tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65393621488193577162024-03-13T07:47:15.312-07:00Meg ClineMeghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.comBlogger576125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-48668044243211265332014-07-28T04:12:00.000-07:002014-08-31T04:13:02.915-07:00Bowen :: 2 Years Old<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Bowen :: 2 Years</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Stats: 30.5 lbs, 34 inches! Growth spurt! He actually jumped from the 20th percentile growth curve to the 50th. Holla for average height! He’s wearing 2T on top and 18 months on the bottom. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Eats: Still almost anything, although some occasional bouts of pickiness have shown up. Yesterday I asked him what he wanted for breakfast and he said “Hmmm…how bout…. Chicka lay?” (Chick-Fil-A.) Nice try, buddy! His favorites are yogurt (obsessed), grapes, peanut butter sandwiches, strawberries, turkey meatballs, corn, chicken and ketchup, pita and hummus, watermelon and blackberries. He will not eat cheese. I don’t get it. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Sleeps: Usually 7:30ish to 7:30ish, with a 30 minute swing in either direction. He’s been up later a little more often, but doesn’t sleep in so I try to stick to earlier bedtime. I switched lunch to before nap which pushed his nap back to about 12:30/1:00-2:30/3:00. It’s usually 90 minutes, but I sometimes get the nice two hour stretch. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Milestones: Runs and climbs, runs and climbs. He’s a hundred miles an hour. He’s AMAZING at kicking a soccer ball - he can chase it all around the yard. He’s also got a pretty decent throwing arm (and occasionally remembers to “throw to hands” instead of faces. Eek.) He can do the stairs by himself now but he still prefers to hold a hand. He has a million words. Seriously. He speaks in sentences - “I need help,” “I want a snack,” “I not sleepy.” He sings songs - I’ll catch him singing Twinkle Twinkle or Wheels on the Bus to himself in the car sometimes. He requests his favorite songs - Sweetheart (Ho Hey), Hot Dog and Bamboleo (?!) are top three right now. He tells stories about things that happened in the past and has an amazing memory. He repeats things I say constantly, like “oh my goodness!” and “how nice!” My favorite is when he’s doing something “naughty” he’ll go “You s’posed to do dat?” to himself. He’s started doing a lot of pretend play - pretending to talk on the phone, holding up fake food and making “chewing” sounds, etc. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Loves: Trucks, trucks, trucks. Anything with wheels. Particularly construction vehicles. Going to the playground, the Y and the pool. Playing on the porch and in the grass. Zoey and Eli. Reading books - favorites right now are a Curious George book, Happy Baby, the Pookie series, Is Your Mama a Llama and 12 Little Race Cars (memorized this one). Kicking a soccer ball. Throwing balls. Running. Hiding from mommy. Coloring. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Challenges: Timeout for hitting. He’s a regular visitor. He, fortunately, seems to show remorse and when I go to get him out, he says (and signs) “I’m sorry mommy” and is very loving. He usually only hits when we’re playing around and he gets excited or when he’s overtired, but malicious intent or not, I’m trying to curb that as quickly as possible. So, boom, straight to TO. (Two minutes in a chair facing the wall in the dining room. So far, knock on wood, he’ll stay there.) Generally trying to avoid power struggles: if I can offer him a choice, it’s usually better. Instead of saying “We need to go upstairs and change your diaper,” to which he screams no and runs and hides, I try to say “ We need to go upstairs and change your diaper - would you like to walk or would you like mommy to carry you?” (He usually says walks but keeps standing in there… then I start counting to 3… then he runs to the stairs… it’s a work in progress.) There’s at least one meltdown per day. It’s white noise now. When he does something he knows he was supposed to, he tells me “Good boy, issen ears” which is his version of “Good boy, you used your listening ears” which I must say a hundred times a day. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Sweet Bo, you’re two! How is that possible? In some ways, I’ve been rounding him up to two when strangers ask or when signing him into the Y nursery that it doesn’t feel weird to say he is two… But on the other hand, when I think about holding that little baby in my arms in the hospital room on the first early morning, watching the sunrise and the morning commute on Silas Creek Parkway, I think to myself “that can’t possibly have been two years ago.” As someone wise said, the days are long but the years are short. I try to remind myself of this when I’m standing on the stairs for what seems like an eternity while someone tests out every railing (“not safe!” for the wobbly one, “this one’s safe!” for the rest) or think I’ll never make it past this stage of having to avoid getting kicked in the chest for every diaper change. Reminding myself that it won’t feel very long before I’m a middle aged woman with teenagers looking back at these years helps me to immediately grasp how precious these days are - how sweet his tiny voice is, how quick his little impish smile is, how snuggly he is when we are reading books, how his tiny hands gets lost in mine still and how his little round belly still pokes out over his diaper after a full meal. As spirited and challenging as he can be, he shines when he’s praised or when I catch him being good - “good boy issening, mommy” and comes running to find me when he’s done something he’s proud of (like stacked up all his trucks in a line) and says “you can show me, mommy! show me!” when he wants me to see it. Love the pronoun swaps! He’s started saying “I love you” unprompted (“I yuv you”) and tells me every night when I’m tucking him in “I need a hug. I need a kiss.” While I was getting dressed for church the other day he came in and told me “Mommy, you look pwetty.” He’s such a sweet, sweet kid. And so social! This boy loves nothing more than having everyone’s attention on him and is quick to figure out ways to make everyone around him laugh. He is definitely not an introvert like his dear mama. It is amazing seeing his personality emerge and getting to imagine the little person he is growing up to become. I wish I could bottle up some of these moments so I knew I would remember them always, but it’s also so fun to see his world get more and more expansive each day. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Happy Birthday, Bowen boy. We are just so lucky to be your parents and love being with you as you burst through this world with a huge grin on your face, a monster truck in one hand and a handful of ya’ya’s (cheerios) in the other. XOXO</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa3ysdL9wD2lJGK6ntEIJ9vZcSZCm_qp4lIIiH2vq_21h619UZ5P4cVJ82VZ52Fa-WkZ2lyDhHzQSjMtOmia-vc7GXjWUN18vrf3t19TUgeidtXt-ukkEgwxuj75-XPzPHbzbOvJILvTG/s1600/IMG_7570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDa3ysdL9wD2lJGK6ntEIJ9vZcSZCm_qp4lIIiH2vq_21h619UZ5P4cVJ82VZ52Fa-WkZ2lyDhHzQSjMtOmia-vc7GXjWUN18vrf3t19TUgeidtXt-ukkEgwxuj75-XPzPHbzbOvJILvTG/s1600/IMG_7570.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkrOiXVqDJvlFuk5y7PId63yQcx7uj9a0MxrDLsZnCf0SCfMTTI4aDKA1BIWklFMqzD-iIgopVDgUQ7sTeJz499pyU2IuHuy1IidqmncBtjekyEaTC2fILPDEoxPCYmR40Jzt90JLrYjH/s1600/IMG_7624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkrOiXVqDJvlFuk5y7PId63yQcx7uj9a0MxrDLsZnCf0SCfMTTI4aDKA1BIWklFMqzD-iIgopVDgUQ7sTeJz499pyU2IuHuy1IidqmncBtjekyEaTC2fILPDEoxPCYmR40Jzt90JLrYjH/s1600/IMG_7624.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fh7dBKWJFDY4hdv-DJdov2HF_Zke3A7t_wQF6nHcAi0_bv0LHj9ymDs7rkWS1Ks5JgqLTYdn-ElfHy6PT1b2B_XAS_gPQZiH01RVjP5lEvJcwv96ItVntK2Q_aQ0JkcABNKLo5Mz-d8j/s1600/IMG_7609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0fh7dBKWJFDY4hdv-DJdov2HF_Zke3A7t_wQF6nHcAi0_bv0LHj9ymDs7rkWS1Ks5JgqLTYdn-ElfHy6PT1b2B_XAS_gPQZiH01RVjP5lEvJcwv96ItVntK2Q_aQ0JkcABNKLo5Mz-d8j/s1600/IMG_7609.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOT2ZEASMN9vAVMcXnvDWAO_MdR0U-myE8NXEsbOkIzUME1tsuX1TP7Hovi25v3lgXmTRdwualA0JuTfnbiefGqoh6ZX4J3UdtX5Sukbz7KJVyKNDsMJQrxWvSmHcokZY4MVwWeRhR3By/s1600/IMG_7593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOT2ZEASMN9vAVMcXnvDWAO_MdR0U-myE8NXEsbOkIzUME1tsuX1TP7Hovi25v3lgXmTRdwualA0JuTfnbiefGqoh6ZX4J3UdtX5Sukbz7KJVyKNDsMJQrxWvSmHcokZY4MVwWeRhR3By/s1600/IMG_7593.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-56180850021352088742014-04-28T11:39:00.000-07:002014-07-10T11:39:38.209-07:0021 Months<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Bowen :: 21 Months</div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Stats: 28.5 lbs, 31 inches. Still wearing 12-18/18-24 months although the pants don’t have to be rolled anymore - sometimes I have to yank them up as his little baby belly has started to disappear as he gets busier and busier!</div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Eats: Just about everything? His favorites are still yogurt, waffles, turkey meatballs, corn, strawberries, watermelon, grapes, edadmames, peanut butter, raisins. He calls every meal a snack - pronounced “snock” and asks for “a couple ya-ya’s (cheerios) and raisins” at every meal. </div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Sleeps: Mostly 7pm-7am or bedtime has crept up to 8 sometimes recently… and it’s about 50/50 if he’ll sleep in til 8. Naps 12:00-1:30/2:00 so we’ve gotten the nap a little later in the afternoon. All he needs to go to sleep are puppy blanket, puppy and ee ee. He finishes the song I’ve been singing him since he was a baby (Powder Blue) and then yells BYE BYE to me. Occasionally he’ll ask to “rock rock” and I always oblige - it’s so rare that he wants to cuddle and I can’t pass up the opportunity.</div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Milestones: Huge improvements with toe-walking. His physical therapy has gone well and he’s mostly flat-footed now, with occasional tiptoes. He still wears the brace at night and naps to keep his ankle stretched but he can now squat, balance and crawl up stairs with much greater ease. He’s starting to do the stairs with railings but still gets a little timid about that. He kicks a soccer ball, throws and loves climbing on the playground. He talks NONSTOP. So much talking. I love his sweet voice. He can count to to ten and sing most of the ABC’s - still called the “ahh-bee-cee’s.” He dances and sings whenever music is on and can name an astounding number of songs within the first few notes. He’s just started to run, and I love the way it looks like his top half of his body is disconnected from the bottom half.</div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Loves: All trucks and anything with wheels. Everything is a car and he finds roads everywhere - the edge of his plate, mommy’s leg, the top of a table. He loves books and will happily go through every one of his bookshelf. Top favorites right now are the Pookie books (Sandra Boynton), Go Dog Go, the “Digger book”, the “Chuggy truck book,” the “happy baby book” and an ABC’s book. Waffles, muffins, yogurt, raisins. Zoey and Eli and going to the Y. Saying hello to everyone. Playing on the porch (“pooch”) and in the grass (“gas”) and blowing bubbles. Going to the playground (“pee-gound.”) Belly raspberries. Wheels on the Bus and the Muffin Man. Coloring. Particularly with purple crayons. Watching videos of himself on my phone. Playing “out-tide.” </div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Challenges: Enforcing the rule that I have to carry him across the parking lot of the Y. There’s usually screaming. Or basically anytime he wants to walk/run, and I have to pick him up to get him somewhere. It can take us a good ten minutes to get up the stairs sometimes, and if I finally just scoop him up to carry him up there: the world has ended. Whining. There’s definitely a whining stage happening right now. Not over anything in particular, more just like anything he requests seems to come out in a high-pitched voice that would send dogs running. Random meltdowns. Fortunately, he’s definitely improved with the hitting - whether he’s just moved on or actually listened to us is debated. He does walk around the house saying “no hitting Bo” so at least I know he’s heard us… We’re also getting slightly better with dinner times, or at least, it’s warm enough outside where he can go play on the porch when I cook. I’m amazed at how just playing outside in general - at any point during the day - seems to do wonders for this kid’s mood. We couldn’t be more ready for spring to be here. We’ve had my mom here a lot these last 3 months since they bought a house in Winston (!!!!!!) so I’m not entirely sure if there have been less challenges in general or if I’ve just been able to have more breaks and don’t feel as overwhelmed as I did at 18 months. </div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px; min-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
Somewhere along the line, my little baby disappeared and this little boy showed up. All of a sudden, I have a house full of cars and tractors and soccer balls and golf clubs and I roll my window down whenever I pass a fire engine so he can hear the siren. We have so much fun with this little boy. He is curious and playful and social and loving. He is a good little boy, and knows what the boundaries are - and tests them within the appropriateness of a toddler, of course. He has the sweetest demeanor and loves to give his friends hugs and kisses. He and Zoey leave the Y daycare holding hands and walk all the way out to our cars like this every time. He is so social, and I swear our days are better when we get out and about at least once. (Sometimes a challenge for his introverted, homebody mama - but fortunately, even a trip to Target can act as a happy hour to this kid who just wants to SEE people and interact.) I can’t believe we’re closer to 2 than we are to 1 now - I don’t know where this last year has gone. The rare moments when he asks to rock rock and will curl up into my chest, I just try to freeze time and preserve the memory of those 29 lbs curled up in my lap (barely fitting) and the soft feel of his little blonde head under my chin. I remember myself, in those moments when he’s whining hard because I won’t let him watch “baby videos” on my phone, that these moments won’t keep and one day I will yearn for the sound of that tiny voice asking for another round of wheels on the bus. </div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHI2uSrS2pN0Ea43_bFqo4m6RVmw5X7Ciiad6klV_jF6sY0rzbqKLCHMgMKsfS8IxiY2LzhCv2EgzPapWcnOP-tqma9jnPvDKczvSCMP9BvdeeTeUbnVpxNLbA-rWrJ5np2WdYfAtdo31/s1600/IMG_6710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHI2uSrS2pN0Ea43_bFqo4m6RVmw5X7Ciiad6klV_jF6sY0rzbqKLCHMgMKsfS8IxiY2LzhCv2EgzPapWcnOP-tqma9jnPvDKczvSCMP9BvdeeTeUbnVpxNLbA-rWrJ5np2WdYfAtdo31/s1600/IMG_6710.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK_3mPEyJ4DwwwCx3kCOkqf8a3NtDplKpfIMl_4TpkcpMlbIL52ry7eEf2WlBmfKeMipn0X5ncvuJqATq5sLlHtLW0OMVfocIeMl3R6oxhjwogktpPM_kHuP5WHw5t46vg2DHVAqcIsL1/s1600/IMG_6755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuK_3mPEyJ4DwwwCx3kCOkqf8a3NtDplKpfIMl_4TpkcpMlbIL52ry7eEf2WlBmfKeMipn0X5ncvuJqATq5sLlHtLW0OMVfocIeMl3R6oxhjwogktpPM_kHuP5WHw5t46vg2DHVAqcIsL1/s1600/IMG_6755.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4edqO-wLuAUF1JzOtN5PcnxprOmlK9x4DsTNZWlYE2IT8WxQTNFaGiYFFztY-vRM96XYkzlwXpK05deGxSbmywvnbha794Ho46biGJdQmAhUznpzEESDRX30Q5IidSGQxKRyLPACu6REq/s1600/IMG_5606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4edqO-wLuAUF1JzOtN5PcnxprOmlK9x4DsTNZWlYE2IT8WxQTNFaGiYFFztY-vRM96XYkzlwXpK05deGxSbmywvnbha794Ho46biGJdQmAhUznpzEESDRX30Q5IidSGQxKRyLPACu6REq/s1600/IMG_5606.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74dLfj0tS4_qowSQY21o-FMStKXDQixSiAjsZi0mpTh0wNnmr0LfJ7TKN5zo2uuoybeTAfl53GDDIRK-NdUAIY11Yw9bPq8E9qbS3dBk0p4c1w9z79lpttM7JXGqsZwA6c-fYJ3EWaIG0/s1600/IMG_6767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74dLfj0tS4_qowSQY21o-FMStKXDQixSiAjsZi0mpTh0wNnmr0LfJ7TKN5zo2uuoybeTAfl53GDDIRK-NdUAIY11Yw9bPq8E9qbS3dBk0p4c1w9z79lpttM7JXGqsZwA6c-fYJ3EWaIG0/s1600/IMG_6767.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1Xkh_09Jl9yazh5JjuU8tg8VbbgJoCcBbvQYvhkLZgvzixQhYGXjFlpZ4JGFC6HStQ7rxUnyJRair6rz6bmDDBp3vESCiiqODlWgfiwQLteCYhKV011qXoBYsQYBlqq7iDOvr2DGL6z8/s1600/IMG_6781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho1Xkh_09Jl9yazh5JjuU8tg8VbbgJoCcBbvQYvhkLZgvzixQhYGXjFlpZ4JGFC6HStQ7rxUnyJRair6rz6bmDDBp3vESCiiqODlWgfiwQLteCYhKV011qXoBYsQYBlqq7iDOvr2DGL6z8/s1600/IMG_6781.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdTbGUbBMyBHuBbLn6SW2WScXnlLUNsIpO5iKRWD7kmqdNpb-76cgIJl4lPG2hSw3N5DByIwVsEYRYljR6ftzBpiQNyPFjw3zk2NqPDaBzdPKm9rMyqPsBGnVETrcH0voFDkC4VdtuwJ6/s1600/IMG_6915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdTbGUbBMyBHuBbLn6SW2WScXnlLUNsIpO5iKRWD7kmqdNpb-76cgIJl4lPG2hSw3N5DByIwVsEYRYljR6ftzBpiQNyPFjw3zk2NqPDaBzdPKm9rMyqPsBGnVETrcH0voFDkC4VdtuwJ6/s1600/IMG_6915.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Avenir; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-76244594774913456712014-01-01T04:53:00.000-08:002014-06-05T04:54:18.816-07:002013 Year in Review<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
Past years: <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2012/12/2012-year-in-review.html" target="_blank">2012</a>, <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2011/01/2010-year-in-review.html" target="_blank">2010</a>, <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2010/01/2009-year-in-review.html" target="_blank">2009</a>, <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2009/01/2008-year-in-review.html" target="_blank">2008</a>. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
1. What did you do in 2013 that you’ve never done before?<br />
Parented a toddler. Zip-lined. Organized my photos. Started a work at home job. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? <br />
I never make resolutions, I usually make a list of general wants (things like “a healthy, happy baby” or “lots of travel opportunities.”) Looking at my list for the start of 2013, I would say most came to fruition. I’m a big believer in writing things down and letting them go. :) </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? <br />
I foresee this being a long answer for the next few years of my life while all my friends are in baby-making mode... Let’s see: Wino Emily had her second, Cameron, in February. Our best buds Anne and Locke welcomed their first in June, Elijah or as Bo prefers to call him “Baby Li Li.” My dear friend from book club, Anna, had her first, Bennett in June (on the same day as Eli was born.) My high school friend Krissy had her first little boy, Jamie, in September and high school friend/grad school roommate/psuedo big sister Jen had her second, Tobin, in November. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
