A Day Late & A Dollar Short

Sorry, one day late!

I'm thankful for...

1. My wife. Yesterday was our 4th anniversary. I love her more and more every day.

2. Being able to be home with Matthew in the evening. I love to spend time with the little guy every chance I get.

3. Strollers. I think we're gonna run the wheels right off the one we have. We've mentioned our walks before, I think!

4. A riding lawn mower. We were push mowing until a couple weeks ago. It cuts down on our mow time by almost half. Which gives me more time to do the things I enjoy. (See # 2 above)

5. Our church family. We have been blessed by having such nice friends and family at our church. Through low times and high, they have always been there.

Just A Normal Evening

Just a few random shots from last night. We went on another long walk last night, and as usual, Matthew loved it. He really loves being outside! Last night, we walked the river greenway in town and spent the rest of the evening indoors. The weather is so nice right now. We're just not sure how Matthew is going to like the winter considering we won't be able to go on walks. I offered to rig up some sort of device to strap the stroller to the treadmill, but Jamie wasn't having any of that! Oh, well. Hope everyone has a happy Wednesday!

Just chillin'.

Mommy, do you have to get so close to me with that flash?!

Me and Daddy.

No more pictures! I think I just filled my drawers.

Wanted

If you see this guy, let us know. He thinks he's pretty cool in his "recliner"!

Thankful Thursday -Ryan Style

1. A melancholy Thankful Thursday today. Jamie's Grandma Phegley passed away early Wednesday morning. We are so thankful to have known her while she was with us. She was a very special lady, and we all will miss her so much.

2. Hospice. For those of you that have experienced what they do, you know what I am talking about. Probably some of the most caring people you will ever meet.

3. Jamie's Mom. To take care of Noel's mother for 5 months was above the call of duty. She is a pretty special person for taking on that responsibility.

4. Sunny days. Fall is here! I think. Maybe not officially, but it seems like the weather is changing, and I love it. Both Jamie and I love the fall so much!

5. Good directions. Bluffton is having their street fair this week, which means that the main streets in town are shut down, making it just about impossible to find the funeral home and church. Thankfully, we had good directions and we were able to find everything all right. Some of our friends stopped at a gas station to ask for directions last night, and one person told them, "You can't get there from here." And another person told them, "Don't you know that you don't die during the street fair?" Thankfully, another person was able to direct them to the funeral home!

I hope you all have a great weekend.

One Month Old!

Jacob is doing the Itsy Bitsy Spider in this picture. If you get a chance to see him do it, it is so cute! Matthew is doing his favorite activity: sleeping!



Jacob's first attempt at holding Matthew. He is in grandma's wheelchair. I am not sure if he is too sure about Matthew or not, but he did a good job holding him!



This is one of Matthew's new faces. I think this is the face he makes when he has gas! He seems to have a lot of gas lately, today he ripped one in church during the prayer time!



This is Friday night in the parking lot at Hobby Lobby. Daddy stayed in the van to feed Matthew while Mommy went in to get a few things. When I got back out to the van, Matthew had new clothes on and the windows in the van were completely fogged over. He apparently had a major accident while I shopped! Good thing there was a long line or I might have had to change that one!

Thankful Thursdays...

Today, I am thankful for...

1. Hospice. We placed my grandma on hospice yesterday. She is still living with my parents and the hospice team is now coming several times per week to check on her. This is an incredible service and we are hoping they will help keep grandma comfortable as she approaches the end of this life.

2. Chris. She is our hospice case manager. She has been at my parent's home yesterday and today to check on grandma. She coordinates the care and sets up visits from other staff members as needed. They even have a massage therapist and a music therapist who will come for visits if desired.

3. Laura. She is a CNA who came today to give grandma a bath. She was wonderful and was so gentle and caring.

4. Terry. He is the guy who delivers all the needed supplies. He has brought us two different beds (the first one was not firm enough for grandma), a wheelchair, oxygen, a nebulizer... the list goes on. He is very friendly and most helpful in teaching my mom how everything works.

5. My mom! She has been a saint throughout this process. Grandma has been living with them for the past 5 months and mom has been her primary caregiver. I know grandma is very grateful for all she has done... it has been a long road for them both!

