Day 3: Gabriel's Room

Why Hello Friends! 

I'm so sorry that this post is a few days late. This weekend has been quite busy, yet relaxing for us! We stayed home (well, Jesse had mine classes all day on Saturday, but other than that...) and relaxed... I caught up on some house cleaning and laundry and we also watched a few movies on tv! Oh & Gabriel got to see and spend time with both sets of grandparents this weekend! On Friday, I took Gabe to the Doctor...his poor eye has been looking red and getting "gunk" in it. At first I thought it might be a clogged tear duct (which he had while still in the hospital) but since it didn't get better after a few days, we made a trip to see our favorite pediatrician! He thought it looked a little red too, so he's on an antibiotic for the next few days...just to be on the safe side. Anyways, Gabe got to spend some time with Mama & Papa (my parents) and Papa Ray (my grandpa...Gabe's great-grandpa!) on Saturday afternoon! And today we went to lunch with Papaw Gary and Gma Kim (Jesse's dad and stepmom)... and Gabe got the cutest toys from them for valentine's day! He also got a cute little outfit and toy from Papaw and Granny (Jesse's Grandparents) and a cute little monkey and card from Gma Kim's MOm!  He's such a lucky little man to have such great grandparents and great-grandparents that love him!  :) 

Anyways, when we got home I got his new toys out, plus most of his other toys, and let him play on the floor. I even got down there with him...though I think he may have thought I was getting in his way... haha! :) He LOVED it and wore himself out. My little man passed out at 8:00! YES, 8:00!! Can you believe it!? This hardly ever happens! Anyway, I think all the excitement from seeing his grandparents and playing with his new toys definitely wore him out! He's in his crib snoring away right now! 


SO. Let's get to the rest of this house tour! Again, I'm so sorry this post is a few days late! I promise, it won't happen again...well, I hope not! :) Anywho... 

Today is Day 3 

and it's one of my 

F.A.V.O.R.I.T.E. ROOMS...

Gabriel Lee's Room of course! 

Here's his crib and above it! 

I love his name above the bed... 

Oh & the rocket ship that's taking off bringing his name behind it! :) 

His crib... Gotta have his monkeys! :) 

I want to find a sheet or blanket/quilt for his crib soon that matches his room decor! 

I found a CARS one that I really like...but seeing that his room is not CARS means I'm still searching! 

He also has the cutest bumper pads to match his valances that my Mom made him.. 

but I took them off...just to be on the safe side! :) 

"Look at the Stars...Look How the Shine for You!" 

Love this quote...it's from a Coldplay song! :)

Changing table... 

LOVE LOVE LOVE his picture! 

(Plus, mom and I got it for like $8.00 on clearance at Target...can't beat that!)

OH & of course his little hangers for clothes... 

(got those for 50 cents each at Goodwill... we have 2 more to hang up as well... 

I just don't know where yet!) 

Gabe's dresser and T.V. 

I'm wanting to get rid of the T.V. because he doesn't use it and

I told Jesse it is taking up valuable picture space! haha. 

We can't forget his little train that Uncle Benji, Aunt Nicki, and Emeri got him for Christmas! 

More TOYS! haha. 

Gabe's bookshelf... 

Please excuse the heater...

 Gabe's room seems to be the coldest in the house... 

So I turn it on at night so he doesn't freeze his precious little butt! :)

LOVE THESE PICTURES! 

We had these hanging up in the NICU at Cardinal Glennon! 

They're pictures of when he was tiny, tiny! 

"Oh The Places You'll GO!" 

LOVE Dr. Seuss quotes! : )

And the picture frame...yes, it's still empty.. 

I know, I know, I realllyyy need to put pics in it! :) 

Closet door! :) 

and of course, our little decals!

I just had to include this picture... 

This is Gabe's Christmas Present from Papaw Gary and Gma Kim! 

He's still a bit too little for it...

But I can't wait to put it together and let him play with it soon! 

(P.S. More pics of Gabe's Christmas presents to come soon... 

yes, I know, it's a few months after Christmas...

but, Better Late than Never, Right!?)

Gabe's Door! 

This is the cute little name tag volunteers made for Gabe's room at Cardinal Glennon! 

I love it! 

Well, that's Gabe's room Friends! :) 

Can you tell why I LOVE it so much!? 

