brag post

Hey everybody~ I can sit up by myself now!

I still fall over once in awhile.

But, mostly- I can do it!

Katy Jo wants to tell you about her thanksgiving

"What? you didn't hear about my first Thanksgiving?"


First of all, it was my first snow! The whole Thanksgiving weekend we had beautiful white snow!


Which means my mommy has to bundle me like crazy if we go anywhere (and for some reason every school day we have to get bundled real early and take a drive to school with daddy now that he can't walk without crutches)


But, that's okay, because the drive is gorgeous, the whole village of Kandern looks amazing with a layer of snow.


On Saturday, I was so excited...


because my friends, Jackson & Owen were coming over...


for our Thanksgiving meal!


Yay! Pretty sure my meal was the best - mommy milk.


But, Kristen's turkey sure did look good!


Here I am!


And here is everyone else.


My first Thanksgiving!


A sneak peak at our family portraits.


This is my favorite picture of the weekend!

Two Minutes with Katy Jo

Twice a week I take Katy Jo to my friend Jan's house, where she watches her while I work. It's a lovely walk and I really enjoy it. (Except when it's miserably gray and gloomy out.) Last week I took a short video of the walk from our apartment down to Jan's house. I plan on doing more videos of around town and other exciting things. And I promise next time Katy Jo will not be about to fall asleep (she's so dazed!)

bad news/good news (a little bit of both)

deep breath... that's what I keep telling myself. Today was long! It started off like any other Friday, except I was pretty excited to check out a new craft store up the mountain. (I'm planning a lil' craft for my upcoming girls weekend- can't wait!) So I was just chilling around the house waiting for Katy Jo to wake up from her nap so off we could go. Hmm, instead I get a phone call from Bo in which I hear what I hate hearing from him: "I have bad news." I might add that he uses this phrase a lot so there is no telling how bad it might be. He prefaces everything negative with it. Yesterday evening we were walking home from school together and he said, "I have bad news." To which I replied, "ugh, what now?" And he answers, " I have a lot of grading tonight." Well, that's no big deal, whatever (especially on Thursdays when I look forward to watching my show and just hanging out by myself while Bo's small group is doing their thing in our living room.)

Ok, well today he calls and after using his normal phrase, he tells me, "I think I broke my foot."
Long story short, he did fracture something and is now sporting a bright blue cast up to his knee. Brilliant. I will spare you my list of reasons why this makes my life more difficult. I'm sure you can imagine. So let me just say for the next 6 weeks I will be taking deep breaths and reminding myself that the house doesn't have to be spotless and I'm not required to make a meal every night from scratch while also entertaining Katy Jo.

On a happier note, I have a fun weekend ahead.

Tomorrow morning is our church's annual Christmas Bazaar!! (YAY!!!)
And then we are helping at the dorm the whole rest of the weekend!


Oh, and I have good news. ;)




I have the most beautiful baby in the WORLD!

Mommy Notes

Not much going on around here. Today Katy Jo was with Jan for a half-day while I worked. Even though I LOVE having a break, I miss her when she is away. And then it's like I can't squeeze her tight enough (sounds scary I know, but don't worry.)
She is really becoming my little snuggle bug. I love it! She likes sitting in my lap and playing with my hair, necklace or anything she can reach close by. Sometimes when she is tired, she lets me hold her while she just snuggles. It't the best. Here we are last week catching up on America's Next Top Model.

weekend bliss

The sun is shinning...

Every morning when we open the blinds, it is always a quest to see if the day will be gray and gloomy or beautifully sunny. I miss Texas where it seems the sun shines every day, even all winter long.

I am so thankful for the past weekend. It was just what I needed- a long day with my very good friend, Kristen, who I think likes to talk just about as much as I do. We used the long drive to Hiedelberg and back to have an uninterrupted time to catch up on each other's lives. I can't remember the last time I rode in Kristen's car while she drove and it was just the two of us. Maybe in high school? We laughed that now she is driving a mini van (with two carseats in the back). We had so much fun shopping on base for coveted American groceries. I won't spill the beans on how much the grand total was. Yikes! She was stocking up for three months and this included the holidays!

