32

These are the only two pieces left of my birthday cake.  I forgot to take a picture before we devoured it.  It read, "Happy Birthday Norman and Missy".  My father-in-law's birthday was on Sunday, so we got to celebrate together.  Just like my niece Kate's party sign, ringing in 32 was...AWESOME. 

HOLLA - 

My Day at the Airport

Last Wednesday, I left my parents' house to drive to the airport.  I was on my way to Atlanta to see Abby, and one of my other best friends from college, Elise, who lives in Nebraska but was flying down to meet us.  I had a standby ticket because Abby's husband, also one of my best friends, works for an airline company, so they get free buddy passes.

I parked in the economy lot and took a picture of where I was so I wouldn't forget when I came back on Friday.

I took the shuttle to the terminal, got my ticket, went through security, and found a seat until the 8:00 flight boarded.  I left my parents' house around 6:30 a.m.

Normally, getting on a flight from KC to Atlanta wouldn't be much of a problem.  But there WAS a problem.  It was the day after the All-Star game.  A game that happened to be in KC the night before.  Abby had warned me.  "I just thought of something that might make your travels difficult," she texted me the night before.  I agreed, but didn't feel any need to worry.  I WOULD be in Atlanta by Wednesday evening.

So, the 8:00 flight boards.  And it's full.

So I grab a water and a breakfast bar and get cozy at the gate with this:

The next flight was around 10:00.  A few hours to wait.  No problem.  I ask the lady at the desk how it looks.  "There's only one person on the list ahead of you," she says.  "We got three people on the last flight."  My hopes are soaring.  Soon enough, the 10 - something flight is ready to board.  I am feeling good energy.  I sit on the edge of my seat with my standby ticket.

And the flight is full.

Next flight - almost 1:00.  I am alone at the gate.  I fight back tears as I look out the window.  I am so mad at myself for being upset, but these kinds of things just crush me.  Everything in the world should go according to my plan.  Something is terribly awry.

I wait a few more hours to sit through an agonizing boarding process to find out if I'm on.

I'm not.

I call Abby.  I am upset.  She tells me there are two more flights to try for the day.  The 3:00 flight is already full.  "Don't even try," she says.  "Go home to your parents' house and relax.  Take a nap.  I'll update you with the status of the 5:50 something flight soon."

So I leave.  Good thing I didn't check a bag.  I get the shuttle and get back in my car.  I pay $6.00 for parking and drive the 15 minutes back to my parents'.  I try to nap but can't relax.  I get on the computer.  I try to read.  I look at their movies but nothing sounds good.  I watch t.v.  My best friend from Denver calls.  Maria.  She lightens my mood.

By this time, Elise has already got on a flight, flown, and landed in Atlanta.  Abby has picked her up.  I can imagine the fun they are having already.  Abby calls and says my chances for the 5:50ish flight look good.  It's up to me, but she thinks I should go for it.  I have to.  I have to be with my girls.

I freshen up and drive back to the airport.  I park my car in the economy lot and get on the shuttle to the terminal.  I go through security.  Again.  I sit and wait among a sea of all-star fans.  I secretly curse them all for this mess of a day.  The plane boards late.  I wait.  The lady calls several names to board.  My hopes are up.  They don't show.  I wait anxiously at the counter with a few other freeloaders while texting Abby nonstop.  She and Elise are beside themselves wondering if I'll make the last flight of the day.  So am I.

The lady disappears for what seems like forever to the plane.  The five or so people she called never show.  I am ready to board.  And here she comes.

"Sorry, guys.  Flight's full."

What the %$#&?  Where are the people who she called?  Were they already on the plane and they just didn't know it?  I was in such shock I couldn't even be upset.  I just got my bag, got on the shuttle, got back in my car, and drove home.

What a day.  What an emotional roller coaster of a day.

I spent the rest of the weekend doing my normal things, trying not to think about Abby and Elise down there hanging out, having conversations I was meant to be included on.  I was looking most forward to some good, long chats about life...the best kind.  Instead, I did laundry, played with Amelia, cleaned bathrooms, and unpacked my suitcase.  That was killer.

I feel like I missed out in the biggest way.  It's so hard to get good girl time in anymore, so any chance I have is SO important.  Now I feel like a junkie in complete withdrawal.

I need my girls.

HOLLA - 

Summer So Far

Sheesh - for all this time off, I sure haven't been blogging much.  (Sorry Melissa S. from work.)  :-)  There's been a lot of everything and nothing going on, so I guess I'll just give a short run down.

Amelia and I have been home together a lot.  At first, this idea scared the crap out of me.  But we have found our rhythm.

Wake up.  Watch the Today Show.  Eat Breakfast.  Play.  Nap. (this usually includes both of us.)  Wake up.  Eat Lunch.  Do some chores.  Go somewhere.  (sometimes this is just to Sonic for Happy Hour.)  Come home.  Nap.  (just Amelia this time.)  Wake up.  Wait for Dada to come home.  Play.  Fix Dinner.  Yell and clap for Dada when he comes home.  


