Working it

For his day job, Joe created this:

For my day job, I work with her:

I like to think both our jobs will help make Indianapolis a better city.

There's a lesson hidden in this photo story

The following pictures have only two explanations.

1) My little brother left his cell phone in the backseat of our car.
2) Joe and I have way too much time on our hands once Madeline goes to bed.




















Once we posted these photos on Facebook, Peter arrived on our porch within 10 minutes to claim his lost loved one. I'm pretty sure he'll keep a tighter grip on his phone from now on.

And then "someday" arrives

When I was pregnant, I tried to imagine me as a mom. Holding a baby. Rocking a baby.

While I gradually got used to the idea of my belly growing largely than what should be humanly possible, I couldn't get used to the idea that someday, I would be carrying around a child in my arms. A child who might look like me or might look like Joe.

My life + a baby = hard to imagine.

Then "someday" arrived.

When she first opened her eyes and clutched onto my finger, it wasn't hard to believe she was ours. It seemed so natural that she belonged to us because she was the perfect blend of my eyes and Joe's nose.

It felt like I knew this baby my entire life.

Even though I knew someday she would grow into a toddler, I couldn't imagine a child who walked around. Who talked. Who mimicked my hand movements. I knew that little person would be coming soon but I couldn't imagine it.

Madeline Jane + 2 years = no way

Now that "someday" is here and once again, it's very normal to me that see her careening around the corners of our house. Putting on her own shoes. Using scissors and glue.

Once again, it truly feels like I've known this child my entire life.

This morning, I realized that someday she will run into our home and throw her backpack on the kitchen table and tell me all about kindergarten. She'll chatter on and on but she won't jibber in Madeline-ese which sounds like a strange blend of German and Chinese and is something I wish every human could hear before she perfects pronunciation of the English language.

I know 3-year-old, 4-year-old and 5-year-old Madeline is coming faster than I can realize and I know I'll love her then even more than I do now. But that doesn't make it any harder to comprehend.

So for now, I'll hug and squeeze and kiss and love on my 2-year-old. The one who ran up to me today and said, "Jesus is holy, Mommy" and then promptly asked for a brownie.

Yes, He is, honey. And I would like a brownie too.

Movie-watching at Mimi and Poppi's (my parents) house

Mimi: "Do you like this movie, Madeline?"

Madeline: "Uh-huh! Swan Princess is my favorite treat."

(thoughtful pause)

"And a donut."

Well said, kid. Movies and donuts are my favorites too.

Photo credit: Junebug Images (I love Jenny and love that she takes awesome pictures of my baby)

I love this child

Photo credit: Junebug Images (of course)

If only I carried a real camera instead of my phone

One of the greatest joys of being a parent is watching my child love the people I love.

We took my brother Greg to the airport last week before he flew out to complete his first marathon.

I'm proud of him for that huge accomplishment but I'm also proud of him and my other brothers as uncles because Madeline loooooooves spending time with them.

Greg also won fun uncle points because he wasn't embarrassed to hold the hand of a tiny girl who carried a tiger-striped purse while chatting about poop through the airport. True story.