Tried to get tricky...

So I tried to get tricky and start a new post to actually post today. You'll have to scroll down below the egg coloring to see it.

I'll have to work on figuring that out.

"Coloring" Eggs...

We had a very fun time coloring Easter eggs last night with Joshua. My expectations were, shall we say, limited. I knew that Joshua would have a good time, and he seemed to, especially seeing all of the colors that we made.

You may notice that he actually "colored" a big egg of his own while we were working with the dye. I thought that was a brilliant diversion, if I do say so myself.

When it was all said and done, Joshua needed to eat a yellow egg first. He had no interest in using the stickers or any other decorations on the eggs themselves, and rather wanted to put them on paper. So that's what we did. So we have about a dozen brightly colored eggs with no other glitz or glamour. But we had a good time.

And I'm pleased to report that no egg dye landed anywhere it wasn't supposed to. Victory on all accounts.

Our day...

Four years ago today, Jason and I got married. And I guess, in a lot of ways, the wheels started spinning that would shape our lives into what they are today, and this wonderful mess of things that I write about and think about and share here. Without April 9th, 2005 there wouldn't be a Joshua...or the other little miracle we await. Without April 9th, 2005, there wouldn't be a home that we share and work to make beautiful and full of love. And without that day, there wouldn't be these wonderful precious memories that warm my heart at the thought of them.

I've always loved that an anniversary is a special holiday that only means something to the people who were married that day, and the people they love who were there with them in that special moment. I love that the rest of the world goes about its business on April 9th, and only Jason and I and our closest friends and family have any idea that it's a special day.

I'm a real sucker for a good song. With good words that mean something. And when I think about our wedding day, a song from a CD that I can't even remember what it's called comes immediately to mind. It's called "I Never Saw Blue Like That". I can honestly tell you that I have never seen a sky that blue in all my life as I remember the sky to have been that day. It was perfect. Not a cloud in the sky. A warm, breezy, beautiful spring Saturday. I felt like God did that just for us and it's a lingering memory that I have etched in my heart from our wedding day. And I couldn't believe how perfectly the flowers came together, with vibrant spring colors that I'll always remember.

I remember so many silly things that happened leading up to the wedding itself. Like our slumber party the night before the wedding. Remember, guys? Libby and I were bunked up elementary school style in our bed. We were giggling like little kids, and pretty soon Lindsay joined us from the other room. And it all went downhill from there. At some point, we got an intoxicated phone call from the boys (and my Dad) from the hotel after they'd been sharing stories with each other in Club Bob (that's what you call any hotel room where my dad is staying because it turns into a party). And we giggled some more. What fun it was to be together.

I remember going to Walmart to buy another camera card with Libby on Saturday morning. We were dressed in identical outfits (my gift to the girls), had no makeup on our faces, but gorgeous up-do's. I was wearing a crown. Only on your wedding day would you walk through Walmart looking like that. But we didn't care. And I believe we giggled all the way.

And then I remember the important things as well. Like the feeling of responsibility I felt when the clock struck 4:00. It was like, all of a sudden, it all hit me. I was getting married. Right then. Jason was waiting for me at the end of the aisle. We had planned so diligently for the music that would be played- arranged for the trumpeter and coordinated with the organist at the church. But I didn't hear a thing as we walked down the aisle. I remember sobbing through my vows, because they meant something to me. I really meant it. Every single word. I remember feeling so blessed that so many people that we had known for so many years were there to share the day with us. Maybe they were just there for the party, but I doubt it. Well, maybe a few.

I remember losing my tulle skirt at the reception. If it hadn't been one of the happiest, silliest days of my life, I might have run away from sheer embarassment. But not on your wedding day. You just roll with it. You grab onto your sister while she undresses you discreetly in front of 150 of your family and friends, and then you dance with your husband. So that's what I did.

