Life from My Perspective

Hello Stanger!!!!

2011-05-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

Talk about time flying .... I have been MIA for the last COUPLE of years :) But, I have really started enjoying spreading the word with our growing family so I thought it might be time to start back up with my BLOG. So, I am going to try and be better about posting. I will warn you, most of it will be about the kiddos as all THREE of them have taken over our lives. But, I thought that might be an OK thing as so many people want to know "how" we do it. And, honestly, I don't have an answer ... we just do it!!! I will say that my mother-in-law has been a big piece to this puzzle and we are very lucky to have her helping these last few months. So, not alot tonight ... I will save that, but look out ... I AM BACK :)

How Time Flies ... one year later!

2009-10-06T07:57:00.001-07:00

6 months old -- October 2008

18 months old -- October 2009

A friend sent me this ....

2009-08-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she'll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a whole lot of Sh*T!!!!

KerPLUNK!

2009-07-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

That is the sound I heard from Charlie's bedroom this morning!!! I was down in my bathroom getting ready for the day and I heard Charlie wake up on the monitor. He usually takes a few minutes to get going so I rarely have to rush to get him. Today was a different story. I heard one cry and then KerPLUNK!! I took off running up the stairs to see what toy he had gotten hold off.

When I opened the door to his bedroom, I found Charlie lying on his back about a foot from his crib. He was startled and not moving! I quickly checked for broken bones or any other injuries, but he was fine, just scared himself.

So, tonight after work, Eric set out to lower the crib as low as it would go. It was only one level up from the bottom, but now it is as low as it would go. We were just shocked that he fell (or climbed) out of the crib as he has never even tried to get his leg up.

We'll see how long he lasts at this new level. When I put him to bed tonight, I saw that the rail was at his neck so I think we will be ok for awhile now. Fingers crossed :)

Ahhh ... Sunday!!

2009-07-26T10:02:00.001-07:00

We had a fun Saturday .... we went over to our friend's home and swam in their pool and then enjoyed a great meal on the patio. Sarah and Donna keep their pool at bath water temperature so Charlie had no qualms about getting in the water. He even put his face in the water and would let me take him all the way under!!!! We had a great time!!

This weekend really made it feel like summer. On Friday night, we went downtown to the town carnival. Charlie was still much too young for the carnival rides, but it was nice walking around and enjoying time with some of our neighbors. I even got a funnel cake!!!! YUM!!!!

Today I am going to try and meet up with a friend from high school. She is in Kansas City visiting a college friend so we are trying to make time for one another as it has been nearly 10 years!!!! Hopefully it works out :)

No more bottles!

2009-07-20T07:17:00.001-07:00

Well, that's it! The bottles are gone!!! They have been packed away and put in the basement only to be brought out for the next child (whenever that happens). Thursday morning marked the last bottle for Charlie. Since then, he has been all about the sippy cup. He has been using the nubby sippy for quite some time -- only using the bottle when he woke up and right before bed -- but after watching him Thursday, I realized little man was READY for the switch. He had begun spending more time "playing" with the bottle than drinking the milk. He has figured out how the nipple really works so he would try and get the milk to drain out by using his fingers ... it had become a game.

So, we are DONE!!! He has been fine without it so we are full go. I will say that it has been a bit of a challenge to make sure he gets the needed milk each day as he doesn't want to slow down, but he is doing great! He is a walking man and really on the go .... we didn't do much this weekend, but I am worn out from keeping up with him :)

Charlie at the Lake!

2009-06-30T11:24:00.001-07:00

Getting all the love from Ann .... he really LOVED her blue bottle!

Bonnie let Charlie DRIVE the boat!!!!

Found the horn!

Charlie and Katie O!

Charlie and Bonnie!

Charlie and his buddy, Steve.

Charlie LOVED the water ...

especially the raft where he could sit and lounge while Steve pushed him around!

Dr. Bob

2009-06-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

Today I attended a Memorial Service for Dr. Bob Frederick. Dr. Bob was my graduate school advisor at KU and was the former athletic director at KU and Illinois State (in my hometown). Throughout the past 5 years, I have had the privilege of getting to know him better, both in the classroom and through other functions. I can honestly say that he was a great man. Never did he have a bad word to say about others. He took great pride in his work as a teacher and was a tremendous influence to his students. He left his mark on the world and nearly 1,500 people came out to pay their respects to this great man.

I feel priviliged to have known him. He left this world a better place and for that I am grateful. I hope that I continue to practice the lessons that he taught me ... be good to ALL that you meet. You never know the impact you will have on those people. From the most important person to the least known, all should be treated the same -- with great respect. Never compromise your values for something you don't believe in. Live life to the fullest -- you never get a hint about when you time on earth is gone.

Dr. Bob was one of the healthiest 69 year old men I have ever met. I tragic bicycling accident claimed his life late Friday. He was wearing a helmet, but even it was not enough to protect him from a fall from what he loved to do best.

Rest in Peace, Dr. Bob ..... you have left the world a better place!

In Between!

2009-06-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

One camp down .... three more to go!! Elite Camp was this past weekend. It is the smallest of our four summer camps, but a challenge to run as we have several "recruits" and their coaches in so we need to look good and everything has to run perfect! I am happy to report that things ran great and I have gotten some emails from parents telling me how much they enjoyed the camp!!

Next week is what I affectionately call "Hell Week." I will be running our two largest camps back to back. Our Individual Camp (girls grades 5-12) will run Sunday through Wednesday and then we have our Jayhawk Jamboree on Saturday. We are expecting nearly 250 girls for the first camp and then close to 500 for the one-day deal. It is ALOT of work to get it all ready, but I have been planning for months so it is coming together nicely! Talk to me on June 28th though and see if I am still saying the same thing!

Charlie is still practicing the walk! He is becoming more adventurous every day so we are on our toes! I will admit that he has the BEST laugh ... especially at night when he is tired. It is almost as if he is so delerious he does not know how to control it and he just lets out these "belly laughs."

Walking Man!

2009-06-09T20:48:00.000-07:00

Charlie took his first REAL steps today. He has been making his way around for last couple of months, but today he took off from my hands into Eric's and got so excited when we cheered him on in his first steps. He was so happy that he turned around and walked right back to Eric! While he is not going by himself all the time, it is just around the corner.

In other news, camp is starting on Thursday. I will admit that I am not AS stressed as I usually am this time of year. I look back at last year ... Charlie had just been born, I was on "maternity leave," and still planning/running camps. Last year was way more stressful than this year so far! Keeping my fingers crossed that smooth sailing continues .....

Funny story of the day .... I picked Charlie up last night from the babysitter's house. When I arrived, Candi told me that she thinks Charlie may have bit another of the kids -- a 2 year old boy named Finn. She noticed a couple of bruises on Finn's ear while they were out for their morning walk. She asked Finn what happened to his hear and Finn replied, "Charlie bit me." She had not seen Charlie bite him and did not remember Finn crying out at any point that morning. She waited awhile longer and asked him again what happened to his ear and again, Finn replied "Charlie bit me." Of course, I felt horrible. Charlie has chomped down on my finger a couple of times, but only because I stuck my finger in his mouth to check his teeth. I really couldn't believe that he had done it. When I asked him if he bit Finn, he just looked at me and smiled ... ughhh. So, home we went. As I was pulling into the driveway, Candi called and said that she had showed the alleged bite marks to Finn's dad when he was picked up after we left. Candi explained what happened and apologized that Finn was hurt in her care. Finn's dad started laughing and told her that Finn had hurt his ear at the playground yesterday!!!! Candi told Finn's dad that he had blamed Finn for the injury and he informed Candi that Finn has been blaming Charlie for alot of things lately (even when he is not around!!!!) Poor Monkey man ..... he gets the bad wrap all the time!

2009-06-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

Charlie and friends riding in the buggy at Miss Candi's house.

They go on at least one walk a day and Charlie has recently been moved to the

front as he has a tendency to "mess" with the other passengers.

Pics from last weekend

2009-05-28T14:17:00.000-07:00

This right here is the EXACT reason why they cannot be alone together!

Eva and Bumpy -- don't worry, Mary Jo is there too in her M00moo!

Charlie with Evan and Kelly -- we had a BLAST visiting with them on Saturday!

Charlie thought Ms. Kelly was great ... she would get down and play with him. Plus, she had about 1,000 "words" on the fridge that he wanted to get off!

The mischevious grin ... really trying to get into trouble!

P.S. Those are shorts he has on by the way!

Lovin the bath at Me-maws with Cousin Eli!

Thank goodness for bubbles, right Eli????

Swinging on the front porch with Me-maw post haircut.

I didn't let the barber cut enough off the top because I was afraid he would go "too" short as Charlie was not happy by the end of the cut. Bumpy and I got him fixed up the next morning (see above pics for shorter version of the haircut!)

Back Home!

2009-05-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

Eric, Charlie and I headed to Kentucky this past weekend to spend time with family and friends. We had a GREAT time seeing everyone, but we are glad to be home now. We left here late on Wednesday and got back tonight around 6:30 pm. We were able to see alot of friends and all of the family down there. We even made a short trip down into TN to see our great friend, Evan and Kelly. My parents came down for a few days as well to see Eva and to spend time with us!!

Tomorrow gets us back to the grind. Camps start in just over a week for me so it is crunch time!!! It should be a fun summer ... just lots to do!

Off to bed .... I will post pics from the weekend soon :)

To the Disgruntled Reader:

2009-05-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

My life is just not that exciting ... what can I say???? I apologize that you feel I am "boring," and that I do not update my BLOG enough. I really didn't think that many people checked it so I was weaning myself off a bit. I will try and do better for your sake!!!

Here are a few pictures to tide you over ....

Quit making me laugh, mom!!!

Finally got a good shot for Mother's Day 2009 (see below).

I love playing with my tractor on the bathroom floor!!

Have a Wonderful Day!!

2009-05-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

To my mom --

While I have always loved you, this past year has made me so thankful to have you as my mom. Whether it is the early morning/late night phone calls or just the time we have together, I am thankful to have such a wonderful woman to follow after and learn from. I know that I can always count on you for support or advice and that you would be here anytime ... day or night. As much as you think I am like dad, I know there is alot of "you" there too.

I never once feared becoming a mother because you have taught me so much and instilled the great lessons of unconditional love and the idea of giving of yourself for your child. I know it has not been an easy road for you and that you have had bumps along the way. But, please know how PROUD I am that you have always picked yourself up and carried on. When some people would have given up, you kept fighting because you knew six little sets of eyes were upon you.

