The Buerglers

Legend has it that if the Mama eats the famous eggplant parmesan at Scalini's Fine Italian Restaurant  she'll go into labor within 48 hours.  Earlier this summer I went with a friend and it worked.  All Luke needed was the reservation. Born 5 days before his due date and the day before our Scalini's reservation, weighing in just under 8 pounds 11 ounces, we are so excited to have another nephew and a cousin for Evie on the Buergler side.  She is already in love with her little "uke" Leeann asked if I'd take a few pictures of him and I couldn't help but do a full blown newborn photo shoot. I was desperate for the experience and opportunity. Their house is rather idyllic for a photo shoot  They have everything within the 1500 square feet of their house: large patio with green yard, brick wall, and natural lit seating areas with great textured and patterned fabrics.   Of course their classic style and adorable bab...

I know I said I wasn't going to blog in July, but I just can't keep my mouth shut sometimes.  This is something that's really been on my heart lately and I have been dying to share! Being intentional. This has been coming to me in prayer for the last several weeks and the more I reflect on this virtue the more I see how much it fruit it has beared in my life the last few years, and how I need to lean on it even more these days. To me, being intentional is having a plan or goal in mind and working towards it.  I don't mean this in a rapid-fire to-do list style, but more of a meaningful, purposeful plan for life in the small things. A few years ago Eric and I knew we needed to get serious about our financial situation .  Through the grace of God we were gifted a set of Dave Ramsey CDs.  If anybody is going to preach on the virtue of intentionality it's this guy.  I firmly believe his lessons on teaching your money where to go, spending wisely and planning ...

Yes I know it's Tuesday.  But really it's just case and point to my post.  July is too fun to stop and blog! Every July I get caught up in working really hard and playing even harder.  I've contemplated taking formal breaks from blogging in July and I think this year I am actually going to do it!   Here's what is keeping us busy the next few weeks -- Evie has been non-stop learning and growing.  It's so beautiful to watch her take interest in new things, mimic us, and parrot every little word back to us. I can't believe she'll be 20 months later this week! The weather has been electric - as in a lot of thunder and lightening, so my computer has remained off and unplugged.  I'm kind of enjoying the lack of distraction.  The daily rain storms have also kept the summer weather fairly mild (so far), so after dinner walks are a must. Nephew Zachary is in town for a long week to play and I want to soak up every ounce of play time ...

This weekend we traveled to Nashville for a long weekend visit.  We were fortunate to see some of Eric's friend, some of my friends, and to reunite with college house mates for the wedding of one of our own.  We knew it was going to be a fast trip, especially with 4 hours of travel, an hour time difference and me having to work Sunday night. We had some great successes with toddler travel and a hotel stay but also some epic failures.  I'd love to share with you but I also want to learn from you. Success! Travel at nap time -  We've learned from car trips that Evie doesn't do a 4am start or a bed time travel. Nap seems to be our best shot! Bring a favorite toy - Evie has this  LeapFrog My Discovery House  that she will play with for hours. I hid it for a few days so it was like brand-new self-contained fun for easy car and hotel play.  Of course, Delany travels everywhere with us. She made for great over the seat puppet shows, too! Bring...

When I started my first job (I've always worked at the same place, I've just worn three different hats) one of the Deacons took me under his wing and mentored me that whole first year.  Not only on business matters but on freshman-in-life matters as well.  I am truly grateful for his tutelage. He also bailed me out of a pickle.  I was short one male chaperone for our winter ski trip.  He said he knew just the person, his son.  Well Dennis Jr tagged along that year.  We spent several hours on the bus and in the ski lift line just chatting away.  There was an instant friend connection - like trust-with-your-fears, and call-you-out-on-your-bullshit connection. (c. 2006 I had to dig this bad boy out of the archives. Other pictures in this series involve one or both of us picking our nose) That following summer he was off to seminary in Chicago, and Eric and I met shortly after. Seven long years of struggle and beating the odds, he...

 Recently I was having a flash back to a particular night in Chicago. We'd only been dating but a year.  We were sitting on the bench in a courtyard and my then 24 year old husband said that we should wait several years until my friend Dennis was ordained a priest before we should get married so he could marry us.  And he definitely didn't want children anytime soon after. Well, Dennis' ordination was a week ago. And am I ever grateful that Eric didn't listen to his 24 year old self.  If he had we wouldn't be celebrating 4 years of marriage this Fall, nor another wonderful Father's Day with our little family. For a guy who was apprehensive about having children, and admittedly knew nothing about newborns, I have to say he has excelled beyond my wildest dreams of who I wanted my husband to be as a father. Eric enthusiastically attended every Bradley class with me. Went to a breastfeeding class. And even did research on baby products before we regis...