It's Finally Here!

Yesterday, was the start of a great week! Finally, my television shows will premier. I know I am a total dork but I get super excited about it. I sat down with the TV guide and highlighted everything that I want to either view or tivo so I don't miss a thing! I just look forward to mindless entertainment after a long day and it's another sign that fall is just around the corner.

The Emmy's kicked if off last night. Brent thinks those shows are excruitating to watch but I like to see who wins, what shows are nominated and who looks stunning. There were quite a few beauties last night! I really liked Brooke Shields dress and thought Mariska Hargitay looked fantastic. Christina Applegate had too much black eye make up on and it ruined it for me, Marcia Cross has me on the fence and Eva Longoria good very well be pregnant. Overall the show had it's ups and downs. The beginning monologue wasn't great and of course they ran out of time, rushing everyone at the end. I wonder if they ever learn. We topped off the night with True Blood on HBO. Great new series. I hate waiting seven days between eposides.

Tonight's schedule makes my husband happy, more so than me. Hero's has been long awaited and Terminator is a new love. I think my shows will take a back seat (Dancing with the stars is entertaining and Boston Legal is hysterical). Honestly, I don't mind. Brent can have one day to control the remote and it makes good use of the Tivo. Tomorrow's highlight is The Biggest Looser. I just think that show is fantastic. The transformations are amazing and every time Gillian is on I get motivated to go lift weights. I wish I could have her body, she is so buff.

I won't bore you with the weekly agenda but in the days ahead Fringe, House, Gray's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, The Office, Samantha Who, Damages, Eli Stone, 90210 and the Worst Week will all be coming to prime time and to my family room. I hope all of you can find some time to cozy up on the couch!

It's Monday Already....

I am not sure who thought two days was sufficient. They must not have had a family. The weekends are simply too short. Our time with Brent should be longer, five days seems more appropriate. His work week often calls for long hours and we do not see much of him. We miss him, Thomas and I. The weekends allow us to catch up, be together. Saturday the three of us went to the pool. I am not sure who loves it more, Thomas or Brent. Thomas has no fear. He would walk right off the side if he could. He lays on his back and kicks. He turns his head to the side as if taking a breath in the middle of a freestyle stroke and jumps off the ledge. Brent loves carrying him around the pool, wading in and out of the waterfalls and taking him down this HUGE water slide. It makes my heart stop but I know he wouldn't let anything happen to him. I think more than anything Brent loves seeing how he much he has changed over five work days.

Saturday night Brent and I had a date. We actually made an attempt to get out of our "playing in the yard with a one year" clothes and look human. We went downtown to DC and had an amazing dinner at Oceanaire (coming to Phoenix soon). It was so great to be with my husband, have a glass of wine (or two), eat without being interrupted and talk. I'd tell you what we had but it's embarrassing the amount of food ordered and consumed. We didn't hold back, if it sounded good we ordered it and the bill was proof.

It didn't take a night out with my husband to realize how much I love him. It just reinforced it. I am so lucky to have found such a supportive friend to be my partner. He sacrifices for us and never complains. He moved across the country so I could be closer to my family, leaving his. He leaves the house before the sun is up and isn't home until it's down, with a long commute each way. He pays the bills, changes the breaks on the car, and fixes the crib after I break it every other week. He doesn't complain when there is nothing for dinner or when the house looks like a tornado hit.

I'm blessed to have someone who tells me things will be ok and holds my hand, someone who supports my dream to be a stay at home mom, and someone who chooses to be involved. Often giving up X Box, Sunday football games, happy hours, and the gym so he can be at home with his family, changing dirty diapers, chasing, bathing and reading books. He is a great Dad and T adores him. I cannot wait to see the two of them when Thomas is a little older.

He is the greatest and the weekends are not enough.

Is It Nap Time Yet?

I've been in kind of a funk lately. No reason in particular. Could be that my recent hair cut didn't turn out how I had envisioned. Could be that I miss my girlfriends. Could be that my life is a little disorganized. As Thomas grows more clothes fill the closets and more toys are thrown though out the house. Our space seems to get more cluttered and our room a dumping ground. I don't want to get too settled (set up a desk, file cabinet etc.) because I hope a move is in our future, why set up just to have to pack it and move it? However, for the sake of my sanity I may have to do something....soon. Although, this all seems trivial during "the best part of the day".

The best part of the day is putting T down for his naps. Not because he will soon be sleeping quietly or because I will have a moment to myself but because I have fifteen minutes to cuddle and appreciate my son.

