Butterbean's Blog

The Snowy Day

2011-01-11T20:03:00.008-05:00

On Sunday night, I read Butterbean the beloved book, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. By the next morning the ground in East Atlanta was covered with four beautiful inches of snow.

We made snowy memories.
Drank hot chocolate. Snuggled on the couch. Played outside.
And marked every single thing off of Annika's Snowy Day agenda.

Played with neighbors.

Built a snow-woman.

Left funny footprints in the snow.

Sledded down a hill on a cookie sheet.

Drew snowy pictures with our new window crayons.

And mixed up some snow cream.

We just heard on the news that 49 out of the 50 states in America have snow on the ground
right now.

What are you waiting for?

Mary D(ee)

2010-12-31T08:18:00.006-05:00

Mary and Hoyt-young and in love

I was Mary's favorite granddaughter. And before you go replacing "favorite" with "only", just know that it doesn't matter to me.
When you visualize the word grandmother, you more than likely picture an old woman with white hair, a low bun, reading glasses, sensible shoes, and matronly clothes.
That was not Mimi.

Mimi at our wedding

Now I'm sure that her siblings could tell you lots of stories about her antics as a child. My mom and her brother and sister could entertain you with stories of her parenting style.

I only knew her as Mimi.

Independent, witty, stylish, opinionated, graceful, loving, intelligent, and thoughtful.

Mary was only 43 years old when she rushed to the hospital to welcome her first grandchild. I will be that same age in just over five short years, and my only child will merely be eight years old, so I can hardly imagine grandmotherhood.

At that point in her life, she decided to be called Mimi by her future grandchildren. After all, it could easily be mistaken for a name when we were out together. I don't blame her, especially since we've already established that she didn't fit the "grandmother" type cast.
The title, Mimi, fit her perfectly.

Mimi was someone that I always relished spending time with.

As kids, we could play with objects that she had collected from all over the world. Explore her backyard and house. Swim in the hot tub and eat all of the hot dogs we wanted afterward.

She sent postcards from far-away places and brought back cool souvenirs.

She was the grandmother that didn't knit me socks or scarves when I was a teenager, but instead let me pick out my own gift while we were on our annual Black Friday shopping trip. She'd always wink and say, "Now, act surprised when you open this on Christmas, okay?"

She was the grandmother who attended recitals, graduations, parties, and special events.

And she always looked fabulous doing it.

I remember the year that I got my first teaching job, I invited her to Grandparents Day at the school. I thought my kids would get a kick out of my grandmother being there. She drove from Atlanta to Cartersville to be there. She was so proud of me. She mingled with the other grandparents, ate lunch with me, and then headed back home. Back in the classroom after the events, one of my students approached me. He quietly said, "My grandfather likes your grandmother. He thinks she's pretty."
I thought to myself, "Of course he does. Everyone loves Mimi."

Mimi holding Annika

I will miss her hugs, her witty remarks, her gold shoes, her green beans, her beauty mark, her rum cake, her cards, and her voice, among so many other things.

I am eternally grateful to God that she only had to experience being old for a very brief time.
I love you Mimi.

Independence

2010-09-01T21:45:00.006-04:00

Solo is not a vocabulary word that I use a lot.
In fact, I've done very little on my own over the past 37 years.
I've lived in 13 different houses/apartments with a total of 22 people who were either roommates or family members.
I lived alone for a mere two years.
But it really didn't count because I was approximately three miles away from my parents' house.

You get the idea, right? Independence is not my thing. I'm a pack animal.
I approach my running the same way.
Until lately.
The Tortugas (pictured above) have kept me running the past three years.
Then one moved to Denver. Then there were two.
Lately, those two have had a tough time meshing their schedules. Bummer.

I panicked the first time I headed out for a long run ON MY OWN.
(Have I mentioned that one is a lonely number?)
But then, surprisingly enough, I did it.
Seven miles alone.
The next week, I ran eight.
This weekend, I will embark on my third consecutive solo long run.
If I survive the NC hills of this weekend's run without my faithful companions, I will consider myself independent.
(Girls, don't get the wrong idea. I miss you desperately. But what a good feeling to know that when push comes to shove, I can do it by myself.)

Butterbean is sowing her independent oats lately, as well. This past weekend Geoff went outside to water the flowers in the front yard. Who peeps around the corner of the house?
"The Curly Wonder"
Apparently, she discovered how to unlock the front doors. . . SOLO!

The Patriarch

2010-08-11T20:54:00.003-04:00

Tonight while running a three miler, I ran past two older gentlemen shooting the breeze in my neighborhood. As I approached them, I smiled at the easy way they talked and laughed while petting the adorable puppy that one of them was walking.
I bowed my head in greeting as I ran past them huffing and puffing. One of them must have been wearing cologne or vintage soap because the smell that overwhelmed me was the scent of my Great Grandaddy Sam.
I was immediately filled with the memories of the years with the wonderfully sweet soul that was my mother's paternal grandfather. . .

He constantly collected dimes, so that when each grandchild and great-grandchild was born, he could give them a five dollar roll.

He visited the "old folks" at the nursing home at the young age of ninety.

He would sit and talk for hours all while patting his hands softly on the arm of the leather chair in which he sat.

And he was the kindest man that I believe I have ever known.
One to truly be admired.

When I turned twenty-one, my mom asked me to come home and celebrate my birthday with him. Our birthdays were a mere three days and seventy years apart.
I remember pouting because I wanted to stay in Athens and "party" with all of my friends.
My mother said softly, "One day you'll be grateful that you came home for this."

She was right.

Based on my hair color, I am twenty-two and Grandaddy Sam is ninety-two in this photo.

Why?

2010-07-16T08:15:00.004-04:00

Annika is currently in that infamous stage of asking "Why?" about a zillion times a day.

I keep reminding myself that this is an important phase in her cognitive development. It's going to improve her reasoning, vocabulary, and allover intelligence, right?

Most of the time. . . yes.

And, let's face it, sometimes she's just trying to annoy me.

It's human nature to ask, "Why?" We like resolution in our lives. Have you ever been watching a fabulous made-for-television movie and had the power go out? Or had a call drop just before a friend was about to tel you some interesting news?

Exasperating, huh?

As a believer, I've always grappled with the question "why?"

Why do small children get terminal cancer?

Why do some people who desperately want children never conceive?

Why do countless humans suffer from starvation, illness, poverty?

Why does a woman lose her husband on their honeymoon when he falls to his death in the Grand Canyon?

Yet, these kinds of things happen every moment of every day.

Yesterday our neighborhood was hit with tragedy, and we all found ourselves asking,

"Why?"

once again.

Why would a loving father/husband/friend/neighbor/church member choose to take his own life?

We'll never know any of the answers to the above questions. At least, not in this life.

But, rest assured, we are being Held.

Crash Course

2010-07-12T15:56:00.003-04:00

In April 2006, I walked away from this.
It's a long story that involved hydroplaning across five lanes of traffic on an interstate and landing untouched in the emergency lane. Only to be hit moments later by a truck driving approximately 60 miles per hour while I was on the phone with my husband.

The major point, again, being I walked away.
ALIVE and WELL.

Last Sunday, Pastor Heather, preached on how God recycles. Though he does not cause the trash in our lives, he re-purposes them into something useful.
The moment above is a great example of this.

After flying in an uncontrollable car across five lanes of traffic and landing safely, I had a few moments to revel in the miracle that had just occurred. I thanked God and then picked up the phone to call my husband because I was shaking uncontrollably.