As we continue on this new road in our lives, I know that you will continue to love my child as your own. I know that he will grow up to be a strong and good man because he will always be surrounded by the love of his family. As the "mother" of our family, you have put us down the right path in life and for that, I am forever grateful.

I am sorry that I cannot be there with you today. Please know I am looking forward to the next weekend we have together. I love seeing you with Charlie and am so happy that I can share him with you. It is the least I can do for all that you have done for me!!

Happy Mother's Day 2009!!

More Pics

2009-04-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

I know I have been bad about posting. We have had a crazy couple of weeks. I am happy to say that Charlie is now 1 year old! We did, howver, have to spend the night of his birthday party in the hospital as he came down with a viral infection that sent him into respiratory distress. After three days in the hospital, he is doing great and really getting back into the swing of things. Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks!

Charlie's first official SHINER --

got too anxious in the grocery cart a few days ago!

Another view of the shiner!

Charlie trying to get the monitors off!
Good thing his aunts and uncles brought lots of toys for him to play with
during his stay at Children's Mercy!

Look at the little king in his bball throne (Thanks Uncle Bobby and Aunt Alisa!)

Feeling much better :)

Charlie's First Birthday Cake (made by Ms. Kania down the street).

Poor guy didn't even get a taste until 3 days after his party and he got so sick, so fast.

Kania did a FABULOUS job on it though and even made a cake "banana" for Charlie to have on his own!

Finally getting to open all his birthday presents!

He was loving the Wagon Grandpa Bumpy and Granny Jo got him!

New Wulf Baby!!

2009-03-25T12:34:00.001-07:00

Payton Leigh Wulf has joined the family! She is beautiful. Born last night at 9:37 pm, she weighed in at 7 lbs 12 oz and was 21" long. She and Lindsay are both doing great.

This is the first (and only) picture that we have yet.

I am sure there will be more to come though!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T09:51:00.001-07:00

ROCK CHALK SHAMROCK!

First Haircut!

2009-03-16T19:04:00.000-07:00

From .....to ....

and finally .....

Eleven Months Old!

2009-03-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

February Pictures ..

2009-02-23T12:26:00.000-08:00

Pink Zone Game

2009-02-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, our team took part in the WBCA Pink Zone. In an effort to raise awareness for breast cancer, women's basketball teams across the country are taking part in this fun event. We had over 7,000 fans in attendance yesterday ... even Charlie got into the action. Here is a sneak peak a Charlie and Eric at the game. More pics of the game to follow!!

In case you can't tell, his shirts says "Real Men Wear Pink"

Sorry ...

2009-02-14T19:38:00.001-08:00

I know it has been awhile ... I promise I have a 10 month picture. Our computer at home is VERY slow so I need to tranfer some pics. Here are a couple our neighbor took from the other day....

Man's Best Friend!!

2009-01-29T07:48:00.000-08:00

Charlie has really started to take an interest in our English Bulldog, Huey. He loves when Huey comes to see him and is always up for a "conversation."

Here lately, Charlie is all about "petting" Huey. Thank goodness Huey is good with him. He will come right up to Charlie and sniff at him and they just lie down and let Charlie touch and "pet" him. We have to be careful, though, as Huey still thinks he is Charlie's size. He sometimes will sneak a nibble in ... Charlie doesn't mind though!

Charlie is working on pulling up ... we don't have a lot of places in our living room to practice so he decided Huey was just as good. He didn't make it up on his feet here ... Huey wasn't up for providing kiddie rides that night!

Charlie's newest fascination ... Huey's cage. We have always used Huey's cage as a "safe spot" for him and this is his little home. He sleeps here throughout the day while we are at work and at night. He loves his cage!! Even when he is free to roam the house when we are home in the evenings and weekends, Huey will sometimes just hang out here. We leave it open so that he can get in and out as he pleases. Charlie is absolutely intrigued with it, especially the door. He has learned how to open and close the latch now and will sit there as long as I let him and play with the door. Thank goodness there are two latches on the door -- the higher one he can't reach.

Huey just sits calmly and watches Charlie play ....

My Parents Sent Me This ....

2009-01-22T09:37:00.000-08:00

The Price of Children

This is just too good not to pass on. Here's something absolutely positive for a change. I have seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice.

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle-income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:
* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month,
* $171.08 a week.
* A mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is; don't have children if you want to be 'rich.'
Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140.00?
* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold usually covered with jelly or chocolate.
* A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:
* finger-paint,* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,* catch lightning bugs,
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:
* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
* go to Disney movies, and* wish on stars.

You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:
* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and
* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat in history to witness the:
* First step,
* First word,
* First bra, (let's hope not with Charlie!!!)
* First date,
* First time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love and enjoy your children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren! It's the best investment you'll ever make!

Healthy and Happy!

2009-01-16T08:54:00.000-08:00

Charlie visited Dr. V for his 9 month check up yesterday. We are happy to report that he is happy and very healthy!! He weighed in at just over 22 lbs and was 30 inches long. That puts him in the 82nd percentile for weights and 93rd for height. His head circumference still measures in the mid 90s as well :) She was very happy with his progress and thinks that he will continue to top the charts given his genetics (despite his early start).

He is going to be moved into his big guy car seat this weekend, but will have to remain backwards until his first birthday. He is also getting to eat more solids. Yesterday he had his first taste of Cheerios and he loved them!! More soft meats and cheeses are on the way for the big guy.

Although he is not crawling on all fours yet, he has NO problem getting around. He loves army crawl into the bathroom or kitchen each morning as I get ready to go and Ms. Candi said that he is always making his way to where the action is. He continues to be an extremely happy baby!

Little Fishy!

2009-01-11T19:59:00.000-08:00

Charlie has been taking baths in the bathtub now for a couple of weeks. No longer is he confined to the "baby tub," but now he enjoys the plentiful space of our master bathroom tub. The first couple of baths he just sort of sat there and let me wipe him down, but with each new bath, he is gaining increasing confidence. Tonight, he took a step that I am not sure if I am ready for. He decided that it would be fun to try and "swim." He went from a seated position to his belly and tried to work his way to the other end of the tub to get the boat that was floating down there. Granted, I was sitting right there and he didn't go under or anything, but wow!! I couldn't believe that a 9-month old would really enjoy the water that much. I can pour small amounts of water down his face and he loves it. He will close his eyes and just blow the water away. His left arm really gets going on the water as he loves to splash! It is fun to watch his enjoy the water -- I just hope that he keeps enjoying it!!! Bathtime is much easier when he enjoys it!

A few pictures

2009-01-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

Charlie's first MBB game -- KU vs. Tennessee

Lovin' Bath Time ...

9 Months Old!!

Updates!

2009-01-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

For a brief moment, I thought maybe it would be necessary to go back on bed rest so that I could update friends and family with what is going on in our lives .... but, only for a brief moment!! I know that is something I NEVER want to go through again. So, here is my attempt to catch you all up ....

**Charlie is back home (where he belongs). After spending nearly a week with my parents, they returned him and it is great!! He had a fun week in IL with my family, but I think he is happy to be back home with us and back at Ms. Candi's house with all oh his little friends while Eric and I are gone during the day.

**My parents were out this past weekend. They brought Charlie home on Friday night and then spent the weekend with us. They were able to see my game vs. NMSU on Sunday afternoon before heading home. While they were successful at raising their 6 kids, they admitted that keeping Charlie was tiring :) Not as young as they used to be ... haha!

**We play our last non-confernce game tomorrow at home vs. Fairfield. We are currently 10-2 and will open conference play with Kansas State Saturday in Manhattan. They are one of 6 Big 12 teams to be ranked in the top 25 so what a great way to kick off the conference season!!

**My holiday clinic on New Year's Day was a great success! We had over 260 participants (nearly 100 more than last year). I got alot of great comments from parents so I am very happy!

**Charlie turns 9 months tomorrow ... check back for his monthly picture!!

**Eric's work has slowed with winter upon us .. keep your fingers crossed for limited snow. Snow means early mornings and late nights and we don't like those during bball season.

**Finally, we had a great Christmas holiday. Following an extended delay on my flight from LAX to Chicago Dec. 23/24th, I made it to IL to meet Eric and Charlie and celebrate with my family. We also trekked to Kentucky to spend a couple days with Eric's side. We were so excited to meet the newest member of our family ... Justin Harlan Capps. Our new nephew was born Dec. 14th ... very healthy and sweet baby!

It's Been Awhile ....

2008-12-29T16:30:00.000-08:00

Well, I have managed to make it back home. Things have been CRAZY the last week or so and I promise to share more, but right now, I am tired! I have been at the office today since before 8 am and have been going strong all day. I have managed to do a great deal of Holiday Clinic paperwork, visit the ill at Lawrence Memorial Hospital to spread some holiday cheer and sit through nearly 4 hours of practice already. And, lucky me, I am getting ready to go back to practice again!!! Hopefully this one won't be near as long!! Who knows though ... when school is not in session, our players are subject to however long the head coach feels is necessary. Ahhh, I remember those days at WKU!

I did want to post the link before I head back to the gym for Charlie's slideshow ... it turned out awesome I think!

http://rpetersphotography.squarespace.com/rpeters-blog/2008/12/19/charlie-8-month-session.html

Sneak Peak

2008-12-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a sneak peak of pictures to come from Charlie's 8-month photo shoot ..... done before he was sick!

Sick Day!

2008-12-16T08:56:00.001-08:00

Today is our first official sick day with Charlie. He had to come home from the babysitter's home early yesterday after spiking a pretty high temperature and getting sick all over Ms. Candi. This morning seemed to be a little better, but after drinking his bottle, he proceeded to throw it up all over me and the bed ... Yuck! So, while Eric is out with the snow crews, I will be staying home and getting Charlie feeling better ... hopefully sooner than later!

A little late, but still great!

2008-12-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

I was away yesterday traveling with the team. Thank goodness Eric remembered the routine. Hard to believe little man is 8 months old!! Really loving the Christmas decorations and lights.

ELF Yourself

2008-12-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

I love this thing ... haha ... Merry Christmas!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/GFXcevqdaYyi8g3dVhqH

Enjoy!

Busy, Busy ...

