Really Random

Ok, so I still need to blog about Sheri's wedding and our beach trip, but I just had a random thought for a blog post, so here it is.

If I could only have 10 (oops, 11) foods for the rest of my life, here's what I'd choose...
1. Edy's Apple Pie ice cream
2. really fresh, good cucumbers
3. Bella's and/or Papa John's cheese sticks
4. Hershey's dark chocolate
5. bananas
6. Alejandro's seafood quesadilla
7. wonton soup
8. Pal's Frenchie Fries
9. oreo truffle balls
10. some really good mac & cheese
11. my grandma's sausage gravy & biscuits

Oh yeah, I forgot mention that calories and my health aren't factors. Ha!

What would your list look like?

5 Months Old!

Dear Brenna,

I'm sitting here writing this note to you while you jump and play in your jumperoo. You've become a big fan of it and you are just jabbering away. I could sit here and listen to your "talking" all day long. It's my most favorite sound in the world! Daddy and I are starting to wonder what your voice will sound like when you start really talking, and I can already tell it might be a little high-pitched and so cute!

You're growing up so fast and we're trying to soak it up as much as we can. You've come a long way since your 4 month mark. You can sit up now without any help for longer periods of time. You love to play with your toys - balls, stuffed animals, and anything else you can find - while you are sitting up. You're also still rolling over from your back to your belly all the time - and are even starting to try really hard to scoot and crawl. I think you'll be crawling before much longer because you are so determined and so strong! Daddy and I aren't ready for that yet - it means you're becoming a big girl AND we'll have to be even more on our toes than we already are. Shew!

You're still a champion sleeper - usually about 10 hours at night and 2-3 naps. Sometimes your naps get really short, but you always get back on track after a few days. You are still nursing 5 times a day (when you wake up, about 11:30, about 3:00, about 6:00, and about 9:00) and haven't had any solid food yet. We'll wait until your 6 month mark and evaluate things from there. Nursing you makes me feel so great because I can provide all your needs without relying on anything or anyone else. How cool is that?

You are still growing! Since you don't have a doctor's appointment this month, I'm not sure of your exact stats, but I'd guess you are maybe about 14 1/2 pounds. You're still wearing your 0-3 month clothes and I think you'll be wearing them for a little bit longer, especially the dresses. I guess you're just a little petite thing, but I'm okay with that since you are continuing to grow and develop right on (or even ahead of) schedule! You're size small diapers still fit and you wear size 1 diapers when we have to resort to disposables. You got to wear your first two bathing suits this month at the beach, and I've never seen you look cuter!

Speaking of the beach, we just got back from your first beach vacation. We went with London and his parents, and we had a great time. You liked the ocean and sand okay. You really seemed to like the pool when you were in your float. I bet you'll be a water baby - which is okay by us! I can't wait to see how much you love vacations as you get older. I hope you do, because Daddy and I love to travel.

You also got to go to 2 more weddings this month. One of Daddy's best friends, Chuck, got married and Daddy was an usher. One of Mommy's best friends, Sheri, got married and Mommy was a bridesmaid. You were excellent at Sheri's wedding. You were not so excellent at Chuck's, but you behaved at the reception at least. One more wedding to go to - this Saturday - in Richmond. You always try to steal the show from the brides! :)

Your little personality is developing and we are enjoying every second of it. You've reached for us a couple of times and you just giggle when we play peekaboo with you. It's hard to believe it's only been 5 months - because we can't really remember life without you. But, on the other hand, time is flying. But, it really needs to slow down because you and I only have 2 1/2 weeks left together until I go back to work. I dread it so bad and I usually cry when I think or talk about it. I know Kate will take good care of you. But, I want you to always remember that I love you more than anything and I would rather be with you than anywhere else in the world. Hopefully one day we won't have to deal with the times I have to go back to work. Until then, I know we'll survive, even though it won't be fun.

I'm so proud to be your Mommy. Everyone always comments on how good, sweet, gorgeous, and sweet you are. The first thing I usually hear is how pretty your eyes are. I agree, of course, and not just because your mine. I think you're amazing and I couldn't ask for more. I never imagined I could love anyone this much - until you.

I love you, my sweet little Sprout.

Love,

Mommy

Mama Susan

*This is my 100th post! So exciting!*

Tomorrow my baby will be 5 months old! There will be the usual "monthly" post tomorrow so you can all keep up with how she's growing and changing. But tomorrow is also a really sad day for me. Tomorrow will mark one year since my beloved co-worker, mentor, and friend, Susan Kirkpatrick, lost her battle with cancer. I wanted to take a chance, mainly for my own good, to reflect on what she meant to me and how much I miss her.

Susan taught third grade with me since I first started at Macy. She was the resident math teacher, and when our schedules changed and we needed one more person to teach math, I got the pleasure (ha!) of taking over math for half of third grade. Susan was always willing to help me out and give me her copies (usually multiple times - I have a tendency to lose things!) and explain the best way to do things. But the coolest thing was, she learned from me, too. She had taught for WAY more years than I had (and trust me, we never let her forget that!) but she still valued my opinions and strategies. Sheri, Lisa, and I taught her a lot about technology. I can still hear her yelling for Sheri to come help her with her computer, or see the IMs she used to send me to come fix her DVD drive or her SMART board. We loved to tease her about it, but in reality it was amazing how hard she worked at getting "up-to-date" on things that most people her age would just ignore. That's what made her such a good teacher - she was always learning and never became complacent.