While on the phone, a second accident happened to me-the truck mentioned above slammed into my car, which held me. Geoff's whole car, a Ford Focus, collapsed around me. The windshields both exploded upon impact, but the airbag didn't deploy.
Though I was transferred to the hospital on a backboard, I came home hours later with some small cuts on my face, some back and neck pain, and a large bruise where my leg was pinned between my seat and the door.

Home.

I am certain that this accident was NOT caused by God. But I know without a doubt, that he re-purposed this moment and used it in my life.
I knew (and know) that I had more to give, more to love, more to write, more to try,
more to share,
more to do.

I've tried to remind myself of that every day since.

Wedding photos

2010-07-11T14:42:00.004-04:00

Well, it's official. Butterbean is obsessed with weddings. Brides, veils, flowers, The Wedding March, and the first dance.
Princess Ariel and Prince Eric are the key players in this drama.
Guess which one I have to play?

Tempo Schlempo

2010-06-30T11:14:00.008-04:00

I attempted to run my first tempo run last night. Admittedly, I had to actually look up the definition when I saw it on my training schedule. I almost collapsed during the last third, but iTunes and the thought of Butterbean saying, "Run to the beat, Mommy!" spurred me on.

As many of you know, I haven't always been a runner. I half-heartedly ran on my high school's Cross-Country team. Then I didn't run for years. After being certified as a step aerobics (Please don't try to picture this!) instructor in 1998, I picked up running as a form of cross training.

Then I randomly signed up for a half-marthon in 2001 with my then roommate, Amy. We gave it our best shot at the Runner's World Half-Marathon in Allentown, PA. I loved the feeling of pride after completing the race, but then I let my running shoes gather dust in my closet for a few years. I did a few 5ks and even a Peachtree thrown in every couple of years, but I definitely wasn't serious about running as a form of exercise or enjoyment.

I caught the bug again while fighting the side effects of infertility in 2006. In case you don't know these side effects include, but aren't limited to: fear, depression, a total lack of control, weight issues, and personality highs and lows.

Since I could not control conception, I focused on reaching a goal that I had control over. . . the Inaugural ING Atlanta Half-Marathon. I began my training on January 1, 2007.

Unbeknownst to me, I became pregnant just a few weeks later. When I discovered that we were going to have a child, I was overcome with joy. I spoke with my doctor about the perils of running during pregnancy, and she assured me that if I listened to my body, I would be fine.

Well, I ran that half-marathon with my beloved Tortugas (pictured below before another race) while I was 11.5 weeks pregnant. I let them in on my secret the day before the race, so they could help me out if there were any complications.

I finished that race through major pain in my shin from mile seven to mile 13.1. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with a stress fracture the next day. My running shoes went back to the closet until 2008.

Fast forward to today. Now I have multiple 5ks and 10ks under my belt, four half-marathons, and one marathon.

Now I need more.
I need to challenge myself to PR at the Denver Half in October.
Here goes nothing.

An old friend: A sermon revisited

2010-06-28T16:46:00.004-04:00

I'm not sure that pain can become a friend, but faith and hope are often developed during painful times.
Faith and Hope? Well, they are definitely friends of mine. We got to know each other very well during my first bout with infertility. They are loyal, committed, loving, and sometimes even funny. We've been hanging out a lot together lately. It seems I really need them around these days.

This is a sermon that I preached (Yes! From an actual pulpit!) after establishing my kinship with Faith and Hope and rekindling my reliance on God and His Sovereignty.

*This post will officially be my longest, but go ahead and try to summarize 18 months of your life-it's tough! Please forgive the summary of Job's life, but he has an entire book in the Bible; read it if you need to know more.

Thank you notes to God
March 8, 2009
Martha Brown United Methodist Church

Scripture Reading:
1 Thessalonians 5 16-18 Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Have you ever given a gift to someone and seen their face fall because it wasn’t what they asked for? I imagine that God feels this pain all of the time.
I’ve never been too good with thank you notes. I’m sure that my mother raised me to write them, but I’ve just never been that good with the follow-through.
Recently, I heard from a couple, Jason and Anna, about the bowls I gave them for their wedding approximately ten years ago. I doubt that these bowls were on their wedding registry. I’m guessing that when they opened that gift, they were probably disappointed to find that it wasn’t the china pattern they asked for, or the bath towels embellished with their new monogram. Their response was probably, “Oh, wow, bowls.” I feel sure that they thanked me for the gift at the time, probably saying how it was a great gift and that they would use often. But now, that gift of bowls has become something they use on a weekly basis. They have been durable and functional gifts. Anna and Jason seem to truly appreciate those bowls.
So I started thinking about how much more sincere a thank-you note would be after you learned to appreciate the gift that was given to you.

Story of Job
Job was a very wealthy man. He had land, farm animals, a wife, children, and extended family.
Satan asks God if Job fears anything. God says that Job is a blameless and upright believer.
Satan challenges that it is because God had blessed him significantly. Satan tells God that if Job loses everything, he would probably curse God to His face. Satan takes EVERYTHING-his land, farm animals, wife, children, grandchildren, servants, all of it.
Job responds to this devastation by saying, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Satan dares God again that if Job’s actual flesh is affected, then he will begin to curse God. Satan does this to Job. He covers his body with oozing painful sores. In fact, the Bible says that it was so painful that Job took broken clay pots and scraped at the sores. After many hours and days of discomfort, Job eventually curses the day he was born. Job begs God to alleviate his suffering and pain, but seemingly, God doesn’t answer. The Book of Job goes on to describe a discussion between Job and two other men regarding his tribulations. Eventually Job is healed, and all of his wealth is returned. He is blessed beyond belief with a new family and anything he could ever want. In the last chapter, after his many trials, Job offers up a thank-you note to God.
Job 42: 2-5
I know that you can do all things. No plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?” Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
You said, “Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me. My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.

I’m certainly not comparing myself to Job, but I have some experience in asking God for things and not receiving them. We all have wish lists that we offer up to God. We may not write it out and put it in the mailbox, but we definitely know what we want, right?
Over the course of my life, I’ve wanted a lot.
When I was little, I wanted rain boots and a coat to match.
I wanted to live in a neighborhood with lots of kids around instead of on a rural farm.
I wanted to go to the University of Georgia even though my dad wanted me at Jacksonville State.
I wanted a teaching job.
I wanted a husband.
The list goes on and on.
Some of these things I received from God, and some of them I didn’t.