2008-11-25T09:58:00.000-08:00

Things have stayed busy, but things are good. Eric, Charlie and I traveled to St. Louis this past weekend with the basketball team as we had a game on Sunday. I must say that Charlie did AWESOME on the bus ride. I was a little nervous because I have a hard time sleeping on bus trips so I wasn't sure how a 7-month old would react for a 4 hour trip each way. He was great though. He did almost lose it at the end of the ride. We were about an hour from home when some of the kids behind us starting getting loud. They, of course, woke him up from a sound sleep (it was about 10:45 pm) and he could not get back to sleep. He was so tired and it was just not working with all the talking. Luckily, it was quieter and darker up where our head coach sits so I sat with her for a little while. Still unable to go to sleep, I elected to try and fix a bottle for him. Bonnie volunteered to hold Charlie while I was making the bottle and sure enough, the little guy fell asleep in her arms. He slept the rest of the way home with Bonnie :) It was a fun weekend ... we got the win and my parents and sister were able to be there as well.

We are going to be staying in Kansas for Thanksgiving this year. We have practice each day this week so we are going to plan on celebrating the holiday at our head coaches house after practice on Thursday. We play this weekend at home so we are not traveling, but we still have to be in town for practice.

Some Charlie news ... it looks like he is getting his first tooth. It has just cut through on the bottom gum and it is SHARP!! He keeps rubbing his tongue over it and I think he is trying to figure out what it is, but I think we finally have one. I expected it to come in much earlier, but guess we had to wait 7.5 months, which is fine as he is growing much too fast for me as it is!

Great Day

2008-11-18T19:55:00.001-08:00

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUMPY! My dad is 60 years old today :) I was the first to call this morning with birthday wishes at 5:22 am .... YEAH!

Second, our team played on ESPN today at 11 am against Iowa. We got the win and we looked great! We have made some great progress already this year so let's keep the ball rolling. Next game is Sunday at St. Louis.

Back to dad -- Charlie and I spent the weekend in IL with my family. Saturday morning we flew back to Chicago and met up with my sister-in-law, Lindsay, to head down to Bloomington. Once we got into town, we surprised my dad at lunch. He had no idea we were coming! That evening we had a small family celebration for my dad's 60th birthday (which is actually today). Then on Sunday, following breakfast, Charlie and I said "good-bye" and my dad thought that was it. He went on about his day working with the other boys (my brothers). Little did he know that my sister, mom and sister-in-laws were preparing for a surprise party! Over 60 of dad's family and friends joined in the celebration and I can honestly say that we did it ... he had no idea! It was a great afternoon and I am glad that we were able to pull off the secret!

Later that night, Charlie and I did head back to Chicago with Teddy and Lindsay in anticipation of our early morning flight Monday. It was a quick weekend, but well worth the trip!

This is how I feel ...

2008-11-12T07:00:00.001-08:00

Just too tired to jump in his toy .... laid his head down and that was it!!!

7 months and Counting!!!

2008-11-07T19:18:00.001-08:00

This is what Charlie really thought about the sign!!

Pics for the Grandparents ...

2008-11-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

Charlie's first baby mohawk!
Halloween with Mom and Dad
(please excuse how tired I look --
we had 5 am practice and I was getting ready to go back again
to practice after this picture was taken)

Charlie sitting with the help of our neighbor friend, Sydney.

From the Weekend ...

2008-11-03T07:36:00.001-08:00

Halloween was fun! We went through nearly $40 in candy for the neighborhood kiddies. Even had to break into the pantry to make sure we had enough stuff as they just kept coming. We were able to attend the Briarwood Boo Bash on Friday night before returning to practice. The kids were so excited as it meant they could finally go trick or treating ... Charlie was like "whatever!" He just wanted out of the halloween costumes as it was over 70 degrees outside. He did like checking out all of the other kiddos, who were all dressed and ready. Charlie is the little orange pumpkin ....

Happy Birthday to David ... my younger brother! He and his wife, Angie, just moved into their new home this past weekend. They have moved from city-life to country-life. They will love it, I am sure! Looking forward to seeing the new home :)

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween from the Capps Family!

We will be attending the Briarwood Boo Bash before heading back to practice this evening at 6:30 pm. Good thing Charlie is still too small to trick or treat ... I would really be sad.

Eliot

2008-10-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Two nights ago, I was lying in bed having just put Charlie to sleep upstairs. I was watching television and much to my delight, the Oprah show came on (it is replayed each night at 9 pm on one of the NBC stations). I was able to catch part of the show that night and it was on "Miracle Children." This morning, then, I saw this clip on YouTube and was so excited as I wanted to share the story and message.

One of the features on the show was about a baby named Eliot. They showed a video and it brought absolute tears to my eyes. Seeing this baby with tubes connected to him and knowing that he was fighting an uphill battle, the parents celebrated every moment of this child's life. It was inspiring. The showed this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0 to explain Eliot's journey and there was not a dry eye in the house. In a way, it reminded me of our start with Charlie. The tubes, the NICU, the weeks before he was born of the "unknown."

I could not help but think about how lucky we are to have Charlie and how blessed he is to be so healthy as I watched this video. We had a rocky start with him, but he is HEALTHY and HAPPY! I can't imagine (and hope that I never do) how these parents feel knowing they gave birth to a baby that is not going to be on earth very long. Putting their own feelings aside, they formed such a strong bond with this little boy and celebrated every moment of his life. I am sure that is why this littly guy lived so much longer than most babies with this condition -- many never even make it through birth.

Eliot's short time on life was planned by God. It was his way of reminding people to be thankful for what they are given and to slow down and celebrate the small things in life. Most of us are guilty of now celebrating the small things. We are so busy with our jobs and other things in life, we forget to celebrate small accomplishments or to enjoy simple pleasures ... a dinner with a loved one, a hug from your child, a smile or note from a friend. Charlie is teaching me so much about my own life. It is not about me ... life is about him and what I can do to help him grow. Things that I have stressed over in the past seem so stupid now considering what we have been through in the last year. Finding a balance is so important to living a happy life ... I am really trying to work on that. We only get one chance at this and making sure that you take full advantage is so important.

Every Woman

2008-10-29T07:56:00.000-07:00

'MAYA ANGELOU'S' BEST POEM EVER

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . one friend who always makes her laugh.. and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE . eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE a feeling of control over her destiny..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without; ruining the friendship...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that she can't change the length of her calves, the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.... how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. whom she can trust, whom she can't, and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW... where to go... be it to her best friend's kitchen table.. or a charming Inn in the woods.... when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. What she can and can't accomplish in a day... a month...and a year...

In Full Swing!

2008-10-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

I have tried to remind people as much as I can that basketball is in full swing. As a result, I have not been very good at returning phone calls and emails the last couple of weeks. I am SOOOOO sorry if this is you! I promise that I will get to all of them, but please be patient.

I am still getting used to juggling work and home now that Charlie is part of the equation. No longer do I sleep in just a little later and get to work on time .... now I find myself packing the night before to make sure I don't forget anything (especially now that it is getting cold!) We are usually out the door no later than 8 am (which yes, is a few minutes later than some of you), but I make up for it on my nights and weekends.

My evenings go just as fast as the mornings ... practice is usually over around the 6 pm hour so I get home somewhere around 6:45 or so and then have until 8 pm to play and spend time with Charlie before putting him off to bed. I am trying to make the most of the time when Charlie is awake so the cleanliness of our house has suffered a little bit. Don't worry -- it is not gross or anything. Eric helps out quite a bit so we are able to do it all. It is not perfectly kept, but gosh, with a hubby, drooling baby and drooling bulldog, that is almost IMPOSSIBLE! To me, it does not have to be perfect .. there are more important things going on right now.

Sunday Night Thoughts

2008-10-26T20:38:00.000-07:00

HaHa!!! I have gotten several emails from friends and family telling me how "sad" Charlie looks in his Halloween costumes. You all -- I promise that he doesn't hate them. I will admit that I like dressing Charlie up (for Halloween or just going to the grocery store), but I don't "torture" him with it. Theresa took those pics of Charlie last weekend and he was just over us and the noises we were making and the TONS of pictures we were taking.

Nothing too exciting this weekend to report. I was in the gym most of the day today as I ran our Coaches Clinic. I had to be there shortly after 10 am this morning to make sure everything was ready to roll and everything ended up there about 5:30 this evening. Eric and I had a nice dinner then before heading to the grocery store. The temperature has dropped and the wind has increased. I will admit ... I was impressed to see that Eric had actually packed a winter hat for Charlie to wear while we were out this evening. He stayed home with Charlie all day as I was at the gym. Even managed to get Charlie to nap, get him dressed in a "cute" outfit and get him to dinner without getting cold! Yeah, Eric :)

Tomorrow is our "day off." We are required to give our players one day off per week during the season. These will usually fall on a weekday so it is not really a day off for us as we are in the office most of the day. But, we need to win ballgames so that is the way it is.

Option #2

2008-10-22T07:55:00.000-07:00

Maybe he should be a pumkin!!!

Little Monster!!!

2008-10-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

One of his Halloween Costumes ... he also has a pumpkin and a Tigger outfit!!

Can't you tell how excited he is???

Late Night!!

2008-10-20T18:21:00.001-07:00

This weekend was a busy one!! Friday marked the first official day of practice and at KU that means Late Night in the Phog. It is a CRAZy celebration in which the men and women perform skits and then scrimmage to get fans ready for bball season. This year was really fun and I thought our players did a GREAT job.

My younger sister came out for the weekend. She has been to games and other KU events, but never to Late Night. She arrived early in the afternoon on Friday and then left early this morning so she got some quality time with us. Unfortunately, I had to be gone quite a bit as I had recruiting responsibilities much of the day, but she was able to tag along on some things. During the other time, she hung out with Charlie and worked her majic to make sure Charlie sees her as his favorite Aunt :) He loves her that is for sure .... she loves to spoil him and was able to give him LOTS of attention. Theresa also took lots of pics of Charlie this weekend .. especially some of him in his Halloween costumes.

Free time for me will be scarce for the next several months. We get off one day a week now, but most of our days off from practice are during the week so we are still in the office. This year might be a little bit easier on me now that I am not pregnant ... we will see :)

The talking has begun!

2008-10-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Charlie has really started to use his voice! Only problem is that the one who get to hear it most is HUEY, our bulldog!! Everytime Charlie sees Huey now he wants to carry on a "conversation." Huey will sit there with him and just look while Charlie tells him all about it. When in his exersaucer, Charlie also likes to "pet" Huey and give him the occasional tug of the jowl. It is certainly cute to watch!

