10 Things I'm Grateful For Today

1. The way Hayden says "uh-oh" right after she throws or drops something (more often throws).  That little face is so cute and sweet, and it makes me want to laugh everytime, even though I can't let her see.
2. The sun is out this morning, and I didn't have to wear a coat to work!
3. Daylight Savings Time - loving the longer evenings!
4. Getting to spend a wonderful weekend with friends, family and good food.
5. Getting to watch Hayden play with her Poppie yesterday.
6. How easily Hayden goes to bed at night, and how wonderfully she sleeps now!
7. Hayden's love of books and reading.
8. My new low-maintenance haircut.
9. Hobbies that make me happy.  Right now, I'm hooked (no pun intended) on crocheting.  Next week will be scrappin' time again!
10. My dear, wonderful Husband, whom I love unconditionally and trust unequivocally.  At a time when we are witnessing the devestation that crumbling relationships can wreak on our friends' families, I am grateful for the rock our marriage is built on, and for the relationship we both work hard to maintain.  For our child's sake.  For our sake.

Have a wonderful Monday, everyone!  I hope you can find 10 things to be grateful for this beautiful morning.  May God bless you and keep you all!

Passing the time...

On our vacation last week, Carrie convinced me to start a new project with her (ok, I kind of just elbowed in or her project, same diff) instead of going cross-eyed reading old rags, and last night, I FINALLY finished it! Voila! Here is my new boardwalk tote!

Thanks to Carrie, who got me back into the crocheting groove...I spent my whole lunch hour looking up new patterns to start! Now, I just have to find the time to do them!  Ahh, the best-laid plans.  For now, I'm going to enjoy this one shining example of my success (and my HUGE bag... this thing could carry Hayden if it were strong enough. Seriously.  Hard to tell from the picture, but it is ginormous!).

One of these things is not like the other

This weekend, Chris and I discovered one of the first major opinions Hayden has made that differs very much from our own.  One of her first forays into becoming her own little individual self.

She LOVES the beach.

It's not so much that I mind the beach is that, 1) I am not very fond of swimming or playing in waters where there are a) animals abiding, and b) waters I cannot see into, and 2) I cannot stand the never-ending presence of the sand in my clothes, hair, fingernails, cracks and crevices, not to mention car, purse, nose, did I mention fingernails and crevices? once you I have been to the beach.  These two things keep me from enjoying most trips to the seaside, although I am fond of the Carribean for its amazing clear blue water, and I do enjoy laying out in the sun a bit, with a chair and a little shade to retreat to every once in awhile.

Chris, on the other hand, has little use for the beach at all.  He shares my sentiments about the sand, although probably not to the OCD degree that I do, and he's not much for swimming or playing in the water, just because that's not his thing.

So between us, we've spent probably no more than 3 or 4 hours at any beaches, total, since we've been married.  Just not our gig.  But we do enjoy taking the occasional walk in the sand, walking to the ocean's edge, maybe even dipping a toe or two in the water, and looking for seashells.  That was our objective when we stopped by the public strand in Fernandina last weekend, but we were amazed with an entirely unexpected discovery:  Hayden was in her element.

She loved the sand, picking it up and letting it run through her fingers.  Flinging small handfuls at nothing in particular.  Digging up shells from the soggy grains and carrying them with her like small treasures.

The water was a huge fascination as well.  We couldn't let her go or stand her up by herself because she would break and run for the waves the second we did. 

She was so eager to go pell-mell into the water.  Chris held her right at the water's edge, and they would watch the waves come lapping up the edge of the beach, spilling closer and closer... until... at the last moment possible, Chris would lift her above the swell and dash backwards, keeping (mostly) just out of the ocean's reach.  This game delighted Hayden to no end, and I think had we let her, would have entertained her for the better part of the afternoon.

I think I may have just discovered my first reason to really love going to the beach, and Chris and I agreed that we need to plan a trip to the beach this year, to let Hayden continue her explorations, and once the weather warms, get her first dip into the salty spray to see if she likes it as much as she thinks she will.  In the meantime, we have a fistful of shells and some amazing memories of this wonderful day to tide us over (pun intended).

PS - Thanks to Carrie and Joel for most of the great photos here!

God made dirt...

...and dirt don't hurt!

