The Landry Family Odyssey

20 weeks

2012-02-12T10:18:00.003-10:00

20 weeks pregnant (2/12/12)

This week was a much better one at the Landry household. That whole "the definition of insanity ...." clicked for me this week, so I took a different approach to Jack's naptime. More play time and attention before nap + a later start + a willingness to "lay down with me Momma" served me well most days and I just handled things better this week in general.

Time is a-passing! I'm officially on the second half of my pregnancy. I feel really good right now and am looking forward to starting a fun Mardi Gras season and the BIG excitement of this week which is our 20 week ultrasound on Thursday!

Jack became the first person to feel the baby kick this week, which was really sweet. He is totally into this baby and I'd say he "gets it" pretty well. He's always asking if the baby is "awake" and now that he got a kick he wants to feel for another one. Jacob also felt some kicks for the first time last night.

Week Twenty Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: well if I'm being honest, constipation; there has been a definite increase in the strength of the kicks this week

Diet: I've been better about my sweets (though man I do love them) and I cooked 3 healthy dinners again, so pat on my back

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):

1) Midwife appointment on Tuesday (my BP was a little low, but otherwise everything was good - have gained 9.5 lbs. I continue to tell anyone who will listen that I think this baby is a girl so it's now even written in my chart "thinks its a girl" :) )

2) Start prenatal yoga on Thursday (yes!)

3) Eat no more than 1 dessert a day (yes, I normally eat two) (I really worked on this and nearly all days I ate either just one or one and a bite)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:

1) 20 week ultrasound!! I am so excited to see this baby. We haven't had any ultrasounds so it will be our first glimpse of our baby. I'm also so excited to know the sex and get a little bit more of our future colored in. I'm also anxious to know that this baby is healthy. I know that most babies are born healthy and I pray that this baby is blessed with great health.

2) Go to the gym 1x and walk most other days.

3) Keep on top of my back exercises as I think this has helped keep the backache minimal.

4) Keep working on the one sweet a day goal despite the Mardi Gras temptations.

19 weeks

2012-02-03T15:55:00.010-10:00

19 weeks pregnant (2/4/12)

This was not my best week. There were some definite bright spots, but overall I did not handle well the fact that Jack didn't nap 4 out of 5 days. The only day he went down was when Jacob was home to put him down. The other days, he called for me on and off the whole time he was in his room. Since he both climbed to sit on the rail of his crib and was doing headstands in his crib, we had to shift to the big boy bed...which he can get out of....which leads to multiple trips up and down the stairs for me. Hopefully next week will be better.

In other news, I've started thinking about the things I want to accomplish before the baby arrives, and so I thought I'd post a list and then see where I'm at at the start of March, April, May, and June (wow - still a ways to the due date, but we are in no rush!)

To-Do List Before Baby
1) Jack's Room: Buy big boy furniture and move Jack from nursery to big boy bed in his room
2) Nursery: Decorate nursery to welcome new baby (who I still think is a girl, so I'm imagining flower pictures, red and orange colors, and a colorful dresser)
3) Dining Room: Finish decorating - we need bar stools, at least one piece of furniture to sit on, and to hang pictures
4) Our bedroom: Find places for this pile and turn this corner into a nursing/reading/relaxing nook with a glider + ottoman

5) Porch: Clean off our porch and start using it - meaning buy some porch furniture
6) Backyard: Test our backyard for lead, remediate if need be, landscape, possibly put up a back fence, and make it a place that will be fun for Jack to play outside this summer
7) Baby Supplies: We only NEED new cloth diapers, upgraded changing table, a toilet bowl sprayer, a double stroller, and some summer newborn clothes since Jack was born in December. I'm sure we'll pick up other things for fun.

We'll see if any of this gets knocked out in the next month!

19 weeks pregnant with Baby # 2 (Thanks for the shirt Julie!)

19 weeks pregnant with Jack

Week Nineteen Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: BAD backache that thankfully went away this weekend and stronger movements

Diet: There is a definite need to lay off the sweets! Otherwise, I've eaten lots of oatmeal, fruit, cheese, and bread - those are my staples in addition to whatever is for dinner.

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):

1) Go to the gym 1-2x. (1x - yep; other days went on long walks with Jack)

2) Take time throughout the day to do my pelvic tilts to try to stay on top of the backache. (most days, yes)

3) Plan out meals for the week that involve COOKING and healthy food. (I cooked 3 nights in a row - I was really proud of myself for this!)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:

1) Midwife appointment on Tuesday

2) Start prenatal yoga on Thursday

3) Eat no more than 1 dessert a day (yes, I normally eat two)

18 weeks

2012-01-28T14:44:00.002-10:00

18 weeks pregnant (1/28/12)

I'm just feeling really blessed and lucky this week. I had some productive days at work early in the week, Jack went to school without tears for the first time since Christmas, I'm really loving our new house, I'm loving how many connections we've made and are enjoying in New Orleans, and I've been having a great trip to see my family in SC!

I've missed Jacob the last few days, but it has been GREAT to come home. Since we've lived in NOLA, I've made it a priority to visit SC a few times a year. My parents are great about visiting me and we usually meet up in WY over the holidays, but I also like going "home". I grew up in Florence and it's a small enough town that it's easy to still feel connected. I've also stayed close to two of my high school friends and it's fun to reconnect when I'm in town. Erin and Kate and I do a girls' night and also try to do a play date with our progeny :) I don't know if they noticed anything, but I think it's something to watch 5 small children play together (or rather next to each other) and know that they came from us. Our friendship goes back to grade school, so that's why it's worth noting.

Other benefits of being at home:

#1 - Grammy and Big Papa - Jack loves them both and they love him! Grammy takes great care of him and lets me do things like sleep in, take naps, and read my book :)

#2 - Meals appear in front of me!

#3 - I don't have much to do while Jack is napping so I actually can clean out my inbox or just do nothing.

#4 - I get to see my extended family. I got to attend one of my first family functions in years bc I actually happened to be in town!

#5 - I got to see my beautiful and talented sister Kristen in The Putnam County Spelling Bee - which she ROCKED as Olive Ostrosvsky. (This also resulted in me being an onstage volunteer speller and being introduced as "Courtney Landry, President of her middle school abstinence club - haha baby bump!)

Now I just have to get Jack and me home tomorrow!

Week Eighteen Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: Backache and little movements throughout the week

Diet: Food wasn't as much my friend this week, but I still ate a lot of it.

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):

1) Go to the gym twice (Yes!)

2) Do back strengthening exercises + do my Bradley exercises 4 days (Back exercises - YES! Bradley - not really)

3) Be very well-planned for my solo airplane trip to SC with Jack so it doesn't turn into a stressful experience (NERVOUS about this trip! I've done it before but I wasn't pregnant and Jack wasn't a very big and willful TWO!) (Yes! 1 down and 1 to go)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:

1) Go to the gym 1-2x.

2) Take time throughout the day to do my pelvic tilts to try to stay on top of the backache.

3) Plan out meals for the week that involve COOKING and healthy food.

17 weeks

2012-01-21T09:42:00.005-10:00

17 weeks pregnant - 1/21/12

The weeks are ticking by! Big news of the week was that I felt the baby move for the first time :) I've really been looking forward to this, but wasn't sure when to expect it. I didn't feel Jack till between 18-19 weeks, but last Saturday (16 weeks) I thought I felt the baby at two different points but wasn't sure. Then Sunday, during Sunday School, I felt a popcorn-popping like feeling 3 times in the same spot a few seconds apart - definitely a baby! For the next couple of days, there were more "was that the baby?" feelings, but then yesterday and today I've had more definite feelings. It will be awesome for Jack to be able to feel the baby - he talks into my belly still daily, so it would be great to have the baby kick him back at some point.

I know subsequent pregnancies pop sooner and it seems like other moms feel like they look bigger, but I can't get over the fact that I'm going to be pregnant for more than 5 months! I feel like that doesn't jive with the belly I'm already sporting! I'm hoping it's just a fluke this week, but my back has started to hurt when I'm walking or been on my feet for a while. I know I didn't have this pregnancy symptom till several months later last time, so I'm going to work on some back exercises to see if I can strengthen my back since I know I've got quite a bit of growing still to do!

See pictures below for comparisons between last time and now. In my mind I feel like I'm a lot bigger this time, but maybe not so much?

17 weeks pregnant with baby #2

17 weeks pregnant with Jack

Week Seventeen Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: Hungry! Serious baby bump; backaches, and movement!

Diet: Everything is yummy right now! (I had been holding on for this moment during those difficult first two months!) There was the Mediterranean food at a dinner we went to this week, the Mexican food we got last night at Felipe's (yum!!), this new cheese I bought from Whole Foods, these coconut cookies Jacob bought me, and this awesome-looking goat cheese and apple King Cake we just bought at a bakery. (There was also a lot of fruit and whole grains, for the record.)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):

1) Plan healthy dinners for my family and make sure my hunger urges have healthy foods around to satisfy them. (I cooked 2 nights and we had events two other nights so I felt good about my meal planning this week. I haven't been overindulging in sweets in this pregnancy up until this week when those dang coconut cookies came into my life, but other than that I did well.)

2) Keep doing Bradley exercises: Kegels, pelvic tilts, tailor sitting and squats (Only the pelvic tilts as relief for my backache)

3) Join the Tulane gym thanks to Jacob's student discount! (yes, though brother Jack did not make it a smooth first visit as he cried most of the time :( - he used to love going, so hopefully it was just the fact that he had skipped his nap)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:

1) Go to the gym twice

2) Do back strengthening exercises + do my Bradley exercises 4 days

3) Be very well-planned for my solo airplane trip to SC with Jack so it doesn't turn into a stressful experience (NERVOUS about this trip! I've done it before but I wasn't pregnant and Jack wasn't a very big and willful TWO!)

16 weeks

2012-01-14T10:27:00.006-10:00

16 weeks pregnant - 1/14/12

I am convinced we are having a girl. Convinced to the point that I'm willing to write that down and open myself up to having my intuition publicly proven wrong. With Jack, I "thought" I was having a boy more than a girl based on the fact that my mom was really sick with her 3 daughters, but not with my brother. I was having an easy pregnancy with Jack so it made me think maybe I was having a boy too. That proved to be right obviously :)

Since I have had a much different and more nauseated pregnancy, I think the idea that I'm having a girl this time presented itself and has now had 3 months to really take hold. I sometimes forget no one has actually confirmed this for me. I call the baby "Baby Cora" as does Jack and my mom as well for that matter. (Jacob has not signed on to this name by the way, but Jack and I have!) I also tend to refer to the baby as "she". And I may actually have bought her not one (which could be excusable and easily regifted later) but TWO little girl outfits today!!

I really would love either a girl or boy so this is not a matter of preference, just a strong feeling. I'd say I "feel" like I'm having a girl this time. We're going to find out, so the ultrasound technician will get the honor of validating or disproving my intuition next month!

Week Sixteen Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: Biggest signs this week: I unquestionably look pregnant and I have a voracious, but still picky appetite,

Diet: I ate too much this week to the point where I brought back some afternoon/evening nausea just because my continuous hunger in the morning was leading me to overeating and then feeling ill. I learned my lesson by the end of the week and am feeling better again.

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):

1) Visit midwife on Wednesday to hear heartbeat again (This was really fun to get to hear our baby's heartbeat again. It again confirmed that there is an actual little person developing in there! I've gained 5 lbs total and got a healthy report. My mom and Jack came with me so they also got to "hear the baby.")

2) Deprioritize the house as this week will be busy. Jacob is attending a 7 day intensive start-up week to his MBA and I'm going to a conference for work all day every day. Luckily my mom is arriving today to watch Jack and give him some much needed attention. (This week was even crazier than I imagined as Jacob was gone from 7:30-9 most days and I forgot what it can feel like to work full time days. My mom was awesome and Jack had such a great time with his Grammy. A few house things did get checked off, so we continue to make positive progress with getting settled.)

3) Start my Bradley exercises for REAL! (Did okay with this, did some Kegels and Pelvic tilts - namely bc my back was calling for them!)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:

1) Plan healthy dinners for my family and make sure my hunger urges have healthy foods around to satisfy them.

2) Keep doing Bradley exercises: Kegels, pelvic tilts, tailor sitting and squats

3) Join the Tulane gym thanks to Jacob's student discount!

15 weeks

2012-01-07T08:23:00.006-10:00

15 weeks pregnant (1/7/11)

I've had several moments this week where I've literally laid my head against a wall (or bathroom stall) and thought "this is the hardest job in the world," meaning motherhood. I like to make sense of things so I've been trying to figure out why it's been so hard lately.

I try to avoid stereotypes and I think "terrible twos" sounds like a not very nice label, but...that could be one answer. I acknowledge that a big move with a massive to-do list could definitely be making Jack resentful. I've even wondered if it's me and now that I'm no longer breastfeeding, (something I was doing until 3 months ago) I'm depleted of oxytocin and prolactin and I'm no longer blessed with a cocktail of relaxing hormones!

I just say this all because I think it will help me to read it in the future to hopefully note that motherhood is a series of stages and phases and that difficult ones pass on to really awesome ones. It was helpful that I wrote back in November how great Jack was being while I was so sick and only wanted to lay on the couch. That affirms for me that this is a recent shift and will hopefully be one we get through quickly.

On the other hand, I think I need to own this a little more and start setting myself up for more success. Meaning I need to stop triple tasking, give him more attention, and get us out of the house more. I have been confronted big time with the fact that I thrive on order and I bullheadedly seek it. I need to chill out and just be okay with disorder.

In Jack's sweeter moments, he's just precious about the baby. He lifts up my shirt and says "Hi baby, how are you?" and then proceeds to tell the baby random things like "I saw Frosty the snowman." He knows the baby "can't talk" back but he does try to "tickle" the baby :)

15 weeks and in our guest bathroom - the most together room in the house

Week Fifteen Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: I think the nausea is past! I was hesitant to say so last week, but I've definitely felt a lot better this past week :) Nightly peeing, my back hurts some when I go on long walks

Diet: Eating well-rounded meals now including lentils, cabbage, and kale this week! (not all together)- favorite food is whole wheat bread with melted cheese covered in olive oil and balsamic vinegar and I've been loving the lemonade Jacob made this week

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):

1) Bradley course exercises and Kegels - shooting for at least 3 days this week NOPE

2) Go to my dermatologist to make sure the rash I've been sporting on my belly the last few weeks is nothing to worry about YEP - viral rash, nothing to worry about, but she said it may last a while

3) I feel like maybe I'm getting both me and Jack stressed out by trying to do too much, so I will try not to set too many goals for myself with getting the house together as I will be going back to work this week - NOPE(see above), but the positive is that the house is coming together!

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:

1) Visit midwife on Wednesday to hear heartbeat again

2) Deprioritize the house as this week will be busy. Jacob is attending a 7 day intensive start-up week to his MBA and I'm going to a conference for work all day every day. Luckily my mom is arriving today to watch Jack and give him some much needed attention.

