My "Quiet" Life

We have been busy.  I don't like it.  I don't like to be going all the time.  We have resolved to be still after this weekend.  We are going to celebrate Maryn's 5th birthday with our families, and THEN, we will sit still until the end of June.

Maryn turned five on Tuesday of this week.  I can't believe it.  She is 5.  Wow.  Time flies when you have a lot of kids!  It flies and flies and flies, and I wish sometimes it would slow down.  I have tried to make it slow down--spend more time reading with them, playing with them, and cooking with them.  Maryn has fewer meltdowns now than she did even a year ago.  She is maturing.  She is so smart and sweet and nurturing.  She loves to color and draw and ride her bike.  

We bought her a Hello Kitty! backpack for her birthday.  She was thrilled (even though it wasn't a "square backpack with Hello Kitty! on it" but rather a stuffed Hello Kitty! with a zipper for hiding things).  

She also loved her strawberry cake with strawberry frosting and a Hello Kitty! on it (even though I forgot the strawberries AROUND Hello Kitty!).  She is a details-girl.  :)

Lucy is my shadow.  If I don't keep her nearby, I can just about guarantee that something will have crayon on it, and if not that, then something will be wet or sticky.  She is a messy girl.  But, she is funny.  And cute.  And easy to laugh at.  And her grin melts my frustration most of the time.  

She is a mile-a-minute-joy-frenzy.  I will gladly repaint the interior of this house to enjoy her more--and scold less.  Don't get me wrong--she gets her fair share of time-outs and scoldings.  I just forget sometimes that she is TWO and not FIVE or SIX.  Two year olds are messy.  (Must repeat as often as necessary!)

Sam's last day of school is tomorrow!  I am so glad!  We will keep reading, of course, but we will say farewell to math and structured handwriting until August.  I can't believe it--I did it.  I taught my son for a whole school year.  And he is doing well.  SO well.  I do not regret keeping him home.  He is so imaginative, creative, brilliant, and fun.  I have half a mind to get rid of all his toys because he is constantly making toys out of paper and tape.  He doesn't need toys!  

Sam has struggled with fear (in many arenas) since he was nearly three.  We are working on it, but when it rears its ugly head, it isn't so easy to defeat.  One day, he was scared of bugs--out of the blue.  The next day, he's fine.  I looked out the window yesterday and saw all three kids chasing toads that had gotten on the deck.  I think there were about four of them hopping all over.  I had to grab my camera.  No fear of toads!

Felix and Milo are laughing and "talking" to us all the time, now.  It's so fun.  They are so cute.  Their naps are haphazard lately, and that is challenging for me.  I just make do and walk away when I get frustrated.  They really are amazing babies, though.  I couldn't have asked for better babes.  They are forever making a fool out of me as I repeatedly do whatever will make them laugh or smile.  

I am so blessed.

Birthweek 2010 Conclusion

Dave outdid himself. But I'm super thankful he did. I've been wanting one of these for several years now.

He got me a new camera--the Nikon D3000. It's perfect for me because it fits my skill level without being too extravagant (though it costs more than a point and shoot). I am so thankful and blessed, and I can't wait to learn my way around it. I'm thankful I'm familiar with manual settings because I intend to use them frequently.

I think now that I have a better camera, you will be seeing more pictures on my blog again. I quit for awhile because it was so hard with my old camera--the focus was janky, and the picture quality was not great. It was just not so nice. :)

And, no, I was not surprised about this gift...like I said before, he's not sneaky enough for this lady.

My Husband Isn't Perfect...and neither is yours.

My husband, Dave, is a lot of things--an artist, a poet, task-oriented, tall, strong, funny, sweet, handsome, unsneaky, hard-working, kind, a good father, and a man who wants to be like Jesus.

But he's not perfect.

I could list his flaws here probably more quickly than I typed his strengths (mostly because we, as humans, tend to focus on the negative rather than the positive). Your spouse probably isn't too different from mine--full of good qualities but not perfect. This is NORMAL. My husband may be strong where yours is weak or weak where yours is strong. So, really, there is no use in comparing them, right?

Regardless of our spouse's strengths and weaknesses, we are called to love them, honor them, and respect them--even when they fail. I have been guilty of focusing on the negative too many times in my marriage. I know I'm not alone in this. It helps to know that the picture people paint of their spouse is not the FULL picture (either way!)--hopefully, we do a better job presenting them in their best light rather than displaying all of their flaws for the world to see.

