The Winner Is…
Well after little debate, but much thought, our Sprout has a name.
Girl: Meriel (Meri) Eleanor
Boy: Noah Samuel
We absolutely love the names that we have chosen for our child. If you share in our joy, please feel free to express your kind words. We understand that not everyone will share in our taste for names, as we found out with Eli. If you feel the need to name something in rebellion, buy a fish, name it what you like, and we will remain silent.
Deep Thoughts by Elijah
As you may have read, Eli is a talker. In addition to “hi dadadadadada”, he is also saying “ma” or “MOM!” as he put it a few days ago. Since then I have promised him a car. Hopefully, blogs will be a thing of the past when our guy is 16 (oh no!).
Eli is a mover and shaker. He is getting around very well and if motivated enough, he crawls like lightening. He is also developing what appears to be a bit of a temper. He has been known to scream and shake his fists in furry if you try to take away anything he considers to be a toy, even if it is not.
Super Stah
Kameron begins dance rehearsal today for her big number in the OLSH Variety Show. She, along with several classmates and 1 lil sib, are planning to dance to a…you guessed it…Hannah Montana song. The girls are very excited about this. Yvonne, if you are reading this, you are a saint for hosting this practice!
She is continuing to prepare for her first reconciliation. It is really quite an honor going through this process with her. It is amazing what kids view as right and wrong. It reminds you how innocent they really are.
Sew What
Well, I did it. I am now the proud owner of a sewing machine. I am planning on making the bedding for the young-uns. We have been looking at fabrics and are anxious to see if I can actually pull it off. I am starting to panic at the thought of only having 3 months to make the switch. Wish us luck!
Monday
TGI...
One Trimester Down…Two to Go
Ahhhh! How do you spell relief?! So long first trimester, and hello digestion. Even though I broke down and bought new maternity jeans, I am still wearing my regular clothes and they are relatively comfortable…yea! I got Sprout a sleeper and a dress. John says it is wrong to make boys wear dresses, and the fact that I feel it is a girl is just wishful thinking. We will see. He’s probably right though, I was totally convinced Eli was a girl. Kameron (the trader) is also starting to lean towards a boy.
Bottles Galore
Due to complications, Eli is only nursing in the morning and before bed. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it, but the fact that he is adjusting so well makes it easier. He is on soy formula due to the food allergy issues that seems to plague Team Horn. Hopefully he will be able to switch to milk around 1, but if not, we know how to adjust. He is eating a ton of different fruits and veggies, and was given the thumbs up to try meat and some finger foods. Since when did my little guy get so big?
Holy Mathematics Batman!
We were stunned when we received the results of Kameron’s Terra Nova scores. She did well in all the subjects, but placed 98 out of 99% in Math. Sure, she taught herself division…didn’t everyone?! Apparently we should be encouraging this, but I must say, I am a smidge intimidated…I stink at math. I guess it’s a good thing John likes calculus!
Sweet Smell of Tax Season
Busy season is upon us. This is the time of year when we eat late dinners and bedtime bends so that Kameron can hang out with dad “just for a few more minutes…please!” This will be our second tax season pregnant, but our first with a baby, so it is bound to be interesting.
We have been cooking in bulk, so we now have enough dinners to last us eons. John likes it because he comes home to a hot meal every night and I love it because I am not frantically rushing around trying to fix a balanced meal. It’s amazing how 6 hours of cooking can feed the family for a month.
We lost our camera this past Christmas, but we are hoping to post new pictures soon!
Ahhhh! How do you spell relief?! So long first trimester, and hello digestion. Even though I broke down and bought new maternity jeans, I am still wearing my regular clothes and they are relatively comfortable…yea! I got Sprout a sleeper and a dress. John says it is wrong to make boys wear dresses, and the fact that I feel it is a girl is just wishful thinking. We will see. He’s probably right though, I was totally convinced Eli was a girl. Kameron (the trader) is also starting to lean towards a boy.
Bottles Galore
Due to complications, Eli is only nursing in the morning and before bed. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it, but the fact that he is adjusting so well makes it easier. He is on soy formula due to the food allergy issues that seems to plague Team Horn. Hopefully he will be able to switch to milk around 1, but if not, we know how to adjust. He is eating a ton of different fruits and veggies, and was given the thumbs up to try meat and some finger foods. Since when did my little guy get so big?
Holy Mathematics Batman!
We were stunned when we received the results of Kameron’s Terra Nova scores. She did well in all the subjects, but placed 98 out of 99% in Math. Sure, she taught herself division…didn’t everyone?! Apparently we should be encouraging this, but I must say, I am a smidge intimidated…I stink at math. I guess it’s a good thing John likes calculus!
