hormones make me cheesy

I've been humming this song for weeks - pretty much ever since Keith started his new job. It's been an adjustment for us - a new schedule, a new level of exhaustion, a shake up of household responsibilities, a new budget - the works. But it's been awesome. And to have a husband who comes home every day covered with dirt, but happy to his core to have done something productive makes my heart happy. And the truth is I love him to pieces.

And it's no surprise to anyone who knows me that mornings are not exactly my "best" time. I believe it was Wassa who said it best. "Watching Johnson wake up is painful. It's as if she's never had to face a morning before in her life. Each day, it's a new and traumatizing experience." (or something like that, right Wass?) BUT... even with 5 months with no caffeine (besides one moment of weakness and a can of mountain dew), I'm PRODUCTIVE in the morning! Getting to bed at 10pm is good for my soul. I still sleep in more than Keith and have to live with the daily guilt of my hour-long love/hate relationship with the snooze button. But I even TALK before getting to work. To the animals, of course. But this is like breaking new ground. And I'm not tired in the afternoon. And I'm happier. And I just feel like a good person, almost like I'm better than everyone else dragging in exhausted, almost like I jog in East Grand Rapids.

All of that to say, my morning-Susie-homemaker-self has been humming good ol' Kenny for quite some time because of the chorus, really. I remember Meghan declaring this would be her wedding song. For me, I feel as though it's my theme song this month. So I decided I better look up the lyrics. I read them today. And they made me cry.

I don't have any idea who won American Idol last night, but I'll bet you that person is no Kenny Loggins. And I'm here to say I wish there were more of him because Light Rock is where it's at!

Hogan genes

I've always pictured my baby looking like a Johnson.
But I have two nephews now, who are cousins of each other, who look as though they could be brothers.
The good news is they're both dang cute.

Meet Yazzie. He's wearing pink because he lives in Bangladesh and they don't really care about our social norms. It's a miracle we got these pictures - the internet there is slower than customer service at Verizon.


And I think Yazzie looks just like his cousin Lane, who looks just like his grandpa and great-grandpa, don't you think?

Then again, maybe it's just the bald head...

milestones

I'm pretty sure I want this blog to be more than a pregnancy journal, but my "deep" thoughts are a little too scattered to be published. So for today, a report on two milestones reached this weekend:

1. I felt a kick. More like a thump. I'd do anything to feel it again.

2. I now understand what it means to nest. I'm unstoppable. I wish I could bottle this. Spare room - check. Study - check. Next: hall closet and the basement. I told Keith that if he doesn't want me in the garage than he better kick it in gear. I'm even considering tackling the storage bin of old photos (gasp!) - and could there even be a wedding album order??? Shocking. I've got to make hay before it gets hot or it will never last. I feel like a million bucks. Go ahead - ask me where Keith's birth certificate is. I know. And yes, I actually am donating a total of four cardigans from my teaching days. That reminds me - I need to go through the shoes. Oh if it weren't for this blasted job...

It's a boy!

Letter to my son

My Dear Baby Boy,

I already feel like I've loved you my whole life. This week, Daddy and I got our first glimpse of you through the ultrasound monitor. It was the first day we knew for sure you were a boy (although we both had a hunch all along)! It was a magical day! It made us so impatient for the day when we can hold you and kiss you and touch you all over, from the tip of your head to the bottoms of your feet.

I get distracted a lot lately, dreaming about you. I wonder if you'll have lots of dark hair when you're born and if your fingers will be long like mine or thick like daddy's. I can't wait for you to meet your family - they all love you so much. And you won't believe how fun your pets are.

I've been praying for you since before you were alive and I continue to every single day. I pray that God will grow you healthy and strong, that he'll protect you from common baby discomforts and that he'll reveal himself to you, even now. Daddy and I think we have your name picked out already, but we know for sure that God knows it.

I can't feel you yet and lots of people don't even notice you as a "bump" in me yet, but we saw all of your working parts this week - we know that you're whole and unique and that we couldn't possibly love you more. I'm already so proud to call myself your mom.

with all the love in my heart,
mommy

Klompen Dancing = Onomatopoeia

Just in case you won't make it to our neck of the woods this year - here's how the streets of Holland look these days

Confession of an office rat

I have a fantasy.
I've had it all morning.
I seriously can't shake it.

It's pouring today. And really windy. Downright blustery, I'd say.
When I let Dodger out this morning, he almost blew off the deck.
My first thought was "Sucky day to be a tree climber."
My second thought was "I wonder if it's windy enough to knock out the power."

And then I got all warm and fuzzy inside.
Just think of it - internet down, no biggee. Phones down - dream day. But power down?! Go home!!! Sit in the dark! Take a nap! How glorious.

Work isn't even that bad, so it would be just a straight up treat. I wonder if I just tripped a breaker how convincing it would be...

Isn't it supposed to be APRIL showers?

Nice timing, guys

Cha-cha-cha-changes

It's been a while, so I'm not really sure where to start.
I've been a bit distracted lately. And I haven't really known how to blog about the big stuff (like meeting every last Hogan and loving every second of it, except the part where I picked up pink eye). But I was reminded of my blog friend when I sat at my desk today contemplating the life of the massive bumble bee that hovers outside the door all day every day. He was here last year, too. Where'd he go during the winter? Does he have friends? Is "he" really a million different bees, each standing guard of their invisible home on different shifts? Hmmm.... I wonder.

That bee is about the only thing in my life that's the same as last spring. My address is different. My waistline is different. My job is different. My outlook is different. (Elephant ears and lemonade at tulip time - that's the same, thank God.)

This week, the most tangible change has been Keith's new job.

And his new hair cut.


Yep. Those are chainsaw chaps and a #1 on the clippers. And yes, they both scare me a bit. So does the idea of our family reentering the world of commuting. So does being my husband's hairdresser. But I've decided I need to not get scared so easily. Told you things are changing.

And would you believe I just now saw TWO bumble bees? Must be a shift change. Amazing.