tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27705384937297927122024-03-21T12:05:03.351-05:00the Stevenson family blogkristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-44771794050210253852012-02-08T10:31:00.002-06:002012-02-08T10:37:37.888-06:00I have a one year old...<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGXIgXkafC0P8zQKzse8WDz7kO1llCJQuCenP4Jnl49J6NV5RlgmdIEkNwe4OKE-X1Bz0mOHIBWnqi7W8pXIWn6f5OKnCtRnYENNjUnlqqW9Jh3TunY5gU58u7rHOR-0OqvJzGBPA0nOt/s1600/Jolie_One_BW.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706803733346948002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGXIgXkafC0P8zQKzse8WDz7kO1llCJQuCenP4Jnl49J6NV5RlgmdIEkNwe4OKE-X1Bz0mOHIBWnqi7W8pXIWn6f5OKnCtRnYENNjUnlqqW9Jh3TunY5gU58u7rHOR-0OqvJzGBPA0nOt/s320/Jolie_One_BW.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">and how beautiful is she? <3</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">I made a couple of goals for the year. One is to start blogging again, for no other reason than it makes me happy. Writing is a creative outlet for me and, let's face it, we all need some sort of outlet/"me" time every so often. So, here's to me hoping to find some time this year! :)</span></div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-83987283790454562562011-07-17T09:28:00.003-05:002011-07-17T10:41:41.143-05:00his little heartIt's Sunday morning. Since we woke up too late to make the first service at church, and knowing nap time would fall right at the time for the second service, I thought I'd go ahead and just make a good ol' Sunday morning breakfast (but not before repenting for missing church and wondering how long it would take for my mom to call and give me a guilt trip!).<br /><br />Sean worked the night before and I wasn't sure what time he had come home this morning, but I made him a plate to bring to him in bed. If it was too early for him to wake up, he could just eat and fall back to sleep. Well... it was too early. Carter and I opened the bedroom door, walked in, and Sean just said "No, babe." Didn't even open his eyes. No? Did you say no? I knew he said it, but I guess I just had to make sure. This hot breakfast wouldn't be good later. And you know how it is when you spend time cooking, timing each dish just right so they're all ready and hot at the same time? You want people to eat it- now! But he wasn't eating. Wasn't even opening his eyes. <br /><br />As we were walking back to the kitchen, Sean's plate still in hand, Carter touched my arm and said, "Did that kind of hurt your feelings, Mommy?" I smiled and told Carter that Sean has probably only been asleep for a couple hours and he's not being mean. His body just needs more rest. Carter put his arm around me and said, "Well, I know, but it hurts my feelings for you. You worked really hard on that breakfast."<br /><br />Wow. That sweet child. He is more incredible and compassionate and loved than he could ever know. He's still a boy, and a wild one at that sometimes. But it's moments like these that can power me through anything. The long day after a sleepless night, endless amounts of laundry, a busy weekend without the help of my husband- all of these things become trivial. <br /><br />Thank you God for my children, who you have entrusted me with. And thank you for every day that I get to pour my heart and soul into them. And thank you for those little conversations like today that make it all beyond worthwile.kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-70629446944010017032011-06-23T11:33:00.004-05:002011-06-23T13:37:02.659-05:00My new lookNo make-up, disheveled hair, sweat pants and puke-stained t-shirts. Pretty hot, huh?<br /><br /><br />Baby is taking every minute I've got. She's still as precious as ever, but man, that girl's got demands that must be met! She'll be 5 months on Saturday and I can't believe it. She smiles constantly, giggles if she really thinks you're funny (which big brother works <em>very</em> hard at!), chews/sucks on anything and anyone, loves to be held and talked to, does NOT like to nap, and looks like a beautiful little girl version of her daddy.<br /><br /><p><br />Carter is loving being a big brother. When I was pregnant with Jo and someone would make a comment about my baby bump, Carter would quickly step in front of my belly and hug it, glaring out of the corner of his eye at the innocent stranger giving the compliment. Now, when someone says something about what a cute baby I have, he still steps in front and proudly announces "She's my baby sister." while holding on to Jolie's foot, hand, whatever's in reach. He's very protective and loves his little sister <em>very</em> much! Carter finished 1st grade a few weeks ago and I'm trying to be creative in keeping him busy over the summer. Crafts, decorating cookies, <em>and</em> some independent activities- my time is limited after all. He'll be attending private school for 2nd grade at the school I taught this past year. After prayerful consideration, Sean and I both agreed it's what Carter needs. He will be challenged on campus M, W, F, and at home on T, Th with Sean and I. It's a University Model school, where parents who desire to be more involved in their child's learning serve as "co-teachers" two days a week. I'm very excited and think this model will be great for Carter. And he's excited- to wear UNIFORMS! Haha, he doesn't get them from me, as that was probably my biggest complaint growing up in private school. Sean's told Carter his goal is to raise him to be bigger, better, stronger than we were... so he's on the right track!<br /><br />Sean. Oh, dear Sean... The man is BUSY. He's still working his crazy 12-13 hour weekend night shift, AND is now taking classes. It's a lot, but he's got a determination I've never seen in him before and I love it. The biology class he's in right now will be wrapping up shortly and I think he's Aced it. Then on to the next summer mini-mester. I'm so proud of him! And with all of this going on, he still strives to make sure I'm happy. His poor car finally died- a day we all knew was coming. He went out and got a new crossover mommy-car (yes, for ME) and took my car. So now I'm sporting a new ride (if/when I ever change out of my pukey-T and get out of the house, haha) and he's working and saving to one day get his dream truck. Whataguy :) </p><br /><p>We're busy, but we're happy <3<br /></p><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">father's day</span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621484242186078610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0DDL_j57W9C5F0whhD2M6lA9acmFZL9N-R0OWURctuUAogfYpff4KwXB1MLeR-9p-4j-dNai84gYzqCfury5JsJD6EvSA7N5NmAJCVkyVRFjZdv_Nn6d7DCWGvanu_doRzq1JJr-zz0i/s320/DSC_0540.JPG" /><br /><br /><p align="center"><br />JoJo girl @ 20 weeks<br /></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5621484237639760306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfJUj0b4ZKxvN_99CW1opiMsm3T2QWRXphMSohruqpI12HCfOxJk3Cd-V5WRvp7haFlpizL-ugSEP1EHDla8c02BeaVaoFy0odfVjEogNAlYkGf9nH8sJvHAzN7zjpqjjxVFtTQ2Cjhj_/s320/DSC_0529.JPG" /><br /><br /></span>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-76598658449720386102011-04-05T10:59:00.002-05:002011-06-23T11:32:56.030-05:00Back from the dead!But for how long? We'll see ;)<br /><br /><br /><br />I just re-read some past posts. I read how I was blogging real quick before I tackled "mountains of laundry"... if I only knew what was to come. Someone tell me, what's bigger than a mountain?<br /><br /><br /><br />Life has changed quite a bit. It's crazy, but I'm starting to get the hang of it. I think I'm one of those people that have to have something going on all the time. And when things start to settle down, then.... what's that honey? You found five stray puppies and want to bring them home? Yeah, bring it on! Yes, true story. I'm currently mother to 7, only 2 of which are actually my children. Just when my baby started sleeping for 6-8 hour stretches, I volunteered to wake up every 2-3 hours again and take 5 puppies out to pee. I am crazy. We've found homes for most of them. Just waiting for those lovely people to come pick them up!<br /><br /><br /><br />I can't believe it's been two whole months since that enviously easy labor and the arrival of our beautiful baby girl! She laughed for the first time yesterday. It was the most precious sound in my ears. She has the face of a doll, intensely beautiful eyes, and skin so sweet and soft. She's perfect, and is so very loved by each of us. She is so good-natured and fun, and definitely a girl. She may be bald, but she has a soft, girly "coo," lashes to die for, and can bat those eyes and melt her Daddy's heart already.kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-49725675567558895662010-10-29T10:41:00.005-05:002010-10-29T10:47:12.663-05:00had to add...<div align="center">After posting the previous blog I went to check on my husband who was carrying furniture up into the attic....</div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533494131610714130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgktLC_3XgfboKKUDZlau2JZZJIo2AE3GX8GG3CnVBtbKbGpxYDtW4TiL7y2B89cBwmfJkTNcKo9pA1Y0HC0B5lMkaPzQUBCai8uK1bVVyo_AQtrJj9zy5haO5jcMre4AH4lWf2k0fU42QP/s320/attic.jpg" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyW-S7J7S7qGos3iH0NbtlwU9R7za1GDdP6kGpwThyphenhyphen_CiprzjSgWz7zP3u1y_u0_TH87FzDsAqvAxZXreJBqzRENd1l5Dw5U5sT8RDfZgCSOT-X5s53wFBSHKkTEeRg_jLWxE9taS66M4/s1600/attic2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533494137989689634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyW-S7J7S7qGos3iH0NbtlwU9R7za1GDdP6kGpwThyphenhyphen_CiprzjSgWz7zP3u1y_u0_TH87FzDsAqvAxZXreJBqzRENd1l5Dw5U5sT8RDfZgCSOT-X5s53wFBSHKkTEeRg_jLWxE9taS66M4/s320/attic2.jpg" /></a> Yep, he's wearing my Halloween cape. Anything for a good laugh- that's my husband! Gosh, I love that man :) </div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-83169391348329128542010-10-29T08:30:00.008-05:002010-10-29T10:19:38.832-05:00quick update!I had a few moments to spare before tackling the <em>MOUNTAINS</em> of laundry in the house! Here are several pictures (out of order b/c it takes to long to think about uploading them chronologically- sorry!). To see a <strong>before</strong> shot, look at previous posts. Carter's hair was long. <strong>Too</strong> long. Last night Sean cut it, and I have to say it's one of the best haircuts Carter has ever had! My little BOY is back!! Here are some pictures I took of him this morning before school with his new haircut :) <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533475595738588706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwH2QdGuynl6-WGlhmZsznwGnZycGKbkp2KpGv14Jnh_6vKbBbaLOlI7HY60P_nbhbgEMLyZ0-JqfuikOYYNXAyAPu3PqIAxhiJsApeLNraLGp5YwOEFiOEZ-6QVNesMQ0fSU6Bm2zWch/s320/DSC_0471.JPG" /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1CNF19RC4NiNwRePSHxRg4zPDNfY_iXgZGtM4kmkrUzL3WW3gL8EVL-93iKWcrH4TcbTsxJ10ONkQNV7o9zJXXVdGuCdtK6x2xfOXmLKNFk3BC7vwPj5psmqN_VTHZTSfbeZ1tcp0Iow/s1600/DSC_0470.