What A Weekend

We have been a busy couple bees
the last few days.

Dorothy got all dressed up for her first wedding.
I daresay she was second most beautiful
to the bride.

We had a mini- Christmas opening
wonderful gifts from Auntie Mary.
Thank you so much, Mare!

And today we are
enjoying a day at home
courtesy of the blizzard of 2009.

They officially canceled church last night
and we have been staying snuggled inside
with a pan of cinnamon buns, movies, and music
all morning.

We ventured out with Dot for a few minutes,
but the snow hasn't let up yet.
We've gotten about 2 feet and
should be getting a few more inches before it is all over.

Who knows,
maybe Marty will get a snow day tomorrow, too!

1. a warm home
2. thoughtful friends
3. time for a warm bath

It's Here!!

Yesterday afternoon,
our house showed up in 4 pieces.

It was an incredible feeling
to peek in the windows
and see all the things we had only seen on paper.

The crane showed up this morning
and parked next to the foundation.

After eating lunch with some wonderful ladies
I took a walk out to see the progress.
This is what I found!

We have a house, ladies and gentlemen!!!

We should get to do a walk through
this afternoon to make sure everything looks right!

1. cooperating weather
2. technology
3. home sweet home

No day can be a Bad day...

When you wake up to This:

1. bed head
2. Linda's chocolate chip cookies
3. Not having to cook dinner

Fancy Pants Saturday

eating these little bites of loveliness...

with these beautiful ladies...

and washing it all down with a cup of this.

Mary, my best friend from college, was celebrating her
25th birthday last weekend,
and I got a lucky invite to the classy event.
She booked us for tea and cupcakes at the Ritz in Boston!
We all had a great time.

We each got to pick our own pot of tea
(I chose a lovely herbal blend)
and got our own plate of the 5 cupcakes above.
We then spent 2 lovely hours
sipping, nibbling, and chatting.
I did not leave a crumb on my plate or a drop in my pot.

One of my favorite parts of the whole experience
was the live piano player they had in the lobby
playing beautiful Christmas music the whole time.
There were also lots of little girls on cupcake dates
with their moms--so adorable!
It made me excited for when Dorothy is older
and we can do some fun things together.

Thanks for the wonderful day, Mary!

1. a break from the norm
2. our first snowfall
3. morning walks--in lots of layers

The Rest of November

Well, here we are. The last day of the month. And what a month it has been! I am so grateful that with as crazy as things get sometimes, we still make time to laugh and enjoy time together as a family. I love Dorothy's hair and the look on her face in this shot. Dorothy's new favorite thing to do is point. She loves to wake up in the morning and point at the window with the new light coming in. She points to people she knows and new people she meets. She points at the ceramic animals her grandma has in her living room. It is just adorable. Here she is pointing at her daddy.
We were able to make a weekend getaway to Pennsylvania in the middle of the month. Look at this face! She was so excited to have big cousins to play with her and plenty of room to crawl around without getting hurt.
Dorothy has also been eating more solid foods this month. Her new favorite thing is her Auntie Eva's homemade applesauce. Being the wonderful auntie that she is, she sent us home with an entire jar for the Dot to enjoy.
And on the house front, things are still moving along. The foundation is done, sealed, and has actually been backfilled. This picture is missing the final step. The house delivery date is officially December 14th! We are almost to the next phase!
Thanksgiving was a little bit stressful this year. Dorothy came down with a flu bug at the beginning of the week and ran a fever up until the afternoon of Thanksgiving. Because we are living here and all her little cousins were around, we pretty much had to quarantine ourselves down in the basement. But it was still nice to have the family around. We ate more than we should have and watched lots of fun movies while Dorothy recovered. Luckily we're just down to a cough and hoarse voice left on her sickness.

Whew! I am so excited to begin a new month. This month will be another busy one, full of holiday parties, a wedding, my brother coming home from his mission, and another trip to Pennsylvania for Christmas. Bring it, December! We're ready!