So, in lieu of my husband's strengths, I want to share with you about my birthday. Early on in our marriage, my husband quickly figured out that I expected a thoughtful birthday--he didn't have to spend a bunch of money--he just had to be thoughtful. One year, he started a tradition. It is my favorite time of the year--not because it is about me (okay, maybe a little bit.), but because it shows me how thoughtful my husband can be. He started what he calls "Birthweek."

This year is Birthweek 2010. It has been a blast so far, and tomorrow, it will conclude on my birthday. He gives me a gift each day leading up to my birthday. They are usually small, inexpensive gifts, and then his final gift on my birthday is usually a bit more (but some years he has spent more than normal). Some years, he has even gotten creative in the discovery of the gifts--a scavenger hunt or a box he made with different compartments for each day. To help me remember this year, I am posting a log of his gifts from each day, and tomorrow I will post his final gift (which I think I know because he's not sneaky enough).

Day 1: My favorite candy--Junior Mints (this is always the Day 1 gift)

Day 2: Wifi in our house--(we live out in the sticks and it is hard to do a lot on our iPhones because we have such poor signals and no 3G--so this gift was really for both of us, but still very thoughtful!)

Day 3: Nasal spray (this is a funny one because I've had so many allergy issues with this pregnancy, so he actually got me a prescription nasal spray to help!)

Day 4: A spa pedicure for me and a friend (this was an awesome gift--especially since I can't reach my feet without hurting myself)

Day 5: Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner (he knows what I like!)

Day 6: Robert Ludlum's Bourne trilogy (the books--I've wanted to read them for several years. I love the movies, and I hear the books are even better...of course!)

Thank you, Dave, for being thoughtful, for listening to me talk, for paying attention to my likes and dislikes, for celebrating me all week long. I feel special and loved, and I love you even though you're not perfect. Thanks for loving me--even with all my thorns. You're a winner.

Look for tomorrow's post for my final gift!!!


(All pictures were not taken by me--all online images.)

The Loveliness of Nothingness

I have been a blogger failure this week. I haven't posted in a whole week! I guess I've been busy...and just haven't had much to say (odd, I know!).

Here's what I can think of:

1. I gave up on the no-shampoo. I made it almost three weeks. It was going okay, but I felt like I couldn't find the perfect balance of formula, and I didn't feel like experimenting endlessly. I am going to shop around for more natural shampoos.

2. Maryn's birthday party was Saturday. It was a quick trip up to see our extended family. We had reserved a room at the pizza place. My friend, Lesley, made her an awesome cake. I need to get my phone synced so I can show you a picture. She received lots of clothes and girly stuff as well as some fun summer toys.

3. Our kitchen sink is CLOGGED. Badly. Nothing we did helped. A plumber comes out tomorrow. Paper plates it is. Our dishwasher is full of dirty dishes and the counter is half-way full. I thought about trying to wash them in the bathroom, but that grosses me out. Is that weird?

4. The house looks decent, though my floors could use a good sweeping and mopping. My craft stuff is piled to heaven. I still have a couple of projects to finish. I'm such a lame-o right now as far as finishing projects. I just have no drive. I started cutting out the purse for my friend, Christy, but then realized I didn't have enough of that same fabric. Grrr. Back to the drawing board.

5. I'm looking forward to doing nothing today. Well, not nothing, but not anything productive (besides caring for kids and feeding them).

So that's it. I know, not too exciting, but such is life.

Couch to 5K=OVER TOMORROW

My race is tomorrow morning at 8am. I am nervous and excited and hopeful. I am nervous because I've never done this before. I am excited because I have been working hard and want to see myself accomplish this goal. I am hopeful because I want to run the entire race--no walking--and I want to keep a steady pace.

Today is a restful day. I'm not doing much, and per Marla's advice, I'm staying off my feet. I intend to drink a lot of water and rest. I hope Dave has a quiet weekend of call. I hope hope hope so.

As for my hair, I am still holding out. I think it is getting better. :)

This is a busy week coming up. Today is my Grandma's birthday. I haven't been able to get cards out for Mother's Day or her birthday. I can't look at cards with my kids. It takes too long, and the kids all fight and pull the cards off the shelf. So, it looks like they will be late. I hate that, but that is how it goes sometimes.

Maryn had an axillary (under the arm) temp of 103 yesterday. She had no other symptoms. I got a little worried about her last night. She's completely fine today. Weird.

Maryn will be four on Monday.

That is hard to believe.

We will be having her birthday party the following Saturday with our family. She is looking forward to it. It is a Tinkerbell birthday. :)

This is a boring post, so I think I'll stop. Blah blah blah. :)

And Now He is Five.

