Last weekend, I watched very proudly as my brother Jeff married Michelle. I really didn’t think I would cry, but the second the chapel doors opened and she began to walk down the aisle, I turned into a blubbering fool. I didn’t even try to wipe away the tears, I just let them fall onto my bouquet. Maybe the flowers needed watering.
Not only was it a beautiful ceremony, but the whole weekend was fantastic. They got married on St. Simons Island, and Lee and I enjoyed being able to get out of town for a little while. My parents got a condo at the King and Prince resort, and we spent the mornings lounging by the pool, reading a book and decompressing from a very busy work week. During the evenings, our condo became the party spot for many of my parents’ friends, which was highly entertaining. It was great to spend time with my family – including my new sister-in-law.
On the day of their wedding, the weather didn’t look so good. The forecast called for severe storms and possible hail and tornadoes. It began raining about an hour before it was time for photographs, but miraculously, just before the photographer arrived the rain stopped. And it didn’t come back. The weather turned beautiful, and the chapel and grounds around Epworth by the Sea provided a great backdrop for pictures. I snapped a few of my own, but I can’t wait to see the professional ones. They took a bunch by the marshes, where a river twisted through golden grasses, with the banks outlined by live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. Michelle looked beautiful.
The wedding itself was a roller coaster of emotions. When my brother choked up during his vows, I think everyone in the chapel reached for a Kleenex. Then when it was Michelle’s turn, she provided the comic relief. After my dad asked her to repeat the vows, “for better or for worse,” she was nervous and got distracted. She turned to him and said, “For WHAT?” But she said it with such a note of incredulity, it almost sounded as if she wasn’t about to agree to this whole “for better or for worse” business. Honestly, I think it was all perfect, from the tears to the laughter to the chapel bell ringing the news as we all left through the big, wooden front doors.
The reception was a lot of fun too, with tons of great food and music (and I hear the drinks were nice…) We danced and ate, and danced and ate, and then ate and danced some more. And I managed to stay in my bridesmaid’s dress the whole night and not change into something more comfortable. It wasn’t a maternity dress, it was just pretending to be one. A big thanks to all the other bridesmaids for being tiny sticks next to my preggie curves. But that’s okay – I honestly wouldn’t trade my big belly for a second, and they were really nice women so I couldn’t hold it against them. And I was very proud to dance with my handsome husband all evening who said all the right things to make me feel beautiful.
The weekend was over too soon, but I’m excited when I look to the future. I think it’s wonderful that my brother has found someone who makes him so happy, and someone we all love too. Our family is growing a lot this year, and I think that growth will bring lots of fun times ahead.
Hello little one! Are you enjoying the music your daddy is playing? It’s up loud because he’s in the next room painting furniture for your nursery and wouldn’t be able to hear it otherwise. I don’t mind, because I’ll bet you can hear it well and that might be fun for you. I just hope you’re not napping. The singer just cursed – don’t listen to that part.
I think it’s very cool that he’s painting your dresser. It has been in my family for as long as I can remember, and I’m excited we’ll get to use it with you. We’re going to put your changing pad on top of it, and put it in front of the big mirror on the wall in your room. Then when I’m changing your clothes (and other necessary items), you may enjoy entertaining yourself.
I can’t tell you how sorry I am for the bit of a bumpy ride you had a few days ago. I was in the hammock with your soon-to-be playmate Nate when the hammock came unattached and we fell. Poor Nate cried, but he was cradled in my arm so his little head didn’t hit the ground – I think it just scared him. And it terrified me. It upset me so much I still don’t like thinking about it and find it hard to write about.
I checked your heartbeat, and was so relieved to hear it thumping and thumping, but was still scared. I called the doctor, and she told me to lie down, and if I didn’t feel you moving well in 30 minutes, to come to the hospital. I was so worried about you, and frustrated. How was I supposed to be able to tell if you were okay? And I was upset because all I have wanted to do for these past six months is protect you. You gave me a couple of very gentle kicks, but I couldn’t stop worrying about you. So your daddy and I went to the hospital, where they hooked me up to monitors so we could listen to your heartbeat and evaluate your movements for a while.
I loved hearing your heartbeat, and was disappointed when the nurse turned down the volume so I could barely hear it. But soon I understood why. You began kicking and flipping so much, and each movement echoed on the monitor. It was the loudest, most wonderful noise! The nurse walked back into the room and said, “she’s definitely moving now.” Although I couldn’t feel all of the kicks that we could hear, I felt lots of them.
I said, “She wasn’t doing this at home, I swear.”