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533475587540931586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1CNF19RC4NiNwRePSHxRg4zPDNfY_iXgZGtM4kmkrUzL3WW3gL8EVL-93iKWcrH4TcbTsxJ10ONkQNV7o9zJXXVdGuCdtK6x2xfOXmLKNFk3BC7vwPj5psmqN_VTHZTSfbeZ1tcp0Iow/s320/DSC_0470.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">Yah, he poses like this all on his own, haha..<br /></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SEIJWdbXOebSnzJxe5tPccU0UbhWzeeQBfVS13lmNBte86XE4kzTZ2Q3dsRHGX4sv_cFFSoOErmTXE6VQ5Po27uLEM5RfpaeZMTPMiBN7ND-7sMgCI-vRRTUAGmjnSHnk2iswfy7ilkD/s1600/DSC_0469.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533475581496484306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SEIJWdbXOebSnzJxe5tPccU0UbhWzeeQBfVS13lmNBte86XE4kzTZ2Q3dsRHGX4sv_cFFSoOErmTXE6VQ5Po27uLEM5RfpaeZMTPMiBN7ND-7sMgCI-vRRTUAGmjnSHnk2iswfy7ilkD/s320/DSC_0469.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnMYQ8fEIJSXI0t7yXLLBRIe9HQxlNIR2GBLdm1BCOg5O2M5Tp1-_1lRayXgBlSMiS92in2Xu1iKjoBVchcEVaXUHuB5UhWix9m8SrMZ-nvLnAM5e9DhOwTJdueK-p7K_0ntcwTaqSBsI/s1600/haircut.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533474815232357714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVnMYQ8fEIJSXI0t7yXLLBRIe9HQxlNIR2GBLdm1BCOg5O2M5Tp1-_1lRayXgBlSMiS92in2Xu1iKjoBVchcEVaXUHuB5UhWix9m8SrMZ-nvLnAM5e9DhOwTJdueK-p7K_0ntcwTaqSBsI/s320/haircut.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">We carved pumpkins this week at Aunt Anease and Uncle Jimmy's house!<br /></span><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533472054619787234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWq6A86X9HGAPRCWUxkxlvSL353SOjb1lJyd7JkASiijQF5WgqsD55G04QZVw1U7H6_1wNPJ5Pu-c0JF85ONnin8YwgGHq3TBEATfWS7xCFhzURlp2lI29hEi3w7IiQBr7txjWEUVbnx6/s320/DSC_0409.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533472063952186098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eKdwijJLTB1f1sTf63fWKucIS4TscViLAzHlSgrJe9AlXC4jqGSgasY1WRuZLNRq9iQozSCJPPJuve-3JgPhSR_FxSonX5AI9tXGVJgiIaumRvMAVzmHkEeGv3aQ-TpnV8u55D5U2H5C/s320/DSC_0446.JPG" /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533473103595530434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQT8fJY9YwqpWTfk3RpUCOYIF4P4j1NN8IExH-lFa-Y_mDSUqRw9B5seTuszBv-dg0_e56Q2P1CHzKwvKq8FuVdPFasNyYDdMU-tmLgPe_MpWn2MbjKBLjOfkOMu0jG_1D5VY7PIyNHd6/s320/DSC_0453.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533473108903527570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OwxuG3wpq4_gvlo18x2Bhy-xka2-7LQdoOF_XIVi2MjHHISfxBalDSU2En-Nr9SClkdzVFpPnWcQ8zcUzKP7WwnlJFVMV3HAu9RA8jpgmzq5cdvNAGSuTwvv3KzMdzj_4kZ5xLRtBF79/s320/DSC_0456.JPG" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpvT4avmhkUyLKuAbNvLmIVdhjAMt3WLi1CGmZSNnTn6nlX_AK1CmvMvJfXDnV_5Z0zoezpOX-3_t44IW91WHspAVPu6H5Es55qFFXtfpoPutHKU5KRqWAwK6KX99KBlM-z5yPS6vhzOK/s1600/walk.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533474799509694578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSpvT4avmhkUyLKuAbNvLmIVdhjAMt3WLi1CGmZSNnTn6nlX_AK1CmvMvJfXDnV_5Z0zoezpOX-3_t44IW91WHspAVPu6H5Es55qFFXtfpoPutHKU5KRqWAwK6KX99KBlM-z5yPS6vhzOK/s320/walk.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">26.5 weeks, and not dressed so hot.. hey, we were carving pumpkins ;)<br /></span><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nM0nH3hHXmrejMTPT0HAoZ-eDjU3J-0152gsdsnV_KIwxASk5pC6mbNx8EbmmIpAQuhKWC5EeinP0FS-w_ySfxSqVxW1pzirt8xDc7WKbJBhes8Ay6TZ3XoQdzcV6hbEXdYAb7EwFkWN/s1600/26wks.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533473115380643650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nM0nH3hHXmrejMTPT0HAoZ-eDjU3J-0152gsdsnV_KIwxASk5pC6mbNx8EbmmIpAQuhKWC5EeinP0FS-w_ySfxSqVxW1pzirt8xDc7WKbJBhes8Ay6TZ3XoQdzcV6hbEXdYAb7EwFkWN/s320/26wks.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Book Character Parade Day at school starring Wolverine!<br /></span><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9kqPt0usidg7h17ybvbnQs-kbN-L6moZjDzBOvvxxNzYuVEHbg5BhwmMd8x9d1Vb5kOq5tc6buDI_9ahTGLVgVypC0ZMyyduJ732sHKc9TBmUrhpf4Zh9FNV7sKo55QjO5lUAF34NRri/s1600/wolverine.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533470519543584754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9kqPt0usidg7h17ybvbnQs-kbN-L6moZjDzBOvvxxNzYuVEHbg5BhwmMd8x9d1Vb5kOq5tc6buDI_9ahTGLVgVypC0ZMyyduJ732sHKc9TBmUrhpf4Zh9FNV7sKo55QjO5lUAF34NRri/s320/wolverine.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Super Mrs. Stevenson at Legacy Prep! (My whole class dressed </span></div><div><span style="font-size:78%;">as superheroes </span><span style="font-size:78%;">and my room mom made me this!)</span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeKunIE9XVn8SFIhHipkfcxUHQgBC-1L14_MUuBAeKEv6zKyoURFfOabP9gZStkOVk2TZ9LfxYHa18WqHBT-YD7MRrRn7fvAAeyPsTRAi020sYsshWo8RpJb2ZySfeUyeCUHTS7MagCAM/s1600/DSC_0405.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533470511224071394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeKunIE9XVn8SFIhHipkfcxUHQgBC-1L14_MUuBAeKEv6zKyoURFfOabP9gZStkOVk2TZ9LfxYHa18WqHBT-YD7MRrRn7fvAAeyPsTRAi020sYsshWo8RpJb2ZySfeUyeCUHTS7MagCAM/s320/DSC_0405.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGQLy_R6dIwJ_z9FUxRsRgxYcocgTSoFpNZwufYqBjq6O6kAc94KiTtEa4I5jEVIVPFkdkIj55Q-8Gn9QaKFFbWPG7nkp72ikhN-sNcb-2guF6TDdrhLn6l-UEl_MPzm6L_an9v-2CFyl/s1600/DSC_0403.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533470503836371762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGQLy_R6dIwJ_z9FUxRsRgxYcocgTSoFpNZwufYqBjq6O6kAc94KiTtEa4I5jEVIVPFkdkIj55Q-8Gn9QaKFFbWPG7nkp72ikhN-sNcb-2guF6TDdrhLn6l-UEl_MPzm6L_an9v-2CFyl/s320/DSC_0403.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Picture from our last ultrasound on 9/10- about 19 weeks.<br /></span><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T7DNk4YsEzUqPnRpFD_k1AqoYBO4olxZEKyWwTDOIk4YR8NcC5zSelgSVa6U8JMZpHGAOkMuEW_onCb9MKodJntfnujrHVnt9grEi6wBJZxdSViun8gpmLhPnJbWpYDkXGUcmW8A6gQ9/s1600/9.10.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 238px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533464688075357938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3T7DNk4YsEzUqPnRpFD_k1AqoYBO4olxZEKyWwTDOIk4YR8NcC5zSelgSVa6U8JMZpHGAOkMuEW_onCb9MKodJntfnujrHVnt9grEi6wBJZxdSViun8gpmLhPnJbWpYDkXGUcmW8A6gQ9/s320/9.10.jpg" /></a><br />The baby is approximately 2lbs right now and seems to <em>always</em> be active. Seriously, I wonder sometimes if she sleeps. She looks completely different from the last ultrasound picture I'm sure, as she's put on more fat under that thin skin that was pictured above. As she grows and I grow, we're all getting more and more excited. Every little movement makes it more and more of a reality- there's a real baby girl in there! I go back to the dr. next Friday for the tasty glucose screening, then I'll start going back every <strong>two weeks!</strong> I can't believe we're at that point already- time is flying by. Sean has felt like we have all the time in the world (is he a guy?:), but I finally convinced him that <em>I</em> do not have all the time in the world. I have 13 weekends until there's a baby in my house- and that's if she comes right on time, not a day early. My weekends are already filled with soccer, church, and birthday parties, so I need all the time I can get to prepare for baby! I think our little talk worked. He's cleaning out the nursery right this very minute :)</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Have a fun, safe Halloween weekend! I hope all the mommies get all the candy they wish for! :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-61934264115889627582010-10-16T10:49:00.013-05:002010-10-16T11:59:48.810-05:00Grease, anyone?<div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Carter attended the first grade sock-hop last night, and I may have had more fun getting him dressed than any of the kids had all night at the event! Grease is one of my all-time favorite movies. I could watch it any time and sing along with every song, quote most of the dialogue- and it <em>never</em> gets old. Thanks, Dad, for getting me hooked back in the 6th grade and letting me sport the ribbons in my hair! :) Here is my little Kenickie..<br /></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 203px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 293px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528675746573914770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxrkaW9EPdsAkDOv_jFRv6g93ErA9iI2mohJi1dgoqwX2z2VtTngo8wcomm7R3gXfhPqP0oNfzBnX3iA4RrDwjxDgD8oXhHtUy8zFsPu_5hvz5I7St-LOcVVHqe8E0zFbOIUjVQhAk0z0/s320/kinicky.jpg" /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"Go Greased Lightnin'!" (If you know the movie, you know this dance!)</em></span></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 189px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 309px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528675351930899618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXaX72N1ZPJdKVwtJ8gUc6DOBZyYBrJCZppoc-SzS4uOwpU0wTQ3kMsiI1TDZGXjUtfIQvAJ-5qCAHCWdC-vOlugw-RbZ3vCAdFJQcxPF3KwP9TfwHQJ_a0sX7_mTTl98Z0wNI7hDB1unV/s320/kinicky2.jpg" /></div><div align="left"><br />In other news, I receive the worst blogger award. And yes, it's self-awarded. I would love to spend just 30 minutes every few days posting pictures (especially since my husband bought me a fun, fantastic <strong>big girl</strong> camera!) and keeping everyone updated, but I seriously don't have it. And I'm not one of those people who say they're busy but make time for their favorite show- I don't even watch tv- and I've only sat on our new couch that we've had for 2 wks TWICE, and once I was grading papers, so that shouldn't even count, haha. Anyways, I'm going to try to aim for a once-a-week update.<br /><br /></div><div align="left">So here's what I look like. Well, this picture was actually taken 2 weeks ago, but I haven't changed too much. We're 25 weeks along today! Time is flyin' and I'm starting to get a little nervous. I haven't done a thing, really. But that's what I plan on spending Thanksgiving and Christmas break doing :) Here are some other pictures I've taken recently that I like!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">me and baby, 23 weeks</span></div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528680147975194818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZf8CCvNgFU_694CIeSkcRQAoVNLVRyFUKEQrOsDNneDSDuwdgWMdLjyqtvP9i2W7xZ4eR9014KYy667QDo7nEHIi_Wbs6bXar5y0xlIi3o3DgG7mhLql17l2UJ9VCXKodFw0QnYTpJco/s320/DSC_0292.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 317px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528682887611901730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOSzk8KUHQR5Ks4sHQyXI6EgiePw5H6AO9OA-YMd8CDu4t9a7lfzWvyFzU9BUZUzDqNsszBqccAnfaafqBslxp7Cq88kHPl63Db9EXMHjLJP9azHnSKnVB-ZwBKP8PrrQn5_YerwzGd21/s320/DSC_0348.JPG" /></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Carter's first game last week. He's so good this season, and aggressive! