The Biscuit Hut

Birthday Time Again . . .

2011-11-16T06:00:00.030-07:00

Austin turns two today. His favorite things include cars, trains, animals and his baby (doll). His personality is mostly sweet with a lot of adventure, a little bit of stinker and a pinch of mischief. He has no fear when it comes to jumping off anything or in the water. One of his favorite games to play is "baby", he loves to be held and rocked and patted. He also loves to push you over, fly high and go super faster. He continues to follow and copy everything that Edward does. We have a constant ten second delay in the house between what Edward does and says and Austin's imitation. He is catching on fast to everything, even the potty training. He can move on the scooter and tackle like a real football player. He loves milk, hot dogs, mac and cheese, plain toasted bagels and pirates booty. He does not like strawberries, most vegetables and most candy. \

Happy birthday to our not so little, BooBoo. We love you!

2011-11-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

2011-11-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

September

October (frist snow of the year!!)

Happy Belated Birthday

2011-01-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

Our baby turned one Nov 16, 2010. We celebrated at the Children's museum in Denver with our friends and family. Austin followed in his brothers footsteps (literally), he is an early walker and avid ball thrower and hands down the best eater in our family. He weighed 28 lbs at his one year doctor visit and is still topping the charts in weight, height, and head circumfrence. He says mama, dada, uh-oh, night night and ocassionaly gesundheit! He loves Melinda and his big brother best. Happy birthday to our little BooBoo.

Christmas in Indy

2011-01-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

We traveled to Andy's parents house for Christmas. They had more snow there than we did in Colorado and we enjoyed sledding on the hill behind the house. The cousins all had a good time and Christmas morning was absolute chaos. Edward got the scooter he had been talking about since August and Austin liked the paper most of all. Check out Edward "shaving", it is the only way to get him in the bathtub- thanks for the present Nana and Grandada.

War eagle

2011-01-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

Glendale, AZ January 10,2011

Sweet boys

2010-07-27T20:36:00.000-06:00

Austin is 8 months old now. He has two little teeth that are just starting to poke through and he says dada like he means it. We have been holding our breath for a month now thinking everytime he is up on all fours that he is going to crawl, we are turning blue. We're pretty sure he COULD do it, he just doesn't WANT to do it. What he really wants is to walk like Edward. He is already pulling himself up on the crib, coffee table and anything else he can get a good grip on. He loves the swing, loves Melinda, hates to be left out of the fun and still is not a great sleeper (we are currently blaming that on the teething). I call him BooBoo and still think of him as my little baby even though he is rapidly gaining on his older brother. Speaking of older brother. . .

He is only two but sometimes seems like such a BIG BOY. He is gaining new independence everyday and will firmly tell me "I do it myself!". I am amazed at how much he learns everyday- the new words he tries out, the songs he sings and the ladders he climbs are all signs that we are leaving toddler behind and moving on to little boy. He is such a tender big brother and I am thankful that at least for now he dotes on Austin like the rest of us. Yesterday, as I was scrambling to get dinner, Austin was crying for attention and food. Edward sat down next to him and patted him saying what he has heard me say hundreds of times, "it's ok baby." Today he was sick so we had a day with just the two of us, he wanted to be held and laid his head in my lap until he fell asleep. I took advantage of his cuddliness, ran my fingers through his curls and kissed on his sweet cheeks. I am SO thankful for my little man.

Wake up Bears

2010-07-06T22:11:00.002-06:00

I took Edward on his first hike a few weeks ago. We had talked about wearing a backpack and carrying water and food. When I asked if he wanted anything else in his bag he said his cymbals. Instead of arguing that cymbals are not really useful on a hike I threw them in his bag and we took off. About five minutes down the trail he stopped and told me he needed his cymbals. He apparently knew what they were for. Check it out here.

In the eyes of a two year old

2010-07-06T21:58:00.000-06:00

Have you ever wondered what the world looks like when you are 3 feet tall? Just give your toddler a camera and you"ll get the idea. Edward recently discovered the digital camera and it has made for some pretty funny pictures- a lot of crotch shots, floors and ceilings.

Hope you had a happy 4th

2010-07-06T21:46:00.000-06:00

Waiting for the parade to start

Edward eating candy he caught

Annabella and Austin

Edward riding Checkers the pony

We spent the holiday weekend in Vail with the Lotspeichs' and Andy's family. We had a great weekend hanging out in the mountains.

Teva Mtn Games

2010-06-06T08:27:00.000-06:00

Through a series of somewhat unfortunate events we have a condo in Vail with no renters and have decided to take advantage of it (at least for the next month). I drove up with the boys early Friday and Andy joined us after work. We were going to check out our place and see what work needed to be done after having renters there for two years. Much to our surprise the place looked pretty good. We definitely have some work to do but overall it is intact. It happened to be Teva Mountain Games this weekend and we went to check it out on Saturday. Edward even got in on the action in a kayak. Check it out here! We also had a Ryan and Trista (plus their two kids) sighting at Pirate Ship Park. We drove back to Denver in time for Bella's first birthday party and some more time in the water.

Summer

2010-05-30T14:34:00.000-06:00

Summer got off to a slow start around here. We had a few teaser days of warm weather and a lot of cold rain this spring. True to Colorado weather overnight everything changed and we are now enjoying hot summer days and cool nights. We bought this kiddie pool last year but Edward is much more into this year. He loves getting naked, going pee pee in the grass and then climbing in the pool to splash around. Austin was a welcome playmate but he had enough of the splashing and really enjoyed watching Edward from the sidelines.

6 Months

2010-05-23T12:57:00.000-06:00

ht. 28 1/4 (95%) wt. 20 lbs 11 oz (92%) head 18 1/2 in. (99%)

Halfway through the first year, hard to believe. You have brought us immeasurable joy, you have brought us to our knees in prayer, you make us laugh and you still don't let us sleep (much). You can roll over from your back to your tummy but not the other way. You love the exersaucer and can bounce up and down in it like a ball. You are fascinated with your older brother and love your dog. You have a good appetite and like peas, apples, bananas, squash and cereal. You don't like avocados. You squeal when you get excited and laugh when we hold you upside down. The doctor keeps telling me that the spit up will get better, I don't believe him- I owe half the laundry pile to you. You sit like a big boy and are showing some signs that crawling is next. You are snuggler and would be happy for me to hold you all day long. I love you, happy half year birthday.

Title 9k

2010-05-14T21:02:00.000-06:00

We celebrated Mother's Day in Boulder. Theresa and I ran in the Title 9k (really 9.9 k, why not call it a 10k?because the name wouldn't be as catchy) and were cheered on by our men, big and small. This was a really challenging race for me because I barely trained. I haven't been that unprepared for something in a long time and I was really nervous. Just before pulling into the parking lot Edward choked on his breakfast and threw up all over himself and his carseat, of course we had no extra clothes for him. After an emergency stop on the side of the road to wipe him off, Andy dropped me at the race and took off for the nearest Target. They made it back just as T and I finished and we hung out and enjoyed the beautiful day. Thank you boys for giving me a reason to celebrate.

Easter in Alabama

2010-04-11T19:28:00.000-06:00

Easter Sunday morning

Thanks for the matching shirts Mom!