I taught one week of summer school, and have one more to go in a few weeks.  It was a songwriting class, and I was blown away by the songs that the girls in my class came up with.  I could write songs all day long, and it was a true joy to help some young ladies create some beautiful music.


Our house is officially for sale.  Woop Woop.  I felt all confident before "the sign" arrived, and now I feel nervous and scared that no one is going to want to live here.  Ben and I have been working our butts off to get this place ready, and it looks amazing.  Dear God, guide us in the right direction - our ways are not your ways, and your plan is always GOOD.

I have been spending time with great friends in the past few weeks.  Elise came and stayed 5 days with us.  What a joy.  I went to lunch with my friend Anne on Monday.  I love her so much and enjoy every second I get to spend with her.  On Tuesday, my friend Sarah and her son Henry came into town from Connecticut and stopped by so we could play and chat.

It was glorious. That friendship is like an old sweater. The longer you have it, the more comfortable it gets. This Friday, it is likely that we will attend a barbeque with my oldest friends, Carrie and Liz. It goes without saying that the bond we have (and our moms have) is pretty awesome. Next week, by the grace of God and Summer School, I am flying down to Atlanta to see Abby, one of my best friends from Northwest. Our girl times are precious and few, and I am giddy like a school girl to see her.


So that's pretty much it.  It seems that for most everyone, summer has been full of sun and fun and vacations and friends and family and good food and happiness.  I wish this for everyone, as it is my favorite time of year.

I'll end with one of my favorite songs, which was played at Kurt's funeral, as it was perfectly appropriate.  Even in the waiting, and in the everyday hum of life, and in the unknown, in every season, God is good.







HOLLA -

What Happens at Bennett

Water Utility Analysts find tranquility...

Dadas are kissed...

Grandmas are treasured...

Guts are expelled...

Nature centers are visited...

Girls dance...

Ball is played....

Bikes are parked (and ridden)...

Men plan and plot...

Cousins play...

Fires are lit...

Fish are fried...

Pancake moustaches are made...

Cabins are enjoyed...

Faces are squished...

S'more Waffle Cones are tried...

Stars are made...

God's perfection is experienced...

Accidents become art...

...And limits are caught.  

All by myself, without any help.  

With lures that I chose and tied alone.  

I am so proud of myself I could explode.  

HOLLA - 

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The Boob Chronicles: A Recollection

As we are packing up the mounds of crap that is our stuff, I am finding things from when Millie was a baby.  (BTW, I still can't get used to saying that she is not a baby anymore.  Maybe never will.)  I had all of my breast pump stuff in a storage bin, and reorganized it and put it in a box for storage.  As I packed it away, I took myself back to the time when I was pumping multiple times a day, storing milk, icing my boobs, and wishing it would all go away.

I almost thought breastfeeding wasn't going to happen for Amelia and me, especially after the terrible start that we had.  But, after a few months, I really found my groove with it.  The biggest kicker of the whole thing was how hard I (I mean WE!) had to work to make it happen.  A few months ago, my pastor blogged about the satisfaction one feels after working really hard at something.  I mistook his words to mean that one feels better after something bad happens and then it is over.  But I understood the next day when he restated that it wasn't when something bad happened, but when one really put everything they had into something, like building a house or landscaping a yard or...figuring out how to breastfeed a baby.  After putting work and energy into something big and meaningful, it feels so good to stand back and see what has been accomplished.  It WAS so hard to breastfeed, but Millie and I did the dance until we got it right, and getting it right felt AWESOME.

Of course, that was about the time that I had to go back to school.  "Don't supplement formula when you go back to work," said the wise lactation consultant at the hospital.  "If you try to get your body to only produce milk during certain times of the day before your baby is six months old, your body will shut down and your milk will dry up."  And right she was.  It didn't help that I refused to pump more than once at school, so my supply went way down.  That was the compromise - I was not willing to give up my plan time/break time/lunch to sit at my desk and pump.  And thus began the journey to Formula land.

If we have another baby, will I breastfeed again?  I hope so.  And for longer that time.  I guess it depends on  the time of year and how much time I will have off for maternity leave.  Another spring baby would be nice - I hope to plan it that way next time.  HA!  :-)  I crack myself up.

Now we are on to bigger and better things, as you can see.  No boobs, no formula, just plates and cups and forks and spoons and...as a segue...a really bad haircut.  Nice job I did, huh?  She looks like Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber.  It's grown out a lot since I took this so it doesn't look as bad.  Word of advice - do NOT assume you know how to cut your baby's hair from watching a YouTube video.  You DON'T.

So now you know how it ended (the breastfeeding) and how I feel about it after it is all said and done. (Accomplished.)  (And ready to do it again.)  (After we move.)



HOLLA -  

SUMMER and DestructoBaby

Today is officially my first day of summer break.  (Don't you like our new magnets?  Ben's dad gave them to Millie this weekend when we were in Glasgow.  Ben says he thinks they were theirs (his and his siblings') growing up.  FUN!)