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">He scored 3 goals. He scored 2 at this morning's game, too!</div></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528683087833112914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkqQAOJbutE_hcnXCGjC4YE2MCnBHQebPErPlj88HuECV2S9mHF0xxI0mKNBOeqwGQswwhmzJLyCAvICPdjDBO1XJ-1OcyCiSjzixzZBSMxN8Rqh-IWY2qoAkvuMtq-ztBjPqBMS_Jfqy-/s320/DSC_0346.JPG" /> <p align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Victory!<br /></span></p></span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528683267646066946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdkOC44BUf3Lp2UIru64AXVjiz4Nj7Mm0CiSqso6FpXa1uET8VvTzcvLhTFzdVrNZuOHNSx6Ppep2kJQN6hnCyagDbvhOxRWGpegRSN6rgxsIyFDwcWae1WhcCbmmeHvUnetiSYNNy3Tg/s320/DSC_0347.JPG" /> <p align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">My precious little niece with Granna :)<br /></span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528682060389113122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qPaE3ADH_PeBRdpCSvGQSJuX-9YpDK4hQs9jZw10EFFbcUlNMijIhwANuhmamR6VvxH5I4TAA0MOWYNi9hfMnu_m50FWWGQIZXBbvw2uo_CgA8leWL5bIYrt1Sbx9_aA52fgp1pB95j4/s320/DSC_0228.JPG" /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">We've been playing a lot of sports lately. Carter has even changed his future career to a NFL player- yikes!<br /></span></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528682241354364610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrQ-EgB77l5lxWQecOMRJFEogzyGI19D0II-0ee_0p7gqZ7bwvhMqKmCVaXce12M0ByMp1vtn1zPvYCzHPz-VqdsjYEP1ZwCoSJ2sHVRKOWhgLMlZ5x0OM7hjSjRbk_67bSlkn-bK4r2e/s320/DSC_0276.JPG" /> <p align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Carter could pass for their kid, huh? My brother is so lucky to look like me! :)<br /></span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528681608286683538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu_25MShFomhlDH_L4auUiwKADbiAMYipX8oG9l3VpX3c1k1RkXW-yj5-CTWoRf9iURrY8HBpztfP0zO51-r2-yTQWPgD-Q6f5Y30Yp2sae9b-YnyhwXIvKlZpog1O6xefdu-WhTciRY2t/s320/DSC_0099.JPG" />kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-91096093226455012682010-09-06T09:03:00.004-05:002010-09-06T10:19:33.464-05:00Hi! My name is Kristin, and...can you tell I started working full time? I've been totally MIA from friends and family through almost every type of conversation portal, especially here! So sorry :) Let's catch up!<br /><br />We haven't been to the doctor since the last picture I posted, but we do go this Friday. We'll be having our 20 week anatomy check to make sure all her parts are there and growing like they should. Then we won't see her again for a while- till she's almost ready to come out! Kinda makes me sad. It's SO much fun to watch her move around during an ultrasound- it makes it all so real. We may have to break down and pay for a 4D ultrasound in a few weeks :) No name for her yet, though I think we're making progress. Maybe <em>too</em> much- I have a sheet of notebook paper covered with names. We'll start narrowing it down- plenty of time, right? ;)<br /><br />On to the firstborn! Carter just finished his second full week of 1st grade. He LOVES his teacher, and the whole 1st grade experience in general. Makes it so much easier to drop your kid off at school each day when they love where they're going, right? I couldn't be happier. We convinced Carter to get, not a hairtcut but, a "trim" before school started. We let him go without one all summer because he really wanted to and, well, it was summer- who cares? But he got very attached to his shaggy mop. It's been two weeks and the mop is back. We may have to go a little shorter next time :) Here is Carter on his first day of school with his hair "trim."<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513803778624547010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKuJrIAGlFOYREpTYyoYt78Tfmts7-uLTzwe1gNb_KidHYDLyXuZelSFnsvHWS3i_PkJTOQ7siPf8S3Q47JkZ-5RpTbmlW9g3muckw8-f6cmpEWAtx3L3H2BAR2bRm1YZWk8xifKE-dbk/s320/1sr+grade.jpg" /><br /><br />I had my first official day of school, too! I had been working the couple weeks prior to school preparing for the big day- classroom, supplies, curriculum, etc. But <em>nothing</em> could have prepared me for parent-teacher night. Ugh. I was sweating, stuttering, had cotton mouth, thought I was going to pass out, and forgot half of what I intended to say. Terrible. But I don't think anyone noticed because they all still sent their kids to school to be with me, the babbling idiot, on the first day. Now that I've had two weeks with the kiddos, it's becoming easier. The first day was WILD. It took a couple days to get to know my kids' different personalities, how they learn best, what I need to do to get them to pay (and stay paying) attention. Teaching is a juggling act for sure- maybe more so than parenting, but only because you have more kids to juggle. Needless to say, at the end of the day, I am exhausted. Here are some pictures I took of my classroom on Meet the Teacher night, before the kids came in and tore up the room :)<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513802624974613618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdz-s347FnWkwikscaxoFxlo2IzQd2j13mlTJ7FFmEBHijHaZMCNIBqsmLc7Dfy74XPPC_UVGSjxOzwcqsuJ2d9lEdHBT4-SgEK-1MlOPyVcWCV87hB4J1kuJJLi-yMkxv8j4KG2P94Es/s320/DSCN0799.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513802638428572162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyK7m0wGuw0FAe9ssf2004CoNs38dTYNTP5bpbzdTV67LtXRTlLdworF4sbB9oJc1bHFoHq2_j-sH9pc4w5ZXejSqtVrM27XDIgEO8Bkh7YoWN-SR73tNFo3P9_8yF2YW70uQAWjwOUiL/s320/DSCN0801.JPG" /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513802619023039106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiPthimUhEy04pIOCWHBDnJbwfSD9-gCRXz8G7ESl4LxgJsmtg-H9eYr4DmeTjbeGtC_s9-PBPAg4RdW4eK7aJDq-u86LY0HmA43BPPiM8wy8QUXjy4kMnOswu4xxDlFUEm1pLtdLUatz/s320/DSCN0798.JPG" /><br />My job at the college is in full swing, too. I am required to do a bit of running around- taking documents over to another building, getting professors books from the book room, and the very <em>occasional</em> (haha) run to the on-campus Luby's- BUT, for the most part I have projects that I work on at my desk. I love projects. They give me such a great feeling of self-satisfaction in the end. I put hours into something, have my boss write all over it what she wants me to add/change, then I edit it and proudly carry her the finished product. Mmm, I just got chills! Haha, kidding, but I do enjoy my job very much. Despite the long hours, no days off, losing almost all of my little social life, and never wanting to do a thing by the time I finally get home... which brings me to my next topic...<br /><br />My husband. One day last week I got off work in time to pick up Carter from school, then I had a couple errands to run before going home. I told Sean what I was doing and that I'd see him when I got home, but he kept calling me for nonsense things while I was trying to get these things done. I was starting to get really frustrated the last time he called while I was checking out at the store- I told him "If you stop calling me and let me pay I could get home faster!" Home was my next destination. That was all he needed to know. My sweet husband was at the house trying to perfectly time a grand feast of a dinner. Chicken, sides, rolls, and drinks were all set on the table when I walked in the door. The house smelled marvelous, I was starving, and dinner was wonderful. And yes, I apologized for my slight attitude :) <br />Sean has actually been doing quite a bit of cooking since the sight/smell/thought of raw meat makes me ill. I'd say he's getting good at it, but he's actually <em>been</em> good at it- he just didn't do it often. I told him I'd stay pregnant forever if I didn't have to cook again. He said ok ;) On top of cooking on his days off, Sean's been keeping the house tidy. We've had several showings since putting our house on the market two weeks ago- a couple people have even come back for a second showing, so we'll see how it goes! We've seen a lot of houses that would give us more room for baby- and just more room overall- we're excited to go start looking. Sean started school this past week- one of those crazy high-level math courses. He tries to explain a problem to me and I try to explain that he's speaking a foreign language and I've been lost since the beginning. English is my thing- let's diagram a sentence!<br /><br />Hope everyone's well! I'll try to find time Friday night to post updated pictures of little Miss baby Stevenson. Who knows, maybe we'll have a name by then! Eh, probably not.kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-19081226012762667222010-08-15T20:23:00.002-05:002010-08-15T20:33:08.904-05:00Dear pizza and chocolate,Our love affair must come to an end. Yes, it's true- we did have a great run. But things just aren't the way they used to be. The burning you've been causing in my chest here lately just isn't worth it. You get the satisfaction of adding calories and fat to my diet with your hot, steamy cheese and your rich, creamy cocoa, and, while I do still enjoy your aroma and flavor, I always end up at the medicine cabinet searching desperately for anything to make the pain go away. This isn't healthy. I need to think about <em>me</em> right now. I really am sorry, and I hope you understand. If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I'll call you after February 1.<br /><br />Kristinkristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-16331741776621415952010-08-15T19:12:00.005-05:002010-08-15T20:22:58.736-05:00I find great joyin listening to my son's conversations with his friends. Today, it went like this:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Carter: "Ok, so fall like this (falls dramatically on the ground) and be like 'Oh, I'm hit! I'm hit!' and then I'll come and I'll be like 'Oh my gosh, you got shot!' and I'll try to help you up and get you to safety but I won't be able to so I'll call for help like 'Mayday, mayday (sp?).' Ok?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Friend: "Ok."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Friend then falls on the ground: "UGH! I'm hit! I'm hit!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Carter runs up: "Oh my gosh, you got shot!"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Carter pretend-struggles to help friend up: "Mayday, mayday, I can't get him up! Man down!"</span><br /><br />Just like he said, it was. Carter planned out this whole dialogue and his friend just went with it. I was laughing quietly on the other side of the wall. What if the friend said "No, I don't want to say that" or, "No, <em>you</em> be the one to get shot!"