A Decade

This photo was taken ten years ago today, on December 27th, 2000.  Little did I know that ten years later I would be celebrating yet another Christmas with the handsome man in the back right corner and our sweet almost 8 month-old boy.  (And with the guy next to me too, since he is now my brother-in-law!)

It's been a wonderful decade, Jonathan.  Here's to many more!

Merry Christmas!

We're still busy celebrating the holidays, but I'll hold you over with a few family photos taken by my very talented friend Meredith.  

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from our family to yours!  

Shameless

A few weeks ago, I found out that some friends got tickets to see Garth Brooks in Nashville.  Having no idea that he was even doing a concert, I was really bummed that we had missed the opportunity to snag seats to these now sold-out shows.  A couple of weeks later, I mentioned to this friend how jealous I was, and then found out that she had two extra tickets up for grabs!  Score!

So yesterday we headed off to Nashville to see one of our favorite Oklahomans in the flesh!  We had no idea where our seats were, and we didn't have high hopes because our tickets said "Backstage."  After fighting our way through the overwhelming crowd outside the Bridgestone Arena--30,000 people exiting his 7:00 concert while 30,000 more entered for his 10:00 concert--we finally arrived in our section behind the stage.

Our row was "HH," so we started to head up the stairs to the higher levels of the section.  An usher stopped us, took a look at our tickets, and pointed us back down.

"Really?  We're HH.  Isn't that up high?" we questioned.

"Nope! You're right down here on the second row!"

People.  We were on the SECOND ROW.  It may have been "Backstage" but the stage was in the round, and Garth worked the entire thing.  We were seriously ten feet away from him every time he walked the back side of the stage, and had a great view the rest of the time.  I was at the edge of our section with a view into the pit around the stage where the musicians and technicians came and went, so I got a sneak peek of Garth's main gal, Trisha Yearwood, as she snuck in for a surprise performance of "In Another's Eyes" and then "She's In Love with the Boy."

When the fiddle began the first notes of "Callin' Baton Rouge," you would have thought I was some crazy teenager!  It is one of my top three favorite songs of all time, and I never dreamed I'd get to stand 10 feet away, just singing along with Garth.  I'm not usually one to get silly over these things, but I was pretty pumped!

There was only one regret of the night: we assumed that photography would not be allowed, so we didn't bother lugging our camera along.  Actually, they made a special announcement encouraging flash photography!  We were just sick that the one time we were close enough to actually get good pictures at a concert, we didn't even have our camera.  I guess our memories will have to suffice!

And it didn't hurt that I got to enjoy a fun night out alone with my man.  After eight months as parents, it was so fun to stay out late (he played til 12:30 a.m.!) and not worry about rushing home to a sitter.  We might have even done some arm-in-arm swaying to "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House," and "Unanswered Prayers."

Cheesy?  Definitely.

But we didn't put our hands in the back pocket of each other's Wranglers, so I'd say we kept it pretty classy.  :)

(And for the record, we were not wearing Wranglers.  Just in case you were worried.)

The Twelve Excuses of Christmas

In honor of the Twelve Days of Christmas, I give you my twelve excuses for not blogging lately...

12.  I wrapped up my semester of teaching at the U of M.  While I am very glad that I did it, I don't think I'll do it again in the near future.  The meager stipend just did not make all of the child care arranging, lesson planning, and paper grading worth my time.  I just submitted their grades yesterday and am so thankful to be DONE!

11.  We are officially addicted to "The Sing Off."  Have you seen this show?  Pretty sure we watched The Backbeats sing "Landslide" at least four times last night.  But I was so sad to see On The Rocks go...those boys are adorable and remind me so much of my favorite Bison Glee Clubbers!

10.  We had our annual cookie exchange at this lovely lady's home  and I won "Most Unique" with my Chai Crescent cookies.  If you and your friends have not started this tradition, you must add it to your calendar for next year.  What could be better than eating a ton of cookies with your friends and then going home with a basket full to enjoy with your family?  Not much, I tell you.  Not much!

9.  I wrapped up a study of Ruth with three incredible girls that I got to know while working at the U of M.  We used Kelly Minter's study, and I would definitely recommend it.  At the end of each week's section, she includes recipes that her group of friends enjoyed as they were writing the study.  The girls picked out one of the meals and I made it for lunch on Monday to wrap up our semester.  I have been so blessed to hang out with these girls every week and can't wait to do it again in the spring!

