Life's Surprises

Hello all!  Sorry for lack of updates.  Its been a fun spring and summer for us here at the Karels' household.  Just staying busy out in the sun and playing in the dirt.  David sure loves the dirt!!

Over 4th of July we got to get a 4 Generations picture... it was really nice to do.  I think my Grandfather really gets a kick out of his great grandson.  Though its hard not to... David is such a little character. ;)

The biggest and most surprising fun thing is...

Our newest little one... not planned but very much so welcomed. :)  We just found out last week that she's a girl. :)  A GIRL! I can't believe it.  I'm still in shock!  I'm half way through now... 20 Weeks.  I'm planning to try for a VBAC... I can't deal with the down time from a c-section again so I'm hoping and praying that God has a successful VBAC in store for me.  Please send prayers, cross your fingers, send thoughts, all of those good things for me. <3

February Fools?

After a week or so of lovely spring like weather, we're back under a winter storm warning... for today through tomorrow... which knowing this, cut our vacation up north short... got there Friday and we left Saturday.  How sad.  Grandma and Grandpa are really missing their little man... so it was hard for Jeff and I to make the decision but we figured better safe then sorry for our drive home.

David watching Cody and Chance outside.

David loves the doggies... so it was hard to take him away from them too.  Though he gets his own kitty cat this next week... so that'll be fun for him.  But having two large dogs give him love while he's up there... he just loves it.

Right before I left I finished my mother in law's birdie mittens.  The most challenging pattern for me yet... and I'm very happy with how they turned out.  I'm up for my next challenge!  I have an urge to pick up some graph paper and try my hand at making my own chart. :)  Wish me luck with that! :)

Also, David turned 18 months on the 17th. :) My baby is getting so big.  I'm seeing his baby features disappearing before my eyes.  But I think I've finally accepted that he's growing into a full fledge toddler... little boy.  That doesn't mean I won't miss the infancy... but I think I'm passed that emotional lump in my throat about the change.

I've told Jeffry that when David turns two is when I would like to not "try" for another baby, but just leave ourselves open to the possibility.  He thinks I'm crazy... but I know he'll get there. ;)

For now I'll have a cuddly kitty to help me deal with the lack of cuddling I get from my baby boy now... and that will very much so help with my baby fever.

Any way, I hope you all have a great weekend, for those of you with Monday off of work, have a wonderful 3 day weekend!  Stay warm and stay safe!

Love.

Happy Valentine's Weekend!!

Just wanted to drop a note to wish you all a happy Valentine's Day weekend.  We're celebrating early, as well as all weekend long. :)

David is almost 18 months old now... and he modeled this morning for a Valentine's Day card. :)

Be safe and love to all!!!

Baby Fever

So my brother and sister in law had their baby girl, Avari Isabella, on 1-11-11 at 3:26am.  She was 7 lbs 2 oz. and 20 inches long.  She is SO little and sweet.  This auntie loves her nieces. :)

We had a little photo yesterday.  I love how they turned out.  My son and nieces are the best models I know. ;)  Avari rocked the camera like a pro. :)

So... baby fever is definitely getting me.  But I have to keep telling myself... "Wait till David is 2, wait till David is 2...." but it gets really hard when you're around all these little babies.  I miss those days.  But I know David isn't ready to share mommy yet.  That thought alone is keeping the fever under control.

Any way, I hope you are all doing well... and I'm sorry for the long break in updates.  Its just been a busy end of the year, and an exciting start to the new.

Love to all.

1 year denial

I still can't believe David is a YEAR OLD!  Where was I? Standing by him the whole time wishing he would stay little forever.  Forever my little baby.

He is REALLY on the move these days.  I'm going to have to find him some better shoes for him to walk in.  Specially since it will be getting colder here soon.  He'll need something good to keep his footies warm. :)

Here are a couple photos from his party:

His wonderful cake and cupcakes by his Auntie Kara. :)

Journal to wish David a happy birthday blessing that he can read when he's older.

Nom Nom Nom

Green monster Baby :)

Our gift to him for his first birthday was a photoshoot by a wonderful photographer in MN.

I only have some sample photos for now, I have to wait for a couple more weeks before I see the rest.

Love love love!!! <3

Happiness along side heartache...

I will update soon about David's 1st Birthday party, but for now I wanted to share todays news.

Yesterday I found out a friend that had been battling lymphoma and winning, took a turn for the worse... I emailed his partner, who is also a friend, and he responded this morning telling me they had brought him home on hospice care on Sat. and that he wasn't sure how much longer he'd be around... thinking about a week.

While I was waiting for more news, I received happy news.  My brother txted me the ultrasound of their baby and had me guess what the sex was... and I guessed right!  They're having a girl!  Another beautiful little girl.  I'm so excited.  Though I was wrong when I guessed a boy.  :)

Right after that happy message, I received the message that broke my heart.  He passed away this morning sometime after my email chat with his partner/my friend...

My heart bleeds for them...

He was so very loved and he will be strongly missed... <3
Rest well my friend.

"When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. When you die, you rejoice, and the world cries."

