Here we go!

This weekend, we were visited by some old friends. David Bishop and his wife Julie came to town for a Sea World Adventure and stopped by our house for a good game of Settlers. They won of course, but it was a good match! And in case you don't know, they are tall as well! (see photo below)


Here is a picture of their faces... either they are really tall or we are just short. I already know the answer: Ben and I are just short :)

Also visiting the Platt family this weekend: Ryan and Amanda Malnar. They took Ben and Cael camping over the weekend and floating on the Guadalupe River. A good time was had by all! Brecon and I were very sad that we couldn't go... there is always next time!

And now... What you've all been waiting for (or not) Some pictures of our house and the work we have been doing. If you want to check our earlier post to view the BEFORE photos, or just enjoy the ones that are below. Really I don't know what to say about these pictures, so I just tried to explain what we did and where it fits in the house. Hopefully it makes a bit of sense.
This is a view in the kitchen, on the stove side. The window above the sink looks down into the living room (fireplace room). We are currently in the process of ordering different counter tops and a new sink, etc.. so hopefully that will happen soon. We removed all the wallpaper, changed the ceiling and painted. New appliances as well.

Here is the view from the sink side. We raised the middle cabinets to install the microwave and put in different lighting. My favorite is the double oven... it is amazing how often I use them both at the same time, very convenient.

Now the view from the kitchen nook. The cabinets next to the refrigerator were once in the laundry room, but we needed something on that wall. So we just put them up and we think they look pretty good. Here is our entertainment room, or Hawaiian Room. There isn't a before picture... I just wanted to put this one up. Basically this is where we hang out and watch our stories. Cael is obviously having a great time watching some cartoons.
This is our tile pattern in the kitchen and throughout the house. I love how it doesn't have a pattern and the different sizes.

Here is a view from the back of the fireplace room facing the dining room. You can see the Kitchen window on the right-hand side (or top). The wood floors are in the dining, fireplace, and library room. They really are nice, dark but nice.

Here is the dining room. There used to be some fabulous blue curtains, which were removed and now we have these mahogany blinds. Just Simple for now. I know the table is off-centered in the room. It is merely a temporary arrangement for the time being to give an idea of the space.

Below is a photo of Cael's bathroom. If you can recall the neon yellow wallpaper which we removed and painted this tan. The tile on the floors is new. ALSO...There is a boy in the bathtub with his clothes on...

AND now the master shower with my lovely assistant posing on the ledge. It steps up and then down, you can see the ground level with the white flip-flop. New faucet and fixtures. We sure like it.
This is the guest bathroom. Before there was a "desk sink".. which we tore out and in its' place put this pedestal, new toilet, and mirror. It helps this bathroom feel much bigger. Our guests seem to like it. Especially (but you can't see them in this picture) the safety bars in the shower. We didn't have the heart to tear them out. Safety first!
Now back to the fireplace room. New texture on the walls, paint, and some used couches fill this space nicely. We enjoy our family evenings in this room and the lucky person who is spotlighted has the privilege of standing on the edge of the fireplace so we can tell them "why we love them so". It is one of Cael's favorite moments... along with popcorn popping playing on the piano (that was a lot of P's)

A view from the steps up to the dining room. You can see in the doorway the bookcases of the library room. We are planning on putting some french doors to finish that spot

That is it for now... I better go to bed while I still can!

What is going on lately?

I have been a total slacker when it comes to taking and putting up pictures of our new little guy (sorry) It must have something to do with the sleep deprivation (which we are doing better with) sitting down for a minute to 'blog' and then suddenly NOT being able to do a thing. All the joys of motherhood and trying to keep a clean house (impossible)... but still doing and trying my best.

So here it goes..
Cael is the best big brother. Here he is helping brother with his tummy time and letting him know that someone cares about him, because mom is busy with the camera :)
"I am looking straight ahead.. I'm not going to smile"

here is a little magic show featuring the talented Brecon and his assistant Cael and Daddy Ben. We really can't believe how strong this boy is-- he can already roll from his tummy to his back-- but not the other way, and as you can see above he can stand and balance on one hand!!! amazing!!!

his onesie speaks for itself...

