Our Daughters Have Wings

Visit my NEW blog!

The time has come...to move my blog.  I've been with Typepad since I started blogging, and it's time to go to the recommended service...so visit my new blog:

Our Daughters Have Wings

December 2009 already?

I can't believe how quickly 2009 has flown by...I will turn 34 in just 23 short days.  Amazing how fast time flies the older you get.

We went and got the girls' grave blanket and put it out.  We had to get new angel picks for them since we forgot to get them before the cemetery staff tossed last year's blanket.  I LOVE the way that Meier Flowerland did the bows - so pretty.  I'll try to post a pic soon!

I've been keeping busy with Two Angels Photography!  I had 3 shoots over the holiday weekend, and another this coming weekend.  I'm really enjoying working with people (my PASSION) and being able to provide memorable photos for them.  Check out my photo blog to see them: http://blog.twoangelsphotography.com

My boys are getting SO big.  Nick and I watched a video of Nicholas from a year ago and it's hard to believe that he was just a baby then.  Not talking - and now he won't stop!  Just like his mommy, right?

Christopher is pulling up and getting into EVERYTHING!  He's much more curious/exploratory than Nicholas was at this age, that's for sure.  And I'm pretty sure that tooth #3 will make its appearance later today.

OK, I should be off to bed.

Here are a couple of teaser pics:

 

My new business...Two Angels Photography

Since starting my photo blog, I've been getting a lot of inquiries from people - friends, family, and even strangers!  They've asked me to take photos of them, and so...I've launched Two Angels Photography (www.twoangelsphotography.com).

Of course, if you know me, and you follow this blog, then you will realize the significance of the name...and here's the logo:

 

What I've been up to in my 'spare' time...with a link to my photo blog

So...I have posted this before...but I've been keeping busy with photographing friends and family.

I LOVE doing it.  It's so relaxing and rewarding for me to be able to provide memorable photographs that they will (hopefully) treasure for years to come.

Photography by CK

 

If you, or someone you know, might be interested in having me photograph them, please contact me!

Where to start? So behind on my blogging!

I'll start by saying that I can hardly believe that it's already the 22nd of October.  Having two under two certainly makes time feel like it's ticking by even FASTER than it felt before.

Updates on Christopher:

Christopher's six-month/half birthday came and went...at the end of last month.  He'll be seven months old in less than a week.  I haven't updated on what he's been up to...he's our little mover and shaker.

He's rolling ALL OVER the place!  He LOVES to go after Nicholas' toys!  He often gets himself stuck...with his feet under the chair or the entertainment center...it's cute!

He loves to sit and play...his FAVORITE thing to do is find the tag on a toy.  Doesn't matter what the toy is...so long as it has a tag, he's happy.  The irony is that he doesn't really care for the toys that are DESIGNED to mimic the tags...called "Taggies".  He doesn't care for those...just the real tags.

We moved him into his 'big boy' car seat quite a while ago.  He had his six month well-baby visit at the beginning of the month and he was 19lbs, 9oz and 28" long.  We're all caught up now, with most of his immunizations, excluding the flu vax.  We're holding off on that due to the fact that he *could* have an egg allergy, like his big brother.

Updates on Nicholas...

Speaking of his big brother, Nicholas isn't a baby anymore.  He's growing and changing SO fast.  *Insert tears here*  He sings his ABCs, and attempts to sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and "Row, Row, Row Your Boat".  I can't believe how fast he learns things. 

We gave him a toy for his birthday; it's a Fisher-Price Little People truck to help him learn his alphabet.  He's already memorized 1/2-3/4 of what the letters are for (i.e., 'a' is for apple, 'b' is for ball, etc.)

Every night, while Nick is getting him ready for bed, they sing songs and nursery rhymes and say the alphabet.  So, if you ask Nicholas, "What is 't' for?" he'll answer "Towel."  That just warms my heart.

He wakes up in the morning counting, and reciting his letters.  He can count to 20, and can even count backwards.  I'm not sure WHEN he started doing it, but he does.