Sweet Smell of Tax Season
Busy season is upon us. This is the time of year when we eat late dinners and bedtime bends so that Kameron can hang out with dad “just for a few more minutes…please!” This will be our second tax season pregnant, but our first with a baby, so it is bound to be interesting.
We have been cooking in bulk, so we now have enough dinners to last us eons. John likes it because he comes home to a hot meal every night and I love it because I am not frantically rushing around trying to fix a balanced meal. It’s amazing how 6 hours of cooking can feed the family for a month.
We lost our camera this past Christmas, but we are hoping to post new pictures soon!
Wednesday
International Man of Orchard Knoll
We had no idea when we bought our home, the former owner who we will identify only as PR, was…well…we just don’t have a clue!
The first time we viewed our house, we were very excited. The walls were painted to our liking, it seemed to be updated…enough, and the track lighting was cool. (It should have been the little things like the lighting. Why didn’t we notice it at first?) The house was completely empty, except the closet in the Master Bedroom. It struck me as odd to find 5 shirts, all designer, obviously pressed, hanging alone. The house had been vacant for a few months, but you could tell that someone had been there on a regular basis to clean, so the shirts too, were easily dismissed.
A week later, we saw the house again. Our realtor had a meeting so his walked us through. We saw the boxes right away…was someone moving in? His realtor explained he had been renovating condos downtown, living in them as he went, and the one he was living in had received an offer for 10% above the asking price if the buyer could take immediate occupancy . He was planning on moving back in to the house until sold. Mystery solved right? The guy renovates condos and resells them, right? Wrong. The more we found out about this guy, the less we knew.
At the home inspection, the inspector pointed out the surround sound in the bedrooms. It looked as though everything was wired for video and audio equipment. Hmmm…single guy, obviously had money to spend, bedroom wired for sound…mystery solved! Ladies Man! That is what we thought.
During the negotiation process, our friend the renovator had sent faxes from his personal office at Toyota. (Our renovator had a day job?) Everything had to coincide with his travel plans. PR will get back to us when he lands in California…PR will counter when he gets to his hotel room in Chicago. Who is this guy and why does he travel so much?
John should have taken notes at the signing. The only thing he can remember is PR was a nicely dressed man in his mid 30’s who was “decent looking for a guy”.
In the excitement of the move and the wedding most of the irregularities were over looked. We joked about the track lighting and the AV hook-ups, but for the most part all was forgotten.
A few weeks after we moved we noticed that PR’s mail kept coming. The first few weeks we bundled it and put it back in the mailbox, without giving it another thought. Once our mail started coming in, we had to sift through all the junk. PR was getting catalogues for DJ equipment and video recording devices, plights for starving kids in Kenya, ski equipment, an invitation to return to a bed and breakfast and Steve Chabot and the Republican National Convention. Why is Steve Chabot mail and RNC mail odd? PR is African American…not to stereo-type, but there are not a lot of African American Republicans. Then there were the packages. They were still coming in. Twice I had to chase down the UPS guy so I could tell him the rightful owner was no longer at this address. We had no forwarding address…and neither did the post office. It as if he disappeared.
Neighbors didn’t know much. Most described him as a quiet guy, who was never home. He did drive nice cars though. We heard about the new Lexus he would bring home and the parties with guests with out of state license plates. Nothing substantial though. How could someone live in a house for 3 years and not know his neighbors. The more we prodded the more questions we were left with.
It has been almost two years since we moved. The mail still comes and the packages are sporadic. He has been summoned for jury duty, had a slew of Christmas cards and the catalogues keep a coming. I would have to say though; the most interesting package arrived a few weeks ago. It was a soft package from Thailand. We have unsuccessfully tried to return it, but the return address is invalid. We tossed it.
We have our own theories about the International Man of Orchard Knoll. Do you? Please share your unbiased thoughts. Who is PR?!
The first time we viewed our house, we were very excited. The walls were painted to our liking, it seemed to be updated…enough, and the track lighting was cool. (It should have been the little things like the lighting. Why didn’t we notice it at first?) The house was completely empty, except the closet in the Master Bedroom. It struck me as odd to find 5 shirts, all designer, obviously pressed, hanging alone. The house had been vacant for a few months, but you could tell that someone had been there on a regular basis to clean, so the shirts too, were easily dismissed.
A week later, we saw the house again. Our realtor had a meeting so his walked us through. We saw the boxes right away…was someone moving in? His realtor explained he had been renovating condos downtown, living in them as he went, and the one he was living in had received an offer for 10% above the asking price if the buyer could take immediate occupancy . He was planning on moving back in to the house until sold. Mystery solved right? The guy renovates condos and resells them, right? Wrong. The more we found out about this guy, the less we knew.
