Fun, fun day ahead

We are enjoying our Anniversary weekend away. On the agenda for today: Breakfast at a famous pancake house, an art exhibit, lunch, an afternoon at the Beer, Bourbon, BBQ festival, and then dinner theater! And my sweet husband planned the whole day. Isn't he great!

Gotta go start having fun!

Happy Anniversary

Dearest Joe,

Five years ago this morning, you picked me up from the hairdresser and took me out to breakfast before we headed to the church for pre-wedding pictures. We drew some looks from other diners...me all tiara-ed up and such. Another couple at the restaurant asked, "Are you going to a wedding today?" And we replied, "Yes...ours!"

Over the past five years, you have become very good at anticipating my needs. You are an attentive father to a daughter who adores you. You work hard and take such great care of us and make family time a priority. I don't know if I tell you often enough how much I appreciate you, but I do. I am blessed to be married to such a thoughtful and prayerful man.

Five years. Wow. They have flown by. And you've made them the five happiest years of my life.

Happy Anniversary, my Love!

Have I mentioned lately how awesome he is?

The babysitting has been hard on me lately. Some days I struggle to get through the morning to naptime. A couple of toddlers I know have spent a good deal of time in time-out for screaming, hitting, pushing, etc. Earlier this week, Olivia woke up in the middle of the night and took two hours to fall back asleep, and then she took only a 45 minute nap the next day. I was exhausted and emotionally fried by the end of the day. So my husband? He took Olivia out after dinner and kept her busy for more than two hours while I caught up on stuff, took a shower, and had some time to relax. (They went to the bowling alley and watched people bowl, an activity they both enjoy more than one would reasonably expect.)

My sweet husband has also been extra helpful with her on regular nights, keeping Olivia occupied while I have some time for myself and occasionally helping me put her to sleep. It seems like a little thing, but it really helps calm my nerves.

We'll celebrate five years of marriage this weekend. We are leaving Olivia with the grandparents and going out of town for a couple of days. Joe has planned a whole bunch of things that he knew I would enjoy (like dinner theater...fun!). I can't wait!

I think I hit the jackpot on the husband lottery. He's definitely a keeper!

Delurking Wednesday

I'm taking my NaBloPoMo opportunity to smoke out all you readers. I know you are out there...I've seen you comment from time to time. But I can't help but notice that there have been no comments for DAYS. And if I'm going to get through this month of daily blogging, I need some feedback. I need to know that someone is out there reading. So give it up, people. I've got a WHOLE MONTH of daily posting coming up here, and I need to feel the love.

(Unless you are, you know, RELATED to me. Then you can feel free to remain silent and I can continue to ignore the fact that you're there and pretend to be blogging all annonymous-like for complete strangers. Thank you.)

Olivia says:

"Come on, peoples. Type on the 'puters for Mommy."

I just want to give her a hug

The girl who took Olivia's photos is a relative of a relative, and we know several members of her family. When we came in for our photo session, she asked us for prayers for her sister, who has been told that she can't have children. Her sister is, apparently, taking it pretty hard. She's angry with the world, with her body, with God. According to our photographer, her sister is in a "really bad place about the whole thing."

It's hard to remember that place. Dealing on a daily basis with a very energetic and happy toddler makes the darkness of infertility seem so far away. And we were never in a "really bad place". Adoption was always on the table. Even when it seemed to be overwhelmingly expensive and complicated, we always trusted that God would clear the way if He led us down that path.

Still, I understand a bit of her pain. It's so easy for me to dismiss it now, knowing the joy of motherhood by a different route. But I know that coming to terms with infertility and coming to be comfortable with the idea of adoption isn't as easy for everyone. I've been thinking a lot about her lately and am praying that she will be open to the possibilities that God might have in store for her and her husband.

Because she's just so darned cute

We had Olivia's 2-year portraits done this weekend. She's not quite two yet, but she's as big as a 3-year-old, so we figured it was OK.




More photos here.

NaBloPoMo Here We Go

November is National Blog Posting Month. I didn't register to do this. I'm just using this as an excuse to make myself blog daily this month. Why? Because sometimes we need a goal.

Also because it will force me to post when I have really nothing to say. And on those days, I've decided that I will try to delve into deeper questions related to adoption and/or infertility. Please feel free to ask anything you want in the comments. It may provide me blog fodder (or I may ignore you...it's my blog...totally my call!).

Happy November! Happy All Saints Day!