heath family happenings

responding to crisis

2011-08-11T10:28:00.003-06:00

After Taylor's routine 3:30am wake-up last night, my mind kicked into overdrive and I couldn't get back to sleep. I tossed and turned, restless, anxious, until my alarm finally interrupted the churn of worries keeping me awake. Things like an early meeting - was I prepared? Taking on a second car payment. Kicking off a new project. Paying Tanner's soccer tuition. Changing our milk delivery order. Returning a call to a friend. Avoiding someone I dislike. Packing to leave town for the weekend.

Over the course of the morning, as I consumed small doses of news and media, I was overwhelmed by the misery coming from the famine and refugee crisis in Africa.

I read about families, walking for days and weeks without food or water, desperate to live long enough to find aid. I saw photos of helpless parents, kneeling in sand, heads bent over tiny, listless bodies. I saw hundreds of thousands gathered at a single refugee camp, hoping to avoid rampant lawlessness and receive even a single food ration each day.

I can't really comprehend suffering of that magnitude. I felt heartbroken and frightened, and very angry. I felt guilty for living with such overabundance. And I sheepishly felt my own hollow, insignificant troubles from the night before wither away in the face of real despair.

I don't have any problems. Not real problems. My kids are healthy. They sleep soundly in a safe, comfortable home. They eat nourishing food, drink clean water, and receive medical care on demand. They are surrounded by people who treat them with love and respect. They have never known war or the paralyzing threat of violence.

I'm often occupied by trivial challenges, things that are easily solved by just doing the work and making good, value-based decisions for myself and my family. Maybe you are, too. It's a humbling realization.

As I learn more about this crisis and those at risk, I'm somewhat taken aback by how some are responding; comments that these refugees are not deserving of help, that nature brings famine and should take its own course, that corrupt governments have rendered these nations and their people a "lost cause." I'm a to-each-his-own kind of girl, but such callous sentiments feel disheartening and hurtful.

I don't know what motivates a person to help someone in need, or to turn away. I simply know that I - if reduced to carrying my starving children through the desert - I would pray that someone with the heart and means to help would recognize that what little I was doing was the best that I could.

Some resources to contribute can be found here.

no thanks

2011-08-03T13:36:00.003-06:00

It's one of those days.

Popular Things That I Can't Get Into

Shark Week: Who plans their time around sharks on TV? Unless you're in it for the drinking game - if I had no job, no kids, and no life, I'd be all over that.

Feather extensions: Aren't you dying to look like a flock of idiot birds nests in your hair? No? Me neither.

iPhone 4: Not turned on by your app store, or your retina display, or your girly white case. DROID 3 and I are doin' the damn thing Google-style.

Harry Potter: I tried it. I didn't get it. Don't judge me.

Twilight: See above.

The Bachelor/ette: Lame premise + inherently ridiculous content = unbearable.

Coupons: I got stuck behind an "extreme couponer" in the checkout line once. I'm sure she's a lovely person, but I barely stifled the urge to beat her about the head with her enormous binder. I'll pay you the $.50 to quit rummaging through that thing and just buy your freaking groceries.

Status Abuse: I dig social media - I really do. But I don't need to know every time one of you is stuck in traffic, or see pictures of everything you eat, or read every location you check in to, or hear every semi-compliment a random person tosses your way. Especially the ones you make up. Yeah, we all know you make most of that stuff up. #unfriend

random photo friday

2011-07-08T14:41:00.000-06:00

These kids are super cute.

Tanner classes up the pizza joint with his tie & bowler hat

See Dad, I'm not in the road, I'm just near the road

Respect my authori-tah!

Feeding the geese

princess turns two

2011-06-14T16:58:00.000-06:00

Our precious baby girl entered her second year on Sunday, officially marking the end of Birthday Season 2011. Taylor Grey celebrated at home with family and friends, the house decked out Dora-style and filled with party-goers large and small.

Happy girl with a birthday cake pop

Taylor and her best buddy Emery

Party time!

Picnic with the big kids

Big girl Dora bed!

Ready to cruise on her new wheels

Happy 2nd birthday to the sweetest, most loving little girl a family could want. We're so blessed everyday with our little princess, and we can't wait to celebrate many more birthdays with her.

We love you, Taylor!

random video friday: swiper, no swiping

2011-06-10T12:34:00.001-06:00

Taylor does her best bathtub impression of Dora and Swiper.
And she doesn't like to be interrupted.

worst. hour. ever.

2011-05-23T23:56:00.018-06:00

I know there are worse ways to spend an hour than laboring through Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps. I just can't think of any right now.

Maybe I'll make a list when the numbness in my wrists wears off.

A couple of months ago, when my loving husband first tricked me into starting P90X ("You'll like it, it's fun!"), I thought Plyometrics was the worst thing that could possibly happen to me. Nine weeks later, I actually look forward to a little Plyo on Mondays. The same way you look forward to, say, having a really painful tooth pulled - if that tooth came back once a week, every week, for twelve weeks.

That's kind of how my P90X experience has played out so far. I've pushed, pulled, lunged, jumped, and lifted through physical challenges I never thought I'd conquer. There was a lot of stumbling to start, a lot of gasping, and a good dose of nausea on some of those days. Over time, the struggles subsided and I finally began to feel stronger - thank god for small favors.

I've made peace with most of the workouts by now, but Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps continues to decimate my stubbornly weak upper body. Last night I just wanted to plow through it, only to have my tenacity rewarded with a semi-broken nose when my left arm gave out after 5 sorry one-arm push-ups. Granted, that was 40-some minutes in and maybe 50 push-ups down, but still. I don't think Tony Horton will be clamoring for my success story anytime soon.

Speaking of, don't expect a big end-of-journey narrative in 3 weeks. There's no follow up post coming with a lavish results video or Before/After photo essay. I spent too much of my life as a Before photo to find that process motivational or therapeutic (story for another time). I didn't take pictures, or measurements, or subject myself to the horror of calipers before I started, and I won't when I'm done.

My goals are pretty modest. I'm not out to turn heads - they're workouts, for heaven's sake, not miracles. I'm out for energy, strength, endurance, more muscle, less fat, and maybe a really good pair of low-rise jeans. Reasonable enough for 90 days of hard labor, right?

For those who haven't partaken of the back-breaking good time that is P90X, allow me to summarize a few of the workouts.

Chest, Shoulders, and Triceps: Do 50 of every crazy kind of push-up there is. Can't think of any? Try wide hands, narrow hands, slow-mo, double time, one arm, put your legs on a chair, or leave the ground and clap in between. Alternate with shoulder flys and triceps extensions. Repeat for an hour.

Legs and Back: Squats. Lunges. Pull-ups. Repeat for an hour.

Back and Biceps: Pull-ups. Curls. Repeat for an hour.

Chest and Back: Push-ups. Pull-ups. Repeat for an hour.

Yoga X: If you know yoga, think Chair Pose, Warrior Three, Standing Splits, and Twisting Half Moon. If you don't know yoga, try balancing on your left leg, bending at the waist parallel to the floor, lifting your right leg behind you, and straightening your arms in front of you. Hold for 5 minutes, then switch sides. Repeat for 90 minutes.

Plyometrics: Squats and lunges, but add punishing aerials: Jump Squats, Jump Lunges, Squat Jacks, Leapfrog Squats, Run Squat 180 Jump Switch, etc. Repeat for an hour.

Ab Ripper X: Crunches. Then crunches with your legs off the ground, straight in front of you. Then crunches with your legs out and arms up. Repeat for 18 minutes.

It's a lot, but I'm getting a lot from putting in the work. I don't know if I'll ever be able to do a dozen pull-ups or a perfect Crane Pose, but I'm giving it my very best shot. If all I get from my first round of P90X is 5 solid one-arm push-ups that don't put my face at risk, I'll know I really accomplished something.

plug of the week: adele - 21

2011-05-09T16:49:00.000-06:00

I love music but rarely discuss it in writing; it's too difficult to find the right words. I'm making an exception for Adele's new album, "21".

Adele sings the way I image an angel would sing.

Not one of those demure angels taking cushy assignments in the suburbs. Adele's out there doing the tough stuff, clutching the shoulders of unfriendly people in unpleasant places. She's that angel that's seen some things. Knows some things. Maybe has a little longing; a little regret.

It's been years since I've had a real urge to sing anywhere besides my car. "Rolling In The Deep" has me suddenly rethinking the decision to walk away from vocal performance back in the day. To open up and unleash such an audacious chorus - oh, how I wish.

"There's a fire starting in my heart,
Reaching the fever pitch and it's bringing me out the dark.
Finally, I can see you crystal clear.
Go ahead and sell me out and I'll lay your ship bare."

Thank god I've never been there, but I feel you all the same. Go get him, sister.

The rest of the album is just as exquisite, if not as wrenching. "Don't You Remember" is soulful and sad. "Set Fire To The Rain" is full of edgy lamentation. "Lovesong" is a gentle, grownup retelling of some of my favorite Jr. High angst.

I say this with all due respect to the trashy pop and hip-hop artists that I love: Adele makes music that's actually worthwhile. She's a real, live musician in a sea of lip-synching marketing ploys, and "21" is a throaty breath of fresh Top 40 air.

about the news

2011-05-03T10:15:00.000-06:00

I turned on the news two nights ago to find President Obama announcing the death of Osama bin Laden.

Without diminishing in any way the gravity of what's occurred or the limitless sacrifices of those who serve, I feel a little sad about the world when someone's death is met with such celebration.

Relief, vindication - certainly. I just didn't feel the same sense of elation and congratulations that I heard echoed across the media.

A person whose death is cause for praise and revelry has inflicted tremendous suffering. He has spread evil so toxic and pervasive that it brought terror to an entire nation - a union of strong, intelligent people who lived in fear of his hatred and disregard for humanity. To be reminded of such anguish via breaking news felt more sorrowful to me than joyous.

Don't misunderstand - I don't mourn the loss of bin Laden. I mourn for all that's led to this moment, for those who have lost so much in the journey, and for others who may now rise up with the same reckless malice.

Prayers and gratitude for all who are in harm's way.

four going on forty

2011-04-29T12:57:00.000-06:00

Our sweet, handsome Tanner James roared into age four this Wednesday, marking the official kickoff of Heath Family Birthday Season 2011.

(Yes, Trav celebrated #37 in February. No, we do not consider him part of the regular season. It's not personal - the logistics just don't make sense.)

The festivities started early last weekend with Tanner's first big boy sleepover on Friday, preceded by an afternoon trip to Bounce, one of our favorite play centers. It was bittersweet to include the kids' favorite friends, Isiah and Caleb, who are moving from their home across the street from us today.

On Wednesday, Trav and I took Tanner to an afternoon movie before celebrating again with the family at home. Presents, cupcakes, and general 4-year-old rowdiness = a happy birthday boy.

Happiest of birthdays, Tanner James! We love you!

Boys crash derby at Bounce

Baby Sister gets in the action

Isiah, Caleb, Braden & Tanner

Look Mom, I got a fuzzy band from Big Brother!

See, it's my birthday, so I get to polish off this whole cupcake

random photo friday: first first stitches

2011-04-01T13:00:00.003-06:00

Since little Princess was born, we've been taking bittersweet stock of notable "last firsts" for the Heath kids.

On Monday, Tanner James had a Heath family "first first": First open head wound requiring stitches.

Staples, actually; three of them, preceded by what seemed like two dozen shots of Novocain. Little man was a trooper, though. He was pretty chipper when we arrived at his preschool after an urgent call from the director: Tanner took a fall playing with a friend and whacked his head on a table. Having received a much more frightening call in his infancy, when he rolled from a daycare changing table and fractured his skull, this seemed minor in comparison; apparently he thought so, too.

At the clinic, Tanner endured a good thirty minutes of cleaning, examining, and prepping before the doctor finally brought out the needle & stapler. I openly cringed after the fifth Novocain shot, but Tanner didn't complain. It wasn't until he realized that she was actually stapling his head that he got a little squirmy, and rightfully so - stapler to the head is no picnic.

All in all, a pretty easy repair to little man's cranium this time. Not bad for the first of what will likely be many suture visits for our little clan.

First staples to the noggin

Suckers make it all worthwhile

less salt, more pepper

2011-03-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

It's been brought to my attention that my very dark pepper hair has become more predominantly salty of late. And by "of late," I mean it's been that way for 10 years. And by "brought to my attention," I mean I saw a picture and finally got self conscious.

Before

Yesterday, I bit the bullet and had my hair colored for the first time. Instructed to match my natural shade exactly, my tenacious stylist pushed up his sleeves, pulled on his rubber gloves, and went to work; two and a half hours, three bowls of color, two brushes, two assistants, and a healthy shearing later, I was genuinely pleased to be free of the most obvious betrayal of my nearing-middle age.

After

A day removed, I guess I'd describe the process and result as positive overall, though lengthy and tinged with only the slightest indignity. Time will tell (or better yet, not) if a counterfeit 'do becomes a necessary component of graceful aging.

random video friday: it must've been opposite day

2011-02-25T15:57:00.001-07:00

A few months ago, we taught Taylor how to come down the stairs safely, on her bottom. I was trying to capture her practicing with her brother - I got this instead.

safe haven

2011-02-18T13:07:00.204-07:00

I wasn't a kid person before I had kids. I didn't know any, wasn't prone to seek them out, and couldn't really relate. I was that insolent, kid-less single girl, glaring at parents whose kids talked too loud, ran in circles, and dropped food at restaurants. I wished in vain for those terrible parents to "do something," to "control their kids." How ridiculous I was.

When Travis came along with adorable little 2-year-old Braden Cole, I started to get over myself. I got a good dose of mild-mannered toddler, evolving eventually to thoughtful stepson and precocious kindergartner. When Tanner James was born, I held a tiny baby for the first time and my wee parenting repertoire expanded tenfold in an instant; infancy was an undertaking for which I was not, nor could have been, prepared. As the boys grew and were finally joined by Taylor Grey, I realized that I had outgrown my child angst altogether.

I officially loved kids! I had the words and the will to interact. I wanted to greet them, ask their names, compliment their clothes/toys/artwork/hairdos, ask about their teachers and siblings and pets. I wanted to make them laugh. I cherished them all.

With this new joy came the heavy burden of perspective and empathy. Until you've held and loved a newborn, you can't really grasp how truly vulnerable children are. They are completely dependent. They rely on parents to meet each and every need, from basic survival to love and reassurance. And they are completely, blindly trusting. They don't know to question the adults around them; this is where that burden can become heaviest.

As a parent, I'm acutely aware that so many children don't receive the love and care they deserve. Instinct tells us that it's wrong to harm a child, but that understanding is so much deeper now that I can compare those children to my own. No headline escapes my eyes or ears now - crushing reports of abuse, neglect, abandonment. I can picture too vividly the fear, loneliness, and despair these precious little lives must endure. It keeps me up; it wakes me up.

