Saw this and thought of you, Kari!

This pretty much says it all!

Happy Birthday DAVEY!

Dave is 30! And to commemorate this special day here are some things that I have learned about Dave over the past 7-and-some-change years:

1. Dave loves when people sing Happy Birthday to him, why I don't know, but he encourages it every year.

2. He takes more time than you would think to do his hair, and he usually asks me if it looks good. It looks the same to me every day and I cut it usually pretty short, so this is a strange question to me.3. Dave doesn't always admit it, but he likes chick flicks. Sometimes he'll suggest that we watch Pride and Prejudice and then add 'if YOU want to' at the end to make it sound like he's giving in to my wishes. Right.

4. Dave talks with his hands when he thinks he's making a good point or 'real' sense about a topic. I have to protect my eyes sometimes to avoid his gestures.5. Dave gets secret enjoyment when the dogs go to him to cuddle or get attention rather than me. I can see it in his face. . . the 'they like me better' look.
6. Don't talk to Dave for at least an hour after he has woken up, especially if it is to his alarm. He is a zombie. Sleepwalker, I swear. I don't think he recognizes that anyone else is alive, because he truly isn't either.

7. I don't think Dave's changed much from when we were dating in regards to affection. Dave loves to be in contact at all times. I don't know how others perceive it. . . being better or worse than newlyweds, but the man loves closeness no matter who it nauseates. I would apologize, but I like that he is that way. Too bad.
8. Dave is an uber laid back guy, but he only pretends to be laid back about two things. . . first, what we should eat. No matter what he says, he always cares about what we will eat and has an opinion. Second, winning at his fave sports (this includes video games as well). If I get a little ahead (and maybe a little cocky, though that really isn't in my character) he always has to kick in the competition and show me that he is GOOD!9. It is practically impossible for Dave to shut or close any drawer or cabinet. I don't know. I can't figure this one out myself.

10. Dave is very clean, but it is a paradox, for it only applies in certain areas. Weird right. Dave is only fastidious over certain things. Like dog hair. We have dogs, so we are plagued with this drama. Dave uses the lint brush constantly (almost immediately after the dogs have moved away from him, even though they will be back in a minute to revisit and shed some more) on himself and the furnishings, however he leaves his hair from shaving all over the sink. What is that?

11. Dave is a sweetheart, well specifically my sweetheart, but he is so good at not saying mean things about anybody. He doesn't bad mouth. He doesn't call names, only in fun to mock me mostly. He is unusually patient and forgiving (maybe my impatience makes this seem more unique than it really is). . . Either way, he is a doll!

12. Dave loves being a kind of big brother. He loves it when my siblings want to talk to him and when we get to see them. He especially loves it when they visit. He loves being an older sibling, which he can take over for me any day.
13. Dave is totally ready to be a DAD! He loves the idea of having a baby! He will be a great daddy!
14. Dave loves having his nails buffed by me. He requests it. I think he just likes the attention and the touching (so I guess this is just items #1 and #7 again).

15. Dave enjoys cooking. He especially likes making breakfast foods and preparing any kind of meat. He loves experimenting with his seasonings and what not. He is especially proud of his special addition to the Texas Sheet Cake recipe (his fave birthday cake).
16. He is intrigued when he sees bands on TV that contain trombone players. He has to stop and watch. I think he's reliving the good old days in high school and college when he played.

17. Dave never leaves the toilet roll empty or leaves the toilet seat up. I hear these are common complaints with husbands. However, he can be focused so intently on one thing that everything else is invisible to him. . . I think that's a man issue as well.

18. If asked, Dave will perform any household chore that I request without a reason (or excuse) from me as to why he should.

19. Dave likes to do yoga with me. He was hesitant at first, but now that he can see how much more flexible he is getting he asks to do it. He can do many poses rather well, including a back bend.

20. Dave is self conscious about his ankles. He thinks they are big (not fat, he corrected me on that). Cankles. I can't figure out why this would bother him so much. He's a man, he has big strong legs, what's the problem?

21. Dave prefers it if I pick out and buy his clothes for him. . . though I don't claim responsibility for all that he wears.

