More Birthday Visitors

I am woefully late posting anything these days.  Forget trying to post anything while Caleb is underfoot.  Late nights this past week or two have been spent doing odd jobs such as organizing, cleaning the fridge, cleaning up paperwork... etc.  Sometimes when you get caught in a whirlwind of cleaning, you just keep going, and before you know it, it is well past your bedtime.

My birthday was this past Wednesday, and the day started early with a phone call from my sister and her kids, all singing "Happy Birthday, Aunt Courtney" which was too cute for words.  Brian took me out for my traditional birthday breakfast.  I managed to spill my glass of orange juice on my skirt and one leg of Caleb's shorts.  One of the waiters came to bring a wet rag and said something to Caleb like "It's okay, buddy," thinking, of course, that the toddler did it.  I couldn't let my innocent boy take the blame, so I admitted the truth of my clumsy moment.  Brian then drove me to Dunkin Donuts for my iced coffee, because, really, what's a birthday without an iced caffeinated beverage?  Plus I had a coupon for the thing, so it was well worth it.

Brian's parents came down for a visit, and it was so good to spend some time with them.  His mom brought dinner and cake, and that was present enough for me, since combined with breakfast, I didn't have to cook at all that day.  Brian's mom had the difficult task of attempting to prepare food based on a diet that Brian and I are both doing, and she did a great job.  (Okay, of course the cake was a splurge.)

We ended the night with The Game of Life.  I am happy to report that the birthday girl won!  It was a sweet victory, since my husband was gloating about all the money he had during the game, and from the looks of it, seemed to be beating everyone.  After a slow start, I managed to get the highest paying career and I won every single jackpot in the game.  Therefore, a certain someone had to eat humble pie for dessert.  Don't worry; it didn't interfere with the diet. :)

Brian's parents stayed the night and helped us with a few odds and ends around the house.  They definitely enjoyed their time with Caleb, and he did pretty well with them, too.  He always seems to do better with folks when they stick around for a little while and he has time to warm up as opposed to just walking in the door.

It was a good birthday!  The Lord has been very good to me, and I am grateful with the life I have here in PA with my two men.  It is so easy to grow discontent with all of unanswered wants/wishes/desires, but really, I have a good life.

Visit From My Mom & Dad

My parents came up for a visit this past Saturday, just for the day.  Since my birthday is this week, they wanted to make a trip here to celebrate with me.  My mom still works, so she is limited to weekend traveling.  Not to mention that my dad is a volunteer-nanny to my sister's four kids during the weekdays.

We had originally planned to travel this summer.  We have not done so since Christmas.  Call me a whimp, nervous parent, or whatever you want, but I am in no hurry to attempt to travel with our boy. The last time we did we had some disastrous moments, and I guess I am just not too keen on repeating the drama any time soon.  I know there are some parents out there who have no problems dragging their kids anywhere and everywhere- I am not that parent.  I have structured a comfortable routine for him, and while it is not always a picnic here either (he still fights both naps and diaper changes like the enemy), he does know what to expect.  Put him in a strange house in a strange room and leave him there to sleep?  I doubt it very much.

My parents, though they wish we could visit, understand.  So when they offered to come visit, I was delighted.  My mom hit the stores and searched the fliers looking for things she knew I wanted for the house.  Since she lives off of a major highway, she is not far from just about any major retailer. (I MISS those stores being so close!)  I have to say that she did GREAT!

My dad felt that Caleb was a little more shy than he was in May, the last time he saw them.  I'd say it kind of goes up and down.  For example, I had an exterminator/pest control man come to the house in late May when we were being invaded by ants.  Caleb did fine when the guy was here.  One month later, he was a wreck.  I couldn't even put him down in his high chair so that I could fill out the check.  So who knows?  Caleb is definitely shy.  When out in public, he usually gives people The Snub.  I was in Payless the other day, and some lady was crouching in front of him, saying things like, "Hello, sweetheart," and Caleb dramatically turned his face the other way.  I feel like I have to apologize everywhere I go.  (But really, would you want a strange person in your face saying, "Hello, sweetheart?")  One person at our old church said, after trying to hold a terrified Caleb, "This kid needs a social group."  I know he didn't mean it rudely, but it kind of bothered me.  This is our life.  It is just Brian and me.  We do not have family here to visit.  Not too many friends, either.  All of Brian's best friends live elsewhere, and so do mine.  I do not fear that Caleb will grow up to be scared of the world, hiding under a rock and dreading the day he must talk to a human being. Neither Brian nor I are shy, withdrawn people who can't bear the thought of socializing.  We will allow him opportunities to socialize and grow and thrive.

