more reasons to love this guy!

Let's be honest, Mike and I are not "mushy". Neither of us really like Valentine's day and we just don't do extravagant gifts, etc.

But this man... I love him like crazy! Here's reason # 326:

I was going through our camera after we got home from the hospital with Ryan and I found this:


This must have been when I was finally able to take a shower and he was alone with Ryan because I did NOT remember it.

I started to ask him what in the heck he was doing and then I remembered this:


This is from when William was born. We laughed about this for awhile afterward. Mike was trying to take a picture of himself with Will in the mirror. Obviously, the flash interfered.

Mike wanted to give Ryan the same opportunity that William had! And so he did this:


And look! He held the camera out to the side of his face :)

love you!

Jesus needs a party!

With Will's birthday just a couple of weeks away, we have been deep into birthday party discussions and of course, I have been trying to explain the story of Jesus as we get closer and closer to Christmas. The intersection of the two topics provides some super-interesting car ride conversation:

Will has made the connection that your birthday party is for when you were born. We were discussing that Christmas is when Jesus was born and Will decided that Jesus should have a birthday party. I tried to explain that Christmas is the celebration of his birth. Oh no, Christmas is not good enough...

... Will informed me that Jesus should have a Mickey Mouse party. And, apparently, he needs cake too!

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In other news, Will would like a "Santa tree" (he will NOT call it a Christmas tree) in his backyard. He was quite confused at the fact that people put trees in their houses. "Trees go outside!"

oh sweet boy! how much fun we are going to have this Christmas!!!

maternity pics

Zoe did it again! I was a little hesitant about doing these - I find some of the poses I have seen to be a bit cheesy. However, Zoe convinced me and I am so glad we did! We waited 'till right before my due date, so I was already at the oh-my-heavens-when-will-this-pregnancy-end-because-i-am-so-unbelievably-huge-and-uncomfortable stage. Nevertheless, I like them - especially the ones of our little family of three in it's final stages

more pics

equal opportunity picture-posting ('cause he's cute too!):

one month pictures

Good heavens! Two posts in a row without pictures! Let's take care of that...

I have seen lots of pics of babies throughout their first year where they wear the same outfit and sit in the same place each month so you get a good visual on their growth. Well, I decided to try it! And THIS is why we asked Zoe to do the newborn pics :) A professional I am not!
(by the way, I bought this cute little knitted hat and diaper cover for his newborn pics, but we didn't end up needing them. so gosh darn it, I am going to get my money's worth!)

This was the one month picture:




and here are the outtakes!

this one says, "Here comes that crazy lady again with the camera!"



and then there is "no pictures, please!"



I can't believe it almost time to do them for two months!

here we go again!

I know it's been awhile and that does NOT mean that things have not been crazy. In fact, it has been the norm - not the exception. But this morning in particular, I nearly died!!

We were all packed in the car (William, Ryan, diaper bag, backpack, lunch box, and me!), the temperature hovering around 35 degrees (I live in Texas for crying out loud! this is not normal!), ready to pull out and take Will to school this morning when William pipes up from the back seat in his most calm voice, "Mommy, I want to talk to you for a minute."

I had a millisecond thought that my almost-three-year-old-crazy-child had been replaced by a mature, sophisticated adult adult. Then I turned around and saw him sitting there in his fleece hat with ear flaps and snapped back to reality. I politely replied, "What did you want to talk about honey", honestly expecting him to lead off with, "I've decided to pursue my interest in international affairs". Instead, I got...

... "About when I go poo-poo in my diaper."

ah, yes. that's more like it! I said, "What did you want to say about that?" He stayed quiet for a second or two and our conversation digressed to the topic of using the potty instead of diapers, etc,etc. (yes! we are still potty training! any hints?!)

but seriously! "Mommy, I want to talk to you for a minute." Who's kid is this?!

20 questions

Emily did this awhile back and I have been meaning to join in - so here! (and you should do it too!)

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you're blogging?
wine (late night) and Goldfish crackers

2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?
can't name just one: DVR, memory seats in my car, dual sinks in the master bath, camera (and oh yeah, the two most beautiful boys in the world and their amazing daddy!)

3. Beach, Mountains, or Farm?
hhhhmmmm... used to think I was pro-Mountains, but a recent trip to the Dominican (actually it was not so recent - sad...) has started my conversion to pro-Beach

4. What's your least favorite chore/household duty?
cleaning. anything. seriously. I hate it and it hates me.

5. Who do people say you remind them of?
for real, I used to get comments that I looked like Tonya Harding. flattering, isn't it?

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying home with the fam?
SUCH a homebody - I have been known to fall asleep on someone's shoulder out at the bar (no! not a stranger! a friend)

7. What's your all time favorite movie?
The Cutting Edge (every once in awhile, I have a random D.B. Sweeney sighting on TV - let me know if you see him in something!) - and Star Wars - and James Bond

8. Do you sleep in your make-up or remove it like a good little girl every night?
sleep is waaaaaaay more important that removing make-up

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you've never had a chance to learn? What is it?
I would love to learn to play tennis - exciting, isn't it? and graphic design.

10. What's one strange thing you're really good at?
I am an expert at grammar. punctuation, no. but grammar, yes. I don't know why - I don't even like to write. I think it has to do with all the logical rules that go with it. But don't even get me started on misplaced apostrophes and dangling participles... (and I am a fluent Spanish-speaker - go figure!)

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?
he is funny and charismatic and such a natural people-person. I, on the other hand, am not.

12. What is something you love to smell?
the beginning of a rain shower, freshly mowed grass, freshly-baked cookies, hubby's aftershave

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.
I tend to think I can do anything without any help.

14. When you have extra money, what's the first thing you think to do with it?
uh, spend it.

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?
loud. dry, sarcastic humor makes me laugh

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?
'cause I am such the fashionista, I prefer Ann Taylor Loft and Target (that's right, I said it!)

17. What's one thing you'd do more often if you had more time?
sleep. without question. sleep.

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?
let's be honest - I am a spender unfortunately. not a big spender because there is not a lot of extra to spend, but I am trying hard to be more frugal.

19. Who is your favorite character of all time?
(what kind of question is this?!)

20. Would you want to be famous?
not so much. well, maybe... if I could become instantly un-famous whenever I wanted

So, its your turn...tag!