Ten Things I Didn't Expect to Do in the Past Week, But I Did

1. Hide in my neighbors' basement with my kids because we don't have a basement or any room without a window. And I could not imagine trying to sit in the hallway with Libbie and have her stay there.

2. Hide in a closet at my friend Stacy's house while our dinner got cold (but hey, at least we got to cook dinner and still had a great meal together ... after that wave of the storm).

3. Listen to a weather radio go off approximately 800 times in the course of a few hours.

4. Call my dad and say, "Hey dad, we're OK, we don't have power, we're at a friend's house" and have him say, "Huh?"

5. Be online only a few times over the course of four days and live to tell about it.

6. Play Scrabble with my husband by candlelight.

7. See my neighbor's house absolutely crushed by a tree.

8. Be so relieved that we had an enormous, dead tree removed from our front yard this fall.

9. Clean out my refrigerator of all but a few things.

10. Get to sleep in at a friend's house (after being up with David every two hours) as she claimed my son and then made us crepes. (She is a saint!!!)

Well, that's our storm recap. Were any of you affected by these tornadoes that whipped through the South last week?



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Wordless Wednesday: Valentines

In the midst of what have been some long, hard days, Valentine's Day was a gem.

Mr. V was off work, so we asked a friend to baby-sit and went and had lunch at an amazing Thai restaurant.

It was hovering around 60 outside, so all four of us went to the park in the afternoon. Blissful!

Added to Wordless Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordful Wednesday at Seven Clown Circus and at Alli-n-Son.
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When Bloggy Friends Become Real Friends

I am pretty sure I've been reading OhAmanda's blog as long as I've been blogging. I honestly have NO idea how I found her blog, but I am sure glad I did! We've had two Blissdoms of fun and yesterday was the second time I've driven down to her house just to hang out.

And for the past few months, I've gotten much closer to some of Amanda's real-life friends and fellow bloggers: Staci, Mandi, and Becky.

Yesterday Staci, Mandi, Amanda, and I were all able to get together with our five kids running around like small crazy people. It was a blast, and I treasure having these friends I can truly talk about anything with (including and not limited to who to leave our children to if we died and how many craft blogs I have never heard of).

Here are our sweet kiddos!

Libbie loved all the play jewelry

Libbie and Asa--and yes, this IS the best picture I could get!

Adorable Lydia

Megan was all about this Flounder hat ... and strawberries!

And for a flashback, here's Libbie and Asa (and their mommas!) at Blissdom 2009.

Having online friends become true friends is a wonderful finer thing!


{Apparently Evan, Mandi's older son, didn't actually stand still long enough to get a picture of him!}

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Creative Discovery Museum: Things I Love Thursday

Libbie and I moved to Chattanooga in January with an aquarium membership fresh in our pockets. I assumed she and I would go there quite a bit. But I also wanted to check out the children's museum--the Creative Discovery Museum. 

We quickly fell in love! While Libbie is still too young to appreciate much of what's going on there, it's a great place for her to just run around, play, touch, and explore. As she's grown she's become more and more fond of the music section and the art section, too. I hope we'll keep our membership at the museum for many years to come!

Yesterday we took our first family trip to the museum--Mr. V had never been. Here's some photographic evidence of the journey.

Libbie colored and played with clay in the art room …

Dug for dinosaur bones with Daddy …

Explored different kinds of rocks …

And played many drums as well as this old Nickelodeon piano!

The Creative Discovery Museum is very reasonable for a year's membership ... and is a place I truly love!

For more Things I Love Thursday, visit Jill at The Diaper Diaries.

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Wordless Wednesday

Those cupcakes were REALLY pink.

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

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Wordful Wednesdays: Giddy Swinging

There are some things this picture shows. Libbie's bright orange fleecey pullover. The fact that I forgot to put shoes on her and didn't realize this until after we were at the park. Her delight at her first real swinging experience.

And there is more I can tell from the video. Her girly giggles, which thrill my heart. Her glee. My hand, pushing her.

But there's so much not there. Not captured. The fact the seat of her pants was wet from her travel down a damp slide. The church bells ringing a familiar hymn as we made our way to the car. The crisp weather, a little too cool for just my long-sleeved tee. My heart, so full.

