Kelli Marie turns 29!!!

Happy Birthday!!! I love you, even when you have a Bumbo on your head.

It's not everyday...

So last night the Stouder family was on their way to 'Sweet Tomatoes' for dinner. We're at a busy intersection in Overland Park where I happen to glance over to the sidewalk and see a bicyclist. But this isn't just any bicyclist, no sir; this is a bicyclist wearing a short black dress. How odd. Even more odd that she has some masculine features...and looks like she's wearing a wig. Wait, she is wearing a wig! I point her out to Justin who promptly notices this tranny bicyclist wearing black pumps...yes, you heard that right...black high heels on a bike! This particular bicyclist does not seem to have much experience on a bike. Justin ponders the idea that maybe this dude lost a bet? At any rate, we are watching a transvestite riding a bicycle wearing a tacky wig, a short black mini-dress and black pumps in southern Johnson County. The angle of his legs reveal things that should remain unseen, although, luckily, we didn't get a straight shot of that. We're laughing in disbelief when we glance at the car sitting next to us at the stoplight. It was a husband and wife team, and the wife practically spit out her coffee when she noticed this bizarre dude. Then we all noticed that the other car noticed and we all laughed together. It was a great laugh, but, luckily, this isn't something you see everyday.

New Addiction - Rachael Ray

Since I have been home on maternity leave, I have been addicted to watching Rachael Ray. I have tried several of her recipes and have not only impressed myself, but added some favorable meals to the repertoire here at home. Hayden has a new favorite, and I may have impressed Justin as well. He got online to order me her magazine so this can continue when I head back to work!

I thought I'd share my newest recipe with you. It was delicious, healthy, easy, etc.!!!


SPRING STROGANOFF
(from Rachael Ray 4/20/09)
Serves 4

Ingredients
Salt
1 pound wide egg noodles
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
1 bunch asparagus, woody stems removed and stalks sliced on the bias into small chunks
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and sliced in half on the bias
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup sour cream
1 box frozen peas (10 ounces)
1 box frozen chopped spinach (10 ounces), defrosted
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
Juice of 1 lemon
Ground black pepper

Preparation
Place a large pot of water over high heat to boil the pasta. When the water reaches a bubble, salt it, drop the pasta in and cook to al dente according to package directions. Just before draining the pasta, reserve a mug of starchy cooking water then drain and reserve.

While the pasta is cooking, place a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of EVOO, about 2 tablespoons. Add the onion and garlic to the pan, and cook until just tender, about 4 minutes. Add the asparagus and green beans to the pan and continue cooking for another 1 minute.

Push the veggies to the sides of the pan to make a well and drop in the butter to melt. Sprinkle the flour over the melted butter and cook for about 1 minute. Add the stock, mustard, reserved mug of pasta-cooking water (about 1/2 cup) and sour cream to the pan and whisk to combine.

Add the peas and spinach to the pan and simmer until the sauce has thickened, about 2 minutes. Add the cooked pasta, dill, parsley and lemon juice to the pan, season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.


Here's a link to the printable version, too!

Let me know what you think when you make it!

Stouder Street Finally Updated!

Sorry for taking so long, but Stouder Street is FINALLY UPDATED! We have added albums to Hayden and Ellery's page and to Graphitti. This includes Hayden's 3rd Birthday, Easter and a Colorado trip.

Hayden's birthday was a blast. We celebrated Justin's 30th birthday at the same time and had a surprise visit from his dad and stepmom. It was so much fun!!

We have been having a great time in this house. Ellery is such a good girl. She had her two-month check-up on Wednesday and came in at 13 lbs 5 oz. BIG GIRL! She's a great eater, great sleeper, great smiler....and pretty much has us smitten.

Hayden is so much fun to be around. He says the funniest things. Adios Amigos is a new one for him. Cracks us up.

Anyway, please enjoy the pictures! We are aiming to be more diligent about these updates in the future!

Hayden Turns 3!

