Faithful followers of Wits End all over the country are up in arms!  I am being pressured to do a better job of posting regularly. 

I feel the need to issue a public apology for my neglect of the blog.  I have not been just sitting around, though!  Let me tell you all a little bit about my recent activities...

Eden's Garden, my childbirth education business, is now up an running.  I am teaching my second couple in private classes and my group classes are scheduled to begin March 1st!  I have secured a beautiful location at The Wellness Village at Starling and will be teaching under the umbrella of Birth and Baby Kneads.  Here is my classroom!

I am also mothering a very active toddler (who is napping at the moment)!  Eden is now 15 months old and is a little tornado!  She is keeping in touch with her mid-western roots!  She has grown up so much in the past couple of months.  I can hardly believe that she is the same little baby I brought home from the hospital!  She walks, runs, climbs (on EVERYTHING), talks incessantly (though we can only understand some of it), and uses about 20 ASL (American Sign Language) signs.  She loves to dance and sing and her favorite music is anything by Earth Wind and Fire!  

I will post again with some pics from our last camping trip (back in January) and some cute pics of the little one!

Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, we went to the Blake's house for food and presents.  We had a great time, but the old story didn't hold true...  a mouse WAS stirring!

Eden got a Xylophone!  She has so much fun playing beautiful music on it.

Eden loved smelling Grand-mamma's perfume!

A couple of weeks before Christmas, our friends from Hampton came up to go see the "real" Santa Claus.  Eden and Noah waited patiently to meet him, and then...

Eden lost it!  Oh well, there's always next year!

The Night Before Christmas for Moms

It was the night before Christmas,
when all thru the abode

Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,

While visions of Nintendo 64 and Barbie, flipped through their heads. 

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,

With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.

So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,

Which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?" 

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in
her hand,

She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.

He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.

"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the
rug." 

"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa,
"I'm glad you're awake."

"Your gift was especially difficult to make."

"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."

"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone." 

"A clone?" she asked, "What
good is that?

Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat."

The mother's twin. Same hair, same eyes,

Same double chin. 

"She'll cook, she'll dust,"
She'll mop every mess.

You'll relax, take it easy, Watch The Young & the Restless."
"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream come true!

"I'll shop. I'll read., I'll sleep a whole night through! " 

From the room above, the youngest began to
fret.

"Mommy?! I scared... and I am wet."

The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part." 

The clone changed the small one, and
hummed a tune,

as she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.

"You the best mommy ever. " I really love you."

The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too." 

The mom frowned and said,
"Sorry, Santa, no deal. "

That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."

Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear, "

Only one loving mother, is needed here." 

The mom kissed her child, and tucked her
into bed.

"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.

I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,

When they'll be too old, for my cradle-song. " 

The clock on the mantle began to chime.

Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."

With the clone by his side Santa said, "Goodnight. Merry Christmas, Mom,
You'll be all right."

Author Unknown

More Photos!

Eden is quite a climber and loves to climb up on the couch or chair to find the TV remote.  This is how we found her after leaving her alone in the living room for a few minutes!

Eden is getting good at using a spoon, though she still loves to use her hands, as well!

Our little climber also loves to snuggle the dogs!  

She was a big help with putting up the tree!

She loves to climb into a box!

Photos!!

Eden loves to talk to Dad on the phone!

My little bookworm!

Eden and I had the flu on her actual birthday.  We had to cancel our little family celebration.  I did make cupcakes so Eden could blow out a candle... unfortunately, while suffering with the flu, Eden learned how to "blow"- HER NOSE!  Not the way you want a kid to blow on a cake!  Ew Gross!

A few days after her birthday, we were all feeling better and had a few friends over for a real cake and some ice cream.  It was a nice, low-key, very special day.  Eden LOVES cake! 

I have a toddler- not a baby

So, I haven't posted in a while.  I blame it on Eden.  Now that she is walking I am not able to spend much time on the computer.  She is all consuming!  What a little ball of energy!  I am acutely aware that I do not have a baby anymore.  She is a full-fledged toddler!

Eden loves books and will bring you books to read to her ALL DAY!  She has turned into quite a climber and loves to climb up on the couch and find the TV remote!  She gives the dogs a run for their money!  They get along great!

I am doing well, too!  I am just about finished with my Childbirth Education Certification!  I should begin officially teaching in March.  I have been working on getting my "business" up and running.  You can check out my website at www.myedensgarden.blogspot.com  

Brandon is planning to go back to school in January to work on finishing his degree.  He is looking forward to finally having that behind him!

I will post some pictures soon- I know that's what everyone really wants to see!!

Nebraska- October '07

Brandon, Eden and I recently took a trip to Nebraska to visit family. We had a wonderful time relaxing, visiting and seeing some sites. This trip was Eden's first trip out there and her first plane ride. She did great on the trip out! She made friends with all our fellow passengers during the 1 hour delay in Richmond for a mechanical problem. The trip home was not as pleasant, but we will spare you the gory details.


Brandon always loves to catch a game while he's out in Nebraska. Yes, even this year, he couldn't miss the chance to see his Huskers play in Lincoln. His Uncle Paul GAVE him his tickets! Brandon took his mom to the game, and while the Huskers lost to Texas A&M (14-36), I think they had a good time.

Maybe Brandon should have taken the cutest Nebraska cheerleader EVER with him. They may have done a little bit better...

We couldn't go to Omaha without seeing the Henry Doorly Zoo. We had so much fun walking around and seeing the animals. Eden is such an animal lover and it is a blast to see her enjoying God's creation!

I mentioned that we went out to Nebraska to visit family, and visit we did! We stayed with Brandon's Mom and sister (Nikita). We visited his Aunt Mary and her husband Merlin. We had dinner at his cousin Chris's house. His 3 girls were entertaining! While there we also got to visit with his cousin Ben and his new wife Carley. We spent a day in York, NE visiting Brandon's Grandma Klippenstein. Eden enjoyed chasing the 3-legged cat.

We also got to visit Brandon's Grandma Rollogas for an afternoon. We had a nice time and went out to eat. As usual, Eden turned on the charm!

Sadly, our vacation ended too soon. We had to say our goodbyes and head home. Thanks grandma for letting us stay with you! We had a blast!