I've come to realize over the years that a wedding day is a rock in your memory. It's what you hang on to when things get tough. When those vows come into play and you have to remember that although there was never a promise of smooth sailing, there was a promise you made to each other in the presence of God...that's when you lean on the memory of your wedding day. We have been blessed with a pretty smooth ride- not an easy one, but one free of any major bumps and bounces. We've been healthy and fortunate and blessed. Sure, we've been mad at each other. But I've never talked to anyone who has been married longer than one day who could honestly say that they haven't been. But our lives are anchored to this day...where we remember always those beautiful blue skies, and the overflowing love in our hearts for each other.

I still feel that way.

Delayed...but still silly.

I've been walking around in stretchy pants bliss for the last several days, to the point where the world escaped me. Or at least the blog did. It's good to be back, with new pictures to share.

We had quite a busy weekend, running to and from Camp Victory for the Key Club Board Trainer. I was hoping for a much nicer weekend, weather wise, than the one we got. My plans of letting Joshua run about the camp didn't exactly pan out when he needed arctic weather gear to be outside. We went out Friday afternoon after he boycotted his nap, and unloaded our goods in the pouring down rain at the camp. Then we ate dinner with the group after they arrived and headed home for an early bath and bedtime. I know you'll find this hard to believe, but Jason and I actually sat down...together...and watched a movie on Friday night. Honest. I'm not lying. I can tell you that it's been since Joshua was a small baby that we've done that. I had snagged a copy of Marley and Me, so that's what we watched. Talk about a tear jerker. But also a pretty honest account of how your life changes with a baby...and another baby.

Saturday morning, Joshua and I left for Camp again because I had some responsibilities there during the day. We stayed until about 4:00....yep, no nap again that day...and then headed back home for dinner with Daddy. Early to bed again on Saturday night for Joshua. I have to tell you that these two days with no naps have been the only solid nights of sleep Joshua has had in recent memory. If he wasn't such a crab without that nap, I'd suggest dropping it altogether. But I know he still needs at least some sleeping time during the day.

Sunday morning we got up and went to church. Joshua was seeming interested in going to kids church, and was being sufficiently scroochy (I don't know if that's a real word, but I use it all the time), so off he...I mean "we" went. I tried to leave him there and went to the restroom before coming back to peek in on him. No peeking necessary. I could hear him wailing through the door AND the bathroom door. The poor teacher had 10 little children in the class, was holding Joshua in her lap, and still singing with the others. I had to rescue her and ended up staying to help with the class. 10 little people is just too much for one teacher. Especially when one of them is screaming bloody murder. All I can say is God bless his preschool teacher. I'm already praying for her and I have no idea who she will be yet or even where he'll be going.

Sunday afternoon Jason and I watched yet another movie. Amazing. This time it was Will Smith's Seven Pounds. Good movie. I'm still working my way through processing that one. It was sweet and disturbing all at the same time. After the movie and nap time, we headed outside to play for as long as the sun shone. In fact, we even dumped our dinner plans and ended up ordering Ciro's because I couldn't bear to come inside to cook when it was so nice and warm outside. Joshua loved it, too. Spring....hurry up and get here already!

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We're gearing up for a trip to Lewistown on Friday to spend some much needed time with my family. I miss them...a lot. Our phone conversations have been short and rushed...or haven't even fit into our we-shouldn't-be-this-busy schedules. And I hate it when that happens. I just need a few days to be WITH THEM. All of them. In the same place. Eating good food. Enjoying our beautiful children and laughing about the silly things they do now and what we used to do. Hunting for Easter eggs. Going to church. The whole thing.

Can't wait.

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And in other random tidbits...I was signing Joshua up for summer music class when I opened the website for Susquehanna University's Music Prep program. And who did I see there? LOOK!

It's Joshua! This was from last fall's session and is the big drum that the kids sit around and play with Miss Allison while we sing the "Listen to the drum" song. He's sitting next to his favorite friends...Ella and Elsa. (I'm sorry to tell you that the class had two Ellas and two Elsas in it. But the ones he's sitting between were his most favorite. I only know that because he talked about them all the time leading up to music class. When actually IN their presence, he would shrink into a shy mess and barely say hello.) The little girl looking away totally and not paying attention was Emily, a spirited little girl who got moved to a different class because she didn't exactly listen.....not even a little bit. She did, however, have the cutest pigtails EVER, with little squiggly bows in them every single week that matched her clothes. I notice those things especially because I have a son. And the most fun thing I get to do with his hair is to put the soap suds in it at bathtime and watch him giggle when he looks at himself in the spigot and sees the white foamy bubbles on his head.