1. quiet after a crazy weekend
2. healthy kids
3. muppet Christmas carol

IT HAS BEGUN!!!!

der Hole.

der Footings.

If all goes well,
foundation walls go in tomorrow!

1. progress
2. green machine juice
3. days off from work (thanks to our Vets!)

3 in a row...again:)

I think we all remember when this lovely lady

came into the world on March 18th, 2009.

11 Days later, cousin Zoey joined in the Vieira family fun.

And just a few more weeks after that, cousin Joey arrived.

It was one marathon year of babies.

Well...

We just found out that next year after we have our
2nd baby, around May 6th,
Zoey will be getting a sibling 3 weeks later.
AND
About 2 weeks after that, Joey will also be a big brother.

Can you believe it?

It will be quite the parade of babies AGAIN next year.
Nothing like new little ones in the spring time!

1. babies--and lots of them

2. visits from family

3. surprise announcements over Sunday dinner

"Oh, hushed October morning mild"

Oh, how I love October. The weather has been so beautiful, and the leaves are incredible. Almost every afternoon, as soon as Marty gets home from school, our little family throws on sweaters and goes outside for a walk. I wanted to put up a picture of the bundled Dot with her papa, but our laptop won't cooperate. So, just imagine the cutest Dot ever grinning a bit goofy grin all wrapped up for the fall wind.

Yesterday, we finally had our production meeting for the house! We were able to pick out all the colors for our siding, bathrooms, countertops, shingles, cabinets, carpets, etc. Tomorrow I drop off some paperwork, and as soon as our permits come through the foundation will go in! If all goes well, the house will be delivered before Christmas and local work will begin! It was such a feeling of relief when we got into our apartment--just being able to have all our stuff out and being in our own space--I can't imagine how wonderful the house will be!

In baby news, everything has been looking good at the doctor's. They just told me I need to start putting on weight--ha! I told them I will try as soon as all my food stays down. Fair enough. Can't wait to hear the little heartbeat again in a few weeks and to (hopefully) find out the sex in December!

1. surprise daisies from the handsome husband
2. a napping baby girl and papa man
3. playing the piano--and all the teachers who put up with me!

To Autumn

"Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;
To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

"Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,
Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

"Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft
The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies."

~John Keats~
mmm mmm good

1. poetry
2. apple cider
3. the first ultrasound and heartbeat of #2

Some books for the little ones

While I was in school at

Framingham State College,

I worked part time in the curriculum section of the library.

This section houses all the teaching materials

for the large teacher training program

and is also connected to all of the children's and YA lit.

I spent HOURS putting away children's books,

occasionally sneaking a few minutes to read through a book or two.

These happen to be two of my favorites I discovered:

I love reading to Dorothy,

and I love that I love the books I get to read to her.

Winter is the Warmest Season is a great book

for looking at something with a different perspective.

It is all about how winter is really the warmest time of year

with warm foods, clothes, burning fires and candles,

blankets piled on beds, and warm baths.

I know that I have a predilection for cooler weather,

but this book is still a fun way to look at winter

even if you don't like the cold.

Hailstones and Halibut Bones is a wonderful

collection of poetry about the colors.

For each color,

the author has thought of objects, smells, feelings,

and all sorts of other things that relate to that color

and woven her thoughts into poems for each.

Dorothy loves listening to these poems

and looking at the pictures.

I think she likes the rhythm of the poetry,

and I love that it is also teaching her about colors.

I hope some of you are able to enjoy these books

as much as we do!

Happy Reading!

1. conference weekend

2. a fantastic daughter

3. the tender mercy of a break from the nausea so I could enjoy all the talks

QUICK!

While we have internet and before the laptop dies, I wanted to throw up a few new pictures of the family. Yes, my face is missing. When I'm a little less of a pukey-face, I'll be back in em.