Helping Granna fly the kite

Bedtime Stories

Thanks to a great deal on some last minute tickets, we did it, we got on a plane with two kids and flew to Alabama. It took 7 bins to get us through airport security but it was worth it. We had a great time with family and friends. Edward loved the farm and had no problems adjusting to farm life. Who knew our little city kid would love chasing the goats, climbing on the tractor and feeding Princess (the donkey) apples. He loved playing with cousin Gus, driving the four wheeler and riding in the paddle boat. The pollen did not really agree with Austin who spent most of the trip sneezing and coughing but he was trooper and enjoyed all the open arms willing to hold him. I am so thankful for such a wonderful family and amazing friends- thanks Ashleigh, Angie, and April for taking time to come and see us. We are already looking forward to our next trip.

Check up

2010-03-18T21:28:00.001-06:00

2 years

ht. 35 in (65%) wt 28.13 lbs (60%) head 52.4 cm (100%)

I have very few pictures of Edward at this age because he rarely sits still enough for me to get a shot. I guess I need to learn how to capture moving objects. He really looked forward to going to see Dr. B and was very brave even though he had to get a shot, a Snoopy band-aid cleared the tears right up. He loves to put on my visor and then go out for a "run". Austin and Melinda and I follow patiently down the sidewalk as Edward runs, pauses to sit by trees and picks up rocks. Often he wants to ride his "bicycle" which really means I push him on his tricycle while carrying Austin in the sling and wrangling Melinda on the leash. Everytime we get ready to leave for an adventure he always asks- "Minda too?". How can I say no. He is pushing the limits and testing the waters. Anything that earns him a time out is so tempting, he does it again and again just to see if he gets the same result. He loves school and his friends and most of all "Autin".

4 months

ht. 27 in (97%) wt. 17.7 lbs (92%) head 46 cm (100%)

He has at least one thing in common with his older brother, the doctor says their potential for Harvard is excellent. They are just being nice when they say 100%, I saw the curve, they are off the charts. Despite throwing up all over me everytime he eats, Austin continues to outpace Edward in the growth department. He is such a sweet baby and would love it if I could hold him every second of the day. He laughs when we make faces and loves to be turned upside down. We are working on rolling over and holding his head up (it is a heavy load). He sucks on everything but a pacifier and his favorite time of day is just before his bath when we play on the bed. I still count his number of breaths at night just to make sure everything is okay and analyze every cough, making sure it is not a sign of something more ominous. He wakes up happy and gives us a big smile each morning when we go in his room. He is ambivalent towards the bottle but will tolerate it when he gets hungry enough. Holding him is so amazing, I know it will be over too soon and he will be going for a "run" with Edward.

Happy 2nd Birthday Edward

2010-03-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

Edward turned 2 last Saturday. We celebrated with Elmo cupcakes on Friday with his class at school and with Elmo cake on Saturday at our house. A year ago he had just a few words and was doing his best to walk without falling down. Now he repeats everything and anything, he says hi to every person and dog we pass. Last night as we pushed his stroller down a busy street in our neighborhood he started yelling "out of my way". Where does he learn this stuff? He continues to love any game that involves a ball and is having a lot of fun with the basketball hoop he got for his birthday. He is an amazing big brother and really helps me take care of Austin. He is so sweet and caring towards his little brother and it melts my heart everytime he leans over to kiss him. He runs so fast it is hard to keep up with him and his energy seems endless. We love him so much and are so proud of our little man. Happy Birthday Edward!

No More O2

2010-02-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

As of last Tuesday we are oxygen free which has made everyone, most of all Austin, very happy. He is continuing to get stronger each day. He is making up for lost time in the growing department- he gained a pound in 4 days to bring him to 15 lbs 5 oz., if I hadn't seen the scale myself I wouldn't have believed it. We are still trying to get back on a better sleep schedule but continue to be so thankful that we are at home with two healthy boys.

No place like HOME

2010-01-31T13:15:00.000-07:00

We are so glad to be back home

Austin is too!

Hanging out with big brother Edward and Cookie Monster

Edward wants stickers on his face like Austin

We were released from the hospital yesterday and took our second trip home from the hosptial with Austin(the first being his birth). I had everything packed by 8 o'clock yesterday morning. The nurse practitioner came around and wasn't totally thrilled with the way Austin sounded so we had to wait for the attending doctor to come see him and give the OK to go home. I was holding my breath and praying she would say we were good to go. She reluctantly said they wouldn't be doing anything there that we couldn't do at home so here we are with our oxygen tanks and 14 feet of tubing. Edward was so happy to see Austin and completely fascinated with the oxygen. Our first night was a little rough, Andy and I were awake most of the night making sure Austin had his oxygen on and was still breathing. Not that we needed to look at him, he sounds like a freight train rolling through he rattles so loud. So now we are just monitoring his breathing and waiting for his congestion to decrease. We go to our regular pediatrician later this week and will hopefully be able to wean the oxygen off soon. Thank you again for all the prayers, messages, and well wishes. We are still not completely out of the woods but so thankful that Austin is recovering well.

Ready for his close up

2010-01-29T08:41:00.000-07:00

Austin was in a photo shoot yesterday for the Foundation that raises money for the hospital. It was close to his nap time so he was a little over it but hopefully they got some good shots. He is continuing to improve, his oxygen needs are lower and he is maintaining his sats. We haven't had to suction him for about 12 hours and he has handled his secretions. I definitely think we are on our way home- I just have to get the doctors to agree with me!

2010-01-28T06:51:00.000-07:00

We both look really tired in these pictures because the first two days he was extubated Austin did not want to sleep (it took two doses of Ativan and finally some morphine to get him down on Tuesday night). He still had his central line in and I know it was making him uncomfortable along with a sore throat from the tube and I imagine a sore chest from the infection. Yesterday they took out his line and we were able to give him a bath and he was a much happier baby. Last night was a dream compared to the previoustwo- he settled to sleep easily slept for about 4 hours, woke up and ate then went back to sleep for another 4 hrs. Hopefully we are on the road to home soon. His oxygen needs have to be lower and the amount of junk they suction out of his nose needs to decrease before the doctors feel comfortable sending us home.

2010-01-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Praise! The doctors were able to pull Austin's breathing tube yesterday afternoon. It was very tense yesterday as he is still struggling to breathe but hopefully they will not have to put the tube back in. Andy and I stayed with him last night at the hospital and took turns staying up with him because he was really agitated and not wanting to sleep which was making it even harder on him to breathe. The doctors ordered a medicine called Ativan to help him relax and sleep and it helped him to settle down. I really want to nurse him but right now he is on too much oxygen and breathing too fast. It is so hard to not be able to comfort your child when you see him in distress. Please pray that his oxygen needs will decrease and that he will rest today. I am charging the camera battery and will post new pictures (sans tube) as soon as I can.

