Culbertson Family Blog

Washin' The Van

2009-08-19T08:07:00.002-05:00

Shelby and I enjoyed a beautiful morning a few days ago. It felt like Fall!! We washed the van and played in the water for quite a while. She got into the suds for just a minute but I think the water was too cold. She also "helped" me clean out the inside and found some treasures along the way!

5 Months

2009-08-12T09:00:00.003-05:00

I am shocked at myself for getting this done a day early! Our little 5-month-old is certainly growing and changing. Jonah is by far my happiest baby. The child almost always seems to have smile on his face. He is extremely ticklish and laughs everytime I change his clothes. He is still eating like a piglet!! Jonah is finally enjoying tummy time and can roll from his tummy to his back and then over again. The older kids have really been trying to include Jonah in play time and many times I find one or both of them talking to him and kissing his head!

Cousins

2009-08-10T14:52:00.002-05:00

We went to Atlanta this past weekend to care for Maren while Mark and Jess went to a wedding out of town. Gabe went to go stay in Macon with Ed and came back with some cool Transformers. Taking care of three babies was definitely tiring but they are all just so darn cute!!

Gabe's Singing Skills

2009-07-28T10:02:00.001-05:00

Poppy

2009-07-28T09:36:00.003-05:00

Dad was able to come for a short visit a few weeks ago. Shelby did not want to cooperate with me but the boys posed for a cute picture.

Jonah's Laugh

2009-07-28T09:33:00.003-05:00

Gabe has been telling "Knock, Knock" jokes the past few weeks and Jonah decided he thought they were funny too. Unfortunately, I only got a few laughs on camera but it was adorable!!

Big Sister

2009-07-28T09:24:00.002-05:00

Shelby was inspecting Jonah the other day and then decided to share some sisterly love!

Dirty Kids

2009-07-28T08:42:00.002-05:00

Kara, Karlee and Cooper cam over to play the other night. The kids decided to play in the dirt and basically throw it on one another. The pics below show the results of the dirt fight. They all laughed and had the best time, no harm was done!!

Pre-Kindergarten

2009-07-28T08:38:00.006-05:00

Oh, Gabe is so excited about school. He has been talking about it for days now and the big moment finally came this morning. As you can see from the photos below, he had to wear his backpack all around the house. I am so excited he gets this experience. He goes 5 days a week, 6 hours a day.

Bath Time

2009-07-28T08:36:00.002-05:00

Here are some photos of Jonah in his new tub. He loves the bath!!

My 4 Month Old Gentle Giant

2009-07-14T06:41:00.002-05:00

Now I know that Jonah is not as big as some babies at 4 months but compared to his siblings at that age, he is certainly a little giant to us. Jonah is weighing in at 15 lbs. 9 oz. and is 23 inches long. He is in mostly 9 month clothes and seems so heavy. I called my cousin Kristyn and friend Kara who also had "bigger" babies and asked about a tub that would help Jonah sit up since he has outgrown the one we have.
At 4 months, I can already see Jonah's gentle spirit. He is so quiet most of the time and loves to study everyone in the house. He is definitely trying to move and keep up with Gabe and Shelby but he loves to cuddle and can lay with me for what seems like forever. He almost always have a smile on his face and is really a very happy baby. I have started calling him "My Gentle Giant" because that's what he is to me. My arms are so worn out at the end of the day from carrying him around but he is just so sweet and sensitive. His laugh is really starting to surface as well and it's the best.

I'm An Aunt

2009-07-11T06:53:00.002-05:00

My sister Jessica gave birth yesterday evening to a baby girl. Maren Elise was born at 7:44 p.m. est. She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 20 in. long. Unfortunately for Jess it was a very long process and Maren was facing up instead of down. So it was more painful than anticipated. But both Mom and baby are doing well and I cannot wait to see pictures of our new family member.

Popsicles

2009-07-08T07:59:00.004-05:00

These past few weeks have been pretty emontional for me. But I have tried to make sure that my kids know as little as possible and just have fun. One thing that Gabe and Shelby seem to love (almost more than me :) ) is eating popsicles. They ask for them all day long and when Mom or I finally say yes, it's like they just received the Golden Ticket. These pics were taken after church last weekend.

Swimmers and Swingers

2009-06-27T13:22:00.004-05:00

I am so happy that my kids love the outdoors. We spend most of our time outside and lately the pool has been a popular place. Jonah goes to the nursery while we go in the water for a few hours.

And we have discovered that Jonah loves the baby swing. Shelby has graduated to the "big girl" swing and can sit there forever (or so it feels like) lazily swinging and letting the wind blow her hair.

Funny Things Kids Say

2009-06-20T07:19:00.002-05:00

Shelby told Charlie (the dog): "No, no, no, Chawie mye feesh (goldfish)."
Gabe told Shelby: "You can share my privacy with me this time." He usually goes to the bathroom by himself and tells her, "No Shelby, this is my private time."
I said to Shelby: "No ma'm. You cannot touch that picture frame." She said back to me, "No, no ma'm."
Gabe said to Jonah: "Did you know you used to be in mommy's tummy? Now you are out in the world and you eat a lot."
Shelby told Gabe: "NOOOOO Gaaaa, mye baw (my ball)."

The conversations in this house get more interesting everyday. I am going to invest in some good earplugs once they all start really talking to each other :)

Jess's Shower

2009-06-01T07:48:00.004-05:00

Mom and I went to Jess's baby shower this weekend in Atlanta. Jeremy kept Gabe and Shelby and we toted Jonah along with us. But he was a great baby and very cooperative except for the ride there. The shower was great and we were able to at least find out baby Schumacher's initials MES. So we are going to have to wait for her entrance into the world sometime mid July before knowing her name. And I think Jessica looks great!!!

Jonah was pooped the the next day from all the excitement of the party

Brothers

2009-05-28T14:06:00.002-05:00

Gabe has really taken to Jonah over the past few weeks no that Jonah is reacting to him. Jonah tries so hard to follow him as he walks by and laughs whenever Gabe talks to him. And Gabe loves to pick Jonah up and carry him around (very gently of course). These pictures were from the other afternoon when Gabe was telling Jonah a story about King Gabe fighting the dragons in the forest.

Jellies

2009-05-28T13:54:00.004-05:00

Every little girl had a pair of jellies at one time. I remember my feet getting so dirty in the little squares on the side of my jellies. I absolutely loved those things even though they hurt like crazy. Mom got Shelby some jellies and she wears them occasionally. Seeing them on her brought back lots of memories for me-I love having a little girl :)

Funny Faces

2009-05-28T13:48:00.003-05:00

Here are just a few photos that I love of Gabe and Shelby. They really show each child's personality.

Two Months

2009-05-28T13:42:00.002-05:00

Okay, I know I am behind on Jonah's monthly updates since he will be eleven weeks tomorrow. But I lost my camera cord for a few weeks and found it in one of Shelby's bags. The child loves to hide anything she finds. Anyways, at two months Jonah was eating wonderfully and growing fast. The smiles really started coming and is was so fun to see that little personality begin to emerge. He was sleeping much better during the night and take pretty good naps during the day as well. He made a trip to the doctor's for a hoarse cry and lots of snorting when he breathed heavily. Thankfully there was nothing wrong with him and his weight gain was measured in the 75th percentile.

