Happy New Year!

I am very ready to be done with the 'aughts'. They have not been kind to me and my family. I have had many blessings, but much of the time, those blessings have been overshadowed by some darkness.

So, 2010. I'm ready. I'm ready for a year (or decade) to be boring, monotonous, and uneventful. My family is beautiful, and loving, and wonderful.

May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain found in your yesterdays.

Snow!

We took Katie to play in the snow today!

At first she was hesitant. She didn't want to get her feet messy.


In fact, she would rather sit and pout than go out into the yard.


What can I say? She's her mother's daughter.

But then she decided that Tiny looked like he was having fun, so maybe she could, too.


And in fact, she really liked stomping in the snow, kicking it, and throwing snowballs.


And we ended up with very snowy boots, after all.

Merry Christmas!

We had such a wonderful Christmas this year! Richard and his family came into town this year, so it was a busy holiday, filled with family fun! And my brother came up a few days before Christmas to visit--a holiday surprise!

Katie was so much fun at Christmas this year! She understands what presents are, now, and happily tears into them! Santa brought her a toy kitchen, and my brother and his wife got her a little bike.



Inpecting her Tiny ornament...


Santa came!


Watching the Grinch on Christmas Eve


Helping Mama decorate

'Tis the season...

...to get all bundled up!





You'd never know it from the picture, but all she has on under Mama's coat is a diaper, a tank top and her rain boots. She's got style!

'Tis the season...

..for yummy, warm crockpot soups to gobble up!





Mmmm...good! As Katie says.

'Tis the season...

...for visits to Santa.

Jonnelle sweet-talked Jared into playing Santa for her preschool Christmas party. After, we tried to get some pictures of Santa with Katie. Unfortunately, Katie didn't want anything to do with the man in red until he took off the white beard and turned into her daddy.




That's Gracie planting a kiss on Uncle Santa's cheek!

Complex mornings

They are confusing. School was delayed 2 hours this morning, Jared made waffles for breakfast, Mama slept in, then threw some stuff into the crockpot for dinner. Yum.

But then I got to school: it's icy, rainy, icky out. The guest speaker for today cancelled. So I was in the cabinet pulling out a video for them, and as I was shutting it, the photo tripod that was on top of the cabinets came tumbling down, and landed right on the bridge of my nose! A little blood, a little bruising, and I think I'm ok. Ugh. At least I haven't fallen on campus--yet.

'Tis the season...

...for Christmas catalogs!

Oh, how I love Christmas catalogs! I love the possibilities they hold, the potential for happiness. I love reading the descriptions of the items, and wondering about the person who gets paid to write a paragraph about an insulated stainless steel water bottle. I love looking at Christmas gift sets, packaged so prettily, full of such thoughful assortments of products. I think I spend too much time with catalogs.

I especially have an unhealthy affection for food gift basket catalogs. I never order them, but I so enjoy looking at the juicy pears, matched perfectly with the rich cheeses and decadent chocolates. Why, yes, that would be a perfect gift for a small office, how clever of you!

Totally my idea of good bedtime reading.

'Tis the season...

...for snuggly mornings watching cartoons.





A pup on your knees really is the best way to stay warm.

2 year check up

Katie loves her pediatrician so much. She had her two year check today, and did so well! She's relaxed as anything as the doctor looked for butterflies in her ears, and even though she kept opening her mouth so Doc would look in, she ended up just wanting to suck on the tongue depressor. But she relaxed (lazed) in Daddy's arms as Doc listened to her heart, looked at her tummy and back. She played with the pretties that came in her treat bag as we waited for a shot.

Toughie lay there, sucking on her sucker, and waited while Doc came to hold her shoulders while nurse poked her thigh. Katie gave a start when she got poked, gave the nurse a "What the hell was that?" look, and went back to her sucker. Not a peep.

Numbers:
Weight: 28 pounds (75%)
Height: 36 inches (95%)
Head: 97% No wonder she's started wearing my hats.

I know I've said this before, but grape suckers are a lifesaver.