As a small contribution to the welfare of kids in general, I am officially offering up our home as a safe haven for any child in need of shelter or protection. I haven't exactly run this by Travis, but I'm sure he'll be on board; he's much more patient than me. (And no, this is not a free babysitting offer, freeloader friends - you know who you are.)

Feel like lashing out? Baby screaming nonstop? Little ones misbehaving, destroying, acting out, talking back? Bring them to our house. Babies, toddlers, tweens, even mouthy teenagers. We don't have a lot, but enough to take in kids who may otherwise wind up hurt, alone, or worse.

I won't question you or give advice. Parenting is hard, even on good days. God knows I've lost my temper and yelled when I should've taken a timeout. For some, it requires giving more than was given to them - much more. Sometimes, for some people, it's too much to ask.

Before you do something you can't undo, take your kids where they'll be safe and loved, and walk away. Come back when you can deal - don't if you can't. Your kids, and all of us who are anxious to love them in your stead, will be truly grateful.

valentine's flowers

2011-02-14T20:59:00.002-07:00

Each Valentine's Day for the past 7 years, I've been graced with a jaw-dropping, blush-inducing floral bonanza, courtesy of my very thoughtful husband. The lucky and talented florist no doubt knows Travis by name and credit card number, as he calls each year with instructions to outdo the prior year's arrangement. No expense is spared, no asthmatic or allergy sufferer sheltered from this elaborate public display of affection. He arranges for the delivery to occur early in the day, before too many others have arrived. He never forgets; never asks me what he should get; never waffles or makes excuses; and as in every other area of our relationship, he never disappoints.

Today is no exception. Travis delivered this year's arrangement in person for the first time, and they're exquisite. The mail-woman made small talk in my office for 3 minutes to admire the bouquet. A stranger passing the office did a double take and came back to gush about how beautiful the lilies and roses are together. When I come in tomorrow, the few buds still closed will have opened and the entire floor of this building will smell of flowers - it's exhilarating.

You'd think after 8 Valentines' together that this would become rote, but somehow it doesn't. I'm just as excited and grateful and humbled today as I was that first year.

I know plenty of men - women, too - who buck the idea of giving or receiving flowers. The reasons are pretty common and predictably rational. I know they're expensive, that they die in a week, that they make eyes water and throats itch, etc. I get it - they're impractical. But when it comes to making someone feel special, isn't that kind of the idea? What's practical about being vulnerable and putting your emotions on display in a giant vase? Not much, but it sure makes a point.

I hear the same objections to jewelery. No, the family and the universe as a whole probably won't find as much value in a pair of diamond earrings as they would, say, a new compost bin. I'm all for reducing and reusing, but I've gotta be honest: Travis walking in with a ribbon-wrapped Rubbermaid just doesn't convey the same loving message, no matter how cute he looks doing it.

We treat the kids the same way. It doesn't take much to excite two toddlers and a fourth grader, just a few little surprises strategically placed for discovery on Valentine's morning. I know they don't need toys and candy; my life is really easier if they avoid both. But Tanner summed it up on the way to preschool with, "Thank you for my presents, Mommy. I love them, and you love me so much!" He'll remember those mornings someday when he's a dad himself.

And don't give me the commercialism cop-out. People who don't like to extend themselves condemn Hallmark and use commercialism as an excuse not to participate. Not participating doesn't make a revolutionary - it makes for awkward conversation at parties.

I'm a girl. I like flowers. I like jewelery. I like that my husband thinks that I'm worthy of his time and attention, and that he goes out of his way to give me beautiful things. Beautiful, ornamental, impractical reminders that I am loved on Valentine's Day and everyday.

Don't wait for a holiday to show someone you love them. But as long as we've set the day aside, why not take advantage?

random photo friday: fun with hats

2011-02-11T09:15:00.017-07:00


Say Cheese, Baby Sister!

Where's Tanner?

Taylor trying on Mom's favorite Colts beanie

Peekaboo babies

with resolve

2011-02-04T13:22:00.004-07:00

So it isn't exactly New Year's anymore, but I'm still forging into 2011 with steely resolve, undaunted by haters who mock the resolution tradition. Why is everyone so down on the New Year's Resolution, anyway? I find a certain solace in setting the tone of a new year with a few goals in mind. I've discovered, as many do, that it's pointless to set your sites on the same obscure tasks at which you've failed year after year: get organized, lose 10 pounds, spend less money, etc. I can not do those things anytime, and I probably will; this year, I've settled on a more idealistic approach.

In 2011, I resolve to consume less and produce more. A friend with whom I shared this looked slightly puzzled: "So you're, like, not gonna eat so much?" Well... yes, but I have more significant objectives in mind, too. In an effort to be more purposeful in general, my goal is to focus on taking just what I need and giving as much as I'm able. I expect that I'll find many areas of my life where these principals apply, but I'll start with the obvious.

I will consume less:

Food: Eating more than is required for survival is a luxury that every person I know takes for granted. I'll never succeed at scaling back to just-enough-to-live levels, but I will understand and heed my physical queues; in other words, I'll eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. Sounds simple enough, till I'm at lunch with friends or that damn Krispy Kreme light comes on; this one will take a lot of work.
Water: This is another basic need that we all over indulge without thinking. Shorter showers and replacing a leaky faucet are pretty basic measures that I'm fortunate enough to have to worry about.
Media: No, not the news media. Mindless, soulless substitutes for useful information and human interaction. Facebook. Twitter. Foursquare. Tumblr. TMZ. Anything on extended cable. The local Fox affiliate's nightly news - yeah, it's that bad.
Attention: Sometimes I lack the self awareness to stop talking and focus, a trait I absolutely abhor in others. I'm going to yammer less and listen much more.

I will produce more:

Work: I manage to accomplish a fair amount in my waking hours, but not always what I want or as well as I would like. I'm taking on more work as a challenge to always be engaged and produce at the highest level possible; you know, the whole rolling-stone/bodies-in-motion theory.
Play: My kids are fun! My husband is fun! My friends are fun! I'm prioritizing play and fun and laughter with all of them, rather than waiting to fit it in when there isn't something else to be done (which is never). Those kids will only want to chase and toss and hide and run for so long; I'm resolved to cramming our collective memory to overflowing with those times while I can.
Service: I recently began volunteering with Create Common Good, an amazing organization that supports a cause in which I deeply believe. It's a tremendous blessing to to work with them in such a capacity that my contributions can tangibly further their mission. I can't explain the sense of worth and freedom created by this service to others; I will continue to seek and take advantage of these opportunities to better myself.
Creativity: I will write. Decorate. Paint walls. Take pictures. Play the piano. Sing! There are more important things than data and revenue to be generated.

For those of you who also resolve, and even those who don't, I hope your new year is off to a remarkable start. Wishing health and happiness for us all in 2011!

last first haircut

2010-11-02T22:07:00.002-06:00

After dragging our feet for nearly 16 months, we finally conceded and took Baby Sister for a haircut. We found a wonderful kid salon called 2 B A Kid just down the street, and we couldn't have been happier; they cut all 3 kids' hair, spending extra time to style them carefully and add fun touches like temporary color for the boys and sparkles for our baby princess.

Taylor was not especially excited when the process started, but she was very happy to look pretty at the end and have some long-overdue relief from the hair in her baby girl eyes.

Post-cut pose in the salon Jeep

Pretty princess

Braden and Taylor

Tanner with his yellow highlights

Beautiful girl with her fancy new do!

at least she took off her shoe

2010-10-22T14:42:00.002-06:00

Earlier this year, Braden made the mistake of dozing off on Taylor's still rear-facing car seat during a drive home from Cascade. She took the opportunity to let him know how she felt about this invasion of her space.

not as "1" as she looks

2010-09-21T16:11:00.008-06:00

Our beautiful princess, Taylor Grey, was a model infant for the 6 six months of her life. Happy, loving, alert, inquisitive, but in a calm, content sort of way. She never cried; she never got upset; she was happy to be held or sat where she could see and interact with people. We commented about her very sweet, easygoing nature.

All of that changed at precisely 6 months of age.

Demanding is the best way I can describe her abruptly-changed temperament. Taylor discovered that she had demands, and by god, those demands would be met, come hell or high water.

Toys. Attention. Entertainment. Food (mostly bananas - holy lord, the bananas). Whatever her brothers are doing. Whatever her mama is holding. Wherever her daddy is going. Pick her up. Put her down. Brush her teeth. Let her brush her own teeth. Put on her shoes. Let her take her shoes off. Do her hair, such that she can immediately undo said hair and demand restyling.

Simply put, my daughter is a force.

She's still happy and loving and inquisitive. She just splits those times now with assertive, insistent, and stubborn. She doesn't say much yet, at least compared to her excessively verbal brother. But she gets her point across - no question what's on Taylor's mind.

Add to this the fact that she's fast, fearless, uber confident, and maybe a little more healthy (read: chubby) than her peers, and it's easy to assume she's older than she is.

When people meet or observe or are run over by Taylor, either for the first time or the first in a long time, they never fail to ask her age. I'm not exactly a vet, but I've been a mom long enough that I quit counting months a whole kid ago; unfortunately, the answer "She's 1" never seems enough.

"Really? How many months?"

"Mmm... 15, I guess?"

"Wow! She's big/fast/active/etc. for her age!"

A surprised mom at the park last week considered for a moment how to phrase her question before coming up with "Huh... so how '1' is she?"

Our sweet baby sister. A little less "1" than you'd guess, but every bit the luminary that's just dying to grow up and take over the world.

plug of the week: DROID

2010-09-13T21:51:00.004-06:00

Remember how I geeked out over Trav's iPhone back in the day?

Take whatever I said, improve the resolution, give it a lightning-fast browser, amp up the camera, add turn-by-turn nav, and there you have it - my bigger, badder, awesomer DROID.

It was over between me and the old Blackberry long before Travis surprised me with the DROID; still, I wasn't looking forward to navigating another new device. It took all of 11 minutes or so for me to love the DROID, to be comfortable using the DROID, and to see clearly how clunky the iPhone seems in comparison.

Take that, hipster Apple homers.

DROID is not feminine. It's heavy, it's a little larger than ideal for my hand, and its sharp black lines are a real departure from the aptly named Curve that I used just prior. I love all of these things. And I love that the delicate iPhone looks just a little cheesy now.

Used to hearing the "DROID" voice for my notifications, Tanner now responds with, "Daddy's phone says 'LAME.'"

Well said, little man. Well said.

last first birthday

2010-09-07T21:05:00.021-06:00

On June 12, 2010, Taylor Grey celebrated the last first Heath family birthday. This momentous occasion was also the very first - but likely not last - Princess Party, complete with pink Princess Bounce House, sparkly pink Princess Cupcakes, loads of pink Princess Tissue Paper, and of course, our beautiful Baby Princess herself.

Princess Taylor (with an owie nose)

Party time!

The Princess Bounce House

Party People
First Birthday Cupcake
Happy Birthday, Baby Girl!

watch out, age 3 - here comes Tanner James

2010-04-27T21:43:00.005-06:00

Our handsome little man celebrated his 3rd birthday today. Tanner James partied with friends and family at the park last weekend, followed by another big dose of birthday fun today. His daycare friends celebrated with him this morning - cupcakes, singing, birthday crown - before Travis picked him up for a big afternoon: he played at Rafiki, picked up Big Brother and Baby Sister, took a trip to the bookstore, then came home for pizza, cake, and presents.

Aside from the obvious sugar influence, we knew that Tanner was enjoying his big day when he asked repeatedly that "Happy Birthday" be sung to him; at the tender age of 3, he knows what he wants and isn't shy about asking.

We are so blessed to have such a smart, funny, loving little boy in our lives.

Happy birthday, Tanner James! We love you!!

tanner james on coming home

2010-04-20T09:37:00.007-06:00

Tanner and I have some variation of this conversation every night on our drive home, but last night he sounded more like a wise old soul than an almost-3-year-old.

Tanner: Is Daddy at home?

Me: I'm not sure, Boo. We'll have to see when we get there.

Tanner: I think he is.

Me: You do? You might be right.

Tanner: Do you know why Daddy comes home?

Me: Why, Boo?

Tanner: Because he misses you. Daddy loves you, Mom.

Such a sweet and perceptive little man. Hard to believe he's only been with us for a few years - I think he figured us out a long time ago.

tiger in boots

2010-04-12T13:42:00.003-06:00

Did ya'll see the new Tiger Woods ad? Nike started running it last Wednesday, just before the Masters began.

I couldn't help but notice a striking similarity between Mr. Woods and a certain sad-eyed Shrek character:

Uncanny, isn't it? I'm not all about the Tiger-hater bandwagon, but really...

A much more thoughtful and mature review of Nike's work can be found in my recent Balihoo blog post.

r.i.p., my youth

2010-03-10T16:47:00.006-07:00

The sad and untimely death of Corey Haim today also marked the passing of the last remnants of my delusional life as a young person.

Me: Corey Haim died today, that's so sad.

Adorable 20-something coworker: Who is Corey Haim?

Me: He was the other Corey. You know, from The Lost Boys?

20-something: Mmmm... no.

Me: License to drive?

20-something: Huh uh.

Me: Seriously?

(awkward silence)

Me: I'm f*ing old.

Godspeed, Corey.

last first swinging like a big girl

2010-02-26T22:26:00.005-07:00

Taylor Grey enjoys her first solo swing at our neighborhood park.

another successful trip around the sun

2010-02-18T12:31:00.004-07:00

This past Tuesday, February 16, my wonderful husband officially became one year older. The event itself was pretty low key, but was preceded by a quick birthday/Valentine's weekend away, and a very eventful day of skiing.

Travis, who isn't much for fanfare, was a good sport Tuesday night, as the kids and I did our best to make a big deal of a few gifts and some freshly baked brownies.

The celebration was small, but sincere and heartfelt. We don't often take the time to let Trav know how much we really love and appreciate him; I hope his birthday was a good reminder.

We love you, baby!

our last first christmas

2010-01-31T21:49:00.014-07:00

Now that our family is officially complete, each of Baby Sister's milestones is another item that we check off our list of "last firsts."

Last first tooth: two, actually, bottom center, both at the same time.

Last first laugh: big, bubbly giggles, no doubt over something her brother did.

Last first word: Mama, of course - from out of nowhere at first, and now loudly and often.

There's an endless supply of last firsts that make Mom and Dad smile, one or two that make us cry, and one last that made me laugh out loud: last first growling and waving arms like Godzilla terrorizing a Japanese village.

Last month, we celebrated our last first Christmas, and I can't begin to explain how perfect a Christmas it really was. There were so many memorable moments, far too many for me to list or attempt to do justice here; what I will say is that I couldn't have asked for a warmer, more loving, more magical holiday season with my family.

If future years rekindle just a little of the joy and wonder we shared this Christmas, I'll consider every holiday a roaring success.