Wanted: Someone Who Is Willing To Work 24/7

2009-05-18T15:36:00.003-05:00

The applicant must have extensive experience in:
diaper changing, feeding, making meals, coloring every animal on the planet, reading the same books over and over, boo boo healing, deal making, settling arguments, explaining why the sky is blue at least 8 times, the ability to chase monsters away from under the bed, to do at least ten to fifteen loads of laundry a week, make trips to the doctor, dispense the correct medication, take a temperature correctly, go to Wal-Mart at anytime-day or night, make grocery lists and actually follow them and budget the household money. Knowing how to make a sandwich while cleaning hands, talking on the phone, counting to three and hushing a crying baby is also essential along with proper use of time-outs, spanking, and other methods of punishment that will not send the child to therapy. The applicant must be prepared to get woken up at any time during the night and not return to sleep until the following night. Being able to clean up vomit, poop and other bodily functions is a must!! Teaching skills are very necessary and different learning levels will need to be addressed daily. The ability to not lose your keys, sunglasses, cell phone, diaper bag, purse, your mind or a child is also required. Taking kids to play dates, the pool, soccer practice, and pre-school while keeping the weekly schedule straight is necessary for the success of this job.
The following qualifications must be met in order to make the above list work:
a never ending love for the ones being cared for, sacrifice of self to a certain degree for the rest of your natural life, having an unshakable faith in God, knowing when YOU need a time-out and remembering this is the most important job you will ever have.

Any of you moms out there can probably come up with more things that must "qualify" us for the job. Do you think we would have passed the interview if given before we actually had our children??? Jeremy and I were discussing everything stay at home moms do EVERYDAY. It's a never ending list. Thank God He doesn't expect us to be perfect. We just need to love Him, our spouses and our children as much as we can and try our best.

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-10T14:16:00.003-05:00

At church today there was a video played that really touched my heart. It was of a mother rocking her sleeping little girl. The mother spoke about the pure exhaustion, confusion, and joy in her life. This never ending job is full of happiness, questions, tears and laughter. And then she spoke of the pure amazement of being a mother and how there is no greater job in the world.

There are days when I think I cannot go another second and that being a Mom is the hardest thing I will have to be. The responsibilty is so great sometimes that I feel overwhelmed and drained. But with that comes all the hugs, kisses, smiles and laughter that my children give me everyday. They each touch my heart in ways I never could have imagined and I am so thankful God gave them to me, to be their Mother and prepare them for the world.

And I am ever so grateful for my Mom. She has been such an inspiration to me and helped me through all the ups and downs of my 28 years on earth. And now she has unselfishly taken my family in and givne us a place to stay while we go through another transition. She is a beautiful strong woman and I feel touched that God gave me to her, to raise me and get me ready for the world. And as I now see, I will always need her in one way or another. And I hope that my children will still come to me when they are grown.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Spaghetti Face

2009-04-28T12:39:00.001-05:00

Shelby really enjoyed dinner last night!!

Lovely Sleep

2009-04-22T20:37:00.003-05:00

Jonah will be six weeks old on Friday and is only waking up 1 time at night now!! He eats so much during the day and has really gotten on a good schedule. He takes great naps during the day and I feel very lucky so far. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this continues!!

Mom and Dad

2009-04-22T18:10:00.005-05:00

these are just a few photos of Jeremy and I with Jonah. We haven't gotten very many so far.

Baby Cheeks

2009-04-22T18:02:00.003-05:00

So the other evening Jonah had been up for a while before he ate his dinner. I thought (and hoped) that he would fall asleep after he finished. He did just that and these were some pictures mom got of those sweet baby cheeks.

Jonah's First Month

2009-04-13T18:56:00.004-05:00

This little boy has grown so much since being born one month ago today. He is over 9 pounds now and has grown about a half inch. He eats 5 ounces every 3 hours, yes that's a lot of formula. But he is still in newborn clothes. Since Jonah has been born there have obviously been many changes in our family. It is hard for me to believe that he is a month old. He definitely can track objects now (very slowly) and turns when he hears my voice. Jeremy and I both have gotten a smile out of him, which was so sweet. I really think he looks so much like Shelby, her one month picture is underneath the single ones of Jonah. We all love having this little boy in our family, especially the kids. Gabe wants to hold Jonah and is always giving him kisses. And whenever Shelby hears him crying, she gives him his bottle (usually empty), or paci, or a blanket. She also sits beside him a lot and just watches him. I am hoping Jonah will soon skip a feeding durning the night. I am doing Baby Wise with him but he seems to need a bit more tinkering to the whole process. But he is a great baby and a wonderful little cuddle bug.

Washing Dishes

2009-04-07T14:04:00.003-05:00

Gabe has been wanting to do many more things on his own lately, including washing the dishes. So the other night Jeremy had Gabe and Shelby at the sink "washing dishes." The kids were really just playing in the water and laughing at the soap bubbles, but the dishes did eventually get washed.

Fun at Bebe's

2009-04-06T09:20:00.004-05:00

We arrived in TN a little over a week ago and the adventure has not stopped. Between taking care of a newborn, watching Shelby run around with Charlie the dog and keeping Gabe under control, I have little energy for ANYTHING else. But the kids are getting adjusted to being here and really enjoying the fact that there is a big yard to play in. We have had some beautiful days here (along with really yucky ones) and were able to enjoy the outdoors. I love photographing the kids outside in the sunshine.

Jonah's Home Birth

2009-04-05T14:02:00.004-05:00

I am finally getting around to blogging about this incredible experience. I have to say that having a home birth ranks up there with the best moments of my life so far. I began having contractions in the middle of the night. They were intense and consistent for about a half hour and then nothing. So I got up around 6 am and told Jeremy I was going to Wal-Mart to walk this baby out of me. So in the middle of a big rain storm, I drove my very pregnant self to the store. After walking around for a few minutes, the contractions started again. I called Joi and she sent Stacy over to check on me. She arrived around two p.m. and I was 4 centimeters dilated. So we decided to go ahead and get things going. She stripped my fibers and then I started having more consistent contractions. They were not very painful and I was just walking around feeling quite excited. Joi arrived a while later along with April, my Doula. I progressed quickly but Stacy soon discovered that my cervix was posterior, it kept moving into my backside. So, she moved it forward. Talk about PAINFUL. I wanted to let my body try to break my water but after waiting about an hour or so, we decided to have Stacy do it. Once that happened, I was dilated to a ten almost immediately. But my cervix would not cooperate and Jonah was not all the way past my pubic bone. So we waited, and waited and waited. I pushed on and off for about five hours. Joi and Stacy were there the entire time and April was so encouraging. Jeremy never left my side. He was really great. We enjoyed some fried chicken and sides that was brought to us by one of my MOPS friends. I was allowed to rest, walk around, lay down, whatever I wanted to do. But I was getting extremely tired and making no progress. Around eleven p.m. I told Jeremy I didn't think I could push anymore. He was very understanding and just kept giving me encouragment. Joi told me what would happen if I went to the hospital and that it was just up to me. I decided to lay down for a bit longer and then make a decision. As I stood up from the birthing stool, I felt Jonah shift down. And then the terribly painful contractions started. I made it through five and then told Jeremy to get everyone. So we were all huddled in our bedroom and I gave birth to Jonah on our bed. I pushed three times and Jeremy and I pulled him out and layed our baby on my chest. i know I screamed loudly and was in so much pain but I just remember feeling so much relif afterward. Jonah stayed on me for about 45 minutes, still connected to the placenta. He never cried but just looked around making little snorting noises. The ladies cleaned him a little but left the vernix on to be reabsorbed, which made his skin so soft. Then they weighed and measured him and brought him back to me in the bed. Then Joi and Stacy did the laundry, cleaned the dishes and wished us a good night. Jeremy fed Jonah his first bottle and then they both came to sleep.
We certainly do not plan to have anymore children, but I wish my first two were home births as well. I would recommend it to every woman to at least try one time. It was an amazing experience that I will treasure forever. And Jonah will have a very cool story to tell about the day he was born.