Yesterday was our last work day at school, and we all went home exhausted and elated.  We also toasted with champagne and got a cash gift at the end-of-the-year party. Have I ever told you how awesome it is to work at a private school?  Well, I just did.

So far, this break is weird.  Last year at the start of summer, I was still on my maternity leave, so I didn't get to experience the end-of-the-year-start-of-the-summer transition, really.  This was my first time to go from teacher to stay-at-home mom.  I can't say that I fully feel relaxed about it, but that could be because we are now preparing for a big fishing trip in two days, and trying to keep DestructoBaby from terrorizing our house.

Amelia, our now 13 month old, has decided that it is developmentally appropriate for her to grab whatever she can reach and throw it, slam it, or eat it.  Case in point, the magnets.

They make quite a funny sound, sliding all the way down the fridge and bouncing off of the linoleum.  My BabyCenter Toddler update said this is just what would happen at this exact stage in her life, and thank the Lord for that website because it at least gives me a little peace of mind (as I am rapidly losing it).  No longer is she safe in a baby-proofed room.  HA!  The only room that I would consider baby-proofed for Millie is a padded one.  Yowzahs - it is exhausting chasing her around and making sure she's not getting into mischief.  She loves to go to the mailbox and will reach for the key when we ask her to go.  As soon as we get back and spill the mail all over the floor, the first thing she wants to do is eat it.  I don't know how many times I've told her that we don't eat paper.  Maybe in a few years she'll understand what I'm saying and actually stop eating it.

I am so excited about being home, but also a little nervous.  There's still a voice in my head that says I can't hack it as a mom.  This morning, as I was wrestling Amelia to the ground to get a piece of food from the dirty floor out of her mouth, she bonked her head and started wailing.  And then I had to keep from wailing, because the voice started talking and said, "Look what you did!  You can't do this.  You can't take care of her and keep her safe...you just hurt your baby!"  And I just had to tell that voice to go shove it, and pray to God that He gives me the strength to hold it together for the sake of my beautiful child.  It's not natural for me, people...this mom thing...not like teaching.  This summer is going to be great, but I've got to take the bumps in stride and know that I'm doing a good enough job.  (Sigh.)

This school year was great.  Better than great.  FANTASTIC.  I was so worried about how I was going to handle all of my classes and my nine (yes I do NINE!) music programs.  Before Amelia, I spent so much time after school and on Mondays (because I don't work on Mondays) working on school stuff.  How was I going to get all of that stuff done in the three and a half days that I was working?  You know what, though?  I did it.  And I didn't just barely make it through.  I fricking rocked it.  Every program was amazeballs.  Yes, I'll admit...there were a few classes (okay, a lot of classes) that got the shaft during one of my crappy lessons.  But I really did a great job of holding it together and getting done what I needed to during the day.  I left around 3:45 every day to go pick up Mills, and didn't panic too many times because of all I had left to do.  I simplified, and more importantly, I streamlined and became more efficient.  That is definitely the key...to every part of life when one is a parent, I am convinced.

Yay! for school being out, Yay!  for another great year at school, Yay! for DestructoBaby, and Yay! for our big family trip in t minus 2 days.  (I don't even know what "t minus" means.)


HOLLA -

Last Day of School

Yesterday was the last day of school, and it couldn't have come soon enough.

I am ready to be at home with my baby (who's not a baby anymore).  She is growing up so fast and I cannot contain my excitement for all of the fun this summer will bring.

Last night I went out with a gaggle of co-workers (almost the entire faculty) to celebrate our last day.  (We like to party.)  We sat in the shade with free appetizers and cold drinks and congratulated each other on a fantastic school year.  I work with some amazing people, a few of which I consider my best friends.  Others I am just getting to know, and the more I spend time with them the more I realize how awesome they are.  I am a lucky girl/teacher/friend.

We are  going to Glasgow this weekend.  I haven't been since Christmas.  I'd say our visit is overdue.  Have I told you about the guest bed at Papa Norman's?  The one that's laced with sedatives? Or the Tuscan Turkey sandwich at the bakery that's like a little heaven on a plate?  Oh yes.  Here.

Next weekend my entire immediate family, plus my sis-in-law's family, leaves for Bennett Spring near Lebanon.  We anticipate this trip like a child waits under the covers counting sheep on Christmas Eve.  It's all we can talk about.  Almost an entire week soaking in the love that is our family.  God has blessed us with these relationships that I am so thankful for.
Fishing+Family+Eating+Playing+Fishing+Swimming+Laughing+Singing+Hiking+More Fishing= JOY.  (Right, Sister?)

We are getting our house DANGEROUSLY close to being ready to sell.  It is making Ben and me a little giddy.  And anxious.  Will post pictures soon.

Summer, oh summer.  How I love your three months of lazy days in the sun.  God knew what he was doing when he made me a teacher.


HOLLA -