Happy Birthday Uncle Don!

Uncle Don and his first grandchild Briana, he is expecting two more new grandchildren in August and September!

Happy Birthday to the best Uncle ever! My Uncle Don! When all the family is together we can count on my Dad and Uncle Don to keep the laughter and the party going even if they are the old guys! Hope your day is special, love you Uncle Don!

Torino 2006

Although the summer Olympics are my personal favorite, particularly because I am a swimmer, I still love the Winter Olympics too. I remember Athens 2004 summer Olympics fondly because I was in labor with Maxwell. But, tonight was an unforgettable night as well.
The end of the evening concluded with two unbelievable performances on the ice. The first was that of Tatiana Totmianina and Maxim Marinin. Just two years ago in the Wolrd Championships Tatiana took a horrible fall to her face when Maxim lost his footing and accidentally dropped her. But tow years later, they eagerly yet cautiously took the ice at the 2006 OlympicsTheir free skate performance to "Romeo and Juliet" was nothing less than magical. This pair was so in sync with their movements, landing such difficult elements with ease. They were definitely the audience .
The second pair was Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao of China (no relation), who started off their performance with a nasty fall. Zhang Dan missed her landing crashing her into the wall, she quickly hopped unto her feet but could not skate. After talking with her coach and trainers they finished their performance from where they had left off and it was nearly a flawless performance.
I always cry when the medal winners are on the podium but this time the tears came before hand, knowing how hard both teams had worked, the trials they have been through, and to have achieved something most of us dream of.

Happy Birthday Sara!

Happy Birthday to my good friend Sara! Her birthday is actually February 12 but we spent last night out at Lao Laan-Xang Restaurant, a little lao-thai that is absolutely superb! So spicy, so yummy! It only seats about 20-25 people inside and we got the window seat! Afterwards we went to our favorite place Barriques for some tea! The ambiance is so comfortable there. While we were chatting it began to snow! She recieved her birthday wish! Sara has been there for me through it all, she is someone I can always count on and is just amoments away. She is a hard worker, a world traveler, and a wonderful friend. Someone who will always be near and dear to my heart! Happy Birthday!

I Surrender All

my absolute favorite worship song


I surrender all
to the promises you made
and I will give it all
to the maker of the day

No one knows your heart
and no one knows your fears
when no one solves the mysteries
or even wipes away the tears

can you hear the sound of laughter
from the other side of life?
there are days when I feel like a stranger sometimes
tell me, are there any other fools like me?

this reliance on another world
has a great effect on this world
this conscience of another world
has a great effect ongrace recollection

he doesn't love us 'cause of who we are
he only loves us 'cause of who he is

we all were children once
so will we return
so let those days return
let us all return

~lyrics by Newsboys~

Uh-oh!

After our morning shower, I was cleaning out our closet, getting the maternity clothes hung, and putting the summer t-shirts away until the next summer, I feel a little hand on my leg followed by an "uh-oh".
I look down and there stands Maxwell covered from head to toe in lotion. We are usually really good about keeping those sort of things out of reach for Max, but he found this one in the bottom of a basket while I am sorting things while cleaning out our room. I look over to where the crime occurred and there is lotion all over the floor, his puppy, everything! I pick him up and put him in the tub, cleaning him off. When all was said and done, we had a onesie in the garbage and a very nice lavender scented boy!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Mom, Dad, Uncle Don, and Aunt Sue. ( don't be fooled, although my Dad and Don look like brothers, my Mom and Aunt Sue are sisters! The men are only related by marriage!

Happy Birthday!

Chattin' it up

Madeline and Maxwell

cutie pies

Today my friend Katie brought over her daughter Madeline to play with Max. They were too cute together!

Snow Max

Max loves being outside. He loved this day in early January, huge snowflakes for him to play in!

Maxwell Jared is dedicated

January 22, 2006
We realized when we were up there we should have dedicated Maxwell sooner than later. He was so squirmy. But every so often he would look over at Grandpa and listen like he really understood what was going on. The congregation got a kick out of it, and Grandpa did too.

I've Been Tagged...

Tagged...
I've been "tagged" by Danielle to answer the following questions:

Four Jobs I Have Had in My Life:
Lifeguard/swim teacher
waitress
Barista
autistic therapist

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over Again:
Crash
Singin' In The Rain
In America
Waiting for Guffman

Four Places I Have Lived:
Deerfield, Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
Kirksville, Missouri
Madison :) most current

TV Shows I Love to Watch:
Grey's Anatomy

the Amazing Race
Cosby show re-runs
I don't watch that much TV

Four Places I Have Been on Vacation:
Door County, Wisconsin...so fabulous...relaxing on the beach.
Dallas, Texas
Colorado
Canada

Four Websites I Visit weekly:
www.anthropoligie.com
www.target.com
www.desiringgod.org
www.google.com

Four of My Favorite Foods:
(not entirely accurate, because of the pregnancy thing!)
Uncrustables (aka-peanut butter and jelly)
Macaroni and Cheese
Chinese
Mediterranean

Four Singers I Can't Live Without:
Jars of Clay
John Legend
Coldplay
Lauryn Hill

Four Places I'd Rather Be:
at home (where I currently am, but I love being home)
a beach with warm sand, and cool water
Europe
with all my extended family

Four Bloggers I am tagging:
Sara
Sara
Jane
Nicole

GO ILLINI GO!

