I Love to Tell The Story

Ten years ago today my mom died, peacefully in rest, after a 13 month battle with Leukemia. She was around every single day for twenty years--teaching us, playing with us, reading to us, cooking for us, carting us around, passing on age-old traditions to us, disciplining us (yes, even I required the occasional whooping), and generally taking care of our every need with all the grace (and the occasional meltdowns) expected of a mother of 4. Through it all, her faith in the Lord was evident, unwavering, and contagious.

Ten years have passed, ten full years that have included a college degree, a graduate degree, a wedding, several big vacations, a career decision, 7 moves, a purchased home, a son, a daughter, and much more. My mom's legacy is still on so many areas of the lives of those who knew her. I got her name (Sue is my middle name), her blond hair, her wide cheekbones, her organizational skills, her plethora of moles, and her love of casseroles.

Since there's no way to adequately sum up a life like hers, I will limit this by sharing just a memory. She loved music, especially singing. She knew she didn't have a solo voice, but she nonetheless loved to sing harmony in the church choir, and truly appreciated the old "hymns of the faith." At her funeral, somewhere in the neighborhood of 800 people triumphantly sang Crown Him With Many Crowns. My dad, who was also battling Leukemia at the same time, had gotten a day-pass from the hospital to attend the funeral; he was bald and had to wear a face mask. He ripped his mask off and stood up (it was a scene I don't think many have forgotten), and he led the congregation in the 2nd verse:

Crown him the Lord of life, triumphant o'er the grave!
Who rose victorious from the strife for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing, who died and reigns on high.
He died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

It was an awesome song, absolutely, and she would have joined in loudly. Her favorite hymn was a little more unassuming, a little less well-known, and a bit more personal, however.

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love...
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

My mom would have enjoyed being part of these last ten years, and she'd most definitely be proud. But if you ask me if I think she's been watching me all this time? Heck no. She's singing in the heavenly choir, and her eyes are on Jesus.

My New Nephew!

My sister, Rachel, had her baby boy this afternoon! Judah Allen was born at 12:43pm, was 7lbs and 5oz, and was 20 1/4 inches long. He has dark brown hair with the teensiest bit of curl, and he's just gorgeous. I will post pictures soon!

Cold-Day Recipe

Start with:

Semi-Homemade Hearty Chicken Noodle Soup (in the Crockpot, of course!)
1. 4 cans of Campbells Healthy Request Chunky Chicken and Noodle Soup
2. 1/2 pkg extra wide egg noodles, cooked and drained
3. 1/2 cup each of chopped carrots, onion, and celery
4. Garlic salt and cracked pepper

Sautee carrots, onion, and celery in butter or olive oil until softened. Add all ingredients to crockpot and cook on low for a couple of hours.

BEST if served:
-With Hot Rolls and honey
-As a late lunch/early dinner
-On your day off
-With a husband home from work for MLK, Jr. Day
-With a blazing fire going in the fireplace
-On a dreary, 36-degree day in Texas

Enjoy!!

Birthday Gifts for the 30+ Crowd - updated

I've updated this post for those of you who have already visited it; see the new pictures below.

Happy Birthday to my older sister, Jenn, and her cute short hair that I fully copied. I purchased a toaster for her birthday--yes I did. And she will be super excited because she requested it and I picked out a really pretty stainless steal one. At what point in our lives do we get excited about receiving countertop appliances for our birthdays? Who am I kidding, I think I would cry tears of joy if Greg ever got me the toaster oven I've been hinting at for the last 3 years.

Have a wonderful day, dear sister, and a wonderful morning tomorrow as I know you will be eating scrumptious Eggo waffles toasted to perfection. I'm glad I could have something to do with that.

Yes, she loved the toaster. My little white 8-year-old piece of crap toaster with one broken leg that makes the whole thing wobble awkwardly when sitting on a counter seems all the crappier now.

Jenn, me, and Rachel. Two of us are natural blondes, not that you'd be able to tell what with the line of dark roots all the way across...

My adorable nephew, Brice, after testing and approving the birthday cupcakes...

Thought for the day

Since it is my first day back from maternity leave, our office manager welcomed me with this 'Thought for the Day' that was on my desk when I arrived:

Handle every stressful situation like a dog. If you can't eat it or hump it, piss on it and walk away.

Fabulous.

Sweeties

Noah loves his little sister so much. She's just not too sure about the sheer volume and enthusiasm with which he loves her...


At her 2 month checkup, we found out our perfectly sweet baby girl is in the 50th percentile for height, 90th for weight, and her head is only in the 25th percentile. Clearly they don't measure around the cheeks...

Resolutions!

