CJ Henage

Merry Christmas!!

2011-12-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

Wow, its been a while since I posted, life has been crazy and hectic. We have been through so much in the last 6 months or so. First, in June, my sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is currently undergoing chemo and radiation and is hanging in there. In July, we found out that we were pregnant with baby #2 and were soooo excited!! What a bright spot in everyones lives. Then, on September 3, during a routine doctors visit, we learned our sweet baby had no heartbeat. I was just out of my first trimester and thought I was in the "safe zone". What we didn't know was that our baby had died around the 9 week mark. It was an awful day and has been extremely hard. All I can say is, God is faithful and has never left us in our time of intense sorrow. We know that He is in control and that He has a plan. We have so many things to be thankful for and are so incredibly blessed. We are reminded of these things this Christmas season, and choose to give thanks in the midst of the storm. Here is a picture of our growing boy, who will, believe it or not be 3 next month!!

2011-06-16T04:33:00.000-07:00

Fun In the sun

2011-04-19T18:19:00.001-07:00

We had an awesome trip to Florida! The weather was gorgeous, and CJ couldn't get enough of the beach! We have created a little beach bum, and of course I am so proud! So sad our vacation is over and can't wait till next year!

March already?

2011-03-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

As much as it seems as winter is dragging on, I can't believe March is here. Spring is right around the corner, it can't come quick enough!! I can't wait to get CJ to the playground and outside again!! We have had a rough few weeks. First, CJ had croup, SO not fun, wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. Then, he got a double ear infection, which he is still taking medicine for. Poor little guy, feel so badly for him!! All in all, he's been a really good sport. He got his first "real" haircut last week. He sat in the chair pretty well until the clippers came out, then he wigged out a little. But, we got through it, and he looks really handsome!! Here are a few pics...

SNOW!!!!

2011-01-31T13:06:00.000-08:00

We finally had our first MAJOR snowfall this winter here in MD. Last year we had soooo much snow and so I was worried we would be in for it again this year! You never know, we still have all of February to go!! CJ really likes the snow this year, as compared to last year. He threw a FIT when I told him it was time to come in! We built our first snowman, made snow angels and just had fun! You would never know that I grew up in New England because our snowman is a little lame!!
Hope you enjoy these!!

Happy Birthday CJ!

2011-01-09T10:42:00.000-08:00

Seems like just yesterday we were bringing him home on a cold January day, much like today! I can hardly believe that my baby is 2! God is sooo good and has blessed us beyond measure. I have learned so much during these last two years, I am so grateful! Happy Birthday to my favorite little man!

Happy New Year!!

2011-01-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

2011?? Really?! It just sounds sooo weird, doesn't it?? Our Christmas in Cape Cod was amazing! Chad's parents got to be there and it was so nice to have everyone there at the same time! (except for Laura, Daniel and Riley :( We had a bit of snow when we first got there, which was really fun because my parents live on a golf course, so we got to go sledding in their backyard. FUN!! We also got to take CJ to Edaville Railroad, a really fun place for kids, he loved it!! Another fun memory was me, Liv and Sheri went to see Usher in concert, SO FUN!!I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family and that we get to do such fun things!!!

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas!!

2010-12-06T18:47:00.000-08:00

Can hardly believe 2010 is almost over! Crazy!! Our little man will be 2 in less than two months! He is growing up so fast, I need to stop blinking so much! We will be leaving for MA on the 17th, so much to do before then, I am so excited!! Chad's parents will be making the trip to MA to spend Christmas with us, really looking forward to that too! So, here are some of our Christmas pics, hope you enjoy!

C is for Cookie!!!!

2010-11-01T12:58:00.001-07:00

Can you guess what CJ was for Halloween this year?? His FAVORITE Sesame Street character!! His best buddy Natalie was Cinderella, wasn't she beautiful???

September????

2010-09-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

Wow, time is really flying by!! I have been a total slacker with updating this blog, I need to be more on top of it! I can't believe the summer is technically over, it went by really fast!! CJ is now 20 months old, how did that happen??? He is doing all sorts of things, saying EVERYTHING and becoming more and more independent!! He loves all things Sesame Street, but is OBSESSED with cookie monster, pretty sure he will be him for Halloween this year!! We spent a lot of time in MA this summer and are headed back there this week for a wedding, can't wait!! Here is a picture of my big boy!

Busy!!!

2010-07-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

This summer is flying by so far!! We were in MA for 9 days, and got back last week. CJ had a blast!! He LOVED the beach this time, I was sohappy!! We ate lots of ice cream, went to the beach A LOT and hung out with the family. CJ LOVES his family in MA, and of course they LOVE him!! I am sure the rest of the summer will fly by, as it always does. Here are a few pictures...

Summer Already??

2010-06-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

Can't believe that June is here already!! Before I know it, summer will be over! Not too much going on here, just hanging out, having play dates, visiting with friends. CJ is really growing up so fast. I think about this time last year and can't believe how much he has changed. He says a new word almost every day and is pretty much running around now. He is extremely busy, always into something, often doing things he is not supposed to be doing!! I love being home with him, we have a blast! I am SOOOO greatful for this time with him and wouldn't trade it for anything!