Welcome Jonah

2009-03-16T12:31:00.001-05:00

Here is the first time the kids saw Jonah on Saturday morning.

Baby Progress

2009-03-09T19:51:00.004-05:00

I am so excited. I was seen this past weekend and there has been a good bit of progress made where Jonah's concerned. We are hoping he is born by the 24th of this month. I have had some real contractions and keep hoping that he comes soon. Jeremy and I were just talking tonight about how excited we are to see another little face, little fingers and little toes. Although this has been a very tiring pregnancy for me, the thought of having another family member is very exciting. I am also anxious to experience this home birth, since it is like nothing we have done before. I totally trust my midwives and doula to take care of us and do everything they can to ensure a safe and healthy labor/delivery. We do have an emergency plan in place just in case. But I am not focusing on the "what ifs" because those always exist. I am hoping and praying everything will go smoothly and that little Jonah will be with us before we know it :)

Silly Siblings

2009-03-01T13:35:00.003-06:00

Gabe and Shelby have been getting along lately. It's so much fun to watch them cuddle and giggle together. Here are some photos from the other night when Gabe pulled Shelby up on the couch and they began tickling each other. And a picture of the Jonah belly...it looks awfully big to me!!

Wonderful Air Mattress

2009-02-24T08:59:00.003-06:00

With only four and a half weeks to go, I finally found a way to sleep through the night. We have a single air mattress that my Mom sleeps on whenever she comes. She visited a few weeks ago and we had the bed set up for her. After she left, I decided to try it out. HEAVEN!!!! I have been sleeping on it ever since. I am now only waking up to use the restroom and not everytime I need to switch sides. I miss my bed but when it comes to the last weeks of pregnancy, you will do almost anything to just feel comfortable and get some shut eye.

7 Weeks Left!!

2009-02-07T16:16:00.002-06:00

Holy cow, this pregnancy has flown by! It feels like just yesterday I was blogging about not having much time left with Shelby. We went for my 33 week appt today and everything looks great, no swelling, low blood pressure and low weight gain. Jonah is head down, thank God! We are just trying to prepare now for this home delivery. I am scared of the pain of course, but ready to have an amazing labor and delivery. Jeremy has decided that he wants to help deliver Jonah, which I think is really awesome. It's not everyday you get to deliver one of your children! And I was lucky enough to be introduced to a Doula, April. She is part of a non profit organization here in San Antonio that offers their services for free. So she will come for three prenatal visits, be present for the whole labor and delivery, three postnatal visits and then up to seven other visits. She is more mine and Jeremy's coach and support through the process, although my midwives will be a great support too. But the more people we can have on our side the better! April will also come to help with dishes, laundry, meal making and really anything else I need after Jonah arrives. I am so thankful to have been told about this program. My mom will be here for two weeks but after that I am on my own. Gabe heard Jonah's heartbeat today and was really excited. Unfortunately we have all been sick this past week and have severe cases of cabin fever. I think we are all getting better now though. Hopefully the next month and a half will go by easily.

Support Your Country and Leader

2009-01-22T20:40:00.004-06:00

I hope that each and every one of us will contribute to change our country. After all, the President is only one man. Even though I don't really feel like celebrities should use their popularity in politics, I found this video quite inspiring. What will you pledge??

Celebs 'pledge' to support Obama

Silly Kids

2009-01-22T11:55:00.002-06:00

I really love doing these little videos of the kids. They are so fun to go back and watch and it's just a small glimpse into their worlds.
Gabe loves to sing. He has learned lots of little songs from school and some from me too. We usually sing before bedtime and in the van.

Shelby recieved the baby stroller from Aunt Jessie for Christmas and didn't really seem to know what to do with it at first. But now she is loving it. The other day she had baby elmo in there and gave him a tube of chap stick to hang onto.

Signs of A Growing Boy

2009-01-14T19:32:00.002-06:00

This morning Gabe got in the bed with me. He normally won't do this, but he just crawled right in and laid beside me. He started asking about Jonah and then told my belly/Jonah that he is going to let the baby sleep in his bed, teach him how to hunt dinosaurs and give him his bottle. Then he kissed my belly button and said, "I wuv you baby Jonah, okay go to bed". I was so touched by his innocence and love. He will probably end up picking on Jonah just like he does Shelby, but the moment was too sweet. Gabe is growing and changing so much and I love it. The conversations we have now are so much fun and he makes me laugh with many of the things he says. I enjoy having babies around, but I am starting to really love having a child that is discovering the world and can talk to me about it. I love hearing him sing songs to himself as we drive down the road or hear him play pirates in his room as he does all the different voices. Of course he has his 3-year-old moments when I want to pull my hair out and his, but what parent doesn't deal with that? Gabe is a great kid and I am so glad he is ours.

Shelby Discovering The Zoo

2009-01-10T13:35:00.003-06:00

Even though Shelby has been to the zoo several times since she has been born, we finally gave her the opportunity to walk around and check out everything out of the stroller. She was amazed by all the animals and it was so neat to see her reaction to animals she has never seen before.

Changing Children

2009-01-05T11:45:00.002-06:00

As I watch my kids each day, I am so surprised by the new things they can do. Gabe is fiercely independent most of the time: getting snacks on his own, cleaning his room, dressing himself, and trying to take care of Shelby. He plays for hours with his new pirates and dinosaurs and really loves school. He asks Jeremy and I so many questions and has an amazing imagination.
Shelby amazes me too. The other day I asked her to bring me her bowl and she did. She is a very good listener and doesn't seem to have caught on to selective hearing yet (like her brother)! She is running around everywhere but is so gentle and calm. She can entertain herself with a shoe, book or simple sheet of paper. She is such a happy child but knows how to turn the tears on when she wants some love from Mom or Dad.
I know many people say there is not a difference between the sexes, but I don't think those people ever had a boy and a girl. I know their personalities come into play, but there are definite differences in my two children. I know there is a big change coming in a few months and I am eager and nervous to see what a third child does to our family. But I have no doubt that my wild monkeys will teach Jonah all the good and bad things they have learned so far!

