Spring is really, truly here! I felt like this winter was extra extra long. I think I've figured it out. This was my first winter in Ohio and I wasn't prepared for it. I had been told how cold it gets and how crazy the weather can be. (both of which were proved true) But no one prepared me for how ugly it would be! Don't get me wrong, I think Ohio is usually beautiful. I think the problem is that I grew up in the northwest where during the winter we had evergreens, and that I've spent the last decade in Utah surrounded by mountains. Ohio has neither. In the winter it's just tree bark and yellow grass. Now that spring has sprung I'm remembering why I thought Ohio was so beautiful before. It is so green!


Last week Daniel and I had a date day. Bryan was studying for a test (which he rocked by the way!) and we were trying to get out of his hair. I had heard that one of the best flower shows in the nation was going on in Cincinnati, so we drove on over. I LOVED getting to walk around and look at all of the flowers, it was absolutely beautiful! I am somewhat of a nut for flowers, so I was totally in my element.

Basically, it was Daniel and I and a bunch of old people walking around. There were all sorts of booths with art and decorations and of course flowers. I so wanted to buy many of the bulbs and cut flowers.

One of the booths we stopped by was selling antique stamp blocks from a textile factory. I picked one up and Daniel had a blast playing with the store owner. (such a welcome distraction for him!)

They had a tent full of "dramatic table settings," they were incredible.

I thought this one was so fun and original. It would be perfect for a summer party...

a closer look at the scoops of ice cream, so cool.

As I'm sure most of you have heard, there is a lot about the chemical BPA in the news lately. If you haven't keep reading.

"Earlier this week, the U.S. government's National Toxicology Program said that there is "some concern" about BPA from experiments on rats that linked the chemical to changes in behavior and the brain, early puberty and possibly precancerous changes in the prostate and breast."In Canada, Health Minister Tony Clement said a draft report on bisphenol A has found the chemical could endanger people -- particularly newborns and infants -- and the environment."

BPA can leach out of the plastic and into the food when it is heated. I've been looking through my house and SO many things have this in them! Even a lot of bottles contain BPA, I know that my avent ones do. This is particularly disturbing to me since I read this:

Low doses of Bisphenol A (BPA), can damage the development of young brains, according to new scientific study.

To find out if you something you own could have BPA in it, look at the recycle symbol on the bottom, if it has a #3,6, or 7 in the middle of it could very well have it. I'm thinking that for my next child I might have to go with glass bottles. Who knows what else is in the plastic ones? So I've been searching the web for glass bottles and non-plastic water bottles. These are my favorite bottles I've found so far: (the pictures are links too)

Too bad they're way out of my budget! But a girl can dream can't she?

I also think these are a great idea, you can buy one or two and use them on all your bottles...

Attention all Twilight Fans!

You'll be wanting to check this out! And notice the release date? Dec. 12th! Who hoo!

http://movies.msn.com/movies/hitlist/04-22-08

In honor of Earth Day....

My sister (Nicole) sent me a link to this video. (click on the picture to get to the video) It is a must see. I think you'll agree with me that it is worth your time. It's made me think a lot about the way we purchase and use things.

One thing that I've been kind of shocked/appalled about is how hard recycling is in some of the communities I've lived in. When I was younger and lived in Seattle, recycling was just a part of life. They gave you a DISCOUNT on your garbage if you recycled and provided you with a separate full sized trash can with dividers inside to recycle all your paper, glass and cans, etc. My other sister lives in Kansas and there they charge you extra to recycle and don't even let you send in paper and cardboard! I've been keeping my eyes open for a recycling center locally but haven't found one yet, anyone know of one?

Love me some $5 oops paint! My father always taught me to never leave a hardware store without checking out their oops paints. Usually the colors are hideous and theirs not much selection, but the other day I had a major score. I found this color for my bathrooms and 2 gallons of Ralph Lauren River Rock paint in a nice color. I got all three together for 1/2 the price of a normal gallon of paint! I love it when life works out. :) My next big painting project: Daniel's room. Any ideas?

(BTW this bathroom is still in progress...)

Welcome Lucy!!!

We are so excited to meet our little neice!
(ps I totally stole these pictures from Mandy's blog! I hope she doesn't mind!)

I'm an Aunt! (for the 20th time, but it's still just as exciting as the 1st time) Congrats Lara and Adam! We can't wait to see a picture. (hint, hint!) And find out what her name is! (details!) I thought about you when I read my reader's digest today, they had a little blurb that went like this:

"You can't blame the woman for being upset. After all, she was delivering her baby in our hospital elevator. "This is nothing," said a fellow nurse, trying to console the new mother. "Last year a friend of mine helped a woman deliver a baby on the front lawn of the hospital." The patient began to wail, "That was me!"

- Stephanie Niederberger

So while your epidural might not have worked at least you were IN the hospital! Really we're so glad that you and the baby are happy and healthy. (and can't wait to get our hands on her so that we can spoil her rotten!)

I have so much I want to blog about, but I always forget while I'm in the middle of writing. Our biggest accomplishment this past week has been finishing our interviews and home safety visits for adoption. I've been working on profiles that will go online once we're approved and trying to figure out how to get the word out in the least invasive/obnoxious way possible. We just have to get Bryan's Dr.'s signature (standard, nothing wrong with him!) and finish our training and then we'll be done!!! This whole home study process is so overwhelming and I'm just happy to be at the end of it rather than the beginning!

Daniel has really been surprising us lately with his vocabulary. The has started using words like "actually," and "of course." It's pretty crazy that he learns so quickly and models us so closely. There's nothing like seeing your traits in your child, that makes you want to behave well. We had friends over for dinner the other night and we kept talking to Daniel about sharing with the baby (a 9 mth old). We were all seated, eating dinner, when we heard this strange fizzing sound. Daniel came running to Bryan and said, "Daddy, McCade is having a sip of my pop!" Daniel had given the baby his bottle of IBC Root beer. It was pretty cute. (and what's even better is that it completely came out of the carpet!) He is also very excited to get a "little brother or sister." He keeps saying "Mom, go get in the car and get me a little brother or sister!" I asked him the other day if he wanted a brother or a sister, he said " I want a brother and a sister..... Mommy when we get a baby we get both. I want both." I personally think that's a bit of a tall order, but we'll see.

I had a (very) minor surgery last Thursday. It went really well. I'm embarrassed to say that the worst part was when they drew my blood. I felt the world spinning, got really hot and thought I was going to be sick. The nurses were kind of surprised at how awful I looked and had me lay down with a wet wash cloth on my face. I'm a wuss, I know. I bet you're all wondering how in the heck I was able to give birth or be my sister's donor. The only thing I can say is that desperate times call for desperate measures! Anyways, when they put me under they gave me some anti-nausea meds and let me just say that they were heavenly!!!! The worst part of anesthesia has always been the day after, when I'm sick to my stomach. The medicine completely solved that problem and it was soooo nice. I highly recommend it for anyone who's "going under."

I've finally been able to talk to my parents this week. They are really enjoying their time in New Zealand. They live 2 blocks from the beach and get to take walks on it in the evening. I'm very jealous. I just keep thinking of all the incredible places they get to see. I really wish we could go, but we're putting our money towards a more eternal goal. ;) (adoptions aren't cheap!)

For anyone who is interested, this store is sponsoring a stroller give away. Click on the picture to enter!