4. Did anyone close to you die? Matt’s family lost a wonderful soul at the end of the year, his mom’s father, or “Pa” as he was known to all. I’m so fortunate I had the chance to know him, because he was so important to Matt and I’m thankful I got to witness that relationship. Matt grew up next door to his Nanta and Pa, who have been sweethearts since they were 17, and they helped raise him. It was a heavy loss for his family. We also sadly said good-bye to our sweet Buddy in August</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
5. What countries did you visit? <br />
We didn’t leave the country this year but we got plenty of domestic travel in again: <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/02/arizona-vacation.html" target="_blank">Phoenix</a> in February, <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/03/park-city-utah.html" target="_blank">Park City</a> in March, <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-beach.html" target="_blank">Garden City Beach</a> (SC) in April, <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/06/rochester-playdates.html" target="_blank">Rochester </a>in June, <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/07/topsail.html" target="_blank">Topsail Beach</a> (NC) in June, Asheville in July, <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/08/pittsford-trip.html" target="_blank">Rochester </a>in August, Boone in November. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? <br />
I honestly can’t think of anything! Last year I said sleep and bless my sweet Bo, he’s been a great sleeper this year. I feel totally fulfilled in every other area of my life. Pinch me!</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
July 28th - <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/07/bos-actual-birthday.html" target="_blank">Bo’s first Birthday</a></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
August 23rd - said good-bye to <a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/10/buddy.html" target="_blank">sweet Buddy</a></div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? <br />
Advocating for Bo to get him started early on physical therapy. Scoring a new job that is work-at-home, flexible, pays well and is interesting work. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
9. What was your biggest failure? <br />
Lots of little moments where I failed to parent at my best because I was tired or impatient. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? <br />
One brief stomach bug right before Utah but otherwise, a healthy year for all of us. Grateful for that! </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
11. What was the best thing you bought? <br />
I bought it (used!) in 2012 but my BOB has been one of my best investments. We’ve put lots of happy miles on that guy. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? <br />
My dear husband who has turned into a wonderful daddy - who works hard so I can stay home with our little one, but always jumps in to play or help me out with Bo. Also, both sets of grandparents who have been so engaged and part of Bo’s life and so willing to take over parenting duties so we can escape on our many little trips. And lastly, my dear tribe of mommafriends, some who live nearby, some who live in my phone, who are always ready to lend a hand or an ear to support each other through the many interesting moments of parenting littles. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? <br />
I’ve ceased watching a lot of news because it just depresses me, and because I’ve found when something truly big happens, I’ll learn about it anyways through Facebook, Twitter or just conversations. Every year I grow more frustrated hearing about the mass shootings that happen all over our country and frustrated that politicians aren’t representing the requests of american people to change gun laws. I hope I see that change in my lifetime. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
14. Where did most of your money go? <br />
Target and student loans </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? <br />
Ben Folds Five, Guster and Barenaked Ladies touring together. (<a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/07/1998-called.html" target="_blank">And they were amazing!</a>). Bo’s first steps. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
16. What song will always remind you of 2013?<br />
Wheels on the Bus </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:a) happier or sadder?b) thinner or fatter?c) richer or poorer? <br />
a) Happier… I’ve grown more and more content and grateful with each passing year. b) Thinner!!! Finally back in pre-baby clothes. c) Richer… thanks to some aggressive payment plans, we’re starting to see a dent in student loans and husband has been one year out from residency and making a real salary. So, financially, richer. In every other way of interpreting that though, much, much richer. Our family life is full and happy, we have everything we need, we have our health - we couldn’t ask for more. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? <br />
Meditated. Wrote. Blogged. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? <br />
Judged. Gossiped. Read Facebook.</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
20. How did you spend Christmas? <br />
We spent Christmas with my family at our house and watched Bo learn what “presents” meant. We traveled down to Charlotte a few days later to spend Christmas-belated with my in-law’s family and did a low-country boil at my sister-in-law’s house. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
21. Did you fall in love in 2013?<br />
More and more every day. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
22. What was your favorite TV program? <br />
How I Met Your Mother, The Mindy Project</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? <br />
No</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
24. What was the best book you read? <br />
Conversations with God, The Gifts of Imperfection</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? <br />
Lullaby station on Pandora. Great to fall asleep to, great to write to. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
26. What did you want and get? <br />
A healthy, happy toddler. More sleep. More travel. Debt reduction.</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
27. What did you want and not get? <br />
A house in my favorite neighborhood (Eventually…) </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
28. What was your favorite film of this year? <br />
Pitch Perfect (obsessed!!!)</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? <br /><a href="http://matthewandmeghan.blogspot.com/2013/05/31_19.html" target="_blank">31</a> - we had a few friends over for margaritas and a cookout</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? <br />
To have seen my book reach more people (which would require me to do more work marketing it… I know.)</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013? <br />
Oh hello, old clothes! I missed you! (Returning to a pre-partum wardrobe. Regretting selling a favorite pair of jeans on ebay.) </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
32. What kept you sane? <br />
Matt, gratitude journaling, dance trance, running with the BOB, wine, porch mornings</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? <br />
Brene Brown. I want a coffee date with this woman and pick her brain.</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
34. What political issue stirred you the most? <br />
Guns. Food industry. Chemicals in our shampoos and soaps. Feeling like consumers have to do all the work because we can’t trust businesses to look out for us.</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
35. Who did you miss? <br />
My grandparents. Akanksha. Anna. Winos. </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
36. Who was the best new person you met? <br />
Do my friends’ new babies count? </div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013. <br />
Happiness is not about arriving at big moments in your life - although some of those moments will be extraordinarily happy when you do arrive. It’s more about the quiet, day to day contentment and gratitude for the life you currently have. This summer was hard for a couple of reasons that I wrote about before, and I could feel a quiet, pervasive sadness in my chest for a couple months. But despite that, I still felt a greater sense of hope, contentment, peace and optimism that it would be okay. I read t<a href="http://www.daniellelaporte.com/you-will-be-called-on-to-expand-and-this-is-why-we-practice/" target="_blank">his post</a> by one of my favorite writers/inspiration-givers Danielle LaPorte in early 2013 and when this sad period hit, it came back to me. “This is why we practice.” This is why I practice gratitude, meditation, prayer. This is why I exercise. This is why I connect with others. So that when the hard things do show up, I’m not running on fumes to deal with them. I’m not writing this nearly as eloquently as she did (of course) but hopefully the message will convey.</div>
<div style="color: #323333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<br /></div>
Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-60033995678749120572013-11-10T18:59:00.001-08:002013-11-10T18:59:13.990-08:0015 Months<p>Bowen :: 15 months</p> <p>Stats: We haven’t had his appointment yet to get a height and weight but the unofficial weight by my scale is 25 lbs. Clothing size hasn’t changed a lot– he’s in 18 month tops, 12 month pants and 12-18 month pajamas.</p> <p>Eats: EVERYTHING. I call him my toddler garbage disposal. I’m crossing my fingers that this appetite remains through the toddler years, because I know full well that they can change their minds on a dime and suddenly, favorite foods become repulsive. But as of right now, there isn’t a thing this kid won’t eat. His favorites are: corn, carrots, butternut squash, bananas, pears, strawberries, blueberries, turkey meatballs, grilled chicken, salmon, roasted chickpeas, grilled cheese, mac n cheese, peanut butter, waffles. (That wasn’t a particularly narrow list, I guess.) </p> <p>Sleeps: He's on a pretty regular 7pm-7am nighttime schedule. He no longer pulls on his sleeve to fall asleep, that’s been replaced by his new best bud “Puppy.” We hear him on his monitor going “puppy puppy puppy” and rolling back and forth with him. He also sleeps with Bunny (called “ee ee”) and a sock monkey lovey (also called “ee ee.”) He was doing 2 naps a day until right around 14 months, then we went through a rough 2 weeks of “2 naps too much, one nap too little” and then all of a sudden, I found myself with a one-nap baby. It’s usually about an hour and a half, although on a random lucky day I’ll get 2 hours. Everything has been pretty much smooth sailing in this department until daylight savings came along. We won’t talk about that though.</p> <p>Milestones: So. Much. Talking. It amazes me how many words he picks up on and has reminded me it’s time to clean up my language. Right around his first birthday he was doing a lot of animal noises and saying “mommy” and “daddy.” In the months since then, his language has exploded. Which I guess, balances out the fact that his gross motor skills have always been a little bit late to the game. (Note: not complaining.) Shortly after his birthday, he started pulling up and by 14 months he had gotten the hang of cruising. The last month or so, he’s been doing wind sprints around the house with his push-walker (or a cooler, if we’re out on the back deck…  Annnnnd, then just a few days ago, he did finally take his first few not-so-cautious steps. Over the last week, he’s been taking more and more of them although he won’t take off from furniture by himself – he only goes when he’s holding on to our hands and can let go from there. (He also hasn’t figured out how to go from a sit to a stand or vice versa yet –  we’re doing things a little bit out of order.) In the last three months, he’s also mastered stair climbing – seriously, seriously fast – and opening cabinet doors and toilet lids. So, baby proofing.</p> <p>Milestones, Part 2: I wrote this right around his 15 month birthday but didn’t get around to posting it until 2 weeks later. Within the span of 2 days, he went from: walking from person to person to pulling up on furniture and walking away to pretty much sprinting around our house. (All on his tiptoes. I go back and forth between being concerned about this and assuming he’ll grow out of it.) </p> <p>New words: mommy, daddy, chicken, baby, Li Li (in answer to “Who’s your best friend?” I’d say “Eli!” – our friend’s son who is close in age, and that turned into “Li li!”), na na (banana), bubbles (which are asked for constantly), puppy, hey, hi, bye bye, digger, tractor, milk (“mik”), waffle, raspberry, water, beep beep (toy trains, car keys), ball, nose, ears, eyes, teeth, mouth, bath, down (when he's being carried), mo (more), leaf, fish, Pop (Matt’s dad), Muh Muh (my mom – Grandma turned into muh muh)</p> <p>Things I love right now: He makes “wee oo wee oo” noises when he sees an ambulance or fire truck in his books but usually opens and closes his eyes while he makes the noise. He loves to FaceTime with anyone but immediately starts asking for kitties (“mrow? mrow? mrow?”) because my mom usually flips the camera around to her kitties – so it doesn’t matter if you actually have kitties or not, he will ask. Anytime he hears a door open in our house, he says “Daddy?” He rolls his tongue (like a spanish R) whenever he is playing with cars. He loves to read and will pull every book off his bookshelf looking for specific ones. He mimes “wash your hair,” “brush your teeth”, and “clean your ears.” He holds everything – phones, remotes, and the video monitor – up to the side of his head and says “hello?” If he hears me talking on the phone, when I say, “okay I’ll talk to you later” he shouts “bye bye!” He LOVES to go anywhere – it doesn’t matter where we’re going, if I say “going bye bye” he gets over the top excited. He’ll make faces on demand – surprise, grumpy, sleepy and happy (or “cheese” face). Grumpy is, of course, the best.</p> <p>In some ways, he’s become so much a little boy – when he sits reading a book with his legs crossed, I find myself staring in surprise at this little child who has appeared before me. But at other times, I’m reminded that we’re still closer to babyhood than big kidhood and I don’t have to feel too hurried. (Unfortunately, those are usually the moments where he’s having a meltdown over… oh I dunno, the fact that I put pears on his tray when he saw a banana on the counter and wanted that.) It’s rare that he holds still for a minute these days, so I cherish the moments when I’m putting him down to bed and he’s sleepy enough to rest his head on my shoulder for a minute – feeling the heft of his small body leaned into mine and remembering how he once fit into the crook of my arm.</p> <p>I have people tell me all the time when they ask how old he is “oh this is the most fun age.” I can see why. I feel like I never stop laughing when I’m watching this kid in action. Except, of course, when I’m watching him lift up the toilet lid and throw something in. (That happened in slow motion in case you’re wondering why I couldn’t intervene. Luckily, it wasn’t a phone.) Watching him make connections about the world and discover words for things or be able to communicate his needs with me is incredible. I hope I never get over the wonder of watching a child learn about the world.</p> <p>Happy 15 months, Bowie Boy! We couldn’t love you more if we tried. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MXdaRQvPPYE/UoBH1CJNZgI/AAAAAAAAHuI/4s2f-w_ETIM/s1600-h/899%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img title="899" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="899" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8xjEKBJSZRc/UoBH2evnYyI/AAAAAAAAHuQ/3J4eB8_GXB4/899_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="437" height="654" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0H47DkZqeBE/UoBH3-xoxvI/AAAAAAAAHuY/GVUPc6N2TVs/s1600-h/912%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="912" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="912" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--8uO6vCz_pY/UoBH4R72WiI/AAAAAAAAHug/D6_l9IvHjxU/912_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="437" height="654" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ALd_MIy9pOY/UoBH43WOqhI/AAAAAAAAHuo/rL07qd6lD5M/s1600-h/923%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="923" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="923" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-F7GdTvZQu6o/UoBH6CMBa7I/AAAAAAAAHuw/tIQuWdZ6jRY/923_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="437" height="654" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-99UgpeofoCE/UoBH7SNImdI/AAAAAAAAHu4/OCblkXJmN0A/s1600-h/918%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="918" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="918" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-64E7puAdsq0/UoBH8WvxE3I/AAAAAAAAHvA/mJcpO0M75pE/918_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="437" height="654" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ByAPNJviRB4/UoBH9JwtXwI/AAAAAAAAHvI/lcT-_XQA3MY/s1600-h/905%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="905" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="905" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1XbfOWEMPwQ/UoBH-Dni2SI/AAAAAAAAHvQ/6x173OdQJzE/905_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="437" height="654" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-EA4W76WvY5M/UoBH--LKuhI/AAAAAAAAHvY/aGxEdbqkLEg/s1600-h/903%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="903" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="903" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sVDdaNYscuI/UoBH_yXMFmI/AAAAAAAAHvg/rPghQy9Zcd0/903_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="437" height="654" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-49016868156337022552013-10-14T18:03:00.001-07:002013-10-14T18:12:17.960-07:00Buddy<p>“He was a pain in the ass. But he was <i>our</i> pain in the ass.”</p> <p>It’s not the most eloquent eulogy anyone has ever delivered, but it’s one of the things Matt said to me the day we said good-bye to Buddy and I couldn’t help but laugh and smile through the waves of tears that kept streaming down my face. Such true words about our dear, sweet, loveable and incredibly difficult little dog who shared our lives for four and half years. </p> <p>The first day we went to see him, we watched him run around the backyard with the other dogs at his foster home. From far away, he had the happy gait of a puppy but as he got close there was an unmistakable wheezing and it was obvious that the short romp had left him winded. He had been found along the side of a busy highway a few months before, malnourished, coat matted and sick with hookworms and heartworms. The woman who found him and brought him home was an angel to him. She searched unsuccessfully for his previous owners, and then paid out of her own pocket for the health care he needed. She sat him with him through a frightening 24 hours where it was unclear whether he would survive the heartworm treatment. She truly rescued him. </p> <p>A few months after Roberta had found him, we found ourselves in her backyard, deciding whether Buddy would come live with us. We had been ready to get a dog for a few months, when I saw Buddy on a mutual friend’s Facebook feed and fell in love with him instantly. As we left from our initial visit, we both knew he was going to be ours. “Just remember,” Matt said that day as we drove home, “with age and his heart in that condition, we may only have three or four years with him.” </p> <p>We had been warned by Roberta that he had some separation issues, and I immediately began devouring everything I could find about how to overcome separation anxiety. The first week we brought him home, Matt found himself sleeping on the couch, one hand reaching out to soothe the anxious dog who was pacing circles in his unfamiliar territory, unable to sleep. </p> <p>We assumed it would get better with time.