Wedding Photos

2008-12-29T16:35:00.004-06:00

Finally Home

2008-12-29T16:13:00.002-06:00

Wow. After ten days we are happy to be home. Jennifer's wedding was great and then we went to Murfreesboro. The kids had a great time and enjoyed their new Christmas presents. Gabe was so excited about his pirate costume from Santa, he wore it for two days straight. Both kids loved playing with Mom's new dog Charlie. He is super cute and small enough for the kids to grab. We decided to drive home and ended up making a sixteen hour trip. Shelby was difficult in the car to say the least and we had to keep stopping. I guess she is not a professional traveler like Gabe. He was wonderful and never complained. We got home at 4 a.m. Sunday and have been taking it easy. Gabe does not have school this week so I am hoping to get him out of the house to see some of his play group friends. The weather is beautiful here so I am sure we will be spending some time outside. And we have no big plans for New Year's Eve. Just hang with the kids and probably fall asleep before midnight. Hope everyone has a great New Year's.

Getting Ready For Our Big Trip

2008-12-16T15:38:00.003-06:00

We are leaving Thursday morning for our Christmas vacation. Our ride to the airport is picking us up at 4:30 am-YIKES. I hope the kids cooperate on the 3 hour plane ride. We will be in VA for the weekend celebrating Jennifer's wedding. Then on Sunday we have an eleven hour drive to Murfreesboro. We may have to break that up into Sunday and Monday, it just depends on the kids (and how comfortable I am). We'll be in TN for the week and come home Monday the 29th. We are very excited to see both sides of our families this year. I know the kids are going to have a blast and I can't wait to see them all dressed up for the wedding. Gabe has asked Santa for a Pirate Costume, so we'll see if he can pull that off. We celebrated our family Christmas this past weekend and the kids were so cute opening everything. It will be great to see them on Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

It's A Boy

2008-12-05T16:01:00.002-06:00

I had another ultrasound today and we are having a boy. We are very happy. I am so glad to have one of each and know that Jonah Collin will be a joy to us like Gabe and Shelby. Just wanted to update everyone :)

Thanksgiving and Our New Place

2008-12-03T17:22:00.003-06:00

Well we had a very interesting week. First we moved to another apartment because we had a rat in our other place. This occurred when we first moved here too but the manager then would not let us out of our lease. But I guess when dealing with an irrate pregnant woman, the new manager was happy to oblige us. But I did threaten to call the health department and news stations. So, we moved most things the Sunday before Thanksgiving and then throught the week Jeremy went back over there to bring the rest. My Dad visited for the holiday and we had a great time. Gabe came down with an outer ear infection, inner ear infection (one in each ear) and strept throat. So he was grumpy most of the week, but finally came around on Thanksgiving Day. I cooked my first ever holiday meal and have to say I was impressed with myself ( I was extremely worried about how it would all turn out. Although I did forget to cook a few things, everything I did make was really yummy. We love our new place and the kids have had a great time going through the boxes with me and playing with old toys (and beads).

Happy Birthday Jeremy

2008-11-17T09:27:00.003-06:00

Jeremy celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday. We had a relaxing day with the kids. Our church has a new 1:00 service so we went to that and then the kids and I made Jeremy his favorite cake and decorated with a banner and noise makers. Jeremy was "surprised" even though Gabe told him what we were doing. Gabe sang "Happy Birthday" to Jeremy which was just too cute and Shelby really enjoyed the red velvet cake.

Then last weekend, my great friend Robbie let the kids spend the night at her house while Jeremy and I went out. We had a yummy dinner at a steak house and then came home to an eerily quiet place. The time was so enjoyable and the kids did great with Robbie.

Shelby Is On Her Way

2008-11-14T07:09:00.004-06:00

That's right, little Shelby is finally walking!! It is such a thrill to see this too. She and Gabe go all over the house now. It's really cute because Shelby just cannot keep up with him but she tries so hard. They are really playing together a lot more now too. And Shelby has learned how to come all the way down the stairs. Jeremy was showing her how to crawl down backwards and one day she just did it. So now we have two very mobile kids. I think with the next one I will just strap her/him into the bouncy seat to be entertained by my two crazy monkeys.

Shelby Walking and Family Update

2008-11-06T16:02:00.004-06:00

Here is a video from a play date where Shelby was walking. I was super excited. she is doing more on her feet everyday, but still likes those knees.

And I went for my 20 week appt today. Everything looked good, but we could not tell the sex. The baby kept stretching its' legs out and crossing them. So I will be checked again in a month. We may have a 4D ultrasound but I am not really into all that. I have gained 5 pounds so far and am feeling okay. Headaches are on the menu right now and just pure exhaustion. I am so glad that Gabe goes to Pre-School two days a week. And Jeremy helps out as much as possible.
The kids have still been getting sick, Gabe had double ear infections last week-fun. Shelby has a cough and runny nose again. Gabe keeps bringing it home from school and kindly sharing it with all of us.
Gabe is doing great in school. He comes home everyday so excited about what he learned. He is beginning to trace letters and try to spell words out. There will be a Christmas Program in December and he will be singing three songs.
Jeremy's sister Jennifer is getting married December 20th in Virginia Beach. We are really excited because both kids will be in the wedding. I cannot wait to see them all dressed up.
Jeremy is doing well, but really misses his family. His job is getting a bit more stressful and the hotel he is overseeing is now in the furnishing phase. The concrete is all finished so now they can begin carpeting, painting, etc. The Aloft should open at the end of April, just one month after the baby's born.
We are really looking forward to the holidays coming up. My Dad will be joing us for a warm Texas Thanksgiving and then we will all be in Murfreesboro for Christmas. I cannot wait to see our family and friends.

Happy Halloween

2008-11-01T07:57:00.003-05:00

Last night was so much fun. We took Gabe and Shelby trick-or-treating for the first time. Shelby didn't do too much but Gabe had a blast. We went to a friend's house and walked around their neighborhood. It was packed with all kinds of ghosts, goblins, fairies, super heroes and many others. Gabe was not scared at all and instead of saying the classic "trick-or-treat" for candy he would say "happy Halloween". Tina and Elliott's children went as Beauty from the classic movie and a Lion. They were all too cute. Gabe got so much candy, he wouldn't even carry his bucket after a while. Both kids passed out on the way home and slept in this morning. It was so fun for Jeremy and I to experience this for the first time with kids. All of the adults were reminiscing about our trick-or-treating days and what we used to do. It is definitely fun being the parent and watching your kids get so excited about something.

Habby Birthday Shelby

2008-10-30T08:26:00.002-05:00

I cannot believe it, our little girl is 1 today. We will be celebrating Shelby's birthday on Saturday, since we are waiting for the new camera to come in. But I just wanted to honor her on the actual day. Shelby has brought so much laughter and joy into our lives and I am so grateful God gave her to us. Our little gilr is still trying hard to walk and took the most steps yesterday afternoon that she has so far. Shelby and Gabe are a sight to see when they are sweet to each other. But Shelby can tease Gabe almost as much as he teases her. She is extremely observant of everything around her and really likes to press buttons on everything and dance to music. She also loves dogs. Whenever she sees one, she starts laughing and trying to jump out of our arms to get to it. She is still taking two naps a day and sleeping well at night. Although she does get up too early for me sometimes. But she has learned to entertain herself in her crib.

