tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33439472390262197432024-03-12T23:15:40.846-05:00Changing CompassAprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.comBlogger362125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-71382615175707122182014-03-23T15:21:00.001-05:002014-03-23T15:21:19.455-05:00Liam - Age 2For the past year, I've heard myself say (or thought to myself) several times, "Being 2 is hard!" Being a parent to a 2 year old is often hard/challenging/maddening, but also filled with sweet moments. It occurred to me this week that Liam will be 3 soon. This year has flown by, but when you are in the trenches of toddlerhood, some moments seem like they will never end. I wanted to reflect back, and document, some of the things that will forever evoke "Liam - Age 2" to me.<br />
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--Thomas the train...he developed a taste for all things train, and loves his train table/track set. <br />
--Quiet boy (as in, will he ever talk?!) to chatterbox. Oh, how I love to hear what he has to say! <br />
--Pancakes...he little guy loves his carbs, and this is his favorite breakfast. I love how he says "pan-takes" and "hur-rup"<br />
--The paci...we've whittled his reliance on this thing down to bedtime only from a 24-7 dependance. I have heard him sucking on that thing fiercely over the baby monitor at night, as he soothes himself back to sleep. Heard him cry in the back seat "I need my paci!", and seen him go from hiding place to hiding place in search of a back up paci. He loves that thing.<br />
--Grins & dimples, with wrinkled up noses. He is so stinkin' cute, and pulls that card out especially when he's doing something naughty...which is most of the time. <br />
--Running. Everywhere, all the time. And if not running, jumping or hopping. Or climbing.<br />
--"Where Emmy??" Usually one of the first things out of his mouth. He adores his big sister, and has since day one. The feeling is mostly mutual, although sometimes I do hear her say, "sometimes it's hard being the big sister."<br />
--Books. Early on, Liam would grab a board book and plop on my lap while I sat criss-cross. Then, he decided he didn't want to sit on my lap and books went out the window for a while. We put a "reading chair" in his room recently, and reading books is back in favor. I love to see what he'll choose each night. Recent hits include Chicka-chicka boom boom, Knuffle Bunny, Can You Say Peace? and listening to him recite Brown Bear from memory.<br />
--He loves Amos. And by that, I mean he loves to scream him name when the cat enters the room, tackles him, pets/pats somewhat gently (but not always), tries not to pull his tail, and chases him. Amos is usually a good sport, and sends a message loud & clear when he's had his fill. <br />
--Holding hands/holding a finger. He often asks to hold our hand, especially when going down stairs and it never gets old. I love his tiny little baby hands, which soon enough will be big boy hands. <br />
--Funny expressions, which will flitter away before I realize it..."O-tay", "dere's peoples!", "hold hand", "yuv ooo!", "munsters!", "shower power", "hur-rup or hora (syrup or Dora)", and "Yesssss" with his adorable little lisp. <br />
--He says "Bwesss you" after you sneeze.<br />
--Unbridled joy...arms in the air, yelling "YAY!" about something mundane. There is no mundane to a 2 year old. <br />
--For better or for worse, the kid can work an iPad or iPhone with ease. Mostly, in an attempt to get the PBS Kids app to work so he can watch Curious George, the Kratz Brothers or Cat in the Hat. <br />
--Singing...spontaneous little songs from the back seat, or singing to himself while playing. Belting out Happy Birthday after Em turned 7. The ABC song, with particular emphasis on LMNOP! A sweet little boy voice, high-pitched, off key, and unabashed. Joyful and usually accompanied by giggles. <br />
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This little guy has certainly come into his own this year...spirited, opinionated, head-strong. He's a never-ending bundle of energy and gives great big squeezy hugs. Our little guy is growing up...we've only got about 6 more weeks of parenting a 2 year old, and then we'll never have a 2 year old again. Looking forward to seeing what age 3 has in store for us!<br />
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-24685807776886882552014-03-05T20:53:00.001-05:002014-03-05T20:53:13.686-05:00Why I RunI would never have called myself a runner before the age of 36. I recall an embarrassing moment in my required freshman PE class in college when we had to run a mile around the track & I could <i>barely</i> do it. I was 18 and couldn't run a mile!! I was active & in good shape, but I wasn't in good condition. In 2009, I got a wild hair and decided to do a sprint triathlon and trained for that. It involved a quarter mile swim, a 12 mile bike and a 5k run. I finished next to dead last, but damn it, I finished. I don't think I've swam a lap or ridden my bike since. I sort of enjoyed the running the most, but could barely finish a 5k. Fast forward to not quite 2 years ago. After seeing coworkers and my bestie train for and finish a half marathon, I began to get the idea that *I* could do that, and decided to make it a goal. It terrified me to think of running 13 miles...THIRTEEN! I joined a local running group based out of a Fleet Feet store. We had to do a time trial, and my time was a 12:30 minute mile...sluggish at best! But, I showed up week after week, put in the time during the week with short runs, gradually added mileage during long runs, and finished my first half marathon at an 11:20 min/mile pace. Slow & steady, but I was able to finish the race in a sprint with gas still left in the tank. I felt great! Since that time, I've finished 3 more half marathons and am training for my 5th half this April...the Rock & Roll Raleigh! <br />