Well, in August of 2005, I decided that I wanted a child. Geoff and I were looking forward to beginning a family right here in East Atlanta Village.
I lifted this request to heaven and asked God to grant it.
The following months brought disappointment. It seemed that God didn’t add this gift to my list. So I made a big point to be very straightforward with Him. I reminded Him that I always wanted to be a mother. I even threw in a few reminders to Him that I would certainly commit the baby to His care as soon as he or she arrived.
God must have said no, because the following months brought even more heartache.
After a year, the heartache turned to despair, frustration, and anger. While I was thrilled for those friends and acquaintances around me who were being blessed by babies, I was angry with God for not granting me the same.
It was during this time, that as Martha Brown United Methodist’s children’s council chairperson, I was asked to help prepare a nursery for the church. No one at Martha Brown knew of my ungranted gift. I agreed with a smile on my face, but when I got home, I fell to my knees in tears to ask God why He would ask this of me in the middle of this anguish that I was feeling. He told me to push forward, but I was not thankful. In fact, I was angry and distraught.
By December of 2006, I was not a fun person to live with. (Too bad my husband, Geoff, left for Puerto Rico this morning and can’t chime in with specific examples. I’m sure he has plenty!) All of my prayers were about having a child. I found it more and more difficult to be thankful to God for all of the gifts he HAD blessed me with over the last year and a few months. After a particularly big emotional explosion, I saw my reflection in a mirror, and I realized who I had become, and I wasn’t pleased. I fell to my knees once again, this time to beg for forgiveness for being oblivious to the many blessings around me.
God assured me that night of His forgiveness, and He threw it into the Sea of Forgotten sins. I began to focus on the joys in my life-my family, my friends, my job, my 5th grade coworkers, my church family, and my wonderfully humorous, loving, forgiving, husband. I also began training for a half-marathon in January of 2007 in order to give myself a goal on which to focus.
At that point, I changed from a someone who spewed a lot of rhetoric about trusting in God to a woman who was simply trusting God, as my Father who loved me and intended to bless me with the gifts from His list, not mine.
In the beginning of February, Martha Brown dedicated the Firefly Nursery that I had helped put together. I had tears in my eyes that morning, but I was happy and content with the life that God had given me.
Two days later, on February 13th, I found out that Geoff and I were expecting Baby Butterbean. The first thing I did? I fell to my knees in tears, once again, and thanked God first and foremost for the lessons he had taught me over the previous 18 months. Then, of course, I thanked Him for that precious tiny baby and I woke up my sleeping husband.
A few days later, we held our Ash Wednesday service here at Martha Brown. That night, David Collins, our pastor, passed out index cards, on which to write what was on our hearts.
This is the actual thank-you note I wrote to God on that night:
2-21-07
Thank you, Father, for the faith and hope that you have been building within me over the past eighteen months. I am so grateful for the journey that I have taken with you. Forgive me for doubting your plans for me. Please use me as a witness. Help me communicate with others. Give others the same hope and strength that You granted me with. Thank you for my loving and humorous husband and my supportive family. Thank You!

There are thank-you notes at the end of your pews. Please take one and pass them on. We will have a few moments to write a thank-you note to God if you are so moved.

Then, during the Hymn of Invitation, please feel free to bring your note to the altar if you’d like and someone will pray over them after the service.

Now that's a bright idea!

2010-06-22T11:10:00.008-04:00

Butterbean is quite the chatterbox when she's in the car (or her room, or the kitchen, or outside, or basically anywhere).

On the way home from school yesterday she said, "Mommy, turn off the heat." I told her that I didn't have the heat on, but the air conditioner was on to cool off the car. She replied with, "No, I mean turn off the heat outside." I explained to her that I couldn't turn it off because it was coming from the sun.

Her response? "Well, mom, we need a big ladder."

Since I recently posted about "Letting Go", I've decided to let go of using this unbearable heat as an excuse. I began training for the Denver Half-Marathon yesterday, and it was a rough beginnning. Those first three miles of the training schedule felt like the complete thirteen with the point one thrown in on top.

But, you know what? I did it anyway.

Here are some other things I'm letting go of this week because they are outside my hula hoop of control:

1. The fact that I still don't have an official offer from HR for the Instructional Coach job at my school, though my principal recommended me for it.

2. Speaking of hula hoops, I'm letting go of the fact that I can no longer hula hoop. Ms. Taura, Butterbean's super model summer camp teacher, was rocking one yesterday afternoon. My waist is officially too thick to do this anymore. So what?

3. My obsession with limiting my consumption of all things dairy. ( You might think that this is actually within my control, but it's not-I swear!) I heart cheese. I will eat more veggies and run more. Hopefully, this will balance out my cheese intake.

4. My guilt for not "friending" everyone who asks on Facebook and for not returning emails as quickly as I should.

As for you, you should let go of a few things this week.

And embrace the heat, you'll miss it next January!

Reflections on a three mile, 90 degree, 9:00 run

2010-06-15T11:59:00.005-04:00

Okay, it's hot out here. I can do this.

Aim for five minutes . . . anyone can do five minutes.

If I can run five minutes, I can run ten minutes, right?

Where is the one mile mark? Oooh! A mile in 8:15, I'm awesome!

Wait, wrong intersection for the mile mark-ugh.

It's really hot out here. Why did I eat shrimp before a run??? Gross.

OK, I really feel sick. I can't get sick right here. That neighbor is pregnant, and if she happened to be watching out of the window, I might make her sick, too. Nobody wants that guilt.

Okay, if I can just make it to the dump truck parked on Braeburn, I can walk up the rest of the hill.

Made it. Yes! Oh-there's a guy watering his plants. I can't stop and walk now, my pride would suffer.

Do you think if I asked him, he would spray me with his water hose?

Umm, that would probably be weird to ask.

Oh, well.

Now that I'm out of his sight, I'm walking. I mean this part of Braeburn isn't even paved, so it doesn't really count.

Okay, your one minute of walking is over. YOU MUST RUN, Ashley.

Down Flat Shoals, this actually feels good. You can do this.

Another hill? Why does this street have a hill no matter which direction you run it?

Make it to the next mailbox. Now the next one.

It's all downhill from here, Ash.

If you can slowly huff up the Van Vleck hill, surely you can run down it . . . at a fast pace.

After all, you told all your FB friends that you were aiming for a PR at this week's 5k, right?

What is my current PR? Better look that up. It never mattered before.

PUSH through the last minute.

I made it!

I love running.

That's what it's like to believe. . .

2010-06-12T16:39:00.011-04:00

I am a creature of habit.

I always order the veggie and tofu wrap with fried okra at the EARL.

I always check my alarm clock before falling asleep.

I always leave the coffee grinds in the coffee maker when I leave for work.

(Much to Geoff's chagrin.)

And on Saturday mornings, I get up, make coffee, and eat breakfast with Annika while watching a Nick Jr., Sprout, or PBS kids' show.

Except this morning, we ate breakfast in the living room in a tent.

It was awesome.

Afterward, I went for a run. While huffing my way through four miles, I realized that I used to dread change. Now, I actually crave it.

Maybe it was the forced change that I've experienced over the last month. My job position was cut, my grandmother was diagnosed with advanced lymphoma, our house has had zero showings over the last thirty days, the pastor that we adore announced his departure, and our hopes to grow our family are dwindling.

All changes that I wasn't asking for, but God brought them on anyway.

These changes are just a few weeks old, but I've already come to total peace with all of them.

I'll enjoy twenty more days with my Butterbean next summer, now that I'm a 200 day employee. I'll treasure my Mimi even more than I did.( And she's a real fighter according to her latest CAT scan!) I love my backyard, so why not stay where we are? Pastor David needs a change, and Pastor Heather already intrigues me. I'm up to the challenge of raising a single child.

There's this fantastic song on my iPod shuffle by Francesca Battistelli called, "I'm Letting Go". One of the lyrics says, "It feels like I'm falling, and that's what it's like to believe."

I can honestly say that at this point of my life, I can do just that. . . believe.

So bring on the changes, God.

Experiencing faith

2010-05-30T20:52:00.004-04:00

I've been thinking about hope and faith a lot over the last few weeks.

I'm not sure that you can fully experience either one without some "free fall" moments sprinkled in your life. I remember being in middle school and going to Six Flags with my friend, Stacy. We waited in a line for 30-45 minutes to ride one of the newer attractions- "Free Fall". We sat on the bench, buckled up, and held our breath as the contraption climbed higher and higher. Then the machine launched us into nothingness, and we fell suddenly and quickly. I was sick to my stomach and thrilled at the same time. I remember that although I was terrified during those few short seconds, I had faith that I would be okay when I reached the bottom of the ride.

Since then, I've had some of these moments in my real life. God has taken me and launched me into nothingness.

Thrilling and sickening all at once, every single time. I've always come out of it with a better sense of who I am and who He has called me to be.

A few weeks ago my grandmother, affectionately called Mimi, was diagnosed with advanced lymphoma. The very next day she began chemotherapy.

