Batman

Zane loves his Batman PJs. I love my Zane. I stop and think sometimes it must be a bummer for the rest of the world not to enjoy looking at this beautiful face each day. I felt it was only right to share a few photos. It's not just his exceptional good looks but also the way he loves to say "mama" over and over again because he knows the sound of it coming from his mouth melts my heart. Oh and the way he screams "Daddyeeeeee" like he just hit the mother of all jackpots when the garage door opens as Chris arrives home from work. And the way he giggles when he is sleepy and it sounds like that happy tipsy giggle that makes me never want to put him down but rock him forever in my arms. And his dancing...yes, his dancing gets me every time. He knows all too well how cool he is already. Ladies...fair warning, watch out for this one.

U.S. Airways...from the mouths of babes

The kids and I were glued to CNN watching coverage of the U.S. Airways plane that crash landed in the Hudson River. I was explaining to my 4-year-old daughters what had happened. I made the comment it was a miracle all 150 passengers survived.

Claire shouts, "Yeah, a GOD miracle!"

Amen, sister.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I never got around to Christmas cards this year. Still haven't mailed Christmas gifts to out of town family. Where does the time go? I often find myself saying, "I used to be so organized, so punctual..." Certainly not the case any longer and certainly not the only mom who feels this way. Oh well. Who needs to be on time anyway! Plus, a "blog card" saves trees - right?

Hope your family enjoyed a blessed Christmas! May your 2009 be full of peace, hope and joy.

TRICK-OR-TREAT

Tagged

Tagged by my friend Christina:

1. My bachelor's degree is in Latin American studies. One requirement was to study abroad. While living in Mexico and attending a university there, I was somehow hired as a DJ for a radio station. Ugh...I was terrible. I lasted all of 3 weeks.

2. I went from DJ to working in the public relations department at a beach resort (my minor is PR). First day on the job I was asked to translate the wedding ceremony of a couple visiting from the U.S. Poor couple! Certainly not the romantic, on the beach exchange of vows they envisioned with some college kid translating their vows! Not to mention, my Spanish was very rusty.

3. My name is Heather and I am an ice cream addict. This is not an occasional treat for me, but a many more days that not treat. My favorites are Bluebell's Homemade Vanilla and the Strawberries & Cream. Yum. I have completely hooked my husband on it as well.

4. While I may have influenced Chris' ice cream addiction, he inspired my love for running. I have zero athletic ability and did not play sports growing up. I was terrible and spent much time on the bench as a kid, and yes, I was even asked to be a team manager. Inspired by my husband's running, I decided to give it a try 6 years ago. After 6 months of huffing and puffing I completed my first marathon. I'm still hooked. Thankfully it helps to balance out my ice cream addiction.

5. When I turned 18 someone told me 90% have met the person they will eventually marry by the age of 18. For some stupid reason I believed the statistic and literally prayed that I would be in the 10% because I could not fathom marrying anyone I had met at that point. Thankful for unanswered prayers my beloved and I met on the first day of sophomore year in high school. We were great friends for 7 years before we woke up and fell for one another!

6. I have 3 sisters. All are talented artists. I can not draw a stick figure. A common exchange between me and my children, "Mom, can you draw a chicken?" "Well, I can try." "Mom, that looks like a dog, not a chicken."

7. I make a killer lasagna. I lack much in the cooking department and have had my share of almost catching the house on fire, mangling beaters because I tried to scrape the sides of a bowl while beating batter, made the saltiest choc chip cookies in the world after reading tablespoon instead of teaspoon, and the list goes on. But my lasagna is damn good.

And now I tag Julie, Heather F., and Meagan.

Happy Birthday Claire

Then

And Now

I have a Bible verse for each of my children to remind me of God's faithfulness and all He has taught us. Our Claire Bible verse is "God has made me laugh and all who hear will laugh with me." Genesis 21:6. As most of you know we were in the process to adopt our first child when God shocked us with a pregnancy. I literally laughed upon seeing the results of my first pregnancy test. In fact I thought it was so comical, I sent Chris out to the store to purchase a second pregnancy test while I poured myself a glass of wine fully expecting the first test to be a practical joke. It just seemed so nuts that God would allow me to get pregnant (after trying for years) when He had so clearly guided us and our hearts to adoption. And then it made me laugh even more to learn our girls would be just 5 months apart. We made others laugh too with my big pregnancy belly and a newborn in my arms --- quite the walking side show.

This verse grows sweeter to me each year as I've watched Claire develop into our family clown. She oozes with sunshine and silliness and keeps us laughing. It is as if God has etched this verse into her core.

Great Grandparents

I love generational photos. They speak volumes not only of the importance of family and heritage but history too. Zane met his Great Grandparents on the Bauer side of the family last week when we drove to Tulsa, OK. The girls did great watching movies and coloring but Zane has no interest in TV, he primarily wants to eat crayons and he refused any of the toys I packed for him. He simply had no interest in being buckled in his seat for so long and let us know loud and clear of his discontent. However, it was well worth it to visit with Grandma and Grandpa Bauer. They gave the kids Oklahoma tshirts which I'm sure will cause much rioting by the UT and A&M family members. Enjoy the pics.