My BABY. My FIRST baby is five.

Be still, my heart!

I cannot believe it. He is incredible. He is FIVE.

I was looking through old pictures the other day and crying just thinking about how much he's grown. It has happened too fast, and I know it will only continue to fly by. I thought I'd share a few of those pictures.

Sam was born December 25, 2004, at 12:01pm.

8lbs. 4oz., 22 inches long


(Photo courtesy of Candace Miller)


(Photo courtesy of Candace Miller)

Sam was always big for his age, and so predictable.

He still is. :)


(Photo courtesy of Candace Miller)

I was a much different mother with him than I have been with the girls. I do have my regrets. But I also know that I can make the most of NOW. And I do.

(Photo courtesy of Candace Miller)

I found out I was pregnant with Maryn a couple of months before this above picture was taken. He was 10 months in this one. I see a lot of Lucy in his face. But he was a lot chubbier.



Here he is at 2. I love this picture so much it makes my heart ache.



And at 3. His silliness was beginning to be the rule rather than the exception to it.

This was at 4. He really grew a lot emotionally this year. It was pretty noticeable. He also became a big brother again shortly before his 4th birthday. He took it all in stride and has proven himself to be a GREAT big brother. He knows how to take care of and boss his sisters around. :)

And, today, at 5.

Goofy still. Always, I hope.

Sam is so smart. He started reading just a week ago. I sat down with him and in 45 minutes, he was sounding out words and reading! I was astonished.

He loves to play fight--kung fu, light sabers, guns (wince), and swords. Most of this he does with Dave. No one gets hurt (most of the time).

Sam loves candy. He's already had a cavity. But he did great at the dentist!

Sam adds and subtracts in his head (though he doesn't realize what he's doing). Blows my mind.

Sam is incredibly thoughtful. He wants to make sure that people who get hurt are taken care of...he says he wants to be a doctor like Dad and take care of sick people.

We think he would make a better architect. The kid has some serious design skillz.

Samuel David, we love you. We are so proud of who you are and who you will be. We pray that your heart will continue to be softened towards Jesus.

Happy Birthday, Sam.

New Books for the Birthday Girl

There is not a whole lot more that I love than new books. It's an addiction. I have been this way as long as I can remember. I don't mind used books (they're new to me)--I just love owning books. And now that I'm crafty, I love craft books. Cookbooks are okay once in a while, but craft books are okay EVERY DAY.

My mom and aunt both gave me Barnes & Noble giftcards for my birthday. I made quick use of them online (and got free shipping! and member pricing for non-members--a promotion they're running right now...and I used Ebates and will get cash back), and these are the gems I found.

One-Yard Wonders by Rebecca Yaker and Trish Hoskins: 106 projects to make from one yard of fabric. Perfect for me--quick and satisfying. There is a file-cabinet cover in there that I'm excited to make. Our filing cabinet is UGLY (but it was free on Freecycle.org). There are tons of cute projects in this book!!!

Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter: I've wanted this book for three years. I finally own it. Lotta's style is incredible in that European simplistic way, and I love it. There are so many projects I can't wait to get started on, and they're SIMPLE. This lady is a genius.

Kneadlessly Simple by Nancy Baggett: The author's name is enough to sell this book--Nancy Baggett (get it? Baguette?) I hate kneading bread. I would like a bread machine (used to have one, but I let someone borrow it and they never returned it) to help, but with this book, I don't have to knead--the pictures are incredible, and the breads look tasty.

Sew What! Bags by Lexie Barnes: I love making my own purses. This book has 18 different projects, and I can't wait to get started--clutches, messenger bags, totes, drawstring--there's something for everyone.

There are some others I'd like as well:

Seams to Me by Anna Maria Horner (along with a pile of her fabric)

Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross

Stitched in Time by Alicia Paulson (Posie Gets Cozy)

French General: Home Sewn by Kaari Meng

Do you have any suggestions to add to my list?

(I already have an Amy Butler book, In Stitches.)

1979 was a good year.

The madness has continued. I have loved it all. Almost.

I got into a stinky mood while we were in the hotel room in KC. I just couldn't bear being cooped up in there during naptime. Naps never happened (as they don't in hotel rooms), so we ended up going out and working on some Christmas presents for the grandparents. I can't say exactly what we worked on because the grandparents read the blog. :)

We were able to go to IHOP (International House of Prayer) in KC and spend some time in the prayer room, worshipping with our brothers and sisters. It was truly a blessed time. Lucy had several people offer prayers for her--which was so special. I look forward to seeing those things materialize in her life.