Hayden is a three-year-old now. I can't believe it. We got back from Colorado on Friday, in time to celebrate Hayden's birthday with his Dad. We went to Uno's Pizza with PopPop, Grandma and Uncle Sean and family. Hayden was able to make his own pizza and got some new 'Cars' characters for his collection.

On Sunday, Justin and I took him to Fritz' Railroad Restaurant where the food is delivered by a rail system. It was a lot of fun! Look for video soon on StouderStreet to show that whole process!

We are so excited for this next weekend. Justin's sister and family will be in town for the weekend, and we can't wait to hang out with our niece, Chloe, and nephew, Jack.

Ellery is still growing like a weed. Both kids did very well in Colorado, albeit we had some minor health issues (rash for Ellery and "nursing issues" for me). But we got over that and had some good times with Grandma! We had beautiful weather every single day. I hope to get pictures posted of that trip, too!

Authentic Christianity

I read this a few days ago and stopped for a moment because it is exactly what I want to be.

"Authentic Christians are persons who stand apart from others, even other Christians, as though listening to a different drummer. Their character seems deeper, their ideas fresher, their spirit softer, their courage greater, their leadership stronger, their concerns wider, their compassion more genuine, their convictions more concrete. They are joyful in spite of difficult circumstances and show wisdom beyond their years."

- Taken from 'Too Busy Not To Pray' by Bill Hybels

10 lbs 3 oz

Ellery had her one-month check-up yesterday. It is hard to believe it's already been a month. She gained just shy of a pound from last week and is now up to 10 lbs 3 oz. Yes, folks, a pound. It looks like she is following in her brother's footsteps in regards to the growth pattern. The only issue that came up is that we have to make her sleep on the other side of her head. We have noticed that she prefers her right side, and it's getting a little flat from her laying on it all the time. She's been getting out of the position we put her in when switching sides, but last night was a different story. She laid on her left side the whole night! I can't get over how good she is...

My mom, Hayden, Ellery and I are all taking off for Colorado early tomorrow. Next week is Spring Break around here, so we decided to take our own trip to see the condo! We're all excited, but I'm a little anxious about the trip there. I'm hoping it will go pretty quickly, but we'll probably have to make a few extra stops for feeding Ellery.

Next Saturday is Hayden's 3rd birthday. He is such a big boy! He can do so much on his own and is so fun to be around. He loves to sing songs, most recently "Where is Thumbkin" and "Oh My Darling, Oh My Darling, Oh My Darling, Clementine." He cracks us up. He also has a great imagination and is super smart at puzzles and memory game.

I'd like to end in a praise report. My milk is back! After some annoying days of trying to get it back, it's back. Thank you so much for your prayers! God is good!

9 lbs 4 oz

Had to take Ellery to the doctor yesterday. Looks like she might have a clogged eye duct, so we have to give her some eye drops. While we were there, we did a weight check. Miss Thing is up to 9 lbs 4 oz! What a good girl! Here's my question, though... If she ate 4 oz right before the appointment, does she really weigh just 9 lbs even? Food for thought...literally.



The weather is absolutely beautiful. Hayden, Ellery and I are planning a picnic lunch today at the park, and then we're headed out for a walk on the trail after naptime. It's so nice to be outside. Yesterday, it was 80-degrees outside. Today, I believe it's supposed to be low- to mid-70s. I am so excited for Spring, I can hardly stand it!

Have a couple of things to ask for prayer about... First of all, because of how often our Little Darlin' sleeps, my milk is not where it should be. Instead of pumping all the time, I let her dictate how much was needed, and now I don't have enough to get her through the day it seems. I won't get into more detail, but please pray for an increased supply and that these efforts that I'm putting in pan out! Secondly, please pray for my income/job situation. Again, I'm going to go light on the details, but the maternity leave pay that I was told I would receive has not been provided. Not only that, the last paycheck I earned before maternity leave bounced and was "un-deposited" yesterday. Justin and I have cut back on everything that we can, but in light of the economy and everything else, I'd say we're both a little concerned. We leave it in God's hands because I can't do anything beyond that right now anyway. We just ask for your prayers in this effort!!!

