Lots of Laughter...

100th post

2009-12-15T21:58:00.006-06:00

Can you believe this is my 100th blog post???

Here are some pictures to enjoy before the holidays:)

Merry Christmas!

Ella decorating the tree

Lucia decorating

Both girls:)

Mommy, too!

Lucia and Max playing underneath the tree

Daddy and Max with the tree in the back

Tell me that isn't adorable...Best. gifts. ever!

He is working on his neck muscles:)

We tried...family shot

Ella wearing a nightgown that I worn when I was little;0)

Ella duck pin bowling

Max

Family shot, again!

Lots going on:)

2009-11-23T20:54:00.004-06:00

So it has been awhile since I have posted...Ella turned four, she got her first haircut, had a feast @ her preschool and we had lots of family come visit.

I already posted some pictures on facebook of the fun, but here are some more pictures that didn't make it to facebook. Enjoy!

Have a great Thanksgiving, we all have so much to be thankful for!!!!!!

These are in the wrong order...this is after she got her haircut (5 inches:)

While it was going on, she was soooo quiet! So unlike her:)

Before

Luci with Ella's Indian hat on @ preschool

Ella getting her necklace she made for me

Prayer before snack

Singing

Max:)

Ella took this picture...you can almost see the necklace she made for me!

A request for a video of Max

2009-11-05T14:28:00.002-06:00

So, I had told you all that Max can turn over (from tummy to back). Finally caught it on tape! Enjoy! Also check out Ella's blog http://ellaeyes.blogspot.com/!

Welcome home to Maxwell Edward, Our Sweet New Baby Boy

2009-09-23T20:04:00.008-05:00

Ok, so some of you want details of my labor, some of you probably don't care and some of you just want to see pictures...maybe some of you want both, but anyway here is the story of how it all went down:

Sept 19th the day before Max was born (his due date was the actual 20th...not many baby's are born on their due date). Mark woke up and ran 9 miles (he is training for the Baltimore 1/2 marathon in a couple of weeks). I went to the pregnancy center to work with a volunteer that was teaching a parenting class and get video taped for the new promotional video. I get home and we decide to go to the zoo for 2 hours and walk around to see if labor could come on...I was already 3 cm dilated. No dice, we put the girls down for naps...for some reason I watched college football instead of taking a nap, hindsight says that was a poor decision. The girls wake up we make homemade pizza and watch Cars together, it was a good family night:) But, we were all pretty tired. At night we sing to the girls and pray in their room. I usually lay beside Luci in her bed and Mark with Ella. When I stood up to kiss Ella on the top bunk, I felt just a little trickle...for a second I thought my water broke, but then thought nothing of it.

Mark wanted his haircut, so I did that, he made me laugh and more liquid trickled...at this point I told Mark what I thought was going on. He took a shower and I called my midwife. We had already discussed Castor Oil as an option since I was not looking forward to having to use pitocin again. So, since I wasn't having any contracts yet, I decided to take 2 oz of Castor oil...straight up, I didn't want to put it in OJ or anything that I like just in case I vomited a lot. It is pretty tasteless in my opinion and the texture reminds we of those race carbohydrate gels...so I drank a shot and chased it down with some water. This was @ 9pm. We called a family friend, Andrea, to sleep @ our house that night to take care of the girls until our parents got there.

At 11 pm I start having contractions...and for the most part just mild diarrhea. Contractions went from 10 minutes apart to about 4 minutes apart and it is now 1:30am. We called our midwife and she told us to come into the hospital. We were finally checked into The Johns Hopkins Hospital around 2:30 and I was 6cm dilated. My midwife asked me if I wanted an epidural. I said maybe...contractions were getting harder and around 3:45 I said I wanted an epidural....but I wanted to go to the bathroom first...well let's just say @ that point I didn't have to go to the bathroom, I needed to push out a baby, so 15 minutes later, Max was born (4:05am)...Really an awesome, FAST experience. Can't really compare to the 40 hours of labor with Luci. Max was 7 lbs 15 ozs and 21 inches long...my guess was 8 lbs...I was pretty close:)

Mark was very supportive and seeing family and my girls meet Max for the first time was great! God is so good!

Now for some photos...in opposite order... most recent then birth:

Daddy snoozing with Max

Me, Ella and Max enjoying a quiet moment together

The new big sister Luci and Max

again

So alert!

He loves to cuddle

My favorite

Luci meeting him for the first time

Ella meeting him for the first time

Daddy and his baby boy

Me holding him after labor

Too sweet!

girl's aprons

2009-08-29T23:08:00.003-05:00

So tonight I took some time to make Ella and Luci aprons so they can cook with me. My mom and dad got me a book with some patterns in it. I used that plus improvised a bit... I will take pictures of them wearing them tomorrow, but I wanted to just post what they look like after all my hard work:) Now remember I am a beginner, when it comes to sewing. So here they are: Luci-blue and brown and Ella-pink and brown!