3) Start my Bradley exercises for REAL!

14 weeks!

2011-12-31T09:36:00.006-10:00

14 weeks pregnant (12/31/11)

Today marks the first day of my second trimester. I think that I'm not going to really feel pregnant and like I'm having a baby until I actually feel the presence of this baby. Once you can feel movement, then you get a constant reminder and reassurance that there is an actual person growing inside of you. Up until that point, it's easy to wonder 'is there really a baby in there?' I felt Jack move between 18-19 weeks and I've heard you'll notice a second baby sooner because you'll be more aware of what it feels like. We shall see!

I'm in a phase right now where some days I feel so big and obviously pregnant looking and then other days where I don't feel that I'm really showing at all. I like wearing tank tops under my shirts as I feel it helps smooth out the bump :) I'm wearing only maternity pants and love my corduroy (supposed to be gray but they look purple) pants from Gap!

We had a big week here with an AWESOME trip to Jackson Hole to celebrate Christmas with my family. Jacob and I got a serious vacation from the stress of the new house and lots of help with caring for Jack, who had the time of his life. Highlights were downhill skiing for Jacob, a spa day with my siblings for me, cross country skiing for the whole family including Jack (who was pulled in a sled), lots of Christmas cookies, and good eats.

All bundled up

Playing in the snow

Jack can walk this year!

Christmas Eve present: a fireman sleeping bag!

Santa brought Jack a double-decker bus, but he turned it into a "car carrier" by putting play doh on top and sticking cars on top :)
Opening presents with Uncle Chris

A shared Christmas present from my parents' Ireland trip

Grammy and Big Papa took Jack "skiing" - so cool!
Jack LOVES Frosty so he really loved this big Frosty :)

Uncle Chris rose to epic status with an up close visit to the machines that work on the mountain with him.

Uncle Chris also arranged a visit to the mountain fire station - oh yeah!
Getting strapped into a makeshift sled so he could join in the cross country skiing trip.

That's Jack being pulled by Daddy and followed by Mommy.

We ended the week with some minor surgery. Jack has had persistent ear infections all fall/winter so he was referred to an ENT who said he needed tubes put in. We found ourselves back at Children's Hospital yesterday for the surgery. It was nice that this surgery didn't come with the high levels of anxiety that came along with Jack's open heart surgery, but we did have to navigate the experience of preparing a toddler for a hospital trip. Jack loves going to the doctor and talking about ambulances and hospitals, so I messaged it as "Tomorrow, we are all going to go to the hospital so the doctor can fix your ears. The doctor said you can't eat any yum yum until after your ears are fixed. He will wait until you are sleeping to fix your ears. Okay?" I said this throughout the day on Thursday to the point where he was telling me what was going to happen on Friday. He did awesome even to the point of letting the nurses wheel him away to the OR without tears. The doctor found that his ears were infected yet again, so we were glad that we went ahead with this procedure. Jack didn't like the IV in his foot and was upset for the first hour post-surgery as he came out of anesthesia, but he quickly recovered. Hopefully this means an end to ear infections!

Week Fourteen Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: Still peeing nightly, have the bump, and still dealing with some lingering nausea though it is DEFINITELY improving

Diet: My sweet tooth is back! I still want to eat bread and cheese and red delicious apples almost every day for lunch, but my aversions are becoming fewer.

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):

1) Take advantage of the extra help I have for the next few days as I visit my family and take better care of myself: more rest, some downtime, and less stress! √

2) Start doing my Kegels and other Bradley course exercises. I was pretty good about the exercises last time but never remembered to do Kegels. Only did these 1 day

3) Look into attending a prenatal yoga class in New Orleans as a way to carve some quiet time for me (and baby) into my week and to meet other expectant mothers. Didn't investigate, but Jacob gave me a coupon for 10 classes + his babysitting services, so I'm definitely going to go!

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:

1) Bradley course exercises and Kegels - shooting for at least 3 days this week

2) Go to my dermatologist to make sure the rash I've been sporting on my belly the last few weeks is nothing to worry about

3) I feel like maybe I'm getting both me and Jack stressed out by trying to do too much, so I will try not to set too many goals for myself with getting the house together as I will be going back to work this week

13 weeks!

2011-12-23T15:21:00.004-10:00

13 weeks pregnant :) 12/25/11

I so love the Christmas season. I associate it with feelings of warmth, home, tradition, and family. It has certainly been fun to experience the season with a toddler. To talk about Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, to look at Christmas lights, to search for Frosty sightings, to spend extra time with family, etc. I've definitely been bummed that our big move nixed some of my favorite Christmas traditions: namely decorating and having a Christmas tree. But I get very excited when I think about next year: we'll be settled in our own home, have a precious little baby, and a wide eyed 3 year old to experience the season with.

On a very honest note, Jacob and I have been very tested by Jack and his behavior lately. In short, he has meltdowns pretty much any time he has to switch activities (i.e. going from playing to getting his diaper changed or even one fun activity to the next). He expresses this by hitting, head butting, and kicking us. It is really hard to remain calm when your 2 year old turns on you. In our sane moments, we talk about the importance of being consistent and keeping our cool. But when on the receiving end of a completely irrational child and his temper tantrum, we tend not to always keep our emotions out of it. I feel like this current stage has been the hardest of what I've experienced as a mother so far and I want to feel like I'm rising to the challenge gracefully. Working on it.

But sitting in the Jackson Hole Episcopal church last night with my parents, siblings, husband, Jack, and baby-to-be, Jack gave me my Christmas gift. He decided to take a break from his recent antics and was 100% cuddly, sweet, and reverent as we sang songs and watched the nativity pageant. I felt so thankful to spend Christmas with my family and to have the chance to remember, together, the meaning of this season.

Week Thirteen Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: I look pregnant; my nausea is no longer constant, but still there; I'm up to pee every night like clockwork

Diet: Still picky - I am eating SO much cheese - last week I was also eating a lot of yogurt and even cottage cheese, so the dairy has definitely been calling me

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:

1) Take advantage of the extra help I have for the next few days as I visit my family and take better care of myself: more rest, some downtime, and less stress!

2) Start doing my Kegels and other Bradley course exercises. I was pretty good about the exercises last time but never remembered to do Kegels.

3) Look into attending a prenatal yoga class in New Orleans as a way to carve some quiet time for me (and baby) into my week and to meet other expectant mothers.

12 weeks pregnant

2011-12-21T09:49:00.002-10:00

12 weeks pregnant (12-21-11)

A quick post...
- We are all pretty overwhelmed right now 3 days post-move. There are boxes and dust everywhere and not everything is functioning in our almost-ready new house.
- For Jacob, lots of settling bills, resolving issues, doing all the heavy lifting and cleaning, all while trying to work.
- For me, lots of trying to accomplish unpacking and cleaning with a 2 year old literally clinging to my legs, not napping, and fighting me every step of the way.
- For Jack, an ill-timed love/hate spike in his relationship with his momma: i.e. he wants me all the time but whenever I pick him up, he slaps me in the face.

We are a mess to say the least. There have been tears and some comments I'd like to take back (did I really just tell my child that I don't want to be his friend anymore??). I'm trying to snap out of it today bc this move is a good thing, this chaotic period will soon pass, and there are other families with real problems.

I am so grateful to several local friends who took Jack for playdates this past week. Thank you Katie, Jeffrey, Toy, and Jill!!! And to Michael and Morgan for dinner!! And to my mom, who keeps picking up the phone even though she knows I'm probably going to cry or launch into yet another what do I do question.

Yes, I'm still pregnant, although the poor baby is probably thinking - oh man, I'm not sure I want her for my mommy :( On a happier note, we had our 12 week apptmt. and got to hear a beautifully strong heartbeat!!

11 weeks!

2011-12-10T13:17:00.005-10:00

11 weeks pregnant! (12/11/11)

Two thoughts this week. First, not to belabor the nausea, but for my own record, let me explain what I’m feeling like right now. I wake up first thing feeling nauseated. I know I need to eat, so I’ve rearranged my morning to shower after breakfast. After breakfast, I feel good for about 30 minutes and then the nausea starts to come back. Once it’s strong enough to bother me, I usually eat an apple or banana (or a less healthy snack if I’m not prepared). The nausea either doesn’t go away or it goes away briefly and then I just try to ignore it until lunch. No matter what I eat for lunch, the nauseated-probably-need-to-eat feeling is almost immediately replaced by the nauseated-I-feel-way-overfull feeling. This then lasts from early afternoon until I go to sleep. It’s a feeling like if I just lean over, I'd throw up. I’ll still eat dinner, but I don’t really want it. I then sleep as propped up as I can until I wake up in the middle of the night needing to pee. Then I’m back to just feeling regular nauseated, which I try to ignore so I can go back to sleep.

There is no question now that Jack’s pregnancy was easy and that this is much harder. Which is why I’m convinced I’m having a girl. (My mom was very sick with all 3 of her daughters, but not my brother.) I’m still very optimistic this will pass by 13-14 weeks like “the majority of pregnant woman” (quoting pregnancy books), but so far no relief.

The second thing I wanted to say is how appreciative I feel of my mother. My parents came to visit for Jack’s birthday and my mom stayed on a week to help me pack and take care of Jack. I’m not sure there are many other people who have the ability to be as selfless as she is. (I know I don’t have this ability.) She got up with Jack every morning, got him ready, fixed us breakfast, did the dishes, watched Jack or helped me with moving tasks, washed our clothes, folded our laundry, cooked us dinner, gave Jack baths, played with him, etc. It was such a help as I did need to focus on packing and it’s been so much harder to stay on top of everything lately. I got to have a vacation, yet stay in my own home, and still get to play with my child. And as a fringe benefit, I also got a lot of design help as I shopped for curtains, bathroom accessories, mirrors, etc. THANK YOU MOM!

Week Eleven Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: nausea, nightly peeing, still have feeling that I can sense where baby is because there is a dense feeling in my belly, and strangers are now commenting on my pregnancy!!!!! At 10 weeks!!! Also wore maternity pants for the first time.

Diet: Eating much more of a variety, though I’m still averse to certain foods and am still not all that excited about eating

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did)
1) Let HR and my manager know I'm pregnant (√)
2) Stop keeping my pregnancy a secret (√)
3) Use my afternoons to be VERY productive so I can still get the rest I need during this crazy moving week (√ - but on Wednesday the move got pushed back to next weekend bc the new house wasn’t ready so I wasn’t as productive the rest of the week)
4) Get 8 hours of sleep every night (7.5-8.5 hours depending on night)
5) Take each day one at a time, lower my standards, and don't let the move or any outside event allow me to become stressed (did pretty well with this)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:

1) Go to bed by 10:00 and get 8 hours of sleep each night.

2) Stay calm and organized as we prepare for our second estimated moving date (Saturday, December 17).

3) Go to my second appointment with the midwives and hopefully hear the baby's heartbeat

10 weeks!

2011-12-04T11:19:00.001-10:00

10 weeks! (12/3/11)

I still feel the same: nauseated most of the time, but there has been a definite shift this week in my overall tiredness - I've felt more like myself at times and was able to be productive most days. VERY HELPFUL with the move in just 5 more days!!

My baby bump was getting harder to hide last week. I don't have any shirts that really hide my waist, so in my work pants, I just looked like I've been putting on some pounds. But at home, after meals, and in my stretchy lounge pants, wow!! It's really crazy. It's like if I eat even a few bites, someone presses a button and I swell up to 20 weeks pregnant. I am very impressed by how early I'm showing. Jake and I have wondered a few times if Jack's "two babies" prediction might actually be right!!

I plan to talk to our HR Director and my manager early this week, so then the secret will be fully out of the bag.

Week Ten Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: still pretty constant nausea, peeing in the night, very tired in the evening, and the sensation of density in my lower belly, like I just "feel" that is where the baby is

Diet: I've eaten more variety this week, but am still very picky. I had Jake make me an egg and cheese omelet three nights in a row. I've gotten attached to Greek yogurt and am excusing the expensive habit bc I saw it on a Top 10 Pregnancy Foods list (bc of the 14 g of protein).

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did)
1) Email our HR director to get information about maternity leave (will do this tomorrow)
2) Make a daily to do list so I can stay on top of the move + get ready for Jack's birthday (!!) while still making sure I'm getting rest (√ - his party was SO fun and I packed many, many boxes)
3) Go to bed before 10:00 every night (I went to bed AT 10:00 every night, so I did okay on this)
4) Try to vary what I'm eating some to get more nutrients in (√)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:
1) Let HR and my manager know I'm pregnant
2) Stop keeping my pregnancy a secret
3) Use my afternoons to be VERY productive so I can still get the rest I need during this crazy moving week
4) Get 8 hours of sleep every night
5) Take each day one at a time, lower my standards, and don't let the move or any outside event allow me to become stressed

Baby Jack is Big Boy Jack Now!

2011-11-30T16:40:00.009-10:00

I'm going to try to avoid the much used phrase "I can't believe my baby is...." but let's just say I definitely understand the sentiment! Jack will be 2 on Saturday. That means 2 years ago, I was hugely pregnant, impatient, and NAIVE to what motherhood really meant.

I definitely think motherhood changes you very quickly. There's no doubt it's deepened me as a person and rearranged the order of importance of everything in my life. It is without a doubt the best thing that has ever happened to me. And not just motherhood, but specifically Jack (who wouldn't exist without that other great thing that happened to me - Jacob Landry).

Every month since Jack was born, I've been writing down what he's like in a little journal. I always get frustrated as I sit down to do this because there is so much to say and my hand writes so slowly. I've decided I'll switch to typing from now on.

Let me tell you a little about Jack and his first 2 years:

Adorable 8 lb, 10 oz baby

Cuddly, milk guzzling, BIG baby

Strong, brave, soul - an eternal inspiration to me (open heart surgery at 3.5 months)

Mr. Chunky

The Third Musketeer and Big Time Traveler

A Very Loved Owen/Landry Family Addition

An Avid Reader

Momma and Daddy's Baby and Best Buddy

As he approaches the milestone of his second birthday, who is Jack now?

