This boy...

December 5, 2012

I never expected this little guy in my life. He just sort of showed up. He's got my eyes and my stubborn streak and he's got me wrapped around his finger. When he hands me the camera and says, "cheese!" you can bet I do my part. I just love this little guy.

Mother's Day 2012

May 13th, which happens to be our wedding anniversary, was mother's day this year. We started the day off by going to church. Before that, of course, is always Sunday morning chaos. We usually make a big breakfast (this day it was yummy pancakes, eggs and bacon) and then there's getting dressed, hair, bathing, and that always leads to... chaos.

This mother's day I know how blessed I am. I have three children here who are beautiful in every way. I have a child in heaven that I yearn for and know that I will see again. I have a partner who makes being a mom so much easier. I have the life I want. That's really something!

I also have lovely lighting in my room and as we were getting ready I couldn't help but take photos of sweet little man and miss L (the only two who would sit still).

I can't believe how big this girl is getting. What a smile she's got!

Happiest mom ever!

Ten Years

Dear Brad,

How could I have imagined when I walked in to Mrs. Legrant's enriched math class and saw the table of mathletes in the corner that I would one day consider myself so very blessed because I married one of them? I remember seeing you there and not thinking much of it. You probably thought the same when I walked in. At some point that week we discovered that we lived next door to one another and a friendship was born. We played sonic the hedgehog in the afternoons, we hung out at your house after ninth grade prom (didn't you go with Sherrie?), you drove me to school everyday during the tenth grade (and I drove you crazy pushing your windshield wiper fluid button), but sometime after our junior year we started to see each other as a little more than just buddies. We had our ups and downs. There was the kissing tree out front, the time you asked me if we could just be friends (but still kiss sometimes :o), the ferris wheel at the county fair and so many other wonderful times and pitfalls. College was no different. We struggled to stay together, we broke up and we made up. We grew up together honoring each other's dreams and differences. We decided to get married and half of the world thought we were lucky to have found each other so young and the other half thought we were crazy (they just didn't take into account how stubborn we both are). The last ten years have been the best and worst of our lives. We've gone through so much together. We've had times of unspeakable loss and times of great triumph, but through everything we've had each other. You are an amazing man and I am an extremely lucky girl to have been the one to move in next door. You know me better than anyone and you still love me and I still can't imagine living a single day without you. I love you. Here's to 70 more years together!

Here's a peek at the last ten years:

At our wedding in 2000:



In our Stillwater apartment in 2001:



After Emily's wedding in 2002:



In Sausalito in 2003:



At the FDR Memorial in 2004:



At the San Diego Zoo in 2005:



Camping in Shenandoah National Park in 2006:



At the Cherry Blossom Festival in 2007:



In Times Square in 2008:



At the Kite Festival in 2009:



In the NICU in 2010 (believe it or not but EVERY picture we have of the two of us in 2010 are from the NICU... we need to take some new photos of ourselves!):