Both Alivia and her momma love the "plant store!"
Thursday, June 13, 2013
A New Life For An Old Blog
Well, it's been nearly two and a half years since my last post and I'm not even going to apologize! Alivia was born and life got just a little bit crazy. Crazy in the most beautiful and wonderful way but crazy nonetheless. For her second birthday, Scott put together a slideshow of our favorite pictures of her second year. As we sat watching it loop through for what must have been the fourth time, we still couldn't believe how much Alivia had changed in one year. I began to feel that guilty feeling that all moms feel....I am letting the business of life (a full time job, a new home we moved into this year, making dinner, etc. etc.) get in the way and I am not putting all of the special memories into one spot.
So, that all ends now! I have a few friends who do picture a day blogs and I LOVE following them. I have even started following some of their friends - people I have never met but now I know when their child is sick or starred in the school play or they went out for a girl's night. These blogs have become my guilty pleasure and my five minutes of mindless internet surfing every few days. I have decided that they are just what I need to record all of the fun little parts of life with a little one in the house...while she is still little! I make no promises to update it everyday or even every week. I am going to forgive myself already for that and be realistic - this will probably end around late August! What I hope to do is have a special place Alivia can visit and see just how much we love each day with her!
I have the luxury of having my summers free to spend with Alivia and she is at a very fun age to explore the world around us. I have decided that Alivia and I will go on an "adventure" as she calls them each day this summer. Sometimes they are big, exciting, pack a big bag and bring a cooler outings and sometimes they are simply a trip to the grocery store. Each one is an opportunity for Alivia to learn a little something and for her to know that she has her momma's undivided attention. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride of "Adventures With Alivia!"
So, that all ends now! I have a few friends who do picture a day blogs and I LOVE following them. I have even started following some of their friends - people I have never met but now I know when their child is sick or starred in the school play or they went out for a girl's night. These blogs have become my guilty pleasure and my five minutes of mindless internet surfing every few days. I have decided that they are just what I need to record all of the fun little parts of life with a little one in the house...while she is still little! I make no promises to update it everyday or even every week. I am going to forgive myself already for that and be realistic - this will probably end around late August! What I hope to do is have a special place Alivia can visit and see just how much we love each day with her!
I have the luxury of having my summers free to spend with Alivia and she is at a very fun age to explore the world around us. I have decided that Alivia and I will go on an "adventure" as she calls them each day this summer. Sometimes they are big, exciting, pack a big bag and bring a cooler outings and sometimes they are simply a trip to the grocery store. Each one is an opportunity for Alivia to learn a little something and for her to know that she has her momma's undivided attention. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride of "Adventures With Alivia!"
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Watching Me Grow!
Wow! My mom has really changed as I've been growing! Many people said she took forever to really look pregnant but as you can see...she grew a lot by 40 weeks!
32 & 34 Weeks
35 & 36 Weeks
37 & 38 Weeks
39 Weeks and January 16th (Due Date!!)
Monday, January 10, 2011
Showered with Love
I am truly the luckiest baby in the world! There are so many people who care about me and my parents and are excited for my arrival. My mom and dad had four showers in their honor and were astounded at the generosity of their family, friends, students, and colleagues. The first shower was with the Weber and Vitek families in St. Johns. My mom loved that so many aunts and cousins were there and she really enjoyed talking with them because she doesn't see everyone very often. Both families are so big and are excited to have another baby join the crew. My Nana K, Aunt Julie, and cousins Ellie and Sophie drove from West Michigan to meet everyone also!
My mom's team teacher, Tammi, and her classroom threw her a surprise shower at school also! She was shocked when she walked in and really enjoyed seeing the excitement of the class. The 29 students in her class have been really interested in the preparations for my arrival and had some very funny thoughts. Their families were also incredibly generous. She is going to miss her homeroom students and math students from Mr. Sietsema's class tremendously when she is home with me for a few months!
The yummy cake!
My mom with Aunt Alexa who worked really hard on the shower
Vitek and Weber women
My cousins Ellie and Sophie helping open gifts
My Aunt Julie and cousns Ellie and Sophie. Will I have blonde hair like them or be a brunette like my mom?
