Wednesday, January 31, 2007

and baby makes...five

So yeah, congrats to all who took the time to figure out the Saladinci Code. I am currently in my 7th week of pregnancy, yet continue to have spotting. Duncan says he thinks I'm just leaky. Gross, I know. I had an ultrasound yesterday and saw the "flicker." You know, that teeny tiny heartbeat. Way cool. Will keep you posted.
3 children 3 and under. What a scary, yet marvelous thought! Mid-September is what we're looking at. How strange to NOT have a baby in February! I wonder what that's like...
Gotta go. A poopy diaper clearly needs to be changed. (I will put a peppermint in my mouth first. It really works in preventing the dry heaves!)

Friday, January 26, 2007

Doesn't anyone wonder about the red and blue letters in my previous post? Obviously, none of you are DaVinci Code fans.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

On Whom Do I Rely?

I'm a mess. An absolute mess. We dropped Duncan off at the airport this noon for a four day business trip.

I wrote the above on Saturday afternoon. It is now late Monday night, no wait, it's just about Tuesday morning. Yup, the clock just changed. Duncan is scheduled to be back with us in about 31 hours. I very much look forward to having him back.
In the 6 and half years we've been married, before this trip, we'd been apart for 15 nights. Only one of those nights was after we had kids and it was when I was in the hospital after having Violet. We just don't spend time without one another. I think that's a good thing.

However, the last thing Duncan said to me, as I said my teary goodbye, was this: "Your hope is not in me. Your hope is in Jesus Christ." This truth, thrown in my face, hasn't made me miss Duncan any less, yet it has helped me focus on my hope. To top it off, I've been going through something VERY difficult and I've had to do it "by myself."

But I haven't been by myself.

My Lord has been with me and He's sent me support in many forms--loving parents who hosted the girls and I for a "snowed in slumber party" last night; a dear friend who has called on me, cared for me, eaten cake with me, and spent the night here on Saturday; neighbors and friends who call to make sure I'm not stuck in the snow when they notice my car isn't home when it should be and who host us for dinner and fellowship; friends from church inviting us for lunch after worship upon hearing Duncan was away and I was struggling...

You see, my sweet husband didn't arrange any of these things for me, but my Heavenly Father, the only One on Whom I can COMPLETELY rely, arranged these blessings for me. He knew what I'd needed and planned things perfectly.

Do I look forward to hugging my husband at 7:00am Wednesday (tomorrow!!) morning? Absolutely.

But through this trial, the Lord has grown me, stretched me and drawn me closer to Him. Praise Him!!

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

On Faith

At 12, her dad died suddenly. A heart attack, I think. I'm not sure because I didn't know her then. Her mom was left to raise her and her little brother on her own.

While in her late twenties, her mother lost a relatively short battle with cancer. An orphan before she was thirty. I can't even imagine. Now, she and her brother, and their respective families were all that was left of their tiny family.

Not even two hours ago, I got off of the phone with her. As it turns out, one month ago today, the day before her 33rd birthday, her brother, a 26-year old husband and father of two, was killed in a roof collapse of a mine near Morgantown, WV, their hometown.

Stunned. Shocked. In awe.
That's how I feel. How must she feel?

"It's a strange life," she said. Yes, sweet lady, it is. I can't begin to think of how she must feel. Sad, she said. Deeply sad. Yet her faith rings through. Loud and clear. "God's will is perfect," she says. "And there must be good that will come from this." Now THAT is faith.

Please pray for my friend, Kirstin.

Monday, January 15, 2007

Birthday Reflections and Photo Essay

So now I'm 31. Sharing a birthday with MLK has had its benefits over the years. Currently, it means my husband has a three-day weekend near my birthday or, in the case of this year, he was off on my actual birthday. It was a day full of celebration with my family and it was wonderful. As I reflect on my life, I feel overwhelmed with the amount of blessing that has been poured onto me. I am so thankful for my calling as a wife and stay-at-home mom. I am so thankful for my family and friends. I am so thankful for our church family and for God leading us there more than five years ago. I am so thankful for my relationship with the Lord. I could go on and on. My hope and prayer is that this attitude of thankfulness will continue beyond this day and will permeate everything I do--that when grumbling creeps in, I will be able to remember how incredibly blessed I am.

Below are some of my favorite from today.

Amelie helps me open my present while Violet holds onto my birthday bone--a special gift from my sweet Amelie.











Which one's Ben and which one's Jerry?













Amelie and I as we enjoy an al fresco lunch in Annapolis--on MY birthday? Can't say that's ever happened before!











Violet got a kiss from Daddy during lunch.













Violet definitely enjoyed her first taste of ice cream--and she hasn't even turned one yet!












Amelie eating her first all-by-herself ice cream cone.












Grace, my treasured friend, giving me some garnet earrings.












