This blog post is a little different from my usual posts. Trey and I are coming up on our 5-year anniversary in just a few days, so I decided to write a tribute to him. But I don’t mind if you read it. Although some of it may not make much sense to anyone but Trey.
To my dear, sweet husband:
Wow, married five years! Can you believe it? That means we’ve been practically inseparable for almost 8 years now. I’ve been thinking a lot today about our special memories together. We’ve been through a lot in 8 years, huh? Mostly good stuff. Some tough stuff. And some fun/silly/crazy/totally-us stuff. So I thought I’d make a list for you of some of my favorite memories.
Memories from our early days:
I still have the fork (somewhere!) that you mangled for me on the day we met. You became known to my family as “the fork art guy.” But don’t worry; they haven’t called you that in a long time.
I loved the nights we spent driving around Conway just talking and occasionally finding something fun to do (like throwing pennies in a pond and making wishes). Or how about the night the cops came after us at the park? Not the best memory... but kind of funny now.
And of course, your proposal will always be a special memory. And yes, I would like eggs with that ring, please.
Memories from our tough times:
You were an absolute rock for me when my parents were in that accident. We were finally officially dating at that point, and I’m glad I hadn’t put you off any longer. I NEEDED you. And you were there.
Your job loss may not seem like such a good memory to bring up. But I’m so proud of the way you handled it. And it’s special to me to remember how we prayed that day that God would take care of us somehow, then we got a check in the mail that exact day for $500. Was that confirmation, or what?! And we did make it through it just fine.
Silly memories:
Four words: Tutti fruity snowflake booty.
I still giggle when I think about the noise you used to make when you were annoyed with traffic. It sounded just like the rattle of your broken glove box. I know you may not have appreciated me laughing at you when you were trying to drive, but it did seem to diffuse some of the tension.
I loved the time we went to Hot Springs and you spoke with an Irish accent all day. I think everyone really thought you were from Ireland!
I really wish you’d do your “happy cave dance” again sometime. It was cute.
Memories from our recent years:
It wasn’t that long ago that you convinced me it was time to start trying for a baby. I was pretty reluctant, but I decided to trust you and go along with it. But I prayed that I wouldn’t get pregnant right away. Two weeks later... well, we know the story. I suppose you and God were right all along.
I have so many good memories of you with Perrin that I can’t even begin to think of just one. I love that you love being a father. You’re a really good one.
It’s been really great to see you growing spiritually. I think you’ve made leaps and bounds in controlling your temper and being a spiritual leader. Thank you for being someone I can follow!
Well, I could go on and on and on... but I think that baby you convinced me to have is wide awake in his crib. (By the way, thank you for convincing me to have him. He’s perfect. Well, not perfect. But you know what I mean. You just might be able to convince me to have another one someday).
I know we have lots more good memories ahead of us! I love you very much! Thank you for putting up with me for all these years!
--Your sweetheart
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
In search of the perfect (squeaky) shoes
Perrin can officially toddle! What I mean by that is that he can take 3 or 4 steps on his own if he's walking from me to Trey while we're sitting on the floor. But he's still using crawling as his main mode of transportation. I've been trying to figure out how I can encourage him to walk without pushing him into it against his will. I think I know the solution--squeaky shoes!
I've seen tons of toddlers with squeaky shoes, so I figured we could find Perrin a pair over the weekend and try them out. I had no idea that this simple idea would turn into a day-long scavenger hunt. We had already looked at Walmart, not really expecting them to carry them (and we were right). So on Saturday morning, we began the hunt in earnest. After we had visited Target, Babies-R-Us, Rhea Lana, Baby Depot, Dillards, Payless, Gymboree, JC Penney, and Shoe Carnival with not a squeaky shoe to be found, we had pretty much given up hope. Where the heck do you find those things?? We knew of one other place to try--a children's boutique called Over the Moon. We looked them up online and saw that they were located near my parents' house, where we were headed anyway. Awesome! Except... they weren't located at that address anymore. And when I tried calling, the number had been disconnected. Score another 20 points for the fates that were conspiring against us.
I finally gave in and decided to order a pair online. I didn't want to do it because I wanted to have Perrin try them on to make sure we were getting the right size (and to make sure the squeaky sound didn't freak him out). But wouldn't you know it... as soon as I clicked to submit the order, the web page froze. I sat there for 20 minutes, fuming, until I finally gave up. Trey could see that I was pretty much at the end of my rope, so he reordered the shoes for me, and this time it went through.
