The Rainbow Roper....

So, I'm about to yell at Seth for playing in the computer room closet.... when I see that my boy has gone and captured a rainbow....

Isn't that just like him?!?! <3

First Bit of Independence....

Guess who lost his umbilical cord yesterday? Awww... that makes me teary a bit. I feel like its their first declaration of independence... by shedding that lifeline.

Things are starting to get better here. Its taken 3 weeks, but I'm finally just starting to get the hang of 2 children. Adjusting from one to two was much harder than I thought!

Lucas is doing great... he is nursing very 2.5 to 3 hours. He actually had a few nights in a row where he has slept a 4.5 hour stretch. He still has a bit of baby acne and his bum is pretty sensitive, regardless of frequent diaper changes.

Seth still loves his brother, and he adores his father. Its his mother he is acting out against. I'm not sure if he is jealous or what, but Seth has taken to yelling "NO" at me, willfully disobeying, and even told me to "shut up" once. Its breaking my heart. And I know that by typing it... it may just look like terribly twos... but its not. Its his tone and the way he glares at me when he does it.

This morning when I was getting Seth dressed for church he was yelling at me... and it made me well up. I told Nate, "Why did I become a mother again? One child hates me, and the other solely looks at me for dinner."

This is just a stage right? I'd really like my darling Seth back.

****************

Thanks for all the well wishes and compliments about my website. I am still tweaking it here and there. I already have 2 more possible clients, and a possibly wedding in September. Fingers crossed!

Andrea Burns Photography....

Super Fantastic News from me....

Andrea Burns Photography

Isn't that fun?!?!? (make sure your sound is on!) I shared this over at 2 Peas yesterday... and I already have a potential client! YAY!

****************

Secondly... I've been meaning to tell you all this, it is SUPER GROSS.

When my FIL was here Sunday he was telling us about a co-worker of his. His Co-worker has a daughter at MIT, and she was doing this huge Research Paper on McDonald's. Turns out she uncovered that McDonald's is the biggest buyer in the USA for......

wait for it........



Cow Eyeballs.


Smashingly Nasty!

ETA: YAY Stephanie for finding out the truth!

In-Betweeners.....

OK, so I am in this awkward in-between sizing right now. All of my maternity clothes are too big now. But all of my regular clothes are still too small. I threw on a regular T-shirt and grimaced once I saw the attractive belly pooch. And I really don't want to spend money on clothes right now. I guess its still maternity duds for me. For a few more weeks at least.

I did happen to find a great dress that fits post partum bodies nicely!

Aqua

Black

Its the dress featured on pg 58 in April's Parenting Magazine and I was drawn to the color and affordable price. I got the one in Aqua. It fits the bust nicely, and flows right over that belly and hips, LOL! I plan on wearing it for Easter, so I thought I'd point it out! I got the Med, BTW. Reviews on Target's website said it ran big. I am really happy with this dress, the color is even prettier in real life. It looks much better on me IRL, than it does on the model above.

****************

I am *this close* to finishing my new photography website. It'll be live in just a few days! I am so excited, it looks great!

I also hear-by VOW to never get prints made at Walmart again. I am a total slacker when it comes to printing off stuff... even though I've spent time at least adjusting contrast. I had some prints made the other day, these were to "introduce" Lucas to my grandparents who all live out of state. I was so ill when I saw them at pick up time yesterday. Lucas looked like an orange Oompa Loompa in most of the pictures. The COLOR was HORRID. I mentioned it to the lady behind the counter, and she said it was b/c it was send out, and not their one hour fault... UGG! I didn't buy half of them, and now need to find a new place to print or send out.

Just to give you a visual, I did print the picture of Lucas that is in my header. It came back where his skin was VERY red, and super mottled. The blue was a super blue! It really was attrocious. I usually don't have qualms printing stuff there, like normal snapshots, but NO MORE, I SAY, NO MORE! (complete with fist shaking in the air)

A Few More....

