Thankful Thursdays...

Today, I am thankful for...

1. Scrapbooking. I have not actually done scrapbooking since I was in college. I made a scrapbook for Ryan that chronicled our dating life up until we were engaged. Then, I went on hiatus. Thankfully, Ryan's cousin, Cara, has done Matthew's entire first year for us as a gift! HUGE BLESSING! Now, I am going to try to keep up with important milestones/events in his life from here on! I am also thinking about getting a book started for baby #2, but I am hesitant since we aren't sure of the sex. I am looking forward to having a creative outlet again!

2. Fall decor. I am going to try to get my house decorated for fall this weekend! I love pumpkins and leaves and my house just happens to be painted in fall colors! I can't wait to get all my little gourds out! :)

3. NAP TIME!!! I did not let Matthew take a morning nap this morning... I am not sure we are ready for that transition yet, but I thought I would try it on a day when I didn't have too much planned. He was quite the little trooper, even as we made a trip to Michaels. Now, he is sleeping and I am hoping he takes a nice long nap!

4. A meeting that went well. I requested a meeting with my bosses earlier this week to discuss some things that were causing increased stress in my life! It could not have gone any better! Best news of all... my office is moving to a beautiful new location! I am meeting with the Plant Ops guy in the morning for a walk-through! I can't wait to have a new office and a separate space to see my patients! YIPPEE!!!

5. An official name for baby #2... as long as baby #2 is a girl! I really wanted to use family names for this baby like we did for Matthew, but as we previously posted, we really could not agree on what to use. So... this is what we have decided. My maternal grandmother's name was Esther... and although I loved her dearly, I really couldn't bring myself to name my child Esther. So, we started looking for names that started with "E." My paternal grandmother's name was Marcella... again, not going to name my child Marcella. Ryan's maternal grandmother's name is Joyce. We had decided that the baby's middle name would be Joy to honor Grandma Kessie, but we could not decide on a first name... then it dawned on me... thanks to my sister's suggestion... Why not name the baby Ella? It starts with "E" and it is the end of Marc"ella." Why didn't I think of that??? We had liked Ella previously when we thought we were having a girl, but had not really even considered it this time around. So, that's how we arrived at our little girl's name. We will name her Ella Joy. Now, if it ends up being a boy we will have to start all over again, but for now we are calling her Ella! Hope you like it!

Have a great weekend!

Little League

Ryan here...

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is to watch the Little League World Series on television. Jamie will even watch the games with me! I ran across this story the other day on ESPN's webpage, and had to share it with everyone.

Thankful Thursday on Friday...

Today, I am thankful for...

1. Lots of movement. Baby #2 is quite the little wiggle worm. Ryan was able to feel her move for the first time the other night! She is quite the little swimmer!

2. A name for baby. Ryan and I wanted to use a family name for our little girl, but unfortunately could not agree or did not really like any of our choices. We have come up with a name that incorporates several important family members that we really like. My sister came up with the name and we love it! We will share soon!

3. Meeting with friends. Two of my good friends came over yesterday afternoon to visit! It was so great to see them and catch up on life, not to mention, spending time with their little bundles of joy!

4. Brownies. I made brownies yesterday for my friends' visit. They each had one. I think Ryan has had several, but I polished the rest of them off today when I got home from work! YUM (too bad chocolate gives me terrible heartburn!)!

5. Walking. Matthew is walking. He is still quite wobbly, but today he walked from the kitchen to the living room and yesterday from the living room to his bedroom all by himself! He looks a bit like a baby giraffe testing out its legs, but we are so pround of him anyway!

Name Update

Well, for those of you who participated in the poll about our favorite names, we have some news. Our little baby girl (if in fact it is a girl), will not have any of those names (Adelynn, Miley, Mia, or Annie). Although we like all of them, we have recently come up with a new favorite. We will share soon, once we both agree for more than 24 hours that this will be the name. Boy names seem so much easier for us! We have another doctor's appointment on September 3rd where we will hopefully be deciding whether or not another ultrasound is needed. I have been measuring about 3 weeks ahead of schedule (which I did with Matthew), so the doctor didn't know whether she would order another sneak peak or not... guess we'll have to wait and see. Have a great week!

Matthew's 1st Birthday!

He enjoyed his cake!

Giraffe cake and safari cupcakes! YUM!

The Kessie Family

The Pease Family

4 Generations with new baby Caleb!

Happy 1st Birthday Matthew Thomas Peppler!

