The Weakeast Links...

Okay, annoying... for some reason only about half of you can comment and/or use the links on our blog. We can't seem to find any rhyme or reason to why it works fine from some computers and not from others. (Even from here at my own house, we can access everything from my laptop and Matt's I-Mac, but not the boys' computer. Weird!) The links just don't work... nothing highlights when you roll over it, you can't download anything... it's like everything is locked. I've checked, re-checked and checked again all of the settings and profile preferences and can't figure out what the problem is. Even my computer networking guy took a look at the HTML code to see if something there was off. It's a mystery... and it's making me crazy! Anyone have any suggestions? I am still new to this whole blogging thing, so I'm open to ideas! We sent an e-mail to the tech support team at Blogger and asked them to take a look and see what they can determine. Until then, I just want everyone to know we are aware of the problem and doing what we can to fix it. Hang tight... I'll keep you all posted!

Bling, Bling, Baby!

Well, we've always thought Daynen had a SPARKLING personality, but really... he took it to a whole new level yesterday!

I lost track of him for a few minutes (honestly, probably 5... for SURE less than 10!), while I was helping the big boys get ready for school... When I realized he wasn't where I left him, I went searching... Imagine my surprise when I found him UPSTAIRS (this marks the first time he has climbed more than just a stair or two by himself!) in the middle of his very own little floor mural! Ahhhh... our very own pint-sized Picasso! He was simply thrilled with himself... Look at that smile!

Yes... apparently, Kaden (and I! I am also responsible!) had left a few markers and, more importantly, a tube of Glitter-glue out (and within reach!) when we finished a school project the night before. Oh, how sparkly and irresistible it must have been laying there on the otherwise tidy and boring Craft Room floor... one can hardly blame him for what happened next! He had bitten a hole RIGHT through it! Need I say more?

When I found him, he was squealing and slapping the floor, finger-painting to his little heart's delight! And he was COVERED from head to toe... (the pictures do not EVEN do it justice!) He was literally SOLID red sparkles from the tips of his hair to the bottoms of his little feet!

Maybe you can get the gist from this close-up...

Well, THANK GOODNESS I had my sense of humor and a camera handy! (And that I have respect for "artistic expression" and hope to raise children who aren't afraid to show it!) He was having so much fun exercising his new found "creative freedom" that I had to snap a few shots of the little Art-teest before I tossed him into the shower!

(... For the record, I am afraid I may be rinsing red glitter down the drain for weeks!)

Happy Birthday, Dad!

So, today is my Dad's Birthday and I wanted to take this opportunity to express my love, gratitude and appreciation for such a great father...

I LOVE this photo I snapped of him at his Retirement Party a few years ago. We were at his favorite Restaurant, the Cracker Barrel, and we joked how fitting it was that Dad sat down in one of the Rocking Chairs for sale on the porch in front of the restaurant's store. He looks like he's ready to begin taking it easy! Not a bad start to his retirement!

I have always adored my Dad. I can remember being a little girl and waiting for what seemed like FOREVER for Daddy to come home from wherever he was currently stationed with the Navy. There were several times when I was young that he was deployed overseas for months at a time, in non-civilian posts, where our family could not go with him, so it was always so exciting when he finally returned home. I can remember singing that Primary song, "I'm so glad when Daddy comes home, glad as I can be! I clap my hands and shout for joy and climb up on his knee. Put my arms around his neck and hug him tight like this... pat his cheeks and give him what? A great big kiss!"

I have such fond memories of him teaching me to tie my shoes, studying with me for spelling tests and teaching me to ride my bike without training wheels. And I always loved making Peanut Butter Rice Krispies for him, one of his favorite treats, because he always acted so surprised.

Being adopted, I have a special appreciation for my Dad and the role he plays in my life. How grateful I am to have been raised in a home with both a mother and a father, who were ready and so thankful to be parents when I came into their life. I have always felt very loved and I can not express how grateful I am for the blessing of an eternal family, complete and whole. A father who lead our home by his righteous, loving example is a blessing not everyone has the luxury to enjoy and I do not take for granted.

So Dad, thanks for all you do and all you are to me and to our family. I love you for your hard work on our behalf and for your quiet good-natured approach to all you do. I love your sense of humor and your sweet sensitive spirit. You play an irreplaceable role in my life and the life of my children and everyone else in our family. Thank you for all your great advice over the years and for always giving me your unconditional support. But most of all, thanks for always loving me! No matter how old I get (or how old you get!), I will always be your little girl... Hapy Birthday, Dad!Love~ Sara

Trevan

So, as I'm tucking Trevan into bed tonight, he asks (through groggy eyes, barely open eyes), "Mom... are we going to have the baby on the marn-ing?"

"What? In the morning? You mean, like tomorrow? No, Trev. Not until October," I explain.

"But is October a long time? 'Cuz it's taking forever!", he complains.

Hmmmmm.... I have a feeling it is going to be a LONG nine months for all of us! :)

SURPRISE!

No... you are NOT seeing things. And rest assured, you are probably interpreting correctly... That's right! There is a BUN in OUR OVEN! (We know... we can't believe it either!)

But now that we've had a couple of weeks (Sorry, we've been holding out on you!) to get past the initial shock, denial and utter disbelief, we are excited to announce the addition of Baby #4 to our Family, sometime in the middle of October. (Note: The 'time' on the photo of the Oven, above, is the current estimate for the Due Date, although it will still be confirmed by an Ultrasound in March. We will keep you posted!)


And just for anyone who may wonder if this was "planned", let us refer you to Exhibit A:
Daynen McKay Staker, currently 9 Months old
(who, by our best guess-timation, will be
AT MOST 18 Months old when the new baby arrives). That's right! Remember? We still HAVE a baby! (Matt is still freaking out about the whole "Two in Diapers" thing... ) And I promise, we are NOT suicidal... so in short, NO! This was certainly not "planned". It is a bigger surprise to us than it is to you! :)

I might also remind anyone who has forgotten, that it took us 4 years to have our first baby (Kaden, now 7 1/2), another 3 years to have our second (Trevan, now 4 1/2) and nearly another 4 years to finally have Daynen (who, did I mention is just 9 months old?! Aye carumba! 9 months!)

Yes, it is a little (okay, a LOT!) faster than we'd thought, but we really are so excited and are feeling very blessed. You can not convince me that it is not our own little miracle... there is just no other explanation... (you'll have to trust us on that one)!

The boys, of course, immediately began asking/praying for a sister, but we told them we will just be happy to have a healthy baby that we didn't have to wait so long for. They've decided they'll take another wrestling partner if it turns out to be another brother!

And to set your minds at ease, we have even more good news... my first set of my Prenatal Labs, including the initial blood draws, have come back and look great! My baseline Progesterone level, is higher than it has ever been (even when I was taking an oral dose of Prometrium everyday)! My midwife feels optimistic that I was able to get pregnant, for the first time, without any form of infertility treatment, and that everything appears to be healthy thus far. It is strange for me that after over 11 years of marriage, charting cycle after cycle, and taking as many as 7 different prescriptions at a time, I do not appear to need any medical intervention or supplmentation to sustain this pregnancy! We feel truly blessed and hope that prayers will be all we need this time!