We can't go through a store or drive anywhere without him pointing out numbers and letters to me.  I mean, the boy is a *bit* OBSESSED!  Today, he even 'read' me a book!  Of course it was the "Counting" book, but still...isn't that something that he's supposed to do when he's 3 or older?  Not JUST turned 2!

Since he just turned 2, we did go see the peds allergist.  We had planned on him being retested, however, Dr. McMorris suggested that we hold off until age 3.  So until then, no egg, peanuts, tree nuts, or shellfish for him.  We did get the ok to try white fish, so we'll do some fish sticks and see if he likes them.

And, the first Saturday of October was the FAAN Walk for Food Allergy at Kensington Metro Park.  Next year, we'll do a better job of fundraising, though as a team, we didn't do too bad.  We raised over $400 for Food Allergy Research.  We had 'Team K' shirts that said on the back, "Food Allergies...they're no yolking matter!" but nobody got to see them because the weather was SO horrible that we were all wearing multiple layers that day (cold and windy and wet).  Thank you, Mother Nature.  THAT is why I sometimes doubt WHY I live in Michigan.

Our travels...

We went to Cincinnati two weekends ago to see our friends, Kati, Jeff, Abby, and their new baby boy, Ryan.  As usual, time went by WAY too fast.  On Saturday we went to the Cincinnati Zoo for their HallZOOween weekends and despite it being pretty chilly, we had a great time!  Nicholas got to feed a giraffe some crackers and giggled the entire time.  We dressed him as a Monkey and then Christopher was the Banana.  We got a LOT of comments on how cute they were.

Our girls...

Last Thursday, a week ago, October 15th, was National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day.  I lit the girls' candle in their memory...and didn't have a chance to get online and post about it.  I feel HORRIBLE that I didn't have a chance to do that.  I guess I'm busier than I thought.

Last night, before our MOSAIC meeting, we went over to their grave and put out their pumpkins and their decorations.  Hopefully the squirrels and other animals will leave them be until at least Halloween.

What I've been up to...

LAPOM has been keeping me pretty busy.  I'm the 1st Vice-President, responsible for Social Events, Fundraising, and Publicity, so...it's been a pretty busy few months.  We had our bi-annual Mom-to-Mom sale at the end of September, and then we're having a fundraiser on November 10th.  Saturday, the 24th is our Annual Halloween party. 

I have met SO many wonderful families through LAPOM and we are SO thankful to have so many great friends as a result.  We can't imagine our lives without the group!

I've also been busy with taking pictures!  I've ALWAYS loved taking pictures, for as long as I can remember.  In fact, when I was a little girl, I ruined my FAVORITE baby blanket when I draped it over a lamp to try to make my own 'darkroom'.  Anyway...nowadays, most photography is digital, and so instead of a darkroom, I use my laptop.

I've recently launched a new photography blog...since SO many people have suggested that I start a business...please, take some time and browse through and let me know what you think.  I'm still pretty new at things, and I'm constantly striving to be better, so critical comments are welcome!  My Photography Blog

We've been attending football games (we took the boys to the first game) and have sold a majority of our tickets.  We did go to Homecoming last week (thank you to my sister, Monica, for watching the boys so we could go). 

Other than that, I'm enjoying being a Stay-At-Home-Mom (SAHM) to my wonderful boys.  I am SO thankful to have Nick as a wonderful provider to allow me to spend so much time with them.  And to allow me to do the things I enjoy, such as be involved in LAPOM and have fun with photography.

I'll end with a few pictures:
   
   
 

Check out my photo blog!

I started a photo blog...slowly working on getting better and will post pics of my friends' & family's pics that I take.

http://photographybyck.blogspot.com

What happens when people find my blog via Google...

Well, I can't hold this back any longer.

I can't tell you the amount of people whom have found my blog looking for information on the Gosselins - you know, the family in "Jon & Kate + 8"? 

Before they had their new show, I contacted Kate via their website and asked if they would accept a Holiday gift from strangers, like us.  They said that they appreciated every little thing to help provide their kids with a great Christmas, so we sent a little something - just a Target gift card, to help them out.

