Boston's Blog

The spring returns, the spring wind softly blowing.

2011-03-16T21:27:00.003-04:00

It got up to 55 degrees today, and it felt like a glimpse of Spring. Sweet, wonderful Spring. Boston got to play with all of the toys that have been locked up in the shed for five months. He played with his bubble mower, his sit-n-spin, his sandbox, and he even got to ride his new bike - an early birthday present from Grandma and Grandpa. Since it was so nice we both decided to eat dinner in the back yard. "The spring returns, the spring wind softly blowing." Spring is good.

Are You Sleeping?

2011-03-09T21:39:00.001-05:00

Are You Sleeping. Loosly translated by Boston Stansifer.

Are you sleeping?
Are you sleeping?
Brudder John.
Brudder John
Butter bells are ringing.
Butter bells are rining.
Ding ding dong.
Ding ding dong.

The Sickness

2011-03-09T21:28:00.005-05:00

Tis the season for the sickness. We've all had it by this point. I served my term last week, and now Boston is suffering. The poor kid can't stop coughing, and his nose is a steady snot stream. Cara has been giving Boston breathing treatments to try to help with his congestion. You're more than welcome to come over any time for a visit. Just remember to sanitize on your way out.

Things have been going pretty smoothly as a whole. Boston is doing much better in swimming lessons now that there are only three kids in the class. He starts to cry for his mommy if he sits on the wall by himself for too long, so the small class size works out well. He starts gymnastics on Friday. I'm not sure if they're going to start with the uneven bars first or the horse.

*Flash back six months. School gets out May 25th? Neato! (9 snow days later) Last day of school...June 7th!?! Ugh. Things are starting to look a little nicer outside, though. We've seen grass for a whole five days now! It was even nice enough to picnic on the porch the other night (one of Boston's many great ideas). We hope all is well with everyone.

Scoliosis

2010-12-15T23:33:00.002-05:00

A student drew this characature of me in a drawing class as one of her final projects. Widows peak: check. Argyle sweater: check. Gangly arms: check. My posture isn't that great on any given day, but it looks like I have scoliosis in the drawing. My favorite part of the piece are the students' expressions. Look how happy they are to be learning in my classroom, basking in my enthusiasm for the English language. I think the girl in front would probably stab me if she had any fingers.

You can't see the entire drawing because my scanner isn't big enough, but the question I am posing to the class is, "How many roots are in antidisestablishmentarianism?" I had Katie in Etymology last year, and we actualy talked about this question. Turns out there are seven morphemes (not roots) to the word. It looks like I succeeded in boring the life out of another one! :) Thanks for the drawing, Katie!

Traveling Conversations with a Two-Year-Old

2010-12-13T19:12:00.003-05:00

Boston - "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!"
Dad - "Boston, don't scream in the car."
Boston - "Huh?"
Dad - "We don't scream in the car."
Boston - "Huh?"
Dad - "No screaming in the car."
Boston - "Huh?"
Dad - *No reply
Boston - "I not hear you, Dad. I not year you say, 'No screaming in the car.' What, Dad?"

Boston - "I want a song." (meaning a song from his playlist (yes, a two-year-old has an iPod playlist)
Dad - "No, we're listening to Christmas music."
Boston - "I don't want to listen to Christmas music. Not EVER EVER EVER!"

Boston - "We going home?"
Dad - "Yeah, we're going home."
Boston - "Why?"
Dad - "Because it's time for your bath."
Boston - "Then I eat ice cream?"
Dad - "Sure."
Boston - "YEEEAAAAHHH!"

Fun in the Snow

2010-12-05T13:30:00.003-05:00

It's here! Boston and I have been enjoying our time in the snow the past couple of days. Yesterday we took a walk and tried to make our footprints look crazy. Boston also insisted on taking his Fisher-Price lawn mower with him so he could mow the snow. Today he helped me shovel the sidewalk with his very own shovel (thanks Mama and Papa!). I promised him we would take the sled down the hill when he wakes up from his nap. If it keeps coming down then like it is now, we should have no problem. And if it keeps coming down through the night into the morning, will that make for a two hour delay? I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Halloween

2010-11-28T20:12:00.004-05:00

It was a pretty mild Halloween this year. The ghouls didn't have to wear coats over their costumes, and the Mary Janes didn't get hard by the time we arrived home. Boston was Bob the Builder this year, and very excited about it. He wasn't too thrilled about the hat, though. We started at Dad's and moved to Stacey's addition after that. Carson showed Boston how it's done.

We also hit up the Great Zoo Halloween for the third year in a row. We didn't realize they were only open day hours this year. We met Mom at the zoo at 6:00 and were incredibly excited to see an empty parking lot...only to find out they had been closed for an hour already. We ended up going directly after school on the Thursday before Halloween, so it all worked out. It wasn't near as spooky, but we had a good time trick-or-treating and looking at the pumpkins. Boston couldn't figure out where all the animals went, though.

I hope your Halloween was a spooky one.

Boston Stabafur

2010-10-07T22:26:00.008-04:00

This is Boston's debut on the mic. Soon he will be rapping to all of your hip hop favorites. For now, we'll keep it simple: name and hobbies.

Fall is here!

2010-09-26T21:08:00.006-04:00

Summer is officially over and we have been busy! September has just flown by! We were home for Labor Day, but the following weekend was spent in Gatlinburg, TN with Casey's mom, stepdad, along with his brother and his family. We had a wonderful time there. We stayed in a cabin...Casey's favorite part being the hot tub on the front porch! We were able to visit the aquarium and many of the small shops in the town. The next weekend we were off to New York City to see one of my friends from college get married. We were able to catch up with many of our 'Boston' friends and explore more of the Big Apple! This past week we celebrated my birthday and then ended the weekend with a trip to the Fall Festival at a local farm and brought home our pumpkins for decoration and carving. I can't believe it is time for Halloween already! We are preparing Boston by reminding him all this Halloween decoration is 'just pretend', but I'm not sure he always believes us! We hope to keep our blog posted a little more often now that we are slowing down a bit. Hope all is well with everyone! Much loves from the Stansifers'! :)

Chicago

2010-08-06T13:01:00.016-04:00

A couple of weeks ago we took a little excursion to Chicago with some good friends, Bethany and Mike, who now live in South Carolina. It was great to see them again, and just hang for a couple of days. We started off by camping at the Dunes in Michigan City.

After we set up shop...

it was time to hit the beach. The water was a bit cold. Well, maybe "frigid" would be more accurate. At least it was clean, though (especially considering our scenic view of the famous Gary, Indiana smoke stacks).

All that hypothermia worked up an appetite, so the men went to building a fire. (Nevermind the giant bottle of lighter fluid in the background.)

Smores, anyone?

A little more campfire, then lights out.

In the morning we refueled with a good campfire breakfast (again with the lighter fluid) and some mediocre gas station coffee.

Then it was off to Chicago. Let's make sure we know where we're going, though.

Our first stop: Wrigley! I'm not a huge baseball fan (or sports fan, for that matter), but it was cool just hanging out. We had bleacher seats, which apparently translates to the "party section." I guess the ticket stub should have tipped me off when it read "Bud Light Bleacher Section." It wasn't so bad to start off with, but belligerence gets annoying after nearly six hours of baking in the sun.

After the game we hit up Giordano's for some handcrafted Chicago pizza and brews. Goose Island is good stuff!

Just be sure not to eat too much.

We finished the night by hanging out with Burt Reynolds before calling it day.

The next morning we started our day with the ORIGINAL Pancake House. Accept no substitutes. That was some good stuff. I see you eyeing my chorizo skillet, Bethany.

From there we went our separate ways. Mike and Bethany had some more business in Chicago, and Cara and I wanted to hit up IKEA: the greatest place on Earth.

We really weren't set out for anything in particular, but it's hard not to get inspired to completely revamp a room or two. Since Boston is now a big boy who wears big boy underwear, we thought it would be cool to give him a big boy room. We already have a bed, so we got some cool furnishings and whatnots to make it look pretty cool. I'll be sure to post some before and after photos as soon as we get some paint up and things put together. Had a great time, Mike and Bethany!

Potty Progress

2010-07-06T13:09:00.007-04:00

All in all, things are going pretty well with the potty process. Boston tells us when he has to go (usually with VERY little warning) and has chosen trees as his favorite target. You can thank his mom for that one. And he has nearly killed my raspberry bush by "over watering" it. Unfortunately, he still needs a bit more time to conquer solids, but I think that "runs" in the family. (Booooo!) All together, the summer has been a good one.

The zoo is still a regular stop.

We have played with lost of water balloons. Or as Boston calls them, "Water B'goons!"

We had a grumpy Father's Day...

but soon got happy and made time to dance.