This morning, however, was hilarious. While I was getting ready, I put Charlie in his exersaucer, which was in front of the bed. Like normal, Huey will roam around it just to check out what is going on and to keep an eye on things. This morning, he decided to sit there and just listen to Charlie "talk" for about 10 minutes. Finally, Huey got bored and went and laid down in the closet. Charlie was devastated! When he realized Huey left him, he started to scream bloody murder ... waterworks and all. I, of course, was trying to figure out what he had done. Was he caught somewhere? Was he hurt? Did he hit his head on one of the toys on it? What?!?!? Then, sure enough, Huey made his way out of the closet to see what the commotion was about and when Charlie saw Huey, the racket stopped!! Charlie was fine ... no more tears. He started his conversation again like Huey had never left.

Eric and I had discussed the possibility of getting another dog so that Huey has a buddy since we spend so much time with Charlie. But, Charlie has made it CLEAR that he plans to befriend Huey whether he likes it or not. This poor pup is not going to know what hit him.

I am going to get the video camera out tomorrow morning and see if I can catch the "chat" on camera!!

Lil Punkin!

2008-10-12T19:59:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend ... very relaxing and lots of family time! On Saturday, Eric got up and worked on the yard for a little while. Charlie and I took advantage of the time and made our way to a local dog show so that we could check out the Bulldogs in the ring. It has been a long time since I attended a dog show -- gosh, the last one I remember was when we got Rudy in Michigan. We had to PLEAD with my parents to let us get him, but we all agree, he was an awesome dog. Saturday, though, I wasn't puppy shopping --I just wanted to see some of the different dogs. Charlie got a kick out of it too as we were able to sit fairly close to the ring. He sat and just cooed at them before falling asleep.
Saturday afternoon, then, we made our way to the Pumpkin Patch here in Lawrence. We went with some of our neighbors (whose kids are older than Charlie). There wasn't much for Charlie to actually do, but he enjoys people watching and there were LOTS of people to check out. It was fun and it got us into the Fall season! We did go out into the "patch" and pick some pumpkins for our front porch. We got a big one, a white one, and two small ones. Last year was the first time Eric had ever carved a pumpkin so maybe we can get a repeat and see another of his "creations." Charlie was asleep in his stroller before we even made it back to the car so I think it is safe to say that we wore him out. I am excited to see how his reactions will change to as he gets older and we take him on "fieldtrips" like this.

Today, then, we spent most of the day at home. We did venture out to return a couple of movies and grocery shop at Wal-mart. The rest of the day was spent at home cleaning and enjoying some time off. This was my last "free" weekend for awhile as basketball season starts on Friday and from now on, I will be in the gym most weekends until March Madness.

Charlie -- 6 Month Update

2008-10-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

Charlie with his Uncle David getting ready for the wedding!

We ventured to the doctor earlier this week. Charlie weighed in at 18.5 lbs and measured 27". He is in the 67th percentile for weight and the 75th percentile for height. The doctor is very happy with his progress and is astounded at how "fast" he has caught up! We are looking at some things to try and help prevent RSV (as is it really bad for infants -- especially premature infants). Other than that, it was a great visit.

I wish that I had my camera on me when we went because Charlie was FASCINATED with the mirror that was next to the doctor's table. It was right at his level and at one point, he had his head sideways trying to get "closer" to that face looking back at him! It was really cute.

Speaking of my camera, it came back from the repair shop. It last about one picture and then broke again. So, it has been sent off yet again to be repaired. This happened with our computer a few weeks ago too. It took 2x as long to get it fixed because DUMB customer service people did not want to listen to the full extent of the problem I was telling them. Frustrating!! Eric lets me handle that type of stuff as he knows I will get what I want (most of the time).

No big plans this weekend! We are going to try and make it out to the pumpkin patch tomorrow and pick out some pumpkins for the porch. I think that some of our neighbors are going to join us so it should be fun!

More on the wedding!

2008-10-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

Well, I am happy to say that the new bride and groom, Alisa and Bobby, are enjoying their honeymoon in Costa Rica. It has been nearly a year in the making, but the time has come for them to enjoy all the planning and headaches that go into putting on such a big event. There wedding was a bit "different" than they expected, but absolutely unforgettable!! We all had a great time at the reception and are glad to see them FINALLY married :)

Their photographers also do a BLOG and here are some of the photos they have shared. I am not sure if the bride and groom have seen these yet, but I am sure they are anxious to share them with everyone. They are great!!

http://rbrownweddings.com/recent/?cat=1

Six Months Old!!

2008-10-07T21:11:00.000-07:00

Our little man is getting BIG!! Today marks six months old for Charlie. He actually goes to the doctor tomorrow for his six month check-up and shots so I will have more "stats" then, but for now you can enjoy his ever-thickening hair and that sweet smile.

You will have to excuse the "crumpled" sign. Charlie has found paper to be a fun toy lately. He loves the sound of it as he crunches it and tries to tear it to pieces.

Wedding Weekend!!!

2008-10-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

I have lots of stories to share from the wedding this past weekend ... those of you who were in attendance know exactly what I am talking about. Overall, though, it was a BEAUTIFUL day and Bobby and Alisa are now officially married. We had a great time and it was wonderful to be part of their day. I am back in the office now and have lots to catch up on!! More soon, I promise!

Good News!

2008-09-26T11:07:00.001-07:00

Our camera is being repaired!! I submitted the payment on-line late yesterday so Canon has gone ahead with the repair. Hopefully, we will have it back before we leave for IL on Wednesday, but if not, we have our old one that can stand in and capture all the memories of the wedding. I am excited to get our smaller one back, though, as we don't have very many pics from this month. Here is one of Charlie trying to warm up!!

One more week!

2008-09-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

In less than a week, we will be traveling back to IL to celebrate the wedding of my brother, Bobby, and his fiance, Alisa. They are set to be married next Saturday, October 4th! It is sure to be a fun event ... they will be married at the church in the afternoon and then a party is planned for that evening out on our family land in the country. So, far all of my brothers have been married at the same church, as well as myself, my parents and my grandparents. It has become very special for us all!

We are heading home to IL next Wednesday evening. We decided that is would be easier to leave on Wednesday night (as opposed to Thursday morning) so that Charlie can sleep during the ride. With it being dark out, it will be a little bit easier to get him to fall asleep because there will be less to look at. Surely, it will be a long drive for Eric and I (about 7 hours), but I would much rather be there late in the night than drive all the next morning. My family will have some time to spend with Charlie before Me-Maw Eva gets there and wants Charlie too. It is ok to say that he will get lots of loving next weekend!

Alisa and Bobby are just about ready for the big day. Alot of planning has gone into the big event and it is sure to be wonderful! I am a bridesmaid and Eric is a groomsmen so we are involved all day long. It will be a TON of fun though! I am really excited.

To check out more about the wedding, feel free to check out Bobby and Alisa's wedding website ... http://www.bobbyandalisa.com/

Happy Birthday ....

2008-09-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

TO ME!!!! Yes, it is my 29th birthday. Thank you to all who have called, emailed or sent text messages. It has been a busy day filled with work, but I am going to head out early so that I can spend some afternoon time with Charlie at home today. This evening, then, we are going to dinner with some friends who have a son a few months younger than Charlie.

I can say that I have already gotten the best gift in the world ... here he is!! This was taken last night after his dinner. The boy loves to eat now!

Camera is DEAD!

2008-09-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, our camera is out of commission for the next few weeks. It was dropped in the sand this past summer while we were on vacation and it appears that a small particle is still stuck in the lens and has caused a malfunction. We cannot even use it :( I have sent it off for repairs to the Canon Service center, but it will be a few weeks till we get it back. Too bad the warranty is out!!! We have our old camera still so I will be digging it to use for the time being.

I have been able to get some photos of Charlie using my camera phone, and to my surprise, they are actually half-way decent quality. Here is one of Charlie at the tailgate this past weekend before the KU football game.

Lauren's Testimony

2008-09-16T12:51:00.001-07:00

Many of you are familiar with Eric's cousin, Lauren Futrell Hicks. For those who are not, she is one of the sweetest people. Those of you close to us know of Lauren's tough year after suffering a brain aneurysm in summer 2007. Lauren was home alone with her 16-month old daughter, Lilly, when the pain in her headache got so intense that it caused her to become physically sick and need life-saving help. She was taken by ambulance and spent nearly 20 days in ICU as doctors worked to save her life and that of the 11-week child growing inside her.

This past week, Lauren was able to talk with her church members for the first time about her faith and how it has been strengthened over the past year. I invite you to listen to her story by clicking on the link below and then going to the 9/14 sermon. It is a broadcast of Lauren's words.

http://www.goodhopechurch.org/mp3s/

Yeah for BRANDY!!

2008-09-15T08:59:00.000-07:00

I knew this picture would come in handy someday! Happy Monday, Brandy!!

I have to give a shout out to one of my best friend's, Brandy!! She finally communicated with me via the BLOG :) Ha, ha!! No really, I do love Brandy as she is one of the sweetest people I know. Brandy and her family (hubby-Chris and son-Paul) went with us this summer to Myrtle Beach and it was a blast. I didn't get to spend as much time as I would have liked "catching up" with her because I pretty much always had a baby on my hip. We had a great time none the less and I can't wait for Christmas as that will be the next time we will see them. Here is Brandy with Charlie lounging on the couch at the condo in SC. She is itching for another one (I know it!!)

In other news, the rain has FINALLY stopped. Everything is very green out here right now, but also very mushy. We spent the weekend catching up on chores and relaxing. Our computer is out of commission for awhile. It appears the hard drive has crashed so it is being worked on this week. Hopefully they can work quickly as it stinks not having the Internet at home. We were smart enough to buy an external drive so luckily all of our pics and music is safe and sound no matter what happens with the computer.

Media Guide Family Picture

2008-09-11T10:31:00.001-07:00

Here is the picture that will be used as our family shot in the media guide this year ....

Starting to Play!

2008-09-09T07:04:00.000-07:00

Charlie is really starting to enjoy these nice toys that are crowding our house. Here is is in his exersaucer. I guess this toy has taken the place of the "walker" as they were found to be unsafe for kids as they allowed too much freedom. Geesh!! He will sit in this thing and is able to turn 360 degrees to see what is going on. He has really started to grab at the toys and will even "bang" a little bit.

Five Months Old!

2008-09-07T18:50:00.000-07:00

Charlie is FIVE months old today!! Hard to believe. He has grown so much and is really starting to develop a personality. He is now "attempting" to eat cereal (mixed with formula) from a spoon each day. We started off with banana flavored thinking the sweetness might be better. WRONG!! He hated it. Bloody murder screams!!! This little guy is pretty even tempered, but not when it comes to banana cereal. Today I tried just regular rice cereal and it went better. We got about 6 bites down before he had enough. It is going to take some time to get used to the consistency, but it gets better everyday.