Wow! I can't believe an entire year has passed since our little guy was born. Here are some of our favorite pictures from his photo session on Saturday. He wasn't overly smily, but they captured some of his cute expressions! The first one with the bear just makes me smile. I took many of his own stuffed animals thinking they would make him happy. He wanted nothing to do with his animals but loved the studio's bear. So much for Mommy planning ahead!

Here he is relaxing in a recliner! He thinks he is pretty cool now that he can get in and out of chairs on his own!

This one makes me laugh! I just love his little expression!

These are the things you don't say to your wife!

We saw this video on a friend's blog! It made us laugh! Hope you enjoy it!

A Picture Post Thankful Thursday...

Today, I am thankful...

That most of our meals do not turn out like this one did. Yes, this is chicken, and no, we did not eat it!!! Ryan and I are trying not to eat out for the entire month of August, so I decided to try a new crockpot recipe. Usually, our crockpot cooking turns out beautifully, however, on Tuesday we settled for leftovers! The smell of burnt soy sauce and honey is NOT a good combination!

This great group of youth. Ryan and I have been having a Senior High Bible Study at our house on Sunday nights this summer. We have really enjoyed getting to know these great kids! We are sad that this week will be our last meeting, but look forward to continuing to get to know them during Sunday School!

Our growing families... Saturday the Phegley family had a family reunion at the Mississenewa Reservoir (sp?). The boys had a great time playing in the water and the sand and the big boys enjoyed tubing and boating! The best part of the whole picture is that the 2 love birds seen standing behind us started making out just after these shots were taken! Too bad we missed that!!!

A Daddy and his little buddy!

Our independent little cutie!

Thankful Thursdays...

Today, I am thankful for...

1. Two days off in a row. I had two pretty crazy days at work on Monday and Tuesday and I am so thankful to get to spend Wednesdays and Thursdays at home with Matthew... not that they're any less crazy... just better than being at work!

2. This little face. I just love being his mommny!

3. Good friends. Matthew and I had lunch today with a good friend from nursing school. She has a little girl named Maci with another on the way in September. It was good to chat and catch up on life! Matthew was infatuated with Maci!

4. Nap time. I think I might even get to enjoy a little siesta this afternoon!

5. Sweet moments. Matthew loves to give hugs and kisses on his own terms. I love it when he climbs up on my lap just to lay his little head on my shoulder!

Thankful Thursdays

Today, I am thankful for...

1. Ryan coming home tomorrow!!! Matthew and I are going to get him in the morning and we are so excited to have him back home! It has been a good week, but Mommy is very tired!

2. A visit to camp. Matthew and I went to CAC on Wednesday for a visit. It was almost a surreal experience for me as I watched the campers and staff interact. I wanted to want to be there so badly, and I found myself enjoying my time there but not really having a great desire to participate in camp. This was somewhat of a relief for me as I thought I would be totally bummed when I had to leave to come back home. I guess Matthew has changed me. I was much more interested in what he was doing while we were there than I was in being a part of the camp experience.

3. Our garden. I picked 6 cucumbers and 3 huge broccoli stalks yesterday. It is so great to walk out the backdoor and be able to have fresh produce.

4. An independent child. Recently, Matthew has started wanting to feed himself. He is quite the little stinker as he thinks he can manage the spoon all by himself. Makes for lots of great messes!!

5. Rest. After we get home from camp tomorrow, we don't have any major plans for the weekend!! Hooray for naps!

Thankful Thursdays...

Today, I am thankful for...

1. My husband. He is leaving on Saturday for a week at Christian Athletic Camp. Although I am not looking forward to being without him next week, it helps me realize how blessed I am. I know the campers will be impacted by his presence and I am glad he is able to be a part of an incredible week! I have a feeling next week's Thankful Thursdays might include something about his anticipated return from camp!

2. CAC. This camp will begin on Saturday when all the staff join together again for another year where God always shows up!

3. bhfdwgysdafgsrturyuiuydtysdv c bn/ n This is what Matthew is thankful for! 4d

4. We are taking Matthew's 1 year pictures today. I can't believe an entire year has almost passed since this amazing blessing entered our lives! I can't wait to see the pictures!

5. Family coming into town for the weekend. My cousin Drew's wedding reception is this weekend. We have many family members coming to town for the event. It will be very nice to see them and spend some time catching up!

How BIG is Matthew? Soooo Big!

