alright

enough is enough!



I just haven't been able bring myself to blog because I'll have to fess up to the fact that my baby is growing and time is moving along. I know you are all just dying to see pics, but as usual you get to read my ramblings too! I did actually follow through and take a picture a day for 30 days, I think these are in order (except that one above I just took last week) and I'm missing a few I took on my phone, but I DID do it and I am so happy I did.

-I pretty much kiss her chubby cheeks all day, and she loves it.



So here is some documentation on the little one and life around here.

(This is obviously the wonderful work of Rhonda! and as good as it got on our first attempt at a photo session)

-I put clothes on Sage some days not just sleepers which means she is big enough for clothes/dresses dang it! but it's pretty dang cute so it's ok.


-I don't want to jinx it, but she is a good baby. However, it doesn't take much to take that title in the Baldry house. It usually means that you don't cry for more than an hour for unknown reasons. (I cannot even fathom a baby crying for hours on end like James did.) I told someone she was a really good baby and they asked me if she slept through the night. I said, well she is still a baby and up every 3 or 4 hours but that is what they do!

(this was our second go around. Love this pic. I wish camera/photoshop lingo wasn't like Japanese to me because it would be really fun to be able to take/make great photos, not just pics like I do!)


-she does get a little fussy at bedtime most nights, but I laugh in the face of fussy. (and give gripe water)


-we have middle of the night parties on occasion, but again she doesn't cry, so we just hang out.


-Sage likes her soother now, but only one type and I only have one of them so I'm on the lookout


-I am so much more relaxed with 3 than I was with 2. I think it mostly has to do with the ages of James and Alli and the fact that I haven't really done anything yet. There are enough other things going on in life I don't have time to analyze every little thing.



-She has started to really smile, but I have yet to capture proof of this.


-Every time I try and do a somewhat of a posed picture Sage cries, every time. It's best not to disturb her she tells me.


-Finally had her first bath that she didn't scream through on Saturday and has been mostly loving them ever since. But I have to say, keeping up with the bathing and hygiene of 3 kids is quite the task.


-Through all the annoying/uncomfortable/painful post baby things I kept telling myself it doesn't last long, it doesn't last long. And it doesn't! 6 weeks goes by so fast and I feel mostly normal.


-Which means I started walk/jogging etc, oh yeah, that doesn't feel normal. Now I need to start telling myself the out of shape doesn't last long...right?


-Lots of people have asked me about her name. Well, I have loved the same Sage since probably jr high. We almost used it for Alli's middle name. Glad I help out for a first name cause I just love it! Her middle name, Ellis is a family name on Derek's side. His Grandpa Baldry had the middle name Ellis. The name goes back 5 generations or so I think, where it turns out a James Baldry married a Susannah Ellis and they are Derek's great great grandparents. (visited Derek's grandma this week to make sure I had my genealogy right, correct me if I'm wrong Grandma B!)


The kids are having a great time with her. James had a bit of cough the last day or 2 so I have been trying to keep him away and he pretty much cries when he can't hold her because he is usually smothering her.


-I realized James has way more pics with Sage than Alli. He used to always ask me to take his picture when he held her for all of 1 minute. But Alli will sit with her longer and I guess when she does I trust her unsupervised and get a thing or 2 done!


-Who knew I could say so much about my little almost 7 week old?


And just a couple more! First is Sage and Oliver a month apart. I can't remember but Sage is probably a week or 2 old and Oliver 4 or 5 weeks I guess.


Sage's cousin Talia born 4 weeks early. Sage and her chubby cheeks are 5 weeks here and Talia is 1 week! I guess Talia is still a little jaundice here, but Susie's kids do always make mine look pasty white. Love that there are 3 little cousins all in a row on the Steed side.


I'm so glad Rhonda gave me the great idea for the pictures with a new baby. Now Rhonda just gave me another idea to have a least one picture a month with the entire family. Totally up for it, thanks again Rhonda!

ye ol halloween

So here is the token halloween post for the year.

Alli has been talking about being a clown since last halloween and she didn't forget, so a clown it was! I washed her hair 3 times ast night and it still has color in it. I knew it would happen, but I was hoping it wouldn't. She thinks it's awesome she still has pink hair.



