HAIL no

this just in.  the most amazing hailstorm i have ever witnessed.  JD and i were literally jumping around the apartment.  we love crazy weather and we had both never seen anything like this.  the hail started out golf ball sized and about 10 minutes later some pieces were about the size of a clementine or plum.  reagan loved it too---mostly because it allowed her to stay up 45 minutes later than usual.

JD holding one of our hail souvenirs that is now in the freezer.

mamas.

today i keep thinking...i'm a mom?  really?  i know it should have settled in by now but it still is an amazing thing to me.  hahaha.  very thankful for my own mother today...along with my mother in law and nana.  but also thinking of my many friends that became mamas this year.  so grateful for all of their love/support/wisdom/funny stories.

happy first mothers day CZ, KM (almost), MKP, BR, MS, & EW!  

must read

Today's WSJ editorial section has a very good, respectful article on something that has been confusing me all week:  why we can't see the proof of the event that rocked the world last weekend.  I am not saying it didn't happen--I believe it did, and I am so grateful...just read the article.  I couldn't say it any better.

and I can't close this post without saying...
Thank you, Mr. President.

avocados!

milestone of the week:  avocado.  now whether or not she swallowed more than a teaspoon...unsure.  most of the food ended up on her face/clothes/my clothes/bumbo.  but...they say it takes a while.  tomorrow morning will be meal number 4.  regardless, it's been fun :)  I would highly recommend avocado for a first baby food.  it is SO easy to prepare and so full of goodness for the babe.  I just take a teaspoon chunk out of one half of the avocado (I store them covered in plastic wrap with pit in the fridge) and JD or I eats the other half :) then i mash it up in a little bowl with a fork and add a little bit of breast milk until it's nice and thin.  I have read many books that claim it's a great first food but here is an online source.

yes, she is wearing avocado apparel.  one of my best friend, cz's, dad is an avocado farmer in california.  i know, so cool.  she got rea this onesie and her little z has a matching one.  he is going to start on avocados too, of course :)

may!

Yesterday I woke to SNOW on my last day in North Dakota.  I have started to believe that I really was meant to live in the Northern Tundra as this didn't even bother me.  Rea and I spent the week with my in laws while JD studied and wrote papers.  2L will be over in just 8 days.  VERY hard to believe.  This semester just flew.

Reagan has her first little cold.  You wouldn't even really be able to tell if she wasn't so sniffly and her pacifier didn't fall out like crazy while she sleeps :)  Her disposition has still been very cheerful and funny.  Her latest love is hearing her own pretty voice aka screaming.

If her cold clears up I will be starting solids this week.  I am going to make my own rice or oat cereal (deciding right now) and also give her avocados.  If it wasn't for my pumping situation I think I would wait a lot longer.  She does seem ready.  Just obsessed with food and trying to grab it.  On our way home yesterday we stopped at Dunn Brothers for a latte and snack and she practically dived in to my yogurt parfait.

Very excited about May.  We will go home to ND one more time, drive to Michigan to see yia yia Cindy for the first time since Rea was 3 weeks old!!!!! and see many high school and hopefully some college friends.  JD will take 2.5 weeks off with no work or school.  This has not happened...ever.  We are not really sure what we are going to do with ourselves.

God bless your day.