Here's a video of Matthew showing everyone how BIG he is!

A Picture Post

Playing on the back patio. I just love his little face!

Hangin' out with Uncle Adam and Aunt Rachel in Cincinnati!

Our family at the zoo!

All tuckered out!

Ultrasound Update!

Well, we just arrived home from our ultrasound. Baby #2 looks very healthy and is right on track for our November 24th due date! She?? was a little camera shy and did not give us the best pictures to determine if she ?? is a little boy or girl. The ultrasound tech spent much time trying to figure it out, but in the end could only give a best guess that it is going to be a baby girl!!! So, for now, we will wait, and if there are no more ultrasounds between now and November, our little peanut will remain a bit of a mystery. I think some of the shots were pretty clear that we are having a girl, however, we won't be disappointed either way! I guess we will all just have to be patient and wait...

Thankful Thursdays...

Today, I am thankful for...

1. A nice long weekend! I love having extra time off work to spend at home! It always seems to go by way to fast, but I am looking forward to spending time celebrating and relaxing this weekend!

2. A little road trip. We are headed to Cinncinnati tomorrow to visit Uncle Adam and Aunt Rachel! We are even going to try to visit the Children's Zoo and see the elephants (Fort Wayne's zoo doesn't have any). We are looking forward to seeing them and spending time with Ryan's family!

3. New teeth! I took Matthew back to the doctor yesterday for an ear re-check (all is well), and they told me he has 3 new teeth coming in!!! He has had a runny nose for the last couple days and has been a bit cranky. I suppose if I had an eye tooth and two molars all trying to make an appearance at the same time, I would be whiny, too!

4. A jogging stroller. My sister and Jared had a jogging stroller that Jacob couldn't use anymore and Caleb is too small for so they let us borrow it for Matthew. He loves taking walks with it... he even fell asleep on my walk yesterday (that hasn't happened since he was tiny!).

5. Quick and easy recipes. Matthew has started eating almost all real food lately. I love being able to make quick meals that all of us can enjoy together! Any good recipes out there, I would love to try them!

Less than 168 hours away!

In less than one week, we will have completed our first ultrasound with this pregnancy. It is really a kind of bizarre phenomenon. For just a few minutes we will get a glimpse of our little baby, and then just like that, he or she will go back into hiding for the next several months! I can't wait to meet this little person! I know he or she will be the perfect addition to our little family! We have quite enjoyed watching the poll ticker. It is funny to me how some people are just so sure of themselves when we ask them what they think! If I were going to venture a guess, I would say this baby is going to be a BOY! No real reason I feel that way other than this pregnancy has been so similar to my last one. Ryan and I are really just praying for a healthy report and will be sure to post an update once we get home!

Boy or Girl???

Well, it's that time again. Can you guess the sex of baby #2? We are having an ultrasound on July 7th, so hopefully we will know then, but we thought it might be fun to take a poll in the meantime to see what everyone else thinks. Just cast your vote on our blog poll and we will see who is right! If it's any help... Mommy feels almost exactly the same this time around as she did with Matthew... slightly less nausea, but overall, the same! Can't wait to see who is right!

My Favorite Things

Here are a few of Matthew's favorite activities as of late: Helping Mommy clean out the pantry. I was allowing Matthew to do this the other night when we were trying to get supper ready and Ryan said, "Are you really going to let him do that." My answer, "Absolutely." Whatever keeps the little guy entertained for 3 minutes works for me!

The other day I was sweeping and Matthew thought he could be a big helper. After checking out the entire sweeper, he decided to crawl on top of it for ride. BIG HELP!

Introducing Caleb Byrom English (we're a little behind). Matthew is quite intrigued by him and thinks he is large and in charge when Caleb comes around! Can't wait to see how he responds to his new brother or sister in a few months!

Dance Party

This is one of Matthew's favorite things to do now! We could watch him dance all day! By the way, we're starting him early on TobyMac!!!

Thankful Thursdays!

I know you're not going to believe it, but I am going to do Thankful Thursdays on a Thursday for a change! GASP!

Today, I am thankful for...

1. CAC. This will be the first year for quite some time that I have not taken part in camp, but I am so grateful that Ryan can go and be a part of the awesome week that always takes place! I can't wait to hear all the awesome stories of how God showed up at camp!

2. Matthew is healed (at least I think). He had a 2nd antibiotic and he seems to be back to original self. His rash has even healed and he looks like a normal baby again!