We went out for dinner with some of my former students (now friends!), Tim and Anna. We took them to an Indian restaurant for their first Indian experience. The food took FOREVER and Maryn broke a plate, but it was some of the tastiest Indian food I've ever had. I think Tim and Anna enjoyed themselves.

We headed to NWA (Northwest Arkansas) for Lucy's birthday party with our families. It was fun and so good to see everyone. Lucy received a lot of clothes and some sweet little toys just for her (not ones she's inherited from her brother and sister). :) I also received some lovely presents. I am so blessed.

The blessings haven't stopped.

Dave distracted me on the way home, and took a detour to Ft. Smith where we stopped to stay the night with our friends, Brian and Megan. He tricked me! I was so glad he was able to...he slips up and I'm too nosy. Not a good combo for surprises! Our kids are having a blast playing with Alice's toys, and it has been fun to visit with our friends.

We leave here after lunch and head home where a few more things await...

This has been the best birthday ever. It isn't the stuff I've gotten but the time and thoughtfulness of my husband that has been the most special. Dave learned a long time ago that my birthday is a big deal to me. So, he rose to meet the challenge!

Lucy Claire is my favorite birthday present, for the 2nd time! She is such a blessing of a child. I can't help but recall the beauty of her birth--the pain I embraced, the lessons the Holy Spirit taught me. You can go back to this time last year on my old blog to read about it. Children are a blessing from the LORD. A blessing and NOT a burden. Thank you, Lord, for my precious children!!!

Thank you, birthday well-wishers (here and on Facebook) who have reminded me that I am loved. I love you, too.

I'm 30!!!!

On Turning 30 and Bucket Lists

I'm rapidly approaching my 30th birthday in November. To some of you, I'm a spring chicken. To others, I am THAT LADY WITH THOSE KIDS. No matter what my relative age is, I do feel as if I'm entering a new phase of life. 30 seems so much older than 29. Okay, maybe not that much older...

I will always remember (unless my memory starts to go soon...) that episode of "Friends" in which Phoebe tries to complete her "Things to do before I'm 30" list only to find out she's been 30 and is almost 31. She proceeds with the list and has the time of her life doing it.

Well, I have a list. It isn't a "Things to do before I'm 30" list but more of a "Things I want to do before I get too old to do them" list. :) I'll share 30 of mine, in honor of my upcoming birthday, then you share some of yours.

These are not listed in order of importance, FYI.

1. Sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.
2. Go backpacking around Europe (just Dave and me).
3. Put flowers on C.S. Lewis' grave.
4. See the Redwoods in California.
5. Visit Seattle and drink coffee at the first Starbucks.
6. Go to a Yankees game.
7. Go to Walt Disney World with my kids.
8. Visit Easter Island and see the big stone heads.
9. Go to India and eat tons of Indian food.
10. Visit Israel and walk where Jesus walked.
11. Go to Greece and take pretty pictures.
12. Climb a few more 14,000 ft. peaks in Colorado (I've climbed one so far...and a few shorter ones, like 13K or 12K).
13. Go to NYC and do NY stuff (Broadway, Central Park Zoo with the kids, Times Square).
14. Visit all of my internet friends at least once.
15. Be an overseas missionary in China, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.
16. Ride in a gondola in Venice.
17. Own a stick shift again.
18. Buy a really nice camera with a nice, wide lens (I hope this one comes true soon.)
19. Adopt a child.
20. Be revolutionary...somehow.
21. Write a book.
22. Learn to paint or draw better.
23. Lose all the baby weight (for good...after I'm done having babies, of course!).
24. Find the birthplaces of my ancestors and visit there (Ireland, Scotland, England...of course)
25. Teach my girls how to sew.
26. Learn how to can food.
27. Learn how to quilt--for reals (there's an elderly woman in my Bible study who is up for the challenge!).
28. Read more classics.
29. Plant a garden and keep it alive for an extended period of time.
30. Leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren.

I may add to this as I think of things. Your turn.

Nieces, A Nephew, and This and That

I did clean up the house. It looked great. I didn't take pictures. Now it is a bit of a mess again. We went to see our extended family this weekend. It was nice to see everyone, but I must admit seeing my nieces and nephew was the highlight. :)

I got to see Britany, who is so much of a woman now, it freaks me out a little bit. It's hard to believe she was our flower girl and so little and now so tall and beautiful. I got to see her little sister, Jadlynne, who just turned one! I can't believe she's one. I am getting older moment by moment. Jadlynne had a birthday party, and it was fun to watch her stuff her mouth with cake and open her presents like a pro.

