Tomorrow is… March?!

When I was in elementary school I was taught the adage “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb” or maybe it was “March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion”. I could never get it straight. And some years March came in like a lamb, other years like a lion. And the same holds true for how March went out. That is until I moved to Phoenix. Here, March is a lamb all month long. Except for the year that we had our first 100 degree day on March 26. Although, other than it being warm, it was really beautiful.

My March 2011 is filled with expectation, hopes, and dreams. I expect to have a new granddaughter early in March. I hope to lose a few pounds. I expect to spend some time with family and friends. I hope that the appraisal work picks up at least one order over February. I’m dreaming of projects that I can finish so that I can start other projects that are just a dream. I expect to commit two more Bible verses to memory in March. I hope to complete at least one more item on my 101 in 1001 list.

I will be celebrating Janel’s birthday on March 15, the same day that we celebrate my nephew Matt’s birthday. I have three friends with March birthdays and my nephew’s wedding anniversary is at the end of March.

What about you? Is March the beginning of great weather where you live, or is winter still gripping your community? Do you have special celebrations planned for March or is it a quiet month? Will you start a veggie garden or flower garden this month? Whatever your plans for March, I hope you’re able to take some moments to enjoy… life!

Waiting…

Patience is a virtue, but it’s not one of my virtues. I am notoriously impatient. And I don’t keep it to myself. When I’m impatient, everyone around me knows it. Especially Dan. I drive him insane with questions, comments, deep sighs, pacing, any behavior that exhibits my impatience and tests his patience.


I am currently impatient. I just can’t wait for my new granddaughter to arrive. I want to see her. I want to hold her. I want to hear her. I want to know her.


We went down to Mesa to see Zach and Ashley this afternoon. They’re ready. All of her clothes are washed and put away. They have tons of clothes, blankets, socks, diapers. Everything new parents need. Ashley is already filling in the Baby Book. They are so ready for the baby to get here.


Her official due date is Friday, March 4. We have a little family pool going to see who can guess her arrival date. JD is already out. He guessed 2/25. Janel chose 2/28. Dan & I have 3/1. Sunny 3/3 (three is the only number she can say!) Jessica 3/4. Katie, Gabe, Adam all chose 3/6. Ashley 3/8. Zach 3/18 – can you imagine?!


This will probably be an anxious week for me. I’ll do my best to not drive Dan up the wall. But I’m not promising anything…

Another Week Gone By

March begins next week. Tuesday to be exact. Am I the only person who thinks that January and February flew by in a blur? 2011 has started out as a very busy year for us personally. And it doesn’t look as though that pace is going to slow any time soon. I’m not complaining though. After several years of stress and strife, this busyness feels great.

I’m feeling particularly optimistic today after a visit to my doctor yesterday. Due to a perfect storm of events a couple of years ago, I developed high blood pressure and had to go on medication. I can’t stand pills. I will do anything to avoid taking them. That’s why I’m so strict about my diet with my diabetes. I don’t want to take medication to control my blood sugar. Yesterday when my blood pressure was measured it was 96/63. I said “what it is?” she said “96/63”. When we got back to the exam room I asked again “what was my BP?” “96/63”. When my doctor walked into the room I said “did you see what my BP is?!” She was as ecstatic as I was. Of course, then the worry started.

me: “is that too low?”
doctor: “no, but if it gets down to the lower 50s or 40s we need to change your medication”
me: “what should I look for?”
doctor: “feeling sluggish”
me: “I’m 54, I already feel sluggish, plus that’s a sign of low/high blood sugar, how will I know?”
doctor: “if you start to pass out when you stand up call me. Gee, I really can’t believe your BP is that good”
me: (laughing) “me either”.

Later as I was recounting my visit to the cardiologist in January by telling my doctor that the cardiologist asked if she was following my carotid artery since I’m diabetic…

me: “of course as soon as she asked that I got worried about are you following it, what if you’re not following it, why would she ask me that, does this mean you’re going to start following it if you weren’t already, what does following it mean…”
doctor: “I really can’t believe that your blood pressure was that good…”

Yeah, if you haven’t already figured it out, I’m a champion worrier… not that that’s a good thing!