Dad, boys, and Grandma Tammy at the downtown tree lighting

Baby Sister and Mom

Tanner James

Beautiful Taylor Grey

Tanner and Braden at Aunt Randi's on Christmas Eve

Christmas morning

Braden playing his new drums

Christmas babies

more of tanner james' greatest hits

2009-12-14T21:51:00.009-07:00

Another round of daily wisdom from my increasingly verbose 2 year old son:

"Mommy's the big boss, and I'm the little boss. And Daddy's the little boss. And Braden's the little boss, like me." -random discussion on the balance of power during the evening commute

"The sun wakes up at 8 in the morning, and then the moon goes night night. Then we can see the snow when the sun wakes up and it's not dark anymore." -pointed out during the snowy drive in this morning

"I like your pretty outfit, baby girl." -complimenting Baby Sister on her ensemble

"I was taking toys away from Preston, and then Preston pushed me out of my chair. Then Preston got me up. And then he gave the toys back to me. He was just being a bad boy." -explanation of injuries obtained during a daycare altercation

"I'm going to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what I want for Christmas. And I'm not scared 'cause Santa's nice and he doesn't hurt us. And then Santa can bring me a surprise for Christmas." -giving me the lowdown on the Santa situation

"Baby Sister has two tiny toofers now! What a good girl!" -upon learning that Taylor had broken her second tooth

"When I'm really really big, then I can sit in Mom's seat. Then when you get small, you can sit in Tanner's seat." -aspiring to move from car seat to driver's seat

"I'm a good big brother. I'm a good big brother like Braden." -unprompted self-affirmation and brotherly compliment

"Mom, you can hold the baby in a minute. It's Dad's turn right now. Dad, can Mom hold the baby now? We need to share." -practicing conflict resolution during a parental baby-holding dispute

"Go! Go! Go! You've got it, you're almost to a touchdown!!" -displaying a keen interest in MNF, much to Dad's delight

"Mom, there's lights on those trees! Look, it's Christmas over there!" -upon seeing the neighborhood trees lit up for the first time

"Is that Daddy's wine? When I get big, I can drink wine too." -self-explanatory

and so it begins

2009-10-22T09:39:00.010-06:00

Yesterday afternoon, I got the dreaded message from the daycare:
Tanner received a time out.
Reason: Hitting
Reaction: Temper Tantrum

I was instantly frustrated. What had happened to my sweet baby boy? Not that he's never been put in time out, but this was the first time the incident was serious enough for his teacher to post it to his daily record. Damn.

When I arrived at the daycare that evening, Peanut was busy playing as usual. We had our typical exchange - hugs, what are you doing, how was your day. When I asked him if he had to go to time out earlier, he scowled a little but quickly said yes.

"Why did you have to go to time out today, Boo?"

Sensing trouble, he was a little resistant: "I don't know."

"Tanner, tell Mama what happened today. Why did teacher send you to time out?"

He paused a few seconds and said, "Because I hit Cole." Cole is one of his very best buddies, a boy he's grown up with at daycare; they're known to butt heads from time to time, but we've never heard of any hitting.

"Why did you hit Cole, Boo?"

Another pause. "Because."

"Because why?"

"Because Cole was looking at Baby Sister."

It took me a few seconds to process. Did my 2 year old really lay a kid out for looking at his 4 month old sister? I felt myself suppress a little smile. "Boo, we can't hit people if they look at Baby Sister."

"I just didn't want him to look at Baby Sister. I told him no but he wasn't listening." There was genuine distress on his little face.

Well this is awkward. I didn't expect to have to have this conversation for, say, 10 or 12 more years. I couldn't decide if I should be upset or proud, so I just picked Peanut up and squeezed him. "Boo, you're a good boy to look out for your baby sister, but we don't hit. Hitting hurts people. If someone isn't listening, you can ask your teacher for help. Okay?"

"Okay Mama."

"It's always good to take care of Baby Sister, Boo, but we can't hit other people for looking at her. Okay baby?"

"Okay."

"You're a good boy, Boo. Mama loves you."

Something tells me this is just a preview of what's in store for any fool that tries to mess with Taylor Grey. Baby girl doesn't know it yet, but she has a little brown body guard ready to throw down if there's trouble... or, apparently, even if there's not.

Boys of the world, consider yourselves on notice.

on social networking: a semi-professional opinion

2009-10-15T13:16:00.002-06:00

I feel strongly that any technology my mother can master, or at least navigate in a mindful way, is meant for integration into everyone's daily life. Mom is very bright and capable - obviously, as she birthed a genius of my caliber - but she's the first to admit that "computers & stuff" aren't necessarily her forte. Enter Facebook, where I essentially held grandkid photos hostage in order to force her compliance with my social network of preference. It took a few months, but Mom has now joined the ranks of happy, socially connected individuals who eagerly consume the daily ramblings of others online.

I still encounter social network holdouts from time to time. I understand their position - I was one of them until I embraced my dislike for the telephone and found passive, web-based interactions to be a more palatable substitution. In the same vein, businesses are now starting to figure out how to reach their customers online - the forward-thinking businesses, anyway. In my day job, where I masquerade as a knowledgeable marketing consultant of sorts, I help wean advertisers from their old-school marketing ideas and introduce them to the big new world of interactive messaging.

Read more about this (not so) groundbreaking concept in my recent post to the Balihoo Kennel, my company's corporate blog: Do Unto Others, Lest Others Tweet Unto You

random photo friday

2009-09-18T13:52:00.004-06:00

Peanut and Grandma Susan during her visit last month

Peanut periodically has issues with foot odor. Juvenile? Maybe. Hilarious? For sure.

Boys and Gramps in Cascade
Boys at the Fair

Mom and Baby Sister

Pretty girl!

So sleepy

Pants optional when you're kickin' it with a sucker

Trav napping with his buddies Mater, Lightning McQueen, and Boppy

the engagement story

2009-09-03T14:35:00.002-06:00

Today, 9/3/09, is the 6th anniversary of Trav's and my first date, and the 5th anniversary of our engagement. In honor of these miraculous events and our subsequent journey to Happily Ever After, I will share the story of how the latter occurred exactly 365 days after the former.

Travis and I had been together for nearly a year when I learned that I would be traveling for business on the anniversary of our first date. We were fortunate then to be working with pretty lax corporate travel policies, so Trav suggested that we take advantage of company-paid flights and meet in New York to celebrate. We had visited NYC on a business trip years earlier, long before we were together, and both instantly loved the city; we were anxious to return and experience New York as a couple.

I scrambled a little to finalize our travel arrangements, as we were only a few weeks out when the NYC idea came up. What I didn't know was that Travis had much bigger things in mind and had undertaken a monumental task in those same few weeks. After a turbulent and amazing year, Travis had decided to propose. He would tell me later that he wanted to give me the most amazing proposal possible - the old school chick flick kind - and in true Travis fashion, he didn't disappoint.

At the center of Trav's whirlwind plan was the engagement ring. It would have been stressful enough for him to choose a ring from a jewelry store like everyone else, but he would have none of that. Earlier that year, during a visit to meet my family, my Mom offered Travis the diamond left to me from my grandma's wedding set. Travis understood how much this family heirloom would mean to me and decided to make it the centerpiece of a custom ring that he would design.

The story gets complicated here since Grandma's diamond was in Nashville with my mom, Travis and I were here in Idaho, and the ring had to be designed, built, and waiting for us in New York. Thus began a furious back and forth, the likes of which has likely seldom been seen since the ancient origin of marriage itself. I'm still a little fuzzy on all of the details, but I believe it went down something like this:
Travis called my mom, told her his plan, and asked for Grandma's diamond. Mom took the diamond to be removed from its original setting and inspected in Nashville. The specifications were provided to a jeweler here who worked with Trav to find 4 more diamonds of the exact same color, cut & clarity. Travis then chose a setting to fit all 5 stones, the 4 bought locally were set, and the ring was packed, insured, and shipped to Nashville. The Nashville jeweler added Grandma's diamond to finish the setting, packed the ring back up, insured it again, and shipped it to my sister Amber in New York, whom we were fortunate to have living there at the time. All of this in the span of about 25 days, and all with the knowledge of everyone but me.

I arrived at La Guardia late in the afternoon on September 3rd, 2004, and met Travis when he landed an hour later. Amber and her husband Steve picked us up and took us to our hotel in Times Square, where I did some quick touch-up work while Amber quietly showed Trav the finished ring in another room. We had discussed plans for the night on the drive over; Trav and I wanted to visit the Empire State Building, and Steve knew an awesome bar a few blocks away where we stopped first for beers. (McSorley's - story for another time, but it's the shiznit. Check it out next time you're in Manhattan.)

A couple of drinks and a boatload of adrenaline were enough to distract me from the fact that Travis was uber twitchy all night. Looking back, it should have seemed strange that he kept one hand in his pocket and insisted on walking only on one side of me. When he stumbled over a divider in the loooong line to the top of the ESB, I took pictures and chalked it up to alcohol and altitude. Not even when we finally stepped out on the observation deck and he wrapped me up in his arms did I suspect anything more than a fantastic first anniversary with my sweetheart.

Travis held me tight while we marveled at the city views. He spoke softly, saying things that I keep for myself and savor often. He eventually stepped away, pulled the ring box from his pocket, and sank to one knee. It was all so surreal that I still hadn't grasped what was going on; a very sweet old lady clarified for everyone in earshot: "Oh my God, he's proposing!"

I can't tell you exactly how I reacted. I know that I was shocked, elated, madly in love, and I know a "yes!" came out one way or another. I know that I was stunned by the beautiful ring that Travis put on my finger. I'm sure that I laughed and cried and looked ridiculous, but I didn't care - not even when the applause started around us. In that moment, I had everything that I wanted, and my life was redefined.

I would be Mrs. Travis Heath, and no one anywhere would ever love their husband more.

Happy anniversary, baby!

the summer of megan

2009-08-06T14:42:00.028-06:00

I recently had coffee with a friend - a fellow Seinfeld connoisseur - who reminded me of this episode, where George decides to take some time off in pursuit of his best summer ever. I am currently immersed my own Costanza-style summer... minus, of course, the sweatpants and recliner mini-fridge. Turns out the best summer ever doesn't look the way you might imagine; no rowdy parties or extravagant vacations this year. I'm having the very best time of my life right here at home, playing and laughing and caring for my precious little ones.

Since Baby Sister joined us in June, I have been privileged to spend my days here with her and her brother(s). The SAHM experience is incredibly rewarding, although completely different this time than the first go-round. I truly loved the time that I spent at home with Peanut, but there were many periods in those early days that I felt overwhelmed, isolated, or inadequate; this time, knowing what to expect from Baby Sister and being confident in caring for her has made a world of difference. There are still plenty of overwhelming moments from the little ones - and tired, cranky moments from Mom - but I'm thankful that I know enough now to see past those times rather than be bogged down by them.

In 8 short weeks, Baby Sister has grown into a very sweet, curious, beautiful baby girl. She adores (and is adored by) her big brothers, perking up to see their faces whenever she hears them nearby. She is growing and changing incredibly fast, which makes me just a little sad; I do, however, enjoy dressing her in pretty little outfits as she grows into new sizes. She is already taking after Peanut, becoming very talkative and making friends with her big smiles. We keep expecting her to outgrow her crazy hairdo, but it continues to stand at the ready in spite of our best efforts. And though I would be tempted to freeze time and keep her a baby forever, I'm already looking forward to shopping trips, days at the spa, and long talks over wine... or maybe ice cream, at least for a while.

Well into his second year, Peanut continues to wow us every day with his larger-than-life personality. He is loud, rowdy, and endlessly active; at the same time, he is loving, empathetic, and alarmingly perceptive. I know that he doesn't always mean to cause trouble; sometimes he just can't help himself. On the other hand, there are times that he looks me right in the eye and does whatever he knows will instantly test my ability to remain calm. He loves Baby Sister so very much, in his own 2-year-old way that requires constant reminders not to poke her face, or pull her limbs, or bury her in toys, or to lay beside her rather than on her. He is an amazingly funny and independent little boy... not a baby anymore, no matter how it much pains me to admit. Fortunately he's still super squishy and cute; I just want to squeeze his big cheeks all the time.

Braden continues to be a helpful and attentive big brother, taking on Peanut-duty each morning while Trav & I get up and moving. He is careful to include little man as much as possible in his daily escapades with the neighborhood kids, and he takes time to hold and talk to Baby Sister whenever a few quiet minutes arise. For a boy that never eats and never stops moving, Brade manages to remain a pretty considerate and even-tempered 8 year old. He is as popular in our neighborhood as he is at home, spending long days outside surrounded by friends; he will no doubt be perturbed when his summer draws to a close very soon.

The little ones and I fill our days with morning wagon rides, lunchtime picnics, play dates at the park, running through sprinklers, trips to the zoo, riding a variety of toddler-friendly vehicles, and/or general mayhem through the neighborhood. We play games, visit friends, buy groceries, meet Dad for lunch, and make giant messes. There's lots of laughing, crying, asking questions, throwing fits, giving hugs, taking baths, changing diapers, filling sippy cups, picking out clothes, throwing, nursing, burping, laundry, dishes, sweeping, finding toys, losing toys, asking more of the same questions... and on really good days, maybe a nap or two. This is the most challenging and most rewarding task I've ever undertaken, and I will continue to savor every last minute I have until the Summer of Megan is interrupted by the Reality of Work.

Dad and Baby Sister working

Peanut doesn't want to smile

Mom and Baby Sister at Grandpa's

random photo friday: new baby edition

2009-06-26T20:28:00.005-06:00

Beautiful Baby Sister... two weeks old today!

happy father's day (belated)

2009-06-22T20:32:00.006-06:00

Travis and Peanut were playing outside last Friday, like they do most afternoons, when a thunderstorm hit and they were forced back inside. Rather than try to contain little man in the house for the rest of the day, Trav suggested we head to Rafiki, our favorite indoor play center. Peanut was so excited to "go to Fiki," he could hardly contain himself - so off we went.

There are many things we love about Rafiki, not the least of which is the fact that it's so parent-friendly. There are big, comfy couches situated near all of the different play areas, and the whole space is open enough to see just about any kid from just about any seat. It's a great place for little ones to do their own thing while parents relax, which is exactly what most moms & dads do.

Baby Sister decided she was starving the moment we arrived, so she and I settled onto a big leather sofa while Dad and Peanut covered every corner of the center; first the art station, then the train table, the basketball hoop, ping pong, jungle gym, slides, and eventually the play kitchen. I watched and smiled as they ran around, played games, and made each other laugh. Peanut was having the time of his life, doing all the things he loves and getting Dada's undivided attention.

It didn't take long for me to see what separates Travis from every other father - every other parent - that I know. In a massive room, surrounded by dozens of kids, my husband was the only one playing with their child. Not supervising or observing or half-listening; Travis actually interacts with our kids, not because he has to, but because he enjoys them and is genuinely interested in knowing who they are. It's impossible to describe the impact this has on our kids, but I see it every day; they are open, happy, and confident, knowing they can always rely on Dad to counsel and protect.

It's incredibly fulfilling for me, as a mother, to know that my kids have such a loving, supportive, and active father in their lives. None of us could ask for a better man to lead our family, and I am constantly humbled and overwhelmed by the love and generosity he shows each and every one of us.