2010-01-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

Our room at The Children's Hospital

Awake and alert this afternoon

Bath Time

More bath time

Snuggled up with Granna

Slow and Steady

2010-01-24T14:49:00.001-07:00

The past 24 hours have been mostly uneventful. The good news is that Austin is continuing to do well overall. They removed his A-line, his peripheral IV and his foley catheter. He still has a central line and of course the ventilator tube. It is much easier to hold him now that he is not connected to quite so much. His sedation has been turned down so he is more awake which is good and bad. It is so amazing to see his eyes open and looking around, I even read him a book while holding him this morning. The bad part is that he is also more aware of the breathing tube and he hates it. He is coughing more so we are just suctioning as often as we can to keep him as comfortable as possible. The next step is to start weaning the ventilator so please pray that as they turn down the amount of oxygen he is receiving that is O2 sats will remain in the mid 90's. We are going to give him a little bath later and will be sure to take pictures.

2010-01-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

Wednesday morning before he had to be intubated

Holding him Friday night

Austin had a better night last night. After receiving a blood transfusion they were able to wean him off the blood pressure medicine and turn some of the ventilator settings down. What an answer to our prayers. The latest labs look good and show he is maintaining his oxygen levels. Now he just needs to rest and continue to get stronger. We will probably be here another week and hopefully the breathing tube will be out in a day or two. I got to hold him last night which was quite a production as you can imagine with all the tubes and lines but it felt so good to have him in my arms again. He seemed to like it too because we saw an improvement in his breathing and blood pressure even before the blood was finished infusing. We are hoping for a good, quiet day.

Austin

2010-01-22T19:05:00.000-07:00

So we moved to The Children's Hospital today around noon. Austin was getting sicker this morning so we decided that we would feel more comfortable in a hospital the specializes in pediatrics. Plus, Andy's sister Kelly works here so that is a huge bonus. He has RSV and h.influenzae pnuemonia and the combination is doing a number on his lungs. I just spoke with his doctors and he is definitely improving his oxygen requirements on the ventilator are going down which is a good sign. His blood pressure is staying a little low so he is on a medicine called dopamine to keep it up. He will get some blood tonight and hopefully that will allow them to wean off the dopamine. So please pray that his respiratory status will continue to improve and that his blood pressure will return to normal. I will try to update once day and more often if anything significant changes. Thanks again for all the support we can definitely feel the love and your prayers.

Two Months

2010-01-16T09:22:00.000-07:00

Here are his stats: Ht. 25 in (98% ), Wt. 14 lbs 4 oz (96%) , Head 16 in (93%)

So far he is keeping up with Edward, barely outgrowing him and just as sweet.

Winterfest

2009-12-21T21:52:00.000-07:00

Reality Check

2009-12-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

Guy Time

Fitzgerald Cousins at Thanksgiving

(Annabella, Sydney, Edward, Kaitlyn, Austin)

First Auburn/Alabama Game

All the grandparents have gone home and Andy has been really busy at work. That means it has been me and the boys most of the week and it has been interesting. Someone always needs something and I live for nap time (them and me). Austin is a really laid back baby so far and Edward has continued to be a sweet big brother- most of the time.

Giving Thanks for our Blessings

2009-11-26T11:44:00.000-07:00

Brothers

Edward making his Happy Face

Sweet littlest man

My 33rd Birthday

Family Hug

2009-11-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

He's Here!

2009-11-17T15:32:00.001-07:00

Austin Todd Fitzgerald arrived November 16, 2009 at 4:53 pm. He weighed 9 lbs is 21 inches long. We went to the hospital Sunday night at eight o'clock for a scheduled induction but soon after arriving we realized I was already in labor. Andy and I had envisioned a peaceful night of sleep after they started the induction process but instead were up all night long as my contractions kicked in. By 5 am I was in a lot of pain as the contractions got more intense and the time in between them got shorter. I got an epidural at 7:30 Monday morning and felt much better after that. Everyone assured us it wouldn't be long and the doctor predicted we would be ready to start pushing around one o'clock. One thing I have learned after two pregnancies and deliveries is that my boys are not early or particularly fast (they get that from their father of course). We were finally ready to go at 4 pm and just under an hour later I was holding a beautiful, healthy little boy on my chest. So far he is following in his brother's footsteps in both size and temperament. Speaking of his brother, Edward is doing great. There is no shortage of grandparents around this week and they have all pitched in to help take care of him and make sure he is well entertained. The eight inches of snow we got earlier in the week also helped to keep him occupied. He loves to play in the "no" and will eat as much as he can get his hands on. We are so thankful for our two little men and look forward to watching them grow up together.

Halloween Snowstorm

2009-11-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

Inspecting the latest addition to his ball collection.

Trying it out in the snow (it didn't work so well)

Our little fireman braved the snow to go to a Halloween party and Uncle Mark and Aunt Dusty's

Edward the fireman and Asher the puppy dog

Fall Fun

2009-10-21T14:02:00.001-06:00

Picking out the perfect pumpkin for our little pumpkins! I have one hiding under my shirt

Edward navigating the straw maze. In true Fitzgerald form he was the first one out.

Edward and Cousin Annabella

A little lunch before heading home.

Trip to Alabama

2009-09-21T15:33:00.000-06:00

We traveled to Alabama for Labor Day weekend. As usual we packed in a ton including a family reunion, celebrating Gus' second birthday and a trip to Lake Guntersville. It was a true joy watching Edward and Gus play together. They really were sweet to each other and there were plenty of hugs to go around. Edward picked up so many words thanks to all the encouragment from my parents and everyone else. His favorites of the week were pop-paw and Amen. Thanks for a wonderful trip, can't wait till next time when we get all THREE boys together. You can see more pictures from our trip here and here on Geraldine's blog.

Family Hayride and Edward and Gus trying their best to be farmers

Happy (belated) Birthday

2009-08-18T09:08:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday Andy. We celebrated last Wednesday with a delicious lobster dinner fresh from Maine (thanks Chris and Kelly). We had a great time with good friends on Sunday night bowling and eating good ole southern bbq at Moes. You're a great dad and currently Edward's favorite, and I know why. You are lots of fun, make up the best games and always make us laugh. We can't wait for you to come home every afternoon and look forward to weekends when we all get to hang out. Hope you had a great birthday. We love you.

Queen for a Day

2009-07-07T21:36:00.000-06:00

It is no secret that dog's get the short end of the stick once kids come along. Melinda used to sleep in the bed, under the covers with me. Andy put a stop to that after we got married. Now she is not allowed upstairs or anywhere near our bedrooms or rooms with carpet. She is not allowed on the rug in the living room or on any of the furniture. She's okay though, she has a nice comfy bed that she loves and she is still in the middle of most of the action. And, of course, she is always under Edward's high chair when it is feeding time. She has been long overdue for a bath and after a weekend at the kennel was nearing offensive. I made an appointment with the groomer (normally I wash her myself at the Pet Station but I didn't have the time or the will this week) and after an hour and a half of the full beauty treatment I went to pick her up. I have never laughed so hard. Melinda has NEVER had bows in her fur, she has had a pink collar but that is about as girlie as we have ever gotten. Somehow little red check bows on an 85 lb lab just don't go but I can't take them out, they are too funny. I think she is slightly embarassed but she is handling it well. She has gotten lots of extra loving today becuase she is soft and smells good. What do you think? Is it a good look for her?

Bet you can't do this. . .

