On a Tybee Island Trip

Back when the weather was still cold, some of my close college friends and I decided to take a trip together to celebrate turning 30.  Being from Ohio and North Carolina, the five of us ended up meeting in Tybee Island, GA for a long weekend sans husbands or kids. (A huge thanks to Tom for watching Colleen for the weekend).

One of the first things we did once we dropped of our stuff was to head to the beach.  My goal was to have my feet in the sand before the day was over!

Tybee Island is beautiful.  I'm already looking forward to going back sometime.  The beach was walking distance from where we stayed and you could see the lighthouse from the beach.  The view from our balcony was also amazing.

Our time on the Island was well spent.  Time on the beach was a must.

Time at the pool to relax.

An evening in Savannah with a pirate themed dinner and shopping.

Dinner at the famous Crab Shack...alligators and all.

Sunsets from our balcony.

However, the best time spent was catching up with my friends KimE, Steph, Liz, and Erin from college.  It had been years since we had been all together and although ours lives are completely different than when were were at Bowling Green, it was like nothing had changed.  We talked about our families, our jobs, our lives, and the past.  I enjoyed every minute of it.

Girls-I loved the weekend we had on Tybee Island.  Can't wait for us to travel again!  Miss you all!

On Understanding

At 14 months old, Colleen is really starting to understand a lot of what people say to her.  For example, you can ask her to bring you something and more often than not, she's bring you the right thing.  However, she is only 14 months, so she can't verbalize anything she wants to tell us.  This leads her to become frustrated easily and while I don't know if I would call them tantrums quite yet, she has been known to wail and cry and throw her body on the ground.  Luckily, these are usually short lived.

This morning, she seemed especially frustrated.  I didn't know what she wanted.  Tom didn't know what she wanted.  Everything we tried to give her just made her mad.  I totally didn't understand her.  When she was calm enough, I spoke with her and wiped the tears that were still on her cheek.  I know that when she is older, we will be able to communicate better.  I just wish I understood.

Later this afternoon, we finally heard back about what was wrong with our SUV.  Transmission fluid is leaking...a $624 fix.  As with most people, money these days is tight.  I understand that it could have been worse.  But, I was upset thinking of how I would have loved to put that money into our savings account.  How we pulled Colleen from daycare this summer (with a chance of losing her spot to another child) in order to save money.  Money that will now be used to repair a vehicle we hardly drive.  So, I started to cry.  And just as I had done with her this morning, Colleen came over to me and with her little hands, started to wipe the tears off my face.  I could tell by the look in her eyes, that if she could talk, she would have said, "Don't cry Mama.  It's going to be okay."

I might be able to understand her quite yet, but she definitely understands me.

On a Garden

I never pictured myself as much of a gardener.  However, maybe it's because I turned thirty or maybe I was just tired of buying tomatoes and fresh basil from the store, but I asked if Tom would help me plant a small garden for my 30th birthday.

Our soil here is full of clay and we don't have the proper tools to plant a garden in the ground.  So instead, we planned a small raised bed.  I didn't want anything big for fear that this would be a complete disaster and I would kill everything.  So, Tom looked up some plans online and built a 4 by 10 foot bed.

Once the frame was in the ground, we had to do a little work to get it level and then pull out all the sod.  Then, Tom filled it with dirt and we added some plants.  For the first year I planted: two basil plants, two tomato plants, two red pepper plants, two cilantro plants, several green onion plants, a lemon thyme plant, and a lavender plant.  Thanks for Andrea and George for the thyme and lavender as well as some of the funds as my birthday gift to complete the project.

Thanks to Tom's siblings and their kids for the rain gauge, thermometer, watering can and colorful decorative pieces to add a bit of color to my garden.

We also felt if we were going to have a garden, a rain barrel would be necessary.  It's located right next to the garden which makes watering a snap!

My cilantro did well in the beginning, but know it's starting to flower.  I was able to use it in several dishes though and have used the basil and green onion as well.  Our tomatoes are growing like mad now so we've been eating lots of BLTs and lunch meat sandwiches with home grown tomatoes.  I think next year I might try some lettuce.

Luckily, since it's a raised bed, there has been little weeding or maintenance.  I love being able to run out a use something from my garden for dinner-makes everything taste better knowing you've grown it yourself.  Thanks to my husband Tom for building this wonderful birthday present!  I hope we will be able to enjoy it for years to come!

On a Graduate and Trip to NY

Over Mother's Day weekend, my parents (generously) flew my sister and I to New York for my brother's graduation from grad school.  He graduated from Rutgers University in New Jersey and I was proud and glad to be able to attend the ceremony.  

Tom drove me to the airport Friday afternoon and I landed in New York not long after my sister did who was flying in from Kentucky.  Together, we traveled by bus, subway, and foot to meet my parents and brother in New Jersey.  Kyle took us on a tour of the building where he spent most of his time.

