Andy

Andy Duane Whiteside joined us at 9:25 a.m. on Wednesday. 7 pounds 1 oz. and 19 1/4 inches tall. We will go home in the morning and watch the snow fall until Christmas. What a gift! I'll get some pictures on here soon.

I LOVE THE SMELL OF NEW BABIES!

Update

So, it's been forever and a day, I know.

Does this make up for it?

My baby is walking...but the video wouldn't upload...sorry. It was a good one, too. :)

The cats wouldn't even eat my smokin' good side - so, it was chicken alfredo with no garlic bread - tsk, tsk.

I awoke at 3:20 am Friday to dive into this with Harry's cousins.

Baby #3 will officially arrive on December 19th at approximately 9:00 am (if not sooner).

And the kids got to have a bowlful of marshmallow Jell-O before breakfast last Saturday.

And I'm nesting..... b. a. d.

And I am 26 now. How embarrassing to say that.....for the record, I'd like to be thought of as 32. Please. 26 sounds like a kid. I hate it when people ask me my age, because 26 is a party age, isn't it? 28 is almost established, and 31 is established. So please, I beg you, don't say "oh, you're so young!" That may be the worst phrase for me to ever hear. The worst is when women I consider to be my friends say "I could be your mother". Ugh. Fine, I'll go to my room.

And I got through 6 1/2 hours last night without getting up to pee. Woo Hoo!

A Picture for You Today

I was out picking apples minding my own business, and heard .... this ....

Nice, huh?

And then I heard a little chicken say that the sky is falling - I just may believe him today.

Super Cool

This incredible machine was built as a collaborative effort between the Robert M. Trammell Music Conservatory and the Sharon Wick School of Engineering at the University of Iowa.

Amazingly , 97% of the machines components came from John Deere Industries and Irrigation Equipment of Bancroft Iowa ; yes, farm equipment!

It took the team a combined 13,029 hours of set-up, alignment, calibration, and tuning before filming this video but as you can see it was WELL worth the effort

It is now on display in the Matthew Gerhard Alumni Hall at the University and is already slated to be donated to the Smithsonian.

My Top 20 Updates For You

I have 5 loads of laundry waiting to be folded, and here I sit - in front of the computer. Why? Because I love you. Wait, there's more. I'm going to give you a little update by a list instead of rambling on about EVERYTHING, even though I know you're all speed-readers.

1. There were 6 gallons of milk in my fridge last week.
2. I get a weekend away with my husband ALONE in Colorado next weekend. Flying out Friday at 6:15am. NO children, wellll, almost no children. But no diapers and messes and bibs and nap time really means no children, doesn't it?
3. The mulching stage in the garden is almost complete. We were almost on time.
4. The dishes are also piling up quickly. I guess when I run out of plates or silverware I will get motivated enough.
5. We signed up for Netflix.
6. I have a lack of spiritual excitement lately.
7. I am in love with my new diaper bag.
8. I get to go scrapbooking Friday night!
9. I find that if I separate my daycare kids during nap time, they sleep for at least another hour and a half - how? Well, I asked them in a very casual moment in their day. It seems the younger one would wake up in the middle of nap time and jump on his brother. Amazingly, it wakes him up, and then down they both come to have their fruit snacks.
10. I have had 3 root beer floats this week.
11. I feel the beginning of an addiction for the smoothies at the local gas station - you know, the one that sells bananas? You have a choice of 3 flavors, grab it from the freezer, and put it under the blender thingy. Too good!
12. We have 10 apple trees.
13. I bought a cookbook an inch and a half thick with apple recipes. 25 cents....
14. I love garage sales.
15. I have 2 Christmas gifts wrapped already.
16. My husband has won once out of the last 2 weeks in our cribbage battles.
17. Bought a new cribbage board. Plastic. holds the pegs and cards inside when you fold it down in half. 10 cents
18. I just noticed where the fire extinguisher is just now. We've lived here 2 and a half months.
19. I also just noticed how many of these start with the word "I". Nooooo, it's not all about me! Where's your proof?
20. And my final update for you.....I smelled a skunk this morning. Harry just may feel like putting his second one to rest soon.

Nothing that would make Oprah, so that's good news, but since I've been an aweful blogger, there ya' go.

Wordless Wednesday - Sisters

My Kissin' Girl

Melts my heart. At naptime and bedtime, I sit next to Tiffany's crib and read a story from our Disney book. She usually falls asleep somewhere at the end. Her favorite thing to do as I'm reading, though, is poke her little head up and pucker up through the bars. So I give my baby a kiss, and she lays back down with her baby and her bottle with a little twinkle in her eyes.

I pray I never forget that.

Any Dad

Please visit www.IowaFathers.com for more information

You Are Not Alone

Stacy Jean

I know I know. How long since my last blog? Well this is why:

6 pounds, 14 ounces. 10 little fingers, 10 little toes. Loves to eat, loves clean diapers, can't stand being cold and anything to do with gas. Gets countless kisses from my big sister, seriously - countless. Loves sleeping in Mom or Dad's arms. Love my moby wrap. Love to be held.

Come hold me.

Daddy's Little Girl

They have such a big responsibility, don't they? They are the playmates, the taste-testers, the experimenters. They are the providers. "Daddy" is the protector. I remember growing up in that reality - my dad protected us for as long as he could (or had to) hold on to us. There is a question I would like to share with you today.

"What is a dad's primary role - teacher, protector, provider, pal, or disciplinarian?"

My dad says Protector without a doubt. He was. My husband says Provider without a doubt. And he is. I remember my dad most as a protector AND teacher, though. He would teach ethics every day of our lives, and continues to do so. Maybe the answer changes as your children grow and their needs change. But what a neat role to play - Daddy. All the diaper changes, late night rocking when Mom is at the end of her rope, the games to keep them occupied while dinner is cooking, the hugs and kisses, and the Snack Man role they get to play. Thanks to all you dads, whichever is your favorite role in your children's lives. We appreciate you.

Ponderisms

I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

Have you noticed since everyone has a camcorder these days no one talks about seeing UFOs like they used to?

How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll squeeze these dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?

ALL OF US COULD TAKE A LESSON FROM THE WEATHER. IT PAYS NO ATTENTION TO CRITICISM.