April-ness

I decided to download our pics and realized it's been awhile since I updated this so here it goes...

Anthony had a dream the other night that went something like this..."I was operating a skid steer when I began to back up and it began to make the beep-beep-beep warning sound. It kept beeping and then my blissful dream was interrupted when my wife elbowed me in the ribs because my alarm was beeping."

ConLai loves outings now that she is at home regularly, so the girls and I were driving to church last night for a practice and she kept asking "whaszat?" She became silent for a little while and then out of nowhere she said, "tank you Mommy". Now that's a blessing of motherhood.

Uncle Caleb and Aunt Becca came through Chicago...yea!!! Well, it was especially hard to go to bed with such a fun uncle and aunt around and ConLai knows how to get us to stay just a bit longer at bedtime. Daddy prays and sings with her, then Mommy prays and sings with her. A bright idea dawned on her this time around, "Becca pray?"

Daddy got his first lipstick smooch on the cheek.

I surprised Anthony at Moody last week during his lunch break by kidnapping him and taking him to Gino's Pizza.
He's remembering life before kids here. :)


No one makes Juliana smile more than her big sister.



We were at a church get together next door at our pastor's house and the guys played ball.
This is Jovan, the grandson of the Al & Teresa Reyes (pictured below). Teresa graciously watched ConLai this year while I worked.
I bought a big purse for the first time in my life, and I think ConLai had more fun with it than I did.

Cocoon Life

Have you ever thought about what it is like for a caterpillar to enter a cocoon and then emerge weeks later as a butterfly? The thought has entered my mind lately as the last couple of months I feel like I have lived that. After quitting work, life seems to have screeched to a halt as we adjust and begin a new life/routine. My primary conversations have been with a 2 year old (who repeats most of what I say or says no to what I say), and a newborn (who stares and smiles occasionally to my chatter).
Does a caterpillar forget it's inside a cocoon until the day the cocoon begins to shed? While it's in the cocoon does it hurt as the changes take place? Well, these are questions I've thought about as I feel like I'm emerging from my cocoon as Juliana grows older (and, get this...because we now have internet again...yes, Dhana, I'll go to Skype TONIGHT).
So I'm just realizing that life changes (I know, it's taken me till now to realize that) and sometimes those changes open my eyes to things that must shed in order for new beauty to emerge. And there's nothing like a 2 year old and a newborn to push things along.
Ok, so here are some pictures of changes that have been happening inside our cocoon.

ConLai and Ju-nana or Nana (as ConLai calls her)




I think she's been wearing this for 3 days now...
We got to have Katie and Jackie Matias over for a night, so we dyed eggs.



ConLai decided to try on all the hats and scarves, color coordinating them all.
A friend from work made this adorable lil' hat for Jules.

Pics of Juliana Rae

Here they are. The pictures you have all been waiting for.

New Family Member

Juliana Rae Lind was born on February 10th, 2009 a 5:11 pm. She weighed 7 lbs 7 oz and was 20 in. long. Her and mom are doing great and are home trying to get rest. Pictures will follow soon. Sorry for the delay. Our internet went out at home and so we have limited internet access. Besides, 10 years ago you waited longer than a day to get pictures of a new baby so it won't kill you, right. Thank you for your prayers.

Random Pics of our Christmas break

Christmas break is almost over and we have so enjoyed the time together as a family. It has been different having 2 full weeks here without travel. We have missed being with family but I think this turned out ok to stay in the city and hang out together. In the mean time we have been spoiled with family visiting us. Dawson & Alicia and Caleb & Becca had been through here at Thanksgiving. Then we got to spend over a day with Landon & Mindy! ConLai and Abby really loved playing together and were sad to say goodbye to each other. Now, much to our delight, we get to have Aunt Dhana here for a couple days. It has been wonderful. Also, just wanted to mention that baby #2 just has another 5 weeks or so till she arrives. Please pray for us as we prepare for her and Ronda wraps up work. Looks like it'll be a full month ahead of us.

Thank you Grandpa & Grandma Lind for the Build-A-Bear!!

It is finished!

Thank you Aunt Becca & Uncle Caleb for the new outfit!

I noticed this pattern on the fridge with the animals and asked Anthony if he had done it. He hadn't, so we could only assume ConLai had done this...on purpose or not we don't know....