Dear Michael,
I finally got around to taking Little M to the doctor for his 6 month check up (now that he is 8 months...) I just wanted to record his stats so that I could keep track of them without worrying about the paper getting lost.
May 23rd 8 months old
18.1 lbs 25% Weight
28.5 inches 78% Height
17 inches 10% Head
15.7 BMI
for a comparison here are Little E's 6 and 9 moth stats
Nov 20th 2008- 6 months- 15.8 lbs 47%- Height 27 in 91%- Head 16 in 8%- BMI 15.2
Feb 20th 2009- 9 months- 18 lbs 36%- Height 29.3 in 95%- Head 16.8 in 13%- BMI 14.8
I suspect that boys tend to be taller than girls because even though he is very similar in height to Little E he is in a much lower percentile. He is plenty big enough for me though. He is always always hungry and has really taken to eating solid foods in the past couple of weeks. He LOVES them! He gets so excited if I pull out a bowl and giggles every time I put a little cereal puff in his month for him to chew on. Today he even ate bananas cut up into small pieces. He really can't seem to get enough and I am almost always the one who cuts him off because I worry he will get a tummy ache if he doesn't stop. lol
One really cute thing that I wanted to record was a way that you and he are very similar. Remember how whenever you took a sleeping pill you would just start laughing hysterically before falling asleep. I would look at you like you were crazy and you wouldn't be able to help it. You would just laugh at nothing until you practically passed out. Little M is the same way. Sometimes I will have him in the wrap and be trying so hard to get him to sleep, right when I think he is finally ready he just starts laughing at nothing! Tonight I had him almost asleep before bed and was trying to keep him a little awake so I could put him down drowsy but not asleep, when I would jostle him he would start laughing and laughing. He really is so much like you. :) I am sure you are just so proud of you (not so) little boy!
Love,
Jenny
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day Weekend
Dear Michael,
We went out to visit you yesterday and to clean your monument. I know it has only been in a little while, but I also know that if I clean it frequently it will stay looking nice a lot longer. I want it to look nice and it was really bugging me to see bird poop on something I had worked so hard to make! :) Anyways, we went out there and Little E and Little M stayed in the car for the most part because it was so cold. Little E did get out of the car and for a minute and told you that she loved you and got mad at me when I was standing on your grave, "Get off my dad!!" it was kind of funny. She also told some passersby that you had died but that it was ok. She likes to tell random people about it, I think its one of her ways of working through it and understanding it more.
I had never been to a cemetery on memorial day before this. I never had any relatives in one near enough to visit. It was really a sight to see. There were so many people there celebrating their loved ones with flowers, flags, and anything else you could think of. I just missed your sister visiting you and today I ran into my brother who had come out to visit you and Grandma P. His son bought you a sword, how cool is that? I really wish I could have spent a little more time with you this weekend, but it was raining the whole time and when it wasn't actually raining it was windy and nasty. I am really looking forward to spending some quality time out there when we finally get some summer like weather.
I hope you have had a great memorial day weekend. I have never truly understood the sacrifice that people have made on my behalf until know. I am so grateful for those families that are willing to go through the pain of losing a father, husband, brother, or son so that my children and I can enjoy our freedom. Please thank those wonderful men for thier selfless sacrifice for me.
Love,
Jenny
We went out to visit you yesterday and to clean your monument. I know it has only been in a little while, but I also know that if I clean it frequently it will stay looking nice a lot longer. I want it to look nice and it was really bugging me to see bird poop on something I had worked so hard to make! :) Anyways, we went out there and Little E and Little M stayed in the car for the most part because it was so cold. Little E did get out of the car and for a minute and told you that she loved you and got mad at me when I was standing on your grave, "Get off my dad!!" it was kind of funny. She also told some passersby that you had died but that it was ok. She likes to tell random people about it, I think its one of her ways of working through it and understanding it more.
I had never been to a cemetery on memorial day before this. I never had any relatives in one near enough to visit. It was really a sight to see. There were so many people there celebrating their loved ones with flowers, flags, and anything else you could think of. I just missed your sister visiting you and today I ran into my brother who had come out to visit you and Grandma P. His son bought you a sword, how cool is that? I really wish I could have spent a little more time with you this weekend, but it was raining the whole time and when it wasn't actually raining it was windy and nasty. I am really looking forward to spending some quality time out there when we finally get some summer like weather.Love,
Jenny
Sunday, May 29, 2011
My Little Sleep Talker
Dear Michael,
I haven't gotten the post finished about my trip up to Canada and to visit your parents, but I wanted to share a little gem from our trip. This is a video I took at your mom's house of Little M sleep talking. He does it a lot! He can sometimes go on for over and hour. This is the reason I can't understand how people can sleep in the same room as their babies, I had a hard time sleeping on the same level of the house! Seriously, we could hear it clear in your Mom's food storage room upstairs and on the opposite side of the house. I had to mess with the video a little to make it so you could see his face, so its really grainy, but I love it! I have been trying to get a good video of this for months. :)
Love,
Jenny
I haven't gotten the post finished about my trip up to Canada and to visit your parents, but I wanted to share a little gem from our trip. This is a video I took at your mom's house of Little M sleep talking. He does it a lot! He can sometimes go on for over and hour. This is the reason I can't understand how people can sleep in the same room as their babies, I had a hard time sleeping on the same level of the house! Seriously, we could hear it clear in your Mom's food storage room upstairs and on the opposite side of the house. I had to mess with the video a little to make it so you could see his face, so its really grainy, but I love it! I have been trying to get a good video of this for months. :)
Love,
Jenny
An email for the Nephews.
Dear Michael,
Today is yet another rainy day (no surprise, last memorial day weekend it snowed!) I would have gone to church but Little E has yet another eye infection (Little M had it last weekend) so we all stayed home and lounged around in our pj's all morning. It has actually been a pretty nice morning. We watched 2 episodes of Sesame street together while Little M munched on his jumper and I cleaned out my junk email account. I was putting things into my junk folder and saw a folder titled "From Husband". This was my email address that I had until we had Little E and I was pretty excited to read through some of our old emails to each other. I decided to share this one with your sisters because it just shows how much you loved all of your nieces and nephews. Plus I thought your nephews would like a reminder of how much fun you had together that week.
