Two Things

The first thing is this: I have been TERRIBLE about keeping you updated on baby Hamish's progress. I was so diligent about making sure everyone knew how every doctor appointment went when I was expecting Madeline. I documented every little thing. This time, I just haven't had that kind of time because, well, I have Madeline.

So, I thought I'd give you the latest on the new kid. You'll notice we haven't revealed a name yet. Yeah. Don't get me started.

Today was my 30 week appointment, which means that we only have 10 short weeks to get Madeline's new room cleared out and done, Baby _____'s bedroom stuff purchased and put in place, a firm plan made for Madeline's care when Baby _____ is arriving, and a name set in stone so we can stop calling this poor kid Hamish.  You know me. I'm a planner. I'm in panic mode because everything isn't done yet.

Physically, though, all is well. His heartbeat is perfect, my blood pressure is good, and I've only gained 10 pounds! Actually, I gained 12 and lost 2. I have no idea how, since I am always ravenous and eat almost everything I see, but that's what the scale says.

We'll be sure to let you know when we nail down a name. :)

The second thing is this: Have you seen this??

www.dearphotograph.com

Maybe it's because I love pictures, but I think it's awesome!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Does anyone remember the Staples back-to-school commercial from a few years ago, with the dad dancing through the aisles on a shopping cart while his kids trudged behind him like they were being marched off to prison, and "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" played in the background? I love that commercial!

And, I love this time of year. I know, it's weird. But, I have always loved back-to-school time. Long before I was a teacher, I loved back-to-school shopping. There were new clothes, new routines, and best of all, new school supplies! I adore the smell of crayons, Elmer's glue, and the plastic scent that wafts into your nose when you open a new binder. Or, in my case, a new Trapper Keeper. Mmmmmm... (Yes, I know I'm a high school teacher and there are no crayons or glue in a British literature class. I'm hoping to change that when I return to the classroom. More on that later.)

When I was in college, I worked 4 years in a school supply store for the best bosses anyone could ever ask for. (www.learningexperiences123.com) What a perfect job for me, and I promise you that if Sam and Teresa had a store in Birmingham, I would go back to work for them before you could say tempera paint. I'm such a dork that I would actually get excited when new shipments would come in and I would have to open the boxes and check in the merchandise, because that meant I got the first look at all the cool new classroom stuff!

Once I started teaching, back-to-school time meant new students and again, new school supplies! I'm not going to lie; I am a little sad that I'm not teaching this year. But, Madeline and Baby ____ need me at home this year and this is where I want to be for now. I also don't need to settle for a school where I'm unhappy, just to have a teaching job. So, I'm hoping that God opens up a door to a reading specialist/literacy coaching position next year. We'll see. In the mean time, I'll keep walking by pencil boxes and notepads in Target and thinking, "I need this!"

Back-to-school time means the door is open for fall to begin. There will be football games, and football weather. It will be time for little hands to make construction paper pumpkins, while high school art classes carve jack-o-lanterns for fall festivals. Text books will crackle as they are opened for the first time, and bonfires will crackle in celebration of homecoming events everywhere.

It will be a couple of years before we have to shop from a school supply list for Madeline, but I'm looking forward to it. Because I love the smell of crayons, Elmer's glue, and the plastic smell of new binders.

And those scented markers that don't really  smell like bananas.

And pencil shavings.

And rubber erasers.

And Crayola watercolor paints.

And dry erase markers...

Vacation in Nashville!

I know the most popular vacation destination this time of year is the beach, but we decided to do something a little different. We got our country on and relived a couple of childhood memories.

Because I have some Canadian friends who read this, I'm going to give you a couple of instructions so that you can fully enjoy the pictures and the Southern summer experience with us. 1. Preheat the oven to the temperature at which you would bake a cake. 2. While you wait for the oven to preheat, go put on a wool sweater and your heaviest winter coat. 3. Go outside and run around your house 132 times. (Are you sweating profusely? Good! That's what's supposed to happen.) 4. When the oven is completely preheated, open the door and stick your head in. I don't recommend doing this for an extended period of time, especially if you have a gas oven.

