the great Minnesota get together!

Happy meet-a-versary to my husband! Meet-a-what, you say? Well, our anniversary of meeting is today, and since it was such a fun occasion, we like to celebrate every year. We met 6 years ago to the day at the Minnesota State Fair! They call it the Great Minnesota get together, right? Well, in 2004, it was the Great Josh & Brittany get together ;)

I think when I tell people we met at the Fair, they assume we worked there together or something - nope! The way we met was sort of a twist of fate. See, I made a last-minute decision to go to the Fair with a friend of mine, who was meeting up with a guy she met on Myspace (haha, this was 6 years ago, okay? Myspace was up & coming!) That guy was Josh's best friend from high school (in Okinawa, Japan), Jimmy. Jimmy had brought along some friends, and one of them was intended to be my date for the day. However, when we met and started chatting, it was apparent we weren't really feeling each other. The cute guy I'd met in the Food Building, in front of the cheese curd stands? Now he was more my style! Josh actually made a last minute decision to come to the Fair that day, too - he had been in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that day and drove 7 hours to get there that afternoon! We hit it off right away and couldn't stop talking.

I still remember exactly what Josh was wearing, the way his hair looked, and how I couldn't stop staring at his shirt. I remember exactly what I was wearing, too. I recall all of our conversations that night, Josh tripping over me (a preview of his clumsy nature!) and subsequently getting hassled by a drunk man for tripping over me, and then the other drunk man who nearly ruined my beloved haunted house experience. I vividly remember Josh telling me "you're cool, and cute." It was an AWESOME day that I'll never forget. And we get to celebrate and relive that experience every year - how cool is that!?

Here are some pictures from past State Fair trips. We always go on Labor Day (it's a tradition!) since that's the day we met. For some reason I can't find the pre-2007 pictures.

State Fair trip 2007 - newly pregnant with Maia

Yummm, cheese curds!

State Fair trip 2008, with baby Maia in tow



The Midway behind us


State Fair trip 2009

In front of the cheese curds, where it all began!

Maia enjoying her first Pronto Pup


Checking out cardboard Mike Pomeranz in the Kare 11 building


We take photobooth pictures every year (except the year we met) so today should be interesting as we try to fit all four of us in the shot. It will be so fun to look back on them all together, don't you think? Now off to the Fair we go - wish us luck for a well-behaved toddler & a good napping baby boy!

for your viewing pleasure.

Here's a video from yesterday - a very chatty Kieran, plus a loud Maia in the background :)

local flavor.

Now that we're Minneapolis residents, Josh and I have a long list of restaurants we'd like to try. Josh has been to many local NE joints with his friends, but there are a lot we've never been to together, or as a family. One of those places on our list: The Anchor Fish & Chips. We went tonight as a family and I had to capture a picture of the fish - it was HUGE! Of course, I forgot my camera AND cell phone (which is so random, I always have both on me) so Josh's crappy cell phone camera had to do.

Wow, it's so blurry that I think I'm getting dizzy - Josh, get a smartphone already! Or at least a cameraphone with flash! ;)

Speaking of eating local, I also started the morning out local - with a caramel pecan roll from Sarah Jane's Bakery. That place is seriously to die for, and the prices are so reasonable! Josh got 4 items for just about $5! Needless to say I haven't had the healthiest eating day today, but I'll be good tomorrow in preparation for our State Fair trip on Monday :)

Other than eating a less-than-super-healthy breakfast & dinner, I spent the day doing some organizing and laundry - fun! We just moved 2 weeks ago, so we are still surrounded by boxes upon boxes upon boxes. I did capture some cute pictures of my little man while he helped with laundry, though! How cute is the shirt my friend Holly sent Kieran!?




And here's Kieran styling his daddy's favorite hat.

an update on the little dude who inspired this blog.

Most of my followers hooked up with this blog right after I started it - when Kieran was born 10.5 weeks early on St. Patrick's Day. It's been awhile since I posted a real update on him, so I think it's time!

For all the days spent worrying about his health, I've not worried once since he's been home! He is so happy, so healthy, and so dang sweet! The little man who was born at 2lb 10 oz & 15 inches long, who I started nursing at only 32 weeks gestational age, is now 16+ pounds and 25 inches long! He continued his weight gain of 3/4 pound a week, just like his sister - so crazy! He is actually probably 17 lbs now, since it's been over a week since he was last weighed and he is so predictable. I just can't believe it some days - the chubby cheeks, double (triple?) chins, huge tummy & all the thigh rolls, yum! I just adore chubby babies! And I can't tell you how great it makes me feel to know that my milk has made him grow at a super speed - especially when he started out so tiny. It's very rewarding and a sunny spot in all of the preemie worries.