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I have gained a tremendous respect for my body and its abilities during the past 2 years. It's amazing to crank out a 10 mile run before 9 AM on a Saturday and then go about my normal routine. I've learned a lot about endurance training, caring for my body & it's various aches. I'm more forgiving of my Mommy body, and more interested in seeing what it can achieve. <br />
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Last Saturday, on my long run, I was running with a 26 yr old single woman. She told me she was inspired by all the Moms in the group who come out and run half & full marathons. She thought it was amazing from a time standpoint, but more importantly was really excited about the positive role modeling we were doing for our kids. She shared that no one in her family were exercisers, and she hadn't been either prior to the past year. She said, "What a different path I might have had if I my parents had prioritized being active, set health goals and showed me what was possible." <br />
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I pondered this. Emerson & Liam have been able to see me finish 2 of my races. I have a post-race photo with Em that is one of my most treasured shots of us together. I'd like to think I am inspiring our kids to be active, set goals and showing them that anything is possible if you work for it. <br />
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But, that's not why I run. This is something that I do for *me*...it's the one selfish thing that I do. Running time is my time. I don't run with music in my ears. I enjoy listening to the sounds of nature, having time to think & process stuff without interruption, or chatting with fellow runners about whatever. I've met some great people in running groups, learned a lot from other runners, and been able to use big races as an excuse to have quality time with my bestie...race weekend = girl's weekend. <br />
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There are physical benefits...I sleep better when I run. I have no back pain when I run. I can eat (for the most part) what I want with less consequences. I mentally feel better when I run regularly. I'm more, um, regular when I run. I have more energy. I'm happier. <br />
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If you would have told my 18 year old self that I'd be a half marathoner in my 30's, I would have laughed in your face. It would have been unfathomable. In a way, running has made me more bold in terms of setting goals at work or in other areas in my life. I have more confidence. <br />
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Running has been one of the best things I've done for myself, and I hope to be able to do it for many more years to come.<br />
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-76553144513573964572013-11-27T21:03:00.001-05:002013-11-27T21:03:42.360-05:00One Year Later...Wow...a year has gone by since I posted to this blog. Lots happened, kids have grown, I've got more gray hairs. I really just wanted to post my thankful list, as this time of year always makes me a little contemplative. Here goes...<br />
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1) Thankful for these kids, every day. Maybe not every <i>minute</i>, like when someone has just spilled orange juice down my leg & foot, or when we are wrestling for the 100th time that week to get buckled in a car seat, or arguing about violin practice...but holy geez, I love these guys.<br />
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2) Thankful for my hubby who is ever patient, tolerant and forgiving. I've got a good one folks, and I'm thankful he puts up with me. I think he feels the same. We just celebrated our 10th anniversary with a trip to Vancouver & had a ball. <br />
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3) Thankful for my family who are all too dang far away. Love each & every one of them and so happy when we can spend time together. We hosted my Dad for a visit in October & he was able to attend Em's Halloween violin concert. Keith's sister & her family are coming for Thanksgiving & good cousin time will be had. My Mom & brother are coming for Christmas this year (yay!), and we'll head to Florida to visit with ALL of Keith's family. Fun times!</div>
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4) Thankful for my best buddy, Jen, who also lives too far away. Our new way of staying connected is to run half marathons together. We just finished one in Indy in early November and our next will be a Rock & Roll Half in Raleigh. I'm thankful for her friendship, understanding and for being in my corner no matter what. </div>
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5) Thankful for good health. Working in healthcare and being around a major medical center exposes you to a lot of sad stories. I'm thankful for a body that doesn't hurt, can carry me 13.1 miles, and lift my babies. I've made peace with its imperfections and grown to be grateful for what it allows me to do every day. </div>