Written 4/30/05. That was right after we had started dating. We weren't officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet. But we had spent the better part of the last 2 weeks of the semester together and both really really liked each other. Sadly, I can't remember what the gift was that you bought for me. Maybe you showed it off to your sister and she remembers? Hopefully it will come back to me in time. I can't tell you how often I wish I had kept more of a journal during our time together. I am trying very hard to keep a better record now, but it doesn't help with what is past.
Thank you so much honey for writing me that day. I remember being pretty giddy when I got your email. I think this may have been the email I got and called my mom into the office to ask her how the heck to pronounce your last name. We were both at a loss and I was so embarrassed that I didn't already know it after being FHE brother and sister for a semester and dating for two weeks! Its funny how almost no one can pronounce it right the first time.
I love you honey, I hope you are having a wonderful sabbath day too.
Love,
Jenny
PS. I just found another one where you sent me pictures of what some of your nephews looked like. I can't beleive how little they were back then!
Today is yet another rainy day (no surprise, last memorial day weekend it snowed!) I would have gone to church but Little E has yet another eye infection (Little M had it last weekend) so we all stayed home and lounged around in our pj's all morning. It has actually been a pretty nice morning. We watched 2 episodes of Sesame street together while Little M munched on his jumper and I cleaned out my junk email account. I was putting things into my junk folder and saw a folder titled "From Husband". This was my email address that I had until we had Little E and I was pretty excited to read through some of our old emails to each other. I decided to share this one with your sisters because it just shows how much you loved all of your nieces and nephews. Plus I thought your nephews would like a reminder of how much fun you had together that week.
 |
| You truly loved all of your family, but your nieces and nephews held such a special place in your heart. |
Re: Hey there Friend
What's up witchy woman (meant in a you are so beguiling kind of good way),I was just thinking about writing you. I just got home from Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy. It was great I really like how they did it. I must admit that they did stray from the path a bit, but good all the same. I've had a great time up here. my parents left for Seattle the day after I got here so I've had the house all to myself for a better part of the week. I know it's sounds a bit lonely, but after the hustle and bustle of college life it has been really nice. I got to go play golf in with my three year old nephew and play space pirate with the others using the bed of my truck as my Neptune (the name of our fearsome pirate ship) then we slept in their tree house and watched jimmy neutron on my game boy until late at night. yep good times! I got a little something for you while I was here. I was out and thought of you so I got it. I hope you like it. I hope you continue to have a great time!, michael
 |
| Teaching the boys how to dual the right way! |
Written 4/30/05. That was right after we had started dating. We weren't officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet. But we had spent the better part of the last 2 weeks of the semester together and both really really liked each other. Sadly, I can't remember what the gift was that you bought for me. Maybe you showed it off to your sister and she remembers? Hopefully it will come back to me in time. I can't tell you how often I wish I had kept more of a journal during our time together. I am trying very hard to keep a better record now, but it doesn't help with what is past.
Thank you so much honey for writing me that day. I remember being pretty giddy when I got your email. I think this may have been the email I got and called my mom into the office to ask her how the heck to pronounce your last name. We were both at a loss and I was so embarrassed that I didn't already know it after being FHE brother and sister for a semester and dating for two weeks! Its funny how almost no one can pronounce it right the first time.
I love you honey, I hope you are having a wonderful sabbath day too.
Love,
Jenny
PS. I just found another one where you sent me pictures of what some of your nephews looked like. I can't beleive how little they were back then!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Little E's Birthday. 3 Years Old!!!
Dear Michael,
I can't beleive it, our little girl is 3 years old! How crazy is that? She is turning into such a fun little person. I feel badly because a lot of the time I just don't have enough energy/patience to make life as fun as it should be for her. You would have had such a blast playing with her in the back yard, or splashing in puddles outside during our insanely wet spring we have had. But we are doing our best and for the most part I think we are having a pretty great time. Her birthday was epic! Everyone had such a great time and it couldn't have been more perfect. :) We did a dinosaur train themed party and we were totally helped out by some really amazing neighbors. We actually got to ride a real train! I will tell you more about it in a second. I think the best way to tell you about it is with picture! So I will just follow the day with these pictures and try not to miss anything.
Little E woke up and was so excited because her cousins had come to stay the night with us. Grandma P passed away a week and a half before and we were having her funeral in the morning. While that may sound like a crummy way to start a birthday it actually ended up making this one of her best birthdays yet! All of her cousins from my side of the family got to be here for it. It was like a family reunion! Her aunt Lori bought her Dinosaur Egg oatmeal for breakfast and she had a great time watching the eggs "Catch" (hatch) while she ate them. It was so fun to watch her searching for the different colored dinosaurs in the bowl. After breakfast the adults went to the memorial service (which was beautiful!) and she got to play with the young cousins and a few family friends. They had a great time playing in the basement and she had so much fun getting to spend time with her cousin that moved to California. They have really missed each other and were so excited to be back together.
After the memorial service we zipped over and grabbed the kids to go out to "Daddy's place" and say goodbye to "Grandma Fishy" as Little E fondly called her. She had a great time running around and looking at all the headstones. Plus she got to keep one of the yellow roses and brought it home to put it in some water. I was really impressed with how well she handled the whole thing. She waved goodbye to grandma and at one point she even ran up to the casket and gave it a big kiss goodbye. It was so sweet. She really did love her great grandma. As grandma said, Little E always had a smile for her when we came to visit.
We had lunch at the church afterward and she got to eat with Uncle Kevin and had a big cup of ice cream! She was in heaven having Kevin focus on her. I think she may have a little bit of a crush! lol She can't get enough of him and often pretends to be Kevin and I am Laura while we play at home. Its pretty cute.
