My Pregnancy: 38 Weeks and Counting!

July 23, 2010 at 5:16 pm (Emily)

As I near the end of my pregnancy, and anxiously await the birth of our second son, I thought I’d take a look back at how things have gone over the past nine months.

First Trimester

  • Weight gain: I actually lost three pounds because of my lack of appetite and picky taste buds
  • Food cravings: fruit (especially fresh pineapple and cantaloupe), juice, salad (with ranch dressing!), beef (burgers from Braum’s were the best)
  • I stopped drinking coffee until the second trimester, and switched to hot tea.
  • As with my first pregnancy, it was nice that most of my first trimester morning sickness coincided with a semester break from teaching. I found out I was pregnant at the beginning of December, and only two weeks of the semester left. By the time spring semester started, I was almost to my second trimester.

Second Trimester

  • My queasiness and fatigue lasted longer this time than with Benjamin. Not that I was throwing up all the time, but I remained a picky eater, was sensitive to smells, and found myself napping a lot or going to bed early.
  • I started wearing maternity clothes around 13 weeks this time around. My belly poked out that early, making it difficult to fit into my regular clothes.
  • Food cravings: I had to force myself to eat regularly so that I wouldn’t feel dizzy or yucky, but I didn’t start enjoying food again until several weeks into my second trimester. When I did have cravings, it was for things like milkshakes and burgers and grapefruit.
  • I started feeling the baby move around 15 weeks, a few weeks earlier than with Benjamin.
  • Weight gain: I gained back the three pounds that I’d lost during the first trimester, but I didn’t gain any additional weight.
  • Sonograms: At our first sonogram, we found out we were having another boy! At the second sonogram, he was acting all cute, putting his thumb in his mouth, moving his head from side to side, and showing off his fuzzy hair.
  • Brad and I had a fun trip to Las Vegas at the end of March/beginning of April. Walking around Vegas wore me out, but wearing my pregnancy band really helped keep me going.

Third Trimester

  • Weight gain: All my weight gain has come since about 31 weeks, I think. I’ve gained a whopping 6 lbs. At this rate, I should weigh less right after having the baby than I did when I first got pregnant. I’m guessing that the baby weighs more than 6 lbs. I’ve actually lost weight in my arms and legs during this pregnancy, probably because I’m constantly on my feet chasing Benjamin around. My doctor isn’t concerned that I haven’t gained more weight, because the baby has grown steadily.
  • Food cravings: Here’s where my weird cravings started in full force – root beer, Twizzlers, Tang, chips and queso, more Braum’s burgers, more chocolate malts. Needless to say, I found my appetite and enjoyed eating to my heart’s content.
  • Vitamins, supplements, etc.: Shortly after my third trimester began, I began experiencing unpleasant acid reflex/heartburn, particularly at night when I was trying to sleep. So my doctor prescribed a prescription antacid. Best thing ever! I haven’t had any problems since. In addition to that, I take a multivitamin (has the same exact content as a prenatal vitamin, but costs a good bit less), fish oil caplets, and four vitamin D/calcium tablets a day. I started on the Vitamin D a couple of months ago, when my blood work revealed a Vitamin D deficiency that I had before I was pregnant. My doctor says most Americans are probably somewhat Vitamin D deficient now that we spend so much time covered in sunscreen, riding in our cars, sitting inside, or otherwise hiding from the sun.
  • Well, the big appetite lasted several weeks, but then when I hit about 34 weeks, the Texas heat got the best of me, and I started having what I refer to as “spells.” I started getting dizzy, nauseous, tired, and generally icky feeling if I didn’t take care of myself, meaning I had to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of water, and eat several small meals a day. The nurse told me to eat protein to prevent dizziness, so I always keep a protein rich snack nearby – granola bars, raw almonds, peanut butter, etc.
  • Unfortunately, my first spell occurred when I was on a dinner/dessert date with Brad. I learned that it was a bad idea to eat a tapas style meal, followed by coffee and dessert at an outdoor patio bar. The combination of too much food, the Texas humidity, and cigarette smoke resulted in an ugly consequence – me getting sick in the parking lot. It was just as gross as it sounds. :( Since then, I’ve been paranoid about leaving the house, especially when it involves eating out. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve cut out eating out all together. Not worth the risk! (Even though that date was the only time I actually got sick.)
  • I’ve still managed to get out and have some fun: visits to the pool, went to see Wicked with my mom, saw another musical at Fair Park with Brad, had a pedicure, enjoyed a girls’ movie night, and most recently saw the terrific movie Inception at the theater. It was totally worth the risk of getting out of the house. I can remember that as the last movie I saw in the theater before it became more difficult for us to get out on dates.
  • Obviously I remember more about my third trimester than the other two. I didn’t write down many details this time around.
  • Based on the amount of time he spends moving, and the amount of energy he seems to have, this baby is feistier than Benjamin was. When Benjamin was in my belly, he was mostly content to stay curled in a ball and I remained quite comfortable throughout the pregnancy. This time around, baby boy is movin’ and groovin’, stretching out his feet, pressing his head down putting lots of pressure on my bladder (!) , moving around in the middle of the night, etc. I think we’re going to have our hands full when he is born!
  • We’ve enjoyed talking with Benjamin about his baby brother. He likes to give him hugs and talk to him. We’ve captured a little of this on video. Hopefully they will be best buddies once he’s born, too!
  • I am down to the final days of my pregnancy now – 12 to be exact, since if I haven’t gone into labor by my due date, I’ll be induced that day, Wednesday, August 4. I’m sure I’ll be tired of waiting by then, if I make it that far! Meanwhile, I’m trying to take it easy, since my parents are currently on a vacation to North Dakota, and my doctor just left for a ten day vacation! He’ll be back in the office on Monday, August 2. Cutting it awfully close! I’m already dilated to 2 cm, and the baby has dropped into position. Now all that’s left is to wait and try to get some rest. Stay tuned…

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Escape to Las Vegas

April 5, 2010 at 5:28 pm (Brad, Diversions, Emily)

Brad and I returned a few days ago from a fun-filled, relaxing, child-free vacation to Las Vegas. Mama C sacrificed most of her spring break from school to keep Benjamin while we were gone, and we certainly appreciated it! While she and Benjamin had fun hanging out at our house (aside from the reemergence of his ear infection, a trip to the pediatrician, and one vomiting incident…), we made the most of our time away. This trip marked the first time that we’ve been away from Benjamin overnight at the same time. (Brad has taken numerous work trips, and I had a weekend trip to Los Angeles last summer to visit a friend.) We were happy that Benjamin didn’t seem to mind our absence. He did ask about us occasionally, but when Mama C would tell him we were on a trip and would be home in a few days he would just say “okay” and continue what he was doing.