Susan was also a great friend. She was always willing to listen when something wasn't right, and she was always so excited for any of us when we had great news to share. I'll never forget the morning after Jonathan proposed to me. She was standing in a chair in the hallway (she couldn't even reach the cork strip in the hall - such a shortie!) hanging papers. I didn't say anything. I just walked up to her and put my hand up for her to see. She was screaming and almost fell off the chair. She was so excited for us and it was fun to share the joy of wedding planning with her. This was the same school year that she was diagnosed with breast cancer - and that summer she went out west with her husband to prove that she could do anything she set her mind to. Thus, she missed our wedding. But it was so fun to share pictures of the wedding with her afterward.

Speaking of pictures. Last summer Susan told me that her cancer had come back in her liver. The doctors told her that she had a maximum of 6 months to live. But she never told us that. She just kept fighting - even going in to her classroom to set it up less than a week before she died. The last time I saw Susan (besides the night before she died) I got to show her the pictures of Brenna (Baby Sprout at the time) and share our joy with her. She had been there through our miscarriage, and she was so excited that we were pregnant again with a healthy baby. Little did I know that she would never get to meet Brenna on this side of heaven. I've never been so thankful for ultrasound pictures in my life. While we were at the beach last summer, Susan got very sick very fast. I spoke to her on Thursday, July 30 after she had worked in her classroom. She told me she was really tired and having a bad day and that she would call me back the next day. She never had the chance. By the end of that weekend she was in the hospital. All my work friends and I had planned to go see her in the hospital on Tuesday, but Sheri's cousin Patti (who worked at the hospital) saw her and told Sheri we probably should come on Monday if we wanted to see her. So we all met there and had a great cry in the parking lot before putting on our strong faces and facing our "Mama Susan" for the last time. I am convinced she knew who we were and that we were there, but she couldn't carry on much of a conversation. The only thing that really evoked a comment was when April A. told her she was engaged. She got all excited, smiled, and said something about being happy. The only other thing I remember her saying is "this is terrible" referring to her pain and being in the hospital. I knew then that her fight was almost over. I told her I loved her before we left and I knew that would be the last time I'd see her.

She died early Tuesday morning, August 4. I couldn't sleep most of the night, but finally fell asleep about 5:00 AM. Gail called about 8 and I knew what she was going to say. I had to pass the news on to Sheri and Lisa and then I called Jonathan. Even then I missed her but knew that her pain and her fight was finally over. And that's still how I feel today. I miss her so much. I want to be able to see her hold Brenna, and to have her to help me teach math instead of her binders she organized and left for me, and to team up with me against Sheri in the fight to be self-contained (just kidding, Sheri - KINDA!). I miss how she called Norma "Normer" - and I think about her every time I hear a New York accent. I loved making fun of the local Giles County people with her - especially how they call the tanning bed the "tanner". I wish she could have celebrated Sheri and Lisa's engagements. I missed her at Sheri's wedding last weekend and we'll miss her this Saturday at Lisa's wedding. But I'm glad she isn't defined by her cancer anymore. I'm glad we can remember the good times. And I'm glad that I got to learn from such a great teacher. I know that as school starts again and I walk into HER classroom every morning (yep, it'll always be hers, I just live there now) it will be hard all over again. And it will get easier. That's hard sometimes - it doesn't seem like it should get easier without her. But that's how life is. So I'll tell stories and remember the good times and never let her memory die. She'll always be our "Mama Susan".

Halloween 2007

Halloween 2008

*Apparently we only took pictures together on Halloween. Maybe I have more at school and I know I have a few more that Jared took during school functions that are hanging up at school.*

Peyton

I'm at the beach, so an update will have to wait. I have an urgent prayer request for you all though. One of my students from this past year, Peyton, was in a bad car wreck Monday night. According to her uncle's girlfriend, who was our family preservation counselor this year, they weren't sure she was going to make it Monday night. But she did. She has a broken back in 3 places and is in ICU in Roanoke. Her mom has a broken ankle/foot, broken ribs, and some other serious injuries. Please pray for Peyton as she in much pain, but thank God isn't paralyzed and has even started walking a little bit. She should be leaving ICU in the next day or two is what I understand. Please pray for her mom, Amy, and her dad, Scott. I just found out yesterday, and honestly, I'm glad I didn't know on Monday night when it was so much more grim looking. I'm thankful she is already making progress and is stable.

Thirty-One

Proverbs 31:10-31 (New International Version)

10 [a] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.

16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Ok, so I don't technically select wool and flax. And I bring my food from Kroger, which isn't really "afar". But, I do strive to be this kind of wife and mother. I fail miserably most of the time, but it's definitely my goal.

