21 years

for these two.
21 years of being parents to 3 children.
(2 of which have turned out remarkable i might add)
11.5 years of being parents of 2 more children.
4.5 years of being grandparents to olivia.
nearly 2 years to liam.
and soon to two more...

6 years (i think) to breeding dogs.
21 years to demolishing and rebuilding
everything in sight.
5 years of being more relaxed.

1 year of trying to figure eachother out
and 20 years of my dad just letting her
do her thing and letting himself get
secretly sucked into her 'ideas' that she
starts and that turn into big projects for him.
someday, when he's old, he'll get it. maybe...

even though you two didn't start your journey
as married people with eachother i'm glad you
dumped your others and found eachother months
later and married 8 months after that...

think about it this way... i'm ok you didn't start out
together to make the first 3 of us. i like having a
full head of hair... see, things have a funny way
of turning out... i like to find the positive in
situations. oh, not to mention i had a terrible last
name. thanks for changing that for the 15 years i
used it....

you've made pretty great parents for the 5 of us.
despite what you may feel about the lost sheep.
you're loving and forgiving and supportive.
thank you.

i love you both very very much....

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

(not much of a 'together picture'.
stole it off facebook. but that's what they look like!
and why i look like i'm 17)

entry #139

Dear Family,

Thank you for so lovingly eating the crap I've been making for
dinner for the past week or so. I'm glad that you've 'enjoyed' it.

Dear Father-in-law Steve,

Thank you for donating to the youth of our church for baby-
sitting night on behalf of us and in hopes of giving us a date night.
We can't wait and are planning on a lovely dinner with some
friends from out of town. Looking forward to intelligent
conversations (minus what comes out of my mouth) and not
having to fight with little people to eat their food. The youth
can deal with that for Saturday night :)

Dear Liam,

Thanks for letting me hold you this morning while looking
out the window. You warm my heart with your words.
You are trying so hard to learn and you're
doing so well. I'm just not quite sure what you mean
when you are yelling and crying and throwing yourself
on the ground over something you may or may not
want to eat that I may or may not have. This morning
it was over bananas (i think) that I didn't have then after
agreeing on a bowl of cereal (with milk) you stole my
applesauce. (what i really wanted and now is gone)
That's how much I love you. Remember that.

Dear Olivia,

Thank you for your concert last night. You make a wonderful
rock star. You're going to go far. Well, maybe not too far since
you won't be dressing or acting like a skank. But we're your
biggest fans and have tons of faith in you as a conservative
rock star that will be dressed in turtle neck sweaters and
long pants. You might not have much to sing about though
as we will be keeping you within arms reach at all times and
possibly locked in your room till you're 30. (just kidding... kinda)

Dear Couch,

Thank you for being a source of comfort for the past 2 weeks
but I feel that it's time we parted ways. You are pushing the
baby farther and farther into my ribs as I sleep. However,
you are conveniently located next to the bathroom but I miss
my husband and I'm starting to miss sleep again. But if my
bed fails me again, I'll return into your waiting cushions.

entry #138

This past weekend was wonderfully relaxing. Just what we needed. It started off with a great family night on friday night. Playing games and coloring with the kids. Then Saturday Olivia got to go with her daddy and uncle to play frisbee golf. She has so much fun going places with her daddy. She always calls them their dates even if it's just to the store. I'm so thankful she has such a wonderful father that will always be there for her. And now he'll have three women in his life to love and spoil ;)

After that we lounged around and finally got ready to go to my husband's parent's house to hang out with them before his brothers and mom headed out on the road again. It was fun and my brother in law made us nachos!! Exactly what I was craving. Then we went bowling. I got a 123! I was so proud of myself but it tired me out and I knew only one game was enough for me. Had I played again my score would have been much much lower. Not to mention our son was running around like a crazy person.

On Sunday we went to church after a hectic morning trying to get out the door. My son decided to throw his cereal all over our dining room and his sister and his hair. So in the bath he went.