That picture is from awhile ago. There isn't much swinging when it's 17 degrees outside.

Happy Birthday!

Katie's second birthday was all that I could hope for. A wonderful celebration of my baby...who is getting so big!

Sesame Street table. The balloons were a huge hit with the under-three crowd...


Cookie Monster cakes seem to be a tradition for second birthdays in my family.


Coloring noses to play Pin the Nose on Elmo


Presents! This is one spoiled little girl!


A ginormous tutu


A cute hat on an adorable girl! You can kind of see Pin the Nose on Elmo in the background.




Happy birthday, sweet girl!

My TMI post of the week

Totally not how I wanted to spend my Thanksgiving break.

Went to the ER early Saturday morning. Turns out I was having a gall bladder attack. Before they could take it out, though, they had to get my blood work under control. All of my electrolytes and proteins were extremely low. So they pumped me full of fluids and potassium to get them up, and took out my gall bladder Sunday morning.

I really thought that being forced to relax and watch Food Network all day would have been a little slice of heaven, but being hooked up to two IVs and only able to eat ice chips was not the way to do it. I was never so glad to get home to my little girl!

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken such good care of my family, watched Katie, brought food, offered help so freely. Especially to my dearest husband, who juggled girl and home and me so capably. I am so blessed, and thankful for all of you!

I'm so thankful for...

...soap and water.

I'm so thankful for...

...my brother.

I'm thankful in his choice of a wonderful wife. I'm thankful that they live so much closer now. I'm thankful for his friendship.

I'm so proud of my brother.

I'm so thankful for...

...this week being almost over.

I debated whether or not I was even going to post something tonight, because I didn't think I could do it without being negative. So I'm going to try. This has been a yucky week. Nothing major has happened, but so many little things have gone wrong that it has made me feel very stressed and out of control.

So I am thankful for my upcoming days of rest. I am thankful for the opportunity to refill my bucket, so I can continue to fill the buckets of others. I am thankful for peace and quiet.

I'm thankful for renewal.

I'm so thankful for...

...the fact that my family is safe.



When I look at this picture, or think about my dad, I send up a prayer of thanks that we are all safe. That for some reason, the Lord isn't ready for us, yet. I think about what could have happened way more than I should, and that scares the bejeezus out of me. It's making me hold my little family a little closer.

The Lord and I, we've come to an understanding over the last several years. I've put my heart in His hands, and I trust in His plan.

But I'm probably not driving to Seattle again anytime soon.

I'm so thankful for...

...reflection.

I got this idea for a series of posts about gratitude from a friend. She recently had a very negative experience, and was able to turn it around into a reflective opportunity to let more light shine on her blessings. It's been eye-opening to force myself to articulate what I am thankful for. Life has not been easy for me the last few years, and I try very hard to live in those beautiful little moments that arise quickly but seem to be gone before you fully grasp them. I know very well how life change irrevocably in an instant. It has been a very healthy, very calming way to end my day, to think back on everything that happened and choose one moment that I want to share. Sometime it's been silly, but mostly it's been something heart-filling. And even on the silly days, I've been grateful for those deeply personal moments that are too sacred to share with the universe.

So, I guess I'm also thankful for blogs!

I'm so thankful for...

energy at the end of the day!

The one thing that makes Mondays fun is that Katie has gymnastics Monday evening. Although sometimes we have to leave early, the nights that she is able to stay the whole time is exhilarating! I have so much fun with her. She is so stinkin' strong, and watching her make her little body do the exercises is amazing.

Plus, Momma gets a workout, too! It's hard work chasing her around!

I'm so thankful for...

...alone time with my husband.

Katie is so much fun to play with, and we tend to devote all our time to her. But we've been a lot more deliberate about finding little moments. A smooch in the kitchen during dinner prep, a game of Mario Kart after munchkin goes to bed, the "how was your day?" conversations that we had been forgetting. It means the world to me.

I'm so thankful for...

...my family.


