baby.

well, baby number two is on board! we couldn't be happier.

the big one.

there has been so much that has happened i don't even know where to start. so many big things, too. my little, perfect baby boy is now one. on may fifth twenty thirteen at approximately 1:33pm, henry daniel neeleman officially began on his second year of life. how is that possible? how is he already one whole year old? i cried all day the day before he turned one. i knew that no matter how hard i tried, these days with my baby henry will be over oh too soon. i love him, i love his little scoot with one leg up, i love that he crosses his tiny feet into the cutest position when he sits up, and i love his eight tiny teeth. i giggle every time he gets mad and cries out "a da da da da" because it is just so cute. i really love that im his favorite, too. especially the past few days he has been an extra mama's boyish, and i am eating it up.

today i was watching this im a mormon video and i loved what she said about motherhood. oh man, i love that i am a mother, i love that i get that title. motherhood is such a beautiful thing, isn't it? there really is nothing else that even compares.

along with henry's birthday, daniel had his lacrosse conference tournament in colorado, i ran my half marathon (what?! it was awesome! and then i couldn't walk!) and my dearest friend/former classmate/ forever soul mate melissa came to visit. we were in heaven. we spent a whole week with melissa, dragging her to all sorts of family gatherings, taking her on terribly long runs (hey, i needed a jogging buddy!) eating lots of good food, and just catching up on much needed updates from each other.  i love that woman. she is beautiful, in every sense of the word.we dropped her off at the train tonight and after we said good-bye, henry cried the whole way home.

we miss you already, come back to us!

here are some pictures from henry's birthday party that sorta got rained out slash was really cold, but still really fun. we trecked up hobble creek canyon and made a fire and cobbler and some hot dogs. it was perfect.

xoxo

we did it.

can you believe it folks? we did it, we really did it. daniel was such a star out there today, walking across the stage like he was the luckiest kid in town. his grin was from ear-to-ear big when they called his name and handed him his diploma. and we are pretty lucky, or blessed for that matter, it was so wonderful to see him graduate from byu today, i am so proud of him.

it has been pretty inspiring to see daniel as a student, he is a really good one. i had no idea when i married him, that he was so on top of things. (one of us needs to be, right?). he would write his papers weeks in advance, he would study, and study during the day until all his home work was done so that he could come home and not have to worry about it. like...who does that? my husband doesn't procrastinate till the very last second like i always did...? man, i really lucked out of this one.

but seriously, he loves learning. he really does. he is so curious, always asking questions and then finding the answers. he soaks things up and then loves telling others about what he has learned. i have learned so much from him in our short amount of marriage together. and i think that his love for learning has been passed down to little henry, he is the same way. i am just so grateful for the amazing man, husband, father that daniel is to our family. and i get to be by his side through this crazy life of ours. i'am going to learn so much!

^^we finally got a good one.^^

i love you, daniel boy. happy graduation day.

xxoo

spring time.

today i made oven roasted potatoes with fresh basil... ah! they were so good. i then boiled some corn on the cob and put fresh mozzarella with cherry tomatoes and basil on my plate, too. it tasted like a summer meal. we liked that. it's been sunny, but too cold to go play outside, so we have to bring spring time indoors. we picked up some flowers at the one and only steiners flowers (mom and dad's shop) and they have really helped with the spring thing. sometimes you just need flowers, ya, know?

henry and i are still dying over here because of my yeast infection. i had a breakdown with daniel last night and cried and cried because i just wanted to nurse henry again. and henry cried and cried too, because all he wanted to do is nurse with mom. we were a mess, and today we are not much better. i tried to pump last night but i barely got a tiny 2 onces. im all dried up because we never nurse! i gave it to h in a bottle and he was so happy..until it ran out about 30 seconds after he started drinking it. i felt terrible!  i am on these herbs to get my milk supply back now and then more herbs trying to fight the infection. i hope it all ends soon. henry won't eat real food because he knows that if he eats it that i won't nurse him. so he won't even look at food and then eventually we try to nurse and i die because it is so painful. so it only happens about twice a day.

poor henry.

anyways, i am praying really hard that whatever is suppose to happen will happen, that, if, maybe... (i really hope not) i am suppose to stop nursing h that i will know. but i really, really hope that is not the case. i am NOT ready and i don't think he is either by the way things are going.

sorry for all the details, but this is our "jouranl" so you read it, you hear it.

last night we had a couples family home evening with two of our favorite couples. we all made some hors d'oeuvres and then sat around and talked. it was nice. henry was so funny, every time we would all laugh he would laugh, and then he would try to start the laughing, he would laugh and then we would all laugh. it was a party. and the roth's made the most delicious banana chocolate cake that i have ever tasted, we made them leave us two pieces. daniel ate his piece last night, but i choose to save mine for breakfast, when i woke up though... it was gone. i should have never waited. that little stinker ate mine in the middle of the night. i. am. so. mad. at. him.

i had rehearsal for a project i am doing in the middle of may, called city sites. today, i can barely move. i forget that modern dance uses that weirdest muscles. i kept complaining to daniel about it, and every time i would say anything he would say..."yeah right, you love it" SO true. it feels so good to move again.

tomorrow i am running 9 miles. wish me a lot of luck and a lot of strong hip flexers- those are the first to go on me.

xo,
me.

basil roasted potatoes

(preheat oven to 425)

potatoes (washed, cut, and quartered) we used red, our favorite. 

olive oil 

salt and pepper

fresh basil 

combine all ingredients until potatoes are well coated. then cook for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are soft. 

then totally enjoy. 

 happy tuesday!

ITS THE WEEKEND

we love cleaning the church and that includes henry. he especially loves when he gets to vacuum with dad. seriously, just can't get enough of him!

the weekend is upon us and we have already had a ball! last night we went out to dinner twice. don't you ever do that? first we went to cubby's (our favorite burger place in town- chicago beef style) their dragon slayer burger + blue cheese buffalo fries, aw man. to die for! and then sam and kaori called us and asked if we wanted to go to los hermanos with them... and whenever there is a chance to see their baby wil, you have to take it. we were stuffed with food and with fun memories.

this morning was full of momentous events, too. i ran 8 miles in prep for my provo city half marathon coming up. it was the longest i have ever ran. then i took an ice bath. daniel convinced me. it was terrible-poor henry was there by my side the whole time with the most sympathetic face i have ever seen. i'm so glad we have each other, h. what would i do without you? and geezzz, how does honey do that every day?!

anyways, tonight we celebrate the grads, (congrats, boys!) sam and daniel with a dinner with my parents. we are excited. food, food, food is what brings us all together.

happy saturday!

xo