Note to Self

Dearest Mary,

Please stop watching morning blocks of Baby Story/Bringing Home Baby/ Babies: Special Delivery. I know you are getting the baby itch and cry when you watch these shows in between sipping your morning coffee. BUT remember, they are only shows that highlight the wonderful parts for people to tune in - not the parts where there are sleepless nights for 7 + months and a hole in your pocket.

Please read me every time you get that crazy thought in your head again or please change the channel.

Love,

Me

Avery Loves Rabbits

The 1st child I have ever seen to be happy to see the Easter Bunny!!!

Avery rockin' the pastel orange!!!

For our 1st stop of the day our Family had brunch at the Mystic Creek Golf Course and it was delicious!!! My sister Anne (Anne Ruthmann Photography) had flown in for a Wedding in Detroit the night before and joined us before getting back to the airport to fly home to Indiana.

Love This!!!

Listen to this now - Estelle featuring Kanye West - American Boy

A Lil' Piece of Update

• First and most important - Shannon's (my Mother-in-Law) surgery was a success and she is now cancer free...Hooray!!!!
• We finally moved into our house and still aren't fully unpacked - I can't wait to post before/after pics!
• Avery is saying MaMa, NaNa, DaDa!
• Unfortunately, our main man Ray, (Father-in-Law) who has done nearly EVERYTHING in our new house, was sent to the Emergency Room the night we moved in!!! The china cabinet he and the guys were about to carry into the house was quite old, hence - a piece broke and the top edge came down on Rays leg. The result? Stitches!!! He is okay though, thankfully!!!
• I might be going back to school this April!!!! I am so excited!!!

I think that's about it. Not much else. Hope everyone is doing well :) It was nice to see so much Family on Easter. Especially Anne!!! Thank you for joining us for brunch before you flew home...I miss you!!!

Talk Talk Talk

Hooray!!!

After days and days of repetition and Mommy looking like she has a Kindergardener's vocabulary, we have success...

Avery is saying Da-Da!!! Of course only when prompted. Baby steps people, baby steps.

Feeling Good Feels Good

Life can get exceptionally overwhelming at times. Sometimes tragedy can make you forget the good things in life. Then again there are some days, such as today, that make you remember just how wonderful all the hidden "treasures" in life can be, once you allow yourself to see them.

Shannon's 2nd surgery has proven to be a success to the best of our knowledge, or should I say to her Doctors knowledge. We were all stopped dead in our tracks when the 1st surgery claimed results of stage 1 cancer. (Recap - this was AFTER they told her that she was in the clear, what a horrible day that must have been for her...as well all of us.)

The second surgery comes and goes as of a few days ago. Best guess from the Hospital at first glance before lab confirms is that we are in the clear. *Exhale*

I cannot begin to comprehend what this must have been like for Shannon. (Jarod's Mother)

What did my Mother-in-Law and her Husband do while waiting for this 2nd surgery and anxiously awaiting the unknown?

• Help Prime/Paint our new home.
• Rip out existing floors.
• Install Pergo floors.
• Install Ceramic tile floors.
• Install trim work throughout.
• Remove/Apply new grout in both bathrooms.

Unbelievable. We are so *blessed* to be associated with such selfless , hardworking and generous parents.

Thank you to our friends and family that have kept Jarod and his Mother in your thoughts and prayers...