Birthday fail.........and yet still wonderful

Well, the whole amazing date night out with B last night didn't end up happening.  I woke up yesterday a.m. feeling worse than I had on Monday (after both B and I went to the urgent care on Sunday night for fevers, ear infections and horrid sore throats (probable strep)), and I knew there was no way I could go out for dinner, especially since work ended up being one of the busiest days we've ever had.  So, no steak, no champagne, no special dinner.  Alas!

 Instead B picked up soup from Zoup! (ehhhh......I think my homemade soups are better, to be honest) and popsicles from the grocery store, and we at dinner in our normal seats at the dinner table.  SYT was in a great mood and loved playing with the ribbon that B had wrapped my gift with.  And, to be completely honest, with how I was feeling, the popsicles were WAY better than steak!! 

The top three parts of my day? 
1.  B let daycare know it was my birthday when he dropped Spence off, so they made me a birthday card complete with Spencer's feet and handprints.  It is soooo adorable, and I totally cried when they gave it to me.  Such a sappy mom moment!

2.  The preview for Glee in two weeks shows them doing JBJ's "Livin on a Prayer".  I am a HUGE Bon Jovi fan (weird?) and cannot wait to see them do this on the show.

3.  My birthday gift from B was a huge surprise- a gorgeous pair of black TB Revas with the gold logo.

I have never owned (or even tried on) a pair of Revas, but I've been looking for black flats for months and couldn't find any I liked.  I would have never bought these for myself (with my oh so conservative spending habits), so I never even looked into them.  What's funny is that this box had been wrapped on the dining room table for a few days, and while I noticed it was the size of a shoebox, I never even once considered there were shoes in there.  I was kind of expecting one of these as I've been talking about how we need to capture Spencer's laugh on camera (as it is just the cutest thing in the world)! 

I cannot believe how amazing the leather is on these shoes and how comfy they immediately are.  I can see why people have collections of these- it would be very easy to become addicted, just like I am to my Bonannos!  So, thanks B!  You made this sick lady's day sooo much better with such a shockingly perfect gift!  I love you babe!

And, that is the story of my 33rd birthday.  We're hoping to reschedule our date night in the next week or two- just have to see when the babysitter is free :) 

I definitely feel better today than yesterday, though not even close to normal yet.  I'm just praying that by the weekend I'll be back to normal b/c I have to do rounds at the hospital both mornings, plus it's Halloween and our church choir (which B is singing in) is doing a huge Handel piece that I have got to figure out how I am going to make it to!!! 

Thank you all for the sweet birthday wishes.  I definitely need them yesterday.  Oh, and as soon as this darn throat starts feeling better, we are busting open a bottle of bubbly! 

Happy Birthday to moi!

Today is my birthday! 

I'm headed to work for a typical Tuesday, however, I have a hot date with B tonight at a steakhouse downtown.  E&J are babysitting Spencer so that we can have drinks, dinner, and grown-up conversation!  I am SO excited! 

I'm going to make B get french onion soup as his first course so that I can have one, very small, bite.  Seriously, the best gift I could receive is getting dairy back into my life.  I miss cheese!  I'll get a salad with a vinagrette dressing, I'm sure.  Desserts are almost always filled with butter or ice cream of some sort, so we make have to skip this entirely (or perhaps another teeny tiny bite).  Really though, this is ALL about the steak!  I am a serious carnivore and I crave steak like no other.  I think that B and I have gone to a steak restaurant on my birthday every year for the past 5 years.  It's always my first choice. 

I'll be having a glass of bubbly tonight to kick off my 33rd year-

won't you join me?  I'm hoping that each of these bubbles contains restful nights, cozy Sunday mornings, unforgetable family experiences, and lots of random sparkly experiences that I can't even begin to imagine. 

God Pause for Sunday

On occasion, we actually realize the truth about ourselves. Too often we easily shrug off our iniquities as small infractions; we're as not as bad as the other guy, or not as bad as we could be. Yet sometimes when everything has piled up and it seems inevitable that people are going to find out that our lives are not as well put together as we try to outwardly show, we finally break down. In the moment that we finally take a good, long, critical look at ourselves we discover WE are the ones who have messed up. Then there is only one thing to do: call upon God.

We find ourselves here when the world, and our own word, seems to condemn us. But thankfully those words are followed by a word that we crave to hear, and hopefully hear often: "You are special, not because of what you do, but simply because you are mine." That word is the one that brings refreshment.

