Mom

I have often heard others say that becoming a mom makes them more appreciative of their own mother. I can say the same.

Now that Charlie is one, I am no longer the new mom toting around her bundle of joy. I am a parent. I am responsible for those scary things like training, disciplining, rearing......and I think, Mom, how did you do it?

Thank you for letting "Gina-go" become Mom joyfully, wholeheartedly. You not only provided food on the table and clothes to wear, but a refuge to come home to. Thank you for persevering through my Junior High years, and beyond (I guess you are still persevering, huh?). Thank you for letting me become me - trusting that the Lord holds me tight.

My other sweet Mom reminded me of a book I read in college, Stepping Heavenward, and this quote made me think of how you must have thought of us:

Here is a little mouth to kiss;

here are two more feet to make music with their pattering about my nursery.

Here is a soul to train for God, and the body in which it dwells is worth all it will cost,

since it is abode of a kingly tenant.

I may see less of friends, but I have gained one dearer than them all.

Yes, my precious baby, you are welcome to your mothers heart,

welcome to her time, her strength, her health, to her most tender cares, to her life-long prayers! Oh how rich I am, how truly, how wondrously blessed!"

Thank you for thinking not of what your children would take away, but what they would add to each day. What you have brought and continue to bring to this life is priceless.

Thank you. This day, and everyday.

more birthday

the whole day here.

One

As it's been said many times before, the days may be long, but the years are short.

Happy, happy birthday Charlie!

(yesterday)

Better a happy baby

Confession: Before I had a child, I thought your car was really dirty. stinky. quite neglected. Week old fast food bits, half-full juice boxes, toys to wade through at every angle.......I vowed to never let my mini-van get that way.

Yes, I am now eating those words, or thoughts rather (I never told you, I probably said something like "oh...you should see my car, and I don't even have kids! But I was just talking about my dust, and a cup or two). I was thinking about vacuuming my car the other day, and decided pictures were more fun. It's not so shameful if you tell the world you are aware, is it?

There is an upside to having piles of Cheerios everywhere, all the time. Charlie is quite content with his stale, sun-baked snacks. I now say better a happy baby than a clean car.

Forgive me for thinking your car was gross. I now understand, and I openly join the club.

Eleven

His vocabulary has become quite extensive - Ma-Ma, Da-Da, bye-bye, and even light, baby, cheerios, yogurt, cheese, banana, outside, bath, milk, bunny, paci, and ball to name just a few.

We know what you mean, even if they are all pronounced "ba".

His favorite places to be are outside or in the bathtub, and his favorite person is his Dad.

He loves to dance, sing, drum (on everything), and even play air-guitar.

You bring indescribable joy to our everyday!

There is still no tooth in sight, and because he can crawl nearly faster than I can run he has no interest in walking.

That's ok, take all the time you need. You already make it from the living room to the toilet in 5 seconds flat, and I am usually 3 seconds behind - just enough time for you to get a couple of good splashes in.

The days are often long, but the year has been short. How can it be that my baby is already one less than one?!

Groovin', on a Sunday afternoon

I, obviously, take lots of pictures of Charlie just doing his thing. So I thought the other man in my life needed to be captured just doing his thing. At least, his thing for this Sunday afternoon (the song was playing in the car today and I can't get it out of my head!).
He will love it.

Excitement for the day

This is what happens when you trust your 11 month old to entertain himself while you are on the phone anxiously trying to get the last spot for a photography conference. A friend of Bryan's told him about it only today, and since it was free, and my babysitters, I mean parents, are on the way.....well, I had to try! I'm in! I'm pretty certain I will be quite out of place, but I'm excited nonetheless.

First boo-boo

The culprit: the Conner's coffee table

Enjoying his second favorite place to be, the doorway. His first is on the other side, outside. The first thing he did this morning was point to the door and grunt until we obliged.

Spring has sprung

Although, as I am writing it is 49 degrees outside.

I think I like Spring in Alabama because it is like me, indecisive and fickle. But Summer is not, and I know it will come barreling in just as I'm getting comfortable with the spring in my step and the fresh in the air.

So, for today....er, eh, tomorrow? I hope to savor it for what it is.








While we were away for a week a bird decided to make our home her own. This is what we found in the vine on our front porch!

Dee-lux apartment in the sky-ii

In October of 2006, we finally got our piece of the pie. We planned on enjoying it for at least 5 years.

Since Bryan is already employed with Worktopia but will not move there until June, he "gets" to travel to NY every few weeks. Last week we both went so that we could hopefully find housing for us when we move. We knew it would be a feat, only having a short amount of time, and not wanting to move (or pay) until at least May, hopefully June (rentals are listed and then gone within days).

