AMBER'S DEDICATION

While in MI we had Amber dedicated at my sister's church and was special having our family there.

CHRISTMAS IN MICHIGAN

Hello everyone,

We are back home and settling in to our second Colorado winter which will hopefully be milder than last year. Our week in MI was a lot of fun spent visitng friends at lunch and dinner with family. Isaac and Amber were precious together. The night at my brother Todd's house and the two in their matching Santa suits was really special to watch. We look forward to 4 days together here and getting more done around the house, watching the Patriots win (again) on Saturday and relaxing.

IT'S CUTE-TURN UP VOLUME

OFF TO MICHIGAN MONDAY FOR CHRISTMAS

WE WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A SAFE AND HAPPY CHRISTMAS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE WEATHER WILL COOPERATE FOR OUR FLIGHT TO MICHIGAN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SPENDING TIME WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I KNOW AMBER WILL ENJOY ALL OF THE ATTENTION. WE WILL BE HOME CHRISTMAS NIGHT. IT OUGHT TO BE FUN FLYING ON THAT DAY. I AM SURE EVERYONE WILL BE IN A GOOD MOOD. AMBER WILL WEAR HER SANTA SUIT WHICH WILL BRING A LOT OF SMILES TO EVERYONE.

TAKE CARE & GOD BLESS!

GOT BEANS?

SLEEPING BEAUTY

EAT NAKED

FAMILY PHOTO W/ SANTA

HOLIDAY PHOTOS WITH A GORGEOUS MODEL

SHE'S 6 MONTHS TODAY!

Hello everyone,
Today Amber is 6 months and she marked this special day by sitting up by herself although she didn't realize what she did. She is getting more vocal by the day. The plane ride to MI for Christmas ought to be interesting. I am sure she will amuse everyone as she did the last trip but this time it will be louder. She is reaching for everything including furry critters (poor Frasier) and is quick when she rolls over. She can cover a lot of ground although she isn't crawling yet.

Ed and I are pretty much done moving in and look forward to having some downtime on the weekends which have been non-stop. Because of that we are not going to decorate for Christmas this year. I just got done putting things out and I don't want to think about putting them away to get more things out. It feels good to not have to think about doing that. We will enjoy being in MI for Christmas and seeing our families homes decorated which is a good trade off.

SHE'S PRACTICALLY CARRYING A TUNE!

CUTEST LITTLE PUMPKIN EVER!

Hello everyone,

We are back in Colorado and settling in. We enjoyed our time in Florida but look forward to being moved in here which will take some time. Amber was the cutest little pumpkin ever! We went trick or treating with friends from Sweden and had a great time. Amber doesn't take a bad picture and the one of her at sunset on the beach is priceless.

SHE'S PUTTING ON THE WEIGHT!

Hello everyone,

Our time in Florida has been good to Amber as she has grown a lot. Her thighs have really filled out, her hair is is coming in, she is rolling over and as you can see, adorable as ever. Amber's personality is very sweet and happy and she thrives on the attention she has been shown here. We went to the Holly Fair with my mom. Amber wore a pink hat knit by my mom. It took 4 times as long to get through due to all of the women stopping us to talk to Amber and admire her hat. She smiled and cooed and was the hit of the show. They should have paid us to be there!

Julie

OUR LITTLE GIRL IS PRACTICALLY TALKING!

WE MOVED!

Hello everyone,
It’s been a crazy few weeks.
Ed, Amber and I went to Panama City for 4 days. Ed had to do work stuff and while there worked on our house in preparation to sell it. It was a busy time for me as I went back and forth to Home Depot and Walmart and cleaned the house. We look forward to going there and being able to enjoy ourselves and not work on the house. The day after we returned home we closed on a house and have been moving all week. Moving during the week is hard when Ed has had to be at work every day at 5 am with an exercise. We are both exhausted. Next week we head back to PCB to work the Ironman race and hopefully finish up on the house.
Amber spent less than 5 minutes on the beach due to Red Tide. Hopefully it will be gone when we go back. Our friend and her 2 kids from Sweden are coming to PCB for a vacation and to meet Amber. We look forward to introducing her to everyone there.
More after the race!