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-301729697401194972012-10-23T08:35:00.002-05:002012-10-23T08:35:55.330-05:00Autumn UpdatesWe've been busy little beavers since my last blog post! Emerson has started kindergarten and is now all settled into her new routine. She loves the school, her teachers and classmates. She enjoys her after-school program, where she gets to play in a fabulous outdoor wonderland and do an abundance of craft projects (the lady who runs the place has a Masters in Fine Arts, and is so creative!) We periodically get updates from the teacher that tell us, "Emerson can be a little bossy sometimes", or "Emerson sometimes forgets to use her inside voice." Yup...all true. It's so great to see her little worksheets come home, and her reading & writing skills improve. She is gaining confidence and learning how to navigate her little world. I love it!<br />
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We participated in the annual Walk for Education 2 weekends ago. The school district puts this on as a fundraiser, and all of the proceeds go directly to the individual elementary schools. At the end of the walk in downtown Chapel Hill, there was a large carnival, with games, food and inflatables. The local high schoolers staffed many of the booths as fundraisers for their clubs and activities. The atmosphere was so fun and we ran into several people we knew from Emerson's preschool. <br />
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Emerson's violin lessons are off to a great start. She's doing Suzuki method, and I really like how they go about teaching music. Lots of little pneumonics and ways to help the kids remember hand position, how to hold the bow, and rhythms. We do individual lessons once a week, and group lessons on the weekend. Em volunteered to do a solo last Saturday, and we were so proud of her confidence as she stood in front of the group! She has a Halloween concert this weekend at a corn maze in Cary. The kids get to wear their costumes to play, and are playing "spooky" versions of the music they have been learning. Should be interesting!<br />
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We went to the pumpkin patch last weekend, and Liam quickly found out that pumpkins make very find little stools for sitting. He kept going from pumpkin to pumpkin and squatting down for a seat. He also enjoyed crawling over the pumpkins like an obstacle course. Quite humorous! <br />
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Liam is talking more and more now, although it is amazing how many MORE words Emerson had at this age. Is it a 2nd child thing? Boy thing? Just a different kid thing? Anyway, he's a little helper and loves to do things for you. He's got his routines, and is a very organized little fella. He loves to help clean up, to go get something (like his shoes, or to put them away), and is very into sorting, stacking and knocking things down. He absolutely understands every bit of what you say to him, but just can't always say something back to you. His words right now are: shoes/socks, Dadda, kitty cat, NO!, shower, flower and signing "more". He can point to his head, eyes, ears, nose, teeth, cheeks and belly. He makes animals sounds, "woof-woof", "oooooo (for cow), and roar (for tiger...this one is totally adorable!) He is just finally able to sit and let me read a little to him...in the past, he had no patience for this, and just flung the book across the room. Boys are so, so different from girls!<br />
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I ran my first half-marathon this past Sunday...the Ramblin Rose in Durham. My goal was to run the entire thing (no walking those hills!), and finish in under 2 hrs, 30 min. I did both, with a final time of 2:26:06! The weather was perfect, the course wound us through various beautiful neighborhoods in Durham, and Keith/kids were hanging out about a 1/2 mile from the finish line to cheer me on. It was such a glorious & emotional feeling to cross the finish. I was actually fairly emotional all throughout the race, which surprised me. I have signed up to do another half in early February with my bestie, Jen. We'll be combining this event with a girls weekend getaway on Tybee Island in Georgia. It's about 20 min from Savannah. Can't wait!<br />
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Our 2nd annual neighborhood Halloween party is this Saturday, and plans/prep is underway. We finished Em's costume last night. She decided to be a bumblebee this year. We already had a pair of wings, and I bought a yellow tee shirt and sewed on some ribbon to make the stripes. We created her antennae and a stinger out of pipe cleaners. She's thrilled with the results. Liam has a little blue moster costume, and I also found a little pirate costume last year at a consignment sale. It's a 2T, and I figured it would be a dress up outfit for later down the road. It totally fit him last night when I put it on him on a whim. Weather dependent, he'll be one of those. I was thinking of using a little black makeup on his face to make a scar and some scruff. We'll carve our pumpkin on Saturday or Sunday, and our October festivities will be done! <br />
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Keith has enjoyed his membership at the Durham Wildlife Club, where he is able to shoot sporting clays and skeet. He volunteers in the shop a few times a year, which allows him to go shoot when he wants. He's learning a lot about this sport and meeting guys he really likes. Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-23610463755219902012-08-11T19:49:00.003-05:002012-08-11T19:49:46.737-05:00School shopping done!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One person in this family is WAY more ready for kindergarten to begin than the others. Can't believe it is almost here. She had a ball picking out her supplies. It was bittersweet for mama.</div>