This is what the Southern states feel like from June - September. Ready? Let's visit Nashville!

Does anyone watch the show, American Pickers on History? Well, we're nerds and we do. So, our very first stop was a visit to Antique Archaeology, the store featured on the show. They had some really neat stuff, which was even cooler since we watched them acquire it on TV.

The next stop was the Country Music Hall of Fame. Yee Haw! If you know Dan and me, you probably already know that our tastes in music are vastly different. I like everything, with the exception of rap, contemporary country, and that whiny '70s garbage that was supposed to make you feel your feelings. Dan likes stuff in the Garth Brooks vein. So, with a little Patsy Cline and a little Garth Brooks, there was something there to make both of us happy. Oh, and I love Hee Haw. Really. I got a little giddy when I saw Minnie Pearl's dress.

[caption id="attachment_1206" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Madeline taking a stroll through the cornfield."][/caption]

 The pictures are a little dark because, well, it was dark in there and no flash photography is allowed.

[caption id="attachment_1207" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption=""Dinosaur patroller/ Listenin' to Buck Owens/ Doo-doo-doo lookin' out my back door""][/caption]

I'm not sure if my friend, Andy, is reading this, but if you are, this one's for you...

[caption id="attachment_1208" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="I wonder which one is REALLY the reason their kids are ugly."][/caption]

 On day two of our Nashville vacation, we took another trip through our early '80's childhood.

[caption id="attachment_1209" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The reason I always wanted a white Jeep."][/caption]

and...

[caption id="attachment_1210" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Dan introducing the next generation to the General Lee."][/caption]

Now, I will expect all of you (all 5 people who read this blog, that is) to make Waylon Jennings proud and begin singing the theme song from The Dukes of Hazzard.

We took a riverboat cruise where Madeline was mesmerized by the two men playing "Duelling Banjos" on the same banjo, walked through the enormous and beautiful Opryland Hotel, picked up a birthday present for my dad at the Willie Nelson museum, and spent day three touring The Hermitage before hopping in the car to head home.

I would love to visit The Hermitage again and see more of it when it's not very hot and I'm not very pregnant. :)  It is a gorgeous place and deserves much more attention than I was giving it.



(Canadians, take your head out of the oven now.)

49 days until fall!

Birthdays and Basketball

Madeline and I had the pleasure of celebrating with adorable Ryder at his 2nd birthday party this afternoon. I tried really hard to get some good pictures of the cousins in the same vicinity, but since Madeline wanted to be attached to my hip and Ryder moves faster than my camera, most of them are of Madeline watching Ryder walk away. :)

[caption id="attachment_1184" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=""Where'd he go?""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1185" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=""Bye Bye, Ryder!""][/caption]

 And then, there was the moment of which her daddy was most proud. This was Madeline's first attempt at playing basketball. In addition to the wildly popular choo-choo train, Ryder's party was also equipped with a basketball...um...thing (Dan says it's called a goal, and I should stop being such a ninny). I know there was a ball floating around somewhere, but Madeline decided this game should be played with a balloon.

[caption id="attachment_1186" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=""I wonder if I can get this balloon into that basket.""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1187" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=""Of course I can. Mommy and Daddy said there's nothing I can't do.""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1188" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=""Go, Madeline!""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1189" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="And, the crowd goes wild!"][/caption]

(Don't worry. She's still our sugar and spice and everything nice Princess Diva Madeline.)

Dear Weather Caster

Dear James Spann,

I'm OK with any other Alabama meteorologist reading this as well, but I trust you. Your predictions are usually spot-on. Even when I lived in Atlanta, I used to listen to your weather wisdom imparted via one of the Christian radio stations and I knew that I was in good hands. Plus, you are a fellow Tuscaloosan, so that gives you a little extra credit in my book.

Since you are such a skilled forecaster, I have a few requests for the remainder of the year and through spring of next year. I know I am asking a lot, but hear me out. My reasons are valid and just.