It is okay in my book that he is shy right now.  Better that than willing to walk off with any strange person.

So enough of that tangent.

It was wonderful to spend some time with my parents.  I know they liked seeing Caleb, who is definitely more of the mystery grandchild, since all their other grandkids live close.

Next up:  Brian's parents!  They are also coming this week to help me ring in a new year.  So as you can see, my cup runneth over.

Trip To The Zoo And The Mall (And A Deck Update)

There's nothing like trying to come up with blog post titles when writing about multiple, completely unrelated things.  Hence the above title.

Last Saturday, we finally made the trip to the zoo, after missing the exit on the interstate and having to drive totally out-of-the-way and doubling back again.  We did make it at long last.  As to be expected, it was difficult to get Caleb to focus on the animals.  He would look at people around us, or something else altogether, but I can say for certain that he saw the giraffe, the lions, the cougar, and perhaps the black panther.

Here are a few pictures from the day:

And the deck is coming along.... slooooowly.  Good grief.  Why do there have to be so many thunderstorms?  Yes, I know all about the cold air and hot air meeting.  Upon checking the forecast, it was supposed to be storm-free today.  We were planning on finishing the floor of the deck. Then, a pop-up appeared from The Weather Channel, calling for thunderstorms in the early afternoon. I thought, maybe, just maybe, we could get a coat on and it would dry before the storms came.  I checked the paint can, and it said it should be rain-free for twenty-four hours.  And the forecast is calling for thunderstorms through Tuesday.  Folks, I am running out of patience.  We haven't even been able to sit on the deck with all the furniture piled haphazardly.

If you are thinking, "You're almost done!" you would be quite wrong.  We still need to do underneath, the legs, the support beams, etc., etc., etc.  At this point, painting the front steps seems like a distant dream for another year.

These are just the outside projects.  There are a number of things that need doing inside.

Other than trying to get some paint done in between storms, we managed to make a trip to the mall on Tuesday.  I used to live twenty minutes away from the mall back in NJ.  It was a small mall, but it was my mall, and I loved it.  I knew just where to find the bargains.  We hadn't been to the mall since December, and we decided it was time to go.  Of course, priorities, I hit the Orange Julius stand first, and then we made our way to Auntie Anne's Pretzels.  Then we shopped.  I didn't get as much as I needed because it is hard to shop with a little one who needs to get home to nap at some point, but I did manage to get a very smart-looking, oh-so-cozy jacket for the fall, a lovely purple t-shirt with a crochet design at the collar, and Brian got two pairs of shorts.  The jacket was a total splurge that Brian convinced me to get.  It was on clearance for $24.99, but in my world, that is not clearance (should be under $10, folks), but Brian thought it looked good on me and while I wrestled with the decision of spending so much, I caved in and allowed him to talk me into it.  I still felt guilty after the purchase, but I do like it, and I know it will be worn a lot.

As far as traveling goes, we are still up in the air.  We thought we would be doing so, but we're knee-deep in house projects, and I just know Caleb won't sleep when we travel.  So... we are putting off that decision for now.  My parents decided to make a day-trip next weekend to see us, so we're definitely excited about that.  My wonderful mom is already getting ready by hitting the stores and buying me things that I need because it is such a pain for me to get to the stores.  (Of course, she will be fully reimbursed.)

That's what's going on in our world!

Update at 9:40 p.m.:  No rain ever came!  We could have painted our two coats and then some! Now we will have to wait until Wednesday, until the next round of thunderstorms passes through. Lord willing, we will get that floor done then!

Off To A Good Start

Brian began his first week of summer break this past Monday.  Honestly, the schools in NY get out sooooooo late.  This Jersey girl just isn't used to it.  I always remember one of my Spanish teachers in high school said that she'd catch up on all of her cleaning once school was over and finally be able to relax on the Fourth of July.  I tried to do the same when I was a teacher.  For us, it seems that Brian's break is only just beginning.