There is a 100% chance of rain today in Phoenix. Normally when they say 100%, we don’t get a drop of rain. It is already quite cloudy, and I hope it does rain. We could use it. Plus, I just love a cloudy, rainy day when you have to turn the lights on in the house. It’s just so cozy.

I started buying a few things for Katie’s baby boy. They haven’t picked a name yet, so she refers to him as “little man”. I bought little man a plush basketball toy that chimes when you shake it. A cute newborn sleeper. Two outfits from Costco. She’s decided that since she’s having a boy, she’d like to have a baby shower, so we’re trying to figure out when to schedule that.

I have the best friends a girl could want. Each friend brings something special into our relationship. I can’t imagine not having these special women in my life. Just their enthusiasm alone is a blessing! They are multi-talented, encouraging, creative, supportive, fun, and the faith we share is at the center of each relationship. Some of them live close-by and some of them are phone/email relationships, but there is no difference in the level of friendship or in the love I have for them. Today, I am feeling so grateful for my friends.

Joanna Polling Photography

Top Ten Reasons I Use Joanna Polling Photography

10. She’s a friend
9. She creates a comfortable environment and experience
8. She has an impeccable “eye”
7. She has infinite patience for waiting for the perfect shot
6. She’s not afraid to stretch the box, or even step out of it
5. She picks locations that provide the perfect backdrop for my family
4. She doesn’t get flustered by working with a toddler
3. She takes command of the photo shoot and gives instructions that are easy to follow
2. She provides a quality finished product

And the #1 reason I use Joanna Polling Photography…
1. She even makes me look good!

Check out a sample of our recent family photos at http://www.joannapolling.com/blog/.

Daniel's Wedding/Ashley's Shower

This post is going to be long because of all the photos. What a weekend! By the time I got home last night I was exhausted. But, oh! how much fun I had.

Friday night we attended the wedding of Daniel and Audrey. Daniel has been Zach's best friend since 6th grade. They were inseparable. And they slightly resemble each other. Both of them tall and skinny. Way tall and skinny. I can't tell you how many times I would be hollering at Zach, but looking at Daniel.

The wedding was gorgeous. Zach was a groomsman and escorted Daniel's younger sister, Hannah. Hannah is the little sister Zach never had. It's so hard for me to believe that all of these kids are grown up.


On Saturday, Ashley's mom and grandma threw a baby shower for her. She got great gifts, the food was delicious, and the decor was cute. I got to meet some of Ashley's family for the first time which was really nice.

Zach and Ashley

Dan and me

Daniel and me

Me and my boys!

Ashley at the gift table with diaper cake

me, Zach, Jessica, Katie, JoAnne (my mom)

Jessica and Sunny

Katie and Grandma

Francesca and me

Katie

Zach: the proud (and anxious) Daddy

Ashley and her cousin

Zach with his gift

Isn't it the truth...

Zach and Ashley with the cake

Sunny playing in the stroller box

Sunny trying out the car seat

Circle City, AZ

Dan had an appraisal yesterday in Circle City, AZ so I went along for the ride. Circle City is a small, unincorporated community northwest of Phoenix. It's name derives from the fact that the streets in the community are laid out in a circle.

There is no HOA in Circle City. This can be a good thing. It can be a bad thing. I'll share the photos that we took of one of the houses in the community and you can decide for yourself. I have no idea what kind of a fashion statement this homeowner is trying to make. What do you think?

Maybe he's a construction worker...

Maybe he collects Tonka Trucks...

Maybe he shot a turkey buzzard and had it stuffed...

All I can say is that this is hands down the most unusual home decor I've ever seen. 



It's a Boy!

Katie had her ultrasound yesterday and discovered that she's carrying a baby boy.

We are all very excited!

I said "we're off to Oshkosh b'Gosh to buy cute boy clothes".

Dan said "now we can buy boy bibs!"

I guess that's the difference between men and women...