One year older, and wiser too!

I had a wonderful, perfect birthday this year and was serenaded by Phoebe's "happy birthday cake" songs and received lots of slobbery kisses from my Jules. BD even arranged for Michelle and Ryan to watch the kids while we had a nice dinner out. Friends dropped off treats and flowers and I had a few fun cards in the mail. I talked to my family both near and far. By some stroke of luck I scored gift certificates to pamper myself head to toe. I'm a tad more wrinkly, have a few more gray hairs, stretch marks in all the right spots, and up a few sizes, but my arms are FULL of love. Happy Birthday to MWAH, through the rest of the month because I don't believe in limiting birthday's to just one day :).
xoxo

It's a Bee-Day Party!

We celebrated Phoebe's FIRST Birthday with a little Bee-Day Party for family and a few friends. It probably wasn't the first birthday extravaganza I had worked up in my head throughout the year. But even being 9 months pregnant I was pleasantly surprised at how wonderfully everything came together and I was really able to enjoy her and our families on this special day. We are no where close to being settled into this new house, but it is incredibly nice to finally have a space to gather our families. This little girl is loved by lots of people, what a blessing for her!

Bee-day treats

 

Aunt Brook was a little skeptical about giving Bee first rights to that beautiful beehive cake she made, so I made her a little "smash" cake that she could destroy all on her own.

 

I know, right?! She's the best. Fist ever taste of sugar...she wasn't that impressed.

Get it Bee!

 

Bee received plenty of thoughtful gifts from her party guests including blocks, flashcards, books, a special dolly, and a quiet book from Grandpa Lee. Brad and I gave her the bumble bee Wheely Bug to cruise around the house with.
Something I don't want to forget: I knew I would be great with child, just having moved, etc. so I did my best not to overwhelm myself with excessive party planning. She's ONE after all and couldn't care less about the hullabaloo I was creating. I called a local bakery to ask about making sugar cookies frosted with a simple bumble bee on top. They wanted a whopping $3 per cookie. UM. No thanks, I'll make them myself! I'm so glad that I did. They were the best sugar cookies I've ever made and just imperfect enough to be perfect for my little bee.
A few other details:
Papa Ed loves pizza from The Pie, so we ordered it special for him!
Aunt Jen came over one night and helped blow up yellow, silver, and black balloons.  
Kim helped me string the balloons together in a big banner that we hung across the backyard patio.
Aunt Polly and Joann came down from Logan to be there.
Aunt Brook made the beautiful glazed beehive cake, almost too pretty to eat! She borrowed a beehive water dispenser that was perfect as well.
Aunt Michelle took all the pictures, such a gift, so that I wasn't stressed about not capturing these details.
I was grateful for all the help! Seriously, even tying my shoes at this point is insurmountable without assistance. Ha!
Happy Birthday to my sweet little bee!

Thirty-ONE-derful

Today I'm celebrating Thirty-ONE-derful years of life. I have a feeling this year will be wonderful! My thirties have not disappointed me even for a minute. I truly feel that I am becoming the real me more and more every day. 

Print

I woke up to the sounds of a wonderful baby babbling mumumumumum from the next room. This baby. My oh my. This baby, who loves to squish mandarin oranges in her hands and rub the pulp through her hair. This baby, who I can still nurse to sleep each night while I tickle her face. This baby, who flashes a crooked little grin and somehow brings my world back into focus. This baby, who crawls to my feet and climbs up my leg and looks up at me with the biggest bluest eyes I ever did see. This baby, who loves to take a bath with mom and splash like only a champion bath-splasher could.

I woke up to the kick, flip, flop of a wonderful baby boy dancing in my belly. This baby. My oh my. This baby, who sometimes I forget is even in there until I walk past a mirror and gasp. This baby, who is already loved endlessly will forever go down as the biggest surprise of my life. This baby, who will be here in another minute if I just blink my eye. This baby, who can wiggle and jiggle inside me like only a champion wiggle-and-jiggler could.

I woke up to sounds of plates clinking in the kitchen where a wonderful man was prepping my favorite breakfast of avocado toast. This man. My oh my. This man, who loves me even though I'm chubby. This man, who gives the best foot rubs in the greater 48. This man, who works hard to support this family we have sprouted together. This man, who is prayerful and deliberate and thoughtful about the way he goes about his life. This man, who will kneel at the tub and pour warm water down my back like only a champion water-pourer could.

