Atlanta

I'm leaving on Thursday for a seminar in Atlanta for 4 days and 4 nights.  I don't think I have spent more than 10 or 12 hours away from Penn since he was born.  I could handle one night, but 4?  Maybe if I was going on a real vacation it would be easier to handle.  I'm going to a seminar for my last exam and I couldn't be more thrilled.  28 hours of lecture.  Two words:  pancake butt. 

You would think I could get motivated to study and pass this one considering it is my last and hopefully final exam of my career, but nope.  I. cannot. get. motivated.  To make matters worse, this is speeding up the weaning process.  I've been told to take it slow or you risk a horomonal freak out... this trip might end up being more interesting than I initially expected.  Sorry coworkers!

Previous IKEA excitement

I thought a shopping trip to Ikea with guilt-free birthday money to blow might make the separation anxiety more bearable, but the seminar is in Marietta AND it lasts until 8 pm.  And... I don't really "need" anything from IKEA, but that hasn't stopped me before. Luckily there is an H&M and a Chipotle near our hotel.  Woohoo!  Gonna be a wild and crazy weekend!

 I'll be headed straight for these.  Image via cocowire.

Okay, maybe these too.  Image via cocowire.

Summer has arrived

This photo just screams summer to me.  Too bad it's already 100 degrees outside and baby can't enjoy his new rides.

 Riding dirty.  Sit down, son.

 Reversing a la Brett Matthews in the 1989 Buick LeSabre.  Always with the arm.  

It's a bumpy ride.

My new favorite picture:

Early Morning Pajama Ridin'

First Birthday

Birthday invitation designed by Lou.  I drew Fisher jumping off the high dive.

  

Penn's first birthday coincided with my largest deadline of the year so far (because isn't that how it always happens?).  I was working twice as much as normal and trying to study and make birthday crafts.  I didn't want his birthday to come and go and regret not being creative.  I stayed up late making cupcake banners and a happy birthday banner for the mantel.

No theme, just a birthday celebration.  I managed to squeeze 2 dozen balloons in my wagon before the party.  I started panicking as the sweet girl at Party City was blowing them up.  How had I misjudged the size of latex-helium-filled-everyday-birthday balloons?  Had to drive home without any mirrors.  Thankfully I had made this trip alone.  There wasn't even room for Mr. Baby.

He was still sleeping when all the guests had arrived.  He was so overwhelmed by all the people in our house that he wanted to be held the whole time.  The older he gets, the more shy he gets.  Everyone is always asking, "Is he always this quiet?" "Does he always just stare?"  No one ever believes us when we say no.  At home on a normal day he is a wild man.

 

 My mom made his cakes.

Homemade lemon curd cake with buttercream icing.  Everyone loved it, Penn included.  That baby loves some sour.

He started out incredibly meticulous with his smash cake; putting it back together as he broke it apart.  Then he decided to get messy.

So the little monster took a quick dip in the whale pool.

It was a beautiful afternoon and family stayed for a Memorial Day cook-out afterwards.

Yum.

The whale pool got a little cold in the shade, but everyone sat around it like a water feature.

 

Baby loves his push-car from Gigi and Broman.  Fisher loves to chase him in it.  Penn giggles the whole time.

As usual, Lou jumped at the chance for a project and quickly assembled it during the party.  Penn could have slid all night.

The baby was worn out, but not as exhausted as we were.  I can't even imagine what my parents felt like after a birthday party with 20 friends at the skating rink?  or the CCJ?  We were only entertaining 15 family members and it took us 2 days to recover... and a week for me to finally take the decorations down.

It seems like only yesterday we were in the hospital with him.  I'm loving the toddler age, but he isn't my tiny baby anymore.  His birthday was bittersweet.  How has it been a year already?  I can admit I shed a few tears on his birthday.  Someone told me when you start missing those baby days it's time to have another.  Lou says, one and done.  I say, let's wait and see.

Chicago Anniversary

Lake Michigan, Winter 2007, I begged Lou to go take photos during a great storm I could see from my office.

We have officially been back in Jackson as long as we lived in Chicago.  It really makes it seem like we didn't live there very long.  I can't believe how fast three years have passed.  We both still catch ourselves referencing the move back like it only happened last summer.  

Post Office and Calder Flamingo, a block from our apartment.  Great Farmer's Market in the Summer with the BEST peaches ever.

A lot has happened in our lives since those Chicago years.  I love that we have kept in contact with the friends we made while living there.  Although not many are still living in Chicago and of those that remain, I don't even know if they are forever Chicagoans.  It's such a transient city.

Our 650 SF studio convertible apartment.  I still feel like this space exists, as if I could go visit it.

I come across Chicago pictures in iPhoto all the time and I get all sentimental.  Out of everything the city had to offer, I miss those walks to and from work the most... even the down coat, double stockings, 6'-0" long scarf wrapped, rubber boots sloshing and sunglasses wearing blizzard mornings when my frozen mascara would melt when I walked into 330 N Wabash.  I even miss that.

Snow Day 2008

Introductions

Me and Penn, Seaside house, April 2011

I'm a mom.  I'm a designer.  I'm a perfectionist.  I'm a homebody.
I leave the top off of every pen I use.
I work 30 hours a week Monday - Wednesday so I can stay home with that baby the rest of the week. It's the best of both worlds.

Lou, post Ironman New Orleans April 2011

Me:  "What do you want me to write about you on the blog?"

Lou:  "I'm awesome."
He does 90% of the cooking and 50% of the cleaning and he works out 100% of the time. 
If he gets another bike, I get another diamond.
He's a designer.  He's an attorney.  He's a very busy man. He's Buddy.

We like to call this picture the Elmer Fudd.

Pennjamin Parcheesi, Pennimento and Cheese, Penny Bear, Pennamon Roll, PeePah.  
Out of all of his names, he is probably most often referred to as "that baby."
"That baby is still asleep upstairs."  "Did I tell you what that baby did today?"
He's one.  He's adorable.  He's mine.  He's hilarious.  He's more fun everyday.
He's the boss around these parts.

Fisher, his middle name is Danger.

Also known as Fish, Fishbones or Wishy Washy.
He has turtle breath.  He might be a cat.  He smells like popcorn and raisins.
He has it out for our mailman Jasper.
He just turned three.  He is rotten. 

Henry, the wonder years

Henry is a nine year old parakeet that likes to keep to himself.
He dreams of simpler times when he stared out our 11th floor window in Chicago.
Now he is tortured by a dachsund and a toddler all day.
He has a girlfriend named Lisa Frank.