Answers!

A big thank-you to my readers who posted questions. Also a big thank-you for not asking anything embarrassing, like when was the last time I flossed.

If you think of more questions, feel free to toss them my way. Until then, enjoy!

1) When did you know that your husband was "the one'?

I know the moment: Sitting in a small cafe in the town where we went to college, eating a bowl of tomato basil soup. Our eyes locked, and I just knew. It was a very calm, normal feeling. No bells, no whistles, just ... peace, maybe? It just felt right. Like, "Oh! Hi! So, you're it! Awesome!"

Of course, that was only the initial knowing. That moment in the cafe was eight years ago, before we were ever engaged or married. Since that time, life has continued to show me why he is the one. He held me when I miscarried, held me when my Dad was diagnosed with cancer, and he held our babies only moments after their births, crying and beaming over each one. It didn't take bells and whistles to know he was the one for me eight years ago, and it still doesn't. He shows me every day without knowing it.

2) Do you see any more Baskins babies in your future?

NO. :)

The way I see it, Cub made us a family and Naomi completed that family. But, if we "accidentally" have more, it would be God's way of showing us it gets even better. However ... as far as we're concerned, we're done! I come from a family of two and so does my husband, so we're comfortable with that.

3) Can you do a retro post and put up the one about when your dad took you out bowling before your wedding? Pretty please? With sunshine on top?

Okay DeMo. Because you added sunshine on top, I went back to my now-private old blog and searched through roughly a bazillion entries to find this one. Because I should just categorize my entries to keep them organized. BUT I DON'T. :) It was so good to read through those old entries though, revisiting my Dad's battle (and remission victory) with cancer. It makes this night, and our moments now, all the more poignant. And sweet.

Here you go.

(I wrote this post after meeting with a bride who's wedding I was going to help coordinate.)

Naturally, my mind went back to the night before my own wedding. My parents' house was packed with family from near and far, both my Mom's side and my Dad's side, and everyone got along beautifully, anticipating the excitement of the event. We all sat around in our jammies, drinking coffee and sharing stories. It was getting late and my Dad asked me if I'd like to go get an ice cream cone with him. My eyes got teary with the sweet request and I, of course, obliged. We loaded up (in our pj's) and headed to town to go through the drive-thru at McDonald's (the only place still open). To my surprise, we drove past the McDonald's and pulled into the parking lot of the bowling alley next door. My mouth dropped open.

My Dad and I bowled together every Tuesday of my senior year of college. It was our little tradition and its importance stems from the reality that we weren't very close as I was growing up. He felt his job was to provide for the family and that it was Mom's job to raise us and as we grew older, he realized his involvement was important at every stage of my life. Hence, Tuesday bowling night. We'd eat dinner at a local sub shop and then hit the lanes. I have such sweet memories from that time.

So, here we were, parked in that same bowling alley parking lot, with the Closed sign hung in the window. We got out and Dad tapped on the door. The owner, who knew us from our frequent visits, opened the door and in the vast darkness of the alley there was one lane lit. I turned to my Dad with tears in my eyes and the owner flipped on the strobe lights and told us to play as many games as we'd like. We only played one, our last game where we shared a last name, with lots of tears and lots of laughs. I was overwhelmed with Dad's poignant gift.

So I told the bride to enjoy her last night before her wedding. No matter the event, no matter the location, no matter the activity--there is simply nothing like that last night.

4) What is your middle name, and why, if any reason, did you name your kids what you did? (Any family or specific meanings?)

Kim. My middle name is Kim. My middle name is Kim because that is my father's name and he chose it for me after I was born. Katie Kim. Kathryn Kim, to be exact. I joke with him that he chose it so I would always carry his name, even after I was married. Clever dad!

Our children's names do have specific meanings. I wanted to use biblical names because I am sentimental that way. Caleb correlates with my husband's name in the Bible (you'll just have to figure that one out!), which is why my husband chose it. Caleb shares his Dad's middle name, which is Scott. I love the name Naomi and part of the reason we chose that name is because of the special relationship I share with my mother-in-law. I like to think that she is my Naomi and I am her Ruth. Naomi has a shortened version of my name as her middle name: Kate. Hence, Caleb Scott and Naomi Kate.

There you go, friends! Have a lovely day!

What Is Your Favorite Color?

So.

Do any of you have any questions?

I mean, I'm not that interesting. I don't have much to offer, really, besides a story or two about baby spit-up or the complexities involved in attempting to bathe a 3 month old and a 23 month kind of at the same time. Babies? They're slippery.

My friend over at Superfluities just did a free-for-all Q&A session and I figured I'd jump on the train myself. I did this when Cub was a few months old, so it's been a while. You can ask me anything. Marriage? Parenting? Favorite color? I'll answer as honestly as I can, within the parameters of decency as this is, obviously, the Internet.

So.

Any questions?

(If not, I'll quote poetry or something.)

Thinking Much.

Cubbie is eating his wheat bunnies and playing in his room, while Naomi is napping. I now have time to write a substantial post about life as I drink my second cup of (decaf) coffee.