At the home inspection, the inspector pointed out the surround sound in the bedrooms. It looked as though everything was wired for video and audio equipment. Hmmm…single guy, obviously had money to spend, bedroom wired for sound…mystery solved! Ladies Man! That is what we thought.
During the negotiation process, our friend the renovator had sent faxes from his personal office at Toyota. (Our renovator had a day job?) Everything had to coincide with his travel plans. PR will get back to us when he lands in California…PR will counter when he gets to his hotel room in Chicago. Who is this guy and why does he travel so much?
John should have taken notes at the signing. The only thing he can remember is PR was a nicely dressed man in his mid 30’s who was “decent looking for a guy”.
In the excitement of the move and the wedding most of the irregularities were over looked. We joked about the track lighting and the AV hook-ups, but for the most part all was forgotten.
A few weeks after we moved we noticed that PR’s mail kept coming. The first few weeks we bundled it and put it back in the mailbox, without giving it another thought. Once our mail started coming in, we had to sift through all the junk. PR was getting catalogues for DJ equipment and video recording devices, plights for starving kids in Kenya, ski equipment, an invitation to return to a bed and breakfast and Steve Chabot and the Republican National Convention. Why is Steve Chabot mail and RNC mail odd? PR is African American…not to stereo-type, but there are not a lot of African American Republicans. Then there were the packages. They were still coming in. Twice I had to chase down the UPS guy so I could tell him the rightful owner was no longer at this address. We had no forwarding address…and neither did the post office. It as if he disappeared.
Neighbors didn’t know much. Most described him as a quiet guy, who was never home. He did drive nice cars though. We heard about the new Lexus he would bring home and the parties with guests with out of state license plates. Nothing substantial though. How could someone live in a house for 3 years and not know his neighbors. The more we prodded the more questions we were left with.
It has been almost two years since we moved. The mail still comes and the packages are sporadic. He has been summoned for jury duty, had a slew of Christmas cards and the catalogues keep a coming. I would have to say though; the most interesting package arrived a few weeks ago. It was a soft package from Thailand. We have unsuccessfully tried to return it, but the return address is invalid. We tossed it.
We have our own theories about the International Man of Orchard Knoll. Do you? Please share your unbiased thoughts. Who is PR?!
Sunday
Doctor Visits and More
“The baby is trying to get out!”
Ah, the glorious sounds of a growing baby’s heart beat. There is nothing quite like it. Sprout has a wonderful heart rate of 140 beats per minute. Music to our ears! For the gender guessers, it is the same as Eli’s at 12 weeks. Since the appointment was during the day, we were accompanied by the 4 year old I watch. When I asked what he thought of the heartbeat he said, “I fink the baby is trying to get out!”
Eli and the Brain
At his 6 month check up, our suspicions were confirmed, Eli has a giant brain. He is weighing in long and lean; 27 ¼” long and 15 lbs 14.5oz, 75% and 20% respectively. His head circumference however puts him in the 90th percentile. He has passed all of the 6 month milestones and much of what he is doing is typical of a 9 month old. We won’t make plans for Eli's dissertation until his first birthday…we want him to enjoy his childhood!
Dancing Queen
With the OLSH variety show on the horizon, Kameron is plotting her dance routine. We will keep you posted on the date and time so we can all cheer on our little star!
As Seen on TV
Our house is rapidly becoming a sanctuary for exercise gimmicks. Our recent additions include the Pilates Magic Circle and the Perfect Pushup. If anyone is tired of paying their gym membership, Team Horn is offering the use our equipment in exchange for babysitting services!
A “Glorious Goal”
In our limited free time we are following the action of Manchester United on the pitch. Angie proudly wears her Wayne Rooney # 10 Jersey each weekend as we pull for our team in the English Premier League. As of right now Man U. is in second place behind Arsenal. If you have never enjoyed true futball action at its finest you are missing out. This is especially true of the wonderful play by play provided by some of the best commentators in the business. Setanta sports channel and a DVR make a great combination.
DIY
We are also, mainly Angie, planning the upcoming renovations to the kids’ bedrooms. This will surely be an interesting transition and anyone who wants to help is welcome. The grandparents have already been recruited to help with painting.
Ah, the glorious sounds of a growing baby’s heart beat. There is nothing quite like it. Sprout has a wonderful heart rate of 140 beats per minute. Music to our ears! For the gender guessers, it is the same as Eli’s at 12 weeks. Since the appointment was during the day, we were accompanied by the 4 year old I watch. When I asked what he thought of the heartbeat he said, “I fink the baby is trying to get out!”
Eli and the Brain
At his 6 month check up, our suspicions were confirmed, Eli has a giant brain. He is weighing in long and lean; 27 ¼” long and 15 lbs 14.5oz, 75% and 20% respectively. His head circumference however puts him in the 90th percentile. He has passed all of the 6 month milestones and much of what he is doing is typical of a 9 month old. We won’t make plans for Eli's dissertation until his first birthday…we want him to enjoy his childhood!