Those things, I have to keep in my mind, imprinted on my heart. I'm afraid some day I won't remember these sun-drenched feelings, the pure bliss of watching my little girl's wide smile and hearing her happy laughs. But I will try.

Always.



Join in with Wordful Wednesdays at 7 Clown Circus. For those of us who are just no good at not writing.




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A Free Weekend

Want to know how much time you waste on the Internet?

Vow to have a computer-free weekend. I did, from Friday late afternoon to 48 hours later, on Sunday afternoon. (Except for one teensy e-mail check on Sunday.)

gratuitous Libbie picture

I was flabbergasted at how the time went more slowly and how much I was able to accomplish. Here's what I did this weekend:

• Coupon shopped at Target and Bi-Lo.
• Scrubbed the kitchen floor on my hands and knees (after sweeping AND Swiffer vacuuming it.)
• Changed sheets and washed them on our bed and our guest bed.
• Did a whole lot of laundry.
• Took Libbie to a new-to-us park.
• Watched my March Madness bracket go down the drain.
• Kept up with the dishes.
• Made peanut butter cookies. (Oops.) (I slightly modified the recipe from Baking: From My Home to Yours and THEY ARE DIVINE.)
• Read an entire Jodi Picoult novel.
• Played on the floor.
• Made an Easter card for my MIL from Libbie.
• Tried to scrapbook until my glue exploded all over the living room.
• Went to a church we loved!

I don't usually get anywhere near that much accomplished in the span of two days. It really opened my eyes to what life could be like. I'm going to try to do a better job monitoring my time online.

When I did come back, however, I was SO blessed by the comments I got on my last Losing It 10 post. I hope this site is a ministry to you ... because you all are water to my soul.

The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Proverbs 20:5, ESV

This post includes Amazon affiliate links. Read more in my disclosure policy. 

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How to Travel with a Toddler

If they tell you your flight is going to be delayed two hours, then three hours, then three and a half hours ...

Just go back home.

____

OK, so we DID get here eventually. At 11 p.m. Libbie ran all over the airport like a crazed Munchkin, but she slept most of the flight while I had a very nice conversation with the woman in our row.

It wasn't my top choice for spending a Sunday afternoon, though.

I'm visiting my parents in PA so posting may continue to be sparse, but I'll be back to normal before too very long!

So, I Met the Pioneer Woman: Part II

Go here for Part I.

Like I said, there were about a million people at the signing. I sort of wondered around for a little bit and ran into Leisa, Angie, Jessica, and met Keely. Then I took Libbie into the children's section where I hoped she'd be able to run around for a bit. There, I discovered some key things:

1. Davis-Kidd has an incredible children's play area. If Libbie has been a little bit older, she would have been in child heaven. She did enjoy wandering around and sitting in the child-sized chairs.

2. Janna, my coworker's daughter-in-law, and her daughter were playing right there too!

3. I found out there were 25 people in each group. I was in group 13. Hence, there were at least 300 people in front of me in line. And the signing was due to start right at Libbie's bedtime. YIKES.

BY THE GRACE OF GOD ALONE, Karen stopped me as I was leaving the children's area, slightly befuddled as to what to do. She gave me a ticket for group 4 that she had. Shortly after that, they had groups 1-4 line up. I was the last person in group 4, but I was there, right behind Karen and her daughter "Munchkin."

I really thought The Pioneer Woman was going to give a short talk/reading like she had at her other signings, but apparently Davis-Kidd was just not anticipating the number of women that showed up. So all we got to hear was a short "hello" from P-Dub and then the signing began.

As we inched along slowly, Karen and I chatted with Rachael, who was right ahead of us, and Munchkin entertained Libbie, much to my delight. According to Munchkin, they even made up a special "footshake."

The only other eventful thing that happened in the hour we waited to reach PW was I went to the cafe inside Davis-Kidd to try to get Libbie some plain, cold, whole milk. Which cost $2.50 and took 15 minutes for someone to get me (sigh). But someone actually recognized me from the blog! I think her name was Heather--so Heather, if you're reading this, please leave me your blog address if you have one! I love to read stuff from locals! UPDATE: Heather writes for Nashville Foodies! Great local restaurant reviews if you're in Nashville. Had I thought to ask her, I would have found out that I read her blog, too!

