Wow, 2 months later I am finally sitting down to catch up a bit!!
Spring is here and we are loving it. The Farmer’s markets are back and the flowers (and allergies unfortunately) are in bloom. For Mother’s Day the boys got me The Southern Living Farmer’s Market Cookbook. Everything in it looks delicious! I can’t wait to get to the market on Wed! I love the book, especially because it goes season by season so you can make what it actually available..asparagus and strawberries are the current produce that seem to be everywhere. I already have my eye on a few recipes to try.
For the past 2 months we have been busier than ever with playdates, going to the park, swimming lessons (to be highlighted in the next post with some fun pictures) and enjoying lots of long walks. We have had some hot days and some chilly days.The changing of seasons is so refreshing. I am amazed I survived in Bogota with the constant climate. That must be why I moved our furniture so much.
Seth is still polishing off his German. He is really enjoying it and studying hard. He was just given an extension along with his classmates to be able to stay until the first week of July. We were originally going in June, that got bumped up until May 10th and now it is officially July 7th. I really prefer to refer to it as “tentatively official” because with each year in the Foreign service we are increasingly more aware of the unpredictability of our lives! It remains Seth’s dream job, hence the continuation of the chaos!
A few weeks ago we planted our first mini-garden. Ruthie, my niece, came over to help Jackson and I work. Amazingly enough things are sprouting! I’ll post in a separate post about the garden so you can see how it’s grown! This was day 1! The watering pails were too slow for toddler standards so the first garden watering was more like a flood! They decided to turn the watering cans over and dump!
I just started the Couch to 5k running program. One week down. It looks so easy, peasy on paper but after having 2 babies and spending every waking moment caring for those babies I am finding it to be really challenging. I am appreciating the time to get some fresh air and think a little more clearly without my 2 loyal sidekicks! In addition to taking on running again I have been on a cooking high. Not that everything turns out good kind of high just that I am really enjoying it and hunting through blogs and my recent magazines for anything that might be fun and delicious. Pioneer Woman is one of my new best friends! And Stephanie, my sister-in-law, just lent me her Artisan Bread in 5 mins a day cookbook so that will be my next baking adventure. I will let you know how I do! Notice that none of my recent endeavors include German. It is one of those constant stressors but one that I am having a hard time focusing on with the boys.
this was a chicken I made using as recipe from The Pioneer Woman blog…I took it to a friend a few weeks ago! Don’t ask why I took a picture I just thought it looked pretty yummy.
Stay tuned for posts on Swimming lessons, Easter and all of those other important things that have passed me by!
Owen and Jackson got to meet on Wednesday a couple of days after Owen was born. Because of hospital policy Jackson could not come up to the hospital…which was sad for me but Jackson was having so much fun with Nama (my mom) at home that he wasn’t too phased. We made a video and Seth showed him me with Owen in the hospital. On Wed Jackson greeted us at the door with great excitement!
Here is a video of his greeting!
Here are a few pictures of Owen coming home from the hospital and meeting his big brother
Not so sure about this going home stuff
Jackson was very sweet when he met his brother. When he first got him in his arms he said “he’s tiny, mommy”. He said “I am your big brother and I love you baby Owen”. So far he is still loving his brother. He frequently wants to help with him…which is scary at times. He will say to be “I am just picking him up”. We are having to watch very closely that our helpful boy doesn’t carry out most of his plans for Owen!
Our 4th wedding Anniversary is fast approaching and I am a bit nervous with Owen coming and things getting a bit crazy that I won’t get to post this. So I am going to post it a bit early!
I am baffled when I think about how God gave me Seth. It seriously amazes me. I never could have imagined how God would give me exactly what I needed. We have been through so many tough things together and yet looking back I can remember so many wonderful memories that overshadow those hard times. Seth has been so strong through it all.
Tonight we are taking Jackson to see Christmas lights in our neighborhood. The first time we looked at Christmas lights together was in 2004 when I was in Houston for Christmas break during grad school and I made a last minute decision to drive all the way to Dallas to have a date with Seth. We had dinner and drove around to see Christmas lights…I had to be back in Houston by 10 AM the next morning so I had to leave at 5 AM to get back. It was probably the craziest thing I have ever done and by far the craziest thing for a boy! But so worth it. I am so glad that I don’t have to road trip to see him now! I love living life with him. Here are some pictures of our journey!
Engagement
Day before the wedding
All bundled up on our Honeymoon…Pike’s Place Market in Seattle
Gaylord Texan- 6 month anniversary
1st Anniversary
Move to DC
DC
Our first baby!
Aruba
Bogota
Heading back to US after Bogota
We are going out tomorrow night for an early Anniversary dinner. We are going to go to The Peking Gourmet Inn, which my parents told us was recently on the Food Network, and Jackson is going to have an evening with his cousins! We will attempt to get a picture of us at dinner!
Although I don’t like the saying “grow old with me” (because who really wants to grow old), I am so glad that as I do grow old I will have Seth by my side. The adventure continues!!! Love you, Seth!
The first thing that comes to mind is my husband. I could never have imagined God would give me such an amazing husband. He loves me, even on bad days! And he loves our boys. He is kind and gives people the benefit of the doubt. He is a constant example of patience and remains positive even when I am distracted by the negative. He’s even willing to clean toilets when I am so big pregnant that it is getting tough!
I am so thankful for a healthy, happy little boy. Jackson brings us so much joy. He is a typical 2 yr old with rough times of day but he is constantly bringing smiles to our faces with his fun personality and all that he has to say. Lately he is talking my ear off all day! I am thankful that he is cancer-free and doesn’t even have a memory of all that he went through!
I am so thankful for Owen in my tummy. Last year we spent Thanksgiving day grieving the loss of a pregnancy. It is surreal to be nearly 36 weeks pregnant with an active, healthy baby boy. For the first 18 weeks of this pregnancy doctors told me that the baby might not make it with the hematomas. We are so close to holding him, and for that I am so thankful! I am also thankful that he is coming out soon. a big, breach baby is not the most comfortable thing to carry around with a 2 1/2 yr old!
I am thankful to be back in the US, living near family and friends. Jackson has never lived near family so that is extra special. It has been such a blessing to jump back in with friends here. They have welcomed us back with open arms and we have enjoyed great fellowship! Jackson has been enjoying his buddies!
I am thankful for our friends that are spread around the world. It seems as we go different places and make new friends we all continue to move and expand around the globe. It’s hard not seeing people as much as we would like but it is neat being able to share life with people near and far.
I am thankful for my parents and my dad’s recent passing of a big exam for work. When we told Jackson that PopPop passed his exam Jackson exclaimed “Dear, PopPop”. We are all very excited for them!
I am thankful to have a temporary home. It isn’t our home but it is a cozy place with plenty of space to settle in for our months here. I am thankful that Jackson has settled in and is peaceful here. All of this transition is a lot for us so feeling settled for a bit is wonderful.
These are just a few things that have come to mind…I know there are a million more reasons to be thankful!