OK, that's it for now... I have to get going to make our picnic lunch!!!

Happy March!

Hello all! I am super-pumped about March being here...that means Spring is that much closer. I cannot wait for sunny days and nice weather. I especially cannot wait for the cold and flu season to pass. I am worn out from runny noses and disturbing coughs!

Things are still going very well here at the Stouder house. Ellery is such a good baby, I cannot get over how lucky we are. I wish she would allow for a little bit more awake time, but she still sleeps well at night. I am not used to being tied down, which is the hard part for me. Hayden and I always get up and go somewhere, and now our schedules are dictated by Ellery's feeding schedule. Short-term sacrifice, I know, but it is sometimes frustrating when I plan my day and the plan falls apart. Welcome to living with a newborn, right?

I think that Ellery started smiling already. I know that it is supposed to take a little bit more time, but she was mimicking my face last night and I got several smiles out of her while she was awake. Time will tell if it's the real deal, but it got to my heart, that's for sure!

Well, she's waking up so I'll end with a couple of pictures. Hope this blog entry find you happy and healthy!

Stouder Kids Picture Updates

Hi all! Justin and I took some time yesterday to update the pictures on Hayden and Ellery's page. There are pictures of Ellery's birth from our perspective, Pappy and Mimi's and Gram and Pop-Pop's. There are also a couple of pictures taken in the weeks before Ellery's birth under February 2009.

We hope you enjoy taking a look and would love to hear your comments!

Things are still going well at home. Ellery feeds about every 3-4 hours, even during the night. We moved her into her bed and she's been doing really well. She was more awake yesterday and got to spend some eye-opening time with Daddy finally! Hayden is a huge helper and is very gentle with Ellery. He's being such a big boy, and we are so impressed by him.

Hayden has had a cold since Ellery was born, so we've been trying to ensure Lil' Sis doesn't catch it. Both Justin and I are starting to feel a little bit of it... Please pray for Ellery to maintain her health. We would be devastated if she got sick!!!!

Hope all is well! Come by and see us if you're able!

Back to work..

After a week home, I'm back at work. Leaving Kelli and Ellery at home was terribly difficult. I would be more worried if I didn't know that God is in control, and that Kelli is an extremely strong, faith-filled woman. It makes me wonder how some manage.

The second time around is much easier. Don't get me wrong, bringing home a newborn is a very difficult task. It will test you in many different and unique ways. This time around our faith is stronger and we have experience. We are also more fully locked into our church community, and have close family members nearby.

Thank-you Hayden for taking the bumps and bruises for Ellery. You are doing a wonderful job son, so much better than we expected. This type of behavior, exceeding expectations, has become a Hayden standard that will continue throughout your life.

Weight Gain!

We have weight gain! Took Ellery to the doctor on Monday and her weight was the same as when she left the hospital. I'm sure it had gone down more and was on the rise, but they have to see gain, so we went back this morning. Between Monday and today, she gained 4 oz. and they like to see about 1/2 oz. a day! So we have a good eater! She now weighs 7 lbs 12 oz....back to birth weight!

Ellery seems to have put herself on a schedule for now. She finally woke up on her own to eat last night at about 3 1/2 hour intervals. PRAISE GOD! She is such a good baby. She eats and goes right back to sleep. We've had her in our room in a Moses basket so that I can wake her easier, and we might try her out in her own room tonight. I remember with Hayden we couldn't stand him in our room because he was a restless sleeper. Ellery doesn't budge.

Hayden has been doing wonderful with the adjustment. He sings to Ellery and will keep me company when I'm "stuck" in her room. He never wants to go anywhere without her. And he's been behaving so well for Justin and I. He is potty-trained, and showed significant strides with that the week before she was born. What a big boy! He decided long ago that Baby Sister needed his diapers...... His independence has been very nice, and he is just so helpful.

