Give Thanks in ALL Circumstances!

Ryan preached on Thanksgiving and the scripture reading he chose was from 1 Thes. 5:18...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.


We reflected on this passage many times on Thanksgiving Day and realized that it is difficult to do at times, yet this is what God commands us to do. Our prayer for you too, is that you are able to see God's love even during difficult and trying times.

We are so thankful for many things, but the obvious one is our baby boy! We went to see the Body Worlds Exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center, which reminded us of how detailed God is...He knows the number of hairs on our head. We also saw the growth of an embryo/fetus...God is amazing!

We missed spending Thanksgiving Day with family. Mom and Dad Peterson did arrive Thursday evening for the weekend. They spent time with Andrew, helped us put lights on our house and put in a tv/radio under our kitchen cabinet. We spent Thanksgiving Day at the homes of a few good friends. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I love my Baby boy!

Erin's Baby Shower

We are so happy that Baby West is growing healthy. Brian and Erin were in St. Louis and there was a surprise baby shower for Erin. It was great to see them and Erin is looking great.

The butterfly picture is hand made by Erin for Baby Andrew. The butterfly has a special meaning to Erin and I, because 1 year ago, while we were talking about babies and having a heart to heart, a butterfly landed on us. God sure knows how to make new life!! Thank you so much Erin for this beautiful drawing.

Cute, Random Pictures

I always post the Best pictures of Andrew. Well, here is one that he is at his worse...It's like not having a digital camera. I just thought it was funny. Plus, this cute hat that "I like," tended to cover his eyes often.
Andrew in his car seat. I think he looks so cute in his little outfit.


The turtle above his head is his favorite. He babbles and laughs at it during diaper changes.


Here we are at Aunt Tricia's house during Amber's Baptism. He had an "explosion" so he needed a bath. This is when we are clean..Ha, Ha.

8 Mile Hike

Ryan lead 35 men from church on a 8 mile hike at Hawn State Park. The men are all part of a ministry at St. John called "IRON MEN." Ryan really enjoys this ministry and can't wait until Andrew can join him on all of these adventures.

Want to buy a PIE from me?

I am a really bad salesperson, but I thought I would try... WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUY A DELICIOUS PIE?

We are selling pies to raise money for MOPS (Mothers of Pre-schoolers)...it is an organization that I am in. THERE IS NO OBLIGATION, and honestly I do not expect anyone to buy one, yet if you are just dying to buy one just let me know. The pies are HOME MADE by all of us in MOPS ladies. (I am not sure if that convienced you or now your answer is no for sure :)

Cost: $7.50
Types of pies to dream about....Apple crumble, Chocolate Moose, Pumpkin Moose and/or Pecan

Deadline...Nov. 10th

I feel like I am a 3rd grader trying to sell girl scoot cookies.

The Cow Family

Ryan the Bull, Kristy the Cow and Andrew the Calf!

I had a 102 fever all day (I ended up having mastitus again), so Andrew and I slept all day long. He even got 3 layers of clothes wet and neither of us awoke. Yet, after starting my antibiotic and IBU we were able to enjoy Halloween night.

Went to the neighborhood cul-da-sac and handed out candy, then to 2 friends house to visit and show off cute little Andrew. As you can tell, he likes candy and we ate his fist piece...just kidding; Daddy ate all of it for him and ended up with an upset tummy...go figure!

And Andrew is not sitting up by himself in that one picture, we are holding him from the back.

8 babies for Halloween!

IT WAS THEIR FIRST HALLOWEEN AND WE CELEBRATED!

7 babies within 7 weeks of age of each other and then a 2 week old baby. How cute are they? When we lined them up on the couch from oldest to youngest (left to right), none of them cried. It was quite amazing.

We played a game....guess the difference between the weight of your baby and the weight of the pumpkin. We had fun.

Here are their names and how we know them...
Maddie (MOPS), Andrew (ours), Remy (Special Care Nursry), Broch (Lamaz class), Ava (neighbor), Karly (MOPS), Connor (church friend), and Nathan (neighbor).

Next year's party will be quite different because they will be able to walk...yikes!

Andrew is 3 Months Old!!

Don't you love my chunky thighs!