We are still in "Survival Mode" over here. My little Lucas is a bit of a Dr. Jeckle & Mr. Hyde. He is such a cozy and cuddly little man during th day. But as soon as the clock hit 9:15 pm... he is a force to be reckoned with. He is M-A-D that its night time, I suppose.

As for the nighttime routine, its not too terrible right now. Nate takes the first shift, he stays up with Lucas till 12:30 0r 1 am. I go to bed promptly at 10:30 (after a feeding). Then Nate feeds him a bottle (while I pump). Then Lucas wakes to eat at about 4:30, and then again at about 7:30.

I really can't wait till this is down to once a night.. and then not at all, LOL!

I've been capturing some really cute shots, but I have also realized that I need a good monitor calibrator, so before I show too many color shots, I'd like to get that done.

BTW~ andreaburnsphotography.com will be LIVE, Coming at you, in the weeks ahead! **So Close**

And without further adieu....

Thanks for looking! :)

A Teaser....

(believe it or not, but the poop went flying right after this shot!!)

ETA, this is a vintage Pitcher Bowl that Lucas is in! :)

Just Fine....

The Ped's office just called an hour ago...

Lucas' culture came back normal, and just fine! YAY! He is looking GREAT. The antibiotics that he's been taking has really cleared up his skin, and he's just a doll!

My mom-in-law is here today... she is doing me the biggest favor and is cleaning my house for me while I cruise the net... er..... "rest." LOL! I'm trying to get photos of Lucas, but he isn't behaving, LOL! Doesn't he know what he's in for?!?! ;)

I just have to publically say that I LOVE MY DIGI CHICK girls. They really are the best. So kind, and so very generous, I'm telling you, these ladies really rock my world.

As for the Who Watched Seth question... we did end up finding a lady at church to call if we needed her. And then my mom was here right away.

6 Days Old....

Just because my little Lucas is sooo sweet!

Happy St Patrick's!

Hey Ya'll!

The Guestimate winners are Rachel, jennieb75, and Dielle. If ya'll could throw me an email to andreaburnsct@hotmail.com, with your kit of choice, I'll get those to you ASAP.

****************

We are busy adjusting... and trying to get our days and nights un-mixed, LOL!

Lucas has already had a skin issue which rushed us to the Ped's office last Thursday!

We noticed on Wednesday that his eyes were really red and swollen. I thought maybe it was a reaction to a blnaket we laid him on. So we got an appnt. the following day... it wasn't an emergency, he was breathing and crying lustily.

They were really great with isolating us away from everyone else. When the nurse was checking Lucas stats (down to 8.2 lbs) I asked if I was overreacting. She looked right at me and said "NO, its good you came in."

See... now his eyes were red and swollen and has lots of white raised bumps on top of that!! My Lucas looked a bit like a toad. I started to cry a bit when Dr Papa (pay-puh) came in looked at Lucas and was like "what is that?" His Ped didn't know right off? That scared me.

He started asking me all sorts of scary questions like Did I or Seth have chicken pox 2 weeks before birth? Did I notice anyone handle him with open wounds? Then he started asking if I tested positive for GSB, and I said yes. Then he went to check how many doses of antibiotic I got. Which BTW~ was 3 doeses. He said that this meant Lucas has about 10 days worth of it in his system. So it can't be that.

Then he started checking him out physically, not liking what he saw. He sniffed the umbi cord, he checked the circ. Then he decided to take a culture of one of the spots. He thinks the eyes and the baby acne are related. So I stepped away and cried for a second while Nate held Lucas and the doc opened a spot and took a culture. We won't know conclusive results till Monday.

Dr Papa says he does NOT think it has to do with the blanket. He does NOT think its anything serious. He thinks its just something called Pustular Melanosis, a form of "skin flora."

He said if it was SERIOUS, Lucas would be acting all wimpy, no crying, really limp, no yawning. If it was an infection, we would notice signs at his most irritated spots, ie: umbi cord and circ. We are to still look for these signs the next few days.

He prescribed another antibiotic, Just to Be Safe, and a gel to rub on Lucas' eyes.

