This is what I found when I opened my knitting book yesterday…

Isn’t that just the sweetest surprise?! My dear hubby…always thinking of his girls

September 9th was Michael and my three year wedding anniversary. So much has happened in three years: we moved twice, bought a home, and our family grew by two people! I am so blessed and couldn’t be happier

I Corinthians 7:7 (NLT)
“But God gives to some the gift of marriage…”

Why Your Daughters Love You

You give big hugs

You snuggle us

You rough house with us

You let us scream

You let us cook with you

You take the time to explain new things to us

You don’t get frustrated with us

You give us boundaries

You share your “toys” with us

You tell us we’re pretty

You allow us to be ladies

You allow us to act wild

You encourage us to pick ourselves up when we fall

You pick us up when we fall too hard

You “take good care of us” (~Lilli)

You’re a comforter

You’re a horse, or a bear, or a tiger, or…

You are proud of us

You are…there.

Why Your Wife Loves You

You’re an amazing dad! (See Above)

You make sacrifices

You’re honest, even when I don’t want you to be

You watch LHOP (Little House on the Prairie) with me

You scratch, rub, & tickle me…over and over and over and over again

You love me even when I’m unlovable

You’re never unlovable

You write me love notes

You lead our family

You pray sincerely

You encourage me

You‘re an adrenaline junkie

You can fix anything and don’t mind getting dirty to get the job done
(including changing diapers)

You’re a human heater

You’re not hairy

You’re in AMAZING shape

You are sexy

You’re always ready to play

You’re a jeans guy

You protect us

You don’t yell

You are my opposite

You make me laugh, especially when I don’t know if you’re joking or not…

For example:
Me: “Why are you such a good husband and father?”
You: “Because I want something.”

Me: “Oh the new Sonic opened up!”
You: “We should go…oh yea, I treat my girls right!”

You: “I found these in my jacket sleeve”
(handing me undies) …
“They got stuck together in the dryer.”
Me: “Ew thank goodness they’re clean.”
You: (Laughing) “Thank goodness they’re yours!”

And last, but not least, You are my everything.

It’s Monday…and since I haven’t blogged in a WHOLE WEEK I’ve decided to do a recap and skip Music Monday (however I did hear a Def Leppard song yesterday while over my neighbors’…reminded me of 1st grade, rockin’ out in the back of the bus - which, by the way, I could only ride in the back because my cool cousin was in 6th grade - while listening to my tapes on my walk-man…wow- 20 years ago?! Now that’s a flashback!).

Weekly Recap:
* My Dyson came in!!! How crazy is that?! I’m ecstatic about a vacuum cleaner. But really, with two kids, two dogs, & an “outdoorsy” hubby, our home tends to be a cheerio/furball/dirt magnet. This Dyson makes me want purposely spill things- just so I can use the vacuum! I know, I have issues
* I’ve put my knitted baby blanket project on hold for the past two weeks and was swayed by a certain 4 1/2 year old to knit her a Kitty Cuddly. Lilli has been pestering me for a while about this - in fact, ever since she lost the knitted bunny “Bow” a few months back. I think she finally realizes that if she loses something, she has to do without it…it may not always be so easily replaced. It took me 3 days, but “Kitten” was finally born… & Lilli keeps him safe on her bed Something I didn’t expect, though, jealousy from Corinne. She wanted a kitten too! So, a couple days later, “Mini-Kitty” was born and all was well in Corinne’s world.

* Organic Seeds! That’s right, planting season is right around the corner and I want to be prepared! Thanks to http://www.organicaseed.com , we’re right on track. Michael is looking forward to the cucumbers that will be pickled, I’m looking forward to the green beans, and Lilli is THRILLED about the strawberries! As the months pass, I will be sure to start blogging about this subject more often
* We had a visit from my dad! He stayed with us a night, while on a business trip in DC. Michael and I enjoyed his company and the girls had fun spending time with Opa. It was cute seeing Corinne hold his hand as they walked and Lilli making sure he sat next to her at dinner.

