Sunday, February 27, 2011

Another week.

My favorite brother visited from college this weekend and we were excited to see him - if even for a few minutes.



Around his neck, Josh was wearing a whistle - which we asked about (and made fun of for a minute) until he told us the story of the Fallen Whistles.  Josh has an incredible compassion for the world and people in need; a compassion that humbles and convicts me often.  I am so proud of him and he was gracious enough to share the link of the story of the Fallen Whistles with me -

While I poked around on our Baby Registry and thought about all the things I have to do today - I took a few minutes to check out this link.  I was both moved and deeply convicted.  My world is so small and so privileged - it is ashamedly easy to forget that our beautiful home and community are the Disney World of the whole world.

I do encourage you to take a minute to check out this link.  It is a remarkable account.




Thanks, Josh, for passing this on.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

IKEA

There is a great quote from the ever popular 30 Rock that is funny because it's true:


TRACY:  Kennmore!  I was thinking about what you said, and you were right.  I'm Oscar winner Tracy Jordan, and as scary as it is, I have a responsibility to fix the world starting with the worst place ever!


KENNETH:  IKEA on a Saturday?





Yes, IKEA on a Saturday is in fact the worst place ever.  But, little known fact...IKEA on a weeknight is the BEST!

We went last night, didn't fight traffic OR people, got cool Swedish stuff for cheap, AND did donuts with the all-direction-spinning carts.  Seriously, it was empty and fabulous.

If you ever have the urgent need for some Extorp Bookshelves or Lack Tables...wait until the middle of the week and enjoy every minute of the empty halls of IKEA...heck, take the time to watch Mary Poppins (which they had playing in one of the living room set-ups) or pretend to cook in the kitchens (yes, like they do on 500 Days of Summer).  It's a pretty nice evening if you have the time.



As Michael Scott would say, "Win, Win, Win."

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

John Daker.

Some days, you just need a little John Daker.




This one is the sing-along.  It's almost better, but only works with the original John Daker in context.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

23 Weeks

Well it's been a long week.  Good week - but long.


Chum is still a papaya this week (which I think is cheap).  I'm getting bigger...so I assume she is too.  I'm going to assume that last week she was a baby papaya, this week a mama papaya, and (I looked ahead) she'll still be a papaya next week.  You guessed it - the papa papaya.

She's very active and has already convinced me she's a dancer from her zealous dancing wherever there is music.  Smart girl!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Valentine's 2011

This year, we celebrated Valentine's Day on Saturday - rather than the actual Valentine's Day.  I have a particularly bad reputation with this particular holiday, but somehow maintain the expectation that we should do something to celebrate.

Rob made all the arrangements and I was surprised every step of the way.


Here are some highlights:
1. Rob made me breakfast.  This is significant for a few reasons

  • He doesn't eat breakfast.
  • If Rob were to eat breakfast, he would never eat eggs. 
  • This is the first meal Rob has ever prepared for me... He is always willing to help with anything, he just hasn't ever had the opportunity or confidence in his skill set to make me a meal.








It was DELICIOUS!  Maybe too delicious.  He may have started something here...


2. Errands.  I LOVE running errands and feeling like we have places to go.

3. Cupcake Wars on the Food Network (yes, eating is my favorite thing).  And, Rob watched with me, even adding in helpful comments about the cupcakes and contestants.

4. Romantic candle-light dinner...that Rob MADE!!!  Yes, two meals in one day.  And they were both awesome.  He did a fabulous job!




5. He did all the dishes.

6. Cheesy romantic movie (of my choice) and browine sundaes!

All in all - wonderful day.  I was completely spoiled and loved every minute of it!  I am truly blessed.  And, he followed up by having flowers sent to  my office on the REAL Valentine's Day.  Well done, my friend.  Well done.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Things I LOVE About My Husband

Valentine's Day snuck up on me this year.  I walked around Target thinking of what I could do for Rob and the reality for me is it's hard to honor your husband on Valentine's Day.  I have a great husband, but the chocolates, flowers, and other romantic stuff appeals way more to me than it does to him.

So, I thought I'd write a list of some of the things I cherish about my husband rather than buying him a box of chocolates I'll either eat or throw away in a month.

Here it goes.

