Wednesday, May 27, 2009

I love to see the Temple

We were finally able to make it to the Temple
for the first time since Dorothy was born.
What I loved most was that she got to come with us.
I loved having her there and thinking about the
wonderful promise of being together forever as a family.
We feel so blessed to have the Boston Temple
just over an hour away from us.
It is such a beautiful building
where such beautiful things take place.
Going to the Temple in the spring
always reminds me of the day Marty and I were
sealed together for time and all eternity.
Ahhhh, so perfect.
Nothing beats it.

1. Temples
2. green returning to the trees
3. families

Friday, May 22, 2009

The dancing Dot.



This was Marty's project last night while Dorothy and I were at Enrichment. Enjoy!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Cindy Lou Who...

Every time we wash the polka Dot's hair,
it sticks up and reminds me of
the littlest Who down in Whoville.
Now that is one cute Cindy Lou Who!

(please excuse the unturned picture)
And on Mother's Day,
we all got to meet Zoe,
Dorothy's little cousin (born 11 days later).
Can you believe Zoe's head of hair?!

Two new mamas and their sweet baby girls.
I can't wait to see more of them this summer.

Monday, May 18, 2009

while the baby sleeps on my lap...

I am going to do this:

ABCs of me

A) Attached or Single: attached. most certainly.

B) Best Friend: Martonian Berticus.

C) Cake or Pie: pies of all shapes and sizes

D) Day of Choice: Sunday--especially Sunday afternoons

E) Essential Items: my books, flipflops, music, kitchenAid, plants, and crackers

F) Favorite Color: nothing but green for me

G) Gummy Bears or Worms: neither, thank you.

H) Hometown: Northboro, MA--not to be confused with Southboro, Westboro, Foxboro, Marlboro, Boxboro, Attleboro, or any other lovely boro of Massachusetts.

I) Indulgences: warm baths and pints of ice cream--different flavors for different days

J) January or July: hmm, not a huge fan of either, but July more than January

K) Kids: one sweet little baby girl--my little polka Dot

L) Life is incomplete without: Marty and Dorothy, the Gospel, phone calls with my mama and sisters, reading, nature, music, and more...

M) Marriage Date: April 19, 2008

N) Number of siblings: 2 brothers, 2 sisters

O) Oranges or Apples: ohhhhh, a fresh honey crisp apple from the farm is the best! but a pink lady from the store hits the spot as well.

P) Phobias: clowns and tidal waves. seriously.

Q) Quotations: oh so many. here's a taste:

"From a great heart secret magnetisms flow incessantly to draw great events."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent."
~Victor Hugo

"Perhaps it is better to wake up after all, even to suffer, rather than to remain a dupe to illusions all one's life."
~Kate Chopin

"...a tie is a noose, and inverted though it is, it will hang a man nonetheless if he's not careful."
~Yann Martel

R) Reasons to Smile: sunshine, a warm home, freshly baked bread, Dottie's cooing, Marty's love, good friends, cups of tea in the morning, walks in the fresh air, working in the garden, learning new things every day, and the peace and joy that come from a life centered in the gospel.

S) Season: der Fall. no contest.

T) Tag: YOU, if you so desire.

U) Unknown fact about me: my family and I used to piece dinosaur bones back together at a museum in Utah.

V) Vegetarian or Meat Eater: I have been both in my life. I currently eat meat.

W) Worst Habit: snorting when I laugh. pregnancy seemed to really exacerbate it.

X) X-rays: many many many of my poor right hip (2 plates + 12 pins = spiffy x-rays), my teeth, my leg, hmm there may be others

Y) Yummy Favorite Food: I love me some paella, salmon, chowdah, scalloped potatoes, curry, cuban black bean stew, enchiladas, and more. food in general is my favorite.

Z) Zodiac Sign: Taurus. I'm a bull baby.

your turn!

Friday, May 15, 2009

The time has come for us to say goodbye...

Today we said goodbye to a dear friend:
Our Jeep Patriot.

We have been toying with the idea of becoming
a one car family for a while now.
We decided that while our family is still small
and Marty is so close to his work
that we should give it a go and save some money.
Some days will be tough,
but we truly think it was the best decision.

So, goodbye, Jeep.
We'll miss your beautiful green color
and rugged exterior.
However,
we know what a teddy bear you were inside.

1. saving money
2. family outings
3. a blue sky (even if only for a few hours)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

dia de las mamas

Today has been an emotional day. Of course some of the emotion comes from looking into the face of this sweet girl of mine and knowing that I have the privilege of being her mama. Some of the emotion comes from finally realizing just how much my own mother did to show me her love and raise me well. I finally get what it means to have a mother heart.

But the majority of the emotion came from being sustained into my new ward calling: second counselor in the Relief Society. For the first time since being in this ward, I sat facing the Relief Society sisters for the meeting. Every woman from our ward was in attendance, relieved from their own callings for this special day for mothers. I felt overcome with love for all of those women and overwhelmed by their strength and goodness. I feel honored to be able to spend a period of time serving them. I look forward to all that I will learn and for the many ways I will have to grow in order to fulfill this calling. To make this calling an even more emotional experience, I am stepping into the footsteps of my good friend Allison. She is an incredible woman who put her whole heart into this position. I only hope that I can serve with the same love and energy that she exudes.

To all of the women in my life, thank you. I am better for knowing you. To my little girl, although she cannot yet read or comprehend this, thank you for letting me be your mom. It is one of the greatest honors I think that I will know on this earth.

oh, happy day to ALL women whether mothers yet or not. We all carry the same inherent goodness that qualifies us for the greatest calling in life.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

mission accomplished.

baby legwarmers:
check.
They're a little shorter than I wanted;
I'll have to use longer socks next time.
However,
I am pleased with the overall results.
Thanks, Krusp,
for the idea
(and for the pair you made for Dot).
These will be great for the spring!

Monday, May 4, 2009

of birthdays and blessings

welp,
I'm officially a quarter of a century old.
And what better gift is there to commemorate
such an occasion than a new pair of shoes?
How about
2 pairs of shoes!

My new sandals:
My new heels:
I lost most of my shoe collection last summer,
so Marty thought he would treat me to some new shoes
for my birthday.
He even picked out the snazzy mustard colored heels.
I love them!

This past Sunday
we were able to bless Dorothy.
My parents flew in from North Carolina
and my sister and her family drove up from Pennsylvania
for the celebration.

We have had such a hard time catching one of Dorothy's
smiles on camera,
but Grandma Heaps got one on the first try.
Oh, she just gets cuter by the day!
The weather was mostly cloudy and rainy,
but we had enough of a break in the weather
to take my parents to the daffodil field we recently discovered.
Here is our little Miss all ready for her blessing day at church.
the mama lady and her sweet baby girl.
Another family shot.
Marty gave Dorothy a beautiful and simple blessing.
From the company we had
to the blessing and luncheon afterward,
it was all a beautiful weekend.