We are also starting to get our fair share of giggles. Each day we get more and more from him. Today, he started to giggle for no reason. It is absolutely the best sound in the world. He has also started to utilize his jumperoo this week. We put it together a few weeks ago thinking he was ready for it as it said to use for 4+ months. He could not touch the floor when in it so we waiting a few weeks longer. We put a pillow beneath the toy this time and he really enjoys it.

I think that our days of being in the swing are pretty much over. He is almost too big for it and he would rather be in the jumperoo or exersaucer now. Charlie is really starting to pay attention to the world around him so he likes to spend his time upright as opposed to lying down.

He is off to bed for the night so I am going to get ready for tomorrow!!

Happy Anniversary!

2008-09-03T12:28:00.001-07:00

Happy Anniversary to my husband of THREE years!! It has been a wonderful ride so far and it continues to get better everyday ..... we are incredibly lucky!

First Football Game

2008-08-31T20:22:00.000-07:00

Charlie attended his first football game last night. After the 4 pm mass at Corpus Christi, we headed to the stadium at KU so that we could check out the action. Luckily, we were able to sit upstairs in the suite so Charlie was able to stay out of the sun and the noise was not nearly as loud. People were a little worried about him though as he passed out next to the cooler of drinks :) Good thing it said Coke and not Bud!!!

Overall, he did great and the Jayhawks won so it was a fun night!!!

Four Month Stats

2008-08-29T13:39:00.000-07:00

I haven't had time to post Charlie's 4 month stats, but here they are a few days removed from the doctor's visit this week.

Height = 26.5"(85 percentile)

Weight = 15 lbs, 5 ozs (42 percentile)

Head Circumference = well, we won't go there, let's just say he is a CAPPS (known for BIG heads)

He did have to get another set of shots this time around, which made him scream bloody murder. It was so sad!!! He was pretty sore the rest of the night. I didn't mind holding him though and Eric even managed to get a few giggles out of him.

D0c said that Charlie looked great! She was surprised at how fast he was catching up given his early arrival, but was very happy with his progress. She told us to go ahead and start on cereal now with him. I know that many of you started your little ones much earlier than 4.5 months, but with Charlie being so small at birth, we decided that it would be best to wait and let him "catch up" before we start throwing anything new at him. I think he is doing pretty good, so we had our first taste of cereal last night via a spoon. He gagged a few times and I think more ended up on his bib rather than in his belly, but overall the experience was pretty good. We will keep trying as we are going to work our ways up to fruit and veges. The looks we get are precious and hilarious!

Not a big weekend planned. Charlie is going to attend his first football game on Saturday. We have a suite for the game so it should be alot easier on him (noise wise). I have a baby shower then Sunday afternoon for a soon to be girlfriend of Charlie's and then Sunday night Eric and I are going to dinner to celebrate our 3 year anniversary. It was three years ago this weekend that we tied the night in Illinois. Because Sept. 3rd is a Wednesday this year, we are going to go out a few days earlier.

Have a great Labor Day!! I

Bank Account

2008-08-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

My mom sent me this, and it sort of put into persepective how to view your day/life .....

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. 'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. 'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.' That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied. Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do . Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank. I am still depositing. Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more .
5 . Expect less.

Great Weekend!!

2008-08-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

We really didn't get alot accomplished this weekend, and it was GREAT! I was up bright and early yesterday morning so that I could get some shopping done on my own. I went before the boys were up and was able to hit a HUGE consignment sale, Sam's Club, Kohl's and the mall. I will say, the ladies at the consignment sale don't mess around. I had never really been to one of these, man 'o man, these women weren't messing around. They had their bags, laundry baskets and buddies with them to haul their findings. No strollers were allowed and for GOOD reason. I found a couple of toys and some books, but missed the big deals as I didn't realize I needed to be there before the doors opened. Now I know! (Although I don't think that I need anything that badly -- they are still fun :)

When I got home, we just sort of hung out at home for the remainder of the day. I did finally get Eric to the tuxedo place to be fitted for his tux for Bobby's wedding. Was supposed to have this done in April .... only 4 months late! It is done though and I will call his measurements in tomorrow morning. We then stopped and got some groceries before heading home and grilling up.

Today then, Eric had planned to work out in the yard for a good part of the day while I hung out with Charlie and cleaned indoor. Well, after about 3 swipe of the yard, I heard a big boom and saw black smoke from the side of the house. Upon making my way over, I found Eric just sick to his stomach. The riding mower that David had let us borrow was DEAD!! Eric said the engine had blown and he felt horrible as it isn't even ours. He let it cool down, while he push mowed the rest of the side/front yard. Once he was able to get a look at the engine, he was right, there was a hole about the size of a quarter in the side of the engine. He was going to talk with some of his mechanic buddies about getting a new engine, but the mower itself is over 25 years old so we might see what David thinks before spending the money to get this one running again.

Since his time was limited to the mowing, Eric and I spent some time out with the neighbors before both coming inside to clean. The house was not bad at all, we just keep getting more "stuff" now that Charlie is here. We are trying to keep everything (beside the "entertaining toys") out of the living room, so I spent time putting things away and back where they go. The house is once again looking presentable so we made progress. We have found that now that we are back at work that things like cleaning can wait on the weekends as that is our time with Charlie. We want to enjoy him and spend as much time playing with him and snuggling so those "other" things can wait till he is napping or has gone to bed for the day.

Tomorrow brings about another week. Not too much planned as far as big deals, so it should be pretty easy going. Here is another pic of Charlie ...... Hope all had a great weekend!

4 Month Pics!

2008-08-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

They are ready ... to check out Charlie's slideshow, click here ....

http://rpetersphotography.squarespace.com/rpeters-blog/2008/8/22/charlie-4-months.html

Prayers Needed ...

2008-08-19T14:16:00.001-07:00

Please add Russell Coleman and his family (Wife-Ashley and 8 month old daughter-Annie) to your prayers tonight and for the next long while. Russell, a good friend of Eric's, was diagnosed with a very RARE disease that has left him unable to walk. It is called TM for short and affects only 1 in 1.3 million people! Russell and his family recently moved to the DC area so they are in an unfamiliar place with so much uncertainty. They are in need of all the prayers they can get!

To learn more about Russell and his illness, Ashley has created a BLOG (like this one) and is keeping people up to date. Please check it out .... http://keepinupwiththecolemans.blogspot.com/

Too Cute!

2008-08-18T06:59:00.000-07:00

Rebecca came and took some 4th month pictures of Charlie ... here is a sneak peak. The rest will be ready in a week or so!!

Long Day ...

2008-08-16T20:46:00.000-07:00

Before I really even talked with anyone today, I got a text message from my older brother that read "jerk." I guess it was deserved as I kept a secret and lead him to believe that he would be flying to see me today and play in our golf tournament this afternoon. Instead, his wife had planned a "big day" for him in Chicago to celebrate his 30th birthday. He was able to have breakfast with all the family (except me) and then golf with the boys and finally had a surprise party at his home later in the day. I hope that he is not too mad at me, I am just REALLY good at keeping secrets like that!!

Later in the morning, I headed to the golf course where I spent the remainder helping with our booster club golf tournament. We had 58 teams in the tournament, which was a great showing. Eric kept Charlie throughout the day while I helped out at the course. Following the dinner at the golf course, I headed home and spent some time with little man before putting him down for bed. He went down just in time for me to catch Michael Phelps win his 8th gold medal -- all I can say is "WOW!!" I love watching this guy swim and have really enjoyed watching the Olympics this year. He is a great Olympian!!!

Tomorrow, Rebecca is coming to take pics of Charlie at 4 months. She has a really cool way of working with him so I am excited. I am pretty tired and am ready for bed. This is the last weekend before school starts out here so I am trying to enjoy it. Not hard to do when Charlie and Eric are around :)

Time to Slow Down ...

2008-08-11T20:50:00.000-07:00

Eric and I have been on the go the past few weeks. We spent time in NC and SC for a week, then returned home to work for a few days and then headed back to IL this past weekend to help throw a couple of wedding showers. It was fun, don't get me wrong, but I am worn out and ready for a couple days of peace and quiet. This weekend, though, we have the Hardwood Club (bball booster club) Golf Tournament, so I will be busy meeting and greeting all day on Saturday. Then on Sunday, Rebecca is coming to take pictures of Charlie .... that will be fun though!

Things should be pretty quiet this week. School has not started at KU yet so we don't have to worry with players here and several of the other coaches are out of the office this week so the days are pretty quiet. I have pretty much caught up at work now so I am not too stressed there. The biggest thing is getting camp wrapped up and putting together the fall schedule so that will take some time. Nothing too crazy, though!

We had thought about returning to KY for Labor Day weekend, but I don't think that we are going to make the trip. With all that we have done the past few weeks and the fact that it is our anniversary weekend, I think that we are going to take advantage of the long weekend and get some things done around the house and just relax. I think that we are actually planning to have a date night that weekend as well. We always said that we would not be one of those couples who stay home all the time after their child is born. We don't stay home, but we do take Charlie when we go. We LOVE being with him and don't feel like we have missed out on anything this summer. We are going to take some time for ourselves though and have someone spend the evening with Charlie so that we can have some "us" time, which I think will be good for both Eric and I.

Well, I am headed off to bed. We have been going through bags and trying to get the house picked up tonight. We are both tired so we have pretty much called it quits and are headed to bed!

Can You BELIEVE it!?!?!?

2008-08-07T19:23:00.001-07:00

Charlie goes to the Beach!!

2008-08-06T22:30:00.001-07:00

I just finished uploading all of our vacation pictures to my wal-mart site. There are nearly 200 of them!!! WHOA .... I sent them out to several people, but if you did not get them and want to see all of them, please drop me a note and I will forward the album to you. Here are a couple of my favorites from the trip! We got to see ALOT of family and friends and it was a great time!!

We're Back!!

2008-08-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Ok, we got back home last night about 1:00 am. We had a GREAT time, but both Eric and I agreed that we were happy to be home. I have lots of pictures so I will try and post some tonight for you all. Charlie had a very FULL week ... met a ton of family and new friends, went to the beach, swam in pool, traveled throughout NC and SC!!

