Updates

We are trying to get things back to "normal" around here. I am feeling pretty good now, and am thankful for that. I saw the urologist this morning and he said by my x-rays from Friday I have passed about half of the kidney stone he broke up. He also said the x-ray showed that my right kidney is clear!!! Not sure how that happened, but I'm glad it did! We scheduled my next ESWL for a few weeks from now. So, hopefully, after that one's done I will be free from kidney stones!

Caeden is one month old today! How does that happen?!? Little babies grow SO quickly! I actually put bedding on the crib in Caeden's room a few days ago, and he has spent a few hours (even some at night!) in it. He is a very snuggly, sleepy guy.

Sylvia is apparently not so sleepy. She is a little ball of fire these days--always on the go. She talks constantly, moves constantly, plays constantly, and keeps us laughing constantly. One is such a fun age, though we can tell TWO is just around the corner. ;)

We think Annah is starting to sing along with her classmates at school and church. Maybe she will actually sing a little bit during her Christmas programs...we hope. She sure sings a lot at home!

Sorry we haven't posted any new pictures for a couple weeks. Our digital camera batteries died, and I haven't found the charger to recharge them yet. Soon!

Sylvie, say cheese!

Teething

Sylvia is teething again. Her first 8 teeth all came in at basically the same time, so it's been a while, but she's cutting 3 or 4 new ones now. She's doing pretty well, but at times it's evident that they're really bothering her.

Annah is getting very excited about the new baby. She likes to sing to it, and she is amazed to see it kicking and moving.

August photos

Here are a few photos from August...

Annah struck this pose on her own, and we asked her to hold it until we could get the camera out. 

For months afterward, she thought this was what she should do every time she saw a camera. Annah helped Mommy bake cookies... ...and eat them!  Mmm! Annah trying on Mommy's nightgown ready for a nap with blankie and pillow in the laundry basket Annah thought Daddy had some extra room on the back of his chair that needed her to fill it up. At Krampa's and Gram's house, Annah saw a dandelion in the yard and wanted to go pick the flower for them.  Only grandparents would let a little girl go out in the yard and get her footie jammies wet with morning dew just to pick a dandelion. swimming in her big green pool Annah loves to "play chalk" outside on the sidewalk. Here she's playing the shape game.

Sandbox fun

 Annah's first time playing in the sandbox...

Annah calls her sandbox her "turtle box," because it looks like a turtle. 

"Mud!"

She got right in and got dirty!  

Annah and her friend and neighbor Ashley going for a ride in the double stroller. Don't they look like  they could be sisters?!?!

Milestones

Annah had a small milestone today--at least Mommy saw it as one.  Annah walked all the way from the Post Office back to our house holding Mommy's hand today.  That's the farthest she's really walked (actually traveling to some place) like that.  Yes, I'm a very sentimental sap, thank you! ;)

    

In other news:  My new little business of hand-crocheted items is open for customers!  The website is still very much under construction, but is up enough for people to take a look if you want to!  Here it is: www.craftedwithcare.com  Check it out, pass it on, and please give any constructive feedback you have--positive or not-so!  It is much needed!  Thank you!

Annah likes to crochet too...  ;)

COLOR!

Annah's favorite thing to do now is, "COLOR, COLOR, COLOR!!!"  She walks around the house with a marker (cap on because she doesn't know how to take it off yet, and doesn't care to yet) looking for "papey" (paper).  

     

And she loves to wear her purple leopard "sippers!"

And her Libby's Lids hat!

Jeremy is taking his 6th C.L.U. exam as I type this, so hopefully he's doing well on it!  How would you like a test on Life Insurance Law?  Ick!

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UPDATE:  Hallelujah!  There is joy and dancing at the Lopshire household tonight!!  Jeremy not only passed his exam today; he was notified that he's receiving a promotion!  Yahoo!!!!!  :-D

Mommy instead of Mama

   

We hope you had a nice Valentine's Day yesterday.  We'd like to say a BIG congratulations to our friends Aaron and Marcy on their extremely romantic engagement on the radio in Columbus yesterday!  Our best wishes to you!

     

Here in Illinois, things are pretty calm.  Annah had a bit of a rough week.  She had a nasty cold for a few days, though not much of a bad reaction from her vaccinations.  She is doing better now though.  

This week she learned how to say, "Mommy," instead of "Mama."  And, she can repeat back all of her ABC's!  She has trouble with "N," since it seems a lot like "M," but her "W" is actually kind of impressive! ;)  She can also recognize a few numbers, and a few colors too.

She loves to play in her cupboard, and has discovered she can fit in there and hide from Mommy!

I'm working on a new website for my new crochet business out of our home--www.craftedwithcare.com.  Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

Annah's First Steps

SHE'S WALKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
     Yep, she's walking!!  Annah took her first steps by herself today!!!! This evening, she walked, without coaxing, a few steps--from the table to Mommy.  Then after supper, she walked all over the living room for more than an hour!!  She was so excited about walking, too!  She would walk a ways and then start panting and doing what Jeremy calls the "bear crawl" (walking with her hands and feet on the floor, and her "bum" in the air) for a ways, then she'd go back to walking.  She was having a blast!  (As Taryn was video-taping, taking pictures, cheering and crying all at the same time.)  We had started helping her walk around the circle inside our house this week.  Apparently that was just what she needed to help her get over the fear of walking and helped her realize she could do it by herself.  So, (*sniff*) our baby is an actual toddler now!
  

