Flashback Friday: High on the Hog

My mom and I travelled to Knoxville a good fifteen months before my wedding to start planning.  It was going to be a quick trip and our agenda was packed with dress shopping, visits to churches and a wide range of reception locations.  With my limited knowledge of Knoxville, I had narrowed our focus to a hotel ballroom, historic home overlooking the Smoky Mountains, a catering hall with character and a barbecue joint.

The day was long and I was getting discouraged with prices and logistics.  I knew I was going to have to make some sacrifices from my Father of the Bride fantasies, but I didn't think I'd have to settle on a reception with one bathroom or a walk along the train tracks.  So, when I entered the event space above the barbecue joint, I knew I had found a winner.  There were floor to ceiling windows on three walls with views overlooking the Tennessee River.  I wouldn't have to rent tents and there were enough bathrooms to accomodate my 100+ guest list, not to mention the amazing menu.  It was almost perfect.

I could only identify one major problem.  The hostess stand proudly sold pig hats.  Sure, I wanted my guests from California, Washington and Minnesota to get a taste of Tennessee culture, but I didn't think their first impression should be of Porky the Pig.  I let my snobby side take a backseat to the practical and signed the contracts.  When I got back to DC, Any Tom, Dick or Bobby that asked about our wedding plans would get an earnest warning and an earful of the pig hats.  I did not want anyone to think I had fooled myself into believing I had secured the Taj Mahal for the festivities.

I should have known I was asking for it. At the end of the night, our best man gave me a pig hat to celebrate. But at that point in the evening, the dj had already played Cotton Eyed Joe and Rocky Top not once, but twice. There were no airs left to be had. Four years later, I can finally repay him for his generosity.

What We Learned: Nine Months

This past month has served up plenty of change.  While Bennett got off to a rough start, he learned to roll with the punches and adapt to the new people, new places, new sounds and new schedules.  I think all of this newness has led Bennett to cling to the old and familiar, mainly mom.  I certainly don't mind.  He's learned to show his old lady lots of love.

Bennett learned to reach his arms out for me.

We learned that a two bedroom condo is a tight fit for four adults, a baby and a dog.

Bennett learned to clap.

We learned how to harmonize to "yay Bennett."

Bennett learned that mobility is a good thing.

We learned to live with a month's worth of clutter in one bedroom.

Bennett learned that you can get from one point to another rolling.

We learned that we have too much stuff.

Bennett learned to wiggle his butt.

We learned that we couldn't have done this without the grandparents and the world's greatest aunt.

Bennett learned to give kisses, just in time to show his appreciation.

You'd think with all this stuff, we'd have thought to pack the camera chords.  Yay Bennett and Yay for iPhones!

Flashback Friday: Bar Boy

Three and a half years ago, we gathered to celebrate our friends Chris and Katie's wedding.  When two former school classmates walk down the aisle, it's a good excuse for a reunion and another opportunity to reminisce.  But, you would think that with a table of reasonably intelligent lawyers, they'd pick up on a subtle detail.  We were seated at "October 17, 2007."  It took appetizers, the salad course and a story from the bride for us to realize October 17 was also Pass Day.  You would think passing the bar is an unforgettable event, no?

I left Rocky home with Bennett the week before the bar exam.  The last time around, I distracted Rocky from studying with a move, a wedding and a honeymoon.  I hope a few nights apart and a few night shifts with the baby don't change the outcome.  Send the boy lots of positive thoughts and a few prayers this week!

Big Fish in a Small Pond

When I interviewed for my job, a member of the board asked me if I thought this position was perhaps a step backward on my career path.  Since I was well on my way to being Supreme Ruler of the Universe, I had to be honest.  I was looking forward to being a big fish in a small pond.  But in the past three weeks, I've learned I am more a guppy, and less baracuda.  At least I have learned that my pond most closely resembles a fish bowl.  

To prove my point and ruffle my feathers (or bloat my gils?):

• The news of my hire made the front page of the Nashville newspaper's real estate section.  Above the fold.  Color picture.  Thankfully, not google-able. 
• Every meeting from Chamber of Commerce to the County Commission begins with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance.  Welcome to the buckle of the bible belt!
• My second week of work, I worked a twelve hour day.  That never once happened in my seven years in Washington.
• Following my first committee meeting, I received a round of applause.  I wish I could take more credit for a job well done, but I think they were just grateful I am of the bashful guppy type and not a long-winded, blow-hard politico. 

But being a big fish in a small pond has also led to swimming in the deep end.  I'm in Memphis for a conference.  I thought my Washington expertise prepared me for leading a small association's political efforts.  Wrong.  I have so much to learn.  I am filling my days with break-out sessions on coalition building, fundraising and ethics and filling my belly with lots of barbecue. 

It's also the longest I've been away from Bennett and I miss him terribly.  Irony of ironies, I missed Bennett's first time in the pool.  Like his momma, he took to it like a fish to water.

Jump for Joy

It's hard to tell what might have made this three year old girl jump for joy.  Perhaps I was being lured with promises of Cheez Its or greeted by Rainbow Bright herself. Maybe I just liked those fuzzy pink ribbons in my pigtails.

Today, it's no secret what is making me jump for joy.  Yesterday, the final papers were signed on the sale of our house.  We signed on the dotted line.  The funds were transferred.  The keys were handed over to the new owners.  It's a wonderful exclamation point on the end of our time in Arlington.  Sold!

Yet, it's still hard to close that chapter.  I loved our little house.Everyone always remarked how much they liked our little porthole window, painted shut.  Folks wondered what was behind that little door on the stairs,72 year old plumbing.

I'll never forget when Atticus jumped into the window seat, only to find the door open and he fell inside.  We realized he had gotten stuck inside 10 minutes later, all alone.

Our fabulous kitchen.  It wasn't our blood sweat and tears that went into the remodel, but we did have to survive eight weeks of construction and subsisted on pizzas during a blizzard. 

The original tile floors in the bathroom.  The original windows that depending on the day, wouldn't open.  The fireplace with the flue that we could never quite figure out.

Goodbye little house!

A Week In Pictures and a Return to Normalcy

We're still bunking with the grandparents.  With Rocky's arrival, Bennett seems to be back to his normal, smiley self.  This also allows for extra cuddle time and lounging until noon in our jammies.

Deep Thoughts

When Grandma Babysits, Forget About Bedtime

Captain Peg Leg's Pirate School -- Learn to Say Argh!

Gimme Your Booty and No One Gets Hurt

Flashback Friday: Tooth Fairy

I remember the day I lost my first tooth like it was yesterday.  Being one of the youngest students in my class growing up, I was always behind on the developmental milestone curve compared to my peers.  That poor six year old was just devastated that she had yet to lose a tooth!

I was totally delighted to learn that bottom tooth was finally beginning to budge.  I worked on that little tooth for days and days.  It eventually popped out and I ran around the house showing it off to my disgusted parents and jealous baby sister.  Victory and bloody gums were mine!

Perhaps I got a bit too excited because in all of my celebrating, that baby tooth went flying into the air and disappeared.  I cried buckets knowing that I had lost my chance of a big tooth fairy payout.  My parents tried to console me and promised that the tooth fairy would undoubtedly make an exception for losing my first tooth twice in one day.  I wasn't going to give up and I found that tooth miraculously before bedtime to tuck it safely under my pillow.

When I called my sister to give her the big news that Bennett's top teeth were coming in, I worried that they were a little, shall we say, big for baby teeth?  She told me not to worry, he'd lose them one day.  I had to remind poor Mary that they would just come in even bigger!  At least with teeth that size, I don't have to worry about losing them in the couch cushions.