We are so blessed.............

Pictures

Thought you might want to see some more pictures!!!


We're still doing pretty well, just trying to get into a routine. We've been grateful that Pappy and Mimi can be here to spend time with Hayden while we're occupied elsewhere.


Ellery is eating well, and sleeping decently, too. Speaking of sleep, I'm going to try and get a nap!

We're Home!

Thought I'd update everyone on our status! The birth was so fast and so easy (besides the epidural incident)... Looking back, my labor was less than 2.5 hours, so I can't complain at all! Ellery is so beautiful and so perfect. She is a great eater, and, so far, a great sleeper.

Since we had Ellery so early in the day Thursday, we asked the doctors and nurses if we could leave Friday. My doctor had no issues, and Ellery's doctor was GREAT and complied since he has seen us in action with Hayden. Ellery is healthy in every way, so we ended up "checking out" around 3p yesterday. I practically ran out of the hospital, I was so anxious to get home and get Hayden home.

Our first night home was good! She is a good sleeper, and preferred that over eating. I don't mind that through the night at all. Hayden slept through the night and is enjoying is Pappy and Mimi today!!

We'll try and get more pictures up soon, but I thought you might want to know where we are!

Thanks for the prayers, well-wishes and phone calls!

Ellery's 1st Hour

Ellery is feeding well and is now quietly taking in her new surroundings. The calls to the family and friends have been made, and we will soon move to the overnight room.

Thank-you all for the kind words, thoughts, and prayers. This has been an amazing experience. Thank-you Lord for watching over us, for giving us this beautiful gift.

Ellery Marie Stouder is here!

She's here! The birth went blazing fast. 11:28 am, 7lbs 12ozs, 19 1/2 inches.
Kelli and Ellery are doing great! Thank-you all for your prayers and well wishes.

Status Update - 11:13am

10cm
Showtime

The entourage has arrived. Warmer has been placed. Camera is on and live. Might be a while before I post again.

Status Update - 10:50am

Kelli's cracking jokes and ready to take a snooze. Nurses are saying we could be ready for prime time as early as 11:30am. Dilated to 8cm already.

Kelli asked for this to go fast, so with regards to that honey, you got what you asked for. She just commented about how great she feels. I didn't tell her that she is in the middle of a contraction. She can't feel a thing. :)

Got the praise music going in the background, this is awesome.

Status Update - 10:41am

New epidural line successfully placed. Pain dissipating fast! Back on track.

I'm getting hungry, but I don't dare state that out loud for fear of serious post-baby repurcussions.

Status Update - 10:33am

Replacing the epidural. No pain relief right now. Somewhat tense atmosphere currently.

Status Update - 9:54am

Epidural has been placed. Kelli's got her finger on the trigger. Too bad they limit doses to every 10 minutes. Pop-op and Grandma have arrived.

Status Update - 9:04am

Water has been broken, Kelli is dilated to 4cm. We are moving forward with the epidural. If we are going to get one anyway, why wait? BRING ON THE DRUGS!!!

It is time...

We are in the hospital, all plugged in and ready to go. Kelli is feeling great. I'll try to keep this updated as much as possible, alas, my duties are needed elsewhere. Who am I kidding? I've got the easy job. :)

No news...

...is, well, no news. I'm sure you all know since we haven't posted anything that we're still waiting. If the doctor hadn't said we'd probably not be induced, I'd probably be a lot less anxious. Only 36 hours to go to prove her right!

I've had a lot of contractions, but they don't seem to get stronger. Maybe by the time I get to the hospital, I'll be halfway dilated. Wouldn't that be nice?!