But I digress...a lot. Music class will resume in June. I just thought you'd enjoy seeing the photo since I've never snuck a camera in there with me. Why not, I wonder?

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And, so as not to drag this on any longer than I need to, I'm 14 weeks pregnant today. No more first trimester. Our next appointment is Thursday afternoon. I'll post about that on Thursday if there's anything interesting to report besides pounds gained.

Do you know what makes a pregnant mommy happy?

S-T-R-E-T-C-H-Y Pants!

I've officially crossed over, my friends. Sometime over the past 48 hours, the pulling and stretching that I've been feeling has accomplished something. I put on a pair of nylons this morning and nearly cried at how uncomfortable they were. I sat on the bed thinking, "You can do it!" and then quickly realized that I could not. So into the stretchy pants I went.

And oh my goodness....what a difference that makes.

It still seems a little early to me to be thinking about elastic as my new best friend (13 weeks), but I can't deny the bulging tummy. I've been thinking that it's just "redistribution of fluff", but it's not looking that way today at all. I don't think it's that I've indulged in more than I should have. The scale isn't really moving at all. Anyway, no sense justifying anything. As my dad would say, "It is what it is, Meg." Someone who has had two children, please tell me that you were in need of some stretch earlier with the second one than with the first.

I know this blog is not about me, but I guess...indirectly...this post is about the one we're waiting to meet. So it qualifies for posting here.

God bless the person who invented stretchy pants.

The book that turned me to mush & pennies...

I went to the bookstore yesterday in search of a book about Easter to read to Joshua. I'm beginning to realize that his understanding of Easter mostly involves plastic eggs with treats hidden inside of them. I know I can do better than that in teaching him what's so special about Easter. So I found a nice book and we enjoyed reading it.

However, on a shelf closeby the Easter section in the store was another book that literally had me transformed into a puddle of mush last night at bedtime. Joshua was clean, groggy, still and covered in his magic sleeping blanket, cuddled up with Bear in my ever-shortening lap. The book was called "Let Me Hold You Longer". I picked it up because it looked to be a nice book about a mom and a little boy and all the phases of his growing up. Suffice it to say that I was not quite prepared for the rip-your-heart-out sentiment within the pages. It starts out talking about how when the little boy was first born, the mom was mostly concerned about his "firsts". (Check. Understand that.) But it goes on to say that it was his "lasts" that she wanted to remember and hang on to the most. The last time she held a bottle to his mouth. The last time they cuddled up with a book together. And on and on and on. All the way up to him leaving to go to college and asking for advice about girls. Yikes. Let's just say I was crying by the time I finished the first page, and it went quickly downhill from there.

The funny part of the story was Joshua. Leave it to him to bring me comic relief when I'm literally melting into a blubbering mess. Normally when he cries, he asks you to "wipe my tears". He insists on a clean Kleenex for every 3 tears that fall from his eyes. It's a little silly really, extremely wasteful as far as tissues go, and I have no idea where it started. But last night as my tears fell like rain, he looked at me with the sweetest eyes and said, "Mommy, should I wipe your tears?" Which only served to make me cry more.

Good book. I'm always a fan of a good cry....for good reasons. And that sweet little boy who calls me Mommy sure does qualify.

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Pennies.

Joshua and Grandma have a serious date with pennies every morning. Grandma saves them up in her coin purse and lets Joshua count them while he drops them into his piggy bank. They've been doing this for as long as his little fingers could hold a penny between them.

Yesterday when I got home, Judy said, "Joshua, tell Mommy who is on the penny." To which he replied, "Abraham Lincoln".

If only we were showing as much positive momentum in potty training as we were Presidential history. One thing at a time, I suppose. And maybe Joshua could wear diapers to his Jeopardy audition. What do you think?

