You will be missed...

My family's very first and beloved cat Belle (pictured above closest to my dad's face) died Wednesday night. She was the very best cat in the whole world. She was sweet, loving, and befriended even those of us that are by nature "dog" people.

We got Belle when I was very young...probably 11 or 12. My mom's friend dropped off two kittens around Christmas time. The intention was to bring them to a friend's farm in the morning. Well, with three little girls at home...that didn't happen. My sisters would dress Belle up in doll clothes, put her in their baby cradle, and treated her like another little sister rather than a kitten. Belle never made a fuss. She was always very good natured.

As Belle grew older, she was like a grandma to us, running up to say hello when we would come home from school and snuggling with us when we were sad. Belle had an innate human-ness to her that made you feel like she truly "understood" what you were saying and how you were feeling. I will miss her very much.

I think what gets to me the most isn't the fact that my cat is gone. She was very old and I always knew that she would pass soon. I feel as though her death is a little more symbolic...the ending of an era. As a new chapter of my life begins...marriage, motherhood, adulthood - another one closes.

4 Months Old!

Hi, it's me...Matthew! I am four months old today. I am getting so big! I love to smile and laugh. My favorite thing to do is play "helicopter" with Daddy and Peek A Boo with Momma. I can roll over and put my arms up when Momma asks me how big I am. I don't like to smile for the camera...I think I look more handsome when I am "Mr. Serious." I kick my legs and move my arms really fast. I can't wait to crawl!

My new favorite haircut...

I L-O-V-E this haircut! Now...will I have the guts to get it?

How was I so brave?

I went to visit Matthew at lunch today. He was crying when I showed up. Now, I am not one to be upset, because I showed up and he happened to be crying at that moment...but it did tug at my heart strings. I scooped him up, gave him his pacifier, and rocked him. Next thing I knew he was smiling and laughing.

Today, I am struggling with not seeing my baby. How was I so brave the first day that I dropped him off and went back to work? How was I so brave many nights before when I would go straight from work to school, not being able to see Matthew for 15 hour days? Maybe, it is because I am a little slow at work today and have more time to miss him. I have 7 more weeks of school and then my long days of being away from Matt will be over. 7 weeks seems so close, yet so far away. My baby is growing bigger and bigger each day, and it is hard not to think about all of the precious moments that I am missing. At least there is comfort in knowing that he is in good hands - Jeff takes such good care of him. I am very blessed to have such an amazing husband.

My 2009 Academy Award Favs

Last night, the stars were out in full force for the Oscars. My favorites included Brad/Angelina, Natalie Portman, and the always stunning Heidi Klum. I love red carpet watching!

I think Angelina looked fabulous! Her green earrings were the PERFECT accessory. Hair/makeup looked flawless and that dress...one word, wow.



Natalie Portman always looks chic. I love the color choice for her dress. PINK is one of my very favorite colors. She looked so feminine.

Her petite frame wasn't overpowered by her dress and her accessory choices really let the dress do the talking. Natalie looked like an ethereal princess gliding down the red carpet.

Of course my idol, Heidi Klum looked fabulous... as always. My favorite component of her ensemble...the many bracelets that adorned her wrist. Heidi has a way of looking very glamorous, yet not too over the top. I think she looks beautiful.

I really enjoyed watching the stars make their grand entrance!

February 22nd

February 22nd holds a special place in my heart. One year ago today, I found out that I was having my little angel baby...Matthew! I will never forget that day.

I had been really hungry and eating more than usual, but also feeling nauseous in the morning. I was thinking about it one morning at work. I closed my eyes and tried to tune into my body (as I do many times) and for some reason I just didn't feel "alone." I rushed to CVS at lunch and took a pregnancy test. Two solid pink lines appeared. I was shocked!

Jeff was working in Novi at the time and would come home for lunch. I was eating something with meat in it and he reminded me gently that it was lent and that we needed to abstain from eating meat on Fridays. I looked over at him and told him that pregnant women were exempt from that rule. Ha! The look on his face was priceless.

SMILE!

It is so hard to catch a good smile on film!

Looking back...

Visiting with my neice Charlotte makes me ask myself "Was Matthew every this small?" How did my baby get so big so fast?

Happily Ever After

(Pictures courtesy of Brian and Angie Burch)

Dave and Julie were married on Saturday, February 14th - Valentine's Day! There was a fresh coat of snow on the ground and everything looked beautiful. It was the perfect day for a winter wedding. Jeff gave an amazing toast as Dave's best man and the reception was so much fun! Matthew got his first taste of attending a formal event and wore a suit!

Baby Charlotte looked like a little princess in her dress. Don't the mommies look fab? Both little ones were angelic through the ceremony and reception. Congratulations Dave and Julie!

My Valentine's

How romantic...

It looks like Jeff and Eva are having a thoughtful conversation. I hope she is convincing Jeff that we need another puppy!

It's about time...

Ya'll saw some of my work! Arie came in last night for some highlights/haircut. Here is the before picture.


And...whoala! After.

Hold on to your hats....

Jeff e-mailed me this link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,488644,00.html

(Read before reading on)

I have always considered myself a conservative, but I believe in women's rights and have believed in the past that a woman's right to choose is something that should be left up to the woman and circumstances...until now.

Is this our country's idea of "Right to Choose?" At 23 weeks, a fetus is VIABLE outside of the mother's womb. Article above - case and point. WHY are we giving women the option to terminate a pregnancy at 23 weeks?! I don't care what your politics or morals are...this should not be happening. Ladies - if you can't get your shit together before 23 weeks...then that is your own damn fault. Deal with the consequences of your actions.

There's gonna come a time when an embryo will be viable outside of the mother's womb at conception. Then, what will we do?

Blue Steel

Momma's Boy - 15 Weeks

Matthew is getting so big! He is smiling more and more every day. He LOVES playing "airplane" with Jeff and can roll over from his tummy to his back. He is such a good baby. I am so blessed to be his mother.

Looking forward to...

With just three short months left of school, I am REALLY REALLY looking forward to getting my life back. In the coming months after graduation, I plan to:

1. Spend LOTS of time with Matthew and Jeff!

2. Learn how to make AMAZING homemade pizza and pasta.

3. Pick up knitting as a hobby. My sister-in-law Angie, cousin-in-law Rachael, and sister Arie have inspired me to pick up the needles and get knitting! I want my first project to be something easy that I won't get too frustrated and give up.

4. Be more stylish. I would like to experiment with more hairstyles and makeup.

5. Try out some yoga studios around town. There are tons of "try us out for a week free," studios in the area and I would love to go and ZEN out for a while.