I asked a friend last night what her New Years Resolutions are. She replied, "To try to be a more organized person in everything" and "To be healthier over all." Holy cow. I'm seriously impressed, and she is definitely one who can succeed at whatever she puts her mind to, but I need tangible goals for my resolutions otherwise I'll just end up making the same ones each year, trying desperately to decide if I truly reached the "better person" or "healthy overall" status I'd set for myself.

I made a do-able list last year, and managed to actually achieve success for most of it. I think the reason is that I stopped making those life-altering resolutions I'd made in years past (ie: "Try to be a more thoughtful person in general" or "Work out 5x per week and eat healthier") and started making precise, achieveable goals that might possibly lead up to one of the life-altering desires.

Resolutions for 2008:
The theme this year is New-ness; I'm going through a period of wanting change. Not that I'm unhappy with my current state of affairs, but I'm just ready to experience some different things and move into another phase. I've always had a rather "antsy" personality.

1) New house. We've moved 6 times in 7 years of marriage and have officially been in this house longer than we've lived anywhere else. I love it, but am ready for something different. To sound more noble, we are desperately wanting to live closer to Greg's work too so he doesn't have to spend 3 HOURS in the car everyday.

2) New job. I don't mean that I want to quit my current job altogether, but I'd like to adjust the hours, focus on some different areas of rehab, and add some more teaching.

3) Throw a party. Seriously. I usually throw some kind of big party every year and since my son's 2-year old birthday party doesn't count, I kind of dropped the ball in '07.

4) Get move involved in our church. This seems broad, but I actually have tangible goals here. I'd like to volunteer on one or two new committees in our Sunday School and/or the Children's ministry this year.

Well, there you have it. Good thing I have a whole year before I have to be accountable!

Holidays and Hacking

We are enjoying a wonderful vacation in NW Arkansas with my family (who have driven and flown in from the far reaches of the country, well, from Florida, Texas, and Ohio anyways) and we are having a great time. Thus far we have opened Christmas presents in Jared and Rachel's newly renovated living room in front of a roaring fire, played soccer outside in the brisk cold of what a December forecast should truly be, and eaten prime rib and gourmet mashed potatoes with boursin cheese. And we can't forget the episodes of MacGuyver we've been watching since my brother purchased me the 1st and 2nd seasons on DVD.

This morning however, we had to find a pediatrician in the area because my poor little 8 week old baby girl has been coughing forcefully for 3 days and is unable to hold down milk. :( Turns out she has bronchiolitis and has to be on breathing treatments. Sounds horrible, but I didn't even have to buy the breathing machine or the medication because Noah has had the same thing for months now, and my nephew has also struggled with this affliction so I am well versed in its treatment.

Here's to hoping you are all having a healthy and happy holiday season thus far, and ring in the New Year with stories that will occupy and entertain us all on your blogs for weeks to come!

The Dirty 30

Thirty years ago today I entered the world--one month late (I was due on Thanksgiving) and after putting my mom through 36 hours of labor. I had red hair and enormous cheeks.

For this momentous birthday, Greg got me a spa day last Saturday (which I insisted on planning myself) and I got to go with my friend, Julie, whose birthday is next week. We both just had babies, and our sweet husbands watched our kids for the day, a combined total of 5 kids ranging in age from 2 weeks to 4 years! Needless to say they appreciated us much more when we returned. Everything was amazing, and I had to give you a few of the descriptions of our pampering:

Desert Heat Wrap: "A self-heating bubbly mud massaged into the entire body; it is rich in copper which is considered one of the best heat conductors used within the medical field for skin repair...It brings a true sense of relaxation, health and wellbeing, leaving the skin mineralized, hydrated, and nourished." (What they failed to mention is that you are totally naked except for the tiniest little paper thong underwear imaginable, but I didn't even care).

Classic Spa Facial: This was amazing... "A luxurious and indulgent wellness based treatment personalized to achieve maximum results. This revitalizing facial includes a deep-cleansing, customized exfoliation followed by a face, neck and shoulder massage certain to ease your mind, body, and spirit. While warm stones are used to massage the hands, arms, and decollete, feet are cocooned in warm booties. A revitalizing masque is followed by antioxidant treatments that hydrates, protects, and restores the natural balance of your skin."

We also had a one-hour pedicure, arm and leg massage, brunch, crackers and cheese, and champagne spritzers. I know it was supposed to be for my 30th birthday, but we've already planned our spa day for next year! I think all women deserve to do this every once and a while so read the descriptions again, and then go spoil yourself!

Most of the rest of my birthday will be spent on antibiotics nursing my UTI, and picking up a prescriptions for my son's newly diagnosed bacterial pneumonia (non-contagious thankfully!). Sounds rough, but really it means I get to relax with my sweet kids, watch a few cartoon movies, take them to go get some ice-cream, and wait for Greg to get home -- and I don't even have to cook because he apparently has something up his sleeve to do for dinner. Not a bad way to spend the day!