Here’s a rundown of our “escape” to Vegas:

Day One:

  • We woke up around 5:30 to get ready and left home on time for our 7:55 a.m. flight. I discovered that flying and pregnancy don’t mix well for me this time around. With all the pressure changes and bouncing around, I was rather uncomfortable and couldn’t really enjoy the flight, so I was happy when we landed early in Vegas. By 9:00 a.m. we already had our luggage and our rental car, so we had a full day ahead of us to enjoy.
  • When we left the airport, we headed east to Hoover Dam. It was a beautiful day – blue skies, temperature in the low 70s – and the Dam was, indeed, a marvelous sight to behold as we rounded the curve of the highway and found ourselves surrounded by rocky mountain terrain on one side, and a steep drop off to the dam on the other.
    • After a quick lunch at the Hoover Dam Cafe, we headed to the visitor’s center for a tour of the power plant. I never really knew that the dam serves as a power plant that supplies power to over a million residents in the southeast U.S., so it was interesting to learn how all that works.
    • Large signs at the tour entrance warned that people with claustrophobia shouldn’t take the tour. They were referring more to the tunnels that the tour takes you through (which I didn’t mind since they were big enough to drive a car through – it’s not like we were crawling on our hands and knees…) What did make me uncomfortable was the 1+ minute elevator ride that took us below ground to the power plant and inner workings of the dam. They packed 80 of us into the elevator like sardines! We had to ride the elevator like that about four times as they took us to different levels.
    • The tour consisted of a ten minute video on the building of the dam, a look at the huge pipes that carry the water of the Colorado River around the dam, and some time on an observation deck that overlooks the enormous generators in the power plant. Our tour guide provided some interesting trivia and history, as well as plenty of “dam” jokes.
    • After the official tour ended we went out on the observation deck that overlooks the dam and took some pictures. We also walked across the highway to an area that had lots of interesting art deco touches, and a memorial to the workers who died while constructing the dam.
    • It was neat to see such a famous landmark in person – after all, how often will we just be passing through that part of Nevada? But we were also glad that we took that detour at the start of our trip, so that the rest of the time we could relax and enjoy Las Vegas itself.
  • We arrived at the Wynn early afternoon. My initial impressions of the hotel: big, colorful, extravagant, pretty, and cheerful. We walked through the lobby doors to discover a beautiful indoor garden, and Coldplay was reverberating through the area (by way of discreet but plentiful speakers hidden among the foliage). I immediately knew that this was a place I would be able to kick back and relax – I guess the hotel planners did their job well.
  • We checked into our room, and then went in search of an afternoon snack. We ended up at Terrace Pointe Cafe, one of several restaurants at the Wynn. We shared some delicious hummus and creamed feta with warm pita bread. It was just the protein-rich snack I needed to hold me over until dinner. Afterwards we looked around the hotel – taking in all the shops, restaurants, and casino area. It’s easy to get lost in a Vegas hotel, but all paths somehow lead back through the casino, which unfortunately is full of cigarette smoke. I guess the smoking bans haven’t hit Vegas yet. Too bad. I enjoyed seeing the Wynn’s whimsical decor, from the elaborate chandaliers that line the corridors, to the colorful flower murals and butterfly mosaics.
  • We had dinner at Sinatra, a comfortable place whose theme centers around Frank Sinatra. I had a citrus and beet salad, scallops with a tasty sauce, and a vanilla and pistachio custard served with fresh berries and a cherry sauce. Brad had lobsert bisque, osso bucco with mushroom risotto, and tiramisu. All the food was delicious, and the service was excellent.
  • We went on an after-dinner walk outside – my introduction to the famous Strip. We made it as far as the Venetian (a few long blocks away) before the heavy meal and long day got the best of me and my pregnant belly, and we turned around to come back. I discovered on the walk that Vegas is just as over the top outside the hotels as it is inside them. Everywhere we turned there were huge screens advertising this and that hotel’s signature shows (Blue Man Group, Garth Brooks, and Cirque du Soleil, to name a few). Most of the hotels also have elaborate themes on their exterior, whether its the Venetian’s recreation of the Venice canals, or Treasure Island’s large (and rather tacky) pirate ship. The interior of the Venetian was very impressive, with its high vaulted ceilings and imitations of sacred ceiling art. I commented more than once that it seemed very wrong for these Biblical images to be ushering tourists into the temptations of the casino. Definitely bizarre.

Day Two:

  • When we woke up we ordered breakfast from room service. It arrived 30 minutes later. The server laid out a table cloth, and set out all the food and poured our coffee. It was so nice to have a leisurely breakfast in the comfort of our room, rather than going downstairs to the hectic, loud, busy buffet. And it was quite a feast: eggs, hashbrowns, toast, muffins, sliced tomatoes, coffee, and orange juice.
  • Our low key morning continued when we arrived at the hotel spa for our massages. I was pleased to learn that they offer an “expectant mother” massage. This was my first ever professional massage, and it was amazing – especially after all the walking and sightseeing we did the day before. Brad enjoyed his, too. The spa area was really nice, and we had access for the rest of the day. The robes, the soothing music, the citrus water, the fresh fruit, the jacuzzi, the steam room… I can see the appeal of spa weekends!
  • Once we were sufficiently relaxed from our spa experience, we floated down to the lobby for lunch at the Encore Casino Cafe. The Encore and Wynn are attached since they are sister hotels. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere – lots of bright red and gold touches. We each ordered from the “choose 3″ menu, and our lunch was served on elaborate trees (see picture below). I had an arugula/baby portobello/cherry tomato salad, blackened beef skewers with a chipotle sauce, and a ham/swiss panini. Brad also had the salad, plus grilled shrimp with an avocado cream sauce, and something else that I can’t recall. Everything was delicious.
  • After lunch we returned to the Venetian to spend some time in its famous shopping area, the Shops on Grand Canal. It was very crowded, and we quickly discovered that the wait time for a gondola ride was longer than we cared to deal with. Instead, we snapped a few pictures of other people enjoying the ride through the canals, and even heard one gondolier serenading his passengers. We also did a little shopping, taking care of our Christmas ornament souvenir, and buying Brad a pair of shoes. The Shops are basically a mall, but with the elaborate setting of the Venice canals, and with an occasional indoor piazza designed to look like it’s outdoors – the ceiling appears to be a cloudy, blue sky, and there are fountains and a feeling of open air. The atmosphere was unique, but we didn’t stay long because it was quite crowded, and we also didn’t appreciate the Venetian’s apparent strategy of sending employees after you at every turn to offer you free tickets to shows and museums. We didn’t stick around long enough to find out what the catch was, but my guess is that it involved long, boring time share presentations…
  • We survived the gale force winds that nearly literally carried us back to the Wynn (seriously, there were wind gusts as high as 40 mph, and the rest of the time they held steady at 25-30 mph!), and happily sat down at Terrace Pointe Cafe for afternoon coffee. We even requested a table with “sofa seating,” so I could relax on some comfy cushions. We savored our lattes (served in sturdy, bright yellow mugs) and chocolate croissant, and noted the contrast between this tranquil setting and our usual frantic coffee time at home, when we spend more time worrying about Benjamin knocking over our drink than we do actually drinking it.
  • Later in the afternoon we returned to the spa. Brad worked out, then hit the steam room and jacuzzi, while I settled in for a manicure at the salon. I never get manicures – I usually go the pedicure route, so this was a nice change of pace (although I still prefer pedicures).
  • We had dinner at another Encore restaurant – Switch. Switch is called such because every 15 or 20 minutes the restaurant transforms in front of your eyes. A series of flashing lights and grandiose music announce the impending “switch.” The walls move upward and disappear, and a brand new wall and set of decor moves in to take its place. I know, it sounds kind of gimmicky and cheesy, but one nice touch is that the style of music changes to match the changing setting. I recall listening to Spanish, French, and jazz music at different times during our meal. As for the food, it was good, but not as good as at Sinatra. I had potato soup, NY strip steak, and creme brulee.
  • At 8:00, the night was young. We took a cab to the Bellagio and picked up our tickets to “O,” then had over an hour to explore the hotel before seating for the show began.
    • First we visited the Conservatory, an indoor exhibit of flowers, plants, and trees that changes seasonally. To celebrate spring time, there was a colorful array of flowers, as well as various whimsical, larger than life-size garden items, such as watering cans, flower pots, ants, bees, and snails. Many of these items were made out of plants and flowers, although some, like the ants and giant mushrooms, looked like something borrowed from the set of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. While it can’t compare to the Dallas Arboretum, it was a pleasant and entertaining diversion, and a breath of fresh air after walking through the smoke-filled casino.
    • Next we made our way to the famous Bellagio fountains. I had no idea how huge this pool was! The pool that houses the fountains must be the size of one or two football fields – it’s difficult to judge dimensions in Vegas since everything is so big. The fountains put on a show every 15 minutes, apparently with a rotation of different songs. Unfortunately, the song when we watched was Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic, probably the most over the top, ridiculous song ever made. But the power and beauty of the water more than made up for the unpleasant soundtrack. Well, I could have done without the water forming heart shapes at the end, but the rest of it was pretty amazing. As we left the hotel after “O” ended, we noticed that some classical music was accompanying the later water show. We wish we could have enjoyed that version. Oh, well. We certainly got the idea, and I’d recommend paying a visit to the fountains if you ever find yourself in Vegas.
    • The view from the Bellagio is also impressive. Directly across the street is Paris Hotel and Casino, a sprawling complex fronted by replicas of various Paris landmarks – most notably the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Next door to Paris is the Flamingo Hotel, which I just had to mention because of the frighteningly large image of Donnie and Marie Osmond that not so gracefully graces an entire side of the hotel. While we didn’t walk the Strip end to end, I think I saw enough to experience the best and worst it has to offer.
  • After the fresh outdoor air, I felt surprisingly refreshed as “O” began. Before commenting on the show itself, I have one complaint to offer. Continuing the Vegas tradition of milking every penny out of you, the staff at “O” was eager to take your picture (and no doubt charge you an exorbitant amount for a copy) as you entered the theater, and they were also selling “souvenir programs” for $15! When you pay more than $100 per ticket, shouldn’t you be entitled to a complimentary program? Just saying… As for the show itself, I’m glad to say that it was well worth the money. Some of the highlights:
    • We had great seats – about halfway up in the main seating area, almost exactly at center stage. We had a great view of everything – and there was a whole lot to see.
    • The sets were colorful, imaginative, and often bizarre. I’d love to see a “making of” special, because it’s hard to understand how the stage can transform from a deep lagoon that divers are jumping into from the ceiling one moment to solid ground the next. And where do the performers disappear to? They would go underwater and never come back up, and at other times the water would be empty, and then suddenly 20 scuba divers would be laying on the stage next to the water.
    • While the sets were impressive, the performers are the real reason to go see Cirque du Soleil O. There were two female trapeze artists who showed tremendous strength and trust in one another, such as when one of them would hang below the trapeze, supported only by her partner’s leg. A few scenes featured divers who must have trained for the Olympics before joining this show – they were that technically impressive. Perhaps the strangest part of the show featured the contortionists – a group of about four women who got so turned around that it became difficult to tell what we were looking at. Sometimes they would form a human pyramid that seemed to be all legs and arms! There were also the strange men in white wigs who pranced around on fake horses, the women dressed in bridal gowns, and the clowns who entertained us between scenes.
    • I appreciated that this show features a live band and singers, since recorded soundtracks always dampen my enjoyment of a show. The band and performers were housed in some screened in rooms up and to either side of the stage, and the spotlight would turn to them at key moments to remind us that they were there.
    • The most impressive performer was probably the final trapeze artist, who emerged from the top of the theater, dangling on the trapeze. She proceeded to turn upside down, balancing her entire body on her head, which in turn was balancing on a tiny “stand” on the trapeze bar. It’s one thing to do a head stand, but quite another to do one while suspended high above the ground, and to do various splits and leg/arm movements at the same time. Wow! That required some serious strength and concentration.
    • As I watched O, I was reminded of The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, a movie that I saw recently. That movie is more about visual splendor and imagination than it is about plot, and the same is true of O. There’s a loose story to be found, one involving an “audience member” who gets swept up into the world of these circus performers, but you shouldn’t spend too much time worrying about how all the characters relate. It’s best to just sit back and enjoy the amazing show, and that’s what we did.

Day Three

  • If you are still reading, I commend you! And don’t worry, I don’t have much to say about our third and final day. We slept in and once again had breakfast in our room. We also decided that since we had already seen and done everything we set out to do in Vegas, that we would get on an earlier flight home. Our original flight didn’t leave Vegas until nearly 5 p.m., which would put us home after 10. We were happy when we found seats on a 1:45 flight, which landed at DFW just after 6 p.m. We enjoyed our last couple of child-free hours on the flight home, by reading and listening to music and talking to each other. The trip rejuvenated us and was a nice change of pace, but we were happy to be home again and to be welcomed by Benjamin’s ear to ear smile and big bear hugs.

Pictures from the Trip:


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And Baby Makes… Four!

January 10, 2010 at 10:06 pm (Benjamin, Emily)

As his shirt says, Benjamin is going to be a big brother!

We have some exciting news to share: we’re going to have another baby in early August (my official due date is August 4)! We found out at the end of November, with a positive home pregnancy test, but we wanted to wait until I was further along to share the news with everyone. I am almost 11 weeks now, nearing the end of the first trimester. I’ve been to the doctor twice already – once for routine blood work that all checked out fine, and then last week to hear the little bambino’s heartbeat! It was a speedy 175. (Benjamin’s was never that high, which makes me wonder if this is a girl, but I’m getting ahead of myself…)

I have had a very mild case of morning sickness – it seems like even less than with Benjamin. I only feel queasy if I go too long without eating, but I am exhausted just about all the time. It’s been nice that my first trimester has coincided with my long semester break. I’ve been able to go to bed early, sleep late, and take naps. This little munchkin is taking a lot out of me! (Plus, Benjamin keeps me on my toes morning, noon, and night…)

Now I have been a little (well, a lot) picky about what I eat. Not much has sounded appetizing to me. For the first several weeks all I wanted was fruit, juice, salad, and beef. Now my taste for cheese has returned, and I’m eating a little bit of most things, but not necessarily enjoying them a lot. Like last time, I gave up drinking coffee, which has made me feel better in the mornings. I drink hot tea instead. I haven’t had strong aversions to anything this time, though – last time it was the smell of bananas, cat food, and coffee.