He's now 5.5 months actual age and just over 3 months corrected age. He spends most of his days nursing or hanging out in the Beco Butterfly carrier while I get things done or hang out with his sister - I learned to nurse in it, too, so he nurses on the go wherever we are. He's been rolling tummy to back for awhile now, so now we're just waiting for him to go the other way! He has great head control, and likes sitting up on our laps checking things out. He loves music, lights and other items that are on the ceiling. He is a huge smiler, and I love his laughter so much - he's actually ticklish so it's easy to get out of him! He is just a joy and a fun little boy, and he LOVES his big sister - she can always make him laugh or smile! And oh my goodness, I have never seen a baby get more kisses than this little guy - Maia just smothers him in kisses and love. She is such a wonderful big sister to him.

Here are some pictures from our family walk to the park near our house. We first stopped by our local coffee shop first, The Coffee Shop NE, and they were having a grand opening party! Yay for free desserts & goodies!

Yep, I'm SuperWoman ;)

At the park!

won't you join us...

...on our afternoon walk? We just moved to a new city, and while our hearts still lie in our old one (we'll miss you, St. Paul!) we do plan to buy a house there in a few years. But for now, we want to get the most out of our fabulous new neighborhood in NE Minneapolis! We moved away from a really fun, vibrant neighborhood with lots of coffee shops, vintage and antique stores, great restaurants, and a park for the kids. But thankfully, our new neighborhood has all of these things as well, and more! We just couldn't fathom living without these things in walking distance - what can I say, we're city folk!

The kids and I went on a little walk around the neighborhood to get to the neighborhood farmer's market, which takes places Thursdays a few blocks away. I took some pictures, so (virtually) join us on our walk!

We love our new place!


Maia in the stroller, Kieran in the Beco Butterfly carrier


Passing by POP Restaurant, Amici Bistro & Sarah Jane's Bakery has THE BEST donuts I've EVER had - yum!


Crafty Planet & Rewind Vintage - I'll be visiting both for the first time when Josh hangs with the kids this weekend. I want to go kid-free so I can bask in the beautiful fabrics (& work on picking out some so I can sew up cafe curtains for our new kitchen!)


My cute little dude.



One of Maia's favorite things in the new neighborhood? The fire trucks we pass each time we drive anywhere! She always looks for the opened doors and gets so excited when the trucks are sitting out. As you can see, no open doors, this time anyways.


We made it to the farmer's market! I think there are 5 vendors total. It's small, but they've got absolutely everything you could need veggie-wise.


Our farmer's market loot - the watermelon is actually yellow! I've never seen a yellow watermelon before.


Maia liked it :) It was actually the BEST watermelon I've ever had!


Maia & I made BLT's (she calls 'em "bacon sam-iches") and she LOVED it! She kept saying "mm, yum!" and "mom, my tummy's happy, my mouth's happy." So cute! Can I just say, there is nothing like getting fruit and veggies from the market and then making a meal with them? It's so satisfying!


Well, thanks for joining us on our neighborhood walk! We'll take you around the nearby park next!

happy birthday to josh!

Day 1 of the blog-a-thon is an easy one! It's Josh's birthday! He's at work so Maia prepared a special video just for him. The difference from last year to this year is crazy!

Maia (& Kieran) singing Happy Birthday, 9-1-2010 (nearly 2.5)


Maia singing Happy Birthday, 9-1-2009 (nearly 18 months)


Happy birthday, Josh! Hope you're having a great day at work - we miss you!

big ambitions

It's been over 2 months but I haven't forgotten about our family blog - this summer just really got the best of me! Oh, and we moved mid-August, so that really kept us busy for awhile. I truly enjoy blogging, though, and updating the people it's harder to stay in touch with. It's also a nice place for me to update on my crafts and sewing projects as well. So I did something sort of crazy: I committed to blogging every day in September to get back in the habit (along with nearly 30 other bloggers!) Thanks to fellow preemie mom Tina over at The Carstens Clan for the push!

Sure, I might have school starting up again (almost a senior in college, woohoo!) and my house is still an unpacked mess, but I think this is going to be fun!

I leave you with a super cute phone picture from Friday of

Kieran - who is now 16 pounds & 25 inches long! He's 5.5 months actual age and 3 months adjusted, so he's doing pretty phenomenal in the weight department! He has an appointment to follow up on his enlarged kidney tomorrow - a lab draw, urine sample & ultrasound, to be specific. With the levels evening out and the kidney decreasing in size as of May, I'm sure we'll have favorable results :) He is such a healthy little dude now!

How cute is he!?


Alright, one day until September - here goes nothing! :)