Happy Birthday to me! And for some true birthday humor, visit my sister's blog: www.mimsies.wordpress.com

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Brand new Pottery Barn personalized stockings! They all have a little something in them already, well, except for mine. :( I might have to treat myself as I don't think my husband really understands the excitement that is The Stocking Gift.


Noah will be shy 2 gifts on Christmas as he already opened them while mom was going tee-tee.

Yes, I ran to get the camera before resuing my 6-week-old from her knitted attacker.

Party Time

So sorry I haven't blogged in FOREVER. It has been a very stressful time around here over the past week and a half, and I'm still trying to mentally catch up with everything. Sorry for being so ominous...

Last night Greg and I went to his office party. What a great way to cap off the stress! We had a babysitter for 5 hours and took full advantage; I drank 3 glasses of wine, talked to Greg's boss about epidurals and childbirth (he's about to have his first grandchild), ate Chilean Sea Bass (almost licked my plate clean), ate a three-layer chocolate mousse (actually did lick my plate clean), and danced the night away. Hope all your holiday parties are this successful!

Family Picture Day, part 2

Do you remember this post from last year chronicling the craziness of family picture day? Well, this year was equally as interesting with a now-2-year-old plus the addition of an infant (which, joyful as it may be, simply means there is one less parent able to corral the toddler). Needless to say, we didn't use any pictures that required Noah to sit still on his own, and ended up using one where I was carrying/restraining him. As you can see, Noah decided he'd rather be part of our picture from a distance...





Happy Holiday-card-picture-taking to all, and to all a good night!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today was quite the non-traditional holiday. In fact there was no big meal, no turkey to speak of, zero pumpkin pie, and yet it managed to be one of the best Thanksgivings we've had! You see, due to general scheduling dilemmas, we will be celebrating the traditional trimmings of this food-centered holiday tomorrow with Greg's family. While we are definitely looking forward to it, it means that today was OUR day. Our day to take morning naps while the kids were napping. Our day to choose whether or not to shower (we chose not to). My day to take a long hot bath. And our day to have a fun-filled day with our new family of four.

Here is Lauren's Happy Thanksgiving pumpkin outfit. I just love having a girl to dress up! You can't tell, but her socks have pumpkins on them too.



So after our morning naps, I fixed a couple of sandwiches, we all got bundled up, made a thermos of hot chocolate, and headed to the park. It was a very cold 44 degrees today! Finally some cold weather in November in Texas!

Observe Lauren the snow bunny. She's only a month old, so I wanted to make sure she wouldn't so much as feel a slight breeze on our cold weather adventure!

Daddy and Noah. Otherwise known as the two men in my life.

Mommy and Noah.


When we got back from the park, Noah took a second nap while Greg and I got to sit down in peace and watch the Cowboys beat the Jets whilst sitting in front of the fireplace and eating one of the best cold-day meals around: Chili and beer. Added bonus that I served it in sourdough breadbowls I had picked up from Panera Bread Co.!


Hope your day was this good and that you found much to thank the Lord for. I'm personally thankful that we still get to look forward to all that food tomorrow...

Aunt of the Year

The award goes to Aunt Rachel who, despite being in a very uncomfortable 3rd trimester of pregnancy, being in the middle of an enormous home renovation, and getting a flat tire on the way, trudged onward and made it down to Dallas over the weekend to visit her niece. Her reward? She got to do this for 3 days in a row:

Halloween, Birthdays, and Other Happenings

Do you remember this post from last year's Halloween? It was Noah's first trick-or-treating experience, he'd just turned 1, he had his costume on for about 20 minutes when he puked all over it. We removed the costume and it made it's way to the back of his closet until this year because I'll be darned if it doesn't get some use as long as it fits!! This year was significantly better; Noah trick-or-treated at 5 neighbors' houses (except that when he got a piece of candy, he'd say "Thanks" and then throw it back in their bowl, so he ended up with no candy whatsoever). Then he decided it was time to rip his lion suit off and play soccer in the front yard with daddy, giving candy to various trick-or-treaters who passed by.
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The Lion approaching:

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This is my favorite picture...

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So that was the 31st. Well, today is November 2nd and it is Noah's "king" birthday as he turns 2! I can't believe how time has flown; I hold Lauren now and I swear it could be Noah in my arms, just coming home from the hospital! Since we celebrated Noah's big day with a Little Einsteins party a couple of weeks ago, today has been fairly low-key, but he of course got to help make his favorite breakfast -- pancakes. He's opened a few presents, gotten his 2-year shots, and we're all going for some dessert later on. Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

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And an update on Lauren? She's staying very busy keeping up with the Big Three responsibilities of babies: eating, pooping, and sleeping!