After lunch we went home for a late nap. I had to wake her up less than an hour later to make it to the party on time. (we were still a half hour late because I needed a memory card to take pictures and couldn't find it etc. I can never seem to make it to things on time anymore...) I actually got her half dressed in her party clothes before she even woke up! She was so exhausted from playing with everyone but once we got to the main birthday party she was too excited to feel her exhaustion anymore. Like I said earlier, her party was all about TRAINS! We got to go to one of my parents neighbors houses for an amazing ride on their "baby train". I actually remember driving past the tracks on the way to school as a kid and wishing so baddly to be able to ride on the train. But I never got the chance until now. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait! It was so much fun even the adults were all giddy!
After the cake and candles we opened birthday presents. She got so many wonderful gifts this year and has had a great week enjoying all of her new goodies. This morning I caught her trying to wear the little doggy in a purse that Grandma and Grandpa M gave her as a backpack. She was getting ready to go on a trip. She also had the purse Caroline gave her over one arm and the inner tube I gave her on like a tutu. She was all dressed up and ready to hit the town! Its funny to see how creative kids can be with things and how much joy they can get out of a birthday gift over the years. Thank you to everyone who came and made her birthday truly special!
It was really was an amazing birthday and I am pretty sure you were right there celebrating with us. I bet you even sang Happy Birthday right next to your little girl and helped her blow out the candle. Thank you for being such an great daddy to our wonderful little 3 year old! Happy Birthday Little E! You're Three! Yipee!!
Love,
Jenny
I can't beleive it, our little girl is 3 years old! How crazy is that? She is turning into such a fun little person. I feel badly because a lot of the time I just don't have enough energy/patience to make life as fun as it should be for her. You would have had such a blast playing with her in the back yard, or splashing in puddles outside during our insanely wet spring we have had. But we are doing our best and for the most part I think we are having a pretty great time. Her birthday was epic! Everyone had such a great time and it couldn't have been more perfect. :) We did a dinosaur train themed party and we were totally helped out by some really amazing neighbors. We actually got to ride a real train! I will tell you more about it in a second. I think the best way to tell you about it is with picture! So I will just follow the day with these pictures and try not to miss anything.
After the memorial service we zipped over and grabbed the kids to go out to "Daddy's place" and say goodbye to "Grandma Fishy" as Little E fondly called her. She had a great time running around and looking at all the headstones. Plus she got to keep one of the yellow roses and brought it home to put it in some water. I was really impressed with how well she handled the whole thing. She waved goodbye to grandma and at one point she even ran up to the casket and gave it a big kiss goodbye. It was so sweet. She really did love her great grandma. As grandma said, Little E always had a smile for her when we came to visit.
We had lunch at the church afterward and she got to eat with Uncle Kevin and had a big cup of ice cream! She was in heaven having Kevin focus on her. I think she may have a little bit of a crush! lol She can't get enough of him and often pretends to be Kevin and I am Laura while we play at home. Its pretty cute.
After lunch we went home for a late nap. I had to wake her up less than an hour later to make it to the party on time. (we were still a half hour late because I needed a memory card to take pictures and couldn't find it etc. I can never seem to make it to things on time anymore...) I actually got her half dressed in her party clothes before she even woke up! She was so exhausted from playing with everyone but once we got to the main birthday party she was too excited to feel her exhaustion anymore. Like I said earlier, her party was all about TRAINS! We got to go to one of my parents neighbors houses for an amazing ride on their "baby train". I actually remember driving past the tracks on the way to school as a kid and wishing so baddly to be able to ride on the train. But I never got the chance until now. Let me tell you, it was worth the wait! It was so much fun even the adults were all giddy!
 |
| Since Little E was the guest of honor she got to ride right behind the engineer, and that grin never left her face! After the first go around her cousin tried to move, but Little E grabbed her from behind and said "No, sit down R.! We are going again! You sit here!" it was really funny. She wanted her best friend right there by her side. |
 |
| R's Dad was "The conductor." I found that dinosaur hat at the dollar store and it was perfect for our party. He kept calling from the back "Time tunnel, Time tunnel approaching." and then he would add some flair with "On your right is the T-Rex feeding ground. Keep your hands inside!" lol It was awesome. |
 |
| The whole gang! I have to say, it is so wonderful that we have gotten family pictures so frequently lately. They are so important to me now. They warm my heart! |
 |
| The last ride we went on Little E rode in the caboose. She was pretty darn excited! Seriously, this was probably one of the best days she has ever had! lol |
 |
| There was a little tunnel in a building we went through and every time we would go in the driver would honk the horn which was really loud. Little E was a little nervous about this part and would always cover her ears when we got close to the to. |
 |
| The tunnel is coming! Look out! She was so stinking cute. :) |
 |
| On to the next great adventure! |
 |
| She was so excited to get to sit in the drivers seat! |
 |
| What an angel. I can't believe it has been three years since this precious girl came into my life! |
 |
| The whole train next to the platform. |
 |
| R playing in the caboose, she was the perfect model. |
 |
| But there is more than a little monkey in her too! |
 |
| Uncle Kevin pushing her on the swings after the ride. |
 |
| Little E had watermelon in honor of her first birthday when she inhaled a huge piece of it like it was ambrosia! |
 |
| Can you beleive how much she has grown! I couldn't beleive it when she ate that entire piece down to the rind! She loved every bite. :) Crazy how I thought she was such a big girl then. |
 |
| Her birthday cake this year. I really have wanted to make a tradition where I made cool cakes for our kids birthdays, but it just couldn't happen this year with the funeral and all the family in town. So instead I found a toy that I knew she would like and told them exactly what I wanted. :) It was still a completely unique cake even if I didn't make it. I think it turned out really cute and she loved that it was her favorite color, Green! |
 |
| Who doesn't love birthday cake? |
 | ||
| Showing off her green frosting. She gives me this look all the time, its her "I am pretending to be shy but really I want ALL of your attention" look. She does it a lot when we are out in public and someone tried to flirt with her. lol |
It was really was an amazing birthday and I am pretty sure you were right there celebrating with us. I bet you even sang Happy Birthday right next to your little girl and helped her blow out the candle. Thank you for being such an great daddy to our wonderful little 3 year old! Happy Birthday Little E! You're Three! Yipee!!
