hello sweet boy...

At first glance, I love you with a thousand hearts.
-Mihri Hatun


Our hearts expanded again on Friday afternoon as we said hello to our son for the first time. Technology is so amazing. We were able to see him smile, measure his hair (1cm), and repeat many times, "Oh, he has your _________." "Look, his __________ is just like yours!" Bless the ultrasound tech! She was so sweet to us and she "ooohed and ahhhed" right along with us like she'd never seen a cuter fetus. We even left there with 5 movie clips on CD of him waving and moving about. Just as it did with Isabella, the 4D ultrasound drove it home that we are about to be a family of four. We (dad and Tommy) spent the majority of the weekend converting an upstairs room into a nursery. I wanted beadboard and though it looks great, it was far more involved than I thought! Oooops, sorry guys! We will paint this week and then add furniture and bedding and accessories and clothing...and then (in 8 weeks, hopefully)....a sweet baby boy.

We are madly in love already.

love in the obx

Valentine card, 09

Belated, but hope yours was happy!

We spent Valentine's weekend in the Outer Banks with Justin, Libby, Chris, Allison, and the boys. We had a wonderful time. Wade and Isabella are 4 months apart, but the same size. It was fun to see them interact (ie fight over toys). Below, they are both having a little play date in their birthday suits. They will laugh at this photo when they are older.We visited a little nearby city called Manteo and took some photos on the pier. Here is Jack with uncle Justin.

J&L at sunset

The kiddos...Wade is not pleased with the weather. It was very cold on this day and even thought he is from Michigan, he prefers a more balmy climate.

Little Miss "I hate the snow" is fine with the cold...just not the white stuff!

Someone was behind the scenes teasing her with yogurt puffs. You DO NOT mess with her yogurt puffs.

Our home for the weekend. Amazingly beautiful and so different from the houses around here. Each beach house had 3 floors and the main living floor is the top floor....for view purposes, I guess. We loved our room and slept soundly in a very comfortable bed.

The guys watched the kids while the girls went out for manicures/pedicures and shopping all day. When we arrived home, the kids were off to bed and they served us dinner. We each got a card at our place setting.

The food was delish and the company was even better. We played a couple rounds of questions (that the guys loooove) such as what is your most romantic memory? When did you fall in love with me? etc. Always a good time...

Baby Wade..

Ella spending some beloved time with her unky. She thinks he plays kind of rough...but we'll keep him! He makes her laugh with his silly dancing and voices.

Overall...great weekend. Thanks for everything, guys. Can't wait to see everyone again soon. {And...happy Valentine's Day to my Valentine. All my love to you! }

Last week, my dad (who has always been a pillar of strength) had heart surgery. As I sat in an empty hospital room and waited for him to return from the OR, I thought about all that this man means to me.
So much of who I am, dad, comes from you. I am so clearly your child when I am moved by music, or when I am most peaceful under an umbrella on the ocean, or when I am drifting off to sleep in a quiet cove on the lake, or when I am behind the camera taking a close up of my daughter, or when I am cracking a joke, or when I am sleeping with a hand perched on my forehead. I am a part of you and you are a part of me....and I prayed that God would be with you and with the doctors so that you would be back at 100%. God answered my prayers and I feel so incredibly blessed. A girl needs her dad. And a grandchild needs her PopPop. We love you so much.

Thank you to all the friends and family who called/texted/emailed, etc. and offered prayers and well wishes. It meant a lot.

her mother's daughter

With the exception of the possibility of snow days and our little family being snowed in, we aren't big fans of the frigid weather. Sure, it looks nice...but being freezing cold is not really our cup of tea.

We are both far more content to be inside where it is warm....looking out.