The school semester that begins in August is known as "fall" semester. This is true beginning in preschool and throughout all the years of higher education. Based on that fact, I would like for the actual season of fall to begin in August, just to make things less complicated. I want cooler weather, a good gust of wind once in a while, red and yellow leaves, pumpkins, the smell of cinnamon - the whole shebang - starting on the first day of school. It really bothers me that my beloved autumn only lasts for a few weeks and then is nothing but a distant memory for an entire year.



If you cannot arrange this, a dramatic drop in temperature would suffice. I just want it to be cool enough to take my child outside to play without worrying about heat exhaustion or drowning in her own sweat.

My second request is for some snow this winter. I know we got plenty of it last winter and I quite enjoyed it. However, I spent the entire week worrying about what was going to happen when we went back to school after the break. This year, since I will be home with my beautiful babies, I would like for them to have the experience of snowball fights and helping to build a snowman. I would also like to, myself, experience snow that goes all the way to my ankles (or higher). I've never seen snow like that and I think it would be awesome. Did I mention that snow is beautiful and would make such pretty pictures of my kiddies? (Note: I am fully aware that baby ___ will only be a few months old. I do not expect him to make a snowball, but he can watch.)

[caption id="attachment_1179" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Photo courtesy of my sister-in-law, Sara. Featured here are Dan's brother, Michael and Moose, the peek-a-poo."][/caption]

I do not, in any way, expect this snow to last more than a week. I would get tired of it by then.

As for the spring, if you don't mind, I would like for you to predict a longer season of beautifully mild weather, suitable for days at the park without sweat or bugs. My only request for this one is that it extend into May and last until the calendar officially announces that summer has begun.

Mr. Spann, I'm sure you can see that I have put a great deal of thought into this. Thank you for considering my requests. I hope you will take them into consideration, especially the one specific to autumn, and make some predictions we all can live with this year.

Thanks,

Madeline's & Hamish's Mom

P.S. If you can swing this, I promise to send you a baker's dozen of my famous red velvet doughnuts...when I invent them.

A Budding Musician?

You Thought I Was Joking.

When I was pregnant with Madeline I suggested, somewhat in jest, that Gerber or Beech Nut or someone should make available a line of Southern baby foods.  You know, alongside the spinach and pears, they could throw in some okra, turnip greens, and grits for little palates.

Well, joke no more. Our little belle has surprised us with her culinary tastes. She is certainly a Southerner. She will not touch green peas (a.k.a. English peas, or those things Yankees refer to as just, "peas") but put some good ol' black-eyed peas in front of her and watch her descend on them like a buzzard. She really likes turnip greens, especially of you put some cornbread in them, and grits are one of her favorite breakfast staples. I don't know what she would do if she had to go without sweet potatoes, and a small plate of okra will make her forget there's anything else on the table.

So, see? There has to be a business idea in there somewhere.

Her Southernness is also evident in her budding manners. (I have to admit I glow with pride at this part.) We haven't really encouraged her to do any of this; she just sort of picked it up on her own. Or, maybe it's in her blood. Who knows?

You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat people in food service, store cashiers, sales people, etc. Our sweet Madeline seems to know that instinctively. She flashes a sweet smile and says, "Thankchoo!" whenever the cashier hands me my receipt. She does the same thing in restaurants, when she hands the server her little kid's menu or holds up her sippy cup for more water. She always has a smile and a, "Thankchoo!" Recently, she has even tried to clean up after herself, handing bowls, cups, spoons, or whatever to me or the server, of course with the obligatory, "Thankchoo!" Such a precious girl.

Dan would also tell you that our mini- Melanie Wilkes is also developing into quite the little girly-girl. Hey, just because she holds out her skirt and twirls around, just because she asks for bows in order for her ensemble to be complete, just because she wants to wear Mommy's necklaces, and just because she would rather cuddle and dress her baby dolls than bounce a ball...that doesn't mean anything, does it?

Of course it does. (Insert arched eyebrow and maniacal laugh here.)

So, that's what Sweet Pea has been up to. Check back soon to find out if we've actually decided on a name for Hamish. We're getting closer!