</p> <p>With time, Buddy learned to trust and love us. He went from a dog who wouldn’t stay on the couch for two seconds to my favorite snuggle buddy, happy to curl up next to me for a nap on the couch and eventually jumping up to “big bed.” Oops. He went from a dog who showed minimal interest in food to, unfortunately, a world class beggar. Oops. (He was so skinny that we shamelessly fed him table scraps.) He learned to look us in the eyes and hold our gaze, something he wouldn’t do for the first year or so he lived with us. Later, when Bo came along, he was the most gentle and kind dog that a little toddler could hope for – never batting an eye as Bo practiced “gentle hands” on him by yanking on ears, tails and clumps of fur or allowing himself to be used as a highway for toy trucks. </p> <p>The one thing Buddy never learned though, was how to be okay with being home alone. We started out following the training protocol for separation anxiety to a T. We practiced “desensitizing” him to our leaving cues, picking up keys or saying “bye bye” over and over to try and make them a non-event. We practiced leaving him in his crate for incremental time periods. I’d sit upstairs out of sight and time how long he would go in his crate without barking (or peeing) and feel a smidge of hope as he gradually progressed from 2 minutes to 3 minutes to 5 minutes. With Matt’s odd working hours, it was rare that we ever had to leave him for even a full 8 hours at a time, but the situation never improved. After he chewed on his crate door and broke his incisor teeth off, we tried leaving him out in the house. After repairing curtains, sanding and repainting three door jambs and then finally, renting a steam vac and having to clean a carpet after he accidentally got himself locked in the guest room one day, we realized leaving him out was not an option. </p> <p>And then, of course, there was the period of time we climbed out our bedroom window. Our master bedroom is on the first floor and Buddy would sleep soundly in his bed in the living room if we were sleeping in the bedroom. Since Matt slept a lot during the day (odd work hours), this often meant Buddy would be sleeping during the day while Matt was in the bedroom. We realized that if we “pretended” to go to sleep –laid down in bed, closed our eyes and waited a good 15-20 minutes, Buddy would go lay down in his bed in the living room. We could quietly shut the bedroom door and… climb out the window. </p> <p>Yes, we climbed out the bedroom window for approximately 2 months to trick our anxious dog into thinking we were asleep in the bedroom. </p> <p>And it worked.</p> <p>(For a while.)</p> <p>Eventually, it stopped working and after having to clean up a few too many accidents in our house, we realized the bedroom window method had to stop. Also, it probably freaked out the neighbors – especially when Matt climbed out in his all-black work scrubs. </p> <p>The bedroom window phase is just a snapshot of the lengths we went to work around Buddy’s quirks. There was a brief period of time where I had heard that dogs with anxiety just needed to exercise a lot before you left, so I dutifully woke up at 4:30 am every morning to walk him for an hour before getting ready for work. I lost 5 pounds, Buddy stayed anxious. </p> <p>We tried three different types of medications. I talked to four behaviorists/trainers. I talked to a dog psychic. Twice. </p> <p>I cried. A lot. I prayed. People told us we didn’t have to keep him – that we had tried hard enough. It was hard. We were constantly cleaning up accidents around our house, altering our schedules to make sure we weren’t gone too long, and in the last year of his life, waking up between one and four times a night to rush him outside. (Try doing that once your newborn has taken to sleeping through the night, and you’ll experience a special kind of rage and frustration and resentment all at once.)</p> <p>We eventually found a routine that “worked” for us, with Buddy staying in the garage when we left. When it got too hot in the summer, he spent his days at Ruff Housing – a place with the kindest, sweetest dog lovers I have ever met. (I owe them a thank you note for their special kindness to my weird, difficult dog who often relieved himself immediately upon walking into their lobby.) We had a dog-sitter who dealt with his quirks when we went out of town, and a few kind friends who helped us out over the years when we were in a pinch and needed overnight care for Buddy. We had understanding friends who welcomed Buddy to dinner parties and potlucks. </p> <p>When I think about Buddy’s death, I feel so sad and heavy and lonely for the sweet furball who was a part of our family. I also feel hugely guilty about the sense of relief that’s unmistakably present after almost 5 years of working the coming and goings of our family around our dog’s needs. It makes me feel like a horrible person to acknowledge it, but it’s there and it’s part of my grief processing. It was really, really, really hard being Buddy’s momma sometimes and I know there were many days when I showed the ugliest side of myself to him when I lost my patience with him.</p> <p>Yet despite that, I know sweet Buddy knew we loved him. And we did. After a few years of trying to change him, I think we both just accepted that Buddy wasn’t going to change or at least wouldn’t be able to with the time and resources we had available to offer him. (I once read an article about a dog who sounded exactly like Buddy, and how his owner got him through his separation anxiety. It took a full year of her never leaving him alone – she worked from home and hired full-time caretakers to be present with him. I cried when I read that article, because I realized that’s what Buddy would have needed to have had any hope of getting “better” and that that just wasn’t in the cards for us.)</p> <p>The last year of Buddy’s life I was home full-time with Bo. I half-expected things to get better with me being home, but this was even further proof that Buddy’s anxiety was more pathological than we ever realized. Once I stopped fighting his anxiety and just accepted that that’s who he was and how he was going to be, I finally started to feel a sense of peace about it. Buddy never asked anything of us, and I finally stopped asking anything of him. (Okay, that’s a lie. I asked him every night to please sleep all night without having to pee. He never listened.)</p> <p>Despite his anxiety, he frolicked like a puppy on walks. We took him up to our mountain house a few times and in the cold air, he’d take off on a fast sprint through the woods, ears flopping and leaves crunching under his feet. He chased the geese in our neighborhood for years – there was many a morning where I’d let him out in the (unfenced) backyard and the geese would catch his eye and he’d be off. Off I would go, running through the neighborhood in a bathrobe and rain boots to catch him. Getting a fence was the best investment we ever made. </p> <p>He fell asleep in the most random and funniest places. I’d often find him with his head hanging off the bed, or half under a piece of furniture or once, face down in his bed and his rump straight up in the air. </p> <p>He loved Pup-a-Roni’s, which we called Schrupaschronis. When he’d see the bright red bag, he’d sit down and his front feet would dance and his teeth would chatter with excitement. </p> <p>He never licked, but every now and then when he’d be sitting next to me on the couch, he’d give me one lick on the face. We called it his nervous kiss.</p> <p>For a long time, I brought him with me wherever I could. I took him to work with me and found a coffee shop that was dog-friendly where I spent many afternoons blogging. We took him to the beach a few times, and he’d spend our beach days curled up on the sand under my chair. </p> <p>Roberta had named him Buddy when she found him, and Matt and I had discussed other names for him when we got him. I’m so glad we kept it Buddy – through and through, he was my buddy. </p> <p>At the beginning of this summer, we started to notice some undeniable changes in him. At first he started to drag on walks, then he became too tired to even go on them. He had difficulty climbing our stairs, and less interest in food. As his hearing and vision worsened, his anxiety grew worse and worse. He’d lose track of me when I’d walk upstairs to put Bo down for a nap, not be able to hear my voice upstairs, and have an accident in the five minutes I would be gone. Some days he needed to be carried down the back steps to go outside and would pause carefully before climbing back up. He started having mini seizures and would often walk into walls or lose control of his back legs.</p> <p>Nobody thinks about the final days when you go to pick out your family pet. You know in the back of your head that it’s something you’ll inevitably have to face one day, but you push it far, far away. I kept waiting for a clear sign that it was “time.” I kept praying I’d wake up one day and he would have gone peacefully in his sleep. It was then that I realized – if I was praying for him to go gently in his sleep – then it was time for us to let go. I knew I was keeping Buddy alive because I couldn’t bear the pain of saying good-bye to him and because I struggled with knowing whether it was “exactly” the right time. The last few days I just sat with him every chance I could, and stroked his sweet head in my lap and tried to memorize how soft his ears felt, how his eyebrows twitched when he’d looked at me, how his nose was freckled and how his feet smelled like fritos. I felt like the look he gave me was always one that said “Mama, I’ll stay here as long as you need me to – but I’m ready.” </p> <p>I miss him the most on nights like tonight, when Matt’s working and Bo has gone to bed. I’m sitting on the couch with the laptop on my lap, a glass of wine balanced precariously on the cushion next to me and I still look down before I take my feet off the table to stand up – looking for the little bundle of fur that made it his life mission to trip me. His stay with us was brief, but I know his impact will be forever felt in my heart. He was such a gentle reminder of the importance of patience and acceptance. I know I failed him many times, but it’s amazing how our dogs never get mad at us. </p> <p>I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love when I shared his passing on instagram and facebook. I also received so many kind texts and emails from friends and family. A line from an email from my Dad stuck with me: “Buddy wouldn’t have lasted 5 weeks and you gave him 5 years of love! Always give like that now that you know you receive so much more in return.” </p> <p>One thing I read about separation anxiety was dogs that had a “job” to perform often felt less insecure and were able to overcome their anxiety. Buddy might not have realized it, but he performed one of the most important jobs I could have asked of anyone: he reminded me, day after day, to accept what someone offers you and let go of my own expectations of how they should be. Sweet Spuds, I am thankful for the years you gave us and truly hope you are now enjoying an endless bounty of Schrupaschronis. We miss you, Buds.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kdBG46x15gU/UlyUUIWkKhI/AAAAAAAAHtg/0l6WGDw6ByU/s1600-h/IMG_3585%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_3585" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_3585" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ey-iQn4kRSw/UlyUVVeWfxI/AAAAAAAAHto/u22NWwnMQwE/IMG_3585_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="504" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-59095582318276428852013-09-24T13:03:00.001-07:002013-09-24T13:03:20.484-07:00August and Everything After<p>I hope Mr. Duritz will forgive me for taking liberty with his words on this little blog, but it seemed like an appropriate title for a post intended to sum up the rest of a month. A month! I don’t know where August went.</p> <p>I don’t know where August went, but we, at least, finally stopped going going going.</p> <p>We’ve had a busy, busy summer full of travel and I have to admit I felt a wave of relief to pull in our driveway after NY and know that we weren’t headed anywhere for a few weeks. The rest of August felt like one long, lazy summer day. We spent a lot of time at the pool with Jamie and little Z and then reveling in the long naps that follow a day of sun and water. We had a visit from Akanksha and a girls morning out brunch for Jamie’s birthday. We went on lots of stroller walks with friends and I finally got back to some consistency with running and dipped my toe back into the dance trance world. We spent a lot of days at home, working on skills like stair climbing, being gentle to Buddy, opening drawers and flinging everything out and using a straw cup. I finally got caught up on some projects that have been on my to do lists for months including hanging a picture I’ve had since October (!!!!). I spent a lot of Bo’s naptimes curled up with Buddy’s soft head in my lap and a good book in hand, relishing the quiet. With heavy, heavy hearts we said good-bye to Buddy in the final week of August (deep breath, don’t start crying again) and I spent the better part of a weekend walking around in my pajamas, ugly crying as I went about my routine. I owe it to the sweet Budsters to write more about this and I will, but I’m not emotionally ready yet. I was thankful that the scheduling gods gave Matt all of Labor Day weekend off, because I needed the distraction of his go-go-go social calendar to just sweep me up and force me into the motions of our normal life to keep moving forward after that. And then before I knew it, it was September 1st and there was a chill in the air when I’d wake up in the mornings. Granted, by 9 am it would be 89% humidity again but the promise of fall and fresh starts and blank notebooks and sharp pencils is there nonetheless. </p> <p>It’s been a hard summer, for reasons obvious (above) and not so obvious (and not mine to share.) The last few months have been busy, fun, relaxing and full of joyful moments with a silly toddler, but there’s also been a persistent heavy feeling that has taken up residence in my chest and tears have surprised me on more than one occasion when a friend in the know will gently ask, how are you? I told one friend that at least it feels like a healthy sadness – the kind that can cohabitate with other feelings, like hope and optimism and gratitude. The kind of sadness that shows up when you’re going through something hard and shitty (like, I dunno, losing your dog) but you know it’s appropriate and it will eventually pass with time. It’s there, and it’s uncomfortable but it’ll pass. And gratitude has always been my antidote to hard things, and helps act as a compass to redirect my focus to what’s wonderful and lovely right under my nose. It doesn’t take much before I’m reminded.</p> <p>In the meantime, I’ve circled around this blog a few times, trying to decide what I’m doing with this.  For the last few months, I haven’t <em>felt like </em>blogging and let’s be honest… this isn’t a job, there isn’t anyone anxiously hitting refresh (except my mom, Hi Sharebear!) and I’m likely the only one who cares if I’m <em>up to date. </em>It seems obvious to me that if blogging feels like an obligation, then – duh – stop blogging. We’ve been busy, busy, busy living our lives and stopping to write it all down in front of glowing screen just hasn’t had the draw that it used to. </p> <p>And yet… </p> <p>I love having our little lives documented on this corner of the internet. I have grand intentions of making family yearbooks with the thousands of pictures I take each year, but this is where my stories reside. I often  go back and read old posts of mine, and I’m always happy I captured these small moments of our life – even if I’m often capturing them two or three weeks (months) later. I don’t know if one day Bo and any brothers/sisters he may have will like reading these stories or if that will just be asking too much of their attention spans, but it still feels important to capture them. </p> <p>I originally started blogging because I realized I hated scrapbooking but I’ve always loved journaling and taking photos and this seemed like a natural marriage of the two. Once I got going, I discovered there was a whole community of bloggers out there and it seemed like a natural progression to think of this as a way to connect with other people. And I have! I’ve met people through my blog that I never would have crossed paths with “in real life” and some of them I consider my most cherished friends and my first lines of defense when it comes to sending out panicked texts about child rearing or “should I purchase this dress that’s on sale even though I have no where to wear it?” emergencies. It takes a digital village, ya’ll. I’ve been blessed to meet some of them in person, and others remain digital friends but close nonetheless. But, the mindset of having “that kind of blog” makes me feel this artificial pressure to post more frequently – something like a semi-daily basis – and it’s taken me awhile to accept that that’s just not a priority I’m willing to make. (Dear reader, you may have figured that out years ago. It’s quite apparent if I got a weekly post in, I was writing “frequently.”) I’ve also found that Instagram and Twitter have really served the “digital bonding” purpose that I originally thought this blog would as far as meeting new people and staying connected with far-flung (or even same zip code) friends. </p> <p>I also feel more reluctant to share anything more than funny anecdotes or a recap of vacations, events and milestones. I’ve gone back and forth on the idea of making my blog private numerous times. I wrote and rewrote that paragraph about feeling sad about fifty times before deciding to leave it in. This doesn’t just feel like <strong>my</strong> blog anymore – one day my fifteen year old child may google his name and I wonder what he’ll think of what his dear old mama decided to share with the internet. (I’ve tried to keep from embarrassing Teenage Bo, but I’m certain all mamas are guarantee to fill in that endeavor by their mere existence.)