2009-07-01T19:02:00.000-06:00

Those of you who have spent time with Edward know how much he loves food. Even if you haven't spent time with him you can see it in his cheeks. We have been transitioning to one nap during the day instead of two which makes for a very sleepy boy around noon. I usually try to keep him up until lunch is finished but it is hard work being 16 months old and sometimes it is just too much. Even when exhausted there is always time for one last bite.

Big Boy

2009-07-01T18:54:00.000-06:00

I relented. We took Edward here and got his haircut. It's hard to tell from these pictures but he tolerated it really well. He was more interested in the cars we gave him than the actual cutting except when the buzzers came close to his ears. I have to admit he does look really handsome but I miss his little baby mop. Hopefully this will put an end to the "she's so cute" comments!

Baking another Biscuit

2009-06-20T15:21:00.000-06:00

Yep, Austin (middle name to be determined) Fitzgerald should be done around Nov. 14. I am currently 19 weeks and look like I did at 25 the first time around. After some killer 1st trimester morning sickness everything is going well. I can already feel him kicking and Andy even felt him a couple of times. Andy said his head looks bigger than Edward's did at the same age. This is not good news for me, so I am already planning an induction at 38 weeks :)

We are starting to look around for another house but I am really torn about it. I am not ready to leave this house or this neighborhood but I know we will probably outgrow this house quickly. I am in the we can make it work mindframe while Andy is more of the we need to see what is out there attitude. I am praying that God will make it clear what the right thing to do will be.

We also have to rethink the name of the blog as it is no longer just Ed's Biscuit Hut. I don't think I ever gave an explanation of how the name came about. After my freshman year at Auburn I moved to Colorado Springs for the summer and worked at the Flying W Ranch. One of my jobs was to man the biscuit hut. The biscuit hut was as glorious as it sounds- a hut where we cooked biscuits in cast iron dutch ovens on railroad rails. They sat on hot coals and we heaped more coals on the top and cooked them until they were golden brown. Then we drowned them in butter and honey. Let's just say that after a summer of eating biscuits it showed a little around the midsection and and thighs. So that's it, biscuits and babies make me fat. So we decided to call Edward baby biscuit before we knew what he was and then it became Edward's Biscuit Hut. Well, he will have to make some room for his baby brother. I am sure he won't mind.

Hey You

2009-06-02T15:08:00.000-06:00

You are fifteen months old. I can't believe that my sweet little baby is now my sweet little boy. You can walk anywhere, climb stairs and go down the slide. You can hit the baseball off the tee with a bat and you use the vaccum cleaner attachement like it is your sword. You eat like a professional but you are so busy that the only way you are growing lately is up.

You can say momma, dada, up, down, dog, and ball. You know the signs for more, please, thank you and milk. You can woo-woo like the fire engine and babble away at your books like you are reading the greatest novel. You love to wave at everything- people in line at the store, the neighbors and any car that drives down our street. You are brave and will venture off to explore new things. You have tasted sand, dirt, and dog food. You like to smell the flowers and will blow your nose when I wipe it.

You can give kisses with your mouth closed and the best hugs in the world. You make us laugh when you imitate the things we do. Your hair is long and you sometimes get mistaken for a girl which drives your dad crazy. I don't like it either but I can't bare to part with those sweet curls yet. You love Melinda although we have to work on being gentle. You amaze us everyday and we love you more then we could have ever dreamed.

Fun in the Sun

2009-04-11T16:51:00.000-06:00

Can you say Dad?

Peek-a-Boo at the beach

Hanging out at Nana and Grandad's

Sanibel Island

Thanks Ed and Nancy for a great trip to Florida.

Birthday Recap

2009-03-11T08:52:00.000-06:00

Happy 1st Birthday Edward

Check out more pictures here

Role Reversal

2009-03-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

If any of you southerners need to warm up come on out to Colorado it is 70 and sunny.

No napkin, no problem

2009-02-16T16:36:00.000-07:00

From the first time semi-solid food passed his lips Edward has loved food and love to eat food. When he was younger I often couldn't feed it to him fast enough. He would cry in frustration that the gummy goodness wasn't constantly streaming in his mouth. Now he loves to feed himself and has found the best napkin out there-his hair. This has made for lots of interesting hairdos with lots of different "gels". Oatmeal is definitely maximum hold, yogurt is more for texturizing and applesauce is good for holding curls. *Note Melinda in the middle picture, she gets as excited as Edward about mealtime and is better than any swiffer out there at cleaning up the crumbs.

Snow one week, 70 the next

2009-01-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

Playing in the snow

Hanging with Oliver at the Botanic Gardens

Enjoying some tropical sunshine at the Botanic Gardens

Check him out

2009-01-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

Take a look at our future free heeler from a few weeks ago.

I'm It

2009-01-08T09:09:00.000-07:00

So I have been tagged by April. It has been a long time since I have played tag but apparently in the grown up version you have to copy what the person who tagged you did so here it goes. This is the fourth picture of my fourth picture file.
1. This picture is from Thanksgiving in Alabama
2. I love Edward's smile in this picture, especially his tongue sticking out (it is his trademark).
3. He loved the rocking cow
4. His cousin Gus liked to stand on the cow's back rather than rock on it.

We will miss you Amanda

2009-01-06T21:07:00.001-07:00

Our dear friend and Edward's #1 babysitter left for South Africa. She is on staff with Campus Crusade and will be on stint for a year. We had the privilege of meeting Amanda a little over a year ago through our small group at church. She has such a heart for the people she is going to serve and just hearing her talk about it makes me so excited for what God will do through her and her team. Selfishly we will miss her and wish she was still here to make us laugh and to spend time with Edward but at the same time we know she is in the right place. We can't wait to see what the year will bring and will look forward to having her back with us soon.

Christmas come and gone

2009-01-06T20:56:00.001-07:00

We traveled to Indiana to spend Christmas with Andy's side of the family. The trip started out with freezing rain and a 3 1/2 hour trip home from the airport (twice as longs as our actual flight from Denver). Thankfully it only got better from there. We enjoyed hanging out in the Fitzgeralds new house. It is truly amazing and they worked themselves to the bone to get it ready for all of us. We were all spoiled on Christmas day. Santa came to visit the grandkids in the morning and Edward kept it going in his very own santa suit. It was a great trip and a wonderful holiday.

Almost Christmas

2008-12-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

Meeting Santa on Old South Pearl Street

Playing Santa in the Tub

My Little Elf

Only a little over a week to go. This season has gone by so fast but we have been having a good time. Edward has patiently endured me dragging him along on all the Christmas shopping, thank goodness we are almost done. We will be headed to Indy for Christmas with the Fitzgeralds. I can't wait to see Edward on Christmas morning. I already have a feeling that empty boxes and discarded wrapping paper will be his favorite.

Congrats Mark and Dusty

2008-12-17T08:39:00.000-07:00

Outside Aspen Chapel

Hanging out at the reception with Grandad

The Happy Couple

We traveled to Aspen this past weekend to celebrate the wedding of Mark (Andy's brother) and his new wife Dusty. They had a beautiful ceremony in Aspen Chapel then the reception at the Little Nell. They are now in Mexico soaking up some sun. We had a great time, congratulations.

Big Steps

2008-12-09T10:01:00.000-07:00

Just a few days shy of his 9 month birthday Edward surprised us by taking his first steps on his own. Nothing brings us more joy than opening our arms to our son as he unsteadily makes his way towards us.

