July 09, 2009

grill master?

no.  I am not.

no matter the 100 degree temps, I fired up the grill to surprise the man.  I am so glad that he loves surprises.

table presentation:

looking good, babe!

Chicken

and for your enjoyment:

surprise!  I burned our dinner.  I always feel the need to make sure our chicken is DONE.  that is just being a good cook, right?

Chicken 2

have you had any good surprises lately?

July 08, 2009

colt10.

Our dude, our little man, the boy, turned 10.

This boy is all about Lego's, skate boards, helmet wearing, baseball, and of course, dad.  His idea of a good day is spending hours upon hours in water.  His eyes are creased with goggle marks and his legs are more than tan.  He is sure to wear his sunscreen and LOVES his long hair.  At the moment, we are working on a hair cut.  Top in the running is a faux hawk.  Love him.

The night before his birthday we celebrated with Chuck E. Cheese.  Colt's choice.

Bday colt 1

Even though he loves Chuck E., Dad always holds his top spot.

Bday colt 2

Colt decided a swim party with his friends was more important than a $100.  That is the choice we have given them each year.  He took the money the last couple of years. 

Bday colt 4

And some sisters came...  This made our girl VERY happy.

Bday colt 5

Fun, fun, fun!

Bday colt 3

This was the happiest and easiest party we have ever thrown.  Hands down.  We served Colt's favorites, hot dogs, kool bursts, and watermelon.  A great day, indeed!

June 25, 2009

Cold Tangerines.

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Cold Tangerines is a great little book.  I have shed more than one fifty tears and laughed that fun deep happy laugh.  Shauna writes in a conversational way, which I admire and would give my curly hair for.  Maybe.  Through the pages I am reminded of the gift which is this day.  Today.  You can usually find me dreaming about tomorrow, and though I will continue, I will remember to celebrate here and now. 

And come on, the book cover alone sold me. 

June 22, 2009

june 22.

I know, I know.

I have not blogged in a WHILE.

I don't have a good excuse.

If anyone is still here, hello.  And as I say that I am hearing it the way the cheerleaders in 8th grade use to say it, He-He-Hello, He-He-Hello. 

So there you have it.

Tonight, I sit here at my thrifty white antique like desk which fits directly behind my slip covered tan couch.  The couch we bought for our first home over 11 years ago.  Comfort is an understatement.

Anyway.

My days have been filled with being super cool mom.  Super cool mom takes her two to the pool daily.  Super cool mom drives the two to the library at least once a week.  Super cool mom has some sort of fun lunch planned.  And lest we forget, Super cool mom always has pop ice ready for the most heat filled afternoons.

Let me also mention that this super cool mom is growing a baby.  It was more than evident during our recent trip to the movie theater.  The four went to see UP, and I cried like-a-baby. 

And they all said, hormones.

Because I want to ooh and aah you with a captivating ending, does anyone know what to do about pregnancy acne?  It has overtaken my face.  This skin needs some serious help.  If you have a clue, please share.

June 08, 2009

beach weekend.

love.
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in case you do not know... meat tenderizer + vinegar relieve jellyfish stings.  and root beer helps.
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thank you galveston, texas.

June 01, 2009

baby belly [10 weeks]

Baby-belly.week-10
Can I just say IT WAS HARD TO GET THIS PHOTO...

Ha.

I could do a post on out takes alone.  My face is so serious because every time I would try to smile I would move my hand and almost drop my camera.  I laughed at myself for the ten minutes it took to grab this one shot.

Today marks 11 weeks.  The photo is from 10 weeks.

No, not one, one my regular jeans fit.  That is without the aid of a rubber band looping through the button hole and over the button.  Even that if beginning to be uncomfortable.

A couple of things.

Last week I came to a startling realization.  The weight I held pre-pregnancy is almost the weight I carried as I walked into the hospital to deliver Carly.  I use to be a TINY thing.  And now I have to think of the size I will be +25 - 35 pounds.  Grief.  I just want to forget about numbers all together.

I am a bag lover.  LOVER.  Why is the thought of diaper bags is not so fun?  The ones I have seen at stores are pretty cheesy and downright expensive.  Can I get away with a big purse.  This one is pretty pricey but I could see myself carrying it always.  It seems large enough to fit everything and maybe even the baby.  Help me recall what goes in a diaper bag.  All I can think of is diapers, wipes, hooter hider, pacifier, back up pacifier. 

You are probably thinking I have got a lot of remembering to do.  I am too.

On the adoption front, we are still waiting to enter IBESR.  We have been waiting to enter since late January when I traveled there to drop off my dossier.  The wait is for an abandonment paper.  One paper.  Hopefully, it comes in sooner than later and we can get into this office and begin our official wait.

Must go now.  Time to eat, or else. 

May 21, 2009

The list.

Walk the streets of Africa.
See the beauty of India.
Keep a journal.
Date my husband in NYC.
Hike a mountain.  [i need to redeem the donkey ride]
Bring our child home from Haiti.
Own and decorate a bungalow style home.
Join a book club.
Give a large sum of money away.
Own a Vintage bike with a banana seat.  May 09
Spend time with Carly in a dusty foreign place sharing life.
Take my family to Hawaii.
Write something. January 09  Published June 09
Physically help dig a water well.
Photos in an art exhibit.  March/April 09
Have the courage to meet my birth mom.
Grow a garden and eat from it.
Tour the White House.
Watch Ernest live his dream.
Go dancing and actually dance.
Host a sweet Etsy Shop.
Go to a taping of The View with Susan Taylor. 
Do a Project 365.
Spend a day at the beach alone.

May 15, 2009

I am pregnant. For real.

20090515_9088 I have failed to mention that just about weekly I was thinking maybe I am not pregnant.  I have even run out and bought more pregnancy tests for further proof.  As if the soreness and sickness was not proof enough.  The test always resulted in positive.  But still.

Fast forward.

I am in a let's just say awkward position for my internal ultrasound.  The doctor is searching AND searching.  It seems like minutes go by.  He breaks the silence with and when did you get a positive test?  Umm.

A moment later, I see it.  It is a baby.  A real live baby.  I see the heartbeat.  And to my complete happiness a second later, I hear that magical sound.

I am telling you, there is nothing like the sound of a fetal heartbeat.

I look at Ernest and mention that it has sure been a while since we have heard that sound.

And we are happy.

The baby's heart rate was 168.  Old wives tales would consider that a sign of a girl.

My due date is December 24.  We will see.

May 14, 2009

You probably won't want to read this.

Because I am sad.

My heart is more than heavy.  So heavy that to spill it can only involve bullet points.  Or else the ugly cry...

::  Today I sat at the funeral of a woman who mentored me.  I am so inspired by her life.  I walked away desperate to love my kids more.  To talk about Jesus, life, and dreams with them MORE.  I thought about the things in life that are truly most important.  Death really puts things into perspective. Really.

::  I am completely heartbroken over marriage trauma that some are going through.  It is no secret that our relationship has journeyed through pain.  I would not wish that on another soul.  Ever.  It deeply saddens me when I hear of two that are walking the road I remember so well.  God's grace is more than sufficient.  That I know.

My mascara is now stinging my eyes.  The ugly cry could not be held.

May 11, 2009

my Schwinn.

Christy, You won!

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After putting the tire on and airing it up this baby will be ready to hit the road.  This piece of fun has been on my wish list for a while.  To my surprise, Ernest bought two.  One for me.  One for him.  His will definitely be basket free.

This is how they came.  Look how much work he still has to do.
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