And we played with Fillipas and the Raifords at Greek Fest. Blue Sno-Cones are the best!

Cara finished up her clinical hours this afternoon, so we have 5 more weeks of summer to hang before school starts again. Let the weeks stroll by nice and easy.

Potty Training

2010-06-15T21:47:00.002-04:00

Week one of Operation Big Boy Potty is in the books. Monday last week I just went for it. I sat Boston on the potty every 15 minutes for two hours, moved to 30 minutes for two hours, then went to every hour. I ended up doing laundry that night, but what can you expect on day one? He went through 6 pairs of his Thomas the Train underwear the first day and only 3 the following day. Progress! By day three we had it. No more wet diapers. Heck, no more diapers! He has yet to actually tell us he needs to pee; instead we dictate potty time or run him to the toilet as soon as he starts grabbing himself Michael Jackson style.

We went with the ever popular "positive reinforcement" method, which Boston loves. Each time we successfully use the potty he is rewarded by flushing the toilet (which he LOVES), receiving his "special drink" (diet, caffeine-free Sprite), and doing the potty dance. We haven't had any successful poops in the potty yet, but we'll keep you posted. In the meantime, we celebrate success one empty bladder at a time.

The Days are Just Packed

2010-05-28T08:17:00.009-04:00

School's out! I feel like the cover of that Calvin and Hobbes book.

Boston and I have been spending our days doing whatever we feel like whenever we feel like it. Highlights include riding bikes,

patrolling the neighborhood in the squad car,

swinging,

hanging at the park,

and watching Fraggle Rock.

We have also been hitting the zoo up quite a bit lately. We figured out that they stop admitting people at 5:00, but they won't kick anybody out until 6:00. Since the sign says they close at 5:00, we nearly have the park to ourselves. It's also a great time to go because the animals are ready eat. Some even have 2-year-olds on the menu.

These are what summer days are made for!

It's Coming...

2010-05-13T05:47:00.002-04:00

Finals week is next week, which means research papers will be graded. An update is in the air. In the meantime, check out these cool videos.

Birthday Boy

2010-04-10T23:37:00.016-04:00

Boston turned 2 today! We had a great time hanging out in the great weather. We started the day off by opening presents.

He got a vest for the pool with water shoes...

A new tricycle...

and a cool Paul Frank monkey bicycle horn to go with it. Little boys have to accessorize.

Let's take this baby for a test drive.

"This way, Dad."

Honk the horn a couple times for good luck.

He's still trying to get the hang of the pedals, but he does alright using the Fred Flintstone technique.

And we always have to stop and check out any cool bugs we may see on the way.

Ooo...that's a juicy one!

And we finished the afternoon with Boston's favorite: french fries and lemonade. Thanks, Grandma!

It's a bit sour at first...

But he gets used to it.

As an added bonus, we got to see my cousin, Chad and his fam. We met up at Pizza Hut after church, and Boston indulged in four mozzarella sticks, raisins, fruit, pudding, and ice cream. It's literally feast or famine at meal times. I guess it's a good thing we chose a buffet for feast night.

Easter Time Fun

2010-04-06T20:23:00.006-04:00

The week leading up to Easter we kept telling Boston that the Easter Bunny was coming to see him. We said that he would bring him candy and maybe even some cool outside toys. He just looked at us with a blank stare, though. When you think about it, it probably shouldn't make sense that a six foot bunny comes hopping through the neighborhood leaving baskets of nom-noms. Actually, taking candy from strangers is exactly what we don't want to have happen. How did this tradition get started, anyway?

When Boston woke up on Easter morning he went to put his milk on the table next to the chair like he does every morning. In the exact place that he sets his milk sat a cheery pink egg. (It was cold and wet outside, so we...*ahem*...the Easter Bunny decided to hide eggs indoors [He still had his key from last year.].) When he saw the egg he said, "Hey!" He gently pushed the egg aside so he could put his cup down to investigate when he bumped his book basket, knocking over another egg. His eyes got big and his mouth fell agape. We searched the rest of the house for more eggs, pointing him in the right direction as he went.

We went to Cara's parents' house for lunch, my mom's for dinner, and we split a Tums bottle for dessert. More eggs, more Easter baskets, good food, and good times. Among the cool things from Easter Bunny 1, 2, and 3 was sweet pair of binoculars that Boston has been using to see everything from birds that aren't there to restaurant menus he can't read.

It was also cool to see some fam that we don't often get to hang with. Boston enjoyed spending time with Mackenzie, but didn't get the memo that cousins are for high-fiving, not smooching.

Check out more photogs on the photo page. Hope all is well with everything everywhere.

New Pictures!

2010-03-18T20:32:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone! We have continued to be very busy...school, work, Boston, living. But, spring is so close and we can't wait for our breaks coming up. Casey is on Spring Break the first week of April and starts summer break the last of May. I will be finished with my clinical hours at the end of March and then start back up the middle of May. I have 200 hours left to complete and I will officially 'walk' for graduation in July! Woohoo! Last weekend we went with 'Mimi and Papa' to an indoor water park in northern Indiana. We had a blast! Boston couldn't believe all the fun things to do! It was a great break for the craziness at home. Boston has also been busy busy, playing outside as much as we allow. Our weather lately has been in the mid-60s, so we have been spending the majority of our day in the back yard and at the park. Boston's favorite things to do right now are taking walks in his 'car car', feeding the ducks at the park, sliding, and, of course, swinging. He also has a new pair of rubber boots that he thinks ROCK and he wears them nearly everywhere. Casey and I are wondering if these are going to be worn this summer with his shorts too?! Anyways, hope all is well with everyone. Love you all!

Couch Potato

2010-03-04T18:14:00.009-05:00

There haven't been a whole lot of happening happenings out of the norm around here lately. Cara has been busy with nursing, teaching, and learning. I have been busy with teaching, grading, and playing music. And Boston has been...well, just busy.

Some days we play with Play-Doh.

Some days we exercise.

Some days we organize.

Some days we dance.

Bust most days we just hang out. What else is there to do in 30 degree weather, right?

Boston did have a pretty cool day out of the ordinary a couple weeks ago, though. I was looking at movie times online just to see what's out. Not that we would have time to actually watch a movie, but it's fun to pretend. As I was searching through the Sunday list I noticed "Super Why: Attack of the Eraser" in the 12:00pm slot. Boston loves Super Why. It's a cartoon in which these storybook characters solve problems by reading and writing. Cara and Brenda though it might be fun to take him. Apparently he sat and watched the first 40 minutes of the movie and danced the rest of the time. Cara said that they were literally the only three people in the theater, so there was plenty of room to bust a move.

We hope everyone is doing well!

Words of Wisdom: Boston Style

2010-01-21T19:59:00.003-05:00

Boston's vocabulary is growing everyday. We now have to watch what we say because he's turning into a little parrot. Not that Cara and I turn into sailors after 5:00 or anything. Cara's favorite is when he says, "Holy Moses!" I'm still a big fan of "moose," though. The hardest one to figure out is "bobby," which to Boston means potty, party, money, and bucket. At night before bath time he likes to sit on the "bobby." When the collection plate comes around at church he likes to put "bobby" into the "bobby." I guess it's like "aloha." It means hello, goodbye, and whatever else you feel like on any given day.

We hope all is well. If you're the one who sent the plague to our house last week, thanks for giving us the opportunity to get a jump start on our Spring cleaning by disinfecting everything in our house. If we gave you the plague, either directly or indirectly, we're sorry. Get well soon, Meade Blvd.

Christmas is Over

2010-01-03T20:13:00.009-05:00

The more time I have, the less I blog? I'm not sure why it happens, but it does. I now have a few hours left of my Christmas break, and here we are. Cara, Boston, and I had a great Christmas break. We got to hang out with friends (both in town and out of town); we got to hang out with family (both in town and out of town); and we also got to play and nap (mostly in town). The best part for all of us was probably hanging around. Munch when we want; nap when we want. Here's a recap:

Christmas with the Pulvers

Dancing to Battle Hymn...again!

Laughing at Carson

Hanging with Weidemans

Lookin' sharp to hear mommy sing at church on Christmas Eve.

Christmas at Home

Boston loved playing Santa.

But sometimes the presents were HEAVY!

Taking walks in the sled.

Playing in the snow.

Munchin' on some salsa.

And then we crash.

Hip Hop Christmas Dancing

2009-12-07T20:26:00.001-05:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Where is this month going?