James had about 13 different things he wanted to be over the last month. Last week Derek called from wal-mart and asked James if he wanted to be a dirt biker, success! James was excited and was wearing the costume all week and wore it to preschool but I didn't take a pic. Well, yesterday he played dress up with all sorts of things we just have around while Alli was at school, I painted his face 3 or 4 times. In the end he couldn't help it and he just had to be a football player. He dresses up in football clothes on a regular basis and was still just as excited last night.


Derek and I went to a party on Friday. Going with the football theme I guess. I can't believe I didn't take a better pic of Sage. She's a little football, I'm the coach and Derek is a football player and as if I just wrote all that, I should hope it was obvious!



The kids are bouncing off the walls, there is still too much candy in their bags and I can't wait to send them to school! And one more because she is just too cute in her halloween outfit from grandma Karie. I have still been taking a picture a day of this little gal so I will update that shortly.

my baby is here!

Sage Ellis Baldry

Well, my little Sage is here and I couldn't be happier or more in love! She totally surprised us by coming 10 days before her due date. I had a c-section booked for the 19th and the 24th was my actual due date, but she just couldn't wait so oct 14th at 6:43 am it was!

I totally woke up to a contraction at 3:30 in the morning and didn't think anything of it and fell back asleep. Woke to a few more, but nothing serious. I'd been having braxton hicks for months. And even when my water broke around 4 I told Derek and then decided to just read my book. That lasted for about 3 seconds when I think Derek actually woke up and was like um, are you kidding me, get up, we're outta here. By then I was feeling the contractions and thought I'd better pack a bag. I couldn't think of anything I wanted besides socks. Derek kept asking me to focus so he could pack stuff but he had already got my toothbrush and I had those socks and I really couldn't think of anything else. My mom came over and Alli woke up and started crying because she didn't want the baby to come yet. It was supposed to be her friend birthday party that day. And we were off! And then we turned around to get the camera...THEN we were off!


I got to the hospital and boy was I glad Derek hurried me along because I was SURELY feeling it now! They got me all prepped and I was off to the OR. The on call Dr. did not want me to labor any more. It all went smooth and Derek was the first to tell me it was a GIRL! She was 7 lbs 8 oz. I had a minute to do a fake snuggle because you can't really cuddle very well hooked up like that still being stitched up and all then Derek was off with the baby and I went to recovery where I watched people move my legs move and I couldn't feel a thing.


Everything went really well. My dr. didn't deliver since it was in the night but I LOVED the dr that ended up doing it. She was fantastic. I had a shared room the first night and was ready to check myself out the next day it was so horrible. Luckily a private came available the next afternoon and I was outta there. I stayed the full 3 days this time and am so happy I did. I felt rested and ready to come home when it was time. It's hard to accept help sometimes and not pop out of bed the next day, but I knew this was the way to go this time. My mom has been over this week spoiling me and I love her so much for it! My friends and family and Derek have been so great with meals and taking my kids and driving them places and what not. I am so grateful for them all.


The kids are in love with her and keep track of holding time and both are sure they are getting gypped in the holding department. James is learning to be gentle and loves to kiss her all over and wants to take a picture every time her eyes are open. He usually lasts holding her for about a minute and then he's done just like that. Alli is my helper. She loves to hold Sage and talk to her. Alli helps with the diaper changes as long as they aren't messy. She is excited to teach her how to play barbies when she turns one.



Sage was so swollen the first day, but those chubby cheeks and double chin are still hangin around! She might look a tiny bit like Alli did, but it's hard to say because Alli didn't get chubby until she was older. So far Sage has been such a good newborn. She is nursing pretty good which has never happened easy for me, and that makes me so so happy. When we left the hospital her weight was down to 6 lbs 10 oz but she is on the up again already! She has a little curly hair on top right now, it's kinda dark but I'm sure it will magically disappear like my other kids and then come back blond. Her eyes are a dark blue right now, just like the others, so I'm sure they'll lighten up. Her thin little lips are perfect. And for some reason I am in love with her ears. She loves it when Derek bundles her up and so do I. He's just so good at it! She's not too into the soother yet, but loves my pinky finger! Right after she was born she found her thumb for a while, but hasn't since. I can't think of anything else to say other than I am smitten with this tiny thing. I'm just so happy and in love with her. I want time to stand still for a little longer and soak this all up. I'm not sure I have ever been a sappy baby person, but this time I just might be!

