Being Artsy

And some random pictures around the house...
Thanks to the aunts for the awesome easel and art supplies!!!
(watch at the picasa site to see a few videos, too)

The Lord is my strength

My Doctor confirmed this afternoon that we lost our baby.  I am scheduled to have a D&E tomorrow morning.  I ask for your prayers for our family during this difficult time.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you.   -  Jeremiah 1:5

"The child lives.  Instead of the wind he hears the sound of angels singing before Gods throne.  Instead of the beauty that passes he sees everlasting Beauty, he sees Gods face.  He was created and lived a short time so that the image of his parents imprinted on his face may stand before The Lord as their personal intercessor.  He knows secrets of heaven unknown to men on earth.  He laughs with a special joy that only the innocent possess.  Gods ways are not the ways of man.  He creates for His Kingdom and each creature fills a place in that Kingdom that could not be filled by another.  He was created for Gods joy and his parents merits.  He has never seen pain or sin.  He has never felt hunger or pain.  The Lord breathed a soul into a seed, made it grow, and called it forth." - Mother M. Angelica

Small Successes

1. I have been able to get a handle on my nausea.  Hooray!  I've been eating small meals and snacks every 1.5-2 hours and, at the recommendation of a pharmacist, am taking a daily dose of the B6 vitamin.  It's not an instant cure, but taken daily has really helped to quell the queasies.

2. The kids went back to gymnastics today after a 2 week absence.  I was worried that the time away would make them forget how the class progressed and things like paying attention and sitting when asked to.  (Not so simple for a 3 year old.)  But their teachers (one of whom is a close friend from early childhood) said that they were fantastic, 98% improvement from their last classes!  They each have 2 make-up classes to take and I have signed them up for separate classes.  Addie will have 2 weeks of ballet/tap (squee!  leotards and slippers, hooray!) and Gabe will have 2 weeks of sports introduction (golf, baseball, soccer, football, and hockey, oh my!)

3. Ana has taken her first (assisted) steps!  For quite a while now she has pulled herself to a standing position and just stood there or bopped up and down gently.  But today, she grabbed hold of my fingers and proceeded to walk a good 4 feet across the kitchen!  She still has a ways to go to get the coordination figured out, currently it's more of

Raise left leg up and SLAP it down 5 inches in front of herself.
Tiny step with right leg.
Bop up and down.
Tiny shuffle of right leg to even up with left.
Repeat.

Cupcake Carnage

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

When did this happen?

Our baby girl is one!  (Look at the picture, "I'm one" she says!) Her birthday was actually yesterday, but the cupcake smashing is happening today!!  Will post pictures soon.

Nana Love

Feeling Good by Getting Dirty Part II