The nurse smiled knowingly, and said babies are notorious for being more active once the monitors are on. I’m sure she’s seen other freaked out moms and dads in her triage room, and she didn’t make me feel bad for needing reassurance.
After a half hour, she declared that you were just fine, and sent us home. I felt much better, but I can’t say I’ve stopped worrying about you. I guess that’s just what mamas do. But over the past few days, you’ve been kicking and playing, and each tiny jab heals me a little more. So, no more hammocks until you’re born. We’ll enjoy swinging together again soon, I promise.
Meanwhile, I realized today that thoughts of you have nearly completed their takeover of my brain. I was in a meeting at work, and as it ended a co-worker caught me as I was leaving and asked, “Have you started buying stuff?”
“For the baby?” I asked, excitedly, ready to launch into a description of each of your outfits hanging in your armoire.
Then I realized by the blank look on her face that she was referring to door prizes for our staff appreciation day. We are both on the door prize committee, and had just been discussing that in our meeting.
“Oh, you mean door prizes! Sorry!” I tried to recover. We laughed, and I attempted to describe some of the door prizes I had picked up, although it was hard to think clearly. I still had images of your new outfits in my head. But people are just going to have to forgive me.
We’re headed to your Grammy’s house tomorrow to spend Easter weekend – should be fun! I guess I should get out of this room so you can have some quiet and take a nap while I do some laundry. I’m so glad you’re doing well. Keep growing, and remember that lots of people love you – especially your mom and dad.
In my opinion, there are few things as relaxing as a lying in a hammock. Something about the way it cradles your body as you sit suspended a few feet above the ground on a clear day is so… organic. It’s like being at peace with the universe, as long as the mosquitos aren’t biting.
Today, Lee hung my hammock. And after he tested it out to make sure it wasn’t going to fall (we wouldn’t want the pregnant lady to be the guinea pig on the trial run), I climbed in. My loving husband then got me a book and two popsicles (my favorite food of late), and I was in hammock heaven.
This hammock has a long history. It was one of the first things we purchased after we got married nearly 5 years ago, and was one of our first marital disagreements. We did not go to Pier One in search of a hammock, we were just there to browse. But it was on sale! Lee felt it was unreasonable to buy a hammock when we had no where to put it. I thought it was unreasonable to pass up a sale.
The disagreement was brief, and soon the hammock incident became a source of jokes and amusement. We never did find a good spot for it at our old house, so for four years and through the move, it stayed rolled up in the garage. I’m very happy it never succumbed to mold or critters, and today, with the sun brightly shining and the temperature perfect, Lee found a good spot between two trees and the hammock now has a home.
I read in the hammock for almost 2 hours, with no mosquitos in sight, and would have stayed longer if someone could have wheeled a porta-potty up to the edge. But I’m happy to know I can unfurl the hammock anytime I want, whether to curl up wtih a book, our soon-to-be baby, or just nap. Or all three.
I am exhausted, but pleased. Lee and I had quite a busy day, but accomplished several fun things.
When we got up this morning, before the storms blew in, we readied our application to be on HGTV’s The City Gardener. In just over an hour, we managed to take the necessary photographs of our backyard, write up our request, make a video showing our backyard (not required) and create a website to accompany our application (also not required). The show is usually taped in the UK, but is going on the road for a season in America. The show features makeovers of smaller, urban gardens, and ours desperately needs some help. We’ve seen several episodes, and our yard may be too large, but it seemed worth a try. I know the yard has potential, but we’re currently lacking the energy and the funds to tackle the project alone. Especially the funds. Fingers crossed.
Then after a quick lunch, we headed to 2 different stores to begin registering for baby stuff. It was so much fun! Although, by the time we left the second store, I was dragging. All the merchandise started to blur and it was hard to remember if we’d already registered for those pink socks or flannel receiving blankets.
I enjoyed picking out items like the swing and high chair and stroller and imagining putting our little girl in them. However, the decisions were pretty difficult because what do I know about which kind of car seat is best? Should the swing go side-to-side or back and forth? Or both? Do we want to use pacifiers? We thought registering for our wedding was tough, but choosing between the white china and the off-white china was simply a matter of taste. We’d eaten off plates before, so we knew what to expect. But this baby stuff is completely new.
