Our Neck of the Woods

Big things and not so big things happening in our neck of the woods lately...

Thatcher "Bubba" now has 4 teeth and he's diligently working on more!


The boys are taking baths together now - serious fun for everyone!

Thatcher is also on the move - scooting around all over the place! This makes him much more entertaining to Tucker.


They also watch cartoons together!


We've had a few run-ins with wildlife too!

Who knew squirrels liked hen and chickies? My big pot of hen and chickies with only a couple of hens left - that's who! Jerk squirrel!


We also have these feathered friends in a hanging basket. I'm so in love with these fur headed babies!


Our garden is just about done. The only thing thriving is our basil, rosemary and a tomato every now and then which a furkid will devour. That's Mango with a Roma.


Our winter squash is ready to plant! Just needing the temperature to drop 10-20 degrees.


Life is good at Davisville. Babies are growing, love is thriving and blessings are abundant.

Not a baby. Not yet a big boy.

My friend Sara asked for my blog site because she likes keeping up with our family. I hesitantly gave it to her knowing I hadn't blogged in a month of Sundays. For shame! So here I am. The babies are all snug in their beds and I have a few free minutes to blog away!

Today was a big day for us! Tucker finally had his first haircut! Everyone has been on me for some time now to chop off his little mullet and there were certainly times when I was like - whoa...uhm...he needs a haircut! But then when he was sweet and snuggly and his mullet transformed into sweet baby curls, there was no way I could cut that baby's hair!

My mother -in-law told me when he gets his hair cut, to be prepared. He was now going to look like a little boy. I thought she meant as opposed to a girl. She meant as opposed to a baby. And boy was she right!

We decided to have his first hair cut done at Kuts 4 Kids by Mr. Will. On Saturdays, it's walk-ins only and first come first served so we got there and had some waiting to do. Luckily they had all sorts of toys so we were all pretty preoccupied. Then they called "Tucker!"

My heart stopped. This is it. This is when my baby turns into a little boy. This is is the last thing (besides big boy underwear) that I have to remind me of this precious precious creature that changed my world forever 2 years, 2 months, 26 days ago. I can do this. He can do this. We can all do this.

Then he got in the chair and cried. I cried. I didn't cry because of the symbolism of my baby becoming a boy. I cried because of this:

He was absolutely petrified. I'm sure my crying wasn't helping things. I just held his hands tight, kissed him, wiped away his tears and mine and just kept telling him (and myself) that everything was going to be alright.

I noticed the lady waiting with her little girl was wiping away her own tears. Perhaps remembering her baby's first hair cut? Or maybe just so overwhelmed by Tucker's distress. Anyway, I'm sure we were quite the site! And I hope all the other kids waiting had already had their first haircut or we may have scarred them for life with our drama!

So I think we're on the down slope as far as the baby to boy transition goes. There's only one major thing left...potty training. Tucker did peepee in the potty 5 times today! Thank God he went to sleep in a diaper! This Momma desperately trying to hold onto her baby can't take anymore growing up today!

Before:

After:

I Did. I Do. I Always Will.

Excerpts from our marriage ceremony. May 20, 2008. Brant Point Lighthouse. Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Marriage is an honorable estate, and therefore, not to be entered into lightly, but with careful reflection and reverence, for this is a lifetime union of love, honor and, most importantly, trust between this man and this woman. Today, as you join yourselves in marriage, you stand apart from all others as you pledge your love and commitment to one another.

No matter how your paths have brought you here today, it is your love that sustains the moment. In marriage, you marry a mystery. It is someone you know you love, but who you will continue to learn about for the rest of your life. In this sense, marriage is an act of faith, of absolute trust in one another. In marriage you promise not only to give of yourself, but also to accept the other. You promise to love them not only for today, but to extend that love to include whatever may come tomorrow.

As each day passes, may you gain love and strength from each other and may your hearts become one. If difficult times arise, remember to be open to communication in order to exchange your anger for joy and tears for smiles. Always listen to each other's unspoken words and understand each other's meaning. Always love, help and respect each other and then know truly that you are one in the eyes of all. It is no weakness to admit a wrong; it is a strength and a sign of learning. Always strive to see the beauty that first touched your love.