So I am taking Rhonda's advice and am taking a picture a day of Sage for 30 days. All the pictures above are from the first day.

Day 2...eeks, i have 3 kids!



Day 3

Day 4
Day 5- here's the curly hair on top! it just kinda does that after a bath.

Day 6And now I am about to cry because I can't believe Sage is a week old tomorrow! Also, I just realized I didn't take a picture yet today. I swear she is awake sometimes, but it might be another sleeping pic tonight.

alli is six!

Happy birthday Alli!

It's true I have a 6 year old. She is a mostly girly girl. She is having a rainbow unicorn birthday (did i say mostly girly girl? ok, all girly girl) tomorrow and she helped think up a lot of what this little party will entail! Details to follow...

(she really wanted to have breakfast in bed for her birthday, so i gave her a couple of limited choices and she couldn't have been happier. she always wants me to have breakfast in bed on special occasions and there is nothing i hate more than food in my bed so i have never really done it.)

Just wanted to write down a few things about my sweet little Alli Bea (her name is Alli Beatrice if you ask her which is fine by me. As if i am still having name regret after all these years!)

-loves to look at books, has little desire to read yet.
-loves kindergarten and might be one of those teacher lover types (oh dear)
-is a dream to put to bed most nights, i actually kind of enjoy putting her to bed and spending time with her and reading. james...he is another story...but i digress
-is on the road to being a hoarder, i'll have to expand on that to give you all a good laugh
-her favorite foods are kraft dinner, shrimp, meatballs, hawaiian haystacks, root beer and anything SWEET!
-has a fantastic memory of insignificant things
-loves to have long hot showers put on her robe and look at books in bed following (i don't know where she got this from...)
-always wants to have a friend over or go to a friends house
-asks to wear makeup on a regular basis
-is into barbies and crafty things lately
-hates getting her hair done
-is very helpful around the house (when in the mood)
-likes getting her picture taken and has the fakest smile ever sometimes
-wants to name the baby pixie if it is a girl
-is going to be a great help when the baby comes, i just know it!



(my kids wait for this year round. they get measured on grandma's wall. there are some classics up there! and i guess you get a 39 week preggo belly in that pic for a bonus. um thanks susie?)

She kept saying on her birthday, 'i feel different mom. oh right, it must be because i'm 6 now.'

I told her she could pick whatever she wanted for breakfast and supper on her birthday and I think she may have gotten a bit confused and wanted breakfast for supper! so waffles with coconut syrup it it was! Micky Mouse ones thanks to Grandma Karie!


I'm so happy to have Alli in my life. She is so much fun to have around. I see a lot of me in her somedays, not so much in the looks department (even she knows she looks like Derek because so many people say it to her) but her personality. Scares me a little sometimes, and gives my parents a real kick! So obviously she is fantastic and is a great gal! Love you Alli!


Also, after Derek ditched me on my birthday to a GREAT job in his marathon, he brought me home a new camera for my birthday! So the pictures will start flowing again and possibly the blog posts too! Oh wait except for the fact that I will have a 3rd child next week at this time might throw those plans a bit...

some things

it all started when...

-i stepped on the glass part of a frame the one week ago. broke it. cut/bruised my foot. still hurts in barefeet on my hardwood floor.

-made a cake for a friends 3 year old birthday on saturday (it was the adult cake)
-attempt 1, forgot to add the sugar
-attempt 2, forgot to double the sugar
-attempt to eat, it wasn't good

-derek turned 33 last friday. planned his favorite meal forsunday. forgot to buy corn on the cob, thanks to karie who pulled through. forgot to buy steak, thanks to brett and shawnfor pulling through. couldn't eat the leftover cake from the other party so brownies and ice cream for the birthday it was and thanks to karie again for the strawberries. i think i remembered potatoes and whip cream.