Today is also my first day back at work. I dropped Charlie off at the babysitter's this morning and then headed here to the office. I was very proud as I didn't shed a tear (I was close a couple of times). I am very comfortable with the lady that will be watching Charlie so that makes it easier I think. I have been off from work for nearly 4 months so I have lots to do ... I am just going to take my time and tackle one thing at a time. I did work at home and spent some time in the office while I was on "Maternity Leave" so it won't be too bad.

I don't usually fill these things out, but .....

2008-07-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

1. I've come to realize that my mom...is a an amazing person who taught me a lot of important life lessons.
2. I've come to realize that my job...is important, but that my gravestone will say "wife, mother, daughter and sister," not bball coach!
3. I've come to realize that when i'm driving...I like to daydream and talk to myself.
4. I've come to realize that I need...to hear "I love you."
5. I've come to realize that I have lost...the need to "please" all of the time.
6. I've come to realize that I hate it when...people don't say please and thank you.
7. I've come to realize that if I'm drunk..my husband is annoyed.
8. I've come to realize that money...cannot buy happiness.
9. I've come to realize that certain people..will never enjoy the real gifts of life.
10. I've come to realize that I'll always be...a daddy's girl.
11. I've come to realize that I have a crush on...my boys!
12. I've come to realize that my dad...wants the best for his children and worked so hard so that we had the best.
13. I've come to realize that my cell phone is...not an extension of my arm.
14. I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning...I have been given another chance to do good in the world.
15. I've come to realize that last night before I went to sleep...I rocked my baby to sleep and enjoyed evey minute of it because in a few short months, that too will be a thing of the past.
16. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking ... I really should go to bed. 3:30 am is going to come REALLY fast and I still have some packing to do.
17. I've come to realize that my sister....is the VERY best godmother for Charlie and is turning in to one of my best friends.
18. I've come to realize that when I get on Myspace...I love to see what people have been doing.
19. I've come to realize that today...was a day filled with chores and errands, but I am lucky b/c I get to go on vacation and many people would trade spots with me in a heartbeat.
20. I've come to realize that tonight...I love my life and wouldn't change any part of it (well, except to make Kansas 5 hours closer to IL and KY)
21. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will...enjoy my vacation and not get annoyed with travel problems (which always happen when we fly!!)
22. I've come to realize that I really want to...be a good wife, mother and daughter and sister
23. I've come to realize that yesterday... will never come again so I need to get over it.
24. I've come to realize that love...is earned, not given.

Great Life!

2008-07-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

I can honestly say that I have a FANTASTIC life. I am totally in love with my hubby and have the best baby in the world. Being a wife and now a mom is the coolest thing. I highly recommend it!! I don't know what I did to deserve such a great life, but I am so thankful. I am excited for my brothers and sister (in-laws) as they will someday experience this and they will "get" why I am so happy and why I have changed in the past few months. Having a baby really does change your life, but it such a great way!!

We are heading out on Monday for our week-long vacation in the Carolinas. I am excited to be getting away and to get to spend time with family and friends. It really should be a relaxing and fun weekend. For the first time, I actually feel like I can go on a vacation without worrying what is going on at the office or where my cell phone was placed last. These last few months have been stressful on both Eric and I, so this is a needed time together. I am looking forward to a nice long walk on the beach with Eric and Charlie --- just the three of us!

We will be heading to IL later in August so I will get to spend time with my side of the family too. I love going home even more now as they are all so excited to see Charlie (especially my parents and sister). He will soon rule the family (until another lil one comes along) so it is so much fun. I know that some can get annoyed that Charlie is the main attraction, but that is what life is about ... enjoying family and loving it!!

How Sad!!

2008-07-25T20:36:00.001-07:00

You would think this po0r child was being neglected by the look on his face!! We have been trying to capture this "expression" for some time now, but every time the camera comes out, the lip goes away. Our friend, Rance, was able to capture the image on his cell phone tonight after dinner. How sad!!

Good Times!!

2008-07-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend ... Evan and Kelly, our WKU friends, made the trip from Tennessee to visit us and meet Charlie. Evan has been here once before, but this was Kelly's first trip to KS so we spent the weekend showing her the sights and sounds of where we live/work/play. We always have a great time with them and when we get together (which is usually 1-2x a year), it is like we haven't been a part at all. They are a really fun couple and have had some great "worldly experiences" so we always enjoy seeing them and catching up on what has happened since we were last together.

Not a lot going on this week. I am enjoying my last two weeks of maternity leave at home with Charlie. We are hanging at the house and catching up on things that have been put on the back burner this week and then will be heading to the Carolina's next week for a fun vacation. I am soooo excited to be getting away. We have a lot planned, but it will be great to see everyone and to get a TAN!!!

In other news, our computer is on the fritz :( I am not sure what is wrong with it, but sometimes (more than others) it doesn't want to turn on. So, I am not able to post as much as I want because I don't have computer access. I still have e-mail (thanks to my phone -- oh, the wonders of technology)! I will try and update you on our vacation pending computer access. Don't worry, we will take lots of pictures for you all!

It's Official!!

2008-07-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

I am D-O-N-E with summer camps ... YEAH!!!! Camp ended yesterday at noon. Things went really well, but I am glad to have them all over. Now I can stay at home and enjoy my last two weeks of maternity leave with Charlie. We will be home all next week and then head out the following week for the Carolinas where we will be seeing all of Eric's family in addition to some of our friends from college. I am very EXCITED!!

My parents left early this morning to head back to IL. They were out again for the past week helping with Charlie and running the camp store. It was great to have them out so much this summer. They were able to spend so much time with Charlie. It is hard being so far away from everyone, but we are blessed that they will travel and see us. I was talking with my mom how there really hasn't been a weekend of no visitors this summer. Eric's family has been able to come a few times, my parents have been here several times; my brother Bobby and his fiance Alisa have come; and my sister, Theresa has been here. It really has been awesome!! As hectic as it may get, I would much rather have them come then to stay away. I really want Charlie to know his family!!

In other news, I received a call this morning from my sister-in-law, Jennifer. She is married to Eric's brother, Andy. Jennifer is pregnant with her second child and is due in December -- right around Christmas. It looks like we are going to have another boy join the clan!! She had an ultrasound this morning and Eli is going to have a baby brother :)

It is nice a quiet here in the house this morning. Charlie is sleeping beside me on his boppy. He woke about 7:30 am and took a bottle and has since gone back to sleep. I am going to do a few things while he sleeps to get ready for our visitors tonight!! Evan and Kelly -- our good friends from college are flying in tonight and will be here for the weekend. They currently live in middle TN, but spent nearly two years in Japan as Evan worked as an engineer for Nissan. They returned home right before Christmas and are settling back into a new home. We are so excited to see them!! It should be a really fun weekend :)

Camp AGAIN!!!

2008-07-14T20:18:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is that time again ... CAMP!! All I can say is this is the last one of the summer and by far the easiest. It is our JUNIOR JAYHAWK camp. I have right at 100 1-5 grade boys and girls Monday-Thursday of this week from 9 am - Noon. This morning went pretty fast so if that is any indication of the next three days, then I am happy!!

My parents are once again out here for the week. They are helping with the camp store and also with Charlie. My poor dad woke up this morning not feeling so hot and by mid-afternoon was throwing up!! YUCK! He had caught the stomach bug that my mom had this past week. We thought it had past, but I guess not. Therefore, ol Bumpy has been quarantined to the upstairs of the house while the rest of us hang out downstairs on the main level. He is feeling much better this evening (now that everything is out of his stomach). Keep your fingers crossed that we don't get the bug -- especially Charlie :(

On that note, Charlie continues to improve with his sleeping habits. He has been sleeping in his own room since the first of the month and has slept through the night for over a week now. He usually goes down between 9-10 pm and then will sleep until 5:30-6:30 am, at which time he wants a bottle. As soon as he finishes eating, though, he is back down to sleep for another couple of hours. On Sunday, he slept until 10 am!!!! Tonight will be the first time this month that he will not sleep in his own crib, but we are not taking a chance as his room is upstairs and Bumpy is up there with a case of the "icks!"

Life Changes

2008-07-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

I am amazed how much my life has changed over the past year. I have heard that having a baby changes everything, and that is RIGHT! I absolutely LOVE being a mommy ... it has really brought meaning to my life. I am responsible for this little man and his life.

Eric and I find ourselves just staring at Charlie watching him sleep or just look around the room. You can't help but wonder, "what his he thinking?" As each day passes, I find myself with mixed emotions. On one hand, I want him to stay small and a tiny little baby forever, but then on the other, I want him to grow and respond to me. I love when he looks at me with his big, blue eyes and just lets out the biggest grin. It is enough to melt my heart!!

So many things have been put into perspective for me since Charlie's birth. I have come to the realization that I need to slow down and enjoy life a little more. Basketball is not everything and things at work can wait until tomorrow. I know that I am young and can go-go-go, but sometimes it is better to sit back and just relax. There is no reason to stress over little things ... it is just not worth it.

I am starting to "fret" over is the idea of going back to work full time. I have really enjoyed being him with Charlie since his birth. I am apart of his life and know what is going on at all times - I love that I am the one that can calm/soothe him. Going back to work is just around the corner (Aug. 5) and I am just not sure if I am ready for it. Charlie will be going to an in-home day care just miles from my office, but still, I will miss out on so much I feel. I really do enjoy my job and love having the income to live the life we enjoy, but I can't help but feel guilty that I am putting him off on someone else to do "my thing." I know that women do it everyday and that it is a normal thing, it is just hard to think that I will have to leave him. I may have to have Eric take him the first few days and I am beginning to think that I will be a mess. (Heck, I cried when I had to leave my dog for the first time!!)

I am not sure what is causing these feelings, I just feel like my time with him is so precious. It is so hard to explain ... I just feel like I have changed so much. It doesn't upset me, just scares me as it has opened my eyes to a whole other side of life. As each day passes, I realize that I will never get these days back. As I told Eric, we have gone through so much in life already -- college, wedding, first pregnancy, etc .... there is so much that has already passed. I really want to make sure and embrace all that still lies ahead!!

3 months old!!

2008-07-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

Oh how time flies!! Charlie is THREE months old today. I put him on the bathroom scale this morning and he weighed in at 12 lbs, 2 oz., which means he has gained 1 lb since going to the doctor two weeks ago.

Bobby and Alisa

2008-07-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

My brother, Bobby, and his fiance, Alisa, have spent the weekend here with us. They are heading back to IL after a LATE breakfast and some more time with Charlie. It has been alot of fun having them here.