8.  We joined a new church!  When we moved to Memphis, we began attending a great church that we really loved, but it was just really difficult to get plugged in.  Earlier this fall we decided that it was time to find a better fit, and we just joined Redeemer Presbyterian .  It has been so interesting for Jonathan and me to explore a denomination that is different from our background, and it has sparked some great conversations and growth for us.

7.  Riggs and I wrapped up our semesters of Bible Study Fellowship and MOPS.  These ministries have been such a vital part of my transition to stay-at-home-motherhood.  Our study of Isaiah in BSF is challenging me in incredible ways, and the community I've found through MOPS is such a blessing.  I don't know what I would do without all the veteran moms in my life!

6.  Pioneer Woman Cinnamon Rolls.  Baking and eating.  Enough said.

5.  Stating the obvious: Christmas shopping!  Since we live in Midtown Memphis, most of the malls and big box stores are a bit of a haul to the suburbs.  That means that I have to plan my errands strategically and try to fit as many stops into one trip as I possibly can.  Which means that Riggs and I have spent entire afternoons just trucking around East Memphis and Germantown making the rounds to Target, Hobby Lobby and such.  One of many reasons I'm thankful to stay at home with Riggs: no more weekend or evening Christmas shopping!

4.  Decking the halls and wrapping gifts.  Have I ever mentioned my obsession with wired ribbon and gift wrap?  I do not believe in gift sacks.  There is nothing prettier than a tree laden with big boxes with huge bows!  It seems that so many people hate wrapping presents, but I think it is a blast.  So if you live in Memphis and would like to pay me to wrap your gifts, just say the word!  :)

3.  Jonathan wrapped up his fall semester on Monday [brief aside: how is it possible that he only has a year and a half left???], so we have been spending good ole' quality time as a family.  It is so fun to have him at home all day.  We all snuggle in bed together first thing in the morning, relax in our pajamas or head to the new Dunkin Donuts in our neighborhood (Katie, I think of you every time! :) and run errands or hang out around the house all afternoon.  One perk of having both of us home during the day was that we got to take Riggs to meet Santa on Tuesday morning.  We seriously were the only family there; we just walked right up to Old St. Nick and Riggs thought he was great!  He didn't cry, but he definitely spent a good portion of the visit just staring up at Santa like, "Ummm...you look nothing like anyone I've ever met..."  Oh, and poor Santa happened to have a real beard that Riggs found great for pulling.  Sorry, Mr. Claus!

2.  Addicted to this book, recommended by this girl.  Erin has been mentioning this book for years, and I finally picked it up at my local library and can't put it down!  Aside from having excellent taste in literature, Erin also has her own cake business and she does beautiful work!  Seriously, I'm already sad that she probably can't ship a cake to Memphis for Riggins' first birthday.  But if you live in the Tulsa or Oklahoma City areas, pop on over to her blog for an awesome giveaway and a look at what she can do for your next special occasion (Or even a not so special occasion.  Because really, what occasion shouldn't call for cake?).

1.  Honestly?  I figured out how much I can get accomplished when I don't turn on the computer until the end of my day.  A couple of weeks ago I realized that I was spending way too much time just "popping in" to Facebook or Blogger throughout my day, and that these little stops were actually turning into longer chunks of time and keeping me from being productive or from being fully present with my son.  So I've been attempting to be a bit more disciplined with my computer use, trying to save it for after my other priorities have been accomplished.  What's funny is that by the end of the day, I've able to make my day so full that I'm tired and don't really feel like being on the Internet as much!  Hopefully I'll find a happy medium soon.

0.  There is no good way to end posts like this.  So.  The End.

Seven Months!

(Another month, another letter.  Once again, I realize that this is an epic novel, but it is for my memory and not your blogging enjoyment.  If you happen to enjoy piddly details of a seven month old's life, then by all means knock yourself out and read every word! :)

November 29, 2010

Dear Riggins,

You are officially closer to your first birthday than to your birth day!  That thought kind of makes me hyperventilate a bit, but the one thing that keeps me smiling is that promise from so many parents who have gone before me: it just keeps getting better.  So far, those wise words have proven true.  