Love,
Jenny
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
A Happy Story
Dear Little E,
I just wanted to write down something you said this morning before I forgot it because it warmed my heart so much. We were just coloring a picture for Cousin Alan to send him on his mission in Italy. We were coloring the page from the Friend together and you said "Let me tell you a happy story." and I said "What happy story." Then you said "No, shhhh my friends are telling a happy story at their house. Let me tell you a happy story. Once upon a time Little E and her Mom were having fun. They were having so much fun." That was it, but it made my morning!
Love,
Mommy
I just wanted to write down something you said this morning before I forgot it because it warmed my heart so much. We were just coloring a picture for Cousin Alan to send him on his mission in Italy. We were coloring the page from the Friend together and you said "Let me tell you a happy story." and I said "What happy story." Then you said "No, shhhh my friends are telling a happy story at their house. Let me tell you a happy story. Once upon a time Little E and her Mom were having fun. They were having so much fun." That was it, but it made my morning!
Love,
Mommy
Monday, May 23, 2011
Michael's Birthday Bananza!
Dear Michael,
I hope you had a wonderful birthday and that they treated you to a great party. We tried our best to celebrate here. I know that last year I got you the coolest present ever with that guitar shirt that really played, but I tried my best to top it this year. The first gift I gave you was actually gifts for all of your family that belonged to you along with letters that described where each item came from. I really wanted to give them all a little piece of you for your birthday. I also sent them all a note on facebook with all of the emails you sent me from Alaska. That way they could read a letter from you today. Then Little E and I made green cupcakes for your party and I bought Dr. Pepper and balloons to take out to "daddy's place" with her and my parents so we could celebrate right. We each wrote a note to you telling you happy birthday and tied them to the balloons to try to "send" them to you for Little E. I am sure you were laughing at our attempt because the notes were too heavy and the balloon just flew into a tree instead. We cut the notes off (I am keeping them for now) and sent the balloons off alone.
I gave you two other gifts for your birthday that I hope you enjoyed. The first was your headstone. I worked on it from basically November to March and made it as personal as I could for you. The front has your favorite picture of yourself on it along with your name and information. Underneath the bench it the picture of you from the Alaska trip last year and instead of looking at the ocean you are looking at the night sky. You always loved star gazing so much. The stars have special significance too. I looked up what the night sky actually looked like on the night you were born in 1979. Then I had them put the constellations on just as they were that night. The quote comes from one of your favorite story's Don Quixote. You always managed to reach for the stars love, I beleive you have finally arrived.
The back side has the picture of our whole family along with our hand prints and a quote I just stumbled across when I was looking around online for something that would fit. It fits perfectly! The names are all written in your actual handwriting that I took from your journal and book you wrote our name in. I really hope that you like it. I have had several people (including the funeral director) comment on how unique it is. You were the most unique person I have ever known so I think it fits. I love you honey!
The last gift I gave you was me starting up guitar lessons again. I learned "Time of your life" by Greenday for you. You were right, Greenday songs are so easy! I am only sorry I never learned them while I could jam out with you. It took me a few days of playing it before I realized you used to play this one on the same guitar. :) That totally made my day! I know it seemed like I was always putting off learning songs to play with you, but I want you to know I really meant to do it. I actually had a piece of paper on the fridge where I was writing down songs for you to teach me that I would hear on the radio. I was really looking forward to making your face light up by saying "Ok honey, here are the songs I want to learn. Lets jam!" I was actually hoping to do that after you came home from that last trip. While I am sad that is never going to happen, I plan on playing you many songs while sitting on your new bench and hope they will make you proud! I love you and hope you had an absolutely amazing birthday with your sister Sarah!
Love,
Jenny
I hope you had a wonderful birthday and that they treated you to a great party. We tried our best to celebrate here. I know that last year I got you the coolest present ever with that guitar shirt that really played, but I tried my best to top it this year. The first gift I gave you was actually gifts for all of your family that belonged to you along with letters that described where each item came from. I really wanted to give them all a little piece of you for your birthday. I also sent them all a note on facebook with all of the emails you sent me from Alaska. That way they could read a letter from you today. Then Little E and I made green cupcakes for your party and I bought Dr. Pepper and balloons to take out to "daddy's place" with her and my parents so we could celebrate right. We each wrote a note to you telling you happy birthday and tied them to the balloons to try to "send" them to you for Little E. I am sure you were laughing at our attempt because the notes were too heavy and the balloon just flew into a tree instead. We cut the notes off (I am keeping them for now) and sent the balloons off alone.
 |
| Our green cupcakes, we made the frosting too. They are on your favorite plate. :) |
 |
| Little E ate 3 cupcakes and kept trying to steal more. She thought they were scrumptious! |
I gave you two other gifts for your birthday that I hope you enjoyed. The first was your headstone. I worked on it from basically November to March and made it as personal as I could for you. The front has your favorite picture of yourself on it along with your name and information. Underneath the bench it the picture of you from the Alaska trip last year and instead of looking at the ocean you are looking at the night sky. You always loved star gazing so much. The stars have special significance too. I looked up what the night sky actually looked like on the night you were born in 1979. Then I had them put the constellations on just as they were that night. The quote comes from one of your favorite story's Don Quixote. You always managed to reach for the stars love, I beleive you have finally arrived.
 |
| Front. The quote says "Dream the impossible dream, Reach the unreachable star." |
 |
| The picture from Alaska that I used for the front. |
The back side has the picture of our whole family along with our hand prints and a quote I just stumbled across when I was looking around online for something that would fit. It fits perfectly! The names are all written in your actual handwriting that I took from your journal and book you wrote our name in. I really hope that you like it. I have had several people (including the funeral director) comment on how unique it is. You were the most unique person I have ever known so I think it fits. I love you honey!
