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Happy Birthday Na-Nate
6 JanOur baby boy is now a little, big boy. He (and we) successfully made it through his two’s and we are now beginning his three’s. What an adventure. He is hilarious. He is angry. He is sensitive. He is tough. He is crazy. He is cuddly. He is completely, totally all Na-Nate.
I'm 3!
I can’t wait to see what we get with a 3-year-old Nate. Tons of emotions, I’m sure!
Behind the Wheel Wonderland
24 NovMy drive to and from work should stink. It’s 45 miles away and it takes me anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half to make the trip – one way. It’s usually bumper to bumper, gas and brake and then gas and really brake the whole way. Sometimes, I’m just stopped. My car, stuck in the midst of four to six lanes of traffic, backed up for miles.
So, why doesn’t this suck? Part of the reason is because I like heading toward my destinations. I look forward to being at work and I look forward to being with the fam.
The other reason my drive doesn’t stink is magical and involves my CD player, the library and the ability to be taken to another world, while still paying attention to the road. (Although I have missed a few of my turns from time to time.)
In the last month, I’ve listened to five audio books. Right now, The Secret Life of Bees is calling my name and I can’t wait until tomorrow morning when I’ll start my car and the CD will pick up where it left off. I’m not just listening to fiction either. I’ve been educated by Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and some guy telling me about The Millionaire Next Door.
I love my books on CD! My virtual library book bag is growing by the day and I’m shuffling through discs. Even Andrew is putting requests in for books. His all involve the deep stuff – politics, history and opinion. My next one is much lighter – Marley and Me. I’m sure it will make me laugh and cry and look like a total lunatic to the drivers stuck in the horrible traffic with me. Their drive must stink.
If Life was a High School Football Game…
4 OctI guess I would be in the second quarter of my years. Happiness would be winning over anything else I’ve experienced in life and I would have a penalty for that one time I jumped out of a moving car. Right now though, I’m calling a time out to review some years gone by.
The last time I spent a Friday night at a high school football stadium, I was in high school. That’s why I was excited to go catch our local teams compete last night.
I loved the atmosphere, the game, the bands, the people watching and the smell of all of that football stadium food. I really had a blast and the kids loved it too. It brought back so many memories and feelings, but also added a new feeling – my youth is gone. I got that feeling when I saw all those teeny-boppers in their cutesy little outfits – their only care being who they’re going to hook up with that night or did they see/talk to so and so.
They are just so young.
What really put it in perspective for me is when I saw a woman, probably in her mid-30’s, surrounded by a bunch of teen girls. The woman was attractive and, I thought, stylish but she seemed to be intimidated and was definitely uncomfortable suddenly face to face with all that youth. I wondered what she was thinking. She tried to keep a look of confidence on her face but I could see the thoughts going through her mind. “Girls, you don’t have anything on me. Been there, done that – way before you.” It made me realize how precious our time is. Before they know it, those girls will soon become us. After all, many of us were once them.
It’s not that I’m jealous of them or want to go back to that time, it just made me nostalgic and well, basically, feel old. I know I’m still “young” by many standards but I’m certainly not young enough to:
- Paint all of the skin visible outside my skimpy shorts and tank top, (That’s another “I’m old” indicator – when I was their age, I would never have considered them “skimpy” shorts.)
- Act crazy even when I’m just standing in a group of people. (Well, I guess I still do this.)
- Walk around with my chest out, trying to portray all the confidence in the world. (My posture is getting worse and worse, Osteoporosis? I drink my milk!)
- Chill in the Student Section of the stadium. (Man, were we like that?)
- Not care where I sit, stand, stop, walk. Being oblivious seems a lot less stressful.
The other feeling I had that made me aware of my age – the fact that I was worried that the players would get hurt. I’m such a mom! This one play had five guys tackle one guy and I said, “Oh my! Did they really need to be that rough?” Andrew’s response? “It’s tackle football!” Man, I hate to see what I’m going to be like if Nate plays! I’ll be an even older mom then!
The Best Lunch Date
27 Aug- A stroll through the mall – window shopping and checking out cool stuff.
- An order of Bourbon Chicken with Fried Rice and Broccoli.
- A spoon and a fork and a shared Styrofoam container.
- He and I sitting side by side, allowing me to sneak smooches and help him cut his broccoli trees.
- A hug around the neck as I carried him to his bed for a nap. (He made it even better by saying “Momma” with such love as he wrapped his little arms around and squeezed.)