They got in late Thursday night (around 12:30 am) or so. After a good night sleep, we hung out at the house and enjoyed the day of not having to do anything. They spent alot of time with Charlie and loved all over him. Later in the day, we headed to our friend's house, Rance and Amy, and had a YUMMY steak dinner. Right before dark, we decided to head back to our house so that we could put Charlie down. Much to our surprise, we got back to Eudora to find the town all lit up with fireworks. It was CRAZY!!! This was our first 4th of July here at this house and we were not expecting such a show. Everyone in town was on their driveway cooking out and lighting the fireworks. The streets were a mess come Saturday morning!!! Of course, Eric and Bobby had to join in the festivities and flood our cul-de-sac with smoke bombs, mortars and other "explosives."

Yesterday, we enjoyed another morning of sleeping in and then headed to Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. We had lunch at California Pizza Kitchen and then spent the afternoon walking around and shopping. It was a fun, relaxing day.

Alisa and I got up this morning and took Charlie to Church and then just arrived home for biscuits and gravy ... YUM! They are going to be getting on the road here shortly, but it has been fun having them here. We got some things accomplished for their upcoming wedding too so it has been productive. Here is one of their engagement pictures ..... they are all so good!!

Yeah For Charlie!!

2008-07-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

Charlie spent his first night in his OWN bedroom last night!!! Yeah!!! We decided that now that camps are over and I can relax a little bit, that it was time to really try getting Charlie to sleep in his own crib, in his own room. I only had to get up with him one time. He went down a little after 9 pm and slept until 2:30 am. After a bottle, he was back down until nearly 6 am!!! We will see how tonight goes ....

Few More Pics from the weekend!

2008-07-01T07:24:00.000-07:00

The THREE Muskateers (Huey, Grandpa Bumpy and Charlie)

Charlie with his grandparents (MeMaw, Grandpa Bumpy and Granny Jo)

Does he look like his daddy or what?!?!?

Wonderful Weekend!!

2008-06-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

As tired and as stressed as I was last week, this weekend was WONDERFUL!!! The Jamboree was very successful (depsite a bus accident in the parking lot) and Charlie was baptized yesterday!!! It really was a great weekend and we are blessed that many people shared in the wonderful event.

After a L-O-N-G week of camp and long days, I was ready for Saturday to come and go. Everthing went really smooth throughout the week and I was lucky to have my parents here to help with Charlie so that I could make it through. I am glad they were able to help with camp, but I am even happier that they were able to spend some quality time with Charlie. They left late last night (after a cat nap) and they were definitely not ready to say good-bye to the Lil' Man. If it was not for the fact they were running out of gas as they sat on my driveway, they still might be out there saying good-bye to him. I had to keep a close eye on my mom and she was conspiring to take Charlie with her back to IL.

On Sunday, we all awoke early and got ready for Church. I knew I was going to be tired, but I was so excited that the day had come for Charlie to finally be baptized. It really was a great day and he did so good. He let out one good wail during the beginning part of the ceremony, but once the water was being poured over him, he was good to go. My sister, Theresa, and Eric's brother, Andy, will serve as Charlie's godparents. As his godparents, they have promised to always look after Charlie and to guide him in Christ's ways should anything happen to Eric and I.

Following the ceremony at Church, we headed home and had a cookout with all of the family and our friends. We had several people come over and enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs and all the good fixings that go along with it. By about 5 pm, Eric and I were knocked out in an afternoon nap. My parents also took a snooze before hitting the road back to IL. Andy, Jennifer and Eva (Eric's bother, sister-in-law and mother) got on the road shortly after 3 pm for their trek back to KY. It was such an awesome day and I am glad that they were able to take part in it.

I still have one more camp to run in July, but it will be rather easy considering what I have been dealing with over the past month. I am excited to be able to spend time at home again with Charlie. He will start day care the fifth of August so I am anxious to spend as much time with him as I can before I have to go back to work. As I sit here typing tonight, I am listening to the sound of his breathing through the monitor. We decided that tonight is the night!! Charlie has been put up in his own room and we are seeing how he will do in his own crib for the night. It is time to start weaning him out of our room (as much as it kills me)!!

STRESSED!!!

2008-06-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

I am ready for NEXT Sunday to be here ... I know that it will all get done, but camps are really wearing me out this year. I am not asking for sympathy, just some understanding that having a 9 week old at home DOES make things a little bit more difficult, especially when he is still trying to catch up. People don't realize that babies require ALOT of attention, especially when they are premature and feedings are still happening every couple of hours.

Yesteday was the first day I had to leave him with a sitter all day (I had to go in and work all day to make sure camp is ready to go on Sunday). Poor Charlie was SOOO off schedule .. he finally fell asleep at 5 a.m. this morning!!! When I had to get up before 7 am, I felt like crying :( I had to leave him again today so we will see how tonight goes. My parents are coming in all next week so it should be better as they are pretty familiar with how we do things. Thank goodness for their help!!

When they say "having a child changes everything," they are not joking. I wouldn't trade it for the world -- just need to get through next week. After that, I can go back to enjoying my maternity leave and soak up the last few weeks of my time at home with Charlie. It is something that I will never get back again!!

One week down!!

2008-06-16T10:32:00.000-07:00

The first of my three "hell weeks" is over and done with. I was able to survive Elite Camp this past week and am proud to say that it went very well. I got a text message from our head coach late last night that said we got a commitment from a Texas kid yesterday so that made my day (that meant camp went really well.) My parents were here all week as well helping with Charlie and then with the camp store too. It was great to have them around and I love that they were able to spend time with Charlie.

Mom and dad headed home Saturday afternoon then once camp was over. They are trying to get their front yard re-landscaped so there is lots of work to do there. They will be heading back to KS though this coming weekend to help with camp and Charlie once again. We will have about 250 girls in next week (Sunday-Wednesday) so I will be busy and need their help. I will have two days to prep then for the Jamboree, which is on Saturday. We have about 50 teams coming in for that on June 28th so we will have nearly 600 HS girls on campus that day.

If that were not enough to do in one week, we are also going to have Charlie baptized that weekend. On Sunday, June 29th, Fr. Mick will baptize Charlie at Corpus Christi Catholic Church here in Lawrence. That is the church that I have been attending the last four years. Eric and I really enjoy Fr. Mick and are excited that he will be celebrating over Charlie's first sacrament. Our parents, as well as Charlie's godparents (my sister, Theresa and Eric's brother, Andy) will all be here to celebrate. I think that we will plan to have a lunch then here at the house for friends and other family. It should be fun.

Last, but not least, yesterday Eric was able to celebrate his first Father's Day!! It was pretty uneventful, but it was a nice relaxing day (something we don't have alot of lately). I feel bad as I didn't get Eric a "gift" for the day, but he did get his "daddy's chair" a few weeks ago, which was supposed to be his gift. I will take him down to the Plaza in KC to pick out some cigars from his favorite store. It has been a whirlwind few months, but it has been awesome. I am very lucky to have such a great daddy for Charlie!! I, myself, am also blessed to have a great dad (yeah, eat it up Bumpy!!). I enjoyed him being out here all week and love watching him with Charlie. I think those two will be good buddies in the coming years ;)

Busy, Busy!

2008-06-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

Camp season is officially here!! I say that like I am excited??? It really is not that bad. Things have been a little stressful now that Charlie is here, but we are getting things figured out. My parents have been out all week helping care for Charlie during the days so that I can be in the office and get ready for camp. Our first camp will run Thursday-Saturday and then we have a week off and go again Sunday-Wednesday. We get two days off and then run a team jamboree for over 600 kids that Saturday. In mid-July, we will run a half-day camp for the little ones and that will be it. If I can just get through the next 2.5 weeks, I will be in good shape.

Good news is that Charlie is doing great! He is over 2 months old and really starting to get a personality. We have decided that he does not like to be left alone and really LOVES being held. He is still pretty little, but eating like a hoss! I am doing pretty good too. My blood pressure continues to go down and is now back in a "normal" range. It has taken awhile to get there, but finally, I can get off the meds :)

Wish me luck that everything goes well over the next couple weeks. I can get through camps and then be able to enjoy Charlie stress free for the rest of July before heading back to work in August (ughhh!)

Making Plans ...

2008-06-05T13:45:00.001-07:00

This week has been all about getting plans made. Plans for summer camp, plans for Charlie's baptism and plans for a vacation (yes, we are FINALLY taking vacation!!)

I really thought I would be able to take it easy with summer camp this year as I was "supposed" to have a baby last week. But, alas, Charlie arrived early, which allowed me to get back into the swing of things faster so once again, I will be directing all of the summer camps again this year. I seem to always stress myself out getting ready for them, but things always come toghether and they turn out to be successful. This time next week, I will be getting ready to open the doors for our Elite Camp check-in. Elite Camp will run June 12-14, Individual Camp June 22-25, Jayhawk Team Jamboree June 28 and Junior Jayhawk July 14-17. It feels like all of my summer revolves around camp as I am planning/running/wrapping up for most of June and July.

I am not allowing myself to stress out that much because I am still working to get my blood pressure down. I still am fighting high BP as a result of the HELLP syndrome, but it has gotten ALOT better. Today it was 129/73!!! Plus, having Charlie makes me realize there are much more important and serious things in life so there is no sense in stressing over something that will turn out just fine.

This week, I was also able to Charlie's baptism scheduled. He will be baptized in our Church on Sunday, June 29th. My sister, Theresa, and Eric's brother, Andy, will serve as his Godparents and will pledge to allows raise him Catholic and make sure that he is cared for should anything ever happen to Eric and I.

And, finally, we confirmed last night that we will be traveling to North and South Carolina this summer for vacation. We are going to be flying in and out of Raleigh and will spend 5 days in Myrtle Beach while we are there. We are excited because the Bibbs and the Moores have decided to trek along with us! It will be a blast spending time with them and being at the beach :) And, if that were not enough, the McCaslands are also traveling to see us in July (18-20). Evan has been here once before, but Kelly has yet to make it out so they are coming to stay with us for a few days and to meet Charlie. We are so very excited!!

I remember how the summer months used to last forever when I was little. Now, it seems there is something going on every weekend and the time just FLIES by!! I am not complaining though ... we have been very blessed!!

Doing Great!!

2008-06-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Charlie ready for the party!!

It seems the past few weeks have been extremely busy, but I don't remember having THAT much to do!! Charlie and I trekked back to Illinois for the Memorial Day weekend. Upon our return, we hosted a baby shower for our friends Rance and Amy Holt. They are expecting their first baby (a boy!!) in July. We had a lot of fun putting that all together and are excited about Layton's impending arrival. We are hoping that Layton and Charlie become best buds as they grow bigger.