We waited until our holiday visits (Christmas with my family, New Years with Brad’s) to share the news with our families. Benjamin was wearing his “big brother” shirt when we walked in the door, and we had fun seeing everyone’s reactions when they noticed it. Benjamin doesn’t understand at this point what’s going on. When I tell him that there’s a baby in my belly, he looks under my shirt, then looks up at me and says, “No.” He doesn’t see a baby hiding under my shirt, so he assumes I’m mistaken. :)   But, as he will soon enough discover, he is going to be a big brother – nearly 2 1/2 years older than his little brother or sister.

We have a lot to do in the next several months before this baby arrives in early August. While I don’t look forward to experiencing my third trimester during the heat of the summer, it will be nice that I’m out of school. Our plan is to convert our guest room into Benjamin’s big boy room, and leave the nursery basically as is, since we still love the Alphabet Soup decor. I also hope we can fully potty train Benjamin a couple of months before the baby is born, so that there will be less chance of him reverting to diapers during his adjustment to no longer being an only child.

As for the title of this post, in less than 8 months, the name of our blog, And Baby Makes Three, will no longer be accurate. We will be parents to two children, and so we will need to change our blog name. I am open to suggestions!

* Yesterday I posted 2009: Year in Review. I saved our baby news for this separate post, but be sure to look back at what we were up to last year, by either scrolling down, or clicking here.

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2009: Year in Review

January 9, 2010 at 4:33 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions, Emily, Family)

In 2009 we saw our laid back baby grow into an energetic toddler, and while he was busy growing and exploring, we managed to take a few trips but mostly stayed close to home. Here’s a look back at 2009:

  • January – At ten months old, Benjamin’s favorite book was Good Night Moon, he was a speed crawler, and he finally started climbing out of the bouncy seat that had been his chill out zone since birth. We stayed home this month, recovering from the holiday travels, and I started a new semester at Brookhaven College.

Benjamin celebrates his newfound freedom, now that he can climb out of the bouncy seat.

  • February – In February we celebrated the births of two nephews: Lisa and Jeff welcomed Corbin to the world, and Chris and Karen welcomed Jude just a few days later. We met them both in one Louisiana road trip, visiting Lake Charles and Ruston early in the month, when these baby boys were just a few days old. In looking back at my February posts, I was amused by one titled “Diary of a Mad White Momma.” Brad spent six straight days away from home, in sunny L.A. and beautiful San Diego, while I struggled to keep things going at home in his absence. In the post I contrasted his carefree, fun days with my tiring, poopy diaper filled days. :)

Corbin at one week old. Look at that double chin and pot belly!

Jude Larsen, five days old

  • March – We kicked off the month by celebrating Benjamin’s first birthday on his birthday (March 1), with a family gathering at home. We ate burgers, cake, and ice cream, and gave Benjamin his very own cupcake. We also showed home videos from his first year, so we could remember how much he had grown over 12 months. We had a fun time keeping things low key, and were happy to have Mama C and Grandad, and many of Benjamin’s aunts, uncles, and cousins with us. Also in March I transitioned Benjamin from breast milk to cow’s milk. It was initially difficult for me to give up nursing him, but I soon appreciated all the freedom that doing so granted me.

Benjamin overlooks what remains of his cupcake. Apparently it was finger lickin' good!

  • April - Spring was in the air, so we got out of the house more for walks and time at the park. The Texas bluebonnets were beautiful, and I captured some nice pictures with them. Benjamin took his first steps on Good Friday, but it was about a month later when he left crawling completely behind. We also dealt with what seemed like a never ending ear infection, with one round of antibiotic after another not getting rid of it. (His doctor finally declared him ear infection-free in May or June, so talk of tubes in his ears was put on the back burner.)

Sweet Benjamin in a field of blue bonnets

  • May – I wrapped up my semester of teaching early in the month, which left me time to plan a fun Spanish-themed patio party for my girlfriends, with homemade sangria, tapas, good music, and good conversation. Benjamin and I also joined Brad for a few days in Los Angeles. We stayed around the hotel during the day while he was at work (staying at Embassy Suites was fantastic with a toddler!), and enjoyed lots of delicious food and a trip to the beach. At the end of the month Brad went to Toronto for a conference, and he enjoyed experiencing Canada for the first time.

Brad shares a special moment with Benjamin, as he experiences ocean waves for the first time.

  • June – The beginning of the summer was a month for visiting family and friends. We made a trip to Ruston, and then Nana came to visit us for a few days. The highlight for me, though, was when I flew out to L.A. by myself for a long weekend with my friend Lindsay. I had a great time taking a break from my mommy duties. I was able to read two books and start another one on the flight there and back, and while in L.A. I got a pedicure, toured WB studios, hung out at the beach, spotted a celebrity (Quincy Jones), and ate lots of delicious food. Michael Jackson died the day I flew out there, so I stepped off of the plane to discover his face all over the news, and his music everywhere I went. So far, this trip marks the only time I’ve been away from Benjamin over night. Brad and I are currently plotting a weekend getaway for some time in the next few months.

Lindsay and I at Pane e Vino, where we had dessert and coffee, and spotted Quincy Jones

  • July -This hot and humid month found us doing more traveling. We spent some time with Brad’s family in Lake Charles, and kept cool in Nana’s apartment swimming pool. When we left there we drove to Leesville, LA, which was home base for a reunion of my dad’s extended family. We had a nice time catching up with some aunts, uncles, and cousins we hadn’t seen in a long time, and spent the 4th of July at my cousin Steve’s camphouse on Toledo Bend. We ate tons of delicious food and had a great time, despite the heat of the day. Later in the month, Brad went on a team-building trip to Austin with some co-workers – the highlight of their trip was going tubing on a river.

Nana was happy to have both her grandsons in one place.

Hot but happy at Toledo Bend on Independence Day

  • August – We stayed home during August, and didn’t venture outside much unless it was to let Benjamin play in his baby pool. He also started saying some more words – his favorites were “no” and “bye bye.” Mama C came to Dallas for a visit before she started back to school, and Benjamin and I hung out with friends a good bit. I also continued meeting with my book club, which we started in June. During the summer we read three great books: Same Kind of Different As Me, Water for Elephants, and Undomestic Goddess. It was nice to have this outlet of adult conversation since my days were mostly filled with toddler talk while I was on summer break from teaching.

Benjamin loves splashing around in his baby pool.