Hello!!

2010-05-10T16:48:00.001-07:00

Sorry it has been a while since I have blogged. We have been kind of busy lately. We went to Florida to visit my parents for 9 days, spent a weekend with good friends at their lake house and now my parents are back from Florida and are here staying with us. CJ loves having his Grammy and Grampy here with him, he is absolutely crazy about them!! On Thursday, CJ and I will be traveling back to MA with them to visit. We haven't been back since Christmas, so a visit is long overdue!! CJ misses his aunties and cousins a lot!! Here are some pictures from our Florida trip. Hope you enjoy!

Easter recap

2010-04-08T17:42:00.001-07:00

For Easter this year, we went to visit our very special friends, the McCords, at their bed and breakfast in Va. We went with Jon, Rebekah and Natalie, it was such a blast!! CJ was a good boy, ans we made lot of fun new memories!! We had picture perfect weather, it was amazing!! We hung out at the B&B and also went to visit Liberty University, it had been a few years since I had been back to the campus. Hope you enjoy the pics!! Our next trip is next week when we go to Florida to see my parents, can't wait!!

BIG NEWS!!!!!

2010-03-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

Well, I hope I got everyone's attention with that headline :) CJ is finally walking!! Can you believe it? I can't!! It is bittersweet for me. I am happy for him that he is finding new ways to explore his little world, but sad that my baby is growing up. Chad and I both got teary eyed when we saw him walk for the first time, hardly believing that this little baby we brought from the hospital (seems like yesterday) is now walking. He has grown up so fast and is learning so many new words, sounds, and just responds to so many things now. Here is a short video of him in action!!

Spring????????

2010-03-03T17:18:00.000-08:00

I am seriously wondering if spring will ever come to Maryland. It is still really cold here, but the 40+ inches of snow has been melting somehow. So, that's a really good thing, it no longer looks like we could have the winter Olympics in our front yard!!! We got a fun visit from my sister Susan and niece Olivia a couple weeks ago, it was so great to see them!! We did some fun things while they were here and they got to spend some quality time with CJ, which he loved!!! We are SO excited and are looking forward to visiting my parents in FL next month, can't wait!! Can't come soon enough! CJ LOVES music and loves to dance, I will try to upload the video and see if it works. Well, that's all for now!!

Blizzard of 2010

2010-02-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

Well, we got BURIED in snow here in MD. I have never seen this much snow since I have lived here. We got around 2 feet, maybe a little more. It started snowing Friday afternoon and stopped snowing Saturday late afternoon. The entire state was under a state of emergency and everything, including malls, was shut down!! Chad did A LOT of shoveling and is REALLY sore today! We took CJ back out in the snow and he seemed to like it better this time!

Fun Times

2010-01-30T13:44:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of having my parents, Grammy and Grampy here with us for the last three weeks, as they were passing through on their way to sunny Florida. CJ just LOVES them, especially his Grampy. He lights up when he comes in the room, it's really cute!! CJ is really getting into things these days and I am sure he will be walking any minute. Even though he has millions of toys, he would rather play with food in the pantry, bang on pots and pans and climb the stairs. Needless to say, he has to be watched like a hawk! And, he is REALLY fast, turn around for a second, and he is into something! He also really enjoys getting into Sam my's food bowl, and has even sampled a few bites :)
Here are some pics of what he's been up to these days...Oh, I amost forgot! CJ brushed his teeth for the first time last week, he REALLY enjoyed sucking the toothpaste off :)

One Year Old!!!

2010-01-18T17:14:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that my baby boy is one already!! This past year flew by, my little boy is so grown up! He is developing quite the personality and is all over the place. He enjoys pulling himself up on everything and cruising around. We like to call him Spiderman, because he even uses the walls to help himself cruise, so funny!! I know he will be walking very soon, which makes me happy and sad all at the same time. We had a party for him which was Mickey Mouse themed, everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves, especially CJ!! We also had a little party for my birthday, hard to believe on my bday last year, we brought CJ home from the hospital.

CJ's First Christmas

2010-01-03T16:57:00.000-08:00

We had the pleasure of traveling to Cape Cod to spend Christmas with my family. Boy, did we have a blast!! CJ turns ONE YEAR OLD on January 9th, so we decided to have an early birthday party for him when we were up in MA. We arrived really late on Christmas Eve, due to horrific traffic. Chad and I stayed up forever stuffing stockings and constructing toys, but we had so much fun!! CJ really enjoyed Christmas day and the wrapping paper and bows. I am not too sure if he really knew what was going on, but he liked all the excitement and being with everyone. His cousins ADORE him and he them, so they had fun together. His party was also a hit, but he really did not enjoy the birthday candles/singing. However, once he got his little paws on his cake, he was golden!! He loved the frosting and just went to town!! We did not enjoy him being on a sugar high and having a really hard time falling asleep, but I guess it was worth it! Here are some pics of our trip, with more to come after his second first birthday party this weekend!