<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-60727238154855634462012-08-11T19:47:00.001-05:002012-08-11T19:47:36.676-05:00Gosh, this is too funny not to share.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Em being silly & hamming it up.</div>
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Keith doing his best impression of Emerson.</div>
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I nearly snorted my chicken out my nose. </div>
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-41155055965451385502012-08-11T19:45:00.001-05:002012-08-11T19:45:03.457-05:00Duke Gardens Outing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Found a new spot at the gardens...they've been doing lots of construction of new little secluded spots. Fun to explore them.</div>
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Wildlife galore today...mama duck, baby duck, ugly duck-thing, and big turtles. It's always an adventure to see what will swim up to you.</div>
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Nose to nose on the grass...followed quickly by tackle on the grass.</div>
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Love that big smile. He's so close to walking, but still hesitant to let go of something. Soon, very soon.</div>
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Major renovations to the koi pond...big fish in there, and they follow you as you walk by. Cool or creepy?</div>
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I think we've snapped a photo of her doing this every year of her life in the exact same spot. </div>
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We do love the gardens!</div>
<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-20455832823294195502012-07-11T20:59:00.000-05:002012-07-11T20:59:01.247-05:00Long Overdue!Yes, I am aware that I am dreadfully out of date on this blog! Will attempt to remedy that and try to post more regularly again...sometimes, life just gets in the way of blogging!<br />
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Let's see...where to begin?<br />
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Keith and I ran a 5K together a couple weekends ago. I am a *slow* runner (about an 11:45 min mile, yes, I know, I'm slow!) and Keith has much longer legs than I do (and a background of cross country running in school). His faster pace made me run a bit faster than usual, and we finished by crossing the finish line holding hands! It was a fun event to do together, and got us both pumped up for future 5K's. I am planning to run a half-marathon in October in Durham...<a href="http://www.endurancemag.com/durham-home">Ramblin Rose</a> Anyone care to join me? I've signed up for a running group via a running store in Carrboro later this month that is specifically designed to help us slow runner types train for a half in the fall. Wish me luck!<br />
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Emerson had her preschool graduation ceremony in early June. It was about the cutest thing I've seen all year. They recited the poem "I Cannot Go to School Today", and then sang a song, "The Future's So Bright, I've Gotta Wear Shades"....adorable! She was so proud of herself, and is officially ready for kindergarten adventures. We've now purchased a new book bag and lunch bag, and will be shopping for her school supplies before we know it! She starts the end of August!<br />
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We traveled to Indiana for a quick visit with family in early June. It was Liam's first flying adventure, and I'd say he did pretty well. He got another ear infection on our last night there, with a high fever of 104. We made it home, and were able to see the pediatrician that afternoon. He bought himself a trip to the ENT, and an appt for tubes after testing moderate to severe hearing loss due to fluid behind the ear drums (surgery done 7.10.12...let's keep our fingers crossed!)<br />
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We just returned from a trip to Colorado for a family reunion on Keith's side. Every 3 years, we all meet somewhere in the US, and this time, it was Rocky Mountain National Park/Estes Park, CO. It was gorgeous, and we really enjoyed time in nature, with family, and exploring a new area of the country together. We can easily see ourselves returning to the YMCA of the Rockies for another family trip with the kids are a bit older. Lots to see & do there!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art at the YMCA...mosaic box with "mountains"</td></tr>
