10 Valentine's Days...

My husband wrote in my card that this is our 10th Valentine's Day together and it really wowed me....

It is an understatement that time has flown for me. I don't think I can remember every year!

• I remember the first year. I bought him a Burroughs book and a card. He told me as I was leaving to go home that he didn't believe in Valentine's Day or something foreign to me like that...probably he just didn't get around to getting me something. I'm sure I couldn't hide my disappointment. What can I say? I'm a sap...a sucker for V-day.
  

• Surprisingly, the next year I received a beautiful, romantic delivery at work from Red Envelope.

• I'm fuzzy from here until I remember a time at OUR HOME after we were married and he fixed me orange roughy and snap peas that we ate by candlelight.

• Then I remember a year in we spent in Oklahoma City. I visited him while he was at training for work and I was pregnant with our daughter. I remember a rose with a sweet note greeting me at the door while I waited for him to get home from school that day...and the excitement we felt about us growing as a family.

• And last year was pretty blurry here...our first year in North Carolina...

• Then today, we signed more paperwork on our house, had frozen pizza at home and listened to music and danced with Matilda.

It's a beautiful life. The years are flying by...I can't believe it's been 10! (And not just because it's hard to believe we made it through that first one...) ;0)

I wouldn't trade a moment for anything. I'm so grateful to be where I am today. And look forward to 20 hundred million more...

Stimulatin' the Economy

BIG NEWS over here in the Woof world. We are doing our own small part to stimulate the economy. We bought a house!

I sure wish the tax credit had survived in the stimulus package...that would've been fantastic for us. And it would've made me feel better about our chances of selling when the time comes. But, in our neck of the woods, the market is pretty strong. We have a "transient market" with the military bases nearby, soooooooo...we're testing our luck!

Our new home as of the end of March:




Matilda helps our realtor review the paperwork:

What's that smell?!?!?!?!

Soooo, I'm not very good at keeping my car clean. But I remember being appalled by some people's cars who had kids. Melted crayons. Fries everywhere. And I just couldn't understand the mess.

But now, with Matilda, there are crackers, cookies, cookie dust...and MILK.

The past few days there has been a horrible spoiled-milk-like smell in the car. I remember telling my sister-in-law that it was like something died inside their. So, yesterday I pulled stuffed animals out and sniffed them. I spot-cleaned the car and the carseat. I left the windows open to air it out. STILL, NO improvement.

Tonight, Mike was pulling out the carseat for a full washing, doing some maintenance and found the culprit inside the trunk.

A dirty diaper I had forgotten to throw away. Seriously. We were out (a week or so ago), I changed Bilda's diaper - - no trash can in sight and I thought I'd throw it away at home.

The car smells a million times better already. And I'm reminded to never, ever judge people until I've walked a mile in their shoes...

Home

Home is a lot of things to a lot of people.

We got home around 3:30 A.M. Eastern time Saturday morning. It was a looooooong trip home. We stopped and bought a portable DVD player for Bilda so that she'd be entertained. And entertained she was! She didn't even sleep except for 30 minutes or so. She has developed a cough she picked up somewhere along the way and that eventually made for a cranky baby.

Thankfully, we made it home safely. I realize how blessed I am. I think about it all the time. If I had nothing but my husband and our daughter - - I could live contently forever.

But I can't help to wish for more. I want to be HOME with my family and loved ones. My only regret about leaving here would be the gorgeous weather...so I wish to bring the NC weather HOME...or I wish I could bring everyone and all the things that remind me of home here. It's hard. I'll have a heavy heart for a while. And my eyes will mist up quickly at just the thought or smell of home. I can smell my mom's house on the clothes I washed there. I found a coffee flavor I want to share with my dad. I want to hang out and talk with my sister. I want to see them WHENEVER I feel like it. I just can't do that right now and it's terrible.

I look to the future and I KNOW I'll be home or, at least, very close to home soon. When????????????? I have no idea.