</p> <p>So, six paragraphs of thinking out loud later, where does that leave me? I’m not ready to shut down my blog, but I’m ready to let myself off some make-believe hook I’ve been on that I need to post with any type of regularity or profoundness. I love to write and doing so in any form – blog, journal, book, 140 character deep thoughts – is an outlet for me. And, I still want a home for our family stories to live, even if they are fewer and far between or cause deep mortification to my offspring one day. Obviously, this think-as-I-write post is for me, to give myself permission I’ve been silly enough to think I need, to know that it’s okay to blog however I want to blog. Once a month, three times in a day, up to date or throwback style. If you’re here and you’re still reading, I love reading your comments and knowing you’re out there caring about our little family. If you’ve scrolled straight down to the photos and I’m talking to myself at this point, well that’s totally okay too.</p> <p>Commence the photo dump. That’s really why we’re here, isn’t it? </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kZ5v0keLcGA/UkHvyKbAs3I/AAAAAAAAHrI/E6775Co2Qj0/s1600-h/222%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="222" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="222" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1_ZoezK8OiU/UkHvzE-TlpI/AAAAAAAAHrQ/YoWhKHiSuWg/222_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3_UPUCRhfM8/UkHvz4JPJHI/AAAAAAAAHrY/8j1JVfNbhHw/s1600-h/224%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="224" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="224" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-i4AU4FRlPl8/UkHv1PNFN3I/AAAAAAAAHrg/pKyqxrv8IXU/224_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FffHXgiHTW0/UkHv15QOnHI/AAAAAAAAHro/VwjeEwCe5yQ/s1600-h/229%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="229" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="229" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-v_438G52UzI/UkHv2udxBQI/AAAAAAAAHrw/YJ5i5GkQpMI/229_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IQrS06pqO28/UkHv3NIEUwI/AAAAAAAAHr4/QLt0lJfZEB0/s1600-h/234%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="234" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="234" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RIE8hsLmrdw/UkHv3lpuGaI/AAAAAAAAHsA/oebnGf6TuKs/234_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-G2yzBnGKi8o/UkHv4SIQfZI/AAAAAAAAHsI/f1HsOhm_2lU/s1600-h/236%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="236" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="236" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-swRGdUfCfMk/UkHv44MS3FI/AAAAAAAAHsQ/-RP3GRmtGSA/236_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-uC5Vu0n5BF8/UkHv5kI19cI/AAAAAAAAHsY/FfuPkK3avPo/s1600-h/238%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="238" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="238" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pNVhj28gvyU/UkHv6J9_0vI/AAAAAAAAHsg/fUlcENifzPs/238_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8FzgSgCVqkg/UkHv7cqWHJI/AAAAAAAAHso/7B6yhyhl4t8/s1600-h/258%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="258" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="258" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KcpHuZcIvlo/UkHv8Z5l2AI/AAAAAAAAHsw/ZVb2FSsAUTg/258_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="753" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DyMP1aKeoew/UkHv99yEruI/AAAAAAAAHs4/wbuPtJDQWyc/s1600-h/266%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="266" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="266" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rd0TfKH_Y7M/UkHv_F2R-5I/AAAAAAAAHtA/lzwAtKJ65UE/266_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="753" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XkNYLS_0qN4/UkHwAKtpOmI/AAAAAAAAHtI/e8RX0cCohp4/s1600-h/270%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="270" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="270" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i_mt1zlchVw/UkHwBCEwPtI/AAAAAAAAHtQ/cYasJBtSLxo/270_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="504" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-5194606603033746272013-08-12T05:08:00.000-07:002013-09-10T05:15:18.327-07:00Pittsford Trip<p>In early August, we headed off on our first really big road trip to Rochester. If you’re thinking to yourself, “Wow, driving 10.5 hours with a 12 month old! That does not sound fun!”.. well, you would be absolutely correct. Bo was quite a trooper – on the way up, he made it 7 hours before losing his mind and truthfully at that point, I felt like crying and flailing about too. On the way home, he was on to what this long car trip was all about and was basically miserable the whole way, even with me sitting in the back entertaining him. He slept approximately 60 out of 600 minutes, both times. Neato. Despite all that, I will say I preferred this to flying because at least his crying was self-contained to our vehicle and we could stop whenever we wanted for some fresh air, caffeinated beverages or just sitting at a rest stop and watching big trucks go by for a happy break. Either way, we made it. Another mama merit badge earned. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3bgNWiDEr08/Ui8LzPuyxsI/AAAAAAAAHm8/g-oorKHVllg/s1600-h/638%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="638" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="638" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-u071rc9YWrQ/Ui8Lz95IwgI/AAAAAAAAHnE/lysUPNxCvnk/638_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="671" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jBgtijsK1A8/Ui8L0c5ErHI/AAAAAAAAHnM/VUUBLRvdrwU/s1600-h/716%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="716" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="716" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7OIhbmefax8/Ui8L1OeexxI/AAAAAAAAHnU/8DwRoSknWFw/716_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p>The big draw for our trip home was that the PGA Championships were being played at the golf club my parents belong to and Matt’s a big golf fan. I went to the practice rounds and that was enough for me to get a taste of it, and the rest of the week Matt attended with my brother-in-law or Dad and he was a happy camper. I spent the week letting Bo act as a Babyproofing Consultant on my mom’s house and visiting with old friends. There were a number of people who had returned to our town for the PGA so it was a great opportunity to catch up with people I hadn’t seen in years, especially since I rarely spend the holidays in NY anymore. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0W4CvbrJB5s/Ui8L2GdO7VI/AAAAAAAAHnc/xhmIGd4TdJ4/s1600-h/646%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="646" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="646" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Et7V_D6CSnE/Ui8L3IvH4SI/AAAAAAAAHnk/stiNv2jaiGQ/646_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="671" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BHlRXY3ouOI/Ui8L3422GgI/AAAAAAAAHns/fNhrLyI8tnc/s1600-h/655%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="655" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="655" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-auKfpbRqQmg/Ui8L4QT6qhI/AAAAAAAAHn0/alLcS-69Ouc/655_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="323" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Qu3OU2tBZOI/Ui8L44sl0VI/AAAAAAAAHn8/3-VYZaC_Gz4/s1600-h/656%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="656" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="656" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YRWKmn7p5is/Ui8L5ymkxvI/AAAAAAAAHoE/xlDtsTufR0E/656_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="323" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-zc2FZa2Ogdo/Ui8L69rAxRI/AAAAAAAAHoM/9lyGwwYgR1M/s1600-h/649%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="649" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="649" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Os9nDgZKAh4/Ui8L7QrzgFI/AAAAAAAAHoU/oBm_3Tl3CLo/649_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="323" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-i7iKWOmMbgs/Ui8L8sp0qCI/AAAAAAAAHoc/2ktCmfm1jms/s1600-h/651%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="651" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="651" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fkddzdREvYo/Ui8L9La1soI/AAAAAAAAHok/HqekH4__P8U/651_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="323" /></a></p> <p>One of the highlights of my trip was getting together with 3 of childhood friends for a playdate with their children. My friend Jenn hosted, who has been one of my best friends since we were 13. My mom came along, since she’s good friends with Jenn’s mom, and we were laughing to ourselves as we walked up their front path about how many times I had been to Jenn’s house for things like prom pictures, New Years Eve sleepovers, even a dinner party for our high school Spanish club… and now we were here for a kiddo playdate. The other two girls, Kristen and Laura, I have known since elementary school and their little boys, Ryan and Nate, are 1 month and 2 months older than Bo respectively. It was so, so fun. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-cPyKJzXlinI/Ui8MAc-lyTI/AAAAAAAAHos/aaQNJ_yhQBk/s1600-h/668%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="668" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="668" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PBJqUjuTsA0/Ui8MCgh2KhI/AAAAAAAAHo0/k5VAENm2Qqk/668_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="754" height="427" /></a></p> <p>I also got to spend some time catching up with friends from the neighborhood I grew up (that none of us actually live in anymore.) It was totally a picturesque 80s suburb neighborhood where we played capture the flag and rode our bikes all over until it was time to go home for dinner. (Our moms are all best buds to this day and refer to themselves as “the hood ladies.” I love it.) A couple years ago, I reconnected with some of the “hood kids” over Twitter. I had a fun night catching up with them in real life at a cookout – and finally got to meet the wife of one of my childhood buddies, who I’ve talked to on Twitter for the last two years! We actually got together for a walk earlier in the day, and it felt strange to say “nice to meet you” because it really was just like seeing an old friend. This is why I love the Twitters. </p> <p>We also celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary while we were at home! Hard to believe 6 years have flown by already. We opted not to go out because of the PGA crowds, and had a yummy dinner at home with the family and shared a bottle of our favorite champs.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VY_vapccu-8/Ui8MD1ibEaI/AAAAAAAAHo8/XVGMIp0fsSQ/s1600-h/710%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="710" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="710" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rdliWdRujTo/Ui8MEY6ZbrI/AAAAAAAAHpE/9Zpl9mN1S8U/710_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p>It was a fun trip home, even with the travel drama, and I’m happy we had both the opportunity to spend some time with my family (and for Matt to spend some time with his favorite golfers) as well as get to see far-flung friends I miss. I absolutely love our life in NC, but going home to Pittsford in the summer time and seeing childhood friends sure makes me nostalgic for my roots and wishing the road to get there wasn’t quite as long as it is. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1c4BS-GG26E/Ui8MFWLSrJI/AAAAAAAAHpM/ncrimmNWrfI/s1600-h/659%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="659" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="659" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-D5uHZUrh5oo/Ui8MGNSGvhI/AAAAAAAAHpU/uaTZ54dCCh8/659_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="671" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9kF4Trv-AMo/Ui8MGufYG5I/AAAAAAAAHpc/ZUECi0taMeQ/s1600-h/690%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="690" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="690" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xUAuSqN6ceQ/Ui8MHXba3-I/AAAAAAAAHpk/WuguZDMajNA/690_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="504" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-NVvcP2jN7vU/Ui8MIN1NvcI/AAAAAAAAHps/PZxYmoejTRw/s1600-h/691%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="691" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="691" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QkIYY-Q-X54/Ui8MJP7zUsI/AAAAAAAAHp0/VHlMKv3YFuQ/691_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-B8kz2iutKfQ/Ui8MJ0enPKI/AAAAAAAAHp8/BwtS-klo6gc/s1600-h/692%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="692" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="692" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lXiyE8fQx9k/Ui8MKSJ3ALI/AAAAAAAAHqE/NrriH0RrxmA/692_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-njJ5ckT9yxI/Ui8MLWsWYdI/AAAAAAAAHqM/LQIxRUXU0MM/s1600-h/694%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="694" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="694" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eZyM3_RHJYk/Ui8MMoV3v4I/AAAAAAAAHqU/m8ULgxwuc4U/694_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mY2aDPfYO6c/Ui8MNsQf-pI/AAAAAAAAHqc/6UUNtb-6dVA/s1600-h/697%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="697" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="697" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-f2l--1TB_hI/Ui8MOfaNk5I/AAAAAAAAHqk/zj6uHiArutk/697_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Gr2UMdpT1H4/Ui8MPqF1JlI/AAAAAAAAHqs/EkramH13oDY/s1600-h/706%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="706" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="706" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QrSNsRj7B74/Ui8MQYN0oMI/AAAAAAAAHq0/s0CFE91DysE/706_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-89067206962469579842013-07-28T18:29:00.000-07:002013-09-08T18:30:15.233-07:00Bo’s (Actual) Birthday<p>I didn’t have time to be weepy or nostalgic during Bo’s birthday party and really mostly just felt grateful and happy to have our friends and family there celebrating.</p> <p>I woke up in the wee hours of Sunday morning to let Buddy out for his usual middle of the night backyard frolic and when I came back to bed, I clicked on my phone to see what time it was and gasped. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-0oUcXW6t3xY/Ui0kgris9-I/AAAAAAAAHlk/rzmZlVLFvRo/s1600-h/564%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="564" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="564" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WnpGzbyP7og/Ui0khbPgCEI/AAAAAAAAHls/ad3NgvJ3A1w/564_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="286" height="504" /></a></p> <p>I smiled to myself remembering 3:18 am exactly one year ago. The rush of emotions that had come over when the doctor announced “he has blonde hair!” and I glanced up at the clock to see how long I had been pushing. It was 3:18 am. Seconds later, my son was here. </p> <p>I laid back in bed and closed my eyes, relieving as much as I could of the rest of that day before I drifted back off to sleep.</p> <p>The rest of the day was a pretty normal day, although we celebrated with dinner at one of our favorite places, Wen Hwa, where the servers always trip over themselves to dote on him. Then we kept the sugar rush from yesterday going with a trip to Wolfie’s Custard and strolled around downtown for a bit. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1BL3loApjiU/Ui0kiFL8eEI/AAAAAAAAHl0/hoZfilBdLRM/s1600-h/571%25255B13%25255D.jpg"><img title="571" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="571" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZEY_gih1vUg/Ui0kigeEvUI/AAAAAAAAHl8/BaJoknV5TNU/571_thumb%25255B10%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="323" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4lSgmAJydAs/Ui0kjBYAVQI/AAAAAAAAHmE/RydPXdvwpAk/s1600-h/572%25255B11%25255D.jpg"><img title="572" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="572" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Bpd9L9tBG34/Ui0klRDSKaI/AAAAAAAAHmM/2_pBaMRC3J0/572_thumb%25255B8%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="243" height="323" /></a></p> <p>Happy Birthday, Bo! Here’s to another wonderful year ahead. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Bqoxwrw6jw8/Ui0knDCmBMI/AAAAAAAAHmU/F-yUyR1JNw8/s1600-h/566%25255B5%25255D.png"><img title="566" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="566" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gtRrEgeWtKg/Ui0kodHgFYI/AAAAAAAAHmc/wGdLCIoS_M4/566_thumb%25255B3%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="202" height="356" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-DrnI4NOXoM0/Ui0ko8IogqI/AAAAAAAAHmk/-XD1e6PjA-0/s1600-h/558%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="558" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="558" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nSNNXSBbQCo/Ui0kpbdEjKI/AAAAAAAAHms/B7FDos74t1A/558_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="239" height="356" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-21120780118557328572013-07-28T12:51:00.000-07:002013-08-20T12:52:04.996-07:00Twelve Months<p>Bowen :: Twelve Months Old</p> <p>Weight: 23 lbs 7 oz and 30.5 inches long. He’s in the 75th percentile for weight and grew 3.5 inches from his 9 month appointment! Explains why we’re flying through clothes lately. He’s mostly in 12-18 month clothes, although he’s still wearing 12 month footie sleepers. As he’s gotten more mobile, he’s starting to lose some baby chub and look more and more like a toddler.</p> <p>Eats: A few weeks ago, I swapped out the bottle for the sippy cup and we haven’t looked back. I do so miss our snuggle time, especially first thing in the morning, but I’m super thankful the bottle weaning wasn’t a huge issue. So, now he’s pretty much eating 3 meals with a glass of milk. He eats pretty much everything, although he shows definite preference for bananas, watermelon, strawberries, grilled cheese, butternut squash, sweet potatoes and PB sandwiches. He does eat everything, but I often have to be strategic about the order that things show up on his tray. He recently learned to sign “eat” and “more” and he’s pretty enthusiastic about using them. </p> <p>Sleep: He’s still taking two naps, and they’re both right around an hour (45-75 minutes). He’s still sleeping from about 7:30pm-6:30am, although there’s been a few mornings we’ve crept back towards the 7:00 am wake up. We still use some cry it out and he’s a good self-soother as long as he has long sleeves on! </p> <p>Milestones: Crawling, crawling, crawling, fast, fast, fast. He sits up on his knees to play (no pulling up yet) and loves to walk around holding the hands of anyone who is willing to sacrifice their backs! He makes “vroom vroom” noises when he drives cars and trucks, and has a few animal sounds thanks to Peek-a-Boo barn. (His "oink oink” sounds a lot like someone clearing a throat…) He says “bye bye” and “ni ni” (for night night), tik-in (chicken) and na na (banana.) I love the sweet sound of his little voice! He signs “eat” and “more” but never all done. (He’s never all done.) He mimics a lot of things he see us do, like holding a phone next to his head or brushing his hair. He has become well-acquainted with the word “no” this month, and often repeats it back to me when I say it “no, no!” and then giving me his little sideways smile to try and make me laugh. (I sometimes have to turn around to keep him from seeing me break out into laughter.)