Hayden's health is wonderful, so thank you for your prayers. Next up, pray for Justin. He seemed to get the cold that Hayden had. And, if you want, pray for me...I don't want any of it. ;-)

2/5 Dr Appt Update

The doctor appointment went well today, although there was an hour delay getting seen. That seems to be how all of these last appointments have been going. At any rate, I am dilated another centimeter to more than a 3 now! I am still 80% effaced which hasn't changed for several weeks. I have been having A LOT of contractions, but with my effacement not changing, Dr. Martin doesn't think they are full-on labor contractions.

We scheduled an induction for next Thursday, 2/12. However, Dr. Martin was pretty confident in stating that she doesn't think we'll go that long! So, per the last blog posting, place your bets!! I will tell you that I am going to do some speed-walking. What other suggestions do you have for getting this thing moving along? I won't do castor oil, and eggplant doesn't sound good. Sarah told me pineapple today which I haven't heard before....I like pineapple and it does sound good.

In the meantime, please pray for Hayden's health. He got a cold over the weekend, and I want so badly for him to be healthy. I really want to ensure that he can come to the hospital and be part of that whole experience when his sister is born.... Maybe I'll hold off on the speed-walking until the cough goes away. ;-)

Placing Bets

Everyone is making predictions on when Lil' Sis is going to make her grand appearance. Here's what I have so far:

Marissa - Friday the 6th
Justin - Tues the 10th
Mom - Wed the 11th

What is more fun to pass the time than to see what everyone else thinks?! You're chances are better than playing the lottery.....granted, there is no prize for winning here. I just merely want to see your thoughts and really just want everyone to get in the habit of posting on here.

CAST YOUR VOTE NOW!

Nursery Update

OK, so what does a pregnant girl do when she's 39 weeks and counting? She decides she's not pleased with the nursery and wakes up in the middle of the night to think about painting a mural. The following day, she decides to pursue this dream and get over the intimidation of it all...and voila! I LOVE THE NURSERY NOW!

Take a look at these super sweet pics.... This was my day yesterday, and what a difference it made!

Justin thinks I'm begging for labor to start, which is not correct. But I did have a lot of contractions in the night from my hardworking day. Now, I just need to decide what to paint in Hayden's room..... ;-)

A lot of people are asking how I'm feeling, and I'll tell you....I feel really good! I remember being super uncomfortable for the last month with Hayden and it hasn't been the case this time around. I do have my moments if I don't take it easy enough, but I am trying to enjoy every minute of this pregnancy and every minute with just the three of us.

Dr Appt Update

I had an appointment today and wanted to update you. Dilated to a "2 and a little more." So that's double from a week and a half ago, but still a long way to go! My next appointment is next Thursday, and we'll schedule an induction at that time if need be. She won't let me go past a week overdue, so no worries on having a Valentine's Baby! ;-)

Here's a picture from me last week...haven't changed much since, but thought you might want to see the belly.


I thought I'd give a sneak preview of Baby Sister's room. There are still some small things we'd like to add, but this will give you an idea what she'll come home to!



We'll keep you posted on here!

Justin, Kelli & Hayden

Tracking the birth of baby girl Stouder...

Just a note to let everyone know that our daughter's birth will be tracked via this blog. In realtime it will not be, but timely information will be posted and available as soon as possible.

Keep an eye on the blog!

King Me

It has been a great while since my last post, too long to update you on all of the happenings of the Kansas City Stouder family. My intent in this post is to track my progress through the book "King Me" by Steve Farrar.

I'll post some notes from the book, and if you have any thoughts or ideas on fathering, please feel free to comment.

Here goes!

