We're Getting Bigger!

Well...hmmm where to start right? It's been awhile since I blogged! It's kind of sad because for us it is like an online photo album to look through full of memories. Even if no one ever checked it out, I would still want it for us! So here is a little update, because apparently the last one was - eek - 7 months ago.



Above : Me when I was 5 months old



Above : Birthday Girl and Friends in October

Below : Our Family Photos at a lake close to Williston, it was sure cold that day but we got some great photos!








We love our 3 year old!!!



About 6-7 Months Old






Photo Credit  for this Family Photo: Gabriel Black


Above : I'm Eight Months Old!

Now... CHRISTMAS 2012

AND January 2013....9 Months OLD!

This month our little guy was fitted for a Cranial Band.  Basically, he was born with the most perfect little round noggin, but because he always looked left while laying on his back and while sleeping, the left side began to flatten.  I think he always looked left because of a mild case of torticollis (a tight spot on his shoulder that our chiropractor pointed out to me).   The flat area always bothered me because I could tell that even his left ear was now more forward than his left ear as his scull was pushed forward on that side.  Essentially, the cranial band is like getting braces to correct your teeth.  In a few months, his little melon should be nice and round again :)

 The reason I am blogging about this is because it is very common, and if by us sharing someone else is helped, then it is worth it.  If you are in your baby-making years you know about the "Back-Is-Best" campaign to prevent SIDS.  I've heard 1 in 10 babies now develop what is called "Positional Plagiocephaly".  It wasn't until I saw this blog post by our friends in Iowa that I realized it was common and that we could actually do something about it!  I wish we hadn't taken so many months to decide if this was the right route for us, but he is still young enough that he really doesn't care! And maybe it is perfect timing...he is full on crawling, pulling himself up to stand on anything that seems remotely sturdy, and trying to keep up with his Big Sister.  I think he is already realizing that falling and knocking his melon doesn't hurt anymore, and is getting even more bold (yikes).

Brodie

The only way to describe how we feel about our new little guy is "head over heels" love all around. Aubrey is a fantastic big sister who adores her baby brother.  She cannot walk by him or see him without planting big kisses all over his head and face.  The first thing she says in the morning is "Where's my baby brother?"Here are a few photos of Brodie and our dear midwife (you might have already seen these on FB).  I have done more photos...but alas every thing is usually outdated by the time its up here!










His newborn session is up on the photography blog : chelsaschaefer.net 

At the park and riding a bike

Happy Easter!

Well, I totally thought we'd be having an Easter baby! But no...and still not yet, so I thought I should get some posting done before he or she arrives! We had so much fun with Aubrey this Easter! She loved all the painting of eggs and still gets excited when we have to buy eggs, thinking she will get to paint them. We did a fun community egg hunt, saved the plastic eggs for our own hunt at home on Easter...and she had so much fun finding those (we filled them with healthy snacks....which she totally thought was the coolest! I love this age :) that we had to do 4 more egg hunts . Finally at the end of the week I was sick of opening and closing those plastic eggs and put them away for next year....

Thanks Great Grandma!

Due Date!

I know. We are terrible at keeping current with this blog....and if I wasn't so lazy right now (but hey, I am 9 months pregnant today!) I would upload a few photos of Aubrey's first time painting Easter eggs! (of the 7 we started with only 1 sole survivor remains...they were just much too pretty for her not to play with!). Instead, a couple DIY photos from when we first arrived in our new home. Probably taken 2 months ago now..

Oh, not only is today my "due date" it is also little Missy's 2 1/2 birthday! Yay!

The Chair : (my grandmother's set i was lucky to inherit!)


My helper (she is pretty handy with the power screw driver...always one to be part of the action):


The New Look :


The Table : (I swear my mom must of gotten this before I was born.)


No photo of the finished look, I still want to put some finishing touches on it :) But it went through a couple different "looks" until i found the right one.

The Thermomix.


Everything was made in it in the photo above. I LOVE my Thermomix!!

Our update : Ben is working lots but enjoys it...I'd say that's better than a predictable 8-5 that you hate and even though he's not always home by 6, or sometimes even 7....I know he is happy and working towards something! Aubrey and I have met a lot of new friends. We especially enjoy the weekly drop in gymnastics, and story/craft/dance time with Miss Andrea at the library!
Our baby is due this weekend...but we'll see when he or she decides to be ready. It is a full moon tonight....kinda hoping gravity does it's thing!

The Big Move : Williston

Well, we are finally all 3 in once place again! Since August Ben has been spending half his time in North Dakota at his new office, and half of the time in Canada....Aubrey and I have been in Canada that whole time while we anticipated the completion of our new home in ND....and last week Aubrey and I were finally able to make the move south! So here we three are at last. Our furniture and kitchen stuff hasn't yet arrived...but we are making due with a leatherman knife and some camping pots for now. At least we have beds and a table...and internet for all of the online ordering that needs to get done. Seriously. I love online shopping. I hate malls. Aubrey is adjusting fairly well...I think we are all a bit exhausted and under the weather, add that to the emotional roller-coaster that is being 2, and well, you get the point. I have learned that plant-based goo-gone gets pink lipstick out of brand new carpet and off freshly painted walls. Who knew? Google. That's who. Thank goodness for internet.

Here are a few photos...taken on our trip to Palm Springs in January...we are still enjoying grapefruits and a Trader Joes stash of food that is keeping us going until I can do some real cookin!








These photos were taken in Canada the week before we left. It was just Aubrey and I alone at the house for a few weeks, and we really enjoyed our quiet time together! It was relaxing and fun to hang out with my little girl. She really enjoyed our breakfast dates in the sunroom :)



You can jump over to www.chelsaschaefer.net for some more photos in these sets :)

We Took a Little Trip

My Website has Changed!

Sorry for the annoyance...but i went to check on my chelsaschaefer.com website today and realized my domain name had expired. I didn't receive any warning emails about it's upcoming expiration, and so i forgot to re-register it! Apparently there are slimy little companies out there waiting on the prowl for this type of thing to happen, and are willing to sell be back my URL domain for over $250...hmmm. I don't think so. THUS.... it is now pretty much the same, but .NET rather than .COM.

Thought you might want to know if you like to check out the photography!!

www.chelsaschaefer.net

hope to see you there!

Grapefruit Hunting