Ryan and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary on May 12. My Grandmother passed away the next day, we painted our nursery the next weekend, and bought a car last weekend (more on that in another post). So, I am late with my anniversary post!
I love my Ryan so much, and I am so excited we are having a baby in a few months. He will be such an awesome father. He already is! He has read to Lylah, talks to her all the time...he is the best. I can't wait to see him love on our little girl. He loves children and babies, just like me. It's one of the first things I noticed about him. Here is proof...
Ryan with Jonah, our friends the Fleming's baby boy
Playing with sweet Addi (several months ago!) our friends the Brown's baby.
With newborn Addi last June. Can't believe it's been almost a year!
(And wearing the same shirt as when he met Jonah. Must be his "baby-meeting shirt"!)
I can't wait to add pictures (many, I'm sure) of Ryan holding Lylah!
We had a great anniversary, with a trip to Joe's Crab Shack, which is my favorite!! He gave me a massage certificate (the man knows me well) and a sweet necklace with an L on it. He did well, and we had a great time! I love that man. Can't believe it's been four years! Time flies....
I love to cook. I don't know why I didn't discover this earlier in life, but I know it now. I absolutely love it. I love trying new recipes. We even have an unofficial rating system in our house.
Inedible (It's been years....but it happened once or twice)
Good not great
Great, I'd eat it again
Exceptional, I'd eat it tomorrow and the next day and the next
So I strive for the last one. I really try. Because as we say "If its always exceptional, it's never exceptional."
Well so this love has developed into another love as our friends became parents. The new love: Taking People Meals. I love it. Love doing it. It makes me so happy.
So our friends are having babies, and I love bringing them food. I love bringing my pregnant friends food. I love people coming over to eat food. It's become a bit of an obsession. I even have a refill deal. (Bring me the tin back and I'll refill it.)
I don't want this to sound like I have this all figured out. Because one day I may come back later (after our little girl comes) and change this, but I have a few things I think a meal needs if you bring it to a family. And a helpful video (don't worry I didn't make the video, I saw it on the Today show).
1. Main dish. It's best to bring it in something they can throw away or keep. If I bring someone flowers, I love to bring it in a vase (it can be from the dollar store) that they can keep. If someone brings me food in a pyrex (that they want back), the first thing I'm gonna think is...Holy crap, pyrexes are HARD TO CLEAN! :)
I also think it's good to bring a 8x8 dish. Especially if they are receiving a ton of food. But ask..maybe they love leftovers. Some people will eat anything leftover. (I am not one of them. But my husband is.)
I love to take Baked Ziti because it's one of my favorites and I think one of my best. I always try to abide by the "Guest Room Rule" I read somewhere: "Do for them what you would want as a guest!"
If you want the recipe, ask...it's awesome and easy!
2. Small side. I think salad is easiest, and in a container they can throw away. Vegetables...when in doubt, ask! Maybe they love peas.
3. Small (or large dessert). Someone told me once that they loved it if someone would bring them one slice of cake. They were trying to lose baby weight, and the last thing they wanted was a massive chocolate cake. Well, they wanted it, but they didn't want the calories. Again, I like to put it in a ziplock or throw-away container. But, I have had people say "Where are the rest of these brownies?"...so take it with a grain of salt. :)
4. Paper plates, knives, napkins. Makes it easier!
5. Small token. This is totally optional, but I love doing this. Something they can keep. At least send a little card of congratulations! I like to give a little onsie. They are so cheap and you can find some really cute ones at Target.
Now, again, I don't have this all figured out. Please don't think I do. But I think it's a good start. I would love ideas!
Some friends of mine in Oklahoma recently adopted the cutest little girl from Ethiopia. She is precious! She is almost one year old, and for her Birthday, they are asking that her family and friends help another family adopt a child from Ethiopia. Every little bit helps!
Here is the letter::
(Oh and I visited the Linck's blog www.ourmissinglinck.blogspot.com and cried a little bit. So be prepared.)