So we finally arrived at the Table of the Signing. I believe what I said to PW was, "I brought you a whiny baby. Want to take her?" She just said, "Thanks," but didn't take the little one off my hands, and we took our little picture. UPDATE: PW herself apparently read this and actually sent me a Twitter reply! She says she would have never refused to hold a baby. Maybe I didn't say this, or maybe I didn't speak clearly enough. It WAS loud in there. As this was totally spur-of-the-moment for me, I didn't even have my own camera and had to ask Karen to take the picture. Unfortunately we were all a little flustered and the best we got was this:

But I did talk to Betsy, Ree's sister, who asked me how old Libbie was and said her son (a few months older than L) would have been zonked by then!

So, to sum it all up, I give you the following:

--I met the Pioneer Woman and she signed her cookbook, which I paid way more than the Amazon price for because you had to buy one to get a ticket. (How's that for a run on? I'm tired. And cold.)
--I met some really fun new-to-me bloggers
--I was bummed that PW did not speak, and I probably would not have gone had I known it was going to be like that
--I got soaked, but I did get a new sweater, pair of pants, and shoes out of that deal!
--It was certainly an experience, if nothing else.

Amen and The End.

Pictures by Karen at Our Crazy Blessed Life.

Motherhood is Not for the Weak

Sometimes I think I underestimated how difficult it would be to have a child.

No, not the labor--although that was sort of difficult, in my case. And perhaps quite a bit painful.

But the actual HAVING the child, day to day.

Not that I would trade it for anything in the world. I love this little blue-eyed wild child, my prissy princess who is into everything.


Most of the difficulty right now comes from the only parent during the week thing. (Single parents, I revere you. I don't know how you do it.) Last night I needed to go to the library, our church's consignment sale, and to a friend's house to pick up Libbie's pack and play (had left it there one night a few weeks ago). Libbie was already having a not-so-great day; she was gassy and fussy and hadn't napped well.

Library: easy and check. Consignment sale: there were no strollers allowed during the hour I needed to go. So I wore her in the Ergo carrier as I battled a hundred other women for prime 12-18 months clothes. I had never tried to do the consignment sale thing before on preview night OR with the babe. She was fussy. She threw her paci on the floor 300 times. I was exasperated. I didn't get to look through the clothes as much as I normally would have because I just wanted to get out of there.

I did, however, get a really cute pair of StrideRite soft-soled shoes with bunnies on them for $3.

Buckled her back into the carseat. Gave her a pancake I had thrown in her diaper bag for her to eat on the way to the friend's house. She got crumbs everywhere, of course. Then she fell asleep. Lopsided.

Got to the house. She is afraid of their Husky. Wrestled the pack and play to the ground. Have a very tired baby who I try to give some formula. Mostly she drips it on the friend's floor. (I think she is over formula. Nor will she nurse at all. Interesting.)

Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time I got home. And then I have to pack because we're going to Chattanooga this weekend. Where we do not have: a crib, anywhere to sit, cable, Internet, toys, a table, food, a high chair, or pretty much anything else except a china cabinet, Christmas decorations, and books.

This is not exactly what I imagined when I was pregnant. I spent a lot of time thinking about cuddling a tiny baby and not a lot of time picturing a rambunctious almost-toddler trying to be entertained in a house without any of her things.

Have you been equally surprised by motherhood? Have I just scared the heck out of you?

Black is This Year's Pink

Last night we went to see Wicked at TPAC in Nashville.

I almost have no words for what I felt. Is that too melodramatic?

Working with Serendipity, one of our sort of catch phrases is to take notice of the things that make you come alive. That is where you need to be meeting God in His work.

The only way I can describe how this musical affected me is to say that: it made my heart come alive.

Maybe it is just the hope deferred, finally come true. I have wanted to see the musical for a really, really long time. I first read the book in high school. As soon as I knew there was a musical based on it, I was longing to see it. I am a tiny bit obsessed with musicals, you see.