No Comment

I don't really have anything to say. I just wanted to put this picture on the blog. Have a good day!

The Blanchard's

We had a great time visiting with Ryan's college roommate and family last Friday. They used to live right around the corner from us and now live close to Indianapolis, so we don't get to see them as often as we would like! I love how Jake is trying to turn Grace's head for the picture!

Shania Twain

Well, Matthew seems to like to listen to music when he is upset, so last weekend we were playing Steven Curtis Chapman's "Live Out Loud" for him and he settled right down. We went out to dinner Saturday night and took the CD in the van in case we had a screaming fit and we broke the CD!!!! So, yesterday, I went to the closet where we keep CDs that we don't listen to very much anymore and grabbed the one off the top. I am a little embarrassed to say that it is Shania Twain. Well, Matthew loves it! In fact, it has been playing since we finished his bath this morning and he has been sitting in his bouncy seat, playing with his hands for about the last 40 minutes. I think I will try to find a different artist to play for him this afternoon!

Peppler Family

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Confessions of a New Mommy

There are a few things I didn't realize about motherhood before embarking on this journey. I typically like to think of myself as a well-informed, well educated woman, however, I am learning something new everyday. Here are a few of my latest life lessons...

1. Breast pumps leave little to the imagination. The first time I used this lovely device, I am pretty sure I looked like Bessie the Cow. I am certainly thankful to have this piece of machinery, but unfortunately modesty has gone by the wayside!

2. Little boys spray pee all over the place! I grew up with a sister, so we were way more into Barbies and dolls and had little knowledge about the anatomy of little boys! I have had to take cover on more than one occasion and have learned the hard way to make sure you point it south before diapering!

3. Puke comes in all forms. Our little guy is a "spitter" as they call it at the pediatrician's office. He has shown us a variety of different textures and forms of the nasty stuff. My favorite was last night when he soaked Ryan's shirt with the cottage-cheese like version!

I am sure there will be more life lessons along the way... hopefully not all of them contain a bodily fluid! Have a great day!

Photo Session Hysteria!!!

Here are a few shots of Matthew with his big cousin Jacob... it was quite an ordeal! I think Mommy and Aunt Abby had more fun with this than the boys did! As you can see, Matthew was pretty lively throughout the experience! Enjoy!

I love this picture of Jacob... I think he looks a little mischevious! Again, Matthew was still snoozing!

Thankful Thursdays

We have so much to be thankful for!

1. A three day work week for me! Labor Day on Monday and a vacation day tomorrow means I get to spend two extra days with my two favorite people, Jamie and Matthew. Our good friends, Jake and Lindsie are visiting from Indy with their two little girls, Ava and Grace!

2. Internet classes. I am taking classes on line through Purdue Calumet in Hammond, Indiana, near Chicago. If it wasn't for these classes on line, I would have to drive at least twice a week to either Hammond or West Lafayette.

3. Rain. We just got doused with rain last night. It was the first time in a long time. I fear that our yard is already dead, though. Good news is that I haven't had to mow in three weeks!

4. Grandmas and Grandpas! How cool it is that Matthew will be able to grow up close to all his family. I love that we live so close to our family and friends!

5. Jamie. After only three weeks of Matthew being here, I think Jamie is already the best mom in the world. Seeing her take care of him is so great, and I couldn't have imagined our lives being better than they are right now. I love them both very much.

Ryan

Labor Day

Matthew here...

I am celebrating my first Labor Day with style. Mommy and Daddy say that we are going to Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Kessie's house this morning. I love going to see them! Then, we are going to Grandpa and Grandma Phegley's for a brunch. I don't know what a brunch is, but it sounds great! They told me I would see cousins and aunts and uncles. I love being held, so this also sounds like a good time. Then, after my big morning, Mommy and Daddy are going to take me on a walk. I love walks!!! Mommy and Daddy must love them, too. They are always saying they love them because I sleep during them! I hope everyone enjoys their day off. I know I will!

Just hanging out in Daddy's arms!

I just wanted everyone to know that I have been eating very well. Look at those cheeks.

Aaahh..........Choo!