Super Bowl or bust

It would be so cool to be able to go to the Super Bowl this year...it's such a big deal that the Saints are going. Adam is ecstatic. I'd be lying if I said I was a huge fan of the Saints. I am a huge fan, however, of the amazing city of New Orleans...the people, the food, the culture, the architecture, the food, the shopping, the experiences...I could go on. This place is incredible. Wish we could go to Miami. (i admit i emailed the ellen show to win tickets) here is a little taste:

Street Performers


Snowballs and

Bloody Marys

Jackson Square

shoes on a fence!

Best baby in the office

Even though my sweet baby girl is crying right now, she is the best baby. I mean--babies cry. And all new moms think their baby is the best. I'm aware that this can be obnoxious for some. But, I am constantly amazed with our sweet Charis Root.

I started back to work on the 4th and Charis goes to the office with me 3 days a week. And she's amazing. I can spend from 6-8 hours in the office and she barely cries. Seriously. We have this rhythm of eating, playing, sleeping. She will amuse herself in her bouncy seat for almost an hour while I work or she'll sleep in the Moby for about an hour while I work. It's a really great set-up. I sat there looking at my sweet baby, realizing the life she is--she has a personality, a heart, a mind, desires, hopes, dreams. She's not just this baby that needs things from me...she's so much more and I realized that today and everyday I get to spend with her. I'm so thankful that I get to bring her to work with me. There are definitely times when it'd be easier to work without her there, but I love seeing her sweet face in between emails and phone calls. Plus, she is just so good. I am so thankful that she's "easy" for me while I'm working.
Here are a few pics from our days at work...we are working women!!

sleeping in the Moby while I worked

no bells & whistles with this seat, but it works

after the bouncy got old, she just chilled on my lap

happy winter

2 months old!!
I can't believe it's already been 2 months with Charis. I'm sure I will say this each month. These past 2 months have been so so great. Charis is such a sweet addition to our family. I'm constantly thankful that God gave us such a sweet surprise. We are loving her more and more each day, it's crazy how it builds and builds. So, here's what she's been up to in her 2 months:
- she is sleeping like crazy. which means she's sleeping through the night. (thank you Charis)
- she talks. well, not really, but she's definitely making more sounds and sometimes in response to us.
- Charis loves tummy time and does a great job holding her head up.
- she's gained some lbs...at her 2 month check up today she checked in at 11 lbs 15 oz and 23 inches long. not sure what all that really means, except she's a healthy one.
- she has the most intense stare ever. some people think she doesn't blink. but, this stare is so intense. i love it.
- Celebrated her first Christmas and New Year. (and had no idea)
- got to stay home with daddy for a few days while I started back to work. she'll go with me to the office tomorrow.
- as the nurse asked today: is she smiling? yes. is she tracking you with her eyes? yes. is she pushing up on her elbows? yes. check on all the developmental stuff. i guess.

she was ready for the game!
I'm realizing as I'm thinking about things she does, she doesn't really do much, but we love to watch her all the time. From changing her to feeding her to holding her to watching her on her mat...no matter what it is. What a really fun 2 months it's been. We are looking forward to the many more months ahead that we get to have with Charis. She's beautiful. She's sweet. She's feisty. She's stubborn. She's delightful. She's the best baby ever. and we love her like crazy.

me and my little lady!

twenty ten

Happy New Year!

As we reflected on this past year we thought about how this time last year we had no idea, nor the intentions, that we'd have a baby in 2009. We are so thankful for the surprise of Charis Root. some other highlights of the year:
- going to California together for the first time and exploring beautiful northern cali...love it.
- spending a week at Frontier Ranch with some high school girls
- getting away to the beach TWICE this summer
- moving from an apartment to a house
- friendships
- being pregnant...i know, weird. i LOVED being pregnant. i never felt more beautiful and confident in my entire life than when i was pregnant. really.
- giving birth to our beautiful baby girl. it was unreal. i would do it again.
- watching my husband become a daddy
- turning 31. i guess it can be a highlight. (it bothers me that under most gym memberships a "young" person or family is defined by people 29 and under. does this mean i'm not young anymore?)
- becoming a mommy
- learning more about who God is and that He loves me with a ridiculous and unconditional love...being able to trust Him a little bit more and believing He knows what's best.

We are in a better place today than we were a year ago and look ahead with hope at what this new year will bring. Wishing you all a FULL year.
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 3:16-19