SHE ROLLED OVER! A MINI MILESTONE

Good morning everyone,
As I work on Ironman Florida this morning Amber is under her activity center. I had her on her stomach and glanced over to find her on her back. This is the first time she rolled over so it's an exciting mini milestone which now means I have to really keep an eye on her, start strapping her into her bouncy seat which she is scooting out of etc. She continues to find her voice by making loud monkey like sounds which has kept us laughing. My parents arrived in Panama City this week happy to have the sun on their faces and sand in their toes once again. Ed and I are in the process of buying a house here, selling our house in Panama City, moving the week before we head to PC to work the Ironman race, and be parents to a cute little girl. It's a busy time for us!
That's all for now!

GOOD TIMES...

SHE FOUND HER VOICE...

A DAY AT THE BROADMOOR HOTEL

Hello everyone,

While Ed was off working the Ironman Wisconsin race last week my sister Sheri and I enjoyed a week here. We had lunch at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs (one of the top hotels in the country) and shopped after, went to Breckenridge for the day (a gorgeous little town) and packed for the upcoming move to our new house (if it goes through). It was great being able to spend time with her and relax. Plus, she kept me fed which is a bonus. She's a great cook. I am now lining up volunteers for the Ironman Florida race (Nov. 3) and look forward to introducing everyone to Amber when we head back to Panama City Beach to work the race.

OUR TRIP TO NEW ENGLAND

Hello everyone,

Ed and I had a great time in New England. We spent the first 2 nights at Ed's moms house then left for Freeport, ME for a night of shopping at the outlets. LL Bean was good to us. Saturday we headed to Lineken Bay Resort by Boothbay Harbor, ME for Ed's nieces wedding. It was outside at a park and was beautiful. Everyone loved meeting Amber for the first time. She did extremely well during the whole trip which was a relief. Sunday night we stayed in Boothbay Harbor and enjoyed the scenic and quaint little town. We got home late Tuesday night. Amber continues to grow and her personality emerge which has been fun.

SLEEPY GIRL

LIFE AT FORTY!

Hello everyone,

Saturday was my 40th b-day. We had some friends over to celebrate which was a lot of fun. We grilled, Ed made a chocolate Kahlua cake which was yummy, and Amber learned what the word "loud" means. I was looking at our group of friends sitting around the table, and thought to myself how blessed I was to be here in Colorado with Ed and Amber and great new friends at 40. The love we were shown after Amber's birth from friends and family all over the country and the world has shown us how blessed our life is. Life is great at 40! This Wed. we leave for MASS to attend the wedding of Ed's niece which is in Maine. It will be the first time for his family to meet Amber and they are all very excited. Thursday his mom is having friends and family over for pizza so Amber is in for another loud evening. It will feel good to be in New England again for a happy occasion and enjoy the beauty of Maine. We have had a bear and her cub and mountain lion roaming around here at night for the past week. We haven't seen them but neighbors have. So cool to live in the midst of all of this wild life. Our friend in Florida had a baby girl last Tuesday (Madeline Marie Armstrong). Welcome to the world little girl! She has enough hair to put barrettes in it already and is gorgeous.

Have a great week everyone!

MY DAD...

JUST TO UPDATE EVERYONE ON MY DAD...HE HAD HIS IMPLANTS TURNED ON THIS MORNING IN DETROIT. HIS TREMORS ARE GONE WHICH IS AWESOME. HE HAS TO SEE A DR. MONTHLY UNTIL THE SETTINGS ARE WHERE HE WANTS THEM. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR PRAYERS AND SUPPORT. HE IS ANXIOUS TO HEAD SOUTH AND FEEL THE SAND IN HIS TOES AND ENJOY HIS IMPROVED LIFE.

DRAMA AT 200 CRESTWOOD DRIVE...

