Texas Is Also Lovely

Although I like Katina’s idea of Janet and I blogging next to each other unfortunately it will have to wait.  Because Kyle is in Texas, not DC.  So to San Antonio we will go.  Apparently that is where the Army sends all “amputees” (one toe is consider an amputee?  The Army sure likes rules!)  The good news is that it’s only and hour from our former home in Austin.  I’ve spend the last 24 hours attempting to pack everything my brother left here on his leave from deployment, as well as everything Lily and I will need for THREE WEEKS (!!!!) into one bag.  ONE BAG!  We already had a trip to the East Coast planned at the end of the month for vacation so we’ll probably just stay in Texas till we leave for that trip.  Wish us luck.  Lots and lots of luck!

Today’s Ambition: Take flight!

 

Say, I Hear It’s Humid There This Time of Year

It’s looking like it will be a cross country, not a cross continent trip to see my brother. He had surgery to repair his heel and put pins in his foot yesterday, he’ll have more surgery to repair his ankle and (it makes me cringe to even type) remove the rest of his toe tomorrow. After that he’ll be flown to Walter Reed Medical Center in DC. And that’s where I will be. I’ll be there to tease him about the times when he wore his fireman hat and played his fake guitar like a rock star at 4 years old. To tell whoever will listen about how he occasionally said “when I was a girl…” when he meant “if I was a girl” at 5 years old. To snuggle him in his hospital bed because he can’t stop me (just like last time!) To give him pedicures on his 9 remaining toes. To tell him I love him, even if he only gives me his standard response of “alright.” AND to bring him his niece, Lily, who can make anyone smile just be looking at this little face.

Not that you could call much about this situation a bonus, but I do consider it a bonus that this probably means I’ll get an extended visit with my best friend Janet. Hey Janet, I’m sorry I’ve never come to visit you the whole time you’ve lived in DC, but do you mind if Lily and I stay at your new house for a few weeks!?

Today’s Ambition: Start thinking about how I can possibly pack for an indefinite trip to the East Coast in only one suitcase for me and Lily. Darn you new airline baggage policies!

 

How Do You Say “Pampers” in German?

My brother Kyle is an Officer in the Army. He’s the one on the left looking incredibly tough in that picture up there if that wasn’t already obvious. His first deployment in Afghanistan was scheduled to be over within the next two weeks or so. Instead, he stepped on a land mine and seriously injured his foot and leg this weekend. He has been moved to a hospital in Germany and is waiting for a doctor to get a better look at his foot so they can decide what to do next. He definitely needs reconstructive surgery… what with the broken leg, dislocated ankle, broken foot bones and partial missing toe. He might be moved to the US for surgery but he might stay in Germany. No word on just what the prognosis is. Doesn’t that just, SUCK?

I guess that’s one way to totally obliterate the “stress” of deciding how to spend $1500 of government granted mad money. Yesterday, the Army called me to get my contact information, so they are ready if and when it’s time to travel to go see Kyle. Apparently, they are willing to fly me and my parents to see him, and if it’s at all possible, I want to be there. My brother and I have done some of our best bonding when he’s been confined to a hospital bed (he broke his pelvis when he got hit by a car in high school while riding his bike and spend a month laying in bed healing - man did I “torture” him with foot rubs and pedicures!) But, ummm, in case you’re new here - I have a baby. And her Daddy has a job. So guess what? If I go, she’s coming with me! The idea of traveling to Germany with a one year old on short notice kind of makes my head want to explode. But we can do it, we will do it, because Uncle Kyle just might need to see this smiling face to cheer him up.

But seriously, do you think I can buy Pampers in Germany?

Today’s Ambition: Patience and prayers (and possible packing???!!!!)

 

How To Spend $1500 Without Even Really Trying

A few days ago we got a letter in the mail confirming that the government will indeed be attempting to stimulate the economy by sending us $1500 in the next week. Back when “economic stimulus” was still a joke on the talk show circuit, Colin declared that he didn’t intend to stimulate the economy at all if he got any of that money, he wanted to put it straight into our savings or Roth IRA’s or some other such responsible thing.

