Almost Finished

Now we just have to finish the orange and green stripe around the room! And I use the term "we" very loosely. I'm going to work today and maybe it'll be finished by the time I get home.

Walker says this is the room he always wanted but I would never let him have. I don't remember him asking. But then he went on to say that he would be happy to sleep in Ben's room if Ben ever wants to sleep in our room with me!

All in a Night's Work

Tonight he'll start adding the white (teeth, eyes, star, stripe) and black outlines.

Wall Mural

Here's the rough sketch on the wall so far. Walker hopes to have all of the painting finished by this weekend. There will be a brown and burnt orange stripe around the room. It's hard to grasp the size without any furniture in to compare it to, but this easily takes up 3/4 of the wall. From top left going clockwise are Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man, Daredevil. The Hulk and Spiderman will also be represented in the room. Can you tell that my hubbie much prefers Marvel over DC?? Walker is so talented when it comes to this kind of thing, I just love to sit back and watch him create.

Walter E. Plagge

Walker's grandfather passed away on the seventh of this month. We made a trip to Colorado for the funeral. Here is the obituary that was in the local paper, written by Lisa.

Walter E. Plagge was born February 17, 1930 in Belle Plaine,Kansas to Walter H. and Olga (Wooldridge) Plagge. He passed away peacefully watching the birds on his front porch January 7, 2009.

Walter enlisted in the U.S. Navy November 12, 1948 and married his beloved Charlotte on December 23rd. To this union were born Danny Lee, Russell Scott, Walter Kenneth and Lisa Kimberlasue.

Walter was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1955. In addition to the Navy, Walter worked for Boeing Industry, Gano Grain, Bartlett Elevator and retired twice from Co-op/Temple Grain. He was active in the family farm and ranching until the day he died.

He was active in the Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star, Rainbow and Shriners. He served on the Pritchett School board and renovated the Pritchett Cemetery. He enjoyed hunting (without a gun), carving arrowheads and peace pipes, hunting for Indian artifacts, riding motorcycles, flying and being with his family.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Kenny Ray; sister, Irene Milligan and his beloved Charlotte(2001).

Walter is survived by his sons Dan of Pueblo West, CO; Russ and wife Sonja of Pritchett, CO; Ken and wife Debbe of Celina, TX; and Lisa and husband Elmer Lippoldt of Sachse, TX.

Walter was Grandpa, Granddad, Oupa, and Poopa to Stacy (Darrin), Ryan (Kelly), Cody (Kirstin), Troy, Clint, Brandon (April), Kendra (Jerad), Walker (Dollye) Plagge and Logan and Breckin Lippoldt.

Walter was Great Grandfather to Kylie, Jamie, Lynzie, Quinten, Scott, Kyle, Whitman, Breanna, Braedon, and Rémy.

Guesses

It's that time again! I started getting some guesses/requests for dates that baby Ben will arrive...
So far the guesses include:

Kelly-February 4th
Walker & Mom-February 7th
Tony-February 13th
Dollye-February 12th
Annie- February 21st (her birthday)
George- February 16th

Last time the closest guess was Aunt Elizabeth who guessed the 21st!

Baby Ben Progress

I forgot about posting these from the beginning of December...so here they are! Most of what you can see is his profile, he's already pretty filled out so it's hard to get a good shot. The third down is an arm and his face.

This pregnancy is progressing a whole lot faster than Rémy did. Rémy was a few days late and I really didn't have many contractions until the week before I delivered her. This time around I've been having Braxton Hicks for about 2 months and last week started having real contractions about every 20 minutes. I went in for a visit on Friday and the Dr. moved the due date up by two weeks to February 20. SIX WEEKS AWAY. Whoa. We also got to have a sonogram and she measured and said he is big for his age...about 4 pounds already and that he has a honkin' noggin.

We made quite a bit of progress this weekend clearing out boxes, clothes, keyboard, office supplies, guest bed, board games, etc. from what is this little big guy's room. Walker did a concept sketch for me yesterday of what he'd like the mural to look like and he plans to start on that this week. Debbe has helped me quite a bit with the decopaging of the furniture and it looks like exactly what I pictured in my head. The changing table is finished, the dresser is complete, the bed is half way finished. I plan to finish packing our bags today, just in case we get caught somewhere and have to go to the hospital. We're definitely feeling a little more pressure to accomplish things before he's born, but a little fire under my belly always helps me get more motivated.

