Our 2nd Anniversary

Well, yesterday started year number three for us. It has been so amazing...2 years seems like such a short time because of all the moving and baby-having, and yet it seems like we have been married forever (in a good way).

We had a wonderful day, though it was not too much out of the ordinary. We started off the day with some Starbucks, a new tradition we have because that is how we started off the day of our wedding -- coffee alone at Starbucks (until our wedding coordinator happened to pop in). :-) Then we went to church, came home and had a snack, fed Judah. Then we went to Outback! Compliments of my family. It was SO tasty! Matt was able to get his absolute favorite...ribs. And I was able to try something new, the Walhalla Pasta. It was perfection. I went in wanting to try an alfredo chicken pasta dish. As I was looking at the menu, I thought "Pasta alfredo with chicken and their steamed veggies mixed in would be perfect. I wonder if they would do that for me." Well, that's EXACTLY what Walhalla Pasta is. So light, healthy, and refreshing. Their alfredo sauce isn't the thick creamy stuff you find slathered on other alfredo dishes. You can hardly see it and they don't pile it on. Try it! Then we rented a movie and relaxed the rest of the day.

Our conversation at Outback was wonderful! We talked about memories from the past year. One of my favorite memories was driving across country with Matt. It was so fun to stay in a different place each night, stay with Beth and Curtis, take in the scenery, see the Grand Canyon, stay with the Jensens...what an adventure that was! But of course mostly we talked about the day Judah was born. I asked Matt questions like "What were you thinking when..." and he asked me some questions. Not many people have asked me questions about that day, what it was like and what I was thinking, so it was fun to talk about it. (It was also fun to have lots of people stop and comment on Judah's cuteness!)

Last night we played the Josh Groban songs we had as our first and last dance at the reception while we looked at our wedding album (another tradition we started). It was so fun to remember all the thoughts and feelings we had -- I hope we never forget! And maybe if we do this each year, it will help us hold on to such sweet memories of how we started life together. All my bridesmaids were so pretty and diverse. The groomsmen were such good friends and a joy to have around. Our ushers were all handsome. Lots of people in Matt's family look like they could be movie stars. The flowers were GORGEOUS. The DJ was aweful. The cake was excellent. I still can't believe Thomas caught the garter...but that's better than if D-Rob had gotten it! And on and on...

I thank God for Matt. I thank Him for guiding both our lives to help us become who we are today...perfect for each other. There is no greater companion to walk the adventure of life than the one God has chosen for you!

I love you, Matt!

...and for you Judah hungry readers...

Despite what many may think...

We are still alive. :-) Since I posted last, we have had the privilege of hosting Matt's mom, grandmother, and sister for a week and a half. We were on the move every day it seemed! But you know what that means...lots of pictures! Be sure you check back often because there's no way I'm doing all of this in one post. Even this San Francisco post is going to be a mother load.

We left early in the morning for the drive. We took a guided tour of the city first. It was so nice...air conditioned bus, tour guide, someone ELSE driving so Matt could actually enjoy it. First stop was the "Palace." One of the last scenes of The Bachelor was filmed here if any of you have seen it. It's supposed to celebrate science and art. If we remember correctly, it was built for a French art exhibit.



Next stop was, you guessed it. The Golden Gate Bridge. Matt got the BEST picture of it, as you can see it is postcard quality (hey, that rhymes). The other pictures are of a cross-section of cable. It is HUGE and made up of lots of tiny cables. We walked a little ways onto the bridge. I could totally feel the sway and had to describe it to Matt and Melody so they could pick it out for themselves. Judah slept.



After we walked around Fisherman's Warf and had our picnic lunch, we went on a tour of Alcatrez. I love riding on boats of any kind (well, maybe not tiny easily-flipped fishing boats). I also took the time to reapply 45 sunscreen on my arms and and 30 on my face. I realize now I am becoming older and wiser -- I actually put the sunscreen on of my own volition and thought. Did it help? No. I got burned quite nicely on my arms, shoulders, and neck. This was AFTER we spent time at the beach on a previoius day and I wore NO sunscreen and was fine. Silly post-partum/nursing hormones. Note on the picture of Judah behidn bars: Mamaw (if that's what everyone settles on) bought Judah that little cap for sun protection. It is just adorable! It says "Property of Alcatrez" but has a "stamp" on it that says "Rejected: Too Cute." Tee hee!