?? I was kind of wishing Carter gave his friend a little choice in this dramatic play, but if the friend is cool with it all, then great. I do love to see Carter be such a creative little being, and a leader, too. I pray he grows both of these qualities and uses them to be a bold, inspiring witness for Christ.<br /><br /><br />Since I'm on Carter and I feel like I haven't bragged on him in a while, a good story seems appropriate. Earlier this week I was in my bathroom getting dressed and Carter was in there for a moment doing something. I grabbed my toothbrush and paste and was preparing to brush my teeth, when Carter asked me a question. "Mommy, are you tired of cleaning your bathroom sink?" I had just done some deep-cleaning of the house the day prior so I assumed he was reflecting on my hard work. I responded, "Well, it's not exactly <em>fun</em>, but it's just something you have to do. Yah, I guess I'd rather not have to do it as much." Immediately he responded with "Then you should get the Touch and Brush! It uses all of your toothpaste and gives you just the right amount, every time!" When I realized what was happening I almost choked on <strong>my</strong> toothpaste. He was repeating an infomercial, word for word. Classic Carter- see/hear/read something once and it's memorized, ready for recitation. I love that kid :)<br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Here's me and baby girl Stevenson at 16 weeks (today). </span><span style="font-size:78%;">I actually got dressed today for church and my sweet little neice's christening afterwards.</span></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505810563778343762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfT3s-4884nsUXQKUShgg7a8qmYn7jF_lY5fKDiTon1kYRbjMRwXHLFXcA6IVkrU6mGlqjHEVjD1FEsgV53p0PQRp3WCMLoygW8fuxJzmJOhNeP764lNtn5tRu47TXZVlQyis30zRkddAR/s320/16wks.jpg" />kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-9371009306158473392010-08-14T06:53:00.003-05:002010-08-14T07:32:08.792-05:00The score is evened!I have a GIRL on my team! Someone to run with me as we escape the terrible sounds and smells of the boys! Someone to sit and watch me do my hair and put on makeup, like Carter watches Sean shave, mow the lawn, read- and pretty much everything else.<br /><br />Look :)<br /><br /><div align="center"> <span style="font-size:78%;">Her sweet baby profile. I can't believe her legs are already curled up... is it crowded? Am I really <em>that</em> pregnant?</span><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505233000844143010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLiOD6gAPR6EYnSL_Ek15Eqnd9rYypPg4CCJD3ABnBxiAFP5v_l6prNZLBEASIe60BYto2faNAfYK-rwLVhOwbn_DDCaPNjLebPaV6Blkimlh6PSukvuGsNCkSNFIhMeaD31wjRFYAVVD/s320/15wksprofile.jpg" /><span style="font-size:78%;">She gave us a little wave right in the middle of the ultrasound. Talk about shedding some tears- it made me bawl! It's like she has a little personality, or she knew we were all staring at her... Gosh, I love her so much already :)</span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 243px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505233013179815378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMC1mMQepDFdwD9f6_i5fMial-YOGACgjdnQFCMAWQ4uKEIgqKxt_jwnpLmONvNlTf-4xzB6d8onbzxW9nMveYnW5sWMqUyPILb1Dxn4aqIXUoS0iLOGNSpjyC8O5YSZaXdDaAJyKvzDc1/s320/15wkswaving.jpg" /><span style="font-size:78%;">The little princess had no problem showing us her, uhem, "parts." Immodest thing; she definitely gets that from her daddy. ;)<br /></span><div align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 224px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505233008220861314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DC8oElbPlAzgy-xmHdbW0weXSna4_qvsVgQwAJjzQlcVk9gD6YCjHCiIu2mtJy_hGFsy1rt07N3G_FoZzWE-hqyLi3-szePjb_P8JXHYd3Gv1R29tNi5wB8P8bnTBxeYFMFZzebdsZZ9/s320/15wkssex.jpg" /><br />So there you have it! We're now in the process of choosing a name. (Yes, Dad, we will have something for you to tell your friends. Just don't get too antsy- this may take a while! haha, love you!) We didn't realize it until now, but we both find boy names so much easier to like. Haha, that doesn't sound right. I have about three boy names that I would name my son in an instant, as does Sean. But girl names are harder. I've thought I had "the name" for years, but now that the time has come- I'm not so sure about it anymore! Can't sound too baby-ish because they won't be a baby girl forever, can't be too exotic or they'll mistaken for a... uhm, <em>dancer?</em> Is it a name they can grow into (and it's hard to picture your infant who hasn't even arrived yet as an adult with this possible name you've come up with!)? These name books you can get that are supposed to help you with suggestions just give me a headache. My attention is always brought to the craziest names, like Zelda, that I'm probably passing right over anything I would actually consider. I told Sean that if we just ask every person we know for some suggestions, that maybe ONE name out of all of those would just jump out at us! We'll see.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I haven't had a week this busy in a long time. Summer was spent being pretty lazy, or atleast doing everything at my own pace, but those days are OVER! And I'm not going to lie- I kinda like it :) I'm a freak in that sense. Like my mom, who I always claimed had some sort of disease that wouldn't let her STOP for just a minute to sit down, I like to be busy. I'm dead tired at the end of the day, but I love the feeling of what all I've accomplished. Last week I decorated my classroom, but I'm still waiting on little things like, oh, the furnniture. Haha, seriously- but the walls are done, and that's the hard part! This week I started teacher in-service. These are some long days, especially to the girl who likes to move. I've spent the majority of the past week sitting in a chair listening to policies and procedures. It's made me realize I need maternity pants. I can't pull this off anymore. haha..</div><div align="left">On Monday I had the opportunity to interview with the Head Chair of Math and Education for a college in our area. She needed an administrative assistant to help her with class scheduling, textbook decisions, among some other things. Well, the interview went well, and she likes me enough to work with <em>my</em> schedule. Since I'm teaching Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday afternoons, she allowed my schedule with her to be Tuesdays, Thurdays, and Friday mornings as needed. I will be crazy busy now with two jobs, but it's great. My ultimate goal is to be a college professor in Early Education, and this is the perfect foot in the door opportunity that I would be a fool to pass up. </div><div align="left">It's amazing how God opens (and shuts) doors in order to give you just what you need. The events in my life just over this summer have been incredible proof of that. The trusting can be hard sometimes (especially for a control freak like me), but man it's so good when you do. I stand in awe every day!<br /></div><div align="left"></div></div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-1944203542547511292010-08-05T16:03:00.005-05:002010-08-05T17:43:04.413-05:00hot wheels :)The first time Sean took Carter out to teach him how to ride a bike like a real man (that is, without training wheels), it didn't go too well. Carter was only half-trying and didn't make much progress. He just wasn't ready. Well it's been a few months now and Sean decided to take Carter out again for a second attempt. I didn't follow them outside immediately- I thought if it was anything like last time I'd just be sitting there watching Carter topple over constantly. But, to my surprise, after 3 minutes of being outside Carter ran in screaming at the top of his lungs "Mommy, come quick! You have to watch me ride my bike!" So I did :)<br /><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyJ8gEwK_8Qd_or9RWv0-3B3UCu5v8oMS1SKnBdQ3dsi08xXdzmHy9X-Ji-F8nraJ1fA0kwaB_F2t4JonKxlg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Yay for Carter and the beginning of some wild biking adventures!</span></p><p align="left">I did my first weird pregnancy thing a couple nights ago. I woke up at 3am and HAD to have cereal. So I dined in the kitchen alone by under-cabinet lighting. Bonding time with baby :) We find out the sex on Tuesday. Everyone has this "feeling" that we'll be having a girl. I have no feeling either way, and I honestly don't care. I know God knows what's best for our family, and that's what He'll give us!</p>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-69791392513690126152010-07-30T20:24:00.003-05:002010-07-31T09:08:00.784-05:00Twinkies in the closetWe just got back from a week in Corpus Christi visiting family. I have two aunts there- one has three children, the other four. Both have children with the energy of a dozen children all wrapped up into one precious little body. Our time there earned them a new respect in my eyes, and made me realize this child in my belly may be our last (haha). I love Carter to death, but sometimes, <em>just sometimes</em>, I need to break away. Just for a moment. Well this evening our church had a fun night planned for kids and Carter was super excited to go. And I was super excited to take him! I wrote a HUGE grocery list- like I am stocking our house for full meals for two weeks straight. And I was excited about doing that. Usually I keep shopping trips fairly short, and make sure to pack a good book, drink, and snack for Carter. Come on, a 6 year old's patience for grocery shopping can only last so long. But tonight I was going to be alone and I could take however long I wanted. I got to church (just 5 minutes early), and as I'm signing Carter in I see another mommy friend next to me. I asked her, "So what are <em>your</em> big plans tonight?" Her eyes lit up with excitement as she said, "Oh, my husband and I are going to dinner! What are <em>you</em> doing?" I answered with equal excitement, "<em>I'm</em> going <em>grocery shopping</em>!" I was that excited. I walked Carter to the appropriate building and gave him a gentle nudge to go ahead and walk in. He didn't move forward. In fact, he didn't move at all. He was <em>clinging</em> to my leg. My heart started to beat a little faster as I saw visions of me at the grocery store, but I wasn't alone. I was panicking. "Carter, what are you doing? This is it- come on, let's go see what all they've got in here for you!" Lazer lights, glow sticks, face painting, and games- none of it mattered. He didn't see anyone he knew and he was not comfortable with me leaving. He wanted me to stay, then he wanted me to leave, then he wanted us both to leave. Now, my patience level is <em>real</em> thin these days, so I had to make something clear. "I am not playing a game with you right now Carter. You either stay and have fun, or you're going to the grocery store with me. No back and forth- be decisive." (My intention was to scare him into staying- he strongly dislikes the grocery shopping. But... my plan failed.) Carter responded, "Fine, then I'm going with you." As we began to walk back towards the car, however, he changed his mind <em>again</em> and said he wanted to stay. If I demand that he not be indecisive, then I can't very well change what I said either. Dangit. So we walked out of church, both sad (him shedding actual tears), and loaded up to go to the store. I wasn't planning on Carter being with me (as in I had no games/book/etc), so we had to make-do at the store. He went through everything in my purse, ate my gum, drank my drink and cried about he really wished he was at church. Now what point was I really trying to make with all this "be decisive" business?