Blizzard of '09

2009-12-20T10:58:00.000-08:00

Well, as we all know, I LOVE the snow! I was born in a blizzard and grew up in New England, so my northern roots will never die!! When I heard we were getting a storm, I was thinking yeah right, we will probably get an inch or two like we always do. Boy, was I wrong!! It started snowing on Friday after midnight and ended late Saturday night, falling about an inch per hour. So, we ended up with about 2 feet of snow!! I felt SO at home!! Chad and I got CJ all bundled up in his snow gear, which took a good half hour, and I think we were outside a total of 10 minutes!! haha! CJ screamed for most of the time, he REALLY didn't like it!! I do have some pictures of CJ smiling or looking somewhat happy, so that's goo d.

Chad's Bday

2009-12-14T08:04:00.000-08:00

Chad turned the BIG 35 yesterday and we had a little celebration!! CJ seemed to like all the excitement and had fun watching his daddy blow out the candles on his cake. Natalie insisted that we have party hats, Rebekah had to go out and buy hats and noise makers!! As you can tell from the pictures, Natalie REALLY likes CJ!!! So cute!!

O Christmas Tree and SNOW!!!!

2009-12-06T10:03:00.000-08:00

CJ has now seen his first Christmas tree and his first snowfall. Well, actually, his first real snowfall was last winter, but he was just a tiny baby, so that doesn't really count, right?? He loved the Christmas tree, looked at it in awe. And, I made Chad take him out on the deck when it was snowing yesterday, CJ thought that was very interesting! Enjoy the pics!!

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-28T18:15:00.000-08:00

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving!! CJ got to meet his cousin Riley for the first time, it was so great!! Auntie Laura, Uncle Daniel and Riley all came here from New Orleans to spend Thanksgiving with us, it was awesome! CJ loved his Thanksgiving dinner, he pretty much ate everything that was put in front of him, as usual!! I think cranberry sauce may have been his favorite though, he just couldn't get enough :) This morning, CJ said his first real word "bottle". I don't really count Mama and Dada as first words, they are more sounds to me than words. Of course, he wouldn't say "bottle" any more for the day, but they never perform when we want them to right?? Here are some pics of Thanksgiving, and CJ meeting Riley and baby Will (another friend of the family's baby) Will have more pics to post soon though, because Riley will be coming over for lunch tomorrow after church. Enjoy!!

CJ's First Halloween

2009-11-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

Well, we had a really fun first Halloween with our boy. Despite what everyone thought, his costume was a horse, not a cow. All night I heard, "what a cute cow, moooooooo!" Which I just laughed at, because honestly, it did look like a cow. Anyway, we went to Trunk or Treat at church, which was really fun. Everyone had the trunks of their cars decorated and handed out candy. It was a really fun, safe way to spend the evening. Then we went to our best friends house to eat pizza and hand out candy to the trick or treater's, which was also really fun. Our best friends' little girl Natalie LOVED han ding out candy to the kids, although she only gave candy out to the non-scary kids, TOO funny!! So, all in all, it was a great time!! Here are some pics!

Fall trip to MA

2009-10-14T17:51:00.000-07:00

We took a trip up to MA to visit my family for the long weekend and just stayed a few extra days. We had a really great time, CJ was quite the ham!! He really enjoyed being around his aunties and cousins, and was so cute interacting with them. Well, here are some pictures for you to enjoy! CJ's new favorite food is pizza, he LOVES it!! Also, my nieces, Liv and Mads had their homecoming dance this past weekend so I took some good pics of them. It's hard to believe they are sophmores in high school, I feel SO old!!

October already???

2009-10-05T17:17:00.000-07:00

Time flies when you're having fun!! CJ and I have been doing all sorts of play dates and outings, it has been great!! I keep thinking that I have to go back to work and still pinch myself when I remember that I don't!! We are making a trip to MA this weekend, can't WAIT to see the fam! Will post again with more pics when we return. For now, enjoy these!

Fall

2009-09-21T18:14:00.000-07:00

The fall is my absolute favorite time of year! I love when the weather gets cool and crisp, and the stores start to sell pumpkins, mums and other fall items. C.J. and I are having a blast together, he is starting to develop quite a personality, and a temper! Uh oh! He gets mad when I take things away from him and he can be quite stubborn at times!! He finally got a tooth, it is not the entire way up yet, but it is visible. I think he is getting another one right next to it, which has made him miserable lately. I don't have any pics of his tooth, hope to take some when he lets me actually look at it for an extended period of time, hehe!!

Adventures

2009-09-05T18:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, CJ took his first trip to Lancaster, PA. We started out with breakfast at Willow Valley and then did some outlet shopping. CJ got a whole new fall wardrobe, which was really fun to pick out!! It's amazing how much he has grown and continues to grow. Here are some pics of our trip.