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Those are the highlights of our summer so far.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-91030639568176209042012-05-27T21:05:00.000-05:002012-05-27T21:05:01.668-05:00Just because I love these...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-56175675185173117292012-05-27T21:03:00.001-05:002012-05-27T21:03:13.793-05:00Birthday Boy...a little late<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Liam celebrated his first birthday on May 3! This year has really flown by, and has been marked with so many physical changes in this little guy! He has quadrupled his weight in these first 12 months, is jabbering a lot, wants to feed himself, crawls faster than a speeding bullet and loves balls, sissy, mom/dad and diced ham. He didn't think birthday cake was too bad either.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-5883917771708653062012-05-27T20:55:00.001-05:002012-05-27T20:55:31.761-05:00Beach Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We took a short, 3 day weekend last week to Topsail Beach. Stayed in a little one-bedroom condo which had an ocean front balcony and direct access to the beach. Life was lovely last weekend, minus a little blip when Liam had a temp of 105 with a bilateral ear infection (again!) Once we got some pink meds on board, we were able to resume our beach time! Liam loved the sand & surf!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-86711460057045894192012-04-10T19:09:00.001-05:002012-04-10T19:09:48.998-05:00Easter Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had a good Easter weekend, spending it at the Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Virginia. We rented a cabin with Stacy, Greg & Abby. The weather was fantastic, and we enjoyed an Egg Hunt at the Discovery Center at the State Park, hikes around the lake, and cousin time. The girls played together and entertained Liam. They were able to dye & decorate eggs, have a mini-Egg Hunt outside our cabin on Easter morning, and do some Easter crafts. We really enjoyed the park, and think we will make the trek up to SML again. It was about a 2.5 hr drive for us, and the lake is very large. In the summer, you can rent all manner of boats/canoes/kayaks, etc. There are activities scheduled throughout the year, and the cabins were really nice. Excellent find!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-64232408002702115392012-03-06T09:44:00.001-05:002012-03-06T09:44:40.878-05:00Liam's Word List @ 10 months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Liam is quickly learning words, and it is clear that he understands much of what we say to him. He can sign "more" (vigorously in some cases!), and has started mimicking his sister's actions. They have started playing copy-cat games, which usually results in a fit of giggles from both of them. This week, Liam said "ni-ni" and waved good night to Daddy before heading up to bed. He can say Da-Da, Ma-Ma, ba-ba and bye-bye. He's working on "kitty", and I swear he said Je-Je when I asked him if he was ready to go see Jeffrey. When I ask where his belly is when I am changing his diaper, he loves to slap his tummy to make a funny sound. His little personality is so sweet & fun. He is usually all smiles and has a great sense of humor. 10 months is a fun, fun age!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-49067345066487318942012-02-26T21:19:00.001-05:002012-02-26T21:19:51.065-05:00You Say Goodbye, and I Say Hello...It's been a season of change here at our house...little boy is changing very rapidly this last month. Lots of new milestones celebrated! He's sprouted 2 little teeth on the bottom (so dang cute), learned to crawl (which sorta reminds me of someone doing the worm across the living room floor), is waving bye-bye, doing "touchdown" when prompted, signing "more", and playing peek-a-boo. He's a big ham, and loves to smile & laugh. Such a fun, fun age. We brushed his little chompers for the first time tonight. <br />
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I have officially stopped breastfeeding, and that was met with a little sadness mixed with elation. I feel like a free woman, but also sort of mourned the fact that it was the last baby I would nurse, the last time my body would do this. It's very empowering to be able to feed your child with your body. On the flip side, I can begin running & exercising without pain again, and that feels so, so good!<br />
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I registered Emerson for kindergarten last week. Sigh...I can't believe we are sending her off to school in the fall. Real school. Have to plan your life around the school calendar kinda school. She is so very ready for the challenge of kindergarten, and I know she will love it. The school she will attend has 5 kindergarten classes, and each teacher has a blog. I hope to be able to get involved at her school in some way...maybe PTA, maybe volunteering in her classroom periodically. I am the library helper at her school now, which means we get books for the class each weekend that follow the theme for the coming week. I do love that, and the teachers are so grateful for the bounty of books. <br />
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I am making a commitment to my BFF, Jen, to run a half marathon with her this fall. I've never run more than a 5K, so this should be interesting! The destination is still undecided...maybe Chicago, maybe someplace warmer. I have begun running again, and am up to 2.5 miles. I intend to try to join a local running group for some pointers & inspiration to hit those longer runs. I need to load my iPod with some new running songs, and get some new shoes. I am looking forward to the challenge, and hope that at the end of this year, I can say that I enjoy running (can't really say that now). We'll see! I intend to start doing some 5K's in March & April, and work up the distance from there. <br />