About 20 minutes later, I received two email receipts for my two pairs of squeaky shoes that were being processed. ::insert highly exasperated mommy noise here::
I think I've finally managed to cancel one of the orders. But these shoes had better be the best thing since sliced bread for all the trouble they've caused.
I've seen tons of toddlers with squeaky shoes, so I figured we could find Perrin a pair over the weekend and try them out. I had no idea that this simple idea would turn into a day-long scavenger hunt. We had already looked at Walmart, not really expecting them to carry them (and we were right). So on Saturday morning, we began the hunt in earnest. After we had visited Target, Babies-R-Us, Rhea Lana, Baby Depot, Dillards, Payless, Gymboree, JC Penney, and Shoe Carnival with not a squeaky shoe to be found, we had pretty much given up hope. Where the heck do you find those things?? We knew of one other place to try--a children's boutique called Over the Moon. We looked them up online and saw that they were located near my parents' house, where we were headed anyway. Awesome! Except... they weren't located at that address anymore. And when I tried calling, the number had been disconnected. Score another 20 points for the fates that were conspiring against us.
I finally gave in and decided to order a pair online. I didn't want to do it because I wanted to have Perrin try them on to make sure we were getting the right size (and to make sure the squeaky sound didn't freak him out). But wouldn't you know it... as soon as I clicked to submit the order, the web page froze. I sat there for 20 minutes, fuming, until I finally gave up. Trey could see that I was pretty much at the end of my rope, so he reordered the shoes for me, and this time it went through.
About 20 minutes later, I received two email receipts for my two pairs of squeaky shoes that were being processed. ::insert highly exasperated mommy noise here::
I think I've finally managed to cancel one of the orders. But these shoes had better be the best thing since sliced bread for all the trouble they've caused.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Birthday boy
On Sunday, Perrin turned a year old. One year!! We had a blast celebrating his birthday over the weekend. The theme of his party was "Perrin's birthday moose-stravaganza." We decorated the tables with stuffed moose wearing party hats and served "moose juice" and snacks. We even had a table of moose-inspired crafts and a "moose trot" (similar to a cake walk). And of course, a moose birthday cake.
Perrin got a wagon for his birthday, so all the babies took turns going for a ride in it. They loved it! And it made for some really cute pictures.
It really didn't take Perrin long to realize he LIKED opening presents!
And here he is demolishing his birthday cake. He had frosting up to his ears and in his hair and eyelashes by the time he was done.
Overall, the party went very smoothly... and most importantly, I could tell Perrin had a lot of fun. I had fun too, but it's been a little bit bittersweet for me to think that he's a year old already. I love the little boy he's becoming, but I miss the tiny baby that he'll never be again.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Bookie monster
Perrin likes to eat paper. I don't know why. He's taken bites out of my grocery lists, magazines, and even a check we got in the mail. Last week, he gnawed on the corner pages of one of my library books. The damage wasn't very bad, so we went ahead and returned the book to the library, not thinking they would say anything about it. Well, they did. We got an email saying that the corners seemed to have undergone "animal damage" and the book would need to be replaced for a whopping $30.
So I was sitting on the living room floor this morning feeling a bit irritated at our little "animal." I mean, $30 is a lot of money! Couldn't he have chewed on some credit card offers or something instead? But then, as if sensing my lack of motherly love, he crawled over to me, pulled himself into my lap, leaned in and gave me a big kiss. ::sigh:: How can I stay angry? At least he isn't out setting fire to our lawn or wrecking our car. Yet.
So I was sitting on the living room floor this morning feeling a bit irritated at our little "animal." I mean, $30 is a lot of money! Couldn't he have chewed on some credit card offers or something instead? But then, as if sensing my lack of motherly love, he crawled over to me, pulled himself into my lap, leaned in and gave me a big kiss. ::sigh:: How can I stay angry? At least he isn't out setting fire to our lawn or wrecking our car. Yet.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Baby signing
I've tried to teach Perrin a little bit of baby sign language on and off--simple concepts like more, finished, bath, diaper, etc. Unfortunately I haven't been very consistent with it, so he really hasn't learned any signs yet. Well, I take that back. He has learned one sign. But it's a sign that I didn't teach him. He's learned how to shake his head "no" at me.
The other day, I was trying to get him to walk to me from the coffee table. I held his hands and said, "Walk to Mommy!" He collapsed into a crying heap on the floor, looked at me, and shook his head as if to say, "Stop trying to make me walk!" Later in the week, I took Perrin up to Trey's work to have lunch with him. As we were getting ready to leave, we stopped and talked to a few of Trey's coworkers. "Can you wave hello?" I asked Perrin. Like a perfect, sweet baby, he grinned and waved. Then as we were leaving I said, "Can you wave goodbye?" He got a mischievous smirk and shook his head no. I guess he'd had enough of waving.
