31 years

I awoke early to Everdeen crawling into our bed. I rearranged the pillows and blankets so she could snuggle in. I looked over at my snoozing husband. He can literally sleep through anything...but this morning Everdeen whispered (loudly) in his ear, "Wake up!" She didn't want him missing anymore of his birthday.  She immediately began to tell him what was waiting in the birthday bag downstairs for him, so much for surprises with a toddler in the house.

Martin wanted to spend the day in the mountains for his special day so we headed to the Shambhala Mountain Center near Red Feather Lakes. I've always wanted to visit and today was the perfect day. 

It is beautiful there. Calm, quiet, peaceful. The air was cool, such a drastic change from home just an hour away. The hike to the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya is lined with white flags flapping in the wind...Tibetan prayer flags wrapped around the branches of trees and beautiful places for meditation near trickling streams. It really does take your breath away when it appears suddenly in the middle of nowhere. 

When the Stupa came into view Everdeen cried out, "WOW!"  We passed several offerings and the smell of incense filled the mountain air. When we climbed to the top of the stairs we removed our shoes and went inside. A large golden Buddha filled the entire room and the intricate marble floors were cool on our feet.  Everdeen was completely silent as we sat for a few minutes to admire the shrine and take in our surroundings.   

It's hard to believe another year has gone by.  This is our 13th year of celebrating birthdays together! I can still remember celebrating our 18th birthdays in high school like it was yesterday... 

Happiest of Birthdays to my one and only. May this next year be filled with beautiful adventures, new experiences, and lots and lots of love from your two favorite girls. We love you! 

mornings

The mornings are all about daddy and Everdeen. Martin has been such an amazing help and feeds Everdeen every morning at 7. For the first few months I would even enjoy a few extra hours of sleep. Now I can hear the two of them laughing, singing, and playing and I can't help but jump out of bed and just watch...and maybe take a million pictures :) 

These two make my heart melt.

28 years of wonderfulness

Yesterday was my husband's birthday. We celebrated Hawaiian style...spam and eggs for breakfast, Hawaiian BBQ chicken for dinner, coconut gelato with macadamia nuts for dessert. I even found our Hawaiian CDs from our honeymoon to play in the background...we could just imagine the warm ocean breeze on our faces. 

Martin had to work on his birthday, which I think is a shame, but he got in lots of snuggle time with Everdeen in the morning  

Martin,

 I'm so blessed to get to spend another year with you. This past year was filled with so many new things...we found out we were going to be parents and now we have a little family of three. You are the most amazing husband a girl could ask for and Everdeen has the most amazing daddy a girl could ask for. I know this next year will be filled with lots of new adventures and changes and I'm so glad we get to do them together.  I love you so so much. 

Love,

me

A Water Date and 9 months

Our sweet baby girl will be here before we know it. She really could come at any time now, but she can stay with me for a few more weeks if she wants to :) Martin and I have been enjoying so much more time together now that he has a new job with much, much better hours. I feel very spoiled getting to see my husband during daylight hours and soon his little girl will be spoiled getting to spend time with her daddy too.  

Martin and I enjoyed a little date to the aquarium on his day off this week. I'm not sure if my swollen feet appreciated all the walking, but it was nice to get out of the house and away from the 100 degree heat for an hour or so.  We meandered in and out of wild, screaming children and both gave each other that silent look of, "Our child will never act like that" and then quickly realized that our lives are about to resemble those around us faster than we think. (...but seriously, our child will still never act like that ;)

I'm so grateful that during this last part of my pregnancy Martin has been able to be home more.  He has been so supportive, reading and researching how to be the best birth partner for me, giving me foot massages nightly, and saying sweet words when I start crying because I feel out of sorts in this body of mine.

We finished our natural birth classes this past weekend and I don't know if I would be able to do all of this without him.  I know he will be incredible during my labor and delivery and every time I think of him holding his daughter for the first time my heart swells with happiness. 

Scenes from the Weekend

We spent the morning at the park. The weather is getting warmer and warmer and it makes me happy.  I watched Martin do his CrossFit workout and loved that when he finished he had the biggest smile ever while at the same time saying, "Oh man, I hope I don't puke!"  He loves that CrossFit. And I love how happy it makes him...and that six pack he's been sporting. I told Martin he's supposed to be gaining sympathy weight along with me, but he didn't seem so keen on the idea...


We walked around the park and I was so glad to be out in the sun feeling warm. Everyone around me keeps feeling sorry for me that I'll be having our baby during one of the hottest months of the year. But honestly, I couldn't be more excited for a summer baby. I'm tired of being trapped inside and I'm ready to stretch my achy legs and get some fresh air. 


Here's to more warm spring weather this week, the start of the last quarter of school (yay!), and a two week count down until spring break :)

27

Today is my husband's 27th Birthday.
Another year gone in the blink of an eye. 


I can't believe how much Martin has been through in just one year...changing careers is a big decision and I'm so glad he followed his heart. I know this next year will be good to him :)

{I've always loved a man in a uniform}


I remember when I first met Martin.  He had just turned 17 and we were slowly becoming friends. It's amazing to think that we've celebrated 10 birthdays together. 

I wonder what Martin would have said if he had been told that ten years from when this picture was taken he would be an amazing chef and be married to the girl sitting next to him?

When you meet someone so young you are lucky enough to watch them grow into who they want to become.  Ten years later Martin is still very much the guy I met in high school.  He lives his life each day to its fullest...never dwelling on anything negative. He beats to his own drum, which is what I love about him, never caring what others think. He walks with his head held high and a big grin on his face.  He's goofy and silly and he makes me laugh. He has worked so hard to be where he is today and I am so proud of him.


