Four Months Old

Dean is a loud, smiley, lovable 4 months old! I can see a ridge of teeth on top and bottom (although I guess that doesn't necessarily mean they're about to pop out), he's grabbing his feet, putting everything in his mouth, and talking to us like crazy. Oh and there is nothing he loves more than to stand and jump (with a little steadying from us).

Missing Megagail

So we haven't posted for a loong time and as I was about to start catching up I saw this picture of my best friend Megan and decided she needed to know just how much I miss her! Megagail is what we called the orchard inbetween houses where we always met up (mostly before we could drive, but it has always remained a special place). I miss those summers meeting up on bike or canoe and later taking off in our volvos. Megan, there is no one like you, you are the best, and I can't wait to see you again!
The above is a pic. from a visit back in May. Looking at it I found some other pregnancy pictures that I never posted, even though I was asked. So even though they are irrelevant now, I was feeling sentimental (or something!) so I decided to post anyway--just for the heck of it---mostly for the record I guess.

Eight months.

One of the only profiles I posed for.

Two days overdue. Dean was such a punk---guess he was just too comfortable.

Dean Craig Christiansen

Here he is!!! Sorry it took awhile to post.

The perfect baby, except from midnight to five am.

Dean was born July 6, 2009 at 5:39 pm. 7 lbs 9 oz, and 19 inches. Everything went smoothly and the doctors and nurses were all great. We're grateful for how well everything went. Neither Dean or Abby had any complications, and the labor went rather quickly. 5 hours.

Photo Tag

The tag: post the sixth photo from your sixth photo file and blog about it. And then tag six others!

So this is a photo from our trip to Cordoba, Argentina over a year ago. We were living in Buenos Aires and would explore the country by bus whenever we could. This particular trip we took the red-eye bus there and back to avoid the extra cost of a hotel. It was a spontaneous trip, we packed Luke's backpack and took off.

We arrived early that morning in the city of Cordoba, second largest in Argentina, and found a place that while not serving breakfast yet still had medialunas dulce (sweet croissants) and juice for us. After that we explored the city seeing all the old churches and monestaries---it is a beautiful city!

For lunch we took another bus up into the hills so that we could see some of the smaller towns. Cordoba is in a foothill region that reminded me alot of Sonora, CA where I grew up. It was so nice to get out of Buenos Aires----to fresh breezes, green grass, to a place more rural. The town we went to wasn't that far away, but it took us three hours to get there because the bus literally stopped at every person's house to let them off--even if it was just 20 feet from the last stop. But we finally got there, walked around the few houses, found a place to eat, and caught the next bus.

Back in the city we walked around some shops, found a delicious place to have dinner, and then jumped on the bus back to BA and got arrived home the next morning.

It was a wonderful, spur-of-the-moment trip that we'll always remember!

So now I tag: Megan, Alli, Whitney, JP, Lee, and Lissy.

18 - 3 Slaughter

Saturday was another great game. Poor Winthrop was slaughtered with Luke helping by putting up 2 goals and 3 assists. This pic is from a different game---my camera ran out of batteries yesterday, but you get the picture. I actually started to feel sorry for Winthrop and hoped they'd score a little more, but they just couldn't get anything past our defense, and obviously our attack was doing it's job.

Other than that not much going on this weekend. I worked a cocktail/auction party for the Republican Party of Rockbridge County----I'm a Republican, but even I will admit that that party was looong and boring.

And we've started to hear back from law schools---acceptence letters with a scholarship offer always makes for a good day! We probably won't be making a decision for a while though, we're still waiting on several schools.

Oh, and the dryer in our apartment broke down, but it's actually kinda nice----I've got a lot of laundry to do, but I'm just going to have to think about it later!

Knights Win 7-3!!

Today SVU played a great game against Carlton (from Minnesota, I think). The team really worked together and Luke got the job done as middy moving the ball up the field. And now I'm going to brag---not only is this a fabulous picture, but seeing Luke continue running the ball despite the body and stick checks was even better. I just love his expolsive action out on the field! He's only got a few more games left in the season, I wish there were more, I can't get enough!

And as a funny side story somehow I got the button on my back jean pocket stuck on the bleachers---it took me til the end of the game to get it unwedged. I seriously thought I was going to have to stay there. Okay so it's not that funny---but it seemed so to me stuck like super glue to that one spot.

P.S. Ali LaVanway---I was so excited to see your comment and I have no idea how to get to your blog to comment back!!! Plus I need an address, ect...How are little Ezra and Willa doing? I don't allow drive-by comments---you've got to be accountable to responses!

Key West

For Spring break we were lucky enough to go to Key West, FL with some of the greatest friends, Tawni and Micah Platt. Luke's sister Ali is living there on an internship so we were able to hang out with her and have her show us all over the island.

Our first night and the town was on fire! Yeah, everyone's smiling, but it was pretty sad when 3 stores on the historic street burned. Ali pointed out all the best places to go, especially where to test out all the variations of Key Lime Pie and the best beaches.

Mangrove Mamas on Cudjoe Key---we were actually staying on Cudjoe, a couple keys down, or up, from Key West.

Stubbs of course loved the ocean. I'll always think of this little corner of Key West as Sandy Dog Beach. The Platts were so patient to travel with our pup---even when he's chill he still takes up a lot of the back seat.

Frozen key lime pie dipped in chocolate! Nothing else needs to be said.

