Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary

Happy birthday Dudela! (Your pressie will be in the mail shortly.)

Happy anniversary mom and dad!

Sorry I am just now posting this. I love you all and hope you all had a great day.

Shut In

Over the last couple of days most of the country has been blanketed by a freezing storm, and where we live has been no exception. It showed up here late Monday night and blew all through Tuesday morning. Knowing how bad it was all night long, we didn't even bother to try to get up for work the next morning. Even our heater decided to try to take the day off. We knew there would be no work on Tuesday, but we didn't realize there would be no leaving the house for the next few days because it simply has not gotten warm enough here to melt the ice off the roads, which is probably easily .5" thick or more and covers up to probably 85-90% of all road surfaces.

Of course, with Wednesday being Baby Bean's birthday, we didn't mind another day at home. I got up that morning as soon as she did, and rushed in to tell my sweet baby girl happy birthday. She gave me the biggest smile. She knew what day it was. I got her all dressed in her new, special birthday outfit (not to be confused with her birthday suit). We then headed downstairs and the fun began. All day long I would let her open a present here and there, right up until about an hour before bedtime. Of course, I let her stay up a bit late too. Her digs included a new white oak table (I didn't realize it didn't come with chairs [they have since been ordered and are on their way]), new clothes from grandma and grandpa, a savings account from the other grandma, new pots and pans for her kitchen, a hamster in a ball (not live), le.gos (from daddy), a magnetic toy where you pair the back halves of animals to the front, and some bathtub crayons.

We tried to brave the roads to take her out to dinner, but we had to stop at the grocery store first to pick up her birthday cake that I was supposed to pick up the night before. While we were there, we decided it would be best to buy food just in case we had to stay home again Thursday and Friday (staying home Thursday is looking most likely). BB LOVED her D.ora cake. We also let her pick out a gigantic mylar balloon, because I have been promising her one for her birthday for weeks.

After leaving the store, we decided we were done playing ice hockey with ourselves in the car and headed home instead of to dinner. We did order a pizza though, and were sure to give the delivery guy a decent tip. (Hey, we wouldn't have made him go out if we hadn't been followed home by a P.apa J.ohns delivery guy! Obviously he was out making deliveries, and we tipped well.)

Today was a great day spent at home, trying to keep warm, while basking in the love of and for our daughter on her special day. It has been so very sweet with only a tiny hint of heart ache at the thought of not being able to celebrate birthdays for siblings. I keep praying though, and we'll keep trying (btw, AF reared today). I am just so grateful we were blessed with Baby Bean and able to celebrate her arrival into our lives.

Here are a few photos from today. Just a heads up, my daughter is definitely her father's, as she runs away or hides from the camera. It is almost impossible to get a good picture of her, and when you do, it is pure luck! Enjoy!

Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Bean!

Two years ago today was by far one of the most wonderful, happiest days of my life. The day I had dreamed of since I was a little girl myself. The day that was so hard won after years pain and sorrow. It was the day you came into my life. The day I realized the reason for my existence. The day I made the man I love most in this world a father. Nothing in this world can ever compare to that day.

This past year has been amazing beyond words as I watched you learn how to walk and then run. I watched your understanding of the English language and vocabulary grow by leaps and bounds. I saw the world through your wondering eyes as I taught you the names of everything around you. I have watched you grow in your love for everything in this world.

Every day it seems impossible to be able to love you more, yet I do, every day. I still look at you, afraid to close my eyes for even a second for fear that your being here has all been nothing more than a glorious dream. It has, but it is a real, live dream.

I thank God for you every moment of every day.

Sometimes I fear that my love for you will be too much. I hope that one day you will understand why and how I love you the way that I do.

At times I might not always be the best mother, but always know that I am giving it my everything. I am always striving to do my best for and by you, and I always will. I promise to get down and play with you every day of your childhood so that you can look back years from now and smile at the time we spent together while you were growing up. I promise to always be silly and crazy with you. You can always count on that.

I never wanted to grow up, and having you around brings out the child in me. I love doing for you all of the things I wish I had been able to do when I was a child, living out all of my childhood dreams with you. Not through you, but with you. There is nothing I love more than making you happy.

I love your little laugh. I love to make you laugh. I love to make you smile. I love to snuggle with you. I love to have conversations to you, even if I don't always understand exactly what you are saying. I love all of your adorable little mannerisms. I love the way you always say please, thank you, you're welcome, and bless you. I love your little squeals of excitement. I love the way you learn to comprehend what I tell you better and better every day. I love how excited you get over eating a piece of cheese or smarties or getting a pack of Sc.ooby Snacks. I love the way you turn my head to look at you when you're talking to me if I'm not looking at you. I love the way you shout "Mama!" and run to me when I pick you up from daycare. Above all, I love your sweet kisses and hugs.