Happy Father's Day (again), baby. We all love you more than you know!

...and baby sister makes 5

2009-06-20T23:32:00.005-06:00

Taylor Grey Heath made her way into the world at 2:07pm on Friday, June 12th, 2009. She weighed 7lbs, 7ozs and was 20 inches long. She has a full head of crazy dark hair, big blue-gray eyes, long skinny limbs, and a sweet, mellow baby girl temperament. She is loved and adored by all, but none more than her big brothers, who are completely enamored with their new little princess.

random photo friday - winter fun

2009-05-22T22:00:00.006-06:00

A couple of months ago, I got ambitious and decided to repaint our family room. Rather than do battle with little ones touching wet walls and knocking over paint cans, we decided it was a good opportunity for the boys to visit Grampa in Cascade for some sledding. Travis packed up the kids and headed north for a night, where they spent a beautiful sunny day running up and down the sled hill. It was Peanut's first sled adventure, and he hasn't stopped talking about it all this time.

Peanut and Braden on the hill

Grandma tows Peanut

Making a break for it

Brothers play in the snow

Boys get ready for a run

Grandma and Peanut

Braden, big sister Kaitlyn, and Peanut

Peanuts like sledding!

happy mother's day

2009-05-10T22:04:00.006-06:00

Everyday, I wake up knowing that I'm the luckiest mother and wife anywhere. On Mother's Day, my husband and son go out of their way to remind me of the same.

Travis takes extraordinary care to lavish me with beautiful gifts on every possible occasion, and today was certainly no exception. What he may not realize, though, is how much the material gifts pale in comparison to the blessing of his constant love and attention; to the laughs, smiles, kisses, and hugs of my baby boy; and to the sheer joy of seeing them interact, and being a part of their lives.

I'm not gonna lie - the presents are nice, and I'm more than a little grateful that my husband likes to spoil me so much. But it's really just spending time playing with my family and recognizing how fantastic they are that makes Mother's Day extra special.

I hope that every mother has the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the best of her family the way that I do.

Happy Mother's Day!

overheard: peanut and dada discuss breakfast

2009-04-29T20:51:00.003-06:00

Because I happen to be married to the best husband and father around, I usually get a few extra minutes of sleep in the morning while Travis fulfills Peanut's early demands for "pancakes, pease." This morning, their pre-breakfast conversation was a little louder and more lively than usual.

Peanut: I want grapes.

Travis: We don't have any grapes, bug. Daddy's making your pancakes.

Peanut: I want graaapes. Pease.

Travis: We don't have grapes right now. Mama will get you some grapes at the store, okay?

Peanut: Mama get grapes at the store?

Travis: Yeah.

Peanut (calling upstairs): Mama, get grapes at the store.

pause

Peanut: Woman, get downstairs!

Travis (clearly very amused): Mama will get grapes later, bug. Let's go eat pancakes.

Nice. Don't think for a moment that he doesn't receive significant coaching from his otherwise impeccable father.

the story of Tanner James

2009-04-27T22:55:00.007-06:00

Two years ago yesterday...

I arrived at my scheduled 38 week checkup with my OB-GYN. I had an induction planned the following week and knew, as I had heard just a week prior, that I had made no progress toward labor. We were so confident in my not-at-all impending delivery that Travis had left the day before on a business trip to Buffalo. I left work for my appointment at 11:00 and wanted to hurry back for a client call at 12:30.

After an uneventful exam (no progress of any kind), my doctor decided to do a quick ultrasound because she thought I looked a little "small." It was only a few moments into the US when her expression changed and she said, matter of fact-ly, that I was out of amniotic fluid and would have to go directly to Labor and Delivery to be induced. Now. But my husband is across the country, I said. I have a meeting in an hour, I have to get back to work. Can't this wait just another day or two? Absolutely not, doctor said. That baby was at risk every minute he was inside, and we had to get him out - no discussion. Peanut may not have been ready to be born, but apparently the time was here, whether either of us was ready or not.

My doctor left the room to alert the hospital, and I immediately called Travis. I tried to find a calm, soothing way to tell him that baby was coming now, but as soon as I said "induction" and "going to labor and delivery," I heard his laptop slam shut and knew he was already in motion. There was no telling how quickly the induction would work, but we knew that an unscheduled flight home from Buffalo could very well take longer than the expedited birth of our son, and my incredible husband didn't waste a moment finding a way home to us.

The next several hours are a little blurry. I knew I had to get to the hospital, but I was also stunned and desperate to postpone as much as possible for Trav's sake. I drove home to pack a bag and called my boss on the way. "I won't be back in today after all," I said. "I have to be induced." Right now? Really?? I'm sure I did a very poor job of explaining. I wandered around the house, put some random things in a suitcase, grabbed a snack and a bottle of water, and looked around at my baby-free home for the very last time. This isn't what I had planned at all, I thought.

The L&D nurses were very kind and patient as I got situated in the hospital. I explained that my husband was doing everything possible to travel home, and that anything they could do to slow down this process would be deeply appreciated. It was 5pm before I got my first dose of Cervadil, which I figured would hold off the real fireworks until at least early morning. Meanwhile, Travis had been on the phone with every friend and family member who could possibly help get him home, and several of them had also arrived in my room to keep me company. Folks came and went well into the evening, and I was thankful to be distracted from the possibility that Travis may not make it home in time.

I spoke with him every couple of hours, and as much as he tried to hide it from me, it was obvious that he was beside himself. He wasn't having much luck with the airlines and had resorted to bribing ticketed passengers while waiting on standby. My own loneliness and trepidation at delivering without him were nothing compared to what I knew his misery would be if he missed Peanut's arrival. After my second dose of Cervadil at 11pm, I turned down the nurse that offered me a sleeping pill, said the last of several prayers that day, and did my best to relax on my own.

Two years ago today...

A nurse woke me at 6am to begin the Pitocin. Groggy and uncomfortable after a long, restless night, I was first confused and then completely elated when my handsome husband walked into the room only a half hour later. He had flown standy from Buffalo to Chicago, Chicago to Salt Lake City, and then rented a car for the 4 1/2 hour drive from SLC to Boise. He hadn't slept or eaten, but the smile on his face was genuine, and at that moment it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. For the first time since I first heard the word "induction" the day before, I was finally ready to relax and let things take their course.

I labored on the Pitocin until 11am, when the contractions became extreme and I finally asked for an epidural. My doctor had already broken my water, but I still hadn't progressed much. The epidural was a relief, but it confined us to the room, which left little for us to do but try to rest. Around 1pm, Peanut's heart rate dropped dramatically and the nurses came in to check things out. They had me change positions and he stabilized, but there was concern that I still wasn't progressing. Peanut's heart rate dropped a couple more times over the next few hours, and it was determined that he just wasn't tolerating the Pitocin well.

At 5pm, my doctor decided we couldn't wait any longer, and I was prepped for c-section. It was only 10 minutes before I was in the operating room, and Travis joined me dressed in scrubs. Peanut's poor little heart dove again while they were getting me on the table, and my doctor didn't even wait for her surgical partner to begin the operation.

Peanut joined us just a few minutes later. He was immediately taken to a table to be examined, and Travis got to cut his cord. Another minute, and they brought him to me for the first time. He was beautiful and perfect, and I was as proud and happy as I could possibly be.

Today, 2 years later, Peanut is a more precious gift than I ever imagined. I am thankful every day that I am blessed with such a beautiful family.

We love you, Tanner James! Happy birthday, sweet boy.

plug of the week: boi-ing concealer

2009-04-13T21:42:00.004-06:00

One unfortunate trait that I've passed to my son is daaaarrk under eye circles. His dad will say that Peanut gets this from both of us, but I'm afraid the lion's share of that particular malady falls to me.

Peanut is fortunate, I suppose, that he avoids the dark circles until he's genuinely tired. I, on the other hand, lacking both youth and adequate rest, am stricken 24/7. It was in an effort to camouflage my exhaustion and maintain some semblance of composure during the day that I discovered Benefit boi-ing industrial strength concealer.

I've used a lot of concealer in my day; my visible flaws are sadly not limited to the aforementioned bags under the eyes. I'm a cosmetic brush addict who hates sponges and fingertips on my face, so I prefer a heavier consistency concealer that blends easily and can be layered for heavier coverage. boi-ing gets the job done beautifully.

Easy to work with. Stands up to powder foundation without creasing. Doesn't fade during the day. And damn it, it covers those dark circles and scars and blemishes as well as anything short of pancake or grease paint (both of which I've worn - fine for stage, a little excessive for the 9am staff meeting).

Have a little something of your own to conceal? Give boi-ing a roll - you won't be disappointed. I got mine at Sephora, but you can order online from Benefit directly or at most Benefit department store counters. Happy camouflaging!

tag, i'm it

2009-04-08T21:10:00.009-06:00

My friend Andrea tagged me months ago, but I staged a silent protest and ignored her tag until she updated her blog. New posts arrived yesterday, so here it is...

This is an easy one - highlight the things that you have done:

Started your own blog

Slept under the stars

Played in a band - does singing with a band count?

Visited Hawaii

Watched a meteor shower

Given more than you can afford to charity

Been to Disneyland

Climbed a mountain

Held a praying mantis

Sang a solo

Bungee jumped

Visited Paris

Watched a lightning storm at sea

Taught yourself an art from scratch

Adopted a child

Had food poisoning - twice. don't recommend it.

Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

Seen the Mona Lisa in France

Slept on an overnight train

Had a pillow fight

Hitchhiked

Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

Built a snow fort

Held a lamb

Gone skinny dipping

Been to a Broadway show in NY

Ran a Marathon

Been in three states at once

Ridden in a gondola in Venice

Seen a total eclipse

Watched a sunrise or sunset

Hit a home run

Been on a Cruise

Seen Niagara Falls in Person

Visited the birthplace of your Ancestors - hopefully one day, but it's a loooooong trip

Seen an Amish community

Taught yourself a new language

Had enough money to be truly satisfied

Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

Gone rock climbing

Seen Michelangelo’s David

Sung karaoke

Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

Visited Africa

Walked on a beach by moonlight

Been transported in an ambulance

Had your portrait painted

Gone deep sea fishing

Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - got dizzy and had to go inside :(

Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

Kissed in the rain

Played in the mud

Been to Grace Kelley’s grave in Monaco

Gone to a drive-in theater

Visited the Great Wall of China

Started a business

Taken a martial arts class

Swam in the Mediterranean Sea

Visited Russia

Served at a soup kitchen

Sold Girl Scout cookies

Gone whale watching

Gotten flowers for no reason

Donated blood, platelets or plasma

Gone sky diving

Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

Bounced a check

Saved a favorite childhood toy

Visited the Lincoln Memorial

Eaten Caviar

Pieced a quilt

Stood in Times Square - one of my very favorite places!

Toured the Everglades

Been fired from a job

Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

Broken a bone - 4 times

Been on a speeding motorcycle

Seen the Grand Canyon in person

Published a book

Visited the Vatican

Bought a brand new car

Walked in Jerusalem

Had your picture in the newspaper

Read the entire Bible - read lots, but not the whole thing

Visited the White House

Killed and prepared my own meat

Had chickenpox - also 4 times

Saved someone’s life

Sat on a jury

Met someone famous

Joined a book club

Lost a loved one

Had a baby

Seen the Alamo in person - it's surprisingly small

Swam in the Great Salt Lake

Been involved in a law suit

Owned a cell phone

Been stung by a bee

**********

My turn to tag - I'll pick Alison (don't think you ever did it either), Meredith (are you out there?), Brooke and Trav. Have at it, my friends.

random photo friday (on saturday)

2009-03-28T21:59:00.003-06:00

Travis and I joined Cop Shelli, Uncle Brent, Grandma Tammy and Grampa for an evening sleigh ride and steak dinner with Bogus Creek Outfitters earlier this year. The view was beautiful, the Clydesdales and sleighs were awesome, dinner was fantastic, and we all had a great time!

Me and Trav before the ride

Cop Shelli & Uncle Brent at dinner
Grandma Tammy & Cop ShelliMe & Trav Two handsome guys... Trav & Gramps

words of wisdom from tanner james

2009-03-24T13:04:00.010-06:00

Peanut's daycare teacher sent me an IM today:

"Tanner is so cute, today while we were outside he saw a squirrel in the tree and kept saying, "monkey come back!"

I read an article the other day that said the average 2 year old has a vocabulary of around 80 words. There are certainly times when I would like to limit Peanut to 80 carefully-chosen words, but he manages instead to add something new every day. I admit, it's (usually) fun to see what he comes up with.

A few of my current favorite Peanut phrases:

"Good morning friends" and "Buh bye friends" -when arriving at and departing from daycare

"Tanner and Mama are both tired" -after announcing he's tired and seeing me yawn later on

"I just don't want to take a bath!" -upon learning that he will be bathing instead of going for a walk

"You don't hit Dada's cheek, understand?" -to me, after seeing Travis flinch when I pretend to flick him in the head... same way Trav asks him if he understands after being scolded

"Braden! Stop talking!" -after being interrupted

"Be careful cars, don't hurt Mama" -after the car in front of us slammed on their brakes and I responded inappropriately

"Moses, get out of the road, my gosh" -scolding the dogs while Trav throws them a ball out front

"I loud, I make noise" -could be anytime, really

"I think Braden buh bye today" -after I ask if he's excited to see Dada and Braden on the way home

"Hi Meg" -reserved for playtime with Mama, and always followed with a smile and several repeats

only in idaho: safety standards = irresponsible parenting

2009-03-18T21:13:00.007-06:00

There are many things that I love about my home state, but it's no secret that the conservative political tendencies here are not among them. It's not that I'm a radical, bleeding-heart liberal or a would-be activist out to pick fights with random Republicans; on the contrary, I typically shy away from politics because I dislike conflict and find the process needlessly complex.

It's rare that I follow an issue closely or become invested enough to get riled up. Two factors would generally have to be present for me to really care: 1) the stakes are high and hit close to home, and 2) one or more involved parties exhibit an extraordinary lack of decorum and/or common sense.

Case in point: Senate Bill 1112, a measure intended to apply basic safety requirements for daycare providers statewide.

I've known for some time that Idaho's daycare regulations are inadequate and outdated (read: archaic and insulting). We learned the hard way, when Peanut suffered his skull fracture, that there is no governing body in our city, county or state that tracks, manages or enforces daycare safety standards beyond a requirement to keep a fire extinguisher on site. I can't begin to explain how frightening and infuriating a discovery this was.

SB 1112 represents the best and most recent effort to enact safety standards and give Health & Welfare the authority to hold providers accountable. Knowing that similar attempts have died in committee in the past 20 years, the approval of SB 1112 with a 30-5 majority by the Senate last week represents a major step forward in finally making these measures a reality.

Seems like a no-brainer, right?

I saw this report discussing the issue on the local news tonight. One of the opponents, Rep. Steven Thayn, (R) Emmett, is a well-known proponent of ultra-conservative legislation designed to preserve what he considers the "traditional family unit." In response to SB 1112, Rep. Thayne is quoted as saying:

"Regulations as a matter of principle have 2 basic flaws. One, they tend to drive up costs and in this case they tend to give the message that parents don't need to be intimately involved in their day care and make sure the day care is safe."