I'm still just marveling over the irony that I have never, ever taught him that shaking his head means no, yet he picked it up faster than anything else. Is that just like a baby, or what? Or should it concern me that my child can already tell me no any time he wants?
The other day, I was trying to get him to walk to me from the coffee table. I held his hands and said, "Walk to Mommy!" He collapsed into a crying heap on the floor, looked at me, and shook his head as if to say, "Stop trying to make me walk!" Later in the week, I took Perrin up to Trey's work to have lunch with him. As we were getting ready to leave, we stopped and talked to a few of Trey's coworkers. "Can you wave hello?" I asked Perrin. Like a perfect, sweet baby, he grinned and waved. Then as we were leaving I said, "Can you wave goodbye?" He got a mischievous smirk and shook his head no. I guess he'd had enough of waving.
I'm still just marveling over the irony that I have never, ever taught him that shaking his head means no, yet he picked it up faster than anything else. Is that just like a baby, or what? Or should it concern me that my child can already tell me no any time he wants?
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Baby time
Perrin is at an age where he wants to see, do, touch, and explore everything. This doesn’t combine very nicely with cold winter weather and on-and-off drizzle that keeps us confined to the house for days at a time. So in the interest of not going bonkers, I’ve been looking for something we can do that will get us out of the house without costing money or giving us frostbite. I think I’ve found the answer—“baby time” at the library!
Every Wednesday morning, the North Little Rock library has a 30-minute baby program. I took Perrin today. I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but Perrin ending up loving it. We sat in a big circle with the other babies and their mommies/daddies/ grandparents/nannies. First we sang the welcome song for each child (“we’re so glad that Perrin is here, Perrin is here, Perrin is here,” etc… even a newbie like me can catch on pretty quickly). Then our rather enthusiastic leader read a quick story. Then we must have sung a dozen more songs, with each song allowing the kids a new prop to play with. We sang about monkeys, farm animals, colors, and seasons using stuffed animals, jingle bells, egg shakers, puppets, and scarves. (Perrin and I even got to play with a moose puppet!!) Perrin clapped and smiled and for some reason kept trying to pet the woman next to me.
At the end of baby time, the instructor dumped a bunch of baby-friendly musical instruments onto the floor (which was already littered with various other props that had been slobbered on, dropped, thrown, and even slightly mangled). Chaos ensued.
Chaotic though it may have been, Perrin really did seem to have a blast. I think we’ll try to make it a regular part of our weekly schedule. Maybe he’ll even make a friend or two. I'm pretty sure I saw one of those little girls eyeing him.
Every Wednesday morning, the North Little Rock library has a 30-minute baby program. I took Perrin today. I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but Perrin ending up loving it. We sat in a big circle with the other babies and their mommies/daddies/ grandparents/nannies. First we sang the welcome song for each child (“we’re so glad that Perrin is here, Perrin is here, Perrin is here,” etc… even a newbie like me can catch on pretty quickly). Then our rather enthusiastic leader read a quick story. Then we must have sung a dozen more songs, with each song allowing the kids a new prop to play with. We sang about monkeys, farm animals, colors, and seasons using stuffed animals, jingle bells, egg shakers, puppets, and scarves. (Perrin and I even got to play with a moose puppet!!) Perrin clapped and smiled and for some reason kept trying to pet the woman next to me.
At the end of baby time, the instructor dumped a bunch of baby-friendly musical instruments onto the floor (which was already littered with various other props that had been slobbered on, dropped, thrown, and even slightly mangled). Chaos ensued.
Chaotic though it may have been, Perrin really did seem to have a blast. I think we’ll try to make it a regular part of our weekly schedule. Maybe he’ll even make a friend or two. I'm pretty sure I saw one of those little girls eyeing him.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Snow day
Last week was Perrin's first time to play in the snow. He wasn't sure what to think of it at first, and he definitely did NOT like being bundled up in a snow suit. (For the record, it took longer to get him ready to play in the snow than the amount of time we actually spent out in the snow). But once he got down in the snow, he started crawling through it and giggling. Snow is fun stuff! I made a couple of mini-snowmen for him to knock over (he loves destroying things... such a boy). And we took a few pictures.
Here he is playing in the snow (I believe you can see the remains of a mini-snowman in the first two pictures. It's hard to tell since it's been mutilated beyond recognition. Poor snowman... it didn't stand a chance against Perrin.)
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