Proof

I just downloaded my photos to my computer and I came across this one of Gabby and Lila.

Do you know what this is proof of?

That my most wonderful friend, Courtney, came for a visit last week and we actually visited. We've been friends for around 8 years now and we've had a long distance relationship for 6 of those years. We talk on the phone way too much. We over share. We even have secret nicknames but we NEVER get to hang out. Most of the time she's in town, there is a conference or other engagement going on, so we get a brief hour or two. But not this visit!

This time Lila took a nap at my house (and so did Courtney). We ate lunch AND dinner, looked at photos. Heck, we even made it to the park with our kids. Levi became Samuel's best friend. I got to see several of Courtney's cute bright summer outfits. We talked, almost fought... we did the things girlfriends do and it was great.

You just might think differently of me after reading this post

Warning: This is a real life post

I might be back. Maybe, or maybe not. It will eventually happen when time and sanity permit. I'll just keep you all in suspense.

Because I know you have all been waiting on the edge of your seat for my next post. Ha!

Well I thought I'd make my grand re-entrance with a real Life post for you all.

If you've been reading my posts about my sweet and sassy Gabby girl. You know she's a feisty one with a bit of a temper. I think the Long Island attitude might be genetic. Remember this? Yes, well that was rather MILD compared to the full blown, back arching temper tantrums she now throws.

Amanda and I went to Target the other day where Gabrielle promptly threw about a half-dozen tantrums just so I would put her down so she could walk. (Sorry sista, walking through the store at your pace could take about a lifetime) As I was carrying my flailing, scene making daughter to the check out, she found something in my cart that made everything all better...

the tears stopped,

the pleasant baby babble began,

shaking it became a fun game,

everyone around us thought she was so cute,

everyone around us knew my secret

and now you do too.

(Thanks to Amanda.)

The Gabby Girls

These photos are about 6 weeks old...ooops! That's what happens when you are sleep deprived. I was downloading my photos and look what I found...

Two absolutely gorgeous Gabby girls!!! One belongs to me (although you'd never know it with the blond hair and blue eyes) and the other to my dear friend Sarah.

Our first born children, Samuel and Juli, were one week apart and then our second born children, Gabrielle Grace and Gabrielle Elizabeth, were two weeks apart. Yes, they have the same first name. We didn't plan it - but it's totally cute!

Special Connection

This post is in response to my friend Sarah's post from today. I had to put up something on my blog once I read her post and smiled so big! Please go check her post out.

Sarah and I have a unique connection when it comes to the timing of our pregnancies. It started back 4 years ago when we were doing youth ministry together and we happened to get pregnant at the same time. Our due dates were only 1 week apart (Sarah's being first). We walked together, exercised together, shared pregnancy woes together. We even went to Bradley child birthing classes together with our husbands. We had a lot of laughs during the relaxation time when we were supposed to be practicing labor techniques. Instead we were like little kids giggling when the rest of the room was serious.

Samuel wound up arriving 11 days early and her daughter came late. So now they share a birthday a week apart just in the opposite way predicted. Unfortunately, Sarah and crew moved across the country and we do not have an opportunity to see each other regularly.


When I found out I was pregnant the second time around, I gave her a call and told her. I heard silence, then "so am I." This time our due dates are even closer - Sarah is May 8th and mine is May 9th. CAN YOU SAY WEIRD??? We never even spoke over the phone about trying to get pregnant and here we were once again. Do you think our husband's were talking?



If that isn't weird enough, a few months ago we were chatting and realized that we had chosen the same name for our soon-to-be-born little girls. CAN YOU SAY BIZARRE? (Be patient, you'll find out the name soon if you don't already know. ) I don't think it gets any stranger than that. And so, we have this special connection. Our children will always have friends from the womb and we will always have had the pleasure and blessing of sharing pregnancy and child rearing together!

Happy Birthday Friend!

I haven't posted in awhile. I thought for sure my next one would be a recap of our holiday celebration. Well, how could I do that when today happens to be not only the end of 2007, but also one of my dearest friends birthdays?

