97 Candles

The primary reason for our trip to Dallas was a monumental family celebration.  Jonathan's great aunts, 

Claudine and Francille, are turning 97 and 95 respectively.  That, my friends, calls for a party!  

Francille Riggins Seymour and Claudine Riggins Morgan

These two ladies are phenomenal.  They both still live independently and drive themselves to their various church and civic activities (Claudine just renewed her driver's license for another five years!).  They are sharp as tacks; Francille tell you our entire family history from memory and Claudine can tell you all about her readings on stem cell research.  Even though I am not related by blood, I am praying that I have somehow married into these genes!  

Francille and Claudine are MamaDot's (Jonathan's grandmother) sisters.  You may remember that we named Riggins after her.  As you can imagine, these ladies are awfully proud to have their maiden name carried on, and I know MamaDot would be too.  

But on to the party!  We celebrated with a luncheon at the Dallas Doubletree Hotel.  Riggins was able to meet many family members for the first time.  Of course, there was bound to be a fuss over the newest member of the family.  But when that new family member's name is Riggins and it is a Riggins family reunion, you've got a little celebrity on your hands!  I was truly able to enjoy the party because Riggs was getting passed around the entire time.  

Chatting with Aunt Francille.  Meeting Uncle Drew for the first time.  

Many of the Riggins grandchildren

Riggs and Rig, the only other first name Riggins in the family.  

Our little family.

I think I like birthday parties!  

Riggins was such a trooper.  I was sweating it because his entire routine had been thrown to the wind.  Other than a few good squawks during the prayer, he was an angel!  Towards the end of the party, all the fun caught up to him.  No tears or fighting it...when he got into cousin Mary Anne's arms, he just couldn't keep his eyes open any more!  

 Going....going......

Gone.  

He perked up in time for the "after party" at Claudine's house, and even got in some quality time with the birthday girl herself!  

I am so thankful to have married in to an amazing family with such a rich heritage!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

We just returned from a long, lovely visit to Texas.  My bottom is still a bit numb from sitting in the car all day, and my eyelids are getting heavy from staring at the highway from hours on end.  Worst of all, my heart is feeling a bit of withdrawal from so much quality time with dearly loved and greatly missed family and friends.

I will share pictures and stories soon, but I have to leave you with a favorite part of my weekend.  My dear friend Meredith was not only kind enough to let us crash at her house for two nights, she also offered to practice her photography skillz (that "z" is just for you, Merdi) on Riggins.  Meredith took our family photos last November, and the girl just continues to blow me away with how quickly she has refined her talent for photography.  No surprise, since she is one of the smartest girls I know!

She has posted some of the pictures on her blog, so if you're in the mood for some cuteness, hop on over and check out my almost (gulp!) eleven month old!

http://mrandmrshaynes.blogspot.com/2011/03/rtp.html

Consumer Report: The Moby Wrap

After hearing me gush about the Moby wrap on Facebook and the ole blog, my friend Erin asked me to elaborate on the pros and cons for this baby carrier.  This was my most essential, beloved item of baby gear in the first eight months or so.  I think I will find it even more essential with the next baby since I would imagine you really need your hands free at that point!  That said, I have found that baby carriers are a very individual preference.  People love what they love, and I think it all depends on your activities, body type, and priorities.  For me, the Moby wrap was the perfect combo of comfort and function.  

PRO: I found the Moby to be very comfortable.  It is basically a super long band of stretchy cotton.  When wrapped, it forms wide bands on your shoulders that don't cut in, and nice tight support around the waist.  Personally, the Baby Bjorn killed my back.  Its absence of lower back support put added pressure on my shoulders, making it really difficult to wear for anything but quick trips.  (Jonathan, however, used the Bjorn a ton because...let's face it...a dude wrapping himself in a massive piece of fabric just doesn't do much for the manhood).  I've heard great things about the Ergo carrier, so for the next baby we might get one of those too.  I like having a wrap/sling option and a backpack option.  