At church, I realized I hadn't really felt the baby at all that morning and then she started doing something weird in her chest and it made me nervous. After talking with my midwife I decided to wait it out.

We went home afterwards and just snuggled and watched the kids' shows. Best sunday in a long time!
I made some nasty spaghetti that my family all loved but me. This baby hates pastas! Before we ate I had taken my iron and 30 mins. later took two more pills forgetting I had already taken it and by 8 I was not feeling too hot. I was having dizzy spells and was weak and my heart was racing. Jess said I went pale. I called my awesome midwife (after a day of calling her about the baby's movements) and she suggested I drink a glass of milk. ICK! I was gagging at the thought of it while Jess was getting it for me. I drank it slowly as not to throw it up and it actually worked. I guess the milk counter reacts the iron pills. I felt SOOOOO much better and soon after baby Faye began to move regularly and all was well. I was peaceful and fell asleep in jess' arms... until 30 mins later when I had to wake up to pee. Then I had to send him to bed (i've been sleeping on the couch for better comfort with my heartburn and rib problem) because he was snoring and twitching and I cannot fall asleep to that. Poor guy. I get it from my mom! Blame her. :)

All in all we had a wonderful weekend of reconnecting as a family and now I'm sad the week has started. But, Olivia and I have declared this a day of being lazy and snuggling and watching movies and reading books. So I can't complain :) we just miss our man....

entry #137

1. seeing on the Today show yesterday that they are
setting up the ice rink at Rockefeller and then going to
walmart last night and discovering that egg nog is
already on the shelves!!! made me very happy!

2. jenny (a girl that works with my husband) bringing
over left overs from a pot roast she'd made for dinner
last night. it was amazing and happened to be my
craving!

3. having an uncle-in-law for a chiropractor. he's
really good and helped some of my aches and pains
today. and i must mention my awesome aunt
that helped keep my kids occupied.

4. my husband taking care of me yesterday even
when he wasn't feel well either.

5. getting the house sprayed today for spiders and other
crawling things. :)

Miley Cyrus!

interested in going to her concert this saturday
in milwaukee???

i have up to 5 tickets for sale!

email me if you want more info.
i have them listed on ebay here and here.

entry #136

1. having a great birthday dinner celebrating dustin
and amy and just hanging out with family

2. being over 34 weeks now! weird.

3. how great of a man i have for a husband and
father of our kids. we're pretty lucky to have him.

4. re-planning our girl's weekend with my mom
and sisters to just hang out and shop! can't wait.

5. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CORI!
thank you for gracing my life with your presence.
you're a great friend and a blessing to me.

entry #135

Dear Abram,

I'm so glad that you have finally arrived. You are so
adorable and your mommy and daddy and about
100 other people love you so much! Welcome to
this 'whole new world'.

(a little inside humor)

Dear Life,

You are so precious and should never be taken for
granted. I'm sorry that you are and wasted or
tossed aside. Every life (saved or not) is precious
to our Father and we should not forget that.

Dear quiet moments with great people in great conversation,

You are few and far between but I cherish them.
It's wonderful to get to know people you already
know even better by sharing from the heart.

Dear Faye,

Holding little Abram made me so excited to hold you!
I must admit though, the 6 weeks I have left seems
so surreal! Now I'm just full of curiosity as to when
and how you'll come. I'm believing in a wonderful
labor and delivery and focusing on getting the
experience I'm believing for. God is good! But I do know
that no matter the outcome, I'll have you and that's
what is important! Mommy loves you! Enjoy the little
time you have left in there! I can tell you're feeling
crowded though. Sorry about that. Mommy doesn't
get very big for swimming room.

Dear Amy and Dustin and Olivia,

Happy birthday to Amy and Dustin (yesterday) and
happy half birthday to our Olivia! Oh and a
big happy birthday to baby Abram! I'm so glad
that you've all graced my life with your presence.