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I am attending a week-long CME conference in Raleigh this week. I have to recertify (take my national boards) again on 3/31. PA's have to do this every 6 years to keep our certification, and the ability to stay licensed. It's a very broad, comprehensive exam...covering all facets of medicine (surgery, emergency med, peds, OBGYN...much of it stuff I haven't practiced in quite some time). I am giving a lecture at this conference as well. The audience is almost all PA's and NP's, and the attendance this year is around 400 people. Wow....anxiety-provoking at all?! I may need a glass of wine at lunch to make my talk go a little more smooth. I look forward to catching up with some former classmates who are also recerting soon. Should be a good week!<br />
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We had Liam's dedication service at church this past weekend. Not a baptism, more like a blessing. Liam attempted to leap out of my arms during the entire thing...enthusiastic little bugger!<br />
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-39841858715832463892012-02-12T14:39:00.000-05:002012-02-12T14:49:04.752-05:00And....she's 5!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Emerson celebrated her 5th birthday at Glazed Expectations, a paint-your-own pottery shop. She invited a gaggle of girls, and it was so fun to see her interacting with her friends from school. We often hear about these girls over the dinner table, so it was cute to see them all clustered together around the table, heads together, giggles galore. Everyone got to paint a piece of pottery, we made tiaras, colored princess coloring sheets/had a princess quiz game, and had snacks & cake. Em requested a butterfly cake, which I was happy to create. We had a school party on Weds, and we baked butterfly butter cookies, which Em helped decorate. On the morning of her birthday, she was greeted downstairs with a giant Ariel balloon and birthday banner, and a pile of presents. She had requested only 2 things: a cash register, and a running suit. We went out to dinner that night, letting her chose the location. She decided upon Red Lobster, requesting a crab cake, popcorn shrimp & a cheese biscuit. She didn't think they sang to people at that restaurant, but she was wrong! She got a serenade & an ice cream sundae. Overall, I think it was a successful 5th birthday!<br />
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PS...the little boy standing next to Em in the class photo wants Emerson to be his Valentine!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-45332660390527347652011-12-22T11:03:00.000-05:002011-12-22T23:30:55.051-05:007 months, not quite 8There are so many things to love about Liam! He has completed our family, although I will say it is amazing how different parenting a second child is, compared to the first. We are no longer "green" parents, worrying over the smallest detail or sound. Not fussing over developmental milestones, and allowing him to be who he is, at his own pace. <br />
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Some things I am especially enjoying about the wonderful age of 7 months...<br />
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1) Rolls and dimples everywhere...knuckle dimples, wrist rolls, double chin, buddha belly, chubby thighs...I love them all.<br />
2) How his eyes light up when his sister (or one of the cats) walks into the room. <br />
3) His head of thick curly brown hair...it's totally adorable, and earns him compliments everywhere we go. <br />
4) How he holds his own bottle, and the little sighs and contented groans he makes when he drinks his milk.<br />
5) Nursing no longer is painful (but those teeth are bound to show up soon)<br />
6) Speaking of no teeth, I know the days of gummy smiles are numbered, but oh, how I enjoy them.<br />
7) The babbling, and occasional sounds of ma-ma, ba-ba, and da-da that we hear. I don't think he really correlates them to anything yet, but I sense he understands what we mean when we say them.<br />
8) The high-pitched squeals when he's excited about something...they can occasionally be ear-piercing, but they are his way of communicating right now.<br />
9) His eyebrows are so expressive.<br />
10) He's a tummy sleeper, and can finally do this safely.<br />
11) He's close to soldier crawling, but right now can only spin around on his belly. He usually does this in order to see what his sister is doing. He gets frustrated that he can't do more yet.<br />
12) Emerson can elicit big belly laughs from him like no one else. It's a joy to see them interact.<br />
13) Learning to slash in the bathtub.<br />
14) Watching his mind work as I do sign language, sing him songs, read a book or play patty-cake...he's soaking it all in silently.<br />
15) I love to let him sleep on my shoulder after the last feeding of the night. Milky breath, baby snores, and the smell of baby shampoo. I could stay there all night.<br />
16) I'm so glad that his baseline disposition is that of happy boy, much like his sister was a happy baby girl. He's an easy-going little guy, as long as the milk delivery is kept on schedule. <br />
17) I am so thankful he is a healthy, robust little boy. I worried we wouldn't get here 7 months ago when we were sitting in the NICU with a 5 lb baby. <br />
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I love this kid, and wish his babyhood wasn't flying by so quickly. I really am trying to remember to take time to enjoy this period, rather than tiredly slog through another day. It's just another day closer to a first birthday, a first day of kindergarten and a hundred other firsts. Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-74234139530374045462011-12-19T21:39:00.001-05:002011-12-19T21:39:51.408-05:00Age 4, not quite 5Emerson will turn 5 in February, and I must say, I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I have enjoyed age 4, with all the stubbornness, growth spurts, sweetness and sass. This girlie has got quite a personality and charms everyone she meets (then yaks their ear off). <br />