 |
| Back, with our actual hand prints! The quote says "If I could reach up and hold a star for every time you made me smile, I would have the whole night sky in the palm of my hand" |
Love,
Jenny
 |
| Little E in her Star Wars shirt, in honor of your birthday! Little M wore a polo shirt that reminded me of you, but I didn't get a good picture of him. |
Saturday, May 21, 2011
My Little Super Man
 |
| Super Baby na na na na na! |
Love,
Jenny
PS. His favorite things to go after right now are cardboard boxes, shoes, and electrical cords. He will roll all the way across the room, over all of his toys, just to get one of those three items in his mouth. He's already trying to live on the edge! You best help me keep him safe honey, I am going to need the extra set of eyes!
Friday, May 20, 2011
More songs.
Dear Michael,
I am slowly figuring out how to do things on the computer including how to work the play list on this blog. I thought I had it all figured out but today I discovered another place that showed the broken link songs. Earlier I wrote out a list of all the songs you had added to the play list before I started changing it. So here are the other songs that you added that just haven't been on for a while because their links had been broken.
Hey Jude- the beatles 8
Weezer my name is jonas 11
Rainbow Connection- Me first and the gimme gimmes 16
Somewhere only we know-Keane 18
Someday- the strokes 19
Today- smashing pumpkins 20
Shake the disease- hooverphonic 22
I added the ones I could find back on, but here are a couple of movies of the two I couldn't fix.
I'm a little bummed that these ones couldn't be fixed because they were a couple of my very favorite songs that you introduced me to. I love them! Thanks for helping me to find a whole new side to music honey. I love all the songs that you brought into my life. :)
Love,
Jenny
I am slowly figuring out how to do things on the computer including how to work the play list on this blog. I thought I had it all figured out but today I discovered another place that showed the broken link songs. Earlier I wrote out a list of all the songs you had added to the play list before I started changing it. So here are the other songs that you added that just haven't been on for a while because their links had been broken.
Hey Jude- the beatles 8
Weezer my name is jonas 11
Rainbow Connection- Me first and the gimme gimmes 16
Somewhere only we know-Keane 18
Someday- the strokes 19
Today- smashing pumpkins 20
Shake the disease- hooverphonic 22
I added the ones I could find back on, but here are a couple of movies of the two I couldn't fix.
I'm a little bummed that these ones couldn't be fixed because they were a couple of my very favorite songs that you introduced me to. I love them! Thanks for helping me to find a whole new side to music honey. I love all the songs that you brought into my life. :)
Love,
Jenny
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Lets go fly a kite!
Dear Michael,
Today was such a blustery day!
Yesterday I was cleaning up the house getting ready for Lori and her family to come stay with us for the weekend. Little E was "helping" me clean out the office. She had a blast running around with the birthday card Lori gave you last year. I was finally cleaning out the huge box that has been moved from room to room since our we bought the house and had been filled with all the last minute junk that we didn't know what to do with. I guess it got tossed in there at some point and she loved running around while it played "I, wanna rock and roll all night, and party every day!" The card has a picture of a pig rocking out on the guitar and says "There comes a time in a man's life when he must decide exactly what it is that he wants to do..." on the front and then says "Live loud and have a happy birthday." inside. Lori wrote in it, "Mike as long as you have your priorities in order that's all that matters, Happy birthday!" Each of her kids wrote in it too. I remember you getting it in the mail and laughing so hard at it, then Little E ran around with it and had a great time enjoying the rockin music. But rereading it I know that you really did live loud and knew what truly mattered in life, living it with those you love. Thank you for that! You are a great example to us all and I try to remember that life is to be enjoyed as you did, not just endured like I sometime feel I am.
Another thing we found while cleaning up was the spider-man kite you bought me during our first year of marriage (I think for a christmas gift.) I told Little E that on our first big windy day we would take it out flying, and as I mentioned before today was blustery! So after nap time we got out the kite, put it together, and went across the street to fly it in the football field. Little E had a great time. You would have been so proud of her, she flew it all by herself this time! She really is turning into such a big girl and she had a great time telling spider-man all about her day and walking him home to get ready for bed. So thanks again for the gift honey. You were right, he is the perfect kite for a really windy day and we will get so much joy out of having him. It is a good excuse to make me leave the house when I would normally want to just ride out the windiness in my nice cozy home. Sometimes I need a little push out the door. Thanks for providing such a fun one. :)
Love,
Jenny
Today was such a blustery day!
Yesterday I was cleaning up the house getting ready for Lori and her family to come stay with us for the weekend. Little E was "helping" me clean out the office. She had a blast running around with the birthday card Lori gave you last year. I was finally cleaning out the huge box that has been moved from room to room since our we bought the house and had been filled with all the last minute junk that we didn't know what to do with. I guess it got tossed in there at some point and she loved running around while it played "I, wanna rock and roll all night, and party every day!" The card has a picture of a pig rocking out on the guitar and says "There comes a time in a man's life when he must decide exactly what it is that he wants to do..." on the front and then says "Live loud and have a happy birthday." inside. Lori wrote in it, "Mike as long as you have your priorities in order that's all that matters, Happy birthday!" Each of her kids wrote in it too. I remember you getting it in the mail and laughing so hard at it, then Little E ran around with it and had a great time enjoying the rockin music. But rereading it I know that you really did live loud and knew what truly mattered in life, living it with those you love. Thank you for that! You are a great example to us all and I try to remember that life is to be enjoyed as you did, not just endured like I sometime feel I am.