 

cheesy grin... gotta love it

brotherly love

just wanted to put a few pictures up so I hope you enjoy them..... oh and I'm typing one-handed. It is not the easiest but something must be done.

The rains came down...

Grandma and Grandpa Hoopes came to visit this past week and see their newest grandbaby and enjoy some time here in the Texan sun. We were very excited to show them all the "fun" things to do here in San Antonio... however, the weather would not cooperate! Monday was the only sunny day and we spent it walking around the Alamo (remember it?). It was also the only day we went swimming, because everyday after Monday was raining... raining and raining some more. It was very disappointing to say the least, but at least we were able to spend time together :)

Here is the ALAMO... Grandpa Richard, Me (with Brecon inside pouch), Grandma Kathi and Cael in the front

Here is a fountain around the grounds of the Alamo area.. doesn't it just look good enough to jump in on a hot day? Cael was very tempted, believe me, but didn't grab any of the coins laying on the bottom.


So the rest of the week we spent time doing indoor things. Organizing and putting things away, making cookies and other yummy treats, shopping, going out to eat and to the movies... etc. All in all it was a great visit. Cael got to wrestle with Grandpa, and we had a good laugh while they did. We only wish it hadn't rained everyday (besides Monday)

Brecon's Birth Story

July 5th The day before the "big day". This was taken right before my last doctor's appointment ) . I was going to my doctor's appointment (hence the picture in front of the tree) I really wasn't surprised when she said I was a "2" and 50% effaced. She was a little "rough" with me, maybe in the hopes of getting the ball rolling. I wasn't having any contractions before the appointment and thought that I wouldn't have the baby for another week or two. The rest of the day I felt a little weird, but we all relaxed and spent the evening together. We went out to dinner that night to celebrate making it to the due date. I really thought that this baby was going to wait for another week or two.. but I was wrong.

The next day, we were all able to run errands around town to our most visited stores (Wal-mart, Home Depot, and Lowes) and we pretty much went up and down every isle. I was having tightening and pressure around every 8 to 10 minutes, but nothing that lasted very long or was very painful, so we didn't think it was the "real" thing. Then they started to occur every 5 to 8 minutes apart, again I didn't think it was anything to be worried about. After going to a friends party, and having all the ladies time the contractions (which were 5 down to 4 and even a 3 minute contraction) they all agreed that maybe I should get Ben and go to the hospital. This was around 10:00 at night when Ben was running around the house like a crazy person trying to pack all our bags, and we still forgot our camera and other essentials (like things for the new baby!). Luckily we didn't turn around for them. The car ride was when things started to get uncomfortable and I was really concentrating on breathing when Cael asked "mom, why was you breathing like that?" I couldn't help but laugh and tell him that baby brother was trying to get out. He accepted the answer and then gave me his favorite blanket to "help me feel better". After dropping Cael off at a friends house and a total 45 minute drive, we got to the hospital around 11:00 and they took us back into Triage around 11:15 and checked to see that I was a 6. Then after a contraction that made my body push on it's own at 11:25 or so, I made quite a mess when my water exploded everywhere. I heard one of the nurses say "I've never seen that happen before!" They raced us back to a room. The nurse was telling me NOT to push, but it was my body pushing. They got everything set up and ready to go. It was burning, the stretching and pressure. In a moment I was trying to put on a strong face, trying to remain calm... I'm not ready for this... I breath in and out. Just keep breathing. The clock is ticking, minutes pass, contraction, body push, breath, wait, contraction, body push a little harder this time AND the baby is here!and the little guy arrived at 11:40, just 20 minutes before midnight and a Lucky Birthday (I know I already mentioned this before, but that's alright) Boy...what a night!


After the whole event, Ben whipped out the camera and snapped this lovely one of me. Ben and I both laugh that I have on his University of Wyoming Wrestling shirt (Go Pokes!) but it was just what I threw on the way out the door
Getting all cleaned up after his entry into the world
The proud daddy. When asked how everything went he says "it was easy"


Brecon wasn't too happy with this last one... but momma sure is proud of her little guy

We are all doing well and adjusting to having a new baby in the house. We are just excited, even though we weren't "prepared" for baby Brecon to come when he did, we are glad that he is here. Hope you all enjoyed the pictures and the story.