-didn't take any birthday pics. but i found a few others from a while ago.

-i fell while simply walking at a different party on saturday.

-i made wings in my crockpot for the other party on saturdayand they looked so wrong that i didn't even try them so i wouldn't know if they were good or not.

-i think i stayed home for the rest of the week.

-oh wait, i left the house to get my drivers license renewed. i'm super excited to carry that picture around for the next how many years. hello preggo face! i guess it will go well with my costco card i recently renewed.

-by the way, derek left yesterday and is running his marathon on saturday, it's all me in this condition!

-i put the kids to bed around 10 tonight and i'm not even exaggerating one bit when i say they had sugar for supper.

-what can i say, some days you have it, some you don't!

-i turn 30 tomorrow and i'm blaming all these mishaps on pregnancy because i would like to otherwise believe i am leaving my 20's gracefully.

my 10

Another month passed without a blog. Dang. Here's the most recent summary.

(First day of school for James, I had to bribe him not to wear basketball shorts.)

I used to put blogging on my to do list. I really did. I used to make to do lists. I can't remember the last time I made a list besides a grocery list. I don't know why I make grocery lists either because I usually forget 7 things and end up getting 10 extra things I don't need, treats included.

I have 6ish weeks until I have a baby. Someone asked me if I was all ready. But I can't think of what I am supposed to do to get ready. When I was pregnant with James I decided to pack a little hospital bag and it ended up being the day he was born. I was 10 days overdue. So...that's how I roll.



I used to take pictures. I can't even believe how many times this summer I have said, 'Dang I forgot my camera!' I don't know why, but I just always forget to bring it along. I used to pull it out on a regular basis.

We got a new computer a couple weeks ago. That 8 year old computer treated us well. (dad, look at me plugging mac's!) I've been using the old one, then Derek's laptop, and now the new one. I thought I had some more pictures in there somewhere, but it's looking pretty lame. And I'm not gonna lie, the speed this computer has is fantastic, but there are a few different things that I thin they had right 8 years ago! on the other hand, there are some fancy new things they thought up. Ah nerds, what will they invent next?

(Alli's first day of kindergarten. I didn't have to bribe her with anything. She picked out her dress and she wanted her hair straightened. I haven't done that with her hair for months because it takes FOREVER and I couldn't believe how long it was, yippee, small victory. I also noticed how much she needs a trim.)

So, Alli is in kindergarten every afternoon and James in preschool 2 afternoons a week. Don't call me, I'll be napping. Hopefully I'll get that nesting feeling at some point in there too so I can get my walls washed after the summer of filthy kids.

This baby moves around so much. I honestly can't remember if my other kids moved this much. But I feel like I would remember if I was getting drop kicked from the inside on a regular basis day and night.

Do you need to pee? I do. That's where I have been the last 9 months.

This summer was so awesome. I don't know why, it just was. (maybe it was because of the zero gravity chairs I brought with me every where I went?!) I'm not even sad summer holidays are over. Because if the weather stays nice, I will continue to treat it like summer with a few school breaks in there. I'm so happy when it is sunny!

On that note, I love the heat, but the last week or 2 of this 30 degree stuff is giving me some serious swelling issues. My feet and fingers and HUGE! It's awkward and embarrassing because I still have 6 weeks left to grow!

(We went to Waterton on labor day and took some iphone pictures so you know they are quality because of course I forgot my camera. Shortly after these pics, Derek told the kids he would get them a huge ice cream cone if they went under the water. Well, they both did, multiple times actually. I have some funny videos of it.)

Do you want a soda? I do. That's what I've been drinking the last 9 months. (maybe that has something to do with the charlie horses this baby is giving me. caffeine?!)

Knock on wood, but I have not been at all an emotional basket case this pregnancy like I have before. Don't get me wrong, I still turn cukoo crazy sometimes, but maybe I am finally just becoming more mature and have somewhat of a handle on my emotions. Derek is so proud!

(woot woot! there's my belly. i'm glad my shirt wrinkled over my belly so you can see it and my belly button really well.)

I think that was 11, you're welcome for the bonus.