I'm sorry - what? Did you say that making daycares uniformly safe on the most basic levels enables lazy parenting? Are you accusing me of being uninvolved in my child's care because I feel the law should prevent sex offenders and active drug users from seeking employment in the toddler room? Am I so inept as to interpret the adoption of safety requirements as an invitation to drop my son on the doorstep of any random daycare and just drive away?

See? This is what I'm talking about. This is the kind of bizarre, narrow, primitive thinking that I can't dismiss with the passive eye roll I typically reserve for folks like Rep. Thayne.

I can see a concern about increased costs. Maybe I'm in the minority when I say that my kids' safety is worth the extra cost, and I know that I'm fortunate to be able to meet those costs if necessary. I contend that subsidies are available to parents for whom the cost of safety is burdensome, and that the burden to providers themselves is necessary, if uncomfortable. I don't see how "We can't afford to be safe" is an acceptable excuse to ignore the issues at hand.

For those of you in the Idaho region of blogland, I hope that you will take a few minutes to reach out to your local legislators and offer your support for SB 1112. I'm not a soapboxer - this is as close as you'll see me come to organizing a demonstration - but I encourage you all to pick up your cyber pickets and let our government know that our children deserve their attention.

plug of the week: handsome husband's blog

2009-03-12T15:14:00.007-06:00

More than a year after taking up residence in blogland, I have successfully shared the blog gospel with my beloved. Much to my delight, Travis has staked a claim on his own little corner of the blogosphere and recently completed his first very post.

I don't have to tell you how much I adore and admire my husband, and it's with tremendous pleasure that I invite you to read along and learn why.

Check him out at golf-dad.blogspot.com.

how many tokens for a cherry coke?

2009-03-11T20:44:00.004-06:00

One of the not-so-fancy amenities in my company's newly renovated office is our very own soda machine in the break room. I hardly ever drink soda, but as my energy levels and attention span continue to decline, the in-house machine makes it easy to take down a fizzy liquid energy boost once in a while. As I rushed to make an early meeting this morning, I sensed a 3pm crash in my future and grabbed a handful of quarters on the way out.

I managed to hold out until almost 4pm, when I found myself actually leaning against the machine to deposit my coins. I didn't pay attention to how many quarters I used, but once my hand was empty I figured I was good and pushed the big Cherry Coke button. Mmmm... Cherry Coke.

But no - no Cherry Coke.

Huh. I pulled the ejection lever to get my quarters back. I counted - 6 quarters, should be plenty. I fed the machine again. I pushed the button.

No Cherry Coke.

Now I'm really perplexed. I shake my head a little - maybe I've forgotten the process. Try again, and pay attention this time. Eject - count - feed.

This time, I notice that one of the quarters was rejected. I dig it out of the tray and re-feed. Rejected again. Try again, but drop it more carefully, in case the sheer force of my delivery was too much for the machine to register.

Rejected. Again.

I was preparing to crack the front of the machine with my foot when a coworker walked in and noticed my frustration.

"Are you short?"

"No, but it won't take this quarter for some reason. Do you have any change?"

"Sure - but how much is this worth, exactly?"

I look down at a smiling gold Chuck E Cheese token in my hand. Ah... it all becomes clear.

I am too ______ to buy soda. (fill in the blank: dense, tired, pregnant)

Probably best to just stick with water. I hardly ever lose at refilling my Nalgene. Sigh.

new study from the Center for No Sh*t Research

2009-02-19T21:42:00.007-07:00

Did anyone see this article on CNN today?

The headline reads, "Men see bikini-clad women as objects, psychologists say." Really? Thanks, Dr. Obvious. Groundbreaking revelation for those of us enjoying our first day on the planet.

Blatant sexism aside, I actually found some value in this report. You see, it appears that critical parts of the male brain truly do shut down when faced with visually appealing female types. It's not that they're jerks, necessarily; Dr. Obvious contends that there really is an inner caveman diverting all of the brain power away from the "she seems nice, I wonder if she likes sushi" areas in favor of the "Lothar breed, make cave baby" areas.

In other words, ladies, he really can't help it. Even the best of our men are genetically predisposed to a certain archaic response to suggestive imagery. We all know it's what he does before & after the looking that counts anyway, so I say we give him a collective break for the occasional sideways glance at a women's beach volleyball match.

Don't pretend you never glance yourself.

And while my feminist sisters will certainly balk, I personally take some comfort in knowing that men really "objectify" the women they see in these circumstances. If you're like me, and I suspect you are, you know that your husband is loving, respectful, and endlessly faithful. You can't be threatened by an object, even one that's rocking a serious mini skirt and stilettos; she isn't a person, a relationship, that he cares about. No need to fret when he notices something beautiful - good husbands like ours will admire what they see and then come home to enjoy the wives they love.

Win-win, caveman style.

oh, the places she will go

2009-02-05T15:43:00.008-07:00

It's been difficult for Travis and I to hide our collective shock as we've been told not once, not twice, but in three recent ultrasounds that our precious Jumping Bean is, in fact, of the female variety.

Travis has always insisted he could only produce male offspring. I was initially convinced that our sweet Peanut would be a girl, but I settled very quickly and securely into my role as Mom To Boys. So, in spite of popular opinion and to the dismay of many, we were more than satisfied with the notion that our third and final addition would be another handsome son.

The first hint at Baby Girl Heath was during a routine appointment with my OB. Her ultrasound equipment is good but not fancy, so the first peek at gender was less than conclusive; her initial read was girl, based not on what she saw, but what she didn't.

We weren't moved.

Our second (and best) look came a couple of weeks later during my Level 2 US with a high risk specialist. These are fantastic, talented people with very fancy equipment who do nothing but look very very closely at babies-to-be all day long. After 45 minutes and two opinions, the verdict came back "90% pink." Still not 100%, 'cause Jumping Bean's legs were a little crossed and there's a possibility that better positioning could detect boy parts.

Mild panic sets in.

Later that day, Trav decided a quick trip to Babies R Us was in order. "I thought we could look for a few little girl clothes," he says. Ah, the first hints of acceptance begin to surface. I may have even detected a little smile on my handsome husband's face as he picked out his first "Daddy's Girl" onesie.

It was early last week that we again visited the OB for our regular monthly US. The doctor gave us some of the same disclaimers - baby's legs are crossed, I don't see any boy parts but they could still be there - but the final verdict was the same: Time to prepare for a permanent Princess invasion of the Heath household.

And so the journey to acceptance continues. We aren't quite ready to admit to all of our smug family & friends, but Trav & I both are beginning to look forward to the addition of a sweet baby girl to our very testosterone-fueled family. Adolescent testosterone, no less, which is loud and rowdy and so much fun; even hugs and kisses are big and boisterous. We have a sense, misguided as it may be, that a beautiful girl will bring a more gentle tone to our wonderfully raucous home. More cuddles. Less destruction.

Or... she may just jump in the fray with her big brothers.

Either way, our hopes are high and we are increasingly anxious to meet the new queen of our castle.

coming soon: heath, party of 5

2009-01-02T15:29:00.003-07:00

A belated Happy Holidays to our blogland friends and family! We have had a fantastic Christmas season and are savoring the last of our vacation time before getting back to the grind next week. Hope all of you enjoyed the holiday season just as much.

Among our many blessings this new year is the pending arrival of the fifth (and likely final) member of the Heath clan. Yep - I'm pregnant, due June 19th. Hooray! We were very surprised to have a little one on the way, but are very excited and are very much looking forward to meeting our new addition.

So far so good for little Jumping Bean. Our early tests & ultrasounds have looked perfect, and all indications are that JB is healthy and thriving. I have not been as fortunate thus far, feeling the less pleasant effects of early pregnancy much more severely than the last time around. Seems Peanut took it pretty easy on his mom - Jumping Bean has been a little less courteous the past few months. Fingers crossed that the worst is behind us both.

Being that this will probably complete our little family and we are already blessed with two sweet little boys, the popular consensus among friends and especially family is that JB should be a baby girl. We will, of course, be thrilled with any baby regardless, but Travis, Braden and I are all quietly hoping for a third little man. We're pretty comfortable with the boy thing - finally - and the little guys are tons of fun with their rough-and-tumble little personalities. A sweet little princess would obviously be adored and doted on by Mom, Dad and especially her big brothers, but she may not appreciate the boys' constant running and throwing and wrestling. Either way... we should find out in a few weeks just who's in store for us.

Here's to an exciting 2009!

a word about gratitude

2008-12-18T15:18:00.002-07:00

I caught myself, not too long ago, complaining about buying groceries at WalMart. I was feeling snarly after battling crowds and long lines to take advantage of lower prices, when I would normally have gone shopping elsewhere and paid more to avoid the hassle. It wasn't until later that I realized how ignorant and shallow a complaint that was, and I felt ashamed.

A dear friend reminded me today of all that I have to be thankful for - true happiness, she said, and a life of balance even in the midst of craziness. Such a powerful observation, and one that I cherish because it means that I am reflecting what is meaningful in my life: a loving, supportive marriage to my perfect partner, and happy, healthy kids in whom we take endless pride and pleasure. My family and our happiness are my greatest joy, and though in weakness I fret or complain, I am acutely aware of the love and fulfillment they provide.

It's the more mundane things in life that I find easy to take for granted. Things like being securely employed and making a comfortable living. Having the means to feed and clothe and care for my kids without having to make choices between Christmas gifts or Christmas dinner, or between heating the house or seeking medical care. We become accustomed to "necessities" that are really luxuries and lose sight of the fact that we're so blessed to simply be healthy, safe and warm.

One of my resolutions for the coming year is to evaluate my individual needs and focus on reducing excess: less spending, less eating, less consumption of things that aren't necessary or valuable. I've found so many outlets for giving, and so many people and organizations who are deserving and would truly benefit from receiving what I can save and share. I feel more and more compelled to contribute to those around me, and I hope that small steps will eventually become great strides.

At the risk of preachy yammering, I would encourage everyone to just pause and appreciate the blessings in your own life this holiday season. We are all, every one of us, incredibly fortunate and surrounded by others who do not share the same blessings. Just look around, take a breath, and be grateful - there is so much to be thankful for!

trick or treat

2008-11-06T21:32:00.005-07:00

Peanut and Big Brother sported a Star Wars theme for Halloween this year. Braden was a very handsome Luke Skywalker and Tanner James was an adorable & convincing Chewbacca. After Trick or Treating at both Trav's and my offices, we paused at home before heading to church with Grandma Tammi for another very fabulous Trunk or Treat. The boys came home with bushels of candy, and Peanut discovered his new favorite food: suckers! Mmmm, pure sugar on a stick, just the thing for the littlest man. We finally had to pry Dum Dums out of both sticky hands at bedtime.

Hooray for Halloween!

survey says...

2008-10-15T20:58:00.002-06:00

Really?? Technology says so, it must be true.

plug of the week: the iphone

2008-10-06T21:20:00.003-06:00

The iPhone is better than your phone.

I hate to be the first to break it to you, but it's true.

I'm not really a gadget girl, and I'm not an early adopter, so I was unmoved by the iPhone when the Apple folks first unleashed it on the public. I scoffed at the fancy pants touch screen. "Wait till Peanut slams that screen into the coffee table and turns it into a $600 brick," I said. Who could type on a flat, keyless keyboard, anyway? Who needs their entire iTunes library on their phone? Not practical. Not user friendly. Not as awesome as advertised. I said all of these things.

And then... I actually saw an iPhone in person. I held it in my hand. I touched the touchable touch screen and saw it respond to my little taps and slides. I saw the clean and lovely layout of the giant screen and zoomed in and out on photos and websites. I even typed successfully on the keyless keyboard.

And it all came into focus.

The iPhone is pure handheld euphoria. It really is as awesome as advertised. Really!

I promise I'm not a Mac homer or anything. I don't even own an iPhone - I just play with Trav's. Makes my handheld look old and busted, even though it's new and nice. It's just not an iPhone. It's just not.

Try the touch screen. Just try it. If you don't dig the zooms and slides, you're just not trying that hard.

plug of the week: funny, but scary. but funny! and scary.

2008-09-29T22:59:00.002-06:00

What can I say... YIKES!

the "mother of the year" people should be here any minute

2008-09-21T21:02:00.001-06:00

Peanut and I were holed up at the mall for a while yesterday after our sunny Saturday plans were rained out by a huge storm. Not much for sitting still, baby boy was a fairly cooperative little trooper while I wheeled him around in his rented car stroller. Much to my surprise, he was relatively content to crank on the steering wheel and wave to strangers while I checked out the sale racks at Express and the new fall lineups at Sephora.

After humoring me with minimal escape attempts and limited grabbing of merchandise, I decided that Peanut deserved a treat. Off to the gelato stand on the upper level, where we hemmed and hawed over many delicious options before settling on a small cup of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. Peanut, of course, insisted on his own plastic spoon and was surprisingly successful at helping himself to his share.

Our gelato was nearly finished when something strange caught my eye: part of Peanut's spoon was... missing. I did a double take - no choking, no spitting up, nothing out of the ordinary looking at his sticky little face. I immediately went in to do the mouth sweep and came away with nothing but a sore finger with an enormous bite mark. Mild panic began to set in.

Oh. My. God. He ate his spoon.

And neither one of us seemed to notice.

Super.

What now? Over deafening Peanut protests, I tossed the rest of the gelato and the defective, dangerous spoons and began the trek across the mall toward our car. I didn't know where we were going, but I knew we had to go somewhere.

I needed a second opinion, so I dialed my sister Amber; with a chemistry degree, a neurosurgeon husband, and two babies, she's usually my first call in non-critical situations. Amber didn't think the plastic itself was a problem, but she was worried that a sharp edge could hurt his little insides. She said she tells dog owners with this problem to feed the dog a whole bunch so the sharp thing has plenty of padding as it passes through, but she wasn't sure the same applied for little boys. (Did I mention Amber's a vet tech too?) She thought a trip to the doctor was probably in order but said to call Peanut's doctor first.

The nurse at our pediatrician's after hours service was very thorough and very slow, which was unfortunate as Peanut had become quite agitated by this time. He had long abandoned the car stroller and was running wildly around a bank of vending machines while I attempted to listen to the nurse's questions and instructions. After a long line of questioning to determine that Peanut was not choking - thanks, Sherlock - she got to the part about swallowing a sharp object, and the conversation moved much more quickly; she basically told me that he was in imminent danger and that we needed to go to the nearest ER. Now. She said very frightening things like "laceration" and "procedure to extract" and other stuff that I didn't much notice as I wrestled Peanut out the door to the parking lot.

Fortunately, the hospital was only a few blocks away, which left little time for me to think about the possibility of my baby's stomach being pumped on what was supposed to be a happy Saturday out with Mom. We rushed in, spent a couple of minutes at registration, and were immediately ushered back to an exam room by a nurse. They did the usual - temperature, oxygen, weight (32+ lbs!), and a little history that quickly covered the many hospital visits we've had in the past. Good times.