A good friend of mine was recently told she has malignant melanoma. Thankfully, they caught it early enough so she will be fine, but the journey itself has been mind-wrenching, as she thinks about her family and how in the world she could try to fathom their lives going on without her. It was a rude awakening and, with her urging, I scheduled an appointment with her dermatologist. With a Dad who is in remission from stage four cancer and the fact that I tanned in high school, I knew it would be stupid of me to not get checked out. I had a mole removed from my foot and the results came back this week, telling me it was okay. I'm going in next week for a full-body lookover, just to make sure everything else is okay, too.

The experience was slightly jarring for me, realizing that I am growing up and beginning to deal with these things and having loved ones who deal with even more serious things. These things have also contributed to the diet overhaul in our home. It's not only the kids I want to keep healthy--I want to make sure I'm healthy for them as we all grow older. I'm becoming more aware of the day-to-day decisions we make to keep our bodies in check. I keep thinking of Romans 12:1 that tell us that our bodies are to be "holy and pleasing to God". I know that holiness is not skin deep, but would God be pleased with how I treat my body? Am I making sacrifices to make that happen? Can a "living sacrifice" mean saying no to certain foods? I could be interpreting that verse wrong. All I know is that it stands at the forefront of my mind every day. Holy and pleasing. What does that look like?

One of my favorite quotes is a passage from Luke that, loosely translated, states "To whom much is given, much will be required". I'm sure that I am taking it out of context, but this is another topic I've been mulling over. I recently started volunteering for a ministry at our church that provides a class for pregnant teens or young twenty-somethings, and also for young parents. I'm a co-facilitator for the parenting group. We've only met once, but I already know this is where I am supposed to be. My passion is for young women and young Moms (I worked at a girls' home in college and did my internship at a crisis pregnancy center) and this ministry reaches both. When the opportunity came up to help, I jumped in. My husband was excited, too, because he knows how much I have wanted to be involved in something like this. Five years after college and two years after leaving the workforce, I am finally using my degree. I feel that I have been given much and I want to be responsible with giving back. And now that I am a Mom, my heart longs to connect with these young women. Being a mom can be tough even when you have a good home, an awesome support network, and consistent income. So many young women do not have those things and I admire and respect their resilient strength and desire to create a good life for their children.

For some reason this morning I woke up feeling sleepy, with a lot on my mind. I feel more awake now that I've typed some of those things out.

So. These are the things of which I have been thinking. A peek into my brain.

And here is my picture for Friday Love...

...and the reason I think so much. I am amazed at how differently I look at my life now that my children are in it.

Have a lovely day.

Favorite Things! Currently!

I realize I have not written a Favorite Things/Product Review/Look! Stuff! post in a while. My apologies. I would make up some lame excuse, like how when Naomi was born I also birthed half of my brain and it is lost forever, but, meh.

(But really. I mean, REALLY. I'm considering sneaking back into the L&D room where Naomi was born so I can check under the bed. Just in case.)

So! Product Review Favorite Things Look Stuff post!

1) Late July Organic Cookies

I saw these on sale at Whole Foods so I picked up two boxes. Sweets are not something I try to keep in stock for Cub, but sometimes it's good to have them on hand. What I really like about these cookies is their small size. Behold:

Look! A bunny! Cub loves them. I have yet to actually taste one (they contain dairy), but I'm sure they are delightful. Cub seems to think so. Oh, and guess what? I can eat Oreos if I want to! Because Oreos don't have dairy! You know, those "CREAM"-FILLED COOKIES? No dairy. There is something so wrong with that. Anyway.

2) Big Boy Chart!

A good friend of mine recently discussed her latest discipline techniques with her little man who is around Cub's age. One of those techniques involved a Big Boy Chart. What I liked about her idea is that she suggested to leave the entire chart blank, so Cub could put the stickers wherever he wanted, since we aren't exactly in "chore chart with categories" land yet. This has been an awesome means for positive reenforcement. For example, if Naomi is gnawing on a toy and she accidentally drops it, and Cub runs over and picks it up for her, he gets a sticker on his Big Boy Chart. Or, if does exceptionally well in the grocery store, he gets a sticker. Sometimes he gets rewarded for doing what is expected of him, but mostly he gets rewarded for going above-and-beyond. I know positive reenforcement works for me, and I can see it working for the little Cub. A little pat on the back goes a long way. He loves it.

3) Lace headband

I put this headband on Naomi ALL THE TIME. I love it because it is just the right size and it doesn't leave massive dents in her head, like the headband underneath it in the picture. She has a little noggin, too, so the smaller width of the headband, the better. So cute. And her clips stay attached, which is, you know, NECESSARY. :)

4) BedHead Foxy Curls

Having babies has made my straight hair turn curly. Love this stuff. Highly recommend it. The scent alone is enough to make me want it.

5) 365 Organic Coffee Buzz Free Decaf

(paired with SO Coconut Milk French Vanilla Creamer, YUM).

Delicious and buzz-free. The smell of it is amazing. Love it. I kind of feel like I'm cheating on Dunkin' Donuts coffee, but I really do like this stuff. I'm not a huge decaf fan, so the fact that I like this blend is great. I just tell myself it has caffeine!

And, there you have it, friends! Time to lay down while both babies are napping.

Have a lovely day!

Wordless Wednesday.

Taken only moments before a water snake cut our little play time short.

Ah, the lake.

Have a lovely day!