3. Senior High SS. Ryan and I are teaching Sr. High SS at our church again and are enjoying every minute. We even started a Bible study at our house on Sunday evenings for the kids and have been having a great time getting to know the kids! There's something about investing in the life of young people that is just so energizing!

4. Drew and Sara. My cousin, Drew, is getting married on Miami Beach this weekend! We are not able to attend the ceremony, but look forward to seeing the pictures and participating in the reception back here at home in July!

5. Father's Day! This is the time of year when we thank our dads for all they have done for us! I just want to give a shout out to all dads everywhere who have invested in the lives of their kids! I have a great dad and I hope others have been blessed as I have! Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Flyin' High!

Mama and Papa got Matthew and Jacob new swingsets!!! Ryan and I put ours together in 9 hours and then helped Abby and Jared with theirs and improved our time to 4.5 hours!!!! The boys love them as you can tell from Matthew's face!

Matthew after one of his first trips down the slide... he's thinking, "Yeah, I know I'm cool!"

Playing peek-a-boo in the fort!

The finished product! I am sure we will get tons of use out of our new addition to the backyard! Thanks Papa and Mama!

Doctor Dilemmas

Well, where should I start in this somewhat long story...

To make it somewhat shorter, I will just put up a timeline for the beginning drama:

Sunday: Matthew woke up with temp 100.1. Gave him Tylenol and stayed home from church. Figured he was just getting a tooth or something.
Monday: Matthew woke up with temp 102. Gave him Tylenol and called the doctor for appt as we know it is no longer his tooth.
Monday late morning: Get in to see Dr. Sauer and told Matthew has double ear infections. Antibiotic Amoxicillin prescribed.
Tuesday: Matthew has slight rash while at grandma's but it is gone by the time Mommy gets home from work.
Wednesday morning 6 AM: Daddy changes Matthew's diaper... no rash.
Wednesday morning 7 AM: Mommy gives antibiotic.
Wednesday morning 8 AM: Matthew has rash all over trunk, neck, and face.
Wednesday morning 9 AM: Call doctor to inform that I suspect he might have had an allergic reaction to medication. Asked to describe rash and I told her it looked like a drug reaction rash (she, of course, doesn't know at this point that I am a nurse). After multiple questions regarding the rash, I am asked whether my child was having any trouble breathing. WHAT????? If my child were having trouble breathing, don't you think that should have been the first question? Told by nurse to hold medication for 24 hours and call back to report whether rash is gone or not. Was told that by that information they would be able to determine whether or not it was an allergic reaction.
Thursday morning: Rash still here. Call doctor to inform and was told by nurse that they definitely needed to change medication (so, I am assuming at this point if I would have said the rash is gone, they would have told me to try the medication again). Told she will call me back after speaking with on-call physician as Dr. Sauer is out of office on Thursdays.
Thursday late morning: Nurse calls back and says, "I am sorry if I misled you earlier, but according to on-call physician, the rash should be gone if it is an allergic reaction and she would prefer if you give your child another dose of the same medication as a challenge and see if it is a true reaction. This doctor does things a little different than Dr. Sauer."
I say, "What would Dr. Sauer do?"
Her response, "He would change the medication."
At this point, I am a bit upset and inform the nurse that I am really not comfortable challenging my 10-month old who cannot tell me how he is feeling or if his throat is closing up! I also ask her why, if Matthew's doctor would prescribe something different, than why is the on-call physcian not mirroring what his doctor would do? I can tell she wants to get me off the phone, so she says, "I will check with on-call physician again and see if she will change the medicine."
Thursday later morning: Nurse calls back and says, "On-call physician will not change medicine and recommends that you give your son Benadryl and try the medicine again."
I say, "How am I supposed to tell if something else is wrong?"
She says, "It's going to be hard to tell since he still has the rash, but if he has any trouble breathing definitely call us back." Are you kidding me?
Thursday afternoon: I give Matthew Amoxil and Benadryl at same time in tears hoping I am not making a big mistake. He takes a 3+ hour nap that I have to wake him from because of the Benadryl. When he gets up the rash is no worse.
Thursday evening: Give medication again. Rash reappears.
Friday morning 6AM: Rash almost completely gone. Think maybe he is okay and it wasn't an allergic reaction after all. Give Amoxil without Benadryl.
Friday morning 7 AM: Rash back. Ryan gives Benadryl.
Friday morning 9 AM: Call doctor to inform of rash reappearing with each dose of Amoxil and requiring Benadryl with each dose. Also tell her I am not really interested in medicating my son with Benadryl every dose for the next 2 weeks. She says, "Well, that confirms it. We will mark Penicillin allergy on his chart."
I say, "I am not opposed to trying the Amoxil again at some point down the road to see if it is a true allergy."
She says, "Oh we will, but we never give it again for at least 2-3 years following a rash." HELLO???? Why did I give it to him yesterday then? I am still awaiting a phone call back from them as to what I am supposed to do now. Pray for me to be Jesus to these lovely people.

