Close Call!

Major drama in the blog world: I switched my account from "old blogger" to "new blogger" and for a few days there couldn't remember my new user name.

I know everyone was wondering what had happened to me--besides the fact that Una has become a threat to society and taken out the knee of one of our dog-walking friends whilst chasing one of Her doggie friends, all is well. I'm here to stay in the blogosphere. Off to buy flowers and apology cards.

Kelly's Blogiversary Meme

6 Weird things about me: I'll go chronologically.

1. When my mom was pregnant with me she had appendicitis and had to go under the knife. It was a big scare because they thought the anesthesia might affect unborn me. After the surgery the Dr. said I was fine. Or was I?....

2. Since the age of two (I still have this problem) I have been a book-hauler. Meaning: I like to carry around lots of books even if I don't even open them once. Like last weekend I took 10 books on our mini-vaca much to husband's chagrin even though I opened one of them for only 10 minutes the entire weekend. In college and camp life I hiked hundreds of miles with at least 10-15 extra lbs of weight due to the books I couldn't leave behind while on backpacking trips. I have suspicions as to how I inherited this problem (ahem, Dad!), but it is definitely a weird thing about me.

3. My high school algebra teacher was convinced and tried convincing my parents that the reason I was terrible at algebra had to be because I was a prophet. I take advantage of this whenever possible.

4. It hurts, HURTS me to eat dessert without at least hot tea. Coffee of course is even better, but not an option at the moment unless I want to spend the day fearing that I will bring forth a hyperactive Thumbelina. That's not really that weird.

5. It also pains me to use ballpoint pens. I have to use pilot rollers at the very least.

6. My dreams are a lot like what I think LSD would be like. In the words of the expert: they are long, strange, trips. They have always been bizarre, but now with pregnancy they are off the hook. E.G. last night I dreamt I was teaching snowboarding (normal), but then took a ride on the ski lift with no board and hanging from my arms. But I wasn't hanging from a lift chair, it was a window frame suspended where the chair would normally be. I was holding on to the window sill. The window frame had a small roof over it and my hands were secure between the sill and the roof. Susan N. from church was running the lift and assured me that I would not fall. She was right; I landed safely but had some trouble detaching my hands from between the sill and the roof. I think they had to rewind the lift and woke up asking myself if it's possible to rewind ski lifts. I don't think it is. Normally I try to spare my blog-readers from my dream talk (poor husband has to take the brunt), but this is a weird thing. I have a special book where I've been recording my dreams of the last 10-15 years and think it would be of value to all those filmmakers who have to keep doing re-makes of 80s movies.





I shall tag all of my siblings: Boo, Kendall Bethy, and the D, and also my cousin Eric, but I don't have his blog link! Which is why he needs to comment on my blog...waiting to hear from you, cuz.

Happy Birthday Ricky!

We love you!

Our First Year

So we went up to Santa Fe to celebrate our first anniversary. Plan A was to ski/board Telluride for the first time, but I have to say I was very happy with pregnant-alternative plan B: to spend a weekend completely relaxing. Come to think about it, this is the first (mini) vacation we've ever taken that didn't involve something Really active almost every day. We did go snowshoeing for a few hours, but took it very easy. The rest of the time we spent doing something our Pastor suggested to us during pre-marital counseling. We reviewed the book we read together for counseling and the answers we wrote down, things about how we wanted our marriage to be and things we thought would help our marriage, etc. It was affirming to see how many things we had improved in and humbling to see things that still need work. Most of all, it reminded me how much we have to be thankful for in each other and how much God has blessed us in just one year.

Happy Birthday Tinks!

A very happy birthday goes to my precious sister! Wow, where would I be if you were never born? Here's to singing on the hassock, running away from home and returning within 20 minutes, our secret knocking code on the wall between our bedrooms, countless movies, plays, concerts, and other things you patiently endured, suriving one day of daycare together, many years of homeschooling, and that first scary day at public school when we swore that whichever of us found people to eat lunch with first would make room for the other.

Here's to showing up at each other's colleges late at night, sharing the top bunk, living in GR on slim fast, dancing, ice cream, and Special K, and trying so hard to read the map. And my favorite: laying in a tent on an island beach, watching the lightning through the thin nylon SO close to our faces and holding hands so at least we would die together. I'm glad we didn't die. You are so dear to me and I am thankful for every moment with you.

Skate, skate, skate!

So here's one of our many fun times while on break with my side of the family. It's hard to believe Christmas is over after having looked forward to it for so long, mostly for the sake of seeing the dear ones in these pix. We really had a great time together--thanks, parents for all the good food and spoiling of us!

In the Watches of the Night

I don't know if it's a pregnant thing or what, but for the last month or two I have been consistently waking at 4:00 a.m. I toss and turn and try to go back to sleep, but I spend at least a minute or two thinking: "Again?"

Years ago a mentor once asked us how often we take advantage of sleepless nights to pray. Those are the precious hours, the times to seize to be with your God, he said. How often do we actually ask to be woken up in the night? How often do we ask to be reminded to pray? Once in a blue moon, in this poor blogger's case.

On my bed I remember you; I think of you in the watches of the night--Psalm 63.7

Sky and Snow

On Saturday morning, Una and I went out into the snow world. We had gotten a few more inches in the night, so everything was fresh and new again. I thought we had seen every side of Una's cuteness until I saw her bouncing through the snow. She really does run as if she was pulling a sled! It looks like she's dancing. About a 1/2 mile East of our house are the Sandia foothills, the mountain range that sets the boundary for Albuquerque's East side. It's a great, quick little hike and Una and I loved it.

Yes, we Are

having a baby this summer--sometime between July and August. Thank you, Megan for giving me the response I was hinting for in the job announcement post! After keeping it secret since Thanksgiving, I had to give at least one clue!

We announced it to our families over Christmas and finally in church this morning, so we are officially public now. I have been feeling good in general, occasionally tired, hungry, and emotional--but that's really nothing out of the ordinary for me anyway. Husband has been extra sweet and helpful, but that's actually pretty normal for him too.

We'll definitely keep everyone posted & thanks for your prayers.

Grandpa's Visit

Before Christmas, my Grandpa and his wife Liz came to visit us. We were thrilled, especially since they surprised us at church AND brought along my mom! We had a great time and hope Grandpa can visit again soon!

New Years at Kandid Kiwi

I forget that my blog readers may not also read all my links like I do. So, Kandid Kiwi was on top of it enough to post pix of our fabulous New Year celebration in Chicago. We stayed on Michigan Avenue and were able to walk to Grant Park for fireworks, sparklers, and dancing. Kandid Kiwi will tell you the rest.

P.S. Thanks, Grandpa, for your sweet phone message! We love you!

Hooray!!!

Husband got his job offer today! Please sing the Doxology with us. Perfect timing too, if you know what I mean...

Happy Birthday Huck!

I have lots of sappy things to say here, but it Is the blogosphere, so I'll be brief. The best of happiest birthday wishes go to my precious friend who celebrates in Dublin right now. I am so thankful that you were born and that God has given us so many magic years together. I raise my glass of chocolate milk to many more!