Of course, I can't end this post without sharing a few pics of my favorite little boy! :) 

If this doesn't look like his daddy...then I don't know what does! haha. 

Playtime!! 

So many too choose from... what next!? 

Wore himself out! 

"Here Daddy... Let me help you play this game with my feet!" haha 

Of course, Daddy's not looking at the camera! 

"Ummmm... I want some of those chips!" hahahah 

Well, tomorrow starts a new week! 

Our house tour will continue with our bathroom and laundry room! 

Have a Great one friends! 

Day 2: Living Room

Day 2: Living Room

Here's the view of our living room from the kitchen. 

I just love the pillows my mom made me! :) 

Oh & more pictures to be added to our "Family" Black & white picture wall! 

I'm just waiting to order some more after Gabe's pics next week! :) 

LOVE my chest! 

It's perfect to store all of our blankets in! 

Plus, I got it and the trays for like 80% off at Hobby Lobby! :) 

Gabe's Toy area in the living room! 

I LOVE his new learn-to-stand toy. 

He loves it too... he laughs and dances along with it! 

SO, SO cute! 

Of course Rylee had to join in on the fun! :) 

Please excuse the wires... 

we still haven't figured out a way to hide them just yet! :) 

Love this! 

Our wedding pictures... 

And of course a picture of the Eiffel tower above them! 

Oh & can't forget a picture of our favorite little girl... our niece, Emeri! :) 

I call this...our wedding table! haha. 

It's our unity candle and my flowers! :) 

It is about time that we get rid of the swing! haha. 

Gabe's getting a little too big for it now! 

However, I do love our pictures of Gabe on the wall! 

You can't really see it, but the picture in the middle on the bottom is one of my favorites... 

It's a 5 Generation picture... 

With Jesse's Great-Grandma, Grandma, Dad, Jesse, and Gabe! 

I love it... and it's so Special! :)

The view from the front door! :) 

Tomorrow is Day 3 of the House tour!! 

And it is one of my FAVORITE rooms!! 

Gabriel's Room is next! 

I can't wait to show you all! 

And the house tour begins... Day 1: Kitchen

And the House Tour Begins!! 

Before we get started... I just have one announcement... 

It was official today! 

I am now, once again, officially a Graduate Student 

at SIU in the

Behavior Analysis & Therapy Program! 

I start classes in the Fall! 

I'm sooooo excited! :) 

Anyway, let's get to this house tour!

Today, we start with the Kitchen. 

As I said yesterday, the kitchen is the one room in my house that must ALWAYS, ALWAYS, be clean. 

Maybe I get it from my mom!? :) 

But I believe that a clean kitchen is a happy kitchen! 

And a Happy Kitchen makes for a happy wife and mommy! :) 

Here's our kitchen coming in from the laundry room! 

I love the ideas of pictures in the kitchen too... 

Makes it feel more warm and cozy! 

Plus, I do have a slight obsession with pictures... 

as you will notice during the rest of the house tour! :) 

Our counter...complete with Gabe's bottle necessities. 

Our stove! 

There's just not enough room to store everything! haha. 

Believe it or not, I have tried to downsize! 

Kitchen table! 

I just love our little decorations on the table! 

Please excuse the messy tablecloth... 

With a little baby and a puppy...

it's almost inevitable that it will get some stains on it throughout the day! 

Love these pics! 

OH & Gabe's highchair too! 

Eiffel Tower! 

Yes, I have a slight obsession with the Eiffel Tower... 

It will be quite evident in the rest of the home! :) 

Our fridge...complete with pics of Gabe! :) 

Well, that's our Kitchen Folks! 

Day 2 of the House tour will be our Living Room! :) 

Of course I had to include a picture of my 

favorite little man! :) 

House Tour

So, several of the blogs that I follow have recently done a post on their house... Blog House Tours I guess you could say. So, I'm jumping on board and have decided to do this too. In an effort to motivate me to get my house as clean as I would like, I decided to start our "TOUR" tomorrow. I think I'll even add in some of my favorite things to clean with...such as Magic Erasers and Mr. Clean Anti-bacterial spray! :)) Anyways, We shall start with the kitchen.