Rémy's waking from a nap...more to come later.

Fun with New Toys

Early Lesson in Saving

We decided a year ago to put any spare change/ bills into Rémy's piggy bank and to take it out once a year and buy a savings bond with it. Today Daddy helped Rémy unplug the piggy and count the money to take in to the bank. Thankfully there were no swallowed coins, but there was a great interest in putting the coins back in the piggy. We think more than just the two of us have been sneaking money into the piggy, as there was enough for three savings bonds!

12 Months of Red Chair

12 months old-In Red Chair

ONE YEAR OLD!!! What's happened this month, you may ask...lots. Rémy has mastered walking and is now trying to run. She has started learning to stack objects and wants to do more things independently. We have successfully made the switch from formula to whole milk, saving us money and filling out Rémy a little more. Rémy has lots of battle wounds from making her way through life and seems to have a new bruise or scratch every day. If you look close enough in this picture you can see the remnants of a black eye that's almost disappeared. She is becoming familiar with the potty and how to flush, but has yet to do anything on the toilet besides look at Elmo on the seat. She started pointing at objects and babbling as if telling us about them. She has a baby doll that is about half her size that she drags around the house, giving it a pacifier, or bottle or trying to change it's diaper. When she's being sweet she pats it and gives it hugs. We're working on blowing kisses and giving kisses on the cheek, but she doesn' t have it down quite yet.

A short story about her new found independence; the three of us were grocery shopping the other night, but Rémy would not sit in the cart. She wanted to walk around the entire grocery store, following behind the cart. She also didn't want anything to do with holding hands and walking. For this reason, for her birthday one of the things we got 'her' (but really us) is a little monkey backpack friend that has a long tail for us to hold on to. I've seen other parents have these on their kids and thought...oh I'd never do that. But when it comes down to it, as independent as she seems to be, I would much rather subject her to a monkey backpack than have her missing from my sight.

As parents we feel like her lifespan has been a few long months instead of the whole year that it really has been. We are grateful for every little hug, squeeze, kiss and smile she gives!

1st Birthday

Rémy enjoyed quite a few firsts this weekend. First bite of cookie while decorating Christmas cookies with Grammy, first bite of cake and frosting. She's sugared up and ready to go for at least 3 months. She had a fun day but was just a bit tuckered by the end. So much activity for one little girl.

Visit with Santa

This Santa turned out to be so kind and friendly, took some extra time to give us tips and pointers about getting a 'good' Santa picture. He's been doing this for 15 years at the Half Price Books on Northwest Hwy. We'll go back to him next year....with two kiddos.

Sweet Treats

Don't ya just love guilt free baking....you know, the kind where you don't have to feel bad for eating it! One of the ladies in our life group had a fabulous idea. Instead of a traditional cookie exchange where we all take home and eat what we swap, we made lots of goodies, brought tins and wrap and packaged them all up to give to friends and neighbors. I just loved this idea 'cause I'm usually giving out goodies anyway, this just made it loads easier 'cause I didn't have to make it all. The hubbies tagged along, we ordered pizza which took care of dinner and the kiddos all had a blast playing together. This is one Christmas exchange that'll become an annual tradition.

5 weeks

Today begins a five week scramble to accomplish too many things in too little time. I finished the semester strong and have a break in classes for the next five weeks. The most important thing on the agenda is studying to take my certification exam. I figured, with Baby boy due in about 10 weeks, the best time to study is now. I'll be taking the test sometime between February and April, but there's just no telling how much sleep I'll be getting at that time! If you are reading this and have taken the TeXES Math 4-8 Certification test....please get in touch with me...I can use all the tips I can get.

Here are some projects I'd like to finish...

Make some sense of what will be Ben's room...

Decopagé crib, changing table and dresser with old comics for Ben's room...

Refurbish an antique tricycle found at a Clarksville antique store...
(hopefully in time for Christmas)


Have a birthday party for a little girl....


and study, study, study.