PICTURES!

Handsome before church...but still with tools in hand. Never know when something might need to be fixed!

Being silly with Mommy


So much love for Bear and Mickey...so little time!

Making a thank you card for Miss Allison for today's final music class of the "semester".

I'm glad to have a few pictures to share after our weekend adventure. I feel like we did a lot of running around, but it was a great weekend.

Friday afternoon I snuck out of the office early and spent some extra time at home with Joshua. While he napped, I cleaned and rested a little bit and even did a little cooking. My mom and dad were gracious enough to come and spend a few hours with Joshua while Jason and I went out on a date. It's been far too long since we've done that, and despite feeling guilty for running my parents all the way to our house so that we could do something selfish like go out for dinner, we had a really nice time. We ate too much, and even talked through dinner. I almost forgot how nice it was to eat a hot meal without shovelling it in to deal with Joshua. Add that to the list of things I didn't figure on when awaiting and anticipating motherhood.

Saturday we did some running around to the mall. Joshua's highlight was throwing pennies into the fountain and eating his lunch on the way home in the car. He thought he was hot stuff. After his nap, Jason and I took him on a playground tour in the development. He was in his glory and really seemed to have fun.

Sunday morning we headed for church. Joshua, normally the quiet and compliant child (only while in church, my friends) was a chatterbox. They had a baby dedication and he insisted on jabbering all the way through it. If we were praying, he had to physically open my eyes to talk to me. Snacks didn't do the trick, nor did any form of diversion I had packed in the bag. So off to kids church he (or should I say "we" went). He was having no part of me leaving him there to play with the kids. There were 10-12 of them (hard to count when they never stop moving) and God bless the teacher. She's a saint, I swear it. She had them dancing and singing, memorizing a Bible verse, listening to a story, making a craft, eating a snack and playing Play-Doh. It's a good thing I stayed--- I didn't know that they did snacks, but it was totally not OK for Joshua and the peanut issue. So luckily there was a safe option. He wouldn't have known it, but luckily I was there to step in. Hopefully he'll get used to going with the other kids because I really think it would be good for him to have that hour of time with the others...and maybe eventually without me lurking in the background. Hey, a mom can dream, can't she?

We worked around the house yesterday. Actually, Jason was the one who really worked. We're preparing for the transition from 2 closets (one for each of us) down to one that we share when the new baby comes. Joshua will be making the move into a big room when we transform his room back into a nursery. Lots of shifting...but first, there must be LOTS of cleaning. I have yet to begin, but I can assure you that it's not going to be pretty....at all.

Today is Joshua's last music class of the "semester" (that still cracks me up). He decided this morning that he wanted to make a card for Miss Allison to say thank you, so we worked on that before grandma got there this morning. Oh how this child loves to make crafts! He was dressing it up with crayons, markers AND stickers. Miss Allison surely won't know what to do with herself. They're going to offer a summer music class this year, so we'll probably try that. Without divine intervention, I'm not sure that I'll be able to keep him in the fall session once the new baby comes, unless I can find someone willing to accept a newborn for a half hour once a week so that Joshua and I can go and sing in a circle. Might be interesting. Lots of time for that kind of juggling!

And one funny story. My pregnancy dreams have begun. I had a very vivid "boy dream" a few weeks ago. This weekend, it was time to dream pink....really pink. I nearly woke up in a cold sweat on Saturday early in the morning. I had dreamed that it was my first day back to work. When I returned home, my baby girl was sitting up in the middle of the living room floor (amazingly advanced for 3 months, huh?) dressed in the frilliest pink dress you could imagine with her NAILS PAINTED! What?

Praying for Stellan...I just can't get that precious little boy off my mind.

Just another day...

This picture was taken this morning during breakfast. It was before he refused to eat any more Lucky Charms. But after he giggled when I told him to say "boogie" to get him to make this wonderful grin. Goodness I love him.

I don't have much to report today. We've spent our evenings playing Play-Doh and Candy Land without too much incident or reportable quotes to make you smile. It's just been Joshua being Joshua...and that blesses me beyond measure every single day.