Officially a SAHM

2009-08-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

Well, It's official, all of the teachers here in MD, have returned to school. It is such a strange feeling, knowing that I am not going back. I must say that I feel a little lost. The last five years of my life I have had a career, a place to go every day and feel somewhat rewarded, validated, if you will. I know that God has prepared me and given me all the tools to be C.J.'s mom, and I am SO grateful that I don't have to send him to a daycare for 7-8 hours a day. I know that some people do not have a choice, but I must say that I am truly blessed because of this opportunity. I know it will not be an easy job, I am sure the hardest I will ever have, much harder than getting up and going to "work" everyday. This is my "work" now!! I plan on staying as BUSY as I can with playdates, errands, etc. I know the type of person that I am, easily bored, so I will just have to make sure that doesn't happen. I am excited to see what God brings in the next 5 years of my life! Here is a picture of my little munchkin the other night while I was making dinner on the grill, enjoy!!

Cousins

2009-08-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

Olivia spent the last week with us and we had such a good time!! She is so good with C.J. and he LOVES his cousin so much! We did some back to school shopping, went to the movies and went out to eat. We also practiced driving, because believe it or not, Liv will be taking drivers ed this year!!! AUGH! So, being the wonderful aunt that I am, I took her driving. I will admit that I was REALLY scared!! Don't worry, I didn't have C.J. in the car, didn't think that would be too smart!

Well, tomorrow is the day that all the teachers report for duty, and it feels SO weird to know that I will not be going. I have mixed emotions about it, but am really happy to be home with my baby! Here are some pics from the visit!!

Hanging out

2009-08-16T18:44:00.000-07:00

Not much new going on here. My niece Olivia is here visiting with us for the next week. She comes every summer, and we always have so much fun!! She is such a good help with C.J. and he loves her!! We went out shopping for a new stroller the other night and we decided to put C.J. in the front of the cart instead of his car seat. As you can see from the picture, he thought he was big stuff!!

We're Baaack!!

2009-08-05T17:28:00.000-07:00

Well, CJ and I went to MA alone for 13 days. Chad found us a cheap plane ticket and we were on our way!! CJ did great on his first plane ride, he is such a good boy!!! Overall, we had a pretty good trip. Unfortunately, we had to attend two funerals while we were home. My dear sweet 96 year old Grandmother passed away, she was truly a wonderful woman. God's timing is perfect in that He allowed me to be able to be there for my family during a very difficult time. Also, my cousin Bobby passed away very unexpectedly, he was only 44 years old. This was a shock for everyone and added more sadness to an already very sad time. I love my family so much and feel so blessed to have such such a strong unit. Despite all the sadness, we were a ble to make it to the beach a couple times. CJ wasn't a huge fan at first, but our second attempt was much more successful. Here are some cute pics!!

Sippy Cup

2009-07-19T15:27:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that it is time for a sippy cup? I can't!! I read in one of the million baby books I have that right around 6 months, you should introduce one so that they can get used to holding it, putting it in their mouth, etc. So, I put a little bit of water in it and C.J. practiced playing around with it. Chad tried to help him, but I yelled at him and told him not to help him, that he needs to figure it out on his own!! Here are some pics of the fun time he had!

6 months old!!!!

2009-07-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

All I can say is, where did the time go??? I seriously can't believe that a 6 whole months has gone by!! My baby is a 1/2 year old!! I am SO sad, but loving every SECOND of this time with him. I feel so blessed that I get to stay home, I don't ever want to take that for granted. God has provided for us and continues to provide for us so that I can have this very special privilege, how awesome is that??? Well, let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we??? Look at how much this little guy has changed!!!

Then...

Now...

Weekend of Firsts

2009-07-05T13:04:00.000-07:00

CJ had a couple of firsts this weekend, his first swim and his first Fourth of July. He went swimming with his friend Natalie and really liked it! The water was nice and warm, just perfect for him. He liked it so much that we bought him his own pool and tried it again yesterday, but the water was too cold, so he SCREAMED most of the time. I tried to get a picture with both of them looking at the camera, it was impossible, so I did the best I could. CJ also went to his first Fourth of July parade and he did really great! The only time he screamed was when the big trucks came and honked, it was worse than a fire truck, it even startled me!! Oh, I almost forgot, he also had his first vegetable, sweet potatoes!! He really liked them! We tried apples today and he loved them but they didn't agree with his little belly :( Here are some pics from this weekend. Enjoy!!!

Vacation Recap

2009-06-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

We had a very interesting vacation to Massachusetts. The day we left, all three of us woke up in the morning with the start of a cold. Needless to say, this should have been our warning of things to come!! We had a pretty smooth car trip up to MA, CJ and Sampson were both very well behaved. We couldn't fit Sammy's crate in the car, so he was free in the backseat the entire way there, but he did fine. We got in really late and woke up later in the day with VERY bad colds, everyone including C.J. It rained 8 out of the 9 days we were there, INSANE!! The weather is never that bad this time of year, but of course it would be the week of our vacation. Friday morning I woke up extremely nauseous with a horrible headache only to find myself later that day bowing to the porcelain throne, oh the joy I felt! I was VIOLENTLY ill, but Saturday I was a little better, Sunday I was a lot better, and Monday we had to leave to come home. All in all, it was a great trip. I got to see some old friends, have a family reunion/get together, and spend great quality time with the fam!! Here are a few pics, the rest are on my Facebook. CJ had a great photo shoot at the beach with my good friend Renee, she did a great job as usual. We are using these as his 6 month pics, seeing as he will be 6 months old in just a week or so, wow!!