Can I fit my whole fist into my mouth?

Mommy loves this picture.

Andrew, you are beginning to... Giggle (only 2 times so far), roll over from your tummy to your back (when propped up by a pillow), see yourself in the mirror, lift your head when in a lying position, hold objects in your hand when placed in your hand, **use hands (for 5 minutes pushed a globe in circles and you were concentrating so hard), pull on Mommy's necklace and hair, imitate facial expressions, spit up more than you did the last couple months, straighten your legs and hold a little weight on them and pull your legs to your belly.

You are also starting to play games...while breastfeeding; you look at me, smerk, pull off, give me a big smile, look at me again and attach. Then you do it again.


You have Mastered...smiling when smiled at, cooing, babbling to stuffed animals, holding your head up during tummy time, putting yourself to sleep at night (90% of the time), sleeping from 10:30 pm to 5:30 am (7 hours), following objects with your eyes, burping, having "blow outs/explosions" and getting your cute outfit all dirty.


You Love to...suck on your hand or pacifier(or anything you can get your mouth around),babble to a turtle that is on the wall when you get your diaper changed, watch tv (so now we don't put the tv on when you are in the room or we turn you the other direction), go for walks and look at trees, go on car rides, look around when breastfeeding (this has become difficult at times), read books with Daddy, do sit ups with Mommy (bent leg air plane), grunt, kick and wave hands so much that you sweat, lay naked, take showers (easier than a bath right now),flashlights, and to look from left to right when you are lying on your back.

You do not like...when the car stops at a stop light, dirty diapers and when you get fed late.

When you get fussy, you like to be held "belly down," sung to (You are my Sunshine, Rock a Bye Baby, etc) and have the person in motion.

The activities that you have been doing this month...going to stoller fittness with Mom, "talking to and seeing" relatives on skype, tummy time, looking at mobiles, going to Outpost Maplewood, going to MOPS meetings, sitting in swing, listening to music, lying in your pack and play and looking at the mobile that Mommy made for you (you can keep yourself occupied for 15 minutes or so, then you fall asleep or cry). Also, you took your first air plane ride to Wisconsin (going to a cottage...pontoon boat ride, etc), went to the pumpkin patch, and went camping.

We think...that your diapers smell like buttered popcorn Jelly-bellies (Daddy used to say Beer brats, but now he has changed). You are going to be very expressive (or bipolor...just kidding) with your feelings because you change your facial expressions very easily (from a smile to a frown in seconds). We love you Andrew!

Camping at Grahm Cave State Park

We survived our first camping trip with baby Andrew. It was only 33 degrees at night, so we bundled up and were smart enough to bring a heater for the tent. Andrew enjoyed looking at the tall trees and mostly the flashlight the we shinned to the top of the tent.

It was a full moon, which was scary considering it was "Halloween" weekend. Plus they had a scary story teller that performed on Sat. night under the cave which was fun.

Ryan and I have not been camping alone for a while, so we are a little rusty and need some teaching on camp fire cooking (Ryan wasn't so happy when I dropped the pork chops in the ashes...opps!)

Here we are taking a hike to the cave, sitting near the campfire, and then Andrew being held in his favorite position (belly down).





At last, a soft couch, after sleeping last night in a tent and being carried around in that silly carrier.

Experimenting with Picasa Program

Do you like the effect? Here is the Peterson family 12 weeks ago..wow, it's been that long ago.

The Pumpkin Farm

Who would have known that it would be 80 degrees on the day that we went to the pumpkin farm. Andrew wore his pumpkin outfit for 20 minutes and then he changed into his "1st Boo" onesie. We went with our good friends Jen, JC and their baby boy Connor. Andrew looked around the whole time!







FIRST TIME SLEEPING IN HIS CRIB!!!!!!!!!!!! As parents we felt as though we were sending him off to college. We have a tv monitor that is at our bed side so we can watch him or check on him in the middle of the night--it has been a lot of fun and helpful. He slept 8 hours the first night and 8 1/2 last night. What a champ!

Here are more pictures from Andrew's trip to Wisconsin hanging out with family, meeting Olivia/ who is Ryan's cousin (Aunt Jill and I are in the picture), meeting Great Grandpa and Grandma etc. Enjoy the pictures!