Luckily, for the car seat question, I was able to call Nikki and get some advice. At other moments, parents came to our rescue without even being asked. We were in the baby bottle aisle, and had a good idea of which type we wanted, but even within that brand there were so many options. We must’ve looked lost, standing there with the scanner in our hand, each holding a box of bottles, glassy-eyed and quiet. A mom walking by stopped and said, “That’s a great brand, and I really like this kind…” She proceeded to explain the whys and hows and before we knew it we had zapped some with our scanner and were on our way. The same thing happened in the diaper aisle, and then I grew brave enough to stop parents as they shopped and ask how they liked the carrier their baby was sitting in.
I’m sure in the next few days, we’ll look over our registries and realize we’ve forgotten something, or added 6 of something that we only needed one of, but at least the fun has begun. Now we’ve got to get serious about the nursery so we’ll have somewhere to put all the stuff this little one needs.
Good morning little one! You must be sleepy this morning. Yesterday, you had me worried because you didn’t seem to be wiggling around as much. But you made up for it with your gymnastics before I went to sleep, and your dad says he could feel you bouncing around even after I was sleeping. This morning, you were a regular jumping bean, but now that we’ve had breakfast I guess you’re settling in for a nap.
Over the last week, your daddy and I have had so much fun shopping for you. But a strange thing seems to have happened – something has taken over my brain. Ever since I found out you are a girl, my favorite color is pink and I ADORE ribbons and lace. You have to understand, I’ve never been like this before. I mean, I loved my Cabbage Patch Kids and Barbie dolls as much as the next girl, but I was fairly no-frills.
I always assumed when I had children, the nursery would be decorated with an animal theme. I have long admired the happy giraffes and alligators or puppies and horses on various baby bedding I’ve seen through the years. Well, since our last ultrasound, your daddy and I have visited several baby stores and browsed catalogs online, and new preferences are emerging. It goes something like this:
“This is pretty bedding, I like the giraffes,” I say half-heartedly.
“It’s cute,” he agrees, sort-of.
“Ohhhh, but what about this one??” I ask, wide-eyed and excited. And we run over to another display with a patchwork pattern of cream, light green, and PINK TOILE. And we ohh and awww. I have never been into toile, but suddenly, the serene woodland scenes outlined in delicate pink seem so… sweet. I gasp with delight at another bedding set that features pink silk with cream and brown stripes and lots of ribbons and lace. I can’t get enough of the ribbons and lace.
Who is this person living in my head?
And should I listen to her? For two decades I’ve assumed the nursery would have animals, so could this just be a momentary whim that I will later regret? Or should I embrace this new love for all things pink and girly?
What would you want, little one? The thing is, I know you won’t care as long as it’s soft and warm. I know this nursery business is really for the grown-ups. I can’t help but feel this is an important decision because it sets the tone for your room. But I must remember, the tone isn’t nearly as important as the substance, and that’s you. So no matter what we pick, we’ll love it because you’ll live in it.
I was discussing this with you in the car the other day while I was running an errand. I pulled up to the store, parked, got out of the car and took a few steps when I realized I was still talking to you. I’m sure everyone around thought I was nuts, but I just thought it was funny.
We’ve also had great fun buying clothes for you. We went to visit your Nana and Granddaddy last weekend, and they bought you the most adorable outfit with a matching bib, and Nana just had to get you some precious shoes. She has a thing for shoes, and wanted to be the first to buy you some.
We took this family photo while we were there – see, I can see you (or at least I can see where you are):
We were there for a bridal shower for your Uncle Jeff and soon-to-be Aunt Michelle, and it was great. It had a Mexican theme, and just look at your Granddaddy (I think you’re going to have fun with him!):
We went shopping for you while we were up there, and we both loved picking out clothes for you and imagining you in them. Since we’ve been home, your dad and I always seem to pick up a little something for you when we’re at a store. I’ve hung your clothes in your armoire, and sometimes I’ll open the door and just look at them, hardly able to believe they’re in my house.
Eventually I know you’ll develop your own tastes and styles, but for now, we’re having fun shopping for you – even if my brain has turned into a pink, lacy mush.
Hello again little one! I hope you are resting well after your big day. Although I think it was a lot bigger for me and your dad – all you knew was that someone kept squishing you and poking at you this morning, and then mommy spent the rest of the day in a state of euphoria. Did you hear all the squealing and cheering when we told people we got to see pictures of you and you looked wonderful?
See how cute you are!
I was nervous this morning, but you probably already know that. We had an appointment for an ultrasound, and it has been many weeks since we last saw pictures of you. Since then, I’ve hoped and prayed that you were growing well, but today I knew I would get some evidence.
The ultrasound was wonderful. We saw your heart beating, checked out your cute spine again, saw your mouth moving and everything. Once, when I saw you wiggling on screen, I could feel you too. That was very cool.