Friends and family, Our little Sophia is growing up so quickly! She will be one on October 12. We are celebrating in a BIG way and we want YOU to be a part of it!!! We believe God calls Christians to care for orphans. Adoption is one way He uses us to care for His children. I LOVE reading adoption stories and especially love seeing how God provides the funding for adoptions. He provided for our adoption of Sophia in so many amazing ways. We never could have paid for her adoption on our own. So many of our family and friends gave their hard earned money to help bring her home and we are so thankful. You have no idea! We know that it wasn’t too long ago that many of you helped with our adoption, but we are asking for you to give a little of your money to help bring another Ethiopian baby home to his or her forever family. You see, we have some friends who are adopting from Ethiopia and we want to help them out. They are in the fundraising stage and are hoping to turn their application in on October 25, their 2nd wedding anniversary. They want to have all of the money for the fees raised ($18,000) before they submit the application. God has already provided in HUGE ways for them and it has been a blessing to watch. So, back to Sophia’s birthday CELEBRATION!!!!! We are asking all of our friends, family, blogland buddies, total strangers, etc. to donate to the Linck’s adoption fund in Sophia’s name. If you know Sophia and she has brought joy to your life, would you please consider giving $5 or more, so Baby Linck can come home? If you don’t know her, but know how precious children are, would you donate money, as well? For every $5 you donate, we will enter your name into a drawing for a prize. We will have a drawing when $100 has been donated and then again at $200, $300, etc. The more you donate the bigger your chance is to win. The first prize is a brand new copy of “The Hole in Our Gospel”, by Richard Stearns. Would you like an additional chance to win? If you donate money AND do a blog or facebook post about this, then your name will be entered an additional time. Make sure you comment on my blog and let me know you posted about it. To donate, please go here:http://journeyfromethiopia.chipin.com/lincks-adoption-fund. You are also welcome to write a check or pay with cash, if you will be seeing one of us in the near future. “‘Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:37-40) For more information on John and Jennifer Linck, please visit their bloghttp://ourmissinglinck.blogspot.com/. Thank you so much for reading this long message and for your consideration in helping John and Jennifer bring home their "Missing Linck". I am so excited to see how God will use Sophia's life to help bring an orphan home to their forever family! Thanks, Katie
We took a trip with some good friends this past weekend to San Antonio. Despite one awful pull-out couch, scorching triple-digit heat, and seeing too many people that needed to put more clothes on....we had a great time!
The girls
Waiting for a show to start....
The whole gang at Salt Lick, this awesome barbeque place in Round Rock. It was so good!!
Baby sea lions!! So adorable.
We had so much fun with our friends. It was nice to get away for a weekend and enjoy great Mexican food, friends and of course, Shamu!
Last night, Ryan and I are watching TV and I notice "Glee" on the DVR. I look at Ryan and raise my eyebrows.
"Babe, why did you record that? I thought we talked about cutting back on our shows. You just started grad school." (go here to see a list of the shows we watch)
"Yeah, but I thought you said you might like it."
"Some of my High School friends said I should watch it. But really, we don't need another show."
"Well, let's just watch it, and if you hate it, we won't record it anymore."
"Alright."
Note: I was a singer/performer/dancer/show choirer in High School. Yes, one of those people. I made some of my best friends there and I will always remember it as one of my favorite times in my life. Performing with my friends was SO MUCH FUN. I kinda wish YouTube had been around then, and maybe I could have some videos available. Just for fun.
**an hour later**
Uproarious laughter fills our living room.
"I love this show. LOVE. THIS. SHOW. Google it. What, he was nominated for a Tony? They do all of their own singing?"
It makes me so nostalgic to watch this show. I can guarentee you that I will never miss an episode! Check out some clips below and go watch the pilot at www.fox.com.
Sometimes I miss Act II.
If you were in Show Choir with me, and you haven't watched this show, you need to. And even if you weren't. So funny. So great.
Alright, we are out of here! On our way to Edmond for Rachel and Blake's wedding. I cannot wait to do all my bridesmaid-ly duties and celebrate with the happy couple. And see some old friends! Have a great weekend!
Happy Wedding Weekend to one of my dearest, oldest, bestest friends!
....Rachel's getting married! Some of the bridal party at her Bachelorette party!
I am so excited for Rachel. We have been friends for a very long time....since 1st grade. She is going to be such a beautiful bride and have a wonderful life with Blake!
Some of the bridal party at her Bachelorette party!