He is definitely independent, insisting on carrying his own bag or playing contentedly by himself.
He is imaginative "I am a dump truck"..."I am a car carrier"... I've watched him make up many games and identities.
He is polite - he says "Excuse me" when he "has gas" and always says "please" - actually kind of a challenge bc I don't always want him to have what he's asking for!!
He is a smart little cookie. I know it might sound like bragging, but when it's your own child who you have watched evolve from a tiny baby to a thinking, talking boy, everything is amazing! He knows his ABCs, including identifying all letters except a handful (U, V, E, and N if you are curious). He counts to 11. He knows an impressive amount of machine names ("Mommy, I see a mobile crane....Mommy, where digger go?.....Mommy, find backhoe loader")
He has an uncanny memory. Jake gets tired of my stories, but the child doesn't forget anything. We go on walks and he knows what road the hospital is down, where he'll likely see school buses, and remembers that a car that looked like his friend Felix' Mommy's was parked over there once. He randomly spouts out things from months back. For example, when he heard us talk about Uncle Chris, he said "Uncle Chris has a boo-boo" - which was true, when he saw Uncle Chris 3 months ago.
He loves, loves, loves to read. My favorite moments are the ones where I look over to find out why Jack is so quiet and it's because he's sitting on his blanket reading his books, slowly flipping through the pages. We read together during the day, before nap, and before bed. He loves Sesame Street books (mine and Jake's from our childhood), loves non-fiction books about trucks (I highly recommend the emergent reader Mighty Machine books), and random other books.
He loves his school, the Child Development Program. When we sit down to say his prayers, he immediately says "Ms. Robin" wanting to make sure we bless his teacher in our prayers. He's proud of the pictures he brings home and is making good buddies at school (Stephen and Jack namely).
He has had a wonderful first best buddy Felix, who he's been hanging out with every week or so since he was 9 months old. Sadly Felix is moving to NC, but hopefully will come back to visit.
He loves to eat. He can definitely be picky when he wants to, but the boy is indiscriminate when it comes to fruit and cheese -- his two favorite types of food. Jake and I are pretty proud of Jack's diet and the fact that he eats very little processed food. I have a feeling we come off a little intensely to some (i.e. the church nursery ladies) but I'm confident we've got sound logic on our end and I know Jack is healthier for our strictness.
He is so loving. He says "Mommy hold you" and "Mommy snuggle" a lot and I love that he comes to me for comfort. Now that he knows we are having a baby, he is so sweet and cute. He says "Hi baby, how are you?" to my belly and has started to say "I love you" and gives my belly a kiss, unprompted.
He will be an awesome big brother. He's just a great kid, so who wouldn't want to have him as their big brother? He knows that when the baby is ready, we'll go to the "hopipital" and that he'll get to hold him/her then. (He thinks it's a girl).
He is still a baby. I LOVE his pronunication of certain words and almost encourage it just bc I think they are so cute. My favorites are "hop-e-pital" (he's obsessed with building hospitals and looking for the hospital and ambulance trucks so he says this a lot); "nummy" (which means another, i.e. "Jack had a nummy bad cough" after he coughs a second time); "manana" for banana and "banola" for granola and "strawbay-yay-yay" (and rasbay-yay-yay etc.) :)
He is not perfect. He has a temper, he's definitely hit Jake and me more than I'd like to admit, and he is nowhere near rational at this point. But these are all parts of Jack and the little boy his mind/body/soul are working toward becoming. It's our job to be patient and help teach him in these moments (EASIER SAID THAN DONE but we are working on it!)

There is so much to love about him. I hope I get to be blessed with a long life as his mother so I can get to watch him grow up through all the stages and get to know the wonderful person I know he will be as an adult.

Happy Birthday Jack - we love you the most!

9 weeks!

2011-11-26T10:26:00.004-10:00

9 weeks pregnant! (11/26/11)

I'm still feeling sick but it's a little helpful right now because I'm at the point in pregnancy where there is a disconnect between the knowledge that I am pregnant and any physical confirmation of that fact. What I mean by that is, according to the books I now have a grape sized tiny baby inside of me, with 10 little fingers and 10 little toes, but I can't feel that baby, I don't really look pregnant, and I haven't had an ultrasound to give me visual proof. So the constant sickness helps me believe that I actually am pregnant!

I'm still VERY excited about this baby despite the first trimester side effects. As I watch Jack grow and develop into this personable, bright, loving child, it's amazing to know I'll get to experience all that joy again with another baby - and that that journey has already started! I have a phone ap that gives me daily pregnancy updates and which has some great little videos to detail the journey. Jake and I watched the "First 9 Weeks of Pregnancy" video last night and it's crazy to see how a ball of cells turns into a tiny human in such a short time frame!

We are now T-minus two weeks for the big move and I'm so excited, albeit bracing myself for a month of craziness. It's been fun to visit the new house and watch it take form. I love that Jack has had so much exposure to it and how it's been a form of preparation for the change of the move. He is going to love this bigger, more spacious home with all its new opportunities for adventure. Our yard is literally a construction site, but EVENTUALLY it will be awesome to have an outdoor spot for Jack to play.

Jack is being a good sport about these Jack/belly pictures, but added in the school bus to make it more fun.

Week Nine Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: still pretty constant nausea, complete exhaustion at times, and I've started waking at least once in the night needing to pee

Diet: still oatmeal and OJ, followed by apples, rice cakes and peanut butter usually, and then a normal dinner - this week we had dinner brought by friends + dinner out + 3 holiday meals/leftovers, so that helped with my utter lack of interest in planning/preparing a meal; still not all that interested in sweets and turned off by certain foods

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):1) Get my labwork done. (√)
2) Continue to research baby boy names. (√ - Jake and I took a look at my initial list and narrowed it down to about 15 possibilities)
3) Take advantage of week off and get good rest (while also getting a LOT done for the new house/move/Christmas shopping). (3/4 check - got good rest and got close to half of my Christmas shopping done and packed the first boxes for the move)
4) Get vegetables back into my diet. (X - sadly, no)
5) Make sure I'm not neglecting my husband like I have these past few weeks. (half check - we went on a date and we spent a good bit of quality time together over break but I've definitely still been short tempered at times and am still spending a lot of time lying on the couch!)
*Bonus: I got my flu shot.

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:
1) Email our HR director to get information about maternity leave
2) Make a daily to do list so I can stay on top of the move + get ready for Jack's birthday (!!) while still making sure I'm getting rest
3) Go to bed before 10:00 every night
4) Try to vary what I'm eating some to get more nutrients in

8 weeks!

2011-11-19T09:57:00.003-10:00

8 weeks pregnant! (11/19/11)

8 weeks feels like the first milestone! (I have no idea why.) At 10 weeks, I plan to stop keeping this pregnancy such a secret, so that is the next milestone. And the milestone of feeling better can happen ANY TIME - I am VERY ready!!

I continue to feel a little better. I still have a nauseated feeling most of the time, but it is no longer constant and hasn't been debilitating this week. I'm frustrating Jake with my pickiness about food, but what's a girl to do when SO FEW foods are appealing!

The main challenge this week has just been feeling SO tired. Case in point: I got ELEVEN hours of sleep last night, definitely a record since Jack was born. This included falling asleep on the couch at 8:30 and staying in bed while Jake got up with Jack this morning. Even still it took almost 2 hours for me to stop feeling exhausted after I woke up and start to feel like I could tackle the day.

Jack has continued to be a champ and has been great with his naps (with one exception yesterday). This has been very helpful because I spend the whole 3 hours he is sleeping on the couch, either doing computer tasks or sleeping.

Jake and I went to our first prenatal appointment on Thursday at Woman to Woman Midwifery. This is a practice of two midwives. I had a great appointment - we were there close to 1.5 hours, but only about 5-10 minutes of that was spent waiting. The rest of the time was spent going over my medical history, learning about their practice, talking about this pregnancy, and then getting my exam. Everything looks good and I've gained back about half the weight I lost in the early weeks. We go again on December 15th and plan to bring Jack.

In other news...
- we are slated to move between December 7-10 - ahh! We will be ready, but will the house be??
- Jack now thinks there are two babies in my belly and knows that when the baby is ready, that I will go to the hospital ("hop-ee-pital") and that's where he'll come meet the baby
- somebody is turning 2 in two weeks!!

Week Eight Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: still feel nauseated, definitely have a small baby bump (that is huge after meals :) ), SOOOO tired, and still sensitive up top, and now I have the midwives' confirmation!

Diet: oatmeal every morning with glass of OJ, bananas for snack, usually peanut butter with apples or bread for lunch, had real dinners this week, though 3 of them were purchased (so I could have exactly what sounded good); not all that interested in sweets which is a big change for me

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):
1) Write down any questions I have before our Thursday appointment. (√, but of course left them at home)
2) Keep the pregnancy quiet for at least another week at work. (√ - now it's Thanksgiving break - I plan to tell HR once we are back in school)
3) Try to diversify what I'm eating bc I think I'll feel better with healthier, more varied foods in me. (√ - thanks to Juan's Flying Burrito, Reginellis, and Gott Gourmet for providing me with ready made dinners this week :) )
4) Keep going to bed early and making time for afternoon naps. (√√)
5) Get back to researching baby boy names. (√ - up through the letter S now)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:
1) Get my labwork done.
2) Continue to research baby boy names.
3) Take advantage of week off and get good rest (while also getting a LOT done for the new house/move/Christmas shopping).
4) Get vegetables back into my diet.
5) Make sure I'm not neglecting my husband like I have these past few weeks.

7 weeks!

2011-11-12T11:37:00.007-10:00

7 weeks! (11/12/11)

Well 7 weeks definitely feels better than 6! I'm still nauseated but it is NOTHING like how I felt last week. I'm proud to say I went to work every day this week and generally held it together despite some rough afternoons of not feeling well. I've been fortunate in that I seem to feel the worst after lunch and in the evenings, which line up with when Jack is sleeping. So I've been doing a lot of couch sitting and sleeping myself. In bed at 8-something + a daily nap - Jake is just loving this, let me tell you!

I noticed a definite positive shift on Thursday, so I hope it continues!!! I cannot wait until the day when food is actually appealing again! I have a pregnancy by the week book that I've been rereading this go round. Our baby has doubled in size in this past week and is now the size of my fingernail (1/2 inch long), so there is a definite positive aspect of the side effects.

We'll be going for our first appointment this Thursday. We are switching to the local midwifery practice this time. We liked our obstetrician last time but in principle, I believe I'm a great candidate for a midwife assisted birth. I'm young, healthy, and have had one uneventful pregnancy. In general, I believe birth has become over-medicalized in our society, and I think it makes more sense for me to be cared for by a midwife, especially since my goal, again this time, is to deliver naturally, without any medicine or interventions if possible. I also CANNOT imagine taking Jack to monthly and then weekly doctor apptmts. where we wait 90-120 minutes which was our experience last time. I have 3 good friends here who delivered with the midwives and all of them have stressed how family friendly their practice is. This is great as I want Jack to be very much a part of this pregnancy and to learn what is happening with "Jack's baby."

In other news this week, I am now showing! Holy cow - at 6.5 weeks?! But no doubt, my pants are tight and there is a definite lower belly pooch (see exhibit A below). We haven't really started telling people here and don't plan to for a few more weeks, so we'll see if I can hide the pooch for now.

Jack continues to be a great sport for his lazy mom. He gives his baby daily kisses and now says "Hi baby, how are you?" (to which I say, "I'm good, how are you Jack" which he then repeats :) ) He does have his second ear infection in 3 weeks, so he is needing a little extra loving this weekend.

Week Seven Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: baby bump!, the around the clock nausea, constant fatigue, a little sensitivity up top :)

Diet: depressing: lots of bananas with some grapes and apples; bread, a little PB, some soup, oatmeal, and orange juice (the one thing that still sounds 100% good to me)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):
1) make sure I'm keeping at least some food down at every meal (after last weekend, I've eaten at least something every meal)
2) stay positive bc I know this sickness is temporary and is going to lead to a wonderful baby (I give myself an A- here - I'm really excited for this baby - just longing to feel better so I can enjoy it more!)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:
1) Write down any questions I have before our Thursday appointment.
2) Keep the pregnancy quiet for at least another week at work.
3) Try to diversify what I'm eating bc I think I'll feel better with healthier, more varied foods in me.
4) Keep going to bed early and making time for afternoon naps.
5) Get back to researching baby boy names.

6 weeks...

2011-10-31T08:51:00.007-10:00

6 weeks... (11/7/11)

The nausea is overwhelming. Last weekend I would have rated it a 2-3 on a scale of 10. It's steadily gotten worse till it's now a definite 6 at least. In 5 days, I've lost 4.5 pounds bc I can hardly eat. Almost all food is repulsive to me right now or at least not appealing. Even several days into this, I haven't even been feeling hungry. Not eating much has led to a whole range of unpleasant symptoms (that I won't detail), not the least of which is feeling even more wiped out. Since this horrible nauseated feeling is all-consuming, I've had plenty of time to try to analyze it and it seems to be worse from about 30 minutes to at least 2 hours after I eat. I'm only eating tiny servings of extremely bland foods (bagel, plain oatmeal, fruit) and it feels okay to eat it, but then I just get this cascade of nausea that just keeps getting stronger until I either throw up, sleep it off, or it finally peaks and starts to die down.

Not.fun.at.all.

In fact I'm pretty overwhelmed. Mainly because I don't know how long this will last and that's scary. I'm also a little disconcerted because I want to be healthy but it seems that I feel worse when I eat and that just doesn't work.

Life is not slowing down despite how I'm feeling. Jack is still almost 2 and takes a lot of energy. He hasn't seem phased by my mainly immobile state (he likes to read books and is happy playing trucks solo for the most part) but even the basic care tasks are wiping me out. I also have work which is VERY hard to get to and get going but does seem to help distract me some from how I'm feeling. In other news, we didn't have hot water for 24 hrs, Jake got in an accident which leaves us with just one car, and we are trying to position ourselves to MOVE in one month...as I said life is not slowing down.

I pray that in a week I'll be feeling better!!

Week Six Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: there is no doubt - all the signs above; I try to take comfort in knowing that sickness is a sign of a healthy pregnancy

Diet: even the word is grossing me out

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):
1) tell our parents the news :) √
2) research baby boy names since I have none in mind a little, I am through letter J
3) since I know I may hit a really sick phase in a week or so, really focus on eating an optimal diet this week while I'm still feeling okay (more greens, less sweets, more water, less juice) for like 1 day I was able to do this
4) keep jogging and doing Pilates while it still feels right jogged at beginning of week but now that I can't eat, don't think I should be burning calories

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:
1) make sure I'm keeping at least some food down at every meal
2) stay positive bc I know this sickness is temporary and is going to lead to a wonderful baby

List is short bc I need to keep expectations low this week!

5 weeks!

2011-10-29T08:46:00.007-10:00

5 weeks! (10-29-11)

The idea of another baby is sinking in some, but when you aren't telling anyone, it can still feel a little unreal. Neither Jacob nor I seem to be able to hold back from talking about it with Jack, even though there are several good reasons why we should. A few months back when two of Jack's friends had babies, we started talking about whether Jack wanted to have a baby. (He said he did.) I told him that he needed to ask God if we could have a baby. From that conversation, Jack started randomly saying "Ask Jesus, have a baby?" in the sweetest voice. This was something my mom would just adore, but since we weren't telling anyone we were going to start trying, we kept this sweetness to ourselves.