  • September – I started a new semester at Brookhaven, and taught two classes instead of one for the first time since becoming a mom. Since Benjamin was still taking two naps, the paper grading and lesson planning were still very manageable. I also served as the adjunct faculty representative, which means that I attended faculty meetings a few times a month. Benjamin reached the landmark age of 18 months, and with the slightly cooler temperatures, he discovered the joy of exploring the great outdoors. He also started to feed himself, which freed us up to eat our own dinners, or get other things done in the kitchen! Benjamin and I started going to MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) this month. He played in the nursery while I hung out with other moms. We also made a trip to Lake Charles to see Brad’s family, and to attend a family luncheon with all my dad’s siblings, and some of my cousins. It was nice to be in south Louisiana during the fall, when it wasn’t so miserably hot!

Snuggling with Nana in Lake Charles

We had a nice time catching up with all these relatives in Lake Charles.

  • October – We introduced Benjamin to the joys of the State Fair of Texas, including the dog shows, petting zoo, and lots of fried food! We wrapped up the month by dressing Benjamin up in a monkey costume and going trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. He had a great time, and we enjoyed eating his candy for the next couple of weeks. ;-)

Our first family portrait with Big Tex (and yes, he is kind of creepy).

Benjamin quickly figured out how this Halloween thing works, and he had a blast!

  • November – We made a trip to Ruston mainly to attend a Tech football game. Benjamin had fun watching the band and shouting “Go Dawgs!” Brad’s mom came to visit us the week of Thanksgiving, and we kept things simple by picking up Boston Market’s Thanksgiving feast. We had planned to go eat at Luby’s Cafeteria, but Benjamin had a virus, so we ate in instead. During Nana’s visit we enjoyed going outside in the backyard, and playing with Benjamin’s new Legos, which were a gift from her.

Mama C and Benjamin share a sweet moment at the Tech game.

Nana gave Benjamin his first set of Legos as an early Christmas gift. He loved them immediately!

  • December – As usual, this was a month of decorating the house, attending parties, and visiting family for Christmas. But Brad kicked off the month with a work trip to Las Vegas (what a rough job he has, but someone has to do it…). We simplified our Christmas decorations, opting for a smaller tree, and no lights on the front of the house. I was relieved when my fall semester ended, as I was ready for a break. As the year came to a close, we visited Ruston for Christmas, and Lake Charles for New Years. We were happy to close out another fun-filled year with our families. I’ll leave you with this image of a happy Benjamin with his Christmas gifts. If you look back at the first picture in this post, you’ll see that he grew a lot this year, and is now very much a little boy instead of a baby. I hope that 2009 treated you and your family well, and that 2010 will be even better!

We kept things simple for Benjamin this year. He received a cool sports car, a basketball, a step stool (he loves climbing up to reach up high things), some bubble bath, some new toddler utensils, some flash cards, and some snack food.


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Christmas 2009 at Home

December 29, 2009 at 4:21 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Emily, Family)

Since we were going to be in Ruston from December 23 until after Christmas, we decided to have our family gift opening time the night before we left, December 22, which also happened to be our eight year anniversary. We took turns opening gifts, and then discovered what was in our stockings. Benjamin had as much fun opening his presents as he did playing with them afterwards.

We learned an important rule of parenting during this process, too: always remove toys from the packaging before wrapping them. We left Benjamin’s toy sports car in the box when we wrapped it, and unfortunately it was screwed in with several screws (apparently twist ties aren’t enough any more). Brad had to go to the garage and find his electric drill to get the treasured car out of the packaging! Poor Benjamin was jumping up and down in anticipation of playing with it. So anyway, lesson learned.

One Christmas tradition that Brad and I started the year we got married is to take a picture of each other holding our gifts. It was fun to see Benjamin play along for this super posed picture this year. Santa didn’t make a very big deal about bringing his gifts this year, since Benjamin wasn’t quite old enough to appreciate a fat man in a red suit coming into our house through the chimney. However, I’m sure that next year we’ll talk up Santa’s visit, leave milk and cookies for him, etc. :)

Here are some pictures from our Christmas gift time:

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July 2009 Update

July 21, 2009 at 1:46 pm (Benjamin, Brad, Diversions, Emily)

This picture was taken right after we introduced Benjamin to this play house. It is a hand-me-down from his cousin Anna.

This picture was taken right after we introduced Benjamin to this play house. It is a hand-me-down from his cousin Anna.

You may have noticed that I haven’t had much to say on the blog this month. That’s because we’ve slowed down after a busy month of traveling in June, and are enjoying being back in the daily routine at home. That being said, I thought I’d let you know what it is that we’ve been doing.

Brad

  • Brad has been traveling a good bit for work this month. He is involved in some clinical trials for his company, so some of his trips have been related to collecting data for that. This week he’ll be in Minneapolis, where he looks forward to observing his first animal testing. Last week he was in L.A., and the week before that he was in Austin. While in Austin, he did some work, but it was also a “team building” trip – he and some co-workers went tubing on a river.
  • We were able to catch up with a high school friend of Brad’s this weekend who is in town for work. Brad and he went out for dinner, while I stayed home with Benjamin so they could chat without toddler interruptions. :)
  • He has also completed at least two home projects lately. One was the half-finished (until now) process of moving a cable that connects the Tivo to the home network into the attic. Brad had to create a new outlet in the living room and the office in order to run the cable through the walls and attic, and now that it’s done, there’s no longer a cable running across the living room floor into the office! Most recently, he replaced the lawnmower blade when the old one got bent after a run-in with our garden bed metal liner. We agree that it’s more likely that a task will be finished if we do it right away instead of putting it off for days or weeks. I was proud of him for checking these items off his to-do list.

Emily

  • I’ve had a good bit of free time on my hands this summer, since I’m not teaching any classes or doing in writing for Mattel. While Benjamin naps, I do a lot of blogging and Facebooking, but I also find time to read. I have more motivation to do so since I am in a summer book club. Last month we read Same Kind of Different As Me, which was excellent. We met at Olive Garden for dessert one night and had a nice time chatting and discussing the book. This month’s book is Water for Elephants, which tells the story of a man who worked as an animal caretaker for a traveling circus during the Great Depression. I’m about a third of the way through it and have been enjoying it.
  • I’ve also been making my way through some tv shows. I had been making good progress with my re-watching of Lost, starting at season one, but about half way through season three, I got interested in Twin Peaks, that strange murder mystery/drama from the early ’90s. I discovered that it is currently airing on a couple of cable networks. I have watched about half of the series so far and am enjoying it. (I watched the show when it originally aired, but it is fun to watch it again.) And finally, after seeing the set of True Blood during our Warner Bros. studio tour in L.A., I decided to give this vampire show another shot. I’ve been enjoying it more this time, and I find it more interesting because it is set in North Louisiana, an area that (as far as I know) has never been the spotlight of a tv series. It’s been fun to hear my hometown and the surrounding area referenced during the episodes. The setting makes up for the horrible southern accents and the cheap looking vampire fangs.
  • Pretty soon I need to get busy planning my fall courses, as well as decluttering the house. If the weather ever cools off, Benjamin and I will venture out more to the park. For now, we are content to stay inside most of the day, and to venture out once or twice a day to run errands or to visit a friend.
  • My friend Leah was in town last weekend, and Mandy, she, and I had fun going to see a great movie called 500 Days of Summer followed by a leisurely dinner at Mi Cocina.