I recently became a consultant for Thirty-one Gifts which is a company that sells bags, purses, and other fun things. It's actually founded on the concept of the virtuous woman that Proverbs 31 talks about. Jonathan and I realized that my student loans were the big thing holding us (me) back from being able to possibly live on one income and for me to stay home with Brenna. So, I'm hoping to be able to make a little extra money by selling these bags. Thus my lack of blogging. I've had my first three (and only potential, so far) parties this week - Sunday night, Monday night, and Wednesday night. It's going well so far, and I hope this will be a great thing for my family.

So there's my excuse for not blogging lately. But, I'll have a new excuse this upcoming week - tomorrow starts Sheri's wedding weekend and all the festivities and then Sunday we leave for the beach! Enjoy the last week of July! :)

Mom-Suit

So it's no secret that my body is DEFINITELY not back to where it was when I got pregnant with Brenna. In fact, it's really no secret that my body wasn't where it was on my wedding day on the day I got pregnant with Brenna. Simply put, I was about 10 pounds heavier than I would have liked when I got pregnant. Then add 40 pounds. I'm honestly not sure how the 40 pounds happened. I honestly didn't eat much different when I was pregnant than I do when I'm not pregnant. I would say I'm more healthy than most people but less healthy than some for sure. I buy low fat/reduced sodium/low calorie foods, but I don't refuse to eat much. I'll have ice cream often, but it's always 50% reduced fat. I'll have chocolate, but I try to opt for the lowest calorie/fat combo. I pretty much refuse doughnuts, milkshakes, and butter except on special occasions. All of this to say, I still gained 40 pounds, but if I had done the pregnancy overeating - it would have probably been much worse. I admit I didn't exercise like I should have during my pregnancy. I started out strong but then I started feeling some cramps when I would workout, and it freaked me out. Miscarriages, I think, make you worry about things so much more. So there's my excuse for that.

Anyhow, is Brenna worth it? Oh, without a doubt. But, I'm still not super thrilled with the way I look. I had lost about 20+ pounds by the time she was 2 weeks old. But then it pretty much halted. I wasn't really working out, besides the occasional walk, but I was nursing. That's supposed to melt the pounds off, right? Well, not so much. In my world of friends who lost all their baby weight plus some just from nursing, I was/am the exception. So, I realized I needed to get in gear. I joined the gym that has a daycar and Brenna and I have been going almost religiously during the week - and then I try to head out during the weekends, too. I'm down about 7 pounds. As of this morning I still have 14 pounds to go to get back to my weight at the very beginning of my pregnancy. I have hopes of knocking much of this off this summer. The tricky thing is that I'm still nursing exclusively, so my main concern is making sure Brenna is getting all she needs. If I start feeling like she isn't getting her "fair share" then the 14 pounds can stay. I'm hoping for a healthy baby AND a healthy mama.

So, back to the blog title. I bought a one piece bathing suit. That isn't THAT big of a deal for me, since I wore one piece bathing suits until I was out of college. (Reminder - I was 31 pounds heavier when I graduated high school than I am now postpartum. I lost 70 pounds during college.) I was really hoping to be back in my normal bathing suits by our beach trip, but seeing how that is 8 days away..... it isn't happening. So I sucked up my pride and ordered two mom suits. I tried to go as trendy and cute as possible without breaking the bank. I WILL enjoy the beach and not worry about my body the whole time. It won't be easy, but that's my goal. There's always next summer, right? So without further adeu (how do you spell that?)....I present you the mom suits.

*You didn't really think I'd post pictures of MYSELF in them, did you?

*And yes, they have straps. No need to worry about, ahem, gravity.

*And yes, they are the same suit in different colors. That's how I roll.

I Am Thankful

I don't really have a lot to say. I've had a few blogposts composed in my head, but I can't remember any of them right now. We've just been enjoying daily life - gym/nursery, naps, eating, playing, and the occasional errand and/or playdate. Life is good - and I dread August 23 more and more each day.

I've been thinking this week about how thankful I am at the point we are in our lives right now. So, in true Erin fashion, here's a list!
*I'm thankful for a healthy baby.
*I'm thankful for a fun, smiley baby.
*I'm thankful for summers off with her.
*I'm thankful that Maggie tolerates Brenna so well.
*I'm thankful we have a nice home (even though we hope to move soon!) that reflects who we are and what we love.
*I'm thankful we don't have to worry about little expenses - such as air conditioning, groceries, car repairs, etc.
*I'm thankful that my diaper obsession has subsided a bit - and I know Jonathan is, too!
*I'm thankful that Brenna sleeps so well at night (10-11 hours) and USUALLY takes pretty decent naps. I'm especially thankful for the 3 hour one yesterday.
*I'm thankful for a gym that I can go to and leave Brenna in the nursery and not worry about her.
*I'm thankful for friends who adore Brenna.
*I'm thankful for family who adore Brenna even more!

That's only about 3% of what I'm thankful for, but I hear a baby about to wake up, so this post is officially over. Oh, and I just remembered one of those posts in my head, so this may even be a double update today! :)