Toward the end of the ultrasound, the sonographer asked us if we wanted to know if you were a boy or a girl. We did, and every time she’d try to look you’d squirm and kick. But finally, she got a couple of good pictures and told us you are a girl! I couldn’t stop squeezing your daddy’s hand, I was so excited. We would be excited either way, but now I finally get to picture you as our little daughter. I’ve thought about you all day, wondering what you’ll be like. Outside the doctor’s office is a daycare, and the kids were out on the playground as we left. A little girl was swinging, with her pigtails flying behind her, and I smiled while I thought about you. Most of all, I’m so excited that you seem healthy and happy in there – that makes me happy out here.
Your little kicks and punches are getting more frequent now, and your daddy has even felt them too! The first time, it was very subtle. But a couple of nights ago, you were doing your gymnastics while I was reading in bed, and I put your daddy’s hand on my stomach. You were quiet for a few seconds, then gave him a nice thump. You should have seen how big his eyes got! It was so cute!
You are loved very much, little girl.
The moment I walked outside this morning, I could tell this was no normal day. For one, it’s a weekday morning, but the school across the street was quiet. There was zero traffic on our street, and almost none on the surrounding, usually busier roads.
As I took my usual commute to work, there were other subtle signs. At the bus stop, a man waited for his ride wearing a green t-shirt and about a dozen green and purple beads. At another intersection, an older car creeped up to the red light beside me, with four elderly people inside. They seemed quiet and stony-faced, yet they sported bright, plastic green hats on their heads.
Savannah was waking up and get ready for the big day. Last year, Mother Nature cursed the parade with freezing, gray, dismal weather. I remember working the parade route in my heaviest jacket, a scarf, gloves and a hat, and still being chilled to the bone. But today the temperature is hovering in the upper 70s and there isn’t a cloud to be seen.
At the office, I met up with coworkers to grab a shuttle to Riverstreet. The reason there were no people on the roads on the way to work is because they were already downtown, staking out a good spot for the parade.
I spent most of the day on Riverstreet and didn’t see a whole lot of the parade, but there was still good people-watching to do. I just love Savannah around St. Patrick’s Day. There is a general electricity in the air, and it makes everyone friendlier and more cheerful. I had a meeting yesterday, and St. Patrick’s Day pins and hats were up for grabs. I got a pin for myself, one for Lee, and one for the baby.
The poor child isn’t even born yet, and I’m already dressing him/her up for the festivities.
Last night, I washed my only green maternity shirt so I’d be ready for today, and of course baby wore his/her pin again. I didn’t plan to stay downtown after the parade though, because I don’t want to be “that lady” on Riverstreet, all pregnant and dodging the spilled beer and stumbling girls. Like the one I saw this morning – obviously pregnant, but sporting her beads with plastic marijuana leaves. Classy.
About the time I was ready to leave downtown after my work was done, I also really had to pee. I wanted to find a bathroom before I took the shuttle back across town to my car, but the lines for the porta-potties were so long, I seriously could have cried. In a panic, I called Lee who was working at home and he came and rescued me. God bless him.
So far, it has been a good St. Patrick’s Day (except for the part where I almost broke the public urination laws), and now it’s time for me, my husband, and my leprechaun to go see a movie and spend some quality time together.
Today is a big day, little one! We made it to the halfway mark of this pregnancy. When I woke up this morning, that was one of my first thoughts, and I sent your dad a text message wishing him a “Happy 20 week Day,” even though I knew he was still sleeping. He’s been in Austin for several days, and comes back home tonight. I’m very excited to see him, and I know he’s excited to see both of us too.
Part of me can’t believe we’ve come so far. Another part of me can’t believe we’re only halfway there. But all of me is happy to reach this milestone.
Everyone is asking me if I’ve felt you moving, and I have finally been answering yes. But it hasn’t happened like I thought it would, and I’m sorry that I can’t tell you for sure when I first felt you. In my imagination, it was going to happen like this:
I’m sitting quietly at work or at home, when suddenly, I feel a hard kick in the abdomen that until that moment had been quiet and still. I’d gasp, sit up, grab my stomach, shed a tear, and call your dad. Then I run and tell everyone else.
But instead, over the last several weeks, I’ve felt little things. Like little bubbles. Like little taps – very light, very subtle. For a long time I’ve hoped those taps were coming from you, but I just wasn’t sure. But they’ve been happening more frequently and a little stronger, so that must be you saying hello, right?