22. He is good at doing math in his head. . . something that I use him for quite often.

23. Dave loves old really annoying slapstick movies. I think you can tell how I feel about that. Since I don't love to watch them with him he used to do it at night after I fell asleep, but his huge guffaws kept waking me up so that practice ended.
24. Dave does not like to take any kind of medication. Being a pharmacist, does that raise concerns for anyone? I have to make him take something for headaches, colds, and such, so the complaining will be less.

25. Dave has visited three continents that I know of, but since we've been married we haven't traveled anywhere. All he wants to do is be with me, and the place doesn't matter. I think that makes him a romantic.

26. Dave likes it when he can help me open a jar or reach something on a high shelf. Part of his manly responsibilities.

27. Dave answers to whatever I call him. . . Dave, David, Davey (though not his favorite), Davidiot (I can't remember who came up with that one), Dork, etc. etc. It never matters. He always knows I'm talking to him. Though sometimes I will call the dogs and he'll think to come too.

28. His sense of smell is acutely attuned and sensitive to a few things, and I don't think he can smell anything else. FOOD, nail polish, and hairspray. Oh, and we do have these rather fragrant (not in an appetizing way) kind of dog treats, but I'm pretty sure the neighbors can smell those when we get them out. Except for the food of course, the other things he complains about endlessly if he smells them.29. (oh the age he once was so recently ago) He is not freaked out about being 30. He would like everyone to know that he is feeling well, healthy, strong, vital, with hope for a good and long life. His words.

30. Dave is amazing. I love him to pieces. He is my perfect match and I would trade him for no one else! Get to know him and I think he'll win you over as well. Happy 30th, doll!

The answer to all your questions

This ultrasound photo should clear things up for you. . .


Yes, the baby has an ear! And isn't it a cute one too! Kristel thinks it's huge. . . and we don't have a pic of the other one, so fingers crossed this one isn't making up for the difference. Just kidding Kristel, your baby is perfect! Absolutely perfect!

Meet Kristel!

Yay! This is Kristel!

And this is us with Kristel and her Mom, Melissa. Kristel do you love that you're on the blog now? She's adorable and we love her to pieces. . . hopefully that doesn't scare her too much!

So we finally got to meet in real life the fabulous Kristel! Her and her mother were so fun. It was wonderful and as an added bonus she brought us ultrasound photos. Speaking of which, we now know the baby's gender. She totally tortured us by making it a surprise. It was an added present today. . . curious??? Too bad. Here's a photo to enjoy though:

Ultrasound photos are so weird. This one I think is fairly easy to decipher though.

So anyway, we got to meet, talk, laugh a lot, have smoothies, and then eat lunch before they had to head back north to home. It was great. We're looking forward to seeing them again in April and maybe the rest of the fam as well. It should be fun.

I'd like to introduce you all further to Kristel, but maybe in another post. . . we'll see how much she loves this attention. Until then, we would just like to express our appreciation for her. She's an angel and we're so happy to have her in our family! She totally fits, and when you meet her you will totally agree!

Congratulations!

My two very BEST friends both had babies this week. . . I didn't get to be there for either of them, sad. . . but I am so excited to meet them this summer!

Meet Peter (tenatively, knowing Kirsten this could change at any time) and Susie. . .
Kirst, he totally looks like you! Now you have the perfect set of boys.Susie doesn't look so thrilled to be here, but it is her first day, so give it some time. I'm waiting for more pics! And Whit, I totally think that fuzz on her head is dark and slightly curly! Yay! And yay again, it really is a girl.

Peter surprised everyone coming Tuesday, and Susie made her scheduled appearance on Thursday. Both were 8 pounds and change, healthy and happy.

Congratulations Kirsten and Whitney. I love you guys!

SPAM

The poor people who produce that often misunderstood meat product probably don't appreciate that we refer to mass emails as spam as well. . . but there it is, and I hate THEM.

My spam box has exploded in the last month or so. What is going on? And to top it off I started to get spam comments on my blog too, thus the little alpha/numeral screening that is now in place.