We waited just a few minutes before a friendly doctor came in and introduced himself. A quick look at the chart and a minute's observation of Peanut enthusiastically rearranging the exam room furniture was all it took for the doctor to conclude that Peanut was fine. He said babies this age can swallow tacks and come out unscathed, and that the likelihood of such a small piece of plastic causing any problem was very small. He looked in Peanut's mouth and felt around his tummy, then told me to keep an eye out for any fever or signs of pain in the next 24 hours. He said the rogue spoon fragment should reappear in a day or so, but that I needn't be diligent about identifying it upon passing - thanks doc! With that, we packed up and headed home from our fastest ER visit yet.

Let me recap for those of you still working on those "Mother of the Year" nominations:

Fed baby gelato as a reward for letting her shop
Gave baby his own spoon and didn't notice when he ate it
Talked on the phone for 20 minutes post spoon-eating before taking baby to the ER
Counted afternoon as a success overall because ER visit was only 30 minutes

Get those ballots in early, friends. Who knows what dumb thing I won't notice next.

random photo friday

2008-09-12T15:07:00.004-06:00

Sleepy PeanutBrothers give hugs Playland fun
Sliding with Mom
Peanut wears his peanut hat

Thanks Karen and Katie!!

summer vacation

2008-09-11T21:35:00.000-06:00

Another fantastic family vacation is in the books. Snowbird was a perfect combination of beautiful scenery, awesome amenities, all-ages activities, easy access to the city, and a great big suite with room for family play time and quiet private time. Who knew there was so much to do at a ski resort in September?

Boys riding the cars at the Lagoon

On the dragon rideDad & Uncle Brent line up for a putting gameBig brother's turnMom & Peanut Peanut hangin' with Uncle BrentBraden on the bungee trampolineBrade & Uncle Brent race on the alpine slide - this view is from our roomGrandma Tammy and Cop Shelli on the zip rider, another shot from our balcony Peanut's a little skeptical riding up the chair lift
The view up the lift to the top of the alpine slideInside the main tent of Snowbird's Oktoberfest event Dad keeps an eye on Peanut, a well known beer grabberBraden gets a lesson from a professional yo yo masterPeanut helps a juggler pick up his propsAt the SLC aquarium, Dad helps Peanut pet the manta rays Peanut & big brother in the aquarium play areaDad, Peanut & Braden in the aquarium learning centerChecking out a fish tankResort wildlife: a friendly badger (I think...?)Dad, Brade, Cop Shelli & Grandma Tammy practice their volleyball skills Big brother & Peanut swing at the resort playgroundBraden climbs the big bugBoys in the race carPeanut slides like a big boy, all by himselfPeanut's favorite - the steering wheel Love the mountain scenery

plug of the week: 44 degrees north

2008-09-08T22:04:00.005-06:00

I promise to recap and post vacation pictures soon.

In the meantime, allow me to share one small highlight of my week away: kicking back every night with an icy tall glass of 44 Degrees North Huckleberry Vodka and tonic.

44 North is distilled right here in scenic Idaho, where potatoes and huckleberries are native and naturally destined to unite in clear distilled glory.

Mixed properly, the huckleberry vodka tonic is the perfect at-home 5:00 cocktail. With professional help, though, 44 North can do even better. If you've never indulged a Huckleberry Mojito downtown at The Piper Pub, you're missing out on one of life's great pleasures. I'd give you the recipe, but you can't recreate it yourself. Trust me, adult beverage friends - book your Boise flights now.

Many big thanks to MIL Tammy for so generously sharing (read: donating) her 44 North bottle to the all important cause of me winding down. I owe you one!

long time no read

2008-09-02T21:47:00.003-06:00

Just a quick hello from all of us at the Heath clan. We are alive and well and enjoying a much needed vacation at the Snowbird resort in Utah.

Yes, I have regrettably had another very long blog hiatus. Nothing major, just the usual times 10. Brade is back to school, Trav has been on the road & gearing up for fantasy season, Peanut is constantly on the move and into absolutely everything.

And I, of course, work all the time.

...but let's just not go there.

I am, after all, on vacation.

So.

Lots to share, lots of pictures of cute boys at home, at the state fair, here on vacation at the Lagoon and around the resort. I will get to all soon - hopefully when we get home this weekend.

It's been a nutty few weeks. We're doing our best now to enjoy some time together and relax, which thankfully includes going to bed uber early... like now, at 10pm.

Ahh, love the family vaca.

don't feed the animals, but do share your cocktails

2008-08-21T22:46:00.005-06:00

It's a zoo at the office right now. Literally, a zoo.

We have tense creatures in cramped quarters. Curious observers wandering about and grumbling. Well-meaning, ill equipped keepers. Regular but inadequate food delivery. Random outbursts of violent shrieking and poo flinging.

Okay, the poo flinging is figurative. But very nearly literal.

People constantly bring me questions, complaints, clients, vendors, faxes, letters, calls, messages, invoices, handouts, reports, prospects, new hires, internal transfers, requirements, flow charts, rate cards, business cards, media kits, affidavits, credit apps, audit statements, market research, ratings estimates, hardware, software, betas, schedules, proofs, and the occasional jelly doughnut.

But no one brings me a drink. And the cocktail waitress hasn't been by in weeks. What does a lioness have to do to get a vodka tonic in this den?

plug of the week: olympic mayhem

2008-08-11T21:46:00.005-06:00

Man oh man oh man. There's some wicked cool stuff happening in Beijing.

I watched the women's beach volleyball team sweep another competitor tonight. Those two haven't lost in a decade or so.

The men's gymnastics team looks amazing, and they weren't even supposed to be competitive.

And the swimming. Ooohhh maaaaan, the swimming.

Michael Phelps is a superhero, for real. Get the man a sidekick and a waterproof cape and a posse to carry all the big gold bling.

Did you see the relay last night? Down a half body length in the final lap and our anchor closes? Are you kidding me? Are you freakin kidding me?? We were actually shrieking and high-fiving right in front of the TV, like the Olympi-dorks we are. Like you should be.

Time to fire up the tube and take in some good, old fashioned, flag waving Olympic spirit. You won't be disappointed. Say it with me: USA! USA! USA!

*Shout out to the Samoan contingent, 6 strong, represnting in boxing, weightlifting, archery, kayaking and javelin. Nope, still no Samoan synchronized swim team - maybe 2012.

random photo friday

2008-08-08T22:35:00.002-06:00

Boys playingPeanut tackles big brotherTakedown Dad and Peanut hangin' in the kitchen
Big smiles

plug of the week: good help

2008-08-04T22:20:00.004-06:00

Hard to find, but worth the wait.

So I've spent the last 5 months buried under a massive mountain of work, a fact you have no doubt picked up on from my constant complaining.

Today, friends, was the first day of my salvation.

I. got. help! Good help.

No, not therapy. Or medication. Not that kind of help.

People help. Skilled, experienced coworkers who came in, came up to speed in record time, asked me what I needed, and then got right to it. No dumb questions. No "I don't know how." No bitching when we all worked through lunch and never took a break.

It was brilliant. Brilliant!

I can't even tell you what a relief this is. We've been recruiting for months to bring in more people who do what I do, and today was the first glimpse of what life will be like when I'm no longer an army of one.

Aaaahhhhhh... sweet relief is finally in sight.

Happy Monday, ya'll!

random photo friday: before and after edition

2008-08-01T21:47:00.003-06:00

Peanut finally had another long-overdue haircut this week, courtesy of Cousin Jeni. No more baby here - Peanut looks like a grown up little man.

Before:

Moptop having a snack

Playing with big brother
Practicing his wicked dance moves
And after:

Big boy hair and great big smiles
Putting our juice on our new 'do
Mini-mohawk, courtesy of daycare teachers

the sunday dread

2008-07-27T22:44:00.003-06:00

It sets in early these days.

It used to be that I could walk out of the office every Friday and enjoy the weekend until right about now, 10:30ish on Sunday, when I would plug my brain back in to prepare for Monday morning. Now I barely get through lunch on Saturday before the weight of the next week settles squarely in the pit of my always-aching stomach.

Have you ever had a job where you could never relax, you were never in the clear, you could never get on top of all there was to do, and you lived in constant fear because you were doing too much to do any of it well?

It's rough going down the old career path right now.

I certainly carry plenty of the blame. I'm responsible for more than one person can handle, and I know that I've dropped the ball on some important occasions. But it's hard to shake it off and keep going when every mistake, every oversight, everything I do wrong is a colossal, public failure that threatens the future of the business.

It's suffocating.

The worst part is that it's a lose-lose proposition for me. When all the extra work I'm doing now is successful and I can focus on my real job, all I'll have done is create a body of work for myself that's too gargantuan and overwhelming to find my way out. There's just so little to look forward to.

The ridiculous hours and mental battling have taken a big toll on the little time I do get with my precious family. I come home tense, exhausted, moody and over-sensitive - not the way I want to spend the summer with my boys. I can never be too far from the Blackberry or the laptop; at any moment I may get a call or an email or an IM telling me I screwed something up, or that I have to drop everything and solve an URGENT problem.

I feel like I'm giving up a lot and getting so little in return. I'll keep plugging away because it's important for us that I have this job, but it's hard not to wonder if it's worth it.

Whew. Deep, cleansing breaths.

Okay... pity party over. :)

random photo friday

2008-07-25T12:54:00.001-06:00

Peanut saying "what's up?"

Dad, Mom & Peanut in NYC
Me & my friend K-Dub - isn't she the cutest?
Big brother havin' a snack
Travis & I in Vegas

goldfish aren't health food?

2008-07-23T21:28:00.003-06:00

Anyone else read this Time article on popular kid foods?

Raise your hand if every single one of these things is currently, or has been in the last year, in your kitchen.

Yeah. Me too.

Damn it! I thought I was doing pretty good with my pre-packaged snack dependency. But apparently all of these staples are actually salty, sugary, preservative-laden nightmares.

The Goldfish? Really?? But they're so baked and adorable.

The Campbell's soup? Chicken and Cars/Stars/etc? Oh, say it ain't so.

The organic waffles? What??? Hello, they're organic - that's the same as healthy. Right?

I knew about the macaroni & cheese. And the Kudos bars. And the Sunny D. I buy them anyway, but I know it's wrong. I just try not to dole them out every day.

Moderation = Good Parenting

I take this all as a reminder from the universe that I am responsible for feeding my kids actual food and not the most cleverly packaged, over-processed substitute. At least part of the time.

Okay... most of the time. *Damn it again!*

This cooking real food gig is obviously not my strong suit. It's just not my thing, blog friends. I mean seriously - who comes up with healthy, interesting, family-friendly food every single day? I would need a team of people.

Let's remember, too, that I live with a husband whose favorite meal is a tie between popcorn chicken and baloney & cheese sandwiches.

Me: How about I grill some steaks and corn on the cob tonight?

Trav: That's okay baby, I think I'll just heat up some Ramen and leftover pizza

Alllllllllrighty then. You can see how this scenario leaves little room for healthy intervention at dinner time.

No matter. I am committing myself to solving this meal dilemma. It's the best I can do for my boys and myself, especially little Peanut. I don't want him to grow up thinking that all food comes in bags or wrappers or single-serving microwaveable cups.

And if I leave baloney-deprived bodies in my wake, then so be it. I know they'll thank me later. Much, much later.

I'll need help though, blogland. I will struggle on Wednesday nights when I'm exhausted and the baby is starving. I will want to fill his little tray with Goldfish and mac & cheese and Nila wafers and call it good. I'll have to push myself to find healthy recipes that won't take hours to make and that my picky little family won't reject on site.

It's going to be a major challenge, but I think I'm ready. Time to ditch the packaged goods and discover the joys of actual food.

Wish me luck, folks. And my boys. We're all going to need it.

so that's what a serving looks like

2008-07-18T22:40:00.004-06:00

What's better than delicious ice cream?

Not having to call upon your compromised logic or willpower while devouring said ice cream.

Say it with me, blogland: A pint is not a serving.

My brain knows, but when it's 11pm and that carton of Chunky Monkey is keeping me company during TMZ... well... the brain is clearly not running that show.

And so it is that those pints disappear and these 6 extra baby pounds do not. Seems I'll carry my ice cream weakness on my hips forever.

But wait! Maybe the universe is on my side here after all.

I was digging through the freezer case last week for elusive Vermonty Python (I know it's wrong, but there are chocolate cows in there - chocolate cows!) when I discovered them: Single Serving Ben & Jerry's. And then, a foot or so to the left: Single Serving Haagen Dazs.

Tiny, frozen proof that Jesus loves us and wants us to be happy.

The ice cream gods were screaming, Go on, indulge! What's stopping you? No spoon? There's one stashed under the lid. No scratch? They're like a buck apiece - you'll find that in the parking lot.

The best part is, you can't eat too much. You're supposed to eat the whole thing. It's one serving, just for you. Kids and husbands, get your own.

random photo friday

2008-07-11T22:39:00.004-06:00

Cute Kids!

Reorganizing Mom's sock drawer

Cousin Gideon and baby cousin Tola Another happy naked picture
Boys at the Maui aquarium last December
The blowfish face
Side view.... ready to store nuts for the winter

vegas, baby

2008-07-10T21:40:00.010-06:00

As an anniversary gift to each other, Travis and I decided to take advantage of the long holiday weekend and hit the road for fabulous Las Vegas.

We love Vegas. The lights. The noise. The casinos. The shopping. The shows. The massive resorts. The no open container law. Even the blistering heat. We love it all.

We were married there, back in the day. It's one of our places. We haven't been back together since our wedding.

So when Grandma Tammy volunteered to chase after Peanut for the weekend, we jumped at the chance to spend a few days together in Sin City.

We left Thursday evening, stayed the night in Ely - not a hip place, if you haven't been - and hit the strip around noon on Friday. We managed to pack a ton into the next day and a half before heading back home Sunday morning.

It was tough to leave little Peanut for 3 nights, but he loved his weekend with Grandma, and we loved our weekend together. Perfect vacation.

At the fountain in the Forum Shops

On the terrace overlooking the 18th green at the Wynn resort course

In the lobby of the Ka Theater at the MGM Grand... INCREDIBLE show. Worth the money for the killer seats if you ever have the chance.You may not know this, but Trav & I are huge professional poker fans. I know... Nerd Alert. The World Series of Poker happened to be in full swing at the Rio - we couldn't help but head over and check things out.

Trav swings for a virtual long drive competion on the showroom floor. Check out that follow through. Hot stuff!Milwaukee's Best is a major sponsor of the WSOP. This one's for you, Uncle Steve.Planters must be a sponsor too. It's Mr. Peanut! And he drives... the NutMobile. Doesn't sound family friendly? You should get a full-length look at this thing.

Then we REALLY got our dork on and started lining up for autographs and pictures with the pros.

