Terrible Twos

OK, so Sonia and I am finding out what it's like to have a 2-year old throwing fits. Not that these photos I am about to show you prove this. So take time to enjoy looking at these photos because this is not what he is always like! He's still a joy, though, Sonia and I both agree on that!

Mexican Riviera!

Ok, Sonia and I finally chose a vacation spot for us to go to in October. We will be dropping Noah off at my mother and father-in law's house and flying out from Moline to Los Angeles where we will board a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. It will be the longest time we've been away without Noah. We will spend a week on the cruise ship visiting several places in the Mexican Riviera. We're very excited about this trip, we need it! We've never been on a cruise before, so we don't really know what to expect. I think it will be a lot of fun!

Here is a photo of one of the cruise ship we will be on:

Vacation Ideas?

It's time for another blog-I need to post more often, I know there are other stay home dads, I won't mention names, but one in particular who lives in Michigan who posts a lot more than I do, so this is a start!

My wife and I want to go on vacation for a week in October by ourselves without our son. We thought about traveling to Europe but we met with a travel agent last week and she informed us how expensive flights are to travel overseas. We decided we want to stay in the United States, unless we find a reasonably priced package deal. We are leaning towards San Diego and southern California, Utah/Idaho/Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Maine. I know it's beautiful in Maine in October with the leaves colors.

Whoever reads this blog, could you suggest ideas on vacation spots you have visited, or have heard about that would be fun? We want to do alot of active things such as white water rafting, hiking, etc.

Hope to get some good ideas, time is running out, we need to book a vacation soon!

I'm Back

Spring is Finally Here!

The other day it was beautiful outside so we decided
to go to Meadowbrook Park in Urbana. Noah hasn't
had much of a chance to play outside so we put him
in the swing and he loved it! I think spring is finally
here!

Stay-Home-Dad on NBC Today

Here is a link to a video about stay-home-dads. A stay-home-dad and a professor are interviewed by Matt Lauer on yesterday's morning show.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/23916728#23916728

Our New Home!

Here is a backyard photo of the house we bought. This is the only photo I could access, I'll try to get more photos so you can see the front and inside of the house! We close April 30th and will start moving in throughout May! We are so excited!!

Our Trip to Charleston, South Carolina!

We had the pleasure of spending 5 days in Charleston, South Carolina. Sonia had a nurse anesthesia conference, which was paid for, so it was a somewhat cheap vacation. Noah still flies for free so we have to take advantage of that until he is age 2 or older! Carle Hospital paid for Sonia's flight, hotel room, and tuition for the conference. So the only things we had to pay for was my flight, food, and a rental car. Above is a photo of our rental car...I mean a mini SUV! We got a free upgrade, we were supposed to get a midsize car, but they did not have one so they gave us this Hyundai Santa Fe with XM satellite radio! Not a bad vehicle! We had a great time in Charleston, we would love to go back and visit again! Enjoy the photos we took during our time there!

A sidewalk in front of the Edmonston-Alston House in Charleston.

The Market in Charleston.

This is the barn where we met for the carriage ride. It was located near The Market.

Along the streets of Charleston during our carriage ride. It was such a beautiful day that Saturday, about 70 degrees and sunny! Sorry to those of you who had to endure so much snow and cold temperatures!

We walked along Battery Street and came to a nice park. Noah was getting bored in the stroller, so we decided to sit on the grass and play. This was a gorgeous day full of fun activities, including a carriage ride, tour of Edmonston-Alston House, and a walk along the river. This was the best weather we had during our time in Charleston.

We went on a tour of the Edmonston-Alston House, a beautiful, historic house located on East Battery St. in Charleston. This photo was taken accross the street along the river on the walkway.

Sonia and Noah on the porch of the Edmonston-Alston House on East Battery Street in Charleston.

The architecture of the private homes in Charleston that we saw was unique and beautiful. Here is a private home we saw during our carriage ride.

Sonia and Noah checking out the horse during our visit Sunday (our next to last day) to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, located about 14 miles south of Charleston.

A photo taken during the Swamp Tour at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. If you look closely, you can see a couple of aligators looking for dinner! YIKES!!

Sonia and Noah posing near a statue of a frog near the entrance of the South Carolina Acquarium in Charleston. This was a rainy day so we decided to stay indoors! Noah looks excited doesn't he?

Here is a photo of a beautiful church we saw in Charleston.

House Shopping!

Sonia and I are currently renting a house. We plan on buying a house sometime this summer, probably end of June or early July. We have been looking on the Internet as well as attending open houses and such on the weekends. It's a great time to buy with the low interest rates and dropping house prices, however, it's sort of overwhelming because there are so many houses for sale!

We have narrowed the searches for a house in the following towns/cities: Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, and Mahomet. Depending on who you ask, any of these are good places to live with decent schools. There are many houses for sale in Champaign, Savoy, and Mahomet, not so much in Urbana, where we'd like to look at more houses. This would be closer to church and to Sonia's workplace.

Anyway, it had been quite some time since I posted a blog, so I thought I would post one. I have been busy running dad's group, caring for Noah, traveling to Iowa, taking 3 college online courses, etc. etc.! I am very busy, so that is my excuse...for now!

Noah's First Birthday Party!

Noah turned one year old on Thursday, January 17th, 2008. It's hard to believe he is one already! We celebrated his 1st birthday party on Saturday, January 19th, 2008 at noon at our house in Champaign. We invited our families to the party-Mom and Dad Springer (who live near), Mom and Dad Gingerich (from Iowa), Sonia's sister Andrea (A.K.A "Squirt" Auntie from Indiana), and Grandma and Grandpa Springer from Fisher, IL were able to celebrate with us. Unfortunately, my brother Ryan, who had to work the weekend because of tax season, could not join us. My sister-in-law Nisha, nephews Rohan and Levi, and niece Anika visited my parents, but unfortunately could not join us for the party because of Noah's intestinal bacteria, which is contagious if children are exposed! (Here is a photo of Noah trying his first birthday cake...I think he got more on himself than in his tummy!)
We were given a 1st birthday bib from Sonia's friend Johnna from Indiana. She sent it to us since she didn't need it anymore! Here Noah is posing for us getting ready for the delicious cake!

The theme for the party was Elmo. Sonia bought Elmo birthday hats, an Elmo table cloth, and Elmo paper plates and cups. Noah started watching Sesame Street in the mornings several weeks ago and he LOVES Elmo! Sonia couldn't resist getting Elmo everything!! Here Sonia, Noah, and I are showing off the Elmo hats!

Aweful Start to the Week!

Wow, what a start to the week! Noah has been having diarrhea starting this weekend. I brought him to the doctor yesterday to see what he had....they think it might be cdif (an intestinal problem) as a result of the antibiotics he was on a couple weeks ago for his ear infection. I had to collect a sample of his diarrhea (that was not fun!) and take it into the lab at the doctor's office. I still haven't heard from them and that was yesterday. I will give them a call this morning to see what's going on and if he has cdif.

Over the weekend, my wife and I were victims of identity fraud, someone had stolen our debit card numbers over the Internet and had made several purchases, two purchases we had not made! I was rather irate when I found out someone did this! I called the bank and had to go in to fill out the report. The good news is that we cancelled both of our cards and are getting new ones issued and the person or persons responsible for this can't make any more purchases! The other good news is that the bank will be crediting our account so we won't lose any money from this ordeal!

Hopefully all of you are having a better week so far....I couldn't make dad's group yesterday either because of the doctor visit....oh well, it's best for Noah and the other kids so they don't get what he has!

Talk to all of you later!

Eric