snippets of life.

the air was cool and wet. the rain had subsided, with only a gentle mist falling from the mottled grey skies. as I drove across the smith street bridge, the view caught my eye and took my breath away.


St. Paul:
lights twinkling and reflecting off water-covered ground and absorbing into the dense sky.
steam from the power plants wafting across the skyline. I'm driving and don't have a quality camera...so capturing this moment is a challenge. But I love this view. I want to stand and stare at it. I see the brick buildings erected so many decades ago. I see the river, which used to have open land on either side, that is now fully developed. I see history. I see a bigger picture to the individuals I walk by every day. Somewhere in that tangle of lights, rain, people, bridges, buildings and cars, I live.

and in this moment, i am completely content to call this home.



The same view at night.
"Lights will guide you home..."




One of my favorite things is to drive around after a rain storm...early evening when the daylight begins to fade. seeing the reflections of brake lights on the wet ground. it reminds me of days in my childhood...rainy days...when staying at home and doing school was perfect. Vivid pictures of driving after a rain storm flash in my mind. those are good memories.

With the rain comes.....


GREEN! I have never appreciated green as much as I do now. it is so beautiful and vibrant and just brings the city to life.


Pretty sure I probably looked ridiculous taking pictures of the random clumps of grasses.




This sweet girl delights my heart. She brings joy, smiles, sweetness and innocence to my life.



I am learning to delight in all the joys and challenges of raising a puppy. She is so much fun at times...and also very frustrating. I am constantly cleaning up after her, scolding her, loving on her, smacking her nose, rubbing her tummy, teaching commands, cuddling or just talking to her. I take it as a good sign that even though I discipline her a lot, she still likes to be near me, curled up at my feet while I'm doing my hair or cooking, running toward me and standing between my legs...as well as nibbling on my fingers, toes, ears and any other exposed skin she can sink her little puppy teeth into.


Just got her a new tag =) now not only is she identifiable, but she jingles and jangles around the loft so I know where she is.


when she's quiet, she's either destroying something or she's snoozing. I prefer the latter. =)



Enjoyed quality time with my good friend Tasha. felt good to have a familiar friend to hang out with and talk to and enjoy girl time with. truly a blessing in my weekend.


And now onto the pictures you've all been waiting for!!!


Me cuddling sweet baby Ender.


eyes open, staring at nothing...working his little senses.




Love his myriad of facial expressions...most of which happen while sleeping.



He grins and shows his little dimples when he's having a good dream. always wonder what little babies dream about.



He is beautiful. and flawless. Sometimes I just sit and stare at him, taking in his intricate and perfectly made features. baby ears are a work of art. the Creator carefully knit little Ender together so that all his parts work together so he survives, thrives, and grows.

What a multitude of blessings my life is made up of. my heart overflows with thankfulness.

It was a typical Monday...or not.

It started out as a relatively normal monday morning. Uncle Johnny and Aunt Amy were visiting from out of town, and so Little K got three babysitters for the day.

Post breakfast, John and Karlina and myself went to the park with Sierra.


K loves holding Sierra's leash. And at this point, Sierra can't pull her down, so it's perfect!



They are just SO adorable together!! I love it!



Then Johnny and Sierra and K went swinging!



John started running around with Sierra chasing him and K thought it was really fun. (Notice the "Boys Only" label on the swing. we're rebels like that)



Did some hanging around on the monkey bars.



Played on the slide. Also a rebel move. would rather climb up than slide down!




Played some peek-a-boo






Then we went to go run some errands. Sierra got a little curious and climbed my shoulders to stare at Little K. She's such a peach. both she's are peaches. I'm not even sure where calling someone a peach came from. whatever.



Then Sierra got in a cuddly mood and went to Uncle Johnny's lap.

All day, Little K had been acting a little abnormal. Not quite as bubbly or talkative or energetic. And she seemed to want to cuddle a lot.


She practically fell asleep on Aunt Amy after playing at the park.


Then as we were walking around Trader Joe's, all she wanted to do was lay on John's chest and we could tell she was starting to feel warm to the touch.

But at that moment, the phone rang. It was her daddy. So I picked up and he said, "Hey, how's it going?" So I proceeded to tell him about K's eating, playing, fever etc...and I heard Krissa in the background commenting (I must have been on speaker phone). Something didn't seem right...Jim was supposed to be at work. So I asked why Kris was there. He said (rather nonchalantly, I might add), "Oh, we just had a baby." haha it was SUCH FUN to hear how FAST baby had arrived. So we waited til they were settled in a patient room, then went to go visit!

Meet baby brother!!!


Ender James
8 lbs, 4 oz. 20.5 in.







Look at that head of hair!!!



Holding him for the first time! he's SOOO tiny compared to Little K



Aunt Amy taking her turn. They were so glad they got to be here to meet him before they left the next morning!!


Uncle Johnny meeting Ender. he looks so small in John's big arms!



K was enjoying the fun hospital munchies. She didn't quite get what was going on...but she loved just being with Mommy and Daddy.


