family of 3.

Soon to be family of 4!!

Cuthbert Baby #2 should be arriving early November--and we couldn't be more excited.

And here are some pictures of the happy big brother.

(Had to make sure and get this post done before tomorrow so you all didn't think I was joking!)

still here...

...just busy with a whole lot of basketball watching and outside playing. Until the last couple days, when Michigan reminded us that spring actually isn't quite here yet. So...we're just watching from the window--which can also be pretty exciting.

when it rains, it pours.

Silly me to think that two recovering sickies, with compromised immune systems, trudging through germ infested airport after germ infested plane would make it out healthy, right? The stomach flu, double ear infection, sinus infection (and FOUR teeth, like we weren't miserable enough?) struck back with a vengeance last week, and both Jonah and I were--pathetic. (seriously, I don't remember ever being this sick). Thanks to a healthy Ben (who is still going strong?!) for doing all the sick laundry--and a million other things. I think we are finally on the mend.

But amidst a week of blah, we did learn one valuable, lifelong skill:

home, sweet, home

Home, at last (more on that in a moment), after a great week with family in Colorado. The weather was great and the skiing fantastic (including a day with amazing fresh powder...and yes, we opened the lifts that day...) and we left injury free! The accommodations were superb and it was awesome to hang with the family. We ran into a couple unfortunate bumps including lost luggage (minor hiccup--delivered to our doorstep at 4am), Jonah and I with the stomach flu (a little bit larger hiccup. I'll spare you the details, but we were very thankful for a condo with a washer and dryer), and a nightmarish flight home (7ish hours in chicago...2 spent in the plane on the tarmac....did I mention that we live about 3.5 hours from o'hare? thank goodness for a well and amazingly happy child... and a play area...). Unfortunately, a combination of above events limited my picture taking a great deal (the majority of my pictures came from o'hare. 7 hours, remember?). And, anyway, it was a ski vacation--lots of staticly matted hair, oddly sun/windburned faces, and long underwear. Who really wants to see pictures?

And the views? Photos don't do them justice.

first plane ride (unfortunately, sick.)

view from our condo: not too shabby.

this would be the face he makes when you say "smile"

leaving. on a jet plane.

Tomorrow we pack up and head to Colorado for a week to ski with my family! It will be Jonah's first plane ride--so that in itself should be memorable. Packing, to go skiing (think hats, boots, gloves, coats, etc...), for three of us, on a plane, has kicked my OCD (thanks dad) into high gear. I've been listing, and laundering, and planning for a good week now. And the results?

That's right. All of us: one check bag, two carry-ons, backpack, stroller. (did I mention this was a week?!) And that small black suitcase? Ben and I are both completely packed in there (sans ski clothing). Impressed yet? (If not, you're probably not going to be). But, I feel accomplished. United won't be making money on us with their extra baggage charges and such....

I'm throwing in this picture just because it's funny.

See you next week!

love lovin'

I realize that Valentine's day is most certainly a commecialized holiday. But is there a better excuse {during the mid-February slump} to have an early breakfast at Panera, turn on Rachmaninoff {and some new over the rhine, of course}, make homemade ice cream, get late night take-out Italian, and sit by the fire with the ones you love? Probably not.

thanks for the new clothes grandpa and grandma. we really do like it, we just

weren't in the mood to wear the jacket at this particular moment...

cute picture with a valentine: fail. (non.stop.movement).

"hey, I got my new shoes on..."

ever hear of squeak me shoes?

here they are in action: