My Beloved

Yesterday I celebrated 12 years of marriage to my beloved. To say that the Lord has blessed me with my husband would be a colossal understatement. He was instrumental in my salvation, and continues to be a loving shepherd and spiritual leader.

I still miss him terribly when he goes to work every day. My heart still leaps when I hear the doorknob turn, announcing his arrival home. I still like to hold his hand. I love his eagerness to try something new. I love his commitment to things of the Lord. I love his ability, seemingly, to do anything he tries well. I love the way he loves his children. I love the way he loves me.

Happy anniversary, honey. I really do love you most.

TWO!

Tomorrow our little Kurt turns two. It's shocking, really. I can't believe he is already so big, and yet I can't remember what life was like without him. He is my California baby. He's never even seen New England, what I consider to be home. So many of my most beloved friends have never even met him! In honor of his birthday, here are

Ten Things I Love About Kurt

(1) His hair. I mean, come on. The Beach Boys would be proud.
(2) His utter and complete obsession with trains. He even sleeps with a (clean) pair of underwear in his crib because there is a Thomas on the bum.
(3) The way he rubs and pats my back when I hold him.
(4) His sunshine-y temperament. He frequently hums to himself, and is always there to wave and yell "hew-woh" to the letter carrier.
(5) That smile. The one that gets him out of all the trouble he should be in.
(6) The way he gags every time I make him eat something new. Hey, it's worth a shot.
(7) He loves to dance. Especially to the Kung-Fu Panda soundtrack which we have listened to about 5 million times, give or take.
(8) His uncanny ability to name all of his body parts. Yep. All.
(9) The fact that he just walks into the nursery at church. No separation anxiety for him.
(10) He is a constant reminder that the Lord's ways are above our ways. Gustav and I would never have planned to get pregnant just before selling our home and traveling like gypsies across the country for 3 months before settling in La-La Land. What a blessing that our Lord is sovereign, because I can't imagine being without my little Kurt.

I love you, sweet stuff. Happy birthday.

Wordless Wednesday

The Fourth's Firsts

Well, a number of you have mentioned that it has been a while since I've been active here in my little dusty corner of the web. Sorry 'bout that. I find that when I have much to say and lots to share, I get easily overwhelmed and do what any overwhelmed woman would do in such a position...nothing. So, here I am. Recovered from a busy but blessed holiday season and ready to crawl out from the hole I dug for myself.

We had a great December, full of family, fellowship, gifts, love, and at least TWO firsts for the fourth child of mine. I asked Gabriel a few months back if he was ready to have his training wheels taken off his bike. He answered with an enthusiastic "yes!" but got just a little spooked when he tried riding sans support. His bike sat in the garage collecting dust for almost two months when Lillian offered to help him learn. The two of them spent about an hour out in the driveway and whattayaknow? I come out to check on the progress and Gabriel is zooming up and down the driveway. What a blessing big sisters are.

The very same week Gabriel notified Nicholas that his tooth was "soft." Nicholas, my inquisitive firstborn, had to seek further information and it was soon discovered that Gabriel had his first loose tooth! I found it remarkable that he didn't know what was going on. I mean, he has three older siblings who've all done this multiple times. But naivete aside, when he realized that he had a loose tooth he shouted, "Mom, I've been waiting for this moment for almost my whole life!"

{For those of you who may get a touch queasy at the sight of reeaaaallly loose teeth, the following photo may be disturbing}

Later that day it just popped out. No pain. No blood. Nothing. Just fell out into his hand. It was a good first tooth-losing experience.

After the tooth fell out, my little man came to me and said, in his best salesman voice, "So, Mom. I was thinking. Instead of doing the tooth fairy, maybe we could have a party?"

Gotta love him.

Christmas - A Picture Teaser

Someone got a new camera for Christmas. And she was surrounded by some of the cutest subjects ever. Above is my nephew, Tommy. We got to celebrate his first birthday with him on 12/23.

Here are my mom and dad posing at The Reagan Presidential Library.

I love this one taken by Gretchen.

Gabriel being happy, as usual.

"The Birthday Prince"


There is more to come. Just taking my time getting up and running in the New Year.