Well now when Jack says this, we say "Jesus said yes!" We've also asked if he wants a boy or girl baby (girl) and I threw out my two favorite girl names (Hana and Cora) and he's stuck with Baby Cora. I told him that the baby is in my belly and I showed him the pictures of me pregnant with him. He now points to my belly when I ask where the baby is and when I asked if he wanted to kiss the baby, he was all about it. So....probably not the smartest thing to tell your 22 month old that you are having a baby if you want to keep it secret, but we'll see if he can not spill the beans. I'm really excited about the idea of experiencing another baby along with Jack - both the pregnancy, the new baby, and then getting to watch the baby grow up together.

Jack knows where the baby is :)

Week Five Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: I feel pregnant when I lay down at night - I feel a little uncomfortable and want a pillow between my legs; still some cramping; definitely feeling more tired; started feeling blah yesterday - I feel like I should eat and that makes the feeling go away, but only for a few minutes. So it's a persistent yucky feeling, but not that bad.

Diet: Ate collard greens twice and 4 salads and cut my desserts by half. Give myself an A- for the week.

My healthy pregnancy intentions for last week (how I did):
1) switch from regular woman's to prenatal vitamins (√)
2) weigh myself (√)
3) schedule a first visit with the midwifery practice in town (√ - Nov 17)
4) eat more greens and less sweets (√)

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:
1) tell our parents the news :)
2) research baby boy names since I have none in mind
3) since I know I may hit a really sick phase in a week or so, really focus on eating an optimal diet this week while I'm still feeling okay (more greens, less sweets, more water, less juice)
4) keep jogging and doing Pilates while it still feels right

4 weeks!

2011-10-23T07:48:00.008-10:00

4 weeks....pregnant! (10-23-11)

Ahhh! We are having another baby!! Less than 24 hours after getting that piece of news, it hasn't fully sunk in. We want to have another baby and one mere month ago decided to start trying. It all the sudden just felt very right to expand our family. How amazing that this blessing has come so fast!

We bought the pregnancy test yesterday. But I was NOT going to take it until my period was officially one day late. That would have been this morning. Last night, I felt like a child on Christmas Eve. I had a hard time falling asleep and kept waking up. Finally about 1:30, I said, I'm going to go ahead and take it. And BAMM, 45 seconds later, I see this:

I was giddy, but didn't want to wake Jake up, so I texted him the picture. I then lay in bed for more than an hour too excited to sleep. I finally did fall asleep but woke up several times before finally at 6:40, going and getting Jake his phone. I was trying to be natural about this and he finally picked it up and looked to see if he had any messages. His response? "Wow, you're fertile." :)

We are going to keep the news quiet for a few weeks. This was our thought after the first pregnancy where we (I) felt the first weeks dragged by and it was hard to even believe I was actually pregnant. The plan is to tell our parents in two weeks and then slowly spread the word, but we'll see if we hold out. So I'm just going to save this post as a draft for now!

Week Four Stats:

How I know I'm pregnant: cramping - I had this with Jack and it was what actually (after a week of being like "Period, just start already!") clued me in something might be up.

Diet: feel like I'm in a good starting place but know I should cut back on my desserts and up the greens

My healthy pregnancy intentions for this week:
1) switch from regular woman's to prenatal vitamins
2) weigh myself
3) schedule a first visit with the midwifery practice in town
4) eat more greens and less sweets

A Day in Jack's Life

2011-09-30T15:26:00.012-10:00

Friday, September 30th - a few days shy of Jack's 22nd month birthday....

Like clockwork, a few minutes after our 6am alarm, we hear Jack calling "cummere Mommy!"

He greets me with: "Mommy, bed; Mommy, bed"

Morning time is my favorite time as all 3 of us pile into our bed. There are lots of snuggles and talking before we fully get up for the day. This morning included some books as well.

Jack spends a lot of time with just a shirt on when he's at home. This is our potty training method of choice. It seems to work great as he's very aware of going to the bathroom and doesn't have accidents (okay there was that one time when he pooped on the floor...).

Next it is time to pee pee in the potty... "Mommy, pee pee backwards....no, poo-poo on floor!" (he really does say this most times he's on the potty) Pee pee backwards is Jack's preferred potty sitting position.

Then it's straight to his fire truck in the living room. Or rather "Bire *uck".

A typical fire truck conversation goes like this:

"Mama, bire *uck! Big yadder! Many lights on. Oh no, bire *uck!" (He throws in a lot of "oh no's" into his speech - a little dramatic flare :) )

Then it's time to help Daddy unload the dishwasher while Mommy makes breakfast.

Jack manages to get two different "boo boos" and narrowly avoids a time-out visit. It's amazing how much can happen in the 5 minutes it takes me to make breakfast!

Every morning, Jack has "yum yum" (oatmeal or hot cereal). Breakfast convo:

"Mamma yum yum; Daddy yum yum; Jack yum yum (he points)...Bire station; bire *uck, coming back; bire man press button, door open. Mmm-hmmm" (Jack likes to affirm what he says.)

Then it's time to brush teeth. Jack allows me enough time to sing Happy Birthday (or as he says "Happy Derfday") once for his top teeth and once for his bottom teeth. Diaper and clothes on. Bag packed. In car.

On the way to school, Jack narrates the trip by letting me know who else is on the road:

"School bus...nummer school bus? 2 school bus! Po-po car, po-po car! Amblance *uck - many lights on! Backhoe *uck! Garbage *uck! Taxi cab!" And my personal favorite "Checker Picker *uck!" (cherry picker truck) The child doesn't forget any truck we've learned about and we've read LOTS of truck books!

It's now 7:55 and we're at school.

J: "Momma, too?"

Of course, I will come too Jack.

J: "Jack, walk?"

J: "Hey Miss Yahbin!"

J: "Play amblance truck?" "Airplane!"

Me: Bye Jack, I love you!

J: "Mommy, work, coming back!" (For the first two weeks, this was said shakily and with tears; now he says it very matter-of-factly.)

Jack then spends the rest of the morning at school, playing trucks with his friends, playing outside, doing some art, and eating some lunch.

I pick him up after lunch. I ask him if he wants to show me the outside play area. He beelines straight to the fire truck, of course.

Once in the car, he asks:

"Drive by bire station?"

I take a slightly less direct route home from school so that we can do our daily drive by. As we get close...

J: "Drive by bire station!!! Slow down! All doors shut! Bire *uck missing!!" Whatever he sees at the fire station he talks about for the rest of the day.

At home, it's straight to his room for books and then naptime in the big boy bed.

J: "Big boy bed, no out"

10 minutes later, the scene has changed to this:

I am so lucky to have a flexible schedule where I can go pick Jack up at lunch. His nap (usually 3 hrs) gives me the time I need to do more work at home. The end of my work day comes with a thud, some giggles coming down the hallway, and a very disheveled Jack:

J: "Snuggle Mommy? On couch? Read books?"

And after each book,

J: "One time?"

Me: You mean one more time Jack?

J: "One time?"

Me: Jack we have to get ready for our adventure!

After a visit to the potty and outfit changes, we are ready to go.

J: "Snack cup Mommy? MMM! Snack cup!"

Me: What are you eating Jack?

J: "Pears, raisins!"

We then bought some baby gifts and went to two different Friday afternoon play groups - at two different neighborhood parks. Jacob met us at the second one and had bought Jack a new soccer ball since we lost our last one. Jack had a blast climbing, sliding, swinging, and running around. He has been known to flip out when it's time to get back in the stroller to leave, but not tonight because....

Jacob: Jack, do you want pizza?

J: "Pizza! Daddy, pizza!"

Jack loves sitting outside and eating his pizza.

We walk home and Jack gets a bubble bath. Then back to the big boy bed where Jack reads his truck books to us. (Okay, it's more like he fills in the blanks)

Then we gather Hop, Blue Bear, and Bunny, his two pacifiers, and his blanket and head to the crib.

J: "Mommy, rock?"

We turn the lights off and rock and say our prayers and then he goes right down...

30 minutes of quiet later...

J: "Mommy cummere!"

J: "Mommy rock?" "Rocking chair"

He's hard to resist and who would mind having this precious little boy snuggled up in your lap randomly spouting out bits of his day and his deepest thoughts? :)

J:"Big papa press button, door open"...."Uncle Willliam, pick up truck"...."trash - garbage truck carry away" (a line from a book)...."Mommy, coming back"....

I lay him back down and this time he goes to sleep for good.

I wish I could bottle up moments like this, but I guess the next best thing is writing it down sometimes, taking pictures and videos, so that I can "open it up" again one day when Jack doesn't ask me to "snuggle". Will I want my 18 year old to ask me to snuggle?

In case you were wondering what the hardest job is...

2011-04-27T09:26:00.008-10:00

Motherhood has been kicking my butt lately, all the while making sure I remember that this is the hardest job I've ever had. With me working part time, sometimes it's hard for me to separate out what exactly is kicking my butt, but this week is Spring Break so Jack is my number one focus and I now have evidence that it is MOTHERHOOD and not any mere paid job/career/occupation that wins the award of 'most challenging role'!

One of several examples I could share:

Today started at 4:21 a.m. Did I mention I am on Spring Break? Normally my days start at 6 when I have work...

After an effort to get Jack back to sleep, I end up bringing him into our bed to which he delightedly cried "Dada!! Dada!" Jack and I spent the last few days in SC (the one hour time difference is the partial culprit here) so he was especially excited to see his dad again this morning.

Jake was less excited to see him and after a hug and an effort to get him to snuggle up and go back to sleep, he left to finish out his remaining sleep in the guest bedroom. At least when your job is paid it entitles you to sleep!

Jack and I officially got up around 5:30. Diaper #1 is changed. I made everyone breakfast, fed Jack, did the dishes, and then finished unpacking while Jack played. Around 7:00 Jack starts to get fussy (what is wrong with this picture) and so we read some books. He is down for a nap at 8:00! Diaper #2 has been changed: lovely blueberry poop.

This is a brief interlude as he is awake by 8:39. We play. At 9:o8, I check the Parenting Center's schedule and see they have 'Story and Art Time" at 10. This isn't something I can normally go to with Jack, so I say let's go for it! Nevermind we only have a bike, no car. Nevermind I know it takes at least 30 minutes to get there. Nevermind the wind is whipping devilishly outside. Nevermind I KNOW now that nothing goes as planned!

Diaper #3. Jack's clothes changed. I pack the essentials, including the "paper back swap" books Jake has asked me to take to the post office. All the while, Jack is excitedly saying "Bikes!" "Hats!". We load up. Jack's helmet is in two parts in my hands (!?). I get it back together and on his head. We are off.

The ride there does go smoothly. Jack and I practice saying "Stop!" at the stop signs. I sing the ABCs, he responds "A,C,D".

We arrive at the Parenting Center at 10:08. There are many babies and parents! Jack has zero interest in the craft time. He sits for no more than a second and then he is off to the trucks. "Trucks!" "Baaalll!" "Baby!" "Baaalll!" He has a blast playing inside. We go outside and Jack has fun climbing into the toy cars and trucks and running around with a ball. I see him approach another "driver". Jack reaches in to touch the wheel. The little 2 yr old doesn't like the intrusion. He grabs Jack's hand aggressively and shoves it in his MOUTH!

I quickly shut this down but the damage has been done. Jack has his first bite. He is crying big tears. The other mother is embarrassed (as I would be) and so I try to downplay the incident while also trying to take stake of the wound. (The skin has not been broken). Jack pitifully asks for a ball. We go off and play, but I keep an eye out for the biter.

Diaper #4 and I decide it's time to head home. Getting Jack's helmet back on takes multiple attempts and more tears. At last we are on the bike and headed home!

8 blocks later, my wheels start spinning. I look around for help bc let me assure you I have no idea what to do or what is wrong with my bike. There are two 20-something year olds that don't look like your typical knights in shining armor, but I can't be choosy. "Do you know anything about bikes?" I ask. They come over. I unhook Jack. They flip my bike over and get the chain back on. Catastrophe averted. I am very grateful!

Back on the road. We have to cross busy streets to get to the post office. We make it there. "Wow that baby is Healthy! He's bigger than the momma," I hear. I choose to take that as a compliment.

I debate. Take helmet off, but then have to get it back on? I decide to keep Jack's helmet on. We walk in the post office. There are only 3 people ahead of us in line - thank goodness as this post office is known for long lines and waits. Jack says "Hat?!" "Hat?!" and points to his head. I point out another man wearing a hat to try to distract Jack. 5 mins. 10 mins. 15 mins. Jack plays peek a boo with the woman behind us. He is getting very heavy. Finally our turn. Packages mailed.

Back on the bike. The wind is whipping dirt in our faces. Not too much further! The chain falls off again. This time no one is around. I climb off and unload the bike. I try holding Jack by one hand and try to get the chain on with the other. This isn't working. 4 cars go by - no one stops. Finally a car parks on the road and I ask for help. The guy graciously flips my bike over and gets the chain back on. I reload and we set off on the final stretch.

FINALLY HOME! I check the time: 12:38. I am WIPED. Diaper #5, lunch, and nap are next. Hopefully Jack is as tired as me and will take a good one bc I need a rest!

Moral of the story: Show some love to the mothers out there - it's not as easy as it looks!! And also, thank both your parents - they probably had lots of days like this!

Note: I said it was the hardest job, but not a thankless job! I couldn't love Jack any more no matter what time he gets up, how many times he poops right after I change his diaper, or how hard it is for him to learn what no means. He is the sweetest little bear and 1 hr into his nap I already miss him :)

Juxtaposition

2011-01-25T17:58:00.004-10:00

Picture this. Across the street is a pretty house with a pretty yard, with the inside lights shining out. From my vantage point, I can see pretty pictures on the wall, indicating a fashionably decorated house. On the door is a duck with a gauzy blue ribbon symbolizing the baby boy that just arrived there this weekend. The house is emitting a calm, contented aura.

Then there is me and our house. I emerge carrying a 26 lb, 13 month old, a diaper bag, a gym bag, a plastic bag with borrowed items I am finally going to return, a paper bag of recycling, a plastic bag of recycling, a pizza box, and keys. I stumble to the car trying not to drop any of these items, especially the 13 month old. I am carrying all at once, because, yet again, I am rushing. I drop everything (except the 13 month old) by the car and then start the process of trying to get everything in, while still trying to hurry.

I remember the calm beginnings of motherhood fondly, but I do feel, despite the craziness, it only gets better.

Traveling with a wee one

2011-01-04T16:37:00.019-10:00

A few months back I remember Googling "traveling with a baby" and wasn't really satisfied with what I found. Now that I have a few trips under my belt, I wanted to share what I've learned.

My credentials? One cute baby (see evidence below) who has visited 10 states on 5 trips (which included 21 take-offs and landings) between the ages of 6 and 13 months.

Successful traveling with a baby takes some ingenuity, lots of flexibility, and a laid back vacation style. The biggest challenges in my opinion are the plane ride(s), transporting the little one, and nap time.