Thanksgiving Lost

2008-12-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

Somehow in the transfer of my Thanksgiving pictures from the camera to the computer they were lost. This video did manage to survive and is all I currently have to show from our trip to Alabama. We enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at my Aunt Emily's. Surrounded by family and good food we celebrated family and all that we have been blessed with. Edward and his cousin Gus were definitely the highlights and they did a great job of keeping everyone entertained. On friday it was drizzling and gray but it did not stop my dad from roping Andy into helping him built a goat oven. I really wish I had those pictures but you will have to use your imagination (make sure your mental picture includes bricks, tin from the roof of a barn, and a grill rack made from stainless steel shelving). Despite its humlbe appearances the goat oven did turn out some good burgers and roast- yes it was all goat meat. Trust me, it tastes better than you think. I don't have much to say about Saturdays game. My brother and sister-in-law were thrilled. As always time went by too fast and before we knew it we were back in the airport headed home. I have to brag on Edward, he was so good on the plane and slept almost the entire way home. We came back to a couple of inches of snow on the ground and the next morning Edward got his first taste (literally) of the snow. Again, I wish I had those pictures. I hope everyone had a happy thanksgiving and I am thankful for my memories because they can never get lost in the transfer.

2008-11-24T09:34:00.000-07:00

Some older video of Edward when he first started to say Dada. I have tried and tried to get him to say mama but so far Dada is the only word for him.

Vail

2008-11-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

We took a little trip to Vail yesterday. We had somethings to take to our renters and then we spent the afternoon in Lionshead and Vail Village. There has not been much snow and we watched some brave souls navigate their way down the white ribbon of death (a.k.a. Born Free). Edward was very interested in the skiers and liked all the activity. After walking around the new Lionshead we headed to Vail and played on the pirate ship before going back to Bart and Yetti's for some lunch. Being up there made me sad that we won't be spending weekends with our friends in the mountains this winter. We will just look forward to some day in the future when we are back, teaching our kids to ski and having even more fun than we used to.

Cuteness

2008-11-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Edward is crawling all over and will pull up on anything so he can walk. I keep reallybusy these days chasing after him. His other favorite thing to do is climb the stairs. He can move up them surprisingly fast, we just need to work on the down part.

Edward's New Ride

2008-11-12T21:01:00.000-07:00

Check out my Nutcase. "I like my brain."

Getting ready to ride

Cruisin

We took advantage of the nice weather this past weekend and took our "early Christmas present" from my parents out for a spin. We went to REI first and bought Edward his helmet. He loves it and wore it all around the store. Edward had a good time in the bike trailer, he went right to sleep. We rode a few laps around Wash park and went to visit Uncle Mark. We are looking forward to next spring and a lot of good riding.

Visit Part 2

2008-10-29T19:47:00.000-06:00

Estes Park, CO

We stayed at River Spruce Cabins

Two mountain men

Grana and Pap's Visit Part 1

2008-10-29T18:36:00.000-06:00

Berry Patch Farms, Brighton, CO

Edward picking rasberries

Monkey in a cage!

Edward loved kisses from Pap more than the giraffes

Looking for more animals

Done! Edward loved the zoo.

Happy Anniversary

2008-10-06T08:41:00.000-06:00

Happy Anniversary Andy! Two down, a lifetime more to go. I love you.

Fall in Colorado

2008-10-05T21:35:00.000-06:00

From the look of these pictures you would think we had a wonderful day enjoying the aspens and Colorado mountains. The truth is this past Saturday was a series of bad decisions resulting in a 9 hour trip that should have taken around four. Fall in Colorado is beautiful and the yellow aspens are amazing but it is very short lived and you have about a month to enjoy them. I really wanted to go to the mountains and see the aspens before all the leaves are gone. We decided on Saturday to drive to Estes Park and then on into Rocky Mountain National Park. Bad decision #1, we left a little after noon (we should have been in the car about two hours earlier). We then proceeded to drive north to Boulder. Once we were there and sitting in football traffic Andy asked about the directions which led us to bad decision number 2, I had forgotten to bring a map. We pressed on and made our way to Estes Park where we found ourselves smack in the middle of Elk Fest 2008 (this is not a joke, this is a real festival). Trying to avoid the absolute traffic jam in town we took a "detour" also known as bad decision #3. The "detour" turned into about a 20 minute drive in the wrong direction, complete with pulling over on the side of the road to feed Edward. An hour later we were back in town, back in traffic and determined to make it into Rocky Mountain National Park. Of course it started to rain as were pulling into the entrance but we were determined to press on and paid our $20 entrance fee. Once we made it into the park we were awed by the aspens and actually began to enjoy ourselves. We walked around Bear Lake and took in the views, snapped some pictures and then warmed up in the car. This is where we made our 4th and final bad decision. We thought that as long as we were in the park (and had paid $20 to get in) we should see as much as possible. So we decided to drive all the way through the park and take a different route home. It should have taken about one hour more than going back the way we came. We way underestimated the time it took to drive the windy moutain roads. We also understimated Edward's patience in the car seat. Two hours later with Edward crying the whole time we were still in the park just praying we would make it out. The rest of the drive home a mission to get back with our sanity and before Edward had a second meltdown. We pulled into the garage at about 9:30. The question we asked ourselves- Was it worth it? Look at that smile on Edward's face.

New camera, lots of new pictures

2008-09-28T20:57:00.000-06:00

Since the pictures are the best part, here are some that I took with my early birthday present from the Fitzgeralds (thanks!).

Welcome Madeline

2008-09-28T20:47:00.001-06:00

Our good friends Jim and Andrea welcomed their sweet little girl, Madeline, into the world last Thursday. She weighed in at a healthy 8 lbs 3 ozs and s 21/12 inches long. We went to visit Friday night and had a little trip down memory lane as she was born at the smae hospital as Edward. It is amazing to think that only 6 1/2 months ago he came into this world. He has already changed so much and has brought more joy to our lives than either Andy or myself thought possible. Welcome to the world Madeline, Edward will be happy to show you around!

September is the new June

2008-09-27T19:19:00.000-06:00

This has been the month of weddings. We started in Atlanta with our friends Ryan and Robin. It was whirlwind weekend. Edward and I took off on Saturday morning and were back in Denver Sunday afternoon. Then our dear friends the Russells celebrated the wedding of their daughter Amanda, unfortunately we did not make it to Birmingham for that one. Traveling on an airplane three weekends in a row was just not possible. We finished up the month with the wedding of Andy's sister Kelly and her husband Chris. They were married at Devil's Thumb Ranch in Winter Park, Colorado. We had a great time and the weekend flew by. Edward was a hit in his tuxedo and handled everything amazingly well. Here are some other pics of the weekend.

Devils Thumb Ranch

Mark, Chris, Andy, Edward, Leah

The Bride and Groom!

