this is our happily ever after

Dear Karsten (2 years old!)

Dear Karsten,

In those first days of being your Mommy I remember wondering what it would be like when you were two.  What would you look like?  What kind of personality would you have?  Would we be thinking of adopting another child?  It seemed like a far off dream...light years away...we had so much time ahead of us.

And now....here we are...and you are TWO!  It truly seems like when you become a parent time begins going by faster and faster, year by year....and yet the days can be long. 

Here's what I want to remember most about you being two...because before I know it you'll be three and then four and then five....but that's light years away, right?! 

The first thing that people notice about you is your captivating smile.  The way your eyes crinkle up and sparkle when something delights you.   You LOVE people; waving at them, smiling at them, and always waving goodbye to them.  It could be the lady at the deli counter, the cashier, or a random person walking down the sidewalk.  You always wave and smile and say "Bye!" 

You love other kids, especially your friend Jack.  Jack's parents are in our Life Group, so you see Jack once a week.  The two of you love being silly together.

One of the most frequent comments that we receive is how happy you are.  The people in the church nursery rave about how you're the most cheerful, easy going child in the room.  You love life and it shows. 

Don't get me wrong sweet boy, you have your not so easy-going, happy moments nearly every single day.  Moments where you're frustrated, angry, irritated, or just plain tired.  You cry, throw tantrums, kick, hit, whine, and say NO to everything.  Thankfully, however, there are fewer moments like that than the great moments you have on a daily basis. 

You have days where you play really well by yourself and days where you cling to me all day long and want to take my hand and guide me to a destination you have in mind. 

You are still obsessed fish, or "shish" as you call them.  You can now say "whale" and distinguish between a whale and fish.  I'm amazed at where you can detect fish.  At the Children's Museum a few weeks ago you kept saying "shish" and pointing and it took me forever to find the fish balloons floating in the corner of a very visually busy room.  Anytime we're outdoors you bring me chalk and ask me to draw fish on the sidewalk or driveway.  In the car we have several books, but you always want to look at the books with fish.  You also recognize pictures of someone fishing and will say "shish."  When you see water of any kind, like the lake behind our house or even a puddle, you say "shish," because you know that fish live in water.  You are so bright!

You continue to look books and spend a lot of time looking through them.  I think we have children's books in just about every room in the house.  We read to you throughout the day and always at bedtime.  Your favorite bedtime book is Daddy Hug, the most precious book that every daddy should have to read to their child.  

At your Pediatricians appointment last week you weighed in at 24 lbs 12 oz and you're 32.5 inches long. You are small, but mighty.  You can run really fast and hold yourself up on monkey bars.  You are strong and ahead physcially of most children you're age.  You're very athletic and I see a future watching you play soccer and flipping around at Gymnastics.  

Daddy and I recently listed all of the words you know and can communicate to us (not everyone would understand just yet, but we do)...you're up to 60 words and learning to put short sentences together.  You understand just about everything we say to you and follow directions pretty well.  You love being a helper and wiping up the floor or dusting the furniture.  The other day you helped carry laundry to the laundry room and were so proud of yourself for being Mommy's helper.  

You call me Mommy and Daddy, "Dabby"...which could the the cutest thing I've ever heard.  You call Zoe, "Zo" and Oliver, "kitty".  

You're VERY busy and into everything...explorer describes you to a tee.  I've given up on keeping the house picked up during the day.  It's not uncommon to find things from our recycling basket in your playroom and things from the playroom in the recycling basket!  We're teaching you to pick up messes and put things away. 

If we allowed it, you would watch television all day long.  Your current obsession are the Wiggles.  We have 3 dvds and you have them all memorized and love to "sing" and dance along to them.  You always know when to count to three and say "wake up Jeff!"  For Easter you received Cars, the movie, and you are now loving all things related to cars.  You point our cars everywhere we go. 

I think the 2's will be trying, but not terrible.  You have moments when you're a challenge, but mostly you're just sweet and happy and easy-going.  We couldn't have asked for a more precious little boy.  You are our sunshine and great delight. 

Love,

Mommy (and Dabby)

Karsten's 2nd Birthday Party (#1)

Last Sunday, April 7th Karsten turned 2!!!  I can hardly believe it sometimes, yet he is exhibiting classic 2 year old behavior on a daily basis, so I'm reminded often that he is no longer a baby, but an independent, strong willed, "mind of his own" little boy.  All is well as long as he's well rested and the world is going his way. 