2009-11-23T14:02:00.003-05:00

It is so amazing how time flies! The holidays are right upon us and we are busier than ever. This semester is winding down for me...which means only two more classes until graduation in July! Casey is VERY busy grading research papers once again. I think he asks himself every day during this time why he chose English. And Boston, well, Boston is Boston. Crazy, energetic, and BUSY! He likes to keep moving and keep his little mind thinking. He currently does not enjoy sitting in a high chair at all. Going out to eat is pretty much out of the question. He keeps us laughing every day with his new words (most recent- Ah man, Cookie, Juice, and the infamous, Uh- oh...which ultimately means he did something.) We are looking forward to Thanksgiving at the Kuhnle's for Thanksgiving day, shopping on Friday (well, not Casey and Boston), and Greenfield for the weekend. We hope everyone has a blessed Thanksgiving and that we all reflect on the blessings we have this year. Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T20:38:00.004-05:00

Halloween '09 was a great time. Boston got to run around in his Frankenstein costume, eat candy, and stay up a little later than usual. When you think about the things that make life worth living, these three criteria just about sum it all up. Our first Halloween experience this year was the Great Halloween Zoo at the Ft. Wayne Children's Zoo on Monday the 26th. Boston got to hang out with his two best buds, Carson and Madalyn. Once he figured out that people would give him candy just by giving them a little orange piece of paper, he was on the move. He was so much on the move, in fact, that we had to take a bit of a breather when he thew up his Twizzler. Candy + juice + running = upset tummy. He didn't let it phase him, though. One of the highlights for me was the haunted train ride. Boy scouts would run out of the woods to try and scare us as we trekked on by.

The actual trick-or-treating took place on Saturday. We started off at Cara's parents in Decatur, then to my dad's in Ft. Wayne, then my mom's in Columbia City, then back to Ft. Wayne for our neighborhood festivities. It was a tour de treats. When we got back to Ft. Wayne, we took Boston to Forest Park Blvd., which is just down the street from us. Forest Park is notorious for their awesome hand outs, which would explain the vans full of kids unloading by the...well, by the van load. Boston didn't want to partake in the trick-or-treating, though. He just wanted to stroll up and down the sidewalk looking at all the cool costumes.

Happy November, and enjoy that extra hour of sleep you got this weekend. That was better than any fun size box of Milk Duds or Reese Cup. We hope all is well. And for those of you complaining about a lack of recent updates (I'm talking to you, Lauren McComb and Josh Scheidler) I hope you are pleased with my latest submission.

Skeleton Man

2009-10-06T20:21:00.002-04:00

The scary skeleton man was running around our house tonight. Boston thought it was pretty cool that it glows in the dark. We're getting ready for Halloween around here. Cara bought some hay, a pumpkin, and a few gourds. She bought some mums a few weeks ago, but they're dead already. They look extra spooky now. Check out more photos on the photo page!

Why is there a toothbrush in my guitar?

2009-10-01T21:41:00.003-04:00

It's not a question I often ask myself. It's really not a question I thought I would ever ask myself. Everyday as a parent I find myself saying, "Huh...I never thought of that happening." This morning I opened my bathroom drawer to brush my teeth as I do every morning after my shower. I couldn't find my toothbrush, though. That kid steals everything, so I knew who the caper was. My problem was that I didn't know where he would have put it. By this time Boston was already awake, so I checked his room first. Nothing. Then I went into our bedroom. Nada. Computer room? Nope. (So I thought.)

I settled for one of our spare toothbrushes (before having a child who is mobile I never thought it necessary to possess a "spare" toothbrush) and decided to continue my search after school. I mentioned my oral hygiene problem to Cara, who immediately asked, "Did you check Boston's room?" We both looked, again to no avail. After baby boy's bath I picked up my acoustic guitar to strum a few chords while Cara dried little man off. When I turned it on its side to sit it on my knee it sounded like someone had tossed half a dollar's worth of change into the thing. Cara looked at me and said, "Was that your toothbrush?!?" I looked through the sound hole; it was my toothbrush. When I took the strings off to rescue my treasure I also found 8 guitar picks which Boston had deposited earlier in the week. It looks like my guitar will spend more time in its case these days. At least I can call the toothbrush search and rescue team and tell them their services will no longer be necessary.

New Shoes

2009-08-22T20:30:00.003-04:00

Boston got his first pair of Chucks over the weekend. We went to baby Footlocker Saturday since sandal season is quickly coming to an end. It took him a little while to get used to them, but he finally got the hang of it. Everything else is going great. School is running smoothly, and Cara may be getting a new job. Stay tuned for details...

Back to School

2009-08-17T19:48:00.005-04:00

Get your pencils sharpened. It's back to school time again. We started Wednesday last week (8/12) and the kids came back on Thursday. Things are going pretty great so far. I felt like I got hit by a truck by the end of the day Friday, though. I'm not used to skipping my 1:30 nap. I need to get back in the routine of staying awake all day. I have a brand new room this year, which is pretty sweet considering I didn't have a room at all two years ago.

This was my first classroom. I had to use a different room nearly every period and push everything around on this sweet Rubbermaid cart.

Last year I had my own room, and it was pretty big compared to some of the other rooms. I also made a few of the more experienced teacher a little jealous because they I also had a window, which is apparently a high commodity in the teaching profession.

This year takes the prize, though. Not only do I have a brand new room, but I also have a computer for each kid in the class. I am able to look at whatever they are typing from my computer and comment on their screen, which they think is kind of creepy. I can also take any one of their screens and put it on the LCD projector to show student examples or to just embarrass them. There was a kid Friday playing solitaire and didn't think I knew. I put his screen on the projector and gave him the, "just so you know, I can see everything you're typing." That turned out to be the fastest game of solitaire to date.

Things otherwise are great. Boston is talking a lot more than he used to. We can't really make out what he is saying most of the time, but that doesn't stop him from giving us the details. He also thinks he is too big for two naps a day, which doesn't work out very well. If he talks through either one of his naps we pay for it about an hour before bath time. I have never seen someone so small get so angry. When he is in a super-grumpy mood when we put him to be we will usually hear a "thump" on the door just as we close it. That is the sound of Boston throwing his bear at us from his crib. All in all, he is more fun now than he ever has been. The pool is a blast, the park is fun, and just hanging out in the back yard is a good time.

We hope all is well everywhere. Drop us a line when you can, and we'll do the same.

Hangin' at the Fair

2009-07-22T10:18:00.009-04:00

Mom and Robert took the three of us to the Elkhart County Fair over the weekend. We got to see some animals, ride some carny rides, and eat some deep fried fair food. Scroll down to take the photo tour...

Taking the tractor trolley to the fair grounds.

Checking out some animals.

Looks like it could rain...

Grammy says, "Let's try the duck pond!"

Hmmm...which one should I pick?

This looks like a good one.

Winner!

Cool prize! Boston loves balloons.

Wow. That looks fun!

My first carnival ride.

Grammy won some stuffed animals from the crane.

Boston and I went through the fun house. He thought the vibrating floor was pretty cool, but didn't like the air shooting at us. The slide at the end made up for it, though.

This was probably Boston's favorite part of the entire day. I was a little nervous putting him on the train by himself, but he sat still with his arm on the little arm rest the entire time.

When he got off the ride we asked him, "Boston, did you ride the train!?!" He was pretty proud of himself.

Look at the scary animals!

Time for lunch. Boston ate a bunch of our cheesy spiral potatoes and then stole some of Robert's pizza.

After lunch time comes nap time.

Maybe next year we will be brave enough for goat jerky or gator on a stick.

Having a Good Time

2009-07-12T14:15:00.002-04:00

As we move on into July the three of us are still taking the summer one day at a time. It's pretty nice. The days Cara doesn't have to work we get up and say, "What should we do today?" and play it by ear. The days Cara does have to work Boston and I either hang in the backyard or see what Grandpa is doing. Boston got a couple more molars in last week, so he was a bit snotty and slobbery. We had lunch today with Grandma and Grandpa Kuhnle and Boston stunk up the joint and ruined his outfit with a monster poop. Other than an occasional bodily fluid mishap, this are running smoothly. Cara is still plugging away at her Masters, and I have been chipping away at some lesson plans. As of today, school is officially one month away. As great as the summer has been, I am looking forward to going back with the renovations that are going on at Carroll. I will have a brand new room with 32 student computers, LCD projector, and, probably the thing I am most excited about, a coat hanger. Last year I had to hang my coat on the key that stuck out of my filing cabinet. It feels great to move on up in the world. We hope all is well, and feel free to stop by any time. Boston sends his kisses!

Splash Park and Greek Fest

2009-06-18T21:39:00.006-04:00

The three of us went to Memorial Park the other day to check out their splash park. It was pretty cool. Boston thought it was alright, but I think he likes being in control of when he gets wet. It didn't help that the sun was hiding, and the water was a bit chilly. Hopefully it will start to get warmer this summer so we can hit the pool.

We are also getting ready for Greek Fest, which is quickly approaching. I will be playing all three nights (Thursday June 25th - Saturday June 26th) from about 5-10 each night. Try the octopus if you're feeling especially brave. Opa!