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Things I love about Emerson at age 4:<br />
1) We must "pinky promise" a lot these days.<br />
2) Her sense of humor, and the oodles of giggles that erupt from her regularly.<br />
3) Her vivid imagination, and eye for details (she completely recreated the dentist's office the evening of her appointment, and replayed the visit word for word in the living room!)<br />
4) How she skips everywhere we go now.<br />
5) That she seems to have finally conquered the thumb-sucking habit, and she is immensely proud of this.<br />
6) She is on the cusp of becoming a reader...she loves to copy words down, asks how to spell everything, and enjoys practicing writing.<br />
7) She has wrapped and unwrapped various gifts for virtually every family member at least 3 times. No telling what's inside.<br />
8) She loves to help Mom in the kitchen, which usually means a mess will ensue. <br />
9) She still wants to hold my hand, and occasionally will tell me, "I want to hold your hand forever"...love.<br />
10) She seems to have friends all over Chapel Hill, as it I don't think we can go anywhere in this town without someone yelling out, "Emerson!" (and then, "oh, Hi Emerson's Mommy")<br />
11) She routinely tells us, "OK, here are your choices..." or, "OK, guys, here's the deal". I find this hilarious.<br />
12) She is an amazingly loving big sister, often kissing Liam's head and telling him how much she loves him. <br />
13) Her fashion sense by far surpasses her mother's. (and man, can this girl accessorize!)<br />
14) She still must have her blankie to sleep.<br />
15) She has a wonderfully compassionate and giving spirit, often thinking of others. <br />
16) She has memorized countless Christmas carols, and belts them out in the car. <br />
17) She will finally talk to people on the phone...much to everyone's joy.<br />
18) Her "r's" still sound like "w's", and honestly, I will be sad when she can pronounce them the right way.<br />
19) She loves to play opposites, rhyming words or I Spy....any time, any where.<br />
20) She has been drawing family portraits, which usually include her in pigtails, and Liam in a Santa suit. <br />
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I love this girl, and am so thankful for the joy she has brought to our lives.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-44414588772432466062011-12-07T21:41:00.001-05:002011-12-07T22:01:49.298-05:00December Happenings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're only a week into this month, and it already feels rather full. Last weekend, we went to Hillsborough to the annual Holiday Parade. Such a cute little town, and fun to watch the marching bands and fire trucks go down the street. I wore Liam in a baby carrier, and he took in the sights. We took some food to our friends who adopted a newborn boy (cute as a little button) a few weeks ago. They looked tired, but so full of joy. It was a lovely thing to see. Em had a birthday party at the Little Gym on Sunday, and hung out with her new little bestie girlfriend, Katie. I got some cute pics of them together and Katie's family invited Emerson over for a playdate...her first! We put up the tree & Christmas decorations over the weekend, and blasted Christmas music to help get us in the mood. It's been unseasonably warm here, so it's hard to feel holiday-ish when you can wear shorts. I pulled out the Advent calendar that I made a few years back, and Em has been enjoying opening a tin each morning...she is so amazed when the events match up with what we're doing that day...how totally cool is that?! We're going to see Disney on Ice (Tangled) soon, and we will begin doing some holiday baking this week for a cookie exchange at church on Sunday. Em and I were making a mental list of the things we want to bake over the next few weeks...carmel corn, chex mix, butter cut-out cookies. We're trying a new cookie recipe for the exchange...peanut butter reindeer cookies, thanks to Pintrest (my newest time-suck!). Liam is scooting around the floor on his tummy, and somehow makes it from one side of the room to the other without rolling or crawling....it's sorta like a slow-motion slug, but way cuter. He still hasn't popped a tooth yet, but is definitely teething. Em was playing beauty shop with him tonight, and he was very tolerant. He's back upstairs in his crib at night now, and it's going pretty well. I need to get going on sewing his Christmas stocking...it will be here before we know it!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-60195910856598070322011-11-07T22:08:00.001-05:002011-11-07T22:08:50.654-05:00Swing Into Fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The weather over the weekend was really lovely, and I think the foliage is about at its peak right now. It's a great time to be outside, even if the temps are a little brisk. Keith took Em to church on Sunday, and then they went out to lunch with some buddies. Liam and I stayed home to chill out, and Liam took a mega-nap that morning. We were able to take a 2 mile walk once he woke up, and everyone wanted to be outside together in the afternoon. It was a great day to enjoy the backyard playset, and we pulled out the baby swing for Liam. I'm not sure he knew what to make of it, but Emerson sure enjoyed having her brother swing next to her. She's finally mastered the art of pumping on the swings within the past 6 months, and loves to take that swing as high as it will go!