I have been showered

The choir of our church sponsored my first baby shower. The people that came even remembered my wedding shower 9 years ago! Time flies. Cute Cake. Great presents! See for yourself. Womb Bear! Yeah! It makes womb sounds.

Berliner Baer

Der alte Berliner Baer. Er ist 25 Jahre alt. Er hat seine goldene Krone verloren und seinen Mund. Damals haben mir die Grosseltern diesen Baer in Berlin gekauft. Damals zu DDR Zeiten. Jeder hatte einen Berliner Baer, wenn man nach Berlin geht. Er war vernachlaessigt und vergessen. Lag irgendwo rum...auf dem Dachboden oder irgendwo hinten im Schrank. Die Grosseltern hatten ihn mir vor 6 Jahren mitgebracht und dann lag er im Waeschkorb mit den ganzen anderen Stofftieren. Er hat seine Ehre verloren....bis....ja, bis er wieder entdeckt wurde! Er hat dieselbe Groesse wie ein frisch geborenes Baby! Er kann ein Model sein! Und so ist er nicht nur ein Model und half mir den Gurt in meinem Kindersitz einzustellen, er faehrt jetzt immer mit. Siehst du die Zufriedenheit auf seinem Gesicht? Er hat einen Grund zu Leben. Er ist auferstanden und fuehlt sich gebraucht. Endlich, er ist ein Berliner Baer mit Aufgabe!

Slobber Slobber

Watermelon is m m good!

33 weeks

7 weeks to go / noch 7 Wochen uebrig

Hot Stuff

Kelly - Paul liked his "hot stuff" shirt you tie died for him. He wanted me to take these shots so you can see for yourself. Now he's even hotter stuff!

4D Ultrasound

No pictures please!

Zunge raus / Tongue out

Eye open / Augen auf

30 weeks. I think she looks like my family: Opa's eyes & mouth, my brothers nose?

30 wochen. See hat Opa's Augen und Mund. Marco's Nase?

With a little help from a cowboy

Little Girls and Horses - it's Magic!

Olivia here has been looking for a horse that she can feel safe on. A friend of ours, a real cowboy, Audie, who breaks and trains horses when he's not roping, riding bucking horses or flaoting horses teeth, has a connection this horse here: April, a 6 year old mare that's basically "been-there-done-that". She is laid back, non-jumpy, and seemingly kid-proof.

Yesterday we witnessed their first getting to know each other, while Audie supervised and helped this meeting along with a lot of patience. He has been trying to grow the girl's confidence in herself and trust in the horse. All the while he was riding a young filly that he is currently breaking.

Before both riders mounted up, a prayer was said asking God for willing minds in these horses and that the experience would be good for both, horse and rider.

The first step was a big step in every regard: getting on a big horse with the stirrup way "up there". She had to stretch that leg and then claw her way into the saddle. Strong, suntanned cowboy arms gave her that one last boost and she sat in the saddle. After small and timid steps, Olivia's confidence grew as she listened to Audi'e's instructions and put them to use on this breautiful horse. After some encouragement, Olivia got the horse into a trot and she went along with the movement instantly - like one body, one unity. She felt comfortable, as she told us later. Olivia is giving April a big pat on the neck as she has done good and did what she asked.

Will they become partners? April will be taken home for 1 week on a trial basis next week. Tune in for the next episode to find out if the two of them will become friends and stay together for a long time.....