Old MacDonald

2009-06-11T16:28:00.003-04:00

He is not solely a dancing machine any more. Boston has broadened his horizons lately and has taken up singing. Check out his debut performance:

School Is Out!

2009-06-06T10:40:00.003-04:00

I am officially on summer vacation, and I couldn't be more excited about it. Since graduation on Thursday we have just been hanging out, going to the park, and enjoying the summer weather. The three of us went to the zoo yesterday to see the new African exhibit, which was pretty awesome. We don't have many plans this summer and hope to keep it that way. Zach asked me last night if I was teaching summer school...good one, Zach. I am teaching three new courses next year, so I'll have to study up, but that will be the extent of my strenuous school work.

Here is a characature that a student drew for me this year. You can see she made a point to emphasize my shiny bald spot and massive caterpillar-like eye brows.

Don't forget to check out the photo page!

Prom, Bikes, and Pools

2009-05-26T20:33:00.004-04:00

We had an "enchanting" evening at the Carroll High School prom a couple of weekends ago. Casey signed us up to be official chaperons. We had a great time seeing all of his students and man, were they excited to see Mr. Stansifer looking good! :) The next day we chaperoned the Cedar Point trip for any of the prom goers who wanted to take a charter bus to Cedar Point. We had fun there too, but were feelin' a little nauseous after a couple of roller coasters. I guess it's the age catching up with us. Boston stay over night with Grandma and Grandpa Kuhnle and had a great time. I don't think he even realized we were gone! :) He is walking all over the place...trying to see how fast he can get away from us. The video was taken today. He thinks Bob the builder is dancing, not jackhammering, so he insists on 'dancing' with him. We also were blessed with a gift from our neighbors. They have two little boys who have grown out of their pull behind bike cart. So they passed it onto us. We went and bought Boston is first bike helmet and have been tooling around the neighborhood. He doesn't last too long before he wants it off his head. Yesterday while Casey was home, we blew up his new turtle pool. He was very excited to splash around today. We can't wait for Casey to be finished with school! He will have 2 months off this summer to just hang out! Hope everyone is doing well! Enjoy the new pictures! :)

He Walks!

2009-05-05T21:52:00.002-04:00

He won't be able to run the mini-marathon this summer, but we're making some progress. Sorry about the poor video quality. I didn't want to waste any time finding something to put the camera on or wait for Cara to get out of the shower. He gets really proud of himself, but also gets mad if you try to make him do it too much.

Boston Speaks Jibberish

2009-05-05T21:43:00.002-04:00

Boston has been talking quite a bit lately. We're not exactly sure what he's saying, but he seems to understand it pretty well. My new favorite is when he says "jibba jibba jibba," which he has been doing quite a bit of lately.

Boston at the Zoo

2009-05-05T21:40:00.003-04:00

We went to the zoo on Saturday and had a great time. The weather was perfect and the monkeys were playful. Boston's favorite part was hanging out with the goats. He even got to pet a bunny rabbit!

Sally's Baby Shower

2009-05-03T19:33:00.003-04:00

Last weekend we drove down to Greenfield, IN for my sister-in-law's baby shower. It was pretty cool to see family and just hang for a bit. It looks like she and my brother are getting excited about their new baby girl. Seeing all the baby garb made us a bit sad that our screaming, biting angel is gaining more independence by the hour.

This weekend Cara and I saw the musical at school. They performed Grease this year and did a really good job. On Saturday we went to the zoo for the first time this year. Boston liked watching the monkeys, but the goats were his favorite by far. He liked to pet them, but got kinda freaked out when they made eye contact and walked toward him. It was down to Decatur for church and back up in time for a baby bath. Cara worked today, so Boston and I got to hang out. Now we're at the end of the weekend...again. Only four more weeks to go, though. Bring on the summer vacation!

Here are a few photogs from last weekend. Check more out on the photo page. Also, check out Corey and Sally's blog if you haven't already (http://www.coreyandsally.blogspot.com).

Birthday Boy

2009-04-18T22:16:00.003-04:00

What a great birthday. Boston had a lot of fun hanging out, opening presents, and eating cake. Especially eating cake. We decided to trash the onsie he was wearing because it was completely covered with chocolate cake and icing. The poor kid even had it up his nostrils. Apparently Wal-Mart's bakery out did themselves this year. Best cake EVER! P.S. - more photos on the photo site.

His surgery also went really well. He was actually in surgery for all of ten minutes. By the time we sat down in the waiting room it was time to go see him. The hardest part about the whole deal was putting him in the little baby gown and handing him off. He wasn't exactly happy with life when he woke up, but by the time we got him home and he drained a juice box things were back to normal. He is babbling a lot more than he used to and is trying harder to take his first steps.

Lately we have been trying to soak up as much of this nice weather as we can. Yesterday the three of us and Tater took a nice long walk through Headwaters Park, and Boston and I took a stroll through Foster Park. Hopefully the 60 degree weather will stick around. Bring on the shorts!

Boston Eats a Snack

2009-04-06T20:11:00.002-04:00

If there is one thing Boston Stansifer loves it's Ritz crackers. Nothing quite satisfies like the tasty crunch of a Ritz. He also shows off a couple new tricks in this video.

Cara and I took Boston to the doctor last week and found out he needs tubes in his ears. He's been acting a more cranky than usual lately and has had a total of three ear infections this winter. His doc said the extra fluid is probably effecting his balance too. He is scheduled to go in on the 15th of this month. Say a little prayer that he does well if you think about it.

Mustache Monday and Other News

2009-03-28T20:19:00.002-04:00

Last Monday was the first official "Mustache Monday" in a much anticipated new tradition. Definitely Gary had a gig that night and the first day of Spring was just two days prior, so I figured I better celebrate. I was so happy with the results that I vowed to make it a long standing tradition. Cara is less than enthusiastic about the new holiday, but I think it will grow on her. The holiday, not the mustache. That would be gross.

Not too much is different with Cara and myself. I'm on spring break right now through April 5th, thus the new postings. That's not to say I won't be doing anything productive over the break. I just received 160 10 page research papers the day before vacation, so I have plenty to keep me occupied. I have been averaging 5 an hour, so it'll be...32 hours total? Why didn't I go with 6th grade English?

Swimming Lessons

2009-03-28T20:05:00.002-04:00

Boston is on the fast track to Bay Watch: Baby Edition. Cara and I have been taking him to swimming lessons at the Y downtown on Saturday mornings. He is in the "kipper" class (whatever that means). He's the youngest of the group, but that doesn't get him down. He still kicks his legs and munches on any pool toys he can get his hands on. The class is giving him some good interaction with other kids and it gets him out of the house, but the best part is that we can always count on a good, solid nap when we get home. He will crash as soon as his 10 lb. head hits the bed.

Things are going pretty well otherwise. It seems like as soon as Boston gets well he is not feeling up to par again, though. Cara is planning on taking to an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor to see if there is something going on with his ears. Whatever it is, let's get this kid feeling 100% before his birthday rolls around. It's pretty crazy to think it has been a year already.

11 months old!

2009-03-13T08:17:00.003-04:00

Well, Boston is already 11 months old! We can't believe it! I started planning his first birthday party and am about in tears making out the invitations. This past month we have just simply waiting for spring to arrive! Boston has had his 3rd ear infection and is working on his 8th tooth. Good times! :) The pictures below are from one of the warm days we had this past week (and one from the bathtub!). He absolutely loves to be outside! In other news, my car has officially died. We were able to bargain and bought a 2005 Buick Rendezous. It is great! We have so much more room! We will have to post some pictures soon! Hope all is well with everyone and hope to see many of you at Boston's Birthday party! Invites will be out soon, but if you want to mark your calendars...April 11th from 2-4pm. Cake and ice cream will be served! WooHoo! :)

Sick Baby

2009-02-16T19:17:00.003-05:00

Boston is still trying to get over whatever it was I brought home from school last week. He has been on an antibiotic for over a week now and has been receiving breathing treatments every four hours from this machine we brought home from the doctor. He hates it, but he seems to be breathing a little bit better. I have been fighting a cold for over two weeks with no end in sight. Will spring ever get here?

Valentines weekend was eventful. Cara and I tried to go to Red Lobster on Saturday, but the plans soon changed once we saw the parking lot. We said, "Let's go around 4:00 to beat the rush." Apparently everyone else in Ft. Wayne had the same idea. We ended up at BW3, which was fine by the three of us. Boston loves chicken! On Saturday we watched a student of mine play sled hockey. The league is created for kids and adults who are in some way walking impaired. They maneuver a sled around the ice using their arms to pull themselves with short hockey sticks that have spurs on the end of them. It was pretty cool.