<br />After a very long grocery 'adventure' I came home, unloaded everything, and made Carter some dinner (since he wasn't eating the pizza I had already paid for at 'fun night'). I headed to the bathroom thinking I could be alone just for a moment, but I was caught before I could even shut the door. "Mommy, could I have some chocolate milk with my dinner?" Seriously, can I <strong>pee</strong> alone?? Suddenly, I remembered something my mom had said to me a long time ago. When you have kids, there will be days you eat Twinkies in the closet. I finally get it.<br />Now I need to put a lock on my closet door.kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-35164989925750276052010-07-15T08:59:00.003-05:002010-07-15T09:38:18.631-05:00Future karate master...<p>We had an ultrasound done on Tuesday. It was crazy to see how much this baby has changed in 4 weeks. Last time we saw him/her, we saw a "yolk sack" with an unrecognizable "blob" attached that was our baby (refer to ultrasound picture in previous post). NOW, however, there is a real BABY- all appendages and major parts are there, they're just miniature and will spend the next several months growing and fine-tuning. Wow. </p><p>The line going across the top of the baby in the video is the umbilical cord. But you can definitely tell the rest of the parts, especially when the baby starts moving. We have a little ninja in there! Sean said something along the lines of 'No wonder you're sick- I couldn't imagine something kicking and punching inside of my stomach!' But, obviously, I don't feel any of this movement yet.</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwDRn5tFTgwLdB4HUx-WpNnPJNggCXIgmvdibUfqIV0r21siHhvdjr01i79tRSc0vI4_TKSdPg3gVZmaV8D8w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p> </p>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-13503616279146879642010-07-12T12:10:00.003-05:002010-07-12T12:21:15.903-05:00Punk'dMy body played a sick little joke on me. The last time I blogged about feeling great was the last time I've felt great. I had <strong>one</strong> day of <em>wanting</em> food, smelling anything without the gag reflexes kickin' in, going out to eat at a restaraunt and <em>loving</em> it, being productive around the house without worrying when I get too far from the toilet! This morning I took the trash out and thought I was going to puke in the kitchen with the trashbag in my hand and then again on the driveway with the garbage can in tow. All I could smell was the salsa Sean ate last night. Ugh. Anyways, I go to the doctor tomorrow and I will definitely be sharing with her how I believe I've developed an immunity to the medicine she gave me, haha, and how I'm really looking forward to enjoying my number one passion in life again: food.<br /><br />On a lighter, less-nauseating note... My dear, wonderful, beautiful, and talented friend Carolyn was in the Lone Star state for a couple of weeks and used some of her vacation time to take some pictures of the family. It was so much fun and they turned out great. Here are just a few.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7rZso1dkelszLlK_vjmLYTnzW1HutvgqrkA1Xg3Y9h3F2qukWxJLAOMw-42TJpcfyj_1EZKeAgLlU3sFSHRIpJi0RxoMN7G2BdFbsP5CB4Yv6E96qDUluxM-1H1VUGVkKY1X-e8sxzlD/s1600/930555303_Einud-M.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493068744969711922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7rZso1dkelszLlK_vjmLYTnzW1HutvgqrkA1Xg3Y9h3F2qukWxJLAOMw-42TJpcfyj_1EZKeAgLlU3sFSHRIpJi0RxoMN7G2BdFbsP5CB4Yv6E96qDUluxM-1H1VUGVkKY1X-e8sxzlD/s320/930555303_Einud-M.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZj9MBu6WUkBt-YNOXu_uLfGnicJPB0yIp91jclSeepBj-yPqkPZhcvw2eRGDZXzRk510l5FH3uZ3rMTWow7IrHNJTOXYTfhEGDKtYEiva_-W0ywptmBRs0I2YIAxrMM4kRbZTNgz8vnf/s1600/930475105_LYHd5-M.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493068741430272546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsZj9MBu6WUkBt-YNOXu_uLfGnicJPB0yIp91jclSeepBj-yPqkPZhcvw2eRGDZXzRk510l5FH3uZ3rMTWow7IrHNJTOXYTfhEGDKtYEiva_-W0ywptmBRs0I2YIAxrMM4kRbZTNgz8vnf/s320/930475105_LYHd5-M.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBT8ffmbcNOiWRSDCeMx-CNT22oJl0fh9vfmgWX71twPrSKpEvk0wdtCj-hPidGj6r2otBWYGxVdfGL0ONshflXuiCp5QYMBH6yckioaOSufKnKJVC2nyupxmO-JlXItsqyMCA8l0Qo5-/s1600/930553401_Pyn4i-M.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493068730670803362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBT8ffmbcNOiWRSDCeMx-CNT22oJl0fh9vfmgWX71twPrSKpEvk0wdtCj-hPidGj6r2otBWYGxVdfGL0ONshflXuiCp5QYMBH6yckioaOSufKnKJVC2nyupxmO-JlXItsqyMCA8l0Qo5-/s320/930553401_Pyn4i-M.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHhKb0W9oBNnPbMUp7b7U31dmuwHXbyDTF05Y7d7vbsgBiyzmrg2mIWDFZTAoWSP5tec5OO9qldvEtJgLYpwFqR9JaFdDSqwz_nSJfo9ESTixtsQTxXFF5qHoGi50UpzwdYVdfcJqTE4X/s1600/930267163_A78Q9-M.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493068724754906338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHhKb0W9oBNnPbMUp7b7U31dmuwHXbyDTF05Y7d7vbsgBiyzmrg2mIWDFZTAoWSP5tec5OO9qldvEtJgLYpwFqR9JaFdDSqwz_nSJfo9ESTixtsQTxXFF5qHoGi50UpzwdYVdfcJqTE4X/s320/930267163_A78Q9-M.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFXO0wqwF6h6QKO_bQEMj9Z-x7ZFjcLl03RXrvtVb-FnRpnHjI4bT_v_UdjNAjbxc2UWTXzpdW1EG_F6LlpRdJFKzWkdYBzyeB-pYfL3Vx1rIr625NyGdQEsseYU55L5xu444-4mdnuCf/s1600/930407905_TekFv-M.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493068720578265650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFXO0wqwF6h6QKO_bQEMj9Z-x7ZFjcLl03RXrvtVb-FnRpnHjI4bT_v_UdjNAjbxc2UWTXzpdW1EG_F6LlpRdJFKzWkdYBzyeB-pYfL3Vx1rIr625NyGdQEsseYU55L5xu444-4mdnuCf/s320/930407905_TekFv-M.jpg" /></a><br />Happy Monday! Hope everyone has a wonderful week!<br /><br /><div> </div></div></div></div></div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-31588961118779187862010-07-06T09:30:00.005-05:002010-07-06T09:57:51.853-05:00I have joy againThis morning I woke up and the first thought in my head was not "Oh Lord, please let me fall back to sleep." I got up, brushed my teeth without gagging, walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator door <em>without</em> holding my breath (as to not smell the myriad of flavorful things the refrigerator holds). I felt FINE! Great, actually. This is the first morning in <em>weeks</em> that I have woken up and felt normal. It's been a long bout of constant nausea, but if the rest of my mornings are anything like today, I'd say it's over! Praise God!<br /><div><div> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="left">Here are some pictures from last week. Sean's mom found a blueberry patch close to our house and wanted to check it out. I hadn't been bluberry picking in so long- I forgot how much fun it is! We had a blast and came home with more blueberries than we know what to do with.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">the gatherers</span></div></div><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 255px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490802579730332738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEhL2F8IbZXFr-BgkeU7j7-ts9RkLqMOyCj5oJmkLIQAXASi9psvbi5S_cib8CNcNpYLOi2uGtdZV8x-XnXvhj31-Wi9-eTtPcMoLN2m8WbrEI3w3c5fnPIBpHnJ-cYvCclGW1YyVK_pRO/s320/bb1.jpg" /></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 305px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490803452749268002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1eYa7KyObgoej69GjMoO1G3kblS6qGhxu5OQoPJmIHsBn9Fx-fWfiFmsPPQeOP0kmBGG45sHFbDTNP-Aeb9DCW8tRDvTYT7o-6hfyBk77iJ703z9c5-7PTk1cQ1QqqDRAe5-bZgPVHuaq/s320/DSCN0764.jpg" /></p><p> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">I think Sean and his mom ate more than they picked :)</span></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 281px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490802600626548626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAuV4RVAYR8ATSInYhzu74JnWENgBhnhBYvksQ6GXrn_J_9swq4GHLj9a3ARKYWFib5leS8vPE-7Q-v0g3cT205oSlzeGdNphMNXB7ZhjNgKbUrwJ621hUkDs3Eg6Xb8EkGW8-zJd-iBml/s320/DSCN0763.JPG" /></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 207px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490802587210518466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMthLmv9Ganx4bGNcZJQf2EuCeU-R4JY9zYBytQxn8Xshi0DvxksC-LPfrtaUgmIdgPW81JNj0EUTiubUh7sSKF4d-V5nsbLr9xwAsrRm1seGeIoBZzFVVCyWT_g7ZOzJN1lwwpfHyYwxU/s320/bb3.jpg" /></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490802608794349570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1i4sE-QptF8UtKMFGL2ylqLPbTn3e1xY7ZN4qImnrQx8By5r0ROAptc6evXZVqDvYIDz34E71_gTSFqcJPTW7qe2iD8_0m2_RbKsg9Rx_wPdKZxiSrhommYi2-x-BaPCRi4nX5ylzLbz/s320/DSCN0765.JPG" /></p><p> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">the aftermath of blueberry picking at our house... DOZENS of muffins!</span></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490803436730485250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrY6GkSJTZ5PCQG28mw88tu086RjG2VdDY9TME1b2C-aY76uw9KzJZXCwdiBsBMhR4R7GfYYzCDxnP7kMB9013gf2_RhEQJw_0LM439nuCDImNZFcMizTMrKLq5ipjl8gg_ahUx5DvOpj/s320/DSCN0767.JPG" /></p>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-49209714887729321282010-06-29T08:22:00.002-05:002010-06-29T08:56:24.952-05:00Excuse me, do you know who you're talking to?A working woman, an employee, a jobholder, one who works for a salary! Yes, that's right- I got the job! After my interview last Wednesday they scheduled a second interview for Monday with the Administrator and Dean of Family Ministries. So yesterday I went in, had what I felt like was a good interview (but I was still unsure because other people were interviewing, too), and left. Approximately 3.75 hours later (haha, not like I was watching the clock), while I was playing a rousing game of Jenga with Carter, the school called and told me they would love for me to be a part of their team :) NOW I finally feel like I've graduated! <br /><br />As a real-life teacher now, I've suddenly got a TON to do. Download and learn the online gradebook and lesson plan tools, read some required literature, buy materials and set up my classroom (super excited about this part!), attend a conference in Dallas, and begin new teacher training the second week of August. Phew, I'm tired already. Thanks for those who prayed for my nerves when I had no direction, and then again when I was finally going to interviews. It helped! :)kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-92081917405784050772010-06-18T15:49:00.005-05:002010-06-20T07:49:04.904-05:00the beginning of summer fun!I went through several days of forcing myself to eat, fighting the nausea raging inside of my body, only to finally turn to some miracle drugs which I should've let help me days ago. All for this, little baby Stevenson :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhFOHKVVU6l_NcNpYj3nHd14fInfEZYrLP7DGx3hENAwBusfCsxPcd3viFYVuMFVUi9GjUqsoMxBKZuDbqgl9LJJ8ND383IHIWW743nZHdJCyDQAWqOUIoJaMgcAmsMQaQpE4TkXc_Sds/s1600/ultrasound.