</p> <p>Likes: giving kisses, hugging Buddy, zooming his trucks, music, grilled cheese, pancakes, bananas, the Itsy-Bitsy spider song with hand motions, football (“foo-bahhh”), cake, reading books (favorites: Hello Bugs, The Fuzzy Duckling, The Easter Bunny)</p> <p>Dislikes: being told “no”, being tired, spotting an iPhone and having it be moved out of his reach (ditto: laptops, remotes, cameras, Buddy), having shampoo rinsed off his head, sitting still for more than the length of time it takes to read 2 books</p> <p>Twelve months! I can’t believe I’m writing this post already. In the first few weeks of his life, I remember so many people telling me how quickly the year would fly by and my sleep-deprived, routine-missing self did not believe one word of it. How can a year go by quickly when you don’t even know if it’s day or night? And just as sure as can be, a year has flown right by. </p> <p>I’ve written, deleted and rewritten a final paragraph for this final month of this first year but nothing I say does justice to what the experience of being this boy’s mother has been like. It’s been exciting, hard, fulfilling, exhausting, funny, joyful, surprising, challenging, peaceful, reaffirming, fun, confusing and wonderful in so many quiet, small magical moments. I am so full of gratitude and love for this little boy and Matt + I both feel so blessed to have had a healthy, happy and memorable first year with him. </p> <p>Happy 1st Birthday, sweet Bo!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KLKSAazv4-I/UhPItMkpz1I/AAAAAAAAHj4/4FQTrSGfjA4/s1600-h/029%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="029" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="029" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BNQCYQ0C3fY/UhPIuA3WedI/AAAAAAAAHkA/tJp7421OWHI/029_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="566" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-zSdqH5nEqm8/UhPIvaB5nMI/AAAAAAAAHkI/LXEnUOvn_Hs/s1600-h/044%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="044" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="044" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KcrHGCCSP4s/UhPIwtMHYkI/AAAAAAAAHkQ/mcpUj7xoqoQ/044_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="566" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7wdzfRb0a4A/UhPIx8SZTOI/AAAAAAAAHkY/3fln839ya1Y/s1600-h/036%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="036" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="036" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vfHkaJRsAJI/UhPIyrN4snI/AAAAAAAAHkg/V5VQb2a0f_c/036_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5411KBbYGQQ/UhPIzcgUdTI/AAAAAAAAHko/lE0V75x6iE8/s1600-h/058%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="058" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="058" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Mtien_8J8wc/UhPI0ij81ZI/AAAAAAAAHkw/t85px8KPimo/058_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UWyxeFnbtLs/UhPI1jqrn0I/AAAAAAAAHk4/zxqGa_2MhHc/s1600-h/041%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="041" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="041" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O7SuaUfq4C0/UhPI2vemggI/AAAAAAAAHlA/ZD8Ap92ul6I/041_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="566" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rz6QesxQNxQ/UhPI3ZU3PmI/AAAAAAAAHlI/VYUWAERl0hM/s1600-h/039%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="039" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="039" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kI2pgbx5rS4/UhPI4LZZL9I/AAAAAAAAHlQ/DwRLklPzShY/039_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="566" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-90264075317153431302013-07-27T18:38:00.000-07:002013-08-20T12:23:20.145-07:00Bo’s First Birthday Party<p>All morning as we got ready for his party, the rain came down relentlessly. Puddles were forming in the backyard and we had to pull away the furniture from the edges of the porch to keep it from getting wet. But an hour before his party, the sun came out and the birthday boy woke up from his nap smiling and we were ready to celebrate this sweet little guy’s first year. </p> <p>I thought I might start boo-hooing when we sang him Happy Birthday and he eagerly dug into his cake. One! How has a whole year passed? But later on I came inside to get something and looked out the window on to the porch, and saw a room full of people who have loved my child this last year and supported me and Matt and I just felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. This boy is so loved – not just by us, but by our little village of friends and family. </p> <p>My friend Megan made him the most beautiful smash cake, a big cake for the grown-ups and the cutest little dinosaur cake pops. We had a huge spread of cookout foods and a dangerously good Sweet Tea Spritzer. The rain put a halt to my plans for backyard fun, but the littles seemed to find ways to stay entertained between loving on Buddy and breaking in Bo’s new toys and helping out with the smash cake. 6 kids under 2.5 in my house! Organized chaos and lots of Goldfish. Such a fun and happy day for our little family. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-AtDKLsnBEdM/UhPBpTK4zMI/AAAAAAAAHgQ/og_RthI_78s/s1600-h/1254.jpg"><img title="125" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="125" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9WQ4G-TU7ak/UhPBqdXfXTI/AAAAAAAAHgY/PCLspUt8FVo/125_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-toinduMya4M/UhPBro3de2I/AAAAAAAAHgg/dMELACGoOj8/s1600-h/1274.jpg"><img title="127" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="127" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PUf-bjX2uXs/UhPBtBVKxUI/AAAAAAAAHgo/qtQFTsl-moA/127_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-RPyJV0yv9bE/UhPBuLdjQCI/AAAAAAAAHgw/7jN6Oaomfr0/s1600-h/1294.jpg"><img title="129" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="129" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Xecyj33nBfM/UhPBxCK2GsI/AAAAAAAAHg4/hherqheX4zU/129_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qB9Fha6oZt0/UhPByDmUp1I/AAAAAAAAHhA/P8w_NxnNdIA/s1600-h/136%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="136" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="136" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CXLYKYzcXJc/UhPBywb63EI/AAAAAAAAHhI/zTvUz077lp4/136_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Uy3cqPV8_KY/UhPBz-vVhXI/AAAAAAAAHhQ/bWrCnLPdmLI/s1600-h/1404.jpg"><img title="140" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="140" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jshItx_UbIk/UhPB1CYGOFI/AAAAAAAAHhY/BLXQDtUrGdM/140_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7Le0WAjDRo0/UhPB1_fZ54I/AAAAAAAAHhg/4tJWWkqGMFA/s1600-h/1454.jpg"><img title="145" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="145" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-YEqIlcrIt1A/UhPB3DmsvzI/AAAAAAAAHho/z1iQF0Bfd0E/145_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="504" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Kz1mrM2YluI/UhPB4N_B4WI/AAAAAAAAHhw/MaOjtIpzNBQ/s1600-h/1484.jpg"><img title="148" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="148" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Z7wibI1g85Y/UhPB5GPXBCI/AAAAAAAAHh4/c35R3HGsJ5c/148_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x5bSs1nhDsA/UhPB55xIa6I/AAAAAAAAHiA/ZsCXDv-Fk8c/s1600-h/1514.jpg"><img title="151" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="151" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H2nO80-hutg/UhPB6iAybgI/AAAAAAAAHiI/UNnqa1BY4_E/151_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="504" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-P3ekyBQeiCM/UhPB7cx1jcI/AAAAAAAAHiQ/Er-J1uYjF90/s1600-h/1524.jpg"><img title="152" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="152" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3kRjB7n1rBQ/UhPB89f9GVI/AAAAAAAAHiY/rBmceMcfJJc/152_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="338" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-7hc6gzq6trI/UhPB-DvCUdI/AAAAAAAAHig/zubPdGLNUtI/s1600-h/1574.jpg"><img title="157" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="157" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-b3xMn4d_olA/UhPB_f_3KmI/AAAAAAAAHio/qK3E8VBvo6E/157_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="753" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-XBUV68ZWaKA/UhPCAzZA0II/AAAAAAAAHiw/3g-q2-5xIxw/s1600-h/1634.jpg"><img title="163" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="163" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kuUlxyh4xA0/UhPCB_mBkgI/AAAAAAAAHi4/0wLVowC2lvk/163_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="753" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r4Q2YsdtfOQ/UhPCC15KoWI/AAAAAAAAHjA/I3qtcPtMh_U/s1600-h/1714.jpg"><img title="171" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="171" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Ycbtnbltwd8/UhPCEY4rwlI/AAAAAAAAHjI/PM2o4tM9MCY/171_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="753" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6FUZ2WnwSig/UhPCFBJQCPI/AAAAAAAAHjQ/cmBf1GNYXeA/s1600-h/1784.jpg"><img title="178" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="178" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-3LmmqHiRinU/UhPCG14l_iI/AAAAAAAAHjY/xSVgs8gU-GI/178_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="753" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vRcXPODhH64/UhPCH26FHGI/AAAAAAAAHjg/tezvpU-IpWE/s1600-h/1874.jpg"><img title="187" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="187" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-VokNv4LG5nU/UhPCJfRPmAI/AAAAAAAAHjo/SPCx-jaoHHo/187_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p>Thank you to everyone who came to celebrate with us, and those who sent their wishes from far away! </p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-62126726996558882692013-07-26T12:09:00.000-07:002013-08-20T12:08:59.733-07:001998 Called…<p>Subtitle: The One Where I Lose my Mind over How Much I Love 90s Music</p> <p>I kind of geeked out when I saw that Ben Folds Five (Five!! not just Ben Folds), Guster and Barenaked Ladies would be touring together this summer. I love music. But I love 90s music most of all, and I especially love these three bands. If only Ani DiFranco had been thrown into the mix, it basically would have been a soundtrack to some of the most formative years of my life. </p> <p>I mean, how many lyrics from a BF5 song made it into my AOL profile quotes section? <em>“All I know is I've gotta be where my heart says I oughta be… It often makes no sense, in fact I never understand these things, I feel I love you, goodbye I love you, goodbye…”</em></p> <p>Ugh. I mean, really. 1998 called and it wants you to come this concert and bring all your memories of your emo-for-no-reason 17 year old self there. It was even better that Anne + Locke could come with us, because they’re both huge BF5 and Guster fans and then one of my best friends from high school, who just so conveniently moved down to Columbia, SC after years of living in Michigan decided to make the trip up for it. </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Wf4n4OqwJdg/UhOZPXI86GI/AAAAAAAAHeY/kq2rQ0CCINQ/s1600-h/540%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="540" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="540" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-3YnVwves4dA/UhOZQukcGMI/AAAAAAAAHeg/U4UPKE73nTM/540_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-b7vMVoUK_gs/UhOZRvwLkDI/AAAAAAAAHeo/LuJYcEcNlvs/s1600-h/539%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="539" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="539" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eYjwZVv3IN0/UhOZSiKxgqI/AAAAAAAAHew/c9iBAIi2do8/539_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p>The icing on the cake though was that my sister-in-law saw me post a picture on Instagram of the tour poster and my comment that I really wanted to go and reached out to let me know she would get me tickets. It turns out her fiancé's sister used to be the website designer for the Barenaked Ladies. Not only did she get us tickets to the show, but also an opportunity for a meet and greet with the band! I’ve loved and listened to BNL since the days of Gordon and had seen them in concert in high school too, but Matt + I did feel a little out of our league with the diehard fans who were over the moon excited to meet the band. They were all super nice though (the band, that is) and we snapped a quick picture with them, got an autograph and headed back to our seats because BF5 was starting up. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-rBtt_J3jOXs/UhOZT2np39I/AAAAAAAAHe4/df4P-6ODGLk/s1600-h/542%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="542" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="542" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-D1UIR5zdIsA/UhOZU3jGUgI/AAAAAAAAHfA/-oqcNqzct5w/542_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="671" height="504" /></a></p> <p>All three bands put on great shows – I only wish Guster and BF5 had played longer! Guster is still as amazing as they were years ago, and I have no idea how Brian Rosenworcel’s hands are still intact after almost two decades of bongo drums. Incredible. They played a lot of their older stuff, like Satellite and Airport Song. Ben Folds Five was awesome – I am so happy that they are playing together again. He played a few newer songs, but plenty of older stuff too including Philosophy, Alice Childress, Brick, Narcolepsy, Underground and Army. (There were lots of happy cheers when Chick-Fil-A was mentioned during Army and also when Charlotte was mentioned during Brick, which I found a little weird given the context. But hey, it’s nice to have Ben back in his home state. Can we get him up to Winston pretty please??) I loved that he opened with Philosophy. And closed with Army. And any ballad that involves him hard jamming on the piano, like Underground. Sigh. I think I could have groupie potential. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-IjfarRYnm8c/UhOZWL90T7I/AAAAAAAAHfI/h4GZaryexjU/s1600-h/545%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="545" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="545" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mLTiDpWPOCc/UhOZW-quR3I/AAAAAAAAHfQ/HHkVmqy1SNM/545_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="671" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2y7JrApE5zQ/UhOZYC5b4PI/AAAAAAAAHfY/L-uqMc4HGDA/s1600-h/547%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="547" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="547" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-in8vf883KBM/UhOZZMhVAsI/AAAAAAAAHfg/p30ka8cYIzg/547_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="671" height="504" /></a></p> <p>I felt a little disappointed when BF5 was over, but Barenaked Ladies put on a seriously legit show. They are talented musicians but they are also performers. They know how to keep a crowd engaged. They sang all the favorites, like One Week, Pinch Me, and If I Had a Million Dollars. They also sang Brian Wilson and Yoko Ono which are two that I love from Gordon, and they had Brian R from Guster come back out to play. (If you’re ever listening to Brian Wilson and listen to the drum section at the end, just imagine how amazing that was with Thundergod going to town on it.) When they came back out, they played Old Apartment (looooove) and Alcohol and a cover of the Violent Femmes Blister in the Sun. </p> <p>As a bonus, before the BNL set started, Anne and I had walked over to the restrooms and on our way out, realized that Guster was playing in a little corner off near the concession stands. Just standing under a tent with some amps and jamming out. A small crowd had formed, but we were able to push our way towards the front and see them. Definitely one of the highlights, seeing them up so close. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tkZ8dFGBa_E/UhOZZ8Ag_HI/AAAAAAAAHfo/WXs58rnnE9g/s1600-h/550%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="550" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="550" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ROvZUk59a3s/UhOZae24txI/AAAAAAAAHfw/bhWmGHZw_7M/550_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p>If you can’t tell by the excessive amount of positive adjectives I’ve used to describe this, it was a pretty awesome concert. I’ve always said that seeing Better than Ezra and Hootie & the Blowfish in one show together was my highlight of my concert going attendance, but this bumped that down to a #2 slot. It was a smaller, intimate venue which was perfect for these bands and all 3 sounded amazing and played a good mixture from across their music careers. It was also great weather and we were there with friends who loved these bands as much as we do. I don’t know if it can get much better than this! </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--ahpAnvGP50/UhOZbfGHXLI/AAAAAAAAHf4/wWcug7LcBpw/s1600-h/538%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="538" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="538" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-99meL4bX9Uc/UhOZb9psq8I/AAAAAAAAHgA/z4HRCixROyw/538_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="671" height="504" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-81580927706281513802013-07-23T05:13:00.000-07:002013-08-20T05:14:33.714-07:00Haircut<p>From baby to little boy, just like that. Bam! He did great for his first haircut. He was very curious about what was going on (especially the clippers) but he never cried. </p> <p>The same cannot be said for his momma.</p> <p>Before: the shaggy “Southern boy” look</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Hlbovn-3Hzg/UhNdfBHgkOI/AAAAAAAAHcg/3-Fzsmp7WJg/s1600-h/488%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="488" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="488" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2G-nDLMecYs/UhNdgOTMFPI/AAAAAAAAHco/vS6FOTiKdvY/488_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-5mJdCq_7Nxs/UhNdhLDTTlI/AAAAAAAAHcw/X7NGBs9adhA/s1600-h/490%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="490" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="490" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-PafOigvJPQY/UhNdh9hekbI/AAAAAAAAHc4/OcWo95xw2rw/490_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p>During & after: trimmed up toddler!