At least that's Hayden's stance on the matter. Still enjoying the new-found benefits of warmer weather and the additional evening daylight, Hayden helped me weed for a bit in the flower beds this evening.  Or rather, she helped me rearrange the pinestraw and pluck leaves off of my plants as I dug up the errant briars and clumps of grass (why is it, by the way, that I can't for the life of me get grass to grow in my yard, but it comes up effortlessly and aplenty in my mulch beds?  Just makes me want to put mulch on the yard and grass in the beds...).

I spent several minutes working my way down the front of the house as Hayden played quietly at the corner of the porch, tossing clumps of pinestraw in the air, onto herself, and generally in every which way.  I heard her stir, and looked back to check on her. 

She came toddling over my way, a rock in each hand, grinning from ear to ear. That is when I noticed she had made it down below the pinestraw in at least an area or two, judging from her Georgia clay-stained lips...

This is why I love having a child.  I love seeing the world through her eyes, and giving myself permission to let go of some of the pre-conceptions (is that a word?  I dunno... it's late) I have of myself and the world around me.  Seeing her like this makes me want to go play in the dirt too, although I have to admit, I'll probably pass on the mud pie for dessert.

Concours d'Elegance Weekend

This past weekend, Chris, Hayden and I, along with our friends Carrie and Joel, headed South for the 15th annual Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance.  A weekend of fabulous cars, scenery (it's held at the Ritz-Carlton, on their golf course fairways), and food, it has a little something for everyone, and is by far one of our favorite vacations each year.

This year was the first year Carrie and Joel joined us, so we took a couple extra days and made a real weekend trip out of it.  Although it was at times (especially when Hayden was low on sleep and patience) a little cramped with all five of us in the 4-Banger, we really enjoyed the company and the trip.  Joel and Chris took the wheel, entertaining themselves with car talk and bluegrass soundtracks.  Carrie and I manned the baby station in the back, working on our crochet projects, catching up on our magazine reading, entertaining Hayden, and most of all, trying to keep our focus anywhere but on our husbands' driving.  It was a good arrangement, with very few general freak-outs or meltdowns, and most of those are claimed by the munchkin.

Friday night we headed straight for S-town (if not the heart, then definitely the soul of Georgia), aka Savannah.  We made tracks out to Uncle Bubba's, a restaurant with a well-deserved reputation for some of the best eats in town (or in Georgia, for that matter). 

Without so much as a sign to signify the final turn, somehow the crowds still manage to find its simple presence (perhaps they follow their noses), and after a decent wait, we finally took our seats and our turns sampling their fare.  The dish of the night was a hard call.  With chargrilled oysters and crab bites to start, the flat-out best darn low country boil I've ever tasted, stuffed shrimp that would make you want to slap your mama, and the freshest boiled shrimp around, it's truly a toss up.   I'll probably have to go back again soon for the tie-breaker.

Saturday we bummed around historic Fernandina Beach, antique shopping, noshing on crab burgers, and hitting the beach for some photo ops and a little shell searching.

Sunday of course was the big event.  The time change made what was already an early wake up call that much more painful, but with Joel's Starbucks in hand, we were on our way to the Island for the Concours.  As with every year, the event did not disappoint. 

From new models that blow the term 'sports car' off the flippin' map, like this 1001 hp, 16 cylinder Bugatti,

to true race cars, like those of NASCAR's own #43 - Richard Petty, the show spans the gamut. 

One thing all these cars have in common is that they are top of their class, shining examples of the very razor-thin edge of an envelope being pushed to the limits.  There are concept cars from every era, with features and details that are as much art as they are automobile. 

There are historic cars; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1904 Cadillac, Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts, Deusenburgs, Mercedes. 

And there are admirers of them all, by the thousands, that join us each year for this amazing event.

The weather was, as it nearly always is, perfect.  A good breeze, lots of sunshine, cool enough for a sweater in the morning, warm enough for sandals by the afternoon.  Always a nice break from the chill of the mountains, and a promise of what is to come.

Hayden loved every minute outside.

Walking around for nearly the first time in her life in the outdoors, she could barely contain her excitement, hopping, squeaking and clapping with every other step.  Running for birds, fish and dogs, playing with the other childen we saw, chasing waves and picking grass, she was in heaven the whole weekend.

After our festivities Sunday, we headed back to downtown Fernandina Beach to the Crab Trap for a sample of the best battered fries I've ever gotten at a restaurant, and some amazing crab legs. Then to the hotel for a hard crash.

