A Good Cause

On April 3, 2009 my baby sister's life was forever changed.  She was witness to a mass shooting that happened in the place where she was teaching.  As she sat huddled in a closet with her students, down the hall 13 people were losing their lives to gunshots.  Though Megan was not killed or hurt, she is still very much a victim and she will be forever affected by the events of that tragic day.

The ACA Memorial Park Fund was started to build a monument to honor those affected by that horrific day.  Land was donated for the park but additional funds are still needed. 

The Pepsi Refresh Project will give $50,000 to the top 10 "Good Ideas".  We are currently in 15th place and need to move up 5 spots by January 31st. 

Please take a minute to go to the link and vote for this very good cause.  And please share with your friends...every vote counts!

http://pep.si/f9hvm9

Va-cation!

It's a little early to be thinking about summer vacation but....we got our beach house this week!! 

We usually spend our summer vacation with Dave's family in the Outer Banks.  But this year Dave's niece is getting married....on a cruise....in the Mediterranean.  So vacation was canceled.  Since we cant afford a cruise these days and we have 2 babies under 2, we obviously won't be going on the cruise. 

We needed a Plan B. 

We still wanted to go to the beach.  So back in August we made tentative plans to go with our friends, Kim & Bill. We got together this past weekend, found a house and booked it!  Now we have a summer vacation again!  YAY! 

I can't wait until July 23rd!

Katmandu

 Our Pool

Our short walk to the beach!



My Baby is 6 Months Old!

Well technically he is 6 months, 2 weeks old.  He had his 6 month check up today!  The pediatrician says he looks great...I expected nothing less!  He weighs 15lbs and is 27in. long.  He is following the same growth pattern as Brayden.  I guess I just make tall, skinny babies! 

At 6 months old Ethan is rolling...when he feels like it, he's been sitting unassisted for about a month now and I'm pretty sure he says Dada.  I know...kind of early for that but I swear I heard him and then my mom heard him (without any prompting from me) and when she told Dave, he said that he heard him say it too.  So....I think its fair to say-he says Dada! 

Ethan is a happy, curious boy who loves to suck on his hands!  Everyone says "Oh!  He must be getting teeth!" and I have to very politely say, "No.  He just likes to suck on his hands".  Brayden didn't get teeth until he was almost a year...so I suspect that Ethan will be the same.  Though I am trying hard not to compare my boys.  Brayden was crawling all over the place by 6 months, 3 weeks....and by the looks of it Ethan will not be following suit.  But that's ok!  In his own time!  I don't want to rush him anyway....2 boys on the go will probably be more than I can handle!

Ethan is a love and I enjoy spending time with him so much!  The next 6 months are going to be filled with so many changes!  I can't wait to watch him grow, learn and turn into a little boy! 

Happy 6 Months!

Weigh In

It's not official yet (and won't be until Tuesday) but.....I have lost 20 pounds! 

Yay!  I am so excited!  It's been about 11 weeks and the weight seems to still be coming off.  After this past Tuesday's weigh in (I was up 1.6lbs) I was starting to feel very defeated and bad about myself.  I decided that I needed to get to the gym every night this week and I did...and my hard work has paid off!  I lost what I gained, plus some more!

I am signing up for another 10 sessions with my trainer (early birthday gift from mom & dad) and then I hope to be able to pay for another 10 sessions after that.  In that time I hope to lose another 20lbs and finally be at my goal weight.

Woo-hoo!

Christmas in Pictures

Visiting Santa
Brayden was unsure about the guy in red...but he was a good sport for the picture!

Shopping for the perfect Christmas tree
Best part-Gi pays!



Helping Daddy string the lights.



Pre-Christmas Eve dinner with the Walker Family
These are all the Walker cousins-Brayden & Ethan are the youngest.

Christmas Eve at GG's house

Costello cousins with GG
(Megs is missing and Dave, Amy, Caleb & the boys are extra)



Cookies for Santa

The stockings are hung

Santa came!

I think this basket of food is B's favorite gift....

If only because he can now shove food into E's mouth!

Hanging with Gi at Christmas morning brunch

Making a gingerbread house at Grandpa Walker's after Christmas dinner.

Merry Christmas!

Phew!  Christmas is over!  I was happy that it was here but equally as happy that it's over!  It was wonderful spending so much time with friends and family, but it's so exhausting!  I need a vacation after vacation!  Ha!

The boys had a great holiday and were completely spoiled!  I look forward to the years to come as they begin to realize what is happening and can be as excited about the day as I was for them! 

I am now looking forward to the new year and the wonderful things to come as my boys turn 2 and 1 year old!  I can't wait to watch them grow! 

Yay!

I've lost 15 pounds in 7 weeks!  Yay!

Christmas Card 2010: Part One

After several failed attempts to get a picture of my boys together I finally settled for individual pics in matching shirts.  Not exactly what I wanted...but still so cute!  I love them!