I have been trying to figure out why it always takes us 5 times longer to get things done than it should. So, I decided to document Bill building my vegetable garden that he gave me for my birthday. It was my hope that I could figure out why a supposed one hour project took almost a full day.

Well, I can't figure it out...heck, he even had help! Anyone have a clue?

Baby Love

Last weekend we went to see my sister and baby Juliana (and of course Noah and Uncle Ryan too). I have been excited to see Rori and Liam with the new baby--in anticipation of seeing how they might react to our new baby. I could tell that Rori was dying to hold her from the beginning, so I asked her if she'd like to hold her and she said, "yes" right away. She took to the baby like a little mother hen. It just melted my heart and made me want to cry--it was so precious. The whole day she was keeping tabs on baby Juliana and giving Auntie Jenna status updates. It was so sweet. Most surprising, though, was Liam. The first time Rori was holding Juliana, he climbed on my mom's lap and said, "hold too, hold too." And he held her and kissed her. You could tell he was trying to be gentle and loving on her. I was so happy. Of course I know things will most likely be different when he gets a new baby that stays and doesn't belong to someone else, but at least he has time to get to know and love a new baby, before ours comes.

Oh No!

I thought I had my ally for all things girly, but it appears that Bill is trying to pull her to the dark side! I've already lost my husband to Wii--not my daughter too!

My birthday dinner

I have finally recovered from my birthday dinner and I wanted to share it a bit with you. We went to a Brazilian steakhouse for my first of TWO (not four) birthday dinners :) While I enjoy steak as much as the next person--the true joy I get for going there is watching Bill eat as much meat as he can. It was one of those places where the gauchos/waiters walk around with swords full of meat and carve it off on to your plate. It's all you can eat. This is how we looked when we got there.

This is one satisfied customer

Note the lack of anything besides meat on his plate. He doesn't believe in wasting the stomach room. After dinner we were supposed to go to a movie, but this is how we felt
So, instead we went home and laid on the couch and moaned...

My wife's birthday post!!!

In honor of my wife’s third 29th birthday I thought I would guest post to honor her with ten reasons I love her so.

1. She loves her birthday more than I do, which is a lot. We will have a minimum of 4 birthday dinners!!

2. She watches a whole lot of sports with me! The whole month of March, Bull’s games, Bear’s games. Sox games. She even trys to be interested most times

3. She always humors my dog issues. Lets me bring home multiple dogs home for a trial, even knowing the out come a head of time.

4. She takes really good care of me when I am sick

5. She would rather be with me and the kids than anywhere else all the time

6. She listens to my music even though it makes her angry.

7. Some nights she makes two meals because I am such a picky eater!

8. She is the world’s great baker. She keeps me supplied with Cinnamon Rolls, Cookies, and Cakes

9. She gave me two, going on three of the most beautiful and wonderful children in the whole wide world, and she is an awesomely fantastic mother to them.

10. Lastly Jaime is the world greatest wife. I definitely got the better end of the deal when she said yes.

Where are you going, my little one?

Where are you going, my little one, little one.

Where are you going, my baby, my own.

Turn around and you're tiny,

Turn around and you're grown,

Turn around and you're a young wife, with babes of your own.

Where have they gone

My little ones, little ones

Where have they gone

My babies, my own

Turn around and they’re young

Turn around and they’re old

Turn around and they’re gone

And we’ve no one to hold

That is a song that I grew up with my mom singing to me. We had it sung at my wedding, and now I'm starting to sing it to my babies. I don't know where the time is going, but my baby is now able to climb the ladder to their jungle gym. My other baby is riding her tricycle around the block at what seems to be breakneck speeds. I don't know if I can handle this... Thank goodness we have another little one on the way!

Of course, about 2 seconds after I took this picture, she fell off because she was taking a corner too fast. So, yes, Auntie Jenna we are getting her a helmet tomorrow :)

My new niece

Baby Juliana has arrived. She is my brand new niece. My sister went into the hospital after her water broke and some 18 or so hours later, Juliana Rose arrived. She was 6lbs 15 oz. Jenna bravely delivered her after getting an epidural that didn't work. So, essentially she did it without drugs! I can't imagine doing that. Jenna was kind enough to let us come see her the night she was born, even though she was exhausted. I don't know if I've ever held a baby that small before, but she was beautiful! And so alert! I can't wait to see what kind of girl she will be--will she be girly like her Auntie Jaime, or will she be a tomboy like her mommy. Fortunately I have Rori to help sway her to the girly side :)

I do ask that you keep Juliana and my sister and her family in your prayers. Juliana was born with three holes in her heart--two of which are expected to close, but the third will need to be monitored. It's already stressful having a newborn, but adding additional worries make it extra exhausting. To read about her birth and stay updated on her heart, check out my sister's blog