We had 2 birthday celebrations for him...one with my family and one with our Life Group.  We celebrated with family the Saturday before Easter because my cousin, Jessica, was in town.  She's Karsten's "Godmother" and we wanted her there. Karsten LOVES his Yissy....his name for her!

I LOVE Yissy too....she's the closest thing I have to a little sister. 

It was family, but we also invited our neighbors Paul and Suzanne who are becoming like family to us.  Suzanne is always quick to help out with Karsten at a moments notice....something I value greatly!  

Brian grilled sausage, brauts, and chicken.

Karsten relaxed on Aunt Connie for awhile before presents and eating began.

Once rested he was running around and Aunt Connie was busy corraling him (and keeping him away from the hot grill)

After dinner it was time for ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins.  I couldn't pass up the Finding Nemo cake for my little lover of fish.

Of course as soon as he saw the fish he began crying because he wanted the fish.  It had been a long day, he was tired and not coping well with life at the moment!

I want Nemo!!!

Yay---Nemo!

Next were gifts

A Monster Truck....which has been a big hit around here!

Fish and Frog bath toys!

finding nemo fruit snacks....which were a BIG hit!

customized plates (blurry, but cute)

goodnight kisses

And a big shout out to my cousin Chelsea for taking most of these photos!

 

Easter 2013

Easter around here was fun and low key.  Our first Easter activity of Easter week was an egg hunt with the stay at home mom group I'm a part of.  I took the Easter bunny cake and we both bundled up for our morning (it's been unseasonably cool here...not complaining though!) 

There's Karsten in the grey/blue jacket...trying to figure out what's going on! 

I gave him his Easter bag and pointed to an egg....he figured it out...kinda

candy...mmmm

yep, that's Karsten wandering around

Our next Easter event was a neighborhood Easter egg hunt and potluck.  Brian and I took Karsten and he got to practice his egg finding skills again.  I didn't feel bad that we didn't do a hunt at home :)

please ignore my child's ankle length shorts :)

Loot from the pinata

After a fantastic service at Crosspoint Church we came back and gave Karsten his Easter bucket.  I might note that because his birthday, birthday parties, and Easter all fell in the same week again this year he is on toy overload!

Cars...which I think I've now viewed 5 times.  (he was sick this week so we watched more tv than normal)

I'll be honest....I think I bought this more for me....the master artist of "shish"...which he asks for me to draw whenever we're outside.  48 colors of sidewalk chalk....how awesome is that!

So that sums up our Easter. My parents were here for Easter dinner which was pork loin, mashed potatoes, and steamed veggies.  I encourage you to try this pork loin....it was awesome!

Happy Birthday Brian!

Happy Birthday to my sweet, smart, good-looking, funny, kind, witty, wise, confident, wonderful, hard working hubby Brian!  Karsten and I love you so much!

if you give a boy some water.....he'll play for hours

While my parent's in IL are dealing with freezing temperatures and sleet we put Karsten's swim trunks on him and filled up his kiddie pool and pirate ship water table this past Sat.  Last year he was never quite sure what to do with all the water, but now he's got it down and LOVES it!  He played himself into exhaustion on Saturday. 

I took hundreds of photos and here are some of my favorites.  I have a feeling that this is a glimpse into our hot summer days. 

one of my favorite shots...ever!

he loves his "shish", Nemo

11 years

This past Saturday, March 9th, Brian and I celebrated our 11th anniversary!  It's crazy to think we've been married for 11 years...in some ways it seems we've been married a lifetime and in other ways it seems we've just been married a few short years.  It used to bother me when people said "marriage is hard work" because I didn't feel that it really was...until we became parents...now I feel that it's work.  Not work in a laborious way, but work to stay connected and communicating.  We both adore our Karsten so much that's very easy for us to constantly put him first in our actions, conversations, and dreams for our family.  And I think that's good and normal, but sometimes we need to step back from our roles as "Mahmeee" and "Da" and step into our roles as husband and wife, Brian and Angela. 

We were blessed to have my cousin, Kate and her family here this past weekend, so Brian and I took the opportunity to go away for a night.  I found a hotel on Priceline (can't beat $59 for Hilton in the Galleria!) and we dined at McCormick and Schmicks...which we both thought was delicious!  We discussed some of our favorite memories from the past 11 years (+one dating).  Many included trips, but also reminisced about adopting Zoe (our cat), meeting Karsten and bringing him home, rebuilding our first house after Ike, moving into our home now, and a number of other sweet memories we share. 

He had flowers sent to me on Friday---beautiful!!

I got ready at the hotel...and after a few refelction photos we went to dinner.

