life with a toddler

Well Alden has gotten into some strange habits lately.

First of all he will never wear a shirt during the day. Pretty much right after he gets dressed... he takes it off and won't put it back on. He says it "tickles him" ? Not sure what THAT means. So he is always running around here with out one on. I think this picture seems to sum up life with him lately pretty good. He made every thing a mess and he is running around without his shirt on. :)

Another of his habits lately is to sleep on the floor. Sometimes beside his bed, sometimes behind the door. Tonight when I went in to check on him, he was sleeping right behind the door (so I had to push him with the door to open it) and he had taken his pj top off... so he was freezing cold sleeping there. He will never come out of his room unless we get him. But he goes to sleep on the floor. Crazy kid!


Lucy is doing great too. She still doesn't smile very much. I think we have seen about 4 smiles when she was awake and meant it. She is starting to get nice full cheeks like Alden had You sure can tell they are siblings!

a love of creation

I just finished this scrapbook page. I have been working on it for a couple days, since I have two kids now and one is still pretty small, I don't get to scrap as often as I did before. Bedtime at 7 pm for Alden isn't the same for Lucy yet. And I was just scanning my page and I thought how much I really love scrapbooking.
I found a great scrapper on TwoPeas today named momteacherwriter and she inspired me again to create.
Choosing the papers, the little additions you can add, sewing on my pages, ribbon, hand cutting my titles.... i love matching the colors and the feel of the supplies. And I love that I get to write and store memories for my children and others to read. I love photography and taking a really good picture. It is such a great hobby. I learned to love art from my mom and this is a form of art that combines so many things I love. And as Van Gogh said "The way to know life is to love many things." One of the many things I love.

35 years with no end in sight

Yesterday I wanted to post (but it ended up being a BUSY day and night) and say Congrats to my mom and dad! November 17 was their 35th Wedding Annivesary. They got married still in their teens, when they were both still kids. But they have one of the best marriages I have ever seen. Just wanted to post a page I did a while back about mom and dad and how their marriage has taught and influneced my own marriage.
So I was thinking about a top ten list.
Things Mom and Dad taught me. (And this is just 10.... they taught me lots more. :) )
10. What a great thing marriage is.
9. No matter what goes on around you stick together.
8. Tithing works!
7. God really does listen and answer our prayers.
6. Create.
5. To notice and appreciate God's beautiful creations all around us.
4. Focus out instead of in. Service makes you feel better.
3. You always have enough to share with others.
2. Duty and dependance and To just quietly go about doing good.
1. That they love all their kids eternally.
Love you Mom and Dad!!! And Congrats!

a break thru

a break thru
Originally uploaded by rhondaleesteed.

FINALLY after Lucy has been home 6 weeks - Alden acknowledges her. He decided to come and sit by Lucy and have her hold his finger. It was wonderful to see... and yes I have LOTS more photos of this great occasion. :) I couldn't have been happier!

A chance to talk

We (Alden, Lucy and I) got the chance to go visit some friends today. I met Sherri and Jennifer at PACT (Parents and Children Together Association) when the number ones were all under 2 months. We all started going to a New Mother's Group in 2002. It was such a good thing for all of us. We met, along with other first time moms, each Tuesday to talk and learn from each other. We, along with 2 other moms, have kept in touch and our kids have continued to keep us connected. Now Sherri and Jennifer and I all have recently had baby number 2. It was wonderful to get together with them today.

I think we forget. As mothers. As parents. We forget how painful child birth is.... and we do it again. We forget how it feels to go without a good night's sleep for weeks, months. We forget how it feels to have your milk come in and the cravings you get when you are breastfeeding. It is so wonderful to be able to share those "re" remembrances with others who are going thru the remembering again too.

I wasn't much of a girl's girl when I was younger. I always thought girls were to emotional and petty. I would of rather play games WITH the boys than giggle about them or try and kiss them. But the older I get I am beginning more and more to really appreciate what women can offer each other. A good girlfriend is something of value. Not to dump on or just talk bad about your husband... (since I don't think either is necessary) but to have women of similar situations and different situations to learn from and spend time with. Women are a powerful force for good. If we let ourselves be. We can truly build each other or pull each other down. And I am grateful that today I got to spend time with women who choose to build other women up.

Lucy's announcement

lucy's announcement
Originally uploaded by rhondaleesteed.

This is Lucy's birth announcement that I made. I am quite happy with how they turned out. I used Gin-X patterened Papers (the one at the top) and Making Memories (grey polka's) along with white and pink cardstocks. The font work and monogram was all done in Illustrator. I just have to get them all addressed and in the mail now. It is wonderful to announce Lucy's arrival this way. Girlie and pink.

After all it's me

I have been browsing other's blogs and even read some reviews of the whole blog craze. According to some articles blogs are just another version of the old fashioned soap box... Well that isn't what I want mine for... But my feelings and opinions will obviously be expressed. After all it's me.

Mostly I wanted a place to show my creations and sometimes just to write my thoughts. I thought it would be a great way to keep connected with family who all live far away. Keeping in contact is important. So this is a beginning. Of an on-line me.