happy valentine's day!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Lots of love from us to you! :)

i miss my buddy...

New pictures (finally) up! Hope everyone had a great weekend. Have a great week!

a new look...

So, I've decided that its time for a new look here at "And Baby Makes 3" and a change in the title was in order as well. Since Brianna is no longer technically a baby, I decided that this may be a more appropriate title! :) And as far as the complete change in colors, layout, etc...well I was just bored with that and it seemed a little too young for us now! So, I hope you like the new colors and look, it didn't turn out exactly how I had planned, but I guess it'll do for now!

In other news....we took Brianna back to the allergist on Monday to have her retested for her dairy allergy, before they did the test the doctor told us that most kids don't outgrow it that quickly (its been 6 months), but that he has seen it happen. So they did the test and I guess she is one of the lucky ones because her test came back definitely negative! We have to take her back on Thursday to have her drink milk in the office and see if she reacts, but if she doesn't we're good to go! We still have to follow the egg and nut guidelines he gave us, but that (hopefully) won't be so bad! She also had her 18 month checkup on Thursday and she is 24 pounds and 31 1/2 inches. Right at the 50th percentile mark. So, she is doing fine. Other than that I guess there isn't too much else to report.

Hope you all have a good weekend!
Lots of love!

Let me know what you think of the new setup, either in the comments or the guestbook, I'm anxiously awaiting some feedback. :)

we interrupt your regularly scheduled programming...

Hi All!

Yes we are still around. I told you the posts would be few and far between! Send all your complaints to Bob, because I told him he needed to make posts in my absence! :) Anyway, just wanted to touch base and tell you that we're all fine, nothing really new and exciting to report. Brianna spent the weekend at Grandpa Bob and Grandma Nancy's house and they took this adorable picture of her that I just must share.

Hope everyone is doing well and that 2007 has been a good year so far!

We now return you to your day, already in progress...

PS. Grandpa K~ we love you and miss you everyday!

happy 2007

Hello All!
Just a quick note tonight. We hope you all had a wonderful New Years, we spent the weekend in Iowa celebrating Christmas/New Years with my family. Brianna and Braden had a great time playing together and we had a good time watching them and relaxing.

It was great to be back in Iowa for a few days, since we probably won't get there again for a while. We headed back today and stopped in Galesburg along the way.

We saw the Business Office ladies for a while and then had lunch with CJ (former golf teammate of Bob's and current men's and women's golf coach at Knox).
Then headed back home and got everything unpacked and put away and we're trying to get ready to go back to work tomorrow. :o(

We wish you all a happy and healthy 2007!
(there are lots of new pictures...check them out!)

quickie...

Hi All...
Just a quick post tonight, hope you all had a great Christmas, we had a lot of fun and it continues into this weekend...we're traveling to Iowa tomorrow night and staying until Tuesday. We'll celebrate Christmas with my family and get to spend a little time with some family and friends. Tuesday we're taking a detour though Galesburg to spend a little time with our "Knox family" and then we'll head back home to get ready for another week. Whew....and just a warning, things are getting busy at work and once tax season hits full on, the posts may be pretty scarce, unless I can talk Bob into taking over the blogging duties! :o) Anyway, there are some new pictures in the December album (mostly of Brianna opening her presents). Enjoy, hopefully I'll have more after this weekend. Have a safe and happy New Year! Here's to a wonderful 2007!

merry christmas...

With lots of love,
From our family to yours!
We wish you a fantastic 2007!

fun weekend...

Hello again all!
I hope you're all enjoying this abnormally warm holiday season! :)We spent this past weekend in Wentzville visiting Angie, Nick, & Braden. We (Angie & I) decided to make Christmas cookies together. So Bob, Brianna, & I took off Friday after work and headed down there.
We made cookies on Saturday while the kids played together and Bob and Nick (well, I'm not sure what they did ;) I guess the only other exciting thing is my fabulous new low-maintence haircut! Other than that, not too much to report. Check out the new pictures in the December album!

it all started with a little duct tape...

Today is a day that is very special to me, December 15th is a day that changed my life forever...let me take you back....

Well, it was Christmas time and I was traveling to spend a few days with my boyfriend (You all know Bob. Internet say hello to Bob!) and his family to celebrate an early Christmas. So I packed my car up with the loads of presents and started on my journey. I arrived in Crystal Lake on Friday afternoon, excited to see Bob, because it had been a month since I'd last seen him. We hung out Friday night, talking and relaxing.