First Family picture! Many more to come =)



Eyes-open Ender.



Mohawk Ender.

The nurse asked if they wanted her to do a mohawk after his bath. it was seriously SO CUTE!


Adorable dimpled Ender (YES! the kid has got the most gorgeous dimples in each cheek. prominent ones! it was hard to capture in a picture. but you can see one on the left there. He's gonna be a knock-out!)


We are so blessed to have this addition to our family! I'm grateful to be here; not only to see Ender so soon after birth, but also to be able to help out J&K with both kids. It really is an honor. Please continue praying for everyone's health, sleep, and sanity. It's about to get crazy up in here. (did I mention that raising a puppy is like having another child? except you have to constantly watch because she doesn't wear a diaper? yeah...it's taxing)

But I love my life. God has poured to over-flowing the blessings on me.

Thanks for rejoicing with us as we begin our lives with the addition of Ender.

really fantastic things

My life recently has one blessing after another. With all those wonderful messy life things sprinkled in. But hey, who's paying any attention to those anyway.

Back to blessings.

For example. I met a lady on the elevator who fawned over Sierra (this is not abnormal...she gets a LOT of fawning. funny story about that later.) Anyway, she mentioned in passing that she's home a lot and if I ever needed someone to check on Sierra, to let her know. well today I had a really long shift (7 hours) and wasn't quite comfortable leaving Sierra home alone that long. So I went to the 7th floor and talked with this lovely "neighbor" of mine. She offered to watch Sierra the whole evening and then bring her back about an hour before I got home from work. It was seriously a God thing. it worked out perfectly, and I could work the whole night with ease knowing my puppykins was being taken care of.

Aforementioned funny story: So in the evenings I take Sierra out for a pee/walk. she's getting used to her harness and leash, but looks so adorable bounding after me as we walk through the park across the street. Also on that block are a few bars/restaurants. There are always people out smoking or leaving or walking to and fro. Every night, without fail, I get asked at least 15 times (no joke) the same four questions:
1. Awww what kind of puppy is she?
2.how old is she?
3.What's her name?
4.how many times a night do people ask you these questions?

Then they pet her, and oooh and ahhhh over her, and show all their friends. And little Sierra just eats it up. she wags her curly tail, snuggles into their hands, gives a few friendly nips to show she loves them...

Tonight, this guy (who had obviously been drinking) was like, "I just can't take it. she is SOO cute. oh my gosh. SO cute! wow...that is amazing. Ok, I can't even look at her, i have to walk away." then he proceeded to tell his friends all about how amazing and great and adorable my dog was, all the while, almost hyperventilating. I thought he was going to have a melt down. cuz he was completely serious about his emotions over Sierra.


Back to blessings:
So remember a while back I told you about that one chef whose toes I may or may not have stepped on (figuratively)? Well tonight was confirmation that we are indeed buddies, and he holds nothing against me.
Scenario: winding down the night, then we get sat a bunch of tables all the sudden. The call goes out from the kitchen, "86 Terys" (that means we are out of the Teriyaki Tenderloin Appetizer-a real winner). So of course the first table I talk to after that news orders it. Alex (the particular chef being discussed) had come up to me before that and was like, look, we're thawing some Terys but it'll be at least 25 minutes until they're ready to be cooked. So I told that to my table and they said they'd wait. I went to the kitchen and told Alex and said they were willing to wait. Next thing I know, the MOD (manager on duty) comes up and says, "message from Alex...he wants me to tell you that he is making your Terys for you...but he doesn't have any other orders right now in case anyone else asks. yours will be up soon." I look toward the kitchen and he gives me a thumbs up and I nod, smile and give him a thumbs up back. Seriously, he didn't have to do that for me, but he did. And it was a peace offering. Me and him are good now. In fact, he's probably one of my favorite chefs.

More blessings: It is sixty-two degrees outside at 12:42 as I write this. READ THAT: 62!!!!! And there was a bit of a breeze, and it was quite possibly one of the most beautiful nights I've experienced in a while. I put on a dress that fluttered in the breeze, slipped on some flip-flops and walked my sweet puppy around. I just wanted to give the night a hug, because it made me feel so...at home. *sigh* i really am a California girl.



This girl is a blessing. Went to IL and got to talk to her heart-to-heart a bit. I am truly thankful for her friendship. She is a beautiful person, inside and out. (This isn't to say I wasn't blessed by anyone else on that trip...I totally was. I have an amazing community of people around me. ) But seeing Katie all the way from Mexico is always a highlight.




This sweet thing is a HUGE blessing. her smile, animal noises, way she says "Deh-daaah" for Sierra, her squeals and laughter and her kissable cheeks. Seriously, I love her so much.


Another one: Safety walking to and from work.

