Daddy and Matthew playing in the snow!
Matthew kept falling down and had a hard time walking in the white stuff, so Daddy put him on top of the partially finished snowman to rest while he finished building it.
The finished product... sorry it's blurry, I dropped the camera in the snow! If you can't tell, Matthew is giving the snowman a hug in this picture!
A few weeks ago we tried out Paige's Winter Jumperland with Matthew and Jacob. As you can tell, Ella was really enjoying herself!
Yes, Jacob is in this picture... Matthew just plowed him over coming down the slide together!
Lots of fun and a great way to burn energy. Best part: It's free for kids under 3!!!!
New hat!
Ella got a new hat, too!Well, the time has come. I am headed back to work on Monday. Part of me is dreading it: leaving my babies, having to get up at 5 AM, dressing up, dealing with other people, more responsibility, being gone 20 hours. Part of me is excited: adult interaction, getting to show off pictures of my babies to some friends, having my Mom who is taking care of my kids while I am away, only working 1 full day and 2 half days each week. During my maternity leave, I have had many opportunities to consider why I work. Some of the reasons are completely selfish, like getting out of the house a couple days during the week. One of the main reasons I work is because I provide the insurance for myself, Matthew and Ella. Working in the medical field has allowed us to have 2 children and only pay our deductible for their deliveries/hospital stays. I know many people who do not have this luxury and I know we are blessed. Part of me wishes I could be a stay-at-home mom, the part that misses my kids like crazy everyday when I leave for work... this is also the part of me that has dissipated by the time Ryan gets home on the days when I don't work. I know being a mom is the hardest job I will ever have and I admire the women who do stay at home with their children. A larger part of me knows that being able to have some adult interaction and provide a small portion of my family's income for me is the right decision. I am probably typing this more to convince myself of this than anyone else. I do know that I am so blessed to be in the field I am, where I am allowed the flexibility to choose where/when I work. I know going back to work is going to be difficult... maybe even more this time than with Matthew because we do not plan to have anymore children and I will never again have this long of a stretch of time to spend at home with my kids. However, I also know that my kids are in the best possible care and even after a long day on the job I come home refreshed and excited to play with them and be the best possible Mommy I can be!
Hope you have a great week!
Well, I am sure to be banned from the "Parent of the Year" nominations for posting this picture of my darling little girl, but I couldn't resist. I just love this stage where their eyes go crossed just about every time they are opened, and I was able to capture it on the camera last weekend. I think she looks a bit like a caricature in this picture! As you can all see, she is definitely not starving! We are planning to grow into our cheeks in 2011! Have a great day!As I was reading Facebook posts this morning and thinking about the upcoming year, I was thinking that wishing people a HAPPY New Year really didn't make that much sense to me. As much as it would be nice to have a HAPPY New Year, I realize that there are going to be times throughout the next year that will inevitably be unhappy. There will be moments of sadness, there might even be full days or weeks of sadness. There will be times when I do not feel at all HAPPY, when I am upset, mad, nervous, scared, etc. Not to be a total downer as we look ahead to the New Year, but I have decided that I will not be wishing people a HAPPY New Year for 2010. Instead, I think Joyful is a much better choice of words. No matter what happens during the next year of my life, I know Who I belong to, and that God has a master plan for all that happens in my life. I have little control over the day to day happenings in the world, whether they are happy, sad, devastating, or exciting. In fact, there are moments when I have no control over myself, but regardless of what happens in my world, I will still have JOY in my heart. The best news of all is that even in moments of great sorrow and pain, I have seen and experienced JOY in my own life and hope that each of you have as well. So, as we move forward in 2010, I wish you the JOY that comes from knowing how great a God we serve! JOYFUL 2010!
We had a wonderful Christmas! Matthew and Ella received beautiful gifts everywhere we went and Mommy and Daddy have spent the last couple days trying to make room for all their new things! Here is Matthew at Grandma and Grandpa Peppler's house on Christmas morning. He is playing with his new farm toys from Uncle Kyle and Lindsey! He LOVES them!
This is Matthew at Grandma and Grandpa Phegley's house on the 26th. He is playing with his new barn. It is pretty funny to watch him flap his wings like the chicken does on the barn!
Little Miss Ella received a new pink chair that is just her size! Can't wait for her to get a little bigger so she can play with some of her new toys! Right now, Mommy and Daddy are enjoying playing with them!