And since blogger won't let me upload anymore photos...more to come later!

::whispers:: stupid blogger.

On another note, I think I just started about the 4th or 5th huge jar of peanut butter since we've been here. And I eat 99.9 percent of these jars. Matt just told me he wishes he could eat a food like I eat peanut butter. That makes me proud of my accomplishment. Boy, am I glad Judah doesn't have a peanut allergy!

On another-nuther note, my favoritest holiday is coming up! No, not just my anniversary and my older sister's birthday. But THE day! The Fourth of July!

Happy Anniversary, Matt & Me!
Happy Birthday, Autumn!
Happy Birthday, USA!

Rare, I know

So posts are becoming few and far between...but such is the life of a wife/mother/housekeeper/seamstress. :-)

Here's some pictures! He is just the KA-UTEST baby ever. Though I know some will protest. But I have to...no get to...be my baby's biggest fan!

He is now sucking his upper lip...hilarious. Matt will post the video on his blog soon. He also is still talking like crazy and trying to roll over. Naps are becoming a little haphazard -- hopefully just a stage as my mom said. He is showing a little bit more will in that he will fuss fuss fuss until we look at him and then be all smiles. It's cute...for now. Oh, and Jaclyn? Yeah, those green pants fit him NOW. He's our chunky monkey! 3 months. Seems like so long but so short!

Our little fuzzy blueberry. A clever picture with the boppy -- E for Esparza.



Close-up with Momma. And a crazy picture of Daddy (I think it's cool!)



Changing eye color -- very gray blue with brownish green around the pupil. We're praying for them to stop changing soon...we're rooting for something cool besides brown. Flying with Daddy.



Fresh baby after a bath. My FAVORITE picture--it's sooo bright, and the fabric is bright too. ;-)



A cute overalls outfit we got at Savers -- carrots and celery I call it and it has lions embroidered on it. Our thumb sucker -- he's doing it more and more.



His little scuba ducky -- he loves to kick it when it's at his feet.




And in case you missed it..............




You should have a pretty good day after seeing that smile!

LOTS of Pictures

So, I'm going to combine two posts into one. It's a doosy. Judah Pictures and then Jaclyn's awesome visit. Don't forget you can click on the pictures to enlarge them.

JUDAH PICTURES

First, we've got random pictures of Judah living his daily life. He's adorable. I'm not just biased either. My favorite comment people have made lately (other than what a good baby he is): "His eyes just sparkle!" I think they do, too.

In my opinion, he is no longer "newborn" looking. His tummy is thinning out but his legs and arms are chunkin' up. We're still trying to get rid of the cradle cap, and he has new patches of eczema on his arms (like his Mommy). Thankfully, they are very mild. He is still sneezing and the runny nose has picked up quite a bit. He even dry coughs at times...again, just like his Mommy. I'm pretty sure Mommy's allergist is going to end up being Judah's allergist as well...if anything can be done for such a young guy. Here are some things he has done lately:

~Regularly talks up a storm
~Stares at his feet when he's in his bouncy seat
~Reaches for things, especially our faces and hands
~Sticks out his tongue when you do the same or when he wants you to imitate him
~Found himself in mirrors and talks to the other baby
~Turns completely horizontal in his pack-n-play during the night
~Sucks his thumb...still a new thing as he only does it occasionally
~Is almost rolling over...he can get perpendicular to the ground up on his side but can't seem to swing that leg over to go all the way
~Reacts mostly to the color pink...Jaclyn gave him a toy with lots of colors on it and he always talks the most when pink is shown...maybe because his Mommy wears alot of pink?
~Sucks on Mommy's shoulder...occasionally producing real hickies
~Raises his head/chest to a 90 degree angle when on his tummy
~Knows when Mommy & Daddy leave his presence and lets it be known with talking/crying

A sweet Little Champ baseball outfit. "What are you looking at?" expression.



Eating Crunches ear (it's got that rattly paper in it....the companion elephant is Tinkles because he's got a bell inside him). Self-taken picture with Daddy.



An extremely happy baby...we get those smiles alot every day. A new sleeping position he has assumed...little booty in the air and sucking on his hand.