To say the trip did not go as planned would be an understatement. I got food poisoning right off the plane (beware of Burger King in the LaGuardia airport!) and spent the next few days in bed. I am so thankful for my mom making the trip, and spending it with Charlie and 4 walls. The hardest part of being sick for me was not the obvious, but that I didn't get to have fun with her. When I was finally able to step foot out of the hotel, we attempted to check out the local towns, but ended up lost and in a crummy deli. We had some awkward conversations with locals, and our own conversation was nil because all my effort was spent fighting back tears. I was trying so hard (too hard) to picture what life would be like when we moved, and the picture wasn't pretty. Don't start feeling sorry for me, the story gets better.

Finally, the clouds began to clear (literally too) on Thursday and I spent 2 days with Bryan's boss's wife, who is a real estate agent, looking for housing. I'm not sure if having a baby or trying to find housing in 2 days is more exhausting. Every place had it's quirks, from the price, to laundry being outside, space, location....you name it. I was content with a couple of places and didn't even want to see the last place, but to appease Bryan, I did. And loved it.

Maybe I was delirious at this point for choosing an apartment above a restraunt, but after weighing all that we saw we are thrilled that we get to live here. I had prayed weeks before we came that the Lord would let us find an affordable (ok, this term is completely relative, and laughable), functional 3 BR. As we were looking I began to think that my expectations had been too high, so this place was such a suprising answer to prayer.
So, you have an open invitation to visit any time, and you have your own room!

Cozying up to change

As of 2 weeks ago, my husband is no longer an employee of Infomedia. There aren't enough words to express my thankfulness to his boss and co-workers for taking him under their wings at the green age of 18, paying his way through school, and instilling much more than work ethic and business sense. Bryan's best friends are there. I love that those are the people he still wants to hang around when business hours are over.

The decision to leave the company was made after much thought, conversation and prayer over the course of a year. The only way we could make the change was if we were confident in the next step. Little did we know that step would be 1000 miles NE.

We had talked before about what a dream it would be for Bryan to work for Worktopia, but the thought was that we could stay in Birmingham, even though they are located in NY. I'll never forget the brief conversation we had while Bryan was there for a few days to work on a project. I was in our cozy little home, snuggled on my couch, Ben and Jerry's in hand, enjoying my little I'm all alone party when Bryan called. I was excited to finally hear from him about how his time was going. Our conversation went something like this:

Bryan: "Hey babe........yeah, looks like I could have a job here...."

Me: "That's fabulous!"

Bryan: "Yeah, and I'm thinking it may be hard to stay in Birmingham. You know, you may really like it here."

click.

dial tone.

No, I didn't hang up on him, we lost service. The next 30 minutes are somewhat blurred in my memory, but I think I recall some tears, and melted ice cream.

Friends that know me know that I love adventure and change. Yet friends who really know me know that I am also fearful of it and would just prefer my life to be comfortable. predictable.

The Lord has been gracious to continually show me that though my circumstances may not always be cozy, He is my comfort; that life may be about change, but He is my constant. He also gave me the most steady and calm man on earth (really) as my husband. Yesterday he recognized my deer in headlights mood and suggested we do something other than the usual TV and computers, which only feed the numbness.



It was quite cozy.

Out with the old......

I bought this dress when I was in college. I loved it's classic look, and wore it a lot.

It has been years since I have worn it, but it is still hanging in my closet. Why? Because one day I might like to wear it again.

As I was cleaning out and reorganizing my closet yesterday I saw it and nearly put it in the "keep" pile yet again. In my mind it is fresh and romantic, beckoning a barefoot walk on the beach. In reality, I am a 5 foot frump in it, and how often am I on a beach?!

This blog has been like that dress. I just know it's here, and one day I may actually write about the things I think about.

Today was momentous. I actually loaded the dress up (along with the too big and too small things that I think I may one day fit in again, the long jean skirt that may make a comeback some day, and the expensive formal dress that I've been meaning to put on ebay for a year now) and took it to a consignment store.

And so, in occasion with out with the old, in with the new..... a simple post, hopefully the one that will break the ice, or silence rather.

So much is going on in my life that I almost feel numb to it all. Words are saved for my journal (I still favor pen and ink) and two-way conversations with friends. Life is a whirlwind of preparing for a move to NY, selling our house, grieving the loss of my dear grandfather, and still trying to play mom, wife, and friend.

But silence never does me much good.

Stay tuned.

St. Patty's and Peas

He decided that it was much more fun to smoosh peas than to eat them.

Ten

Ten has snuck up on me.