Me and Johnny Chan - he was in Rounders, remember?Me and Jamie Gold - movie producer who won last year's Main EventTrav and Annie Duke, one of the top female prosTrav's favorite part of the trip... meeting Doyle Brunson, the Godfather of Poker. Real old school poker fans know Doyle's the king. Doyle wasn't actually in a fan session, we just happened to see him chillin on the floor. We were trying to be good fans and not hassle him during his downtime, but it was just too big an opportunity to pass up.

Trav finally psyched himself up to ask for an autographTravis and Doyle, old poker buddies

alive and kicking

2008-07-09T22:03:00.006-06:00

Has it really been 12 long days since my last blog post? Where have the days gone??

It's been a nutty couple of weeks, folks. Let's see...

Work

Anniversary date :-)

Work

Auntie Tawna's birthday!

Work

Hanging out with friends

Work

End of Braden's baseball season

Work

Peanut surgery follow up - all good on the ear front

Work

Cousin Gideon cracks his head open & gets stitches... poor baby

Work

Peanut picks up some new words - uh oh, what's up (more like whaa suh?)

Work

4th of July in Vegas! (more to come)

Work

Peanut gets another (!) bite at daycare

Work Work Work Work Work

I guess those are the highlights. Nothing groundbreaking, but enough to keep me from my beloved blogland. As you can see, the job continues to kick my ass on a daily basis - that includes weekend and holiday days. No excuses though, I know... priorities.

(How sweet of Meredith to check in today! The fam just complains when there are no updates... you know who you are.)

Here are some adorable pictures to make up for my long long absence:

Braden gets his baseball trophy

With the teamPeanut & big brother share a big boy snackPeanut running naked... he's a happy naked boy

third anniversary

2008-06-27T00:01:00.001-06:00

June 27th, 2005

Travis Heath and Megan Grey

married at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas

Happy anniversary, baby

You've given me everything in my life that matters

I love you!

blog bling

2008-06-25T21:41:00.006-06:00

Check it!

Jenny over at ThE ShUTan CLan has ever so graciously extended the first ever Blog Award to heath family happenings: the coveted Arte y Pico, which recognizes creativity and overall contribution to the blog community.

Is that the shiz-nit or what?? I am STOKED, folks.

It means so much to be acknowledged by a reader and fellow blogger like Jenny, I can't even tell you.

Because, blogland... everything I do, I do it for you.

Thanks Jenny, you made my blog day!

mom time

2008-06-24T05:00:00.001-06:00

Like many a modern mom, I don't get (or take) lots of time to myself. When you work 12 hour days, you're anxious to spend what's left of your time with your sweet little family. Doesn't leave much for a busy bee like yours truly to set aside for selfish indulgences.

Don't get me wrong here - I adore my family. They're the light of my life. And work sucks pretty royally right now, but by and large it's not a bad gig. So no major complaints. Even still, sometimes the old chi just needs a little solitude to promote self balance and happy-mom harmony.

During the week, my alone time consists of the three minute commute between the office and the daycare; just enough time to queue up some rockin tunes and belt out a few big lines. Then the tunes are 86'd so I can entertain Peanut between I-hate-to-be-in-the-car screaming fits.

Not so rejuvenating, really.

Weekends are better. Sundays, for example, I usually take a couple of hours to do the weekly grocery shopping. Does it really take two hours to buy groceries? No. Do I need two hours without screaming baby and/or screaming clients to maintain my composure the other 166 hours of the week? Oh good lord yes. Thank God I have a husband who gets it and happily herds little boys while I wander away to overspend on convenience food.

Now, I know what you're thinking: bad mom/wife/employee who deals with stress by running away from her family & responsibilities. Throw me a bone here, blogland. Surely I'm not the only one.

As much as I appreciate roaming solo through the aisles of Fred Meyer, the setting is not conducive to the true escapism that my secret performer's soul craves. You see, blog faithful, I'm a musician; in another life, I contemplated and studied and prepared for a career in vocal performance. Not all Britney-like, mind you - something more subtle, more artistic, less commercial and slutty.

My longstanding dream of singing backup for a legendary artist like Sting could have been within reach in my younger years, if only I had focused. Who wants to be a backup singer, you wonder? Someone with just enough talent to contribute to greatness, but not enough to produce it alone. And vocally speaking, that's me exactly. I just want a little reflection from the spotlight - I don't need the whole thing.

As you've no doubt surmised, those dreams have long since fallen to the wayside in favor of raising a beautiful family and having a real job that pays actual money. I wouldn't have it any other way.

But on leisurely weekend mornings, in the solace of our master bathroom, I get to live out my dreams of semi-stardom. For 90 fanciful minutes, I crank up the ipod speakers and sing my heart out during a long shower and extended getting-ready activities. It's just the little departure I need to feed my would-be semi-star heart.

I don't thing Travis is down with my weekend Sing Out sessions. He thinks I'm just really vain. And slow. And let's be honest... there's more than a shred of truth there.

But really, it's all about the music.

I was in the midst of Sunday Sing Out yesterday when I found myself brought rather abruptly back to reality. It was a good one, too: my favorite duet, Volcano with Damien Rice, had just started. I always picture the scene so vividly during this song - I sit on a tall stool, he stands and plays the guitar, the cello plays that longing intro, and we communicate with our eyes while our voices together navigate the delicate harmonies.

I love this song. Love it.

We, Damien and I, were right in the meaty part of the bridge when I heard the bedroom door open; a moment later Travis and Peanut enter the sacred performance hall that is our bathroom.

"Change of plans, baby doll."

Trav goes on to say something about a play date for Braden and how he has to leave right away, half an hour early, and can Peanut hang out with me. I kind of listen, but what I really hear is, "Sunday Sing Out has been cancelled due to schedule conflicts."

On his way out, Travis notices Volcano is playing. "Oh, I like this song." Mmmm hmmmm. Me too.

Then it ends. Without me.

At first I try to salvage a little of my duet. I restart the song, take a breath, and try again to picture myself on that stage. But something about the little man at my feet emptying the cupboards onto the floor kind of ruins the illusion.

Without the illusion, I'm not a backup singing semi-star. Just another mom with an ipod and an overactive imagination.

Oh well, there's always next week. And Damien will be there; he always is.

So tell me, blogland - how do you spend your Mom Time?

plug of the week: cleaning fairy

2008-06-23T20:26:00.005-06:00

Last summer, Peanut was just a few months old when I returned to work full time. As we adjusted to our new work+baby schedule, it became apparent in a hurry that our routine needed some major adjustments. Somehow, the forces of the universe conspired to see that a) our house was subject to a constant state of complete disarray, and b) we were too worn out to do anything about it.

Enter Laurie, our savior and new best friend. Laurie calls herself the Cleaning Fairy and she does the most extraordinary thing: she makes my house clean! Laurie is thorough, flexible and her rates are incredibly reasonable - a tiny fraction of the $120/hour the big franchise cleaning services charge.

And I can attest with complete conviction: our investment with Laurie is one of the best things we could have done for ourselves. Every Tuesday, Peanut and I come home to clean bathrooms, a clean kitchen, vaccuumed carpets, polished hardwood, made beds and empty garbage cans - and that, dear friends, is priceless.

I'd share her info, but Laurie keeps her clientele small - her words, not mine. Honest. Get your own.

random photo friday

2008-06-20T23:33:00.003-06:00

Welcome back for this week's RPF! I did a dump from the camera this evening and found all kinds of random goodness.

Peanut tries to unlock the mysteries of the remote control

Braden last summer, chillin with his parachute man Peanut riding in the Super Safe Baby Throne
Baby in the bathtub
Peanut tackles big brother

1930's marital scale

2008-06-20T13:05:00.003-06:00

To the surprise of no one at all, I would not have made a good housewife in the 1930's.

As a 1930s wife, I am
Poor

Take the test!

the tale of the tubes

2008-06-19T21:19:00.004-06:00

Bright and early Monday morning, Travis, Peanut and I piled into the Vue and headed to St. Luke's for a 6am pre-surgery check in. Little Tanner James was registered, weighed, measured and set loose to play in the toy-filled pediatric surgical unit before being whisked away to have tubes placed in both ears.

We've been told by dozens of parents that tubes are no big deal, the procedure is really routine, babies come out of it fast and recover right away, and they feel so much better afterward. And after months of constant ear infections and recommendations from two doctors, we felt good that surgery was the right thing to do.

But I have to tell you.

Nothing makes you feel good when a nurse, pleasant though she may be, takes your crying baby from your arms to go somewhere unknown and you're not allowed to follow. When he's wailing and reaching for you, you're helpless knowing that he will be in a strange room with strange people doing strange things, and no one he loves will be there to comfort him.

That was not a good moment in Travis's and my life.

It took us a minute to recover.

Then we gathered Peanut's things and returned to the surgical waiting room, where we sat anxiously for a solid 6 minutes before an attendant let us know that the procedure was done.

Well... okay then. They weren't kidding when they said it was fast.

The surgeon came out and told us everything went great, answered some questions, and said Peanut would be awake soon. It was another 20 minutes or so before we were taken back to the recovery area where our sweet baby boy was being held and drinking juice with two friendly nurses.

He was very happy to see us. But not nearly as happy as we were to see him.

Peanut drank a bottle and rocked with Dad while I got more care instructions and the nurses monitored his vitals. (yep, I say vitals - don't criticize, you don't know what it means either) Peanut was a little groggy but recovering well and we were discharged 20 minutes later.

He took a long nap that morning and was a little wobbly the rest of the day, but he's been great since - no pain or complications. The hearing improvement we were counting on hasn't quite materialized; seems he still has a hard time understanding when we say no, get down, not yours, don't throw, or take that out of your mouth. Must take some time for the hearing to adjust, but we're happy so far.

On a related note, please say a prayer for my friend Andrea and her little guy Jack. Today Jack Jack had the same procedure as part of a larger surgery and he's actually staying in the hospital overnight. Lots of love and good wishes coming your way little guy!

father's day with my golf fan

2008-06-15T21:05:00.007-06:00

Golf fans aren't like regular sports fans.

During the Super Bowl or the NBA Finals, it's perfectly acceptable - expected, really - to talk and laugh and basically ignore the game until something exciting happens. Football and basketball are jovial social occasions; it's part of the culture.

Not so with golf.

Golf fans don't just watch golf. They experience it. It's not enough to see Tiger's tee shots and putts - you have to behave as if you're actually on the course in order to truly enjoy the experience. There must be complete silence and stillness as Tiger approaches the ball. Anything less is sacrilege.

These rules apply regardless of the audience in your living room gallery. No exemption for rowdy little boys.

So it was when I observed my low-handicap husband this afternoon inching closer and closer to the television, arms crossed before his chest, throwing sideways "SHHHHHHH"'s to the baby and his brother that I realized: the best Father's Day gift I could give my beloved was (relative) peace and quiet during the final round of the US Open.

Braden was ushered outside to play with his many neighborhood friends in the beautiful afternoon sun. Peanut had snacks, took a bath, walked every inch of the house 10 times and played games with Mom. And Travis, finally able to stretch out, relax and watch the tournament, had only a few occasions to say "Quiet! Tiger's on the tee."

Not that we spent all of Father's Day weekend at home; we finally had real summer weather and took advantage with loads of time in the sun.

Saturday was the Eagle Fun Days parade (including full-scale water warfare) and a baseball game for Braden before the boys went to Grandma's while Trav & I spent a few hours out.

Braden had a HUGE game, by the way - his first home run!!

Today we took a trip to the zoo, hung out in the park, then Dad & Brade hit the driving range while Peanut & I took an afternoon nap. Then the Open and Game 5 of the NBA Finals (go Celtics!!). Another busy weekend, and the boys and I did our best to make it a good one for Dad.

Peanut in his swim gear at the parade

Braden tries to catch up with PeanutBoys on the parade sidelinesDad and Peanut watch the monkeys at the zooHandsome boys at the park

Travis is a model dad: loving, fun, generous, silly, firm, fair and incredibly patient. Without fail, he puts his family before himself and goes out of his way to ensure the boys and I never go without. Most of all, he gives endlessly of his time and attention and treats each of us like the most important people in the world.

We wanted Travis to have the best Father's Day possible, because he's the very best father you could ask for.

And after a tense final round, when Tiger birdied 18 to tie for the lead and force a playoff, the look on Trav's face said it all. And I said a grateful little "thank you" to Mr. Woods for giving my husband the Father's Day he deserves.

random photo friday: father's day edition

2008-06-13T21:11:00.004-06:00

It's our first ever special edition of RPF!

This week's random photos are dedicated to the most generous, loving, and energetic dad ever to celebrate Father's Day: my handsom husband, Travis.

Dad & Braden build a sandcastle in Maui Tired Dad and tiny Peanut catch a nap on the couch
Kisses from Wifey
Kisses from Peanut
Dad, big brother, and brand new Peanut on his first day home

plug of the week: intentions perfumery

2008-06-09T23:33:00.006-06:00

Those of you that know me know that I'm not really much for girly stuff. Chick flicks, facials, tiny dogs, group bathroom trips - these things are wasted on me.

That's not to say that I don't put forth a little effort to look nice. (too little lately, as the job is beating me down, but I'm trying) And an important second to looking nice is smelling nice. Travis has always graced me with bottles of my favorite commercial perfume - Chance by Chanel for the curious - but a few weeks ago I discovered the magic of a custom perfume.

Custom perfume, you ask? Sounds fancy and expensive and too obscure for my town. Fellow Boiseans, I'm here to tell you that there is a gifted professional perfumer right here in our midst, and she is magically equipped to create the perfect scent for you.

I had a custom session with Caitlyn at Intentions Perfumery a few weeks ago and I was seriously blown away. Not only did Caitlyn work with me to blend a scent from scratch based on my own preferences, she explained the history, lore, mythology and aromatherapy benefits of each oil in my perfume. She was able to tell me all kinds of stuff about myself - with near creep-factor accuracy - based on the oils I selected. It was a really amazing experience, and I walked away with a little more self awareness and a one-of-a-kind perfume that I absolutely love.

Hiiiiighly recommend if you're looking for something really unique and a little therapeutic. Even you not-so-girly types will love it.

Check out the Intentions site at http://www.intentionsperfumery.com/.

20 things i'll never do

2008-06-07T13:43:00.005-06:00

I saw this post over on Cheaper than Therapy and decided to borrow. Thanks for the idea!

1. I will never be a martini drinker - stickin' with the greyhounds, thank you very much

2. I will never get a perm (thanks Mom for saving me from myself as a kid)

3. I will never appear in a reality TV show

4. I will never drive a minivan - if you're serious, Trav, that bad boy's all yours

5. I will never crave Hot Pockets

6. I will never stop listening to crappy pop music... never!

7. I will never shoot in the 70's (sorry baby)

8. I will never be a size 4 again

9. I will never be a size 20 again

10. I will never play the violin, though I would like to

11. I will never convince my husband to eat sushi, hummus, fish or tofu

12. I will never eat a burger & fries without feeling guilty

13. I will never have blonde hair

14. I will never find a cuter baby boy than Peanut

15. I will never be part of an Olympic fencing team (always figured fencing was my best shot at the Olympics, cause really, how many fencers are there?)