I got to see Case too. This kid is a bundle of energy and fun, but he is also genuine and sweet. I'm so thankful he and my kids are close in age; they have so much fun together. I did get to see 3 week old, Addison Mae, for the first time. She is a DOLL. She looks a lot like my brother, and that is a little strange to look at her and see so much of him there. (I could see Miranda there too, but I do think Chris' genes were a little dominant!) I think my brother is a grown-up man now--he has fathered a child and is dedicated to his family. I'm very proud of him. I was telling him that if I didn't know better, I'd think Case was his biological son because he acts so much like Chris did as a little boy! :) Addison better look out!

We went to hear William Paul Young speak last night. He wrote The Shack, in case you didn't know. There has been a lot of controversy over this book, and I understand it. I just don't agree with it (the controversy). I think the book is amazing and beautiful. It touched some deep places in me and awakened me to the truth of God's love for me. That can never be bad. :) I think the people who get up-in-arms over it need to be shaken--they need to know that the box they've put God in is of their own making, and He is not under their thumb. I found the book refreshing and eye-opening. It truly is a message of grace and freedom, which is what Jesus came to give us. Paul's talk last night was his story--where he came from, what happened along the way, and how Jesus healed him. It was beautiful, just like his book.

I finished He Loves Me by Jacobsen as well as Loving our Kids on Purpose by Silk (see earlier post of my book list). Both are fantastic. Jacobsen's book built on the truth of grace and freedom, and Silk's book applied those truths to parenting. I am excited about the place God is bringing me in these truths. Both are wonderful, refreshing reads, so check them out. I'm going to read a little fiction for now before I pick up any more of the books on my book list. I just picked up Adam by Dekker at the library. We'll see. He's a good writer, for the most part. Sometimes I don't like his word choices, but that's just me being a nerd and being irritated by Christian artists.

Okay, well, that's my update for the day. I must move on to menu planning and grocery list making. XoxoXO!

Friday? Already?

I can't believe it is Friday again. This week is zooming past me!

I also can't believe I forgot to mention that Dave and I celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary on Tuesday! It was very nice. We got to go out last weekend and enjoy some yummy Indian food and a movie. That's pretty much the perfect date in my book. If you give me Indian food, I'll be happy.

Indian Corner has the best spicy pumpkin and vegetable dishes.
Kolam has the best honey balls (sorry, Sammy at Star of India, but it is true)
Desi Wok has the best Chicken Tikka Masala.
India Palace has the best chance of getting salmonella. For realz.

I love my husband. He can still make me laugh (but not with old jokes). He made me laugh a lot this anniversary. I'm so thankful for the years we've spent together and the ways God is growing us and teaching us. We're a good team.

I went to bed early last night b/c I hadn't slept much the night before. Maybe 4 hours? I was up with Lucy a lot and I got to bed late. Es no bueno. Dave let me sleep in again today. So nice. I think I actually got some decent rest (even with waking up in the middle of the night).

Today, we're going to bake a cake for Brooke's birthday party tonight. We're also going to go visit my Great Aunt Kathy for a little bit. Brooke's party is at the bowling alley. Can't wait to watch the kids bowl! They're always fun to watch.

Take out some time today to put lotion on your feet. It'll work wonders. Seriously.

Update

Sorry I've been MIA lately. I've got SO much going on. My head is spinning from so much activity. So, here's what we've been up to:

• We went to Arkansas to celebrate Maryn's birthday with our families. None of my pictures are visually pleasing enough to show you. It was way too dark at the pizza place.


• We got to see our friends from med school, Jake and Melissa and their three kids. It was so good to hang out with them.
  

Our kids together (the only picture where you can actually see all their faces).

Amanda and Melissa

Dave and Jake

• We counter-offered these same people on the house. They really want it. After a couple of times back and forth, we've reached middle ground. We have a contract! I refuse to get excited until the appraisal is completed. Inspection went well so far as I could tell. We will get everything in writing as to what they want repaired.
• We will close on the house before we move to Arkansas. It will be nice not to have any loose ends here in Oklahoma. I'm packing again since I'm not showing the house. It's going quickly. I've been told to hire people to do this. I'm at home a lot, and I actually enjoy packing. It's not been that big of a deal. In fact, I leisurely packed 13 boxes today (of various sizes). We have more furniture than we had before, but we really don't have that much more stuff. (sigh of relief)
• Yesterday was Senior Day. We were out all day in meetings talking about our soon transition out of residency. It was a very helpful and productive day. I realized how many people I need to set aside time for to say good-bye. Graduation is in 23 days!
• I've had four friends give birth in the last three weeks. Insane. I've gotten to visit lots of babies...still one I need to visit (can't wait!!!).
• We had to get the speed sensor replaced on our transmission. Very tricky with one car... Thankfully we have good friends to transport us.
• Have a cold or something. Not bad, just annoying.