I will post pictures and video from our little family party over the weekend.

Fall Is In The Air

2008-10-20T08:15:00.003-05:00

We are all finally feeling better and decided to visit a pumpkin patch. The kids were more interested in just running around, but we did get 3 pumpkins to decorate. Once we got home Gabe, Shelby and Jeremy decided to make a jack-o-lantern instead of just painting the big pumpkin. So we all sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful Texas weather. Shelby was really interested in what was going on and when Gabe would go inside for a second, she would actually touch the pumpkin. By the end of the afternoon, Jeremy created a very cool scary face and we lit the pumpkin to protect us from the "evil goblin" as Gabe told us.

And The Sickness Continues...

2008-10-17T08:04:00.003-05:00

Well, Shelby has an ear infection now. We cannot seem to get over this stuff. She is on an antibiotic now so hopefully she will get better soon and this sickness will be out of our house for a while. I had no clue she had an ear ache and I feel really bad for her. The doc said her ear looked really bad, but she has not complained about it at all.

Just Plain Ill

2008-10-14T09:52:00.002-05:00

I went to the doctor yesterday and was told I have a severe sinus infection. He said that if I had waited a few more days I probably would have gone to the hospital. I got sick Friday and this was Monday morning. I thought he was being dramatic but then he explained how a pregnant woman's immune system is lower during this time and that when the body has an infection it goes to protect the baby first then you. Well, great. So I got some antibiotics and cough syrup and now I am just waiting to feel better. Shelby is still coughing but the doctor said there wasn't much they could do for her since she only coughs at night. She has a runny nose too. A few other families we know have had the same things and it took several weeks to get over. So I am not setting my expectations too high anymore. Jeremy is in Houston until tomorrow evening so the kids and I are on our own. Lots of PB&J sandwiches and grapes to eat. And early bed times for all of us.

Being Sick Is No Fun

2008-10-12T16:30:00.002-05:00

Since last Friday, all of us have gotten sick. Jeremy and Gabe had a horrible cough and now Shelby and I have stuffy heads and coughs. This is the first time I have been really sick during pregnancy and it stinks. It's hard to help the kids do anything and then to take care of me just kind of takes a back seat. Thankfully Mom was here this week to endure all the sickness and really helped out with the kiddos. Jeremy and I never really got any time alone, but at least we had the help. And Mom got sick as well once she got home, so Happy Birthday To Barbara. What a nice b-day present from us. Anyways, Gabe is well enough for school this week and I think Shelby and I will be on the mend soon. And since we are feeling icky, Jeremy didn't have to make an extra trip to Houston this week-thank goodness. I guess these little bugs just come with having kids.

Eleven Months

2008-10-01T07:47:00.002-05:00

Shelby is certainly developing her language skills even though we have no idea what she is saying. This little girl loves to "talk". She gabs at the window in the van, at Gabe, Jeremy, me and anything else that will sit still. She is fascinated by cartoons and loves to get right up to the TV and touch the screen. This drives Gabe crazy of course, but Shelby doesn't seem to mind bothering him. She is still trying to walk and now gets on her knees to get around as well. The cabinets have become her new discovery zone and I usually find the tupperware scattered all over the kitchen floor. She also loves to get in Gabe's room and play with his toys. It's too cute when I find them up there playing together. This usually only lasts for a few precious moments and then they are fighting over something and fussing at each other. Shelby's hair is getting longer and I love the curls in the back. That is why I chose the picture below, because you can actually see them. Our baby is growing so fast and really surprises us on a daily basis with the new things she can do.

A Visit From Family

2008-09-29T08:46:00.002-05:00

This weekend Jeremy's Uncle Lee and Aunt Barb were in San Antonio. Uncle Lee is Jeremy's mom's oldest borther. They came into town for Lee's annual Military Reunion. Jeremy and I were able to attend the dinner on Saturday night with them. We had a great time and it was definitely a sobering experience for both of us. Sunday we visited the Alamo and then went on a boat ride down the River Walk. Then Uncle Lee and Aunt Barb came over for a visit and we ended the evening with a great dinner. Gabe took a little while to warm up but by the end of the evening, he was giving out hugs and kisses like candy. And Shelby was friendly as always. Although she had a hard time figuring out Uncle Lee's mustache.

Drinking From A Straw

2008-09-29T08:36:00.004-05:00

About a month ago, I finally got Shelby to begin drinking from a sippy cup. The only problem was that she refused to hold it. So Jeremy and I have been holding her and the cup. So I started just putting it on the floor in front of her to see what she would do. And she did absolutely nothing. She would just stare at the cup and then smile at us. But the other day she found one of Gabe's cups with the straw. She started chewing on it and then all of a sudden, we heard her sucking really hard on the straw. She had drank all the juice out of the cup on her own. Jeremy and I were both clapping and cheering for her and of course, she gave us that cute toothy grin. Now Shelby only drinks out of the straw cups and she does it all by herself.

Congratulations To The Brinkley Family!!

2008-09-19T14:09:00.003-05:00

My cousin Allison has a new addition to her family today!! She delivered by c-section a beautiful baby boy, Calhan Wolff Brinkley. He weighs 7 lbs. and is 20 inches long. Now Dawson and Allison have two boys, and I bet big brother Chase is so excited.

A Good Report

2008-09-09T18:24:00.002-05:00

Since Gabe has been acting up at home a bit, I wanted to know if he was doing the same at school. Actually, I really didn't want to know but felt like I needed to ask. So when I went to pick him up today, I asked his teachers how he has been doing. Both ladies just smiled and said that Gabe has been doing so great. He is friendly to everyone, he listens to them and does what he is told. I was so proud. Then they asked why I was even wondering about his behavior. I explained briefly about the issues at home and Ms. Polly said that she was shocked. He has yet to give them any problems and is such a "charmer". Well, at least he is behaving at school. I just need to get him to listen to me more. But I remember Janet telling me that Jeremy did well at school, but home was a completely different issue. I guess he takes after his Dad.

Just Cute

2008-09-08T09:01:00.002-05:00

Here are a few pictures of the kids this morning. I can't believe they were sitting so nicely together while watching Clifford.

Gabe's First Day of School

2008-09-08T08:58:00.003-05:00

Gabe did really great last week. He cried the first day, but when we picked him up he couldn't stop talking about his teachers and the things he did. I think he is going to be just fine. And he looks so big :)

Videos

2008-09-08T08:06:00.004-05:00

Here are a few videos from the past couple of weeks.

This one is from the Wildlife Ranch. It's like a mini safari.

Change

2008-09-07T14:13:00.003-05:00

Finally. I have been wanting to make some changes to this blog for months and today I actually got the chance. I have had those little birthday tickers on my myspace page forever and kept meaning to put them on here. And I wanted to find a cute background without all the downloading and thankfully I took a look at Rebecca's blog and stole her idea. Now I just need to put some videos on here that I have been forgetting to do for about 3 weeks.