Fun with food

2009-06-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

CJ had his first experience with cereal this weekend. And...HE LOVED IT!! It was so cute! At first, he didn't quite know what to do with it, but then he realized how yummy it was and he couldn't get enough!! Here are some pics...

Fun Saturday

2009-05-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

Today we decided that we were going to take off and go to Havre De Grace for the afternoon, the weather was gorgeous, it was the PERFECT day!! We walked around A LOT, got ice cream and candy at Bomboy's, it was great. I felt really bad because C.J. really wanted to eat some ice cream with us, but he is too little! Maybe next year! C.J. was a really good boy, but was really tired when we got home tonight! Here are a few pics of our adventure!

First Mother's Day

2009-05-12T17:40:00.000-07:00

What a fun weekend we had!! We had everyone over here for brunch after church and had a great time. I still can't believe that I am really a mother, it's hard for me to grasp some days. I also can't believe that my baby is four months old already!! Where did the time go? It still feels like yesterday that we were rushing around preparing for C.J. to arrive, worrying if we would have everything ready in time. Now life is soooo different and soooo fun and rewarding. He is starting to reach for things and really hold his head up on his own, and smiles a lot!! He is even beginning to laugh, which sends me right over the edge!! LOVE IT! Chad loves to make all these riduculous faces and noises and we just wait for him to laugh, so fun! So, here are some new pictures of our big boy!! Enjoy!!

Back to work

2009-04-25T17:33:00.000-07:00

This past week was my first full week back to work and boy am I tired! I have NO IDEA how mothers work full time and take care of their kids, I could NEVER do it!! I am so glad that this is only for a short time!! My sister was here this week and took care of C.J. for the week, we are now calling her "Nanny Sue". They had a really good time and he was a really good boy for her!! My parents are finally back from Florida and will be taking care of C.J. for the next 7 weeks of school, we are going to have soooo much fun!!

First Easter

2009-04-13T06:34:00.001-07:00

We had a FABULOUS Easter!! We traveled to VA for the weekend. We stayed at our good friend's B&B. We had a really great relaxing time and C.J. did wonderful on his first road trip, for the most part. The ride home was a little hairy, but we somehow survived!! Here are some pics of his first Easter, he and his friend Natalie look sooo cute together, don't they? Too bad she's a little too old for him!

3 Months Old!!

2009-04-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

WOW!! I can't believe that my baby is three months old today!! Time has flown by and I have enjoyed EVERY moment so far!! Some moments have been better than others, but for the most part, they have been great! I head back to work next week, but I am excited that that means my family is coming right around the corner! Yippee! I can't wait to see my sister and my mom and dad! We are SO blessed to have them help us take care of C.J. C.J. is doing SO well at night, sleeping anywhere from 8-11 hours straight, Praise God!! We are still working on nap times, that is not going so well, but I try not to be so picky when he is sleeping SO great at night ! I realize that this can all change quickly, but I have enjoyed it immensely!! Here are some pics to show you how much my little man has changed!!

Golf anyone??

2009-03-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

I had to do a post just so I could share these pictures. I did a little shopping at Old Navy and of course they were having a sale. I couldn't resist!! I could hardly stand the cuteness and from the looks of it, C.J. thinks he's pretty darn cute himself!Now all he needs is his own set of clubs!!

Church Outfit

2009-03-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

So, we found this really cute spring outfit for C.J. and he wore it for the first time to church yesterday. We really couldn't stand how cute he looked so of course we had to have a photo shoot before we actually got to church. He was very pleased with himself which was good because he had a little bit of a fussy weekend. We had C.J.'s 2 month check up on Friday and he had to get 3 shots, yes 3!!! It was horrible!! He did much better than I did, I had my back turned and couldn't watch. Chad was a trooper and held his little hand through the whole experience!! What a good daddy!! Also this weekend, C.J. got to meet his Auntie Laura for the first time!! We had a great weekend spending time with her and baby Riley who is in her belly. Anyway, here are some cute pics!!

Come on spring!!!!

2009-03-18T14:35:00.000-07:00

We are definitely ready for spring, and am sick of the warm then cold then warm then cold weather, I wish it would just be here to stay!! Well, we have been keeping busy lately, with play dates and errands, it has been fun!! I only have about a week and a half left of my maternity leave and I am trying to enjoy every second of it! I am dreading going back to work but I know that it is only for a short time and that C.J. will be in great hands!! Here are some new pics for you to enjoy!! As you know, C.J. is a Red Sox fan, because he was born into a New England sports team family!!