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484230914480668642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhFOHKVVU6l_NcNpYj3nHd14fInfEZYrLP7DGx3hENAwBusfCsxPcd3viFYVuMFVUi9GjUqsoMxBKZuDbqgl9LJJ8ND383IHIWW743nZHdJCyDQAWqOUIoJaMgcAmsMQaQpE4TkXc_Sds/s320/ultrasound.jpg" /></a><br /><div>He/she's the size of a raspberry now. 7 weeks, strong heartbeat, and sucking every ounce of energy out of me. This is <em>so</em> my husband's child! February 1, exactly one month after Daddy's birthday, is baby Stevenson's e.t.a. :)</div><div></div><div>Hopefully now I'll be able to be a better blogger since I'll be spending less time hugging the toilet.</div><div></div><div>Carter finished up a week of Vacation Bible School at a friend's church today. He got to see a bunch of friends from school and had a blast. He'll start the VBS at our church this coming week. I've always volunteered to work the VBS at our church every summer, but I'm just not feelin' it this time around- I'm pooped and ready for a nap by 10am every day. So Carter will go and play with his church friends while I spend the three hours doing housework, or napping. After he's all VBS'd out the real fun will start! Family road trips, library trips (yes, we all love to go to the library and spend <em>hours</em> reading- what family bonding!), park days... ahhh, it will be a splendid summer :)</div><div></div><div>Job update: Well, nothing's quite happened yet. But I do have an interview next week! If I get hired I'll let you know. If not, I'll probably not bring this topic back up ;)</div><div></div><div>Have a wonderful weekend!</div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-38104255037122568712010-06-08T06:57:00.004-05:002010-06-08T07:41:02.010-05:00my, how we change...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWr6G47JeenPUxybsSXvpDhIkkrdU86BxYXXBDTowxAuPGiwxXCSMha0i4F4stIagq0P1kpmWv0mlOf5khJK6bXSBMvMvZBkNHCAeLnO0sjg-8CHUpQKrff0-8HDrib94-WTA6Ssg0bk1q/s1600/DSCN0714.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480379026000329250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWr6G47JeenPUxybsSXvpDhIkkrdU86BxYXXBDTowxAuPGiwxXCSMha0i4F4stIagq0P1kpmWv0mlOf5khJK6bXSBMvMvZBkNHCAeLnO0sjg-8CHUpQKrff0-8HDrib94-WTA6Ssg0bk1q/s320/DSCN0714.JPG" /></a> For Carter's last day of school we told him he could pick anywhere to go eat for breakfast. He chose McD's. Ugh. I was kind of looking forward to going out for breakfast as well and really wanted to go somewhere I would actually eat the food, so I reminded him of how much he likes the chocolate chip pancake at IHOP. "Ooh yah, I change my mind! I want to go to IHOP!" So IHOP it was. And my country omelette was delicious.<br /><br />Now let's take a walk down memory lane...<br /><br /><div><div align="center">Carter on his <strong>first</strong> day of Kindergarten- August 2009</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DgcCGjuG5oJaUkx_qmhbk99Ml6tGdkWI8XT6p5EKED9S5kq9oGuECsPlhTHXZpNe6isRatN_s5WcwnMWBtvuCfQAyWpT8ryMPUY6SaOLzaU7HkXxs3BLZVZmN5sCUwPkPT8L8FdhA9OI/s1600/first+day.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 188px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 296px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480373661543430578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DgcCGjuG5oJaUkx_qmhbk99Ml6tGdkWI8XT6p5EKED9S5kq9oGuECsPlhTHXZpNe6isRatN_s5WcwnMWBtvuCfQAyWpT8ryMPUY6SaOLzaU7HkXxs3BLZVZmN5sCUwPkPT8L8FdhA9OI/s320/first+day.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center">Carter on his <strong>last</strong> day of Kindergarten- June 2010</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 227px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480373678018582626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8kv6ez7tRgmyL3YSVWgE3HNU8Waf9bPPXe2VcbOxGssykImisbJ85p3fHxCrNLd1srFzFs243rzvtTeTEghJ6pWHmMk6W1i2p4BlUuNGKXwDMAOQz4apL2khWtgcX10xe3DLFDhSio6o/s320/last+day.jpg" /><br />Sean was kind enough to walk Carter into school with me on his last day just so I could get this picture in the same spot we took the "first day" one. ((<em>sigh...</em> sweet hubby)) Just look how Carter has changed <em>so</em> much- it's crazy! He has definitely made the transition into a flat-out "boy"- not a precious little baby anymore, at all. And me. There's quite a bit of difference in me in the first day and last day pictures. I was still going to school myself in August- I had a reason to get dressed, I guess. But n<em>ow</em>- no school, no job, no place to go. Heck, why waste my time? Haha, my poor husband. I'm kidding. This just must've been a rough morning. I do still get dressed, occasionally.</div><br /><div>Carter started soccer camp this week and he was super-excited. He wakes up at 6:20 in order to get ready and eat a big, hearty breakfast that will power him until noon when he gets lunch and I pick him up. It's a full morning of exercises and scrimmage games and he loves it. I wish I would've taken a picture of how sweaty/nasty he looked yesterday when I picked him up from camp, but I couldn't take my mind off the stench that was coming from him and filling my car. It took all I had not to pull over and puke and make him walk the rest of the way home. Just kidding, I would never- but it was <em>that</em> bad. Like I said, he's made the transition to BOY.</div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 203px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 310px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480379019965785298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QY6DXpRSQfH2cSbUgHf1lfds0Mx-DoPN83L-rLLf041FNTCZklZaOdTgsPG_aNFB-G-cmxUF_FAZVXUMcGYvmDHb2qQuuVrpT92V5LjFOWO80g80Io__26CoGz1t4XHa2AGOn3T54o-H/s320/DSCN0729.jpg" /><br /><br /><div></div></div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-33428700294169819912010-05-25T09:08:00.006-05:002010-05-25T09:52:38.371-05:00PARTAY!!<div align="left">My big ol' graduation celebration was this past Saturday. It was a blast! And I don't think anyone was happier than my parents, haha. My parents went all out with the decorations, catering, little sentiments, and my mom even wore my school colors- something I, the graduate, never even <em>thought</em> of! My mother-in-law supplied us with endless margaritas which, if you know me, was a necessity for the meal :) yummy! Here are some pictures!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475219432098569026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEqW3uJL-QZzTlSLvUUGaISkaQ6A7ICTUR8QbMLRU7RPeJxPFBIoXCs90at_pbhMH_r33lppJTP4GnxDsuU0D2W0Fr2sqjHI9b6jykucHL60Xh0wNaswlDY8-Cra5zAxYd99r3eTrgvllq/s320/DSC08670.jpg" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">My mom set up this little table inside with a cake (with a pic of me from graduation the week prior) and some framed pictures of me and accomplishments throughout my college career.</span><br /><br /></p><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475210146236670834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-OAMnNsfj1OFWFlJI4ujPfJ4xKlKGjMY-d3qzJQVMs-fUVkaCOFNCcFQ5w-cDM2i8Ihxy4zUFFeIG6arwHJiqTin9x6eZJWNrZpnM-rea-az-rquKs9aHnY719zLXkZBe4BFBEegV6Ug/s320/DSC08693.jpg" /><span style="font-size:85%;">My two girlfriends from school. These are the only people that I met at school and then became friends with- like we actually we do things together outside of the classroom. I had the mentality of "I'm here to learn, not make friends. Let's get in and get out as quickly as possible." It wasn't until last year that I finally convinced myself that making friends at school didn't mean it would slow me down- maybe I would actually <em>enjoy</em> the time I had to spend there! Charlotte and Courtney are awesome and have really encouraged me in school and life in general. Girls like these don't come around often :)</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475219849254163202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU5wJPpfmPaBMyllYGJ47e9ociaOscKF23NT_hc3wKfywLV30Y6I6R0nkI_l3WnKBDHUWe5qIT3Fo_I1ttFFTdsxlgb07zEtCho1NsBew3EkG-3Sy7VADa8PJtPsjjcwLj7n1YaBvGrSZ/s320/DSC08711.jpg" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">Auntie Laurie and Sarah. You can't tell yet, but there's a baby in that belly of Sarah's! She showed up early to help set up for the party- and my mom had her on her feet runnin' all over the place! What a friend :) Truly, Sarah was at a time my <em>only</em> friend. You find out who really cares about you when you're 18 and pregnant and have nothing to offer anybody, or when you're 19 and have a baby and are limited to what you can do and where you can go. Sarah is that friend that never judged, never even acted like it made a difference, and <em>she</em> accomodated <em>me. </em>She gave up going out to make it a karaoke night at home with me. Now <em>THAT</em> is a friend.</span><br /><br /><br /></p><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475211518568465314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_xk7KQVpizcCt90LY5sv8fOKLjsVf48yy5k51lRWmIipQsITGrPEajoBerHDGrpHDQci4T4yOkBbybetj8c_ddBEFxcy-h8Hl8UEz3S4elczzCkjEC6Y_RLDQMgDWCElbzuY4W_rKmOGF/s320/DSC08710.jpg" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">A necessity for all teachers (except Kinder where they don't take grades)- the <strong>EZ-Grader</strong>!! I've always wanted one. Like before I even wanted to be a teacher, haha. Thanks Aunt Delilah and cousin Alanna!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3nhF7DLIWYQjmrqs8Z4i3qF_xiBkceIMrNEoCAxc-geqGGdANySOzLJE4yYkrXTWXmyyWZc_7hljsamELBCIBAL7x9TIBTiFuee7ApanBn0RgsjbUcHagHnaw4463Eq39t4nA_hDAbWr/s1600/DSC08703.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475211510660548850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl3nhF7DLIWYQjmrqs8Z4i3qF_xiBkceIMrNEoCAxc-geqGGdANySOzLJE4yYkrXTWXmyyWZc_7hljsamELBCIBAL7x9TIBTiFuee7ApanBn0RgsjbUcHagHnaw4463Eq39t4nA_hDAbWr/s320/DSC08703.