Paci Withdrawls

2008-09-06T21:21:00.003-05:00

I never thought I would say this, but I kind of want the paci fairy to bring those plugs back!! Gabe has had a really hard time this week without his security. He did great at school and is still using the potty without any problems. But the temper tantrums have increased and he has made several trips to time out and his room. I feel sad for him and wish it wasn't so hard. And I know this is just something he has to go through, but I hate it. Hopefully within the next week or so things will calm down for him and he'll get used to being without his beloved pacis.

Baby #3 Update

2008-09-06T21:12:00.002-05:00

I had my 11 week visit today. Thankfully, I have been feeling better and not nearly as nauseous. I am just tired by 6 pm. I was able to hear the heartbeat for just a few seconds, it seems this baby doesn't like being pressed on. Then we did an ultrasound. The midwives got a new ultrasound machine that is just like the one at an OB's office. We found the baby right away and HOLY COW!!! HE/She was kicking like crazy! The baby was laying on its' back and kicking those little legs up in the "air". It was really funny to watch. Then the little hands kept going by its' head and we were able to make out the eye sockets and see a teeny nose. I can't believe all that movement is happening and I don't feel a single thing! I have a few pictures that I will post tomorrow, although it's a little hard to make out everything. Next time I go, Mom will be here and she is going with me. We may be able to find out the sex, but it's not likely. I am a little more excited now after seeing an actual baby in there instead of just a little lump.

Potty Training Success and The Paci Fairy

2008-09-01T22:02:00.002-05:00

There have been a few big strides made in Gabe's life that have taken him from the toddler world to the Pre-K world. Last week, he finally began pooping in the potty. SUCCESS. After almost 9 months, he finally has it. He still wears a diaper at night but that is something we will tackle later. Gabe has been so proud of himself and we are proud too. It's a great day when there is only one bottom in the house to clean.

And the paci fairy finally made her way to Gabe's room last night. We had been telling Gabe that is was time to give the pacis to another baby that needed them. We explained how sweet and kind the fairy is and that she would make sure the right baby got his sacred plugs. "She" left Gabe a Spider Man lunch box, a tri-ceratops and Transformer underwear. He was more excited about the underwear than anything else. Tonight was hard for him, but after singing about a dozen times and Jeremy and I both giving lots of hugs and kisses, Gabe finally went to sleep. I can't believe that changes he has made over the summer and just this past week. And tomorrow, he starts Mother's Day Out. Our baby is not a baby anymore :)

Ten Months

2008-08-31T16:39:00.002-05:00

Shelby has taken some big steps this month. She is trying so hard to walk, it's really cute. Her personality keeps on coming through too. She laughs almost all the time and loves to play chase with Jeremy and Gabe. She has 4 teeth coming in right now but hasn't really complained much. Climbing has become a new hobby for her and I have found her at the top of the stairs or in Gabe's room several times in the past few weeks. She also loves to climb on the toy box and sit in her pool float. Shelby's hair has really grown and I love putting it up in a barrette, she looks so girly. We are also giving her all table food now and trying to make the transition from formula to regular milk. And we are trying to get rid of the bottle. I'd like a little time without any newborn tools before we have to break them out again.

Sugar Land, TX

2008-08-31T16:22:00.003-05:00

We went with Jeremy last week to Sugar Land. It's right outside of Houston. The drive was about 3 hours and the kids did pretty well. We had a good time while we were there and the kids and I had plenty to do. We visited the Natural History Museum, The Houston Zoo and the Children's Museum. I actually got to order room service one morning, which I haven't done since our honeymoon. It was a good trip, but I was exhausted at the end of each day. This pregnancy is tiring and having two kids does not allow for much down time at all. Here are some photos from the trip.

E.T. Phone Home

2008-08-14T07:52:00.007-05:00

Gabe loves E.T.. We were using it for a while as a reward for potty training, but then had to back off. Last week he received a huge surprise in the mail from Rick-E.T.. Gabe went completely nuts when he saw it and has not left it alone since. We had to take him to church with us and he "took a nap" in the van while we went inside. E.T. also lays with Gabe during his quiet time and hangs out with him in his room. Jeremy and I were afraid that Gabe would be scared of him since he has been having trouble with nightmares, but he is not afraid at all. He actually tells E.T. that he will protect him. Aah, the imagination of a 3-year-old, gotta love it.

First Baby Appt

2008-08-09T16:05:00.003-05:00

The whole family went to our first appointment today. Jeremy and I chose two midwives that are in practice together. Joi and Stacy are amazing women and have been working together for 5 years. They have delivered babies in third world countries and are both highly qualified. Today we just went over paperwork and figured out my due date which is March 27, 2009. So I am seven weeks along. All of the appts. are at Joi's house and I get to have an ultrasound every time. We were able to see the baby today and clearly make out the heartbeat. Thankfully, one of the apprentices there had zofran on hand and gave me several. I have been extremely nauseous this past week and have lost 4 pounds. Although, you would never be able to tell since I cannot even zip up my regular pants. I actually pulled out a pair of maternity shorts this morning and put them on. Hopefully the sickness will only last through 12 weeks (I am keeping my fingers crossed).

Mr. Incredible

2008-08-04T14:36:00.003-05:00

Last Friday, the kids and I went to a play place called Fiddlesticks. Gabe had a great time dressing up in the costumes. His favorite was Mr. Incredible. Once he put on the costume he would not take it off. i think he had it on for almost an hour. It was a little big on him and when he would run around, the muscles built into the chest of the costume would hit him in the chin. He kept saying, "Ta da, I am Msr. Incedible." He doesn't look very happy in the photo below, but he was so excited to be the super hero.

9 Months

2008-07-30T21:21:00.004-05:00

Shelby is still crawling away. She is super fast now and follows us around everywhere. She is also getting to the extreme attachment phase with me. When I leave her in another room, she usually cries hard and then cries as she's crawling. It's kind of funny. She is also eating more adult food, we shared a piece of pizza the other night. No other teeth have come in yet, but she is constantly moving her tongue along her top gum and drooling. Shelby's also eating bananas, turkey, mashed potatoes, and broccoli. But her favorite is yogurt and the pizza. We bought her a walk n' ride toy that she has been using a lot since arriving home from TN. She will pull herself and walk behind it for a few minutes then get on her knees and play with all the gadgets on the front. She is really attached to Gabe too, and he can get her giggling when Jeremy and I can't even get a grin out of her. And along with her glow worm that she sleeps with every night, Mom got her a Gund Comfy Cozie Bear. It is so soft and Shelby loves to cuddle with it. She has had a runny nose lately but besides that, she is a happy, healthy 9-month-old baby.

Just Checking

2008-07-30T09:11:00.002-05:00

I know this may sound silly, but I took another pregnancy test just to be sure. I am still so surprised by this news. And yes, I am still pregnant. I feel sad and disappointed in myself that I wasn't more careful (although I am not sure how much more careful I could have been). I feel so complete with my two children and Jeremy, that I never even imagined we would have another baby. I don't want those sleepless nights again, the never-ending bottle feedings, my belly growing huge, and one of my most selfish fears-3 kids in diapers. I pray Gabe has this poop issue worked out by March. I know I may sound like a whiny baby when you read this, but I am just being honest. This pregnancy is a real life change and I am glad it will be 9 months before it becomes a reality. I know that when I see this baby I will be excited and happy but right now I feel a bit lost and overwhelmed. And as a result of this news, we are trying to get a more family friendly vehicle, maybe move into a house and figure out how to save even more money. We are so thankful that Jeremy has an amazing job and we are in a good position financially. But who doesn't worry about money when you have kids? taking it one day at a time is best, but what pregnant woman can really do that when hormones are changing everyday? Okay, enough complaining from me.