- The father's job is to move his son from self-centeredness to self-discipline. When that happens, the father has given his son the gift of freedom
- It is the job of the father to keep his son sharp and save him from the dullness of foolishness. He gives his son that sharp edge through discipline.
- There is no greater joy than to see the fruit of discipline in your son's life. There's no greater happiness than when your son becomes his own self disciplinarian. That's when your son will take off like a self-propelling rocket.
- Responsibility leads to privileges and new freedoms. NOT the other way around.
- If a son shows a willingness to shoulder responsibility, he will then be given more privileges and freedoms.
- Your son must have a healthy fear of you and your commitment to doing what is right in his life. It's important because if your son never has a healthy fear of you, he will never have a healthy fear of God.
- When a father gives up his power by giving his son everything he wants, his son will not fear him in a healthy way. When there is no fear on a son's part of a father's discipline, then that son has lost his freedom.
- When a father mentors his son and disciplines him, he gives that young man freedom.
- You desperately need the Lord to give you the wisdom to dispense just the right amount of discipline. If it's too much, you'll be harsh. If it's too little, you'll be soft and ineffective. That's why you need the Lord. If you seek Him, He'll dish out his wisdom to you in just the right amounts. And then your discipline will not only be measured... it will be effective. That's how you will discipline with confidence.

- Passive fathers don't do what needs to be done. They sit back and do nothing. They may be aggressive in other areas of their lives. They may be highly motivated in their careers and fitness routines. But when it comes to stepping in and giving their sons the firm hand of discipline, they simply shrivel up and go passive. When a man does that, he has failed in his most important responsibility. If you have done that, it's time to get off the dime and get to work with your son.

- Your son doesn't need a dad who does it right every time. he just needs to see a dad who is in there giving it the best shot he has. And when he has blown it, he admits it - without excuses or casting of blame - and then steps up to make the necessary changes in his life. And he does it rapidly.
- He's never been twenty-seven before. You have. And what a benefit it is to talk with someone who has been over the bridge just before you step onto it. That's fathering and that is mentoring. That's my job and yours.
- God is not looking for perfection - He's looking at your heart. And if you are loving Him from the deepest part of your heart and soul, there is going to be a growing consistency in your walk. You never become sin-less, but you will begin to sin less.
- A good man cannot simply rely on his example to meet the needs of his son. A man must be intentional in his fathering.
- There is nothing nobler in all of life than to shape your son into a man.
- Your son has been part of His plan since before time. And God knows what he needs, and what you need in order to mentor him.
- Boys need their dads. They need their dads to do stuff with them and put them to bed. They need dads who will discipline them when they cross the line. They need dads who love Christ and follow Him. They need dads who don't lie, don't cheat, and don't look at porn. They need dads that love their mothers and don't cut out when the going gets tough. They need dads who won't put up with disrespectful words or looks aimed at Mom. They need dads who can tell them how to handle a bully at school. And if need be, they need a dad who will go talk to the father of the bully or bullies. And if the bully has no father, they will talk to the mother. And if the father or mother of the bully won't do anything, then your son needs a dad who will model how to put the fear of God in the bully.

Colorado...

I just got back from a trip to Colorado with my father-in-law and my pastor. It was a great time, I love the mountains. I was amazed at how quickly I fell in love of the fresh air, the views, the quiet. If ever a place was worthy of being called "God's Country," it is the mountains.

We set camp in Southwest Colorado, off of the trail to Cinnamon pass, near the American Basin. A few days in, and fully acclimated to camping at 10,000ft above sea level, my pastor and I decided to hike silver creek trail. Our ultimate goal was the summit of Red Cloud peak, some 14,034ft above sea level.

Beginning at 10:20am, we set off up the trail at a leisure pace. Upon reaching the saddle of Red Cloud, it began to hail, so we donned our rain gear and took in some beef jerky. As the hail subsided, the summit in view (or so I thought), we took off. You have to understand how fast weather comes in when you are up that high and the fact that if lightning was to strike, you would be toast. Oh and never mind about the 1,000ft drop off ten inches from your footpath.

Pushing harder and harder, close to exhaustion, I reached the summit! I turned around, and gazed at the wonderful view. I turned around again, and then realized that I still had a ton more to climb. Red Cloud had three false summits! Climb, summit, elation, depression, regain drive, repeat. Finally, I reached the true summit of Red Cloud peak. Quite honestly, it was one of the most emotional things I have ever been a part of. I'll not try to put words to it, see the pics for a small percentage of what the view is like.