The plane ride

First off, how are you going to get from your car to the plane? Do you have an infant carrier? If so, it's worth bringing it. Your baby will be distracted by the sights and you'll have your hands free to cart luggage and check-in. If you have a cloth carrier, you can walk right through security with your baby strapped on. (Did you know babies have to take off their shoes too?)

Take a copy of the birth certificate if she is under 2 - you might have to show proof of age if you didn't buy a seat.

If your baby can move, give him a chance to do so at the airport so he can burn off some energy before you board.

Take your car seat. Advantages: you'll have one for when you arrive and if you are lucky and there is any empty seat on the plane, your baby will have their own secure spot.

Hold on to your car seat until the last minute. Check with the gate agent. Are there any empty seats? If so, your partner can go sit in the free seat, allowing you to bring your car seat on and letting your baby sit in his designated seat. (or vice versa - moms are allowed breaks too!) Another idea is to book the two of you in the window and aisle seat, hoping that the middle seat remains free.

Gate check your car seat - don't let it get sent to baggage claim (who knows how careful the handlers will be.)

Wondering how to get the car seat through the airport? 2 bungee cords and a rolling bag will do the trick.

Transporting the little one

The question in my mind is "Stroller or no stroller?" I never wanted to be "that family" with the large, laden stroller and many bags. (Oh well, we are now.)

For our first few trips we didn't take the stroller and instead took our Ergo carrier. That can be a good option but it really depends on whether you want the stroller on the other end.

When we traveled to New England for 10 days, we knew we wanted our BOB stroller. We gate checked it at each flight and used it in the airport. It was awesome! Now I know why "that family" has the laden stroller - why carry anything when you can just hang it on the stroller?

In one particularly inventive moment we strapped the car seat to the stroller :)

Nap time

I halfway want to advise you to not travel with a baby who still needs two naps. Nap time has definitely been the most difficult part of our travels. Jack doesn't do well in new surroundings. He's stimulated and/or unnerved and has a hard time settling down. There were several 45 minute marathons that were NOT what I consider a good time.

Here are some tricks we learned:

-have a plan for the plane. Your travel day will be a lot calmer if your baby can still get his rest. Try to mimic their normal nap routine as much as possible. And DO NOT forget or lose their paci if they take one. I did and it was very, very bad.

- does your baby nap in your stroller? If so, take it. You can sightsee or get exercise while your baby naps, thus enabling you to still be out and about. We even took Jack to a nice dinner with him in the BOB with a blanket over top.

- take turns on nap duty. One day Jake watched a football game in the room, while I went to the gym. Another day, I read quietly (by the light of a crack in the bathroom door) while Jake hung out in the lobby.

- does your baby need darkness? If so, be creative. In one hotel, we put the crib by the door and then opened the closet door to separate it from the rest of the room. In another hotel, we put the crib by the window and draped the curtains (and jackets) around the crib to give Jack his very own canopy bed.

Our favorite option was the hotel where we were able to fit Jack's crib in the bathroom. This gave him his own room! (And also had both Jake and I making repeat trips to the lobby to pee.)

- bedtime is also hard. It felt like being at camp - quiet time after 8:30. On the flip side, Jake and I get a lot of reading in and our trips felt much more relaxing overall.

I think the hassles are worth it. We've had a great time on all of our trips and are making awesome family memories. The only thing I'd do differently going forward is to try to figure out a way to have one date night on a trip - maybe fly in Grandma?

New England Trip - Day Nine

2010-11-29T06:03:00.007-10:00

28 degrees. That should have warned us off, but I always get a little zealous about getting exercise before we start our day. We bundled up and strapped Jack in the Ergo. We then walked along the Cliff Walk near our hotel. This is, as you would expect, a walk along a cliff. On one side is the ocean and on the other side are beautiful homes overlooking the water. We enjoyed this part of the walk, even Jack who worked on his new word "dog" every time one would pass.

We went a little too far and ended up with a LONG, COLD walk back. We ended up walking at least 5 miles. Happily we found a bakery along the way and loaded up with morning sweets for us - bagel for Jack. That bagel worked magic throughout the day.

After 45 minutes to settle down, Jack napped and Jake read and I checked my work email (for the first time on the trip) and did some catching up. We then headed out to the Newport Mansions. Apparently, Newport was the summer resort town for the wealthiest Americans back in the late 1800's, early 1900's. We hadn't bought tickets for anything our whole trip, so we decided to splurge and got passes to tour 3 of the mansions. We weren't thinking that each house had a complimentary audio guide, fun for us, but how would Jack handle it?

With Jack on Jake's back, we went in the first mansion, the Breakers - a Vanderbilt home much like the Biltmore.

I had the last of Jack's bagel in my pocket and kept sneaking him bites to keep him entertained. He liked looking around and was great for the first 45 minutes, but then he demanded out (in rooms that echo). I ended up carrying him the last 15 and wrestling him for the audio guide which looked too much like a phone. (He's not the lightest of babies)

We then went to the second mansion (the Elms)

and this time I wore Jack on my front. He liked this better and continued to snack on his bagel.

Toward the end, he was getting tired and kept pulling the audio guide away and changing the track, so I'd be listening to the bathroom overview in the kitchen, etc.

For the last house, Jake wore him on his front and he was sweet, occasionally resting his head on Jake's chest. We were quite proud of our cultured baby who made it through all 3 mansions (3 hours) with no crying. I think if he'd had his own audio guide, he would have been perfect!

Naptime again. Then dinner on the town where Jack enjoyed some pita bread and hummus. We ended the day playing on the floor with Jack's new toys. We are working hard to teach him "horse" (he is borrowing a horse toy we bought for cousin Wyatt). We say "huh-huh-huh-horse" and Jack laughs "ha-ha" back :)

I'm going to miss all these fun moments that have come from having no agenda and lots of time!

New England Trip - Days Seven & Eight

2010-11-27T16:37:00.009-10:00

Our Hotel in Martha's Vineyard

Our luck did turn around. We made it through the night using borrowed diapers and even ran into the cab driver, picking up new passengers, and were able to retrieve Jack's second shoe.

Friday was spent on Martha's Vineyard, amidst breathtaking views.

It was rainy and cold and difficult to get around by bus with Jack + paraphernalia, but we still had a nice day. We accomplished the following: misty morning walk to find diapers, yummy bagel breakfast at one of the few cafes open in the off-season, a Jack nap, a Courtney nap, a hotel bed picnic lunch,

shopping in Edgartown (where Mom and Jack rode on a big wooden horse

and Dad fully broke the no-toy rule buying a cute mamma duck/baby duck wooden puzzle),

a walk around Oak Bluffs and the picturesque gingerbread houses (although we aren't sure we "get" them),

and a dinner at a pub where Jack slowly started to disintegrate. Did I mention a very brief afternoon nap?

Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day. Jake and I both were a little disappointed to be leaving Martha's Vineyard.

We would have liked to explore it more, but without a car and with Jack and bad weather, we'll just have to try again another trip. We were up, showered, packed, and found a nice breakfast and were on the boat at 9:45 am! Back on the mainland, we happened upon an awesome park where Jack had lots of fun sliding with Mom and Dad, swinging, and crawling around.

We arrived in our final destination, Newport, RI early afternoon. We froze our butts off walking around downtown.

We then had a relaxing afternoon at the hotel. Jake watched the LSU-Arkansas game (sad face), I washed clothes and read my book on the exercise bike (ah, quiet) and Jack took a 2 hour nap (yeah!). We ended the day with dinner out.

New England Trip - Day Six

2010-11-25T15:28:00.006-10:00

Wow - we seem to be having lots of bad luck in the last 24 hours! Here is a recap:

-10:45 pm - Jack wakes up burning up. We knew his lingering cold might lead to another ear infection so his pediatrician prescribed him an antibiotic to help ward it off. He's been on it the whole trip, but apparently it didn't do the job! Jack was inconsolable so his wonderful dad went out into the COLD streets of Boston to find an all-night drug store. He came back with Tylenol and a thermometer. 103.8 temp. The poor baby could not get comfortable and pretty much cried straight through until 2am when he finally fell asleep. Mind you we were in a HOTEL room - makes you appreciate being at home when your baby is sick. We changed his diaper, stripped him, redressed him, gave him a bath, rocked him sitting, rocked him standing, put him in his crib, put him in our bed, etc. I kept having the urge to call someone for help (Mom) but then I remembered that I'm the mom and that the buck stopped with me (and Jake).

Luckily, Jack woke up feeling much better (if a little tousled). His doctor called in a new prescription and we're giving that a try tonight.

We left Boston and set off for Woods Hole where we would catch a ferry to Martha's Vineyard. On the way, we made a quick stop in Plymouth, MA.

We saw the "Mayflower II", a replica of the original Mayflower.

We also saw "Plymouth Rock" which may be more mythological than historical, but still, it was neat to see the general area where the Pilgrims landed almost 400 years ago.

So on to more bad luck....

- We arrive at the Martha's Vineyard ferry dock 5 minutes after the 3:45 ferry leaves. Alas, we will take the 5:00 ferry.
- We arrive on Martha's Vineyard on foot ready to take the bus to our hotel only to find that the buses don't run on Thanksgiving. We call a cab.
- Jake and I both agree that there will be no tip for this cabbie. He overcharges and answered his cell phone several times on the ride, swerving out of the lane as he does so. Not the best way to get a tip from a budget conscious dad and a protective mama bear. Unfortunately, he counts his money as we give it to him and walks off grumbling "I guess they don't tip down in New Orleans."
- Our hotel is beautiful! Unfortunately, our room is on the 3rd floor of a building without an elevator. Not ideal with several bags, a large stroller, and a 25-lb baby who never went down for his afternoon nap.
- Uh-oh. That 25 lb grumpy baby is only wearing one shoe. That means the other shoe is in the car of the grumbling cabbie. We'll tackle that one tomorrow.
- Double uh-oh. That 25 lb grumpy one-shoed baby has parents who left the pack of diapers in the car back on the mainland. Are there any in the diaper bag? One. ONE diaper. And it's Thanksgiving night on a dark island and we're staying in a small inn.

Did I mention that baby's new medicine has the side effect of an upset stomach? Wish us luck!!

There is no question we have tons to be thankful for - maybe all these mishaps are intended to remind us that it doesn't really matter if things don't always go your way as long as what is most important remains intact.

Update: Our luck turns. We bathe Jack and put him in the stroller. Within 5 minutes he's asleep. We take the stroller (covered with a blanket) into the hotel restaurant where he snoozes and we enjoy our Thanksgiving dinner. On the way back to the room, a young family overhears our diaper plight and offers to share. We are thankful!

New England Trip - Days Four & Five

2010-11-24T11:14:00.006-10:00

Having lots of fun in the cool (make that cold) city of Boston!

We've been covering lots of ground - Mom and Dad on foot, me being strolled/carried around like the little sultan that I am :)

Yesterday, we walked the entire Freedom Trail. The highlight for Mom was seeing The Old North Church of Longfellow's The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere that Grandma Kenney taught Mom when she was little. I'm learning poetry early:

He said to his friend, "If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch
Of the North Church tower as a signal light,--
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,

The highlight for me was seeing the ships at the Boston Navy Yard (and the playground there that I got to swing in.)

I also enjoyed the ferry boat back across the Charles River.

I've been doing a good job taking my morning naps in the stroller (we all love the BOB, thanks Meemaw!). I've been doing not so well taking my afternoon naps back at the hotel. (not so well = 30 minutes to settle down on day 1 and never falling asleep even after 1 hour on day 2). Can you blame me though? The Hyatt gave me a very asylum-esque white metal crib.

Last night was fun for all of us. We walked through Boston Common (after running through it in the morning) and then down Commonwealth Avenue Mall through the cozy and upscale Back Bay neighborhood. We found a cute little pizza place and were able to eat outside thanks to upper 50's temps and heat lamps. I flirted with passers-by and this cute 2 year old girl.

Today the temperature dropped and the wind was whipping! I felt like we walked ALL over Boston before Mom and Dad could find a suitable breakfast spot (food snobs). We ended up at a bookstore cafe and I had some of dad's omelet. We read some books and then went back out in the cold, walking over a bridge to Cambridge. We did a quick tour of Harvard and then ate lunch with one of Dad's friends from high school (and fellow TFA alum), Chris Kaleel. I had a banana and some guacamole, which was actually quite good!

Then it was time for me to fight my nap, after which we braved the cold once more to get dinner and refill on snacks at Whole Foods. To get there we summited Beacon Hill - another quaint area. Then we went swimming (which made me deliriously happy) and now I'm in bed and Mom and Dad are working on their second books.

Even though we are having lots of fun, I heard them say something today about no more traveling north during the winter.

New England Trip - Day Three

2010-11-22T17:02:00.005-10:00

4:00 - I'm awake and want to eat (yes, I still have that habit)

6:00 - I'm awake and want to snuggle (Daddy puts me in the big bed)

7:00 - I'm awake for good

8:15 - It's oatmeal and bananas for breakfast again

9:00 - I've put in my request for a morning nap

9:45 - I had second thoughts and didn't actually go to sleep until now

11:00 - We finally leave the hotel for the first time - all our stuff comes with us as we prepare to drive south

11:10 - The car turns back toward Portland - mom and dad left my ear medicine at the hotel.

12:30 - We stop in Kennebunk, ME. I get to ride on daddy's back. We get some lunch (me: leftover risotto, applesauce, and daddy's pickle) and stop by a toy store. Dad makes a half-exception to his no toys rule and buys me a new book.

2:15 - I read my new book all the way to New Hampshire.

3:00 - We stop in Portsmouth, NH. Daddy bundles me up in the stroller and I quickly fall asleep. I wake up to find myself in a coffee shop. This is no ordinary coffee shop as there is a play area, so Mom and I go play while Daddy reads.

5:00 - We are back on the road. I have a new habit of pitching a fit whenever I'm put in my car seat or stroller. I'm always fine once I'm in, so Mom and Dad are pretty confused (and sometimes embarrassed) by this new habit.

6:00 - Mom and Dad miss the exit for our hotel but luckily there is a "U-Turn to Boston" sign that lets us try again.

6:30 - Check in at the Hyatt. Pros to this new home: 16th story view, a toilet paper roll I can reach, a rolling footstool. Cons: MUCH smaller than our last digs, not as many drawers to play with

7:15 - Dinner with Amy and Tim, Mom's friends from Hawaii. I gnaw down three rolls, eat some gnocchi and a whole banana. I rip up Tim's placemat and give Amy some high fives. By the end of the meal, I'm on the floor pushing my high chair around.

9:15 Back at the hotel - bath time!

9:30 Read my new book with Mommy - she's trying to teach me to say 'bird'

9:32 It takes Daddy less than a minute to get me down.

Long, full day!

