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!