The Tradition Continues

Ted and I have an annual tradition of taking a fishing trip every November. It started during our first fall in Mississippi when Ted surprised with a weekend getaway to relieve some of our infertility stress. The following year we sought out another lake and had an absolutely wonderful time just a few months before becoming parents. And the year after that.......we didn't go. Our "annual tradition" failed after only two years. But a sweet little nine month old that wasn't yet on solids didn't allow for the weekend away that we had come to love. Fast forward to this year-it wasn't a whole weekend. It wasn't even a whole day. But some friends of offered watched Hannah for the afternoon while Ted and I took the boat to a nearby lake.

The last time we had been on the boat alone together-November 2010! The last time we sat on the water and watched the sunset-November 2010. The last time I sat and read a mind numbing book while he fished-yep, November 2010.

Needless to say, this afternoon getaway was just what we needed. And although the pictures we took weren't nearly as good as they had been in years past-we documented this rare events and made the most of the few hours of peace we were given.

I sat in our little boat on a lake down the road and was just as happy as I would have been sitting in a yacht off some Caribbean island.

The fishing was pretty bad, but Ted never complains. He also didn't complain that he had to hold my awkward, pregnant self over the edge of the boat so I could pee three times in as many hours (not counting the two times I went at the boat ramp.)

I read some Nicholas Sparks book that held me at rapt attention but now I'm not even going to finish. I felt the little baby kick inside me-extra squirmy due to the fact that I was actually sitting for more than five minutes-and thought things like "I have the best life in the world." and "I wish I could always be pregnant-I don't want a day to go by without a little baby kicking inside of me" and "Man he's sexy when he's fishing."

And although the sunset wasn't the blazing orange we were hoping for, it was still beautiful. And the eagle that kept flying overhead was definitely cool. As was the alligator that came out of hiding right after we left its cove.

So much to be grateful for. Our life might not be conducive to weekend getaways at this stage (or any stage in the near future...) but that only makes little afternoon trips like this that much sweeter.

This Moment

Despite the fact that Hannah woke up an hour and a half earlier than normal.....combined with the fact that I went to bed late because I was watching the Cardinal's game (dang Eastern time zone....)......and topped off with the Cardinal's loss.......

we had an awesome day today.

One that needs remembering.

Lots of snuggles and cuddles and unprompted back scratches from my little girl.

Playing in my bedroom with nothing but mom's books, pillows, and underwear for an hour and a half.

She asked me to get the crucifix down off the wall and proceeded to kiss Jesus ("susus"). Then she kissed His hands and feet and handed Him to me for me to do the same. What? Who is this kid? She has never seen anyone do this! So we kissed Jesus' "boo boos" and told Him we loved Him.

Then she tried to get me to nurse Him......

When I laid down on the bed, instead of telling me "up up!", she let me lay there for at least five minutes while she covered my body in kleenxes.

She decided she was NOT going to read Old MacDonald with me-despite it being her favorite book yesterday-and every time I sang "E-I-E-I__" she cutely responded, "NO!" I like her version better.

Around lunch time she went into the kitchen, opened the dishwasher, got out a plate, set it on the table, climbed into her high chair, buckled herself in, and made the sign for "eat." Girl knows what she wants. This story was only topped by Ted telling me that the other day she opened the dishwasher, got out the dish detergent, shoved it into the dishwasher, closed the door and tried to turn it on.

I ate leftover pumpkin cake with cream cheese icing during her nap today. And drank coffee. And blogged! And that was after I prepped dinner. Who am I?

I'm wearing tights, even though it's not cold out yet.

We're going to Old Navy this afternoon.

Ted's coming home from work unexpectedly early today.

We found a package of pork chops from our pig in the bottom on the freezer when we moved and are having them tonight. We thought we were out! What a glorious surprise. I'm making them this way-they taste just like you're eating them in grandma's kitchen.

We got to Skype with my mom.

Hannah made the rooster sound every time I asked. I can't get enough of it.

Happy Tuesday!

Memorable Moments

On March 31, 2012 this was my facebook status:

Tonight, while rocking Hannah to sleep, she stopped nursing, stood up on my lap, gave me a big kiss with a loud "muaah!", then sat down and went back to nursing.

She is the greatest blessing I could ever imagine.

Several of the commenters said something along the lines of, "You really need to write that down and remember it!"


And I agreed-I didn't ever want to forget that sweet, sweet moment. So I decided to write it down, but didn't really have anywhere to write it. I'm horrible at keeping journals. Her First Year Calendar has passed its date. I know myself enough to know  thatI wouldn't keep up with any kind of cute scrapbook notebook of cute memories.


So I decided to write it down on here. And I plan to write other things that I don't ever want to forget. Simple things about this moment. Because I've learned in the last 14 months, that this moment changes in a moment.


Today, May 2, 2012, Hannah and I went to Mass. She was excellent except for her usual singing and jabbering and demanding that I take her over to see Mary AT ONCE in the middle of Mass. At the end of Mass Father said, "If anyone happens to know the song that Hannah is singing feel free to join in!" To which a few old ladies responded, "nah nah nah nah."  :)


After Mass we played on the playground outside of the church. She climbed up the stairs to the big kid slide all by herself (yes, I was right behind her) and was so excited to go down the tunnel with me. I got her on my lap and noticed there was a lizard sitting in the tunnel! I tried to turn around and take Hannah back down the stairs but she wouldn't have it. Who could blame her? She was so proud and just wanted to slide with me. I turned toward the slide and couldn't see the lizard anymore-which could only mean he was hiding around the bend.  I banged my feet hoping he would run away and told myself I would slide slowly so we wouldn't run into him. 


Slowly. Not so much. I couldn't catch myself and we raced down the slide. The lizard fell in our laps halfway down and I started screaming and flailing to try to get him off. Then we reached the bottom and my butt landed in the giant wet spot at the bottom of the slide. I was still screaming from the lizard. Then laughing from the water.


Hannah ran into the open field next to the slide and I was worried I had scared her. She turned around to  look back at me, pointed at the slide, and then broke out in the biggest belly laugh you've ever heard come from someone so tiny. She threw her head back and just chuckled and chuckled. 


Oh if only I could have gotten a picture of that laugh. It would have been the kind of picture that would have been displayed until the day I died. I would have never been able to take it down. But I knew I couldn't snap a picture fast enough-so I just watched her and enjoyed her and thought, "I have the best life in the world."

Update: Read the link provided by Elizabeth S. in the comment box about the dangers of toddlers sliding with adults. Who knew??