I gave Bella my camera phone today, taught her how to take pictures, and set her loose to tell her story through pictures. Today was a super lazy, stay at home day. So the camera was a fun way to spice it up. She took a hundred pictures, but she only saved a few. Here’s her tale… Too cute for words.

Enough said… Her mother’s daughter.

My beautiful husband turned 34 on Monday! We had a birthday party for him on Saturday with his brother, Justin, and Justin’s wife and children. We had a wonderful time celebrating– eating well, staying up late, playing games, laughing, and talking about old times.

I met Jeremy when he was 23. He was the most romantic and thoughtful creature I’d ever met. He melted my heart with his kindness, affection, and loving spirit. He still does. He used to make me nervous, giving me butterflies whenever he came to visit. He still does. I used to be so afraid to lose him, because SURELY I couldn’t possibly deserve a man that is this wonderful. But now I realize that, after 11 years and surviving our youth together, he must not be in a hurry to go anywhere. Now I know that I was blessed and I’ll fall asleep in his arms, and wake to his smile, for a lifetime.

He was the first man who ever took me out on a date and treated me like a Princess. He’s always been a romantic. The first time I realized I was “in love”, he had just taken me to see a movie and dinner. He was taking me home, and I already missed him even though he hadn’t even left me yet. We were sitting at a traffic light when he suddenly jumped out of his white, topless Jeep (even his car was sexy). He ran off to the side of the road where there were beautiful wildflowers growing. He quickly cut me a huge handful, ran back to the car, and handed them to me. The people in the cars behind us started cheering and clapping. That was just the beginning, and I’ve loved every second of the 11 years since then.

He took on a single mother, and Austin instantly loved him. He has raised Austin as his own since Austin was waddling with diapers, and has done such a fine job of fathering him. Austin adores him and doesn’t remember that there was even a time that we were without Jeremy. They have an amazing and close relationship. They are like peas and carrots. So much alike, complimenting one another. I would have loved to have a father like Jeremy growing up.

We struggled for years to have a child together. After 6 years of infertility, 5 miscarriages, fertility surgeries and drugs, and a lot of heartache, we had come to a place where we had just about given up on the hope of having babies together. This broke my heart because– he hadn’t married me knowing I couldn’t have more children, and not being able to give him one of his own made me feel insufficient. Half a woman. I had my last miscarriage in March of 2003. In April I was pregnant with Bella. She came 9 months later– all 10 pounds and 7 ounces of fluffy, healthy, and beautiful baby. Then came our beautiful surprise, Noah. When we finally did it, we did it right. These two babies were so worth the wait!

We’re going to grow old, gray, and saggy together. Wise, stubborn, and cynical. We’re best friends and such a team. I honestly couldn’t have formed a better partner for me with my own two hands.

Happy Birthday, Jeremy! I love you and so look forward to celebrating another 34+ birthdays with you!

My internet was down last night so I had to wait until today to post the winners for the Caption This post. Seriously, it was really hard for Jeremy to judge because you all had really great captions! He kept having me read the captions to him over and over and he finally settled on these as his favorites. Thanks so much for participating; you guys are a riot!

The winner for Bella’s picture caption is Meghan for:

“Mmmmmm. There’s nothing like the smell of basketball in the morning.”

And the winner for Noah’s picture caption is Sheryl for:

“I am Ruler of all the yard! My trusty orb and I shall reign until the end of time.”

Thanks everyone! And Sheryl, I have your address, but Meghan, I don’t have your new address. Can you e-mail it to me? Some happy mail will be in the mail to you both this week!

My days are crazy, y’all. I run my hind end off all day, beginning at 5 am. I brush 50+ teeth (not all mine, of course), make coffee, pack Jeremy’s lunch, make breakfast, kiss my hubby goodbye. I drink about half a cup of coffee before the day really kicks off. I usually notice my cold cup of coffee around 10 am, sigh, and mourn that I wasn’t able to sit quietly and drink its entirety.

But there are hungry boys to feed and there’s no time for coffee!

I pack the diaper bag with a snack and drinks and then head to the gym with the kiddos so that I can get buff. Or not, as the case may be. Yesterday there was an old man that called me over to him and said, “Do you mind if I ask you a question? I wondered why you only have that tattoo on one arm? Wouldn’t it be more symmetrical to have it on both arms?”

My reply? “Wouldn’t your nose be more symmetrical if it were wrapped around my shoe?”

Ok. I’m kidding. I didn’t really say that. But he has a come-over. I should have ragged him about how “unsymmetrical” his hairline is.

Old Fart.

I work out for an hour or so. I still can’t seem to get my butt tohurryupandshrinkalreadybecauseit’sbeenoverayearsinceyouhadababy,stephanie,

andyourassstilllooks9monthspregnant!

“PEDAL FASTER, Beeyatch”!

400 calories later and I’m done. Finally.

How many calories make up one ass cheek? Because I’d be happy if I could get rid of just one of them.

We travel home, have some lunch and do some arts-n-crafts.

These make wonderful gifts for happy mail to family. Isn’t it purdy? Aren’t we creative somebodies?

I put the babies down for their nap so that I can lay back and relax clean the house and fold the laundry. I also make dinner during naptime. Because I’m an overacheiver. Or, so that I can go watch Austin’s scrimmage instead of laboring over a hot stove later in the day. Here’s the deliciousness that was our dinner last night:

Chicken Alfredo Casserole

I watched Austin in his first game after naptime! He was so awesome. I nearly lost my voice yelling and carrying on. He’s the Quarterback, so he’s in charge of making sure everyone does what they are supposed to. I could hear him yelling out, “Good take-down, Aiden,” or “Put your helmet back on, Jake,” or “BLUE 52. Hut.” I was soooo psyched! I kept saying, “That’s MY boy.” Bella got really upset at one point when one of the Linebackers tackled Austin. She said, “Get OFF my brother! I’ll get you!” I haven’t been this excited about sitting under the 95 degree blazing sun with 2 cranky toddlers since, well, EVER.

Bronco bound. Or Panthers. Whoever pays the most.

That’s only part of my day. I left out the cleaning, diaper changing, and temper tantrums. Consider yourself lucky that this post doesn’t come with sound. This house full of youngin’s is noisy, y’all. Trust.

Why don’t you join me by sharing a day in your life?