My 31st Birthday

My birthday was three weeks ago, March 19th. I'm now 31. I don't feel 31 at all, maybe 25... no, more like 27. I would have let it pass without a post but it has been interesting that in the last three weeks I have gotten SO MANY comments about how young I look. Yesterday I got one that stood out in particular - "Look at you! After having two kids, you STILL look 15!" I didn't know how to take this one. I didn't know whether I should feel complimented or insulted.... I'm glad that I look young. It will come in handy when I'm 50 but ... I do not feel 15! My body, after two kids, doesn't feel 15 either.

I also thought I would tell you about the wonderful thing that my husband did for me. He sent me flowers at work! I was SO surprised! Flowers at work is not in Ben's forte, at least before three weeks ago. And I could tell when I picked them at the reception desk, that they weren't the normal arrangement. He went all out! The pictures I took don't do it justice (but here's one anyway). I called Ben right away to say that they were "beautiful!!" and he took the opportunity to say some really sweet things to me. He expressed how much he appreciates me. This touched me even more than the flowers. Man, it feels so good to be loved and appreciated by my husband! I love you, Ben!!

The joke is on me!

Madelyn and I had been talking about April Fools' Day for a week before it came. I did this purposely because I was planning a joke and I didn't want her to freak out about it. She almost always asks for chicken nuggets when we ask her what she wants for lunch or dinner. So I was prepared. I made her some April Fools' Day "chicken nuggets", banana slices covered in peanut butter and graham cracker crumbs. I put them down in front of her and she took a look at them and I thought for sure that she was going to refuse them on first sight. Then she touched them and saw that they didn't feel like chicken nuggets and got a strange look on her face. Finally she put one in her mouth and bit down into it. She got a HUGE smile on her face and proclaimed - CHICKEN NUGGETS! Of course, I replied, "Are you sure that you have chicken nuggets?" And she came back with, "Yup! Chicken nuggets!" Oh well, I guess the joke was on me! I didn't even bother saying "April Fools' Day"....

February 2007 Pictures

Hey everyone! I just got February's pictures out on Webshots. This month wasn't very exciting... I do have one disclaimer though. The pink sleepsack that Greyson has on - that was Madelyn's and I could not not use it just because it's pink. Go ahead, say it. I'm messing up his self-identity.... my bad.

My sweet boy...

Greyson has had a hard month or so.... he has been sick a few times, has cut two teeth (the bottom, front teeth and I think the top two middle ones are on the way in too!), has been SUPER hungry, just got immunizations, and keeps pulling out his own pacifier (who just took my paci?). I wonder if he wonders if it was worth it to come out of that warm, cozy, sterile womb. Although, he is WAY too big to go back now! However, I think (HOPE!) that we are getting back into a good routine. These events have really messed with his nighttime sleep, which messes with the whole family's nighttime sleep (especially mine). However, I'm hoping that getting back into a good routine will help get that in line too. We may be starting him on rice cereal soon to help his hunger stay at bay during the night. We'll have to see. Anyway.... Greyson is such a sweet boy. We all love him to pieces. Madelyn has started to play with him a little - giving him a toy to play with and then taking it away and then giving him another toy, over and over. He seems to like it. It is fun to see them starting to interact more. These two pictures are from day care. Enjoy!

Thawing out

Today you can feel spring on the way; you can see it in every drip off the roof and in the buds forming on all the trees and bushes. I'm sure we will be seeing spring flowers on their way up as the snow disappears. I love this time of year. I love watching the land wake up after a long nap. I love the sun and how it it warms me inside and out, as well as the way it calls the flowers and plants into existence. The sun has been out almost all week. It can be VERY bright with the white snow on the ground. Blinding, in fact. However, it hadn't been warm enough yet for the snow to melt yet until today. I can't tell you what the temp is out because my temp sensor is still under the snow (it has read 29 degrees for two weeks), but I can tell you that when you go outside you don't need a hat or gloves and could probably go with your coat open. With as cold as it has been, that could mean that it is only 40 degrees .... just checked weather.com. The high was 41 degrees - warm enough! Thank you, God!

Psalm 19: 1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display their knowledge.

There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavillion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

Madelyn is growing up so fast!!

Madelyn is 2 and a half. I am constantly amazed at how fast she is growing, physically AND mentally. As examples, her pants that we were rolling up just 3 months ago are now too short and she is now telling us when it is time to do things, like eat or take a nap, or having whole conversations with us. It is so refreshing to not have to guess at what she is trying to tell us. With this comes the need for independence and fits here and there, but even those seem to be subsiding. I don't know if she is getting better or if we are as parents - maybe both. But I have to say, I am really liking this age Madelyn's at right now.

Today we went sledding and Madelyn had a great time. She loves sledding. However, it was a faster hill than we gone to before and with all the snow we've gotten there were a few hidden bumps. She ended up coming off the sled a couple of times and once she went in the snow face first. Madelyn wasn't very happy about that. But she got over it and kept going. She really is quite the daredevil.