– Tibetan Buddhist saying

.Sweet.

A day before David's big 1st birthday bash, I got the art itch and actually got a entry done for the facebook graffiti contest.  This contest is about emotions, telling a story.  I chose to do Sweet... at least for my first one.  I worked so long on it... 6 hours I think?  I should of been cleaning, but I just felt I had to finish it or my heart would burst and I would fall to pieces.  Maybe its my coping skill for David turning one?

Any way, we have everything all set up for the party... we have a little more cleaning to do in the morning.  My sister in law made cupcakes and David's birthday cake... I have yet to see them, Jeff is on his way home with them right now... needless to say, I'm SUPER excited to see them.  She wouldn't even give me a peak... so I'm curious. ;)

More people then I thought are coming... which melts my heart knowing they care for my little man ... makes me want to dance around the house singing. :)

OOOO Jeff is home... gotta go. Love!

Precious Family Moments

Daddy time.

Auntie Kara and Uncle Dan

David and Grandma Liz

David and Grandpa Steve

Big D and Little D

Cousin Varrah and David

Cousin Josie at her 1st birthday and David

And of course, I have none of myself with David... and I'm missing ones with Auntie Erika and David.  Erika... we need to get more pictures of you with him. ;)

Getting close...

David's first birthday is fast approaching.  We're celebrating four days early with friends and family, then we'll be having a family day, just the three of us on his actual birthday.

Even talking about it puts a knot in my stomach.

I'm not ready for this but there's no way to stop it.  He's going to turn one whether I like it or not.  I think I'm grieving his infancy.  The last year has meant so much to me, and I know I'm going to enjoy the next year too, but there's just something about this first year of being a mom... having my little man... so tiny in my arms... I'm so going to miss these moments.

I think the grieving is making me crazy and wanting another baby now... I need to hold myself back from this because I don't think I could handle a newborn and a toddler at the same time.  But if it were to happen I would take the challenge.  Though I doubt it would happen.  Jeffry has made it clear that he doesn't want another one for a little while.  So I will just baby my new little niece or nephew that is on the way, due in January.  That should help I think.

How have you mom's out there dealt with the change from infant to toddler?  Cause it is breaking my heart right now and I can't seem to really  make myself feel better.

New Beginnings...

Wow I didn't mean to go this long with out updating... life just gets so crazy and you lose track of time and the little things you do to relax.

So basically, to fill you in on the biggest thing... Jeff and I moved!!!  We finally got our house and we've been here for a whole month now.  Can you believe it??? I can't... I still feel like I'm in a dream... the kind of dream that you clean and cook the entire day... but its still a good dream. ;)

My hubby and brother laying the sod down. :)

After the sod was put down. :)

The sunsets we get to watch every evening from our living room window are amazing.

We don't have much yet for interior things... we did just get our couch and chair so that's a plus.  I now have a place to snuggle with my little man. :)

As for my little man!  Things have been changing for him.  He has four teeth now, and cutting two more right now.  He is almost walking.  He stands all by myself now and gets pretty close to trying to take a step, but he decides not quite yet... he's so cute though, stands up and growls, claps his hands and smiles really really big.

He is 10 and a half months now... I can't believe he's that much closer to a year! (heart attack) So much to do... so much to plan... but I'm determined to make his 1st birthday a blast!

Last weekend he got to meet his Great grandfather for the first time.  That was an exciting weekend for me because I've been wanting to get out to North Dakota since he was born, but its such a drive I worried about how David would handle that long in the car seat, but we're an hour closer now so I was feeling pretty good about it.  He was a little cranky after the ride, but things went well.  Grandpa finally got to get his grandson on a tractor which is a big deal for him... when they play its always "Gonna take a ride on the tractor?" and what not.  My father even got him a plushy John Deere tractor... so yeah... big deal for him!!! :)

At his first parade. :)

Grandpa driving the people mover... at this point I started screaming "It's SANTA!! IT'S SANTA!!!" hehe

David waving to Grandpa

Great Grandpa Kensinger

one of the girls in the parade came up and gave David a pinwheel... he didn't know what to think of it... it kind of freaked him out at first...

Had to get a picture of Jeffry and I... and of course, as always, my hubby has to be a goof. hehe

My boys. :) *love

He loves daddy's hat. :)

Standing all by da self... :)  So happeh!

Kisses from Great Grandpa Ken

More kisses

Cuddles with Grandpa Steve

Head butt

cuddle bear

Showing G-Grandpa how to do a head tilt

Now... it may look like a cry, but its not... its a growl of excited-ness.  He was so interested in the tractor.  And when he gets interested in something he does this growl.  He is SUCH a boy... hehe.

Here Grandpa, I'll do it for you

My papa loves his grand baby boy :)

He really wanted a grandson... so David made his year :)

We left shortly after his tractor ride.  Jeff wanted to get home to check on the sod and get it watered.  It was of course... just fine when we got home..  Silly men and their lawn obsessions I tell ya what! ;)

And now... some random pictures of David from the past week or so.

And now I leave you with a wish of a safe and fun filled 4th of July weekend for you all!!!

Love to you all.

Krista