I want you to know too, that I love you so much I want for you one of the best things I think I could ever give you, and that is a sibling. I grew up with siblings, and there is a joy like no other that only a brother or sister can give you. I hope and pray that one day I am able to provide you with this blessing. Ever since the day my baby brother came into the world, I have told him that he was my favorite gift from my mom and dad and from God. I hope that one day you will know that joy and love.

Baby girl, there has not been one day or one second since I found out I was pregnant with you almost three years ago that I thought you weren't worth everything I went through to get you. I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I am glad I never gave up, and that I never let the battle best me. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are the best thing your daddy ever gave me.

If I could give you just one thing from me, it would be for you to be able to look back on your childhood and say that you had the best mama ever. That you could remember all of the fun things we did together. That I was always here for you, and that I never left you when you needed me.

I look forward to watching you learn and grow even more in the next year. I look forward to making memories to last a lifetime.

I love you more than the sun and moon and all the stars in the sky. I love you more than the air that I breathe.

Happy birthday, sweet baby girl.

Plans

Can you believe that Baby Bean's second birthday is next week already? Where has the time gone? *sniff* It really does go by in the blink of an eye. I find that I am really making an effort to spend as much good quality time as I can with her lately because she is just growing up so fast. I don't want to miss a minute of it.

Tonight I decided I will host a birthday party for her at daycare next week. It will be Dor.a themed, as she LOVES Dor.a. I kind of feel like a bad mom because I am just over a week away from her birthday and just now realizing it. Last year I had birthday party plans in place by November. This means I will spend the rest of this week and this weekend scrambling to get it all put together.

I plan to provide pizza, chips, drinks, and cupcakes for the kids, along with party bags. I seriously need to get my act together ASAP. The only problem is, I am down with either a really nasty cold or the flu. Not sure which. All I know is I can't remember the last time I was this sick. Anything that touches my skin is irritating, and you know when you dread shaving or putting on deodorant because it is going to be uncomfortable, you are definitely under the weather. Yep, I am one ill woman.

Illness aside, I am totally looking forward to this weekend when we will introduce two new members to our family. Growing up I always wanted a hamster, gerbil, or a mouse. My mother wouldn't hear of it. She loathes rodents and is not a big animal fan, but I am a HUGE animal lover. All animals.

A few months ago Baby Bean and I were looking around the pet store while we were shopping for dog things, and I fell in love with the idea again, but put it to the back of my mind, promising if I still wanted one down the road, I would consider it further. As the months went on, I found I still really wanted one. I loved the idea of holding and petting them along with the enjoyment BB would get out of watching them play in their cage, but even more, the squeals of delight I know that will be accompanied by a gerbil rolling around our house in a ball. I can't get enough of that mental picture!

Last Saturday BB and I went to pick up chewies for the dogs and took our usual detour of pet store, checking out all of the other animals. It was at this time that I got serious about adding a new member to our family. I priced out items to see how much it would cost. I grabbed information on hamsters and gerbils so we could decide which would be the best fit for us, and then went home to research it more.

I have decided a gerbil is the best fit for us.


They are friendlier than hamsters, less likely to startle, rarely bite, are active at all hours of the day (as opposed to nocturnal hamsters), and poop much less than hamsters and only in one area of the cage. Not only that, but they only live 3-5 years, so it isn't a large time investment if we decide we don't like it as much as we thought we would, so we can just stick it out. However, I don't think that is going to be a problem. Especially considering I used to steal the live mice from my cat when she brought them home and tried to keep them as pets. (Bet you didn't know that, did you mom? ;) .)

Hubs' only contingency is that he not smell them. It sounds like with gerbils, that won't be a problem. That man seriously loves me.

The only catch is gerbils do better in pairs. They have been shown to have shortened life spans when the live alone. They like to eat with buddies, sleep with buddies, and play with buddies. Who doesn't? So BB will get one for her birthday, and I will get one for mine! (My birthday is 9 days after BB's.)

Now comes the naming dilemma. I kind of like the name Mordecai for mine, and BB seems to like Jabberwalkie for hers. Yes, she actually wants to name it Jabberwalkie. I was also trying to think of famous male couple names, as our gerbils will both be male, like Frodo and Sam, Merry and Pipin, Turner and Hooch. Does anyone out there have any other great ideas?

I really am excited to bring our new little guys home, but even more to watch BB interact with them. I hope this move is as wonderful as I think it will be.

Bappy Hirthday!

Happy birthday to the most special little brother in the whole world.


God knew what he was doing when he put us together.


You are the best gift mom and dad ever gave me.


I am so blessed that 28 years ago today, you came into my life. Because of the relationship we have, I keep fighting to give my daughter a sibling so that she might know the joy you bring me. If I could give her just one thing, it would be a little brother just like you.


Thank you for being my best friend through thick and thin. For always being there for me. For always loving me no matter how horrible I was. For always reminding me that life is worth living, if only to spend time with you.


I love you just a little more than you love me. ;)


Happy birthday baby brother!

From Texas, With Love

For my birthday, Texas gave me a great big Texas-sized surprise... snow.


I know in this picture it doesn't look like much, but that is because what you can see has been sheltered by trees. I woke up to 2" of snow this morning. I also realize that for those of you living in the Northern states 2" doesn't seem like a big deal. I know, I grew up in the Rocky Mountains. In fact, I was so sick and tired of driving in the snow, I moved away from the RMs to where I thought I would never have to brave another snowy road again... HA!

It has been snowing for almost 24 hours straight here. It hasn't let up at all. The stream of snow has been constant all day. The amount that has fallen today is record for the area, and all in time for my special day. I feel so warm and snuggy....

Here is what I found when I left work at 3:00 today.


I was only away from my car for 7 hours people! This isn't supposed to happen here!

Thank you for my birthday gift Texas. Up yours too. :p

All joking aside, my birthday was pretty great. My teammates took me out to lunch for some awesome Tex Mex, including table-side guacamole. It was awesomely delicious. When we got back to the office there was a dozen red roses waiting at my desk for me from Hubs and Baby Bean. When I thanked Hubs for the flowers, he asked if I had received the teddy bear, chocolates, and spa gifts. I thought he was kidding, but apparently he wasn't. He called the flower company and they are resending the entire order tomorrow, so I get two dozen red roses for my birthday!

The thing I loved about it the most was that the red roses are so classic. Hubs usually sends all kinds of different flowers, but rarely red roses. For today, that was exactly what I wanted, so I was quite pleased when that is what he sent. I can't wait to get the rest tomorrow!

Both Hubs and I left work early today to beat traffic on the nasty roads, so when he got home we decided to go out to dinner. Honestly, I had planned on making waffles for dinner, but when that wasn't what he wanted and he began to cook dinner for himself, I protested, so we went out. We went to a local hibachi, which is one of my absolute favorite things in the world.

I am excited that my special day will get to continue on all through the weekend with the rest of my birthday order showing up, then going to get my little bro from the airport, and then partying the weekend away. It just doesn't get any better... well, it would be better without this blasted snow!

P.S. It is 11:45 and it is still snowing as hard as it has been all day. Seriously?! Oh yes, and lest I forget to mention, it doesn't snow here so there are no snow plows, no snow shovels, nothing to help clean up the snow. Aweomeness. I saw people out shoveling with dust pans and trays.

Happy Birthday... to Me?

My mom called me last night and asked me if I planned on doing anything fun for my birthday today. I told her not that I knew of, and as my husband isn't too big on birthdays and/or surprises, I expect the day will be pretty normal. What I should have told her was that my fun plan involved doing a fun blog post. Now I just need to think of something fun to do for this post....

I will be doing fun things for my birthday, they just won't happen on my birthday. My little brother is flying into town the day after and is going to spend the whole weekend with us. We're going to take him to see Av.atar (which I highly recommend in 3D) and the Bo.dies I.n Mo.tion exhibit. I know the latter is a bit creepy and gross, but I find it all highly interesting. My bro, who is an EMT will enjoy it too. On top of those two fantastic activities, we plan to spend loads of time playing games on the Wi.i, shopping (because we both love it), buying me a new iP.od for my bday, buying a Thr.iving Iv.ory CD (if you haven't heard them, I highly recommend them), eating good food, and being just plain goofy. On top of that, I get to add my daughter to the fun, which will make it all that much more special. What could be better?

So, in being true to my word, I leave you with something fun for this post. Below is a very brief clip of Baby Bean playing with Sadie yesterday. I had been working from home because Baby Bean has a nasty ear infection complete with ooze. I was typing away when I realized I heard what sounded like a block being hit against a dog head. I looked over, and sure enough, Baby Bean was hitting Sadie on the head with a block and laughing hysterically. Sadie being the oober awesome dog that she is, just sat there and let the baby have her way with her. Rest assured, Sadie was very well rewarded for her patience, love and tolerance.

With that, I bid you adieu!