Maybe it's the little bit of my heart that still thinks I could be in musicals, if I lost some weight and had a little more talent for acting. I have rarely felt as exhilarated as I did after performing in our Broadway Revue show at church.

Or maybe it's just the amazing story, come to life. The absolutely phenomenal voice of Marcie Dodd, who played Elphaba and was just, well, enchanting. The unexpected (for me) perkiness of Glinda, which must have required the actress to have endless wells of energy.

It was beautiful. I absolutely did not want it to end. And I've come away wondering, what does this mean? Why does it stir my heart so? Is something there unfulfilled, something I should be pursuing?

Have you seen Wicked? I'd love to know your thoughts.

Top Ten Things I Learned While Getting a Massage Saturday

1. I still hate the smell of eucalyptus. A LOT. Fortunately, the smell was only pervasive when I was laying on my back.

2. I kind of wish I could read a magazine when I am getting a massage, like I can while getting a pedicure. Pedicure time is the only time I let myself read stuff like People and US Weekly. Part of the no-thinking process. Or at least I could read a book. Like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which is taking me forever to reread.

3. It is very difficult to get your feet rubbed when you have a big old cut across the top of your foot. But my masseuse did a great job avoiding it. (I just asked her to not rub my legs, which are still covered in bruises.)

4. And I LOOOOVE to have my hands and feet rubbed. It's the best part. I totally need a house-elf that can do it for me all the time. (Sorry. Again, with the whole rereading Harry Potter.)

5. All of that research on natural childbirth paid off when I was doing labor breathing to cut the pain from having knots massaged out of my shoulder. Maybe I should not have told the masseuse to press as hard as she wanted.

6. And P.S.--when you are under crazy amounts of stress, you get really bad knots in your shoulders.

7. I am completely unable to shut my brain off and just enjoy anything.

8. I compose blog posts in my head pretty much all the time.

9. I have absolutely no modesty anymore after living with a semi-nudist in college and breastfeeding for nine months. I used to try to hide under the sheet when I turned over or whatever. Now, who cares? It's just boobs. And she was a woman.

10. Having an hour to pamper myself, let my mind roam free, and not have to chase around Libbie: priceless.

This post linked to Top Ten Tuesday and What I Learned This Week.

A Three-Hour Meal

I had an adult night tonight. That doesn't happen much.

Me and Jenn, from a blog that isn't up and running yet!

I didn't partake in the adult beverages, but about 12 Diet Cokes later I am just slightly caffeinated and giddy from being with these lovely women.

Kelly, Malia, and Ashley

My head is whirling from the conversation, laughs, and abundance of new faces I was able to meet. I am blessed that there were several faces I recognized as well, women I'd met at Blissdom or the Ultimate Blog Party.

Being part of a community rocks.

My husband doesn't seem to understand why I blog. He's not a writer for one; he's a mathematician and he just does not have constant words running through his brain. I think he can see blogging for the benefit of chronicling our life, getting pictures of the babe out to the family; but as far as blogging for the general Internet, he doesn't get it.

I've thought a lot lately about the male vs. female way of thinking. When a man is confronted with a problem, he wants to fix it. When a woman has a problem, she just wants someone else to listen. And perhaps sympathize. Let her know she's normal and that is will be OK.

While blogs can be excellent sources of information, for me it's more the second choice there. I put out my words, my problems, my fears, and relish in the feedback that tells me I am not some kind of mutant. I hope I can reassure others of the same.

The blogging community is so much more than I ever imagined it could be. Our dear Nashville bloggers are just the best!

Thanks, Jamie and Amy, for hosting Margarit-Her! It was a blast.

Musings from the Woods

I wrote this ON PAPER while on vacation this past week. Enjoy!


I went to a pretty prestigious and expensive university (on a scholarship from the Baptists, for which they receive my lifelong loyalty). When I came home after my freshman year of school, I vividly remember one of my parents--likely my mother--telling me I'd turned into a snob. That some of that Rich Northern Girl mentality had perchance rubbed off one me.

While I don't think I'm a snob, I do fancy myself cultured in some things. I really enjoy good food and being waited on at nice restaurants. I full-out confess that I'm a grammar snob and bad spelling makes me cringe (hence, my job is perfect for me).

