grab coffee, it's a long one

There have been a few things I’ve been meaning to write about (how many of my posts start like that? too many I’m sure…) and never find time to do it. not that there’s not time to do it, it just never happens. very disappointing. SO here’s my life in bullet point:

· Bella is growing so quickly (real observant I know) and I’m left feeling like I can’t figure out a way to really savor every day because we’re just making it through one day at a time... and now she’s nine months old. AUGH! Two weeks ago she got bumped from one classroom at church to another because she’s a crawler… they could break it to a new mom a little more gently than a sudden, she’s too old for this classroom and will be graduating high school and moving out and getting married in no time! (okay, maybe it wasn’t quite like that, but that’s what I heard!) Needless to say – tears! I’ve been taking advantage of sales for new summer clothing lines, and learned quickly in Target that she’s no longer in the infant section (there’s basically zero selection even for 9-12 months) and we have to buy clothes from the toddler racks. TODDLER?! I started breathing harder as I blindly piled clothes into the cart (Justin loved that) and walked away clutching my baby a little too tightly. She also has seven teeth now, eats cheerios and is really showing her personality – particularly when she’s crabby. not fun for anyone. I was talking with a girlfriend and realized I’m going to have to start really thinking about my parenting style because even though I’ve been a parent, I haven’t really had to parent, whatever sense that makes. Now that she’s swinging at me and throwing fits for no reason (I thought that didn’t happen until she was two?!) we need to figure out how to respond to it. me crying in the corner isn’t going to work much longer. ha!

· My parents bought tickets to come out for Bella’s birthday and Andrea just bought tickets for her and Lili to come out as well – it’s still over two months away but I’m SO excited to have everyone here to celebrate her day!! I’m a huge nerd and am already thinking about what theme her party will be but football and basketball games seem to be what best holds her attention at this point and I can’t picture her blowing her candle off a basketball cake. oh my.

· We’ve been talking more and more seriously about trying to sell our house and make the move back to Colorado – I can’t even explain how nervous I am to go back, but I the network that I need, especially in this new role of mom, is there… the market here is SO depressing though. Justin showed me that there are four houses within five miles of our house that have foreclosed and are listed for under 100k, which does no favors for us. Plus, he was always confident he’d be able to get a job wherever we moved, so selling the house was going to be the biggest hardship; now with the sweet economy the way it is, we’re not sure if the job or house will be the stumbling block. I’m not sure how to go at this anyway but blindfolded and have faith that it will work out if it’s supposed to. fingers crossed…

· Justin and I were encouraged by our small group leader to participate in Lent this year and have taken the challenge – no, we’re not Catholic, but I really like the approach to it: this is borrowed by Mike - sorry dude, I figure if the Pastor can use it I can too – The Lenten season is a 40 day period of time many Christians spend in contemplation of Christ's sacrificial death for us, as well as our own areas of sin, seeking the gift of repentance. You've probably heard of people giving things up for Lent, and I think that in general it is a good thing to do. A few things to consider fasting: TV, movies, non-Christian books, food, alcohol, the internet (except as needed for work), etc. Certainly things you think can get in the way of your relationship with God are good things to put aside for a season. A fast is usually only good if you replace it with something better - so if you ditch the TV, replace that hour with Bible reading and prayer. If you fast food for certain days, use the tummy rumblings as a reminder throughout the day to throw up prayers for yourself and others. Be serious about it - if you're going to not watch TV, for example, unplug the stupid things in your house and turn 'em backwards if you have to. so Justin’s not drinking alcohol and I’m not drinking Dr. Pepper and we’re both keeping the TV turned off until 9:00 p.m., which is pretty huge for us because we watch far too much TV. It’s been pretty cool so far actually because Bella’s in bed by 8:00 and so we have that hour to just the two of us. In the future we want to take that time to do our bible studies, have dinner together, get our house ready to put on the market and just enjoy the time together. So far I’ve fallen asleep before 8:30 (had to be the lack of Dr. Pepper) and the other night watched the Cavs game (it IS work technically!). TMI WARNING – we were talking about what we could give up for 40 days, and Justin slyly suggested I give up abstinence. HA! crap…

She's Gone Viral

my little belly bean was the cavs.com photo of the day. it's good to know people. haha!

- close up -

5 - 5 - 5

I was tagged by Sherry (awhile ago, just read through the whole blog past the picture to see I was tagged. oops...) to post the 5th picture from the 5th folder in my pictures files. I literally laughed out loud when I saw which one it was. can you tell I was five days overdue and waiting at the restaurant for our check before going to the hospital for the induction?! I actually like it because I think you can really see how ready I was!

The five people I tag are... Jenn, Megan, Gwen, other Jen and Sondra. lets see 'em ladies!

The Sentiment is Mine

So I'm not a songwriter (or a singer - except in the shower, and then in addition to all my thinking, I'm a pretty phenomenal singer. must be the acoustics... ha!) but I'm pretty sure if I could write a song - it may not be that far off from this one:

I Wish by Point of Grace

I wish I didn’t feel so helpless
I wish I didn’t act so selfish
I wish I didn’t wring my hands night and day
My hair was a little bit smoother
My jeans fit a little bit looser
And I always knew the right things to say
And I wish I wouldn’t hide what’s been going on inside
And I wish you wouldn’t get scared and run away

I wish I was doing better
With all the things that matter,
I guess I got some learning to do
I wish everyone had someone
To hold ‘em and to love ‘em
The way I’m always gonna love you
I wish wishes came true

I wish there was a cure for cancer
I wish somebody had an answer
And all God’s children, never got hurt
I wish Eve never bit that apple
Young men never went to battle
And I didn’t get so mad at the world
I wish I was more like Jesus
And could pick up all the pieces
And make a better life for my baby girl

I wish I was doing better
With all the things that matter,
I guess I got some learning to do
I wish everyone had someone
To hold ‘em and to love ‘em
The way I’m always gonna love you
I wish wishes came true

For everything I am wishing
I know someone up there is listening
So, I say my prayers when I go to bed
Pray my wishes come true

I know wishes come true.