These promises will change you. They will shape you. You will live differently because of them. For you have chosen each other, and you have made and received the most important vow of all: you have chosen each other and you have promised each other the future.

In marriage, walk the path together, side by side whenever possible.
Remember to hold each other when it is cold.
If the air becomes too close, make a little space so each other can breathe.
When the path is narrow, pick one to go first.
Always be willing to follow; don't be afraid to lead.
Trust your partner; trust yourself, for marriage is a journey that leads to great love.

(A passage of advice on marriage written in 1886):
Let your love be stronger than your anger. Learn the wisdom of compromise for it is better to bend a little than to break. Believe the best rather than the worst; for people have a way of living up or down to your opinion of them. Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship. The person you choose to marry is deserving of the courtesies and kindness you bestow on your friends.

(Native American Wedding Blessing):
Now for you there is no rain, for one is shelter to the other.
Now for you there is no pain, for each is comfort to the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now for you the snow has ended always, your fears, your wants, your needs are at rest.
Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you.
May beauty surround you both in the journey ahead and through all the years together.
Go now into your dwelling place to enter the days of your togetherness.
May your days be good and long upon the earth. Amen.

May you love, honor and cherish one another, keeping the covenant and vows made between you today. May your home and your family always be filled with the blessings of patience, wisdom, happiness and peace.

On Your Second Birthday

Dear Tucker-
On your second birthday, I thought I'd take a minute to tell you just how much I love you.

I can't believe it's been 2 whole years since God graced us with such a blessing!

You're kind, generous, charming, silly, smart..all of the traits I prayed God would give you. I remember praying so hard for a healthy and beautiful baby and my prayers came true!

You amaze me and fill my heart with so much joy each and every day. Your smile is absolutely infectious and my heart breaks when you're sad.

You have such a sweet soul. You're an excellent big brother - always looking out for baby Thatcher.

When you hug me, kiss me, tell me "I loo, Mommy", I can't help but smile ear to ear!

You have humbled me and have taught me how precious time and family are. You have forced me to see the world through a parent's eyes. Wow!

I'm so proud of you and can't wait to see what the next year brings us! Hopefully more "terrific twos" than "terrible twos"!

I loo, Tucker!

Love, Mommy

The Simple Life

**Something to keep in mind...I began this particular post over 2 weeks ago. No lie. 2+ weeks ago. enjoy...

Today I Googled on my Blackberry "how to live more simply." Uhm...there are so many things wrong with that. I asked Alec how people got answers before Google. He said they called other people...ah the lost art of conversation.

But I digress.

I'm on a quest to figure out how to slow things waaayyy down and have at least one freakin' second to smell the roses! I never knew how very valuable and precious time is until I had a family. Now every minute I work late is one less minute I can spend with my babies. Every second I'm stuck in rush hour traffic is one less second I can dance with Alec in the kitchen. Time has become a rare treasure that I feel is slowly slipping through my fingers. Perhaps like sands through an hourglass?

So I Googled...and found a couple of interesting things - like how to live like a monk. Not that I plan on becoming a monk - not at this time anyway. I did pick up a few ideas like doing things one at a time and completing them fully. I think multitasking is overrated. You don't give 100% to one thing - you just give a little bit to several things. I've been trying to focus on one task at a time this week and I think it's calmed my ADD mind.

I also found a blog about living simply. I was relaxed just by reading this blog!

Alec says I'm addicted to relaxation. I don't think that's the case at all. I'm constantly trying to relax but can never achieve pure relaxation. I'm always worried or stressed out about something. Perhaps I should get more pedicures, facials, massages, wine...just a thought.