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0XXl9sfGf-k/UhNdicGanWI/AAAAAAAAHdA/fbrq0Eb5O5M/s1600-h/492%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="492" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="492" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6imRnX8EFkM/UhNdjJZjknI/AAAAAAAAHdI/lXBEZJQ8kaQ/492_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-miWT688tXkw/UhNdkD5jSBI/AAAAAAAAHdQ/xQcROomlUjQ/s1600-h/496%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="496" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="496" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ism3n4kaggM/UhNdk0Fw43I/AAAAAAAAHdY/bsVfe7Fruv8/496_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-TMmovSbPX-A/UhNdlzoxFgI/AAAAAAAAHdg/fIwt9MmSjbA/s1600-h/498%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="498" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="498" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hWVx7Tqc4HU/UhNdm9dr5DI/AAAAAAAAHdo/4vPHrhwceqs/498_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Vn6taLVPi48/UhNdnkXmEXI/AAAAAAAAHdw/whDTZyBYb0Y/s1600-h/499%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="499" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="499" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JqcxXSb2Dt0/UhNdon1RWDI/AAAAAAAAHd4/WMM6Kkm5rEI/499_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p>Afterwards, we went to Blue Ridge for some celebratory ice cream. Nothing like a little pink lemonade square ice cream to put a cap on a great little Monday! This smile just does me right in.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ExRlX7MWOaA/UhNdpE-kQxI/AAAAAAAAHeA/KvSVqyZ_cDQ/s1600-h/502%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="502" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="502" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vel5qR9UvS8/UhNdqPs-9kI/AAAAAAAAHeI/-u0ti8ksG2I/502_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-9023073541424328212013-07-22T20:08:00.000-07:002013-08-18T20:12:09.141-07:00Asheville<p>On our way down the mountain, all of us just kept saying “why haven’t we come here more often??” I’ve always heard great things about Asheville and we actually did come up once to run a race but didn’t really visit the city much. We and Zac + Jamie had an opportunity for some grandparent babysitting the same weekend, so we were just looking for a nearby weekend getaway and settled on Asheville. We all loved it! Jamie has been a few times to visit a good friend who lives there, so we had a little more guidance than when Matt + I had come before and now we could easily make a few more weekend trips to keep working through the list of recommendations of places to eat and things to do.</p> <p>We had really, really yummy beer at <a href="http://www.wickedweedbrewing.com" target="_blank">Wicked Weed Brewing Co</a>. We had some seriously delicious meals: <a href="http://www.salsa-asheville.com" target="_blank">Salsa’s</a> on Friday night (awesome blueberry mojito), <a href="http://www.tupelohoney.com" target="_blank">Tupelo Honey</a> for Saturday brunch and <a href="http://www.ninemileasheville.com" target="_blank">Nine Mile</a> for Saturday dinner. Tupelo Honey is one of those places that everyone tells you to go and you think it’s going to be totally overrated, and then you get there and there’s fifteen things on the menu you want and your meal is every bit as good as was promised and you sort of consider coming back again the next day. (In other words, I recommend it.) Saturday night we saw a cover band at the famous Orange Peel. The same band covered Poison, Motley Crue and Guns’n’Roses and they not only covered the songs, they were completely in character for each band. It was fun and sort of funny, but it also turns out that we are approximately one decade too young for these bands and actually only knew one or two major hits by them. </p> <p>The highlight of the trip was our zip lining experience with <a href="http://www.navitat.com" target="_blank">Navitat</a>. I’m not exactly a thrill-seeker… in fact, you could probably call me a safety-seeker. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into and I decided not to do too much research ahead of time so I wouldn’t psyche myself out. On Friday night, we were having drinks at this rooftop bar called Skybar and Matt said “well, we’ll be about three times as high as this” and I almost lost my cookies right then and there. But, it turned out to be way less scary than I thought and way, way more awesome than I thought. Our tour guides were great and I felt super safe the whole time, and it was totally exhilarating to step off a plate form and literally zip from one tree to the next for four hours. </p> <p>There was one zip that went over this really deep valley and all of a sudden the treeline below just dropped off, and I happened to look down just then. It was this half second of utter terror when I realized it was just me and a really heavy duty cable hanging out over all these trees and I literally thought to myself “what am I DOING, I am a mother! This is ridiculous.” And then that thought passed as quickly as it came when I then realized I was probably more secure in the triple-locked zip harness than I am in my car most days. It was overall really fun and I was giving myself internal high fives the rest of the day for not chickening out when Matt had first brought it up and just making myself zip outside my comfort zone.</p> <p>We had a blast and it was a great getaway with our travel buddies, the 4-C’s. I know Matt + I are both so thankful that we’ve had such great help with Bo this year, and that we’ve been able to do these kind of trips. I always feel reluctant to go at first and miss Bo terribly, but I come back a more refreshed and recharged mama, and it’s a nice reminder that we’re still Matt + Meghan and not just Momma + Daddy. (Thanks Mom for babysitting again!) </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-q4usBEONKkY/UhGM7fqv1sI/AAAAAAAAHaw/dL7F3t13uJI/s1600-h/466%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="466" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="466" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HPNsyp8qow0/UhGM73gkiII/AAAAAAAAHa4/JkswlY2dvwY/466_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="566" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FkXVQ3G6SY8/UhGM8sX9B1I/AAAAAAAAHbA/LWEPq89Ffi4/s1600-h/470%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="470" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="470" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jiZ5qtnS5t8/UhGM9AKXQ4I/AAAAAAAAHbI/Ig501i2d9KI/470_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-lhP7UoE9v98/UhGM9tdSTVI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/X0V0gfExuE4/s1600-h/469%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="469" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="469" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0rsFEHk1ol4/UhGM-Gv7nnI/AAAAAAAAHbY/SZDjBVvSwVE/469_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1IUBzUKZPlw/UhGM-_8tY6I/AAAAAAAAHbg/ujfatxKTPkg/s1600-h/471%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="471" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="471" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zy6Z-Z-ajp8/UhGM_UZVhYI/AAAAAAAAHbo/mMCstygs7iA/471_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="566" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MSdxEWuMSXU/UhGNAMHsFNI/AAAAAAAAHbw/5IbSt_jB9_c/s1600-h/472%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="472" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="472" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CE7ZZy2N8Mk/UhGNAsAKavI/AAAAAAAAHb4/xLz00WslkJc/472_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="566" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nmi4BQZWmKw/UhGNBRtdu5I/AAAAAAAAHcA/5xIm8pZmgTA/s1600-h/468%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img title="468" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="468" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-UV4lCrcKGtc/UhGNB1l0hKI/AAAAAAAAHcI/ICtrWiMVECQ/468_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-34620271359363386342013-07-17T19:52:00.000-07:002013-08-18T19:54:29.193-07:00College Roomies Visit<p>Last weekend, my 3 college roomies came to visit! Over the last (almost) decade, we’ve had enough bachelorette parties, bridal showers and weddings to keep us visiting each other at least once a year but with all of us married off, starting families and one of us on the West coast it’s been harder to find a time to get-together. When our west coast dwelling Anna said she was coming east for a month this summer, we seized on the chance to play. It was a fun reunion both to see my friends but also to have them back in our college town (which I sometimes forget my now “hometown” is.) We revisited some of our old haunts – Village Tavern and campus, of course – and I took them to some of my new favorites – Camino Bakery, of course. It was also everyone’s first time meeting Bo as well as Britta’s little girl, 5 month old Isla. A weekend wasn’t long enough to catch up with these lovelies, but it will have to tide us over for now and I’m just thankful we did have the opportunity to spend time with each other again. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_azNxpxEDGg/UhGIwRC8tsI/AAAAAAAAHZM/tcbaxDwd4t4/s1600-h/017.jpg"><img title="017" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="017" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-s_5AxQjW8EY/UhGIxGrCoEI/AAAAAAAAHZU/sxyGxL4eoKM/017_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-_QHu3AgHSCI/UhGIxnViSAI/AAAAAAAAHZc/MoDTxXW_-A0/s1600-h/025.jpg"><img title="025" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="025" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mr2RSsCU5jU/UhGIyGe3UyI/AAAAAAAAHZk/_48HyghK80s/025_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wQsckaoc3bs/UhGIzUgzi8I/AAAAAAAAHZs/ljvZqwpiPF8/s1600-h/404%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="404" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="404" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-WgkK3cPGS24/UhGI0FM2ogI/AAAAAAAAHZ0/JaeecByND5g/404_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="566" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JIFwIr4H-I4/UhGI1G7BJ3I/AAAAAAAAHZ8/Kjdj60XI8Mg/s1600-h/399%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="399" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="399" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PvEON-7KJfg/UhGI2XA_JiI/AAAAAAAAHaE/vd731ErAwBw/399_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="566" /></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zaNC8uAwI7Y/UhGI3MbneYI/AAAAAAAAHaM/9Ht9odBWOA8/s1600-h/405%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="405" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="405" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xww1X74bn_Y/UhGI3kC0DHI/AAAAAAAAHaU/Ycx55_cZIRU/405_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LXoEziuTztE/UhGI4TnvHjI/AAAAAAAAHac/z-OXWRkIqB8/s1600-h/403%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="403" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="403" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Z0Panpoha24/UhGI49RY8SI/AAAAAAAAHak/wouCk3Y-CKM/403_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="379" height="504" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-57789450823013836172013-07-15T08:41:00.000-07:002013-08-17T08:44:45.959-07:00In-Between<p>He was a little late to the crawling game but once he figured it out, boy oh boy, did he figure it out. His little knees are always red as he scampers off from one room in the house to the next. He’s pretty good at entertaining himself for short periods of time and I know how fortunate I am for this small blessing. He’s also pretty curious though, which means I can turn my back for long enough to, say, take carrots out of the fridge, but certainly not long enough to actually chop them. I’ve caught him with his hand in the dog’s bowl a few times already, often splashing his fingers in the water while looking up at me and going “no no, no no.” He’s starting to lose the look of his “rubber band wrists” as he gets more mobile, but thankfully his thighs are still delightfully chubby. He has three teeth on top – but he’s still missing one of the front ones. He’s in need of his first hair cut and a “big kid” car seat, but I’ve been putting both off because his first birthday is days away and I’m not ready to officially say good-bye to babyhood. He’s not quite a baby, not quite a toddler and I can’t believe we’ll be singing happy birthday to him in a little over a week.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bZ7Qj22o1gE/Ug-aXM5bMgI/AAAAAAAAHYE/r6jvrtqX9gU/s1600-h/001%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="001" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-UOBvNwsHnb0/Ug-aX4vY6wI/AAAAAAAAHYM/YQot25g_4i8/001_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-r2KLbpZuMP8/Ug-aYVJ44FI/AAAAAAAAHYU/k560IxmkBAc/s1600-h/005%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="005" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="005" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xeyk1AP45Yw/Ug-aY8tajBI/AAAAAAAAHYc/fDBhgtXTwrs/005_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oSEDo8ay5PY/Ug-aZutM60I/AAAAAAAAHYk/UfD7dzyoaaQ/s1600-h/006%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="006" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="006" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_84_FlqTMDk/Ug-aaL3p51I/AAAAAAAAHYs/AN8dRIvXlok/006_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-J0UnJPzIV_4/Ug-aakhQ0LI/AAAAAAAAHY0/uf4fpVpkOLM/s1600-h/007%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="007" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="007" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-vOEcByKVVf8/Ug-abM1wlCI/AAAAAAAAHY8/NxPOVN41v1I/007_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="337" height="504" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-52920245016909149452013-07-12T04:24:00.000-07:002013-07-12T04:28:55.714-07:00And yet…<p>There’s a folder on my desktop called “To Blog.” I won’t tell you how many folders are inside it or how far back they dated. Recently, I went through and selected all the recipe ones and deleted them and it felt like a sigh of relief. There’s enough food blogs out there… I’ll stick to babies, neurotic dogs and wine from here on out.</p> <p>Anyways, these were all in a folder from May I called “Bo Eats and Plays.” I think that’s a suitable summary of month 10 – eating and playing, growing in leaps. What struck me though was how I know at the time I took these pictures I thought, “He’s turning into such a boy!” Yet just a month later, as I look back at it, I think “aww, he’s changed so much since then.” </p> <p>This pretty much sums up my life right now. Marveling at how big he is today, only to look back at today’s photo a few days later and realize he was still a baby yesterday and today, today he has gotten bigger. </p> <p>Here’s Bo eating and playing, in May. Posted in July. Welcome to life with a baby. Or a toddler. I’m not sure which it is right now.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-z81Lljvt8vc/Ud_oR-mxAHI/AAAAAAAAHJY/21APQJn6_Gs/s1600-h/001%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="001" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="001" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-VI95emvFNyk/Ud_oSWI-BMI/AAAAAAAAHJg/9WBUgdAjci8/001_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-LBa_np1QqQg/Ud_oTojXw0I/AAAAAAAAHJo/viDYgSEqyeM/s1600-h/034%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="034" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="034" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l03jOE9kruk/Ud_oUOl1OPI/AAAAAAAAHJw/44E-0_nvlDk/034_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-g1Y1wQE8wbw/Ud_oUhVIURI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/sSUEOFAY7vo/s1600-h/035%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="035" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="035" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-06aj_C2iOEY/Ud_oVcD0JPI/AAAAAAAAHKA/uRuiJBinYkA/035_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3IW-ZB-rtVY/Ud_oV8RGLeI/AAAAAAAAHKI/At6zhgUE5aw/s1600-h/076%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="076" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="076" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-yvcfXFmyHKM/Ud_oWU6xkMI/AAAAAAAAHKQ/7vtBsybmAAY/076_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-aMLCa4GTcuM/Ud_oXxdjkCI/AAAAAAAAHKY/p9EoFSrzNw0/s1600-h/079%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="079" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="079" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-kfF1dZFu1_Y/Ud_oYXHwHaI/AAAAAAAAHKg/w-r10VNVJjg/079_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7zpplz8ejN4/Ud_oZMHQybI/AAAAAAAAHKo/CSVs1kLh9kk/s1600-h/131%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="131" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="131" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JDjl-mrBWMw/Ud_oZsU1KZI/AAAAAAAAHKw/6IoPBttpvuw/131_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Pvn1yW0Ce8o/Ud_oaVnhXTI/AAAAAAAAHK4/eQCzW0phTkY/s1600-h/132%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="132" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="132" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-U9MaQBtu7pE/Ud_oaxvn3vI/AAAAAAAAHLA/ixRSVCx0rbQ/132_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-T4g9VFz5Z5o/Ud_obnHfe6I/AAAAAAAAHLI/zbg_m-VKHfg/s1600-h/134%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="134" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="134" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--qOwN2TzE00/Ud_ocVeeYQI/AAAAAAAAHLQ/oKcjxetSaPo/134_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-6lL4FY_AWAk/Ud_ocx8sm0I/AAAAAAAAHLY/-T2uUS8p8pY/s1600-h/135%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="135" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="135" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-IpuIEkYoWsg/Ud_odiGHm8I/AAAAAAAAHLg/Ci0zdoiRZ48/135_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-36608983821934032032013-07-06T08:26:00.000-07:002013-08-17T08:32:03.577-07:004th of July<p>Matt’s aunt and uncle on his Dad’s side decided to host a family 4th of July potluck this year. It had been years since we had been able to join them on their annual Christmas get-together because of Matt’s work or holiday travel, so it was wonderful to have a chance to see everyone in his family. It was especially fun to see all the “next generation” kids play together. Matt’s two cousins each had their second baby in 2012 and I love that Bo is going to have these second cousins (first cousins once removed?) to grow up and play with at family events. What’s a family get together if you don’t have someone your own age to scheme and get into trouble with? Since it was the first time the whole family had been together in a few years, we of course had to organize a group family photo. Both of Matt’s paternal grandparents have passed on, but I couldn’t help but think how proud they would be to see how their family had grown – 23 people all as a result of their love. Pretty cool. </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-UtvsHLfnPso/Ug-XRP_IKoI/AAAAAAAAHWA/pV2XDxtoo5U/s1600-h/Cline-Family11.jpg"><img title="Cline Family" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Cline Family" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-UVDfrf2Dl-g/Ug-XSPJmV2I/AAAAAAAAHWI/_FrPoMq-GjA/Cline-Family_thumb8.