My poor bubba! I am not so scared anymore, but I am still worried. I can't wait till Monday!

Today its looking MUCH better. Spots are drying up and the sweeling is mostly gone. Just a bit o' jaundice.

***************

Cutie Pie Seth moment:

He's learned the This Little Piggies nursery Rhyme. And when I'm nursing bare foot he's at my toes going "Dis Piggy Piggy, dis piggy piggy, dis piggy piggy, dis piggy piggy WEE WEE HOOOOOME."

It cracks us UP! So funny!

Introducing.....

Lucas Elliot Burns

March 12, 2007

5:48 pm

8 lbs 6 oz

20.5 inches

Super condensed version of the labor story....I started labor early and then my water was broken at 8:30. Got my *first* epidural at 9 am (they had lots of surgeries planned and wanted to get me hooked up). Around 2 pm I started feeling some hard contractions in my hips and belly.... but I was still stuck at 2 cm's and 80%. The nurse gave me another "bolism" (spell? is that even the right word?) Another shot, persay, of the epidural.

From there my legs went completely dead, I was paralyzed, still at 2 cm's.

They checked me at 3 pm, I was at a 3.5. I started feeling my contractions again, really, really hard.

Around 4:30 I had 4 super hard contractions right on top of each other, so we called the nurse in.

I had gone from a 4 to an 8 in an hour!!!!

By 5 I was complete, but we had to wait for my doc.

I thought I was dying b/c I was getting NO breaks between super hard cx's.

My doc showed up, and 2 contractions later Lucas entered the world.

Is that considered 2 pushes? I gave a couple pushes per cx.

God was really watching over Lucas, b/c we soon saw that his umbilical cord had wraped itself into a knot. My doc was really surpised and said that this prolly happened around week 11, when he was still small enough to spin around. THANK the Lord that this didn't become serious!

My legs stayed paralyzed till about 3 am, when could finally move to my room and be wheeled to the bathroom.All day Tuesday I still had lots of pins and needles, and yesterday my leg was still really stiff. Today its fine.

He really does have his own look. He was born with that baby acne all over, and it looks like he will have sensitive skin, b/c today he already has a bit of diaper rash. We are alredy dealing with some swollen eyes b/c of the blasted wool blanket we laid him on.....

Just adjusting here..... I want to go snuggle with Seth... who BTW, loves to give hugs and kisses to his brother and share toys already.

((HUGS))

Hello (nate typing) mom and baby are doing great. He was born last night at 5:48 and was 20.5" long and 8lbs 6oz. Pictures will be coming soon!

YAY

This is it!

Off to the hospital, here he comes!

Good To Know....

Isn't it good to know that;

a) there are only 33.33333 calories in each PEEPS bunny?

b) that YES, Malt Balls float?

And please tell my why your stomach moves in and out to breathe, when it's your lungs doing the work?

5 Days till my Due Date....

I think the walking did me good yesterday. Last night I was contracting, non-consistantly, but pretty hard.

This seems to be the routine though... at night I start contracting (each night harder than the previous) but I'm able to go to sleep and when I wake up I'm fine.

I'm to the point where it hurts for me to even turn over to my other side in bed. I'm so ready to be done.

ANYWAYS!

Nate and I cute Seth's hair last night... its the shortest its been, prolly in a year. It'll grow a bit more on top in time for Easter, but I was just tired of paying a barber to keep leaving it too long.

Yesterday at the mall I bought a couple things, LOL! I found Seth's new pair of chino's (who am I kidding... khaki's) at Baby Gap. They were sold out of the 3T online, and thats what I wanted to get him. He is pretty spot in in size, he's really a solid 2T, but I wanted the pants to fit him and take him through next winter too. I have some Gymbucks saved for Gymboree (Gymbucks next week Peeps!!) where I want to get his vest and shirt for Easter too.