In other exciting valentine news, Definitely Gary made it into the Journal Gazette on Friday. "My Baby Loves Fat Free Butter Spread" was voted one of the area's Best Local Love Songs. There was a small write up in Friday's Weekender. It's great to be famous. Here's a link.

http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090213/ENT02/302139941

Brush Your Teeth

2009-02-01T08:11:00.005-05:00

Since Boston has been getting more and more choppers, we thought it was time we try our luck with brushing his teeth. I acted like I was brushing my teeth with his tooth brush, which he thought was pretty funny, then offered it to him. At first he only wanted to suck the Spongebob, bubble-fruit toothpaste off of it, but now he has the hang of it.

Things around here have been business as usual. Boston eats more and more each day. He has his favorites, but we have still yet to find something that he doesn't like. The other day Cara took him to Cracker Barrel and he ate half of a pancake by himself then grabbed a handful of hash browns when she wasn't looking. If there is a banana lying around, he will devour it; if you have a glass of orange juice, consider it gone. It will be nice when he gets to the point where he can recognize the difference between food and not food. Until then we'll just have to keep EVERYTHING out of baby reach.

Water Vapor

2009-01-16T14:02:00.002-05:00

School was canceled today because of the wind chill advisory that was out for most of the area. When I woke up this morning the wind chill was thirty below! Here's what happens to warm water at sub-zero temperatures.

9 months!

2009-01-13T12:51:00.002-05:00

We can't believe 9 months have gone past already. We took Boston to his 9 month appointment today and, man, is he growing! He weighs in at 22 lbs 9 oz and is 29 1/4 in long! Again in the 80% for both. He told us to keep doing what we are doing...he looks great and healthy! We are now getting back into the swing of things...Casey is back to school and looking forward to summer vacation! I am still working part-time and getting started back to school this week. Busy around here, but never a dull moment! Hope everyone is doing well! We also ask for everyone to keep Casey's dad and family in their prayers! Love you all!

Christmas

2008-12-26T09:10:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas this year. Ours was awesome. We went down to Decatur for Christmas Eve and hung out with Cara's family. We ate dinner then went to church for the vigil mass. We were not too sure how Boston would do being as late as it was, but he hardly made a peep. He hung out with Grandpa in the back of church for a while, but did well all in all.

Churchin'

We spent Christmas day at home. Nearly all day. The only thing we got dressed for was to eat Chinese. We got up to open presents that Santa brought, took a nap, played with some toys and ate lunch, took a nap, etc. I wish everyday could be like that. We were planning on grabbing some groceries on Christmas Eve after church, but, of course, nothing was open. It all worked out for the best, though; we hit the Chinese buffet for dinner (which was the only thing open in town. And it was packed!

Presents!

I finished reading The Road yesterday evening. It's a Cormack McCarthy novel - the same guy who wrote No Country for Old Men. A man and his son struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic, cannibalistic United States. The man does everything he can to be a good role model for his son while the rest of the world does literally anything possible to stay alive. It's not exactly the feel-good holiday novel of the season, but a great read if you're into that sort of thing.

My brother and his wife (who are expecting in July) are up from TN. We have a few more Christmas plans while they're in town, but other than that we're living up while trying to keep a low profile. I should probably try to get ahead on some school plans, but... Be sure to check the photo site (the link is at the top right) for more updates. Leave some comments if you're feeling spunky. Merry Christmas to all!

Santa!

2008-12-20T14:00:00.002-05:00

We took Boston to see Santa this afternoon, and I'll have to admit - it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. He usually doesn't have much of a stranger danger syndrome, but we've all seen the videos of the kid freaking out as soon as he is perched on Santa's knee. Boston just sat the entire time with the "I'm just hanging out with Santa; no big deal" expression on his face. He didn't get upset until we put his coat back on him. That always makes him very angry. Hopefully next year with Santa will be just as enjoyable. We'll cross our fingers, anyway.

Baby Bath Time

2008-12-19T20:41:00.002-05:00

Nothing is better than baby bath time. Although, I'm not sure what Boston likes more: taking his bath or just being naked. Here's the baby boy live in action. Rub-a-dub-dub.

Nighttime Ice Photos

2008-12-19T20:22:00.001-05:00

Christmas Break!

2008-12-19T14:33:00.003-05:00

Because of the big ice storm this morning Christmas break started a day early. Everything is still coated in a thick layer of ice. Luckily we're one of the few who still has power. I got to be Mr. Mom today while Cara went to Decatur to get her hair did. Boston and I have just been been hanging out and playing with Tater all afternoon. Definitely Gary is playing at the Brass Rail tomorrow, and the Big Band is playing in Columbia City on Sunday. Other than that, we're just laying low until Christmas...which is less than a week away! We hope all are doing well.

Like father like son?

2008-12-09T19:11:00.002-05:00

What do you think? Any resemblance? By the way, the photo on the bottom was taken last Halloween while Boston was still a seahorse.

December 1st!

2008-12-01T19:23:00.003-05:00

We had an eventful and productive weekend to start off the holiday season with cheer and jollity. Yes, that's a real word; I'm an English major. Boston and I visited Cara at the hospital on Thanksgiving since she had to work. From there we went to Mom's for some fried chicken action before heading down to Decatur to visit with Cara's grandma before she heads down to Florida. Boston ate some Gerber turkey dinner, which he thoroughly enjoyed. Saturday we spent the afternoon at Dad's for some ham and fixins.

I was proud of myself for getting the Christmas lights up over the long weekend. I strung the porch up like I normally do while Boston helped Cara put up the tree. Things are looking quite festive around our way of the woods. We also chose the first day of significant snow to get our leaf situation under control in the back yard. Leaves + snow = wet, soggy, and heavy. Only three more weeks until Christmas break!

Thanksgiving!

2008-11-25T16:04:00.002-05:00

It's 4:05 on Tuesday afternoon, and I just got home from school. The Thanksgiving break has officially begun! Cara has to work on Thursday (booo), but we'll have the rest of the week/weekend together. We're heading down to her grandmother's in Decatur after she gets off work, but staying close to home otherwise. It will be nice to be able to hang out.

Boston has been a bit under the weather lately. He has been waking up with a stuffy nose of a morning and has had a fever off and on. It hasn't really affected his appetite, though. That kid loves his squash and bananas. He seem to have his favorites, but I think he would eat nearly anything.

I hope all is well with everyone. Have a great Thanksgiving, turkeys.

Congrats Corey and Sally!

2008-11-15T09:43:00.003-05:00

My brother and sister-in-law found out they're having their first baby. We're all pretty excited for them. He seems to have a bit of babyphobia, but that is cured immediately after they plop the little guy (or girl) in your arms for the first time. Check out their blog for updates and whatnot. Congrats!

http://www.coreyandsally.blogspot.com

Fish Out of Water

2008-11-15T09:38:00.003-05:00

Cara received a flyer in the mail a few weeks before Halloween from the photographer we used for Boston's baby photos. She was running a special on fall photos. Cara assumed that this meant pumpkins and the like, so she dressed Boston up in his lobster costume. It wasn't until she got there that she realized fall photos meant a tractor and leaves. I don't think a lobster's natural habitat is an Indiana farm under a John Deer and some leaves, but it turned out pretty funny. Maybe we'll take his Christmas photos in the lobster costume as well.

2008-11-02T20:28:00.003-05:00

It's amazing how much of a difference there is between five months and six months. Boston is doing so much now it's hard to keep up. We're at the point now where we can't leave him in the room with a few toys because he will be destroying whatever paper we left laying on the floor clear across the room. It's a blast, though.

Eating Carrots

Peek-a-boo!

Jumping Bean

Drink Up!

Catching My Dog

Hugging My Monkey

Halloween

2008-11-02T17:11:00.004-05:00

Halloween was awesome this year. Cara had an itinerary all mapped out so we could hit as many stops as possible when I came home from school. We started out in Columbia City and saw Mom at the bank. We moved on and said hi to Mamaw and Robert where Boston picked up a Snickers and a 3 Musketeers to munch on (in the wrapper). From there we went back to Ft. Wayne and saw Dad and Jan. It looked like E.T. with all the trick-or-treaters walking around their neighborhood. Next we drove down the road and saw the Pulvers. We stopped by to see Dr. Lewis (from Parkview) before heading home. By that time it was time for baby baths, so Cara took the pinchy lobster to Decatur on Saturday. Good times. I could be wrong, but this is probably the coolest lobster you have ever seen. And the great thing about Halloween with a kid who barely has two teeth: eating his candy. It would be stale by the time he reached the age to eat it all, so I'm doing him a favor, right? That's what I keep telling myself, anyway. Happy Halloween, everybody!