Rise and shine...its Saturday morning, and we all head out to watch Brian's basketball tournament. We had a great time at the tournament, I met some more of Bob's friends and talked to some friends of his parents, and of course watched basketball! :o) We arrived back at the Carroll's house where, like any good visitor would, I took a nap. Actually I think Bob and I started watching TV or a movie or something and after I fell asleep he got up. Mary was coming over that evening and we were going to have the traditional opening of the presents.

Fast forward until evening ('cause really I was sleeping...I have no idea what was going on). Mary came over and we were sitting around the tree, opening presents, talking and laughing, you know...general holiday merriment. So Bob hands me my present, a huge box and I quietly wonder to myself what this could possibly be? So I tear off the wrapping and inside, I find....another box. Haha...funny funny, I tear open that box and I find....another box...OK really? Are we 12?? So I open that box and find yes, you guessed it, another box. (I'm getting a little frustrated here) so I tear the wrapping off of that box and underneath I find....duct tape. And I'm talking several thousand layers of duct tape, he seriously might have deprived a small country of their duct tape rations for an entire year on this thing. He is laughing uncontrollably as I tear the layers off one by one. I think they did finally have pity on me and let me cut through some layers! So...finally...we're inside the box. I dig to the bottom of the box and find....a note. OK...so I open the note and read "Your present needed to be cleaned. Look in the dishwasher." You can all see where this is going, can't you? Inside the dishwasher was yes...another note! "Your present is clean, but now it needs to be dried. Look in the dryer." Imagine my surprise when in the dryer was...another note (you're shocked aren't you?) "Your present needs to cool off. Look on the porch." So out to the porch I go. Did I mention that during this whole thing 5 people are following me around the house...yeah..I didn't feel like a dork or anything :o). Anyway, out to the porch, I start looking around and then I believe Bob tells me to maybe look under the pillows (there are of course 1 million pillows on the porch). So pillows start flying and of course under the very last pillow is....you got it...a note! (Boy you guys catch on quick). "Your present has been with me the whole time. Look in my pocket." I really wanted to punch him at this point, sending me on this wild goose chase while all the while he's holding onto my gift. Of course silly me...in his pocket was....A NOTE!! "I promise this is the last one, your present is up in my room. Don't turn on the light, you will see it when you enter my room." So we head upstairs, me and the gang :o) As I step in his room...I see a light in a tiny box shining on the bed holding the most beautiful ring I have ever seen. It was perfect. As I turned around, Bob was on one knee asking me to be his wife.

And I know what you're all thinking "after all that, you had to know thats what your present was going to be" But honestly I didn't, it took me by complete surprise, it was the most amazing proposal and it all happened 5 years ago today. December 15th is the day that set all my dreams into motion, it is a day that still brings me to tears and makes me smile. It is a day that replays in my head each time I look down at my ring. It is a day that makes my heart happy, it was a day that ended a chapter in my life but that began another.

Actually now that I think about it, the way Bob proposed is actually quite fitting for our life together. We started out with some big dreams and plans, and as we've opened boxes and found some notes, and fought our way through the endless layers of duct tape, our dreams and plans have changed and led us in directions different than what we imagined, some good, some bad, but through it all we never let the duct tape get in the way of getting to the good stuff.

Make video montages at onetruemedia.com

Bob,

I could not possibly put all of our memories in this short little video, but I hope this makes you see how each and every day I'm living my dreams because of you. I know December 15th, 2001 is not the beginning of our story, but its the day I began believing my dreams could come true. Thank you for always standing beside me, encouraging me, and loving me, even through all the duct tape :o). You have changed my life in so many profound ways, no words could possibly describe (funny how I've used 12,000 to try) so I will leave you with this...

Here's to unwrapping our future, through all the paper, boxes, and even the duct tape, may we discover all the wonderful and exciting things life has in store for us and continue to dream....together.

I love you!

its about time...

I know thats what you're all thinking, but hey...give me a break...I've got a life too (sort of!). Things are busy here, but nothing exciting to speak of. We were back in IA for Thanksgiving. We celebrated Braden's 1st birthday, can't believe he is one already. Thanksgiving Day and the day after Thanksgiving were actually quite hectic, but they were a lot of fun as well. The Saturday after Thanksgiving I went shopping with my mom, grandma, and Aunt Cathy. We left mom and dad's at 7am and did not return there until 1am Sunday morning. Yes, you read that right, it was a long day, but we had a lot of fun and I got almost all of my Christmas shopping done in ONE day! So, nothing exciting around here besides trying to get ready for Christmas, working and trying to get ready for tax season :o(, and trying to keep Brianna from cracking her head open (she is at the present time sitting in her baby bouncy chair backwards bouncing up and down) Geesh...she is going to make all of my hair fall out and/or turn grey! She has become quite the stubborn little girl and doesn't like to be told "no" at all. But she also makes us laugh and smile more than she makes us frustrated (most days!) It was fun watching her and Braden together over Thanksgiving, they seem to really like each other and actually shared very well. Other than that, not too much else happening. I know I didn't post my sappy sentimental Thanksgiving post, but we really do have a lot to be thankful for. I'll leave it at that. :o) I'll try to post more in the near future, but everyone enjoy your holiday season!
Love to you all

cutie pie...

