Hooray for Spring

I know old man winter is still teasing us each week with his bursts of cold and chilly winds, but I'm hopeful that Spring will win out soon. Last Wednesday was a perfect day and this week should bring another one. We spent our morning at the park with some friends and plan to do the same this week.

Yesterday was so cold and dreary. Once we got home from church, we enjoyed hanging out by the fire all afternoon. Jack even helped Sam with his milk. Most of the time, he thrives on his role as helper.

Word-free Post (well mostly)

The last few weeks have been filled with visits from family, birthday celebrations and enjoying the weather (both snow and sunshine!) Anyway, I finally put up some of the photos to fill you in. You can view them here.

How to Celebrate Your Birthday

In case you were wondering what exactly the best way to celebrate a birthday is, here are some tips:

First, recruit some really awesome people to help you celebrate (ie, adorable kids and beautiful wife)



Second, make sure bubbles are involved. I mean seriously...isn't everything more fun with bubbles? Thanks for the fun bubble blaster, Aunt Cindy & Uncle Roger!

Third, try to squeeze in some retail therapy. Yes, it was my hubby's birthday. And yes, he likes to shop. And yes, at places besides REI and Bass Pro Shops (although those are two of his favs). And yes, I realize you hate me right now.

Finally, make sure food is involved...preferably cake or ice cream or both. Side note, awesome people celebrating alongside you will help you with the consumption of said food.

Thanks for having a birthday, Josh. I think it's safe to say...we all enjoyed your special day!

33 years ago today

Happy Birthday, sweetheart. Today is your birthday, and I couldn't be any happier to have a reason to celebrate you and what you mean to me and the two little men we are raising. It may seem silly, but there aren't enough hours in this one day every year to celebrate you!

Thirty-three years ago today you were born. It wasn't for another two plus years that I would make my arrival in the world, but how incredible is it that God already knew he had a mate in mind for you. How thankful I am that mate would be me! I'm also thankful for the Godly parents we were each born to. Along with God, they certainly had a hand in preparing us for one another.

Did you realize that at 12 years and counting, we've been together about 1/3 of your life? I can only assume it's been the best fraction of your life...nevermind that four years of that was spent in medical school.

I can certainly say it's hard to remember what life was like before you were a part of it. I wasn't an unhappy person, but I can definitely say I didn't know just how much fun ordinary things could be. It's safe to say I've laughed many more hours, days and probably weeks of my life now that you are a part of it. Our boys are in for a real treat if they inherit our senses of humor. I hope and pray that they grow up wanting to be just like their daddy, and not just because you make me (and everyone around you) laugh. More than that I want them to strive to be caring, honest, hard-working, loving and Godly...just like Dad.

I know you won't really buy into all the hoopla and fuss that is your birthday, but this is my excuse to brag on and celebrate you!

I love you, Josh!

At Church?

We had an interesting start to our Sunday. Our family of four arrived at church. Jack was sitting up on the counter in the preschool wing waiting for me to fill out his nametag and then take him to class. Just as I picked up the pen, Jack started throwing up...everywhere. All over his clothes, the floor. Most of you are moms, so you already have a mental picture...but if you need a more vivid one there were half a dozen witnesses. After he had erupted three times, and we were pretty sure he was done, I got him cleaned up. He was crying mostly about having to take off his shirt and pants. Josh mopped up the floor and just as quickly as we had arrived at church, we were headed back out the door for home.

To be on the safe side, Jack had a mostly liquid diet the remainder of the day and we kept a bucket nearby. He acted completely normal all day and never showed anymore signs of illness. At one point, Josh was trying to talk to him about using the bucket if he felt like he needed throw up. When he thought he understood he began the review, "If Jack feels sick and needs to throw up, where do you throw up?" Jack looked at him matter of factly and said, "At church?"

An Elephant Always Remembers

Well, it's barely been 2 1/2 years since I first did all this newborn baby stuff, so you would think it would all be fresh on my mind. I'm quickly discovering that there are a few things I had already forgotten.

- I forgot how many diaper changes accompany this new little one. And they are usually in quick succession (sometimes as frequently as one before eating, another between sides, another after eating...can mean 3 diapers in a span of 20-30 minutes)

- I forgot how hard it is to keep a newborn awake to get in a full feeding, especially in the middle of the night. Usually, I can't even keep myself awake much less Sam! But, the efforts pay off when he slumbers for another good 4 1/2 hours before waking again to eat!

- I forgot how much stuff you feel like you must tote around with your newborn. How quickly I got accustomed to the lightweight backpack with a diaper and a juice box in it! (Or if you are really trying to simplify tossing those things in your purse!)

- I forgot how easily poop can find its way onto your clothes and anything else in a 2 foot radius of a breastfed babe!

- I forgot how much laundry these little people require. It's very rare that Jack has to change his clothes mid-day, but Sam can and has worn 3 different outfits in a given day due to some sort of mess (erupting from the top or bottom).

- I forgot what an accomplishment it can be to get a shower during the day, and how it can make you feel like a completely different person. I usually dread getting ready. I hate drying my hair, picking out clothes...all of it. These days as rushed or hectic as it can be, this time is a reminder that albeit one of my most important responsibilities, I'm more than just a nurturer and caregiver to two little people and one big person :)...I'm still me too!

In addition to these revelations, there are a few things I don't want to forget!

- I hope I never forget how funny Jack is when he announces, "hold it." He sounds exactly like Javier Bardem's character in No Country For Old Men. (I know this is kind of a weird clip, but when he says "Call it" or "Just Call it" that is what Jack sounds like when he asks/demands to hold his little brother.)

- I don't want to forget that when Sam was a week old, Jack pointed to my belly and said, "baby." When I informed him the baby wasn't in mommy's belly anymore, but across the room in his nearby bed...it was so neat to see the wheels turning in his little brain.

- I don't want to forget the moment that Sam was born. About 2 weeks after Jack was born I broke down crying telling Josh I couldn't remember the minutes immediately following Jack's birth. Of course I was postpartum and an emotional wreck waiting to happen, he reassured me that it was completely normal. Because it was a somewhat stressful delivery with a prolonged pushing time, I was unable to formulate a long-lasting memory of it (or at least he explained as something like that...he's much better at explaining it than I am. Then again he was a psych major!) Anyway, a benefit to being the second born is a mommy with a much more experienced birthing body. I also made a conscious effort to formulate snapshots in my head of my first glimpses of this new life. I'm sure my memory will fail me at some point, but I hope I can hold onto this piece for a long time to come.

- I don't want to forget how overwhelmed I felt by the support we were shown by family and friends. I guess many of them knew how much help I'd need as a new mommy to two, but the phone calls, offers to help and the meals were abundant. My family feels truly blessed by those in our life.

- I don't want to forget what occured last week when Sam started accompanying me & Josh during Jack's bedtime routine. After prayers, Jack leans in and gives Josh a kiss and then me a kiss and then climbs under the covers. Without any encouragement he immediately leaned over where I was holding Sam and kissed him on the top of the head. Will he always be this sweet to his little brother?

Vegas, anyone?

So, someone told us about this place, and I'm guessing we pretty much HAVE to celebrate Sam's first birthday there, right?



In case you missed it, take a look at the name above Fremont.