So you see, this day was wonderful before I even got out of bed. After a morning nap Bee and I ventured on a brisk wintry walk while the sun was shining and warm with our besties. We stayed for corn dogs and lemonade and Bee watched with great envy as Leah ran circles about the place. She must have known it was my birthday because that sweet little Bee of mine took an unprecedented 3 hour nap that afternoon. What a gift! When daddy got home he scooped us up and out the door for dinner, just the 3 of us. It was a near perfect, wonderful day.
Happy Thirty-ONE-derful to me. Thank you, friends and family, for all the love sent in texts, phone calls, emails, gifts, cards, and otherwise. How wonderful you are to me.

A Birthday

...Still trying to master the family-style one-hander. Can't seem to get my face in check.

BD turned Thirty ONE-derful this week and I've been making a giant point of telling him how Thirty ONE-derful he is everyday. All annoying, like that too. Phoebes and I whipped up some cupcakes that morning and took him out to lunch. This guy. I tell you what. He gets more handsome as he ages, which is completely unfair, but also really great for me! What I love about him on his 31st Birthday:

• He always kisses me hello and goodbye. Without Fail. Every. Time. 
• When he comes home from work he will scoop Phoebe into his arms, hug her tightly and smell her. (She smells good!)
• He fights fair.
• If we are watching an intense movie, he sort of perches on his feet into a squat during the intense parts. 
• He is the biggest geek. I love it! Just last night he took 5 minutes to explain why he wanted/needed a DAC Headphone Amplifier and how it worked. It took every ounce of concentration I had to 1) keep up with what he was saying, and 2) not laugh. I failed at both. I love him so much for it.
• He would do anything for Phoebe. 
• He would do anything for me.
• A couple weeks ago he non-nonchalantly goes on about how we should have 3 babies of our own, then adopt some more. Possibly two siblings. From Brazil, maybe? And while I don't know if that exact scenario is in the cards for us, I love that he thinks about our family in this way.  
• Mr. Friendly Pants. He is just a good egg at heart and loves to be a part of things and help serve where he is needed. We've been a part of this neighborhood and building for 7+ years and sometimes I am mistaken for being "new." But then I say, "I'm Brad Duncan's wife" and folks are always like, "Oh yeah! Brad is so great!" I know people. That's why I married him!
• Sometimes driving in the car he'll take my hand, look back at Bee, and say "we have her" with the biggest proudest grin you ever did see.
• If there is only one left, he will give it to me. Doesn't matter what it is.
• He is constantly setting goals for himself to be healthier, more productive, and just mo'betta! It is very inspiring.
• He loves to cook dinner. Meaning he brings home his favorite fajita burritos from Chipotle. I never complain when he offers to cook dinner.
• I never doubt where I stand with him, because he is constantly telling me how much he loves me and why.
• He has a tendency to be hard-headed, but only about things he feels absolutely, positively, undoubtedly sure of. And those are exactly the things one should be hard-headed about. 
• He is ticklish. So soooooooo ticklish.
• He is a really good companion. If I need help, I know he'll help me. If I need space, he will back off. He will reassure me when I need it most.
• I can't imagine my life without him. We are growing up together and figuring life out as we go. It's the best kind of awesome.

Turning Thirty: Becoming the Real Me

I'm turning 30 this weekend. I know, right? My mom is having a private meltdown somewhere because if I'm 30, that means she is...
Thirty is a milestone year, and I think it deserves a bit of attention on this here bloggie. I have a great deal in my life to be thankful for and so much more to look forward to. Pretty much, I love being 30 already. Allow me this soliloquy...

I entered this world at a respectable 8 lbs 12 oz (thanks mom!). Shortly thereafter I intuitively learned to walk and feed myself and manipulate cookies out of older siblings. I was eventually brave enough to peel away from my mother's knee and begin kindergarten. I navigated the playground semi-successfully; got knocked down, got back up again, peed my pants during Heads-up 7-up, hated dodge ball, but secretly loved rainy days when we had to stay inside from recess and read. These are building blocks.
One endless summer I pretend-married my childhood best friend in a tree-house with a cracker jacks prize ring. I buried top secret treasures in my mother's garden intended to be found by future archeologists. I fought and played and fought with my brother. I ate endless quantities of my grandmother's tapioca pudding without guilt. I played outside everyday. Mostly barefoot. These are memories.
Somehow, some way, I survived Jr. High School. Although I did not emerge without scars. My eldest brother tolerated me enough to take me with him to Southeast Asia. It was terrifying, but that experience saved me. By my later teenage years I had started to turn into a somewhat respectable human being. Responsible. Studious (albeit not smart, per se). I gained a testimony of my Savior. I kissed a boy. I pierced my ears. I made real friends all before jumping out of the house and into University where being responsible, studious and popular only made you less than average. These are realities.
I had roommates way out of my league, a lucky good job, and drove an unfortunate old baby blue Mazda ironically named the bullet. I learned to cook on a cattle ranch. I traveled to Europe. Along the way I wrote a missionary and eventually he came home. For reasons I could not understand he was in love with me too and for once in my life I followed my heart instead of my head and said, yes. These are tender mercies. 
We were poor, but it didn't matter. Still doesn't. I finished my studies and went right to work. My first job was a complete set back, but things eventually got better and doors opened that I didn't know existed. We moved away, but not that far. He went school. Plus more school. And now works for his dad :). We fought hard to save those things in marriage worth saving, and got rid of a few others that needed letting go. Along the way a few miracles happened and soon I will become a mom to a little girl who has stolen my heart completely. This is my future.       