That's about it. If you think of me, say a prayer that I will be patient and productive. MWAH!

Real Estate and the Rapture

I had an epiphany sometime last week.

Keeping your house clean when you're trying to sell it is an awful lot like being ready for Jesus to come back! It could happen at any moment, and you want to be prepared!

My house is staying clean. I'm not sure how I got to this point, but I'm here, and I'm thankful. I'm doing a load of laundry every day. I make sure the house is ready to show before I go anywhere (this only happens about once a day). I keep clutter away. I make the kids put their toys back quickly. I'm into a rhythm, and it's nice. I hope this industrious spirit follows me back to Arkansas. :)

We received an offer yesterday on our house. But, it was totally insulting. They offered $6500 less than our asking price and also asked the following:

• Pay their $5000 in closing costs (For realz?--our closing costs in AR on a more expensive house are only $3500!!!!--comparable real estate market too!!!)
• Pay to repaint the exterior of the house in a color of their liking (Sorry, charlie. That's a couple thousand bucks.)
• Pay 1 point of their interest rate (hello!!!!! interest rates are at an all-time LOW!!!)
• Buy a home warranty (we're not completely opposed to this)
• $1000 home repair addendum (this is pretty standard)

We rejected the offer without even countering. They submitted a new offer later in the afternoon, but the only thing they changed was the purchase price. It was still not enough to compensate for their closing costs. We can't tack their closing costs onto the sale price without either chancing that the house won't appraise at that amount or without us being upside down on the loan. We said, "No way, Jose!" It felt good, too. Our house is still getting a lot of attention and showings, and it has only been on the market for 1.5 wks. We're not desperate.

After some discussion, I believe they are out of their price range if they need THAT much assistance on our house. So, anyway, that was crazy, but we're hopeful that the real buyer will come along soon.

Lucykins is 6 months old. Where has the time gone? She's my lightweight baby. Her weight is in the 15% but her head and length are both 50%. She's looking great though. She has rolls, and that's good!!! Maryn is 50% for everything. Nice to know. I need to take some pictures...

My parents are coming over today to play with Sam and Maryn and take Maryn to Build-A-Bear for her birthday. That was their gift to the grandkids this year for their birthdays. I think it's really cute. Maryn most definitely will choose a princess bear...it'd be fun if she surprised us!

Well, wish I had more interesting things to talk about, but I don't. :) Have a blessed day!

Our Two Tiny Ladies

Our oldest girl just had her 3rd birthday. THAT is hard to believe. When we moved here, she was just 2 weeks old. Now, we're getting ready to move again. Time is flying--a bit too fast if you ask me.

She requested a white cake with pink frosting (a princess cake). I used the trusty bundt pan. However, I took the cake out when it was completely cool (big no-no! should be mostly cooled, but not completely), and the top stuck inside the pan. Boo. So, I covered it with frosting best I could. It still tasted yummy, and she didn't notice.

Trying to blow out the candle

Her brother picked out a very thoughtful gift--a Mrs. Potato Head! They like playing with it together. It was much better than his first idea--trains. :) Dave and I bought her a Fancy Nancy tutu to add to the growing collection of frilly, fairy princess clothes. It's so fun watching her run around in her princess get-up.

One thing we were worried about was that Maryn would be jealous of Lucy after having been the baby for 2.5 years. Thank God! We were wrong! She never acted out any jealousy, and only recently has taken an interest in her sister. She talks about her more and definitely is becoming more nurturing. It's so sweet to watch.

I pray these two will enjoy their sisterhood. I always wanted a sister growing up. I love my brother, but we couldn't really share clothes and secrets and play together the same way sisters do. Although, I did dress him up like a girl more than once. He usually went along with it until Dad made him take it off. :)

I much prefer to see Maryn smiling and laughing because we've had our fair share of tears

(and then some).

And how about a silly baby face? Babies+silliness=our family.

Had to put this one as our desktop background!

I also like to see chubby baby legs. You too? I thought so.

Knee dimples...it doesn't get any better than that.