Nightmares

2008-07-30T08:48:00.002-05:00

Poor Gabe. He has been having nightmares for the past several nights now. There are some characters from a few movies he seen lately that really scare him. He's been waking up at 3 in the morning and not really going back to sleep. I have been getting up with him, but Jeremy deicided to just sleep in his room last night. So Gabe slept on the blow up mattress (that's just where he crashed) and Jeremy slept in Gabe's bed. Now Mom had told us before that Gabe talks in his sleep. But last night Jeremy said Gabe kept sitting up in the bed, whininh and talking. Then he yelled for Jeremy and went right back to sleep. I know the nightmares happen to almost every kid, and I went through it a lot when I was younger. But I just feel so bad for my baby. He comes into our room crying and shaking and will not go back in his room without us. Jeremy is planning on sleeping in his room for a few more nights to see what happens. Hopefully taking the movies out of the equation and putting his bed right on the floor, Gabe won't be so scared. We'll just see how long he remembers these characters.

Friends.

2008-07-25T09:05:00.004-05:00

While we were in Murfreesboro, we got to spend a lot of time with Kara, Karlee and Cooper. Gabe and Karlee are 9 months apart while Cooper and Shelby are 3 and 1/2 months apart. The kids all played really well together. the babies crawled around everywhere together and the two older kids played outside. The house was a little chaotic and when all the kids were down for naps, I felt exhausted. I didn't get any pictures fo the kids with family this time, but I did get plenty of all the kids.

Kung Fu Panda

2008-07-25T08:45:00.004-05:00

Gabe has Kung Fu Panda on the brain 24/7. Bebe took him to see it when it first came out and the child has been hooked ever since. He loves to pretend his the "bad tiger" or the "tiger lady". Bebe and Kay got Gabe all the toys that were available at McDonald's on their Out West Vacation. And then he and Bebe went and saw the movie again while we were in TN. The lateest addition to Gabe's Kung Fu Panda assets is a set of pj's I found at Wal-Mart. When he opened the bag and saw the outfit, he started jumping up and down. We had to put them on right away and he didn't want to take them off.

Surprise

2008-07-21T08:49:00.000-05:00

Well, there has been a slight change in the Culbertson household-I am pregnant. Yep, our third baby is due March 22nd or 25th. Of course this is a huge shock to us and was definitely not planned. We are very careful about these things, but I guess God has another plan for us. I have very mixed feelings about the situation but Jeremy is very happy and feels Janet had something to do with all of this. I am very excited to say that I will be going to a midwife and deliver at home or a birthing center. I feel my last two experiences were very stressful and want to see it done the other way. We have interviews with three midwives set up over the next month, so we hope to have chosen someone by the end of the first trimester. I am really praying that this pregnancy is easier than the other two but I guess either way, the end result is worth it.

Shelby's First Steps

2008-07-21T08:33:00.001-05:00

Shelby has been pulling up on the furniture for a while, but not really taking any steps. Yesterday, Mom found Shelby pushing the stool around the kitchen. Thankfully, she cooperated with us and I was able to get it on tape.

Gabe's Birthday Pages

2008-07-15T13:29:00.001-05:00

Boo

2008-07-13T18:57:00.000-05:00

Shelby is getting to such a fun age. Lately, she has started to crinkle her nose just like Gabe used to do. But she adds a little snort and giggle into it.

Busy Busy

2008-07-05T19:45:00.000-05:00

Since the beginning of June I feel like our lives have been on the go. With my mom visiting, Jeremy's mom passing away, my sister coming and then mom and Kay stopping back by, it has been a busy month. Then we have had many play dates, a try at Mother's Day Out (unfortunately, that didn't work because Gabe is not all the way potty trained) and done lots of family stuff with Jeremy. Last week was Jeremy's first trip to Kansas City to visit his two projects currently under way. He came back very excited about the progress and will now travel there every other week on Monday evening and come back Tuesday night. It was very strange for me to have him gone and I really did not sleep well at all Monday night. Then every one of us came down with colds-not fun. But things seem to be calming down just a bit. I am thinking of joining a YMCA so I have some time to myself while the kids stay in the Child Watch area. And if we join, we will probably put Gabe in the soccer or t-ball league for 3-4 year olds in the fall and Jeremy is thinking of volunteering his time to coach. It will only be one practice during the week and then one game on the weekend. It's so strange thinking Gabe is ready to play sports-my baby is growing up so fast.We will be going to TN in a few weeks, so we'll be busy there too. Here are a few pictures from Mom and Jessie's visits. And I will post some others of the kids soon

8 Months Old

2008-06-30T20:43:00.000-05:00

Shelby is really growing and changing everyday. She is picking up things and studying them for long periods of time. The TV and DVD player are constant attractions for her and the word no is quickly becoming common in our conversations with her. As we shake our heads at her, she smiles and does the same. Little Shelby is in 9 month clothes, although most of the outfits are still a bit big. She is pulling up on the furniture and us with total ease. Those little feet always seem to be working. Today she let go of me and just stood there for a few seconds before she plopped right down on her behind. Shelby seems to be teething again and this time is a bit worse than before. She is really fussy and has a runny nose to go along with the top front teeth breaking through. Shelby also goes after Gabe with a vengeance now. She tries to keep up with him, but can't really even come close. They roll around on the floor together and laugh, but Shelby usually ends up crying. I guess that is the life of the younger sibling. Shelby really loves the pool and I think we will have a little swimmer on our hands next year with the floaties.

Family Photo Shoot

2008-06-20T21:00:00.000-05:00

We had our annual shoot taken a few weeks ago and I am so please with the results. Here are some of my favorites.

Okay, I Know I Keep Switching

2008-06-20T20:31:00.000-05:00

Well, I love the Shutterfly site, but I do not like the fact that I have to use U Tube for the video and how I cannot put the pictures in the actual journal part. So, I am going to continue using this blog for our stories and just update the Shutterfly site with all our pictures. That way if anyone wants to order old or new photos, they are there.

New Blog

2008-06-17T09:08:00.000-05:00

Here is the link to our new blog: http://theculbertsonfamily.site.shutterfly.com/. It includes all the photos we take, videos and family stories. I am still working on it, but it's mostly done. check it out.

Birthday Party

2008-06-16T14:14:00.001-05:00

This weekend we went to a birthday party for a little girl in our play group. There was a face painter there and at first Gabe was a little intimidated. But once he saw that there was a Spiderman face, he was all for it.

And Shelby and I actually posed for a photo, TOGETHER. I am sorry to say we don't get many opportunities like that.