I am incredibly lucky to be married to my best friend. Jared has been my rock through so much hardship, and I am so grateful to him. He's the person I want to spend my time with, the person I want to try new things with, the person I want to grow old with.

And my daughter is pretty amazing. I'm very blessed to have been entrusted with the the care of this wonderful individual.

My family is my haven. I'm grateful for them.

I'm so thankful for...

...my Oil of Old Maid.

Oh yes, I am. I'll be honest and say I'm pretty low maintenance. Seriously, this is the most expensive weapon in my skin care arsenal. I tried it because I had seen excellent reviews pop up online and in the magazines at the doctor's office. It's the biggest change to my regimen since...I started washing my face, maybe?

And I love. Love. Puffy heart love this stuff. It makes my skin feel so smooth and soft, and I think it really improves my skin tone. Sure, I guess I could be talking myself into seeing a change, but wouldn't that be worth it, too? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all.

I'm so thankful for...

...the life I am allowed to live.



We just read this book for book club, and it has made me so grateful to be a woman, but especially to be a woman who has a respectful, loving husband. I'm grateful that I can have a career of my choosing, that I am allowed to be educated, that I chose the man I want to spend the rest of my life with, that I can choose the number of children I want to have. None of these decisions were made for my by someone else.

I highly recommend this book. Wonderful, gripping characters. It was fascinating to read about the struggles of women in other parts of the world.

I'm so thankful for...

my freedom...

and all the men and women who have made it possible for me and my family to live happily and safely. I will never forget the sacrifices they and their families make in service to our country. My father, my grandfather, my father-in-law, my brother-in-law and now my nephew pledged their lives in service.

This picture is of Jared's dad, Dennis Whitney. Katie was looking at the picture, and I was explaining that it was her grandpa. She whispered "Pop Pop..." and then yelled, "Daddee!!!" There is kind of a family resemblance.

Semper fidelis. Adapt and overcome.

I'm so thankful for...

this smile...

and all the giggles, silliness and fun that goes with that smile. I'm grateful that my girl has such a sunshiny soul, one that appropriately balances her need for structure, and her independent, stubborn streak. My girl is my world, and I'm thankful that world is so often such a happy one.

Popping out to say hi!

Happy Halloween!

Katie was a kitty for Halloween this year, but we didn't get many pictures of her. She's always on the go, and doesn't stop to pose for pictures.



We went Trunk or Treating on Friday night at the church, and Katie really enjoyed the cornbread! She buzzed right over and grabbed a plate, the little punk. She also refused to try saying Trick or Treat, but would say please, take a piece of candy, and say thank you.



Making the rounds to visit family on Saturday. Love our kitty!

PDX

Finally made it to Portland to visit C & D. We had such a good time! Dennis had to work Saturday when we were there, but Colleen was free and came with us to the zoo! She showed us how to ride the Max, and it was great how convenient it was. Katie was even interested enough to keep the gymnastics to a manageable level.

The zoo was amazing. The animals were all out putting on a show, and since it was a little chilly, it wasn't too busy. We forgot our camera, so these are all pics Colleen took.



These bears are at the entrance to the gift shop. Katie high fived the black one!



Riding a mountain goat!



Not this one, though.



This was a bubble into the salmon river. K obviously thought it was flat, and got a surprise when she leaned into it.



Checking out an eye level starfish.



They had a baby elephant with his mama.



We could see almost all of the animals. The zoo is set up really well.



We could even be eye level with a giraffe!



This orangutan made me laugh. He was all stretched out, munching some snacks, playing with his cardboard box... sounded like a good plan to me!

The Lorakeet Landing was definately Katie's favorite. She is really into birds right now, and they were so bold! As soon as we walked in, one swooped down to get a treat!



The birds let me move all around with them on my hand. So Katie got up close with them.









Oh yes, the birds were bold, indeed.



Colleen bought Katie a stuffed Lorakeet to remember the day! She chews on the beak and drags that poor thing everywhere!

We were able to catch up with Dennis for dinner that night and hang out a bit. We can't wait to visit again soon!