We're back!!!

We made it back from our European vacation! We're a little jet-lagged, but we're glad to be back in our own beds! We had a great trip - 2 weeks is really enough time to forget about "real life" and enjoy your vacation. I will post more pictures later. This one is of all of us at Lake Como, our last Italian destination before we headed back to Germany and then home....

"Does my tummy get to go to Italy too???....."

"Good, because I can't wait for that real italian pizza!"

Watch out Italy - here we come!

You might not see any new posts for a couple weeks....we leave tomorrow afternoon for a 2-week vacation. That's right - 2 weeks! I don't think I've ever taken a vacation that long! We are headed to Chicago to spend the night and pick up John's mom, then the 4 of us (John, Isaac, Alice, and myself) are headed to Europe. After a couple nights in Germany, we plan to spend most of our trip in Italy - hopefully enjoying the spring weather, nice wine, and relaxing days. Maybe we'll get the chance to find a computer, but if not, I'll post some pics when we return. Ciao for now!

At least there's spring inside.....

My african violet is in full bloom! Beautiful!

Our tulips covered in snow

Spring???

I guess that I shouldn't have been so eager to put the cushions on the outdoor chairs last weekend when it was so nice and sunny. Today we woke up to a winter wonderland and it is still snowing! It was 60 degrees yesterday and today the weatherman says we will get 4 inches of snow.....too bad we can't just head up to the mountains to enjoy this snow on our skiis! I think I need to go make some hot cocoa!

New Finley pics....

Mom sent me a few more photos of Finley this evening, so I thought I would post them. She is such a cutie! (and I think she actually looks a lot like Isaac when he was a newborn...) Too bad I'll have to wait a few weeks to be able to hold her!

Finley and her Mommy

Finley and her Daddy

Introducing Finley Marie!

This is a little grainy, since it is from a camera phone - but here is my new niece, Finley! (Look at that little tongue!) Congrats again - Amber & Grant!!

My little brother is a daddy!!!

Amber & Grant welcomed their little baby girl last night (or rather, early this morning). Finley Marie made her highly anticipated arrival into this world at 1:49am this morning. She is 6 lbs. - 14 oz. and is 20 1/2" long. (I hope that I got all these details right - I was pretty groggy when I got the call at 2 am.) I don't have too many other details right now, other than she has some dark hair! I am anxiously waiting on some photos - but the word is that she is quite a cute baby ( of course!)! Congratulations Amber & Grant and welcome to the family baby Finley!

Little boys are so sweet....

Ok, I'm going to gush a little bit, but I really love being a mom, and I really love having a little boy. I was getting worried that I hug and kiss him too much, that it might somehow affect the type of man that he grows up to be, but I read this article the other night in a parenting magazine that set my mind at ease. Apparently it will affect the type of man he grows up to be - in a positive way.

The article talked about the differences between raising boys and girls, and according to the author, there are differences. Because there is a gender stereotype in our society about boys being tough and athletic, we are likely to miss the vulnerabilities of little boys. We might let him cry a little longer before picking him up and confort him for less time. Little boys need just as much loving and hugging as little girls. By showing our little boys how to get and give affection, they will grow up to be more resourceful and secure adults.

Isaac is really into kissing right now - not just the kiss on the cheek, but the full-on mouth kiss - and not just with Mom & Dad, just about anyone who will ask for one. (and including the cat, who doesn't ask for one...) A few weeks ago we were in church, and during one of the hymns, Isaac started kissing me and wouldn't stop. He was holding onto my face and the more I giggled the harder he kissed. I started to get a little embarassed, as we were drawing attention from others around us. Instead, I just decided to savor that moment. There will come a time in the not too distant future where he is embarrased to kiss his mom in public.....or not - if I have anything to do about it!