Playing around at the lodge

Gull Lake

2008-09-10T08:07:00.000-06:00

We spent Labor Day weekend in Michigan with Andy's parents and brother. They have a beautiful little cabin on Gull Lake just outside of Kalamazoo. Edward took his first boat ride and got a chance to play in the water and even went all the way under with Andy's help. It was a gorgeous weekend and very relaxing. I managed to get up on my third try and slalom and them made the mistake of getting on the tube. I felt that tube ride for two days, my sore neck and back reminded me I am not as young as I think I am. Edward got to meet his Great Uncle Joel and Great Aunts Jenilee and Carole. He also played with his cousins and some new friends, the Clarks. Andy's best friend Blair and his family (Kelly, Bo, Brooks and Qwynna) drove over from South Bend and spent Saturday with us. Edward was especially fond of Qwynna, we will not trust them to be left alone when they are older! When we got back to Colorado it was cool and already feeling like fall. What a great way to say goodbye to summer and look forward to my favorite season.

So Big

2008-08-21T09:26:00.000-06:00

August Birthdays

2008-08-21T09:22:00.000-06:00

Happy 6th Birthday Kaitlyn!

Happy 33rd Birthday Andy! (This is a rare treat all the Fitzgerald kids together in one place, thanks everyone for coming over and celebrating!)

And last, but certainly not least Happy Birthday Ashleigh and thanks so much for coming to visit us.

Wheat and Weeds

2008-08-16T14:48:00.000-06:00

Don't you love when you get something you didn't ask for? I mentioned in another post that I question why evil things are allowed to happen in our world and why God, knowing that these things would happen went ahead with creation. Well, ask (or wonder about something in your blog in a nonspecific way) and you shall receive.

The next Sunday we had a guest speaker at church. I don't know what yall think of guest speakers but generally they illicit groans and eye rolling from me and Andy. They just never seem to be as good as the preacher, they are often nervous and of course we have one everyone time we bring someone new. So, the guest speaker gets up and to our surprise and relief he was a former staff member at our church and he is a great speaker and teacher. He preached on the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds from Matthew 13:24-30. It is an excellent sermon and I highly recommend listening to it if you have any interest in the topic of evil in our world today and why it exists.

The other answer I unexpectedly got came from a book I am reading called The Shack by William P. Young. This book was highly recommended to me by Andy's brother, Scott. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who might be interested but basically it is a father who's world is turned upside down when his daughter is abducted and most likely murdered. He has an incredible meeting with God and has a lot of tough questions to ask Him. This book has really opened my heart and mind about the nature of God and our relationship with Him.

I still struggle with the brokeness of our world and all the pain I see in it. It is truly overwhelming at times but the hope I have come away with is that we are not alone and we do not have to live in fear. This world is far from what is was created to be but thankfully we have a Savior who longs to show us what life can really be like.

Gameface

2008-07-30T13:11:00.001-06:00

You're on. As soon as I can walk.

Homemade

2008-07-27T19:37:00.000-06:00

When I was a kid homemade was not something I appreciated. I wanted store bought, plastic, and individually wrapped. I liked the macaroni and cheese in the blue box, not the stuff my mom made from scratch. I did not see the point in making your own clothes, growing vegetables in the backyard or cooking at home. Wouldn't you rather eat out and buy for convenience. Thankfully I have gotten over that way of thinking. Through the years I have come to appreciate the things I thought were second rate as a child. It isn't embarassing to wear things you have made. It is actually fun to show off what you have accomplished. It is a great feeling to make something from start to finish. I have discovered that creating is fun.

Often times I wonder why God made earth and people. Knowing how badly things could go it just seems maybe he would have skipped all the trouble. However, when I think about creation I realize what a good time He must have had (and still has) making all things new. Creation is a continual process, everytime a child is born a new creation begins, ready to grow, from start to finish. God must be so proud to show off what he has made. I know I don't always make Him proud but thankfully he looks past the flaws and imperfections.

Above are some of my creations. A diaper bag (this picture is for you Geraldine) and strawberry jam. Although I can't take full credit because the plants are doing the growing I am tending to vegetables that will become food that I will make for my family. Maybe it is motherly instinct but I love that fact that I can make things that will provide and take care of those I love most. Below is the most precious thing I have ever made and the one I am most proud of.

The little things. . .

2008-07-20T21:36:00.000-06:00

First time eating cereal (you can't tell but he loves it!)

Rolling over from back to tummy, still working on the reverse

Edward's new ride, he graduated to the jogging stroller.

Granna's Visit

2008-07-16T09:56:00.000-06:00

We were blessed to have my mom (or Granna as she is now known) come to Denver and visit us this weekend. Edward and I picked her up at the airport Saturday morning and she was with us until Monday evening. It was great to have her, she barely let Ed out of her arms all weekend. Thanks to her I was able to finish my sewing project - a diaper bag (inspired by LA's friend Darby- thanks!). It is amazing what you can accomplish with a few hours of dedicated time. I think about that alot, I used to clean my whole house in one morning, now it takes two days. I remember the days when I had all the time I wanted to accomplish something, now I just squeeze things in between feedings, diaper changes and all the times Edward demands my attention. It has made me slow down, realize it is not the end of the world if everything isn't perfect and just the way I want it. It has made me appreciate sitting on the swing, taking a walk and just hanging out.

Fresh vegetables from Alabama preceeded Granna's arrival so we enjoyed some real southern cooking (fresh tomatoes, blueberry cobbler, fried okra, green beans, peas and squash). I appreciated all the vegies especially because I have managed to produce only 1 tomato so far. I still have hope for my little garden I am just trying to be patient. Monday Andy and I went to work and Edward spent all day with his grandmother needless to say I came home to two very happy campers.

Thanks for a great visit Granna.

Fitzgerald Farms

2008-07-04T08:50:00.002-06:00

I think the name is kind of catchy. Too bad our 2 x 4 plot of garden couldn't even feed our family for a week. So this is my third summer attempting to grow a little green in our backyard and things are coming along okay. This year I planted two tomato plants, one Early Girl and one yellow, bell peppers (green, red, and yellow), jalapeno and cherry peppers. I also planted several herbs- rosemary, basil (purple and green), thyme, dill, and cilantro. I have two lavendar plants and two chive plants as well as some mint that come back each year. After two previous attempts at growing cucumbers I opted for something different this year- eggplant. The growing season here is short and everything comes late so I tend to get impatient but I am trying to nurse all my plants along in hopes that they will produce something worth eating. The herbs usually do well although I never can get the cilantro to stick around. I have two tomatos on the Early Girl and the eggplant and peppers are just starting to flower. I love going out early in the morning and inspecting everything, looking for little signs of fruit and running my hands through all the herbs. In my opinion the smell of lavendar and rosemary are two of the best scents in the world.

Here's proof (see post below)

2008-06-25T21:35:00.000-06:00

After my last post I looked through some old pictures and found this one that my husband has named Chunky Monkey and Frog Boy. Anyway, Jake didn't quite fill out the outfit like Edward does but you get the idea.

Circa 1978

2008-06-25T16:44:00.000-06:00

One of the nice things about having a nephew six months older than your son is all the clothes that get passed along. Geraldine has been so generous in sharing everything with us that we have hardly had to buy anything. I love it when the box arrives in the mail carrying a new batch of clothes. This last one had a couple of nostalgic surprises. Both the outfits in these pictures were my brothers which makes them exactly 30 years old. They came just in time as Edward is almost too big for them. I love the vintage look and the memories they give me of little Jake swimming in his own drool. Thanks Geraldine for the clothes and the fun of remembering my brother when he was small enough to fit in these outfits.