Opps, I can't believe it has been a month again since I have posted....

2009-08-24T08:32:00.004-05:00

I feel like a blog slacker, but we have had a bit to do here:) We have had visitors...plus getting ready for Baby Humphrey #3 in less than four weeks!!!!!!!! The girls have been keeping us all busy, but I wouldn't ask for anything less. Here are some recent pictures of the girls. Enjoy!

Ella @ Fort McHenry

Ella 'eating' with chopsticks @ PF Changs

Luci loving her food too, but uses her hands just fine!

At the zoo with Osondu and Rachel

Yup....my pregnant belly!

Moses got shaved and the girls are so much more affectionate with him since he doesn't get them all hairy, I love this too (I don't have to clean up after his hair all the time!

What's new since we have been home!!

2009-07-21T08:25:00.002-05:00

We have been trying to take it easy since we have been home. But, still having fun! Here is some of the most recent pictures:) Enjoy!

Luci with her baby doll in a sling (sorry it is blurry)

Ella with her baby in a sling (getting ready for when they see Mommy doing this with the new baby:)

Luci enjoying her new bed (bunk beds)

Picture of the whole bed (Ella sleeps on top)

Ella loves sleeping on the top, she is such a big girl!

Enjoying Luci's chair from Maw Maw and Paw Paw

Luci after waking up from a nap, love her hair (and expression)

Baltimore skyline from the Harbor on our Anniversary Date Night (thanks mom and dad)

We took the water taxi around and went to Fells Point to eat

Random picture of Luci putting herself inside her DOLL'S pack in play...she need help getting out!

ok, now lakeside

2009-07-09T21:01:00.004-05:00

Here are some pictures in no particular order...Lakeside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark fly back for the 4th of July weekend. Here we are in Cleveland at a wanna-be Beatles concert...which was a lot of fun...as you can see Mark danced with his girls

Luci playing in the sand

Look how tall Ella is:P

And Luci too!

She is such a ham

Ella on the beach

Ella and I enjoying the parade

She loved her ice cream cone... and didn't make a total mess eating it!

Nosey noseys with Maw Maw

Love that smile!

whoa, has it really almost been a month???

2009-07-07T12:27:00.005-05:00

We have been traveling these last three weeks...!!!!! A lot of different places to sleep and a lot of people to see, but it was a great time. The kids are so flexible, we are thankful for that. I haven't downloaded my pictures from Lakeside yet, but here are some of the pictures from the fun!

Mark and his fellow grads from last year

Dr. Jones (she used to be Ella and Luci's doctor in KY)

Me, Angela and Julie (just like old times:)

family shot

Ella

Playing with cousins on the trampoline

trying so hard for a grandkid shot

really hard...oh well, still cute!

brothers and their kids

hanging out @ Dan's retirement party

Like I said more pictures to follow of Lakeside and 4th of July!!!

Per Uncle Aaron's Request

2009-06-13T21:10:00.004-05:00

Here are some pictures my dad took of the girls. The face painting is from the Honfest!

Daddy and Luci (with face paint of a crab)

Luci going down the slide

Ella's octopus

look @ that face!

Ella dancing in front of the Washington Cathedral

2009-05-23T01:23:00.001-05:00

Here is a most recent video of another trip to DC. Ella dancing and singing her favorite song...'This is the day!'

Mark graduated from Johns Hopkins MPH program on Wednesday...Way to go, Mark!!!

Pittsburgh Half Marathon

2009-05-05T15:14:00.005-05:00

We had the Pittsburgh Half Marathon this past weekend. It was a great time; Danielle, Aaron and Lydia were wonderful hosts. The race was on Sunday and for the most part we had good, cloudy weather-compared to the rain that came on Monday! I didn't have any pictures of my own, since both Mark and I were running. So here are some borrowed pictures from Barb and Aimee. Hope you enjoy the pictures!

All the 'kids' ran the race:)

All the girls...minus Grace

All the boys...minus John (clearly the girls out number the boys)

Luci getting 'sweaty' kissed from Dad after his race...he got a Personal Best for himself 2:10...great job HONEY!!!!!

Aimee and I were paired together, she did a great job! Thanks for letting me stop to pee every other mile!

Me and my honey with Pittsburgh in the background...lots of bridges

A visitor to Baltimore

2009-04-30T08:29:00.004-05:00

Emily, my roommate from college, came to visit us in Baltimore this past week. Her cousin had a bridal shower in Delaware--which is extremely close to me!! So she came to visit. We had a great time--we went downtown and saw Camden Yards, the Aquarium, and the Hard Rock Cafe...even experienced a grumpy (and rude) Light Rail driver! Anyway it was a great time and the girls loved getting to know her. Ella liked to fake us out and pretend she couldn't remember Emily's name, but she still remembers it today:) Enjoy the pictures, they were actually all taken by Emily. She lived in Texas...hence the cowboy hats!