Another thing we found while cleaning up was the spider-man kite you bought me during our first year of marriage (I think for a christmas gift.) I told Little E that on our first big windy day we would take it out flying, and as I mentioned before today was blustery! So after nap time we got out the kite, put it together, and went across the street to fly it in the football field. Little E had a great time. You would have been so proud of her, she flew it all by herself this time! She really is turning into such a big girl and she had a great time telling spider-man all about her day and walking him home to get ready for bed. So thanks again for the gift honey. You were right, he is the perfect kite for a really windy day and we will get so much joy out of having him. It is a good excuse to make me leave the house when I would normally want to just ride out the windiness in my nice cozy home. Sometimes I need a little push out the door. Thanks for providing such a fun one. :)
Love,
Jenny
Little M's first "word" and Sign. Little E's breakfast.
Dear Michael,
I just wanted to take a minute and tell you about some of the really cute things your kids have been up to.
First, on your birthday Little M did his first sign! I am pretty sure he meant it anyways. He has been doing the hand movements for a while now but it was just a reflex that he would do while nursing. But that night I was signing milk and he looked up at me and did it back. I told him good job and did it again and he started grinning from ear to ear and did it one more time. But then he got into his meal and was done with all that silliness. I think its funny that Little E's first sign was dog but Little M is all about the food! He has been that way from the first minutes of life!
Last night I was getting him ready for bed and he was baby talking. "Bababagaga" you know. The he started doing "dadadada". I had to laugh because my sister Amber has been trying to convince people that "dada" being a first word was just the fact that it was an easier consonant to say. I called her up to let her know she could rub this in her hubby's face. lol I had to think you were probably right there grinning from ear to ear and wishing I could see your victory dance as he said your name as his first word. Love you honey, I wish I could have called you into the room and seen you light up as you heard it.
Little E is a real sweetheart lately. She has learned to knock on her door in the morning for me to come get her so she won't wake Little M up. Then she sometimes watches a sesame street while I get a little more sleep. (Thank you netflix!) Then she wants cinnamon toast for breakfast every morning. Today she did something really cute while she ate. She was watching the school buses and I told her "Your toast is waiting on the table for you." She came running up to the table and pretended to be the toast talking. She said "Oh its Little E! Our favorite eater!" Isn't that cute! Then she proceeded to introduce herself to the toast with her full name and even told it mine. She would narrate when she was going to drink or if she was just going to break off a piece of the toast. She does this sort of thing all the time now. Its her way of making up little imaginary friends. She really does have a great imagination!
Well, I just wanted to keep you posted on the goings on around here. I hope you are having a wonderful day!
Love,
Jenny
I just wanted to take a minute and tell you about some of the really cute things your kids have been up to.
First, on your birthday Little M did his first sign! I am pretty sure he meant it anyways. He has been doing the hand movements for a while now but it was just a reflex that he would do while nursing. But that night I was signing milk and he looked up at me and did it back. I told him good job and did it again and he started grinning from ear to ear and did it one more time. But then he got into his meal and was done with all that silliness. I think its funny that Little E's first sign was dog but Little M is all about the food! He has been that way from the first minutes of life!
Last night I was getting him ready for bed and he was baby talking. "Bababagaga" you know. The he started doing "dadadada". I had to laugh because my sister Amber has been trying to convince people that "dada" being a first word was just the fact that it was an easier consonant to say. I called her up to let her know she could rub this in her hubby's face. lol I had to think you were probably right there grinning from ear to ear and wishing I could see your victory dance as he said your name as his first word. Love you honey, I wish I could have called you into the room and seen you light up as you heard it.
Little E is a real sweetheart lately. She has learned to knock on her door in the morning for me to come get her so she won't wake Little M up. Then she sometimes watches a sesame street while I get a little more sleep. (Thank you netflix!) Then she wants cinnamon toast for breakfast every morning. Today she did something really cute while she ate. She was watching the school buses and I told her "Your toast is waiting on the table for you." She came running up to the table and pretended to be the toast talking. She said "Oh its Little E! Our favorite eater!" Isn't that cute! Then she proceeded to introduce herself to the toast with her full name and even told it mine. She would narrate when she was going to drink or if she was just going to break off a piece of the toast. She does this sort of thing all the time now. Its her way of making up little imaginary friends. She really does have a great imagination!
Well, I just wanted to keep you posted on the goings on around here. I hope you are having a wonderful day!
Love,
Jenny
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
What's for dinner?
So, what are you having for dinner? Well, Green Pancakes al a Little E. :) Her favorite color is green, so we mixed up a batch and she ate them like they were going out of style. Note to self, my new weapon of choice is food coloring!
 |
| Mix 3 drops yellow to 1 drop green to make Lime Green. :) |
 |
 | |
| Yummy! Brinner! She eats any meal she can get away with on the counter now. She figured out how to climb up there on her own and thinks its the coolest place to be. I had to get a lock for the medicine cabinet because she kept getting in there. She really enjoys her "gummy medicine" vitamins and tries to get it all the time. |
Sunday, May 15, 2011
The Missing Peice
Dear Michael,
This is a post I have been writing in my head for months now. I am just finally sitting down to write it. I have really been struggling lately with a pendulum swinging back and forth between "I can do this, maybe I will just stay single." and "Why don't I have someone here right now! Maybe I should start dating so I can stop being so lonely."
It is a really hard emotional roller coaster. It doesn't help that you and I used to joke about what I could do if you died. You would say to me, "Jenny, if I die you are NOT aloud to remarry! Ever! However if you died I would have to take a date to the funeral or I wouldn't be able to find it." We would joke about it a bit, but you were actually serious. You really didn't like the idea of me ever being with someone else. And who can blame you? I don't like the idea of me ever being with someone else. It feels too much like cheating... Those conversations where you joked around about this still haunt me. Especially the next part of the joke. And I quote, "Jenny, people are going to say that I would feel differently once I was on the other side. That I'd changed and would just want you to be happy. Well they are lying! You are NOT aloud to remarry!" I can remember the conversations I had within the first couple of weeks after you had died. People did say that to me and each time I pointed at them and said, "He told me you would say that!" It is really disconcerting...