Amelie helps me blow out my candle while Violet looks on--you're next sweet girl!

Sunday, January 14, 2007

New Year's Resolutions


At first I thought, "Aren't I two weeks late for these?" and then I realized that MY new year starts tomorrow. Perhaps I'll make this a traditions. I'll spend two weeks, mulling over what I resolve to do, maybe try out a few and then formalize a list on January 14th, the eve of my birthday. So here goes:

I, Nancy Lynn Salada, as I conclude my 31st year and begin my 32nd year (I'll be 31, so isn't this true?), do hereby resolve to do the following:
1. Spend more time, one-on-one, with my children--especially Violet--and reading to her in particular
2. Work out at Curves 3 times a week (at least 2 times per week being before Duncan leaves for work)
3. Do Dance, Dance, Revolution 2 times per week.
4. Only read blogs, google news, etc. when my kids are asleep or not directly in my care.
5. Have a baby. (O.K. so maybe not a resolution, but a desire, nonetheless.)

There you go. I've started work on most of them...won't tell you which ones, however =).
So what have YOU resolved to do?

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Why Tulipa Murillo?

I love tulips. Amelie often used to look at this coffee table book about tulips that I have. She would carefully turn the pages and pore over the stunning photography it contained. When I started this blog, back in September 2005, I struggled to come up with a name for it. It seemed like an important decision. One that would define me to all of my readers. (All 3 of you.) I guess you could say I wimped out because I decided to use the scientific name for one of the tulips in the book. I asked Amelie to choose one and this is what she chose. (Not this photo, but one of this same kind of tulip.)
As I've gotten more into the blogging thing, both my own and the blogs of others, I've considered changing the name of mine to something more fitting. I still can't think anything that works for me. So, I suppose it stays as TULIPA MURILLO. We'll all just have to be o.k. with that -- for now, at least.

Friday, January 12, 2007

Christmas Card Picture--a little too late

So this is about what we were going for around Christmas card picture time. Add some red velvet dresses or at least some church clothes, and it would have been perfect. Oh well. Maybe next year. (I do like the one we used this year, with all four of us, it's just that this is what I had originally intended.)

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Picture Extravaganza

A feast for the eyes! These are some of my favorites that we took over the holidays. For more, check out www.salada.net. Look for a special "Christmas" category under December and notice there's a 2007 category already! (Aren't I on the ball?) And, as always, if I know you and you don't have the user name/password, please e-mail me!


Captions: Amelie and Duncan Sudokuing last Saturday morning * Duncan and his two brothers, Ian and Charles * NTP Kids' picture from Amelie's perspective * Ducky and Violet (and the ducky bells we gave her in the background) * Amelie eating a peanut butter cup for breakfast * the NTP kids picture * Birdie Grandpa and Violet * Grandpa Bob with the girls and Duncan first thing on Christmas morning (can't you tell?) * Amelie and Kathryn with their wands * at Chagrin Falls * Amelie and Duncan taking tea together (oh yeah, and still sudokuing) * Amelie's "new" doll carrier (it was mine as a kid) * Violet's fancy hair that she did all by herself (with the help of some pears) * slug * Ducky and Amelie doing the dishes






































Monday, January 08, 2007

Potty Training: Day 3


Duncan forced us to take the leap on Saturday morning from diapers to big girl underpants. He felt that all Amelie might need was a push and some self-confidence. I think he may have been right! There were two accidents on Saturday and none yesterday or today. Yesterday, we went to church, Amelie sans diapers, but with two changes of clothes, towels, plastic bags, etc. Fortunately, we needed none of it. Amelie sat on the big potties in both the ladies' room and the men's room at church countless times in the morning, never "went," but remained dry all morning. We put her in a diaper for her nap, but when she woke up, it was practically dry. She sat on the potties several times at church, when we went back in the evening for hymn sing and "went" once. Probably the most exciting thing was that she woke up this morning with a completely dry diaper! We couldn't believe it. She peed first thing this morning, wore underpants all day (even for a short nap) and stayed dry. We're all very excited. We felt confident enough about the situation to go out to dinner tonight. On the car ride there, I explained to Amelie that if she needed to use the potty, we'd have to use the one at the restaurant. Her answer to that was: "They have a potty at the restaurant?" Oh, my dear Amelie...if you're anything like your mommy, you will become an expert on public restrooms, who has the best and which ones to avoid. The fun is just beginning, sweet girl!

Saturday, January 06, 2007

Coming Soon...

Christmas Pictures, New Year's Resolutions (a week late) and The Adventures of Potty Training. I bet you can hardly wait!

Monday, January 01, 2007

Happy New Year!!

We've been away since December 22nd and we're heading back tonight after dinner. Lots to update and share. We've had a great visit with family and friends up in the Erie/Cleveland area. Here's to a great 2007!