Matthew is without fever and back to his normal self, so after all the hoopla, at least our little guy is doing better. He just looks a little like a clown!

It's a Zoo Out There!

Mama and Papa got Matthew a zoo pass this year. We have been there twice so far and Matthew has enjoyed it both times. I think Mommy and Daddy have as much fun as Matthew at this point. We added a guest to the pass, so if anyone ever wants to tag along, they can get in free.

Matthew and Daddy petting the goats. Mommy was laughing hysterically outside the pen when one of the goats came up behind Ryan and started eating his shirt without him even knowing it. I wasn't fast enough to get a picture.

Riding the carousel with Daddy. Ryan told him to give the tiger a hug when the ride was over, so Matthew bent forward to give him a hug and hit is head on the brass pole. Oops!

Checking out the bronze gorilla. This is the statue Ryan told me I looked like when we were dating. It's amazing we have made it this far!

Thankful... Thursday?

Today, I am thankful for...

1. A growing garden. We just planted it last weekend and it is already starting to sprout! We even have 2 salsa peppers that we can see! Hooray!

2. A great boss! She is just my style! I love it that we are on the same page!

3. Swimming pools. Jacob got a swimming pool for this summer and the other night Matthew took his first swim! He's a fish! I am so glad he likes the water!

4. Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Yes, I know this is aging me, but usually Matthew goes to bed during these two shows, so we end up sitting through them while we unwind a bit. I love it that I beat Ryan last night at Jeopardy... that rarely happens! I have resolved to not watch anymore since I won last night!

5. School's out. I am not so sure why this excites me, but I love the sound of kids outside during the day and I remember all the fun I had when summer vacation started when I was a kid! I wish nurses had summers off!

Enjoy the weather this weekend!

Official Toddlerdom!

Well, I feel like we can officially say we have entered the world of Toddlerdom! I thought the infant stage lasted 1 full year! HA!!!! Our little guy is more determined than ever to get into anything and everything. This morning he was trying to climb up his karaoke machine to get to my drink on the side table. This was after he crawled behind a chair and found the one outlet in the entire house without a cover on it (for everyone who is worried, Mommy got there before he touched it and yes, it is covered now). He also crawled between another chair and side table and got his head caught when he was trying to stand up! I am quite amused by him and his little discoveries! Needless to say, I am also worn out by him! Oh, he has also started dancing! It's hysterical! Maybe we can get it on video soon.

Thankful Thursdays...

I thought it was Friday and I was trying to come up with a reason for being tardy again, but then I realized it is only Thursday! Today, I am thankful for...

1. Matthew's good report at the doctor yesterday! He went for his 9 month check-up and he is in the 75th percentile for everything! The doctor said he was right on track for his growth and development. He weighs 22 lbs 3 oz (feels like about 40!), 29 inches long, and his head is bigger than last time (forget the exact measurement). Anyway, we are thankful for our healthy little boy!

2. Caleb's safe arrival. We are so thankful to welcome this new little guy into our family! What a blessing!

3. Our garden is tilled and we are going to plant tonight after Matthew goes to bed! HOORAY! Thanks to Mike for coming and giving us a hand!

4. Peace and quiet. SHHHHHH! Matthew is napping!

5. A long weekend. Ryan and I both have Monday off work, so we are looking forward to spending time as a family!

Caleb Byrom English

We have a new nephew! Caleb arrived this morning at 10:39 AM. He was 8 lbs and 20 inches long! He is sure cute! Mom and baby are doing well! Pictures to follow later!

I Don't Like the Grass!!!

"It's prickly!"

"Are you enjoying this?"

"It tickles!"

Here are some recent pictures of Matthew in the backyard. If you can't tell by his face, he is not a big fan of the grass! We put him down in it every chance we get, but he just seems to get more annoyed each time!