One Key Lime is never enough.

Our front yard. It was a beautiful week of sun and doing absolutely nothing but what we felt like. Going to the beach, eating dessert, exploring just about every street of Key West, and spending time with friends and family.

Afterwards Luke and I drove around Miami. We checked out law schools, neighborhoods, got a taste of the traffic, and ate at some amazing Argentine restaurants. After sampling the chorizo Luke gave them his approval. One even doubled as a grocery store and we loaded up on alfajores---delicious cookies. I decided that I could be completely happy living in Miami---the mix of cultures, the warm weather, being able to go camping in the keys whenever I wanted...the whole drive back I just kept thinking of all the reasons I like Miami--or Southern Florida in general. Luckily we stopped and visited my parents otherwise I think I would have been grumpy leaving the warm lushness for cold VA.

Luke's mom and sister met up with us in Miami--we really only saw them for one night, but it was a good time.

Oh, and we're six months pregnant. A surprise, not planned. We've been keeping it quiet for a while, but now I really can't hide it anymore---so there's our announcment!

Dewey and Micah go to the Bar

Key West is known as party central of the universe (according to the pamplet in our rental) so our experience couldn't be complete with out a visit to a local bar for some sort of mind-altering substance. Salsa! Peppers of Key West is a salsa bar specializing in anything from banana salsa to stuff so hot it will strip the varnish from a table. The boys weren't about to pass that challenge up so they sampled salsas working up the heat index until they made it to the hottest. Above is their "This is hot face!" Below is the actually tasting of it---it's so hot that they were only given a drop on a toothpick and told not to get any on their face, fingers, or table.

The after effect. Yeah, they're real men who don't react too much, but there was sweat on their foreheads. This salsa has made many others vomit after a drop---so our boys reaction is admirable.

Tawni and I just laughed and watched. I tried the banana salsa which was really yummy!

Snow

It snowed today. Its pretty, but cold---grrrr. We're heading to Key West the end of this week, so I think we'll survive.

LAX

Saturday Luke had a Lacrosse double-header, they lost, but Luke played really great, agressive games--it was fun to watch him let loose and eventually end up in the penalty box! He's number 14, and no, those guys weren't able to stop him.

He had some furious runs down the field (he was playing middy). His dad caught one on film so I'll post it as soon as he sends it our way.

All I can say is don't get in his way! His family flew into town to watch and it was awesome to hang out with them this weekend--especially the free food part.

The Gift That Keeps Giving....

...and giving, and growing! Last Valentine's Day Luke surprised me with Stubbs, 15 lbs of an energetic puppy with loads of attitude. And a year and 100 lbs later he is still every bit a punk! This is the puppy who will grab something come find me to make sure that I know he has it and then run off or who will steal the couch as soon as Luke or I leave. He'll squeeze out of the small back window on the truck to join Lacrosse practice, burst into the gym when he gets a glimpse of people on the court throwing the ball around, drag me (literally) when he sees a rabbit, and enjoy flip flops and hot salsa all in one sitting. I love this dog! I love the way he gets excited every time I come home and the way he'll curl up next to me and fall asleep. I adore his snoring! I love taking him walking, swimming, boating, and camping (he keeps me toasty warm). He's even fun on road trips and city-exploring. I love that Stubbs is my dog and how much he exuberantly shows me affection.

So this year for V-day/Luke's birthday we waited until Monday to celebrate (we had to work Sat. night). I surprised Luke with a yummy ice cream cake from Coldstone which we then smuggled into the movie theater to enjoy while watching Taken. That is definitely the best movie treat!

Quick Update

So....it's been a while...a long while! But here's an update. We spent Christmas in Salt Lake, with a quick trip to Las Vegas for the BYU Bowl game--lotta fun. We ate a ton of Mexican 'cause Luke and I always have to stock up whenever we get the chance. All the snow was actually really fun--We were only there for a week and I wasn't the one who had to shovel the walk! I was sort of missing snow this winter, my thinking being that if its going to be so horribly cold I might as well get snow to make it prettier...

We played a lot of STUMP, a game made up by Luke's little brother. In STUMP you're given a category and you have to try and think of a question to stump everyone else. One time I got Math for a category---yeah, I sort of sneakily switched categories on that one!

From Salt Lake we flew back to NC, drove up to VA for a couple days of work, and then went back down for a week at my parents' house. That was a nice, relaxing week too, especially since for some of it my nephews and nieces kept Stubbs busy with pretty constant play time outside. I think some of them would have slept with him if they could! It was really wonderful to get to see all of my brothers and sisters, now that we're all over the place it makes it harder to all get together.

School, lacrosse, and work have all started back up. Luke's getting ready to take the LSAT in Feb. and he's turning in applications to law schools and a few grad. planning schools.

Stubbs is getting bigger--he's at or over 100 lbs. and still full of puppy energy (he turned one in Dec.). Lately he's jumped through a screen and found a box of XLAX--yep, lots of trips outside that day! We absolutely love him though, even if he does think our toothpaste is the best treat in the house.

So that's where we are now. The Lacrosse season starts this weekend with a tournament in Atlanta, GA. I won't be able to go because of work, but I'm excited for it all to start.

Oh, and we just passed the 3rd anniversary of our 1st date! We went to an Italian restaurant in Staunton, VA (which Kemp and Whitney will be interested to know is now some kind of computer store. They were part of the group date).