Don’t worry, I’m not disappointed. I’m still waiting for a nice, strong wallop that couldn’t possibly be anything else, but I wouldn’t trade all these little signals for a minute. Everyone keeps telling me to be patient, that soon you’ll be so active I’ll sometimes wish you’d settle down – but every tap, every bubble is a good sign, so I can’t help but be impatient for the next time you do your dance.
Your Nana came to visit over the weekend, and she got to listen to your heartbeat. When she left, the house seemed a little too quiet, so I listened to you again and felt better. I’m so lucky to get to have you with me all the time.
I need to get ready to get your daddy from the airport. I’m sure you’ve missed his voice too. Sleep tight, he’ll be here soon, and we’ll all snuggle down for the night.
The calendar wishes to maintain that spring doesn’t arrive for a week and a half. But 3 clues tell me otherwise.
1. The azaleas are really beginning to bloom. Lee took the above photo at dusk in our backyard a few days ago as the first blossoms opened.
2. The water in the Forsyth Park fountain is green.
3. I have a sunburn.
The weather has been incredible this weekend. 80 degrees with a cool breeze and a ton of sunshine. More neighbors than usual are walking dogs, pushing strollers, or riding their bikes along my street. Forsyth Park is packed with people playing sports, taking pictures, sunbathing and sightseeing. It seemed like just a few days ago, the first azalea blooms opened, and now the entire town is erupting in pink. The flowers haven’t peaked yet, but they’re obviously enjoying the sunshine too.
My mom came to visit this weekend while Lee’s away at a conference. It was so good to see her. She likes the outdoors as much as I do, and we took advantage of the two beautiful days. Saturday, we headed out to Tybee, where I had to relearn a lesson I forget every year. Just because it is not yet hot does not mean you will not get a sunburn.
I put some sunscreen on my face when we first arrived, but didn’t reapply during the four hours we sat on the beach talking and being generally lazy. About the time mom walked over to North Beach Grill to buy us 2 pina coladas (one without alcohol of course), I began to wonder if my feet were burning, but dismissed the thought.
Today, I have the strangest markings on my face, arms, and legs. The sun was directly to my right, so any skin on the right side of my body that was not covered by my shorts and T-shirt is burned. I have a red stripe down my nose, a farmer’s tan with half of a red neck, and 2 very red feet. And I have no one to blame but myself. However, while I wish I had applied more sunscreen, I wouldn’t trade the beach time with mom.
Today, we walked around Forsyth Park and through a couple of squares. We spent some time staring at the fountain, which was as green as the lush park grass. On the one hand, it looks kind of gross as the green water washes over the stark white statuary in the fountain. But at the same time, I know it’s a sign of spring, the coming St. Patrick’s Day festival, and in my opinion, some of Savannah’s finest moments. I know the sweltering weather isn’t far behind, but spring in Savannah is glorious. And this weekend, it seemed she was wiping the winter from her eyes and getting dressed in her finest clothes.
Now I’m looking forward to Lee’s return so we can enjoy this together.
Today is Lee’s birthday – it’s only one day, but this year it’s one of a four-day-long celebration. He deserves it.
The festivities began Friday when his mom came to town and we had dinner at Firefly, one of our favorite downtown restaurants. Saturday morning, Dave and Erin arrived from Miami, and it was so good to see them. That night, we all went to Tango (a birthday tradition) on Tybee Island, where a dozen of Lee’s friends were waiting to surprise him, including some friends from Atlanta we hadn’t seen in a while. I think he was genuinly surprised, which is a miracle because I nearly let the secret slip about 42 trillion times over the last couple of months. I was so glad his friends and family could be there. They even brought presents: toys. He may be 30, but he still likes to play, and I love that.
After dinner, we returned to the house for cocktails, and another surprise. Lee’s best friend Trent flew in from Cincinnati. It was great to see him, and I know it meant a lot to Lee.
Sunday, we were sad to see Erin and Dave and Alva leave, but we kept the birthday weekend celebrations going with ice cream at Leopold’s and a drive through Bonaventure. The azaleas there aren’t blooming yet, but I saw the occasional peek of pink. It won’t be long.
Trent left early this morning, and unfortunately for Lee, the day went downhill after that. It seems a bug was circulating this weekend, and he picked it up. I feel so sorry for him, being sick on his birthday. We always make a big deal about birthdays and pamper each other, but instead of a fancy dinner, he had 4 swallows of chicken soup.
But even though he’s having a rough day, it doesn’t keep me from reflecting on how glad I am that he was born, and that he’s sharing his life with me. It’s his special day, but I feel like the one who got a gift.