Doctor Update!

Well, I had my second doctor's appointment yesterday and all is well. I didn't gain any weight since my last appointment and baby's heart rate is 140-150 bpm. We are planning to have a repeat C-section this time around. My doctor offered the option of a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), however, it does come with some increased risk and there is no guarantee I wouldn't end up having a C-section again anyway.

In other news, my sister is going to have a baby any day (well, maybe)! She is not due until the 24th, but we all thought she would deliver by now. Unfortunately, Baby Boy (he doesn't have a name yet), isn't ready to make an appearance just yet! Hopefully sometime next week! She told her doctor that she had her toenails painted and was not going to be able to do that again, so she hoped he hurried up!

Our weekend looks pretty full at this point. Ryan's best friend from high school is coming home and they are playing 18 holes of golf in the morning. I have to work tomorrow from 6-10. We are hopeful we can get our garden tilled sometime... a guy Ryan used to work with said he might come and give us a hand if the weather permits. Sunday, we both have obligations at church, and then we are off to Decatur for my cousin, Mallorie's, graduation party! Congratulations Mal! It should be a fun weekend! Hope you enjoy it!

Thankful Thursdays...

Today, we are thankful for...

1. Our crazy little monkey named Matthew. He is into EVERYTHING! It is fairly comical to us that just a couple weeks ago we were wishing he would crawl, and now we are learning very quickly what is NOT baby proof in this house! He's a little explorer and ornery to boot! We just sit back and wonder what he might discover next (looks like it might be the cord that attaches the camera to the computer!).

2. All the toys at our house! Did you know how entertaining a real telephone can be to a 9-month old? Matthew and I play with ours at least once a day! We are discovering that he would rather play with all the things that are not toys!

3. Energy. Some of my energy has found its way back to me over the last week or so. I actually cleaned the kitchen and dining room yesterday! I am sure Ryan is looking forward to some help from me in the weeks ahead.

4. Flowers. My parents picked up our geraniums for us this week at the local Amish farm. Now, if we can just get our garden planted.

5. Matthew's singing. During church on Sunday, he was screaming during the hymns. I thought the older gentleman down the aisle was going to bust a gut laughing at him. We just figure he is auditioning early for the choir! Needless to say, he quickly found himself in the nursery when Mommy and Daddy couldn't get his enthusiasm quieted!

By the way, I was wrong about the camera cord. He ate a piece of paper instead!

Have a great weekend!

Thankful Thursdays...

Today, I am thankful for...

1. Sausage Egg McMuffins. These have always been Ryan's favorite, but lately I have definitely had my fair share of them.

2. Nap time. Matthew has been taking great naps for me lately. The same has not been true for Grandma when she has him, but I am thankful that he sleeps well for me!

3. Moms. Since Sunday is Mother's Day, I just wanted to mention how thankful I am for my own Mom as well as all the other women in my life who have made a difference! Have a great weekend!

4. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). We joined this year and got our first week's supply on Tuesday. It is exciting to try new and different things!

5. Great song lyrics. Have you ever heard a song and it fit a situation perfectly? I love it when that happens!

Have a great weekend!

Please pray...

Please pray for our friends who are going through a very difficult time right now. We will not share details out of respect for their privacy, but please lift up this family who is hurting deeply. Thank you.

Some photos...

The boys with Mama and Papa on Easter morning! What a good looking crew!

Matthew after Mommy and Daddy made him some baby food. I think we will stick with store bought version!

I have always wanted my kids to take piano lessons. My grandma was an incredible pianist and I always wished I would have taken lessons more seriously. I guess Mama is going to make sure they get an early start!

Thankful Thursdays

Today, I am thankful for...

1. The addition of two new babies in our lives. NO, we are NOT having twins! Our friends, Jon and Megan and Paul and Miranda both welcomed new baby girls into their lives over the last week! They are both just precious and we are so glad to be able to keep up with them through blogger since they both live too far away!

2. Brandon Minier's life. This young dad was killed in a motorcycle accident last weekend. His funeral was today. Although, I didn't know him personally, I know his family and my heart breaks for them during this time. We can be thankful for the time he had on earth and the imprint he left on the lives he touched.

3. More babies coming soon... my sister is due May 24th, but will likely have a baby sooner than later. My good friend, Christy, is due at the end of May. Ryan's cousin, Cara, is due at the beginning of June. We have many other friends who are pregnant right now, but these are the next in line! We can't wait to meet the new little ones!