Enjoy! The beginning of fall and Dot at 6 months:




1. knowing morning sickness ends
2. plastic baggies
3. my ever-growing family

I was going to wait to tell you all...

But who likes waiting?

So, here you go, folks. The big secret: We're pregnant with #2!

No joke. It is a little sooner than we were expecting, but hey, we're excited and know that everything will work out!

So now you know why I have so little drive to blog lately. The morning sickness is taking over again, but at least I was a little more prepared for it this time. It also really helps to have Dorothy around to keep me focused on something else.

Speaking of Dorothy, she turned 6 months yesterday! Half of a stinkin' year! Crazy. It sounds so big to me right now, but then I think about this little sibling showing up and realize how small they will both be. If my calculations are correct, baby #2 will be here around the end of April--roughly 13-14 months apart from Dorothy. One of the challenges I am thinking of right off the bat is Sundays. Two little ones too young for nursery. Hmm. I am so happy that there are plenty of ladies with free hands who will be willing to help.

But, I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Right now we are just trying to stay focused on having a healthy second pregnancy and getting another healhty little one into our family.

in process

Well, our blueprints are being ordered for the house. We're looking at a February move-in time. We are finally settled in our new place, so things are coming together!

Dorothy continues to be more wonderful every day. She has mastered rolling and uses it as her main way to get around these days. She has moved on to sweet potatoes as a new solid food and loves them (who wouldn't?). I'm always amazed at what a trooper she is while I cart her around for errands and meetings and appointments. How blessed we are to have such an incredible daughter.

Marty started back to school this week. We feel so blessed that he still has his teaching position, and it will be exciting to see how his new group of students are. Last fall was hard for me, just being home and not going back to school. This fall has been much easier. I love being home with Dot, and I made a trip to my college campus with her and my mom to fulfill my craving for school in the fall. Now I'm ready to hunker down with my sweaters, books, warm beverages, and family as the fall begins.

1. library books
2. weekends with the hubby home
3. dinner out every now and then

more squash pleeeeeeease.

The Dot has been very interested in food
for about a month now.
She watches intently as forks and spoons
pass from our plates to our mouths
filled with good looking food.

Well,
we decided to let her have a go at it.
She ate, but didn't really seem to enjoy, the rice cereal.
So, I moved on to bigger and better things:
pureed zucchini to be exact.

Love. At. First. Bite.

This little one takes down a whole jar once a day.

She still loves nursing,
but I'm excited that she also seems to love some veggies!


In other news....

We are finally done with our move.
We moved everything left last Thursday,
and I did a marathon cleaning day on Friday.
We have been trying to clean and organize
at the house since then.
We can't wait for finalizing the plans on our house
and for the building to begin,
but we are so grateful to have somewhere to stay
while the process takes place.

1. Sundays
2. afternoon naps
3. leftovers

Melts my heart.

Do you see this face?

Every day is a good day
when you get smiles like these!

1. gummy baby smiles

2. being DONE with our move
3. cooling weather--almost fall!

As promised...

Pictures from our trip. Finally.

Well, actually this first one
is from right after we got home.
But Dorothy's hair is in such amazing form,
I just had to share.

A little trip up to Salt Lake
and the Temple visitor's center.

Cousins dinner
and BIG smiles from the little lady.

The baby girls with granpappy Heaps.

A nice afternoon at the park.

Playing with Papa.

Meeting the Diamonds--
Dad's First Mission President and his wonderful wife.

It is so exhausting to be so cute and so little.

A little natural beauty always starts the day off right!

It was such a wonderful trip.
I am so grateful that we had the chance to go!

Oh, August.

Did we plan too much for this month? I'm beginning to think so.

Late Thursday night, after a day full of near plane misses, almost tears, a litle bit of puke (yuck, I know), and a lot of patience, we made it safely back from Utah to the east coast. I can't really complain about the day full of travel, though. I LOVED being able to visit with my sister, Kristi (and fam), and my parents! It can be tough and even a little tearful sometimes not living close to either, so I am always grateful for any time I can get.