Happy Birthday to my dearest husband. I can't even begin to imagine my life without you.  You make everyday...every moment better and I am so blessed be by your side year after year. 

Family Dinner

Once a week we try to have dinner with my sister and brother-in-law. Some weeks my sister invites me over twice so I have someone to eat with and don't eat an entire bag of grapes for dinner. 

She takes good care of me.

Last night it was our turn to host and of course Chef Martin prepared a fine feast. 

Martin's been exploring our local Asian Market a lot lately.  He works at one of Denver's finest Sushi restaurants and is learning quickly about true Japanese cuisine.   

We almost always have something Italian with our dinner and last night Martin made us his own creation of 'deconstructed eggplant parmesan' 

And no dinner is complete without a good swig of basil seed drink...tasted sort of like cream soda with fish eggs (those aren't really fish eggs, but they eerily resemble them)

It's so nice to have a family dinner, spending the evening laughing and catching up with everyone...trying new foods.  I wonder what the Backos's are making for us next week? :)

Working Hard is Hard Work

{this little friend was working hard at eating my mom's flowers until he met the bottom of my dad's shoe...}

Poor Martin has worked the past seven days in a row. 12 hour shifts at the restaurant, he's exhausted and I haven't really seen him since Wednesday. Well, except when he's sleeping. But having a conversation with a sleeping Martin isn't as fun as having a conversation with an awake Martin.

Me: Martin? Martin? Martin? {poke...pokepokepokepokepoke}

Martin: hmph

Me: Hey...I have to leave for work, but I was wondering if you could...

This is when Martin usually pulls all the covers and the pillow over his head. I then find one of the cats and plop them down on his head to see if that will wake him up...but no such luck.

Welcome to the life of a chef...I was warned well in advance, but somehow that doesn't make it any easier. 

I miss him. I miss having more than a five minute conversation over the phone. This weekend was full of decisions where I needed his help or at least his opinion...I was a single wife and it was hard.  

We'll get into the routine of things, I know we will. We'll make time for each other during those moments when we're both home. We won't take for granted the time we do get to see each other...awake.

Look Who's Home!

I am beaming with happiness today! 

I Miss This Guy

Next Monday can not come soon enough. My heart is seriously aching to see Martin again. After nine years together I still can't get enough of his cute face. 

Martin finally called me on Saturday.  Other than a quick e-mail letting me know he'd actually made it I hadn't heard from him all week. 

Me: It's so good to hear from you! I'm glad you're finally calling me. 

Martin: I've been in Italy 

WHAT?! ITALY!? I thought you had gone to get the mail!!

It was a short conversation intertwined with shouts of "WOA! A Ferrari! No WAY! A Maserati!!"  Followed by a high pitched squeal that I'm hoping was a wild pig in the street and not my husband. 

I think this aching love sick feeling is one sided :) Maybe Martin will remember he was supposed to miss me when he sees me at the airport next week.  

But not to worry, Kate has spent hours of Skype time with me and Elizabeth and my brother-in-law, Don, have taken good care of me while my sole provider of meals is away ogling at fancy Italian cars. 

love list for martin

Hi honey,

I don't know if you'll be able to read this while you're gone, but just incase I wanted to let you know that I'm doing just fine.  I've even had two social engagements in the past two days...just like you said I should.  Here are a few more things that I've done on my own... 

1. I filled the water pitcher in the fridge when it looked almost empty (well Marlena did tonight annnd she taught me how to open a bottle of wine)

3.  I took out the trash

4. I've kept the cats fed and brushed and loved

5. I've cleaned every inch of the apartment...I'm telling you it's spotless

6. I've stayed up past 10 o'clock every night (I think I keep waiting for you to come to bed, but you don't, so I fall asleep watching old Office reruns)

7. I've gotten the mail

8.  I went grocery shopping and made sure I bought lots of protein

see? I can almost survive without you...but not for much longer.

When I see you again I'll be an independent woman...you probably won't recognize me. 

Please make sure you're eating lots of Parmesan cheese for me

I miss you terribly. 

Love you

Love,

Me

helping Martin study :) 2005

Bon Voyage My Love

Martin left yesterday for Europe. 

We got up early and enjoyed our last few minutes together. 

It was so hard to say goodbye. I know it's only for a few weeks and I know this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him. But somehow that doesn't make it any easier. 


He's going to have an amazing time. 
I can't wait to see that big grin of his when I pick him back up from the airport, feel his arms around me, and have him to myself again.

Fino

We spent Saturday afternoon at Jerusalem Restaurant studying for Martin's final exam.  Martin enjoyed a taste of his childhood while I enjoyed the baklava.  I think the last time I studied for a test was four years ago...it's hard to get back into that mind set.  But Martin will do amazing and then in a few short weeks he'll be enjoying his studies in Europe, learning first hand from the finest chefs in Italy and France. If my Italian grandma were still alive I can just picture the two of them cooking up a feast in the kitchen together. 

I can't wait for him to come back and tell me everything he saw, smelled, and tasted. Martin has a world traveler gene in him...I'll probably get a phone call from Italy saying I need to pack up our apartment and paddle across the ocean to join him :) 

I can't believe his program is almost finished.  When we look back on our lives 8 months ago things looked a little bleak. It's amazing how this opportunity presented itself to Martin.  He is one lucky guy to be fulfilling his dream everyday, this is exactly what he's supposed to be doing.  You can see it in his face, hear it in his voice.  

Martin, Sono fiero di te e ti amo

(I hope you've been practicing your Italiano :) 

Apple

Last night I asked Martin if he would cut me up an apple...

:)
having a husband in culinary school is pretty amazing