4. Nausea. Although I must admit I could do without the throwing up, feeling nauseous helps me think all is going well with this pregnancy. I must say, I have kind of gotten used to the idea and as long as I know where the nearest bathroom (or any other receptacle) is, I can usually manage just fine.

5. My husband. I have been less than productive over the past month. Ryan has picked up the slack in a BIG way! I have been more tired than usual and less motivated to get anything done around the house. I am very grateful for a husband who helps me with Matthew and with the housework!

Have a great weekend!

New Addition!!!

Congratulations to our Blogger Buddies, Jon, Megan, and new baby, Ava!!! Ava Paige was born yesterday, and we couldn't be happier for our friends! Congratulations, guys!

Hole in One!

Well, Ryan and Jared decided to join a golf league this summer. They started this week which one of our friends has affectionately termed "Widow Wednesdays." I fully understood the meaning of the word when they didn't get home until after 8 (and they were the first ones off the tee)!!! Wednesdays might be long days around the Peppler household this summer! The BEST part of the night was that Ryan hit a HOLE IN ONE!!! Did I mention it was a par 4? Yep, I married to a pretty groovy guy! Way to go, honey!

Today, I am Thankful for...

1. Garage sales. I had a garage sale yesterday and today and was able to get rid of a load of stuff that Ryan and I just don't have room for anymore. The weather was perfect and I couldn't have asked for a better turnout! It was great!

2. Phenergan. This is an anti-nausea medicine my doctor called in for me this week. It has helped so much, although, I am still a bit queasy in the mornings!

3. SPRING!!!!! Finally!!

4. A garden... I can almost taste a freshly picked tomato now!!!!

5. All the new life around us. We have many friends and family members who are pregnant right now (several who are ready to pop any day)! It is so awesome to experience this miracle with them, and Ryan and I are looking so forward to meeting all the new little faces that will be arriving around here very soon!

Kisses

These are probably our favorite pictures of Matthew yet! He has started giving kisses. (Wet ones, too!) But not all the time...just when he wants to!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

I just wanted everyone to know that TODAY is my favorite Daddy's birthday! He is so funny!!! I LOVE it when he comes home and plays with me. I have even learned to give him kisses! I LOVE to laugh at my Daddy... he sure is a funny guy! I hope he has the bestest birthday in the WHOLE world! Happy Birthday, Daddy! I love you!!!!

Matthew

More Pics!

Drinking from a cup.

Eating banana muffin all by myself!!!! Daddy gets so mad at Mommy when she doesn't put a bib on!

Just hangin' out. If you look closely at this picture, you can see that Mr. Matthew has pulled the fabric away from Mommy's ottoman! Little stinker!

Thankful Thursdays

Today, I am thankful for...

1. Tillers. Not Joe Tiller, for those Purdue fans out there. Garden tillers! I can't wait to start the garden soon, and not have to throw out my back scraping the sod off.

2. Good weather is coming soon!!! I can't wait to go on walks, work in the yard . . . PLAY GOLF!!!

3. A happy child. Matthew is still very happy most of the time, and it is so much fun to make him laugh. He's such a little stinker!

4. Garage sales. Jamie is getting stuff around to have a garage sale at our house on April 16 & 17. Did you hear that, Grandma and Aunt Nancy. APRIL 16 & 17 - GARAGE SALE AT OUR HOUSE!!

5. New life. So many friends and family of ours are expecting or have just had babies. It is so much fun to see all the new life around us!

Have a great weekend!

Some Random Pics

This is what happens when Daddy leaves his shoes out at night!

Ryan thinks Mommy helped get this shoe up on the exersaucer, but I say Matthew did it all by himself!

Matthew LOVES to talk (chew) on the phone! Ours lights up orange and he thinks that is the neatest thing!

Reading a story with Mommy before bed. We are reading one of his favorite new books: "God Knows All About Me." He loves books that rhyme!

Baptism Photos

Pastor Paul Arnold

Ryan's Family

Pastor Jean Ness

The Phegley Family

The Pease Family

Here are some of the photos from Matthew's baptism. One of the lessons I learn every time we take a large group picture is that only ONE camera should be taking the pictures!!!! I always forget that in the moment, but from now on I am vowing to try to remember it is best if only one camera shoots 3-4 pictures of the same pose instead of 5-6 cameras taking 1 picture of a pose. Notice how we are all looking in different directions!