Me & Henri'

2008-06-17T08:19:00.000-06:00

Henri' (pronounce it with your best French accent) is my favorite toy. He has gone with me on the airplane to Alabama and Indiana. He rode in the care with me all the way to Florida. He speaks in a language I don't quite understand but Mom and Dad interpret for me. Whenever I am fussy in the pack-n-play he magically appears and makes me smile. He doesn't mind if I chew on his arm or nose and he always hugs me back.

He's a Natural

2008-06-16T10:23:00.000-06:00

Happy Father's Day Andy. I love watching you with Edward. From the beginning you have loved him, played with him, and rocked him to sleep. You are fun, creative, and patient. You change diapers like a pro and pick out the best outfits. Thanks for all you do, WE really appreciate it.

Andy's a Farmer

2008-05-23T10:13:00.001-06:00

Warning! This video is not for the faint of heart or anyone who opposes goat birth control. We recently went to Alabama to visit my family and Dad wasted no time in taking advantage of an extra pair of hands on the farm. An innocent walk to the barn turned into quite an experience for one little goat and Andy. If you wondering just exactly what is going on, here is the background. You only have one fertile male in a herd of goats, anymore than that and they would try to kill each other in a testosterone induced battle. So, if you don't give away all the males born to the herd you have to castrate them by banding their your know whats. The process involves a rubber band (specially made for this purpose) and something sort of like reverse tweezers that you use to place it. As you can see it is a two person job. For Andy this is just one of the many joys of marrying a girl from Alabama.

It wasn't all work, we had plenty of time to play and enjoy spending time with friends and family.

2008-05-23T09:53:00.000-06:00

This is for my friend April, who even though she has three children (the youngest is less than a month old) and wasn't feeling well, had Edward and me over for lunch. It was a treat to see her and our friend Angie and her son Charlie. April has asked several times about Edward's room and finally here are the pictures. The things I like about this room are the bed linens which I proudly sewed myself and the rocking chair that Andy refinished. The crib that was given to us by Scott and Debbie and the changing table my parents bought. The bookshelf was in Andy's grandomther's house and we painted it to match the room. The pictures on the wall came from Andy's parents house and everything is tied together with love. I really had no true vision of what the room would turn out to be but I am pleased and think it is a comfy little place to hang out in. Edward must agree because he has slept there since he was two weeks old. We are slowly filling the bookshelves with old classics and new favorites. I have yet to make it through the Giving Tree without crying. Andy enjoys reading from his childhood favorite, the Disney illustrated version of Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit. I have spent hours in the rocking chair staring at his initials on the wall, I am counting the polk a dots on the F. A funny thing about this room is that it's previous inhabitant, known to us as Teddy (it was written on the wall) was actually named Edward. I think this room sums up everything we love about our house. It is old and has lots of character, it is furnished in a combination of new, old and hand-me-down and it is small but in a cozy way that makes you want to be there. And one last thing, in the winter, on a clear day, it is the only room in the house with a mountain view.

Thanks Edward,

2008-05-11T08:31:00.000-06:00

for making me a Mom. It's only been two months and we are still figuring things out but I think we make a pretty good team. Already I can tell what your different cries mean. I will do any silly thing I can think of to make you smile. Thanks to you I get to stand up in church this morning when the preacher calls on all the mothers and proudly claim you as my son. I love every little thing about you- your eyes that are blue like your Dad's, your toes that curl up like mine and your sweet personality that is blooming everyday.

I am blessed to be sharing this day with another first time mom, Geraldine and her beautiful boy Gus. We are both honored to be in Alabama with my mom and grandmother, two amazing women who have given us great examples of what it means to be a mom. May we follow in their footsteps. Happy mother's day!

Two Months

2008-05-08T12:12:00.000-06:00

We have been running around getting ready to go to Alabama so I am little behind but Edward turned two months old on Tuesday. We celebrated by going to the doctor and getting shots. He was very brave and only turned a shade of eggplant for a few seconds before regaining his composure. He proudly wore his Snoopy band-aids to show off his battle scars. I was anxoius that seeing him cry would upset me but he handled it so well that in the end all I could do was laugh about his purple face. He is smiling, laughing and trying his best to tell us what is on his mind. It has been two months of loving, learning and leaning on each other as our family grows up. I could go on but you can watch the video and hear it in Edwards own "words".

Not Really

2008-05-08T11:48:00.000-06:00

I almost had to pinch him to make him cry, I couldn't resist. Edward's soon to be Uncle Chris gave him this onesie as a present in the hospital and thankfully, most of the time, he does not live up to the definition. I am sure everyone thinks their baby is the best and sweetest but deep down I know mine REALLY is.

Bath Time

2008-04-25T19:44:00.000-06:00

Before

After

Edward is starting to figure out the bath thing. At first he wasn't so sure he liked it, then he hesitantly accepted it, and today he finally smiled while in the tub. I love wrapping him tight in the towel and snuggling up to his clean little body. It is a sweeter smell than any flower I know.

The Faces of Ed

2008-04-14T11:58:00.000-06:00

He changes every day. Just this past week Edward started to really smile and respond to Andy and me. It melts our hearts to see his mouth and eyes open wide when we talk to him or tickle his belly. He is also making more cooing noises and he loves it when I make vowel sounds.

First trip to the Mountains

2008-04-08T10:14:00.000-06:00

We made our first trip to the mountains this weekend. After being away from Vail for two months it was great to be back. We enjoyed getting to hang out with friends and family. Edward enjoyed all the attention and was constantly passed from one pair of waiting arms to the next. I made an attempt at skiing which was fun but very humbling. Apparently pregnancy and childbirth do not help you get into shape for skiing! Thanks to all our babysitters, Andrea, Theresa and Kelly. They generously gave up their ski time to watch Edward so Andy and I could take a few runs together.

One Month

2008-04-08T10:01:00.000-06:00

Edward turned one month old on Sunday. He has already changed so much. So far we have learned that he loves baths and being held, morning snuggle time in our bed is one of his favorites. We work on tummy time everyday and his neck is getting much stronger, he can even hold up his head for a little bit when we are burping him. He is just getting over his first cold which was harder for Andy and me to take than him. Sometimes I just stare at him in wonder, amazed that he is uniquely created and there is no one else like him. I pray for the boy he will become and the man he will grow up to be. For now we are loving our baby and enjoying each new day!

Easter Sunday

2008-03-25T08:55:00.000-06:00

We had a great Easter, celebrating with family and good friends. Andy and I opted out of church because Edward is still a little too young to be in big crowds. We spent the morning getting ready for brunch with Jake, Geraldine, Gus, Ricky and Theresa. After lunch we all went to the park, the guys played tennis and the girls walked with the babies and Melinda.

It took about a week but Gus and Edward finally realized each others existence. After a few curious looks they had their first real interaction Easter Sunday morning. So here they are, too little boys in their adorable matching outfits (thanks Grana!) enjoying a beautiful morning.