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="442" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Q6uIGrade1g/Ug-XSxkbpUI/AAAAAAAAHWQ/seOexw5K2Hg/s1600-h/1208.jpg"><img title="120" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="120" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-o2_QEgOb0OA/Ug-XUD57ACI/AAAAAAAAHWY/7xokNu2DNwQ/120_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-IuGDSxNX3Ao/Ug-XUyfrSkI/AAAAAAAAHWg/9lQTqJow4Y4/s1600-h/1195.jpg"><img title="119" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="119" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kcDPEV5Wcps/Ug-XVuY-u3I/AAAAAAAAHWo/uMnYKqpBsh0/119_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yXv53kraFDg/Ug-XWd-i0II/AAAAAAAAHWw/NNXpRcXXCXg/s1600-h/1286.jpg"><img title="128" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="128" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-b9KozIHpybk/Ug-XXOpgtCI/AAAAAAAAHW4/hTKu_LQg7eQ/128_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2rJX0aXA70U/Ug-XXiZF_tI/AAAAAAAAHXA/UhFQTK_KzE4/s1600-h/1065.jpg"><img title="106" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="106" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-et3Zwk3j5t0/Ug-XYSmXkgI/AAAAAAAAHXI/lubjYvr58WE/106_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800" width="754" height="504" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nRxH_TYcAmg/Ug-XZHgj9AI/AAAAAAAAHXQ/gTgIP_tjNB4/s1600-h/1026.jpg"><img title="102" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="102" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_ZofvKFJg08/Ug-XZva1IyI/AAAAAAAAHXY/idkainVn2nM/102_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800" width="516" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-o9XOXmLunVw/Ug-XaV75VaI/AAAAAAAAHXg/r_KIzyiVJ5g/s1600-h/1304.jpg"><img title="130" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="130" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZLooOW-hrvc/Ug-XbLU0jkI/AAAAAAAAHXo/dXEnBnFiR5w/130_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="516" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pnfpSk7qDDQ/Ug-Xboy5THI/AAAAAAAAHXw/5vOWWeqsVI4/s1600-h/1324.jpg"><img title="132" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="132" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3hYC-XYTiF8/Ug-XcvglaLI/AAAAAAAAHX4/uD5jK6-NfgY/132_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="516" height="772" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-25152247551415143482013-07-01T19:35:00.000-07:002013-08-16T19:48:42.088-07:00Topsail<p>To celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary, my parents rented a house at Topsail Island. </p> <p>Then they went ahead and ruined their perfect relaxing getaway by inviting all their kids. </p> <p>Throughout the two weeks, there was my parents, Matt and I, Bo, my sister and her husband, my sister’s friend, my brother, and my in-laws. And Buddy. Never all at the same time, but basically there were a lot of people on this beach trip. Fortunately it was great weather (making up for our April trip) and we were able to spend most days out on the beach, getting sand in our piggie toes or logging in a few miles on the golf course. There were a few days of really heavy, crazy rain storms but they provided a respite from the sun and a chance to curl up in the window seat and catch up on a trashy US Weekly (left behind by former tenants, possibly from 2-3 years ago, don’t even know, read them anyways) with a glass of wine while my baby scooted around on the floor dumping every single toy out and his 4 grandparents sit around applauding his every move. That’s my kind of vacation, ya’ll. </p> <p>We’ve been pretty loyal to Surfside Beach, SC and Garden City Beach, SC for years. My mom has been going since she was a teenager, then my parents as soon as they started dating, and our family has only missed one year. SC beaches have a special place in my nostalgic little heart, but I have to say we loved our first Topsail experience. (Less traffic, less commercialization and you don’t have to drive down a road full of mini golf and firework stores to get there.)  I would say this was Bo’s first official beach trip (since we didn’t get out much in April) but he was smitten. He loved every day sitting on the towel, scooping up sand, smacking together seashells and sitting at the water’s edge with water lapping up on him. One day we were sitting down at the water’s edge and I brought him back up to my mom on the towel and ran down to the water to wash myself off. I returned back to a hollering child…. the message was loud and clear: “Don’t go back in the water without taking me with you, momma!!” I’m a beach bum through and through, so I’m happy to see my little guy is just as thrilled with sand, sun and SPF 70. </p> <p>And now the photo dump…</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4cmYcRdM0zw/Ug7i5N5HH6I/AAAAAAAAHT0/AaFow-SMLkY/s1600-h/014%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="014" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="014" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bhauN1T_VjY/Ug7i52LXzJI/AAAAAAAAHUA/AVZlpzgUqEo/014_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-YI8sJXbK2ss/Ug7i6cbiXAI/AAAAAAAAHUI/Px-Jzmu3GKI/s1600-h/015%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="015" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="015" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xzh96gZi5wU/Ug7i698Z52I/AAAAAAAAHUQ/6rwEnlrdNUE/015_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gz_3mh31QfE/Ug7i7fWKCOI/AAAAAAAAHUY/MBsUdZWqi1M/s1600-h/016%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="016" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="016" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VKUC1g7wCjg/Ug7i786bqAI/AAAAAAAAHUg/RZ74pu-p10o/016_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jNdMbs7MLzY/Ug7i8k9mDmI/AAAAAAAAHUo/d99cGE5lQWY/s1600-h/020%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="020" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="020" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Cc3novP7gqI/Ug7i9DRAlBI/AAAAAAAAHUw/-ktTT49NBvE/020_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-b07M14MmhjA/Ug7i-NNICCI/AAAAAAAAHSk/yV8fC19yzbo/s1600-h/021%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="021" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="021" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-RUVshu5uRzY/Ug7i-t7MDjI/AAAAAAAAHSs/x7LEHc4vIvM/021_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lk-btOTtp4k/Ug7i_DC0H4I/AAAAAAAAHS0/5OEr26Z-jrk/s1600-h/030%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="030" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="030" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ApYGuIq3hhg/Ug7i_gaCE-I/AAAAAAAAHS8/FmUBrX6EUgU/030_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-W58zBvjo_jE/Ug7jAH0bmRI/AAAAAAAAHU4/EfbmzPL02Sk/s1600-h/044%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="044" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="044" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ODv_BhSn_Vo/Ug7jApnEwjI/AAAAAAAAHVA/82FYZrq5EkM/044_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-euSvdXr97pE/Ug7jBdRDcII/AAAAAAAAHVI/bmCfo6kv2XY/s1600-h/032%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="032" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="032" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-C9K3QfUNwzQ/Ug7jB3SukPI/AAAAAAAAHVQ/eG9Qd0tRPUo/032_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-QBHayMOXuUE/Ug7jCUbl39I/AAAAAAAAHVY/IPOvoJB8U0s/s1600-h/027%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="027" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="027" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-FGqpdVeJGh8/Ug7jCwIgMuI/AAAAAAAAHVg/6Ein0-YN_XI/027_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vh7HkdzUlx4/Ug7khnbFd8I/AAAAAAAAHVo/AHZyySBsScc/s1600-h/012%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="012" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="012" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-N-LLrVn3yW8/Ug7kiCr3THI/AAAAAAAAHVw/CLxUcWVZJ9c/012_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="688" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-35795675054523517922013-06-28T04:21:00.000-07:002013-07-12T04:21:13.375-07:00Eleven Months<p>Bowen :: Eleven Months Old</p> <p>Weight: I actually don’t have a height & weight for him this month, so I guess it will be a surprise next month at his 12 month. He’s wearing 12 mo onesies and shirts, 9 month shorts (for the length – still a little shrimp I guess) and a few 18 mo items like shortalls. </p> <p>Eats: A solid 3 bottles a day, although for the first time in his LIFE he is leaving some formula left in the bottle. I’ve started making his mid-day and night time bottles at 7 oz and he’s been fine with that. (No crying at the end of the bottle anymore.) He eats so many real food now and it feels like all of a sudden we’ve gone from baby food to “real food” – although Cheerios still elicit the greatest joy. Having him be able to feed himself has been life changing – now when we sit down for a meal, I can actually eat at the same time! </p> <p>Sleep: He’s taking two naps – one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon. They usually last about an hour to hour-fifteen each, although when we were at the beach at the end of the month some of them ticked up around 2 hours. I’m not sure if it was the pitch black room he was sleeping in (aka the closet) or playing hard on the beach, but I wish I could create the same thing at home! A well-rested Bo is a happy Bo. He sleeps from about 7:30-6:30 at night and that’s been pretty consistent all month. </p> <p>Milestones: He was rolling in earnest throughout most of the month, and getting up on all 4 to just rock back and forth. Then about half way through the month, right before we left for the beach, he took off crawling! He’s still pretty slow so I can keep up with him, but I officially have a mobile baby now. He also absolutely loves being in his walker and cruises around at breakneck speed in that – often pointed straight towards poor Buddy. He blows kisses complete with a “Mu-waaaah” and waves bye-bye with a “buh-buh.” He’ll mimic back things we say to him like thank you and night night, and has started making some animal noises on Peek-a-Boo barn. “Oink oink” is his specialty. He’s had two teeth come in up top – but not the two middle ones. One middle and one side, so that I’ve taken to calling him snaggletooth. He also finally got the hang of using a sippy cup with a straw… just in time for me to start working on weaning the bottle. (Sigh.)</p> <p>Likes: Cheerios, Greek yogurt, chicken, grilled cheese, Buddy, shrieking, FaceTime, using straws, Peek-A-Boo barn, running around in his walker, his Daddy, throwing all the stacking cups on the floor and then running over them with the walker, the beach, videos of himself</p> <p>Dislikes: touching slimy foods, waiting for breakfast, missing a nap, being cooped up on an airplane for too long, teeth, being told “no,” short sleeves during nap time </p> <p>This month was one adventure after another. Bo and I flew up to Rochester at the beginning of the month for a high school friend’s wedding shower and our first visit home. I wouldn’t go so far as to say flying with a 10 month old is enjoyable, but it was a heck of a lot better than the first time. (He’s able to be awake longer and entertained easier and they were shorter flights.) We had a wonderful time in Rochester. We got to have two long, long, long awaited playdates. One with my friend Kristen and her little boy, Ryan. Kristen and I had a baby bump date last May when I was home for my baby shower, and had been waiting for a chance for the two guys to meet. We also had a playdate with Maggie and Christy – Christy is my sister’s best friend from junior high, so she practically feels like a little sister to me too. We were pregnant together and had a due date just two dates apart – but our babies are 3.5 weeks apart. We’ve spent the first year of their life raising the two of them together over weekly text messages so it was great to finally get to meet each other’s babies and let them play! </p> <p>Back at home, Bo and I had a terrifying experience where we were caught in my car in a storm with over 100 mph winds. We took shelter in a church parking lot (where I still feel indebted to a kind stranger who pulled up next to me to tell me to point my car into the window ((in retrospect: obvious)) and then motioned for me to put my head down right before tree branches started snapping all around us. After the storm, which hit our neighborhood the worst in our whole city, we couldn’t get back home and spent the rest of the evening taking shelter at the Glenn’s, then returned to a house with no power, then finally headed down to Matt’s parents’ house to spend the rest of the weekend. </p> <p>After all THAT, we headed down to the beach for 10 days where we got a lovely dose of sun, sand, oceans and grandparents. Bo loved scooping up the sand and playing with a shovel, and was tickled to sit at the water’s edge and let the waves lap over his little legs. In fact, he was pretty pissed off when I took it upon myself to go for a swim without taking him with me! </p> <p>This month definitely put my routine loving baby (and his mama) to the test, but Bo rolled with it pretty well. By the end of the beach week, he was starting to show signs of unraveling at the edges – for example, throwing foods he normally gobbles right up off his tray. But all in all, he was a trooper though I think I heard him breathe an audible sigh of relief when I laid him down in his own crib our first night home. </p> <p>Everyone who looks at him now says “He’s turning into such a little boy!” and I feel like it’s happening right before my own eyes, too. In many ways, he’s still so much a little baby… and I find myself really savoring those little moments he’ll snuggle into my arms or reach up and pat my cheek while he’s drinking his bottle. Because as soon as he’s done, he’s wiggling out of my arms, on to the ground and taking off after something exciting. Ready to charge into toddlerhood, I guess!</p> <p>He was not in the mood to do pictures today… and he definitely didn’t want to sit still. But, I feel like these are a pretty good representation of many days of this month! </p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zWpRjDYSogs/Udywz1skcHI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/08KFt83mBxs/s1600-h/149%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img title="149" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="149" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-1x2sUcGyXWo/Udyw0umUh1I/AAAAAAAAHHY/8OckZ4EIA78/149_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LQZiyCLC-N0/Udyw1Cq_u7I/AAAAAAAAHHg/yoUFG5-g4fY/s1600-h/151%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="151" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="151" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w99g6replgE/Udyw1jyKErI/AAAAAAAAHHo/so6-dUDQxfc/151_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WB_FYVJY4-k/Udyw2XvEWuI/AAAAAAAAHHw/EdROMz6T8XI/s1600-h/161%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="161" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="161" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BSM1NYv9hKM/Udyw2_36N4I/AAAAAAAAHH4/D9wA_lNuG4I/161_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_cDGBv3ppO4/Udyw3S6X4II/AAAAAAAAHIA/eGhNM33Bmv4/s1600-h/162%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="162" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="162" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-kcZbQPRbD5k/Udyw4NxS3sI/AAAAAAAAHII/qG4v4h_zMgs/162_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-om2P8A91WGA/Udyw4yDSaHI/AAAAAAAAHIQ/tyySQNzPnw4/s1600-h/171%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="171" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="171" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4DHyTbjzWcY/Udyw5sdKvHI/AAAAAAAAHIY/I7F-62Ic9_s/171_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="688" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Mgl7na8bA-s/Udyw6unLq8I/AAAAAAAAHIg/lAUMOkr7cdo/s1600-h/165%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="165" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="165" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-qDdafUkfajg/Udyw7aAHpNI/AAAAAAAAHIo/YOlHCYZsu90/165_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="688" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9EMJZVNHeJg/Udyw8F1NR6I/AAAAAAAAHIw/EH23THQbby4/s1600-h/186%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="186" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="186" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GgQoZ-VXiVk/Udyw89WahTI/AAAAAAAAHI4/Y0Tz2eioN1U/186_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="1028" height="688" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-mmsGFNX8d44/Udyw9WeLwpI/AAAAAAAAHJA/d7OBpbXgDLo/s1600-h/197%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="197" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="197" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-wdrAdTcLjzg/Udyw-LjLGxI/AAAAAAAAHJI/gEsABYGXPTw/197_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="517" height="772" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-23739171471691131252013-06-10T19:05:00.000-07:002013-08-16T19:08:08.520-07:00Rochester Playdates<p>Bo and I ended up making somewhat of a last minute trip home to Rochester. I received an invitation to one of my best friend’s baby showers back in Rochester and then ended up finding an amazing deal on Southwest. I had the flight before I even stopped to consider that I would be flying SOLO with my child. I’ll refrain from another “flying with a baby” post but it actually went a whole lot better than it did last time. He seems to be in that sweet spot of not being mobile yet but being highly entertained by things like iPhones and snacks. (I wouldn’t exactly say it was an ENJOYABLE experience, but it certainly was as terrible as the last one.)</p> <p>I had four wonderful days at home while the husband held down the fort (read: dealt with Buddy) and I’m so glad I was able to be here and see my friend’s beautiful pregnant belly and spoil the mama-to-be. Krissy and I have been friends since we bonded over our love of oldies music in 7th grade when everyone else was listening to Pearl Jam and Nirvana. Kris was the only other person I knew who could sing every line of 59th Street Bridge song with me. (In case you can’t read the subtext here, we were indeed both big dorks. But we were happy, blissfully unaware of how dorky we were kind of dorks – a rare experience for a middle school girl, I know.) So! Anyways, when you start a relationship off with that kind of bond, it’s really pretty awesome to be still close nearly 20 years later and getting to share the experience of motherhood together. I can’t wait for her little boy to arrive in September!</p> <p>While I was home, I also had two long anticipated play dates. My sister’s best friend from middle school, Christy, (note: they were in the cool clique and probably made fun of people like us back then) was pregnant the same time as I was and our due dates were just two days apart. Bo was in a hurry to get here and Maggie took her sweet time, so our little ones are actually almost a month apart but we’ve spent much of our pregnancy and first year of baby raising texting each other our “omg is this happening to you too??” moments. We’ve been waiting all year to get the babies together and Christy just happened to be in town for a family wedding that weekend. It was fate! We’ll call it their first date.