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">My parents opening a little gift I gave them as a thank you. How do you thank two people for doing more for you than you deserve and can even recall? You can't. But I gave them a night at a new hotel with dinner and movie. Thanks, Mom and Daddy-o!<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div><div><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 201px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475210154536837682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNe1vSgkyCdwxiHAQG4uaYd1vY3_PJrty3AW_eZNAC2DKQ4vRpEZ2LY6oLWaeqAkMduuha__rkbKiq1O4_d2smR-VDdee-_UJ5LS8AREr1PqsBVP1Y-kaQUr1HZEcbkO44o-GQKJ7D2LoH/s320/DSC08702.jpg" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">A personalized frame for me, the teacher from one of my creative friends :) </span><br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWNQFGtpySH2ysb1MwuvwKjPZR6OBIO3W9uaj8m3TpBWRJAsIDVHQielfWygjtHLuYAtP8nWSXXoLNwIZUBfoyHjjU4EPd-t26WhgFnl9kmEnv6fEwPY-oSfaf0Z54ZQETWBA0ZhqxNNv/s1600/DSC08680.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 303px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 231px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475210135612402434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWNQFGtpySH2ysb1MwuvwKjPZR6OBIO3W9uaj8m3TpBWRJAsIDVHQielfWygjtHLuYAtP8nWSXXoLNwIZUBfoyHjjU4EPd-t26WhgFnl9kmEnv6fEwPY-oSfaf0Z54ZQETWBA0ZhqxNNv/s320/DSC08680.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">There's my mom- in her orange and white! Haha, "Go Bearkats"?!? (I've never said that before!)</span><br /></div><br /><div align="left"><br />So I'm officially graduated and still don't feel a thing. I'm waiting for that magical moment where all of sudden this surreal feeling comes over me and I am awaken to the reality that I am DONE! I'll let you know if and when that happens.<br /><br /></div><div align="left">Hope everyone has a fantastic week!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvA6drRmWIEE05HGEYv5nmRrTTrEi1C7gd73CgCHmNvRQ42loiPYnnWmYMTqsH1B3E61_pytX_DzY2dCnP1AzO6HBpccr4ti80rlM6fVBDru_kR_fFlwMMRWoHHWbHBnj43ropCPtN73M/s1600/DSC08678.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 293px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 209px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475210123285085522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvA6drRmWIEE05HGEYv5nmRrTTrEi1C7gd73CgCHmNvRQ42loiPYnnWmYMTqsH1B3E61_pytX_DzY2dCnP1AzO6HBpccr4ti80rlM6fVBDru_kR_fFlwMMRWoHHWbHBnj43ropCPtN73M/s320/DSC08678.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div></div><br /></div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-87533568464028078272010-05-18T11:24:00.005-05:002010-05-19T07:09:18.003-05:00not Superwoman after all...Sean went on another man-date to the gym, so I thought I'd organize a bit in the laundry room before I went on my own little run around the hood. While arranging a shelf, I found this little sign I had bought a while back to hang in the laundry room. It was just a cute, old-fashioned type "Same-day laundry: 10cents" sign. <em>Ooh, I can hang this!</em> I found Sean's hammer and some little nails, I measured the distance between the two brackets on the back of the sign, and made the appropriate marks on the walls. I began nailing the first nail into the wall and it went in like not even a millimeter. I figured I was nailing into a stud and decided to pull the nail out before I messed up the wall trying to hit it through or got the nail stuck half-way and wouldn't be able to pull it out. Well, turns out it was already stuck. I was literally pulling with all my strength using the backside of the hammer (you know, the part that grabs the nail- haha, got to make sure!) and that nail was not budging. <em>Shoot.</em> So I decided I'd give it another good bang to see if it would just go in some more- at least enough for me to hang the sign on. Nope, didn't move a smidge. So I hook the nail with the backside of the hammer once more and decide to give it <em>one last tug</em>. I gave it all I had, and WHAM! The nail goes flying across the laundry room, and the hammer came flying back- right into my FACE! The butt of the hammer hit me right on that bone between your eye and your temple! <em>Holy cow! What was I thinking?!? Sean's gonna <strong>kill</strong> me! </em>So here's my battle wound. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 172px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472649810470972562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4w7fZ89FWQiPpCyvlIzNQX2vi3-Vl4PyrRFCMuw3Gq6yR0zlpzEtOFcE1TVjttDpAqfRtqayHu7-aqxRjIo9GqNqO3XOGMzlCax6isHm0HG1cnE9zA7ELgYw59pNdDDhEc515e96ics9U/s320/face.jpg" />I'm still waiting for it to lighten up, haha. I have a kind of big celebration this weekend and I'd really rather not have a jacked up face, black eye, whatever. People <em>may</em> start asking Sean questions (haha). Could've been worse. A little more one way would've been my eyeball, which would have hurt like heck, and a little bit the other way would've been my temple, which would have most likely given me a headache! I'm just gonna laugh this one off :) <div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472651702917903506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTriasYYtMHyEc_ESQHH7pp7E5se1xswJpDa8Z0vfBKGbjWVcv0yanAwWkeFUb89Re4YRvliCWodV_7Lz9UjZEJBv4dbdIZ8gZ9vDwxAen4KW0jX30kXD51Jr-cczK7aLZ9iPs2fzmW-uD/s320/DSCN0703.JPG" /></div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-16886413383458467422010-05-17T11:53:00.004-05:002010-05-17T13:10:09.241-05:00the end, the close, finished, finalized, done...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 164px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 323px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472297733251205698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpy5FOgCS-dZ29loQmtx8ErOWh-b1Pcq2HB3v2QSSdBS0p5zOaXg-G1LkOt2DdlIojWwzfoqQfDvIKBSzAO12ALhLMqFswgZPCTMsA2ymcK3PAQhLicLLqNq3Ylt2geAr3fsywrF2e1v0/s320/DSC08665.JPG" />with college! (Well, at least until I start that Master's, haha!) I walked across the stage on Saturday. I wish I could say I strutted across with my head held high carrying a great sense of pride, but I think I darted across wearing a fake, nervous smile, my stomach in knots, and paying attention only to my feet and what was ahead of me (I was <em>so</em> nervous of tripping! My shoes were awesome for my outfit, not for my confidence, haha- what we do for beauty). Ok, it wasn't <em>that</em> bad. The day was great. I had lots of family and friends there to cheer me on and I couldn't be more grateful for that. Here are some pictures! <div><div><div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472294210870970866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKq9zawTuM4nPCzzt1fRqsGM6XOHqqYcJdNMhAsTeNXESrvriCdsJwSDbViib62m06XURe3PDCdpiVuWNVbbvC8hR-xDEzxD-0A8EI7oA5DUKXJbQu7BwSqE0EX27PuMiwe9M69T8gOYE/s320/DSC08615.JPG" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">That's me looking at the camera with the big, cheesy grin.</span><br /><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 292px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472294220430614066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OA0oovUQfsrnrTGlfrutEuJzkJ9NbzJWnhIZyTgrLpR5YLP6-h4DhBh1q5gaOpXjwU70CJAr76xjHO4XWow6tk8q11yAXAGCy_OAKs1JMN-BwMR0KfAC06ydy28eNr1Pz2_lLYM3VNeW/s320/DSC08627.JPG" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">When I finally got out of the coliseum, the first person I saw was Carter. He was standing on a little brick half-wall yelling "Mommy, you did so good at your graduation!" This was my face when I saw him :)</span><br /><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 273px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472294227344618402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8Z8KTWT6Zry_pggFOz0WBXldUrvIyI42JmVAYcgOU7ZHibE2q2F0gmNlSx9o7Ro0QBNL49rxe3ROhT4YhRmMky4rEQta2-MxK1GLhULxZgCdXvjJK0EKuLkEu9c7_wfMES5iTPtDXa-a/s320/DSC08630.JPG" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">My biggest supporters to whom I owe all that I am, Mom and Dad!</span><br /><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 222px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 295px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472294236874147474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPdIhbQCS2zei3rzrPHLTxzZ05r5ZTzNG3QLjanPGrQcVhqX0RO6CtDzxIfDdnDU-kKzuZWd5dbGwMxhLrYp1DaIvTpbGqz3UGQeob8dIA9PxcUkUjiex64UNPVB_tgdP2TluQmnTt98t/s320/DSC08640.JPG" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">My other half, who is ever-supportive, patient (most of the time, haha), loving, and took many unnecessary trips with Carter just to get out of the house and let me write a paper, do homework, etc!</span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></div><div><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472297711135745634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDro5aeDFhMvjZWfB1yXWM10Ov2kzY0OoRjm1Waq5ouTyj4_Te_YV-vIrPhwFbKN3Q_Z_EyW-CFTqVzEYYzpWxLNxq3as5K_CtVimPy3qnA2zlf-wBySVXU785R229EmYApzWd9ygboB5f/s320/DSC08651.JPG" /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">We had chocolate sheet cake and California burgers (my request :) and gifts!</span> <span style="font-size:78%;"> Yes, those are Cricut cartridges I'm holding- I got THREE more! Be jealous, my fellow teacher/scrapbooker friends, haha! :)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 335px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472297730938649746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszPVvX1Qi1EsZJL11zWyZ0yL1XujEIxlgr0RJvsXNcqtjCkXWyFFqrODsbuKERlkhkEdni9902Mnl7FCSvHHC43Z343hF-ah9_pZFPt55qYRUEhdZvHz-IYBDj32mvnhRh_nu3xBGtCCE/s320/DSC08663.JPG" /><span style="font-size:78%;">My family from Corpus drove all the way (and through pouring rain and Houston traffic, might I add!) up here to see me. Thank you so much, I love you all!