But I hate to telly you honey, I don't think I can do this on my own for the rest of my life. I am too much of a cuddler. I want someone to give my whole self to again. I want someone to just do nothing with while we sit on the couch in the evening and relax once the kids are in bed. My family keeps saying that since you left first you lost your vote, but that is kind of unfair because it wasn't really your choice to leave. Can you tell I am a little confused on this issue. I really don't know how I am ever going to get past those conversations with you and feel like you would be ok with me finding someone new. But I really don't think its fair for Little M to never have a father who was alive in his lifetime. I don't think its fair for Little E to not have a Dad to baptize her when she turns 8 or give her away at her wedding. This whole situation is full of things that just don't seem fair... But I just have to keep telling myself, "It will all work itself out in the end. All things will be for your good."
I guess if I am totally honest with myself I know that the day will come when I decide its time to break that deal with you, (not that I ever really agreed you know...) But I don't know how I will recognize that time when it comes. I have been thinking a lot about the book, "The missing piece meets the big O." One of the reasons I haven't even started opening myself up to the possibility of dating someone is that I know I am still a missing piece. I have always thought it was important to be whole on your own before you make a life with someone else. (The saying "You complete me" has always made my hackles rise!) Its one of the reasons I felt we worked so well together. We where both already whole and didn't need the other to complete ourselves. We could roll together and it made for a great life. But as we lived our life we became one. Then you died and half of my life, my everything was torn from my grasp. It was the most painful experience I have ever gone through. Hopefully the worst thing I will ever go through... I no longer feel like a big O. I am a missing piece. I am trying to learn to roll again, but until I have smoothed off enough of my edges I don't feel like I am ready to date. I wonder if I will ever feel ready. Well, until then I will just keep trying to grow into a stronger person on my own and I will enjoy the wonderful life and relationships I still have. Little E tells me daily that she loves me and cuddles me all the time, although her kisses have been a little wet for my taste lately... Little M gives me the biggest smile ever every morning after he wakes up and makes my day start with a warm heart. I am truly blessed. I probably just need to focus more on what I have instead of what I am missing. I will try harder. But please forgive me when the time finally comes. I really don't want you to be mad at me...
Love,
Jenny
This is a post I have been writing in my head for months now. I am just finally sitting down to write it. I have really been struggling lately with a pendulum swinging back and forth between "I can do this, maybe I will just stay single." and "Why don't I have someone here right now! Maybe I should start dating so I can stop being so lonely."
It is a really hard emotional roller coaster. It doesn't help that you and I used to joke about what I could do if you died. You would say to me, "Jenny, if I die you are NOT aloud to remarry! Ever! However if you died I would have to take a date to the funeral or I wouldn't be able to find it." We would joke about it a bit, but you were actually serious. You really didn't like the idea of me ever being with someone else. And who can blame you? I don't like the idea of me ever being with someone else. It feels too much like cheating... Those conversations where you joked around about this still haunt me. Especially the next part of the joke. And I quote, "Jenny, people are going to say that I would feel differently once I was on the other side. That I'd changed and would just want you to be happy. Well they are lying! You are NOT aloud to remarry!" I can remember the conversations I had within the first couple of weeks after you had died. People did say that to me and each time I pointed at them and said, "He told me you would say that!" It is really disconcerting...
But I hate to telly you honey, I don't think I can do this on my own for the rest of my life. I am too much of a cuddler. I want someone to give my whole self to again. I want someone to just do nothing with while we sit on the couch in the evening and relax once the kids are in bed. My family keeps saying that since you left first you lost your vote, but that is kind of unfair because it wasn't really your choice to leave. Can you tell I am a little confused on this issue. I really don't know how I am ever going to get past those conversations with you and feel like you would be ok with me finding someone new. But I really don't think its fair for Little M to never have a father who was alive in his lifetime. I don't think its fair for Little E to not have a Dad to baptize her when she turns 8 or give her away at her wedding. This whole situation is full of things that just don't seem fair... But I just have to keep telling myself, "It will all work itself out in the end. All things will be for your good."
I guess if I am totally honest with myself I know that the day will come when I decide its time to break that deal with you, (not that I ever really agreed you know...) But I don't know how I will recognize that time when it comes. I have been thinking a lot about the book, "The missing piece meets the big O." One of the reasons I haven't even started opening myself up to the possibility of dating someone is that I know I am still a missing piece. I have always thought it was important to be whole on your own before you make a life with someone else. (The saying "You complete me" has always made my hackles rise!) Its one of the reasons I felt we worked so well together. We where both already whole and didn't need the other to complete ourselves. We could roll together and it made for a great life. But as we lived our life we became one. Then you died and half of my life, my everything was torn from my grasp. It was the most painful experience I have ever gone through. Hopefully the worst thing I will ever go through... I no longer feel like a big O. I am a missing piece. I am trying to learn to roll again, but until I have smoothed off enough of my edges I don't feel like I am ready to date. I wonder if I will ever feel ready. Well, until then I will just keep trying to grow into a stronger person on my own and I will enjoy the wonderful life and relationships I still have. Little E tells me daily that she loves me and cuddles me all the time, although her kisses have been a little wet for my taste lately... Little M gives me the biggest smile ever every morning after he wakes up and makes my day start with a warm heart. I am truly blessed. I probably just need to focus more on what I have instead of what I am missing. I will try harder. But please forgive me when the time finally comes. I really don't want you to be mad at me...
Love,
Jenny
Capitols game
Dear Michael,
I am just cleaning out the bookmarks on our computer. I came across this one for the capitols game we played together one night. Do you remember how hard it was for me to keep all of those blasted names straight. We did it over and over and you would just laugh at me when I mixed up the same ones every time. My weakness has always been geography. I don't know why I can't keep names and places straight in my head, but you were so much better at it than me. It just brought a smile to my face to think back to sitting on our bed late into the night with you laughing by my side as I tried to do it for the 15th time in a row with little improvement. Moments like that were so perfect. Just hanging out with nothing seriously important to do but spend time together. I love you honey. Wish we could be doing something together tonight...