But what a happy time that will be.

Illin'

I've been in Illinois for a week now! Woohooooooo!

Matilda and I flew in last Saturday for a "SURPRISE!" 80th birthday party for my Grandma.


I've had sooo much fun already. Grandma was truly surprised (stunned is more like it) and very pleased that family from out of town came to see her.





We helped put up the tree at my parents.



I just got back from Champaign and visiting my good, good friends!

(sorry I got Clint with his mouth full...
of the DEElicious breakfast he fixed us!)

(awwwwwwe)

(A classic Lori face!
Cracks me up!)

Tomorrow, I'm off to Tennessee to visit the in-laws! I honestly can't wait for them to see our little Bilda...

I can has my own LOLcats

I finally created some pics on Icanhascheezburger. I've been wanting to but never felt inspired until yesterday. I can only dream to make the homepage...I probably won't but stranger things have happened, right? I don't even know if this will help, but if you feel so inclined - please visit my picture links and give them a 5 out of 5 "cheeseburger vote". Enjoy!

http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=2744605

http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=2744657

Overheard...

Mike explaining to Matilda that the Disney Princesses on her li'l couch are, as follows:

Cinderella, Snow White and....Bai Ling.

(Photos taken earlier this year...
in the summertime.)

(A strange reference, I know. Most people probably don't know who she is. She's a little known actress. She was in The Crow, she did guest star on LOST once AND was one of the most entertaining contestants for those of us who wasted a small part of our life watching a few episodes of But Can They Sing?)

Aaaaah, and if you're still following me and are dying to know the answer to that burning question: the third Princess is Aurora, from Sleeping Beauty.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We started our Thanksgiving at Starbucks...for a snack. I made (fake) chicken noodle soup and we're heading to a neighbor's for dessert! Yum!

Another One!

Germany faces Santa shortage

What is going on with the news? How newsworthy is this?

Kinda cute in a way though...

Weird Headline

Man Arrested After Woman Says He Shot Her

Hmmm, I think that's a good thing. Also, unfortunately, not that uncommon. I just found it surprising that this was a national news story.

Seagulls...

We did a little early Christmas shopping on Sunday. (Verrrrry early for me! But my holiday season is starting early this year so I'm in a rush.)

I never get used to seeing seagulls in parking lots here. As we pulled up, I was on the phone with Mike's sister so he and Bilda got out of the car to feed a few birds some snacks. They quickly grew in number...







Cute birdies!

Gay Marriage

Button stolen from Micah's blog

I cannot believe Proposition 8 passed. I cannot believe that people have decided to tell people who they can marry. If I can't tell a good friend of mine not to marry an Al Bundy type with no job, no car, 5 priors, 2 ex-wives and four kids - - how can we tell GLBT people who they can or cannot marry????

We can't. (We shouldn't.)

And in what way would gay marriage devalue my marriage?


In absolutely no way. The only person with the potential to devalue my marriage is me or my husband. And we heterosexuals have done enough to damage to the sanctity of marriage on our own - the divorce rate being over 50%...and that's a statistic from years ago.

Whom does this effect??? (Besides our GLBT friends.)


NO ONE! It harms no one! There are no "victims". I refer back to the clever button at the top of the page.

It is - - very simply - an equal rights issue. The only comforting thing I have to say is that your day will come. Unfortunately, it hasn't arrived yet. I'm sorry that it hasn't.


Ellen said it best:

"I believe one day a 'ban on gay marriage' will sound totally ridiculous. In the meantime, I will continue to speak out for equality for all of us."

Me too, Ellen.

New Day - Feeling Good

For some reason, this song keeps going through my head today:




Michael Bublé - Feeling Good

Wow...

I am sooooo happy. So relieved to have this election over.

4 years ago, I was pretty depressed at the outcome of the election.

4 years ago, I heard a young candidate for the United States Senate speak and was incredibly moved.