But being here in the woods, eating hamburgers and being disconnected from reality and the Internet, reminds me that I'm a simple girl. I really like weak Folgers coffee. I can eat a whole jar of dill pickles and I hate blue cheese. I'd rather have cherry coke than fine wine any day, and I love anything cooked in a campfire.

Life is good without pretentions. I hope I'll raise Libbie to just like what she likes, no matter what people think. I hope we'll go camping so she'll know the perfect taste of a Hershey-bar s'more. I hope she'll learn the pure joy of a few days of rest, pajamas, and no phone or Internet. I've sure enjoyed the revitalization.

UPBIRL09 AKA Live Broadcast Fun in Nashville

Last night I got to hang out at the very cool Ultimate Blog Party In Real Life: Nashville Edition. It was at Malia's house and hosted by her and Mrs. Fussypants, the darling Alli. In good Jessie style, I only took two pictures.

This is Jordana, and her youngest baby (she has 5 kids). I met her at Blissdom and we spent lots of time in the hallway with the babies on the floor there. Was great to see her and Meredith again!

This is the lovely Publix cake, which I actually managed to not eat. So proud of myself! And too busy being spit up on by the baby.

It was a fun night of meeting some new Nashville bloggers and some I already knew, getting to hear Leslie Mills (who is divinely gorgeous) sing, and worrying about whether how many zillion people who were watching the live broadcast would get to hear my baby screaming because it was bedtime (she behaved. It was amazing!).

[I took out the video here because I was informed it didn't work. Sad! So the only people who got to see me interviewed were those who watched it live. Sorry y'all!]

Flying with Baby--Rants and a Few Tips

Playing on the floor at BWI

I found the hardest part of flying alone with the baby was trying to go to the bathroom. The handicapped bathrooms in the airport are barely big enough to squeeze my (very small) stroller into and still be able to go. And on the plane? Are you kidding? I had to hand her off to a friendly flight attendant so I could attend to Nature's call.

The worst moment for me was in Norfolk (ORF--I hope you find this and reprimand your security people). They make you put the stroller and carseat through the conveyor belt along with everything else except the baby. I tried and tried to disconnect my carseat from the stroller, then get the stroller collapsed, while approximately 10 security people stood and looked at me. I was the ONLY person going through the line. I had to PUT THE BABY ON THE FLOOR, y'all, to get it closed. And they let me. (In Nashville, several kind men did it all for me. I love the South.) When my mom called minutes later, I just burst into tears.

To board the plane, I'd put Libbie in the sling, close the stroller, and then lug the stroller, carseat, diaper bag, and my bag to the entrance--while trying not to drop the baby out of the sling. People were kind enough to help me most of the time, but it was still a struggle. My first flight, where I was allowed to bring on the carseat since it wasn't full, I ended up playing musical chairs because I didn't know the carseat had to go by the window, then they had to check it to make sure it was airplane-safe.

I'd read often that nursing at take-off and descent would help the baby from having her ears hurt. Well, those parts didn't bother her in the least. It was the part in the middle she didn't like. And when I tried to nurse her, I was so uncomfortable and she was so mad she absolutely refused.

It was one heck of a trip.

Here's what I've learned for the next time I fly with her (which, ack, is in less than two weeks!):



1. I will keep her in the sling to go through security instead of wrestling her in and out of the stroller. I'm tempted to not take the stroller at all, but I know my parents want to do some outdoors things with her when we're in PA.

2. I will bring bottles of pumped milk to give her on the plane if she gets upset. I am too uncomfortable nursing in public. I am so afraid I am going to flash someone completely (I'm really not worried about being embarrassed, but I don't want to make other people way uncomfortable), and Libbie tends to throw off any cover I put on her. Plus she latches on and off constantly, making it even more difficult. (Note: you can bring a "reasonable amount" of breast milk or formula through security onto the plane, as long as you tell them and put it in a separate bucket to go through the scanner.)

3. I will wish I had a portable DVD player to occupy her, but I won't buy one, because I am cheap.

4. I will stick with the same amount of bags--anything more than her diaper bag and my purse would have put me over the edge.