Benjamin

  • Last week I took Benjamin to the doctor after he had been feverish, fussy, and not napping well for a couple of days. I was afraid he had yet another ear infection, but it turns out his ears were totally clear! All his pediatrician could find was that he had an irritated throat. She tested for strep, and it was negative, so she suggested just giving him Tylenol for the fever, give him plenty of liquids, and just wait for it to pass. Thankfully, his mystery illness was over a couple of days later, and he’s back to his happy self again now.
  • Benjamin has finally ventured into the world of solid foods. He has a few back teeth coming in, which are helping him to chew little bites of veggies, pasta, fruit, and cheese. We’ve experimented with some of the Graduates Lil’ Entrees, which come with a main dish and a veggie. I learned today that he really likes green beans! This is funny, since early on, green beans were the only pureed baby food he didn’t like.
  • He’s also starting to drink more milk. (Ever since we transitioned from bottle to sippy cup, he hasn’t been very interested in drinking a lot of it.) Last night, for the first time, he finished his after dinner/bedtime sippy cup of milk. It’s no surprise that he loves apple juice, and we’ve been keeping him hydrated with water during the summer heat wave.
  • Speaking of the heat wave, we purchased a ten dollar inflatable baby pool, and Benjamin has already enjoyed it a few times. He loves to splash around in the water, and giggles in surprise when it splashes onto his face.
  • We’ve visited with friends a good bit this summer. A week doesn’t go by that we don’t drop in to see Natalee and her two boys, Simeon and Caleb and we’ve also started a weekly visit with Veronica and her son Van, who is only about five months younger than Benjamin. And we see Cara and Benjamin’s cousins a couple of times a week. Benjamin loves playing with other kids.
  • At home, he loves snuggling with us, his stuffed animals, and Chloe. We have yet to capture it on video, but we love the cute “ahhhh” sound he makes when he gives hugs and snuggles.
  • I’ve stayed in shape this summer trying to keep up with Benjamin as he explores the house. If there’s a door or cabinet open, he sees it as an invitation to investigate.
  • We’ve gone to storytime at the library a couple of times this summer. Benjamin is very shy during the songs, huddling down with his face buried in my shoulder, but he loosens up and his eyes get bright and alert when actual story time arrives. Apparently he doesn’t like the felt board stories, because this morning when the librarian put Humpty Dumpty up on a wall of felt, he did his signing for “all done.” He was ready to get back to the books!
  • He prefers to be where I am, rather than isolated in his playroom, but he still plays in there a few times a day. He becomes a little more “hands-off” everyday, as he learns how to entertain himself where I am, which makes it easier for me to cook dinner, wash dishes, fold laundry, etc.

I could say more, but as you can see, I don’t have much exciting to talk about. Instead, I’ll leave you with some pictures that haven’t made their way on here yet.

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Escape to L.A.: Day Four

June 29, 2009 at 11:49 am (Diversions, Emily)

All good things must come to an end, and so came the last day of my fantastic weekend getaway to L.A. We managed to fit in one last excursion before I packed my bags and headed to the airport.

  • 9:15-10:45 a.m. – Lindsay and I made our way to Venice Beach for a brisk morning walk. We parked a few blocks inland, then meandered through the canal walkways. It’s a beautiful area that I had never seen before. There’s a reason it’s called Venice Beach. Like Venice, Italy, this area has a series of canals, and they are bordered by beautiful homes. Most of the residents have a small dock and a canoe just outside of their front door. I took lots of pictures of this quaint, picturesque area (see below). Once we got to the boardwalk, the atmosphere changed quite drastically. The beautiful homes, waterways, and flowers were replaced by the strange characters that inhabit the Venice Beach ocean front area: body builders, homeless people, street musicians, vendors, people on stilts… There was a little of everything. My favorite aspect of this area is that there are colorful murals on the sides of the buildings (see pictures below). After we walked for awhile, it was time to head back to the apartment so I could prepare for my journey home.
  • 12:30-1:30 p.m. – Lindsay dropped me off at the airport, and with no line, I made it through security in about five minutes. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that my flight had been delayed by about 30 minutes. This made me nervous, since I had already been facing only a 55 minute layover in Salt Lake City. With the delay, that would cut it down to 25 minutes. I entertained myself by drinking a latte and listening to the French conversation going on next to me between a cute little girl and her Papa.
  • 1:40 Pacific time – 4:15 Mountain time – My flight eventually left LAX, and made up some time in the air. I read a bit and listened to music during the relatively short flight.
  • 4:25-4:45 p.m. – Not knowing how far I had to go, I made a mad dash through the airport to go from Terminal B to Terminal C, gate 4, where my flight to DFW was departing. By the time I got there, it was already boarding, but I still had time to make a few phone calls. It was nice to not have to wait a long time at the gate.
  • 5:00 mountain time – 8:20 p.m. central time – I really enjoyed this flight, milking this last little bit of my vacation for all it was worth. I read a good chunk of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (great book so far!), listened to music, and enjoyed one of those fun little snack boxes and some red wine. The combination of the wine and music was very enjoyable. I cranked up the volume and sailed away on tunes that included The Gabe Dixon Band, Imogen Heap, Jump Little Children, Offspring (okay, so they weren’t all mellow songs), Live, etc. My experience on the plane was so different this time from my last trip to L.A., when I was holding Benjamin in my lap the whole time and trying to keep him from screaming. It was so nice to just be for a few hours.
  • 8:30-9:00 p.m. – My brother Patrick picked me up from the airport and drove me home. (Thanks, Pete!) I walked in the front door just in time to see Benjamin come out of the bathtub wrapped cozily in a towel. An exhausted Brad (by the way, he did a fantastic job taking care of Benjamin all weekend) handed the boy over to me, and I hugged him close. It was good to be home.