We have a routine. Upstairs to change his diaper and depending on our morning activities a good wipe down with a wash cloth. His favorite blue blanket and passifier are grabbed from his crib. Immediately, the blanket is pressed into his face and he puts his head on my shoulder. I too can smell the sweet sent that is attached to it and love that it provides comfort to us both. We move to the chair (the absolute best purchase we made) and I place him in the crook of my left arm. Nessled in his blanket lays on his chest and he waits for the bottle. I start rocking. As I sway he drinks his milk. He bends his little legs and tries to touch his toes, blanklet in hand. I can't help but think he is amazing, his arms flare in the air and feet rub against the arm of the chair. I think he likes the way the swade feels on his bare feet. I wonder what thoughts are flowing though his head. He is so perfect and we are so lucky.

I notice that each day he seems to get bigger. I dread the day he will no longer fit horizontally in the chair. In the meantime, I kisss his forhead, message his legs and tell him that his momma loves him. The bottle disappears faster than I like. Sometimes, he looks up at me and smiles. I can't help but smile back. He thinks I'm giving him permission to play. It's time for bed, where Big Bird awaits. I lay him in his bed, he stretches out and lets me cover him up. Passifier in place, Big Bird beside him and blue blanket scrunched up in his arms, our quite time is up.

It is during this time, when the house is quiet and it's just us that I forget about everything else. I appreciate what I have been given and remember that many have less. At such a young age T teaches me, puts things in perspective and manages to pull me out of my "funk". What a kid!

Happy Labor Day

It was just the three of us this weekend, my parents went to the beach. Our time together started on Friday. Brent was given the day off because he worked a tremendous amount Monday through Thursday. It's nice that he is working for a company that appreciates him and rewards his hard work. Friday afternoon we went to the library. I stocked up on interesting books about trucks, fire engines, airplanes and animals. We have enough books to read a different one every day for a month. Hey, there is no limit and why read the same book a hundred times? It was raining so we ended our day with a Brent Ryan favorite, BBQ pizza from Papa Johns, a beer and a movie.

After feeding T breakfast Saturday morning we headed out for a jog and a look at the ducks. We get our exercise and Thomas is entertained as we run around the lake. I enjoyed it. The weather was perfect and the all the greenery still amazes us. To make sure we had the perfect balance of consumed calories and burned calories we came home and had pancakes by Chef Brent. If you have not experienced Brent's Breakfasts you are missing out! It negated all of our hard work but it was worth it, they were delicious! After T had a nap we headed out to the park. The park was fun but it was more humid and the sun was bright. We didn't stay long, just enough time for T to burn some energy. On the way home we stopped at one of my favorite farms. We got some fresh peaches and sweat corn. Local farms are another attraction that make me love the east. Ripe produce and the smell of the market.....yum.

Sunday was our busiest day of the weekend. We took Thomas to our local Airpark Cafe and had a great breakfast. We sat outside. The weather was beautiful and we had plenty of shade at a prime table. We had a great view of planes taking off and landing. T was in heaven. Airplanes are his favorite. He can hear them miles away while in the house!

This is Thomas' sign for airplane (arm raised, fingers to the sky). A slight variation on the true sign language sign, he is close!

After our bellies were nice and full we headed off to a great park (Cabin John)! It has lots of shade and a big playground for toddlers. T had fun, he climbed and slid and ran. It was perfect. They also had this fabulous little train. We bought our tickets and waited in the station. So cute! While we waited T fell backwards and with nothing to brace his fall he slammed his head into the concrete. I was a few steps away and I heard it. It makes me cringe just thinking about it. It was so loud. He was hysterical and I was panicked. We ran to the car where I had some cold ice packs and attempted to put ice on it (T didn't like that idea). We got him settled down and he seemed to be ok. I wondered if we should head for the hospital but our train was pulling into the station and he was beginning to act like himself. The whole ride I kept looking at his eyes to make sure they weren't dilated and feeling bumps. Our little guy must have a hard head cause he showed no signs of a concussion. The train had T in a trance. I am not sure he knew what it was but it sure had him looking.






Our Labor Day Weekend was ended today with a walk to Einstein's for bagels, some outside play, a little time with the hose and burgers on the grill. I had such a great weekend with my family. We missed Grandma and Grandpa but it was really nice to have the house to ourselves and be together. I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend as much as we enjoyed ours.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

September 3rd marks my Grandmother's 93rd birthday! Born on a farm into a family of 11, she and her sister were the second set of twins born into the family. She met Harold Lester Wenning (Todd), my Grandfather, at a steel plant were they worked. She in the cafeteria and he as a supervisor. They married on New Years Eve 1939 and moved into a house which they helped build. The little white house on Georgetown Road was home for 63 years. It was there they raised four children and built memories. I traveled to that house for 26 years and fondly remember the details that made it a home. The door knobs with large key holes below that allowed you to peak into the room, the basement that could be a little scary, the pink bathroom with the fun rhyme above the toilet, the yard with wooden figures, the garage that barely fit a car and the kitchen with the bread box on white the counter.

