Abbie, Bud and Zabe

I love you Bud!!  Thanks for everything! xoxo

busy, busy, busy.

today flew by. seems like lately all the days have been flying by. i taught at the school this am til noon, ran home, let the purebred (howie) out, flew to moms to pick up her and Zabe so we could go to the cities to Ann's fashion show at her school. we had a great time, and the work they put into the fashion show was awesome!!

after the fashion show we went out for supper with ann, shel, and danielle (anns model) to granite city. ahhh how i love that place. we got back to moms around 7:00, i made a pan of bars for her for charlottes bridal shower tomorrow. i gave zabe a bath out there so he would be all nice and fresh for tomorrow. he loved the tub. we have been still giving him baths in the sink, because it is easier than our claw foot tub the gall darn thing is so deep and then i get so sore afterwards. so since he is a growing boy and the sink seams to be shrinking on us i am going to need to start sucking up the sore back and letting him enjoy the big tub. he had so much fun in the there tonight it was so cute. (mom took some pictures)

i was hoping z would fall asleep on our way home from moms but he didn't so he finally just went to bed himself. he was so tired. but just wanted to talk so much when we got home. i think he was talking about being home and sleeping in his own bed. last night he stayed at my parents since he was going out there early in the morning while i went to teach.

bud worked with gooz tonight on his house and just got home a bit ago. (it's 10:00) tomorrow he i think is working up at steve's. work, work, work. we have char's shower tomorrow and then Bailee, Ella, and Baxters birthday party tomorrow night. i also maybe wanted to go to a couple garage sales since it is the 85 mile one. we'll see sounds like it could rain. i am really going to enjoy no hair in the morning and have just a nice relaxing weekend.

we had another jam packed day of fun today.  shell came down this am. first on our agenda was to tony and carrie's house to see the process of the house building. 

 shell and zabe. 

 the proud homeowners/housebuilders carrie and tony

  the house.  in the very early stages.  it's coming along.  they have a beautiful view.   i have a hard time picturing what the house is going to actually look like when it is all done.  but it sounds really nice.

zabe hanging out on a tractor.

after hanging out with the house builders we went to char's fiesta.  it was actually the O'Reilly bridal shower for char.  her wedding is in 3 weeks.  yeah.

  zabe enjoying the props at the fiesta.

the aunts with the some of the new babies who were at the shower. 

(left to right) karen, bev, mom, trice, cathy, meg

front on laps, karen's newest grandchild savanna 2 months, bev's newest brynn 9 months, mom and zabe 6 months, trice with sophie 18 months, cathy holding katie 2 months??, meg holding lauren 9 months 

after the shower we came home, ann threw in a few more foils in my hair then she left and took zabe with her to bailee, ella, and baxter's birthday party.  bud and i went over to cassie and gooz's for a bit tonight.  had a little bon fire.  kind of chilly out though.  mom called on our way home and we decided that z is going to spend the night out there.  i am way ready to hit the hay.  bud is snoring on the couch.  imagine that.

Not much longer after I took this picture of Zabe last night I layed him down for a nap.  It was about 5:30.  I didn't have hair last night, and pretty much had a night of relaxing.  Bud was helping Gooz work on his house and got home about 8:45.  At 8:45 Z was still sleeping.  I just couldn't decide if I wanted to wake him up or not.  I didn't and the result was that he slept until 6:30 this am!!!!  He must have been worn out from being with Grandma Linda yesterday morning.  I am still in shock that he slept that long, I said to Bud last night, "The little rascal is probably going to wake up right as I am falling asleep."  The thing that stinks about the whole situation is that I didn't have any hair.  I could have got so much done.  O-well.  He is playing on the floor talking away right now. 

I was just practicing and playing around with photo shop as I am feeding Zabe supper.  I think we are about to go outside and swing for a bit.  It is so beautiful out today and we have not got out yet.  We had a full day of hair and Zabe did excellent.  Good naps!! 

Bud and I went down to the crick behind my parents house Tuesday night, I had fun with the camera although Bud was in no mood for pictures to be taken.  He was on a serious mushroom hunt.  I was on a serious photo hunt.  Here are a few.  

Back in the day a train came through here.  That's all wood.  Amazing how times have changed.

Our future building site......I wish. It is sooo beautiful on top of this hill.  So peaceful, so quiet, so many hunting spots, huh, what did I just say.  lol

The hill.  I just wasn't ready to die quite yet, so I walked up the hill.  He is an absolute crazy driver.  I was screaming the whole way down the hill.  So scary.  I just kept picturing us going end over end.  Ahhhhh. 

This is the sunset Tuesday night overlooking the farm.  This is absolutely the biggest thing I miss about being in the country.  We don't see the sunset in town....tear.  The sunset was perfectly over the farm.  Pretty neat. 

Thanks for coming to the crick with us.  It was quite the adventure.  Although it always is especially when Bud is behind the wheel. And in a hurry.