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-91972048637107830042011-11-07T21:56:00.001-05:002011-11-07T21:56:50.090-05:00The Child of the WeekEmerson's class has 2 big things going on all year. Each week, a different kid is designated "the child of the week", and last week was Em's turn. Families are encouraged to bring in photos for the bulletin board, and the kiddos fill out a little info sheet to share tidbits about themselves with the class. They can bring in their favorite book & toy to share, and parents are invited to come in to read to the class. Keith got to go on Wednesday to read Harold & the Purple Crayon, which Em specifically requested. She took her My Little Pony in on Friday to share. We snapped a few photos of the bulletin board while we attended the class Halloween party on Monday. Em realllllllly enjoyed being the center of attention all week, and pointed out to us that she got to sit in the chair of honor, right next to the teacher's rocking chair all week long. <br />
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The other event that goes on all year is Brody. Brody is the class mascot, and is a stuffed dog who gets to go home for a week with each child. There's a journal that accompanies him on the home visit, and the families are encouraged to document "what he does" while he visits you. You can include photos, journal entries, and art to tell the story. Em's turn for Brody is mid-January, and we'll have to see what kind of fun stuff we can cook up while he's our houseguest!Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-26916692124412506252011-11-07T21:48:00.000-05:002011-11-07T21:48:08.899-05:00Trick-or-Treat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year, it was cold & rainy on Halloween, so we decided to try something new. Instead of walking around our cold, wet, dark neighborhood (which by the way has no sidewalks or streetlights, so trick-or-treating is a little challenging even in the best of weather conditions), we headed over to University Mall in Chapel Hill for indoor trick-or-treating. It was actually kinda nice! Shop owners were all dressed up, lots of families were there, it was fun to people-watch & check out the creative costumes some kids wore. Liam was super stimulated by all the noise & commotion, but stayed calm. This was definitely a nice alternative, and something we'll keep in mind in the future if the weather doesn't cooperate on 10/31.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-84211592683868659162011-11-05T13:12:00.001-05:002011-11-05T13:12:22.748-05:00Halloween 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year, we decided to throw a neighborhood Halloween party. We held it on the 29th, and ended up with about 30 people running around our backyard! The weather was rainy in the morning, which sent a little panic through my spine, as I envisioned all those people holed up in our house. The rain tapered off & the deck dried out enough that we could still hold it outside. It was a little chilly, but we had hot cider to keep tummys warm. Em & I had been busy making cut-out cookies & cupcakes all week, and they were very much appreciated by all the parents & kids. You can never go wrong with Gram's butter cookie recipe. We also did candy corn rice krispie treats, witch's brew punch, a carmel apple station with all sorts of toppings, and cupcakes decorated like mummies & skeletons. We decorated the deck, and played games. The party was really fun, and we've been nominated to make this an annual event.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-66557713008532732602011-11-05T12:53:00.001-05:002011-11-05T12:53:38.900-05:00Fall Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We tried a new place this year for pumpkins, and it had a corn maze. Em had fun leading us through by following the alphabet, tied in various spots in the maze to stalks of corn. There were a few farm animals for petting/feeding, a hayride and lots of photo ops. Em picked a pumpkin, and then she & Dad did the carving honors this year. Em wanted nuttin' to do with pumpkin guts. </div>
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<br />Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-68192684809928816542011-11-05T12:45:00.001-05:002011-11-05T12:45:39.488-05:00Full of Hot Air<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We finally made it to the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Statesville NC in October. We've tried to go to this with our friends, Fred/Lennie/Joanne, for years, but either the weather didn't cooperate or something came up that prevented us from going. Not this year, by gum! It was a beautiful Fall day in NC, and we got there just in time to see scores of balloons lifting into the sky for the mass afternoon ascent. It was so cool! We got to watch several balloons inflate, including one called the Purple People-eater. What a hoot! Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3343947239026219743.post-89268139199550465862011-10-20T21:06:00.000-05:002011-10-20T21:06:34.033-05:00Crazy Kids...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Keith & Em decided to camp out in a tent last weekend. It got down to the low 50's that night, and eventually they got cold & came inside. They watched movies on the iPad & ate popcorn in the tent. Not exactly roughing it, but memories are made of this.Aprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10977305943373966554noreply@blogger.com1