But that was before the sweet sweet cash money was practically at our doorstep begging us to SPEND SPEND SPEND. This time when the letter came around saying MONEY COMING SOON - PLEASE SPEND, Colin was feeling differently. We’re lucky enough not to NEED to spend that money on rent or utilities (though of course we know we should probably save it.) So, he proposed we put away $500 and split the rest, to be used however we each wanted. OH MY GOD - SPEND $500 HOWEVER I WANT!!!! When I recovered from the shock of such a hedonistic proposition, I started thinking that as tempting an offer as that was, maybe we should find some middle ground. Man, this is difficult. We could….

Spend it on house projects like…

-Removing the sod (which we have to water by hand, no sprinklers) and zeroscaping part of our front yard

-Building a car port to cover my car next winter

-Knocking down the wall between our living room and dining room/ kitchen so I can see Lily and Daddy playing while I make dinner every night

-Build a door out to our newly created side-yard so we don’t have to go through the front yard to get there

Or slightly less practical but still pretty practical….

-Buy a snowblower to make next winters shoveling challenge more manageable

-Find a way to furnish our dining room so it’s a dining room/play room (see above problem)

-Buy a desk so I don’t have to keep my computer on the kitchen counter anymore

-Take that $$, and my current car, into a car dealership and see what kind of deal we could get on a more Mom friendly car for me (but uhh, $1500 and a 6 year old Honda Civic isn’t quite going to cover it)

-Put new tires on my car

Or totally impractical…

-Travel!!!! Go see my brother when he gets back to Italy/Germany from his deployment in Afghanistan

-Get a new wardrobe that actually fits my current size (I’m very happy to say I weigh almost 10lbs less then before I got pregnant and most of my clothes are on the big side)

-Sign up for a year of Gymboree classes for Lily - I know once she starts walking she will love it

I could really go on and on. I don’t know if the government would have given me this money if they had known how stressed I would be trying to decide what to do with it. Any suggestions? (And please don’t say save it, I KNOW that’s what we should really do!)

Today’s Ambition: Maybe I need to make a spreadsheet to come up with the perfect combination of things to spend this money on. Can you imagine what I would do if I won the lottery?

 

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Ahhh, shoes. Definitely my favorite thing to shop for. You don’t have to try them on and you never feel bad about yourself if they don’t fit. You can always justify them (but they match those pants I bought last month!) and you don’t have to dry clean them, is there anything better when it comes to clothing items? Here’s the thing, babies need shoes too!

I can’t take much of the blame for the outrageous number of shoes Lily has. I’ve only bought two pairs of them, ever in her whole life. All the rest of them (much like her entire wardrobe and every toy she has) were purchased by friends, grandparents and loving admirers. The problem is, that at this very moment only 3 pairs actually fit, the rest are too big. I pine for the day she can wear my favorite pair, these adorable Pediped Mary Janes.

But for now, every day we wear either our pink Robeez, or our purple Robeez, and all the love is starting to show.

A girl never wished for bigger feet till now, just so we could get into those hot pink Crocs before summer is over. Is there anything cuter then baby Crocs?

Sigh, so many shoes, so little time.

Today’s Ambition: Perhaps I need to satisfy my shoe fetish by wearing a few pairs of my dusty old work shoes for a change.

 

Beulah

Colin’s family owns a house in a very small town in south-western Colorado named Beulah. Nestled in a valley in the foothills, the town was a former haven for outlaws. It’s a no-stoplight town with a general store and at least half a dozen tiny churches, full of friendly but brassy townspeople. Every time we visit, I learn more and more about the history of his family and their time in Beulah. Someone in his family has own property there for almost 100 years, and while none of them have called it their permanent home, all of them have special memories of vacationing there. It’s really their special getaway. I often joke that “The Church of Beulah” is the official organized religion in his family. The house, the town, and the memories made there are the stuff of instant legend. Every trip is another opprutnity to add a chapter to the legend.

When we lived in Texas, trips to Beulah were very special and required much planning. But these days we can reach the “Beulah Experience” (as we call it) in just a short hour and a half drive. Already since moving back we’ve been three times. This weekend we added another (short) chapter to the book of memories with a one night trip that really did feel like an actual vacation. As usual, here is the photographic evidence.