I feel so lucky Nate and I shared such a nice day together. It made me worry that I didn’t make the right decision about going back to work but then I remembered we’ll still have our evenings and weekends to enjoy. I know he’s going to love his “school” and I think it’s really going to help him in a lot of ways. I’m just glad I have this memory to keep and to cherish and am so thankful for our little man.
When you don’t get out much…
5 May- you forget your wallet at work the night of your romantic surprise date with your wife. Andrew planned a trip to a play in Atlanta while my mom was here and it all turned out perfectly despite his driving without a license and my initial reaction to the surprise. If I could go back in time, I would definitely not ask, “What’s this?” with a look of confusion when shown the e-tickets. And, I would absolutely not be all like, “What’s this play, *Doubt, all about? I never heard of it.” Poor Andrew. He knows how sorry I am. I only hope it doesn’t discourage him from any possible future surprises. (I really appreciate and love what you did.)
- you act like an idiot and tell anyone who listens what’s going on in your life at that very moment. I’m pretty sure the clerk at Old Navy did not care that my mom and I were going to go see a *movie and I was going to order nachos and cheese – oh, I really hope they have nachos and cheese – I’m sure they do right? I mean, it’s an IMAX theater after all…. Yeah, I had uncool written all of my face – and probably my outfit.
- you have to get a ride from security after the movie is over because you parked on the complete other side of the largest mall in Georgia. Not only was it silly enough that we were being slowly chauffeured around the mall, but then some “real” action happened (a car backed into a yellow pole) and the security guard was all disappointed that he had to take my mom and I (or as he kept repeating on his walkie talkie, the “10-15”) to our car. My mom kept hysterically giggling every time he called us the “10-15.” It was all so hilarious, especially when the guy said “I’m going try to get there as soon as I can but I still gotta find this 10-15’s vehicle!” It was at that point that my mom and I told him to go get that “41” or whatever it was and let us out to walk. Man, I feel bad for that “41.” He had one geeked up guard coming after him!
- you enjoy every second of your special time. Thanks for the wonderful memories Andrew and mommy! I had a blast!
*If you were wondering, Andrew and I both really liked the play and the movie my mom and I saw was Made of Honor and we both enjoyed that as well!
Oh, Happy Day!
29 AprBlur of Excitement
Yep. Nia’s face in that picture pretty much sums it all up. Her 5th birthday bash was a blast! There was plenty of jumping, screaming, prizes and junk food for everyone but there was also a significant amount of stressing on my part prior to all that. The forecast of “isolated thunderstorms” really had all of the outdoor party plans up in the air. The sun teased us throughout the afternoon but then finally came through for us as you can see!
Happy Birthday Jumping Bean
It’s actually kind of funny because in the end, I think the chance of rain helped make the party a success because we had to hurry to make sure everyone got to play the games and that kept the party from lasting forever and ever. Although, I think that would have been just fine with Nia and her friends!
They couldn’t get enough of the fun and loot. A few of them kept asking me, “How can I win more prizes?” They each walked away with bags full of popcorn, candy and toys, plus cotton candy. Andrew even let one family take a whole box of pizza home with them! I bet you want to come to our next party right? We might have to charge admission though!
The kids certainly weren’t the only ones who had a great time. My mom (“Honey”) found some super cool clown gear during one of her party supply shopping sprees and we just couldn’t pass up the chance to be goofy too!
She definitely deserved to have as much fun as possible after creating Nia’s adorable and delicious cake. She even made it two flavors and made the icing from scratch! It was hilarious watching her ice it with the vultures, I mean kids, hovering. Nia kept leaning over it and putting her fingers too close for comfort. Every time Nia or Nate got near it, we would gasp. When it was finally finished, Honey actually shed a few tears of relief and joy!
Nia’s party even had a little bit of Savannah at it. Our good friend Paul’s arrival at the party brought huge smiles to Nia and Nate’s faces and it was so wonderful to have the Heidels celebrate all weekend long with us. It means the world that they were here through all of it (thanks for not slapping me silly when I kept stressing about the rain) and I’m very happy that Miss Cami had a nice time. (Minus the moonwalk though. Poor sweetie. She just wasn’t having it.)
Soothing her sweetie's moonwalk stress
Now, it’s on to planning the next party. I’m thinking I’d like to have it somewhere where I don’t have to worry about mother nature or decorating. Then again, none of that stuff mattered to Nia so why should I let it worry me? As long as Nia and Nate are happy, that’s all that’s important.
I think she had fun. What do you think?
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