After returning to Kansas, I shaved my beard, and mourned the mountains. My eyes well up when listening to Rocky Mountain High, because I know exactly how John Denver felt when writing that song. I have seen it rain fire in the sky and I am a richer man, for I have seen an eagle fly.

I now long for the day when I can show Hayden the Rocky Mountains.

* For more information about the 54 14,000ft mountains in Colorado, visit: www.14ers.com

Kurt Vonnegut : 11/11/1922 - 4/11/2007

Kelli just informed me that Kurt Vonnegut passed away. I'm saddened to hear this, he was easily the most inspirational and imaginative writer of the past six decades. Reading his books helped me realize that things aren't always as they seem, and that your imagination knows no boundaries.

If you haven't read Vonnegut, here are two novel's to start with:
Cat's Cradle
Slaughterhouse Five

So it goes...

Florida Vacation

We just returned from an unreal vacation to Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. I have been going to Ft. Myers since I was a kid, and each time it gets better. Now, sharing the experience with my family, makes it that much sweeter.

Checkout graphitti for pictures from our trip, including video of the dolphins who teased our boat, and one that let me touch its tail.

New Job...

After a great deal of thought and analyzing, I've decided to take a new job at Home Depot Home Services, as Network Administrator. Leaving Perceptive Software will not be easy, but this is the best thing for me right now, and, more importantly, my family.

I will be leaving an incredible company with even better coworkers. I will be walking away at a time when I have gained a significant understanding of the software product. Who says I can't ever go back?

Thank-you to Perceptive Software, specifically the Managed Services team, for an incredible year and some wonderful and lasting memories.

College Basketball Experience!!!

So, I got to see my favorite team play basketball... It was AMAZING!!!! Duke lost, and they deserved too, they played horrible in the second half. But, $30 to see Dickie V, Coach K, and Robert Montgomery Knight? Sweet!

Checkout the attached pictures for more info, I have a ton of them, and will post them on stouderstreet.com.

Interesting facts... Duke hadn't been in Kansas City since 1985. Today is the 43rds anniversary of JFK's assassination. Kelli is beautiful. To Xbox or not to Xbox? 42inch LCD, but 1080p or 1080i? No! or a finger wave?

Love,

Justin

Live each day like it's your last.

Hayden is doing great, he is getting very big... We have him in 9 month clothes, and he is just under 5 months. What a blessing to be a father, and to have such a wonderful wife.

The main purpose of this post is to tell who ever is reading it, don't ever ever ever take your friends or family for granted. I thought I learned this well when my mother died, but maybe I needed a refresher. My best friend in KC has decided to move back near his family (can't blame him) in VA. It's a great move for him and his family, and seemingly blessed by God all around.

It was just a sharp reminder that nothing is guaranteed. Love those precious moments that are few and far between, cherish them and know that they might not happen again.

Seems silly, but my 6th grade teacher used to always say, "Live each day as if it's your last." He was so very right.

Thank-you Chris for all the great memories and friendship. We wish you and your family nothing but the best.

Where are all the people?

First of all, I want to thank Jenn for her very nice compliment (see comment under "Illegal Immigration"). I always think I'm biased when I think Hayden is the most handsome lad, so it helps to hear it from an un-related (although friendly) person!

Now, for the rest of you... I am a little upset that I keep coming back to this Blog and only 1-2 people are responding! We want to hear from you! Whether you're telling us that Hayden is cute or that your weather is fabulous wherever you live, we want to hear it! All you have to do is register and log-on! What is the point of a blog if no one is blogging?!

And now an update from me... I started back at work yesterday, although I am only in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays. I took Hayden to a home daycare about 2 miles away for the first time yesterday and it was super hard. I fully trust Teri, but I have been used to waking, breathing and living Hayden for the past 2+ months. So I have to face another transition. I really think it will be a good balance; it will allow him to socialize and have someone watch over him and it will provide me some non-baby time! Can you tell that I've been practicing that speech in my head?