Just had to share Brianna's very first "school" picture with you! Isn't she adorable? And no her hair is really not that red in real life, I'm not sure why it looks so red here, but regardless, she's a cutie pie...now if she could just remember how to sleep through the night...we'd be set! Our love to all!

short & sweet, 'cause i'm sick

Some new pictures in the November album.

I guess she really is a girly-girl. We were cleaning out closets this past weekend and she picked up my purse and put it on her arm and started carrying it around and then started blowing kisses. It was so adorable. Its funny, cause I very rarelycarry a purse (I just like to buy them), must be instinct! :)

Here is our new family picture. Thanks to our buddy Vince who gave us a coupon for a free 16x20 picture, this picture will be hanging (in giant size) on our huge, empty living room wall! Thanks Vince!!

OK, I really must lie down now. Love to all!

home again, home again....

So...here we are...another week underway. We spent the weekend in Eagle River, WI at Garth and Beth's place. They have a beautiful home and we had a great time hanging out with them. Brianna had a fabulous time as well. I think she has made a lifelong friend in Bailey. Although I'm sure Bailey was very glad to be rid of Brianna by the end of the weekend. :) Today, both Bob and I took the day off of work, so we took Brianna to daycare, ran a bunch of errands, and then took Brianna to her 15 month checkup. She is a little over 23 lbs and 30 inches long...she is in the 50th percentile for height, weight, & head size. She got 3 shots (including a flu shot) and had her hemoglobin tested again and her iron is fine!! We have to go back to the allergist in February, so hopefully that will all go well too. Other than that I guess there aren't too many changes going on here other than we converted Brianna's crib to a daybed. Although she doesn't really like that yet, so we put her mattress on the floor and she seemed to sleep well last night, we're hoping bedtime becomes not so much of a fight all the time. Anyway, I guess I should get going...I started this post last night and am now just finishing it this morning! Everyone have a great week!

Thanks again Garth, Beth, & Bailey...it was great to see you!

happy halloween

Happy Halloween Everyone!!
All Our Love,
Bob, Amber, & Brianna

goodbye old friend...you'll be missed

Before you get worried....the old friend we're saying goodbye to is Brianna's trusty pacifier (or pacifiers :) This will be the last pictures of her with it in her mouth, because as of Friday night, we have banished them. (Well, I take that back, we have them still but the only one she is allowed to have is the one with the tip cut off, which she HATES!) I pretty much feel like the meanest mommy in the world, and have come very close to caving (like at 3 am this morning, when she was crying and wouldn't go back to sleep) but for the most part, its been OK. The worst part is when/if she wakes up in the middle of the night and its not there, she gets very anxious. We know its not going to get any easier, so we just decided to do it, and hopefully she'll adjust pretty quickly. (Please cross your fingers that that actually happens!).

In other Brianna news ('cause lets be honest...thats what you're all here for)....she is walking! Finally! She is so cute, she still doesn't trust her legs much, but she is getting the hang of it. I may try to post some video shortly so that you can see her walking debut! I have never done that before, so we'll see how that goes.


Lets see...what else...we're still here, chugging along with work, me with my class, trying to keep our house relatively put together (haha...that is funny...you'd be laughing too if you could actually see our house right now!) There are a few more pictures in the October album, so check them out. Other than that, I guess there isn't much new going on here...I hope you all have a Happy and Safe Halloween! I'll try to post a couple pictures of Brianna in her costume for your enjoyment! Our love to you all..have a great week!

quick update

(this is the picture we had taken for the church directory)
Hi all...not much new around here, we were gone all weekend to the Quad Cities and Brianna stayed with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Nancy.

We had a great time this weekend, and it was great to see Alli and Steve and we met some great people,

we had a blast...thanks guys! Anyway there are some new pictures up, some that Grandma Nancy took over the weekend of Brianna and some from our weekend in the Quad Cities,

there are also a couple from last weekend when we made a quick trip to Galesburg. Other than that, I guess there isn't too much to report. Have a great week everyone! Lots of love to you all!

sorry...we've been hiding..