Mimi with Annika-Easter 2009

One day, she's a generally healthy woman who volunteers, attends church, walks daily, and enjoys life and the curves it throws her. The next day, she's a cancer patient.

She was shocked, as were we all.

But she's fighting, and she's having faith that she will conquer this.

And. . . she's rocking her wig.

Sprung!

2010-03-23T09:08:00.002-04:00

This past weekend was the first nice one, and we took full advantage! My gardeners and I bought tulips, irises, dahlias, and marigolds to plant in our favorite space. With our house on the market, we decided not to plant any long term items this year. I'm already fighting the urge to dig up all of my favorites if we get a contract on the house!

Do you still have yours?

2010-02-16T20:19:00.005-05:00

Loveys.

You've seen the fear in the eyes of a mom who just realized that Lovey is at home when she desperately needs it for her screaming child in the middle of aisle four, right?

Annika adores her Lovey. It is soft, pink, fluffy, and very well-loved.

(Thanks to my wonderful gift-giving friend Anna for the gift of Lovey when Butterbean arrived!)

In fact, when I realized that Annika loved her Lovey as much as I did, I ordered two more so that I would never experience the above-mentioned fear.

[ By the way the three Lovey trick fails once your all knowledgeable toddler realizes that you have two more (TWO MORE, MOMMY?!?) in her sock drawer.]

Anyway, recently Annika found my Lovey, otherwise known as a very loved Raggedy Ann doll. My mom received Raggedy Ann as a gift the Christmas before I was born. She planned my nursery, clothing, and dishes (still have these too!) around the theme. Raggedy Ann slept with me throughout my childhood, then to college, and she even moved with me to my first apartment. I've never been without her for long.

She's wounded and falling apart, but aren't we all?

I completely broke into tears when Annika saw Raggedy Ann on her shelf and asked, "Who's that, Mommy?" She immediately wanted to hold her, mend her many boo-boos, and has slept with her every night since.

I know that Raggedy Ann will fall apart before Annika passes her to her own children, but a mom can hope, right?

Who can I turn to? 867-5309

2010-02-04T20:00:00.006-05:00

I suppose that every working mother has a fear of missing out on something in her child's life due to her career. I know that I do. It was much worse in the beginning . . . believe it or not it gets better once your child can actually communicate what happened during her day.

i.e. Me: Annika how was your day at school?

Butterbean: Atticus screamed at me, and I pushed Atticus down because I had the Weeble Wobbles first! We went to library too, Mommy.

Nice summarizing skills, huh?

These days, the biggest reason that I feel less guilt about leaving my precious little girl every Monday through Friday is Jenni.

Jenni is the owner of Urban Explorers Preschool, and we are fortunate that she is also Annika's teacher. I first met Jenni at a community parent event. She was there advertising her soon-to-be-opened daycare in a bordering neighborhood. She was passionate, fun, and excited about her new endeavor. It just so happened that I had just received a new job and had three weeks to find a new daycare. We reserved the second to last spot the next week!

Why do I adore Jenni? She does this every single day:

(This is one of her 2008 journal entries.)

And she documented when my toddler made a pattern on her own a couple of weeks ago...

. . . and last week she saved this for me. Annika's first drawing of a person is in the top right corner.

Do I often wish I could spend every day playing, creating, imagining, drawing, singing, reading, and dancing with my sweet little Butterbean?

Of course!

But in the meantime, I'm sure glad that we have Jenni.

Will I ever earn that letter?

2010-01-20T20:54:00.005-05:00

Several months ago after completing my first marathon, an old rival high school friend sent me a message via Facebook. His message was a nice congratulatory statement punctuated by the phrase, "I never knew you were a runner." I had to remind my old pal that the reason we met was because we both ran cross-country for our respective high schools. He was slightly embarrassed for not remembering, but it actually summed up my early running career rather nicely.

Sure, I ran in high school. But only because my friend Korie signed up for the team and needed a sidekick for comic relief.

Poor Coach Blankenship! It was all he could do to coax one to two miles out of us at weekly practice. I had bird legs, was notoriously clumsy (and have the knee scars to prove it), and carried/puffed on my inhaler during every single run. I ran a very slow three mile race, and I only lettered because you had to earn a letter as a senior. (I'm sorry, but even then I was against participation awards-letters should be earned, just like trophies!)

And to top it all off, apparently I ran in a pair of my mom's old tennis shoes!?!

In hindsight, it's really kind of humiliating.

Running is now one of my favorite things to do. I tend to obsess over my training schedule and revel in my mileage sums (however low they may be). Running is my time to think, huff and puff (minus the inhaler these days), refocus my energy, and reflect on my life.

Coach (and Korie) would be proud.

While attempting to push Annika up a hill in the jogging stroller yesterday, she said, "Mommy, why are you breathing like a tiger?"

Apparently, the humiliating runs aren't competely over. . .

Blind Dating 101

2010-01-17T08:30:00.002-05:00

I am so thankful that at the age of 29 I went out on my 20th blind date.
Believe me, I had enough horrible dates (both blind and not) that my friends and family would have completely understood if I refused to go on any more.
I continued to put myself out there.
My motto was, "If I don't have a good time, at least I'll have a good story."
My 20th blind date turned out to be both.

My road is paved with good intentions

2009-12-20T08:29:00.005-05:00

I recently came across this website at work. There is a definition of each problem behavior that you may come across in a school setting. I got really upset that the someone had obviously been following me around taking notes!

Discipline Help: You Can Handle Them All:

"The Procrastinator Behavior: Specific attitudes and actions of this child at home and/or at school.
Long on talk and enthusiasm but short on work and success.

Always puts things off.

Has no sense of urgency.

Usually 'talks a good game,' but accomplishes little. To hear this student talk, one would think he/she couldn't wait to get to work, or to put into practice what he/she has learned.

Often the first to volunteer for a task. Says, 'Oh, I'll do it.' Unfortunately, never says when.

Never gets anything done; is always 'going to get it done tomorrow.'

Does seem to have a need to please and usually does want to get the job done."

Did this sound familiar?

Oh, boy, did it ever! I have intended to update my blog for several weeks now. It is only fair to tell you that I saved the draft of this post three weeks ago! But I'm turning over a new leaf.

Butterbean is also turning over a new leaf. . . to wear a dress and tutu everywhere she goes. She has already begun to follow through with her promise.

Enough said . . .

2009-11-29T08:17:00.002-05:00

Sugar and Spice

2009-11-20T18:04:00.006-05:00

Don't get me wrong . . .

boys are great.

In fact, we spent Thursday afternoon with my dear friend Lori and her three precious boys. You couldn't ask for a more thoughtful boy than Knox. He was so patient and kind to Annika. Banks is the best at wearing construction hats and getting down and dirty with some trucks and Lincoln Logs. And that precious, new Gaines is so yummy that I wanted to inhale him.

So again, I will say. . .

boys are great.

Snakes and snails, puppy dog tails and all.

But, alas, I have no boys.

Just one strong-willed little girl.

I love the pigtails, the pure need to wear a tutu for days on end, the purses full of tiny babies and pretend make-up, the bows in the hair that are pulled out as soon as we are out the front door, the gobs of necklaces, and the love of all things pink.

It's everything nice.

Hurt feelings

2009-11-07T07:44:00.004-05:00

Thursday morning Annika hurt my feelings.

I was leaving for work and she was eating her breakfast while her daddy was in the shower.

I said, "Goodbye Butterbean. Have a good day. I love you!"

She was supposed to say (as is the official routine), "Goodbye Mommy. Have a good day. I love you too!"

Instead she said, "I'm not Butterbean. I'm Akka. You not call me Butterbean anymore."