God, you know I have messed up. It seems like I do that pretty well. But I remember your promise that no matter what, I am still your child. You promised to never take that away. It looks like I have to hold you to that, God. Amen.

Matt Dobyns
Desert Cross Lutheran Church, Tempe, Ariz.
Master of Divinity, 2008



Jeremiah 14:7-19 (NRSV)
7 Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name's sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you.
8 O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night?
9 Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help? Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us!
10 Thus says the Lord concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them, now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins.
11 The Lord said to me: Do not pray for the welfare of this people.
12 Although they fast, I do not hear their cry, and although they offer burnt-offering and grain-offering, I do not accept them; but by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence I consume them.
13 Then I said: "Ah, Lord God! Here are the prophets saying to them, 'You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you true peace in this place.'"
14 And the Lord said to me: The prophets are prophesying lies in my name; I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.
15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name though I did not send them, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not come on this land': By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed.
16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword. There shall be no one to bury them--themselves, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their wickedness upon them.
17 You shall say to them this word: Let my eyes run down with tears night and day, and let them not cease, for the virgin daughter--my people--is struck down with a crushing blow, with a very grievous wound.
18 If I go out into the field, look--those killed by the sword! And if I enter the city, look--those sick with famine! For both prophet and priest ply their trade throughout the land, and have no knowledge.
19 Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.

What's going on in UNP land

1.  SYT continued to have fevers all last weekend, so I stayed home on Monday and took him immediately to the doctors office in the a.m.  Turns out he has a L ear infection, so he's on Amoxicillin (the pink bubblegum stuff) for 10 days.  He also had to stay home on Tuesday with B b/c he had a fever again on Monday and you have to be fever free for 24 hours prior to going back to daycare.  We are so lucky b/c he was such a happy sick kid.  Still smiling, still playful.  The only time it was hard was overnight as he had a horrible stuffy nose and cough, so he had a really hard time nursing and would wake up every 1.5-2 hours to eat b/c he never really got full from his 4 minute nursing sessions.  He is SO much better now and slept for 10 consecutive hours last night.  Thank you, God in Heaven.  This is the first time he's slept that long since 3.5 months and it was much needed.

2.  SYT's lovely bug seems to be attacking B and I together.  We both had sore throats Friday, and today we woke up achy with continued sore throats, heavy chests, and low grade fevers.  And even though we got tons of sleep last night, we're both exhausted.  I currently have on leggings, jeans, a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt and slippers- and I'm still chilly even with the fire roaring.  Ugggg....  I'm just praying I feel better by Monday b/c I really don't want to miss another day of work.  Oh, and btw, I've worked with sick kids for 8 years now, so how is it that I got sick this time around????

3.  Staying home with Spence on Monday was such a small life of heaven.  I had a great time playing with him and getting so much done while he was napping.  I will probably never be a stay at home mom full-time, but I really hope that in the future we can work it so that I can have one or two days off a week to just be a mom.  I do really love my job, so this would be a great balance for me. 

4.  On Friday, while at work, I was able to tour the new children's hospital that opens 1.11.11.  It was the absolute coolest thing I've ever seen in my life.  I promise to take pictures one day b/c it's so worthy of a post.  We are so lucky to have such a great benefactor in Helen DeVos, and I cannot wait to take B and SYT on community day.  The surgical floor is beyond amazing, as is the lobby, and I know it will become a true place of healing for families.

5.  Tomorrow night at church is the Fall Harvest Silent Auction.  Our "basket" for the auction is 6 months of homemade baked goods for whichever family bids on it.  Tomorrow's offering is going to be Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls and Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins.  I really hope someone will like this idea!  All the money raised goes towards the youth groups trips and activities. 

6.  Did I ever tell you that B's job as a contractor is no longer?  It was supposed to go through December, but by the beginning of October they liked him so much and thought he brought so much to the table, that they hired him full-time!  He was also able to design his own roll, and he is now that Director of Enterprise Integration.  He is loving the new job and I am loving the fact that we won't have to stress over money or employment in December.  He had to go through a ton of job interviews and a lot of setbacks to get to this place, and I firmly believe that God picked the right job and the right timing. 

