Happy Birthday Mom!

(Abby, Ashley, Barsha--Napa Valley--2009)

Today is my mom's birthday, we won't tell you how old she is, but she is one wonderful woman. She has worked hard all of her life to be a wonderful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, friend, and employee. I cannot recall one time when she has let anyone down even when her plate is full. She strives to be good a whatever she does whether it be skiing down a mountain or quilting a beautiful piece of art. Though we often give her a hard time about whatever she is doing (not working for 7 days in a row) she takes it all in good fun and gives you this look that cannot even be described. She might be approaching senior citizen age, but she keeps herself young with all the fun things she loves to do!

I write this today to celebrate my wonderful mother who is about to be a grandmother to 4 little ones and takes it all in stride. She is always there to help Abby or me no matter what the circumstances and no matter what time the plea for help comes. She has taught us to be strong independent women who love their families unconditionally. She has taught us to be hard, deligent workers in our jobs and reap the rewards (she is the queen of planning vacations). She has taught us to be well rounded in so many ways that I cannot even begin to count. Most importantly, as I prepare to become a mother, she has taught us how to love, teach, protect, guide, and support our children in all ways possible, just as she has done with her children for the last 30 years.

Happy Birthday Mom. I love you more than I can ever tell you in words.

Registering for baby

Today is a day focused on little Matney. Though she has not arrived; today we beginning the process of preparing for the daily needs of our little one. I have finally suckered Brandon into going to register for her as we don't have long until the scheduled showers begin. Besides, if this little one keeps growing the way she is, she won't stay in until April 2, 2010 or she will be the size of a large watermelon (and Mommy doesn't want that).

We have decided to register at Bab*es R'Us and Tar*et. I have decided the decision making process about what to register for, where, and what is really needed is somewhat diffficult. Do you buy the regular highchair or the space saving highchair, do you buy bottles you have used before with nephews or do you buy different ones, do you get Pa*pers or Hugg*es? If not for my sister who has had two children, I think I would be completely lost of what to do today.

As any parent, you only want the best for your children and want to keep them safe. However, there is no one review out there on the websites that doesn't discredit something about each product. I guess this is where the matter of personal opinion/judgement comes in and you just have to hope you have chosen what will protect your child and keep them safe and warm. For instance, some of the larger things that we need to get for every day use (ie: infant carrier) have all the best ratings on the websites, but the catch is, they are only available on the websites. Being a first time mother, I really want to see what we are registering for, touch it, examine every part of it, and assure myself that it is the one I want to make sure Matney will be safe. However, it doesn't appear this will be possible, so do I take the chance and get it site unseen, or do I register for something else that is in the store that might not have as good of ratings/reviews. Oh the things running through my mind...

I have a feeling that today will be like the blind leading the blind as my husband is still figuring out why he has to go with me and I can't just take my sister or my mom. I know he wants to protect and support Matney and me, but just like a lot of dad's, he isn't sure what the best way to do that is sometimes, I think. I have told him that this will be the last time we have to register for anything and it is a memory we are making together to share with our children someday. I think he gets tired of my grand ideas, but he usually ends up giving in and having a good time or appreciating my efforts (at least he acts like it).

In closing, here is a recent picture of Brandon and I before our anniversary date. I took pics of the growing belly bump for all to see.

1st Anniversary

One year ago tomorrow, December 6th, I married the love of my life. It is hard to believe how quickly the year has past, but I am thankful for every quick minute of it.

This time last year I was either getting my hair done or getting my makeup done, this year, I am sitting here drinking coffee and reflecting as I sit in my pajamas and listen to the TV going as Brandon is watching some insane show. It is nice to be spending the day together and know that we don't really have to be doing something or going somewhere to be happy with each other. We are content to spend time together relaxing and preparing for the future changes in our life either alone in seperate rooms with the occasional "I love you" as we pass each other or together making breakfast. If 5 years ago you would have told me I would be in this place and waking up each morning next to the man I will love for the rest of my life, I would have laughed at you. However, now, I couldn't be happier to call the man I fell in love with 4 years ago, my husband and friend.

I am thankful for so many things that God has given to me since bringing Brandon into my life.

• That we each have a good job and are in a comfortable place and able to pay the bills each month, especially when we see others in the community struggling so bad due to the loss of a job or depletion of savings due to the economy.
• That we have been able to buy and sell our first home, in order to buy a beautiful house on 15 acres where we can both do things we enjoy together ie: decorating and cooking for me, playing outside in the barn for him, or fishing together in our new pond, and looking forward to the future family gathers around the swimming pool next summer.
• A husband who loves, cares, and trusts me no matter what the situation.
• That my faith has grown stronger in the last year and that God has lead us to join a new church as a family. (We join tomorrow--good way to remember what day we join--our anniversary).
• A husband who cooks dinner when he has been off all day or when he knows I am tired from working all day, even though I sit at a desk on the phone and he is the one who does the manual labor.
• The future birth of our daughter in April. Last year at this time, I would have never believed we would be expecting our first child, but we couldn't be happier and more excited to welcome Matney Paige into our warm and loving home. Daddy will have her spoiled in no time.

I pray God will allow our marriage to continue to grow and become stronger and that he will prepare us to be wonderful parents to the child that he is blessing us with. I pray and hope that my husband is kept safe each and everyday and that I love my husband as much with each passing day and more than I loved him the day we got married.

Preparing for Christmas

The house has been decorated yet again for the wonderful Christmas season. It is hard to believe it is Christmas time again and the decorations have all been hung. It seems like we were just decorating our old house for our first Christmas as husband and wife. This year has flown by with many wonderful memories.

We are excited to share the holidays with our family and friends and see what new memories the upcoming year will bring.

We pray that you all have a wonderful and safe holiday season and that your New Year is filled with blessings and joy.