Grandma/Babka's Birthday in Wisconsin

My first trip...

Andrew went on his first trip to Wisconsin on an airplane. He didn't cry at all during the flight and everyone loved him. He has been in Wisconsin for 3 day and he met his new cousin Amber who is so cute, went to his cousin Annika's first birthday party, had a "meet Andrew and Amber party", went to Nana's "29th" birthday party, slept in cousin Marissa's room, and spent the day with cousin Bryan and Aunt Amy, and then with grandparents.
He was sad to leave Daddy behind, but Daddy will be joining us in Wisconsin on Thursday as we are celebrating Babka's (Grandma Z's) 60th Birthday at a cottage up north.


2 months old and growing...Smiling when smiled at or played with, cooing, mimicking facial expressions (sticking out tongue), increased head strength during tummy time, follows objects with eyes, turns head towards noise, starting to hold onto a rattle when placed in his hand, kicking feet and punching arms when he gets excited, becoming fussy during the day when getting tired (is more aware of his surroundings), can be put down at night while still awake and put himself to sleep, sleeping approximately 6 hours a night (this is new!), likes to suck on pacifier between breastfeeding, possibly noticing his hands, likes to blow bubbles, full of lots of gas!

Last couple weeks in review

Andrews Doctor appointment:
Weighs 11 lbs 9 oz. (wow, he is growing fast). Tears from immunizations...daddy calmed him. Prescribed Mylanta and Gas X.

Kristy's 6 week MD appointment:
I am good to go! I am only up 10 lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight, yet the poundage looks more on my body. God has placed those 10 lbs in various places--it's crazy.

Daddy's Day off: Every Thursday.
Beautiful day! Andrew's first picnic, walk at Creve Coure Lake and a rest in the shade. Neighbors over for dinner and then Ryan and I for our first outting with out Andrew. We went for a 1/2 hour bike ride on our tandom bike while the sun was setting. It was romantic and fun. Andrew was a doll and didn't cry onece. Everyone keeps asking...yes, Biking was easier on my incision than walking.

To Wildwood Days
Sat. was a cool fall day. Went to the fair and Andrew was held by the Home Depot dude. Now it is time to put out the fall decorations.

Get to know Andrew party which was held by the church staff...fun games, good food, lots of ladies and a wonderful gift...a bike trailer. Thanks everyone! It will soon be pulled by our Tandom bike and we will be the "Peterson Train."


Nana and Papa came to visit
Andrew was so happy that they came to visit. He loved being held by Nana and Papa and was so sad when they had to leave.

First HAIR CUT!
Who would have known that he would have more hair than his daddy. Hee, Hee. Before his hair cut he looked like a little man with a comb over and now he looks more like our baby. We saved the evidence for his baby book.

Babka (Grandma Zeman) turned 60 years old!
Happy Birthday! We are going to Wisconsin in a week to help her celebrate. We can't wait!

Announcing the birth of Andrew...

We are announcing the birth of our son...did you know? LOL! Andrew is 6 weeks old and finally we are pulling things together. (Thanks to Jamie who designed the announcements...they look great).

I am slowly recovering from my c-section...not there yet. I still take things slow, don't stand up straight, and take Tylenol for the pain once in a while because of the tugging that I feel inside. We have only gone on a couple stroller rides (walks) because I only make it a 1/2 mile and then the rest of the day I need to rest. As Ryan keeps telling me, this is temporary and the more I rest the sooner I will feel better. I pray for patience every day. And on the other hand, I look at my handsome son and I know he is worth every pain. We love him so much.

First Football Game

Too loud at the Edward Jones Dome for Andrew. We tried cotton in his ears and then made a wise parenting choice that we didn't want to take a chance to hurt his little ear drums...Ryan and I took turns watching the game while the other hung out with Andrew in the lobby. We will have to wait until he gets older. We still had fun and went to Ted Drewes for ice cream!

My first "real" bath!

Andrew's belly button finally fell off (5 weeks after birth)--he wanted to stay connected to me for as long as possible. So, no more sponge baths and into the mini bath he went. He only cried a little; probably because he was so slick and it was hard for us to hold him. He is so handsome in his dog towel!