I don't really love the view...

The inside of our apartment has been driving me crazy.  I feel like I am suffocating amidst all of our things.  I have been making some changes, but it is hard for me.

Musings:

We are still in Cleveland.  Jonathan is half way done with his Fellowship and we will be finding a job soon.

I like Cleveland.

We bought a swagger wagon.

I work Tuesdays and Thursdays at an elementary school.  I work with the 1-3rd graders and love it.

Isaac has been in Joy school since September and loves it.  Our group is fabulous.  He just started going to the sunbeams Sunday School class at church.  Every time I peek in he is sitting reverently... well see how long that lasts!

Kate is turning one in a week.  She is a diva and very dramatic.  I just separated the kids into their own rooms so I could use all the pink things I have.  It turned out cute.

I have been wasting too much time on Trulia anticipating a job here in Cleveland.  I have decided to stop wasting my time and be a little more productive in all other areas.

I have started voice lessons again.  I needed a creative outlet and didn't want to lose my talent.

These are some pics from my childhood!!  Don't you love my hair!

Children's Hospital of Michigan

As I walked into the hospital at 6:00 a.m. Monday morning, I couldn't believe how much time had past. I never expected to come back here, especially not with one of my babies. The last time I was there I was 4 months pregnant with Isaac and finishing my graduate internship! A lot had happened in the past three years.

Everything went splendidly! Isaac explored the pre-op area once he was in his yellow pajamas. He wouldn't sit in the bed they had to wheel him into surgery with. Doctor's were in and out and then they asked if we wanted to come back with him as they put him to sleep. I originally thought I would go with him but in that moment I realized that I couldn't. I was too emotional to see him go under. So I sent Jonathan. That was the worst part of the whole experience. Me not being able to go with my baby into the OR. That is what calm, unworried daddy's are for.



After that everything went really smoothly. We were in the eating area when the doctor came in to find us. It took us by surprise, as we were told he would be in there over an hour. Thankfully, everything went better than expected and they were able to quickly fix the problem. Then we waited to be called back to the wake-up room. He was so drowsy and sweet. He ate his orange Popsicle like a champ and was relatively chill when we told him he had to keep the tubes and monitors on his arms. When he wasn't allowed water he immediately asked for his grandma...I don't know which one, but I am sure in his mind they surely would have given him water after what he had gone through. :o)

We had a great experience. I am grateful for all the prayers and thoughts of friends and family. I know they were mostly for me to be brave, however, I know that everything went smoothly and better than expected because of them.

All Dolled Up

I am having way too much fun dressing up this baby girl...I think I am partial to skirts and dresses...

Baby Kate

Katherine Leora was born on February 12th around 1:00 a.m. She came out waving, weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz., and was 21 3/4 inches long. We are so glad that she is here and that everything went well.
The next morning Aunt Emily came into town and was pleasantly surprised that baby Kate was here!

Later that afternoon Grandma and Grandpa Dunford came with Isaac. He was so excited to see me and I heard him scream, "Mommy" from the hallway. It was so nice to hear his voice and sense his excitement. He was adorable with Kate. He sat by me on the bed and said, "I hold her." He gave her kisses and hugs and called her baby Kate over and over. He also tried to make her jump up and down in his arms...


I have written down the full story but don't want to put it on the blog as we aren't private...If you want me to send it to you let me know. Overall, it was night and day compared to Isaac. Despite the induction, I was able to have her naturally without any pain medication. It was just what I wanted. I am so glad I was able to have that experience. It is what I had been praying for. A non-traumatic labor and delivery...one where I wouldn't be upset whenever I heard other women telling their birth stories. It is hard to describe, but although I am very grateful for Isaac's birth and how it happened, I felt like something was missing. Anyway, She's here! She's finally here!

My last post was in November?

Wow, I can't believe my last post was in November. How boring!

Since November we have:
1. Accepted a job offer to the Cleveland Clinic for an administrative fellowship.
2. Gone to Muskegeon for Thanksgiving with half of the Witt's.
3. Celebrated Christmas in Michigan with the Joneses and the Dunford's.
4. Watched Laura in a choir performance at Interlochen.
5. Potty trained Isaac.
6. Jonathan started a P90X regime and is following it religiously.
7. Abby was diagnosed with two heart conditions (possible ASD and a type of tachycardia.)
Note: While these were very taxing and tiring...I have been given heart meds and am feeling much better in these final weeks of pregnancy. I will have further tests and possible cures after baby comes.)
8. I made some changes to Isaac's heirloom cradle. A lovely man from our church congregation helped me and it is now stained and ready to go.
9. Crocheted baby girl's baby blanket and finished many other sewing projects.
10. We got a bed for our anniversary!! It is beautiful and every time I look at it I smile and feel like a grown-up.

It has been a busy couple of months. I am now playing the waiting game and hopefully will have this baby within the next week. Her due date is this Friday, February 4th.

This post came to mind tonight. I thought it was funny...and reminiscent... : Yes...a Christmas Ham...yikes.

Obsession with Excercise

In July Jonathan and I ran a half marathon together. I ran throughout my first trimester and ran this race when I was 11 weeks pregnant. Unfortunately, for Jonathan, that meant that he had to run REALLY slow. I was paranoid about my heart rate and had to run about 12 minute miles. It was really great to be together though and came in handy when it was pitch black and we were trying to finish. I should post about how awful the race was organizationally...not to mention that we were offered cold beer at the end. After this race I stopped training. I ran for a couple weeks with Isaac but then I stopped.


After a month or so I looked into getting a pass at the community rec center. They have a really nice facility and it is a couple minutes from my house. I started swimming and could only go for 10-15 minutes tops! I felt pathetic but it was so refreshing! I have become obsessed with it and go at least twice a week. Early in the morning or right after we put Isaac to bed I run out the door to go swim. I have never really done lap swimming before and I have fallen in love with it. I can now go over 30 minutes if a want to. I love the smell of the water and feeling bouyant. I am getting bigger now, and am in the third trimester. I hope to continue swimming up to the end of my pregnancy. It is so calming. I love having the desire to get to the pool!

Caught in the Act

At least it wasn't the mascara...he was having a lot of fun.