Proud Grandparents

2008-03-22T10:03:00.000-06:00

Nana & Grandad

Grana & Pap

This is long overdue but I wanted to say thanks to the grandparents- first for hanging in there until the bitter end. Edward was born at 3:19 am and even though we had many visitors earlier in the evening everyone had to go by midnight. But the grandparents hung in there. Ed was sick and didn't even get to hold Edward, he had to be content looking through the nursery window. He did eventually get better and got to hold him after we came home. My parents stayed with us for a week and a half after Edwards birth and were a huge help. All the cooking, cleaning, and amazing amounts of laundry were done without so much as a thought from me. Andy's mom got to dress him for his first doctors appointment. He has been and continues to be showered with lots of love from all four of our loving parents. Thank you to Nana & Grandad, Grana and Pap- we love you and Edward is already spoiled- good work.

Two Weeks or Two Months?

2008-03-22T09:48:00.000-06:00

Time goes by so fast yet the nights can be endlessly long. Edward is doing great but getting up every three hours has taken some getting used to for Andy and I. We went to the doctor yesterday and Edward weighs 9 lbs. 12 0z. and is 22 inches long. He is growing so fast and newborn clothes are almost too small. As one of our friends put it, we have an infant, not a newborn. We got the okay from the doctor to head to the mountains anytime so a trip to Vail is in the very near future. We can't wait to take him up there and show him off to everyone. I may even attempt to get on my skis.

Firsts

2008-03-14T10:49:00.000-06:00

FIRST IN OUR HEARTS

We have survived our first week. Edward is 1 week and 1 day old. It has been an exciting week, filled with firsts and they have all been captured on film. Here are a few of the first things we have done.

First Outfit

First ride in the carseat

First meeting with Melinda

First ride in the stroller

2008-03-12T18:31:00.000-06:00

It is hard to believe Edward is almost 1 week old. We are having so much fun and are just amazed by our little boy. He is a great baby and we fall more in love with him everyday.

20 Hours of Labor, 3 Hours of Pushing, 1 Healthy Baby Boy

2008-03-06T22:17:00.000-07:00

Priceless. Edward Mitchell Fitzgerald was born this morning at 3:19 this am, he weighed in at

9 lbs 3 ozs and is 21 1/4 inches long. He is healthy and perfect and we are thrilled but compeletely exhausted. Stay tuned for more pictures and updates ( we are pretty sure he is the most photographed newborn ever). Thank you to everyone for your love, support and prayers.

Overdue!!

2008-03-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

No, not my libraray books, my baby. E-day as we had come to call it came and went with a lot of anticipation but little activity. We went to the doctor yesterday morning hoping that we would be told you will definitely have the baby today. Of course that didn't happen, we did hear that I am about as ready as I can be, the only thing missing is the contractions. So we have a scheduled induction tomorrow at 6 am. Unless Edward decides he wants to move a little faster he has a 24 hr deadline with his parents. We are very excited and it feels good to have an end (really just a beginning) in sight. I have slept little the past week and it seems less and less each night. All I can think about is that my sleep will only continue to decrease in the next months. I pray that I will have the energy to keep up with Edward and all that will be going on. To everyone who has called and emailed we are so thankful and can't wait to share the news of our sons birth so stay tuned.

A Tea fit for a Queen

2008-02-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday was my baby shower. It was great to celebrate with friends and family the impending arrival of Edward. The shower was at an English tea room downtown. Those of you who know me well know my affinity for teas and this was one was the best. The food was great, the tea was hot, and the owner had an authentic British accent. Even a couple of my friends braved the snowy roads to come down from Vail. I was truly showered with all sorts of gifts. I also had a great surprise- my best friend Ashleigh came in from North Carolina for the weekend. My parents also made a special trip out which I really appreciated because they will be back here in about 3 weeks or whenver Edward decides he wants to introduce himself to the world. I think we are set, Edward has a wardrobe that rivals mine and I hope he gets to put on all his cute clothes at least once before he outgrows them. Thank you to everyone near and far who have been so generous and made us feel so loved.

Winter Fun

2008-01-12T18:36:00.001-07:00

I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did.

Filmed by Kelly Twitchell

Mommy Brain

2007-12-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

Forgetful, scatterbrained, just plain dumb. I do feel like this sometimes. Apparently pregnancy takes away your ability to effectively multitask or do simple things like remember to take your groceries home from the store after you have paid for them. I start a lot of sentences and then trail off into distraction until Andy asks me to please finish what I was saying. The silver lining in this brain mush I have been experiencing is an apparent INCREASE in my trivial knowledge. Andy and I sat down to play Trivial Pursuit a month or so ago and something happened that has never happened to me, for the first time ever I got every single piece of the pie. So, I may not remember where my keys are or to feed Melinda but I will know -

What southern US city got $1.5 million from the federal government to recondition a massive statue of the Roman god Vulcan?

Which ultraviolet rays are absorbed by the ozone layer- UV-A, UV-B, or UV-C?

What Austin Powers co-star did MIke Myers described as "honest, talented . . . and yummy"?

and finally:

What Big Pimpin' rapper and former crack hustler was known to judges as Shawn Carter?

If any of you are interested in the answers here they are:

Birmingham

UV-C

Heather Graham

Jay-Z

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

It is a white Chrismas here in Denver. I woke up this morning, got ready to take Melinda out to "potty", looked out the window, and saw two inches of snow. I promptly let Melinda take herself for a stroll around the yard. I couldn't believe all the white stuff, the news had predicted a quarter inch instead we got about six. My sweet husband got up and dro,ve me to work at 7. Yep, I am spending Christmas day working at the hospital. Unfortunately people still need drugs even on holidays. We did go to Winter Park with the Fitzgeralds this past weekend and we will celebrate Christmas dinner tonight. I volunteered to work this year anticipating wanting a lot of time off next year for Edward's "1st" Christmas. We tried to explain Christmas to him this morning but I am not sure he got it, the only response he had for me was a kick in the ribs! Andy and I are constantly amazed at his movements, we can tell he is getting stronger and every now and then we get a glimpse of a leg or arm as it moves across my belly. I never get tired of putting my hands on my belly and trying to guess which body part is pressing back. Sometimes I feel like he is just ready to bust out of the confines of my body. We try and interpret his movements into some kind of personality, I have no idea if there is any correlation but if so we have decided he will be full of energy and always on the go, he will not be able to sit still for very long and he will push the limits and test his boundaries constantly. I am just fine with him staying put for a few more weeks, I won't be able to monitor his every movement much longer and that is a scary thought.

I hope you all have a Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Baby Bump

2007-12-10T20:03:00.000-07:00

Big- 10/21

Bigger- 12/10

Biggest yet to come. So many of you have asked for new pictures,I have obviously been ignoring the blog but I have felt guilty about it. It is amazing to look back at pictures and remember feeling "so BIG" and now I am feeling huge and yet I know there is more to come. Everything is becoming relative, and all we can do is try to enjoy as much of this journey as possible, because we know it will be over in a flash. So thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, and phonecalls - they keep me going and we really do appreciate the support.

Happy Halloween

2007-10-31T06:51:00.000-06:00

Thanks mom for the the baby pumpkin. And thanks to Brad and Sarah for hosting a great pumpkin carving party. Happy Halloween to everyone.