So I said (in my sweetest mommy tone), "But I've called you Butterbean since you were a little baby."

She replied, "I not a baby anymore Mommy."

I cried a single tear and left for work.

She's pretty callous for a toddler.

Traditions passed down from Lynda

2009-10-28T20:39:00.003-04:00

On Halloween night, I'll be a spook, scary as can be.

"Who's that spook?" people will ask.

It's just me behind my mask. Boo!

My mother, Lynda, sang this with me every year at Halloween. We would dig out the paper plate pumpkin mask that I created in preschool and recite the poem in a sing-song voice.

Annika says, "I'll be a pook, scary as can be." Just exactly like my mom says I always did.

The Fallen Fairy aka Butterbean says, "Boo" to you and yours.

Not just a Sunday drive

2009-10-21T21:07:00.004-04:00

When I was in college, I owned a 1990 convertible Mustang. It looked similar to this picture, except the body was baby blue. I have never been into cars, nor have I been since this baby was totaled on a beautiful October afternoon in 1994.

I loved that car. My dad bought it, washed it, hid it in my great grandparents' carport, and surprised me on Christmas morning. He was more pleased than I was to see me drive off in my robe with my pajama-clad brother Jud as my first passenger. (Shhh. . .is it still too early to tell that Jud actually told me about my surprise on Christmas Eve?)

In college, I thought my life was overwhelming a lot of the time. (Wow. . .if I only knew, huh?) My classes, quizzes, social events, boy troubles, Pi Phi t-shirt choices, being late for the Campus Bus, and blind date fiascos (Have you ever been dumped at a social for the picture girl? Ugh!)just totally put me over the edge sometimes. When those days came (and they came quite a lot, now that I think about it) I got in that car named Rhoda, and I drove. (Please tell me that you watched Rhoda!)

I rolled the windows down, pushed back the ragtop, and drove through Watkinsville, Bishop, Farmington, and into Madison, Georgia. I cruised through "downtown" Madison until I located my friend and landscaper, Tate. When I found him at the local McDonald's spreading mulch, I parked my car and got out to put my hands in the dirt and forget about everything else.

Though the landscaping, socializing, and manual labor were all very therapeutic, it was the drive that was always my favorite part.

This evening I am wishing for a ragtop, a scarf in my hair, an old country road, and cool air pockets as I stretch my hand out the window and let it all go.

Lucky me

2009-10-10T15:43:00.013-04:00

My husband is quiet, laid back, neat, shy, and (sometimes painfully) honest.

I, on the other hand, am gregarious, intense, a self-proclaimed "stacker of stuff", and (sometimes painfully) a white liar. (You know, just enough to protect people's feelings!!!)

I would be (white) lying if I didn't say that the aforementioned qualities of my dear husband don't drive me crazy. For instance, last Sunday I got out two boxes of fall/winter clothes from the attic to switch out my closet. Monday morning they had already been placed back in the attic beore I had the chance to switch the clothes. Now, that's really being obsessively neat, right???

And sometimes, when we're at parties, I get annoyed if I see him checking soccer scores instead of engaging in conversation with strangers.

He was so shy on our first (blind) date that he avoided looking at me for the first 20 or so minutes.

And if you want an honest opinion if your butt looks big in that skirt, then he's your man.

This weekend, my parents are keeping Annika so that Geoff and I could attend Cindy's Big Birthday Bash last night. Over the past 24 hours, I have been reminded of all of his endearing qualities that made me fall in love with him after that first (blind) date.

He is a very sharp dresser. Really, you should have seen him last night.

He prepares a four course meal every weekend for the two of us after Butterbean goes to bed.

He is (sometimes painfully) honest about all of the things that other men avoid discussing.

He makes really good friends over time.

He is the funniest, if sometimes inappropriate, man I know.

I'm one lucky gal.

All things birthday

2009-10-02T20:22:00.011-04:00

Annika turned two last weekend. I can't believe that this precious, tiny baby in the picture above can now talk, sing, dance, run, laugh hysterically, feed the dogs, and help me cook.

She delights us every single day!

We celebrated with a party last weekend. When asked what she wanted at her party, she yelled, "Cupcakes!" So, we started with this invitation from Paperlicious:

We then made cupcakes from a recipe in I Like You by Amy Sedaris.

We used the homemade cupcakes for our cupcake tree and the boxed "Funfetti" ones for the Decorate your own Cupcake station.

My mother-in-law, Lily, made these adorable cupcake decorations from toddler socks. They were the perfect addition!

Banks, Knox, and Annika fit a lot of sprinkles on their cupcakes!

The guests' bags were decorated with cupcake stickers.

We played "Stick the Candles on the Cupcake" for entertainment.

And of course, Annika's favorite part, opening presents. I am proud to say that she said thank you after opening every single one!

Daddy, Annika, and Mommy on a sugar high!

Labor Day . . . KRAP style!

2009-09-09T20:33:00.006-04:00

KRAP: Kulp, Rutland, Adamo People

(Mike, I think this will really catch on just in time for our t-shirts next year!)

This year marked our third family vacation to North Carolina.

(We missed you Jud, Pam, Julia, Sam, Bobby, Debbie, and Geoff!)

I always look forward to this trip: the cool air, the beautiful view, the funny stories, the gross-live-but-tasty-dead fish, the golf cart rides, the Christmas trees, the morning dew, the weak coffee, the Fowler hospitality, the curvy roads, the quiet mornings, watching college football, playing with the kids, the inside jokes, Mancala tournaments, the glory of God, and the yummy biscuits are just a few of the reasons.

Pictured below are a few more.

Annika with her first catch! A nice trout, huh?

Sweeeeet Caroline (duh, duh, duh) and Annika

Okay, so this is my FAVORITE part of the weekend-Family Worship.
It usually occurs on Sunday morning, but this year we promised to go to church with the Fowlers. We had it on Saturday night instead.

Mike and Jack (Clapton)

Does it get any better than listening to father and son play their guitars while praising HIM?

Barbie and Caroline

and mother and daughter beaming with pride?

I know that God looks forward to this part of our weekend every year, too. Our hearts belong to Him, and it is a wonderful feeling to know where your dearest loved ones will spend eternity.

We have decided to make ourselves fools for Him.

Unconcerned with dignity, He made us free. That's proof enough for us!

(Thanks for the inspiration, Nichole Nordeman!)

Misunderstood

2009-08-26T21:13:00.002-04:00

Pictures speak louder than words.

Save the drama for your mama!

Oh . . . she did.

Kitchen sink friends

2009-08-18T21:46:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I am jealous of people who have the gift of musical ability (Pam). At other times I covet the gifts of the financially focused (April) or those who seem to exercise EVERY single time they say they will (Lori).

But lately, I have dreamed of being a dishwasher.

Do you have dishwashing friends? You know, those friends who are content to clean up the mess in the back while you relish in the company of visitors.

I am a little embarrassed to admit that I have never been this friend. I quite enjoy being right in the middle of the activity. In fact, I hate to leave the room until everyone else has departed.

What if something exciting or fun happened after I left?

Lately I have realized just how grateful I am to my dishwashing friends. There's Laura and Melanie at church, Carrie at Book Club, Brenda at work, Ingrid, Paul, and Thora in Norway,

and then there's Cindy throughout it all.

These people are the spine of the Body of Christ.

I am praying that even though I'm not a dishwasher, I will raise a part-timer at least.

**Please don't misinterpret this email. God blessed me with other gifts for which I am very grateful. But I will never need a pair of yellow rubber gloves.

Um, Daddy. . .

2009-08-08T23:25:00.003-04:00

do you think I'm growing up too fast?