Thanksgiving Keeper Recipes

I enjoyed hosting a wonderful thanksgiving meal over here for some of our family. I love to cook and used many new recipes this year. Most were from The Pioneer Woman and I was happy with the outcome of every recipe. We had roasted turkey, brined in apple juice, orange peel, salt, peppercorns and herbs. We had pineapple and brown sugar basted ham. I did cornbread stuffing with four types of fresh herbs, creamed spinach, turnip gratin, scrumptious apple pie, chocolate pecan pie, hot buttered rum and spiced cider. Part of the fun of Thanksgiving is that everyone contributes to the feast. Annie brought deviled eggs, Mom brought a cherry pecan jello, salad and crudité tray and an Indiana corn casserole that Walker raved about. Tony and Annie made a pumpkin pie and peeled the apples for my apple pie (Annie's hand survived a runaway peeler). Dad made a seven layer salad that was well liked. John Paul and Tracy made a Cherry cheesecake. Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Elizabeth brought delicious new potatoes and green beans, an apple lattice pie, and a colorful fresh fruit salad.

Another positive note I'll have to remember for next year is that I managed to finish most if not all of the cooking/prep work before everyone arrived allowing me to visit with everyone and be a little more relaxed than just working in the kitchen.

We joined Walker's family for dinner (it seems I can eat 6 meals a day now, no matter if it's Thanksgiving or not) and I especially loved these little appetizers that Debbe made olives wrapped in pie crust and baked. She also made a chocolate graham cracker bar with nuts that was soooo decadent! Rémy loved playing with her cousin Whitman and Aunt Kendra and all the doggies and kitty-kitty.

In these fast and furious times it's a rare treat to take a moment to savor with friends and family.

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. George Dorsey

In Red Chair Series 11 Months

Don't have time to tell about her development in the past month, but after the rehearsal dinner tonite I'll post more.

Rémy Walking

I finally caught a video of Rémy walking. She's so funny to watch and such a little person now and not a baby anymore. She's so proud of herself, and I'm so proud for her...but a part of me wishes she would just stay exactly like she is.

My Workin' Man

Celebrating my hard working man today. We've been married for four years and not a day passes that he's not doing something handy to help support our family. I love you my hard working man! Thank you for all that you do for me! Here's a song in honor of you!

(Darrell Scott)

I got rice cooking in the microwave
Got a three day beard I don't plan to shave
And it's a goofy thing but I just gotta say
Hey I'm doing alright

Yeah I think I'll make me some homemade soup
Feelin pretty good and that's the truth
It's neither drink nor drug induced
No I'm just doin alright

And it's a great day to be alive
I know the sun's still shinin when I close my eyes
There's some hard times in the neigborhood
But why can't every day be just this good?

It's been fifteen years since I left home
Said good luck to every seed I'd sown
Give it my best and then I left it alone
Oh...I hope their doin alright

Now I look in the mirror and what do I see?
A lone wolf there starin back at me
Long in the tooth but harmless as can be
Lord I guess he's doin alright

And it's a great day to be alive
I know the sun's still shinin when I close my eyes
There's some hard times in the neigborhood
But why can't every day be just this good?

Sometimes it's lonely
Sometimes it's only me
And the shadows that fill this room
Sometimes I'm fallin
Desperately callin
Howlin at the moon...
Ahwoo!
Ahwoo!

Well I might go get me a new tattoo
Or take my old Harley for a three day cruise
Might even grow me a Fu Man Chu...
Oh Aww!

And it's a great day to be alive
I know the sun's still shinin when I close my eyes
There's some hard times in the neigborhood
But why can't every day be just this good?

And it's a great day to be alive
I know the sun's still shinin when I close my eyes
There's some hard times in the neigborhood
But why can't every day be just this good?

Baby Boy Update

We went in for our 5 month checkup yesterday. Little Ben has grown to about the length of a butternut squash and weighs approximately a pound. He wakes me every morning by 6:00 kicking and ready to start the day. (Rémy sleeps until 7:30 or 8, so it gives me some time to myself). We're making preparations for his room and plotting and planning what exciting things will be in store for him when he gets here. Next month we'll get to see more pictures of him and have a better idea of just when he plans to join us.