Good game...good game. Tonight our Illini team beat our hometown team the Wisconsin Badgers. Final score: 66-51! Go Illini!

Happy Birthday Josh

I usually am really good about remembering Birthdays, but I am a a spacey pregnant woman right now! Anway, Happy Birthday to my cuz Josh who turned 23 on January 25th! He lives at casa de awesome with my bro Alec, also featured in this picture. YIKES!

Love your Unborn Neighbor

I recieved this in my e-mail box the other day, but did not get to it until today. Roe vs. Wade Anniversary was January 23. It is so sad that abortion even exists, no excuses, no reasons it should exist it is just plain wrong. But instead of just becoming angry about it, I should be praying for those unborn children. I am going to try an commit to praying for those unborn children each day, and those considering abortion as an option, and those who preform them and help run abortion clinics, please join me. Wonderful sermon, made me cry.

http://www.desiringgod.org/library/sermons/06/012206.html

1st appointment

We had our first pre-natal Dr. appointment yesterday. It was exciting, because our Doctor was excited to be delivering our second child! The first good news was when I stepped on the scale, and I weighed less than when I was first pregnant with Maxwell! YES! I can lose that post-pregnancy weight after all! But the best was when we heard our baby's heartbeat. I am just over 11 weeks (the clothes are getting tighter, you tend to get bigger faster the second time around) and all systems are go! Of course tears flooded my eyes when the nurse found the heartbeat. It is truly an amazing thing. We are looking forward to the next 61/2 months to meet our second baby!

too cute

I took this picture at our Swanson family Christmas. He is too cute in his brown sweatshirt with his cracker in hand.

 

Pregnancy moods.

Any woman who has been or is pregnant can understand my plight. The many faces of pregnancy. Laughing one minute, crying the next. Mad one second, wondering what I was angry about the next. I cannot help but wonder what Max thinks of his Mother acting like this. And thank goodness for a understanding husband who is probably the most patient man I know. But it is all worth it. Feeling your growing baby inside your belly. Even if it means over 36 hours of labor again, it is worth it. Having a baby for the first time is something that you cannot understand until you have him or her. It is an amazing experience, and a HUGE adjustment. This time we will be dealing with a toddler and a newborn. I am curious to see how it all pans out.

I have said it before, and I will say it again. I am so thankful to have Christ. In the first few weeks of Maxwell's life, I do not know what I would have done if I did not have Christ to cry out to. He could fully understand my thoughts and complaints. He gave me strength. He gave Justin strength. And we made it. And we will again.

j & a

the evil scissors

Don't we all have that one pair of evil scissors? We never use them unless we cannot find any of our other pairs, and we always know exactly where those evil scissors are. And, for some reason, we never will throw them away.

Happy Birthday Jordan!

Happy 19th Birthday to my brother-in-law Jordan!

Jordan is a great guy, who is good at just about everything.

Justin and Jordan are like two peas in a pod, their friendship is an amazing one.

It always is a good time when Jordan comes over, especially to his nephew Maxwell!

We love you! Happy Birthday!

Book List 2005

Look, I don't think you're a psychopath; I just want to read my book.
-Gwyneth Paltrow, Sliding Doors

Thanks to Danielle for the encouragement to finish writing this post, and for her handy-dandy rating system.
Not quite complete, but at least what I could remember. (note to self: I should keep a book journal)

eh, it was ok-*
pretty good- **
I liked it a lot- ***
loved it, must read!-****

Fiction Girly books
Confessions Of A Shopaholic- Sophie Kinsella ****- this is a fun series for girls who like to shop
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan-Sophie Kinsella***
Shopaholic Ties The Knot- Sophie Kinsella***
Shopaholic and Sister- Sophie Kinsella **
The Undomestic Goddess- Sophie Kinsella *
Can you Keep a Secret?- Sophie Kinsella **
PS, I Love You- Ceclia Ahern *** Sad love story, but great read!
Rosie Dunne-Ceclia Ahern *Not near as good as PS Love You
The Pact- Jennifer Sturman**- a fun lighthearted murder mystery