Here's what I want to do...my simple life wish list:

I want to take fiddle lessons again.
I want to enjoy the daily newspaper over a fresh cup of coffee each morning - and actually finish the paper and coffee in 1 swoop. (side note: Thatcher woke up starving at 4:30 this morning. I almost stayed up just so I could have a good 30 minutes of peace and quiet to read the paper and have some coffee. Almost. I mean - it is Saturday for Pete's sake!)
I want to sit down and have dinner every night with my family.
I want to dry and fix my hair every morning.
Alec would probably like me to shave my legs a little more often.
I'd like to blog more than once every blue moon.
And (yeah - I'll admit it)I'd like 10 minutes each day that doesn't revolve around babies, work, dogs, husband...just me.

I'm not sure how to achieve this simple life - or how to even get close. I'm trying to see the bigger picture and appreciate things more. Do I want to clean the kitchen or be silly with Tucker? Do I want to veg in front of the TV or read a book with Thatcher? Do I want to pick up the house or play fetch with Berman?

I don't want much and I think I'm pretty easy to please. So my goal at this time in life is to just slow down and smell the roses. Achieving this goal may be my biggest life challenge, but I really think I can get there...even more so with the help of a housekeeper!

A Letter

Dear Brad Paisley-
I'm quite certain my husband writes the songs you sing. Much like Barry Manilow and the Whole World, but much much better! After all, how is it that you sing lines that are obviously about me like "she's a one glass of wine and she's feeling kinda tipsy" and "she's the giver I wish I could be and the stealer of the covers" and what about "to the world you may be just another girl but to me baby, you are the world."

Anywho...last spring after hearing you sing one of my husband's songs, I declared "If Brad Paisley comes to town, we must see him!" Now I have to let you know that at the time, I was a few weeks pregnant with our 2nd boy. And I must also let you know that we played around with the idea of naming our boy Huck - we thought you wouldn't mind sharing your baby's name.

Well low and behold, not too long after this declaration, I read in the paper that you would be in town...on November 20...2 days before I was to birth our sweet baby via c-section. This in no way hampered my original plan so my dear husband proceeded to purchase concert tickets.

Now not only would I be very very VERY pregnant when you were in town, but hearing you sing live the words my husband wrote about me, well...I knew I'd be a blubbering mess. And the only thing worse than a girl crying is a ginormously pregnant girl crying - no - blubbering. And let's be honest, my husband is quite...uhm...well...frugal. So we opted for the cheap seats. I just needed to wedge myself in a seat somewhere way up high in the dark and I'd be on cloud 9!

I need to let you know Mr. Paisley - Brad if I may - my first baby boy was overdue - 1 whole week to be exact! So we were in no way worried that second baby boy was going to budge. Boy were we wrong!

On the very morning of your concert, I began cleaning like a maniac (can you say nesting?). That afternoon, we were going back and forth about the concert. I had used up my daily allotted energy cleaning and was all kinds of swollen. We decided this was probably the last time we'd be a part of society for quite a while so we may as well partake in the concert going!

I finished up some work then got on the BOK Center website to try and figure out parking. Lord knows I needed something super close as my feet were swollen into giant clubs. After navigating around and realizing my silly pregnant brain wasn't getting us anywhere, my beloved told me to get up so he could take a stab at this parking situation.

Brad, it was at this moment the decision to not go to the concert was made for us. My water broke! I said this to my husband "Uhm...my water just broke". I had been playing "girl who cries amniotic sack rupture" for about a month now so he's all - yeah right. "Uhm. No. Look". He looks...then..."OK. OK. OK. OK. Uhm...what do we do? OK. OK. OK."

Fast forward to the hospital. In the c-section room, I told everyone how we were missing the Brad Paisley (your) concert. Everyone agreed it was probably for the best that we weren't there. A nurse turned on the radio to a local country station. I don't remember what songs we heard, but I do remember one - "Little Moments". I cried. My husband cried. It was perfect. Oh and I heard "Hillbilly Bone" when they were putting me back together and I thought that was pretty funny.

So there you have it! You will forever be a part of our son's birth story. Oh and his name is Thatcher (from my mind) and Rippy (after his great grandpa). He's going to be a star lineman for his high school football team and an astounding scientist!

Yours Truly,
-Jenny


Guess which one cost more?

Story Time!