Here is Matthew at home checking out what Santa brought! He really likes his new Lego table and basketball hoop that he can make slam dunks on. We thought about raising it up, but decided we would build his confidence for right now and adjust the height later!
Hope everyone enjoyed their Christmases. We certainly did! Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful gifts! We are having lots of fun with all our new toys!At the risk of having my husband and brother-in-law never speak to me again, I post this video! My mom got my dad a karaoke machine for Christmas and Ryan and Jared were among the first to try it out! Needless to say, we enjoyed their rendition of RESPECT!!! Hope you enjoy it as well!
The Pepplers 2009
Matthew 2 months old!
Ella 3 days old!No pictures today. Just news. We are coming home tonight (Friday), so if anyone was planning on coming to the hospital, don't. We're planning on being home around dinnertime tonight. Jamie is doing so well that the doctor released her this morning. Ella has been passing all her tests as well. Hope all is well with everyone else. We could not be happier if we tried!
She's here! At 12:02 p.m., Miss Ella Joy Peppler made her much anticipated appearance in the world. 7 lbs, 15 oz., 20 inches long. And TONS of long, brownish, redish hair. Mommy and Ella are doing great. (Daddy and Matthew are, as well.) Check out the pics in the other post!
I might be the happiest person on earth right about now! I just received an email from work informing me that the temporary visitor policy banning children under the age of 18 from entering the hospital HAS BEEN LIFTED!!!!! I am so happy that Matthew will be allowed to come and visit us while we are at the hospital! I was very much dreading having to leave him for a couple days. I might even consider staying an extra day in the hospital at this point. I was originally planning to come home after 48 hours (72-96 is typical stay for a c-section), but now I may go ahead and stay the extra day!!!! I think I was more anxious about not being able to see him than I was about having my abdomen sliced open again! Now, I can just relax and wait for Wednesday to arrive!!!!!
One of Matthew's favorite activities is to see how small of a space his little body can fit into. This is him after he got stuck behind his ladder on his playground.
Ok, time to start trying to get out...
We will be delivering Ella at Dupont Hospital (not Lutheran). Since I work at Dupont now, we have opted to deliver there this time! Just didn't want anyone showing up at the wrong place to visit! Same visiting arrangement still exist as in previous post!
Well, I spent over 2 hours at the doctor this morning and I was the first appointment! The NP wanted to do a biophysical profile (ultrasound) to make sure little Miss Ella was doing OK since my BP is still elevated. She wouldn't hold still for the ultrasound and they measured her heart rate in the 190's, so then they sent me for a non-stress test. She performed beautifully for that with her heart rate in the 150's-160's. Once that was complete, I was allowed to come home and lay on my left side until I go back to the doctor on Monday! The best news out of the entire appointment was that Ella appears healthy and is still an Ella! We are so grateful that less than a week from now we will be holding her in our arms! Can't wait!
Today, I am thinking...
1. About all the stuff I need to get done tomorrow. My doctor took me off work this morning, but I convinced her to let me return for one more day. I am going back in the morning to try to get a few loose ends tied up before maternity leave.
2. About all the other moms out there who have been in my shoes before. Trying to rest with a 14 month old around is easier said than done! I am trying to behave!
3. About all the women in my life who have, at one time or another, played a motherly role. I am learning more and more everyday that it does indeed take a village to raise a child. I am so blessed with an incredible mom and wonderful women role models in my life who have spurred me on and encourage me everyday!
4. About all the people I know who are pregnant and expecting little bundles of joy. What an exciting time! I am so blessed to be right there with you!
5. About all the women I know who have loved and lost or who may never have children of their own. Each of you has an amazing gift to share with the world and I am so blessed to know you and share my life with you! Thank you for the important role you have played in my life!
Ella is still slated to arrive on November 18th around 11:30, although I can honestly say I wouldn't mind an earlier delivery if she so desires. That said, there are a few things that are different this time around with the emergence of H1N1. Matthew will not be allowed to come to the hospital to visit at all while I am there. No one under the age of 18 is allowed in the hospital unless it is for a medical procedure. Although I understand why this new policy is in place, I am dreading leaving him for a couple days. Also, there is a 2-visitor policy at the hospital that only allows 2 visitors to come in at a time. With this news, we are trying to warn people ahead of time that if you plan to come to the hospital please be aware of these changes. Also, since Matthew will not be allowed in to see me, I am planning to come home after 48 hours instead of the usual 72-96 allowed after a c-section. If all goes as planned, we will go in on Wednesday morning, and I hope to be coming home by Friday afternoon. We look forward to introducing Ella to the world, however, it may be a little different this time around!
