In the beginning of our relationship, we used to stay in a cabin just a few yards away from Darrell’s parents’ house when we came for a visit. I loved it there. It was just a tiny little house but it was private and perfect for the 2 of us.
One morning in that cabin, a year or two into our marriage, I got up in the wee hours to take a wee. I stumbled through the darkness towards the bathroom. Just as I got to it, I stepped on something squishy. I immediately knew what it was. I snapped on the bathroom light, flew into the shower, slammed the shower doors closed and watched in horror as this snake slithered in after me. I screamed and Darrell came running.
Gawd, I was so scared that snake would climb up the shower door.
Darrell got on the phone and called his Dad who came racing into the cabin with a hoe about 5 minutes later and dispatched him.
While I waited for him to arrive, I watched the snake slither underneath the door that leads to the living room, up a wall and into a 2 inch hole in the little door to the air conditioner. Apparently this little area was warm. It was obviously his home.
It was never our home again.

I swear it was bigger. ::shudder::

This picture represents some things I love about my husband. He is silly, fun to be with, pays attention to me and- probably most important- he rubs my feet. LOL. 😉
I am trying to remember where we were… my memory says at Lin’s house (where I lived when I first started college). Yeah, it had to be there because that hat was our friend Tara’s and one summer she lived there with me. We liked her teddy bear too, as I recall.
This was the time when Darrell and I were just getting to know each other and fall in love. Mmmm….

50 things about Andy now that he is a year old.
1. He loves anything small
2. He loves playing peekaboo
3. He loves chasing Brendan- and being chased by him
4. He likes lots of fruits- apples, bananas, peaches, oranges, strwaberries…
5. He likes to pat you on your arm and say “pat, pat, pat”.
6. His hair grows so fast!! I need to cut his bangs for the 2nd time!
7. He loved to be told “good job” and clap with us.
8. He loves outside and can’t stand it when you walk out the door without him.
9. He is not a very good car traveler yet- he gets bored.
10. He loves his bottle and does not want a sippy cup yet.
11. His favorite way to sleep is with his nose pressed into me.
12. He loves Baby Einstein shows
13. He loves music
14. He loves for me to hold him and spin in a chair.
15. He’s Mimi’s boy- they have a special bond.
16. He’s shy but sometimes he will wave to strangers.
17. He goes to sleep by rubbing a blanket on his face or holding my shirt sleeve.
18. He loves to climb onto boxes or onto the couch.
19. He loves playing in the sand.
20. He likes to swing outside under the bubbles.
21. He is easy to grin and smile.
22. He loves to dig is cupboards and drawers.
23. He loves to take a bathe- especially with his brother.
24. His favorite foods are sausage, ranch style beans, bananas & canned mandarin oranges.
25. He is fascinated by soda cans.
26. He loves to pull off Daddy’s glasses.
27. He loves to look at things on the computer and bang on the keys.
28. He loves to chase Mimi’s dogs
29. He loves his pacifier
30. He loves to close doors but hates it when he shuts himself alone in a room. Silly boy.
31. He is ecstatic when Daddy comes home and crawls as fast as he can to greet him and get hugs and kisses.
32. He loves balls
33. He likes to drink from straws.
34. He loves his baby Ipod.
35. He loves to be held- and hates to be put down.
36. He does not like potatoes or pieces of cheese or carrots.
37. He’s beautiful.
38. He always smells so good.
39. He likes to poke at eyes and noses.
40. He likes to sit on steps and then stand up too.
41. He likes to be shown things.
42. He likes to turn off the lights.
43. He likes to sneek in the bathroom.
44. He likes to be tickled.
45. He loves to take silverware out of the dishwasher.
46. He likes to go around in just his diaper.
47. He loves Daddy’s cell phone and tv remotes.
48. He has 8 teeth and is working on some more.
49. He’s smart & playful.
50. He is very much adored by his parents and brother.

There is a new show on PBS called Word World. Bren and I watched it for the first time today. Here are my thoughts about it.
Pros:
The concept is great. Never have I seen a more “Whole Language” approached tv show than that. There was very little phonics involved. I am for a balanced approach though so some whole language is good.
It was captivating to Brendan. He liked it a lot!
It is really beautifully done. I especially like attention to detail such as when something falls off a table it breaks into it’s letters. Cute and very original.
Cons:
As for how much material is in show… not so much. Hardly any, really. Take the “pot on the head” episode today… they spelled and sounded out out “pot” a few times and the rest of the episode was story. 1 word- 12 or so minutes. Not so good. I asked Brendan immediately after it was over to spell “pot” and he had no idea.
Also, I’m not sure how clear the “word pictures” are to kids. The letters take some concentration to puzzle out. To adults, it is obvious but I just don’t think kids concentrate on seeing the moving groups of letters as words. I think they graze over the educational part and just watch the cartoon.
I really wanted to like it more than I did.
I just glanced at their website and there is a free episode on there. What are your thoughts?

What I wouldn’t give to relive this day!

Here DH and I are dining in the Animator’s Palate on a Disney Cruise ship. Everything form the walls to the staff are completely black and white and as we ate little sprigs of color would pop up and by the end of the meal everything was blazing with color. This is where we had our first creme brulees and I died and went to heaven it was so good!!! Our waiter (left) was Thomas and the other man was his assistant, Ben. Such good times!!! We had a blast on our honeymoon. Sigh….

DH has decided we each need to post a picture a day for the next week and post about it.
This picture of me was taken on the 4th of July in 2002. I look calm and serene. And I am- in a post final exams week sort of way. I’m sitting on my in-laws’ patio trying to not think… to just be. I am 14 days past my first IUI and for the first time I have real hope that I just might be pregnant but I have only 1 hpt with me and I wanted to save it for the morning we are to leave (3 days away) so that I have the best chance of telling Darrell’s parents if the IUI worked or not.
I am pregnant and don’t even know it. There is a magic in that.

DH’s #1 is here.