I am bombarded with emails hocking fail safe ways to enlarge a piece of anatomy that I do not possess, online pharmacies with killer deals (apparently in Canada), and designer watches for criminally low prices. What list did I get on?

By the way, don't put your email on your blogs, they surf sites looking for them and then you'll be shopping for cHeAp (why are the spam words always strange like this anyway??) drugs from Canada too.

Who came up with this idea of guerrilla advertising? It is completely impractical and yet wholly rampant. Whoever it was I'm sure, will have a place reserved for them in hell. Is that too harsh? I don't know.

Thank you to Gmail for their lovely filters. . . if only they removed my disappointment for humanity with it as well.

End of rant.

Loving the Sunshine

Spring starts tomorrow, but we are officially loving the weather right now!

Goodbye 1993

A little update for the fam. . . I just finished 1993. I keep thinking that I will ship the movies and then I'm so close to finishing the next one that I decide to wait. . . Needless to say that was four years ago, and they are still stockpiled here on my shelf. Currently I have seven movies to send you. I know Tiff is way eager to watch movies of herself again, so we'll see if I can send them some time soon. I haven't imported 1994 yet, so maybe this time they'll get sent.

Countdown

Two weeks. . . yep 14 days until Dave is officially 30! I don't know if it has hit him yet. . . that realization that he is old now, or will soon be anyway. Now every time something hurts, or he forgets something, or he's babbling . . . it will be because he's 30. The good news is that we are that much closer to going to China! The only perk that 30 brings.

Coincidentally, we are also two weeks away from meeting the beautiful birth mother who thinks we're just crazy enough to raise her baby! Yep, she's crazy. . . that's why she likes us, and we'll get a face to face with her and her parents this month. March is a big deal this year!

Spring Redecorating!

I know it's supposed to be spring cleaning, but for me the two go hand in hand. I need something new to look at! I hate putting holes in my walls (which is why nothing has yet to be hung in my bedroom, for two years now, oops), but what is up in the rest of the house needs to be changed.

Dave loves this time of year. . . when I desperately try to convince him that it is worth the money to get rid of perfectly good furnishings.

I have a decorating sickness. I admit it. I like change, well let's not be crazy, I mean this kind of change. So the plan is to do something new in my kitchen. It will be the least painful (for Dave) and hopefully the easiest, if I can shut down the rush of ideas in my head that is. I'm thinking yellow. ha ha

In our next house I think we'll have white walls, curtains, and furniture, with dark floors. Then anything that I make will match and can be switched out easily, and in my dream, frequently. Well, it's a nice dream anyway.

We just finally got to the point in our Master bedroom where all the pieces are there. . . officially finished, except for the photos and paintings sitting on the floor of course. We're finally happy with it, and now it is spring. . . Dave's not going to like that.

Happy Birthday Fanny!

You love it when I call you Fanny, just admit it! Happy 23 Tiff! Dave and I love you to pieces!You helped me build some muscle, carrying you and those chubby cheeks around!

And no one can deny that you have style!

I have a lot of funny photos of you, so you're lucky that only these four made it to the internet! Love you! Happy Birthday little sis!

Slice of Heaven

I totally have to be bribed to go to the doctor. I HATE them, all of them, even if no needles are involved. And my poor doctors know it too. I'm sure I'm their favorite patient.

Anyway, my reward for allowing Dave to drag me there was Lemon Cream Cake from Olive Garden. Not just a piece. This was a long appointment (where I yelled at the receptionist, ok not really yelled, but we waited for 45 minutes while everyone else was admitted. . . so I might have let an expletive slip, and told her I was leaving). Have I mentioned that I HATE doctors and their offices. They smell and who decorates them, so homey and comfortable?? Right.

So for being such an outstanding patient Dave bought me a whole cake. Oh my gosh, I am in heaven. This stuff is purely delightful. It is the only reason I go to Olive Garden. Kari, when you visit again you have to try some. You'll love it.

I have to have blood taken this week too, and I don't know if I'll have any cake left by then. What to do? I don't know what all these sweets will do to my cholesterol which is what I'm getting checked. I'm not even that old yet, but whatever, doctor's orders. I think it is more about the torture than any stupid results.