This month included some fun firsts.  We kicked it off with your very first overnight away from us.  You stayed with Grammy and Grampy in Fort Smith while we went wine tasting with friends.  You handled it like a champ and won over all of their friends; they had so much fun showing you off!  That weekend was also your first Halloween.  We didn't have any special plans since we were out of town, but we dressed you up in a Yoda costume and took some pictures on our stoop with the pumpkins.  You've also experienced your first campfire and your first hike alone with Daddy and Weber at Shelby Forest State Park.  The other big first this month was Thanksgiving!  We traveled to Fort Smith, and there you experienced the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and your first taste of meat: turkey!  You didn't care for the turkey alone, but you didn't mind it mixed with sweet potatoes or a bit of cranberry sauce.  

And speaking of food, you are eating solids like a champ!  You eat several ounces in the morning and several in the evening.  These days, your menu includes oatmeal, yogurt, bananas, apples, pears, berries, mango, plums, peaches, peas, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach, sugar snap peas, green beans and broccoli.  You especially adore bananas, sweet potatoes, and yogurt.  As for finger foods, you have no interest in Puffs, but we just introduced Mum Mums and you went crazy for them!  (Still no signs of teeth, but your little gums do a fine job of turning those suckers into mush!)  You tinker around with the sippy cup and are getting better at holding it and putting it in your mouth; you can sometimes get a few swallows from it but at this point the goal is building familiarity and not hydration!  I love introducing you to new foods and particularly enjoy having a little buddy in the high chair while I'm working in the kitchen.  

At this point, my bathroom scale estimate has you at about 18 pounds.  You still nurse about 5 times per day and take two naps: about one hour around 9 and about two hours around 1.  We're working on phasing out that last little catnap around 5 in exchange for an earlier bedtime.  The big change in your sleeping habits this month was that I cut out your middle of the night feedings.  It took a couple nights of crying, but now you sleep from 7:30 or 8 p.m. to about 6:30 a.m.  You occasionally wake up and squawk, but if I just let you fuss it out you typically fall asleep in about 5 minutes.  Getting a full night's rest has been such a wonderful change for our whole household!  

You can now roll every which way, sit up solidly, scoot backwards and forwards, get up on all fours (so close to really crawling!), and pull yourself to standing.  We had to lower your crib mattress just before bedtime the other night when you suddenly exhibited your new pulling up skills on the side of your crib!  You are still a noisy little guy, always babbling (lots of "dadadadada" going on!), squealing, squawking, and--your new favorite--fake coughing.  Your favorite things include Weber, bath time (you're now sitting up in the big boy tub!), the outdoors, riding in a grocery cart, Sophie the Giraffe, your blue lovie blanket, your new crackly ball, your sit-and-play car, your Baby Noah dvd, wooden spoons, combs and brushes, remote controls and cell phones, peekaboo, and patty cake.  Your least favorite things include avocados, getting your nose wiped or aspirated, and getting into your car seat after a particularly fun outing.

I can't tell you how much we just adore your little personality.  You are just a sweet, happy, calm little boy.  One of the highlights of my week is dropping you off or picking you up at the nursery for BSF, MOPS, or church.  Those ladies get so excited to see you and have such sweet things to say when I pick you up...it just makes this mama's heart proud!  You already have such a way with people--constantly smiling and looking people in the eye.  One of my prayers for you is that those traits would continue to grow and that God would make you a man of compassion, kindness, and leadership.  

Speaking of prayers, at a recent MOPS meeting we were encouraged to have a simple prayer that we pray daily for our children.  This is my prayer for you, Riggins:

Lord, thank you for Riggins and for the blessing of being his mother.  Please protect him and make him a man of compassion, kindness, and wisdom.  Give him a heart that loves, trusts, and fears You.  Amen.

I am soaking up your sweet smiles, the way you cling to me like a spider monkey, your soft little head of hair, your smooth skin and adorable skinny body, your hilarious noises, your gummy grins, and even your pitiful cries.  You will never know how much I love you, baby boy of mine.  But don't think I'll ever tire of trying to show you.  

All my love, 

Momma