I feel like there is just not enough time in the day to get everything done around the house. Between playing with Gabe and working part-time...my house seems to get the worst of it. I clean every night after my little man goes to sleep and I clean when I can during the day when he naps. It is just NEVER-ENDING I tell you. There is always laundry to be done, dishes to be washed, and floors to be swept. WHOA! I'd really like to get a housekeeper...but so far, Jesse hasn't gone for it! haha. However, my kitchen must be clean every night. It's the one room that I am very, very particular about... I just can't stand a dirty kitchen. It makes me feel a bit uneasy when there are dishes in the sink and plates, cups, and utensils still laying out. I must say, I clean that kitchen up everynight and then spray my countertops down with some Mr. Clean to get them Extra-clean! Maybe it's a bit obsessive, but what can I say? I like a clean kitchen! haha.

So get ready, tomorrow starts a whole new phase on The Schiff's blog. Like I said, we shall start with the kitchen! :)

Dr. Seuss....

Hello Everyone!!

Hope you all had a great Superbowl Weekend! :)

Here's what we've been up to the past few days...

•  We're pretty positive Gabe has starting teething again..
• I got "re-admitted" into the BAT program at SIU-C
• I start classes in the fall...
• Now, I'm working on getting an assistantship again! :)
• Jesse is working midnights again...
• I think i"m finally getting used to it
• Gabe is sleeping in his crib all night...
• Well at least until about 6:00 a.m.
• Then he comes into bed with mommy...
• Rylee finally got a bath...
• And a haircut..
• She looks MUCH, MUCH better! :)
• We had a great, relaxing weekend together!
• Nothing we'd rather have done than sit at home and spend some quality family time together..
• I played with my niece Emeri... We were hiding from the "Storm" in Mama's closet...
• Gabe even joined in on the fun...
• I think he may have been a little confused... haha.
• Emeri also painted my nails...
• OK, maybe it was my nails and fingers...
• That's ok though...they still turned out great!
• She's so cute! :)
• Somebody said this week that some people just like to be mad...
• By the way, I'm not mad...I just don't care anymore.  
• Ever read that book "He's just not that into You"
• I think someone needs to write a book called "She just doesn't like you" :)
• Anyways.....
• We enjoyed Eddie James ministry at church on Sunday...
• We're also planning Gabe's dedication at church! :)
• I decided on Gabe's theme for his birthday!
• It's going to be Dr. Seuss... centered around the Dr. Seuss Happy Birthday book..
• It's going to be so, so cute.
• Yes, I realize we still have a few months until then...
• But that ok, I like to plan early..
• We worked out our budget for the next few months...
• With a little hard work we will be debt free within 6 months!
• We're looking forward to it... :))
• And that's all she wrote... Have a good one friends!

P.S. please keep a family that I know in your prayers. The mother just passed away this morning and she has a young girl that is around 9 or 10. I can't imagine what they are going through righ now!

Giving

Happy Sunday Everyone!!!

Well, this morning I went to church. We had a guest ministry there called "Eddie James Ministries." They were awesome! So, today, I want to talk a little about giving. 

If you haven't heard about Eddie James Ministries, I strongly encourage you to check out their website and see what they are all about. In a nutshell, they help teens and young adults transform their lives. These are young people that have been drug addicts, alcoholics, sexually abused, suicidal, etc. Living on the streets with no place to call home... And they found Jesus through it all and gave their lives to him and are completely changed. It's absolutely amazing to hear their testimonies! Right now, Eddie travels across the world with 40 young adults who share their love for God through music and ministry. Please, go check out what they're all about- just click here -->

Eddie James Ministry!

Right now, Eddie and his team are working to expand their ministry so they can get at least 20 more people in their program. However, they can't do this without the support and funds from people like us! So, I'm not saying to just go and donate...but I do encourage you to go and read what they are all about, what they stand for, and see with your own eyes the remarkable transformations that these young adults have made. See what God is doing in their lives. And if you are touched as I have been, please consider donating! They need a commitment of donations by Easter...so, yes, you have plenty of time between now and then to make your decision! We're going to donate... because this is something I believe in and it is something that I believe is a worthy cause! I'm sure you will too after you do a little research! And remember what the scripture says... 

 "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you." 