Since then, they've started a series on TLC.  And so people search for them online.  And so they come across my post about them.  And then, they make a COMMENT that is specifically asking me for their contact info.  Or they'll say how much they just "LOVE that family!"  Or they'll tell me how much they LOATHE them.  EITHER way - I'm fed up. 

I just changed the title of my post in hopes that people will stop contacting me for information on the Gosselins.  I even edited my post, and made sure to include their own website so people could contact them.  THAT didn't stop it.  So I edited it once more, making sure people realized that my blog is a personal blog.  THAT didn't stop it.

So, once again, I will say:

This is a place for me to share updates on me, my family here on earth, and my feelings about my daughters that are no longer with us.

I hope that other grieving parents will feel that they're not alone in reading my thoughts on this blog.

I hope that people will CONTINUE to remember my daughters, even though they're not here with us and we have a subsequent child (and one on the way).

So, IF you would like to get in touch with the Gosselins, find their own web site.  Do NOT comment on mine asking me to get you in touch with them.  I'm not their publicist.

Sorry for the lack of updates!

We're busy getting ready for Nicholas' 1st Birthday Luau on Saturday...let's hope the rain goes away by then.

I promise that after the party I'll update all of my photo albums, include pics from the party, and new videos!

Thanks for your patience!

Let's Play Tag!

The Rules

1. Post the rules on your blog.
2. Write 6 random things about yourself.
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
4. If you're tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag.

Here I go!

#1: Sometimes I get really scared when I'm in the house by myself and it's dark - I guess I watched too many scary movies as a kid.

#2: I didn't like mustard until I was in college - I used to HATE it and some days, I just can't get enough - like on hot pretzels or on coney dogs!

#3: I like my bacon REALLY, REALLY well done, like, almost burnt.  It sometimes grosses people out.

#4: My favorite way to eat eggs are 'basted'.  I like to dunk toast in the runny yolks.  If I overcook them, I'll feed them to the dogs and start over.

#5: I have a thing about my feet - I can NOT wear socks that make me feel like I have fuzzies in my toes, and if I do feel something like that, I will remove both shoes and socks to fix it!

#6: I have very few friends that I still talk to from high school - most of my closest friends I met in college or thereafter.

Now, who to tag?

1. Rita - I'm sorry I can't help it.  It's a given to tag you.  Rita's Blog
2. Emily - you know I love reading about you and BW! Emily's blog
3. Sara - I don't think I've see you tagged yet!  Sara's Blog
4. Jamie - Sorry - but I love your site so I'm sure other people will too! The Buckley's
5. Kaycie - Time for an update!  Kaycie's Blog
6. Kelly - you know you don't mind! Kelly's Blog

Have fun everyone!

He's on the move!

July 2008 is Nicholas' month!  He's accomplished SO much already, and there's still a week to go!

He's now crawling ALL over the house, and pulling to a stand on EVERYTHING, including Gracie's crate and our big screen tv.

He LOVES to try to get the dog toys, and it's almost like there is an EXTRA incentive to get them!

So in short, he's accomplished the following/reached these milestones in July 2008:

• TWO Teeth!  Bottom two middle!
• Tummy to sitting in crib
• Pulling to standing in crib
• Crawling (not army crawling - real crawling)
• Cruising around his toys, especially his Leap Frog table that we got from Sara (thank you Sara!)
• Saying: Ma-Ma, Da-Da, Ka, Na-Na, and other various babbles
• Likes to feed himself goldfish crackers and cheerios!  Oh, and he LOVES to feed Gracie & Chloe!
• Laughs at the dogs, constantly!  They're his amusement!

I'll post a video as soon as I get it uploaded, and...I'll also post pics of our trip, as soon as I can.  We've been a bit busy, as you can imagine!

I'm headed to BRU (Babies 'R Us) tomorrow to get Baby Proofing supplies!

ETA: here's the video, as promised! Now, he's fussing a bit and it's b/c he was starting to get tired, but...b/c he wanted his binky SO bad, we got him to crawl on camera.  I'm sure they'll be other instances but this was the FIRST time we caught it on camera!