One more: New baby niece/nephew on its way any time now

I just can't stop: yummy food in my cupboards

AH! sorry: parents who talk on the phone, send me packages, tell me they miss me. and a little brother who calls to chat or for advice. <3

God just keeps the blessings coming. I am overwhelmed at times. And every time I hit a bump in the road, I have these precious gifts to look back on and remember how much he cares for me. Thanks for sharing in the re-telling of these blessings and the sweetness of God. I hope it can encourage you to find the things in your life that God sends your way to remind you that you are beloved and delighted in by Him. and if you haven't ever taken the time to notice them, or didn't give credit where credit is due, I pray that your heart will turn toward Him with a grateful spirit for what he has done and continues to do for you!

Significant Other

So I realize that it has been a while since I last posted. And I know that this is not preferable. But this post is to tell you what has been taking all of my time. For those of you who aren't friends with me on facebook, this might be the first time you're hearing about this. So hold on tight.

I would like to introduce you to my significant other. Comes in a little different package than you might envision with that label.

Drumroll Please!!!!!!


Sierra.

Why Sierra you ask? I wanted a name in Spanish. Sierra has double meaning for me. First of all, it means "mountain" in Spanish, which reminds me of California and the mountains that are so dear to me. Also, it is the beginning of my street name in CA (won't give the rest, as this is a public page. Many of you already know it). Basically, every time I say her name, it is a reminder of home. And my mom also said, "Plus, she's like a mountain of responsibility that you will climb and conquer with perseverance"...or something motherly like that. =)



This is when I went to go pick her up. within minutes of arriving, and she's already snuggling.

Insert funny story: At this point in time, I thought she was a boy. There was some miscommunication about the gender, and as far as I knew, I was getting a male puppy. So I had some great names picked out. It wasn't until me and my cousin were well on our way to the pet store...I had finally picked a name...I lifted her (him) up to look him (her) in the eyes and call her (him) by name...and I realized that his (her)....*ahem* shall we say, equipment... wasn't exactly where it should be for the gender I had previously thought he (she) was.

Poor puppy didn't have a name for a good hour as I tried to re-vamp my whole mindset. It is a real challenge to go from thinking of something as a boy to thinking of it as a girl. But we've survived, and I don't think she has any complexes from it.

Back to cute pictures.


Full-body view. Normally her tail curls up and over her back...but she was a little overwhelmed and frightened.


Stats:
~Lab/Husky Mix (Lab mother, Husky father)
~Completely black (with about five white hairs on her chest...doesn't really constitute a patch)
~Six weeks old
~Still working on sleeping through the night

She sleeps next to my bed in a little fold-up kennel. The first night she whined quite a bit. Second night wasn't too bad, only woke up twice. We're hoping tonight will be when she can sleep pretty much all the way through. hmm one can hope.
~Don't know much about her personality other than...


She sleeps. A LOT. which is good. Cuz I love sleep. But I have a feeling this is just because she's a baby. She needs lots of sleep.

Also...


She's a charmer... Look at those eyes. Seriously, she is the epitome of adorable.


Don't let them fool you though...because she also has a little attitude.

When wrestling with her sister, Bailey, she ended up on top almost every time.

Insertion: Bailey is the more husky-looking litter-mate that my cousins from Indiana got. She has ice-blue eyes, and is GORGEOUS. my other cousins from Illinois also got a litter-mate. His name is Tristan, and he has husky markings with grey eyes. We were so excited to get three puppies from the same litter all in our extended family!


Ok, back to Sierra.

the first night I had her, I was going to a friends house in IL, and I didn't want to leave her home, so I brought her with. I knew people would think she was cute. But I was not prepared for how popular this puppy would be. She was the belle of the ball.

Seriously, she got passed around to almost everyone and she just snoozed and snuggled and looked cute and stole everyone's hearts. There was even talk from some of the guys for an elaborate plan to puppy-nap her away from me. I snuffed those fires out quickly. She has even been talked about on facebook since the weekend was over by her loyal fans who will always love her.


Shannon and her fiance Jared and Sierra. I think they decided they want a dog after they get married. maybe...?


She was even properly christened, Lion King style.


Thankfully, J&K have allowed me to bring Sierra on my nannying adventures.


Little K meets Sierra for the first time. She was completely delighted. She was making her "doggy" sounds and laughing and wanting to pet her but not wanting to get too close. They really do get along well. Sierra follows K around like...well...a puppy dog. K thinks its a game of "I'm gonna get you" (which generally ends in tickling), and then gets confused when Sierra will run after her but then when K stops running, Sierra will sit at K's feet and stare up at her.


Sierra even joined us at bathtime...doing what she does best.


Having this little girl in my life has changed it a LOT. spending the day with her and K really is like having two babies. except K has a diaper, and I have to constantly watch Sierra for that tell-tale squat, which indicates she's about to pee. I do really good about getting her out at least every two hours. But that puppy has got a LOT of liquid in her, and really goes whenever she feels like it. no rhyme or reason. *sigh* This is good for me. And I enjoy having her presence in the loft.

And while this puppy stage is so cute and fun, it'll be nice to have a grown, trained dog who sleeps through the night, can hold her pee and doesn't bark at herself in the mirror. (remind me to get pictures/video of that for y'all)



We really are MFEO (meant for each other).

Signing off until next time,
xoxo
s&s