<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><div><br /></div><div align="left"></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Now on to <strong>continuing</strong> the job search... sheesh. It's harder than I was anticipating to get in somewhere I really want to be. And it's hard for me to graduate and not know where I'm going, or if I'm going anywhere for that matter. God's testing my faith. I'm not in control, He is. Haha, I just need to remember that- but, dang, it's hard sometimes! I'll keep you updated :)</span></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Hope everyone has a wonderful week! I'm off to fold some laundry and find something to organize. Ahh, it's great to be done :)</div></div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-54659574734844316672010-05-04T09:08:00.008-05:002010-05-04T18:57:24.896-05:00Dang!Did I <em>really</em> miss the whole month of April?? Well, the fact that I couldn't find a single Saturday morning to sit down and blog is a wonderful indicator of what life at the Stevenson house has been like. Busy. CrAzY busy. Like my whole weekend is planned out and over before it even arrives. Quick recap of April:<br /><div><div><br /></div><div>Carter started playing soccer, which I think I mentioned in my last post. He has practice every Thursday evening and a game every Saturday. He's doing really well, we just need to work on understanding and practicing <em><strong>team</strong>work</em>. Like, when you throw the ball in from the sidelines, you can't throw it down at your own feet then run into the game with the ball- you throw it to your team. (He is <strong><em>such</em></strong> a ball-hog!) You know, little stuff like that. Carter also started karate this past month. He goes twice a week and takes it very seriously. He came out of his first class yelling "Yes, sir! Yes, maam!" at everything we told him to do. It's hilarious. Now, I feel I must tell you, I'm not one of those crazy moms that signs her child up for everything under the sun that he/she wishes to do. I believe strongly in NOT overcommitting yourselves so that you still have time for family, which, in my book, is most important. Carter had wanted to do karate for some time, but we weren't sure he was mature enough to take the classes and then go to school and not try to karate-chop his friends. Not to mention the fact that we had already paid for one extra-curricular activity and weren't about to shovel the cash out for another. BUT, Carter's name was chosen out of a drawing of 200+ kids at his school carnival for 'breaking a board' at the karate booth and he won 6 months of free karate at ATA Martial Arts. I was <em>so</em> excited for him- I've never won anything before! I was <em>so</em> excited that Sean had to remind me that it was Carter who won something, not me, haha. Anyways, since it was free, and I'm not one to pass on a good deal, Carter is now a karate kid :)<br /></div><div>Here's a picture of him at his first soccer game. He's the goalie- and he blocked the goal!</div><div><br /></div><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467422615341057778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmehR1YxP-g4D97YQSyeCD3RthiTnNIxU7xZU_QFcTr7ybaqM7r9Nz2oC5eerbs-NfN3l-SuVNw8xUomjE8gAPYeGH-TG8rFIglO-sGfc1QsStfxSwTrqnPO-DqG5yv8uhkGragaFSM8UG/s320/DSCN0671.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467429838770340914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhIqop5mKkAlwcX3xudJrECV8-cp1QlP-hkV4_CkTZgSjvomVIabosxdqYWSvK5Bfq53eoeuBQ8mb9JfrYY45nnU-McVRJ5GQZgfqETOM3b565-sbClR3T12P45XxCTrwZo9le9h2PoYr/s320/DSCN0693.JPG" />I mentioned in my last post that my life-long friend, Beka, had just had her baby. Here he is now- I stopped by and loved on him for a little bit this weekend. He is so dang cute.</p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467423365801031522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsk6_aCyht1y-qQPA3mZfQw0J5fX0wotSVpc9Y6e2BuoHd15AKJGAefIf2dxo_O2MF8Qp1VXgOgxfb0xH1N8_NJy98_EvYb0WmLGsfo8BWJiCB7UBr8AAGutNLA25roRufQOe1b_h6XekB/s320/DSCN0689.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467423372327774018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH2JRMzX0NIJljN9pO0PazBB5Tm5za5O6X0Zk8tAZDiCYgh3wyt42Ip8spNCy2EHFnNkYmGW-lUFxq58GCaFUTbDo5WNpcUCAKSf6G2ShwRd45vARm9JlkB063nE2wV453U6bd_ZR6RwGd/s320/DSCN0691.JPG" />A few days after little Jackson was born, I became a real AUNT! Actually, when I married Sean I became an aunt to his brother's kids, but I had yet to experience the joy and excitement of watching a new family member's existence be announced, then see them grow and finally enter the world. Sean's sister gave birth to little Marianne on April 7th- it was an incredible night! Here are a couple pictures of us waiting, then seeing my new niece :)<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467425138556641442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWQU8AhestaKctZG6-YzEqe6EozX5Vs9oVk-6q4g26PAWvwy6bKBphHYNseOBvjVUEzAvP1Q-0X7uwAsV1Wdc_X-Zf2JJUY696JyRhryYLq0jDIv2EBBNYI7gokgUpjMxpMKMjqAJbv3M/s320/DSCN0656.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467425152546571570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxdnLd1bstTZZvRky-c3yNulFkpaGxfXbpOJYahiHKKVcIUz5IeNE6DAiiXsm42lw0ZEmEwgXbesag_Dzmd6NuKSzksSBsptWMU2-nq6Jrtv44oiBpTlS3PoMxq5NshqPk8mf_AP_SWRo/s320/DSCN0658.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467425156611927202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOZxqN3AaLWyE8N9NW1PSIqXQ8um9X8WGfHsDcnoBVzq5L1ainwXl_YsebVXocgc3Yt0mxUbI0gTlmwa-Zi2s0V3vcor-kuL2X8QOjpCBLSbV8nNxUVUnh9voFitSc_5Cj32KpNEVpw8w/s320/DSCN0659.JPG" /><br />Then there was Easter. Sean took off from work so he could go to church with us. It was awesome. I walked a little higher knowing that everyone could see my husband is real and not just a fictional character in the story of my sad life, haha. I'm kidding, people know that I'm married, but I have joked that since Sean started working the weekends thus preventing him from going to church, people probably wonder why things didn't work out, haha. Here are some pictures from our fabulous Easter celebration. </p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467428304308009410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispld4GlBcojkH8M54V7SWfGFjY9x5Cq1zRVtDODhBw-hNwtz5gXlF9rjQRjEL4FbgCm6hfUDkuzJsRs8RJ56kBRM72JmXQngsfUnGMkl3Ob9MceURqYWy2ZUw3n0gqUN9BJZeFUYGz6TF/s320/DSCN0630.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467428315277483986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnVdcvP13LZ0_0d5BGXxfLwkcxhv5HFFhCz-YGOHQItR58d4G10cL2bOIPrvmbvr2FHbIlnCyxgxgjU7vxtihiEaP1Sya1JNzemzeR8JENqgrG877mLm3gTfBZurRKQ4AxCZyj9zfN8xF/s320/DSCN0637.JPG" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467428319137974530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYDcIqx5oEZjmyjM8S3HY4rk1iK4Qa73gZJe-djMdWcW1nV5A2PGomZuQq4F0OsW-B_YO6GupHVtcJjkJf97aoBBxXf5E2o01HsHf5CMqQJyxGPwNKKZIM7gE2flsd-u1yj9INbUp41Dt/s320/DSCN0643.JPG" /><br />My last day of student-teaching was this past Thursday, then Friday I drove up to SHSU for my last day of "class" (next time I make that drive will be for graduation!). So I am officially done with school. I've been asked how it feels a few times now, and I don't feel anything, honestly. Sorry, haha. I am happier, though, and it has nothing to do with <em>school</em>, but rather the fact that I had time to catch up on my <strong>laundry</strong> yesterday! Seriously, if you saw the guest bedroom you'd know what a huge accomplishment this is. </div><div></div><div></div><div>Well, my husband should be returning from the gym any time now. We have a fun-filled day planned. I told him I was going to run around the neighborhood since it is so nice outside while he was gone. I did put on my running shoes. Didn't tie them. Sat down here... Uh, oops :) </div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-56545879719271754942010-03-30T18:48:00.005-05:002010-03-30T19:09:55.696-05:00Announcements have been ordered, pictures have been taken...<div><div><div>I'm about to graduate! The end is finally near. I had a little photo-shoot in Old Town Spring this weekend with a friend (who, by the way, takes great pictures!). It was hilarious to hear some people saying "Awh, look honey, that girl is taking her Senior pictures!" Yes, that was true. Except <em>they </em>were thinking <strong>highschool</strong> senior. And not only am I a <strong>college</strong> senior, but an old one at that- I'm graduating with girls who are 4 years younger than me! Dang that young, vibrant skin, haha (I'm so kidding). Awh well, they say I'll appreciate it when I'm older. Here are a couple pictures:<br /><br /></div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 185px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454580088280491122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf-7pd0DssnHQk0rm6n5GLOo0-Fr2AIURj_eKQ4yMYbT-KvhRwuYhCSVx2_YFI8NE0qTYpAkk7GJKl2Lq9wThi-NhGAvC-JQva4DDm55V0ojAbXGYppibq0y_3DMtX5owtjlAAke7_-Nl5/s320/Kristengradpics+108.JPG" /></div></div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 207px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 328px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454580856896121618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0W9ALy-0XhdBCRQuSIKfLvqzZwY3BKv88orOKE4NSnjYKICW0cGZQ8-7gP1gg8pFLsK0_Ae5DjiFk-PNUgqX7D4H20feEllnqbezjANSOHC0pAvsuLsAqleTyv7hYAvY1To8QpaSLzHGS/s320/Kristengradpics+282.JPG" /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454581824895541682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0m8cfaf77VGC3rDlodlI2v2a4wIRUgXRzjRNIK9AmvL440UVDT4fKnwFQTf6XCOA0fV6253Ibf1ee5hYEbzaVm0mnmUoWjZg9Xl08dTlF6wpm6qPrx_F6Zd9oDxmdK3hNU420r2M4vSz/s320/Kristengradpics+376.JPG" /></p><p>These aren't the <em>absolute greatest</em> ones, because I'm saving those for the announcements! </p><p>Also, over the weekend my life-long friend, Beka, had her little boy. Jackson Sean Conley entered the world at a whoppin' 7lbs 9.9oz! Unfortunately I have no pictures to post of this incredible event. I was crying like a baby the whole time I was at the hospital and forgot I even had a camera. Oops. He is absolutely adorable and I cannot to spend my Friday off of school holding that little bundle of joy :) </p><p>Have a great rest-of-the-week!</p>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770538493729792712.post-49403819215969636582010-03-28T08:30:00.004-05:002010-03-28T08:42:14.376-05:00I'm alive. Barely.<div>Just wanted to let you know, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth. It's just been busy since Spring Break. I typed up a nice, big blog about a little road trip we took and then the computer wasn't uploading my pictures, so I have that saved to post as soon as I can since the picture thing is working again. I say it's working, but I can't rotate my picture, haha. So just lean your precious heads to the right to check this out. </div><div>I have influenced my sister-in-law. She is now the proud owner of Rollerblades! She just couldn't take it any more. She had watched me in envy long enough as I bladed past her and Carter on their bikes. So Friday night she broke down (and asked my brother for permission, haha) and we took a trip to Academy! Oh, and Sean made me get wrist guards while I was there. He's <em>so</em> over-protective!</div><div> </div><div> <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 245px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 175px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453677530649205090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj6fOk6p053sNsVQQL4rQe6oBm_8L7Erj0-zNZ6xmdEAHn5MhAlUox0AvwR4sPDqoqcD-y1e_CutoqymDeldbOTJIqUUg3-7o1nnOzCaxOKTJnYIVqf2gXDe9RHjl2EM4Re8IcHVBRqU6V/s320/DSCN0613.JPG" /></div>kristinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01591637571163048290noreply@blogger.com1