfort her. But mainly, I feel responsible for placing her in Day Care, where she is exposed to germs, and whatever is going around. I am very good about washing my hands often and sanitizing after being at work, so I don't think that I carried it home to her, but I can't be sure. Which makes me feel even more guilty. When we went for Nik's 6 Month check-up, the doctor's office was packed with children, who I'm sure were all sick, but none of them got near Nik. I would hope that the doctor's offices are careful about good hand washing. But either way, the poor little pumpkin has a case of the sniffles and the coughs, and she is not sleeping very well, as she keeps waking up coughing. She has managed to steer clear of a fever, thank goodness. My heart aches for her, I just pray she gets better soon.

Also, I started a second blog. As a 'New Mommy,' I had all this info that I want to keep close by on hand, and wanted to share, but wanted to keep our family blog clean of a hodge podge of articles and info. I thought the info deserved it's own place, and rightfully so. It's just starting, as I will be adding info as I get the time. The blog domain and title are different, as are these. I initially wanted the site to be "Mama Mia," but when I put the domain in, it was already taken, so I tried to think of another one, but there are so many great ones out there that already taken, like The Nest, and The Itch, and so on, so I thought of Pickles and Ice Cream, the adage for preggers, but that was taken as well, so I compromised. In the future, as Josh and I add on to our little family, I would like the domain to be The Garrett Pumpkin Patch, so the blog's purpose is two-fold. You should check it out whenever there isn't a current post on "You, Me, & Baby...," as there may be one there. http://garrettpumpkinpatch.blogspot.com/

The http://mykitschy.blogspot.com/ is for something I am working on in my head, but un-decided at this time, where I am going to go with it, so I will let you know as it develops if there's anything there!

Pumpkin

Here's a picture of the pumpkin tonight.

FALLing In Love...

I have fallen in love, with, well, FALL. I already told you that Fall is my absolute favorite Season. Christmas is my absolute favorite Day of the Year, but, oh, how I love Fall. Yesterday and today, I was at Home with the pumpkin and maybe that is why I have felt like I was on cloud 9 the past two days! But, the past two days I have just been overwhelming in love with Fall, and loving every minute. I put up a few decorations in the house yesterday, which helped to enlighten my mood, and the rain falling steadily yesterday as I sat with the pumpkin, nursing, looking out the picture window in our living room, just filled my heart with joy! I lit some Fall scent candles and the whole house smells like a mix of cinnamon, apple, and just simply, a grand mix of the smells of Fall bundled in a jar! I get a little giddy with I smell them! How do they do that?!

There was a moment today, taking Nik to her 6 month check-up that my heart just did a little dance. The cool, brisk air just swept over me, and the sweet smell of Autumn in the air just overwhelmed me. Everytime I walk in a room, with the candles, and the small Fall rememberances, or walk onto our Halloween inspired porch, I just feel as though my heart is skipping in my chest with the excitement of the Season (I get this way at Christmas, too-I'm like a 7 year old, it's crazy! I literally do not sleep the whole Christmas Season!!! Ask my husband, I just can't sleep! I'm too excited, putting up decs, wrapping presents, thinking of gifts for family, anticipating giving the gifts, watching Christams movies, listening to Christmas songs. I'm a Nutball! But I love every minute of it!)

The pumpkin was so brave today for her 6 month shots and her Flu shot. She got 4 shots, and the oral Polio vacine. She just cried for a moment and then she was perfectly fine. She took three naps afterwards, and I did give her a little Childrens Tylenol because I could tell the Flu shot was aching (the nurse warned me it might!). And she nursed in between naps:) She weighed 19 pounds, 8 ounces, so she's in the 90% for weight, and at 27 inches, she's in the 97% percentile for height. Still eating good apparently! Ans she is so happy lately, my little chunky monkey, I just am loving her so much. The doctor said in a month, Nik can start eating the Gerber finger food puffs, and I cant wait! She will love them! The doctor said she looks great, very healthy, and she is moving along developmentally perfectly. He said, her curiousity is good (as she tried to grab everything in the doctor's office!). Yes, we agree, her exploring every tiny thing is amazing, but I have the feeling we will never be able to so much as glance away for a second with her, she's always into something, and she can't even crawl, stand-up, or walk! Dr.Emm says to invest in some cabinent locks now! Ha!