He's Pretty Good with a Camera!

Daniel took these shots today, and although there were several of me, full length, I just didn't have the courage to post them...it's just not pretty. But here is a belly shot I actually approve for the blog.

He took this of himself and the first thing I thought was, Good grief, he looks 20 or more. He also looks so much like his Daddy here...
He took this of little brother as he was getting ready for a nap. Maybe that flash is what kept him up for another half hour!! Note to self...no pictures before naptime.

What's New and What's Not

NEW:

I currently have no American Idol favorite. Really. The girls all drive me completely nuts and there aren't enough MANLY men on the men's side. If I HAD to pick right now, it would be the Michael Johns dude from Australia.

Jonathan's new favorite phrase is "GRIEF, Mama" which I think is Greg's "Good Grief!!" in Jonny language.

Greg's eye healed nicely, thank you.

I have stretch marks on my stretch marks, not that you really wanted to know.

NOT NEW:

I am still very pregnant. Daniel took some funny pictures of my hugeness that I will post for your enjoyment later.

It's still cold. Duh.

LOST is still the greatest show ever.

I still can't get enough of the Strawberry Pink Freeze from the Dunn Bros. Drive-Thru

Old Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reruns can make me wheeze with laughter to this day.

God is good and reading old journals reminds me of the amazing journey He's given to our family.

Hello, Hockey Stick

Okay, Grandma, here's the pictures I promised. Big boy was playing with a friend this week and got hit in the eye with a hockey stick. It's actually much more colorful now, with lovely shades of black, purple, green and yellow ("the kids at school call me rainbow eye!") but here is how it looked a day and a half later.

Quad World

One of my friends from Houston recently had her 4th child, so I have been thinking about her a lot and emailing her for any insight she might have. Her last email was so RICH, I asked for permission to share it here. She would, however, like to remain anonymous :)

You also have to be PERFECTLY fine with all of the customers in restaurants;

1. noticing you, staring at you and possibly even pointing at you. (When we were in Dallas, no lie, girl, some ked and jumper wearing, hair to the floor lady came over and said these words that haunt me to this day "Thank you for being counter-cultural." WHAT? Are you on drugs lady? oh apparently not...do we appear in the same category as you? Oh, my....

2. Saying this brilliant statement "Oh you have your hands full!

3. Feeling complete freedom to come tell you you dropped something, or your baby is spitting up on you or did you know your son is standing in his highchair? I told my mom that the next person who approaches me to involve themselves in the personal affairs of this complete stranger will find themselves being a part of the solution to whatever problem they note. "Oh, yes she is spitting up...can you hold her while I find a burp cloth?" "Yeah, I DO have my hands full, could you walk my groceries out to my car and load them?

Love Song List

Great Songs for Valentine's Day -

Download these and put them on your main squeeze's ipod. If he or she has an ipod. If not, buy them on itunes anyway, and play them from your computer. Might not be as romantic, but it's better than nothing...

To Know Love - by Little Big Town
Fly - by Sara Groves
10 Hours - by Warren Barfield (romantic song, unromantic name...get a new stage name, dude)
Made For You - by Watermark (my favorite)

Dear Valentine

For who you are, and for all the little things I never think to thank you for, I love you.

For still being amazed and delighted to feel a baby move after having 3 already,

For taking the kids to the Y to play basketball and leaving me with a quiet house, THANK YOU.

For giving me the freedom to be who God made me to be,

And being secure in who you are in Christ - I love you.

For being a good friend, a good man - thank you. My heart is happy.

Check Us Out

Last night was Pizza Time with all the fam. (Aaron's Dad makes the world's greatest homemade pizza.) So a certain 14-year old cousin took her boy cousins and little brother upstairs for some hairspray, costumes, and attitude. They've all been bathed/showered, but this morning, Jonny's head still smells like Aussie Super Hold.

Hello

It's Saturday night, boys are finally asleep. Just wanted to check in.

I can't remember if I ever posted this little Olan Mills version of the fam, but here you go. Does Olan Mills even exist anymore?

This particular shot was for the good old church directory. Is there anything more stressful than trying to get a decent family photo?

Let's see....family news...Greg has been playing basketball at the Y for the past few weeks. Every Saturday since the beginning of January, he's played with about 45 other 1st grade boys. If I figure out how to put video on my blog someday, I'll try to post a clip.

Talk about funny - there's just not a lot of dribbling going on. A lot of running up and down the court with the ball held firmly to your chest. But it is a sport that fits his personality - quick, aggresive, and high energy :)

We'll see if he continues with it, following in Daddy's big footsteps...

And I just wanted to take this opportunity to say THANKS to those of you who come here on a regular basis. Your comments and emails are really encouraging and it makes me want to write more, think more deeply, and just try to write from the gut.

Life is so much more fun when you are connecting with others and sharing stories. Thank you for reading mine and I hope I can keep you coming back for more.

Baby Thoughts

I officially have baby-on-the-brain.

Heading into the last stages of pregnancy, I feel this child taking over my body in every way. At my doctor visit today, she said the baby is measuring a little bigger than average - I don't know how big - but I'm willing to bet the baby will be born before March 31st.

Jonathan was born in 2005, which seems like an eternity ago. My Texas baby.

It's a bit of a blur, but I remember his crib in our bedroom (it was a monster of a bedroom) his sleepy first few days, and his newborn dark hair, which you can see turned light after a couple of months.

Apparently, my hair was turning colors, too...

I like how you can see Gregory's pistol in his holster next to me on the couch in that picture. Always good to have a quick-draw McGraw by your side. And, of course, the old stand-by pacifiers that my kids all seemed to love.

If the ultrasound technician was a trained professional and not some newbie, it does appear we are having a girl. Aaron still wants me to keep all the tags on the clothes, just in case.

But you can bet I'm preparing for PINK, honey.