Owie Strawberry

Nate took a tumble on the pavement yesterday. It wasn't the first time he went for a walk around our neighborhood nor was it the first time he took a tumble. But it was the first time taking a tumble wearing shorts and Nate ended up with some scratches on his knee.

We've always thought Nate to be a pretty tough kid because he's rarely ever cried when he fell, hurt, or bruised himself and seemed to even fight off tear and were comforted by a quick hug. But not yesterday. It might be that he was really in pain or because Dada pointed out to Nate that he had an owie. For whatever the reason, Nate whimpered and walked around with the saddest look on his face for the rest of the afternoon and evening. He would often look down at his knee and cry and he didn't want to be separated from me, even during dinner time. It seemed like Nate was either really sad about the way his knee looked or was in pain. He sure did a stellar job milking us for the pain. But I must admit, I enjoyed every minute of my snuggle time with Nate but we'll have to work on toughening him up here soon! Thankfully, he's back to his jolly self again today and doesn't seem to be in pain, although he still pauses to look at his little booboo from time to time.

Five Wonderful Years

Yesterday, April 23, 2011, Brandon and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. We can't believe that it's been five years already because it really seems to have flown by! Nate slept in, which meant Brandon and I got to sleep in as well, and then Brandon made me one of my favorite breakfast meals - homemade waffles and bacon. It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day so we went to a nearby area called Rio, ate frozen yogurt, walked around the lake, ate Potbelly's for dinner, and shared our favorite memories and blessings we've received during the last five years. It was low-key yet wonderfully relaxing and enjoyable time together as a family. 

Several months ago, we had talked about taking a vacation somewhere to celebrate our 5th anniversary. Perhaps we'll get to do that some time this year but it was such a blessing just to be together and I couldn't be happier about how we spent our day together. Brandon has been working incredibly hard the last six weeks or so with renovations at our new house, which has meant that time together has been hard to come by. I've recently been thinking often about a conversation I had with Dad Averill about Brandon before we were married. Dad described Brandon to me as a humble, caring, tenderhearted, and hardworking man. I've definitely witnessed and been the beneficiary of all these characteristics of this wonderful man I married, but I've definitely grown to appreciate the hardworking and diligent man he is all the more these past few weeks. 

Thanks love, for all the ways you've blessed and cared for me. I know you've been caring much on your heart - the weight of getting this new house ready for your family - and working hard with your hands and body. I am so grateful for all you've been doing. Thanks for all the wonderful memories... I can't wait to live out the rest of my life with you by my side.

Off He Goes!

Nathan is always on the go and I got this shot of him yesterday as he was running across the room. This is typical of Nate on any given day and I just love it that I got a picture of him in action that's not all a big blur. Love the expression on his face too!

Waiting

"Yessss!"

Nate decided to add a new word to his vocabulary this morning - "Yes." The funny thing is that Grandma Kim has pointed out repeatedly that Brandon doesn't just say "Yes", he says "Yesssss" and Nate is saying it just like that! What's even more comical is that Grandma and Grandpa Kim are coming to visit us today! Grandma Kim will surely enjoy hearing Nate says "Yesssss," just like his dada!

6W!

Yup, 6W! That's our 16 month son's feet size! I took Nathan to the Stride Rite store to get him measured for some new shoes and sandals today and found out that Nathan should be wearing size 6 or 6.5 shoes. I'm sure that's a perfectly normal size, but you see, we've been putting Nate in size 4 and 4.5. It seemed to fit just fine but I guess we were wrong! Alas, so sorry Nathan for making you wear small shoes and thanks for being so perfectly happy to run around in them these past few months! That's what you get for being first born - tons of love and the bearer of our many first-time-parent mistakes!

By the way, not only is Nate a size 6, he's a size 6W. The sales person took Nate's shoes off and said immediately, "He's definitely a wide, that's for certain!" Nathan, you'll have to thank Dada for that one (and the flat feet)!

It's final! It's ours!!!

We are grateful and relieved to announce that we finally closed on this house today! After the two huge stacks of papers were signed, our realtor Dave looked at us and said, "you can be certain now!" Yeah!!! Honestly, I think I've been in the "hold it loosely" state for the past few months and it still hasn't quite hit me yet that we are owners of this house.

Just as we learned this past Sunday at church about how the Lord is more concerned about our spiritual well being then bricks and mortar, that was the case with this house for sure! The home buying process was a roller coaster ride (it was a short sale) and God created plentiful opportunities to pray and seek to trust him. We are grateful that God didn't want to just bless us with a house, but wanted to help us remember what is most important in our lives and to pray for His will in all this.

The house does need some significant work but we're excited to get started! Thanks to all those that prayed with us! We'll try to get some before and after pictures of the house soon! Now on with the demo work!!!