Evidence of Nesting, or Top Nine Signs indicating that you are ready for your proposal...

Here are the top nine signs of possible proposal readiness and/or severe nesting...

(With apologies to Lori as this post may be teetering on the edge of the annoying nursery post).



9. You ask your husband to replace the tired old kitchen light bulb with this super cool cherry light. "Kids will like this!"



8. There are balloons at your dinner parties. Balloons that YOU provided.



7. You jump for joy after finding these way cool Pottery Barn Kids book shelves on Craig's List.
(And Damn you Pottery Barn Kids! Why do you torment me? Why do you make me feel that my kids will only be happy in your beautiful monogrammed surroundings? I curse you and your pricey-ness!)




6. You dust off your tired old sock monkey collection in preparation for a possible second life. See the doll? A friend Steven works with found that doll and bought it for him, because it LOOKS EXACTLY like him! Imagine our surprise/horror when we shook the doll's hand and it said, "Hi, It's Me...Steve". Serendipitous Non? (Also, remind me to tell you the story of Monkton one day).



5. You purchase crafty letters for your kids' room. Doesn't matter that you don't know their names yet, everyone believes in PEACE right? I know that isn't the correct spelling, but the artist didn't make umlauts.



4. You set up a twin bed next to your queen bed to experiment with possible co-sleeping scenarios.



3. You invite previously uninvited four-legged creatures to sleep with you to experience possible co-sleeping situations. Note to those who may want to try this, canines dream in their sleep. Moses, apparently, dreams of running. His paws move when he dreams. His paws wake me from my restful slumber.



2. You are seen wearing an empty Ergo carrier in your living room. You are "making sure it fits".




And the Number one sign of possible proposal readiness and/0r extreme nesting is... Your idea of a rocking Saturday afternoon is hanging with this crowd.*

Those two in the middle did not appreciate our singing. Not one bit.

Oh I forgot one...

You take this out of your music library to make room for this.


*Cutie Credits, from left to right...
Aliyah
Celeste
Zoe
Marley
Tessa (aka 'The Wren' nickname by Steven).
Judah

(Not pictured due to napping schedule, Mimi!)

Steven holds all other children up to 'The Wren.' Cindy you'll be happy to know that Steven thought Olly looked 'Wren-like', his highest compliment.

Oh, and in case you don't remember, The Wren is indeed the one who gave me a message from Ethiopia.


Special thanks to my amazing friends who include me in these gatherings even though I show up with nary a sippy cup, nor a playmate of suitable stature.

Top Three Reasons I Love My Husband Today...

Reason Three:

Me: What were you doing with the camera outside in the dark for forty-five minutes?

Him: I made you this...




Reason Two:

Him: Here, I brought you this. Do you know what it is?

Me: Uhm, no.

Him: It is a Biden daisy. It is an Ethiopian daisy. Isn't it pretty?




And the NUMBER ONE REASON I love my husband this Sunday:

Me: I feel like having pancakes.

Him:


Not only did he make me pancakes, but he added my favorite ingredient, CHOCOLATE.


I am lucky.

Top Six Reasons My Birthday Was Better Than The Pope's...

Yesterday, Pope Benedict and I shared a birthday. We were both born on April 16th, 1927. Here are the top six reasons why my birthday was better than the Pope's.

Reason Number 6...

Cake.

Although Pope Benedict had a big, beautiful cake, it seems that it was more decorative and that he didn't actually eat it.

Here is my cake...


Here is my cake, three and a half minutes later...


Yum.
I mean really, what good is a cake if you don't get to eat it?

Reason Number Five...

Nature.





Steven and I went for a hike. If you really want to feel your age on your birthday, put your rickety body through a five mile climb in the mid-day heat. This hike seemed a lot easier one year ago. When we finally reached our destination we took our bench's advice.


The Pope, however, had a very stressful day; crowds, protests- not very relaxing.



Reason Number Four...

Sustenance.

Here is the menu for the Pope's Birthday dinner:

Morel-encrusted diver scallops, ramp spatzle, angel hair asparagus bisque, duo of veal, white truffle potato dumplings, baby carrots and boletus mushrooms, heirloom lettuces and candied pumpkin seeds, spring squash carpaccio, styrian pumpkin oil vinaigrette, raspberry crisp and mint coulis.

Sounds good right? Well guess what...

"His Holiness will skip the dinner in his honor. Pope Benedict won’t be on hand for the big White House dinner tonight marking his visit."

What? A Birthday dinner without the Birthday Pope? What gives?

He should have come to Mao's with us...



Delicious. And at my age, the early bird special provides all of this and more, for under 10 bucks a person.

Reason Number Three...

Gifts.



A tasteful bouquet from a friend, lovely. If you receive acres and acres of flowers, the smell becomes downright overwhelming, some would even say nauseating.


The Pope probably never receives birthday gifts he really likes. No one really knows his size or where to purchase those fancy vestments. No one, for instance, would probably ever think to get him his very own beautiful, personalized green glass...





The "J" glass. Steven said there were some "B"'s available, and also a couple of "P"s.


Reason Number Two...

Celibacy.


Oh sure , the Pope may have a really cool hat and a souped up Pope Mobile,


But the pope is also celibate. Enough said.



And the Number One Reason my birthday was better than the Pope's...

Company.

The pope had to spend his birthday with this man...



I got to spend mine with these guys...





My favorite part of this whole day was lifting my hike heavy head from my sunny napping place and seeing this...


My wonderful husband picking a plump, juicy loquat off of our tree, peeling it, de-seeding it and feeding it to our dogs. Birthday perfection.


So your Holiness, if on April 16th, you find yourself in the states again, please give us a call. We'll show you how to celebrate a birthday.


I am Lucky.