He is my President now. It's so surreal to me. He inspired me then - - he inspires me now. The fact that he has made history by being the first African-American elected as President is truly amazing and transformational for this Country. For me, he's the perfect choice for President...

We have our cake and we'll eat it, too!!

Somebody pinch me! Wait, don't - - I don't want to wake up.

We Voted

We voted as a li'l family on Saturday, so here's my traditional voting song!

The lyrics have changed slightly...our polling place was out of "I Voted" stickers...which was a little disappointing personally, but very encouraging to think that lots of people are exercising their right to vote. (Or stealing my stickers....nah, I doubt that.)

Follow Up

You know how I wrote that I was nervous to wear my Obama shirt around here?? Well, I've been surprisingly pleased with my response. I can actually say that I've never noticed any one disapproving of my shirt. For that I am thankful. But I am all the more thankful for the positive looks and comments I've gotten. The overwhelming comment??? Where did you get your shirt??? Well, I got it online from Obama's website. Not expensive at all although it took it a few weeks to ship.

But, yesterday, one of the best responses ever from our waiter at a Chinese buffet. He loved the shirt! Said that it gave him goosebumps. Now, that is a great effect!

It is absolutely thrilling for me to meet an Obama supporter (especially out here in this part of NC). There is an instant bond. And the rarity of it makes it all the more special.

Ironically, here is Mike's fortune from yesterday's visit when we met the enthusiastic waiter:


This campaign has been about HOPE for me. Not only would I have gone to the booth and voted yesterday because I have been discontented - - but I went because I was proud to cast my vote for Barack Obama. No surprise to me, I teared up as I blackened the oval beside his name.

I just can't wait for Tuesday night!

Under the Sea

We took Matilda to the Hauuuuuunted Aquarium Thursday night and went out trick or treating in our neighborhood last night.

It was a great first trick or treating Halloween!










Lucky waited for the trick or treaters while we went out to see the neighbors we've met.

Pumpkin Carvings

We carved our punkins tonight. Matilda was verrrrrry curious. She smelled and even taste tested the pumpkins and considered them to be "gooooooo[d]". I kept thinking that next year we won't be carving alone - she tried to grab the tiny saw out of my hand a couple of times tonight. I don't think we'll get by without her at least trying next year...so exciting!

I carved the same thing I've done for years. (A cat - - how ironic!) It is what I know and I'm definitely not an artist...I considered doing a template but just opted out, I guess...I had a little girl to concentrate on!

Mike's pumpkin had sprouts!

"It's all fun & games 'til someone gets hurt."

This is right before Matilda poked the pupil out of
one of the eyes of Mike's pumpkin.

Li'l Taste Tester:

Punkin' Patch....

We took Matilda to her first pumpkin patch on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. I'm sure we got ripped off on the price of pumpkins but it's nice to keep a local place in business, right? I guess you pay for the experience...we got to take a wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch and pick them out, so...it was nice.

Bilda notices the pumpkin patch

She likes the dirt best of all

We ran into some people I remembered meeting before. It was a family that was in the ER the day that Mike had his appendix out. Their son (and brother) had his appendix out the same day as Mike. He actually got to go first because we sat at Starbucks and Mike ate a cookie after his CT scan and before he knew he needed to have his appendix out. Looooong story...but I remember sitting in the waiting room with them and the little niece wanted to sit by us on the wagon ride back. She was soooooo sweet!

With our friend, Brooklyn

Matilda wanted to stand up and hold hands...
so did Brooklyn

Lost in thought...???

Mooooo[n]

Our smart, observant little girl noticed the moon the other morning. High up in the window in the kitchen...I was really floored. Floored by the fact that she saw it, knew what it was AND tried to say it. Wow!

Then, we were at the computer tonight looking at kitteh pictures on one of my favorite sites when Matilda realized that my hair tickled her. While we made of video of my tickling her, her keen observation skills became obvious to me again! She was looking at this photo and she imitated it. Without my ever reading it to her out loud: