winter just wasn't her season...

I'm not sure how I feel about my new winter wardrobe... Mom keeps telling me that I'll get used to feeling bulky. I reluctantly agreed to the coat and hat, but drew the line at mittens. I am obsessive about my hands (I HATE it when people touch them) and couldn't bear to have them squeezed into furry pouches that keep me from holding my toys. Mom says I can leave them behind for now but when it snows, they aren't optional. I don't know what snow is, but it better be good.

someone saved my life tonight...

Introducing Caroline Welty!! She is the newest member of our family - my sister-in-law - and she arrived on a plane from Guatemala yesterday evening. We are so excited to finally meet her! She is about 12 lbs and still feels so small and fragile, but maybe that's just because Erin is at the top of the growth charts :-) Anyway, it is such a blessing to have one more in the Welty fold and more importantly one more in the Covenant family! God is good and we know that He has plans to prosper this little girl. Welcome home, Caroline!

...I'd buy you a green dress but not a real green dress, that's cruel.

So the kitchen is finally complete... I had no idea I'd derive such joy from gaining two extra inches in sink depth, and two lazy susans (I'm pretending like we're rich), and the thought of buying new kitchen towels and oven mitts its more excitement than I can take. Sweet fancy Moses!

Its too good to be true, like a whole new you.

Well now I know for sure that my daughter takes almost all of her features from her father, with her "prominent" ears being the only exception. My best estimation is that Erin and I are roughly the same age in these pics and I couldn't resist cutting and pasting... now if I can only find one of Caleb :-)

Don't you put me on the back burner...

After more than seven months in our townhouse, we're finally replacing the "unique" cabinets, countertops, and sink that are probably original to the place. Not only are they ugly, but falling apart as well. One of the drawer faces fell off within one week of us moving in. To save money, we are disassembling the old cabinets ourselves which means dividing up the work. Caleb got to wield the manly saw and hack through the countertops, and I was left sweeping up sawdust. Not that I mind - hey, I'm getting a new kitchen. And my sweet husband already replaced my stove and dishwasher. What more could a girl want?

To one thing constant never.

I'm a last minute person. Several months ago I had highlights added to my dull brown hair and now they're grown out and I'm tired of them.... So for some insane reason I decided that Sunday morning (when we were already running late and there was no time for anything unnecessary) would be the perfect time to dye my hair. I had a box of plain brown that looked about my color, so I grabbed it and headed to the shower where I took more than my share of hot water waiting for the dye to take hold. Upon rinsing, towel-drying and brushing, I came to realize that the brown was much TOO brown and a whole lot darker than I had intended. But I'm an optimist, so I decided to use this as a teaching moment for my beloved husband. I promptly dried and styled my hair, trimmed my bangs and went in search of the poor soul who had no idea that he was beat before he even opened his mouth. The following conversation ensued:

Anne: "Do you notice anything different about me, honey?"
Caleb (glancing all over, but mostly at my clothes): "Hmmm...."
Anne (only slightly impatient): "No honey, above the neck."
Caleb (with mild trepidation showing through and looking intently at my face): "Hmmmm..."
Anne (really impatient): "No honey, AROUND my face!"
Caleb (just downright scared and frantically scanning my hair): "Oh, did you cut your hair?"
Anne (deflated, and knowing that he was partially right but choosing to ignore it, because its the principle that counts): "NO, I DYED IT - ITS DARKER!!!"
Caleb (just relieved that its over): "Oh yes it looks good!"

Caleb marched straight into the bathroom to brush his teeth and discovered my hair clippings in the trash... At that point my lesson was lost as he rejoiced (foolishly) over having guessed the "right" answer.

So much for optimism.

The rings of saturn.

This is my Saturn. She has been faithful to me for three years, and now we're getting her ready to sell. As I was taking pictures of her yesterday to post on the web, I was reminded again of how the Lord provided so much through my father when I was single. Dad went with me car shopping, test drove it for me because I didn't know a manual transmission yet, gave me the confidence to get a loan on my own (why in the world someone wanted to loan ME money at that time still baffles me), and sat with me while I signed all the papers and whatnot. What should've been a daunting and stressful experience was made so much easier - Dad never made me feel like I was on my own because I was an "adult". And I know that if I had been single at 35, he would still be doing the same for me. Its just a silly car, I know, but the significance is worth way more than anything we'll get for the car on autotrader.... Now Caleb is taking care of me (and my transportation needs), and now HE is my reminder of God's providence. How blessed I am to have men in my life who take their responsibilities seriously.

Come on babe, why don't we paint the town?

Caleb, Catie and I took Erin to her first football game last weekend - Virginia Tech hosting Marshall. In accordance, Tech cleaned up nicely and enjoyed a festive Homecoming weekend. We couldn't resist buying a VT sweatshirt for Erin... she says "my colors are maroon and orange" (no, papa, not agent orange). We also had a good visit with the Borgquists and Andersons in Charlottsville where we dined on wonderful italian food and played quite a bit of Texas Hold 'Em. How thankful we are for good friends and great fellowship!

Take my picture by the pool 'cause I'm the next big thing.

This pic courtesy of Shane Kyle and his fancy schmancy paint program. If you ask real nice, he'll edit pictures for you and help your kids become movie stars. This is Erin's latest head shot, and she has her first audition next week.

How 'bout that ever elusive kudo

So we're near the end of Caleb's first week off. In accordance with the prophecy, he's well on his way to completing many of the tasks on his list and I have barely started mine. And by that I mean that I've barely started making my list. This is the difference between a first-born son and a baby princess/middle daughter. He is patient with me though and I am grateful. When you're single, you imagine what married life will be like. Sometimes you're right but most of the time it ends up being totally different that what you expected.... And interestingly enough, this is a GOOD thing. Sending my husband out to Home Depot for much needed supplies to complete a project and insisting that he take the baby so that I can take a shower and then finding out that the backyard needs to be mowed and raked first, all the while trying to get packed for a weekend at the beachhouse that may or may not happen depending on how much gets done around the house... These are the scenarios that did NOT occur to me in daydreaming about wedded bliss, but they remind me that we are a team. We don't get props for coordinating our day so that every item on the to-do list gets a 'check', but we get the joy of knowing that putting someone else's needs before our own creates harmony. I'm working on this virtue, and still have a LONG way to go.

No champagne flute for her lips...

...because she's too young. Tonight we went to a surprise birthday party and Erin ruined the surprise by talking right when the birthday boy walked in. Good thing she doesn't know enough to be embarrassed. This is her with Auntie Cindy - the family resemblence is amazing.

Something in the wind has learned my name....

When she was bad, she was horrid... so we stuck her in the laundry for reflection and repentance.

The minor fall and the major lift.

Since I'm too chicken to post a top 25 like Miss Jones, I'll just post bits of stuff I like in the title and y'all can guess the song. This is E playing in her port-a-crib. She's humoring me here - normally being relegated to the crib is an insult and she makse sure to let me know.

Grave robber.

Tomorrow my husband wraps up almost 8 years in the IT field and at HSLDA/Patrick Henry College altogether, and both of us are feeling slightly melancholy about it. We are finding that even though we are confident in our decision (and more importantly, in step with the Spirit), its hard not to be sad leaving a place that holds so many good memories for us and still employs some of our best friends. We are thankful that the Lord gave us an opportunity to be integral parts of those ministries, and we are excited about what He has for us in the future.

We found out this week that my dad's dad is suffering from prostate cancer. We don't know yet how advanced it is or what the treatment options are, but my Pawpop is a strong man - one of the strongest I've ever known - and he knows Who holds his future. What a testimony.

Being a mom brings fresh perspective and new worries... What if she's allergic to peas? What if she never remembers my grandparents? What if she wants to join the Peace Corps? What if she doesn't like being tall? I've always been a worrier and motherhood just magnifies that in me. I just don't want to smother my children and keep them from the Lord's work (here or over oceans)... Its a good thing that the same God who laid Moses in his grave is lifting us out of ours.

...and this is er, sitting again.

In an attempt to woo a certain young man (whose name will not be divulged here but MIGHT be progeny of one S. Kyle), Erin has chosen a variation on a Veggie Tales quote as title to her latest pictures (which may or may not be part of a portfolio that may or may not exist in a continuing effort to win the affection of the aforementioned young man). Erin's hobbies include sitting, rolling over, drooling, eating organic sweet potatoes, pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain. Write to her and escape.

This is sitting...

Stealing creativity

Ok Shane has been showing us all up with his cool pictures (see "Il Bussola") and so I tried my hand at doctoring some of ours. Of course its nowhere near as nifty, but you get the idea. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, yada yada yada.

Hmmm... looks like fake snow on one of those cheesy Christmas postcards.

How do you like them apples?

Here's some advice from an experienced 5.5 month old: if the pediatrician tells your momma that you might be a little late at sitting up because you are - hmm, how to put this - slightly *large* for your age, make him eat his words. At my last well-baby check up, I weighed in at a healthy 17 lbs 4 ozs and measured 28.5 inches long... And while I was early at rolling from back to front AND front to back (both completed by 3 months old), Dr. H was telling mom not to hold her breath for the next milestone because of my size. Well today, I sat up for 2 (two) minutes straight and wasn't even propping myself up with my hands!! If there's anything "top-heavy" about me now, its only my swollen ego. Too bad I don't have any friends to impress, I guess this blog will have to slate my prideful thirst for now....

Don't be surprised if I love you...

Celebrating a hole-in-one... at mini golf. This place (The Pirates' Cove) gave us a good feel for the REAL history of Williamsburg. Arrrrrgh!

Ah yes, we are thick as thieves...

In accordance with the prophecy, Erin had her first frosty this weekend in Williamsburg compliments of her Auntie Sessa.
What a treat!