If there is a way to be moving at all times, Libby is finding it these days!!
She is constantly crawling, cruising, rolling, banging, shaking, flipping, tearing, swinging.... MOVING!!!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Who wants cake?
Libby's first birthday produced numerous funny and memorable moments for me. I cried, I laughed, I marveled. I struggle to find the words to describe how blessed I feel to have this little person in my life and the fact that I'm her mommy is, well, icing on the cake.
I contemplated writing a long letter to Libby on her birthday but the emotions were so overwhelming, I couldn't find any direction. I am still reflecting in awe what has occurred in the last year. The transition from a helpless, tiny, curled up little neonate to a boisterous, curious, sweet, loving, adventuresome toddler is amazing. In 365 days, it all happened in a blur.
So how to celebrate this passage of time and incredible transformation? With a sugary, gooey, delicious cake! Libby had the extreme pleasure of having not one, but two birthday cakes... one at her tailgate party on her birthday and one at her Atlanta party. Needless to say, she has inherited her mommy's sweet tooth. She tackled both cakes with gusto and chocolate was the clear winner! That's my girl!!
I contemplated writing a long letter to Libby on her birthday but the emotions were so overwhelming, I couldn't find any direction. I am still reflecting in awe what has occurred in the last year. The transition from a helpless, tiny, curled up little neonate to a boisterous, curious, sweet, loving, adventuresome toddler is amazing. In 365 days, it all happened in a blur.
So how to celebrate this passage of time and incredible transformation? With a sugary, gooey, delicious cake! Libby had the extreme pleasure of having not one, but two birthday cakes... one at her tailgate party on her birthday and one at her Atlanta party. Needless to say, she has inherited her mommy's sweet tooth. She tackled both cakes with gusto and chocolate was the clear winner! That's my girl!!
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| Hello Ladybug Cake - I am going to demolish you now |
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| Loving her cake but not done yet.... |
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| Yep, that'll about do it - smash cake, you've been SMASHED |
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| Chocolate... this is different..... |
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| I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| Completely eaten in under 5 minutes... that's MY daughter! |
Happy Birthday little one
What happens when your birthday falls on Labor Day weekend AND college football's opening day? You get a Red and White Ladybug Tailgate birthday party!!!!!!!!
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| Loving her birthday present from Gram and Gpa |
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| The children enjoyed our play area |
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| Three generations of lady Wolfpackers! |
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| Libby and Mrs. Wuf did not bond |
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| Better with Mommy and Daddy... Mrs. Wuf even had a ladybug pin! |
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| Happy Birthday Libby! |
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| First NC State game - complete with NCSU sippy cup |
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
The Swing Obsession
In the spring we discovered that Libby loves loves loves swings. Shannon or I would take her to the park almost every day to swing. Our family trips to the park became highlights of the weekend and I just lived for those delighted squeals of joy.
But then the summer hit.... 90+ every day and the park became too difficult to deal with. The equipment was too hot and Libby really hated being out in the heat. Not to mention mommy!
So what to do..... we have no trees at our house that we can put a swing on and erecting a big time swing set was not in the summer budget. I puzzled and puzzled about this one for several weeks and then.... EUREKA! I had the solution!
I built Libby a swing to hang from our garage door frame! Yes, its a little redneck but its totally engineering sound. Occasionally I actually use those two engineering degrees! Craig watched Libby while I went to Lowe's, navigated the lumber aisle all by myself, bought my supplies, came home and built it. He even let me run the drill.
In the end, I finished making and painting the swing after Libby was asleep so my big reveal didn't happen until the next morning. I had her in the swing before she even got her oatmeal! SHE LOVED IT!!
We use the swing almost every day and Libby just loves it. Her friends have used it when they come over to play and her grandparents have even gotten in on the action. I am thrilled and pretty darn proud of my little solution!
Now don't freak and think that we are backing around this swing every time we leave the house. The swing hooks into two I-bolts screwed into the wood frame of the garage. The swing has open hooks on the top that allow it to be taken down and hung by a bike hook on our shelves. The blue wooden pieces at the top of the yellow rope enable me to stand, hold Libby and reach up and hook the swing into the I-bolts. She can face out to the drive way or into the garage, depending on how sunny it is. It works so perfectly for us!
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| Loving the park swing on Easter weekend |
So what to do..... we have no trees at our house that we can put a swing on and erecting a big time swing set was not in the summer budget. I puzzled and puzzled about this one for several weeks and then.... EUREKA! I had the solution!
I built Libby a swing to hang from our garage door frame! Yes, its a little redneck but its totally engineering sound. Occasionally I actually use those two engineering degrees! Craig watched Libby while I went to Lowe's, navigated the lumber aisle all by myself, bought my supplies, came home and built it. He even let me run the drill.
In the end, I finished making and painting the swing after Libby was asleep so my big reveal didn't happen until the next morning. I had her in the swing before she even got her oatmeal! SHE LOVED IT!!
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| Mommy the engineer |
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| Babcia and Opa approve |
Now don't freak and think that we are backing around this swing every time we leave the house. The swing hooks into two I-bolts screwed into the wood frame of the garage. The swing has open hooks on the top that allow it to be taken down and hung by a bike hook on our shelves. The blue wooden pieces at the top of the yellow rope enable me to stand, hold Libby and reach up and hook the swing into the I-bolts. She can face out to the drive way or into the garage, depending on how sunny it is. It works so perfectly for us!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Hello... my name is Meg
There's a fire starting inside my heart
Reaching a fever pitch and its bringing me out of the dark
-- "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
Hello.... my name is Meg.... I feel like saying that to myself in the mirror some mornings lately. I feel like I am greeting a long lost friend. Its a strange sensation to feel yourself again after not feeling that way for so long.
To clarify the situation, the last few months have been rocky, to put it mildly, in my personal life. This following 4 years of medical school, three years of residency and (almost!) 1 year of motherhood. But the most amazing thing is that I feel like *I* am coming out of the haze and becoming my old self again.
I feel the urge to read books, exercise, be creative, express myself, laugh, watch stupid TV, watch documentaries, learn, research, and push myself. I have not felt like that in a long, long time and I have not done a lot of those thing in a long, long time. I have felt like I just existed during these hazy years, I did not live.
Yes, some of those years are hazy due to sleep deprivation and being over-worked... Boards are 6 weeks post-partum, are you kidding?? But, I let some of myself go -- not necessarily voluntarily, but it happened. But I'm done with that.
Its an amazing feeling... I feel like I am finding my groove, my rhythm, I'm "sitting in the pocket" to quote my favorite summer TV show. This week, I actually busted out my arts and crafts box (complete with detailed label on the front) and did an art project for Libby's 1st birthday party. I even thought about writing poetry again. I can't remember the last time I did that.
I am slowly learning through a lot of help and guidance to embrace me, just as I am. Yes I like to bake cupcakes and dress my daughter in pretty dresses, but I also can build swing sets that I design, I can call what play should be run on 3rd and 20 and I can cook. No, I don't fit into many molds but I'm learning to be ok with that, I'm learning to wear my own skin comfortably. I hope this all leads to being a better friend, a better daughter, a better woman, but most of all, I just want to be me.
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