No Excuses (but I'll try anyway)

Soo, a few reasons why it has been almost a month since my last post:

1. I had no idea it was almost a month since my last post! I knew it was at least a couple of weeks...but wow! A month. Oops.

2. A lack of interesting goings-on to post about. Not to say we haven't been busy--there are a couple of new pictures hung on the walls, the fish get fed every day, the ants on the kitchen counter require a lot of energy to kill, Gabe and I have to sweep off the porch under our bird feeders every other day, there have been lots of fall recipes that have called my name...I could go on and on about daily life (really there is a LOT more to it) but things have been pretty calm around here lately. Ryan is getting back on a normal work schedule, Gabe and I go to my Bible study at church and meet all the kids at McDonald's afterward, we go to Awana every week and have verses to study for that, The Office, The Biggest Loser, and The Amazing Race call our names after Gabe goes to bed--all in all, we've actually been getting into a normal routine for the first time in about 4 years! Or maybe even longer...it's hard to say. I kind of like it!

3. I am never on the computer! Unless I am paying bills, I can rarely sneak away from Gabe long enough to do more than a quick email-check but Gabe really loves to play with ME. He is great at hanging out by himself while I am making lunch or dinner or if I need to get something done, but just about every other minute of the day he really likes to be hanging out together. We play Candyland about twice a day (Yes, more games are on our shopping list), he never gets tired of rolling golf balls back and forth with us across the living room floor, and he still loves playing with his trains, but they are so much more fun when I am in there playing with him. All of this equals no blog time! (and not much to write about unless you want to know who won the latest round of Candyland)

4. Last, but DEFINITELY not least, I wanted to wait to post about our special news until a few key people heard it in person...(they were told a few weeks ago, but it was my excuse for awhile!) but in case you don't know yet, Gabe is going to be a big brother! He is very excited about it (we are too, of course!) and he is pretty sure it is going to be a girl and she will have pretty pajamas. Not sure where he got that and why he so firmly believes it to be true, but we will find out the first week of November if he is correct. My due date is April 5 and so far everything is going great. I haven't been sick at all and have been able to keep running, so life doesn't feel a whole lot different yet. I think Gabe will be in for the biggest shock of all...He will have to share us!


Well, in case you are wondering how I was able to find the time to finally update this blog of ours, it is because Gabe is at Grandma's house this morning! I really should be getting other things done, as usual, but I know that I have neglected our faithful readers. SORRY!

A couple of other pieces of news:
Ryan has been feeling pretty decent lately. He is very tired all of the time, but hasn't complained of headaches or pressure lately, so that is a huge blessing. He still deals with allergies and it is tough to feel so drained all the time, but hopefully things are looking up. His next check-ups will be in December.

Also, my brother Mike will be deployed to Afghanistan on October 29th. PLEASE be praying for him. I miss him already--it is hard to think about him being so far away for such a long time (they are saying 10 months) and I can't even let myself think too hard about his safety there--we have to put him in God's hands! I'll put his address up here as soon as we know it so that anyone who wants to can send him a note or package. I know he'll be needing all the support he can get from us.

Ok, hopefully it won't be another month...I'll get some more pictures up here soon, too. Until then!