C.J. is ready for spring training!!

8 weeks old!!

2009-03-08T07:09:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go? I can barely believe that 2 months ago our sweet little boy arrived!! I was saying to Chad last night that I can't remember what our lives were like before he was here, it seems like another life or something. Things are going well and we seem to be getting into more of a schedule these days, now that I have said that things will probably backfire in my face! He is sleeping about 5-6 hours at night now which is great!! I am trying to get him to nap at least 2x a day which I am successful at some days. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be and he would much rather fall asleep and stay asleep in someones arms, I am trying to break him of this bad habit! We are planning on making the "big move" to his crib in a couple weeks, before I have to go back to work. I figured I won't be able to handle all of the changes at once. Chad and I had our first date night last night while Grandma and Grandpa watched C.J. I had a really hard time leaving him but knew that he was in great hands! He did wonderful and was a little fussy but nothing G & G couldn't handle! A good friend of mine, Renee came to visit last weekend and took some awesome pics, here is a preview for you to enjoy!

Fun times...

2009-02-24T14:26:00.000-08:00

Wow, so many things have happened in the last couple weeks but I haven't had much time to post. It's amazing how many things I can't get done during the day. Whoever said that newborns are easy was a liar, and that all they do is eat, sleep and poop for the first couple months!! Part of this is true, but they are also SOOOOOOOO demanding that every time I put C.J. down he cries, making it IMPOSSIBLE to get anything accomplished! Maybe I spoil him too much, but I read that you can't spoil them at this age!! I can't believe C.J. is 6 weeks old and he is now weighing in at 10 POUNDS!! WOWzers!! It certainly helps that he eats for an HOUR each feeding, yes, an hour!! Not to mention the fact that he eats every 2 1/2 hours, so you do the math, I feel like a feeding machine!! Maybe cause I am!! C.J. finally got to meet his auntie Susan and Sheri and cousins Liv and Abby (we missed you Mads!!) from Massachusetts. They came to spend a few days with us and it was a great time!! Auntie Susan got sick, so she didn't get to kiss and eat him up like she had hoped!! C.J. has been smiling and going a lot lately, which I LOVE!! He finally smiled at me, after he had smiled at everyone else in the world! I am just the one who feeds him at all hours of the night, but that's ok!! Anyway, here are some pictures of his visit with the fam and his cute smile!!

Love...

2009-02-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

Well, I know it's been a little while since I last wrote..things have been busy here with a newborn!! I can't believe C.J. is almost 5 weeks old! Where has the time gone?? Everyday I fall more and more in love with him. I still look at him and can't believe that he is mine! I know Valentine's Day is right around the corner, so this post may be a little mushy, sorry!! I am so incredibly grateful for this child and that God decided to give Chad and I this huge job of parenting. These last 5 weeks have been the hardest but most fulfilling weeks of my life. God has taught me more about myself than ever and what it means to be completely "selfless", which isn't easy when you are used to doing what you want when you want to!! I am also SO thankful for Chad, he has been incredible...words can't express. Now I will stop with the mushyness. Here are a few updated pics for you!!

Fun times with a newborn...

2009-01-27T16:15:00.000-08:00

Things have been interesting lately. We are all still trying to get used to each other, especially Sampson. He seems to really like C.J., but sometimes I think he wishes he could look at him and either roll his eyes, shake his head, or just yell "SHUT UP!!" He is a really good dog though and I am thankful for him and how he has adjusted. Chad is back to work as of yesterday and things around here are interesting. My parents are still here with us, which is good, because if I had to deal with Chad going back to work and my parents leaving all in the same week I might have a nervous break down. This way I can get used to things slowly, then eventually I will be on my own (starting at the end of next week when my parents leave) , which is a really scary thought! Anyway, we have had some "firsts" this past week, first walk outside, first time in his crib, first "tummy time", and first outing to Kohl's to shop for a bday present for Grandpa. Here are some pictures...

Busy Day

2009-01-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday was a busy day for us. We went back to the pediatrician to learn that C.J. had put on 11 ounces in 8 days!! He now weighs 7 pounds 5 ounces!! WOWzers!! The doctor was impressed and said that he is a healthy baby, praise God! He also gave us the go ahead to give him his first real bath, so that's what we did last night! I didn't realize how slippery little babies are when they are wet, it's a good thing I had some extra hands available to help me!! So, here are a few pics to enjoy...

Parenthood

2009-01-19T11:30:00.000-08:00

Wow, I didn't realize how hard this job would be!! People told me it would be but until you are actually doing it, you don't realize! We are all adjusting well to our new addition, little C.J., even Sampson. At first he didn't know what to expect, but now he is very protective and likes to sniff and lick him a lot. We are doing well trying to get C.J. on a schedule, Chad has been very disciplined, which has helped me a lot, he keeps me on track!! We have even had some 5 hour stretches of sleep for the past couple nights, really cool!! My parents are still here and are such a tremendous help, just taking care of stuff. My mom takes really good care of me so that I can take care of my baby. Recovering from a c-section is a slow process, but I feel better every day, more and more like myself. We have had a lot of visitors over the last week, which is always fun and people have been so generous with bringing meals and gifts, we have such a great church family!
Here are some more pics...