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JoxBzMliymg/Ug7a4WWm7lI/AAAAAAAAHP8/NRkHdLHbdEM/s1600-h/137%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="137" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="137" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wkFjCht5q4c/Ug7a5BVcblI/AAAAAAAAHQE/chQOK25aAcI/137_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-1r-MTQ2johg/Ug7a5x3iIdI/AAAAAAAAHQM/tZAmQnO7FDw/s1600-h/139%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="139" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="139" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-R8j5wOqpokI/Ug7a6ldnSNI/AAAAAAAAHQU/tX9ZnoACIEs/139_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-9RGSvX1OKgo/Ug7a7qWvE8I/AAAAAAAAHQc/y7R7evBJG-M/s1600-h/144%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="144" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="144" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-fGzAVWVsNeQ/Ug7a8EhW_VI/AAAAAAAAHQk/Czgsh4JnTXo/144_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3Fwu02DcbcQ/Ug7a9KykuWI/AAAAAAAAHQs/aBWSsk922ak/s1600-h/147%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="147" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="147" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-i6TF8iO1YLQ/Ug7a95_Tm2I/AAAAAAAAHQ0/3RdxRFC8U1U/147_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p>If that wasn’t fun enough, the next day Bo and I had a play date with another friend from way-back-when (first grade maybe?) who has a little boy just three weeks older than Bo. Last year when I was home for my baby shower, we had a bump date and this time we got to have an actual playdate! We decided they really like each other even though they mostly played near each other instead of with each other. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fs9FYXK2SWk/Ug7a-lcRg8I/AAAAAAAAHQ8/avfKMz-aorc/s1600-h/153%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="153" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="153" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-D12KJ24HcTA/Ug7a_jerEcI/AAAAAAAAHRE/9yYD41E2Z1Q/153_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--tOjAPZxN0M/Ug7bAhH0p9I/AAAAAAAAHRM/kg7lm-jQm-Y/s1600-h/161%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="161" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="161" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5b9HIlbhvk4/Ug7bB8EofJI/AAAAAAAAHRU/GLNYtmDeKfw/161_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p>Other than that, I basically spent four days soaking up some time with my parents and getting spoiled by my mom’s willingness to wake up early with Bo. Such a fun trip home… and thankful the travel to and from wasn’t nearly as traumatic as I was worried it was going to be. </p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-81439964745607815072013-06-02T18:16:00.000-07:002013-08-16T18:16:49.105-07:00Sweet Potatoes<p>I am learning a few things about my almost-toddler-boy: </p> <p>1. He likes messes.</p> <p>2. He likes food.</p> <p>3. He really likes when the two are combined.</p> <p>(And I am applying this new rule: if it entertains him for longer than it will take me to clean it up, then the mess is worth making. Have at it, kiddo.)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-fyHSigh7vQ4/Ug7O7f5yIlI/AAAAAAAAHOg/JqG30OFm4Kw/s1600-h/118%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="118" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="118" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ZDBr5z8U5bI/Ug7O7yTWAcI/AAAAAAAAHOo/we2jlR1rUOU/118_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-gvQ0C81FuB4/Ug7O8u0KM_I/AAAAAAAAHOw/i_ncleS8_yE/s1600-h/119%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="119" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="119" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-k-7FbCVt248/Ug7O9Opyg9I/AAAAAAAAHO4/xg-8OZJigpk/119_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-DVtxkOqluTY/Ug7O99_yPdI/AAAAAAAAHPA/8h_gKNWONek/s1600-h/120%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="120" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="120" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sO9u7QrxuBM/Ug7O-dqLmuI/AAAAAAAAHPE/0b5DqWggcmE/120_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--0TQYbIdYkc/Ug7O_MPBXyI/AAAAAAAAHPQ/kujL1tky6D8/s1600-h/121%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="121" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="121" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x3p6HoAUwpg/Ug7O_--5lzI/AAAAAAAAHPU/8RZKc1eCpx4/121_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-89298416330565132062013-06-01T18:25:00.000-07:002013-08-16T18:26:04.873-07:00Cheese<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lbKYIzUvhoA/Ug7RKNKUrVI/AAAAAAAAHPk/Hh6m9NNZLos/s1600-h/113%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="113" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="113" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-f_VVkQY0QCE/Ug7RKlb-nJI/AAAAAAAAHPs/mF77u0-gYiw/113_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p>This child is an absolute ham. I pointed the camera at him and said “Bo, say cheese!” and this is what I get. </p> <p>Anytime we are out in public, he instantly locks eyes with someone and either laughs and giggles until they smile back or he will do the “smile, bury his face in my shoulder, quickly look back and smile again” routine. He is not the least bit shy. I just can’t even imagine what this personality trait will look like as he gets older, because it is such the opposite of how his shy, introverted mama was growing up. He makes Matt and I laugh every day at one antic or another of his. He really is just such a happy little guy. It’s basically impossible to feel anything but joy when he’s around. Even on my most bone-tired days when the coffee isn’t pumping out of the Keurig fast enough, walking into his room and seeing that cheesy grin on his face as he sits up in his crib and claps with delight at my presence is basically the greatest gift I could imagine. I love you, sweet cheesy ham biscuit of mine!</p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-64932373764764722872013-05-31T18:08:00.000-07:002013-08-16T18:09:28.257-07:00Meeting Ayanna, the Toddler Version<p>The funny thing about this day and age of Instagram and Facebook is that you feel really in touch with your friends’ (and sometimes acquaintances’) lives even when you haven’t seen them in months or even years. Every day I see cute pictures of my far away friends’ kids in their day to day life and I feel like I’m getting to watch their kids grow up…</p> <p>And then you get a chance to have an actual visit and you realize that pictures and hash tags are lovely, but they sure can’t hold a candle to the real thing. The last time I got to see Ayanna she was barely 3 months old. Though I’ve watched her grow up over Instagram and chatted with Akanksha almost daily on our momma tribe group iMessage, I still kind of had to pinch myself to believe that this animated, sprinting, giggling toddler was the same little person I had snuggled with just a year ago. We were so lucky to have <a href="http://jacobandakanksha.blogspot.com/">Jacob + Akanksha</a> come back to Winston for a visit so we could catch up in person, love on their crazy toddler, …. and mostly importantly, introduce Bo and Ayanna. There was a lot of “muuuuuu-wah’s” from Ayanna and a lot of looks of delighted surprise from Bo. Such a fun weekend catching up with old friends – we only wished it ended with a surprise announcement that they were moving back, but no dice. Back to the Instagram and iMessage catch ups for now.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-WxXF933zFF8/Ug7NOdu7RDI/AAAAAAAAHMs/T1sYHUgxKEI/s1600-h/085%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="085" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="085" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-nyBa_4-nNG8/Ug7NPFeH2pI/AAAAAAAAHM0/3nbPTdQVsyU/085_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="644" height="431" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-9iXa5WHyJ6o/Ug7NP5VXC9I/AAAAAAAAHM8/Y0mslWdnXD4/s1600-h/088%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="088" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="088" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PR8H_OK2KpA/Ug7NQisPSfI/AAAAAAAAHNE/02s0xH9cUJY/088_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-d0yLg1pdb4c/Ug7NRKO1mhI/AAAAAAAAHNM/mYoEaSILssM/s1600-h/089%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="089" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="089" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-jewmmv6B2iI/Ug7NRtnEQJI/AAAAAAAAHNU/071w1Kw6Wpk/089_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="324" height="484" /></a></p> Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-74792120157056948852013-05-28T12:24:00.001-07:002013-05-28T12:24:59.645-07:0010 Months<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">Bowen :: Ten Months Old</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">Weight: No appointment this month, so I'm not sure of his official stats. Matt and I did an unofficial height check today and clocked him in at 29.5 inches which would be a huge jump from his 9 month appointment. I'm not sure if that's accurate, but it sure would explain why we are rapidly growing out of clothes. He started this month in 9 month onesies, 12 month rompers and 9 month pajamas. As of today, the 12 month rompers are getting packed up and 12 month pajamas are fitting… but without much room to spare. Hello, growth spurt!</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">Eats: He dropped the small 4th bottle before bed at the beginning of this month. His 3 bottles are now 8 oz though so he's actually getting the same volume, just less frequency. He's eating 3 meals a day, ranging from a sweet potato pancake to homemade mac n cheese to a pretty wide variety of fruits and veggies. He's still not too keen on picking most foods up, except his beloved Puffs and Cheerios, so I still spoon feed him most of his meals. (Fine by me - easier clean up!)</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">Sleep: 3rd nap officially gone, down to 2 naps a day. The good news is that by pushing the 1st nap back just a little bit, it's extended from 45 minutes to an hour or more The second nap is usually an hour and fifteen minutes, which is nice to feel like he's getting some solid day sleep. His awake time is about 3 hours, so we've been able to get out of the house a little more often. He's still waking up earlier than he used to and I've given up trying to solve the mystery of his early rising. I've tried both putting him to bed earlier and later and it doesn't seem to make an impact. Oh well… just another life lesson that we're on Bo time. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">Milestones: Rolling, rolling, rolling. Bo is rolling EVERYWHERE. He spies something he wants and it's just tummy-back-tummy-back-tummy-back until he gets it. He's also starting sitting up from a lying down position and he is getting up in a push up position and rocking a bit. I'm just waiting for it all to begin… Other fun milestones are him learning to imitate us. He started clapping in earnest this month, and will do it anytime you say "yay!!!" or "paddy cakes?" to him. He will sometimes blow kisses or wave and can imitate a number of different sounds I make, like clicking his tongue or rolling his R's. Last night when we were having dinner with friends, Kate stuck her tongue out at him and he stuck it right back out at her! First time I had seen him do that. Little monkey. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">Likes: Oatmeal, cheerios, Greek yogurt, rolling, shrieking, yelling, shouting, "petting" Buddy, FaceTime, peek-a-boo, his Daddy, the stacking rings and the stacking cup, being outside, swimming, watching videos of himself. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">Dislikes: getting dressed, touching slimy foods, waiting for meals to be prepared, skipping a nap. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">Bo is such a social little boy. If we are out and about, especially playing with other kids, he rarely gets fussy. (As opposed to when we are home, there's only so many rounds of Paddy-cakes he wants to play with momma before he's ready to move on to the next thing.) He loves to be around other people, and has the quickest smile and most joyful laugh. He is content as can be to sit and watch other kids in the Y daycare or church nursery, and is not phased when another kid "borrows" whatever toy he is playing with. His Buddy dog delights him, and he shrieks and shouts and grabs his fur whenever he's close by. Bless little Buddy, we'll have to work on "gentle hands" soon. He started swim class this month, which we attended with 3 other little friends - Jamie and Zoey, Denise and Sam, Holly and Ben - and he's just happy as can be in the water. I see us getting a lot of mileage out of our pool membership this summer. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">I'm savoring these days where he is happily and easily entertained, yet still remains mostly in the same spot I left him. I can, after all, keep up with a baby who can only roll. I know my days are numbered and in a matter of time, I'll have a curious and MOBILE boy to chase after. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">Matt's parents were here for a weekend while we attended a wedding out of town, and then my mom was here for a week just to visit so he has had lots of grandparent love and attention this month. With the weather warming up, we've been taking a lot more runs together in the BOB and I love peeking down through the little window in the top of the stroller to see him shrieking and waving his hands as we run. </p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;">We've had a fun month with our happy and silly boy. There are still so many moments when I see him as my little baby, but those are quickly being replaced more and more with the suggestions of toddlerhood waiting right around the corner. More and more he looks like a little boy, and I can tell there are more times when he is thinking through his behaviors rather than just reacting to what's happening around him. I try to squeeze him and snuggle him as much as I can right now, because I can already feel him squirming to get down and go explore the next thing. Oh sweet Baby Bo, you are so, so loved.</p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;"><img title="IMG_4948.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0vGgG7_9iCE/UaUEQArrh9I/AAAAAAAAHGI/h48oX-yBAOs/IMG_4948.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4948" width="600" height="898" border="0" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;"><img title="IMG_4951.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-PuzrONC5eJM/UaUER-rDIUI/AAAAAAAAHGQ/cjP7oowdWZ0/IMG_4951.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4951" width="898" height="600" border="0" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;"><img title="IMG_4954.jpg" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8pviY_oaoeQ/UaUEToac5JI/AAAAAAAAHGY/rWwuZJHKgS0/IMG_4954.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4954" width="600" height="898" border="0" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;"><img title="IMG_4956.JPG" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-diyCZRDcnc4/UaUEZt7r9WI/AAAAAAAAHGg/NXwnRWl3ROM/IMG_4956.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4956" width="898" height="600" border="0" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;"><img title="IMG_4970.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-V_5kVmriWDI/UaUEecvSXZI/AAAAAAAAHGo/3nBsDlGyq_c/IMG_4970.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4970" width="600" height="898" border="0" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;"><img title="IMG_4984.jpg" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-0hIMo1HezYo/UaUEgTT2qmI/AAAAAAAAHGw/KNcGER5BFT4/IMG_4984.jpg?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4984" width="600" height="898" border="0" /></p>
<p style="margin: 0px 0px 13px; font-size: 13px; font-family: Arial; color: #323333;"><img title="IMG_4989.JPG" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kGPU-G1BUMI/UaUEiPLGu2I/AAAAAAAAHG4/FtuMDr2LSyM/IMG_4989.JPG?imgmax=800" alt="IMG 4989" width="898" height="600" border="0" /></p>Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539362148819357716.post-49992343659822619992013-05-26T18:15:00.000-07:002013-05-26T18:19:50.388-07:00Crowdsource Troubleshooting: Fix My Playroom, Please?I feel a little silly posting this, for a number of reasons. The first is that I do not particularly like my own voice on video and the last is that this room is an absolute mess, and there's a good five or six other reasons squashed in between those. But I need help with my playroom and I know a bunch of my Internet friends (and real life friends who I interact with on the internet) really excel at figuring out how to effectively use a room. I do not excel at this. Thus, my call to arms via the Internet to troubleshoot my playroom.<br />
<br />
This room has plagued me for months. Ideally, I would like it to somehow be a mostly baby-proofed play room. But, I also need to keep our elliptical in there and my desk because we just don't have space in another room for those things.<br />
<br />
So, here's my room. Come in and tell me how to fix it. And please try not to focus too much on my semi-Rochester, pseudo-Southern accent.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4_WG52UqyPs" width="420"></iframe><br />
<br />
A few things to note:<br />
<br />
I ended up moving the toy chest out from under the book shelves to the side. I am toying with the idea of spray painting the toy chest a solid color - ideas welcome. Labor even more welcome.<br />
<br />
The shelf is actually the top hutch of my desk. It's not incredibly stable, and I probably need to bolt it to the wall. And by me, I of course mean Matt. But, I'm thinking with a few canvas baskets on it, it can work as a good toy receptacle.<br />
<br />
Oh and the curtains? We had a friend sleep over recently and I realized we had no curtains. So I thumb tacked pillowcases up there. Because that's what 30 year olds do.<br />
<br />
Okay, crew! Get to (virtual) work!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9Mgahs-5FuYLJF6JFS33zIOPWepCptRvKKAawxTQvZJqQvtoAEID-ocC7aEA9hyphenhyphengEUq7Zu-iXbDhNcPJcRrVTtMgnPJEYMeYWXmPNU7C3SdQU6O03vOohjuD956YpwLd9mDB18p8UJDU/s1600/IMG_0697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl9Mgahs-5FuYLJF6JFS33zIOPWepCptRvKKAawxTQvZJqQvtoAEID-ocC7aEA9hyphenhyphengEUq7Zu-iXbDhNcPJcRrVTtMgnPJEYMeYWXmPNU7C3SdQU6O03vOohjuD956YpwLd9mDB18p8UJDU/s640/IMG_0697.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Meghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013530838293349094noreply@blogger.com5