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Escape to L.A.: Day Three

June 29, 2009 at 11:21 am (Diversions, Emily)

After Friday’s full slate of activities, Saturday’s theme was relaxation. Here’s how it all went:

  • 8:00-9:30 a.m. – We all slept in and lazed around for awhile. It’s funny when three people in one apartment are all on Facebook together, on three separate computers.
  • 9:45-11:15 a.m. – Lindsay and I drove to Santa Monica and had a late breakfast at the Omelette Parlor. She has seen Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer (stars of True Blood) there before, but this time the only excitement was when a groom arrived to greet his wedding party, and they rewarded him with an enthusiastic (and startling, for the rest of us!) round of applause. This restaurant now as the distinction of serving me the best bacon I’ve ever had. It was thick cut, and crispy, just the way I like it, with a lot of flavor. It came as part of my “two, two, and two” platter: two eggs, two strips of bacon, two pieces of French toast. I also enjoyed a latte in a big mug, and Lindsay had her favorite, a bowl of granola, fresh fruit, and yogurt.
  • 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – We pampered ourselves with pedicures at Deluxe Nail Bar and Spa. My deluxe pedicure included a marine mask (see picture below of my blue legs wrapped in plastic wrap – looks weird, but felt great!), a ten minute leg and foot massage, plus the basics. I occasionally go for pedicures in Dallas, but it was so nice to relax for an hour during this pedicure, and then be able to carry that relaxation on out into the rest of the day, rather than having to rush home and jump right back into frenzied mom mode.
  • 1:00-2:00 p.m. – We skipped lunch and went straight to dessert at Pinkberry, the very popular California yogurt chain. Similar to Yogurtville in Plano, Pinkberry serves yogurt with various fresh fruits and other toppings. It makes for a very pretty and tasty treat. I had the coconut yogurt with fresh mango, blueberries, and raspberries. I would definitely go back!
  • 2:15-3:30 p.m. – It was a perfect day to be at the beach, and so we packed up some folding chairs, books, and water and headed to the sandy shores of the Pacific. We would have stayed longer, but didn’t want to get a sunburn. (Don’t worry, though, I applied plenty of sunscreen to protect my fair skin.) I hate to rub it in to all of you who were suffering through the Dallas heat and humidity at the time, but being at the beach was heavenly: it was in the low to mid 70s, breezy, perfectly blue sky… I actually got chilly at one point. It was nice to just stare out at the waves, listen to the sounds of the water and the seagulls, read a book, and chat with Lindsay. Ah…
  • 4:00-10:00 p.m. – The rest of the day was spent relaxing at Sean and Lindsay’s apartment, except when we all went to dinner at an Italian place nearby. We all had pizza, which was very tasty. We were a little confused because although it was an Italian restaurant, all of the servers were either Hispanic or Asian, and there were several blatant errors on the menu, such as “chilly peppers” instead of “chile peppers.” It was nice to just hang out after a day in the sun.

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Escape to L.A.: Day Two

June 27, 2009 at 10:39 pm (Diversions, Emily)

Friday, June 26: Day Two of my getaway vacation. This was the day we had a lot planned to do, and we managed to fit it all in, and still have plenty of time to relax afterwards.

  • 7:15 a.m. – Lindsay and I left her apartment bright and early, to make sure we would make it to WB Studios on time for our tour (we had reserved tickets). We didn’t have any major traffic, so it only took us like 45 minutes to get there.
  • 8:20-10:30 a.m. – Since we arrived at Warner Bros. so early, we got on an earlier tour, which worked out nicely, since it gave us more flexibility the rest of the day. The studio tour was very fun and interesting. Being the tv buffs that we are, we strategically sat immediately behind our tour guide, as he drove us around the studio backlots and soundstages, so we could ask him plenty of questions and lobby for a peek at our favorite shows’ sets. We needn’t have worried, since the only time that anyone else on our tour (there were only like 8 of us) spoke up was when he asked if anyone is a fan of Two and a Half Men. One previously silent woman exuberantly yelled: “YES! YES! I LOVE that show!” And so, much to our chagrin, our guide led us to the Two and a Half Men soundstage. (In case you don’t know, our opinion is that this show is an example of the lowest form of comedy.) On the way into the soundstage, I attempted to persuade our guide to take us next door, where The Big Bang Theory is filmed, but he muttered something about it being under construction, and Lindsay and I had to settle for our least favorite of the studio’s shows instead. Not to worry, though. things picked up soon after, when we got a glimpse into the studios props department, which was full of elaborate furniture, strange statues, and anything else you could think of. Our guide also took us to a room that is an exact replica of the Central Perk set from Friends. They basically took everything from that set, including all the furniture, wall hangings, lamps, etc., and rebuilt the set. You really feel like you are in the Central Perk, and that was fun. Other highlights of the tour: driving past a swampy, jungle area and Merlotte’s bar (both filming locations for the HBO show True Blood), touring the remnants of the town of Stars Hollow (Gilmore Girls) – now being used for a new show called Eastwick, and browsing props and costumes from the Harry Potter movies at the studio museum. Also at the museum we saw Christian Bale and Heath Ledger’s Batman and Joker costumes, and several life-size wax replicas of Mr. Smith from The Matrix, which were used when filming the scenes where Neo battled all the Mr. Smiths at once. Our tour was an illuminating look into the behind the scenes workings and history of the studio.
  • 11:00-11:10 a.m. – We made our way from WB Studios to the Hollywood area, specifically an outdoor shopping mall called The Grove. When we went to check on the movie times, we saw that Away We Go was playing at 11:15, which meant we had to make a quick decision of whether to see the movie and then eat lunch, or eat lunch and entertain ourselves for 3 hours until the 2:30 showing, which is when we’d originally planned to go. We wisely chose to see the movie at 11:15.
  • 11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – As is usually the case with morning matinees, there were only about six people in the theater, and so we enjoyed our movie and buttered popcorn in an utterly distraction free environment. The movie stars Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski, who play a couple expecting their first child who take a cross country road trip in search of the perfect place to start their new life as parents. They travel everywhere from Phoenix to Montreal to Miami, and encounter some of the quirkiest characters you’ll ever see in a movie. It’s a bittersweet, but often hilarious movie about family dysfunction, parenting, and what makes a place “home.” It also has a great soundtrack!
  • 1:15-2:30 p.m. – After the movie we wandered over to the adjacent Farmer’s Market, where after much deliberation, we chose a French crepe stand for lunch. We sat at the counter, where Lindsay enjoyed a panini and I had a crepe filled with cheddar cheese, avocado, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Right across from us was a pastry stand, which displayed scrumptious looking treats, but we resisted them. Next we walked through the market area, then back over to The Grove, where we leisurely browsed through the books at Barnes & Noble.
  • 3:00-4:00 p.m. – Since we had walked off some of the calories from our lunch, we then drove to another area of town to Pane e Vino, an Italian restaurant known for its inviting, relaxing patio. We had a lovely experience eating dessert on the nearly empty patio. However, there was also some exciting celebrity spotting. As we walked in to find the hostess, we passed a table where an older black man was seated, and I immediately recognized him as Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer. What gave it away, you ask? Well, the tinted glasses, the large chain and medallion around his neck, and the shirt unbuttoned to his chest (not typical for most 76 year olds) were my first hints. He was there eating with what appeared to be his daughter, son-in-law, and grandson. When they left, Quincy was hand in hand with his grandson, who must have been about two years old and was very cute. Quincy was also wearing all black, perhaps because he’s in mourning over the death of his friend Michael Jackson. Anyway, I was glad that I spotted at least one celebrity on my trip. (My first celeb spotting in L.A. happened a couple of years ago, when I made eye contact with James Denton, the plumber from Desperate Housewives, as we passed each other at LAX.) Once Quincy and his family left the restaurant, we happily focused on our delicious desserts. Lindsay had caramel cream flan, and I had tiramasu and a cappuccino. I must say, it was the best tiramasu I’ve ever had. Pane e Vino really had great atmosphere, and on a day when the sky was blue and temps were in the low 70s, it was a perfect place to enjoy the afternoon.
  • Before I move on, let me share some interesting facts that we learned about Quincy Jones, when we looked him up on Wikipedia after encountering him at the restaurant: his middle name is Delight, he produced Thriller, he produced and conducted “We Are the World,” he composed the musical score for the 1967 film In Cold Blood, and he’s never learned to drive. He’s a very interesting person with many accomplishments!
  • 4:30-10:30 – General hanging out and relaxing at the apartment, followed by a dinner of baked potatoes. We rounded out the evening by watching the Liam Neeson movie Taken. I will reserve my full opinions of it for a post on Eclaire Fare, but let me just say that the movie’s first mistake was not only casting Maggie Grace (Shannon on Lost) as a 17 year old, but in making her character behave like a ten year old, which was very awkward. Despite this major flaw, the movie was entertaining and had an intriguing premise. It was a nice way to wind down from the busy day.