This is the first picture I have taken with my new camera and been like, "That's good."  I will upload more later of our day with emma.  What a honey she is.  And sooooo photogenic.  Every picture she says, Chhhhheeeeez.  I did get a few though were she wasn't.  This one below is her just being her.  To cute.  We were at the park. 

Got their hair "did" last night.  For some reason the picts aren't the greatest....Em????  Ann's hair is asymmetrical, the one side is a little longer than the other.  Real cute.  She looks like she is about 29 now.  It was fun to do something "different" to both of them.  It's only hair, we can always change it again!  We had a long, fun night, I made scalloped potatoes and ham for supper and some rhubarb dessert. mmmm

(I fixed Ann's hair after the pic. She was a little longer on one side than the other)

So, Saturday poor little Zabe came down with his first cold of his young life. He had a runny nose, and cough. Sunday was probably his roughest day but not to bad at all. Monday he seemed to be doing better yet. Today even better. Since this is his first cold and he will be 7 months on Friday we aren't doing to bad in the "sick" department. (knock on wood)

I was suctioning out his nose with that little blue thing they give you in the hospital since he can't seam to blow when I say blow...kidding. But anyway, this morning he thought it was hilarious when I was doing it. He is really starting to get a personality and laughing a lot more over stupid things I say or do for him. Such fun.

We had a great mothers day, although this mother was a little hung over from my cousin Char's bachlorette party Saturday night. Zabe got me a new lens for my camera. It is a Tamron AF70-300mm. It's going to take some practice but I think I will like it. I can't wait to experiment with it a lot more. Bud also got himself a mother’s day present which is some kind of tiller/weed eater thingy.

Happy Belated Mothers Day to all mamas’!!!

I was trying out my new lens this afternoon with my model Zabe.  I thought this was a cute picture.  He is showing off his muscular, tan body.   He wants to crawl so bad, he keeps putting his hands in front of his legs but then doesn't know what to do next.  Last night while Shel and Ann were here he was sitting on the floor trying to pull himself up on the chair.  He did move his body 90 degrees though.  He's getting there.  Soon enough I'm sure.  I love having him immobile!!!

Chris, Abbey and J.J. welcomed Jenna Doreen O'Reilly into the world today.  She was a big surprise to us all considering she wasn't due until the 26th of this month.  Jenna weighed 7lbs 1oz, and was 20 inches long......she's tiny.  (compared to Zabe) She is so beautiful, and we couldn't be happier we finally have a little girl in the bunch. 

 baby jenna

 the happy family j.j. taking a quick peek.  (he's just not to sure what to think about her yet)

jenna holding daddy's hand.  and jenna's long toes.

  zabe checking out his new cousin or maybe not her but mommy

proud grandma with her only grand daughter, and baby jenna with her eyes open.  that gall darn hand got in the way.

We had a quick photo shoot yesterday.  These are a few of my  favorites.  

Zabe trying to grab my camera.

Still trying to grab the camera.

His big hands and feet His big body.  Auntie Shel liked this picture.  Once again shows off his tan, muscular body. (Remember, he is not eating much food, just oatmeal, rice, a little apple sauce, formula and breast milk.) He's just a big kid!!!

These picts were taken yesterday in this exact order, seconds apart.  He has had this little cough lately along with a plugged up nose.  You feel so bad for him when you wipe his nose you just want to say, "blow!"  He has been a real trooper with this cold.  Hopefully it will go away soon!!   

Zabe is 7 months today...where has the time went.  I have on a few of my favorite picts over the last 7 months.  (tough to choose) I realized I have A LOT of pictures of him!!  He is getting/acting so grown up.  Hardly a baby anymore.  Stil drooling like crazy. Grabbing and reaching for everything.  Smiling like crazy,and laughing a lot more.  He also just started saying da da.  Yesterday, I was in the salon and he was sitting on his blanket watching me do hair when my client and I looked over at him and he was pulling himself up on the chair sitting next to him.  He is getting so brave.  I said to him, "Zabe, what are you doing?" And he just smiled.  He is going to be on the move sooner than I think.  Happy 7 month birthday Zabe.  We love you!!

5/16/07

 5/13/07

5/11/07 4/21/07 4/20/07 4/5/073/27/07

 3/16/063/8/07 2/22/07 2/7/07

 12/29/07 11/20/06

10/28/0610/28/06

My computer is being stupid and sooo slow.  It won't show me pictures on sites and is just being really stupid.  I would like to update and show a few pictures but.....to slow.

Zabe has had his first real cold/viral infection of his young life.  He I think is getting over it.  I hope.  He's so good though, doesn't cry to much, just kind of wants to be held and with his mama.  I did pull out my camera yesterday to take a few picts of him, when I sat him on the chair he didn't look to happy.  I was about to start taking picts of him when he got the slightest smile.  He knew exactly what was going on and wanted to smile so bad, but didn't really have it in him.  It was priceless. 

Hopefully he gets feeling 100% soon.  We have a busy weekend starting tomorrow.  My cousin Charlotte gets married!!! YEAH!!