No More Naps

2008-06-15T20:01:00.000-05:00

We have been fighting Gabe to go to bed at night for probably a good 4 or 5 months. He would nap and then not go to bed until ten. We would put him in the bed at 8:30 every night, but he got up several times every night. I was not ready to give up my "alone time" during the day so we kept this routine up. Finally, this week I gave in. And you know what? It really hasn't been that bad. Gabe still has his quiet time every afternoon while Shelby sleeps and I am still able to get some things done. But the most beautiful part is that my little boy now goes down by 8 WITHOUT a fight. We are actually having peaceful evenings again and it's so nice. Here is a picture I took from a recent nap. Now we are going to work on getting rid of the pacis.

Sea World...Take 2

2008-06-07T15:12:00.001-05:00

Gabe and I went by ourselves to the park this past Tuesday and had a much better time than before. We saw the all the animal exhibits and went from one end of the park to the other. Although it was really hot, it was a lot of fun. We even got to feed the dolphins.

Home

2008-06-07T07:14:00.000-05:00

We are home from Janet's funeral services. They were very lovely and she looked beautiful. She was buried in Fulton, MS next to her father. Her mother lives there along with some of her siblings. I want to thank all of you for the cards and prayers you have sent our way over the past week. This has just been a huge shock to us all and I hope the Culbertson and Ragsdale families can begin the healing process now. I know it will never be the same without Janet here with us.

It's A Boy

2008-05-29T14:57:00.000-05:00

My close girlfriend Arianna, who is livnig back in Miami now, gave birth to another boy on May 28th. Marcelo Blanco was born at 2:38 pm weighing 8 lbs and 21 inches long. Arianna gave birth in her bathtub-how cool is that?? Baby and Mom are both doing great. CONGRATULATIONS to the Blanco Famly.

New PJ's

2008-05-27T11:25:00.000-05:00

I love babies in pj's. We found some great sales at Old Navy over the weekend and each child got some new "pajomos" as Gabe likes to call them.

Gabriel

2008-05-24T08:55:00.001-05:00

I know I have been giving a lot of attention to Shelby in these posts, so I thought I would give an update on the changes in Gabe's life. He has been saying full sentences lately and really picking up on things Jeremy and I talk about. He weighs 38 pounds and is quite tall. Thankfully, he is able to fit into all his shorts from last summer and his swim trunks. He still sleeps with his pacis, but that's quite alright with me. If sleeping with pacis means I get him to take a nap, I'll deal with it. He does take naps most days, but he does skip every once in a while. The naps are shorter but I am happy he still goes down.
Gabe is very creative and loves to imitate animals, play with paint and still his favorite, Play-Doh. Jeremy bought him several animal figurines from Wal-Mart and Gabe carries them everywhere and even sleeps with them. He really likes books and has been hanging out in his room more listening to books on CD. He is also learning his numbers and loves to sing nursery rhymes.
I am hoping to teach Gabe the basics of swimming while my mom visits for the next few weeks. He seems much more excited about getting in the water this summer and trying some new things. He already blows bubbles in the tub which he flat out refused to do last summer. I think if I am consistent with him, we will have a little fish on our hands before long.
Gabe loves Shelby, but picks on her all the time. He is either sitting on her, rolling her over or yelling because she is messing with his things. But he is sweet with her and gives her lots of love.
I am so pleased with the person Gabriel is becoming. He has such a warm heart heart and friendly demeanor. Of course, he can be wild and make me want to pull my hair out some days but that's to be expected. He is a great kid.

Sea World

2008-05-23T19:20:00.000-05:00

Okay, I think I was a little naive to believe that we could spend a lot of time at this park, just the 3 of us. The kids didn't misbehave or anything, but it was 102 degrees and that park is massive. I had no idea where anything was so we wandered around. I wasn't able to get nearly as many pictures as I wanted to, but below are a few. Gabe loved looking at the shark and fish exhibits. He wasn't really impressed with the Sea Lion show. Next time I will have a game plan ahead of time so I know where i am going and what we will be doing. We are thinking of getting Jeremy a season pass as well so he can go with Gabe. But we had a good time and both kids took long naps this afternoon. And I will be going to bed early tonight. Tomorrow we are going to hit the pool here and then go to the Riverwalk in the evening. Sunday Gabe and Jeremy are off to the zoo again and then we are going to spend Memorial Day just hanging out together.

Teeth

2008-05-22T08:50:00.000-05:00

Shelby has been cutting her first 2 teeth for about a week now. I am surprised she has behaved so well. The other day she seemed to fuss constantly, but it wasn't really that bad. I think she looks adorable.

Head Shaker

2008-05-20T14:38:00.000-05:00

Shelby has started doing this in the past few days and it's soooo cute.

Presidian

2008-05-20T09:53:00.001-05:00

This is Jeremy's company. Just wanted to add it so you all could see what he does.
http://www.presidian.com/. You may have to copy and paste the link.

The Weekend

2008-05-17T21:31:00.000-05:00

Jeremy kept the kids today while I got to run errands and have some alone time. He told me tonight, "Sarah, you have to be tired at the end of a normal day cuz I am exhausted." I laughed and said that I usually am beat. But he and Gabe spent lots of time outside with some water guns and Shelby got to enjoy a ride in the sling. I love that Jeremy will wear that thing.
Today was really nice for me. I was able to explore some more of this big city and I feel a bit more comfortable now on the major interstates. The view from one bridge was beautiful, I could see over the treetops and straight downtown. And this evening Gabe and I went around trying to fins some bugs to put in his bug catcher. We didn't find any bugs but we did bring back some golf balls for Jeremy. It's funny how far off some golfers are from the actual hole.

Here is the view from our back porch. Pretty peaceful, huh? :)

Thumb Sucker

2008-05-16T22:07:00.000-05:00

Shelby has sucked her thumb she was six weeks old. We soon learned she likes to hold things in her hand while sucking that teeny thumb. She especially loves Bebe's chain for her glasses. She wraps it around her finger and lays her head down on Bebe's chest. It's so sweet. So since Bebe is not close by :( Shelby finds some interesting substitutes. The other night she grabbed one of Gabe's plastic forks and began to suck away. It really calms her down and is precious to watch. She also likes to grab some of my hair in her hand along with a stuffed animal.

Gabe's Possessions

2008-05-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

Since Shelby has begun to crawl, Gabe is having major major issues with his things being touched. Even if he is not playing with something, if Shelby is touching it he loses his little mind. Today she was going after his sandals and instead of Gabe picking them up and putting them on the stairs like I suggested, he thought they would be more protected on his feet. I couldn't help but get this photo opp. He had just woken up from his nap, that's why the diaper is still on. He wanted me to put on my shoes so Shelby couldn't touch them too.

The San Antonio Zoo

2008-05-16T21:43:00.000-05:00

We visited the zoo last weekend and then this past Thursday. It is a really nice place and a great way to entertain Gabe. He and Jeremy ran around looking at all the animals and just having fun. Shelby was really good even though she skipped her morning nap. we got a good hour and a half in before the kids got cranky and then it was time to go. On Thursday i took the kids and we went through part of the zoo. Gabe listened really well and everyone behaved beautifully. These pictures are from when all of us went.

Gabe could not stop talking about the rhinos after we left, so I added the picture for him.