Monday, we slowly made our way home (with a short detour back to Uncle Bubba's for some more oysters, boil and a sinful strawberry shortcake), and back to the realities of everyday life.   Of all the many years we've made this trip, I have to say that this was probably my favorite.  To have our friends, great food, cool cars, favorite cities, shopping and antiquing all rolled into one trip ranks this weekend pretty high in my book.  The fact that it was my first vacation from work in over a year didn't hurt its score at all, either.

A Horse is a Horse

Unless the horse is one of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales!

My little brother, Dan, is part of the team responsible for hosting these beautiful animals during their stay in Atlanta this week.  That's his JOB.  What he gets PAID to do!  How freaking cool is that?!

The horses are one of the company's famous teams, and are making a week-long tour of the city to do awesome things like meeting the Mayor and participating in the city's St. Patty's Day parade, and Dan gets to go along for the ride, and make sure the horses and their entourage and equipment are all taken care of.

Just another day at the office for him, I guess.

Move Over, Beethoven!

I think we have a new prodigy in the house!

Although the jury's still out on whether she is more raw talent or hammy entertainer.  

Personally, I think I see some of both.

Amagarumi

For those of you who don't know, Amagarumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small stuffed animals and anthropomorphic creatures.  In other words, it is using some mad skillz to craft these itsy-witzy fuzzy-wuzzy cutie wittle flufalumps that make you wish you were 3 again and could carry them around in your 'purse' (which is actually a left-over McDonald's Happy Meal box) everywhere you go.

Thankfully for me, I have an uber-talented friend, Carrie, who has the patience and talent to make these crazy-amazing little suckers, and I have a daughter who I can let play with them (until she goes to bed. Then they're mine... all MINE!), so my cover is not blown.  Except for having to explain all the empty Happy Meal boxes in my closet....

Anyway... Long story short, Carrie is how we came to be acquainted with our new little buddy, Sammy the Baby Seal.

Sammy is a sweet little baby seal, complete with festive Winter scarf, who became Hayden's new friend a few weeks ago.    I am equally enamored with his sweet little self, but really, how could you not be?  Just look at this little fella!

He's watching for signs of snow...

That's the one thing this little bugger and I disagree on.  He'd love Winter year round, but I'm ready for SPRING!

Other than that, we get along fine, and Hayden doesn't even hold that against him (although judging from her response to the park this past weekend on the warm Sunday afternoon we were blessed with, it could become a sticking point in their relationship).

What can I say?

The kid loves yogurt!

(and feeding herself.)

Happy Friday, everyone!

By Product...

... of a diseased computer + the resulting inactivity as I waited for our IT team to "make it all better" (+ my love of screwing with people.)

Morning Routine

Hayden and I have settled into a regular morning routine that is much more conducive to me getting ready and getting us both where we need to be on time (most days).  For starters, she wakes me up around 6 or 6:30, and since she's in her room, I don't get to pick her up and roll back over with her... I have to get up and stumble to her room and bring her back to our room, and by that time, she is AWAKE.  And wants FOOD.  And her MOVIE.  Now, ye sorry chamber maid, get the to it!

In order to have a few moments without her in arms, and without wailing, so I can get the essentials done (bathroom, shower, hair, clothes), I created a little cubby in the corner of our room out of pillows one day, and sprinkled some assorted shriveled fruit corpses (raisens, dried cranberries and pineapples) on a plate and set her Baby Einstein on play, and let her be.   She quickly adapted to her new routine  (before I even realized that's what we'd created), and now backs into her little corner, Bunny Bear in arms, points to the TV and hands me her empty plate. 

That's not to say she doesn't ever get bored while I'm getting ready, and say, come bang on the shower glass, smearing her sticky face and fingers along the outside of the enclosure.  And of course, she never picks the moment I have soap in my eyes to do this, leaving me frantically trying to hold the door in place so she doesn't come tumbling in with me.  She has also never gone into the closet and come out toting my underwear from the day before, and rubbing her snotty nose with it.  Not my kid.

All in all, though, our little routine works out well for both of us, and I think she's the cutest little thing ever curled up in the corner watching her show.  It reminds me of the Saturday mornings that Grace and I would grab all our blankets and pillows and stuffies and plod down to the den (the pillows and blankets would get catapulted off the balcony, or rolled down the stairs.  Much more efficient than carrying it all) to watch our cartoons.