We have a list of house projects we want to work on this summer.  In all honesty, we probably can't get them all done.  The worker in me is desperate to complete as much as humanly possible, but the other part of me calls out to that over-zealous doer, "It is okay to have some fun, too."  Poor Brian.  He did marry a girl who doesn't know how to relax so well.  I have to pause and remind myself that Caleb won't always be so small, and I highly doubt that I'll remember all the house projects that we did or didn't get done.  I will remember his smiles, his giggles, and the way he studies the world around him.  He is a wonder, and I don't want to get caught up in always cleaning, or always organizing, or always doing laundry that I miss the important moments.

Our deck is currently in upheaval as we started painting it this past Tuesday.  We haven't gotten far as we've had to contend with lots of torrential downpours since our work that day, but we managed to get half of the side of the deck done.  (Those individual posts take forever.)  Once we get to the floor, that will be a breeze with the roller.  Brian will most likely complete the bottom and underneath by himself.  As it is, I can only really help when Caleb is napping.

We also finally got Caleb into his pool!  He loved it!  (But... he did not like me changing him into his swimsuit and changing him out of it afterward.  Oh, the drama!)

I am so thankful for this hand-me-down swimsuit.  One of the many things Caleb inherits from big cousins Matthew and Nathan.  I'm so glad it isn't just swim shorts, but a swim top as well.  I have had two incidents of skin cancer- caught early on and surgically removed- (as well as many other potential cases), but since it is genetic, Caleb will be prone to these issues as well.  Unlike my own childhood in which I laid out in the sun in order to try to tan myself (impossible as well as foolish... I am fair and it cannot be changed), Caleb's skin will not be allowed to see the light of day without shirts with sleeves, healthy, chemical-free sunscreen, and large, floppy hats.

Tomorrow, we are planning on going to the zoo, the thing we have been waiting to do with Caleb since the long winter.  While we have tons at home to do, including getting that deck painted, even I have to admit sometimes you just have to shake it all off and let your hair down.

It is wonderful to have Brian home and to be a family of three!

Finding A New Church Home

After months of debating the issue, Brian and I decided to leave the church we've been calling home for the past two and a half years.  It wasn't an easy decision, but one that we felt that we had to make.

We started attending about three weeks after we were married.  We didn't go consistently at first, because Brian was still involved with his old church, but we liked it, and slowly it became our home. Brian was asked to step up and lead the worship, which he happily did.  The church was a short drive from our old apartment, and life was pretty grand.

After we moved into our house, the short drive became a thing of the past.  We would usually leave by ten o'clock to comfortably make the eleven o'clock service.  Not that it took an hour to get there, but Brian needed time to warm up on his horn.  It became increasingly more difficult as going there and coming home again began to interfere with at least one, or perhaps both, of Caleb's naps, depending on the day.  Many times Caleb was still sleeping when we needed to leave, so we stayed behind while Brian went without us.  (The rule is:  "Never wake a sleeping baby.")

Our current pastor also decided to retire at the end of this month, so the timing just seemed right.

It was a tough decision because the people there were so good to us, throwing us a surprise shower before Caleb was born, and making meals for us after.  It made it really hard to move on, but we feel strongly that we need to simplify our lives.  I'm so tired of driving far to get everywhere.  It is just plain exhausting!  Some things cannot be controlled, but some can.

We've been looking into a church down the road from us... much shorter of a drive!  We went once so far to visit, and while we did like the church, we had a difficult time with Caleb's restlessness that day.  It is a one room church, not an actual church building, and there was no where to bring him during his fussy moments.  We are attempting to train him to sit on our laps for a period of time, but goodness, an hour and a half is tough for any thirteen month old.

This church is currently going through a tough time financially, and they are not sure they will be able to keep the room they rent in several months time.  We want to go where God leads us, and we continue to seek His guidance and direction as we make this important decision.

All this to say, it's been an emotional roller coaster of sorts.  I didn't like saying goodbye to the people at our church, but if I'm honest with myself, I felt kind of hardened to the whole thing. Normally, my heart is a mushy mess.  I know I have some walls around my heart ever since I left home... I left so many good friends and family.  It is so hard to make friends these days, especially as a stay-at-home mom.  My friends were people with whom I worked, with whom I was in the trenches day-to-day as we strove to serve the Lord in Christian school.  The casual hellos and how-do-you-dos at church once a week don't allow a deep friendship to form... so it's hard.