My mom's team teacher, Tammi, and her classroom threw her a surprise shower at school also! She was shocked when she walked in and really enjoyed seeing the excitement of the class. The 29 students in her class have been really interested in the preparations for my arrival and had some very funny thoughts. Their families were also incredibly generous. She is going to miss her homeroom students and math students from Mr. Sietsema's class tremendously when she is home with me for a few months!
The big surprise!
Opening many generous gifts
My mom's class. They are a really great group of kids! I get to hear their voices everyday!
The third shower was given by my mom's fellow 5th grade teachers for the elementary teaching staff. She absolutely LOVES the people she works with. Everyone is eager for my arrival and gave the nicest gifts. People at school wish my mom and dad well every day and will be such wonderful supports as they jump into parenting. She cannot wait to bring me back to meet everyone at CAPS!!
Another yummy cake....my dad LOVES extra cake!
Some of my mom's colleagues
Opening the many gifts
The final shower was given by some of my mom's high school friends. She thought they were just meeting for dinner over Thanksgiving but showed up to a special dinner and gifts. Krista, Lisa, Kari, Chad, John, baby Kate and baby Lily provided a fun night of many laughs!! Oh, the stories these people could tell me about my mom in a few years!
The diaper cake...I think I'll use lots of those!
Long-time friends John, Krista, Kari holding Kate, Lisa holding Lily, and Chad.
Here are a few pictures of my room with just some of the gifts. It took my mom and dad weeks to find room for everything in the house. What a lucky baby I am!!!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Special Gifts
Both of my grandmas gave my mom and dad some very special gifts to prepare for my arrival! My Nana Kosten is really good at sewing and knitting and she made me a beautiful yellow blanket. I think my mom and dad will use it to keep me warm when they bring me home from the hospital. She also made the bumper pads in my crib (pictures coming later!). It really adds to the color and playfulness of the room!!
My Grandma Vitek had pieces of her wedding gown made into a Baptism gown for me. It will be an exciting day to be baptized in such a special garment that she wore 40 years ago when she married my Grandpa Vitek. I think it took a lot of courage to know her wedding dress was being cut into pieces!! Thank you Grandma Kosten and Grandma Vitek!
My Grandma Vitek had pieces of her wedding gown made into a Baptism gown for me. It will be an exciting day to be baptized in such a special garment that she wore 40 years ago when she married my Grandpa Vitek. I think it took a lot of courage to know her wedding dress was being cut into pieces!! Thank you Grandma Kosten and Grandma Vitek!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Finished with School
My mom and dad have spent a LOT of time in school! They have both wrapped up their graduate schooling just in time for me to arrive. My mom finished her Educational Specialist degree at Grand Valley State University just a few weeks before they knew about me. I was even able to graduate with her in May 2010! Her degree is the coursework for a doctorate but I don't think she's going to finish the dissertation at this time. She's been going to school on weekends for 5 years and I think she just wants to hang out with me for now.
My dad graduated with his Ph.D in Statistics this weekend! This has been a long road that started with taking a mixture of Masters and Ph.D courses at Western Michigan in 2003. He's spent that last few years working just on his dissertation. What a long process of researching, writing, rewriting, researching some more, and patience! This was a common sight at our house the last few years:
Then, in October 2010, everything came together and he presented his finished paper! He had to talk in front of a large room of about 55 people and then they could ask him any questions. Afterward, he went into a room with his committee (a group of faculty advisers) and they could ask him further questions. All of this is called "defending" his dissertation. He did a FANTASTIC job and they approved his work on the spot! Whew....we are so glad this day was over!
The best day was December 18, 2010 when my dad officially graduated!! All of this excitement comes just in time for my arrival. I think my dad will enjoy hanging out with me on his lap rather than a laptop! Nana and Papa Kosten, Aunt Julie, my mom, and I were able to go to WMU and watch him be "hooded" at graduation. Members of his dissertation committee stood with him on the stage and placed a very nice hood (colored fabric) over his head and shoulders to officially declare his a Ph.D. He is now Dr. Scott Kosten and we couldn't be more proud!!!
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