Now enjoy these pictures of our day:

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Escape to L.A.: Day One

June 27, 2009 at 11:31 am (Diversions, Emily)

For those of you who don’t know, I am currently on a four day trip to Los Angeles, where I am visiting my friend Lindsay. The most significant detail of this trip is that I am here without Brad or Benjamin. This is the first vacation I have gone on without Brad since we got married, and it is also the first time I have been away from Benjamin overnight. I am having a lovely, rejuvenating time so far on this girls’ weekend. Last month, I did a daily travel blog about our family vacation to L.A., so I will now do the same thing for my current adventures in sunny California.

To start things off, here is how the first day went:

  • 1:00 p.m. – Brad and Benjamin dropped me off at the airport. Benjamin didn’t reach his arms out to me as I walked away from him; instead, he just waved and nonchalantly said “bye bye” as I rolled my luggage into the terminal. Hugging him goodbye was bittersweet for me, but once I saw that he wasn’t concerned about my departure, I contentedly strolled to security check, reveling in the realization that I wasn’t responsible for anyone other than myself for the next four days! (Color me giddy!!!) I think the woman who checked my driver’s license and ID wondered why I had a strange, jubilant expression on my face as I went through security. Let me just say that I have never been so excited to be hanging out at the airport, to have a layover, and to be flying for five hours!
  • 1:30 p.m. – As I sat down at my gate with a book and a smile, I overheard the CNN report that Farrah Fawcett had died, which made me sad.
  • 2:25 p.m. central time – 4:00 p.m. mountain time – The first leg of my journey took me from DFW to Salt Lake City. I sat next to a friendly grandfather type, and we chatted a bit about the state of women’s college basketball and other random subjects, and I listened to a few songs on Regina Spektor’s new album, but mostly I read. Oh, what a joy it was to sit and read, uninterrupted by a bored or mischievous toddler, for over two hours! I finished reading Dexter by Design, and then started The Polysyllabic Spree by Nick Hornby.
  • 4:10-5:10 p.m. – When I entered the terminal at Salt Lake City (after an uncomfortably bumpy descent and landing due to a storm in the area), I immediately noticed that everyone was  glued to CNN, which was playing on all the tv monitors. It is a strange feeling to deboard an airplane and wonder what major world event you have missed while flying through the sky. I soon learned that the event in this case was the shocking death of Michael Jackson. How weird, that at DFW the news was all about Farrah Fawcett, and in Salt Lake City, it was all about the King of Pop. So far, my visit to L.A. has included an almost constant soundtrack of MJ tunes, whether in the car, in Barnes and Noble, or on the local news. It is sad when anyone dies, but Jackson leaves behind quite an impressive musical legacy!
  • 5:10 mountain time to 6:00 p.m. pacific – The last leg of the journey, from Salt Lake to L.A., was a shorter flight, just under two hours. I took advantage of the time to make a bigger dent in The Polysyllabic Spree. I am loving this book, which is a one year, month by month account of the books Hornby has bought and read. The style is very easy to read, as well as amusing and clever, and it makes me want to read everything from Charles Dickens to 20th century poetry to non-fiction books about the business of baseball. Hornby is a prolific and varied reader, and he inspires me to aspire to do the same. Easier said than done when I have a 16 month old waiting to hang out with me at home. I’d better get a head start on the flight back home!
  • 6:10-6:30 p.m. – When I arrived at LAX and got off the plane, it’s as if I stepped into an abandoned airport (it really was reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Langoliers.) Other than an occasional lone security guard, it was just me and one other guy (seriously!) trying to follow ridiculously cryptic signs to the baggage claim area. I don’t know where all the other people went! Apparently, this other guy and I both made a wrong turn, because we ended up at what appeared to be the end of the world, also known as the United Airlines baggage claim area. I guess we missed the one tiny sign that would have pointed us toward the more direct route to the Delta area. Oh, well. The long way around provided me with a chance to stretch my legs after the cramped flights, and like a scene right out of a movie, Lindsay and I had to find each other on a loud, congested sidewalk, amidst a symphony of airplanes, shuttle buses, rolling luggage, cigarette smoke, and – no doubt – Michael Jackson tunes.
  • 7:30 p.m.- After a quick stop at Lindsay and Sean’s apartment, we made our way to nearby Venice Beach, for dinner at The Terrace, a restaurant that is adjacent to the boardwalk and has ocean views. We sat on the patio and enjoyed our meal (I had an excellent sesame crusted Ahi tuna steak). Let me just say that the temperature was amazing. When I left Dallas it was in the upper 90s, and while we dined outdoors in Venice Beach, it was breezy with temps in the upper 60s.
  • 9:00 p.m. – Back at the apartment, we watched the So You Think You Can Dance results show. Lindsay and I both blog about the show, so we sat on the sofa together, each typing away feverishly on our Macs. It was nice to be able to chat about the show live and in person, since the two hour time difference that usually separates us prevents timely discussion of any tv programming.
  • 10:45 p.m. – It was somewhere around this time that I went to bed. I had a wonderful first day of my brief respite from the daily grind. I didn’t miss Benjamin and Brad too much, but instead enjoyed some peace and quiet, and hanging out with a friend without the hindrance of having to get home by a certain time.

I’ll leave you with the few pictures I took on Day One. I promise there will be more than this from Day Two!

Lindsay enjoys the view on the patio of The Terrace.

Lindsay enjoys the view on the patio of The Terrace.

My delicious meal, which featured a sesame crusted Ahi tuna steak

My delicious meal, which featured a sesame crusted Ahi tuna steak

Another view of The Terrace, this time after the sun went down. I liked the pretty paper lanterns.

Another view of The Terrace, this time after the sun went down. I liked the pretty paper lanterns.

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