Lauren Elyse

Here she is! We went in last Friday morning and well, only 3 1/2 hours of labor and 3 pushes later, Little Lauren joined us at 7 lbs, 8 oz, and almost 19 inches. Thanks to the pre-planned epidural I didn't feel any of this quick and easy process so I'm certainly not going to have anything to hold over her head when she's a teenager! She has blonde hair, dark blue eyes, and is just the sweetest baby girl!
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Proud parents

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Bright eyes and chubby cheeks!

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Sweet naptimes

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Noah inspecting his new "beebee."



Thanks to Rachel for hijacking my blog and posting her arrival a few days ago, and thanks to all of you for the sweet comments! That's it for now though; I'm tired and have only 2 more hours before yet another feeding. I'll keep you posted!

Announcing Baby Lauren!

Rachel here, hijacking my sister's blog to let you know that Jackie and Greg are the proud parents of a baby girl! Lauren Elyse was born today at 1:09 p.m., weighing in at 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Mom and baby are doing great. I will post a photo as soon as they're sent out!

Happy Birthday, Noah!

Knowing that we'd have a little baby around on Noah's 2nd birthday (which is actually November 2), we wanted to give him a birthday party early so he'd be fully celebrated. We chose the Little Einsteins' theme since it is his absolute favorite thing in all the world at this point; he can sing parts of the theme song, say Vrooom! with Rocket, and shout "Blast Off" at all the right moments. We wanted to remember this phase and give him one last birthday party of his own before he has to share them with his sister for the rest of his life!

So last Saturday we had several friends and family over to the neighborhood park (because at 10 months pregnant I wasn't about to clean my house and host it there--I'm a nice mom, but not a crazy one). We had food from Chick-fil-A, brought a basket of sports equipment and bouncy balls, we had 4 dozen Little Einstein cupcakes, handed out treat cups, played on the playgrounds, and of course opened presents. A great time was had by all, especially by the grown men who played football and pretended to allow the small children to play with them. A big thanks to my sister Rachel who was in town with Jared, and got up early to help me get everything set up!

Here are some highlights:

This was officially the final "scheduled" function that I really wanted to get through before the baby comes. Happy early birthday, Noah--we love you!

Last Day of School, er, Work!

Remember the last day of school? I'll pretend I'm not too old to remember that feeling I always got those last hours of the last day of school before a break. I have that feeling today as it is officially my last day of work before 3 glorious months of maternity leave! My schedule is very light today, I've already gotten 2 baby gifts from patients this morning, and another patient brought in cheesecake bars! If all goes according to plan, I'll have the rest of the week to try to relax, get a mani/pedi, do some last minute cleaning and preparing, and then head on up to the hospital Friday to have a baby. Sounds intense when I put it in writing, so today I think I'll just sit and savor my "last day of school" feeling...

Hairdos and Baby Showers and such

Well this weekend was a whirlwind, but a great one! On Friday my friend Stacey came over with her son, Carson (Noah's best friend). She had arranged for a professional hairstylist (very cool woman we both know) to come to my house and set up a 'salon' in my master bathroom! We both got haircuts, full foil color, and styles -- all without having to maneuver our pregnant bellies around town and try to find weekday babysitters for our boys! It was such a treat.

On Saturday, four of my dearest friends threw me a baby girl shower. It was gorgeous and so much fun; we ended up with so many adorable things that I can wait to use! I felt very blessed as several of my friends and family drove anywhere from 1 to 5 hours to be there -- this little girl already has many great ladies she'll be able to look up to!

Finally, tonight, whilst grimmacing at the Cowboys' tragic first loss of the season, I was able to sort th rough ALL baby gifts and items we've gotten thus far; this includes packing the baby's bag for the hospital as well as my own, washing all 0-3 month clothes and arranging them neatly in drawers, hanging everything else up by size, and sanitizing bottles/nipples/pacifiers/etc. and putting them away in her very own cupboard.

I'm exhausted, large, and tired, but finally feel like we are "set up" to have this baby. Now if she can just hold off until after Noah's birthday party next Saturday...

A few pictures:

Tracy's beautiful house, gorgeous display of food, and homemade Vanilla-Raspberry "Diva" cupcakes (in the back) from her cupcake business.

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The hostesses (and me): Stacey, Rebekah, me, Kaci, and Tracy.

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My two sweet cousins, Leslie and Alli. Great to catch up with you both! And yes, there's my new 'do which is not too terribly different except there are a lot more layers and quite a bit of auburn/red/dark blonde color. Apparently she said this is closer to my natural color since my hair has darkened; figures since I'm turning 30 this year.

That's it! Have a nice week. I'm going to bed.