* I finished the book, Power of a Praying Wife. My good friend Vicki has asked me to start a small group with her (for which I am still humbled) that focuses on how to be true Christian wives…not as the world thinks wives should be, but how God has commanded wives to be. I’m really excited about this opportunity and am so thankful that God has surrounded me with such wise & godly Christian women. Vicki gave me two books last week: Power of a Praying Wife & Divine Romance. I should have DR read by the beginning of next week and prayerfully God will reveal which book He wants us to start with. I’m interested to see where He leads us
* Lilli is a reader! That’s right, my 4 1/2 year old can read! In fact, she puts letters together and makes up her own words! Her latest book is “Kit” from the Calvert School’s Early Phonics Storybooks. Here are a couple examples from the book: “Kit has a hat” & “Kit can sit.” She is so smart and I pray that her thirst for knowledge continues to grow.

* Lady had her check up and is looking good. She weighs 13 1/2lbs and is in great shape. Within the month, she will be getting spayed.

* Baby Clarke is growing! I’ve felt little flutters here and there and have noticed a more prominent bulge (thank goodness…I don’t like that beer-belly look…I’d rather prefer the I’m-hiding-a-small-melon look…lol”) Here’s the latest:
* By week 17, your baby weighs about 4.97 ounces (140gm) and is 5.12 inches (13cm) long.
* He or she has a much more normal “human” appearance now. She holds her head more erect and her body and limbs are longer in proportion to her head.
* Pads are forming on his tiny fingertips and toes. Soon those individual swirls and whorls will be apparent.
* Her eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed.
* Meconium (composed of products of cell loss, digestive secretion and swallowed amniotic fluid), is accumulating in the bowel. This black gooey substance will become your baby’s first poop!
* The umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger and continues to rush blood and nutrients to your growing baby.
* Her skeleton is tranforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier.
(info courtesy of www.pregnancy.org)

* The best thing about this week was by far my date night!! Michael and I have made it a point to have a date night at least once a month. As a parent, it is so easy to get caught up everything else: the kids, house, dogs, job, you name it and “forget” about your own needs. It’s also easy to “forget” to have a date night…something else (see list above…lol) always comes up. Michael is more than a dad, I am more than a mom…we are each other’s other halves with our own interests (no, Elmo is really not my favorite actor and no, I really don’t like playing with cardboard boxes and pretending it is my fort). So we’ve marked our monthly date night on the calendar…in permanent marker This past weekend we went to Red, Hot, & Blue and had a GREAT time! The food was awesome, as was our waitress Liz. But the best thing about our date was just being able to share a conversation, laugh, & be silly together for a couple of hours…just the two of us. I was woo-ed all over again

That’s it in a nutshell! Readers, I pray your week is richly blessed!

PS. I posted this blog in Linux…woo-hoo (sense the sarcasm, Michael )

How blessed am I to have such a wonderful hubby? VERY! Last night we were laying in bed & my stomach began to growl. I put it off for a while thinking I could sleep it off…but Baby Clarke wouldn’t have that. Thoughts of Super Sized McDonald’s fries filled my mind…that and a Big Mac (I’m sure many of you are saying, “ew” right about now). “Apparently I do love you,” said my smiling soul mate. It was 10:30 at night & Michael drove to the closest McDonald’s, which for us in the country is 10 miles away (for those of you who have lived in a city, you know driving even 5 miles seems like an eternity.) An hour later with a full tummy, Baby Clarke and I were happy…and we went to bed

I never really have just one resolution…there’s so much I know I can work on. So here they are for 2008:

****Study the Bible Daily****
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” ~Psalm 119:105

Last year I was really good about this. Then summer came and I wanted to enjoy the outdoors with the girls. Soaking up the sun while Lilli played in her kiddie pool took priority over God’s Word. Looking back, I still could have enjoyed time with Lilli outside - but I could have brought my Bible & study outside with us, instead of thinking that I would “make time to do it later” (which of course I never got around to doing).