HELLO EVERYONE. WE HAD SOME DRAMA THIS AFTERNOON FOR A COUPLE HOURS AS LAVENDER, THE CAT FROM ACROSS THE STREET, DECIDED TO INVADE OUR DECK AND FRASIER'S TERRITORY (FRASIER IS OUR ORANGE BABY). FRASIER WAS IN THE CRATE ON THE DECK ENJOYING THE WEATHER WHEN I HEARD HIM MOANING IN A LOW ANGRY TONE. I WENT OUT THERE AND LAVENDER WAS LYING RIGHT NEXT TO HIM. I PICKED LAVENDER UP AND SET HER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DECK, TURNED AROUND AND SHE RAN PAST ME AND SAT NEXT TO THE CRATE AGAIN. THEY WERE BOTH HISSING AT EACH OTHER SO I BROUGHT FRASIER INSIDE. LAVENDER THEN SAT OUTSIDE THE DOOR FOR AN HOUR AND THEY HISSED THROUGH THE CLOSED DOOR. SHE FINALLY WENT HOME. THE WHOLE THING WAS PRETTY CRAZY.

LAST NIGHT 2 BUCKS MUNCHED ON GRASS OUTSIDE OUR BEDROOM WINDOW FOR AWHILE AND THE RED FOX HUNG OUT NEXT DOOR. A BLACK BEAR HAS BEEN IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ALL WEEK LEAVING DEPOSITS IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND DRIVING THE NEIGHBORHOOD DOGS NUTS. THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON AROUND HERE. THAT'S ALL FOR NOW!

WHAT A FACE!

I HAVE HAD MORE FUN WITH AMBER EVERY DAY AS SHE GROWS AND CHANGES. SHE IS CLOSE TO LAUGHING OUT LOUD AND CHUCKLED TWICE AT ME YESTERDAY. SHE NOW WEIGHS 9.10 AND IS 23 INCHES LONG.

PARENTHOOD, A HUMBLING EXPERIENCE

Hello everyone,

Since returning home from MI last Thursday I have spent the week getting Amber back on a routine. She has had to adjust to the higher altitude after being in the "low lands" of MI for 3 weeks, which has meant more painful gas and fussing. We are getting her used to sleeping in her small bed since I started the bad habit of letting her fall asleep in my arms (but she's so darn cute!). That is the only place she wants to be which means I can't get anything done, my arms and back kill, and it isn't teaching her to feel comfortable being on her own. Parenthood has been humbling for Ed and me both. Taking care of other kids is much different than your own. Things I knew years ago I had forgotten and things I don't know I am learning. It is easy to judge a frazzled mother that didn't restock diapers in the bag, but until you are a new mother you don't appreciate how you are always tired, have lost your short term memory and are very sensitive to other people's comments. I have a new found appreciation for single mothers. I am blessed that I have not had any depression or mood swings. To my friends that are ready to join this wonderful & rewarding group, please don't hesitate to call me with questions. We can share stories w/o judgment. It is still hard to comprehend that we have a precious little person who we will raise, but more so, who will raise us. Ed has been a huge source of help at night and when he travels I really miss him being there to pitch in. Amber is smiling, cooing and more active. At times she looks like she is going to burst out into a laugh but doesn't know how. I know Amber enjoyed her time in MI getting love & affection from my family and it was special to all be together. It's a beautiful day here and the fresh air will be good for all three of us as we enjoy an art show.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Julie

BIG SMILES FROM OUR SUMO WRESTLER!

GROWING TONS EVERY DAY!

REUNITED WITH MY BABY GIRL

It is hard to get sweeter than this...After being in Michigan for 3 weeks, Ed's girls are back at home.

FINAL PHOTOS FROM MI

Hello everyone,

This christening gown was made by my great grandmother for my grandfather to be baptized in. My father, older sister, myself, younger brother and sister, and niece and nephew were also baptized in it.

I spent 3 weeks in MI and got home yesterday. During that time Amber gained 1.5 pounds, started to smile and coo, grew a double chin and dimples in her elbows and her thighs became much thicker. Her personality is really starting to come out. She is very sweet and happy which is a blessing. I went to Michigan to be with my family while my dad underwent brain surgery in 2 separate procedures to reduce the effects of his Parkinson's disease. In August he has to have the devices that were implanted in his chest turned on and adjusted. When that is done hopefully the tremors will be reduced. It was a special time with my family as they were able to watch Amber grow and smile. I felt bad for being away from Ed that long (although he was gone during one of those weeks). Ed was very happy to have us home although his quiet nights are now over.

SHE'S SMILING!

GREETINGS FROM MICHIGAN!