Carpet of Flowers

This morning we went to the Biltomore Estate to see their carpet of flowers. They had arranged 144,000 plants on the terrace beside the house to create a floral quilt. Steven Edward was much more impressed with the fountain and the gardens where he could run on the interlocking gravel paths, but overall it was a lot of fun. We got to spend some good time with our friends the Maslins and the Kruegers.











And we tried to get some good family shots too!










Steven's friend Ryan



Then we headed down to the gardens.





Jenny, Ryan, Beth, Steven Edward, and me.



Beth and I are actually due on the same day! Here is the required belly shot - 28 weeks. I thought I was carrying higher (my hopes for a girl) but Beth may prove me wrong.





The boy's pow-wow.



Then we headed to the barn to see the petting zoo. Steven's favorite by far were the goats.

Why does it only happen to mothers?

When my son was an infant he had an explosive pooing problem-so much so that a nurse friend of mine saw it and said, "Have you spoken to your doctor about that?" He was never a baby I had to worry about urinating on me....oh no, that would be too normal. Either way, it was the first night I tried changing our son (who had pooed in his diaper) without turning the light on (I was going to be a servant up at all hours while I let my husband sleep) and I realized I needed to look a little closer to make sure I'd gotten him completely clean. So I'm leaning over....and WHAM....right in the eye. Not only in the eye....in the hair....on the face.....
And why does this happen only to mothers?

Then when my son had his first vomiting sickness at 6 months old not only am I the one holding him when he projects this lovely smelling substance all over my hair, himself, and all down his back......... my husband is in night class. At this point you have to stop and ask yourself what to do first? Everything is covered....you, him, and most of his room. So you work in order of importance I suppose. All I remember is attempting to take a bath with him on my stomach.....trying to wash my hair, him.....well....you get the picture. I have two hours of figuring out what to do with an infant that is vomiting every 20 minutes. By the time my husband gets home he is sleeping and sleeps off the sickness.....
And why does this only happen to mothers?

And the reason this post is happening today.....last night my son wakes up crying every hour or so. Eventually he is whimpering and coughing at about 12:30 so I get up to go check on him thinking he is teething. I am rocking him to sleep and.....WHAM....he silently regurgitates all of his dinner all over my pregnant belly and himself. Once again you are faced with what to do? So I yell for my husband and he comes in to take Steven Edward and we figure out how to clean this up. I eventually leave him to my husband and I go take a shower at 1 am because my pregnant bell prevents me from seeing all parts of me and who knows where this yummy substance has ended up. And again I ask you....
WHY DOES THIS ONLY HAPPEN TO MOTHERS?

You may be thinking at this point....it's because you are the one always taking care of him in the middle of the night, but honestly, that's not true! My husband is equally (if not more) responsible for getting up at night to comfort him. In fact sometimes he goes to sleep easier for him so I just roll over and Steven gets up. So there enlies my question....equal responsibility....not so equal results. I will never understand.

*Below I am putting a forward that seemed to say it all....I hope you enjoy

What Do You Do All Day?

A man came home from work and found his three children outside, still in
their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers
strewn all around the front yard. The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding Into the entry, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall. In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon channel, and the family room was
strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs,stepping over toys and more piles of clothes,
looking for his wife. He was worried she might be ill, or that somethingserious
had happened. He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out
the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap
and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and
toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he
found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel.
She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her
bewildered and asked, 'What happened here today?' She again smiled and answered,
'You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the
world I do all day?'
'Yes,' was his incredulous reply. She answered, 'Well, today I didn't do it.'

Our Last Two Weeks in Pictures

So- I haven't been so good about taking pictures and posting them...but here is a picture version of our last two weeks! Enjoy!

We went to our friend Isaac's 3rd Birthday at a park with a creek in Montreat.


Isaac in the creek, little Steven sitting beside the creek because it is so cold.

Jenny and Ryan, and little Steven partaking in his first real birthday with cake and juice etc.

We went to our friend Gabe's 3rd birthday the next day and go to smash a pinata!


Gabe about to blow out the candles. Steven Edward forgoing cake and eating pretzels. Carbs are always a winner.

Nana B-B and Uncle Thomas came to visit on the same weekend! Uncle Thomas and my husband had a grand time returning to their childhood by building LEGGO towers and making dams in a creek nearby, while my mother, Steven Edward and I just had a sweet time being together.

Nana making eating fun, Thomas and Steven building towers for little Steven to destroy...

Thomas getting a little excited about Leggos, and Nana pointing out an airplane.

Scary Uncle Thomas....hoodlum Uncle Thomas.


Daddy and Uncle Thomas built a play place for little Steven beside our shed with a sand box, a swing, and a play house. Here are some pictures of our good friends the Dellingers playing in Steven's new play place.

Avi, Steven and Isaac playing in the house/sandbox.



Steven's new favorite things are swinging for HOURS...and reading for HOURS! Here is Isaac reading and Steven trying to join in.


This was the Dellinger's last official week in Asheville as they are moving to Cary. We will miss you all so much.

*I find it hard to decide whether to call my husband Steven, my husband, or Daddy....when did this happen? When did adults get 3 names from which you have to make decisions on what to be called? Am I grown now? Because I have three names?

Summer Park Days

So, there is a park close to us that has a 1.5 walking trail, a playground, and access to a very shallow creek. This summer we have become regular visitors. I wanted to post some pictures of our most recent visit.


Steven and his friend Eli


Steven very skeptical of this drop off...


Steven with his friends Eli, Ana, and Gabe....me saying...."Hey guys! Everybody look!" Yea right, what was I thinking? Toddlers? As you can see it was successful.


The first day we went my son wasn't so sure, but after that every time we go he runs cackling into the water.


Steven throwing rocks into the creek....if you look at the second one you can see the rings in the water...digital is a second too late for the action.


Here the mothers are sitting on the side, Christina and Hannah.....actually both pregnant and due in less than a month. You should hear the things people say when they see the three of us together!


Since my son now loves to climb...he also thinks it's fun to climb into small places i.e. his block bucket. How is it not tipping? Totally don't know!

I also realized yesterday that the day has come that I have dreaded for a long time....my son has had a cold and has had a runny nose.....and yesterday I realized I hadn't wiped it in awhile. So...yea....he was eating his snot. GROSS! WHY! A LOVE OF SALT? I can't figure it out, but I suppose with children it is inevitable.