He's finally here!!

2009-01-14T17:27:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!! Some exciting news for those of you don't know already, our little man, C.J. has arrived!! He was born via c-section on Friday, January 9th at 10:20 pm. He weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces, and was 20 inches long, what a little guy!! He is healthy and happy and so are we!! I can't believe that this day has finally come. We have prepared for him for so long and to be able to hold and kiss him is such an unbelievable feeling!! God is so good!!! Chad is without a doubt, the most amazing father and husband in the world!! He is so supportive of me and all the things my body has been through in the past week and has just stepped in to go above and beyond, I am so blessed to have him in my life. We came home from the hospital Monday and are adjusting slowly to parenthood, it is quite a challenge, and requires so much team work!! My parents are here and have been an unbelievable help over the last few weeks, I hope they never leave!! So, I want to thank all of you for praying for us and C.J., we definitely felt very prayed for, in a very emotional and kind of scary time. I hope you enjoy these few pics, I am going to put together a slide show when I can.

Update- 40 weeks- Due Date!!

2009-01-07T07:45:00.001-08:00

We went back to the doc's last night for our 40 week check-up, can you believe it?? Today is my actual due date, I thought I would never make it here!! He said that there is still nothing much going on up there so he would like to induce me. I didn't really want this, but at the same time, how long can this go on for?? Because I have a history of high BP, he wants to start the whole process tomorrow morning. So, tomorrow morning I will go in for NST (non-stress tests) to make sure C.J. is ok, his heart, position, etc. Then tomorrow evening I will be admitted and given something to soften my cervix. Hopefully this will make something happen, if not, they will start pitocin Friday morning. Long story short, we will have a baby by this weekend at some point!! I feel so many emotions right now, most of them excitement, some fear, dread, etc. This has been such a long road, but an amazing one, I feel so blessed to have had it without any complications. Now I am just praying for a non-complicated labor process. So for those of you who are reading this, please pray for that as well!! God is SOOO good and faithful, He is where I am putting my trust!! I will post soon to introduce our little man to you!!

The waiting game...

2008-12-31T12:12:00.000-08:00

Well, still nothing. We went to the doc's again yesterday and there it still nothing going on in baby land. I was REALLY discouraged when we left the doctor's and just aggravated that there is no action happening. For those of you who know me really well, I am not the most patient person, I want things NOW. Of course, this is just another reminder that God is in complete control of this situation and there is nothing in my own power I can do to change that, PRAISE GOD!! I am glad that I am not in control, because I tend to mess things up when I am. So, we continue to wait...and wait...I am still one week away from my due date, so I guess I really shouldn't be complaining too much, right? We shall see what the next days and week bring, stay tuned!!

38 Week Update...

2008-12-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

Well, I wish there was something more to report, but NOTHING new. There is nothing going on down below, if you know what I mean :) Which I guess is fine because my parents aren't even here yet and I won't feel "ready" until they are here. I guess I was a little disappointed, but what can you do? I will be patient and know that when C.J. is ready he will make his appearance. So, for now, I am getting my house ready, cleaning, laundry, etc...nesting is what they call it!! I think that is such a funny word, but that's what I am doing, getting our little nest ready for our baby bird :) I can't believe it's Christmas Eve, where did the time go? I remember thinking months ago, "Wow, when it's Christmas, I will be almost ready to have the baby." Now that Christmas is here it's like, "Am I really ready to have this baby?" Well, I will write again when I have something more to report...sorry this wasn't more exciting!!

36 week update...

2008-12-11T14:34:00.000-08:00

Well, not really much to report. The doc said everything looks good, she thinks C.J. is about 6 pounds and doesn't expect him to be a huge baby, which makes me feel better. Now I know there is no way of really knowing, so I am not getting my hopes up!! I did somehow manage to lose a pound which totally made my day seeing as I haven't really kept track the whole time on purpose. I figured it was too depressing, so why bother!!! I feel good, other than tremendous lower back pain that shoots down my leg, oh what fun!! My BP was up which is not surprising because work has been insanely busy and the back pain has something to do with it too. Well, now I am sure I have bored you to death, but TOO BAD!! You can stop reading if you really are bored!! More next time!!

Just ONE month away!!!

2008-12-07T07:31:00.000-08:00

Wow, never thought this one month mark would arrive. I feel like Chad and I are almost ready. There are just a few things we need to do, little things really. We purchased the last of the "big things" yesterday that we didn't receive at showers, like a car seat, stroller, etc. Chad set it all up last night and was practicing driving it around the living room, while saying "Hi baby C.J." It was a pretty funny sight to see, let me tell you. He is such an amazing husband and I know he will be the best dad EVER, I can't wait to see him hold his son for the first time! I get teared up just thinking about it!! I go this Thursday for my 36 week check up, we go every week now, YIPPEE! It's funny when all the nurses and staff know you by name, it's a very welcoming feeling!! I am counting down the 12 days of school I have left until maternity leave, can you tell I am DYING to get out of there? God is SO good and has given me the grace and strength to get out of bed every morning and go to work and do my job for a little while longer. I am praying for grace and strength to do this next job He has for me which I know will far surpass any job I have ever or will ever have!!