Zoo Day

2008-10-15T20:19:00.002-04:00

Last weekend we used our Zoo pass for the last time of the season. The monkeys have no sweaters, and the lions have no scarfs. Therefore, they go inside...or vacation in Ft. Lauderdale. Wherever they go, their last hoorah in Ft. Wayne was great. We even got to see them feed the sea lions.

A couple weeks ago Dad and Jan went with me and Boston while I was Mr. Mom for the day. I think Boston liked watching the kids stroll by more than the animals. Playing with Grandpa is always a good time, too.

Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-15T19:35:00.005-04:00

No fall season is complete without a trip to the pumpkin patch! We went to the Hilger's Fall Festival a couple weeks ago with Mom and Robert, Corey and Sally (my brother and sister-in-law), and Chad, Kristy, Lauren, and Logan (my cousins). We watched a pig and turkey race (two different races...those poor pigs wouldn't have a chance), chased some chickens around a barn, and swung on a rope tied to a gigantic pole. Ye-haw! Boston had a good time playing in the straw, Corey, Sally, Robert, and Chad had fun at the potato cannons, Lauren had fun on the zip line, Logan had fun at the bean bag toss, Chad and I had fun nearly breaking our ankles on the pole swing, Kristy had fun cheering on the baby pigs, Cara had fun taking photos, and Mom had fun on the moon walk...just kidding. As you can see, we all had a blast. It's always great to see some out of towners. We don't get to see Corey and Sally or Chad and his crew very often. It was almost hot, too. Great weather for some October farm fun. Check the photo site (link on the left of the screen) for more photos!

Just hangin' out

2008-10-08T09:40:00.002-04:00

Hey all! It has been a short time since our last post and thought we would just post some pictures to show you all our big man. Everything is well here. He has his 6 month (yes, 6 MONTH!) appointment next week, so we will post all his new statistics. We are taking bets on how much he is going to weigh! :) Hope everyone is doing well! Love you all!

Homecoming Video

2008-09-27T13:11:00.003-04:00

Here's a video of last Friday's homecoming festivities. The girls have a powder puff football game right after school on Friday before the homecoming game, and a group of guys always dress up as cheerleaders. They coordinate a "routine" and perform it as part of spirit week on Friday. The kids choreograph everything themselves and practice their routine on their own time. They also perform their dance at 7:30 am before school starts, so no class time is compromised. I was really impressed with what they came up with.

End of Homecoming

2008-09-23T21:20:00.004-04:00

Homecoming came and went. Thursday was "Decade Day." I didn't remember to get a photo, but I wore my green Adidas jumpsuit, a big clock around my neck, and sweet purple jambox blasting RunDMC. Friday was "Blue and White Day," so you can probably guess what I wore. Yes, blue and white. As you can see from the photo, some kids really got into it.

Cara and I had a really great weekend all around. Boston stayed over at Dad and Jan's Friday evening while Cara and I went to the homecoming football game. It was standing room only (I guess it would technically be standing lawn only) and Carroll lost, but we still had a good time. Cara got to meet Max, the drug dog, so that was exciting. I played a wedding Saturday, but was home early enough to participate in baby bath time. It's become quite the nightly ritual.

Sunday we decided to eat breakfast at Cindy's Diner downtown before going to church. The place is awesome, and it was great sipping our coffee outside. Although it did get in the mid 80s later in the day, it was pretty chilly around 8:30 when the photo was taken, thus the long sleeved shirt and hat. After church we were able to make it down to the Johnny Appleseed Festival with Cara's parents before heading out to Columbia City to see some more grandparents.

It's crazy to think that we only have one more weekend before October creeps in. It's officially fall. We'll have to see if the costume we bought Boston last year will fit him. I'll keep you updated...

Class Color Day

2008-09-18T06:03:00.002-04:00

Wednesday was class color day. Each graduating class has a particular color, and they dress accordingly. Some kids went all out and painted themselves one color from head to toe. It was pretty impressive. The staff members wore the official Carroll High School homecoming t-shirt with "Staff" written on the back. Not as fun as the other two days, but I still had the opportunity to wear a t-shirt. We hope everyone is doing great!

Construction Worker Day

2008-09-16T19:43:00.004-04:00

Today we dressed up as construction workers for spirit week. The new addition to the school started in full force at the end of last school year and should continue through the 2010 school year. With all the new construction going on the student council thought it would be funny to dress up like the hired help. I'm not sure how funny they thought it was, though. Either way, it was an excuse to wear jeans and a t-shirt to school.

Also, here's the latest (as of an hour ago) Boston footage. It's no telling what the kid is going to think is funny from day to day. This time it was the towel dropping from the sky.

Crazy Head to Toe Day

2008-09-16T06:09:00.003-04:00

The weekends seem to be getting shorter and shorter. I had a Greek gig on Saturday that took up the entire day. Cara worked Sunday, and I had a rehearsal in Columbia City. With that, we're back to the work week. Boston has been sitting up really well lately. He has the tendency to tip over if he gets too excited, but he's doing a great job. I'm also trying to convince Cara that he's saying "da-da." Right now it's more like, "ya, ya, ya, ya, ya...." and doesn't really associate what he is saying with me, but I'll take what I can get.

Friday is our homecoming game at Carroll, so there is a different dress up day each day this week to show our "school spirit." Check out my "Crazy Head to Toe" outfit. I showed school spirit and was able to dress a little more comfortably than I normally do. Win big.

Movin' and Groovin'

2008-09-07T10:30:00.003-04:00

This kid has really been moving like crazy lately. Boston has been rolling over quite a bit and won't stop kicking his legs. He can also sit up by himself for a little bit before tipping over. Here are a couple videos that show off a very active baby. Don't forget to check out the photos page (the link is on the left of the screen).

Boston and Hank. BFF.

Boston Jammin'

Jumping Bean

Some new video!

2008-08-20T19:43:00.003-04:00

As we posted earlier, Boston is now trying cereal. This video is of his first attempt. He now likes to suck his thumb after each bite...making sure he gets it all down. The other video was taken tonight. I started shaking the toy rings in front of him and he started going crazy. We have never heard him laugh so hard! Hope you enjoy! :)

Here are the stats!

2008-08-18T10:42:00.003-04:00

We took Boston in for his 4 month appointment and, boy, is he getting big! He weighed 17 and a half pounds and is 26 inches long! He is such a happy man and loves to lay on the floor and play! Our doctor said we could start Boston on some cereal once a day. It has been so exciting to see him eat from a spoon! He seems to really enjoy it. Casey is back to school...a little adjustment for Boston and I. Everything is going well. Many of you know Casey was sick this last week....we appreciate all the love and prayers from many of you! Thank you for always thinking of us! :)

Mom is hilarious!

2008-08-02T17:22:00.002-04:00

Apparently, Boston thinks his mom is quite funny. He's getting closer and closer to finding his laugh. He still hasn't figured out how to roll from his belly to his back, but it doesn't seem like it will be too long. Cara and I really have to be careful now that he is mobile, especially during diaper changes. Boston thinks it's funny to roll away when he gets naked.

Boston on the move

2008-07-28T15:59:00.001-04:00

Don't eat my cheeks!

2008-07-28T15:53:00.001-04:00

July 23

2008-07-23T13:00:00.002-04:00

Boston has 10 new friends! In the past couple of days he has discovered his toes. He can't seem to stop saying hello to them, either. Hi, toes!

Apparently, Boston also loves the rain. Until he figures his laugh out completely, he has decided to squeal when he finds something funny.

Boston will be attending his first Definitely Gary show this weekend. We're playing at the main library in Ft. Wayne this Saturday from 8-9 if anyone is interested. They have a great outdoor setup for that sort of thing. Judging from last summer, it should be a lot of fun.

It's been too long!

2008-07-15T19:50:00.003-04:00

We are so sorry for the delay in updates. It has been a crazy summer...I started back to work at the end of June, we went on vacation to Florida the first week of July, Casey's playin' lots of music, and are now starting to get back into the swing of things. Boston is now officially 3 months old and growing like a weed. He is doing so well! He is starting to learn that he has a laugh/giggle and it is music to our ears. We absolutely love to hear it! He's constantly cooing and has to be up and looking around, taking in the world. Here are some pictures from Florida and other random ones. How cute! Love you all!

P.S. Be sure to check out more pictures in the side link on the left hand side.

2 Months Old

2008-06-11T17:12:00.004-04:00

Wow. We thought the first month went fast. Pretty soon we'll be posting pictures of a birthday cake with one candle sticking out of it. Things are going incredibly well (knock on wood). Cara has his feeding schedule down to a science, and we have been keeping a strict bath/feeding/story-time ritual. He has been sleeping from 8:00pm - 6:00am with no interruptions for a few weeks now. It's pretty awesome. Cara and I initially said it would be nice to have some time to hang out just the two of us, but we've been so tired from moving and shaking all day that we're ready for bed shortly after Boston goes to sleep.