16. I will never say, Why don't we go to the drag race/ultimate fighting match/monster truck rally/dog fight?

17. I will never not regret that I didn't finish college right out of high school - get that edumacation, kids

18. I will never win the Main Event at the World Series of Poker... I'll sure give it a go someday though

19. I will never deserve all the amazing people in my life

20. I will never wish I were anyone else

Open tags on this one, so jump in and create your own list!

random photo friday

2008-06-06T22:56:00.003-06:00

That's right blogland, after a one week hiatus...

RPF is back!

Peanut tries to eat Dad's hat during a super fun shoulder ride at the Eagle Market last Saturday.

Braden in full baseball gear at his first game of the season last week. He's already a big time batter and a killer shortstop!Peanut loves to climb the stairs, mostly because he knows he's not supposed to. As soon as he hits that first step, he looks around to make sure Mom or Dad sees him - then big grins as he races to climb out of reach.

we heart new york

2008-06-03T20:26:00.000-06:00

Finally! The lowdown on our trip to NYC in April.

Peanut and I accompanied Travis on a semi-business trip for a long weekend in New York. Trav spent some time at a conference in Montreal while Peanut and I hung out with Amber, Steve, and little G-Unit. It was a LONG flight with wiggly baby, but we loooove New York and it was totally worthwhile to spend time there together.

We spent our first night at the Millenium Brodway in the center of Times Square. If you haven't been, Times Square is maybe the most happening place there is. We were all beat and a little cranky when we arrived that night, but we rallied to take Peanut on his very first tour of the city.

Mom & Peanut livin it up

Happy (but tired) family

Look Mom!

After Travis left for Montreal the next morning, Peanut and I headed to the suburbs where he met Auntie, Uncle and Cousin for the first time. The boys had tons of fun together while Amber and I had a rare opportunity to catch up. I was grateful to hang out with my sister's little family, even if most of our chatting was done over the roar of our noisy boys.

Gideon just turned two, although he looks like he's four. Steve is super tall and G-Unit is well on his way, in spite of Amber's near-midget status.

Auntie and Peanut

Tanner and Cousin GideonAfternoon at the parkPeanut's first ice cream... he wasn't that impressedCousin leans down to give Peanut a kiss

Travis rejoined us from Montreal the next night. He and I spent some time together in the city while Peanut hung out with Amber & the fam. A free place to stay and free babysitting - we love to visit Auntie's house! And Autnie was very patient with Peanut, in spite of being mere weeks away from delivering Baby Tola.

The next day, Steve took Trav & Peanut & I back into the city for the afternoon. The guys insisted that there was no agenda, but the NFL Draft just happened to be taking place at Radio City Music Hall. We cruised by but opted not to hang out - we did grab some pictures of the festivities, though.

Radio City Music HallFan events on 50th St

Rockefeller Plaza - is that Matt Lauer??St Patrick's Cathedral - we missed the Pope by just a few days. I've seen a lot of cathedrals in a lot of places, but this one surrounded by skyscrapers is really impressive.Breakdancers on 5th Avenue, across from FAO Schwartz. These guys were awesome!
In spite of all the cool stuff we did, I think Peanut's favorite part of the trip was sitting FORWARD in his car seat for the very first time. He was, after all, just a few days from being a big one year old. You'd have thought there was a circus going on in the front of the car.
New York was fabulous, as always, and it was awesome to show Peanut our very favorite place. We're especially glad that we got to hang out with Amber, Steve, and Gideon. Thanks so much for having us, guys - we can't wait till you come here for a visit!

plug of the week: stomp

2008-06-02T21:54:00.003-06:00

For my birthday, Tammy and Shelli and I went to a performance of Stomp on Saturday. I've heard of Stomp and kind of knew what to expect - you know, Drumline but with white guys and broom sticks - so I knew it would be a fun way for the three of us to spend the afternoon.

But let me tell you. These. Guys. Are. Awesome.

We saw two plus hours of non-stop dance and crazy, ingenious percussion set in a hip, industrial urban scene. These guys ran, and jumped, and climbed, and dove, and were basically completely berserk all over the freaking stage. And did I mention that they were drumming on anything and everything? The rhythms were INsane. We were exhausted just watching.

Stomp was creative, exciting, funny, LOUD, and totally fun. Next time I'll take the boys, because they will seriously dig it. You will too.

braden is 7!

2008-05-29T22:13:00.003-06:00

Braden Cole turned 7 years old today. Holy cow, he's grown up in a hurry.

Braden on his 4th birthday, still with the chubby cheeks and bowl haircut

Two years ago at Knott's Berry Farm
Last year on the 4th of July
Last December at the Maui aquarium

And last week on the slides with Peanut

(Notice that Peanut is about the size Braden was in the first photo)

We celebrated Brade's big day at Grandma Tammy's this evening, where the birthday boy received lots of cool presents and well-wishes from family far away. But the BIG PARTY is tomorrow, when Braden has his very first sleepover with his two best friends. Dad will be shuttling them around town to personally guarantee that Braden has the best time ever.

Happy 7th birthday BCH!! We love you!!

so long to my 20's

2008-05-27T22:25:00.004-06:00

Well, blogland, I have about 90 minutes left to savor my 20's. Sigh.

Tomorrow is the milestone birthday I've been dreading. I have to say, much to my disappointment, that the reality of turning 30 is not any less distasteful than the anticipation I've built up over the last year.

But.

I'm determined to lighten up and at least attempt to age gracefully. I refuse to become one of those psycho anti-aging freaks who alters their birth certificate and makes their children lie to conceal their age.

I'm vain, but not that vain.

So. To that end, I've compiled a short list of things that I'm proud of and grateful for in my first 30 years here on earth.

I'm married to the love of my life and we share an incredible relationship. He's THE ONE. What are the odds, really, of finding your ONE out of all the people in the world? It's astonishing.
I have the sweetest, most adorable baby boy in all the land. He's already such a strong, independent little person. I love watching him grow and try on new things.
My stepson is the smartest, funniest, most athletic little first grader you've ever seen. And he's the best big brother a little man could ask for.
I'm surrounded by loving, supportive family and friends, near and far.
Travis and I are able to support our boys and provide a comfortable lifestyle in jobs we enjoy that don't require major sacrifices of our time together.
I have a great career with an exploding (if hectic) company in an exciting industry. Not at all what I pictured for myself just a few years ago, but I'm very thankful that I landed here and have the opportunities I've been offered.
Everyone I love is healthy, safe and thriving.
I have endless opportunities to give back and support people in need, both locally and globally.
I'm infinitely healthier and happier than I was 10 years ago.

Okay. Lots of good stuff so far. 30 is going to be NO PROBLEM. You can do it. Deep breaths. Deeeeeeep breaths.

welcome baby tola!

2008-05-23T21:30:00.009-06:00

I'm an auntie again, ya'll!

My sister Amber had a beautiful baby girl early this afternoon: Tola Finoa Grupke. Baby Tola is just as beautiful and precious as she can be. Mom and baby are both doing great and hope to go home on Sunday with dad Steve and big brother Gideon.

If you're wondering, Tola is a Biblical name, although an obscure one. Finoa, which is also Amber's middle name, is a Samoan word meaning "princess."

Welcome, baby girl! Auntie Megan can't wait to meet you and kiss your sweet baby cheeks.

proof that men run the world

2008-05-21T12:58:00.003-06:00

I swear to you that I'm not a manhater feminazi.

I'm just saying.

No mother would prioritize her own personal power and political security over the lives of sick, starving children.

And that's exactly what continues to unfold in Myanmar.

The military government is not only sacrificing the health of millions to protect their political interests, they're actually manipulating the situation to further their private agenda. To call the circumstances nauseating is an immense understatement.

Please continue to pray for aid and peace for those in need, and wisdom for those in power. I share the fear of many that things will get worse for these victims before it gets better.

plug of the week: deep thoughts

2008-05-19T21:28:00.002-06:00

This post is a direct rip off from my friend Alison, who mentioned Deep Thoughts on her blog today. But whatever. Content is content, right?

I was in junior high in the early 90's, when Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy were a big deal on SNL. Yes, perfect timing for my friends and I to embrace these dry, tiny tidbits as the comic genius they are. A few of my favorites are below, to jog the collective blogland memory:

"I don't pretend to have all the answers. I don't pretend to even know what the questions are. Hey, where am I?"

"Consider the daffodil. And while you're doing that, I'll be over here, looking through your stuff."

"The first thing was, I learned to forgive myself. Then I told myself, 'Go ahead, do whatever you want, it's okay by me.'"

"The wise man can pick up a grain of sand and envision a whole universe. But the stupid man will just lie down on some seaweed and roll around until he's completely draped in it. Then he'll stand up and go, 'Hey, I'm Vine Man.'"

Embrace you own junior high sense of humor and find your favorite Deep Thoughts here at quoteworld.org.

random photo friday

2008-05-16T21:12:00.002-06:00

Grandma Tammy looks on while Peanut and (Great) Grampa George catch the Christmas Day NBA game. Grampa & Peanut have a little soft spot for each other. This is one of my favorite pictures.

Braden and Dad at the winery last Sunday. Seriously, could they be any cuter?

Peanut gets a bottle from Auntie Tawna during her visit in February. Grabbing your face is Peanut's way of saying "I love you." He obviously loves Auntie a lot.

first birthday party

2008-05-14T21:16:00.007-06:00

Some fun photos from Peanut's First Birthday Party last weekend:

Gettin' the party started

Opening presents

(took a little practice, but we got the hang of it) We had lots of help

Big brother looks out for the little guys

Time for the birthday cupcake... mmmmm

Test driving a new present with Dad and Braden

All in all, I think the first birthday was a success. Thanks to all of our family and friends who came to share the day with us. Peanut loves you!

For good measure, a couple of pictures below from Tanner's actual birthday. The four of us had a little mini celebration, since we had just arrived home after a loooonnng flight from New York.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

plug of the week: lilly jane's cupcakes

2008-05-12T21:48:00.004-06:00

After a two week delay, Peanut finally celebrated his first birthday on Saturday. (more on the festivities later) Instead of a traditional birthday cake, we had cupcakes from Lilly Jane's in Eagle. If you haven't been to the Cupcake shop at Rivershore Lane, you really need to check it out. Like right now. Seriously, before they sell out for the day.

Lilly Jane's makes beautiful, scrumptious gourmet cupcakes in fantabulous flavors like Caramel Apple, Lemon, Super Chocolate and Raspberry Champagne. The single servings are perfect for little party goers, but the kids are really just a good an excuse to get a boatload for yourself.

My amateur photos don't nearly do them justice, but you get the idea:Come on, treat yourself to a cupcake. You deserve it!

you may have noticed

2008-05-12T21:01:00.007-06:00

...the cut on Peanut's cheek in the photos yesterday. No, we did not beat the baby before brunch. Little Tanner, in all of his learning-to-walk glory, caught the corner of the fireplace with his sweet baby face, right before we walked out the door.

We got more than a few awkward looks from the other Mother's Day revelers.

Rest assured that it looks worse than it is, and that Peanut was only momentarily bothered by the whole thing. He cried for about 8 seconds before sitting patiently while I cleaned & dressed the wound.

Dad was so impressed, he had to take pictures:
Peanut's a tough boy! Good thing too... because he is not a graceful boy.

spoiled

2008-05-11T22:08:00.011-06:00

That was me today, on Mother's Day. Totally spoiled by my awesome husband and our adorable little family.

Let's start with breakfast in bed, which Travis lovingly delivered in exchange for the baby that, till then, was sleeping on my face. I actually had a hot breakfast - for which I had no responsibility - all to myself, with no hungry Peanut snatching crumbs from my plate. Just like the good old days.

Then a long shower, some playtime with the baby, and several requests from my husband to stop doing dishes/laundry/housework and go relax. Told ya, spoi-led.

Then we were off to brunch with the fam: the four of us plus MIL Tammy, SIL Shelli and BIL Brent. We went to the Winery at Eagle Knoll, where there was a huge buffet, kid's buffet, live jazz, tons of open space & activities for squirrely boys, and complimentary mimosas - all in a beautiful, sunny setting. You seriously couldn't ask for a better Mother's Day afternoon.

Peanut takes a walk with Grandma & big brother

Foiled trying to climb through a chair

Trav & Braden race for glory

Mom steals a kiss while Peanut tries on Dad's sunglasses

After brunch, Peanut and I took a looong afternoon nap... ahh, heaven. Then out to dinner, which capped off the no-cooking trifecta for the day.

I say this all the time, but I am 100% certain that I'm the luckiest girl in the whole wide world. I can't imagine what I did to deserve such a beautiful family, but I'm sure grateful, whatever it was. Thanks for such a fantastic Mother's Day. I love you guys!

random photo friday

2008-05-09T13:11:00.011-06:00

This is Mother's Day last year, when Peanut was an itty bitty two weeks old... our first family photo.

Braden finds my sunglasses, and himself, so very entertaining.

This is the shrine of the 2006 Japanfest/Mexifest Intermission, an annual event held by my family in Nashville and unofficially sponsored by Nissan. I'll share more when we all know each other a little better.

say what you will about the french

2008-05-08T11:57:00.004-06:00

Well blogland, I've spent the better part of my free time lately writing a long, impassioned piece about the disaster in Myanmar and the ruin that has overcome that nation.

If you're following events there, you know what these people face. Tens of thousands are dead, a million are homeless, and those with the greatest need - those isolated in remote areas with no resources and no means to find them - have largely been left to fend alone among the destruction.

Children are orphaned. Parents are devastated. Families intact are without food, water, shelter. All are vulnerable to disease. Exposure. Injury. Starvation. Violence.

Those fortunate enough to have survived the storm itself are now faced with a crushing misery unlike anything any of us will likely ever encounter.

Yes, I've been writing endlessly about all of this. There's just so much to say.

Here's the thing though: My words are not helpful. Not to them, not now. There's already been so much talk. There has sadly been little action.

There are plentiful offers, attempts at action. People recognize the need - they want to help. The world is begging to help. Help is ready and available.

And yet, somehow, the Myanmar military government (which I admittedly know little about) has failed to act, choosing instead to deny aid. Five days after the cyclone, the suffering of tens of thousand is only prolonged further.

This is such an astonishing display of political posturing and selfishness - I can't begin to find the words.

And the world continues to talk, to negotiate, to compromise. But no one is acting.

In the midst of all this rhetoric, only France has stepped forward and called for immediate action. Only France has stood up to say, "We, as people, have an obligation to those in need, and we must meet that obligation with or without the support of their government."

I pray, and hope you will too, that the world heeds this advice sooner than later.

blog therapy

2008-05-07T14:21:00.002-06:00

I knew blogging was beneficial to your health!

Welcome to my group therapy session, ya'll. Come on in, get a name tag, have a seat, and talk amongst yourselves. Who wants to share some free associations from their childhood?