kiss it.

so, here's your laugh for today:

i was talking to emma today, asking what she did at 'school' (mother's day out). she told me she got a spanking on her "butt" (which i'm SURE didn't actually happen... she's just recently learned how to "tell stories").

when i asked if she really got a spanking, she said, "yes, mommy - it hurt!"

then she so sweetly bent over so her little tush was in my face and said:

"mommy, will you kiss my butt?"

...and... of course, i did.

because, who could resist that cute little tush?

back at it.

school started back up for me last week at TWU. i'm in 15 hours this semester - 4 classes that i attend on tuesdays & thursdays and 2 online classes. i am already becoming very overwhelmed by the workload i have ahead of me... especially in my online classes. this art education class that i'm taking online is a bit ridiculous: a 46-page syllabus, in-depth assignments due all the time, a professor and 2 graduate assistance who all answer the same questions differently & can't seem to get on the same page... it's really stressing me out.

i'm afraid this semester is going to be so much harder than last semester. i feel like last semester was such a blessing, and so "easy" so that i would be able to be encouraged and gather the strength and motivation to finish out the next couple years.

this semester will be a tough one, that's for sure. i know i can do it, it's just frustrating when it seems that some professors are giving work that has nothing to do with our learning to be a teacher, but everything to do with simply taking up my time.

i hope i don't drive jason crazy by the end of may! only 4 more months to go, right? :) then i'll just have summer classes, and one more fall semester of classes, my student teaching next spring, and then i'll graduate may 2010!

so, yes, i see the light at the end of the tunnel, and i'm excited for that... but i feel like it's going to be a long road ahead...

ready. set. go.

anyone who knows me, knows that i am struggling a lot with self-image. especially at the weight i'm at now, since emma's birth. i've cried about it, agonized about it, beat myself up over it, been disgusted, angry, frustrated, depressed - you name it! i've tried to eat better, started and stopped going to the gym too many times to count... and still i'm the same weight i was when i gave birth to emma 2 years and 3 months ago.

well, my wonderful in-laws got me a few training sessions with an IN-HOME personal trainer for christmas! it's pretty much the BEST gift EVER! i had my first session with christina today, and it was amazing. she gave me some AWESOME exercises to do at home, 3 times a week, that should take more than 30 minutes. SO easy, right? and we talked about food, nutrition, drinking enough water, etc... i really feel equipped to tackle this head-on.

i was so encouraged after my time with christina. i feel like for the next two weeks, until i see her again, i can TOTALLY stay on top of my fitness & food plan. i am so excited to conquer this little battle with myself.

here are the tools that will help me win:

1. drinking LOTS of water, 2. dairy (yogurt & milk)


3. snacks like nuts, fruits & veggies
4. eating every 2 - 3 hours


5. weight/resistance training 3-days a week,
6. cardio (usually with my stroller!) 5-days a week

i feel so ready to actually DO this.

and i think i can. no. i KNOW i can.

i am so ready to feel good about myself again, and i'm excited to get started!

so, feel free to ask me how it's going. i'll update here every week or two... just for some accountability and the such. but hopefully, this time next year... there'll be a whole new sara behind this cute little blog! :)

girlies.

this picture makes me so happy. i just wanted to share it with all of you. :)

it's me and my girl, emma kate, with my sweet, dear friend melody and her girl, kate annemarie. melody & joel called us spur-of-the-moment one day at the end of summer and asked us to go to the dallas zoo with them and their two kiddos, grant & kate. we went, and were so glad we did. it was a great time, a perfect day, a sweet time with friends. i love fun memories like this. and its so fun to see our kids have so much fun together. joel & melody started hanging out with/kinda mentoring me and jason when we just started dating... almost 7 years ago! and they are still such an important part of our lives, even now. i love it!

this picture just captured the fun and joy of that time at the zoo. i really love it.

and i REALLY love the delucas.

baby boom.

bear with me while i wallow for just a minute in my own self-pity/wanting what i can't have...

can i just say that EVERYONE is having babies.

to prove my point:
my cousin bess: baby ruthie, born january 7th
missy's sister ellie: baby "jake", born january 10th
naomi: baby boy (baby beanbag, according to abby), due in february
lisa: baby everett, due in march
jerica: baby boy, due in april
kristina: baby (we don't know!), due in may
candice: baby (don't know yet, but she says it's a girl!), due in june

so, every month for the next 5 months, we'll be rejoicing with sweet friends as they welcome a new little life into their family!

sigh. i'm not complaining. i'm just yearning. :)

maybe by this time next year, we'll be expecting our own new little life...

save the date.

my brother cory & his fiancee katie are getting married in 23 weeks!

they came over last night to talk about save the dates and invitations. i'm working on their save the date right now. it's a super fun postcard, and i'm loving it!

click here to see the work in progress.

i'm so excited for my brother. he has found someone who loves him as much as he loves her. they are great together, and we can't wait for their wedding!

ruthie christine cave.

a new baby has blessed the cave family.

my cousin aaron and his sweet wife bess met their daughter today! at 3:22 pm, ruth "ruthie" christine made her grand entrance into our world, weighing 6 lbs. 13 oz.

we are praising God with aaron & bess for the blessing of their girl. we can't wait to meet her, snuggle her and give her lots of hugs & kisses.

until then, here are some sweet pictures, so the world can see her perfection:

mommy, daddy & ruthie at christmas

bess carrying baby ruthie

aaron & bess being their silly selves
(they're going to be such fun parents!)

sweet girl

my aunt debra:::grandma

my uncle doug:::grandpa

fancy toes!

welcome to our world, ruthie christine.

i know ruthie & emma kate will have SO much fun playing for years to come. we are so excited about our growing family.

congratulations, aaron & bess! your girl is beautiful perfection!

all photographs by aaron cave
www.aaroncave.com