The following day was graduation.  We met Kyle at his place before grabbing lunch and heading to the ceremony.  Mom made him this beautiful wall hanging of maps.

The ceremony was very nice and included a lovely reception in the courtyard with delicious foods.  Check out Kyle graduating in the video below.

On Sunday, we spent the day in New York City and enjoyed Mother's Day with our mom. Check out some of the sites!

Congratulations Kyle!

On Homemade Things

I am lucky to have some very creative people in my life.  I (and my family) truly benefit from their talents.  Take a look!

Tom and I have been working on finishing our basement since we moved into the house.  Once the walls, paint, floor, and trim were in place, we loaded the room with furniture and more kid toys.  Then we hung up some wall decorations.  But there is a lot of wall space down there and it needed something else.  So, we asked Tom's sister, Christine, to make us some canvas wall hangings.  She did that....and more.

Thank you, Christine.  The basement now looks complete!

For Colleen's birthday, I received a special gift from my mom.  A cloth timeline with the text messages that were passed back and forth between my family members while I was in labor.  What a neat way to remember a day that will forever be so important to me.  And, to be able to see it through the eyes of the people I love makes it incredibly special.  In addition, my mom also made a beautiful quilt that you can see here.

Thanks, mom.  I read it often!

My best friend Jennifer is one of the most talented people I know.  She is the type of person who, when she can't find a Christmas tree topper she likes, spends an afternoon making one herself.  I love this about her.  In her recent package she mailed me for my 30th birthday, she also sent a pair of slippers she made for Colleen.  Colleen hasn't worn them much yet as they are a little big, but I can't wait to see her walking around in them.

Thank you, Jen!  I miss getting together to be crafty!

Tom's mom has made several sewn gifts including a toy bag which we use each day taking items to and from daycare.  She also has made Colleen two taggies.  One before she was born that is gender neutral and then the one pictured below that is a bit more girly.  While this picture is from a few months ago, she still likes her taggie and is sleeping with it tonight!

Thanks Andrea!  I know Colleen loves these!

While this picture doesn't do it justice, take a look at the afghan that Tom's Aunt Mary Ann made for Colleen.  I can't imagine the hours she spent creating it.  But it's the perfect crib blanket and Colleen loves each night when Tom tosses the blanket over her face and she laughs as she pulls it down.

Aunt Mary Ann, it's beautiful.  Thank you!

These aren't the only homemade gifts we've received.  And I want to thank everyone who has gotten us gifts-homemade or store bought-they are all greatly appreciated.  It is so nice of you to think of us!

On Weaning

No more bottles.  No more pump parts or pump bags.  No more hiding in my classroom for thirty minutes three times a day to pump my milk.  No more nursing.

It's been many weeks since I last nursed Colleen.  It all went by so fast.  I felt like I thought about the weaning process longer than it actually took.  I don't miss washing bottles or pump parts and I really don't miss pumping.

But, I do miss nursing.  It didn't require much.  Just Colleen and myself and perhaps a quiet space.  It was time for her and I to be together.  Something that I could do for her.  And it seems so bizarre now.  How much of a part of my life it was-an entire year.  But now I'm done and it doesn't seem like it was that long.  When I was nursing and pumping, I often thought about all the "extra" time I would have once Colleen was weaned.  And while I notice that I don't have a pile of bottles that must be washed when I come home from school, I don't feel like I've gained a lot of time back.  My planning at school still feels short and nighttime routine now requires a nightly bath and brushing teeth instead of nursing.  I kind of surprises me how nursing so quietly became a part of my life and then how quietly it slipped away like it had not happened at all.

But, I'm glad I did it.  I know that nursing isn't for everyone-like cloth diapers or having an epidural.  I am lucky to have supportive friends and family that encouraged me to stick with it in the beginning when I was struggling.  So for that, thank you.  And I hope that I find, in the years to come, more things that I can do for Colleen, just her and I.

On Turning 30

This year, I turned thirty.  To celebrate, we decided to head to Ohio so I could celebrate with family.  My parents were nice and offered up their house for the party.  They spent many weekends getting ready including taking the time to make some beautiful decorations.  Mom sewed the sweet garland that they hung inside the kitchen since it rained on the day of the party.  Cupcakes were made by my sister and brother-in-law and were a big hit!

 These puff balls were made by my sister as well.  The orange and yellow ones now hang above Colleen's crib.

Pictures of me growing up.

Some yummy food including...

 berry salad

 tuna, chicken, and egg salad

and sangria!

I had lots of guests.  Actually, I think we might have had thirty people there!

 Colleen taking a nap with my best friend's mom, Karen.

Even though it was rainy, we still went outside to play some ball.  The field looks great Dad!

To all you twenty-somethings, don't worry, turning thirty isn't so bad.  Especially when you have family and friends to share it with. Thanks so much for sharing the day with me!