New England Trip - Day Two

2010-11-21T16:47:00.005-10:00

I was up and ready to play at 6:30 this morning. Mom says that this is her vacation too, so Dad watched me while she went to the gym. I had my usual oatmeal for breakfast and then just as we were all about ready to leave, I decided that I needed to take an early nap. So Mom and Dad shut the curtains and I napped (sort of) for an hour to rev up for my day out in Portland.

At 10, we finally made it outside. I was bundled up well for the 30 degree temperatures.

We walked around town and along the water.

Then my dad took us to tour the Shipyard Brewery. I tried to pay attention to the 20 minute video, but I was bored. My mom brought this really cool light-up fish that my doctor gave me last week, so I had fun with that instead.

For lunch, I tried some new things: clam chowder and lobster! Combine that with some bread and applesauce and I was a happy guy! My mom let dad pick the lunch spot, so she got to pick out dessert. She got some gingerbread (which she didn't share) but I did get a sample of a pumpkin scone.

My dad then took us to tour a mead maker. Mead is wine made from honey. (You see my dad is a brewer and finds all of this very interesting.) You might think I didn't learn much as I was talking and drooling up a storm while dad was getting the spiel, but I actually was listening and learned that the brewing process used there was cutting edge and could revolutionize the craft beer industry in the next decade, so there.

I then fell asleep in my stroller for a nice 2 hour nap. My parents were cold so they wheeled me back to the hotel and read during my nap. They are both almost done with their first books. We then went to T.J.Maxx, Dad's favorite store and I watched them try on winter hats for 20 minutes. (I don't know why I didn't get to try on hats - I would have looked way cuter than them.)

For dinner, we went to Local 188, a spot my friend Chaya recommended. I made best friends with the waitress, who kept bringing me the ends of baguettes to chew on. I also talked with several other tables - I hit it off best with single women, grandmas and moms. I tried gnocchi, risotto, mussels, and starfish, all of which I liked.

Another great day on vacation!! (Oh, and did I mention that I LOVE this hotel?!)

2010-11-20T16:03:00.004-10:00

Hotel in Portland

Checking out my new surroundings

New England Trip - Day One

2010-11-20T15:31:00.002-10:00

I woke up at 5:55 this morning, but in a good mood, because I could sense my mom and dad were planning an adventure. It was off to the airport, but I wasn't scared. My mom and dad brought ALL my favorite things - my stroller, my car seat, even my blue bear and my duck. No longer are they the light travelers of their TFA recruiting days.

I had a great time on the first flight. I played with my duck and practiced saying my 3 words: mama, dada, and duck. I had breakfast and got my diaper changed in the airplane bathroom - twice! Climbing on mom and dad was more fun than the idea of napping, so I stayed awake the whole flight.

Our next flight was shorter and I got my own seat. While my mom was nursing me, we found out that the disposable diapers we're using on this trip aren't as trusty as my cloth ones. I accidentally peed all over me and her during this flight - oops. But I did get a nap.

We arrived in Portland and it's a good bit colder than back at home. Even so, on the car ride to the hotel I pulled off my socks and unsnapped my outfit, just because I can.

The coolest part about Portland so far is our hotel! It's a new Residence Inn and I LOVE it! There are lots of drawers to open and nobody tries to stop me! I think my mom and dad wanted me to take a nap, but I was too excited, so I just laid in my new bed and talked to my bear for a while.

We went out in the cold to get some dinner. The restaurant was called Duck Fat. I think mom and dad liked it, but I only thought it was so-so. The tables were tall but the high chairs were normal size, so I didn't have a great view. Dad had a duck confit sandwich, Mom left with a chocolate gelatto milkshake, and I ate the last of the steel cut oats and grapes that Mom packed for me.

After we watched LSU win their big game, we went to the hotel pool. Did I mention I love my hotel? Now I'm finally going to sleep, but have big plans for tomorrow!

Baby Jack's Nose Sucking

2009-12-07T10:24:00.002-10:00

Cornmeal Pizza Dough

2009-11-09T13:42:00.004-10:00

This is a staple in our family. Takes about 25 minutes, start to finish.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour (or 1/2 cup white + 1/2 cup whole wheat flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 F. Place 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal, 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Make a well in the center and add 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons olive oil.

Combine by gradually incorporating the flour into the olive oil and water, adding a little extra water if necessary. (Alternatively, combine the mixture in a food processor.)

Transfer the dough to a floured board and knead until smooth and elastic, 5-7 minutes.

Roll to 1/4-1/2 in. thick. Load up with sauce, veggies and cheese (we prefer pesto to tomato sauce). Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Butternut Squash Soup

2009-11-08T08:37:00.001-10:00

Stole this from Barefoot Contessa. Easy and delicious!

Ingredients

* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 2 tablespoons good olive oil
* 4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large)
* 2 tablespoons mild curry powder
* 5 pounds butternut squash (2 large)
* 1 1/2 pounds sweet apples, such as McIntosh (4 apples)
* 2 teaspoons kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 2 cups water
* 2 cups good apple cider or juice

Directions

Warm the butter, olive oil, onions, and curry powder in a large stockpot uncovered over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until the onions are tender. Stir occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pot.

Peel the squash, cut in half, and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into chunks. Peel, quarter, and core the apples. Cut into chunks.

Add the squash, apples, salt, pepper, and 2 cups of water to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, until the squash and apples are very soft. Process the soup through a food mill fitted with a large blade, or puree it coarsely in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade.

Pour the soup back into the pot. Add the apple cider or juice and enough water to make the soup the consistency you like; it should be slightly sweet and quite thick. Check the salt and pepper and serve hot.

And Baby Will Make 3!

2009-05-15T17:43:00.003-10:00

So the last couple of months have brought lots of changes to our lives. After a year recruiting for Teach For America in Seattle, we decided to look for jobs closer to home (i.e. somewhere in the south). Amidst the job search, we found out we were having a baby! Over the past few weeks, the little baby has been growing (I'm 10 weeks along at this point) and I was offered a job with Teach For America as a Program Director in New Orleans.

When I got the offer, we decided to go for it and quickly made plans to move down to New Orleans. Our movers came today leaving us in a pretty empty apartment. We'll be flying to New Orleans on Sunday and moving into the bottom floor of an adorable, recently remodeled house in the Irish Channel (near the Garden District). It has 2 bedrooms, so in a few months we'll be turning one into a nursery.

Baby Landry is due on December 12th and we are both really excited about this new development. The ultrasound picture is from 9 1/2 weeks and though it's hard to tell in the picture, I was able to see arms, legs, a strong heartbeat, and an active little baby-to-be moving around.

Jake is in the midst of applying and interviewing for jobs in New Orleans and hopes to line something up around the time our recruitment jobs end at the end of this month. We could not be more excited about being closer to family and actually getting to live IN a city, as opposed to traveling all the time, like we did this year.

We definitely welcome all visitors and of course will want to share our little one when he/she gets here!

A Day in the Life

2009-01-23T15:34:00.001-10:00

Family Christmas Highlights

2009-01-01T12:34:00.000-10:00

Wedding Highlights

2008-12-13T21:22:00.000-10:00

Our Apartment in Seattle

2008-11-01T14:46:00.002-10:00

I've gotten some feedback from a few friends recently about not updating the blog. As you can probably imagine, our roadtrip this summer did not end in South Dakota! One of these days I'll chronicle the rest. Our new job has been pretty hairy - 80-90 hour weeks were the norm for the past couple of months. Lately we've managed to get them down to about 70, but that leaves little time to write.

I was able to take a video of our place here in Seattle, though. It's pretty grainy - I guess because it was done on my phone. Hope you enjoy!

Day 8 - South Dakota

2008-07-06T22:29:00.000-10:00

South Dakota – all I can say is that this place must be pretty depressing in the winter. We actually have a Teach For America corps here. There are about fifty teachers teaching on a Native American reservation just southeast of Badlands National Park, far, far away from any substantial town. What a commitment!

We left Rob’s pretty early so we’d have time to explore a bit once we reached Wall, SD. Most of the drive through northwestern Iowa was more of the same: lots and lots of corn. In South Dakota the landscape changed a bit. The cornfields were interspersed with hayfields and pasture lands. We saw one herd of buffalo and tons of cows.

At lunchtime we stopped in Mitchell, SD, home of the world famous Corn Palace. Supposedly the façade of this basketball gymnasium is made entirely from corn. It was a bit anticlimactic, but one of those necessary places of lore that one must visit when driving through South Dakota. Corn Palace was in downtown Mitchell, away from the fast food restaurants closer to the interstate, so we moseyed on in to Betty’s Café. It was bustling with locals of all ages who’d come right over from church. Our order was brusquely taken by the waitress, and about 10 minutes later a pile of slop was thrown down in front of me.

My experience with cafes and plate lunches has mostly been positive. In Louisiana, a run-down café in a long-forgotten downtown will usually serve up some mean red beans and rice (think Lea’s in Lecompte or Bourbon Street Café at Shop-Rite in Jennings). But that scenario plays out much differently in South Dakota. My turkey slices were accompanied by some peas and carrots straight out of the can and instant mashed potatoes smothered in white gravy.

We made it through the meal unscathed, though, then stopped by Cabela’s for some man-time. Massive sporting goods stores are so much fun! (C just couldn’t figure out why I enjoyed being there).

The drive from Mitchell to Badlands National Park was brutally long and desolate, but the sites awaiting us were spectacular. The Badlands (so named by fur traders in the olden days) are a vast area of sharply eroded buttes and pinnacles. The National Park includes the largest protected mixed-grass prairie in the U.S. One theory is that this area was once a huge watering hole that eventually dried up. That might account for the large numbers of prehistoric fossils found in the area.

We hiked some up the rock and through a meadow before making our way to the Days Inn, Wall, SD – our home away from home.

Day 2 of Des Moines

2008-07-05T22:27:00.000-10:00

Our second day in Des Moines was fairly low-key. Rob took us to a quaint diner where we had a ridiculously good breakfast. It was the type of place you see politicians schmoozing in during the run-up to the Iowa caucuses. The place was packed on a Saturday morning. I had buttermilk pancakes and Courtney had French toast; we shared a side of hash browns, generously sprinkled with Tobasco 

After breakfast we plopped ourselves down at a downtown Starbucks to get some more prep-work done for our new jobs. I’ve always been a fan of the Starbucks business model, but usually head to smaller, locally-owned coffee shops because of the unique atmosphere and free Wifi. Well, Starbucks now offer free Wifi through AT&T – you just need to use a Starbucks gift card to make your purchase, and set up an account with AT&T. It’s a pretty good deal.

We had two-day tickets to the 80/35 festival, so by noon we were out on the music grounds. We saw Drive-By Truckers, a southern rock band in the modern mold of Lynyrd Skynyrd; ….., and Yonder Mountain String Band – a fantastic bluegrass ensemble. The weather has been incredible all weekend (we even got a little chilly last night). The last act of the evening was The Roots, but by that time C and I were pretty beat, so we headed back to Rob’s place to get a full night of sleep before our drive across South Dakota.

St. Louis to Des Moines - Day 6

2008-07-04T23:00:00.003-10:00

No run this morning – C wanted one, but I needed a break. Instead we worked a bit then got on the road for Des Moines. It was a long trip, about 375 miles or 6 hours of driving. The road took us briefly through some pretty rural parts of northern Missouri, then southern Iowa.

We passed some areas that still had visible signs of the flooding that ravaged the area a few weeks ago. One small lake was still well beyond its normal bounds, and we saw some extensive sandbagging along parts of the highway. All in all, though, it seems to have drained well.

Speaking of farmland…the Midwest has been synonymous with corn for a while now, but wow, corn fields stretch as far as the eye can see! This is the agricultural industrial complex at its finest. It was a little depressing, though, knowing that millions of our tax dollars are being poured into this area via subsidies, feeding the corn-producing machine. I’ve also been reading Omnivore’s Dilemma, which laments the problem, so I’ve been on a bit of a tirade against corn recently.

Soon after entering Iowa we stopped for lunch in the little town of Mount Pleasant. We resisted the urge to pop into the nearest fast food joint, and instead drove to downtown. It was a quintessential Midwestern town with a town square surrounded by run-down shops and restaurants. We picked the most authentic-looking café and went in for a couple of burgers and fries. It was obvious that we were out-of-towners, but our waitress was really nice.

The rest of the drive into Des Moines was pretty long and uneventful. There’s not a whole lot going on in Iowa besides corn. Des Moines, though, was a nice-looking city. In most of the bigger cities we’ve passed through, there’s been a ton of development happening. I’ve read that this has to do with a younger generation coming of age, wanting urban living as portrayed in popular shows like Seinfeld and Friends. It’s also being driven by rising fuel costs – it’s no longer as exciting to live in the suburbs and pay the costs of commuting.

Upon arrival, we met up with my friend Rob for the first annual 80-35 music festival. We caught a few smaller bands, then ended the night with the Flaming Lips. Some magazine has called them one of the top 25 bands to see before you die, and it was certainly a spectacle. The lead singer rolled out into the audience inside of a translucent ball, and the stage backdrop was a continual psychedelic light show. But the scene wasn’t really our style. We were pretty tired from a long day of driving, and hundreds of drunk, smoking hippies and hipsters aren’t our crowd. Needless to say, we slept well that night.

Busch and more Busch - Day 5

2008-07-03T23:00:00.000-10:00

This morning's run took us down Market Street to the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River. It was overcast, which gave us a good indication of the weather for the day. We spent a couple of hours after our run playing on our new computers. Last night we received our new work computers via Fedex, and we were both really excited about that. They're sleek little Dell laptops - even lighter than our last ones.

Our first adventure of the day took us to Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. We took the $10 stadium tour led by a retired school teacher and HUGE Cards fan. He took us all over the stadium, on four different levels. We visited the high-dollar suites, the press box, then ended in the home team's dugout. It was pretty cool to see such a massive structure completely empty.

After the stadium tour we headed north along the river, back to the Gateway Arch. C was scared to take the pod to the top, so we settled for watching a film about Lewis and Clark on the big screen. It gave us a little perspective on how differently we're traveling today compared to the unimaginable trials they went through as they took a similar course across the country. We also decided to support our national parks by becoming annual pass holders. We'll have to make sure we get our money's worth!

Our grand finale was a tour of the Anheuser-Busch brewery. I'm a big beer snob and can't handle too many of their brews, but it was nonetheless a cool visit. The scale at which they produce beer is phenomenal. The size and age of the brewery complex was also impressive. Many of the original buildings were built more than a hundred years ago, and the complex sits on 100 acres of land! We took the tour, then I imbibed in a couple of their more respectable brews.

Tonight we bunked with Neda, an LSU friend in med school at Washington University. She took us to a great Scottish bar for dinner - one of our best of the trip so far.