Deuteronomy 16:17

Friendship

"Somebody's gonna give you
A lesson in losin'
Somebody's gonna do to you
What you've been doin'
And I hope that I'm around
To watch 'em knock you down
Somebody's gonna give you
A lesson in hurtin'
Somebody's gonna leave you
With your fire burnin'
And no way to put it out"

-- "Lesson in Leavin'" JoDee Messina

Well I’ve been saved by the grace of Southern charm

I got a mouth like a sailor and yours is more like a Hallmark card

And if you wanna pick a fight

Well I’m gonna have to say goodnight

I don’t have to be hateful, I can just say bless your heart

And even though I don’t belong with your high life friends

It doesn’t mean we don’t get together and try to make amends

It’s easier can’t you see

Let’s agree to just disagree

We don’t have to like each other but it’s sure fun to pretend

So let’s shake hands and reach across those party lines

You’ve got your friends just like I’ve got mine

We might think a little differently

But we got a lot in common you will see

We’re just like you

Only prettier

Everybody says you’ve gotta know your enemies

Even if they only weigh a hundred pounds and stand five foot three

If you just smile and behave you can always get your way

It’s a universal plan that’ll get you where you can in all societies

So let’s shake hands and reach across those party lines

You’ve got your friends just like I’ve got mine

We might think a little differently

But we got a lot in common you will see

We’re just like you

Only prettier

Well, I’ll keep drinkin’

And you’ll keep gettin’ skinnier

I’m just like you

Only prettier

--"Only Prettier" Miranda Lambert

What am I listening to? Well, how about a few of my favorite songs at this moment of time... 
"Lesson in Leavin'... yeah, it may be meant to be a relationship song...but in all reality, I think it can be about friendship too. Especially the line of:: 

"Somebody's gonna give you
A lesson in hurtin'
Somebody's gonna leave you
With your fire burnin'
And no way to put it out""

"Only Prettier" well, honestly, I just think it's a really good friendship song. Is that weird? Maybe. But that's how I feel! :) 

Well, anyways, Hello Friends! 

Today, I would like to give a simple lesson on friendship. I know, what's with all these truths and lessons, right? Well, I promise I'm almost done. Just getting this stuff out there! :) 

Anywho, as I've said in the past... I have a good set of friends that I consider my family. Some of them, I'm probably just as close to! Time and time again my friends prove to me how faithful they are to our friendship. I've never had to doubt that they will love and support me no matter what. Don't you wish we could say this about everyone!? Well, I'm lucky enough to call this bunch of people my friends, my family. I'd kill for them as I know they'd do for me. We support each other, laugh together, and cry together. We've been through some really great times and some really bad times...but through it all, our friendship has proven to be just as strong as it was in the beginning.

And why do I care and trust these guys so much? Well, it's simple really, because I know that: 

1. I can talk to them about absolutely anything
2. I can trust them to keep things that I tell them in confidence to themselves. 
3. I know that they will be there for me if I ever need them
4. I know that no matter what...I can always depend on them to be the shoulder to lean on. 
5. They understand me and agree with me
6. Even when we don't agree with each other's decisions... we're still supportive of each other. 
7. I know they love me unconditionally, like family does, and that no matter what I can always, always, always count on them to be by my side. 

SO, why is this subject so heavy on my heart these days? Well, lately I've been realizing that these guys are the ones that I know I can 100% trust besides my family. They're the ones that have been by my side for many years now and I know that I can talk to them about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. I've realized that it takes time to build that trust and friendship. I've also realized that even though you may meet someone new and think they are your "good" friend...they're not.  I must admit, I've learned this the hard way. Guess I should have listened to my husband! haha. It's tough when you lean on a family member to confide in and they just go and tell the whole world. Hence the reason I've learned to only trust MY family and MY friends. 


Anyways, it all boils down to this folks. I can think of 3 good truths on what it takes to be a good friend. 

1. Always support and love each other like family
2. Keep things that are said to you in confidence to yourself
3. Be the friend that you want them to be.

Yes, it's really that simple. At least for me it is. It doesn't take much for me to like you and trust you...but don't ever do anything to betray that trust. Because, let's face the facts, once that trust is betrayed and broken... you can almost NEVER get it back! :) 

My 2 Best Friends. 

Tyler & Rachel 

P.S. SUPERBOWL TONIGHT!! WOOOO!!! We're getting together with these guys tomorrow at Rachel and Bryan's house to watch the game. OK, us girls will probably sit and gossip and play with the kids while the guys do the football thing. However, we will tune in for the commercials and half-time show! :)