Mommy's little helper

Jackson loves to help me clean. He likes to put his toys away and doesn't like when his hands are dirty. Today, I told him it makes his mommy unhappy when he throws food on the floor because it doesn't show his gratitude for his food and then I have to vacuum the floor...again. So, when he got down from his high chair today he went and picked up the vacuum, turned it on, and started vacuuming the kitchen floor. What a sweet boy! Thanks Jackson for helping mommy clean the house!

Home Sweet Home

About three years ago, Jason discovered this home online and I quickly hopped a flight to Omaha and drove five hours to look at it and put in a bid. Since 2008, we've loved living here. It's location is perfect for our needs and we're surrounded by the most wonderful neighbors. As we prepare to move to Kansas City we've been busy preparing to sell our home. Each time I've cleaned the home before a showing or returned once potential buyers have toured it, I realize how much I love this house and how much we're going to miss it. Perhaps the best news Jason and I received in February was word from our realtor that our home is now officially sold to a wonderful family from Minnesota. We know they will love this beautiful old house as we much as we do.

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day this year was all about discoveries: 1) discovering how much we miss Jason when he's away on a week-long business trip; 2) discovering how difficult it is to dress two children under two for a fun photo shoot; 3) Jackson discovering how much fun it is to splash around in puddles of water and mommy discovering how much laundry she's about to do following these "adventures" for the next several years; and 4) discovering how yummy the food at Texas Road House is as my mom treated us to a special dinner from there last night. All-in-all, a fun Valentine's Day that could have only been made better if Jason were here with us.

Kate's Delivery

Jason and I arrived at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics around 6 a.m. on Friday, January 28. As I entered into the Labor and Delivery unit I noticed a woman who appeared to be in labor and glared at me as I rolled my bag into the unit appearing to be in no pain whatsoever. I hope things turned out well for her. The next two hours were filled with all sorts of pokes and prods, monitoring the baby, and physicians coming in to prep me for the Cesarean Section. Just before 8 a.m. - the time we were scheduled to go back to the operating room - we received word from my brother-in-law Eric that his wife Amy was in labor with their fifth child in Madison, WI. The race was on to see which child would be born first. But, as our surgery didn't start until about an hour later, Amy won out delivering a beautiful baby boy named Max. What's interesting to note here is that Jackson also shares a birthday with their third child Michael. And now, Max and our Kate will have the same birthday. Anyway, back to the surgery. I pled with the anesthesiologist to let Jason come back with me for the spinal block procedure. I think this was the thing I was most fearing. I'm glad he was there because it's a weird sensation when your whole lower body goes completely numb. The next several minutes Jason and I anxiously awaited the arrival of our little girl. I'm grateful Jason is a surgeon so he could explain to me what was happening and prepare me for the moment Kate was going to be born. At 9:06 a.m., Kate Leilani Brinton made her entrance into the world weighing 6 lbs. 8 oz. and measuring 19 inches long. My doctor told me to look up and there she was - my beautiful little girl. She cried. I cried. It was one of the most special experiences of my life.

Christmas 2010

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas here in Iowa City. While we wish we could have been surrounded by more family, we were grateful for the chance to spend this special day with our little family. Jackson awakened me at 5 a.m. that morning ready to embrace all the day offered. He was so excited when he saw the Christmas tree. He wanted to touch all of the ornaments then saw one of his presents sitting underneath the tree - a shiny red Retro Rocket with a red bow wrapped around it. He started to do a little dance and said "OOOOH." I wished my parents could've shared that moment with him since it was a gift from them. We played for a couple of hours together then awakened Jason and our wonderful au pair Theresa for breakfast and to open some gifts. We decided to let Jackson only open a few gifts that day and to spread the rest of them out over time. It's been a great way to make these long winter days seem a little shorter when he gets to open a gift and play with it. Even baby Kate received a couple of presents though she's not yet born: her blessing dress and a couple of baby memory books. Lucky little girl :) Our Christmas dinner turned out well (calming my fears that the ham would be a disaster as I hadn't ever cooked a ham before). Jackson and Theresa enjoyed playing in the snow making snow angels (Theresa is from Australia and it was her first time playing in the snow). I love Christmas and the special spirit that comes with this holiday that is centered around the birth of Jesus Christ. One of my most cherished memories of this Christmas season was introducing Jackson to our modest Nativity set. He loved the donkey (so much so that he dropped it and broke off one of its ears) and holding baby Jesus. He would often run into the living room and say "Jesus" and point to it. Those were tender moments I hold closely in my heart - knowing that my little boy loves Jesus and was so excited to visit with him each day.

Just for Heidi

I never thought I'd post a picture like this, but this is for my great friend Heidi now living far away so she can feel part of my life here in Iowa. Here I am Heidi: 34 weeks pregnant (minus one day) and growing by the minute (especially after I make those ginger snaps you just sent the recipe for :).

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we had fun taking Jackson to see Santa. He's not a fan. He gave Santa the meanest look I think I've ever seen Jackson give anyone. Afterwards, we went to Olive Garden for dinner amid what has been the worst snowstorm so far this year here in Iowa (a snow event, among other travel issues, that prevented my family from making here to join us for Christmas. Sad.) Jackson loves pasta but I think that night he loved making a mess - I mean a big mess - even more. We topped off the night opening our Christmas pajamas and reading the accounts of Jesus Christ's birth. Jason and I watched the Polar Express (well technically Jason watched it and I fell asleep). It was a great day!