Stella, the dog, still hasn't gotten used to having Hayden in the house. I think she's adjusting, but she is lacking in the attention department, poor thing. I keep telling myself that it will change when Hayden gets bigger and gives her more attention than she cares for! He'll chase her around and pull her tail and she'll just want to be left alone at that point! And then soon after that, they will be best buddies!

We are getting in more of a routine around here as we start to get the hang of this "parent" thing. It's still bizarre, though, to think about us as parents. It's also strange to see Hayden growing so fast. I know those of you that have seen him know how big he is (I feel that he's gigantic for his age), but he physically changes everyday. I go into his room in the mornings and it seems like a bigger boy each day. It's fun, though, now that he's smiling and cooing and it definitely makes it more worthwhile. I feel so blessed to have him and get so emotional when he gets a big, tongue-filled smile on his face as he watches his dad...it's the greatest feeling in the world!

I better get going and think I'll go spend some time with Stella... She'd appreciate that!

Illegal Immigration

Everyone's talking about immigration. Mexican illegal immigration. And everyone is griping. I could gripe... griping is fun.....

Instead, I'm going to ask the question no one's asking. What has a Mexican done for you lately? Seriously. If you can't say anything but, "mowed my lawn" or "cleaned my dishes" don't bother posting.

For the record, I believe illegal immigrants should be removed from the United States (US). I believe that if you are planning on living off of the freedom provided to you in the US, you better speak OUR language and follow OUR rules. I believe in stricter border control and policy, because it is currently not working. Finally, I believe that before we go chasing Bin Laden and Muhammed Whoever through the desert, we should shore up our own borders!

So, What has a Mexican done for you lately?

Stupid m$ft

As a stockholder, it just isn't right for me to say this.... Oh well. Microsoft stinks.

Derek, if you ever read this, I'm pissed right now so discard your already saved Linux Rulz! email and consider my state of mind.

Microsoft has a lot of great things, but the important thing to me right now is Internet Explorer (IE). Turns out they patched IE to handle the word "embed" differently and now you, as a IE user, have to click on any piece of flash in order for it to run. Before we debate security and the impending doom of Microsoft, just do like everyone else has, and get firefox.

Firefox is a new(ish) web browser, built by a group of people, and completely free. It is fully customizable and includes tabbed browsing. Checkout the picture below, I've got a bunch of webpages open, all in one browser, with a custom theme and weather at the bottom. One application. One space on my taskbar. One awesome web browser:


On a sidenote, I've been a devoted firefox user for quite some time now, ever since it was available. I just want to make sure all users can view our website, so I have to test firefox and IE. Drag.

Don't forget to get firefox.

www.stouderstreet.com updated!

What a beautiful Sunday. First Watch for brunch, a relaxing car drive, mowed the lawn in the sun, talked to neighbors, washed the dog, updated the website. Now the fun begins as we head to the grocery to get some Brats, some Kraut, and some Spuds. AWESOME!

All is well in KC-Stouderland. We interviewed a possible daycare candidate and it went really well. Right now we are just praying for a smooth transition for Kelli, and for Hayden.

Speaking of the little man, he is doing great. One night last week he slept from 9:30pm to 4:00am. Kelli and I didn't know what to do. He is growing in size at an alarming rate. Last we checked he was 22" and 10 pounds, 14 ounces. That's 2 inches and 2 pounds, 13 ounces of growth in a month. Wait a minute? It has been a month?

My job is going great. I'm settling in, and really understanding how the software works. It will still take a few weeks of prep, with next week bringing a full week of training. I love going to work, like someone does with most new jobs. This time it is different, I don't think the new job bliss will wear off. What a blessing.

Please be sure to checkout the new pics of Hayden and our Easter trip to the Kidds' home.

Roll-Out!

Justin