****Be more respectful towards my husband.****
“You wives will submit to your husbands as you do to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of his body, the church; He gave His life to be her Savior. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives must submit to your husbands in everything. And you husbands must love your wives with the same love Christ showed the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by baptism and God’s word.” ~Ephesians 5:22-2

I think I’m respectful…when I want to be. Here’s a good example: I sometimes tend to feel that my unneccessary deceptive feelings are more important than everything else going on around me. You know, like when a thought gets in your mind that won’t go away…dwelling on things that have no importance…that you have no control over…I’m sure you’ve experienced that a time or two. Michael has a way of snapping me back into reality and shining a light on the truth. (It’s an amazing gift God has given him!) Sometimes I’m respectful and accept his words of wisdom…and other times I just want to pout…to lash out…to dwell on those feelings because they “feel” so important when in reality, they’re not. I need to remember that my dear husband has my best interest in mind and isn’t merely shooing my delicate feelings aside. He is actually helping me know the truth. God has given me a wonderful husband who has helped me grow so much and I know he will continue to do so.

****Recycle****
Michael showed me this article this morning and it shocked me: Continents of Floating Garbage
We recycle cans, plastic jugs, and glass, but I don’t go out of my way to recycle things that my center doesn’t accept (plastic items that don’t have a “neck,” magazines, etc). This article has motivated me to recycle as many things as I can!

That’s right…we’re taking a family vacation to Wyoming for a whole week. HOW EXCITED AM I?!!! Very…but the one thing I hate about travelling is the preparation (dun dun dun…):

Not only do I pack myself (which is a task in itself), but also for my two daughters. I’m very thankful Michael is able…and willing… to pack himself And it’s probably the perfectionist in me, but I have to wash everything first and then pack it….I even go as far as to pack the girl’s clothes in plastic bags (just in case someone else’s baggage leaks something, which has happened to me before…ew).

Then there’s the dogs. This is the first time we’re leaving them. However, they are in good hands (I know because I unexpectedly checked the kennel out last week…surprise!). I think Nicki and Tubby will like it at Pioneer Retriever Kennel….and it’s only a 15 minute drive from our house! Woo hoo!

Carry on bags must have the essentials: snacks, sippy cups, dvds and player, activity books, tissues, hand sanitizer, and girls’ favorite stuffed animal. I’m not too worried about the girls on the plane though, since they did an excellent job when they took a trip to Texas with me in October. (Lilli loved having a window seat…lol) I know it will be easier with Papa in the picture to help (BIG SMILE).

I do have a lot to be thankful for: Momma Carol already has diapers for Corinne & 4 outfits waiting for the girls so I don’t have to pack as much, and our neighbors are going to keep an eye on our house while we’re gone. How generous is that?! A BIG thank you to all of them! I’m also looking forward to just having a great time with my family while we’re out west….I will be sure to make many posts with pictures
So now that I’m obviously procrastinating my packing….I better get to it.

Oh, this would be one more thing to add to my Before & After: Children blog wouldn’t it???

So much has happened this past week, but I’ve been too tired to get on here to post anything. Madness, I know! So I’m doing a recap:

We put up both Christmas trees (one family one in the living room and one mini tree upstairs for the girls) and decorated the house, yes as always, the day after Thanksgiving. Lilli was thrilled to put on her new “Green Eggs & Ham” ornament on her tree and I’m super excited because I just ordered my door wreath today (from the same person I get all my wreaths from: Abigail’s Bloomers - she has just wonderful quality handmade wreaths & swags; plus, she’s a real joy to do business with!) I’ve written out our Christmas card list and gotten gift ides, so all that’s left to do really is take our annual family picture.

Lilli is doing an amazing job with her homeschooling. She has enjoyed learning her sight words: “I” “like” “my” and “see” and especially likes reading her books to me (of course the only words in the books are the one’s mentioned ) One of her new favorite games is, “Find That Toy” where I select 3 or 4 letter cards, put them on the floor, and she has to go around her room, collect a few toys, and place them under the correct letter that they begin with. The trick is that she cannot use the same toy twice. She loves it!