We toasted to 11 years

and then enjoyed these yummy shrimp kisses...pepper jack cheese stuffed shrimp wrapped with bacon--DIVINE!

Then it was salmon for Brian and blackened redfish topped with crab for me

Brian finished off his dinner with a fancy and delicious coffee and key lime pie.  I couldn't pass up one of my favorites, creme brulee

Before heading back home on Sunday morning we stopped at Corner Bakery Cafe and had some breakfast....oatmeal for both of us...I know, we like living on the edge of haute cuisine!

Next year we're hoping to go out of town for a long weekend without Karsten. Though we love him dearly it's important to just have time for the two of us.

dotMom

Over 2 weeks ago my friend Jessica and I left early Friday morning for a weekend in Dallas at the dotMom conference.  The dotMom conference is hosted by  LifeWay bookstores. After getting to the other side of Houston we stopped for more coffee and then drove straight to Dallas/Frisco where we met Jessica's Mom for lunch.

We arrived at the conference about 15 minutes before the first general session was to begin.  We found some seats in the middle of a row where four seats were already marked with bags.  As we were getting situated and chatting I noticed someone walking into our row, I glanced up and thought to myself, wow that really looks a lot like Kelly.  As she turned towards me I realized it WAS Kelly...my Kelly!!!  I said Kelly?? and she looked at me with the most puzzled look on her face....like, what are you doing here?  She had told me about the conference back in November, but I thought she had said she wasn't able to go so neither of us brought it up again.  In a room full of over 1,000 women we chose the same row!  It was such a God-incidence...we could have easily gone the entire conference without ever running into each other.  We were able to hang out some during the conference and even got to go to dinner on Friday night. 

I truly enjoyed each of the speakers, but Priscilla Shirer spoke most clearly to me. 

After a weekend of soul searching, analyzing my role as a Mom and Wife, as well as a Christian woman, her message shot an arrow straight into my heart.  One of the greatest roles in my life is being a Mother to Karsten and a wife to Brian, but this isn't the only dream God's planted in my heart.  He has given me a great desire to write.  Do I feel that I'm an accomplished writer...umm, not even close.  Do I feel equipped to write a book?  Heavens, NO!  Have I been thinking on and off about this for years.  Yes, this is a God Sized Dream that hasn't gone away...that people continue to encourage me to step out and take hold of...something that whispers deep in my soul when I take the time to listen. 

Since I've returned from the conference I've sketched an outline for one book and have been consistently working on the other book.  My biggest battle is not allowing busyness or lack of focus keep me from obeying what God has called me to do.  I have no clue where this will lead, but I don't need to know.  God knows and that's enough.  I'm just trying to take steps of obedience every day...even teeny tiny baby steps.  Satan is absolutely trying to distract me with a myriad of things, but I'm thankful to have a few close people in my life telling me to press on, asking me how I've been moving forward, and praying for me. 

This blog will become a place where I share a lot of what I'm writing because I want feedback...so I'll ask my sweet blog readers to help me out by praying for me and giving me feedback.  I thank you in advance for taking this journey with me.  I can't see what God has planned!

 

five on friday

1. Karsten and I are both in the midst of major colds.  We've each been dealing with minor cold symptoms for a couple of weeks and finally it did us in.  He's on antibiotics and has run a fever (it's gone now, thankfully) I've just been doing the simple cold cycle (sore throat to coughing to runny nose to sneezing to just feeling blah!)  K's doing much better today and has been out and about with Brian (who has the day off)

2. Finally...Brian's new boss told him he needs to take every other Friday off.  This has been an option for B since he's worked at Dow, but he never felt caught up enough to actually take advantage of this great opportunity.  His boss however told him he MUST take every other Fri off...so thankful that his boss recognizes how hard he works and is willing to reward him for his long hours away from his family. 

3. Last weekend I went to the dotMom convention, which I mentioned on Monday.  Once I get some photos from Kelly I'm going to post all about it. 

4. There are some BIG THINGS happening in my life right now....REALLY BIG THINGS!!!  I'll share soon. 

5. On Monday, before the wrath of the colds descended on our family K and I went to Froberg's Farm and bought lots of great stuff...including fresh picked strawberries...as in picked right outside of the market! 

****FYI....there will be a fun giveaway included on the upcoming Memory Verse Monday post on March 4 to celebrate 10 weeks of Scripture Memory****

ten on tuesday

1. We're almost a week into our Lenten fast and I've already messed up a time or two.  In a few weeks when I begin the 7 study with some girls from church I've decided to give up gluten for a week instead of just eating 7 different foods over and over.  Not having bread, crackers, etc may do me in...but I'm up for the challenge and this doesn't mean I'm going to go buy a bunch of gluten free pasta and snack food...nope just giving it up for a week. 

