Books I've Read in 2009

I thought it would be fun to keep track of how many books I've read for 2009.

1) Utopia by Lincoln Child
finished reading around 1/3/2009
-loved this book
2) The Sentinel by Arthur C. Clarke
around 1/10/2009
-collection of short sci-fi stories - awesome
3) Close Quarters by Emma Harrison
1/15/2009
-part of the Michael Vaughn Alias series (yes, a teen book, but a quick easy read and I like Alias)
4) Past Lives, Future Healing by Sylvia Browne
1/22/2009
-quick, easy read, nothing too profound

5) Death Match by Lincoln Child
2/2/09
-loved it!

6) Body Clutter by Marla Cilley and Leanne Ely
around 2/15/09
-made me feel really fat the whole time I read it

7) Brimstone by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
2/25/09
-started off really strong and then it kinda puttered out...sigh...

Here We Come MAY!!!

This has been an exciting week for our family. My niece, Lily, was born on April 30th.


Things are back to normal now with our health and I was fortunate enough to avoid becoming sick. I guess eight years of teaching does do something to building up immunities to sicknesses.

Jaden and I planted strawberries for our weekend project together. He was excited about it, especially the dirt. There was one point where he actually decided to eat some of the potting soil. Yuck.


One year ago today was a very important day for our adoption. We receive our PA (pre-approval from the United States Embassy in Guatemala for us to adopt Jaden). A few weeks later we were done with family court and submitted to PGN. I am so glad we are past that!

I'm Back!!!

So I kinda forgot about the blog...Now Jaden is running everywhere and getting into everything. We are getting over a bad stomach virus here. Jaden got sick on Friday and Jeremy got sick in the wee hours of Sunday morning. I stayed home from work today to be the nurturing mommy and doctor. I hope that I don't get sick. So far so good and I feel great. Jaden and I planted a garden (kid's version) on Saturday and we had our first sprouts today for cucumber and lettuce. Hopefully I won't kill anything, my thumb is a little brown.

First Snow

I don't know if it was really a snow. It was the frozen rain slushy snow combination that happens so often here. I did step outside with J.J. and said "It's your first snow!" I also let him hold some of the icy pellets. He didn't seemed to weirded out by the whole thing, but he was cold after his bath. His little teeth were chattering - poor guy!

Check out this video for Dia de Los Muertos in Guatemala

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rdpSELDxt8

This is how Guatemalans celebrate All Saints Day. They go into the graveyard and fly giant kites. Really cool.

J.J. is becoming more and more bold with his steps. I think that he really likes walking.

First Steps!!! AND the Browns won!!!

Late this afternoon J.J. decided to stick his hand too far in his mouth, resulting in a gag and some puke (yes I know, GROSS!) So I was the lucky one who got to change him. But it turned out to be very lucky for me, because as I put him down, he took his first steps. I screamed, and told Jeremy to hurry upstairs. It was not my imagination. J.J. is now stepping and will soon be walking. He is practicing a lot tonight and is doing amazing and takes more and more steps each time. Jason and Corrie Anne came over tonight and we all watched the Browns game together. What a nail biter! It went into over time and the Browns won 33 - 30 (versus Seattle). That makes three wins in a row for the Brownies! Yeah! This may not seem like a big deal, but it is. I have seen them lose too many time - it feels good when they win.

Cleveland Zoo

Today J.J. and I went to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo with the "moms" group at our church. It was a little bit chilly, but it was fun. We got to see quite a few animals and we rode the train. J.J. slept for 2 hours while we were there. I was tired when we got home and had to take a nap too!