Saying "Laloo" (I love you.)

Annah's baking soda artwork

Christmas Day 

 Look! I found some baking soda in Grandma's spice cupboard! 

 Excuse me, I'm creating here! 

 Yes, that looks nice. I'm getting the look I want here! 

 Oh, it feels cool on my skin too! 

 Oh, all right, I'll put it back. 

 Do you think some buillion cubes would add a nice texture to my artwork?

December updates

Sunday, December 2, 2001       

     Let's see...what's going on at the Lopshire house these days?  Currently Jeremy is outside in the dark and cold working on cleaning and closing our pool.  We'll spare you the story of why it's not done yet and just say it will be a huge relief once it is finally done.

      The sickness continues.  Jeremy is in the midst of it now; I thought I was getting better, but continue to add symptoms; Annah now has a runny nose.  'Tis the season for lots of germs.

       Annah is talk, talk, talking a lot!  This morning during her bath she said, "water, water, water, bath, bath, water, water..."  Tonight as she was getting her coat on for church she knew she was going to get in the "car," and as Jeremy was putting her in her carseat she said, "seat" for the first time.  She is trying new words each day, and her list keeps getting longer.

     She has started doing a strange crawl/scoot thing where she sticks one leg out in front of her like she's going to stand up and walk, but she half crawls along with the other leg.  It's hard to explain, and it looks pretty funny when she does it.  Cousin Aidan's mommy and daddy say that's what he did just before he started walking.  She does seem like she might be thinking about trying it, but it might still be a while--we hope. ;)  

     Annah's grandparents will be in town in a couple weeks for her dedication ceremony at church.  We are looking forward to that as well as spending time at home for the holidays.  

Tuesday, December 4, 2001 - 

     Annah's 7th tooth popped through next to her bottom two today!  And, she learned how to say, "walking," "red," "yellow" and "coat!"  Now, all these words she knows may not be obvious to just anyone who hears them, but Mommy and Daddy sure understand them! ;)  For instance, "yellow" sounds strangely like "radio," and "bmmm" means both spoon and  balloon ! 

Thursday, December 6, 2001 - 

     Annah gave us a scare today.  She woke up with a droopy eye.  It wasn't gunky or puffy, just sagging and scary looking.  I freaked out and called Jeremy crying.  He left work immediately and came home.  We called the pediatrician's office and the nurse told us to bring her in.  By the time we got there, Annah's eye was getting much better.  The doctor said he assumes it is from the cold she has, or she could have slept on it funny.  But he said to call if it happens again because we would need to check for neurological problems.  We're praying it is just from her cold.  She learned how to say, "doctor" today.

    She's also been doing the cutest thing...When she finishes eating something, she puts her palms up and says, "Gone!"  :)

Saturday, December 15, 2001 -

     Annah's eye is fine, thank goodness!  It was fine the day after it was scary.  Apparently, she just slept on it funny.  That's not really too surprising, considering most of the time she sleeps with her face squished up in the corner of her crib.  

     Annah has learned to tell us when she's hungry!  She says, "EAT!" and puts her hands on her chest.  She started out putting them on her tummy, but somehow she forgot and puts them on her chest now instead. ;)  It cracks us up.  She can also say, "please" (bee), "soft," "more" and always tells us when she wants to go "down down" (down stairs) or to get down from where she is.

     So is everyone else in the world sick too?  We just can't get rid of it here!!!!  Jeremy still has the icky bronchitis cough.  I still have the cough and wheezing and a sinus infection too.  After more than a month of constant sickness, it's getting a bit annoying.

     We had our first Illinois snow this morning!!!  It was a nice one too!  There are a few inches of pretty white snow on the ground.  Jeremy woke me up at 5:00 a.m. to point it out! ;)  And, Annah noticed it as soon as she woke up and looked out the window.  She kept asking, "whasat?" :)

      Finally...here are Annah's 1-year studio pictures!  We think they're super good.  She was showing her "Cap spirit!"  Deanna, do you recognize the outfit??

Isn't it amazing how much things change in a year??!!??  

Here are a few more photos of Annah from December.

Don't call China!

just up from a nap...all squishy

We tried pigtails! 

A new puffy suit!

Tuesday, December 18, 2001 -
     We had a fun weekend!  All of Annah's grandparents were here for Annah's dedication ceremony at church on Sunday.  It was a very special time, and we were so glad they could all be here for it!  
    

Gram Mc Brought my old Raggedy Ann doll for Annah to play with.

And, we have Christmas tree now!  My parents brought their artificial one because they don't use it anymore, and Mom put it up and decorated it on Saturday.
     Jeremy's parents brought their 2 puppies with them.  They were very good; Snickers should take some lessons from them!
     We are very much looking forward to being home in Indiana for Christmas.  We'll be there Thursday night until Christmas  day, so if anyone wants to see us, call us at my parents' house!  
      We truly hope all of you have a beautiful, blessed Christmas!!