Day 4 - Nashville to St. Louis

2008-07-02T23:00:00.000-10:00

Running is such a great way to explore a city. It's much more efficient than walking, and you're able to see so much more than if you're driving. Biking would be nice, but then you've got to worry about navigating traffic (most U.S. cities aren't very bike-friendly). I guess horse and carriage would be ideal, but of course, that's not usually and option. This morning we went on our usual run and explored Vanderbilt University. It's a gorgeous campus set just outside of downtown Nashville. The campus as a work of art seems a mostly American phenomenon. Europe has its share of beautiful, historic campuses, but not nearly to the degree of America.

After our run we got coffee at Fido, a coffee shop that was the former home of a pet store. If you haven't been able to tell, C and I are big coffee shop fans. Ironically, she doesn't like coffee, or any hot drinks for that matter, but we both like the ambiance. There's usually great music and a quiet atmosphere - both conducive to getting work done.

We hit the road mid-morning heading to St. Louis. We ended up visiting four states today - Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri. It was another pleasant drive. Western Kentucky offered miles of pastoral rolling farmland, and we only got turned around a couple of times. Collectively, I think we've lost about an hour of time doing this road trip the old-fashioned way: with a road atlas and a few selected Google Maps printouts. With no GPS device, I think we're doing it pretty close to the way Lewis and Clark explored the West.

Downtown St. Louis is a beautiful place. The architecture was remarkable, and the preservation of older buildings was really commendable. C got a fantastic deal on Priceline.com for our first night there. We paid $60 for the Hyatt in the old Union Station. The entrance of the station served as the hotel's main lobby, and the rest of the station has been converted into a shopping mall. Whomever designed this place deserves awards! It is a model of historic preservation.

We made it to the hotel in just enough time to drop our bags then walk to Busch Stadium to catch the Cardinals vs. the Mets. The rain came down hard for about an hour during the third inning, so the game was delayed. When it stopped, it was getting late so we headed back to the hotel before the next wave of thunderstorms moved in. Troy Glaus hit his second homer of the game in the bottom of the ninth to win it for St. Louis.

Day 3

2008-07-01T23:00:00.000-10:00

When we stepped out for our run this morning we were met by some chilliness. The temperature up in the mountains was an unseasonably crisp 65 degrees. In back of the inn was a nature trail that went by a small pond covered with morning fog. A couple of swans were nesting on its bank, and we steered clear of them as we've heard they can be mean. Some parts of the run were on pretty steep hills, but I guess we can just consider that preparation for Seattle.

Breakfast consisted of banana's foster French toast and bacon, with a couple of sourdough biscuits on the side. It was heavenly! It made up for our below average dinner the night before. After breakfast we sat in rocking chairs on the inn's back porch, doing work on our laptops and watching birds eat at the feeders.

We got on the road mid-morning and headed toward Nashville. The first part of the drive was the prettiest, as we passed through a couple of small rural towns. We rolled into Nashville around 2 p.m. and were able to catch lunch with a buddy of mine in med school at Vanderbilt. After that we found the place we were staying. Another friend from LSU let us stay at his place for a night - he was back home visiting his family.

The main event of the day was a trip to the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry started in 1925 as a weekly radio broadcast, and hasn't missed a week since. Today they do three broadcasts a week, and we were lucky to be in town for one of them. This was my second time visiting, Courtney's first, and we both loved it. We saw Pam Tillis, Terri Clark, and a great young songwriter named Eric Church (see video below).

After the Opry we drove to the airport to pick up our second car of the trip - a Chevy HHR. Then we dropped our red Suzuki off at its new home. Unfortunately, we didn't take many photos today.

Day 2: Smoky Mountains!

2008-06-30T16:06:00.003-10:00

Miles driven today: 115
Total miles driven: about 350
Miles per gallon on the first tank: 28.08
Number of times Courtney has gone to sleep in the car: 0

We got up early (6:30) for a run about Asheville. It's a beautiful city. I think what's most remarkable is the gorgeous architecture. It just seems like cities aren't as adventurous today with their buildings. Or, if they are, they end up looking like that ugly 1970s cement stuff. Anyway, the weather was wonderful - a little north of 70 degrees.

After our run we hit the hotel gym for a few minutes, then got ready to go. At around 9 we got to the Dripolator, a cozy coffee shop just south of downtown. We did a couple hours of work for our new jobs before they kicked us out (not literally, but we got kicked off of their free wifi after two hours). We got some solid work done.

For lunch we went back to the Grove Park Inn. Courtney begged me to go to the Sunset Terrace restaurant, and I'm glad we did. We shared a salmon BLT and a mixed greens salad. Both were delicious, and the view couldn't be beat.

The driving today wasn't all that far, but it was on windy mountain roads, so we took our time. Passing through the small towns on the way to Smoky Mountains National Park was exciting. They were littered with kitschy campgrounds and small-time theme parks. It was America at it's best, and a primer for our eventual destination, Gatlinburg. Some people are turned off by the tourist traps, but it kind of refreshes me. I think it's testament to the freedom and diversity we have in America. Sure, it's kind of ugly, but beautiful on a non-aesthetic level. You sure don't come across this kind of stuff in France. It's remarkable that there's a market for it all.

We gave some serious thought to visiting the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee, NC, but we decided to get on into the National Park instead. At the entrance of the park was a well-done replication of a mountain farm village. All of the buildings were original and were relocated to that spot. It was neat seeing how many different crops can be grown in this temperate climate.

Driving through the park was relaxing. The nature of the mountain highway only allows you to go about 40 mph, so we cruised along leisurely. The temperature varied from 64 degrees to about 75, depending on our elevation. The views were really unique. There's a haze that hangs over the mountains (hence the "Smokies" moniker) that Wikipedia tells me is from the hydrocarbons released by the vegetation. The deep green of the trees next to the blue skies also give the mountains a blue aura - which is why the neighboring range is called the Blue Ridge.

Popping out of the park to the north ran us right through Gatlinburg. Wow, what a site! It was like a one-mile stretch straight out of Pinocchio's Pleasure Island (minus the drunk kids). There's a fun park on every corner, with everything imaginable in between - wax museums, Ripley's Believe-it-or-not, an aquarium, you name it. It was once again a celebration of America - a paradoxical example both of all that is wonderful and all that is wrong with this country. A veritable feast for the senses!

We hurried through town (well, as fast as traffic would allow), to get to the Buckhorn Inn, our first bed and breakfast of the trip. What a contrast it was to the glitz of town. The inn is situated in the foothills of the Smokies, surrounded by pine and hemlock. It has an incredible view from the back porch and is as tranquil as can be. I give it a five stars.

Dinner, on the other hand, wasn't as inspiring, but you can't win em' all. It being Monday night, we retired to our room to watch the second-to-last episode of The Bachelorette.

From Josiah (former student)

2008-06-30T16:04:00.002-10:00

From: Josiah Kelii
To: Jacob Landry
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2008 7:42:26 PM
Subject: where are you

So hows it going with the trip.I'm wondering if you could tell me about the sites.Keep me up to date. =)

Day 1: 230 miles

2008-06-29T23:00:00.000-10:00

We left Courtney's parents' house in Florence at around 8:15 a.m. We're driving her sister Kristen's red Suzuki to Nashville where she's moving later this month. It's loaded down with clothes, two lamps, a set of pots and a a set of golf clubs for C's brother Chris. You can cram a lot of stuff in a hatchback.

Today's driving was pretty reasonable - we're just getting warmed up. Florence to Asheville, NC, is only about 230 miles. At mile 120 we stopped to use the restroom and C took the wheel. She lasted about 60 miles, then I took over again. We station-hopped for most of it, catching the entirety of A Prairie Home Companion on NPR.

There's not much to see across the mid-section of South Carolina, but as we got closer to the border of NC, we were in the midst of rolling hills and verdant forests - the foothills of the Appalachians. We caught a brief glimpse of the Blue Ridge Parkway as we crossed a couple of trickling rivers and valleys.

When we arrived in Asheville, our first stop was the Grove Park Inn. C wanted to stay here in celebration of our anniversary, but we couldn't quite swing the price of a night's lodging. Instead, we settled on a day at their spa - the first spa visit ever for each of us. We ended up spending 5.5 hours there. I felt a little self-absorbed, pampering myself for that long, but it sure was enjoyable. I spent my time bouncing between the eucalyptus-infused steam room, the 140-degree sauna, the mineral pool and the various hot tubs. When I needed a break, I relaxed in the fireside lounge with my book. All of this lazing about was broken up by a 50-minute deep tissue massage.

Bye the end of the afternoon, we were exhausted! Who'd have thought that being lazy would be so draining. We left the Grove Park Inn and checked into the Renaissance downtown Asheville. C got this for $80 on Priceline.com - a fraction of what a night at Grove Park would've cost us.

We rounded out the evening with dinner at Bistro 1896, a sidewalk cafe downtown. The mountain air was a welcome respite from the humidity of lowcountry South Carolina. Dessert at Marble Slab topped it off, then we headed back to hit the sack.

MOART - Mother of all Road Trips

2008-06-28T02:20:00.000-10:00

Our career as teachers is over! Courtney and I left the classroom and Hawaii with bittersweet emotions. Saying goodbye to our students was a tear-jerking experience, and leaving our friends in Hawaii was also pretty tough. But embarking on a new adventure is always exciting, as is our extended vacation between jobs.

Soon we'll begin our new jobs recruiting for Teach For America in the Pacific Northwest, but in the meantime, we've got to get there. So, in celebration of this transition, as well as our first anniversary, we are embarking on the Mother of all Road Trips! A 3,000 mile journey across North America that will ultimately include three different cars and 10 days of driving.

Seattle, here we come!

Final Remodeling Project

2008-03-22T21:25:00.007-10:00

Whew, after a few long days, bruised knees and a really sore back, our final remodeling project is complete! We overhauled our two bathrooms last spring, and this past weekend we (and I use "we" very generously ;) completed the kitchen. We'd put a new fridge and stove in place last year, but it was time to lay down the same ceramic tile that we used for the bathrooms. Our countertops were marked and stained, so we replaced those too. A new faucet, a dishwasher and floor molding made it all complete. See the before and after shots below.

P.S. Courtney helped a lot more this time than last :)

Leadership Lessons

2008-03-06T06:18:00.003-10:00

Courtney and I have officially decided to leave the classroom after this year. It's a decision we made a couple of months ago, but we're making it official this week by telling our respective principals.

I can't possibly list all of the things I've learned from this experience, and this won't be my farewell, reflective post. But I have definitely learned some things about management. The morale among teachers at my school is generally low, and this can be attributed to a couple of specific factors controlled by my principal. Another glaring gap in the leadership at both of our schools is extremely unfortunate. At the beginning of the school year, Courtney and I were very open to staying in the classroom a third year. It's been a series of instances where we've been treated as something less than professionals, along with many instances where our input wasn't listened to nor valued, that has led to this decision.

The final frustrating piece was that about two months ago we were asked by our principals whether we'd be returning next year. We were fairly sure of our answer, but didn't want to rule anything out just yet, so we said "not sure." During the following two months, our principals never once approached us to talk to us about our decision, or encourage us to stay. Knowing the impact we've had on our students, we're confident that we've done a great job. This, however, left us feeling unwanted and little-valued.

We've seen countless problems and inefficiencies that are contributing to the failure of schools like ours to provide a relevant, meaningful and sufficient education. The most glaring problem, however, is school leadership. The job of principal is a difficult and multi-faceted leadership position, and we must have competent and capable people leading these schools.

Leadership/management lessons learned:

1. Encourage open lines of communication, and consider all perspectives and opinions
2. Do everything in your power to retain your highest performing and highest quality employees

Molokai

2008-02-25T05:34:00.001-10:00

One of the most wonderful parts of living in Hawaii is the richness and beauty of it's land. We've been fortunate to have now visited five of the eight major islands. Of the three not visited, one is an uninhabited former bombing range, another is privately owned and inhabited by only native Hawaiians, and the other is Lanai, a former Dole pineapple plantation (the only one open to the public).

Courtney and I spent the three days of President's Day weekend on Molokai, population 7,400. The island stood in stark contrast to the others we've visited - both in its lack of people, and in its arid landscape. Most of the island is covered in agriculture, brush, and cattle. It has no obstetrician, only midwives, and no Wal-Mart! We rented an enormous house with seven of our buddies, spending most of our time out on the huge lanai (balcony/deck), watching humpback whales play in the seas between Molokai and Lanai.

On our final day there, we visited Kalaupapa peninsula, an isolated piece of land on the northern coast of the island, where for more than fifty years Hawaiians with leprosy were dumped to fend for themselves. Twenty-seven patients still live in the colony, along with about 150 National Park Service and Department of Transportation (who run the tiny airport) workers. There's one subsidized grocery store, and one gas station. The only way in is a 1.5 hr hike down the tallest sea cliffs in the world, by plane, or by boat. You can learn more about the history of the colony by watching the movie Molokai. Click on the slideshow below for captions.

9,000,000 Words

2008-02-04T20:15:00.000-10:00

I don't brag about my students enough, so this here's a braggin' post.

We have a reading program called Accelerated Reader (both Courtney and I used this program in elementary school). The students read a book, then take a computerized comprehension test. The program assigns them a certain number of points based on the reading level, length of the book, and how well they did on the test. It's a phenomenal way for me to track what/how much they are reading, as well as how well they're understanding it. It's also a great motivation tool for the students. It's primarily used by 3rd-6th grade at our school.

Today I was looking at our school's "dashboard" and saw that my fifth graders are averaging 28 minutes of reading a day (almost all of it done outside of school) compared with 21 minutes by the fourth grade (of which I teach 15), and 11 minutes per day in sixth grade. My 38 students have read a total of 9,000,000 million words this year - the school's total is 17,000,000.

We're making lots of progress, and it's exciting. It astonishes me more and more that there are those who believe students like mine aren't as capable or somehow don't deserve as much as students in wealthier communities. An excellent education should be a RIGHT for all children in this great country.

Plastic Bags

2008-02-03T12:35:00.000-10:00

Last year Courtney and I realized how many plastic bags we were bringing home every week from the grocery store. We re-used them for random things, but we couldn't get rid of them fast enough. Finally, this summer, we found a beach bag on sale at The Gap, and started taking that with us to the market and grocery store. The difference has been phenomenal. These bags are such a nuisance and detriment to the environment, and the stores seem ready and willing to give you hundreds during each shopping trip. We now have two re-usable cloth bags (and another set waiting for us on the mainland) that we use for every grocery trip.

Ireland has recently imposed a $0.33 fee for each plastic bag, and this New York Times story tells about its impact - they saw a 94% decrease in plastic bag usage within weeks.

International / Europe

Motivated by a Tax, Irish Spurn Plastic Bags

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL

Published: February 2, 2008

The Irish have embraced the use of cloth bags to carry groceries, encouraged by a 33-cent tax on plastic ones.

