Trouble

*yes, I was farting around with the color settings on my camera.

HAPPY BDAY S!!

We had a great time at your party!!

The pizza made Ryan want to move back to the city ;)

African Reading Challenge: Book 2

I just finished reading The Hospital by the River and can't decide if I liked it or not.

It was a moving book, it really opened my eyes to a devastating problem that I didn't even know existed. The stories of the women were incredible and I enjoyed reading about Ethiopia and some of it's political history but I felt that the book was all over the place and didn't focus on the women enough. Sure, there was a story here and there but they were all sort of lumped together as one poor, sad, devastated fistula pilgrim. It came off as though she was talking down to them. I'm sure she wasn't, she has helped the women of Ethiopia enormously, but I guess I just didn't like her tone of writing.

All in all, it was a good book and I wished I had read it before we travelled to Ethiopia. I really would have liked to visit the fistula hospital. Her book has really made me want to go back and visit more of the country, I am seriously contemplating going back alone in the very near future to do some volunteering and a little travelling :)

*edit- check your local PBS stations! A Walk to Beautiful is airing May 13

I....

I (verb)

I am: shy & pretty stubborn.
I think: about things way too much. I tend to over-analyze.
I know: that I would like another child in our family but I am not sure it will happen.
I want: to never have to worry about anything ever again!
I have: alot of shoes and bags
I wish: that I could achieve balance in all aspects of my life. -I'm stealing this answer from Jayme, it's so true!
I hate: Ignorance
I miss: my daughter when I'm not with her
I fear: that I won't be a good mom
I feel: exhausted but happy
I hear: silence...for now :)
I smell: dirty dogs-gosh, they really need a bath
I search: for answers all the time
I wonder: about Hana. Everyday.
I regret: a lot of things. I should have gone away to college.
I ache: in my hands...and sometimes in my heart.
I care: too much.
I always: have to start my day with a very large coffee.
I am not: a good traveler.
I believe: that everything happens for a reason.
I dance: in the kitchen.
I sing: horribly.
I cry: during commercials.
I don’t always: like my job.
I fight: rarely. I don't like confrontation.
I write: not often enough. I have a ton of empty journals.
I win: most arguments with my husband.
I lose: patience, but I'm working on it.
I never: leave the house or hang-up the phone without saying "I love you" to Ryan & Nora
I confuse: easily.
I listen: to just about any music but heavy metal is my favorite
I can usually be found: with a coffee in hand
I am afraid of: fire & tornadoes
I need: to take a break.
I am happy about: how my life is turning out

I tag: Stacie, Cathy, & Sarah

Walkin' & Talkin'

Ouch!

So, Miss Tiny has taken to biting me...only me. She does it when she's tired and it's always when she's snuggling with me and always on my shoulder. She just pinches with her 4 little teeth and it hurts!

I don't really know how to respond. I usually let out an "Ouch!!" and then say "No biting" or "We don't bite, it hurts Mommy". I don't know if this is the right thing to do....any suggestions???

Here are some pictures of her looking cute and not at all like the little vampire she is at night!

1 book down, 5 more to go

I absolutely loved this book!

I'm not great at writing reviews-I never know what to say- so you can read the synopsis of the book here.

It was a great read!

Monday Morning at the Children's Museum

Swimmin' with the fishies

Last night Ryan took Tiny to her 1st ever swim class (I was at work-ugh!) and according to him, she was the best swimmer in the class!

He said that while everyone was trying to slowly coax their babies into the water-splashing them and singing songs...Gosh, can you imagine Ryan singing children's songs..in public nonetheless? Teeheehee! Anyway, he was trying to hold her back-she wanted to dive head first into the pool!
When she finally did get in the water, she instantly started the doggie paddle-Ryan wanted to let go of her just to see how far she would get (he didn't though because he had very strict instructions from me not to let her drown. I seriously sent him text messages all day from work saying "don't let her drown")

I am very excited for next week because we will both be able to go and will be armed with a camera & video this time!

My sweet, sweet girl

Tonight T picked up her fave Sandra Boyton book, brought it over to me and crawled in my lap for me to read to her. She has never done this before-our books are usually chewed on or thrown across the room :) It totally melted my heart and I just had to share.
Oh, how I love that little girl!

Afternoon At The Park or It's About Freaking Time The Weather Changed.

I am fairly certain that Tiny met her daily nutritional intake of sand today...ick!

Thank You Demera Restaurant.....

..for hosting our cooking class. It was fantastic and the food and coffee ceremony were wonderful :)

We can't wait for the 2nd class!!!

and I loved that I came home with something like 10lbs of food:)

*Sarah-I hope you don't mind that I snagged 2 of the photos you took. I didn't get any of the actual cooking because I was so delirious from my lack of sleep and didn't realize that I actually had my camera with me until it was too late!

Gosh, that was alot of rambling...

Yes, my daughter will do anything for cheese.....

even walk!!!!!

African Reading Challenge

This challenge was posted over on another blog and I thought "Hey, why the heck not?" I really should be reading more anyway so here goes...drum roll please...

My Mission for 2008 (in no particular order)

1. 28: Stories of AIDS in Africa by Stephanie Nolen
2. The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears by Dinaw Mengnestu
3. We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda by Phillip Gourevitch
4. Sweetness in the Belly: A Novel by Camilla Gibb
5. Darfur Diaries: Stories of Survival
6. The Hospital by the River: A Story of Hope by Catherine Hamlin

Thanks Ute & Vince!!!

You guys are very sweet and totally made my day with the Starbucks gift card!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Miss Peanut & her never-ending quest to destroy toys

Sooooo very tired

*note that our car seat is now facing forward!

Such a big girl!!