Our Family Has Grown by Two...

This year's family Christmas photo includes two new little guys - Ben Van Fleit and Jack Urbanski. In this photo, Ben is 11 days old and Jack is just 4 days old.


Next year should be a real challenge - with two 1 year olds crawling (or toddling) through the gifts.

Jack Thomas Urbanski

Two grandsons in one week AND Christmas - good enough reason NOT to update my BLOG! One week later, I'm proud to introduce our second Christmas blessing in 7 days - Jack.


He was born at 11:57 a.m. on December 20th - weighing in at 7 pounds and 3 ounces. He is the third (and last) child for Carrie and Joe and he has an older brother Nolan and a big sister Grace. The happy family was at home for Christmas Eve and Jack was joined by his 1 week older and wiser cousin Ben.


It looks to me like Nolan is trying to decide how in the world he's going to "play" with this little brother. Give him a little time Nolan and he'll be messing up all your "stuff".

Benjamin James Van Fleit

Ben arrived 3 weeks early - just in time for Christmas (and beating out his cousin who will arrive next Tuesday). After a very long labor and four hours of pushing, he arrived weighing in at a whopping 7 pounds 11 ounces, and 20 1/2 inches long. According to the doctor, he would have been a 9 pound baby at full term.

Colleen’s water broke at 6:00 a.m. and she went to the hospital – arrived at already 4 centimeters and 70% effaced – everything progressing well. She was pushing by 3:00 and then little Ben hit a brick wall – or rather her pelvic bone. After 4 hours of pushing, it was evident that he couldn’t get his head under that pelvic bone and into the birth canal, so she was taken back for a c-section. I saw Colleen’s doctor talking to Carrie and hearing how Nolan was born with two broken collarbones and Carrie’s subsequent c-sections and knowing they were sisters, I don't think it took long for them to make the decision.

So, as the nurse put it last night – Colleen suffered from a double whammy. She is recovering from an exhausting labor and now abdominal surgery. But right now, she doesn’t seem to care one bit. She’s got a BIG smile on her face this morning and she keeps telling EVERYONE who will listen just how “stinkin’ cute” that baby is…and she’s right! Her request for today…a mocha frappacino from Starbucks.

Orange Margaritas...

...amazing how good an orange margarita tastes when you're down in the dumps. I had a car accident last week - my fault - and my pretty car is now in the shop for a major facelift! My best friend Mary Lou knew how crummy I was feeling, so she picked me up on a snowy night and took me to Hacienda. One orange margarita later, and my car didn't seem quite so bad off.\

Beach Babes

Well, there may be a foot of snow on the ground today - but this layout brings back memories of the 4th of July weekend - and BOY, was it HOT!!!

Design Team Layouts

I've been lucky enough to have been a part of the Design Team for Pages in Time for the past year and a half.

Today I went in and did a little "housekeeping" - pulled some of my older layouts and will finally get them into my albums. Just thought I'd post a couple of them here.

Have always loved this photo of my dad and I - and it's even more meaningful now that he's gone.














This "Toes in the Sand" layout is another favorite - Nolan exploring the ocean during our January trip. He didn't mind one bit that the water was COLD - just a little boy with his toes in the sand.

I'm Living an Episode of the Cosby Show...

I have two pregnant daughters - God must be laughing down on me at this moment.

Daughter number one is no problem - college educated, mother of two, extremely organized, scheduled c-section for December 20th.

Daughter number two is another story - college educated, extreme worrier and somewhat hyper, first pregancy - ENOUGH SAID.

Yesterday, my office phone rings - she's sure she's in labor and she's at work - can't reach her husband - he's in a meeting. Wants me to come and get her and take her to the hospital. Being the good mom that I am, that's exactly what I did. Nurses hook her up to monitors - "yes" she's having contractions. Husband arrives - frazzled - “the car seat’s not in the car yet” and “the bassinet isn’t put together” and “you don’t have a bag packed”.

Daughter number one arrives - waddling in with a big smile on her face.

And then, there’s Colleen asking me when she’ll get an epidural and telling Jimmy that this is IT – no more kids. Now mind you, she's in the very EARLY stages of labor and has not even been admitted yet. It was all I could do to not burst out laughing at both of them.

Well, being that she is just 36 weeks, doctors chose to stop the labor and try to give the little guy another week of "cooking" before they let her proceed. He really shouldn't be in such a rush - after all, it's nice and warm and cozy where he is and it's currently 9 degrees here in the outside world. STAY WHERE YOU ARE LITTLE BOY!!!