Edit: For those of you who dig the shoes . . . www.shopplasticland.com. They were on sale!!!

Letting go . . .

2009-08-04T20:58:00.002-04:00

Butterbean has been napping at daycare without a pacifier for about three months now. I had casually mentioned to her teacher, Jenni, that I was going to wean her from the "paci" before she turned two in September. Two days later, Jenni informed me that Annika no longer used it at school. I told myself that I would follow suit at home.

First it was that Annika said she "needed" it. Then it was the excuse of her staying at my mom's house and being in a different environment. Next it was Geoff and I discussing that we needed the comfort of the paci on the cross-Atlantic flight to Norway.

Today, when I picked up my precious baby girl from school. She informed me that she went tee-tee on the potty after her nap.

As I praised her, hugged her, and let her call the grandparents, I realized the true reason I haven't weaned her from her paci . . .

I wasn't ready to let go of my baby.

Tonight after our normal bedtime routine, I placed her in her crib and told her I loved her. She said, "I need my paci, Mommy."

I replied, "No you don't. We don't have any more pacis, but this cute pink moose can sleep with you!"

She whispered, "Night, night. I love you, Mommy."

And she's been asleep ever since.

Dance Party

2009-06-10T17:18:00.004-04:00

**Please pardon the video kick, but I just recently figured out how to post them correctly. . . thus, I'm addicted.

When Geoff is out of town on business, Annika and I keep ourselves occupied with "dance parties". Today, when she asked for one, I had to oblige. She dances without inhibition, just like I always dreamed of doing myself. She hears shouts of encouragement and lots of hand-clapping from me. We've been partaking in these DPs for a few months now, and until today I simply viewed them as a fun ritual.

However, please note that my daughter places her hands up in the air, looks toward our heavenly father, and says, "Praise you!" several times. It moved me, so I had to share it with you all.

(The song is Mary Mary's "Shackles", which is an absolute favorite in our household.)

Fifteen seconds (maybe a little more) of Fame

2009-06-09T20:08:00.006-04:00

This is for all of you long-distance Butterbean fans! Annika has become a bit of a drama queen, so I thought she needed even more encouragement in that department. Enjoy!

This is her rendition of "Simon says I must stare at the lamp."

. . . and this one is Annika mocking her daddy's dancing techniques.

How does your garden grow?

2009-06-02T07:26:00.004-04:00

The hard work of my green-thumbed hubby and offspring has finally paid off!

2009 First Fruits of the Harvest

The joys of living ITP (Inside the Perimeter)

2009-05-31T15:29:00.008-04:00

Today was T-shirt Sunday at Martha Brown United Methodist Church. We have attended MB since waking up late one Sunday morning four and a half years ago. (It was the only church we could make it to in just five short minutes before the 11:00 a.m. service.) We love it for lots of reasons. . .the people, the historical building, its love for the community, the special services, the best pastor in the history of churches, and of course, the convenience of it only being slightly less than a mile from our house.

This morning was t-shirt Sunday, so Annika and I got up early, dressed in our t-shirts and jeans, and walked/rode to Sunday School. We have this Jeep Stroller that totally rocks our world! Annika loves it , it's perfect for running, and it plays our iPod through its speakers! This was a purchase that I had to talk Geoff into since we already had a "perfectly good stroller". However, it has more than paid for itself since we bought it. We use it to haul Butterbean, along with toys, bags, and even our drycleaning to and from the village.

(Ours is orange.)

Anyway, this morning as Annika and I strolled to church and greeted our fellow neighborhood early risers, I was reminded of how much I love living in a community where I can enjoy a leisurely walk to church with my chatty Butterbean.

(For the record, Geoff skipped Sunday school, but he drove and joined us at church!)

Blog Edit** We just topped off the perfect EAV day by taking a family walk to Holy Taco to enjoy the yummy guacamole!

East Atlanta Village life is for me!

Travels

2009-05-17T09:55:00.005-04:00

He's back! Geoff finally returned from his two week trip to Puerto Rico last night. Annika was thrilled to see him, even in her sleepy stupor. She was even more excited when she realized he was still here this morning! She caught up on a lot of hugs, giggles, and snuggles.

Daddy's empty suitcase provided a lot of entertainment this morning, too. As you can see, she is ready to travel!

We hope she stays this excited for the looooong plane ride we'll have in July when we travel to Norway!

Marathon Mommy

2009-05-04T21:54:00.004-04:00

All of the time, effort, training, blisters, and Saturday mornings resulted in success!

26.2 MILES

Grace, Robin and I finished the race and lived to tell about it.

The most difficult task I've ever tackled.

(Yes, that includes giving birth. But then again, I had a C-section.)

The first part of the race was terrific, but miles 13-20 nearly killed me. In the end, during those last six (don't forget the point two) miles, it came down to Mary Mary songs playing on the iPod while I praised God for the lessons he had taught me about commitment over the past few months.

It was a very humbling experience, indeed.

His Grace abounds, even on a hot and sweaty Nashville afternoon.

My Little Girlie Girl

2009-04-08T20:14:00.005-04:00

Ever since Annika was a newborn, she's been mistaken for a boy. Part of it was our fault because we didn't find out her gender before she was born. (Until a PA let it slip the day before she was born, I kid you not!) Therefore, she wore a lot of green and yellow and cream until she was few months old due to all the great gender-neutral clothes we received as gifts. However, since then she is usually dressed in head to toe pink with ruffles and bows and definitely girlie shoes. It doesn't matter, people assume that she's a boy all of the time. I never take offense, after all, what do I care, as long as the strangers deem her an adorable little boy?!?

The funniest thing is that she is such a girlie-girl. She loves shoes and has even been known to sleep in new pairs. She adores bows, baby dolls, and mothering our dogs. I'm not attempting to push her in this direction, I swear! I have even bought her some trucks to play with. She seems to prefer a tiara, a pretty pair of pink shoes, and a mop. Oh well!

. . .and while we're on the subject. Here are a few of my favorite girlie-girl shopping sites.

Paper fun

Linen fun

Jewelry fun

Firsts

2009-03-24T20:00:00.003-04:00

Before I became a parent, my biggest fear was missing a "first" with my child. You know, first smile, first laugh, first baby food, first wave, first word, first step, the list goes on and on.

As a working mother, I even went as far as to inform Annika's first caregivers not to tell me if she crawled or picked up a toy, unless I told them about it first.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to join Geoff in Puerto Rico for a few days. He was there for two weeks mapping the island for work.

While I looked forward to relaxing with my husband on the beaches of San Juan, I worried about leaving my precious Butterbean for more than 24 hours. Though I knew she was in great hands with my parents, aka Nanny and Pop, leaving her was tough.

I called a few times a day, spoke with her on the phone, asked lots of questions, and missed her like crazy. However, I really enjoyed my days with Geoff in a place I had never visited before.
Upon my return, I learned that Annika said her first sentence while I was gone. "That's my daddy," she said as she pointed to a picture of Geoff and me. When my mother told me this, I have to admit that a small pang of jealousy shot through me, but only for a second.
After that brief moment, I realized how incredible it is that my mom got to witness this event. In fact, she also was present when Annika said her first word and her first steps.
I've never asked my mother if she was present for all of my firsts, and as a mother who worked full time, I bet she missed a few.

Frankly, it doesn't matter.

The day to day small moments are what truly make up my relationship with Annika, just like they have built a trusting relationship with my mother.
I'm not going to feel guilty for having a career that I love, time to myself when I run, or date nights or weekends away with my husband.

What matters most is that when I'm with Annika, I give her my love, affection, and attention.

All the rest, as they say, comes out in the wash.