Corinne, in short, is a ham. Her new fun thing to do is to put a blanket over her head, walk around, and the take the blanket off to see where she has ended up. I found her doing this in her crib the other day, but tonight was even better when I heard Michael and the girls upstairs roaring with laughter! She loves discovering new things. Corinne has also learned how to use a fork and spoon…she is so proud of herself!

Baby Clarke is still kicking my butt. My nausea goes away slightly during the day, but returns full force when I go to bed I’m at week 7 now so, prayerfully, I will only have 5-6 more weeks of this icky feeling left. Michael, as always, is a HUGE support. He has completely taken over when I need him to, gets the girls ready for bed, organizes the house, he even went grocery shopping for me (he hates the grocery store), and he does it all without complaining. What an immense blessing he is to me!
Here’s the latest development with Baby Clarke:

* Elbows form - Again, taking a peek inside you could see your baby’s fascination with bending and flexing. Later you will swear you can enlist your child as the star of the next “Karate Kid” movie!
* Fingers start to develop - These digits often become your baby’s first toy!
* Feet start to appear with tiny notches for the toes - It is fascinating that at less than a half inch, your little guy (or gal) already is leaving “footprints” on your heart!
* Ears eyes and nose start to appear - Although they may resemble an alien life form, these all “shift” soon enough into a more normal appearance.
* Intestines start to form in the umbilical cord - Did you know that initially the intestines are not formed inside your baby’s body?
* Teeth begin to develop under the gums - Thankfully, right now you won’t be dealing with teething pain!
(Information courtesy of www.pregnancy.org)

Tubby had his annual physical. He’s a whopping 73.5 lbs!! What a porker! The vet said he’s in good shape and shouldn’t grow anymore, so if there is any Newfoundland in him, he only got the tail…poor guy. Even though he is shorter than Nicki, he can obviously hold his own (weighing 10 lbs more than she does!). Michael says he’d make a great line backer Then there’s Nicki - as always, she is just the smartest dog alive

I sometimes would get up with Michael in the morning, make breakfast, make sure he had his lunch & other belongings, and send him on his way to work. Note: I would, as in past tense. Now, Baby Clarke has me in bed, nibbling on Saltines and sipping Ginger Ale in the middle of the night. So I decided a couple of weeks ago (when I noticed I was starting to have the pregnancy “sleepies”), to make a whole bunch of breakfast burritos & freeze them, so Michael could grab one and go. The brilliant part is the freezing them - a BIG thanks to Momma Carol! Now I can sleep in until 7:00am and still know that my hubby has eaten a good breakfast.

Britt’s Breakfast Burritos
1 Package of sausage
10 Eggs (scrambled)
A lot of cheddar cheese 5 large flour tortillas

Brown sausage
Drain sausage fat.
Mix in scrambled eggs.
Mix in cheese.
Cook until done.
Spoon mixture evenly into tortillas.
Wrap tortillas.
Stick in a sandwich baggie, seal, wrap with tin foil.
(I then write the date on foil with permanent marker)
Put in freezer.

Enjoy!

At one point in my life, my Saturday nights were devoted to either a fraternity party or clubbing in DC. Thankfully, I’m now at a different point in my life. Currently six to eight years later, my Saturday nights (just like every other night) are devoted to my darling husband. Lately, we’ve been refreshing our memories on “The Lord of the Rings,” which is one of my favorite trilogies - not only because I get to see Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen for a few hours (however, I do think Sean Connery would have made a wonderful addition to the cast ), but because of quotes like these:

Sam: It’s like in the great stories Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn’t want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end it’s only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines it’ll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something even if you were too small to understand why. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand, I know now folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there’s some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.

Tonight, in my pink flannels, snuggled up to my hubby in front of the fire watching the “The Two Towers,” I remembered my “shadow,” my “darkness” and I remembered thinking that I would never get through it. But, with God’s amazing grace, I persevered. I didn’t give in to something that would harm me and that would eventually destroy me. With the help of a few “Sams” in my life (my Heavenly Father, Michael, & best friend Holly - just to name a few), I fought through my moments of weakness. My new day has come and boy does my sun shine bright!

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~ Jeremiah 29:11