Tuesday, October 31, 2006


Hi
posted by mandy


This takes talent.
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look what I can do!
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Can't crawl, but I CAN do this!
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hey
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cute!
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.
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just hanging out...
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Monday, October 30, 2006


Moriah and Matt's creations
posted by mandy


clearly, before the carpet.
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That WAS ravioloi, but oh never again...
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Check out Moriah's sweet pumpkin-carving skills! But don't look at my not-watered-in-a-week mums.
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Look!
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Did I forget to mention, Matt and Mark did a beautiful job installing carpet over the weekend. Took them no-time at all. The wood is beautiful, but totally wrong for babies learning to stand and walk. I hated having screws put into my lovely floor, but it just turned out so well. Yay for burber, however you spell it.
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before...
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before...
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after...
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After
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Baking? Meee??!?

I have only ever baked stuff that came in a cardboard box with easy instructions clearly printed on the back. So, inspired by Matt's mom, I asked for a breadmaker for my birthday. Something that would benefit everyone in the house. However, something I see coming...

Breadmaker + ME = fatter

I was so excited this weekend to go and get the breadmaker, SO excited. We found one on special because it was the display model. Got it home, works fine. So, yay us. So far, I made a white loaf in the machine and the edges are a L-I-T-T-L-E crispy, a yummy wheat loaf and wheat dinner rolls. MMMMmm, smells goood. I also made some pumpkin bread, but not with the breadmaker. (oh and some muffins, but that doesn't count 'cause they are almost already GONE) Oh, and yeah I did have some of everything already, duh. I told you, fatter...
Anyway, that is what was floating my boat over the weekend. Exciting stuff, eh?

Well, if not..this surely will be.

Matt, on vacation this last week, decided he'd let his beard grow. Ew. But, here are his before and after shots because he FINALLY shaved it. Oh how I prefer his sweet, smooth face!

Saturday, October 14, 2006

What more could there possibly be?

I have finally become able to stay at home, with my family. Nothing in this world could make me happier or more content. SO, my days have been spent caring for kids and keeping house. I have the opportunity to directly oversee Moriah's schoolwork. We have agreed that she has definitely done more this week than throughout the last month. Things are going well. I feel the most satisfaction I ever have before, for so many reasons. Knowing Madison's whole demeanor has changed this week, she is not crying for me throughout the day...she knows I am here. What more could a mother want. Working outside the home never brought an ounce of satisfaction for me. I dreaded every morning, the moment I would leave my family and leave my home. I cried each morning on my way to work, knowing what I was leaving behind. I knew they needed me, and I deeply needed them. I would come home on my lunch breaks and cry again on my way back to work. I dreaded the exhaustion that followed me through the door when I came home in the evening. I think of some of the professional women I know, who have children. I wonder what could possibly be more rewarding than raising the little babies we created. I feel sorry for them in a way. I understand, different people have different needs and thus priorities. But in another way, I cannot understand..cannot comprehend. Just my thoughts, based on my own experiences. I cannot walk in their shoes, but I sincerely wouldn't want to. I love my family. All I want in the world is to be able to take care of them, myself. I look forward to every moment with them. Even the inevitable challenges we will surely face. We will face them together. We will be, together.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

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.
posted by mandy


and one more...
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here are our lovely pro shots of Madison
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Here is how we knew he would not be named Abigail...
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Meet Matthew, Jr.
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Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Hot off the PRESS

The ultrasound gave us unmistakable evidence that we are having...
















...a BABY!



A BOY BABY!!!





yay