Before Matthew's nap yesterday, we were picking up toys, and we took his tent back to his room to get it out of the way. When we came back into the family room, we were met with our little guy dragging the tent back into the family room! I guess we weren't supposed to put that one away!
Matthew certainly loves hanging out with his Daddy. Here they are at the Fashion Farm in Ligonier. We went there to pick out pumpkins and go on a hayride, but the fire trucks and ambulances were the hit of the show for Matthew and Jacob.
Matthew loves his Daddy so much sometimes he dresses like him for church. Here he is with Ryan's glasses on all ready to go!
One of Matthew's new favorite activities is getting up and down off the couch. He can do it by himself and he just loves it when Daddy tickles him while he is up there!Well, I have officially reached the point in my pregnancy where EVERYONE thinks I look like I am going to pop! I am quite amused by this time because people say whatever they think! Here are a few examples I have heard this week:
"Just how big is this baby going to be?" (this was said by a nurse practitioner at my doctor's office).
A lady in the waiting room at the hospital: "When are you due?" Me: "November 18th." Response: "That is going to be one BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIG baby!"
Matthew pointing to my belly: "Ball."
A lady in a parking lot: "WHOA! You look like you're about ready to POP!"
A man at church: "You look sooooooooooooo uncomfortable."
A woman at church: "My husband said we were going to have a new baby in the neighborhood this week." When I replied that the baby wasn't due until mid-November she replied, "Oh my."
Ryan after I came out of the bedroom in a shirt that was not maternity and waaaaay too tight, "I feel sorry for the buttons."
Hope you enjoy some of these as much as I have! I better go figure out which tent I am going to wear out of the house today! Have a great day!
My friend, Sara's, mom is still in the hospital. They have actually ruled out H1N1 and are now working on a new diagnosis. Please pray for good test results and answers for them.
Melinda went home to be with Jesus yesterday afternoon. Please pray for their family and her 10 year old daughter during this most difficult time.
Bill is doing well and is up and about. He is still very sore and will have a long recovery ahead. Please continue to lift him up.
I went to the doctor this AM and my BP was only 128/72!!!! Hooray! I am measuring 4 weeks ahead of schedule, but I think little Ella would prefer to incubate a little longer!
That's all the updates I have for right now... Hope everyone has a great day!
For all who believe in the power of prayer, we need your help!!!
1. My good friend from high school's mother was just admitted to the hospital with H1N1. She has been sick for more than a week and her fever will not stay down. Please pray for Sara's family during this difficult time.
2. Another friend's sister in law had a massive heart attack this morning and is in the ICU in Fort Wayne. Please pray for healing for Melinda. Don't know any other details... just requesting prayers.
3. Finally, some other friends of ours father is in the ICU following unexpected open heart surgery on Friday. He is recovering, but still in need of prayers and healing. Please say a prayer for Bill if you have time.
We feel pretty helpless in all these situations right now, but know the best thing we can offer are our prayers. Will you join us?
Matthew has three things that stop him in his tracks.
1. Food. Anything that you are eating. He will try it. And if he likes it, you are in trouble because he WILL come back for more.
2. Veggietales. When we let him watch Veggietales, he sits down in his chair, and is a zombie, eyes drawn to the cartoon vegetables. Gotta love good cartoons!
3. Mickey Mouse's Hot Dog Dance. This is something they sing at the end of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I was lucky enough to tape the song for him the other day, and here he is, performing a dance and song routine!
Hot apple cider
Crisp fall leaves
Pumpkins
Warm colors
Big sweaters
Hooded sweatshirts
Cool air
Hayrides
I LOVE FALL!!!!
Happy Autumn!
Well, Matthew and I went to the doctor yesterday and my BP is elevated - 142/86. :( I think it is because Matthew was along, but my doctor did not buy it. She threatened bedrest, but since I am not the bedrest kind of girl, I agreed to check it everyday for the next 2 weeks and behave myself in the meantime. Of course, the health of Baby Ella is the most important, so I will try to take it easy and rest when Matthew is resting. I am not sure how Mommas of toddlers ever do bedrest. I am hopeful that it won't creep any higher and we will be able to continue our daily routine for now. Will keep you posted! Have a happy Thursday!