I'm entering a whole new decade of my life, the one that I envision will be the most difficult and yet the most rewarding. I'm 30 after all, and I fully intend to act like it. I've been thinking a lot about what it means to age gracefully and I'm fighting back the pressure to look and feel the same as I did a decade ago. Truthfully, I'm not all that sad to see my 20's go. Sure, we had good times, but I'm more than ready to move on. I've given up many things that used to pressure me, including the need to be a super cute super young superhero mom. Rather, I've embraced the notion of simply being a mom to young kids. It's a small change, but has made a big difference. So you see, the older I become, the more I realize I am becoming the real me.

 

A big one: BD's 30!

Someone had a birthday this past weekend. We started the day with toasted pumpkin bagels smeared with whipped pumpkin cream cheese, because it seemed very very necessary for a fall birthday breakfast. Is it just me or do some men become more attractive as they age? Seems unfair. Then again, I don't have to change the oil. So. We finished the day with a beautiful dinner at Sundance accompanied by BD's family-we were late-but it was his birthday after all so no one seemed too upset. Whew! I was almost able to surprise him. But, no. He's more observant of my quirky behavior than I could ever give him credit for. As we were driving to dinner and I uncharacteristically wasn't having an ever-loving meltdown about the possibility of being late to a scheduled event and did not even attempt to call the restaurant and rearrange our romantic dinner reservation for two: he was totally on to me. It was also the twins birthday this week so we celebrated everyone together with rounds of apple pie and peach cobbler. Perfect company, perfectly fall.

On the way home I asked him what he wanted to do with his next thirty years.  
Raise a family with you, of course!
And so I say, he's a good man this birthday boy. One of the best, I think.

I've been working on another picture book filled with our traditional one handed self-portrait snapshots. It arrived just in time to justify it as pre-birthday gift. I must say, through all the ups and downs that were our twenties, we have had some fun, he and I.

 Happy Birthday BD!!

I am: Twenty-Nine, a Weekend Birthday Recap

Someone had a birthday this weekend and I'm pretty much exhausted from all the celebrating. Not that I wouldn't mind dragging it out a few more weeks. I'm eagerly embracing the last year of my twenties, and the crows feet. It was a beautiful snowy long holiday weekend and I've been completely spoiled by family and friends. Thank you all (for the sweet phone calls, texts, drop-by's, and even the FB shout-outs).

A Long-Weekend Birthday Recap:

• L & T surprised me with a power-lunch at Bambara. It was sheer heaven to fine dine with two of my faves. You know your best friend loves you when she drives all the way up to the big city just for you. We three could have stayed all afternoon nestled in that houndstooth booth just talking. Or whatever.
• Another surprise lunch with LtB who happened to be in town and happened to be right in my neighborhood at just the right moment. Serendipitous I tell you! French Onion soup at Goumandise, please.
• A date night with my beau. He gets triple extra points for making reservations and planning a very special evening for the two of us. Not just dinner, but a true culinary experience at Forage. We're now totally broke, but it was worth it.
• A foot rub and breakfast in bed: BD can make a mean bowl of porridge. Never underestimate a man with a whisk.