7.  We put our garden to rest today.  It was a VERY fruitful garden.  I'll definitely do another post next spring on our failures and success and how we are going to remedy them, but one thing I will say right now is that if you plant tomatillos, they will take over your whole garden.  We planted 6 plants and have had enough tomatillos to make vats and vats of green salsa.  Next year, we'll only plant one :)

8.  We hired a housekeeper for two Fridays a month, and it's really allowed me to destress.  I wish we could have her every Friday (and, once we see how this goes, we may bump up to 3 Fridays a month).  I really want to spend my weekends playing with SYT, hanging with B, being out and about, and relaxing.  Cleaning always came in last place, and you could tell by the amount of dust that collected on our living room side tables :) 

9.  I am obsessed with my drive home these past few weeks.  I have so many incredible views of the changing fall foilage, and it it incredibly beautiful.  Just one of the many, many reasons that I love fall!!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend, and I hope you made it to the end of this very long post!!

5 months old!

Spencer turned 5 months old on Friday.  It's amazing how big he is getting and how quickly it is all going.  He is rolling over from back to front now, will only sleep on his tummy, and is really loving baby foods. 

This little guy loves acorn squash!  He thought carrots were okay but he didn't like peas at all (just like his momma!)  He is still exclusively breastfed and, while pumping can get awfully annoying, it makes me happy to know I can provide enough for him. 

At the apple orchard.  He normally isn't a snuggler like this, but he has had a rough weekend- runny nose, cough, congestion, and fevers off and on.  I am soaking up every minute of the snuggliness !

I still don't see any resemblence to B or I.  What do you guys think? 

This face makes my life so much better.  I often wonder how I can be this blessed!

Crazy momma, I'm not sick!!!  Just look at how happy I am!

Crawling soon!

Falling for fall.....

What a gorgeous season.  Just looking out into my backyard as soon as I get home from work is a small slice of heaven for me.  It's been an amazing indian summer week here- temps in the high 60s/low 70s and as sunny as can be.  I have been soaking up every last second of this gorgeous season and hope you are too!

A few things I'd like to accomplish in the next month to continue to take advantage of fall include:

Taking some gorgeous fall pictures

Spend a weekend up north watching the leaves turn and enjoying the view across the lake (check!)

Eating Honey Crisp apples (this is already happening daily!)

Making batches of homemade applesauce (first batch was done this weekend)

Make some glitter pumpkins for our dining room table

Planting tulip bulbs for next spring

Transplanting flowers that are in very random spots in our yard

Fertilizing the lawn

Sewing grass seed

Putting our garden to bed for the winter

Making delish pumpkin bread (plain and with chocolate chips)

Make another batch of these cookies (you won't be disappointed if you join me)

Find an excuse to make this cake (even though I can't eat it, I really, really want to make it and see what others think about it)

Take SYT to the pumpkin patch for pictures

Get our first family pumpkin to carve and set on the stoop for Halloween night

Take a long walk with SYT, B and Junie before the weather gets too cold to do so

Buy Halloween candy to pass out to all the neighborhood kids

Dress SYT up for his first Halloween (you guys will love the costume!!)

Make some caramel corn or cookies to take to work and to pass out to the adult neighbors trick or treating with their little ones

Enjoy a fire, a glass of wine, and a game of scrabble with B on our first chilly weekend night

Celebrate my 33rd birthday

 (think they make a dairy free Boston Cream Pie?)

So, tell me, which of the above sounds best to you?  And what are you dying to do in the next month to celebrate fall?

Wordless Wednesday

Our little lap dog!!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

Ladies,

I am in over my head with trying to be a mom, run a household, work 45 hours a week and be a wife.  I'm struggling to keep my head above water, and something has got to give.  Unfortunately, blogging has been put on the back burner for the last week, and that's going to have to continue for at least a few more weeks.  I'm upset about it b/c I love journaling here and I have so much to tell you, but I am really, really overwhelmed and need a breather.  I'm not done for good- just a short hiatus to get some tasks done and figure out a good schedule for my family. 

I'll be reading all of your blogs as much as I can (I try to catch up during my lunch break!).   Know I'll be thinking about you all and will be coming back as soon as I can. 

Love,
aeot

Wordless Wednesday- 4 months

Getting sooo big!

Bring it, season two, bring it!!

It begins tonight.  And my fall will be better because of it!  I'm wondering if they have anything lined up that could even come close to the Gaga episode. That was simply amazing television.

I hope you all are planning on watching with me!