Grandma is a great cook, it legendary. I've tried follow her instructions but somehow it never tastes quite as good, "it's just not Grandma's". I wish I could tell you about all of my favorite dishes but there are too many to count. Her strawberry jelly, corn, sweet potatoes, puddings, cakes and cookies are just the tip of the iceberg and disappear before you can blink! Delish!

After her children were grown she continued to be a caregiver, cleaning other peoples homes and sewing. She is amazing. I am not sure I have ever known anyone to work so hard. Growing up I have memories of her sitting down for a few moments only to be up offering someone something to eat or drink, always saying "What can I get you?". She would come visit and would clean our home, washing windows, doing laundry, and dusting. I am not sure if Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is inherited but if it is I know where I got it. I am thrilled to have received such a quality trait from her!

She moved into her apartment six years ago and continues to live independently. She is a little slower but not by much. She reads everyday, plays bridge and visits with her friends over dinner. I can only hope to be as young as she is at 93!

To help her welcome another year we made our first long road trip to Canton Ohio this past weekend. Home to the Football Hall of Fame, cousins and Grandmother! Unfortunately, Brent was not able to go because he had to work so my parents and sister filled in!

I was a little nervous about how Thomas would do, sitting in a car for six hours but he did great! We stopped about half way and let T play on the playground. Of course, I had to wiped him down excessively after! He was so well behaved and was in awe of all the trucks on the road.

We had such a nice visit. I am so glad we went! I was trying to remember the last time I was there and I think it was about three years ago. Way too long! It was so great to see everyone enjoying T. It's funny how life comes full circle, I remember loving on Seth and Samantha as babies, going in to get them from their naps and chasing them around the yard. Now, I watch as they do that with my son.

Saturday morning we went to see Samantha (my cousin) run which is always a treat because she is so talented. She came in first and ran well. It was here first meet as a Senior and I was happy that we were there to see it. Go Sam!
Seth kept us entertained with his antics, wish I had a picture. There was a skunk outside Saturday night and I swore it was underneath the window. It was so close the whole house smelled. Despite the horrible stench he was out in the yard, cell phone in hand to provide light (ridiculous) and a broom. I can't say his witch hunt was a success, the smell was there the next morning.

Saturday night was topped off with a bbq in the backyard. The weather was beautiful. Thomas had a fabulous time. He played in the dirt for hours with our corn cobs. I know it's a bit gross but it kept him entertained. He has never been that dirty in his 13 months of life. Good times!

Life Lessons

Little things make me happy. I love watching Tori & Dean In Love. I never used to be a fan but I think she is fantastic! We could totally be friends. I love the weather today. It's fairly cool and cloudy with rain threatening. I love this time in my life, living with my parents watching them interact with T. It's is something I will always treasure. I love it when it's just the three of us, spending time together as a family. I love laughing with Brent when Thomas does something amazing. I love watching Micheal Phelps make history and listening to Brent's commentary. I love a cold beer on a Friday night,take out, the beach, working up a good sweat and having a long conversation with a good friend.

Oprah always encourages people to be "present". That's always been my goal but somehow I always seem to be enjoying myself so much that I forget to stop, take a breath and savor it. Lately, that has changed. I have discovered what it's like to be in the moment and truly appreciate it. I don't want to miss a second!

Whew!

I can't believe it's already the middle of August! We have had a busy couple of weeks! Brent's Mom, Donna, was here in July to help us celebrate Thomas' birthday and see the sights! It was so nice to see her, we had a great time. We took a tour of the The White House, went to The National Zoo, had lunch at the Inner Harbor and did a car tour of Baltimore (saw Brent's office etc.). We even managed to get in some pool time!


The next week we were off to the beach! We spent two weeks on the shore! It was fantastic. Brent was able to take the entire time off of work so we got in some quality time with Daddy. We really enjoyed having him around twenty four seven, T just adores him. They have so much fun chasing each other around and rough housing. Brent even taught him to jump on the bed (well, as much as a one year old can jump).

The weather was perfect and Thomas became a regular beach baby! He loved the sand and played with his shovels and buckets everyday. He would see Brent and the rest of the family in the ocean and just screech and point. Dying to get out there. Brent would come get him and take him in. He thought he was so big! He loved it until the water touched his little toes, then he didn't think it was so fun anymore! I have to say it was awfully cold. I could hardly blame him. We just had to keep him above water :)


My Mom's family arrived the second week, 38 people packed into four different houses. It was fun to see my cousins, who I had not seen in a long time. Besides sitting under the sun on the beach we ate dinner together every night. Each sibling (there are 7) in my Mom's family took a night and made a huge meal for all the hungry swimmers. Feeding 40 people isn't easy but each night we had something delicious! There were two people missing plus spouses so it wasn't quite a complete family reunion but it was close!

Our first family vacation was full of activity but it was so much fun! Can't wait till next year!