Baby Brecon

Happy Birthday!!!!

Here are some quick pictures of our baby boy Brecon Eugene Platt, born on the 6th of July 2007 at 11:40 pm. He weighed 7lbs 11 oz and was 20 inches long. He was determined to come when he did and we barely made it into the hospital room, but everything turned out amazing and we wouldn't change a thing. We were hoping for a Lucky 7 birthday and they even had us in room number 7... but our boy was not going to wait another minute. He is doing really well and acting like a typical newborn: eat, sleep, and poop.

Of course Cael was very excited to be a big brother and he absolutely adores Brecon already.

Our Old House

As many of you know, we moved to San Antonio, TEXAS last year because Ben was starting his Internal Medicine Residency at Brook Army Medical Center. We bought a 25 year old home in a nice little community, which happens to be within the boundaries of the San Pedro Ward (which we love). Except for living in a hotel for almost a month, the move was a success and we have enjoyed living here for the past year.


Also, because our home was a little "older", there were some things that just had to be done. We scraped the popcorn ceilings and retextured them, scraped the walls and retextured them as well, removed wallpaper and painted everywhere, replaced some toilets, installed new lighting in the bathrooms, rearranged some kitchen cabinets, put tile in the kitchen, entry way, laundry room and bathrooms, and installed wood flooring in the living room, dining room and library/office room. It has been a journey, but we can say there is only one more thing for us to do in order to make the remodel a success. This would be replacing the countertops in the kitchen, but something we are waiting on at the current time. And now I would like to pleasure you all with some pictures of our home... BEFORE the changes took place.

Here is our Home. The newest addition we did here was a new roof that was done the early part of March. Thank you Home Owner Insurance!



Here is the kitchen and the lovely wall paper that was removed, and the cabinets around the refrigerator were adjusted. Crown molding was put on top of the cabinets to help them become a little more distinct.

The other side of the kitchen. We also put in new appliances and different hardware (handles) on the cabinets.

This is our living room. We really thought the wood beams were very unique and the rock fire place is such a great addition, although I feel the mantel needs to be a little bigger :) We put in wood floors in this location.


Sorry I didn't turn this picture of the middle bathroom. Out of all the wallpaper removal, this stuff gave me the hardest time coming off. Don't you love it? Connected to this sink area, is a toilet and old white metal tub which Cael adores. He can slide from one end to the other and back again during bathtime, and if I'm lucky, he doesn't splash out his entire bath water:)
Cael's favorite tub....



The other guest bathroom. We put in a pedastle sink and new toilet, removed the wallpaper and put tile on the floor in here.

This is the master shower and I wish this picture would show the step down. We lovingly call the "font" because of its' unique-ness. We re-tiled and bought new fixtures for this shower. (Again, sorry it isn't turned)




The dining room and it's original curtains and lovely light fixture.
and finally the backyard....
looking back at the house.... We sure love our trees!

I hoped everyone enjoyed the BEFORE pictures, because I have yet to take the AFTER... but look for them very soon :)

The End of June...

 

Another month has come and is almost gone, it really is something how quickly it all seems to go. We have been keeping busy and are starting to really get excited about the new future arrival of baby brother. I finally took Cael to Super Target to get his 3 year old pictures done (a little late, but worth the wait). The lady was pretty crazy and was treating Cael like a baby, for example she would say... "Oochy-Koochy" or "I'm going to tickle-tickle you". At first Cael looked at her like she was crazy because she sounded crazy to me. I finally told her to say "Cheeseburger" ( the magic smile word) and then the real smiles took place. We'll be picking them up on Thursday and sending them out to the families. Although I'm trying to debate whether to just wait for the new one and send the pictures of both of the boys together. We'll just see how I'm feeling :)

Here is a picture of Cael's cake. When I asked him what color he wanted his cake... well, see for yourself.... He loved it! Oh.. it was my birthday today--- HAPPY BIRHTDAY TO ME! I'm still closer to 20 than 30, so that is reassuring :)