And, by the way, I was by her side when she couldn't decide which was more important-eating or sleeping.

Snow Day!

2009-03-01T19:58:00.002-05:00

I can't believe that it has been so long since my last post! My marathon training is taking up considerably more time than I thought it would, so it leaves little time for phone calls, blog updates, and emails.

Today, however, was excellent in the extra time department. We went to church and then stayed inside all afternoon to watch the snow fall. It snowed from 11:00 a.m. until around 5:00. It was beautiful! Annika was frightened to go outside at first, but once she got a snowball in her hand, she loved it.

I hope you and yours had an enjoyable day together, too!

I Heart Butterbean!

2009-02-09T21:04:00.004-05:00

Okay, so lately I've been a little stressed.

Full-time wife.

Full-time mother to a toddler.

Full-time dog owner.

Full-time marathoner-to-be.

Full-time Sunday school teacher.

Full-time elementary school administrator.

I've let the pressure and schedule of it all bog me down and make me question the choices that I've made for myself.

but every SINGLE time I see this face or hear the laugh that comes with it,

I am SIMPLY over the moon and eternally grateful.

for my husband.

for my daughter.

for Odin and Oskar.

for the ability to set a goal and reach it.

for God and my church family.

for my wonderful job and the people I work with.

How could I not be?

Have you ever seen a child more excited about window decorations???

Nice people

2009-01-23T20:13:00.004-05:00

People get a bad rap!

There are a plethora of nice people in this world.

Everytime we travel with Annika I am reminded of this.

I've heard (and even seen) some NIGHTMARE exchanges between children and strangers on flights.

Fortunately, I've never had to experience one. I've been lucky enough to sit beside nice people who think that everything my child does is adorable. (and why wouldn't they?!)

Maybe it's the flirty "Hi!" or the killer blue eyes that she inherited from her daddy, or perhaps it's the true interest that she seems to show in other people.

Whatever the reason . . . I'm grateful!

Older grandmotherly types, middle-aged businessmen, young college students, people who speak other languages, and those who are traveling from far away places-

they're all nice.

We hope you meet some of them soon!

Field Trip!

2009-01-02T20:28:00.002-05:00

Geoff, Annika and I met Lori and Ben Casey and their two boys, Knox and Banks, at the Imagine It! Children's Museum downtown today. The kids all had a blast meeting Bob the Builder and discovering all the cool interactive stations at the museum.

After the museum, we took a trip to The Varsity. Annika is officially addicted to F.O.s! (Frosted Orange for all of you non-Atlantans!) We had such a great time!

Playing Pretend

2008-12-27T21:27:00.002-05:00

Santa must have heard that Annika has been into playing pretend lately. In fact, at our Christmas Eve service, she pretended to sing along with everyone else.

To support the imagination that Butterbean is developing, Santa brought her a kitchen. You can see her washing her hands before she cooks breakfast.

She is also a very good pretend Mommy. She feeds her baby every few minutes-in between bouts of fake baby cries. Her baby cries a lot!

We hope your Christmas morning was as fun as ours!

Resting up for Santa

2008-12-24T11:07:00.003-05:00

Annika received this chair as an early present from Daddy. She looks just like Geoff when she's asleep in an easy chair!

The Magic

2008-12-21T06:38:00.002-05:00

How does she know?

She is almost giddy with the magic of The Season. Her laughter (Oh that Laugh!) is frequent and contagious. Her interest in ALL things Christmas is a delight. (Not just to me, right???) Almost everything she says gets punctuated with a "Ho, Ho, Ho!" and she signs the word beautiful EVERY time she sees Christmas lights. I LOVE THIS LIFE!

May the Joy of this Holy Season overcome you and yours!

Mor Mor

2008-12-09T19:14:00.003-05:00

Mor Mor is Norwegian for Mother's Mother.

The definition of our Mor Mor is much more complex than this.

Jenny Birkeland Larsen

Mother to Alan and Lily, grandmother to Alan, Jr., Geoff, Jon, and Allison, great-grandmother of Tommy, Makenna, Mallory, Tori, Chase, and Annika. Knitter of scarves and hats that have been kept looking brand new to pass down to heirs. Crocheter of Christmas stockings, bedspreads, Christmas angel toppers, and more baby blankets than could ever be counted. World War II nurse. Beloved wife. Immigrant to America in the 40s. Fantastic storyteller. Loved dog owner. Patient teacher. Farmer's daughter. Maker of lefse bread that would leave you begging for just one more piece. Sneaker of uneaten morsels to Thor, Auggie, and I'm sure Freya too. Great cook. Author of witty remarks. Committed Lutheran church member.

An honorable Godly woman.

She will be missed dearly.

She loved us, and we have been blessed by her life.

Mallory, Mor Mor, Tori, Chase, and Annika

Thanksgiving 2008

Ho! Ho! Oh No!

2008-12-06T11:49:00.002-05:00

Annika immediately thought that Santa should stay at the North Pole all year long!Then he made the mistake of talking to her!
She liked him MUCH better last year!

Isn't this what holiday memories are made of?
Season's Greetings!

Remarkable

2008-12-03T19:28:00.007-05:00

"A remarkable child,"said one of the sailors as Pippi disappeared in the distance.

He was right. Pippi was indeed a remarkable child. The most remarkable thing about her was that she was so strong. She was so very strong that in the whole wide world there was not a single police officer who was as strong as she. Why, she could lift a whole horse if she wanted to!"

Astrid Lindgren

Pippi Longstocking

Baking with Grandpa

2008-11-30T10:44:00.004-05:00

Sorry, but this took me forever to download, and I couldn't figure out how to rotate the video. You are going to have a pain in your neck if you actually view this. (Forgive me, I'm not very tech-savvy! Any advice would be appreciated!)

Posing for pictures

2008-11-28T22:44:00.006-05:00

Today we attempted the feat of getting all four Adamo babies to pose for the Adamo Christmas Card. It took a lot of begging, funny faces, dancing, and goldfish crackers, but here are a couple of samples!

From left to right: Annika, Mallory, Chase, and Tori

Show-off!

2008-11-24T18:59:00.004-05:00

So, yesterday we went to my parents' house to have Thanksgiving dinner with my dad's side of the family. When we arrived, everyone crowded around Annika in the kitchen to see how much she had changed since their last visit. Aunt Blanche made the comment, "She's probably running around like crazy these days, huh?" I replied, "No, she isn't walking yet." Then I turned around to unpack our food and heard everyone gasp and cheer. When Geoff put her down and let go of her hands, she walked to my mom! I'm convinced that Annika took her first steps just to prove me wrong! Of course, we spent the rest of the afternoon getting her to do it over and over again.

As long as we kept clapping, she kept walking!

She had a few falls when she dove toward her destination!
When we left my parents' house, we took an old friend with us. My mother recently went through our childhood toys and kept the ones that were still in pretty good shape. My brother and I used to play with this Fisher Price farm when we were little. Along with the A-frame house, school, and construction site, it provided us hours of entertainment. As you can see, Annika loved playing with it, too. She especially enjoyed putting the construction worker in the tractor seat. (He must have escaped from the construction site that stayed at Nanny and Pop's house!)

Blessings

2008-11-15T08:18:00.004-05:00

This morning I am reminded of all the many blessings in my life. . .

I am married to the most honest man in the world. He loves us very much. I am thankful for our marriage and home.

Someone, unbeknownst to me, has taught my Butterbean to say, "Cheese!" when she sees the camera. Can you see the bottom tooth that finally popped through last night?

I have a wonderful family, which includes my five precious nieces and nephews, Sam, Julia, Tori, Mallory, and Chase. Happy Birthday Mallory!