PRO: My little kangaroo loved it.  During those early months where just about every newborn experiences daily bouts of fussiness/crying/screaming, the Moby wrap saved my sanity.  I could put my little joey in the pouch and he would be completely content, often falling right to sleep.  Who wouldn't love being snug as a bug right up against your mama's chest?  I once even chased my runaway dog around the neighborhood while carrying a three-week old Riggins in the Moby and he could have cared less!  Riggins made it happily through many a trip through the grocery store, just content to ride along (he never cared for riding around in his infant carrier).  And with the Moby he can ride facing out or in, so as he got older he enjoyed looking out too.    

PRO: Ease of use.  The Moby can be worn several ways, and each way begins with the same basic wrap around your body.  Once you master that, it is a breeze to wear.  I would wrap myself before leaving the house, and then once we arrived at our destination I would just slip him in and go.  When it's time to get back in the car, just lift baby out...you're still wrapped up and ready to pop them back in when you get to your next destination.  I loved this when running multiple errands in a row.  

CON: Ease of use.  As I mentioned above, the Moby is just one long piece of fabric.  It can be a bit intimidating to pull it out of the pouch and figure out how to use it.  Initially, it helps to have a buddy to help you manage until you get comfortable.  It also takes a bit of practice to figure out how to get it to fit you most comfortably.  For me, the key was to pull everything really tight, and I liked to wrap the tails around my waist twice for extra support in the lower back.  Once you master the wrap, it really is easy to use.  Promise!  (See?  Would I have flown by myself with a baby and only a Moby wrap...no stroller...if this thing weren't awesome?)  

CON: Weight limit.  The main reason I haven't used the Moby as much over the past few months is that Riggins became able to ride in the shopping cart and he LOVES that.  But, even though the Moby can be used up to 30 pounds or something like that, the bigger Riggs grew, the more I found myself adjusting the Moby.  At the end of the day, it is cotton, and cotton stretches.  So it just didn't feel quite as supportive or comfortable when I felt like my kid was dangling close to my knees at the end of a Target run!  (I'm exaggerating, but you get what I mean, right?).  Even though I am not using it as often, I still feel like I totally got my money's worth (or technically, the money of the lovely friend who gave it to me!)  

CON: Temperature.  This didn't bother me, which is saying a lot considering that I had a baby in April before a HOT Memphis summer.  But I know some people are reluctant to wrap themselves in another layer of fabric when the postpartum hormones already have them sweating.  I found the fabric to be very breathable, and if I knew I would be wearing it I just wore something a bit lighter up top...a tank top, sun dress, etc.  

I would recommend finding a buddy who has any carrier you are thinking about purchasing and taking it for a test run!  But everyone I know who has a Moby has really enjoyed it (if you disagree, feel free to leave specific reasons why in the comment section...a true consumer report!).  

Beyond all of the form and function, my favorite thing about the Moby is the sweet times of bonding it created between my boy and me.  There is nothing like kissing a sweet head of peach fuzz, feeling warm baby breath against your chest, or seeing that little head tilt back to look you full in the face.  

And now I might just have to go wake that critter up to sniff his head one more time... :)    

  

I Love My Boys.

I took this photo this afternoon and I can't stop staring at it.  

Those smiles.

That hat.

Those feet.

Those biceps.  

They are all mine.  

I am blessed.

Goodnight.  

He Killed the Beast!

Y'all...he's DONE!  Boards are OVER!

Hip Hip HOORAY!!!

Thank you for your prayers and well wishes.  Jonathan was so peaceful and calm the day before and the morning of the exam.  He even took the day before the exam to just relax and enjoy some family time, giving his brain a break before the big marathon.  He feels as though he did his absolute best and could not have done anything different to prepare, although I don't think anyone walks out of a 500 question exam saying, "I nailed it!"

But now, our family celebration banner is hanging on the mantle, our victory dance has been performed, and we are relaxing in the knowledge that he is finished with studying (until finals week, which really won't be that bad!).  We even just returned from a lovely date thanks to my in-laws who are in town.  Nothing like a spring evening on the patio of Central BBQ with a Shiner Bock to celebrate, relax, and reconnect with my man!

So...what's next?  He will take finals in May and then begin his fourth and final year of optometry school.  Fourth year is made up of three externships, where he will be basically working as an optometrist without getting paid.  He will be at a private practice in Mississippi this summer, at the VA Hospital next fall, and back at the optometry school clinic in the spring.  He will also take Part II of boards in November (a case study application-based exam), and Part III of boards in January (a clinical exam where he flies to Charlotte and actually sees a patient while being video taped and scored).  Then, in May 2012, he graduates!

The end is in sight, folks!

D-Day

Tomorrow is a big day in our house.  A day that we have been expecting for over two and a half years, and really preparing for over the past four months.  I find myself chanting "Kill the Beast" from Beauty and the Beast, and I might just march out the door behind Jonathan tomorrow morning carrying a torch.

Tomorrow, my husband sits for part one of the optometry board exam.  Two days.  Sixteen hours.  Five hundred questions.  Three years worth of material.  One heck of a test, people.

I get nauseated just thinking about it.

He has been incredibly disciplined and focused in his preparation, and I can't tell you how impressed I have been to watch him attack this monster of an exam.  He always says his strength is not necessarily in the smarts but in the strategy.  I think he's got both covered pretty well.  Most importantly, although this exam preparation has definitely been intense, he has such a great sense of balance and perspective which keeps him from making all of our lives miserable just because he's got a monster on the horizon.  I love that about him, and have been so thankful for that quality over the past few years.

But on Wednesday, or V-day as it is named on our calendar, he gets his life back.  And I get my husband back!  I keep reminding myself that he definitely has the short end of the stick in this situation, but it sure isn't fun to be the spouse of the student either.  Let's just say that I was not cut out to be a single mother!

One woman show aside, it is also difficult to watch the person you love carry the load of so much stress and pressure without being able to do much in return.  Remembering my own time in graduate school has been an asset, reminding me that a stocked kitchen, clean house, and cheerful, encouraging spouse can work wonders during a season of stress.  (For example, I may or may not have single-handedly polished off an entire 9x13 pan of brownies in the 24 hours before my case study thesis defense...but that's another post).

Needless to say, we will both be thankful to see this season pass.  So if you think of it, please pray for us.  Pray that Riggins will sleep well over the next two nights so that Jonathan can get good rest.  Pray that Jonathan will have a sense of peace and confidence as he takes the exam.  Pray that he would have quick recall of the information he has been so disciplined to study.  Pray that he would have a sense of peace as he leaves the exam so that he can leave it all at the door and be done with it!  And pray that I've still got the flexibility to bust out all my best cheerleading moves when he gets home!

Sweatpants, and Other Nicknames

As I cleaned the kitchen one afternoon last week, I happened to notice a little message left on our white board...

And you're probably thinking...sweatpants???  While my perpetually casual husband does enjoy a cozy pair of sweatpants, he was not including his favorite loungewear into his proclamation of love for wife and child.  No, "sweatpants" in this particular instance refers to our beloved canine, Weber. 

Apparently, I have a bad habit.  A bad habit of spontaneously spouting off random nicknames for the loved ones in my life.  It began when Weber entered our lives.  Overwhelmed by affection for the cuddly pup, I just couldn't help but get all mushy over her.  I sweet talked that dog like the cheesiest Valentine in the Hallmark store.  A few nicknames really stuck: Puppa, Pookah, Weber Sue, Puppa Dinka.  I know.  It's ridiculous.  I can't help myself.

I reached my lowest point one day when I said, "Come here, you sweet little bucket!"  In my twisted puppy love mind, bucket was short for "Bucket of Love" or "Bucket of Cuteness" or something equally ridiculous.  But Jonathan had had enough. 

"Did you just call her Bucket?"  

"Of course I did!"  I replied defensively, making a futile attempt to explain my logic.

"Les, you've gotten out of hand.  From now on, I'm just going to start nicknaming Weber after random household objects so that you can see that you sound like a nutcase!"  

At that, he turned to our little pointer, and called, "Oh Sweatpants!  Here, little Sweatpants!"

And it stuck.  We don't call her that often, but every once in awhile one of us busts out an "I love you, Sweatpants!" or "Cute little Sweatpants!"  in front of the other.  And we both get a good laugh.  And Weber gets a good snuggle.  It's a win win.  One of those lasting family inside jokes that occasionally pops up on your marker board one afternoon and gives you a good chuckle.  

And, in my defense, Sweatpants is a pretty fitting nickname.  She is soft, snuggly, cozy, relaxing, rest-inducing, and one of our favorite things.  Sweatpants, indeed.