This past weekend, Charlie made his first trip to Church. We have put this off the past few weekends at the suggestion of our neonatologist as many people can't keep their hands off babies. And, with Charlie coming so early and being extra small, he thought it was best to give it a few more weeks to help build up the immune system. We have seen some tremendous changes in Charlie though over the past few weeks with regards to growth, so we were pretty comfortable venturing out. We were stopped on our way into Church by our pastor who had to get a look at the big guy!! Charlie did great. He seemed to enjoy it as he spent a good deal of time checking things out -- especially the different lights. I was a little nervous how he would respond to the music, but Charlie loved the organ!! We did have to feed him mid-way through the mass, but he was great. As I was burping him following his bottle, I kept hoping that he would not "BELCH" when it was really quiet. Eric, on the other hand, thought it would be great if he would "grace" the people with his noises!! On our way out, Charlie was grabbed from my hands by Fr. Mick!! I thought he just wanted to get another look, but he wanted to hold and love on. It was so sweet!!!

Home from Church!!

We don't have alot of plans for this weekend, except to do yardwork and RELAX! This is the last weekend I have until camp season begins. I wasn't really expecting to have to do all that much for camp once it started this year as I was supposed to have just given birth, but because Charlie came so early, I am back on board and will be directing it all again this year. I don't mind ... I just always stress a little bit as it is nerve-wracking having nearly 1000 young girls under you for a few weeks in June!! My mom is supposed to be coming out next week to help with Charlie. She will be staying for a few weeks then so I some help getting through the hard weeks of camp!!

Memorial Day Weekend Re-Cap

2008-05-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

Aunt Theresa (my lil sis) with her FAVORITE nephew & godchild

Charlie and I made it home safe and sound this morning from Illinois. We were supposed to come back yesterday, but I couldn't muster up the energy to get things together and then drive for nearly 7 hours. I was exhausted and had gotten a nasty headache early yesterday afternoon so it was probably best that we stayed otherwise the drive might have been just unbearable. We stayed the day in Illinois and enjoyed a cookout at Bobby's house to celebrate Memorial Day weekend. It was nice just sitting around in the backyard enjoying the nice weather and watching everyone love on Charlie. I always intend to go back home to relax, but it seems that never happens as we are always on the go. With all of the Wulf kids home for the weekend, there was always something going on.

Here are some pics from the weekend ... way to many to add on here .... may have to do it over the next few days! Thought I would show off the little guy meeting his aunts and uncles for the first time this weekend. My youngest brother, Johnny, is the only one not pictured here, but he had the "honor" of living with Charlie for the first few weeks of his short life so he is pretty familiar with him.

Aunt Lindsay and Uncle Teddy (my older brother)

Uncle Bobby (my brother) and Aunt Alisa

Aunt Angie and Uncle David (my brother)

This trip was Charlie's first "road trip," and he did great. We were able to go with only one stop each way (7 hours each way). As long as I stopped once to change and feed, all was right in the world. Now the biggest thing will be to undue all of the spoiling that occurred this past weekend.

Illinois for the weekend!!

2008-05-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

Charlie made his first "official" road trip this weekend ... he and I have driven back to Bloomington to meet all of his aunts and uncles. With the three-day weekend, I thought we would take advantage and see how he did ... he was GREAT in the car on the way here (keep your fingers crossed for a smooth ride back to Kansas on Monday). There is nothing big planned for the weekend, but he has been able to meet all of his aunts and uncles now and he has had ALOT of bonding time with his Grandma Wulf.

Before we left for the weekend, we made a trip to the pediatrician for his 6 week check-up. He continues to do great! He is weighing in now at 7 lbs 7 ozs, which is a whole 3 pounds more than he weighed at birth. He is eating great and really starting to become more attentive to things around him. He does sleep quite a bit, but when he is awake, those big blue eyes (yes, they have turned from brown to blue) seem to be wide awake. That head gets a moving too and you have to be careful with the "bobblehead."

Daddy Eric stayed back in Kansas for the weekend to work. He had some things to catch up on with work as this past six weeks has been a whirlwind. Charlie's official due date is actually Monday so we consider ourselves VERY blessed that he is doing so great. I have almost found it humorous as people ask if he is a newborn when the see him because he is still so small and I can reply "no ... just over 6 weeks!"

Six Weeks!!

2008-05-21T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that today marks six weeks since Charlie made his arrival!! Even harder to believe is that our original "due date" is not until Monday!!! He is doing great though and continues to grow. I had to go to my doctor this morning for my 6 week check up and, of course, all of the women in the office were loving all over Charlie. He got passed from nurse to nurse and then some of the doctors even took hold of him. While we were there, my doctor wanted to weigh Charlie to see how big he was since it has been 2 weeks since we have been to his doctor. He weighed in at 7 lbs, 7 ozs .... now 3 pounds bigger than his starting weight :) We actually go to the pediatrician in the morning for his 6-week check up.

I seem to be doing really well too. Everything is pretty much back to normal with the exception of my blood pressure. It has continued to stay elevated from the HELLP syndrome. My doctor is still a little bit concerned at this point that is has not gone back down. Some people take longer for their levels to go back down, while others recover in a matter of days. I feel great though, I just need to get the BP down so that I can get off the meds. I have been instructed to check it on my own and call my levels in for the next few weeks. If we don't see some progress, then we will have to look at seeing a cardiologist :( I have been able to start my workouts back up so hopefully this helps in getting the levels down.

Getting Big!!

2008-05-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

Charlie is starting to beef up!! We go back to the pediatrician on Thursday .... should be over the 7 lb mark by now! Almost 6 weeks old too!!

Charlie and his mommy!

2008-05-18T10:49:00.001-07:00

This photo was taken by Rebecca Peters a few weeks ago!
He is growing pretty fast ... won't stay in my arms for much longer!!

"Before I Was A Mom"
Before I was a Mom I made and ate hot meals. I had unstained clothing. I had quiet conversations on the phone. Before I was a Mom I slept as late as I wanted. And never worried about how late I got into bed. I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday. Before I was Mom I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot words to lullabies. Before I was a Mom I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom I had never been puked on, pooped on, spit on, peed on, or pinched by tiny fingers. Before I was a Mom I had complete control of my mind, my thoughts, my body and all my feelings. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a Mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important. Before I was a Mom I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was OK. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much............before I was a Mom....Author Unknown

Your Pregnancy this Week!!

2008-05-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

When I found out I was pregnant this past fall, many people said that it would be a good idea to sign up on one of the websites that would send me weekly updates about what was happening with me and the baby. So, of course, I did. I signed up with babycenter.com and enjoyed getting the weekly updates, called "Your Pregnancy this Week." I really liked how they gave a "guestimate" of the size of the baby and compared it to a type of fruit/vegetable. (The only problem was that I didn't know what the heck a few of the fruits/vegetables were when they listed the comparison). The message also gave you an idea of what would be happening with your body and what kinds of things you need to be thinking about. It was great, especially as this was our first baby!!

Anyway, Charlie is now 5 weeks old and I am still getting the weekly updates. I never changed the due date on my profile so I should be 38 weeks today. Because he was so early, I wanted to keep getting the updates so that I could compare where he should be at in the womb to where he actually is here in my arms. I have found it quite interesting!! I got the email earlier today and this is part of the update ....

Your baby has really plumped up. He weighs about 6.8 pounds and he's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). He has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold his hand for the first time! His organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If he's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If he's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time he's 9 months old.

Let's compare now -- we went to the doctor last Thursday afternoon .... Charlie weighed in at 6 lbs 7 ozs and was 19.75 inches long. So, I guess it is about right on with it's prediction. For your information, his eyes have a blue tint to them at this point. Eric has blue eyes and mine are a hazel color, so who knows if they will stay blue (I hope so!!)

He is getting a grip too!! He will clamp down on your finger if you put it in his hand and he will look "at" you when you talk to him. We have found him to be much more active over the past few days. He is starting to get some "muscle" to him. We have to keep an eye on him now as he is able to push himself. If we are not careful, he will push himself into an uncomfortable position, which causes for an unhappy baby.

Today, I stopped in at the office for a couple of brief meetings regarding our upcoming camps. While I was in, the daughter of our CFO stopped in to say hello and to show off her baby boy. This little guy, Henry, was born one day after Charlie in the same hospital. When he was born, he was about 7.5 lbs ... today his mom said that he was over 10 lbs. I looked at Henry and then looked at Charlie and couldn't believe they were the same age. Charlie does a lot of the same things that Henry does as far as holding his head, reactions to people and their voices, but Henry is so much bigger. I really kept thinking that Charlie has grown and is becoming a hoss (compared to what he was), but after seeing Henry, I now realize that we are still pretty small. It is going to be that way, but I know that Charlie will not stay small forever and that someday we will be talking about how he was once the "runt!!"

He continues to do great though and we love watching him change each day. Sometimes I just sit there and look at them and think how I want him to stay this small forever, but then I realize that he needs to grow and that it will be exciting to see all the things he learns to do. Wanting him to stay small is just another reason to have another little one in the future so that we can go through it all again ;)

Mother's Day :)

2008-05-11T20:56:00.000-07:00

Right before heading to bed on my first Mother's Day with Charlie!!

Thanks to all who called/text or was here to wish me a "Happy Mother's Day." We had Eric's family in this weekend (Mom, Brother-Andy, Sister in law- Jennifer and nephew-Eli) in for the weekend so we were able to spend some quality time together. This was their first visit to meet Charlie, too!! Cousin Eli was very excited to meet Charlie "stinky-feet" Capps!!

I am happy to have spent my first Mother's Day with family. It has been a whirlwind month, but things are great. We have a healthy little boy who is VERY loved by our family and friends. We look forward to welcoming them all to our home over the next few weeks/months now that Charlie is home from the hospital.

I could not end this post without wishing my own mom a happy mother's day!! I am sure that she will read this so I will simply say "thank you!!" You are a tremendous woman and I am so blessed to have you as my mom. I know there were times growing up when I was not the easiest to get along with, but I have learned so much from you and can only hope that I will be as good a mom to Charlie as you have been to me. I hope that you enjoyed your day back home in IL ... we look forward to seeing you again soon so that you love all over Charlie (and then ball your eyes out when you have to leave him ;) I cannot explain the feelings of happiness that I have when I see you (and Bumpy too) hold my little guy! I love that I have been able to give you a grandbaby and look forward to all the times we will share in the future together.