I find myself praying incessantly for baby Stellan over the past few days and have noticed many of us referring to him in our blogs. I suppose God provides the grace you need in a situation like the one they're facing, but I can't imagine being as strong and as faithful as Jennifer has been. I can't imagine wrapping my mind around the idea of losing my little boy as she has had to do, and to still be able to see it all as a miracle. I can see getting there eventually, but not in the midst of the ups and downs. But it challenges my faith in a big way.

I'm so thankful to not have much to report here on our behalf. I'll just keep praying for that sweet little boy.

Quick run to Nana & Pap's...

Enjoying the blue "muffins" Aunt Libby made for him....he's got the best Aunt in the whole world!

Joshua and his cousin, Brewen, driving the Gator.

Josh looks determined. Brewen looks a little terrified.

We had the opportunity to head to Lewistown this weekend to help celebrate my Grandma Shirley's birthday with the Richard family. After a board meeting in the morning, Joshua and I headed off for a much anticipated afternoon and night with Nana and Pap. He was so excited!

Most of the family was gathered at my parents house when we arrived. We were planning a pretty low key gathering with hot dogs and cake and ice cream. I was looking very forward to visiting with everyone and to spend some time with Brooke. I know I say it every time I come back from visiting with her, but she grew so much since I saw her a few weeks ago! I just couldn't believe it. She's more adorable than ever...and all it takes is one of those smiles to melt your heart. We had a blast visiting with Cory and Shannon (due Sept 29th with their first baby) and Stacie (due July 31 with their BABY GIRL). With the house already overflowing with all things baby between Brooke and Josh and baby Dre, we are beginning to realize just how INSANE the family parties are going to be this Christmas with three brand new babies on top of the ones we already love so much. One thing is for sure. There will be no shortage of helpers, and no shortage of people who are ready to hold the little ones. We're definitely not lacking in the departments of love or support in my family...and I can't even tell you how blessed that makes me feel.

Joshua got to spend some time outside with the Gator and did an OK job of steering. He needs to practice a bit more, and perhaps when there aren't 12 cars in my parents' driveway that he could hit. He insisted on driving right through the cars....enough to give me a panic attack. All we needed was 12 insurance claims for damage by Gator. He and Brewen did a pretty good job of sharing the driving duties. Joshua eventually moved on to pulling his wagon around the obstacle course of cars, through the mulch and up over the edge of the driveway.

He chowed down on his hot dog once he realized that that was the gateway to his "muffin". Grandma Shirley had requested a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing for her birthday treat. Since that's off limits for Joshua, Libby decided that he should have some cupcakes that he could eat. Oh my goodness was he excited!

We returned home on Sunday morning with one very cranky little boy. He doesn't sleep very well when we're at Nana and Pap's house, so he was tired, and had 3 different total meltdowns before we stopped lunch midstream and went upstairs for a nap. He couldn't stand himself for one more second...and frankly, neither could we. After a good nap, he awoke in much better spirits and even earned himself a walk to the playground. Daddy taught him how to go down the fireman's pole (with some assistance of course) and it took all our might to get him to come home with us when it was time for supper. He LOVES to play on the playground, but something tells me that if we went to the expense and the trouble to put one up in our backyard, it would lose its appeal. We'll see.

And now, it's Monday. Back to the grind. It's been a wonderful day today, though, so I have no complaints. I hope all of you are also having good days...and have a week full of them.

I'm already super excited because Jason and I have a date on Friday night. It's the first one in quite some time, but Nana has agreed to come and stay with Joshua so that we can go out to dinner. I'm embarrassed to tell you how infrequently we do this....really, really embarrassed. But I'm looking forward to it a lot.

More tomorrow, I'm sure...

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Short and sweet today. Quite literally.

While playing a very spirited game of Candy Land with Daddy last night, this is the line that had us in stitches. Joshua picked a card that he was very happy about, I believe it may have been two greens (clearly the only thing better than one green). He said, "Hot diggety dog! Would you look at that!!!!"

Nope. Not kidding.