On a side note: We had our ultrasound and I will post pictures later...we didn't find out the sex:)

Easter 2009

2009-04-13T20:34:00.003-05:00

Here are some pictures from the past few weeks:) I realize I haven't posted many in black and white lately :) So enjoy! We had a great Easter, hope you were able to celebrate that JESUS IS ALIVE!!!

Ella during the Easter egg hunt

Cousins: Luci, Lydia and Ella

Lucia in her Easter dress

Ella acting crazy

Sisters hugging

They love each other...most of the time!

Family Shot!

Ella's big moment

2009-03-28T19:45:00.004-05:00

Ella had her last day of Ballet this morning. They had a little recital afterwards to show off. She was great and was so proud to have us watching:) Enjoy

Ella Ballet Recital #2

2009-03-28T19:45:00.001-05:00

Ella Ballet Class Recital #1

2009-03-28T19:44:00.001-05:00

Luci dancing

2009-03-23T17:04:00.007-05:00

Here are three videos...sorry if you tired to watch the first three, I had to change a setting. Enjoy!

They were supposed to be dancing....

2009-03-23T17:04:00.005-05:00

The reason why this is so funny, was they told me they wanted to dance and then posed like this for 40 seconds. Luci had never done this before....they are crazy.

Luci walking near the Washington Monument

2009-03-23T17:03:00.002-05:00

Look who is happy to be out of the stroller!!! Sorry for the wind noise.

end of February, but not the end of snow...

2009-03-01T20:52:00.002-06:00

we made it to March, but we are supposed to have 5 to 8 inches tonight of snow. I will believe it when I see it, I guess. We have been hanging around the house...spring come quickly! But, we have been having fun. Here are the most recent pictures of the girls. enjoy!

Luci is really starting to enjoy using a stroller with her baby dolls, can you believe she is the same age Ella was when she was born!!!!!!

More stroller fun

Ella dressed up as robin hood...I get the cape, I know...the head wrap is supposed to look like Maid Marian...I know, not exactly right. Still this was a victory, because she wasn't trying to be a princess.

Ella ready for Ballet...she takes it every Sat. morning, such a cute leotard!

the girls with our friends Osondu and Rachel!

valentine's day party...not on valentine's day

2009-02-23T19:45:00.003-06:00

we had a great valentine's day party @ our friends house! the girls loved getting to see their friends, and I enjoyed catching up with their moms:) Here are some pictures to enjoy!

cheesy heart pizzas

Ella and Abigail

decorating cookies

the whole group

Disneyland

2009-02-19T14:19:00.005-06:00

ok, I will have to give more details later, but I have just enough time right now to download some pictures right now....to wet your whistle-as the saying goes. it was a great time.

Luci and Mickey (well me too)

Ella and Tinkerbell

Ella and Sleeping Beauty

Girls with their ears

Mom and Ella ( I am wearing Luci's ears)

Luci with Nana and Papa

Luci watching the ipod on the plane:)

Ella and Mark on the coaster (can you see 'em?)

Ella and Cinderella

Cars with Daddy...much more manly than princesses!

Ella and me @ minnie's house

Luci and Papa on the Carousel

Luci in her sleeping beauty dress

Ella opening her dress and wand

the girls and snow white

We had over 300 pictures...so this was just a couple, I will add more to facebook later!

Videos of Lucia

2009-02-03T21:13:00.001-06:00

I realize that I have a lot of videos of Ella and have posted them. Well today I have some of Lucia. She has started to grow up so quickly. She is 19 months-can you believe it??? She has such a personality of her own and I love it. Ella had ballet again Saturday morning, she loves it, but it really tires her out....maybe preschool with do the same and she will go back to taking a nap.

Mark and I had a date last Friday night....it was restaurant week and we went to Ruth's Chris. I would have loved it more if I could actually taste my food. But, what I could taste, ever so often, was amazing. My sinus infection is SLOWLY getting better and right now, I still can't taste food and have a lot of pressure in my ears and sinuses (actually I can taste food better now!!!). But we were so thankful for our friends that watched the girls while we had some time together. We sat and ate dinner for about an hour and a half, and had normal conversation-wait I should specify (normal is a loose term) adult conversation (mostly about politics and social passions). It is so nice to do that sometimes:)!!!

I will add more pictures of the girls later...but enjoy these two videos of sweet Lucia.
For those of you reading this on facebook, I think you actually have to go to my website to see the videos....

Lucia Talking #1

2009-02-03T21:09:00.001-06:00