Remember that famous sleeping position I posted about a while ago? Yep. He still likes it. At least it's a "cross" position. Perhaps we can use it as a tool to teach him about Jesus when he's older. :-) I let him nap in bed with me the other morning...woke up to find him in the exact middle of the bed with arms spread wide...



JACLYN'S VISIT

Two girls. Similar life stories. Their moms even have similar life stories. States apart. Introduced online by a mutual guy-friend. Talked for years through a computer screen, sharing struggles and joys, heartache and triumph. Many a deep secret was told. Holding each others hand through personal growth on all fronts. One married the guy who introduced them. The other hardly talks to him anymore because she talks to his wife all the time.

Six years this went on. Only pictures were seen and voices heard by phone and IM screen.

Until now.

We finally met. Praise the LORD! We both were nervous, we don't know why. We figured it was because we knew each other's life inside out and had never stared into each other's eyes. Six blessed days with my sweet friend Jaclyn.

It was an unspeakable joy to have her in my home, sitting beside me as I fed my son, smiling at me as we talked, cooking in my kitchen with me, sleeping in the room next to me. To see that Bible laying open on her bed each day. To watch her move with realistic grace. To hear her drawing out laughter from my baby boy. To hold her in my arms and kiss her sweet cheek. To smell her spicy lotion. Sounds like I'm stalking her...but you just can't understand. I waited six years to be in her presence. I had to take it all in, for who knows when the next opportunity will be!

Beautiful. That is the one word that describes Jaclyn. Her spirit shines through her eyes and shouts through her voice. She is kind, helpful, and thoughtful. She is modestly stylish. She spends time with her Lord daily. She creates meaningful conversation. And yes, her eyes are to die for and her hair so silky and shiny. Her skin is naturally dark (I was shocked!...she didn't even have a "tan.") Inside and out. Just beautiful.

She left little notes in secret places before she left. I still don't know if I've found them all. They mean so much to me...to hear what she thinks of me after being with me in person. God's grace covers both of us because we both felt a little "off" the whole time. Allergies hit us pretty hard right before she arrived and got worse as the week wore on. And the nerves of meeting for the first time didn't help either. It was kind of like, hmm...beign betrothed to someone you've never met but knowing you are destined to be together forever and then meeting them for the first time. You know you love the real person, but what of mannerisms and habits? This time put a physical body to my ethereal friend.

Angels can have physical bodies when they choose to, right? I still sometimes wonder if she's an angel unaware. ;-)

Jaclyn and Judah...she loved him and boy did he love her! At Carmel...God blessed us with the CLEAREST day Matt and I have yet seen here. The wind was strong and brisk, the waves huge, and the sand toasty warm.



We took these on the way from Carmel Beach to Monterey (Cannery Row). He was being so cute...as always!



The last picture and the ones below were taken at Cannery Row. I think this will end up being the "let's take our visitors here" official photos. This little cove is where all the sea otters hang out. If you look closely, you can see them sunning on the beach. The water was gorgeous as well...I've never seen it blue and GREEN.



A California dad. Our shadows in the clear water below an observation deck.



A sea otter. Jaclyn...Judah's very first baby sitter. Matt and I got to go buy a new couch and comfy chair (woo hoo!) and then go see X-Men III. It was so great to get out with my hubby! Judah did just fine...and who wouldn't with such a lovely lady?



Judah's cutie outfit on Sunday. A great picture of Jaclyn and I. Side by side. No more computer generated "together" photos. :-) (She makes me look so white and round! LOL)



Matching overalls...I think it's adorable. Family photo. Just before we took Jaclyn to the airport. :-( And just before we went to a Memorial Day cookout in Hollister with some church folks....where my allergies ramped up even more. ::sigh:: Gonna go see an allergist on the 21st.



What do I take with me the most from Jaclyn's visit? Two things. Seeing that Bible laying on her bed every day. She is what she says she is. There's meat behind all she tells me about her life. She is an inspiration. And her eyes. I can see them when I think about them. I didn't look at them TOO often because I was shy for some stupid reason. Usually I make others uncomfortable with eye contact. Apparently, she's more powerful than me. But I drank them in on Monday. I was tired of not looking!

Thank you, Jaclyn, for spending the money, time, and effort to come visit. I praise God He provided all of it for you to spend! Maybe, just MAYBE, God will honor our desires to make a summer vacation to Colorado next year.........

You are a treasure to me. You always were. You are more so now. And you always will be!