The trip was wonderful! Marty got to see my memories from growing up and I got to see his from going to college; we played at the park with our baby girls; we took hikes up the canyon; we went to temple square; we visited with many friends--old neighbors, mission presidents, extended family; and so many other sweet and simple things. I promise pictures as soon as we have moving under control...

Speaking of moving, we have just about everything but our couch, bed, table, and cooking supplies all moved. Our apartment is anything but comfy, but we're not quite ready to leave our own space just yet. One more week and we'll have to get ready for cleaning and saying goodbye to our first home together as a family. We've had a lot of good memories--especially bringing Dorothy home--in that apartment, but life is heading in new and exciting (perhaps even slightly scary) directions. Hopefully we will be ready for all that comes our way in the next few months.

Until then, we're trying to savor the last few weeks of summer together. It just seems like you can never fit in quite enough walks, ice cream cones, laughs, picnics, or trips into one summer. What a smart and loving Heavenly Father that makes sure we get the chance to do it all over again every year.

And now it's back to packing and unpacking at our two locations...

considering the lilies...

"Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you,
That even Solomon in his glory was not
arrayed like one of these.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field,
which to day is,
and tomorrow is cast into the oven,
shall he not much more clothe you,
O ye of little faith?"
Matthew 6: 28-30

I have seen a lot of these lilies
as I have been driving around lately.
How grateful I am for their beauty and their reminder
of our Heavenly Father's love.

Our life is getting ready to change drastically:
we will soon be moving again;
we will soon be sharing a home with family again
for at least a few months;
we may soon be building a house--
assuring us a longer stay in Massachusetts
than I had anticipated.
On top of everything house related,
we are feeling the weight of life--
family,
friends,
church,
etc.

However,
in these moments
when a realization of all that is coming our way
makes it a little hard to breathe,
I try to consider the lilies.
I try to remember that
a loving Heavenly Father will clothe me
with what I need to endure.

Ah, yes.
I am breathing easier already.

Just Dad posting another video of the Dot...

extending strawberry season

With this:
my first sewing machine project.

Marty's mom came over yesterday
and walked me through the steps of the dress.
I was going to have Dorothy model it,
but she just got her 4 month shots.
I figured I'd let her relax instead.

Can't wait to put the little miss in this!

1. patient mom-in-laws
2. sweet baby girls
3. knowing how to use my sewing machine

summah.

Although the rainstorms have been relentless,
we finally had a string of nice weather.
We decided it was time for Dorothy to become aquatic;
she begged to differ.
This was about as far as she would go before crying.
I don't blame her, though.
The water was stinkin' cold.

She preferred to hang out with her papa
in the warm sunshine.

We also finally had the chance to go out to
Western Mass to visit Tom, Mindy, and Zoe.
The girls are finally starting to notice each other.
Man, I still can't get over Zoe's hair.
Oh, and don't you just love Dorothy's belly
hanging out in this picture?

The proud papas with their baby girls.
And, yes, believe it or not
these two are brothers.

Finally starting to make some eye contact.

Mamas loving on their baby girls.

A Vieira family photo.

And another Vieira family photo.

Two happy families.

We had a lot of fun going out for sushi,
taking walks around their cute downtown,
going to a book sale at the local church,
and going to a crafts fair down in Amherst.

Thanks for such a great weekend!

And just a tidbit on Dorothy milestones:
she is rolling over from back to front all the time now,
and, joy of joys, she is starting to cut teeth.
Yes, already.
Wahoo for the Dot.

1. trips to see family

2. fried dough
3. homemade dresses for church

2 years

It was about 2 years ago now
that the Sister Missionaries came for dinner
to my apartment in the city.

I will forever be grateful for their persistence
in coming to see me because now I have
this....

and this...

forever.

1. sweet memories
2. changes of heart
3. the missionaries