Sunny days.

This week we have been enjoying the most perfect weather. Plenty warm to sit outside and soak up some sun and still not get hot. We have been essentially living outside and loving it. Earlier in the week, Meredith and I had a picnic for lunch. As I've been experiencing all week, things do not always go as planned with a toddler. So, while it wasn't quite as idyllic as I had imagined, I still thoroughly enjoyed the chance to be in the sun and watch my girl play.

Toddlerhood

Thanks for all your sweet congratulations yesterday. We are so beyond thrilled to be having a boy. And really, I'm just happy to know and to get to refer to the baby as a "he" now. And let's be honest, I have a whole wardrobe to create, so that's pretty fun, too :)

Meredith is 21 months old now. We're getting glimpses of those challenging toddler moments more and more frequently, but we're also getting to see her unique personality, language development and adorably strong feelings about certain activities (play outside!). Here's a glimpse at some fun moments over the past week or two.

It's a...

Slugs and snails

And puppy-dogs' tails,

Boy!!

Soup and Bread

I made a ham on Easter and because of that we've been working our way through leftovers this week. I have to admit, I think I prefer ham leftovers to Thanksgiving's turkey (though I like all the Thanksgiving sides better!). I thought I'd share the soup I made in case you are in the same boat as me. I wouldn't say it was my favorite soup of all time, but it was filling, easy enough, chock full of protein and fiber and toddler approved. I made some bread, too, because when isn't fresh bread a great accompaniment to a meal?!

Soup and Bread.

Blessings.

At church this past Sunday we sang one of my favorite songs, Blessed Be Your Name. I started my day thinking about Alanna. Because I knew it was her family's first holiday without her, my heart was heavy. As we sang the song at church, I started thinking of her again. There's a line, "When the darkness closes in, Lord, Still I will say, Blessed be the name of the Lord" and it struck me as I sang the lines just how hard that is. It's not easy to still see God as good in a situation like hers. At the end of the song the lines read, "You give and take away, You give and take away, My heart will choose to say, Lord, blessed be Your name." These lines did ring true to me. He has given me blessings upon blessings. He has given Alanna's friends and family blessings- simply knowing her, for example. And yet, he takes away too. He is a good God. It's just not always easy.

I have been thinking about this song all week. As I've struggled a bit more this week thinking about Alanna, the line that has stuck with me is, "Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise," because that is something Alanna was so good at. She was always sharing good news. She was quick to see the good in people and in situations. She never hesitated to acknowledge that the good in her life was from God. I am a better person because of her and because of witnessing this trait of hers.

And even though Heaven is such a hard concept for me to grasp, I have to keep reminding myself (on Easter, especially) that the whole point of Jesus dying and being raised from the dead is that we get to go to Heaven. As I struggle with feeling like it is so unfair that she's gone (that she's been taken from her loved ones), I try to remember that she's in a better place, that it was a good God who sent his son to die and be raised so that one day, we too, could be raised to new life.

A vegetable garden.

It makes me nervous to even type these words, but: I think we're going to try out a vegetable garden this year. I thought about it last year and never got around to it, but this year I'm feeling determined. I've picked up some books from the library and have been reading various websites for information, too. Mostly, I want a lot of tomatoes. Maybe it's pregnancy, but I could live off of tomato mozzarella salad these days, so I'm dreaming of picking my own fresh tomatoes.

We're thinking of building a raised bed in our backyard. I know I want to grow tomatoes. Maybe also some broccoli, asparagus and summer squash. I'm afraid of trying to do too much for my first year. So, I'm here asking for your advice. What gardening tips and tricks do you have to share? Any favorite blogs, books or websites with helpful information? Send it my way! Please! And thanks :)

Easter 2012

We had a perfectly lovely Easter. The weather was perfect, we enjoyed each other's company and the company of friends and we all got to take a nap. The Easter Egg Hunt didn't quite live up to my expectations, but Meredith was excited to get to play. Later in the day we had friends over for dinner. I made my very first Easter dinner and it felt very grown up. Also, I made a tart. I've always wondered how tarts looks so glossy and pretty. While mine was far from perfect, I was pretty proud of those shiny strawberries!

Hope you had a lovely weekend, too.

Making a toddler wait to get eggs from a nearby playground is cruel :)

Chris wins for picture taking on Easter. Getting pictures of a squirmy toddler is hard!

Thankful.

Thankful:

That when I see pictures of tiny newborns, instead of jealous, I just feel excited.

For the chatterbox Meredith is becoming. For the way she says "Hi, baby" to greet me, "rishe" (rice, her favorite food), "moushe" (mouse, for Mickey Mouse), "shoe-uh" and "Pooh-uh" (shoe and Pooh).

For the assistance Chris has given me with extra sleep in the morning and extra help with bedtime routines.

That I'm just barely, but pretty certainly, starting to feel this baby kicking inside of me.

That in one week we will know if we are having a boy or a girl. Sister or brother?? What will it be?

For the sunshine. For living in a place that we can pop outside, barefoot, on a moment's notice. For a little girl who was born to be in the outdoors.

For good books. In the past couple weeks I've read A Million Little Pieces and A Civil Action. I'm almost done with Marley & Me. I just love to read. It makes me happy.

For catching up with friends who I haven't talked to in way too long.

For tomato & mozzarella salad,  for baguettes with cheese, for big bowls of wheat chex, for lime popsicles, for airheads and sour straws, for fudge brownies.

That the spring cleaning bug (or nesting?) has struck me and pushed me to organize some desperately neglected areas in our home.

For our overall health. Yes, all three of us have been hit by a mack truck of seasonal allergies, but in general, we are healthy.


Sometimes it's just good to stop and reflect on what I'm thankful for. A certain toddler is keeping me super busy and this pregnancy is keeping me super tired and achy, so I find my time here on the blog limited. I miss this special place, but wanted to drop in so you know we're still living and breathing and doing a-ok.