Love,
Jenny
ps. Just tried it again without you whispering hints in my ear. 44%... ouch... Guess I'm not smarter than a fifth grader after all! lol
I am just cleaning out the bookmarks on our computer. I came across this one for the capitols game we played together one night. Do you remember how hard it was for me to keep all of those blasted names straight. We did it over and over and you would just laugh at me when I mixed up the same ones every time. My weakness has always been geography. I don't know why I can't keep names and places straight in my head, but you were so much better at it than me. It just brought a smile to my face to think back to sitting on our bed late into the night with you laughing by my side as I tried to do it for the 15th time in a row with little improvement. Moments like that were so perfect. Just hanging out with nothing seriously important to do but spend time together. I love you honey. Wish we could be doing something together tonight...
Love,
Jenny
ps. Just tried it again without you whispering hints in my ear. 44%... ouch... Guess I'm not smarter than a fifth grader after all! lol
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Happy Birthday Michael!
Dear Michael,
Happy Birthday! I love you so much. I have a few plans for your birthday and have given special gifts to your family and friends in honor of your memory. I hope you like what I have planned. Its pretty hard to top my gift last year, but I sure tried. I will tell you more about it later. I just wanted to be one of the first to wish you Happy Birthday!
Love,
Jenny
Our friend Carly sent me a sweet video this morning as a birthday gift to you. I love it! She is so wonderful. I loved that day. She was just starting out on her photography adventure and used us for practice. We were both so excited to be having our first baby. What a great time in our life. :) I love you!
Happy Birthday! I love you so much. I have a few plans for your birthday and have given special gifts to your family and friends in honor of your memory. I hope you like what I have planned. Its pretty hard to top my gift last year, but I sure tried. I will tell you more about it later. I just wanted to be one of the first to wish you Happy Birthday!
Love,
Jenny
Our friend Carly sent me a sweet video this morning as a birthday gift to you. I love it! She is so wonderful. I loved that day. She was just starting out on her photography adventure and used us for practice. We were both so excited to be having our first baby. What a great time in our life. :) I love you!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Little M has a new tooth. :)
Dear Little M,
I am so sorry this past week has been so hard for you. You are such a good baby and I almost never see you unhappy, but this last week you have had three strikes against you. First you got a cold and ended up with a double ear infection. Then with the antibiotics you are on for the ear infection you have gotten terrible diaper rash (your sister was the same way.) And finally you have been cutting a new tooth. Yesterday it finally broke through and you are now the proud owner of two bottom teeth. I hope that the rest of the week will be nicer for you now that it has finally broken through and your ears are on the mend. I love you and am so glad you are my little cuddle bug.
Love,
Mommy
I am so sorry this past week has been so hard for you. You are such a good baby and I almost never see you unhappy, but this last week you have had three strikes against you. First you got a cold and ended up with a double ear infection. Then with the antibiotics you are on for the ear infection you have gotten terrible diaper rash (your sister was the same way.) And finally you have been cutting a new tooth. Yesterday it finally broke through and you are now the proud owner of two bottom teeth. I hope that the rest of the week will be nicer for you now that it has finally broken through and your ears are on the mend. I love you and am so glad you are my little cuddle bug.
Love,
Mommy
 |
| 5/4/2011 This picture was taken at Grandma Jonie's. You are snuggling Missy and you can just see your first tooth peeking through your gums. I haven't taken a good picture of your second one yet. I love your sparkly eyes and infectious baby giggles! |
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Little E's Song
 |
| You just helped me pick this picture out for this post. :) |
I went into your bedroom this morning because I had just put Little M back down and it sounded like you were crying. Usually I don't go in to get you until you knock on the door to get my attention. I came in to find you on your slide peeking out the window behind the curtains. All I could see were your cute little legs and your tippy toes that you were standing on to see outside. I heard you singing the cutest little song. It went something like this. "There's a robin. He is sitting on his net (nest). There he goes to feed his babies. So they will catch (hatch.) He is sitting on his eggs."
It was a very cute song. I wish I could have recorded it for you with the tune. It was very sweet. I love you so much! Thank you for always brightening my days.
Love,
Mommy
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Country Boy
I have been on a huge trip since last Monday and am so excited to upload all the pictures and videos to tell you all about it. It was an amazing trip that was made possible by my great parents who traveled with us in our van "The Gentleman" as I have named it. (I still love that it opens doors for me!)
Anyways, I just wanted to record a quick story that made me laugh out loud today in the car. My dad listened to all kinds of old music on this trip and today he was playing some John Denver. I still love John, especially his Christmas CD with the Muppet's. "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" came on and I had such a fun flash back to our first apartment. Do you remember when I was sleeping in one Saturday and you decided it was time I get my lazy self out of bed? All of a sudden I heard that song blaring on the stereo (you had it set to the chorus) and you came running into the room in your cowboy hat yelling "Yeeehaaa!" at the top of your lungs and jumping on the bed doing the knee high cowboy dance and clapping your hands. I was totally shocked. It was so funny! Although I am pretty sure I was really mad at you for waking me when I was trying to sleep in. I still don't know why that was the way you decided to wake me up that morning but that song will always bring a huge smile to my face. I love you honey. I am so glad you're my country boy.
Love,
Jenny
 |
| I have to laugh at this shirt you are wearing. It was one of the shirts I had tried so hard to get rid of because it was falling apart. But you loved it too much and kept wearing it even though it was falling apart. I tried to sew it back up for you with the serger and it just shredded instead. You can't say I didn't try though. :) I also love that you are holding your belt buckle. I wish you could see it in the picture. You loved cool belt buckles and always said they were a guys version of jewelry and one of the few ways you could express your individuality. I am so glad I let you go back and buy that Buddha buckle that you wanted so badly. It made you happy which makes me happy now. I smile every time I see it. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)