Eating lunch with Daddy.

Getting out of the pool, brrr.

Check out me and Dad in our cool shades.

Jumping in the pool with Mommy.

Now this is the stuff of legends, cuddling with my Great Aunt Judy and Grandma Libby.

Aren’t I cute?

Ahh, summertime. Keep the traditions coming.

Today’s Ambition: I might need to start documenting all the stories I hear when I’m in Beulah so I can keep them all straight (and pass them on to Lily someday.) It’s pretty cool to know so much history about your family (in-law.)

 

Meet My New Obsession

It’s my new Storksak.  Yes, that beauty is my new diaper bag.  Doesn’t it almost look like some kind if designer handbag?  I just couldn’t be more in love with this little purchase.  It has all kinds of awesome pockets just right for holding all the odds and ends a diaper bag must contain.  Coolest of all, the side pockets are actually insulated thermos pockets that will keep a beverage hot or cold for 5 hours!  And it really works!  It was a splurge, there’s no doubt about that.  But I literally can’t remember the last time I splurged on something for myself (all splurges are reserved for my little princess these days).  I love it because if I was a working woman I feel like it wouldn’t be screaming obvious I was carrying baby wipes and pacifiers.  Of course I’m not a working woman.  All I can say is, on the average day that bag is seriously classing up my act!

Today’s Ambition: Perhaps I need to consider overhauling my wardrobe to match my new bag!

 

Video Star

Here is Miss Lily doing some walking. First with the walker that my parents neighbors loaned us. Then by herself. As you can see she’s making progress but not quite there. I think it’s a mental leap not a physical leap she needs to make mostly so it could be any day.

Today’s Ambition: Keep ready to catch my girl at any moment, sometimes she walks to me when I’m not looking!

 

The Long Walk Home

While Missouri (where my parents live) isn’t “home” to me, my parents always make it special! We had a great visit filled with yummy meals, a little shopping, going to the pool, even a few outings without baby for my Mom and I. I think those few hours babysitting were the highlight of my Dad’s whole year. I kept telling him that if he moved closer he could just quit his job and be my nanny. If he were a little closer to retirement I think he’d be seriously tempted. Here are a few pictures from our visit. Up above there is Lily walking home from a neighbors house who loaned us a walker. She loved it! It took us a looooong time to get home that night.

Eating Lunch at the pool with Mama-San.

At the Butterfly Pavilion in Branson.

On our evening walk.

Lily’s walking has continued, but progress is a little slower then I expected.  Thus our reunion with Dad today wasn’t quite as climactic as I had hoped.  In fact she was sleeping so we never even got out of the car.  But tonight she did a lot of walking around her room and really showed Daddy her skills.  I think he REALLY missed her and it feels great to have our family back together again.

Today’s Ambition: Get organized for Father’s Day - oh yeah, I have to worry about that now, huh?

 

Step On It Dad

Wednesday Lily said goodbye to her Daddy for the longest stint since she was born. He headed to Brazil for the wedding of one of our good friends from Austin, who is marrying an adorable Brazilian girl affectionately called JuJu. Here’s the happy couple now!

It’s just an 8 day trip and many Daddy’s go way, wayyyyyyy longer without seeing their children (I’m talking about you military families, oh how I respect you!) But Daddy did pick a rather critical moment to make his international trip. Because Lily took her first REAL steps yesterday.  Months ago I started worrying this was going to happen.  Thinking about the timing of this trip and the fact that Lily seems to hit all milestones exactly as the books say she will I had a good/bad feeling about this.  And I was right.  The good news - we’re spending the week in Missouri with my parents, so Mamma-San and Pappa-San are getting to witness how Lily is getting braver and braver with each try.  By the time we head home next Wednesday I think the chances are good she’ll be walking (like a drunken sailor) through the airport.

Daddy was well aware this might happen but I think he was still hoping she would wait for him.  Since communication is tough anyway I think I won’t tell him.  I’ll just let her walk up and greet him when we go to pick him up from the airport next week.  If that doesn’t bring a Daddy to his knees, I don’t know what will.

Today’s Ambition: Well it will have to be tomorrow’s ambition since she’s sleeping now, but I really need to get a picture of the walker in action!