I thought he was busy before, and yet each day I sweat a little harder chasing him. Everywhere. Bryan and I often wonder what would happen if we just let him go. So sometimes we do.

Although our lives have been somewhat turned upside down recently, he has been our constant joy.

His babbling actually seems purposeful these days - we think "da da", "eye", and "igh" (light) may actually mean something.

Tantrums are becoming more frequent, although still laughable.

He loves to point, at everything. Tonight it was the moon.

I still remember singing "I see the moon, the moon sees me, God bless the moon, and God bless me...." with my parents when I was little.

Sweet memories.

It is amazing (and yet scary!) to think that we are raising a child, and the things we do and say may actually be remembered one day!

Plunge boldly into the thick of life

and seize it where you will

it is always interesting.

- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Rest

This week.......

sleep, little.
circumstances, crazy.
thoughts, many.
emotions, varied.

rest, much.

As I sit here cuddled next to my husband, doors flung open on this beautiful cool sunny day, I am thankful for the rest in my soul that the Lord has been faithful to give.

...."take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls."

Mt. 11:29

Lace

I'll never forget the day I found out my mom was pregnant. A little baby basket sat in the middle of our living room, Mom and Dad were all smiles. I instantly hoped for a sister.

9 months later.... I can still hear the phone ring, feel the anticipation......and then the excitement of hearing "it's a girl!".

I couldn't wait to be her big sister, and one day her friend.

She was girly from the start, hardly wearing anything that wasn't pink and frilly (except for that 101 Dalmations outfit that she wore holes in). "Lacey" fit her well........although, today she pulls off camo as well as the boys.

On the surface it may appear that we couldn't be more different, but I have often heard that I remind others of her. It is a true compliment.

It's hard to believe that 20 years have passed, but I love that the 11 year gap between us seems to grow smaller each year. Gone are the days where I dressed her up and carried her on my hip. Now she tells me how to dress, and carries my child on her hip.

I know you are not much for sappy sentiment - that is why it has taken me a while to write this. I've been trying to come up with something funny to say (you're the only girl I know who never wears matching socks.....and still looks good?). But I love that I have the freedom to be me, and you still kinda like me.

Thanks,

Lace.

Happy, happy birthday!!

Valentine

It's never quite as fun to write/read about a holiday after the fact

but

it was such a sweet day..........

my funny valentine

got a valentine from a favorite cousin.

He gasped when he opened it, and played with it the rest of the day.

My grill masters

grilled perfectly

blue cheese burgers and sweet potato fries.

We put the babe to bed, curled up on the couch with molten chocolate cakes (to die for!) and watched our favorite romantic movie......er, well.......our favorite suspense filled show (Lost).

It was the perfect night.

Molten Chocolate Cakes

1/2 cup unsalted butter
5 ounces premium dark chocolate, cut into chunks
3 large eggs
1/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
4 teaspoons flour

4 small ramekins (you can use a muffin pan if you don't have ramekins)

Melt butter and chocolate in a double broiler (or microwave on low, stirring after 30 seconds). Remove from heat. Beat eggs, sugar and salt with a hand mixer in a medium bowl until sugar dissolves. Beat egg mixture into chocolate until smooth. Beat in flour until just combined. (Batter can be made a day ahead and put into fridge!).

Bake at 450 until batter puffs, but center is not set (about 10 min.).

Sprinkle with powdered sugar or serve with whipped cream or ice cream.

Nine

Crawling, pulling up on anything you can - and occaisionally letting go (only to be suprised to be so quickly looking at the ceiling)

Babbling every waking hour, and understanding more than we know - including "no-no"

Loving music, always banging your head and and hands to the rythm - everything comes to a halt when music is in the air

I am amazed to see my little baby so "big".

Assignment 1, Exposure

I just started a photography class last week, and I can't decide if I am more excited, or frustrated at this point. I love the creative aspect, but so far I do not enjoy the technical side of it. I do think though that in learning the technical, the creative can thrive. I'm just so impatient! I just want to know it all. Now.

I'd like to post my assignments each week here, to document (hopefully-) improvement. Who knows, maybe I will even break away from my typical subject matter a little bit. Doubt it.

Last weeks assignment was dealing with exposure, the only task being 200 ISO, 250 shutter, and adjusting the aperature according to light.

Watch out world

he is 8 months old, and the world is his oyster. There is much to be discovered - drawers and cabinets, fireplaces and dirt, bathroom and kitchen floors (much to the dismay of his germaphobe mom), electric outlets....for the first time in a long time I can go through a day without thinking about the possibility of excercise. It is completely built in.