Southwest, by the way, was great. They checked on me a ton, helped me if I needed it, and said flight attendant even lovingly attended to the baby while I peed (and it was a man). I will never fly anyone else if I can help it. I love them.

The Zoo Crew

Today my sister and I took Libbie to the Nashville Zoo. It's the first really nice Saturday we've had probably since she's been born. It was upwards of 75 today! We had fun taking turns carrying her around in the Baby Bjorn and talking to her about the animals. She slept through some of it, but I was glad she finally got some real outside time! I'm hoping it will stay decently warm so we can take more walks and be outside.


It's been a little bit of a crazy weekend so far, with Auntie Roo being here, taking breakfast out for a group of sixth-grade boys doing Disciple Now, and trying to make plans for this week. One of my best friends from high school's little brother was killed in Iraq on Tuesday. Libbie and I are going to go to Richmond Monday night to go to the funeral on Tuesday. I am so heartbroken for Cynthia and her family and desperately needed to be there. I spent a lot of yesterday trying to figure out flights, cars, and friends to stay with, and I think it's going to work out, for which I am so thankful.


So I may not be around too much in the upcoming week, and I know you'll understand. Please be in prayer that we'll have easy travels, the family will be comforted, and Mr. V will be OK here at home.

Since I Can't Think of Anything to Post...

...our trip so far in pictures.

This is actually the night before we left--Libbie and her boyfriend Donavan in their Santa suits.

Getting to meet Michelle and Dan, our good friends from college.

Snuggling with Grandma W.

First time in my snow suit...

Just a cute one! (That blanket I'm in is Auntie Roo's singing High School Musical blankie...)

Miss Fannie's Big Hat Tea

I was so excited to be able to take Libbie to Miss Fannie's Big Hat Tea Party at church last night. I've gone to the tea every year we've lived here. Every year I end up sitting with a whole table of women I don't know, and I kind of like that. It's interesting. The first year I was shy and wore a little tiny red beret. The second year I made a huge straw hat with boa, star, a bird, and lights that required a battery pack. Unfortunately the battery pack was so heavy it wouldn't stay on my head. Last year, I rocked out this little vintage number from the flea market. It has netting. LOVE IT.


And last night I went with a pink cowboy hat that was boa-lined and had a light-up tiara. Yeah I did.

I was so proud to cart around my little one in her stroller bedecked in a little Mrs. Clause outfit complete with Santa hat, of course. She was precious. One of my friends kept her at her table while I got to eat the divine meal and have some adult conversation. (By the way, it's REALLY frightening when elderly ladies at church start talking to you about the Victoria's Secret fashion show.) After dinner, the baby was starting to wake up so I took her to nurse her.

And then the screaming ensued. She screamed and screamed. She ate a little. She screamed some more. She screamed loud enough that all 300 ladies crammed into our fellowship hall could hear her over the women's choir singing. I decided it was time to go home. And then I realized that my coat was still inside, sitting on my chair which was smack dab in front of the performers.

God bless Andi who went in and got it for me. While the screaming continued.

She wailed all the way home until we got about .2 miles from our house, where of course she konked out.

At least she slept well last night.

Cookie Bakin'

I had the privilege today of being invited to bake Christmas cookies with Meredith from Like Merchant Ships. She lives right down the road and it was so fun to meet her. Jamie from Blonde Mom Blog joined us for a wonderful lunch. These "real bloggers" told me all about bloggers in Nashville, conferences, and all kinds of bloggy fun. I'm really not into the making money from blogging--although hey, it would be nice--but I would be interested in meeting more Nashville bloggers! I guess I won't be a Nashville blogger too much longer, though...Mr. V is in the process of putting his applications in at schools across the country! Who knows where we'll end up.

Anyway, it was so nice to hang out with Meredith and two of her little ones. Libbie behaved herself pretty well and came home and took a good old nap (and so did Mommy). Thanks Meredith for a wonderful morning!

I guess you can tell I am NO photographer, but here are the kids!

Libbie, Elise, and John

Libbie and John were due about on the same day--he is two weeks older but they are almost exactly the same size. Too cute! Libbie enjoyed seeing the other kids. She and John hung out on this blanket and kicked together for a good bit. :)