Erin and Brent

This is my best friend Erin and her (finally) fiance, Brent

Those of you who know me well know how much I love Erin. We met while we were both swimming at the University of Texas. We both trained as distance swimmers though neither of us truly was.

Those of you who know me well know that Erin was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2008. I jumped on a plane to California as soon as she let me, was able to tell her in person that I was pregnant and was there with her the day she heard the news she had no more cancer cells!

Those of you who know me know how much it meant to me when Erin flew in to surprise me for my baby shower! She's done so much for me over the years and I would do anything for her!

Those that frequent my blog may have linked to her's from my side bar, Erin's Daily Updates, to follow her on her journey while she kicked that cancer's ass (pardon my french).

There are many of you who may only know Erin through me, or even just through my blog, but she is one of the most wonderful people I know and she has found another in Brent. They want to get married in the fall of 2010 on the Cape in Massachusettes and they've entered a contest to help with that dream.

It takes a bit to cast your vote...you have to enter your email and set a password...but I don't know two people who are more deserving!

Please vote now at http://www.ultimateweddingcontest.com/entries/29720?vote=1

and pass along the word to anyone and everyone you know (feel free to even post on your own blogs to spread the word)!

Thanks in advance!

It's Marley's 11 Month-Day

Happy 11 Month-Day to the sweetest baby girl Mazurek! At 11 Months Old:

You walk

You run

You love to chase your puppies around the house

You love it when we chase you around the house

You always have a bow in your hair

You like to play peek-a-boo and will hold Taggie over your head until we say "where is Marley"

You love music

You love to play with your toys and talk on the phone
You climb up the stairs easily and are learning (slowly) how to come back down

You an easily get off the couch and the mats at Little Gym by rolling to your stomach and scooting backwards till your feet hit the ground

You still only have 2 teeth but we think 3 more are on the way

You try to eat dog food (but luckily we catch you in time)

You like to drink water from daddy's cup

You don't eat baby food at all anymore

You drink an 11 oz bottle in the morning and maybe one more 6 or 8 oz in the afternoon

You drink TONS of juice and especially like the Gerber Graduates Fruit Splashers

You love Cheerios, peanut butter and jelly, pasta with (gasp) tomato sauce, chicken tenders, all vegetables, grapes, bananas, mandarin oranges, Gerber Graduate granola bars, Gerber Graduate fruit sticks, Gerber Graduate meals and a variety of other food...

You like to spread Taggie on the floor and lay down to take a "rest" while you are playing

You take one morning nap and one afternoon nap

You wear 6-12 month clothes for the most part but can wear 12-18 months though they are a little big (especially in the waist)

Mommy estimates you weigh around 21.5 lbs and are at least 31 inches long

You wear a size 5 sneaker (although we bought them (at least) a size big so you would have time to grow into them) and you walk really well in them

You are learning to be "gentle" with mommy, daddy and the puppies

You like to open all the cabinet doors in the kitchen

You love to give hugs, kisses and high fives

Your favorite word is "YUCK"

You like to flick your tounge like a snake

You purposely drop food on the floor to feed your puppies

and you love family cuddle time before bed

There is more, much more, I'm sure, but most of all you are our girl and you are loved!

It's Still...

...SNOWING!

I think this is going to make for a total of 6-7 feet so far this winter...it's been crazy! Last week we only had one, shortened, day of school and I don't think we're going back anytime soon. I would say MAYBE Monday, but right now it's supposed to snow again on Sunday night. GOODNESS!

Over this past weekend though was the big one that rivaled the storm that hit the night before we were supposed to leave for Texas...remember? Anyhow, as previously posted the power went out on Saturday sometime around 4 or so in the afternoon and didn't kick back on until Sunday morning around 11. So, to keep everyone warm with the propane heater we have in the garage, we all slept downstairs in the living room, Aunt Sarah included. Here's a pic of Marley in the midst of our campsite...

And here is what we woke up to on Sunday morning. Notice how they had already plowed (at 2:30 AM waking us all up) and Brett had already started shoveling the driveway.And here's what I woke up to this morning...
It's complete and utter, total madness, all this snow...and Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow??!! Six more weeks of this?? Oh, help us now!

Here are a few other recent pics...

One of Marley's new favorite things to do is lay out Taggie on the floor and "rest" So, since I didn't want her getting Taggie dirty everyday (although it's constantly in her mouth so it does anyway) we went to Toys R Us armed with her giftcard from Christmas and bought a stuffed dog for her to use as a pillow...I think she likes it...

"rest" is over

And because of all the snow, and not being able to play outside, and because Mommy has off work these days, we've been playing a lot at the Play Park in the mall and Marley LOVES it!

Uhhh, Mar, that's not your blanket sweetie...

It's hard work playing at the mall...a much needed snack break...MMMM Auntie Anne's Pretzels

Check out that hair!

Marley now loves to climb into the LoveSac and snuggle, with Rosie, with Jasper, with her blanket and her dolly...it doesn't matter...This is the darling towel that was part of Marley's Christmas present from Jared, Allison and Rhys...isn't it just too cute?

Jasper and Rosie: "Hey! When did you bring this puppy home?"

Pretending to be a puppy

Priceless

And at the end of this post...It's STILL SNOWWING!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday: Madame Butterfly

Butterfly Wings Plus Butterfly Jammies

Plus Butterfly SlippersEqual the complete Madame Butterfly look

Power Is Back

The power has been back since around 10:30 this morning but has gone out intermittently throughout the day so we didn't turn on the computer.

We have heat, we have hot water, and we made it through with no problems!

I will post again soon cause I do have some pictures to share :)

Have a good night, Sweet Dreams to all!

Snow, Snow and More Snow

So...we're snowed in. A good 2 feet stuck to the ground between Friday evening and last night. Plenty more fell during the day on Friday but didn't stick.

So...we've been without power and without heat since yesterday at around 5:00. Luckily we have a generator and a propane heater so we're still fairly comfortable and we can still watch movies and tv. Marley's daddy was so smart to bring those home!

So...since we are without power that also means we are without internet...aren't blackberries the best? BUT...since we are without power we also can't charge our phones. I'm not sure when we'll be able to update again but we have faith the power will go back on today!

Alls well :)

My Sweet Baby

Marley is about to turn 1. Hard to believe I know! She is walking, into everything she's not supposed to be, a ripper of catalogs and a slammer of toilet bowl lids. She likes to talk on mommy's phone, get into mommy's purse and wallet and take mommy's car keys. And...she has the attitude of a 2 year old; temper tantrums and crying when she doesn't get her way. Her favorite word is YUCK! Marley loves to color and orders off the kid's menu in a resturant. In a nutshell, my baby isn't really a baby anymore...she's a toddler.

So imagine my surprise when I turned around from the computer desk and saw this... She hasn't used her bouncer in ages, and truth be told she's probably too heavy and she's definitely too long for it.
And when she got up and walked away I thought she was done...but then she came back and I saw this...

She turned on the music and vibration and just relaxed

So even though she loves to play in her tunnel, with her dollhouse, read her books and snuggle and give kisses to her babydolls, and even though she scoffs at the thought of baby food...

Maybe, just maybe, there is still a little bit of baby in my baby

Wordless Wednesday: Butterfly Flutterby

Just Some Pics

Not much to say...Just a little Marley to brighten your (snowy) day!

(In case you're wondering...Brett is on the inversion table in the above pictures)

Tube Post-Op with the ENT tomorrow...we'll keep you posted :)