33 Weeks already...

2008-11-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that I am 33 weeks already! Only 49 days to go, how strange is that? Where has the time gone? At times I feel like it has dragged on but other times I can't believe motherhood is right around the corner. I went for my checkup yesterday, only one more visit and then I have to go every week!! The doc said everything was good, BP and all. My BP has been doing crazy things lately, up and down all the time. She also said that CJ's head is down and ready to go!! I always think of all the questions AFTER I leave the doctor's office. Like, "Will he move again, or is this the final position?" I usually write them down but forgot this time. Then everyone will ask me these questions and I will say, "Darn it, I knew I forgot something!!" You think I would have learned my lesson by now, huh? There is just SO much going through my mind on a daily basis, I can't possibly remember everything.
On another note, our dog Sampson has been "sensing" that something is coming for a while now. The past 3 nights he has kept us up with whining, crying, and some not so nice bodily functions (I don't want to gross you out, but let's just say it was messy!) Anyway, I feel badly for my pupster and don't want him to be distressed about the impending arrival. I have been asking advice and reading up on preparing a dog for baby's arrival. So, if any reader's out there have any advice, please SHARE!!

Baby Shower in MA

2008-11-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was such a blast! We headed to MA for a shower given by my fantastic family. My sister's and mom did such an amazing job creating such a memorable day for us. We were able to see friends and family that we hadn't seen in such a long time. It made me miss being home so badly!! We are so incredibly fortunate to have family that love us so much! We received a lot of nice gifts, especially those Red Sox and Patriots onesies, I think we have at least 10 now!! That will leave CJ plenty of chances to spit up!! Enjoy the pics!! Don't you just LOVE the cake?

Fun with the Nursery & other areas of the house...

2008-11-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Well, we have been VERY busy making way for baby CJ to come into this world. I didn't realize how much work really had to be done in order to make this happen. My fantastic parents have been here for the last two weeks helping us rearrange our lives in order to make this happen. My dad, who is an incredibly talented man, spent the last two weeks finishing our basement in order to make it our new guest room. I can't believe the transformation!! Not only that, but my mom helped us clean, organize and just de-clutter so that we can make more room. We are so incredibly fortunate to have parents like this to help us out, we are SO greatful!! So, here are some pictures of the nursery, which is still a work in progress... I will post pics of the basement later...
Grampy and Daddy setting up the crib

Me showing off the crib

Both pieces of furniture, GORGEOUS!
My aunt and uncle bought us this beautiful dresser, we LOVE IT!

Anniversary Weekend

2008-10-19T14:15:00.001-07:00

Chad and I decided that because we will be at our baby shower in MA on our actual anniversary, that we would celebrate a little early this year. We decided to go to Cape May, NJ. We have never been there and thought it would be a fun place to go. We knew that this may be our last trip for a little while, seeing as we will have an infant soon and the luxury of taking off for a weekend will be no longer!! We stayed at a great beach house right on the beach (I guess that's why it's called a "beach house" haha!) We had a really fun time and were able to relax, walk the beach, do a little shopping, and go to some great places to eat. Enjoy the pictures below!!

Counting...

2008-10-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

I am seriously counting down the days until maternity leave arrives, is that bad? School is SO busy and stressful, I can't wait to get out of there! It seems so hard to believe that in a few short months, we will be parents, CRAZY thought! I am so thankful that I passed my glucose screening test, and don't have to go back for the 3 hour one, I was really worried about that! PRAISE GOD! God has been so good throughout this pregnancy, He has taken care of me in ways that are unfathomable. I now need to trust in Him for a healthy baby and that He will only continue to take care of us with the HUGE job we have in store for us as parents!!

Welcome to our Blog!!

2008-10-04T15:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we have been asked SO many times, when are you going to start a baby blog?? Everyone has one, so of course, we thought we should too!! This is our very first post to share about our baby boy, CJ. It is still so strange for me to say his name and not to have met him yet. I am 26 1/2 weeks along and he weight about 1 1/2 pounds right now. Every week I get an update from the baby center that tells me how much he weighs, and what he is doing in there, and also what fruit and vegetable he is comparable to. This week he is as big as an English Hothouse Cucumber!! Wouldn't ya know??? I find that SOOO amusing, seeing as I didn't know such a thing existed!!
I will try and not bore you with these posts, but right now there are not to many exciting things going on. I will post our first pictures of our boy and what his nursery looks like. I may even throw in a prego pic of me, if you are lucky!! I hope you enjoy!!

This is his first portrait, how handsome!
Me at 26 weeks!!

This is the start of the nursery, Chad has done such a great job!! His closet already has clothes in it!! WOW!