Boston had his 2 month check-up today and measured in the 96th percentile for weight (weighing in at 14 lbs 10 ozs). When you look at the pictures, you can probably see why. His cheeks are sagging and he's developed a nice set of baby boobies. We were hanging out by the pool earlier today. It was pretty warm, so it probably seemed like bath time. I can't wait until he starts splashing around it. I plan on keeping the pictures and video coming. Since I'm off until the beginning of August you would think my days are pretty empty, but we seem to have no problem filling them up. I'll try to stay on top of things. Stop by for a visit any time!

2008-05-27T20:05:00.000-04:00

Check me out!

2008-05-22T09:19:00.003-04:00

I am getting so big and strong! My Daddy and Mama can hardly believe it. I love playing under my gym and looking at myself in the mirror! Here are some pictures to prove it!
Love, Boston
P.S. I still love having visitors to love on me, so stop by anytime! :)
So big!

Mirror mirror on the gym...

Happy boy

He is getting so big!

2008-05-16T09:13:00.003-04:00

We forgot to tell everyone that we took Boston into the NICU (where I work) and weighed him for his 1 month birthday! Just a quick reminder...he weighed 9 lbs 5 oz at birth and 10 lbs 2 oz at this 2 week appointment...now the big man is weighing in at 12 lbs 6 ozs! We were shocked! We can obviously tell he is getting bigger, but, man, what a chunk! He is really starting to interact with us now. After he eats, there is about a 2 hour window where he loves to lay beside you and talk and smile and coo and kick his legs. You all should see him smile! It is the absolute best! Here are some picture to prove it! Love you all!

Jimmy Legs Stansifer

2008-05-08T19:35:00.002-04:00

Check out Jimmy Legs. I'm not sure if it is because he now has three chins, but Boston has been finding the need to exercise lately. Before bath time he likes to hang out on his changing table and kick out the frustrations of the day. It's pretty cool to see him so alert and watch us as we move around the room. Cara can get him to smile on command, but I think I may need a little more practice. If there's one thing Boston loves it's visitors. Stop by and see him anytime.

Here's some new pictures!

2008-05-05T12:50:00.004-04:00

Everything has been about the same here. Boston and I are finally getting into a little routine and used to each other. He is such a blessing to us and we love every moment with him...yes, even in the middle of the night! :) Boston did get baptized this last Sunday. Oh, did he ever look handsome! Love you all!
Hanging out

Naked baby and post-bath time

Handsome man (Baptism)

First appointment

2008-04-23T10:00:00.005-04:00

Well, we took Boston for his 2 week check-up (a few days early) and, naked, he weighed in at 10 lbs 2 ozs! He is getting to be such a big boy! They said they usually expect the baby to be a birth weight at this appointment...Boston is an over-achiever! Everything looks great with him, no problems. He really got upset when she checked his ears...I have never heard him cry like that. He wasn't happy again until we got him home and fed him. :) We have been working on "tummy time" and enjoying every moment with him. He loves taking walks with Tater, having books read to him, and cuddling with his Mama and Daddy (and, of course, his grandparents and friends)! Thank you for all the calls, prayers and love! We are so blessed to have such an awesome support system! Oh, and be sure to check out the new pictures posted on the side link! Love you all!

Our two boys!

Boston at home

2008-04-16T11:32:00.003-04:00

We are at home and have been here since Sunday evening. Man, were we ever ready! Casey and I wanted to get here and start getting used to having the little man with us. He has been such a joy to have. Ever moment is a new experience (some possible better than others! :)) We are learning when he likes to eat, what makes him mad, how to quickly change a diaper, etc! He does a really good job sleeping in the night...eating every couple of hours. We took our first adventure out yesterday to the hospital to have a lab for jaundice drawn. We made a quick pit stop in the NICU to see some friends and they wanted to weigh him. With clothes and a diaper, he weighed in at 10lbs 2 oz. Holy cow! He is getting so big! Here are some pictures from the last couple of days. Hope you are enjoying the nice weather and thanks to everyone for the meals, phone calls, and, most of all, the love, prayer, and support! Love you all!

We Have a Name!

2008-04-11T16:48:00.004-04:00

We finally decided on a name. We originally thought Henry would be a good boy name, but it just didn't seem to fit him. Once we got to know him, he definitely seemed like a Boston. Boston Isaac Stansifer. He and mom are still doing fine. He eats like a horse and continues to become more and more animated. The goal is to come home sometime Sunday, but it could be Monday. We can't wait to get him home and start our routines and rituals, but we're enjoying our time at the hospital while it's here. It's kind of nice to have a nurse literally at the push of a button if we have any questions. He has had many visitors and has made lots of new friends, but Boston loves his mommy. He just seems to have a different snuggle when Cara's holding him. Don't forget to check out the photos on the link to the left. I'll be updating those pretty frequently. Thanks for the visits, phone calls, and text messages!

It's a Boy!

2008-04-10T03:46:00.002-04:00

Cara just gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby boy. Judging by his many chins, it looks like he is very healthy. He weighed in at a whopping 9lbs 5oz and measured 21.25. Notice I keep saying "he" because his name hasn't quite been finalized yet. We were so positive it was going to be a girl since day one that we didn't settle on a boy name. Hopefully we'll get there tomorrow.

Cara was upset that she wasn't able to deliver naturally, but a healthy mom and baby is what matters. She was having some heavy contractions at 7cm dilated for nearly six hours. Since nothing seemed to move the doc suggested a section would be the best bet. She put up a hell of a fight the entire time, though. It amazes me how incredibly strong one person can be for 16 hours straight.

I was able to watch the section through a glass door (thank God because I'm not sure I would have stayed conscious otherwise). The doctor was awesome, and I was surprised how fast they were able to get him out. Cara's nursing friend Shelly got out of bed in the middle of the night on her day off to be there to get him all cleaned up afterward, so that was a huge relief to both of us. We love Shelly. I was able to hold him while they got Cara all stitched up, but all he wanted to do was eat. I'll have to admit, I got teary-eyed when I saw that he was fat and healthy. After I pulled myself together, I counted 10 fingers and 10 toes (not on one hand, of course) and about lost it again.

The grandparent were ecstatic. In fact, they got in trouble a couple of times for waiting in the hall instead of the family lounge. It was really cool seeing everyone in the same room for the first time. Right now Cara is trying to get some rest. The last couple weeks were rough, and the last two days were unrelenting. We're both just really thankful that our baby boy is here and both he and mom are doing fine. As cliche as it sounds, it truly is a miracle. I can't wait to get home and post some pictures. He's only been in the world a few hours and I already have a TON of pictures. Hopefully I can get those up in a few days.

Thanks to everyone for your constant and continual prayers. We are both grateful to have such a great support of family and friends. We'll talk soon.

-The Stansifer Three

Here's the plan

2008-04-07T12:09:00.002-04:00

We had an appointment with Dr. Schwartz this morning. He explained what he thinks needs to go on this week with the baby and everything. He has decided to induce me again Tuesday night with the same cervix thinner medicine and then early Wednesday morning break my water and start the pitocin. Hopefully with all these methods the baby will decide to come out naturally. If things don't go as planned and I don't dilate anymore, they will do a c-section, but that is just in the back of our minds now. Since they will be breaking my water, the baby will be here either Wednesday or Thursday (depending). Thanks to everyone for all the phone calls and prayers! Casey and I had a wonderful weekend together with awesome weather too! Continue praying for us and for a healthy baby. I'm sure Casey will keep everyone updated at the hospital too so keep checking the blog! Love you all!

Operation Induction - on hold

2008-04-04T10:07:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm sitting at HOME writing this blog which is exactly what we didn't want to happen (at least without a baby). Dr. Scott came in this morning (partners with Dr. Schwartz) to see how I was doing. They checked my cervix once again and, shockingly, there was still no dilation. He said he really would prefer for me not to have to have a section and there is still a good chance we could have the baby naturally. He decided to send me home for the weekend, just taking it easy around the house, and then have an appointment with Dr. Schwartz first thing Monday morning. He then thought we would probably start this whole thing over again, if I don't go into labor myself this weekend. So right now, we are just sitting, waiting, and praying. We know it's going to be a long weekend, so be thinking about us. We just cannot wait to meet this little one; they said he is going to be a stubborn one...like his dad? Or mom? We'll have to wait a few more days to see! Thank you for all the support everyone has shown us this pregnancy and especially over the last couple of days! You all will never know how much that means to us! Keep praying for a healthy baby and hopefully a natural delivery! Love you all! :)

Hospital Continued

2008-04-03T19:14:00.002-04:00

Here's the plan: The pitocin didn't do much. Cara is not any more dilated than she was when she came in last night. They're going to try the cervadil again tonight and the pitocin again tomorrow. Dr. Thomas said being the first child it may take a couple days. If nothing happens tomorrow, which is not something Cara wants to hear at this point, we'll have to establish a new game plan. The fun never ends. On a positive note, we have been able to watch some great cable T.V. today. How did we ever function without John and Kate Plus 8? Talk to you soon.