Sorry that I didn't take any pics of our adventure. Just know that it was fun. And this is what I am enjoying this morning...


mmm...good coffee


with this

thanks Kristen!

someday

Ok, so I have a month left.

Agh! One month and then it's over. Not my life, I know, but my twenties. Sad. Sad. Sad. The days of youth group, sleepovers, go carts, Guatemala, three-way phone calls, serious boy crushes, summer camp...

Oh, those were my teenage memories. Let me try again.

First margarita,
traveling to Cambodia & West Africa,


becoming a nurse,


buying my first car,


living in NY & going to Seminary,



taking care of Claudia,
meeting my favorite boy,

delivering babies,
living with Bonnie,


falling in love,


moving to Germany & working at BFA


having my own baby...


Wow! My twenties were pretty good. Really good, actually. Sure, they weren't perfect. But, they were probably the best days, huh? Really, I want to know. Does it get better or were those the "best days of my life?"

Really, really not wanting to turn thirty. Already had a good cry about it. I just don't want to be thirty. Ugh. I hate it already.


Well, if I must, then I need a few goals to look forward to.
Here goes...

SOMEDAY I WILL...

~ work in Africa, weighing, feeding and taking care of little babies
~ jet ski again (this time maybe in Florida)
~ work in a coffee place (preferably not Starbucks)
~ become a better photographer
~ adopt
~ travel to the Baltic Islands
~ return to school for midwifery or a Masters degree in women's health/Nurse Practitioner
~ learn French
~ take a trip with just my mom & sisters
~ buy a home (with wood floors)
~ be my pre-baby weight again

How about you, what do you want to do someday?

----------------
Now playing: Bryan Adams - Summer of '69
via FoxyTunes

old black & whites

A few "old" photos from our day in Basel with the Kolbs.

No Candy For Me

The house is crazy dark and has been since about 5:30pm. I'm home alone (well, with a sleeping baby, so she doesn't totally count) while Bo takes a much needed break and plays soccer with the guys. I've been catching up on my new fav blog.

To our surprise, today was daylight savings- fall back. So tonight when I put Katy Jo to bed, her room was already dark. I had to turn on a little light and this of course caused a whole new glow to her fun room. So she just had to look all around instead of eating. So precious.

I've been sick, really sick. Last friday I caught a cold and just when I thought, "Oh, poor Bo, he can't breathe through his nose and he is sick, but I'm feeling better,"... well, then I got sick again! And this time it's in my chest. I've been having trouble sleeping just because the wheezing and coughing keep me up. It's awful. I'm a bit out of sorts with being sick, taking naps and now the time change.

If it wasn't for my aMaZING husband, I don't know how I would survive. These past two days have been a major bummer since we had to cancel our plans to visit Bern for the long weekend. Instead of chilling with Kristen and Seth, Bo has been taking care of me. Yes, that means breakfast in bed. Actually, let me back up. When Katy Jo wakes up at 7am, Bo brings her to me to feed her, and then these last two days, he has taken our adorable but loud, squealing baby out to the living room and plays with her while I catch some more z's. So wonderful. Bo has been making all the meals, bringing me tea (and occasionally ice cream), and basically just doing everything in his power to help me get better. I am so thankful for him! He is the best!

Looking forward to next year, when we are most likely in the States and can participate in the fun of dressing Katy Jo up for Halloween and yes... one day trick or treating. :) We did put her hand-me-down costume on today just for laughs.

Mommy Notes

For all of you out there just dying to know what Katy Jo's been up to, this post is for you.

First of all, the main thing our little almost five-month old does is squeal. She is getting louder and louder. I'm sure she knows it's obnoxious because sometimes she screams really loud and then looks over at me anxious to see my reaction. Ha! I usually just smile because I enjoy all her cute little noises.

In the last couple of weeks, Katy Jo has learned to grab things - all things - really well. She now pulls on hair, her canopy above the rocking chair, and anything within her reach. I just love that she can hold things now. The other day, she sat up on the kitchen counter (in her Bumbo, of course) and I let her hold a measuring cup so she could feel like she was really baking with her mama.

And finally, her main other activity is simply examining her surroundings. She spends a lot of time looking around at everything as if she's about to play that game where you remove an object and then guess what's gone. She stares at everything. I'm certain that she likes her room because there is so much for her to take in.