• Lunch with mom and sisters, and the best burger I've had in a good long while. I keep waiting to grow out of my cheeseburger and fries phase, but there's always my thirties, right?
• Treats from La Bonne Vie at The Grand America. I'm trying really really hard to embrace macaroons like the rest of the world, but I just can't do it. I have yet to eat one that I'm even remotely excited about.
• A new stove!! Miracles. I guess BD was starting to notice the lack of culinary goods being produced from our kitchen. He's no dummy. 
• They hauled THE BEAST away. I did not shed a tear. There was no moment of silence.
• It's possible that I've kissed my new stove several hundred times. Thankyouthankyouthankyou.
• A successful lesson on Sacrifice taught in church. Successful in that it's over, and that feels really good.
• No Sunday night blues! Just a Sunday afternoon spent lounging in my yellow ice-cream cone pajama pants. You know you want some.
• And because this weekend was not food-centric or caloric enough, a liege waffle with crème fraîche and strawberries from Bruges. I thoroughly enjoyed watching my friend J's first experience with a Belgian waffle.You never forget your first time.
• A whole day spent with BD running errands, carefully selecting items for care-packages to Brazil, neighborhood house gawking, and trying fun new drinks. I love that he's always up for an adventure.

Whew! I need an extra day just to sleep it off. Truly, I have the best, most thoughtful family and friends. I love you all. Thank you for making me feel good-enough, and young-enough, and simply loved-enough.

Happy Happy to BD

n a day like today, my husband and fledgling tennis partner, I wish you the happiest of birthdays. Despite those bad things I said that one time when I was really really upset about that one thing... I love you with heart, mind, body, and soul and I wouldn't change who you are or what we've become for anything. You've been my husband for s-e-v-e-n years (this month!), my fiancé before that, my missionary before that, my boyfriend before that, and my best friend even before that. I love that you'll play tennis with me, even though I'm pretty awful, and you're rather terrible. We lose half the balls we bring, and our two brains together are barely intelligent enough to figure out the scoring. On the court we are nothing short of disastrous. But you play with me anyway, and you cheer when I win, because you know it makes me insurmountably happy to swing wildly at things with a racket. That pretty well sums up the kind of man you are, living with the kind of woman I am, and why life with you just seems to work (even if you have to duck now and then). If your mother were alive today, I'd kiss her on the mouth and thank her repeatedly for carrying you safely into this world some 29 years ago. It's strangely comforting to think even though you were nearly 10 years overdue in your parents' eyes, you were born at exactly the right time and in the right place in order for me to stand right behind you in the 2nd grade luau while your mom filmed us completely pummeling the Hawaiian hu ke lau. With that, we don't need any more proof that it was always meant to be. Even today, I am still right behind you and your mother is smiling so proudly from a short distance. Your family is cheering you on and your friends are going through the same motions you are. You are becoming more like your dad with every year, and I am just fine with that because it's obvious to me where your entire arsenal of endearing qualities comes from. To celebrate, let's fly far far away and get lost in the woods.

P.S. When we have children, I will refrain from embarrassing you like this and will aim to devote our entire blog to diaper blow-outs and the first day's of kindergarten. That's a promise.

They say its your birthday, We're gonna have a good time

oday is my Birthday and I called in sick. I'd like to be telling you that I'm instead pulling my best Lindsey Vonn down the slopes at Alta. But the truth is, I'm actually home, sick. It's not the best way to spend a birthday, I realize, but I'm determined to make the most of it. I'm not going to let a little cough keep me from having the best birthday ever. You only get one per year, you know.

• I've got a full bottle of DayQuil from BD
• I'm milking a delicious pot of brothy soup from a dear friend
• I have a DVR full of Bones re-runs to keep me company. (Since I gave up my trashy dramas last year, I'm new to this series and the re-runs skip around all seasons. I'm all sorts of confused about the storyline, but that Forensic Anthropology stuff is fascinating!)
• I have a box of frozen Junior Mints to keep my spirits up
• I get to spend the day in my jammies :)
• See? Best. Birthday. Ever.

Don't worry mom, I'll be back on my feet by Sunday to claim my lasagna and giant piece of chocolate cake!

XOXO

A little birthday wishing

BD, you and I both know that typically we are a joined at the hip kind of couple. I love it that way. But right now I'm in Texas, you're in Pennsylvania. Working. And it's your birthday. This is new. Not to mention a crime against our union in holy matrimony. But we are coping.
The only thing that makes me feel better about you turning one year older is that I have 4 months to rub it in your face. Let the smearing begin!

Happy 26th Birthday Bradlee

Happy Birthday to my beau,

You should know:

For every today I love you as I did before,

And for every tomorrow I'll love you more.

Gina's 24th!!

This last weekend was a three day weekend because of President's Day on Monday and it was also Gina's 24th birthday on Sunday. On Sunday evening, the Fords were nice enough to offer thier cabin for a get-together with a bunch of our friends at Sundance and to let us stay the night. We had a blast playing games, eating good food, and just hanging out. Here's some pics, enjoy. And Happy Birthday GINA!!