-the messanger

At the Hospital

2008-04-03T11:44:00.003-04:00

Well, we're at the hospital. We arrived last night for phase 1 of Cara's induction. We still have no dilation, so they're going to try one more thing before the pitocin. They'll start the IV drip around 1:00pm. The baby forecast shows partly sunny skies this afternoon with a chance of baby late this evening. Cara seems to be in good spirits considering she is still having contractions about 5 min. apart. She wasn't able to sleep that much last night, but hopefully she'll be able to get a nap in today. I'll keep you all posted as things progress.

Click on the link to the left to check out nursery pictures!

Not much news

2008-03-28T10:44:00.003-04:00

We are now just waiting....and waiting. We went to the doctor this week and we still have not made any progress. We go back next Tuesday and he will decide whether to induce. We continue to ask for your prayers that this baby will come out naturally, without a c-section. Pray for even just 1 cm dilation. (That would increase our chances of a natural birth hugely!) Thanks for all the phone calls and emails and prayers. All are well appreciated! :)
P.S. We also posted some new pictures! Check them out!

2008-03-11T18:32:00.002-04:00

We're getting bigger! Here's a side-by-side from 6 weeks to 36 weeks. Only a couple more to go...

Doing well with 4 weeks to go!

2008-03-06T17:13:00.002-05:00

Well, we are down to the last month and things are going very well. I had my 36 week appointment today. They checked my cervix. No dilation yet, but the cervix and baby's head are low and ready. I am measuring a week ahead, so the baby could make an appearance the last week of March. The heart rate today was 150-152...beating right along. The nursery is almost ready. We got new windows installed this week and doing some finishing touches this weekend. Hopefully it will be completely ready this weekend. Casey enjoyed yet another snow day yesterday. He was able to get caught up on all his grading and, yes, the research papers are done! WooHoo! Hope all is well with everyone. We ask you continue to keep us in your prayers as we will for you! Have a great weekend! :)

Only 5 more weeks!

2008-02-28T08:16:00.002-05:00

We just wanted to give you a quick update on what's been going on around here. Casey is still hard at work at grading all those research papers (though he is almost done...thanks to the snow day!) and I have been doing my 12 hour shifts...uugghh. It's getting harder and harder. I now have the option of only working 8 hours now too. Casey is also finishing his classes for church and will be baptized at the Easter Vigil mass. How exciting for him!
I have been having contractions every day, none regular yet. I know the baby is just getting ready for its big arrival. Our next appointment is next Thursday, so say a prayer everything still looks good. We are also getting pregnancy pictures done together next Tuesday. We will post them when they are ready. We hope and pray everyone is doing well! Love you all!

Baby Shower

2008-02-18T15:03:00.002-05:00

We had a great time Sunday at the baby shower! What a huge blessing it is to have all our friends and family in our lives. We received great gifts that will be perfect for our little one. A big thank you to everyone who was able to attend and those who were at home thinking of us! Thank you so much for all your love and support! :)

It's been awhile...

2008-01-28T16:28:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been almost a month since our last posting and not much has changed. Casey is full swing into school, having his students writing research papers. I don't think he is looking forward to grading 95 of them, but that's the life of an English teacher! I have been working my same hours, picking up some when I have feeling up to it. I have still taking classes and trying to stay ahead just in case...sometimes the baby has plans of his/her own. We are still have appointments every 2 weeks. Everything is still looking good. The heart rate is consistently high 150s. We will start going every week at 35-36 weeks. Right now I have 31 weeks. Tater is doing well. Enjoying his weekends with the grandparents and livin' the good life. The baby shower is being planned as we speak. It's on Feb. 17th and it sounds like it is going to be quite a party! Lots of desserts and chocolates! We hope and pray everyone is doing well. Hopefully we'll be better at updating the site when the baby comes. Casey and I will get on posting some new pictures! Love you all!

Christmas is over....

2008-01-03T09:18:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a crazy couple of weeks around here. Casey is on his 2 week Christmas break and it's been non-stop since then. We have celebrated 5 Christmases now...starting the Sunday before having 2 parties in Greenfield with the grandparents. Then off to the Kuhnle's for Christmas eve dinner and church. Christmas morning was spent mostly in our pajamas, watching movies. (We did venture out for some Chinese later that day!) We had a little break then Casey's brother and sister-in-law came here to celebrate with Pam and Robert, and Greg and Jan. We had a great time with everyone..spending quality time with the family and having lots to eat! (Especially good for the growing baby tummy!) In the mist of all the craziness, we were able to make it to Dayton, OH to see good friends of ours that were home from South Carolina. What a blessed holiday we had! Casey put together the baby furniture we have; the crib, changing table, and glider rocker (Thanks to my baby brother!). The nursery looks great! We will have to post some pictures! We also went to our 26 week appointment and everything is still looking good. We listened to the heartbeat (once again 155) and measured for dates. Now our appointments will be every 2 weeks! Only 3 more months to go! Casey and I are so excited. Every time we see a baby it gets us more anxious for ours to arrive! We will hopefully get some holiday pictures posted! Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas and happy new year!

Registering Complete!

2007-12-09T05:08:00.000-05:00

We forgot to tell you all we made our way to get registered for the baby! We went to Babies R Us, Target, and online at www.babysupermall.com. Lots of fun stuff for the baby! :)

Second Ultrasound

2007-12-05T16:34:00.000-05:00

We had our second ultrasound last Wednesday to see how the baby is doing. Casey had to work, so Mom went with me. The baby looks so big compared to the 10 week one! Everything looks really good. They even are able to look at all 4 chambers of the heart and we watched it beat. They asked if we would like to know what the baby is and we said we are going to wait. The ultrasound tech said the baby was moving so fast she could hardly take a picture of it! There was no way we would have been able to find out the gender! The baby weighed in at exactly 1 pound! :) The end of December is our next appointment and they will run some blood tests, etc. We continue to pray everything goes well...only 17 weeks to go! Keep us in your prayers and we'll keep you updated! Hope you enjoy the newest picture of our baby! (It is a side view of the baby's head).

No School!

2007-12-05T14:02:00.001-05:00

There are a few new posts on here. Pretty cool, huh? I had a little extra today because school got canceled. We have one day built into the calendar, so we won't have to make this one up. This is only the start of the snow season, though. I'm sure we'll have plenty of others. Cara and I went to lunch, Sam's Club, etc. If the roads were so bad why were we out running around, right? Things are warming up and sloshing down by now. I felt pretty cool chomping through the snow in my all wheel drive Subaru. Tater had fun running through the snow as well. He's taking a nap right now, though. All that fun will wear a dog out. I hope all is well with everyone.

Thanksgiving

2007-12-05T09:49:00.001-05:00

Cara had to work this Thanksgiving, so we went to her grandma's in Decatur once she got off work. Those Kuhnles know how to party. We went to Grandma and Pa's on Friday to hang out with them and the rest of the clan. It was good to see Brian again. He and Kent gave G&P their Christmas present early: Nintendo Wii!

We went out with Mom and Robert on Saturday and celebrated her 50th birthday Japanese style at Takaoka. We had a good time watching them cook up our dinner at the table. The guy was making fun of Cara because she wasn't eating her vegetables. They even served a birthday sherbet with a sparkler.

Mary Kay Party

2007-11-16T05:57:00.000-05:00

It's true, there is no party like a Mary Kay party. Cara hosted a holiday party last weekend that seemed to go rather well. I'm not exactly sure about the Mary Kay end of things, but I do know that the cookies were delicious. Tater had a great time greeting all of his friends as they came by. He was very excited to see all 3 of his grandmas on the same day.

With the party came our Christmas decorations. Cara got the tree up and decked it out all by herself. Now I need to do my part and put up some lights outside. I may just stick with a few lights on the porch and forget about the angel that sits in the yard. We had a mishap last year involving Mom, Tater, and the angel. :) I'm not completely certain I'll get them up this weekend, but that's the goal.

I just finished grading my last batch of essays at 10:30 last night. Grades have to be in by 3:30 today, so it was crunch time. Next week is going to be great, though. We went to school on Veteran's Day so we could have Wednesday off of next week. Woo-hoo! It's going to be a much-needed break. We start reading Julius Caesar when we come back, so I'll need to make sure I have everything together. Four more weeks after we return and it's Christmas break time again. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. Let us know how things go.