Things I LOVE About My Husband:
1. He goes to work while I'm still sleeping...and never complains.
2. He ALWAYS kisses me good-bye in the mornings (and yes, I'm almost ALWAYS still sleeping).
3. He is a man of integrity.
4. He is generous to a fault.
5. He has impeccable personal hygiene.
6. He's a good speller.
7. He is teachable and consistently striving to honor Christ with his life.
8. He's strong.
9. The safest place I know is in his arms.
10. He is silly with me...and acts like a kid with me.
11. He's as dorky as I am.
12. He took me to Disney World.
13. He makes friends everywhere we go.
14. He thinks he's hilarious and regularly laughs at himself.
15. He is patient with me when I whine, complain, and change my mind a zillion times.
16. He loves our daughter.
17. He loves our families.
18. He supports me 100% - but doesn't let me get carried away.
19. He leads me.
20. He'll "Just Dance" with me.
21. He knows who he is without me.
22. He helps do the dishes and laundry.
23. He ALWAYS gets the door for me and helps me with my coat.  He's a gentleman.
24. He's hospitable - always.
25. He wears glasses, sometimes.
26. Even though we share money, he always pays for me.
27. He's almost never complains.
28. He calls me Sunshine.
29. He thanks God for me when he prays for us every night.
30. We have a ridiculous amount of fun together.


I love you, Robbie.  Happy Valentine's Day.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Weekly Fruit Update

Chum is a papaya this week - and boy does it feel like it.  She is starting to feel more and more like family as she chimes in often, and often at appropriate times.  She kicked during good parts of a movie we were watching and tells me how much she likes the food I eat - so maybe she's a little like her mom after all.


It's been a while, so I thought I'd throw in a bump picture - so here I am at 22 weeks.


 And from the other side.



 Just an aside: being the only person in a picture is always weird and I hate it.  We took like 20 pictures and these are the best (so you can only imagine how awkward the ones I rejected are)!  Also, I never know what to do with my arms... no matter how many arms I sometimes think I need, I seem to consistently have one more than I know what do do with.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Our Little Banana

We're at 21 weeks and Chum is a banana...10.5 inches long already!


She's a little hyper and we're already doing the "Mommy can't sleep while you race around in there, Chum" thing.  It's going to be a long couple of months.

Also, it is true that my belly set off the self-checkout machine at Harris Teeter yesterday.  I was ticked when it yelled at me to "remove all items from the scanner," but I assume it was ticked that I was accidentally using the scanner as a shelf for my rapidly growing stomach.


So, enjoy the Super Bowl, everyone.  I know I will enjoy the snacks, company, and commercials.  Also the cheese-heads (which I'll enjoy vicariously through others as I jealously wish I had one myself).

Friday, February 4, 2011

I Miss Chris!!!

So this season of the Bachelor has been pretty great... Brad is great, Emily is America's sweetheart, Michelle is crazy - and there's just enough drama to go around.

However, I have one issue with this season: I MISS CHRIS!!!



Since Brad is talking with his counselor/life coach about his dates every episode - he's not debriefing with host, Chris Harrison.  MAJOR BUMMER!  Chris is half the reason I watch the show.  I love him.  He's the best - funny, good at counting, helpful at recapping dates and reminding everyone about the final rose...

I'd like to hear Chris' thoughts about crazy sauce Michelle - but there is still time.  Maybe Chris will make a comeback and spend more time on the show later.  At the very least, he'll do an AWESOME job hosting the "Women Tell All" episode and "After the Final Rose."

Well - bottom line, it's a great season that would only improve with more Chris!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Ladies Love Country Boys

This song so closely articulates my life it's scary...




She grew up in the city in a little subdivision, (check)
Her daddy wore a tie, Momma never fried a chicken, (check)
Ballet, Straight A’s, Most likely to succeed (check...ish - close, but drama and B+s)

They bought her a car after graduation (actually, junior year)
Sent her down south for some higher education (check - Harrisonburg)
Put her on the fast track to a law degree (just to clear the air, I put myself on the fast track...and psych, not law)

Now she’s comin' home to visit
holdin the hand
Of a wild-eyed boy
with a farmer’s tan
(check)
And shes ridin in the middle of his pickup truck (check)
Blarin Charlie Daniels yellin, “Turn it up!”
They raised her up a lady
but there’s one thing they couldn’t avoid
Ladies love country boys
(and check...)







I do love my country boy...
He's a catch.  Flannel, truck, and all.