*  THIS POST I DID FROM THE WEEKEND OF 5/18/07-5/20/07 BUT SINCE MY COMPUTER WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY I AM JUST POSTING IT NOW.  *

We had a great weekend.  Em, John and crew were down turkey hunting.  It's always so fun when they are down.  Friday night, our families finally got together for our fish fry.  They cook up the fish we bring home from Canada.  This year it took almost a year to have it due to everyones busy schedule!!  The fish was excellent!!  lol.  (I don't eat it)  Cheescurds, onion rings, beer potatoes, etc. was all so good. A few picts from the evening... dad and baby jenna

ann, luke, holden, mom and j.j. enjoying the corn box

ab, zabe, em and linda chatting it up (ab is out and about just 4 days after having jenna) amazing...

Saturday Em, John, and Bud went out hunting.  I had to get back to my old job.  Stripping, it has been about 2 years since I have stripped due to the fact that last year I was pregnant.  I got back into it on Saturday.  I remembered why I am never going to buy anything "old" again...confused yet???

This is my stripping project.  It is an old maple table and buffet.  These are just one set of legs there is one more.  As you can see that pretty green paint is what I am stripping.  And you see all those spindals!!!  NOT FUN.  In the background you can see the buffet.  I am about done with that.  Then the staining and varnishing.  I can't wait to be done with it.  I bought it 3 years ago.  It's so time to get it in my living room.  Saturday, I stripped only one set of legs, forgot to take a picture of it, and still did not get finished with it.  Errr.

After I got sick of stripping I went and relaxed by watching Holden, Leslie and Harrison swim in the pool.  It was such a beautiful day out!!Holden giving his little brother a snuggie.  Look at the the difference in their facial expressions!! Holden laughing and Harrison doesn't know what to think.

Playing keep away. It was so funny listening to Holden and Leslie explaining the rules to Harrison.  Harrison kept yelling to give him the ball and Holden and Leslie were passing it back and forth.  He finally got the idea of the game and tried so hard to get the ball. 

  Leslie...he is so cute.  I could have put a dozen pictures up of his many different facial expressions.

LOL.  How cute is this.  Harrison must have been losing his draweres.Harry...

Zabe enjoying the pool.  He loved it. 

 Splash, splash, splash.

We married off Charlotte on Saturday.  Tuesday we cut her hair off.  We recently just cut 4 inches off because her hair would have been to hard to put it all up and have it stay looking decent all day Saturday.  She decided after the wedding she was going to cut it all off.  We did just that.  I think it looks adorable on her. 

We had a lot of fun on Saturday.  I was a bridesmaid so of course I had a good time.  Congratulations again Char and Trevor!!!

So long to the PTO girls!!  Now we are the PTFVB girls.  Good times. 

Bring on the babies Char (all nine of them)!!

 Char getting her hair done.

 Beautiful bride

 Hair cut before picture

Hair Cut after picture

I got the camera out last Thursday to take a few picts of Zabe when he was not feeling his best.  Of course right away he cracked a smile.  Then as you can see in the pictures he continued back to his not feeling so well ways.  

He is feeling much better now.  Back to his smiling self...thank god.

Last night he went to bed at 6:30 and slept till 6:30, ate and went back to bed until 8:15.  I think he is trying to catch up on his sleep he missed out on when he was sick. I would be totally open to him doing this a few nights a week.  He layed down tonight around the same time so we will see. 

..cough...cough

  ...so tired

I got online tonight after I took this picture of Bud and opened lifeupnorth.com and had to laugh, because Em was talking about Holden's radish and she was smarting off (jk) wondering if Bud had any big radishes like Holden.  Bud was so excited about this radish.  He came in the house and said, "Hey hon, you gotta take a picture of this big organic radish and blog it!"  I was just crackin up.  His garden still looks perfect.  Hardly any weeds and everything is growing like crazy!  He sure loves it!

Zabe was so happy tonight when I was feeding him.  He was laughing so hard a few times he could hardly control himself.  He would tilt his head to one side and then bring it up straight again and then I would do the same and he just thought it was hilarious.  It was priceless.  I wish I would have had the video camera because he just kept doing it.

Then all of a sudden he started putting his hand down on the tray of the high chair and pull it all the way back to him and his whole upper body would kind of shake because he was putting so much force into it.  I think his hand would kind of grip to the tray and he must have liked how it felt or something.  I was laughing so hard at him tonight it brought tears to my eyes.  He is defiantly getting a little personality. 

We had a pretty busy day with hair.  Zabe did good after he woke up from his nap.  Bud came home and the two of them went out to mow.  I told Bud he could strap him in to the swing or put him on a blanket and Zabe could just watch him from there and Bud says, "I'm not going to have people drive by and think that I can't take care of my kid." I said, "Well, you don't think they are saying anything about you having your 7 month on your lap while you are mowing?" Funny!!!  Zabe loves it outside.  He could be out there all day and be happy.  Like father like son. 

I know it looks like he was feeding himself but it was actually me!!