I am hoping, that in time, a closer church might lead to meaningful friendships due to the simple factor that the people in attendance will live closer to us, unlike the church we are leaving behind.  It will take time, I know, but I am hopeful.

Please pray for us as we seek to become a part of a new church fellowship.

Let's Pause A Moment Please...

I'm speaking more to myself here.  Brian has just begun his last week of school for the year, and I am ridiculously excited about it.  I must pause and gather my thoughts, because this is the only week of the year that I can look forward to almost two months (not quite with required staff days in August) together as a family with the overall busyness coming to a near standstill.

I personally am not all that busy.  I am to a degree, yes, taking care of my baby and my home. There is ALWAYS work to be done, and never a single moment where I can say, "I have nothing to do."  However, I'm not "busy" with out-of-the-house stuff.  I like a simple life, and besides doctor's appointments, there's no commitments I have to be at such and such time and place.

Brian, however, is busy enough for the both of us.  With his full-time job, part-time job, and the extras that come along with his full-time job, enough is enough.  My sister even once said to me while I was explaining to her how many nights Brian had to be gone for something at his work (perhaps the school play), "I hate his job."  It is so nice to get sympathy from my big sis.

Everyone seems to think school teachers have it made.  Summer's off!  Who doesn't want that? While that part is very nice, Brian works like a slave during the year, and sometimes I do wish he just worked a 9-5 job and was home for good and that was that.  No nights.  No weekends running to this band festival or that play rehearsal.  (And for the record, many events in his school's county are very far from us, for example, one hour or more.)  Many times I feel like a single parent.

I MISS my husband a lot.  So this week, I am relishing the fact that we have a whole summer before us.  Of course, it will go way too fast.  We'll blink and tomorrow it will be September 1st.  We'll scratch our heads and wonder where the days all went.  But for TODAY, I get to soak up the wonder of this moment.  Next Monday, Brian won't be running off to work.  We'll wake up early (Caleb won't let us sleep in), but Brian will enjoy breakfast with us.  We won't watch him leave wearing his dress shirt and tie.  We'll enjoy some lazy mornings, and perhaps I'll even learn to relax a bit, since another person will be here to help me watch Caleb.  (Only a bit, folks.  Someone has got to keep the order here.)

We have a long "to-do" list.  Endless house/cleaning projects need our attention.  We want to work hard and take advantage of the time.  However, we want to play hard, too.  It is time for long walks with Caleb.  Trips to the park.  Ice cream outings.  The long-awaited trip to the zoo.  In August, we'll bring Caleb to the fair... the fair where Daddy paid for Mommy's entrance fee a few years ago- the first time he ever paid my way for anything.  (It was not a date.  We went with our friends and their three kids.)

Summer is before us, with so many things to look forward to.  My birthday.  Our anniversary. Perhaps we'll try to travel (oh, how I dread traveling with Caleb when he really has learned to sleep well in his crib).  I feel like all of our longing and waiting has paid off.  We get to be a family, a real family, for an entire summer.

May we not take A. Single. Moment. For. Granted.

Father's Day

Brian celebrated his second Father's Day this past Sunday.  While round one (last year), was a thrill, I wouldn't say this year received second prize.  Caleb is so much fun now, and he absolutely loves his daddy.

I dressed him in his "Handsome Just Like My Daddy" onesie, on which he promptly managed to smear his sweet potato cereal puffs.  Really, he never does that.  I don't normally put a bib on him for cereal puffs because they are a non-messy food, but somehow he managed to make it messy.

Brian had a concert in the late afternoon where he was being paid to play his horn.  The event was over an hour away, and since we didn't want to split up on Father's Day, we brought Caleb along. Let's just say it was an exhausting time of holding him.  We didn't have the stroller because it was in the other car, and no way was I letting my baby crawl on a disgusting floor.  My arms were definitely tired by the end.  When the concert was over, I took Caleb to the car so I could give my poor muscles a rest, and I pulled the car up so Brian could come right to us.  It was a long day, but I was glad we could all be together.

Caleb loves his daddy.  When he hears the door opening in the late afternoons, he crawls as fast as he can so he can get a look.  He knows Daddy is arriving, and he wants to be picked up as soon as can be.  I don't think Caleb is more content any place than he is on top of Daddy's shoulders (except for nursing, of course).

I married a wonderful husband, and he's a fantastic father to our little boy.  Caleb is in for some pretty amazing years ahead.