2. The hardest thing so far has been no sugar in the form of candy, cake, cookies, etc.  We did break our fast Saturday night for our Valentine's Day dinner at the cheesecake factory where I completely indulged in a piece of coconut cheesecake that I can't stop thinking about.  On Sunday we were back on the fast and have held tight ever since.

3. Brian's losing weight...I'm not...yet...but I do feel better so that counts for something! 

4. I'm beginning to plan for K's 2nd birthday party.  I'm thinking it's going to be fish themed since he's all about fish right now.  Everyday he notices something else with a fish on it...today it was in his coloring book.  He was beside himself and kept saying "ish" "ish". 

5. We'll be having our big family birthday party Easter weekend a week before his birthday because it just works better for everyone. 

6. I kind of want to do the little kid party, but I think we'll wait until he's 3 to enter that realm of parenthood.  We'll spend the money on a day at Moody Gardens instead. 

7. We've been doing Dave Ramsey's cash in envelopes system for a few months now and it's working well.  Today I came across this stinkin cute idea to make envelopes with patterned paper.  You can bet I'll be do this tomorrow or Thursday! 

photo and directions found here

8. I'm headed out of town with my friend Jessica this weekend to attend the dotMom convention in Dallas.  Looking forward to some girl time, inspiration and encouragment in my role as a Momma, and hopefully I'll get to meet Priscilla Shirer, one of the speakers. 

9. I posted this on facebook, but not here until now.  Karsten now points up and says "my Ga" meaning "my God" and when you ask Him where God is he points upwards.  Seriously, so precious!!!!

10. If you're a mom and looking for an uplifiting devotional I highly recommend Jen Hatmaker's book Out of the Spin Cycle.  It's full of her wit, Scripturally sound, and will leave you chuckling and contemplating at the same time. 

Lenten Fast

Brian has done a Lenten fast the past few years. He loosely bases his fast on the Orthodox fast and has fasted desserts, alcohol, junk food, and a lot of meat over the past few years.  Because I'm the cook, and he's a great hubby, he always eats what I make for dinner.  So, while he was fasting if I made something with meat for dinner, he ate it. 

This year will be a bit different because I'm fasting as well.  This is my first fast ever and to be perfectly honest I'm a little stressed about it, but I know it will help me to abide in Him.  In a traditional fast, Sundays are exempt, but instead of not fasting on Sunday's we've decided to mark out a few days on the calendar where we can break the fast.   Our anniversary and Brian's birthday will be two of these days.

We're not doing a specific fast, like the Daniel Fast, for many reasons....one of which is that we'll be fasting for 40 days, not 21 days.  During our fast we'll be cutting out

• excess sugar (this will be the hardest for me) in things like cookies, candy, sweets, and treats. 
• meat (though I may make fish a couple of times a week to make sure we're getting enough protein)
• alcohol (beer, wine, liquor)

I will be cutting down on caffeine and the rest of the time I'll be drinking water.  We've also decided that we're not going to be so rigid that it inconviences other people.  Brian has a lot of work lunches coming up in the next weeks and if bbq is served he'll eat it, just not as much.  We are not going to be legalistic about it...this is more of a time to place more discipline in our lives and cut out excess in our lives so that we can draw more closely to God...not to make sure that we're following a bunch of rules. 

One of my reasons for doing this fast is my health.  I've noticed the pounds adding up, I'm feeling frumpy, and I'm addicted to sugar.  So, along with closely monitoring my diet I will also be walking everyday for a minimum of 20 minutes.  **If I tell myself it's only 20 minutes I get myself outside and then inevitably walk for at least 30-45 minutes** 

Fasting isn't just about depriving ourselves of things it's about replacing bad things with good things and good things with better things. 

Another goal of mine during this fast is to carve out a minimum of 30 minutes everyday to write and pray.  Basically, I'll replace time playing on pinterest, blogs, etc with time where I'm writing and talking to God.  The writing will be done in my journal and much of it will be reflecting on what I'm reading and studying. I hope to be able to share some with you.

This fast will take abiding in Christ to a whole new level and for that I'm excited...I would love to know if you plan on fasting anything during this Lenten season.  Please let me know I'm not alone!  Leave me a comment...I could use the encouragment.  I also plan on putting our weekly menus here so you can see what we're eating.  Maybe I'll even get some new favorite recipes out of it!