Our Little Cavs Fan

We took Bella to her first Cavs game on Sunday for the Cavs vs. Lakers game (we figured we outta go big for her first time!) and she really enjoyed the entire time... even if the refs did make a lot of bad calls and the stupid Lakers broke our undefeated home game win streak. I think she really enjoyed some people watching and all the flurry on the court - she only cried once after a big play in the game and mommy clapped really loud and startled her. oops?! All in all, a really good day with the family that she may have already forgotten, but I'll always remember!

She doesn't quite size up - yet.

a confused baby with Cavs mascot Moondog!
not as glorious as a giant purple dinosaur, but a very close 2nd!
just chillin' at my desk - she liked to spin around in the chair.
I can confirm, it truly is as fun as it looks.

26 Things

- 26 Things You May Not Know About Me –

I’ve been tagged by a couple people, so here they are, 26 things you may not know about me (because apparently I’m so interesting I couldn’t keep it to 25, haha! seriously, I'm kidding with that.)

1. I used to collect bandaids and put them on my bedroom door – I’m guessing close to 100

2. I’m shy and kind of insecure – but once I’m comfortable, watch yourself!

3. My favorite time of every day is giving Bella her last bottle and rocking her to sleep. It’s 20 minutes that’s just me and her, and I love it.

4. Mine and my sisters’ names end in “a”: Dana, Andrea, Briana. So far we’re carrying on the tradition with cousins Liliana and Isabella.

5. I may feel the most confident and heeeyyyyy in jeans and a plaid shirt.

6. A recently bathed baby is my favorite scent.

7. I want to live overseas someday, and I’m going to. sometimes I think it will be through mission work – then I remember I can’t get my own spiritual life in check and probably shouldn’t be charged with the welfare of others.

8. The first date Justin took me to was “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”. I married him anyway.

9. I was best friends with a boy from 5th grade until high school. a friend from work thinks that explains a lot.

10. According to Justin, my bark is louder than my bite. debatable.

11. I used to be really into photography. If I’m ever a stay-at-home, I want to pick it up again.

12. Writing and telling stories that happened throughout the day makes me feel good.

13. While I have one, I’m pretty sure I’m afraid of dogs – I don’t generally like them.

14. Every Wednesday night in high school consisted of attending youth group followed by watching Dawson’s Creek with Emily and a Dr. Pepper. She gave me the nickname Mrs. Jackson because I would have married Pacey in two seconds.

15. My favorite song ever is “Somewhere over the Rainbow”. I sing it to Bella nearly every night.

16. I cried watching Full House once. I cry in Hallmark commercials. I’ve even cried when watching American Idol auditions and the parents are super stoked for their kids. wow.

17. Tonight I found out my favorite sound is listening to Justin read out loud to Bella, and then his laugh as he has to read the story backward and forward again when she gets overly excited turning the pages…

18. My favorite praise song is “How Great is Our God”. it’s completely humbling.

19. I wear my heart on my sleeve. always have. I’m still trying to figure out if that’s good or bad…

20. All my best ideas come to me in the shower. So many go wasted, I need to write them on the bathroom wall or something.

21. In tenth grade I learned that a lot of baby girls are orphaned in China – it’s been on my heart ever since to adopt one of them someday.

22. One of my proudest moments was getting all first-place blue ribbons on field day in fifth grade – it was also the first (possibly only) time I tasted popularity.

23. I LOVE sports – playing them, watching them, talking about them, watching movies about them, arguing about them, working for them… as much as I love sports, I HATE bandwagon fans, they make my blood boil (*ahem* Boston)

24. I drive insanely fast, confuse which are my rules and which the state’s “suggestions”, get really mad when people cut me off, and end up yelling at other drivers frequently… I think there’s a chance I could’ve missed my calling to be a race car driver. (I also sometimes drive with my knees while typing an email and drinking a Dr. Pepper.) this was added by Justin when I was upstairs, but it’s not entirely inaccurate.

25. I’ve wanted a pair of cowboy boots for a long time, I can readily accept now that I’m a little bit country. the ones I’m lusting after are a pair from Steve Madden (so it’s not that country, quit judging me. judgment really should come from #16 if anything).

26. More than anything, when all is said and done and I’m standing in front of my heavenly Father, I want him to look at how Justin and I raised Bella and say “Well Done”

Bouncy Baby Bella

To help avoid cabin fever we took Bella to Bounce City yesterday afternoon on our way to J's parents house. I took Bella to one in Loveland when we were in Colorado for Christmas and even though it was obviously geared more toward older children, there was definitely stuff for her to do and toys to plan on. It was free to take her too since she was under two, so I figured when we had to pay a couple dollars for Bella at this one we took her to yesterday, they must have plenty for her to do... which was not the case. not a huge deal, because it was only a couple bucks, but there was not one thing for her that she was big enough to play on. I staked out one inflatable with balls and when no one was in it we put her in and let her play, but I think she was confused and really just sat there. We barely got her out in time before some screaming tweens rushed in and caused mayhem. oh well... now we know. After big-bust Bounce City, we went to his parents house where she got to ride on a rollercoaster/train set his mom got. She liked it, but rode it right before nap time, so she didn't get into it as much as I think she will next time.

Bella wanting to befriend the dog... Bella flattening her new friend!

a little unsure of the rollercoaster, but she'll go with it
she got confident - look ma, no hands!