If you know her, you love her. She's absolutely hysterical and has a way of making people laugh even in the toughest of times! She's totally down to earth and very much an honest person. There's not a high and lofty bone in her body. She will relate to you and love you no matter who you are or what your going through. She is a tremendous friend. She has advice to give on almost any subject - and it is often very good. Her wisdom is deeper than she believes it to be. She's never at a loss for words (thank God for unlimited long distance); Yet she knows when silence is best. She's a fantastic mother despite her heavy load. And if I may be as bold as to speak for her husband, I bet he would say she's an exceptional wife and pretty good looking too. She's quite creative. The camera is proof. I won't disclose her age, but if you met her you'd know she has a child-like heart. And the best part is that I call her my friend!!!

Happy Birthday Courtney!!!
May your day be especially blessed.

Holiday Happiness!

This has been a fabulous week for being in the Christmas Spirit!

First stop was last Sunday at Grzenda's Christmas Tree Farm. This is a beautiful place to get a tree. We were a bit unprepared for the weather (mix of snow and rain and very windy) but thankfully we bumped into some friends and they gave us a wool blanket, a Carhartt jacket for Tim, and a bright orange hat. I didn't have a hat with me, so Tim gave me his black hat and he decided to sport the orange hat. He knew that was the proper fashion maneuver for his super sensitive pregnant wife. We hopped on the tractor and rode past a beautiful frozen lake, on to the field of trees. They were magnificent! Tim sawed down our tree while Samuel stood on the side lines holding his very large snowball.

I think our tree is the best one we've ever had! I was amazed at how perfectly shaped it is and how great it smells! We brought the tree home, stuck it in the stand and guess what else we did? FORGOT to water it for the rest of the day. Between Tim's usual absent-mindedness and my pregnancy induced spaciness. We both forgot to water the tree. I was so upset I could cry. We put water in before bed and checked it the next morning. It had barely absorbed any water and there was a ton of needles on the floor. Yikes! We had to save our tree. So Tim had to take it out of the stand and make a fresh cut the next day and it's doing fine now.

Samuel "helped" me decorate the tree by pulling the lights off as I was putting them on. Somehow we managed to get all the lights and ornaments on and Samuel is just loving the tree! Probably loving it too much as he is constantly rearranging the ornaments.

Don't go into shock. Yes, that is me in an apron. The second stop was baking at KT's house. For those of you who know me. I just don't bake. I love to cook meals but baking to me is tedious, controlled and way too precise. But I figured with KT's help I could enjoy the process.

We made Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls and Andrea's famous caramel corn. The boys played together and napped at the same time.

We enjoyed the silence and a cup of coffee or two!

I made a second batch of caramel corn at home and my little buddy found a new sweet treat that might have replaced lunch if I didn't intervene. Every few minutes a small hand would pop up and steel a few kernals of corn while it was cooling.

The end result was several lovely gifts all ready to ship out to friends and family. I delivered the cinnamon rolls locally to some of my favorite people. I then made these cute goodie bags filled with caramel corn, a Christmas movie and a few other treats to my family members who have children and live out of town. This was actually KT's idea, so I have to give her credit. All my packages are mailed out and I, for the first time in holiday history, will not be waiting on huge lines at the post office with just enough time to get gifts out for the holidays. I guess this week has given me a nice sense of accomplishment.

Fireman Sam!

Last night was our church's Harvest Party and it was awesome! The children's program is truly phenomenal and they did such a great job setting the whole thing up. There were tons of age-appropriate activities and the decorations were so creative. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Your hard work was evident.

When we first walked into "church", Samuel was a bit surprised and a bit cautious. Something was very different here. Once he saw the balloons, it was all history. Samuel REALLY enjoyed himself. Tim and I basically chased him around from one place to another. Surprisingly, he kept his fireman hat on the whole time because he was so distracted. He enjoyed cheese doodles for the first time and his favorite activity was the blow up jumping castle!