Mom/Parenting Books;
The Baby Book- Dr. Willaim and Martha Sears ****great for first 2 years of baby life!
The Nursing Mother's Companion- Kathleen Higgins, R.N.*** (good reference nursing book)
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child- ***(good ideas for a routine for babies)
shepherding A child's Hear- Tedd Tripp- ****great read! Highly recommend!

fun reference books:
Occasions- Kate Spade*** ( style and preparing for different events in your life)
Style-Kate Spade**** I love this book, I can look at it over and over! (Style for any kind of girl)
Salvage Sisters: A Guide to Finding Style in the Street and
Inspiration In Your Attic- Kathleen Hackett & Mary Ann Young****great for those who love to go garage saling.
The cheese Companion:A Connoisseur's Guide- Judy Ridgway*** (if you like cheese and wine, you'll like this book)
Artisan Baking Across America-Maggie Glezer**** ( For those who love to make bread. I confess I have not read yet, but my cousin highly recommends, and I trust her! I think!)


Non-Fiction and Fiction novels for all
Crow Lake- Mary Lawson-***
Nicholas-Rene' Goshcinny **** simple, funny, cute french book
Peace Like A River- Leif Enger**** Great book!

The Secret Life of Bees- Sue Monk Kidd **** sad but oh so good!
John Adams- David McCullough***- for those history nerd/buffs like myself
The chronicles Of Narnia- CS Lewis **** (read for the millionth time and so good!)

Til We Have Faces- CS Lewis **** (second time read, I love CS Lewis)

The Screwtape Letters-****(hard read, going to read again...see a pattern?)

Reaching Out: The three movements of the spiritual life - Henri J. M. Nouwen. ***( from loneliness to solitude; from hostility to hospitality; from illusion to prayer. )
Heaven- Randy Elkhorn ** interesting read

Stories of Emergence- by Mike Yaconelli*** spiritual journey

Authentic Beauty- Leslie Ludy** good book for young christian girls
War of Words- Paul Tripp ****-great book about the words we use everyday
Sacred Marriage- Gary Thomas ****great book for marriage!
Don't Waste Your Life- John Piper ****love all J.P. stuff

Books for children, ones Max and I enjoy! Four stars for all of them!
The Going to Bed Book - Sandra Boynton

Hippos Go Berserk- Sandra Boyton

But Not the Hippotamus- Sandra Boyton

Blue Hat, Green Hat- Sandra Boyton

Moo Baa La La La- Sandra Boyton

Birthday Monsters- Sandra Boyton

*if you didn't notice we love Sandra Boyton books...so cute!

Cookie's Week- Tomi De Paola

Freight Train- Donald Crew

The Very Hungry Caterpillar- Eric Carle
Goodnight Moon -Margret Brown
Each Peach Pear Plum - Janet and Allan Ahlberg

we have a lot more we love...but this list is good for now!

Yikes!

This morning after waking up to a less that happy child, I calmed him down and laid back down for a few minutes. The nausea was getting to me. And then it struck me, how am I going to do with with two babies? I thank God that he did not give me twins the first time around, which many thought was debatable judging the size of my belly, but Maxwell was just a big boy! Big babies run on both sides of our families. My brother Alec and Justin's brother Jordan weighed in at a whopping 10lbs. 5oz., I got away with a 10lb. 1oz. baby.
How was I going to:
a) deal with a newborn again? (nightmares of the first week of Maxwell's life flood my mind)
b) give Maxwell the attention he needs?
c) discipline a two year old?
d) have time for daily devotions?
e) get all the housework done?
f) run errands with two babies?
g) have time to relax?
Plus, we might be moving soon. What job would Justin have and where? Would we be able to buy a house? AH! I could go insane! My mind began racing.
But wait! Hold on! Plenty of women have done this before me, with more babies, with more children. And I remembered my ability to multi-task. Something I think most women are naturally good at, and that most men have to learn. I have great family and friends always willing to lend a hand, and my husband. He will usually (except when it comes to changing diapers) do what I ask, and is very helpful in giving me a breather from Max after a stressful day, even if his day has been stressful too. And, I have Jesus, my refuge and strength. Need I say more?
I can do this. And I have until August to prepare. Plenty of time to think through this, organize a nursery again, prepare Maxwell, and enjoy my pregnancy. But pray for me, that my hormones don't get the best of me too often!

Quick...It's an emergency!

I called Justin a bit ago to beg him to stop by the grocery store on the way home. I HAD to have more Pineapple juice. Furthermore, it had to be in individual cans, tastes better that way! This is my big craving so far. Not a bad choice!

With Max it was Popscicles.

I am a blessed wife! Spoiled some might say...

Another bun in the oven...

Justin and I are pleased to announce that we will be having another baby! I will be due in mid-August, so Max and his new brother or sister could share a birthday! But if things go like they did last time, we might not have a baby until September!