I also hit Yankee Candle. I have shamfully had the same Tart Burner since last Fall! (Gina don't look!!!) A stone burner with falling leaves on it, ROFLOL! I was sick to death of looking at it, and finally picked up a new one. Its just a white burner with some raised flowers and vines on it, very pretty and very versatile, LOL!

I also stocked up on a couple tarts, ALL (but one) of them fruit inspired. Juicy Peach, Peach & Berries, Orange, Lavender & Lemon, Fruit Smoothie, Cherry Lemonade.... and Nate's favorite, ButterCreme, it smells like Cake Batter, LOL!

I have resolved not to buy any more dang Tarts till I have used up my entire stock. Are you like me and you pick up a few... when you still have plenty at home? And I'm so OCD sometimes.. I can't buy just one, I always get at least 2 in the scent.

Still waiting.....

Hi all, still here, still feeling crappy.

I'm actually waiting for the Heater guy. The past week or so whenever the heater comes on, it SHUDDERS and makes the whole first floor vibrate! And, as an added bonus, this whole morning when its gone off, something burns and the smoke alarm goes off!

I want to try and get out to Target later and walk the mall too. Anything to help my cervix along!

TOOT TOOT! Scrapbook Trends just emailed me for one of my layouts to be published in their Babies 2007 Idea Book! YAY, how exciting!

Thats it. Still waiting.....

Snowy March....

FIL update~ he came out of surgery at about 3:30. It took longer than thought, b/c when he had the original peretinitis, he had alot of places in his intestines that had lesions. Those lesions ended up healing and fusing to different organs, so it took extra time seperating all of that out, and then making sure his intestines didn't have any leaks.

It looks like he'll be in the hossy till AT LEAST Friday... it all depends on his food intake.

Thank you so much for your prayers and well wishes!

****************

Journaling says; Belly laughs and smooches, there's nothing better, nothing sweeter!

For Credits, SEE HERE.

I am really starting to get tired of the snow. I was really spoiled living in Georgia for 6 years... and Spring and Daffodils came in February. We got pounded again with snow here the last couple days. It just doesn't seem right. I am SO ready for flowers and warmth.

The weather does say it's supposed to warm to about 50* next week, so I am praying that they are right.

Walkity, Walk-Walk....

(sigh).... I love this....

I had my doctor's appointment yesterday... and lets just say that Nate had all of my good graces to go spend the night at his parents. I am still only a 1 and 20% effaced, and doc didn't think that I'd go into labor the next 24 hours.

So now, I go out and walk. And walk, walk, walk. And maybe get a pedicure. LOL!

There's not much on my plate today... I am working on a layout using the picture above, and I so want it to be perfect. Other than that, its laundry day.

Please continue your prayers for my father in law... he is in surgery as I type. Thank You!

Still Here....

Since when did my body become public property? I've had more people touch my belly or rest their hands on the shelf of my belly in the last 2 days than ever before..... all combined I think, LOL!

And I'm really getting irritated with everyone always asking how I feel or when I'm due. Or like the girl last night who asks me every week..."still wearing your rings?" My word, I'm about to go postal!

I am also about to cry, and I really hope I am not alone here! My belly has run out of room! It LITERALLY hurts for my baby to move.

It feels like my skin is tearing and he's trying to come out of my belly button. It has been progressively getting worse the past couple days, but now if he moves or stretches... PAIN.....

We made this really yummy orange glazed salmon over the weekend, and here's the recipe if anyone is interested!


Crispy Orange-Glazed Salmon

2/3 cup orange juice
3 TBS rice wine vinegar
2 TBS soy sauce
1 small chile pepper, thinly sliced and seeded
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, grated
2-4 (4 to 6 ounce) salmon filets
2 TBS olive oil, divided
salt, to taste
fresh ground pepper, to taste
2 TBS honey

Garnished Hot Cooked Rice

1. Stir together first 6 ingredients in a glass baking dish or shallow bowl. Add salmon and drizzle with 1 TBS of olive oil, turning to coat evenly. Marinate at least 30 minutes. Remove salmon, reserving maranade, and season with salt and pepper.

2. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, and add remaining 1 TBS of olive oil. Cook salmon 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until fish begins to flake with fork; remove from pan. Pour reserved marinade into skillet, and add honey. Heat about 3 minutes or until syrupy. Serve Salmon warm over mound of rice, topped with sauce.

Garnish hot cooked rice with bean sprouts, chopped fresh cilantro, shaved carrots. (I actually mixed all this in with 7 or 8 minutes cook time left on the rice and stirred well.)

****************

Nate's dad suffered the Peretinits (colon rupture) in Jan '05. We'll he's worn a colostomy bag ever since. He is FINALLY having the reversal surgery on Tuesday, all day. Its very extensive. (This is the reason I can't rely on MIL to be my childcare, b/c she'll be caring for FIL.)

I've encouraged Nate to go sit with his mom for most of the surgery. Its about 2 hours away.

But now he's talking about going to spend the night Monday night and spend all day Tuesday with them.

I don't know how to feel about that... on one hand I DO want him to help support his mom, but on the other... I'm not sure I want him so far away for so long when I could go into labor and be even more by myself.

Just hanging around till my DA at 1:20. I really hope that there's been progress... but maybe not too much to hinder Nate from going to his parents.

If I'm only a 2 or less he should go... I'm thinking if I'm a 3 or more he should stay, LOL! I wanted to ask for a membrane strip, but now I'm not so sure..... All of this just makes me fret.

Anyways, please say a special prayer for my FIL. His name is Ed, and this surgery is a long time coming, and is going to be very extensive.

Thanks, all of us Burns' appreciate it!

Guestimate....

I've been fortunate enough that where I went for ultrasound pics (an MRI imaging place) they put them on a CD for me... LOL! This last time was actually in my Dr's office and she didn't do that. Sorry I've been lazy with getting a copy.

But here is Bean! Isn't his face darling? Looks like he's got nice full lips! That blob in front of his left eye is his hand... he was kinda sleeping on that arm. Sweet 'eh?

And... am I crazy or does he already look alot like his older brother?

OK!! How about a fun little contest???

Leave me a comment, with your guess of Date, Weight, & Length. (Don't worry about time... thats too obscure!) The person who comes closest to the right date and measurements will win the kit of their choice from my store. And who knows? Maybe there will be 2 winners, if one guesses the right date and another has the right measurements.

To help you along~ here were Seth's stats. He was born at 38 weeks (Sept 25 '04). He weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and was 20.5 inches long.

At Seth's 36 week ultrasound they showed him to already be over 8 lbs... but the estimate was a lb off.

With Bean, I have already been pregnant 2 whole days longer than Seth, and at his 36 week ultrasound they measured him at 7.7 lbs. (Who knows if its off or not???)

Have fun, and I can't wait to see some of your guestimates!! So leave me a post! :o)

TGIF!!

A Wild Rumpus....

Got Boys? Have a very bright girl? Then this is deffinitely for you!

New! Wild Rumpus!

"And now," cried Max, "let the Wild Rumpus start!" ~ Maurice Sendak.


Wild Rumpus is a kit inspired by one of my son's favorite books, Where The Wild Things Are. Wild Rumpus is full of bright colors to match your son's bright personality, and filled with elements that you might find stuffed in your son's pockets. This is the perfect boy's kit for you!


Included in Wild Rumpus are 8 textured and worn papers, 4 paint strokes, 3 stitched ric rac, 2 beaded stars, 2 pieces of yarn, 2 clipboard tops, 2 postcards (1 straight and 1 curled), 1 bead trim, 1 ric rac cluster, 1 rusty star, and 1 word art. Also included is a full alpha, numeral, and symbol set in sticker form.

Get WILD RUMPUS HERE at The Digi Chick. Hurry! 20% off introductory price today only!

And now some AMAZING Layouts done by my Creative Team. I really love these girls! They really do some fantastic stuff!

And today is March 1st, so that brings on my brand new Guest Creative Team member~

Priscilla Hedlin