The blog sent someone to rough me up.

Or, I may have tripped stepping into a boat last weekend and this is what the damage looks like 4 days later.

Either way, I promise to be back on a more regular basis. I missed this (and James has grown a ton, as you can see…maybe…under all that dirt).

Ps. We had a great time camping; injuries aside.

This was supposed to be posted on Friday. My phone apparently didn’t cooperate.
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If not “real life.”

Our flight doesn’t leave until 5:50pm, so we did an Everglades tour this morning. It took up some time, and saved us the cab fare back to the airport, although of course the excursion cost more.

These pictures are from the park & airboat ride.

Hello, Caribbean!

Leaving for the airport. That is snow you see, and there is Christmas music playing on the radio.

I will update once we get to Miami.

Updated:

Yah, Miami is awesome. This is the view of the hotel pool from our room balcony.

Thanksgiving weekend - 2009 Look at those little shoes!

Another baby shower Thanksgiving weekend, 2009

This year:

End of August, 2010

A repeat from the other day, but apparently I don't get photos taken of myself any more!

June, 2010 (photo by my friend, Adrienne)

I look a little chubbier, and not so pregnant glowy. My clothes don’t fit, and unlike when I was pregnant, I’m not excited about buying them to fit my changing body. But I have this beautiful baby boy to show for it. And he is so worth the body image issues.

I don’t cry as easily, and I try to be less judgmental. But I am not as patient as I would like. I’m more focused on figuring out what I want to DO with my life, because I want to set a good example for my son, and the job I’m in now isn’t helping me be a better person (there will be a more elaborate post on that issue coming).

I’m much less sure of myself, but I’m so much more proud of what I’m able to do, and (most of) the decisions I make.

I don’t sleep as much, but I fall asleep faster and treasure what I do get more.

Overall, I think I’m a better person. I think I’ve found the thing that I always wanted to do. It’s too bad you don’t get paid money for it.

2007: The theme was super-heroes. I posted pics from this year a couple entries back. Here’s a reminder. Ryan was Dr Who, and I was Buttercup, one of the Powerpuff Girls. I had the green tank and skirt, so just bought some black ballet flats and put a piece of fabric over the foot, and wore white tights. I sprayed my hair black with that temporary color you can buy around halloween. It was a terrible idea. I would just get an actual box of hair dye next time. What a mess. For Ryan’s costume, his sister knit (knitted??) the scarf (she’s awesome!), and we found the coat (not pictured here) at Goodwill.

Dr Who & Powerpuff Girl (Buttercup) in 2007.

2008: The theme was Sci-Fi. Ryan was Chief from Battlestar Gallactica. I was Kaylee from Firefly. We still have these costumes; I was so proud of them! I made the v-neck in the shirt, and tore the sleeves off these coveralls and added the decals (including a couple you can’t see in this photo). We also added the arm patches and pocket latches things to Ryan’s costume, and there’s an official BSG patch on his shoulder. I almost won a prize for my costume this year, but SOMEONE (*cough*Ryan’sfriendTrent*cough*) made an entire Optimus Prime costume out of styrofoam and cardboard and stuff, and it was awesome.

Chief & Kaylee

2009: The theme was religious figures, as I mentioned last year. I went as the virgin Mary (and won most authentic costume, since I was actually pregnant). Ryan was one of the guys from Monty Python’s Spanish Inquisition skit. I bought the blue dress, but it originally had short sleeves, so I ripped those off and used the shoulder as a template to make these longer, flowy sleeves. I also made Ryan’s outfit; the tunic and “skirt” part I made from scratch (by hand!), and the rest was found (red long sleeve shirt, red scarf, red gloves, winter hat).

Virgin Mary & a rosary! It's was like seeing the future. Very sad.

Ryan as a Monty Python Spanish Inquisition guy.

I will post pictures from this year after the costumes are complete and the party is over. Don’t want to spoil the surprise, you know!

James's Baptism in May. Photo by our friend Sam.

Friends at a wedding in Delaware in 2007

Another photo from the same wedding.

UMD Pepband - Alumni weekend 2006. That's me in the purple shirt, and Ryan next to me in the jersey.

 These photos are older, but represent some more of my excellent friends. Also, proof that I can (kind of) play an instrument. The reason I’m wearing that purple shirt has to do with a joke between some of my high school friends and me. I was wearing UMD apparel most of the evening. ;-)

My sisters

This picture is a couple (few?) years old, but these are the people who have had the biggest impact on me; on who I have become and on who I want to be. I love my parents and my brother, and James and Ryan are my life now. But my sisters have shown me who I want to be (and who I don’t want to be, at times). I don’t know if they realize how important they are to me (I try to tell them, but I’m “the emotional one,” so I think they don’t take me as seriously).

We don’t always get along (and that’s been ongoing since we were kids), but I love these ladies. They are so so amazing and strong. I hope they know that.

Ryan and I on top of the 30 Rock building, in front of the Empire State Building

Ryan and I went to the East Coast last fall, as kind of a “baby moon,” although we didn’t call it that. It was just a nice last trip out there while it was still fairly easy for us to travel. We went to Albany, Connecticut, NYC for a day, Delaware for dinner, and spent a couple days in Maryland with my aunt, uncle and cousins. It was a fabulous trip. We want to go back again, and hopefully take more time at each place.

Grand Central Station

We took a day trip to NYC, taking the train in from Connecticut and wandering the city. One of our friends who works in the city was our tour guide, and WOW did we see a lot. Grand Central Station, the subway, Wall Street, Ground Zero, 30 Rock (including a tour of the building), Times Square (where they already had the New Years ball up), Carmine’s Italian restaurant for dinner (YUM), and an “O-bar,” as our friend Shawn calls them (O’Brien’s, O’Malley’s, O’whatever’s) for lunch.

Crazy political people in NYC...they were a little frightening.

It was a delicious and exhausting day, and we are so glad that we went, even if we didn’t have time to do all the things we would like. We’ll just have to go back!