Dancing Queen
With the OLSH variety show on the horizon, Kameron is plotting her dance routine. We will keep you posted on the date and time so we can all cheer on our little star!
As Seen on TV
Our house is rapidly becoming a sanctuary for exercise gimmicks. Our recent additions include the Pilates Magic Circle and the Perfect Pushup. If anyone is tired of paying their gym membership, Team Horn is offering the use our equipment in exchange for babysitting services!
A “Glorious Goal”
In our limited free time we are following the action of Manchester United on the pitch. Angie proudly wears her Wayne Rooney # 10 Jersey each weekend as we pull for our team in the English Premier League. As of right now Man U. is in second place behind Arsenal. If you have never enjoyed true futball action at its finest you are missing out. This is especially true of the wonderful play by play provided by some of the best commentators in the business. Setanta sports channel and a DVR make a great combination.
DIY
We are also, mainly Angie, planning the upcoming renovations to the kids’ bedrooms. This will surely be an interesting transition and anyone who wants to help is welcome. The grandparents have already been recruited to help with painting.
Thursday
From the Top
January 10, 2008
The Year of the Sprout
As you may have heard, we are expecting…again. Yes, we are extremely happy! Our due date is 7/26, so I am looking at another hot summer. So far this pregnancy has been nothing like the other two. I have been relatively sick, but have a ton of energy (thank goodness!). I have never experienced weight loss during pregnancy, but I can’t say I am upset by it. So far the baby seems to be flourishing. The gender is going to be a surprise for us, but we already have people weighing in. As always, we are just hoping for a healthy bebe! Are we stopping at three? Nah, we are just getting started…this is Team Horn!
Dada’s Boy
Eli is 6 months and developmentally blowing us away! Our little guy is scooting, sitting, talking, giving kisses and eating solids. Like most, he favors fruits, but he does real
ly well with most veggies. One thing is for certain, he hates broccoli. Much to our chagrin, he is teething. John thinks this is a design flaw and doesn’t understand why his guy should have to suffer. We are working on signing, but I think Eli has his own.
The not so Little Girl
Kameron is busy preparing for her first reconciliation. This is now a family event, so John and I (gulp) will be going to confession as well. She is still playing guitar and taking an art enrichment class, but has opted to take a break from tumbling for the next couple months. Kam is also an amazing big sister! She has graciously given up her bedroom to the babies in exchange for a smaller room that will require her to stay neat and organized. (We welcome volunteers to help paint and redecorate both rooms!)
The Mama and the Papa
With tax time on the horizon, we are trying to soak up as many lazy weekends as possible. John is generously volunteering his time to the annual Men’s Club Monte Carlo. Of course it is free beer for the workers, so I think the Men’s Club might take a hit on the beer sales. None the less, leave your calendar open for February 2nd and join us at OLSH.
Team Horn
The Year of the Sprout
As you may have heard, we are expecting…again. Yes, we are extremely happy! Our due date is 7/26, so I am looking at another hot summer. So far this pregnancy has been nothing like the other two. I have been relatively sick, but have a ton of energy (thank goodness!). I have never experienced weight loss during pregnancy, but I can’t say I am upset by it. So far the baby seems to be flourishing. The gender is going to be a surprise for us, but we already have people weighing in. As always, we are just hoping for a healthy bebe! Are we stopping at three? Nah, we are just getting started…this is Team Horn!
Dada’s Boy
Eli is 6 months and developmentally blowing us away! Our little guy is scooting, sitting, talking, giving kisses and eating solids. Like most, he favors fruits, but he does real
ly well with most veggies. One thing is for certain, he hates broccoli. Much to our chagrin, he is teething. John thinks this is a design flaw and doesn’t understand why his guy should have to suffer. We are working on signing, but I think Eli has his own.The not so Little Girl
Kameron is busy preparing for her first reconciliation. This is now a family event, so John and I (gulp) will be going to confession as well. She is still playing guitar and taking an art enrichment class, but has opted to take a break from tumbling for the next couple months. Kam is also an amazing big sister! She has graciously given up her bedroom to the babies in exchange for a smaller room that will require her to stay neat and organized. (We welcome volunteers to help paint and redecorate both rooms!)
The Mama and the Papa
With tax time on the horizon, we are trying to soak up as many lazy weekends as possible. John is generously volunteering his time to the annual Men’s Club Monte Carlo. Of course it is free beer for the workers, so I think the Men’s Club might take a hit on the beer sales. None the less, leave your calendar open for February 2nd and join us at OLSH.
Team Horn
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