I love my job and am blessed to work with people who are passionate about what they do and inspire me to be a better person.

I was raised with wonderful women role models-Aunt Connie, Mother, and Mimi. Annika will surely be blessed by them, as well.

I am continuously blessed by the curiosity of my child. Here she is this morning watching the squirrels outside her window.

I am blessed by many loyal, true friends, whose pictures would take up an extraordinary amount of space. My oldest and dearest being Lori, April, and Cindy.

I am blessed to have recently rekindled old relationships with my dear friends, Anna and Melanie.

I am blessed to be loved and cherished by God the Father and Comforter. He has never forsaken me.

Look closely, and don't overlook your blessings.

The Artist

2008-11-12T21:24:00.004-05:00

I've tried several times lately to get Annika to color or paint. My attempts usually ended with me prying the crayon or paint-covered finger out of her mouth and abandoning the whole idea. Today we tried again with these great toddler crayons. She really enjoyed marking on the paper and then examining what she wrote! She paused several times to point out what she had done and "tell" me all about her artwork. Clear some refrigerator space Grandpa/Bestemor and Nanny/Pop because an artist has arrived!

Look what I did Mommy!

Visit to the farm

2008-11-09T19:46:00.005-05:00

This weekend, Annika got to visit my parents on the farm. It looks like they had a fun-filled weekend! She had a wonderful visit with Nanny and Pop, and she even got to see her Uncle Jud! Geoff and I used the time alone to run errands, try out a new restaurant (Holeman-Finch Public House), and sleep in past 6:30 a.m. We missed our little Butterbean, but she had a terrific time!

The fall decorations at Rutland Farms are always the best!

Hanging out with Uncle Jud.

Post bath snuggle time with Nanny

This photo was taken after we arrived to pick her up. She wasn't quite ready for her visit to be over! Who blames her?

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T08:40:00.005-04:00

Happy Halloween!

Annika received this adorable "Butterbean" costume last year from Bestemor (Geoff's mom, Lily), but it was way too big for her little tiny body. This year Bestemor bought her a great monkey outfit, but we discovered that it was too small as we dressed for her costume party at school. I climbed in the attic, dug out the bean costume and cut some holes for her long legs. She LOVED this costume! She kept leaning her face over on the beans like they were her pillows!

After snapping a few photos at home, Geoff and I took her to EAV-O-WEEN in the village. (We live in East Atlanta Village.) She really enjoyed watching all of the other kids, adults, and especially the dogs, in their costumes. Here's a family shot. Geoff and I didn't sport our costumes until we headed to the Monster Bash on Nash Avenue later on in the evening.

Annika and I have a secret guilty pleasure of watching "Yo Gabba Gabba" on Noggin in the evenings. Our friend, Reid, made this awesome costume and dressed as DJ Lance from the show. Annika kept pointing to him and saying, "Daa" for dance. She bobs her head and dances any time she hears the words, "Yo Gabba Gabba"! The friendly faces from left to right are Annika, Geoff, Princess Aubrey, DJ Lance, and Witch Adrienne carrying their newest family member, Abram.

We hope you had a memorable Halloween! Boo!

Mowing the hardwood floors, just like Daddy!

2008-10-27T20:48:00.005-04:00

A month ago, when Annika turned one, Geoff and I bought her a walk-along toy. Rumor had it that she used the one at daycare all of the time. Of course, as it usually goes with finicky toddlers, she refused to use the toy once Geoff and Grandpa Glenn put it together. She points to it a lot and says, "Wheeee!" since that's the noise we use to entice her to use it, but refuses to push it. Yesterday afternoon, Annika was watching Geoff mow the lawn with the push mower. I guess she thought that Daddy was playing with his "Wheeee!" toy. She immediately came inside and began pushing hers all around the house screaming, "Wheeee!" When she hit the walls or furniture, she yelled "Uh-Oh!" until I came to the rescue.

Was she tired after all of that pushing around the house??? No! Although she's still not walking yet, climbing is on the top of Butterbean's "fun things to do when Mommy's not looking" list. Eating dog food, pulling Geoff's sports collection off the shelf, and putting rocks in her mouth also fall on this list!

Speaking of Geoff's collections. . . the Duff beer plate and fake can is one of his wonderful displays. Please note that it is hidden behind the refrigerator! He looks forward to the day when we have a room for his "stuff", and I do too!

Enjoying the weather

2008-10-22T17:47:00.002-04:00

What a beautiful afternoon! After we got home from school, Annika and I played in the backyard for a bit. Geoff has worked so hard making our backyard a refuge that we can all enjoy. You should have seen the overgrown mess that existed when we moved in four and a half years ago. Annika loves being outside, especially since it means she can pick up rocks, dig in the dirt, and smell the flowers.

She almost stood up by herself . . .then she realized that she wasn't holding on to anything.

She didn't let her first taste of dirt ruin her appetite! Butterbean fed herself the entire dinner I fixed for her-woohoo! She had 1/2 of a rice cake with peanut butter, dried cherries, home-grown tomatoes, some baby food, milk, and rotini with tomato sauce. It's the largest meal she's had in a while, so we were thrilled!

Lunch with "B"

2008-10-20T20:04:00.007-04:00

Any of you who witnessed the tears during the first two months of our first daycare, know what a relief it was when we moved Annika to The Chastain School last March. Miss Beata, aka "B", was a true blessing! Annika learned so much with all of her caregivers (Beata, Deana, Sally, and Vanessa), however Miss "B" was with Butterbean the longest. Unfortunately, we had to leave The Chastain School in August when I got my new job closer to home.

Here is a picture of her last week there.

Annika and I finally got to have lunch with Beata yesterday, and we had a great time catching up and hearing all about her wedding plans! It was so great to see her again, and Annika seemed to know exactly who she was.

We are extremely fortunate that our new daycare, Urban Explorers Preschool, is a wonderful place with wonderful people caring for the little ones there. It gives me great comfort that Annika is loved and appreciated when I can't be with her during the day. I finally understand why all of those parents questioned me so much at Open House every year!

Sleep? What's that?

2008-10-17T19:27:00.006-04:00

It's been a looooong week! I didn't realize how spoiled we were with a child who has slept 12 hours every night since she was a few months old. The cold that Annika had this week put us all behind on catching zzzzzs. The picture below exhibits all of the daytime naps that she's been taking instead. (Sometimes four or five a day!) The carseat proved useful for sleeping when the congestion was too problematic to sleep on her back.

Butterbean woke up several times a night crying every night this week, and the only thing that has seemed to calm her is watching Noggin. I have never been so appreciative of television as a distraction! She is finally on the mend, with a little runny nose and cough hanging around. I wonder if this is related to teething since she's barely eaten since last weekend. She's almost 13 months and has no teeth, so I would be relieved to discover that baby dentures aren't in our future!

Yesterday, she finally felt like playing for a little while. She was fascinated by the stack of "freebie" cups that we keep in the pantry! Later she gave her best buddy, Odin, some lovin'!

Visit to Miami

2008-10-14T11:04:00.000-04:00

We returned last night from a weekend visit to Miami. We headed down so that Annika and I could attend the wedding shower of a family friend, Melissa. Glenn and Geoff went to the UM game instead of hanging around for the fairy tale themed shower.

Visiting with Bestemor and Grandpa was the highlight of Annika's weekend. Although she didn't feel well, she enjoyed swimmng with Bestemor, snuggling with Aunt Allison, visiting with Oldemor, and dancing with Grandpa. Geoff and I actually enjoyed a date night in South Beach, so thanks Grandma and Grandpa!!

Unfortunately, Butterbean actually feels worse today and is home sick. We are headed to visit Dr. Sells momentarily.