Developing Taste

We tried rice cereal for the second time tonight.  Last time he just sat there with his mouth open, full of rice cereal and a look of "what in the heck are you doing?" He decided it was best to spit it out.  This time though, I think some may have gotten in.

I can't believe it's time for cereal already.  He's growing and changing so fast. Do I say that all the time on the blog?  Well, he is.  He's become more and more coordinated and even getting some chub.

The Songs of My Life

Do you associate songs with certain times in your life? 

Do you remember the song "How Bizarre?"  Was that even the name?  You know the one from the late 90s?  Whenever I hear that (which, lets be honest, is rarely) I think of driving to Salt Lake with Mom, Carly and Loni into ballet class.  We're laughing in the car in our pink tights and buns.  We're talking which is, I think, the reason that I'm still so close with my mom and sisters.


The  Nearness of You by Norah Jones, reminds me of dating Heber there at the beginning back when I was living in Bridgerland Apartments in college.  We realized that we loved each other but were still in the casual, having fun stage.  There was one time we went up the canyon to hang up a hammock (I really love hammocks).  He tied it up and had me test it out.  I immediately fell on my tush because of the rope not being tied enough. 

When I hear Typical Girl by Cheri Magill, I'm in Anderson Apartments in my undergrad with 5 roommates.  We're sitting in our wood paneled and lenoleum kitchen, laughing over roommate dinner and talking about the bests and worsts.  Heb was on his mission (we were writing) and I was trying to make some big decisions about my life and seeking the DC internship.  It was a stressful, hopeful, crazy time. 

Whenever I hear Black Roses Red, I am instantly back to the time I was working at Scentinel Candle and taking a creative writing class.  I was trying to work through the loss of a job.  I think of hiking up the snowy Old Main Hill and listening to that on my iPod.  I had lost myself for a good while there and was beginning to sort through it all.  I was dancing again with the Irish classes and loving mastering new steps.

When I hear Shine by Laura Izibor (still one of my favorite songs), I'm driving in Salt Lake City with Heber.  I had just gotten a job with the River Restoration and received a call offering me a second job with the Space Dynamics Laboratory.   I was looking forward to a summer filled with a lot of work but a very fulfilling experience.  I worked harder that summer then I ever had before but felt more like myself and more on track with who I wanted to be.  I had figured out that I wanted to go back to grad school and study instructional design.

When I hear Ingrid Michaelson, I'm in Park City doing a conference for the River Restoration folks.  I'm packing bags of ice and making copies in the bright Utah sunshine and mountains.  I'm half way through grad school and feeling really comfortable with where my life is going.  I was on the Sunday Puzzle that week and writing code for my HTML class.  It's a time where I was really growing and learning.

Now, I'm a new mom in a new place with a whole new life.  I'm wondering what song will remind me of this time. 

Do you tie songs to significant moments in your life?  What are they?

The Bead Store

This is my bead store.

I always have a bead store.  I think it's the criteria for living some place.  First you find the library (obviously) and then a decent bead store and then maybe the grocery store.  The biggest mistake I could make would be to stop doing the things I really enjoy.  Thus the finding of a bead store to go for inspiration.

Heb and I actually discovered this bead store long before we moved out here.  We were out on business years ago and while stuck in the famous VA traffic, we pulled off the road and into a quaint historic harbor village complete with antique stores and of course the witch store.  We found "Off the Beading Path" and it's been one of my stores since.

These are the projects for the classes that they offer.  It's a good variety.
 
Wait, do you see that?  It's my name.  This is my project on the wall.  I am thrilled.

 I'm going to be teaching this class in May.  It's my first official gig.  Now let's just hope people sign up...

The Daily Leo

Most days, I'll snap a picture of Leo and send it on over to Heber.  It started out when he headed back to work it's hard to be away right there at the beginning.  So now, he gets a daily Leo.  Here are some of my favorites.

 

This was taken right after he had his first melt down in the grocery store.  How could I be mad at that sweet little face?

 

This is how he looks most of the time: every body part completely in motion

This was today's daily.  We were at the hospital to see a specialist.  Everything is looking ok but it sure isn't fun to have Leo being poked and looked at.

I can't believe how he's changed.  Oh my sweet little one.

The Birthday Post

It was my birthday this past week.  This one will go down as the most up and down of all birthdays.  My actual birthday was a bit more low key this year because Leo had a cold and was up half the night.  Poor little lamb.  We did do some fun things to mark my big day though.

Heber made efforts to make it really special for me.  I appreciate that.  I believe in making things special.  It takes extra time and energy but it's worth it.

We ventured out to Serendipity on M Street in Georgetown, on recommendation of our good friends, the Blake's.  What a delicious experience. It was absolutely divine in every way.   There were people everywhere but that's how you can tell a good place, if it's completely mobbed.






We ordered the frozen hot chocolate which is their house specialty.  No, it's not really hot in any way but an interesting texture.  It's not overly sweet but it has the texture of a snow cone (which you know is going to be a winner with me).
We also ordered a sunday with peanut butter pie, ice cream, bananas, caramel and chocolate.  It was so rich that it was a good juxtaposition to the hot chocolate.
 
This is definitely one to visit again.    

I loved this day.  It was so joyful to be there together, to laugh at our Leo and joke about all the overpriced shopping. We've been going through a bit of a rough patch lately and getting out was just what we needed.

One last note about Georgetown:
I guess you might consider it the hippest part of town.  We, however, are not hip.  It's ok, I accept it.  I don't wear leggings (in public), I don't wear high heels when shopping and I am completely opposed to wearing neon in pretty much any form.  But it sure is entertaining to people watch.  Oh, and I refuse to wait in a block long line for Georgetown Cupcakes.  I don't care how hip they are.  I guess I'm getting old.



 

A Discovery

This is Heber.  I love him...and his dimples.

 

This is Leo...and his newly discovered dimples.  Just yesterday, he smiled so big that they could be seen.  They are the cutest. 

Blessings

We flew home to our mountains last week.  It was pretty much the worst trip ever - the flight I mean.  Oy.  Delays, mechanical problems...it all led to us getting there at 3 in the morning (which is like 5 am Eastern time).  My poor parents picked us up at the airport THAT late.  At least we made it.  I guess.

We went out to bless our babe.  I was the most excited to introduce our guy to all of our family and our friends.   There are so many people in the area that have played important parts in our lives and we couldn't wait to share our Leo with all of them.

We held the blessing at my parents home and we had quite the crowd out to support.  To all of those who came out, thanks for making the drive through the snow.

We had old friends from high school that we're still close to, the infamous Hawks family (our old neighbors) and quite a good showing of family from both sides. 

We met little Oliver (one of Heb's cousin's baby).

My brother, Matt, drove 6 hours up from Southern Utah for the day.

Brandi and Tally (my cousins) even showed up and they had had a baby four days before. If only Heb and I had gotten more than four hours of sleep....

It was a sweet blessing and one that I'll remember.  When Heb and I had a miscarriage, it was the baby blessings that were the hardest.  We'd watch the new little one be blessed and I would grieve that we might never have that experience.  But we did.  We have our little Leo and we're so thankful. 

 Mom L. sewed his outfit on a custom order.  We wanted him to have a button up shirt and slacks.  I sewed the bowtie.  Bow ties are a Heber tradition.  The Green's always pull them out for special occasions.  And I found sweet leather white shoes (at completely the last minute...but soo glad I found them).  We also had a special blanket sewed by Aunt Mel with tatting by Grandma Barbara (a very special traditional pattern).