OK, we haven't really been hiding...but we haven't been home much either. Lets see, since we last left you here is what has happened...
Mom, Dad, Pat, Sandie, Jean, Vic, Angie, Nick, and Braden came to visit. All of us (including Amanda) took a trip downtown to various museums. Some of us went to see the King Tut exhibit that was at the Field Museum, while others went to the Museum of Science and Industry. I think everyone had a good time. The weekend following that we made the trip to Iowa to celebrate Grandma Felton's 80th birthday with a surprise party. It was a lot of fun and there were tons of people there (including a lot of babies!!) I'll have to see if someone has a picture of all the grandkids & great-grandkids with grandma that I can post here at another time. Anyway, a good time was had by all. :) Lets see...that brings us to last weekend (or just a couple of days ago) where we actually spent the weekend at home. Nothing exciting there. Other than that we've been busy with work and classes (me) and trying to keep the house running smoothly (or as smoothly as possible). We're back on the road this coming weekend, we have 2 weddings in Iowa, one on Friday night and one on Saturday, and then next weekend we're traveling to Moline to visit Alli & Steve. So, as you can see not too much exciting going on here. I can't believe its October already, the year has gone so fast! I will try to do better on the posting (I know I say that every time....) I hope you are all well and I hope we get to see lots of you in the coming weeks. I'll keep you posted if anything exciting ever happens to us! :) Our love to you all!

miss b and her garden

Short and sweet tonight. Most importantly...if you haven't already donated to Dale & Suzanne's March Of Dimes RIDE...you still have time. (click on the link and do it now!! :)
With that I'm just going to leave you with some pictures of Brianna playing with her garden. Isn't she cute!!! :) I'll try to write more at some point this week. Our love to all!

almost monday already???

As you can see...Brianna had a tough weekend! :) Wait...was there a weekend?? Did I miss it? Anyway, I was home very little this weekend. Thursday night I got my hair cut, Friday night we piled into the car and went to the Step By Step PTA resale. This is a group I got involved in about a year ago, and twice a year they have a big resale, and since I volunteer I get to shop the night before. There is a lot of great stuff there, I ended up getting a bunch of clothes, a couple winter coats, and a pair of shoes for Brianna and also a bunch of clothes for Braden. Oh...and Halloween costumes :), and the most fabulous item (at least in Brianna's eyes) the Little Tikes Activity Garden. They have one of these at daycare, and apparently she is the "queen of the garden". Her eyes lit up and she got this huge smile on her face when I brought it in the house. She has played with it all weekend. The garden however, is going to be making its home and Grandpa Bob and Grandma Nancy's...so I know she'll enjoy it when she goes there to visit :). So Saturday I volunteered at said resale from 7-4:30 (I was supposed to be there until 5 but they told me to leave early). So, we definitely didn't do much last night, and today was spent going to church and setting up my new computer! :) There are some changes going on around here...(and no I'm not pregnant) I have officially enrolled in a course to become a medical transcriptionist. I've been thinking about it for a while, and finally decided to take the plunge. It will enable (hopefully) me to do some work from home and earn a little extra money, with the potential to maybe someday allow me to stay home and work, but that is in the very distant future, but I'm excited about my new little adventure. Other than the outpouring of money at the beginning (the course and the much needed new computer), I'm very optimistic that this will be a good change for me. But other than that I guess there isn't too much else going on. There are a few new pictures in the album, but I'll try to be better about taking more!! Have a fabulous week everyone!

Congrats to Jill & Chris Curry on the birth of your baby girl on September 8!! We're soo happy for you, can't wait to see her!! Love you all!

just another day...

Hello All! So things have been pretty quiet(not literally quiet, but you know what I mean!) around the Carroll household lately. No big or exciting news, Brianna still isn't walking or talking, although she does babble quite a bit. She's learned some new things, like if you ask her where her belly is, she will point (or slap) her adorably round tummy and laugh. She also will give kisses when you ask, although most times you get a big open mouthed slobber! :) and when she blows kisses she now makes the "kissy" sound. It is all quite adorable (of course)!

Anyway, Brianna now has 8 teeth and we are figuring out what what she can't eat (and that is A LOT of stuff!) But she is doing well, as are we. We had a very lazy weekend this past weekend, but it was so nice to stay home and spend time together. Well, I guess there isnt' too much else going on, so I guess I should sign off for now! Hope all is well with all of you out there! All our Love!

OH...there are new pictures in the September 2006 album, check them out! :)