Yes We Can

2008-02-02T14:23:00.001-10:00

The Billary Effect

2008-01-27T17:49:00.000-10:00

Now don't get me wrong, I won't be upset if Hillary Clinton is the next president of the United States. As this ridiculously long primary season drags on, however, I'm becoming a bigger and bigger supporter of Barack Obama. This editorial by the New York Times' Frank Rich sums up a lot of my reasoning for this. I'm not normally a big fan of Rich's columns, but this one hits the nail on the head.

Op-Ed Columnist

The Billary Road to Republican Victory

By FRANK RICH

Published: January 27, 2008

Any Democrat who seriously thinks that Bill Clinton will fade away if Hillary wins the party nomination is a Democrat who, as the man said, believes in fairy tales. ...

Tuxedo Man

2008-01-27T17:45:00.000-10:00

Our current unit is on heroes, and we read a story about superheroes. After the story, my students had to use what they'd learned about superheroes to create their own. They had to tell his/her name, superpower, and weakness.

Cinnamon and Kayle had the most creative superheroes.

Cinnamon
My superhero's name is Tuxedo Man. His superpower is that he cleans all of the world's tuxedos. His weakness is stains.

Kayle
My superhero's name is Mr. Landry. His superpower is that he teaches kids lots of things like how to read. His weakness is when his students don't do their homework. (hilarious if you can imagine how mad I get when my students don't do their homework)

Computers for All!

2008-01-13T15:54:00.000-10:00

$12,000 per student per year is how much Hawaii taxpayers are paying for public education. Our schools see about $9,000 of that. And yet we have one modern computer in every classroom, plus 3-4 antiquated Imacs. Hmm. What year is it again?

Last year I made the most of what I had - I used my three Imacs, then "borrowed" three more from other teachers who weren't using them. With these six computers I introduced my students to typing and to the Internet. I thought, however, that as we close on the first decade of the third millennium, my students needed and deserved a whole lot more than this. In their lifetime, these kids are going to be using technology at every turn. Typing today is much more valuable than cursive, and encyclopedias are yesterday's game. There's absolutely no excuse for a 10-year-old to be computer-illiterate.

Given all of this, I asked (or, sort of begged) people for computers. Finally, I discovered a gold mine. A colleague teaching at a nearby high school said his school had recently updated all of their computers and had a mountain of old Imacs (the same model that my school is still using) that they'd like to get rid of. Over the course of a couple of months last semester, I rounded up enough computers to ensure that ALL of my students would have their own! I now have 19 computers in my classroom. Each day my students spend about 15 minutes on a typing tutor, and we are just now venturing into other aspects of the Internet. Hopefully we'll soon start utilizing the class blog that I set up at http://mrlandry.blogspot.com. We'll have to just figure out a way to get around the DOE's ridiculous content filter (way too restrictive).

Thanks to my father-in-law for coming through with some Ethernet cables. I asked my school for some at the beginning of the school year, and by the end of the first semester I still hadn't received them.

Life is Sweet

2008-01-04T06:31:00.000-10:00

Courtney and I often reflect on the the path our lives have taken us. We certainly realize how charmed our lives have been, and we are constantly trying to live it to the fullest. A friend introduced me to this poem by Kenneth Koch a couple of years ago, and I instantly saw it as an anthem for the completeness I feel at this point in life.

To My Twenties

by Keneth Koch

How lucky that I ran into you
When everything was possible
For my legs and arms, and with hope in my heart
And so happy to see any woman
O woman! O my twentieth year!
Basking in you, you
Oasis from both growing and decay
Fantastic unheard of nine- or ten-year oasis
A palm tree, hey! And then another
And another and water!
I'm still very impressed by you. Whither,
Midst falling decades, have you gone? Oh in what lucky fellow,
Unsure of himself, upset, and unemployable
For the moment in any case, do you live now?
From my window I drop a nickel
By mistake. With
You I race down to get it
But I find there on
The street instead, a good friend,
X---- N------, who says to me
Kenneth do you have a minute?
And I say yes! I am in my twenties!
I have plenty of time! In you I marry,
In you I first go to France; I make my best friends
In you, and a few enemies. I
Write a lot and am living all the time
And thinking about living. I loved to frequent you
After my teens and before my thirties.
You three together in a bar
I always preferred you because you were midmost
Most lustrous apparently strongest
Although now that I look back on you
What part have you played?
You never, ever, were stingy.
What you gave me you gave whole
But as for telling
Me how best to use it
You weren't a genius at that.
Twenties, my soul
Is yours for the asking
You know that, if you ever come back.

Online Shopping

2007-12-17T08:39:00.000-10:00

Thank goodness for online shopping! After just one visit to a mall this Christmas weekend, I'm eternally grateful for purchasing nearly all of my Christmas gifts from the comforts of my condo. Honolulu is known for its traffic, but I could've never imagined witnessing a 15-20 minute traffic jam just to exit the mall parking lot!

This year I relied on Ebay.com, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and some specialty online retailers to find all of my gifts. Shipping to Hawaii can be an issue, but because of my upcoming mainland trip, I was able to have everything shipped to Louisiana. Courtney and I did venture to Ala Moana, a super-nice mall in Honolulu, to baby shop. We found some cute outfits for my godson, Nate, and her friend's baby shower.

On another note, I've found it difficult once again to get swept up into the Christmas spirit here in Hawaii. With the sunshine and warm weather, Christmas seems like a foreign concept. It has been a little chillier than usual (high 81, low 70), but we also haven't decorated, which could be a contributing factor.

Three more days of teaching before the voyage home! Can't wait!

Honolulu Marathon - 2 days away!

2007-12-07T13:37:00.000-10:00

DonorsChoose.org

2007-12-02T09:20:00.000-10:00

I've heard about this site for a while now, but it was just recently opened up to Hawaii teachers. It's a site designed specifically for teachers, and it allows them to post grant proposals on anything that will influence student learning. Anyone can donate, funding all or part of a proposal. I'm not sure who is out there giving, but there certainly are some generous folks helping out.

Courtney has submitted two proposals that were fully funded, so I decided to give it a try. I have a pretty extensive classroom library, but am missing books that catch the low end of my readers. I submitted a proposal for $260 worth of books, third-fourth grade level adventure books that would expose my students to different parts of the world. Within two days it was fully funded! At the beginning of January, I should receive all of my books. My students will be stoked!

Here's a link to my proposal (already funded). With Christmas around the corner, sending a gift to a teacher through donorschoose.org would be a fabulous way to spread some holiday love :)

Mike Huckabee

2007-11-18T13:55:00.000-10:00

I'm not sure, after these past seven or so years, that I'll ever be able to vote for a Republican for president. But, if the next president were Mike Huckabee, I wouldn't shed any tears.

As a former governor, he's got a solid track record and has stayed true to his beliefs. (Romney also had a successful tenure as governor, but his views have now completely changed to the more political opportune). Huckabee even talks a bit about education - something most of the other GOP candidates couldn't care less about. Here's a 1-minute soundbite of his views on the matter.

Then, if that doesn't woo you, this most definitely will.

$369.67

2007-11-15T19:34:00.000-10:00

Trick-or-treat for UNICEF is a novel idea that encourages kids to help kids. The organization works to provide basic needs - clean water, food, vaccinations, etc. to children across the world who most need it. The kit they send teachers is great - with collection boxes, lesson plans, and a kid-friendly video that shows what kids around the world go through for the simple things most of us take for granted. It really touched my students, and exposed them to parts of the world that they rarely imagine.

Last year my students raised $170, which I was quite excited about. This year, inspired by the video and a great discussion about the most basic things people need to survive, my students raised $369.67!! I was stoked. It's incredible how passionate and generous kids can be with the right encouragement - we could learn a lot of lessons as adults.

Tonight Courtney and I took the top 5 money collectors out to dinner at Pizza Hut. It was an interesting mix with two fourth-graders and three-fifth graders, all girls. The socioeconomic range of my class is huge, from solidly middle class (two-income) to homeless. It was interesting to see this play out at dinner.

What They're Saying About Education...or Not

2007-09-09T22:02:00.001-10:00

It seems the Democratic presidential candidates are betting on Iraq and healthcare, giving the minute attention they've given thus far to the dire state of American schools. Though the issue has yet to come up seriously in any debate, at least one candidate has given it some thought. Here's what each of them say about education on their respective Web sites:

Hillary Clinton*

Attracting and supporting more outstanding teachers and principals, and paying them like the professionals they are.
Reforming the No Child Left Behind Act. This law represented a promise -- more resources for schools in exchange for more accountability -- and that promise has not been kept.
Increasing access to high-quality early education and helping to create Early Head Start.

*These bullets are the full extent to which she addresses education. They fall within her "Supporting Parents and Caring for Children" issue, one of 10 stand-alone issues.

John Edwards*

Strengthen Public Schools
Promote Economic Diversity
Create Second-Chance Schools for High School Dropouts
Expand College Opportunity

*Each of these bullets are followed by a one-paragraph explanation; these issues are addressed as part of Edwards' extensive and ambitious plan to "End Poverty Within 30 Years."

Barrack Obama*

Expand Early Childhood Education
Innovation to Improve Teacher Quality
Pay Teachers More
Reform and Fund No Child Left Behind
Support Teachers
Improve Testing and Accountability
Give More High School Students Access to Rigorous College-level Courses
Expand Summer Learning Opportunities
Increase Federal Aid
Free Up Money for Student Aid and Protect Student Borrowers

*Each of these bullets are followed by at least one paragraph explaining the means by which he would address the issue; education is one of Obama's 14 stand-alone issues. Obama seems to be the only candidate who has paid this issue any worthwhile attention.

PLEASE, PLEASE Watch!!!

2007-08-26T20:21:00.000-10:00

Miss Teen South Carolina U.S.A. on U.S. Education. I hope she's not our new spokesperson on the issue!

I guess Courtney was too smart to be Miss South Carolina.

Hawaiian Produce

2007-08-26T15:49:00.001-10:00

Produce, not surprisingly, grows remarkably well here. This being a near-perfect tropical climate, a huge range of fruits and vegetables flourish. The downside is, however, that in this global marketplace, it's more efficient to grow most things elsewhere. Thus brings the paradox of seeing trees laden with mangoes on my drive to school, yet seeing "Imported from Mexico" stickers on the $2.50/lb mangoes at Safeway. Or knowing that in many backyards in Hawaii, avocados are dropping like stones right now, yet the grocery stores are charging $2.50/lb for ones imported from Chile.

Alas, a few weeks ago one of my teacher friends from school told me about the local farmer's market. Come to find out, on Sunday mornings, just two miles from our condo, there's a wonderful market with a wide range of local produce. The market is sponsored by a division of the Parks and Recreation Department, and vendors are mandated to offer their produce for about 35% below grocery store prices.

We've since been stocking up on mangoes, apple bananas (short and tangy - much more flavorful than the average banana), avocados, papayas and much more. I'm in heaven! Check out this week's catch below.

Broken Arm

2007-08-19T16:09:00.001-10:00

This is a photo of Jacob and Angelica. Jacob is a bright and mischievous guy - very easy to love. Angelica is extremely shy, but very devoted. She was one of my biggest success stories last year, making close to two year's growth in reading comprehension and fluency. She recently broke her arm. This makes things awkward for her, as she's right-handed, so is still using the arm to write. When she's not writing, she often rests it on her desk, elbow down, forearm sticking up in the air. I've now called on her countless times, thinking her arm is raised for a question or comment. This usually startles her, as, because of her shyness, she definitely doesn't like to be called on unsuspectingly. We both usually get a good laugh when this happens.

Young College Hopefuls

2007-08-14T10:30:00.000-10:00

I've been trying to subtly lead my students to believe that college, for them, isn't really an "option", it's a given. I registered as a prospective student on a few Hawaii and West Coast university Web sites, and my kids enjoy looking through the college viewbooks. If any of you have any old posters or pennants or anything from your alma maters, I'd love to display it in class. Just shoot me an email for my address.

Hurricane Flossie

2007-08-13T16:20:00.000-10:00

I've received a few calls and emails regarding Hurricane Flossie. As it stands now, it should bypass us on Oahu. If you look on the map below, worst-case scenario is that it hits the Big Island which on the map, is the biggest island. Oahu is one of the ones to the left of it, so we're sort of in it's shadow. I imagine we'll get some rain, and the winds have been pretty strong all day today, but no need to worry!

Poetry

2007-08-09T21:29:00.000-10:00

Sometimes I feel as if my students are supremely limited in their written communication. Most of them speak Hawaiian Creole Pidgin at home, so writing in Standard English is really difficult - particularly with regard to grammar.

Today we began a unit on poetry, one we unfortunately didn't get to last year. I think it will be a great way for them to throw off the bowlines in their writing, as in poetry, conventions matter very little. Today was a great start - here are some of my favorites. The rules were: no more than three words to a line; no rhyming words.

Braces, by Shayna
Heavy weighted metal.
I'll be heavier.
5 pounds or more.
Bright Lights
Laughter of people.
Giggling around school.
Teasing my braces.

Lunch Lady, by Lyric
I wonder who
is she mean
is she ugly
I hope not
I hear her
saying next loudly
what will happen
will she give
gross food
like eyeballs
or ears or
hands I wonder

Moving Away, by Bailey
throat tightens
tears settle in
lips shut
eyes open
heart turns cool
black out
knees weakening
think of memories
walking away silently

Scared, by Henriette
I was scared
at Maili Beach
A fight started
With my uncle
I was frightened
and started crying
Then cops came
and stopped it.

Untitled, by Jacob
Mr. Landry isn't good
No rhyming words
How could he
I love rhyming
He's still Mr. Landry
He's my teacher
I'm his student
can't do anything
I'll tell Ms. Owen
he took off
his wedding ring.

Supreme Awkwardness

2007-08-09T14:38:00.000-10:00

So many situations as a male teacher are awkward. Number one in my book is the hug. As a compassionate individual with 33 young people around everyday, there are countless situations when at any other time, a hug would be a natural occurrence or remedy. The last day of school, when a kid is sick or his or her feelings have been hurt, etc. But alas, I have resorted to the half-hug, and only when initiated. Ka'aina, of previous posting fame, is a bit clingy, so he gets a lot of half-hugs (one arm around the shoulder).

Other awkward situations are one-on-one situations, i.e. tutoring, or when I keep someone in from recess. I basically just make sure there is always more than one student in the room, and parents sometimes request that other students be there if their kid is going to stay for extra help.

One particularly awkward moment was when on the day after school let out I called a couple of students to come help me clean my room. They'd said they wanted to the day before, but try explaining that to a parent. "Hi, can Angelica come to school (when school's out for the summer) to help me scrub some desks?" Courtney can do it and have parents think nothing of it, but if Mr. Landry does it, it's pretty weird.

So, that brings us to today. None of the previous awkwardness has even compared. See, I have a whiz in my class named Josiah. He's a brilliant little guy, part Hawaiian, part Korean. He's incredibly disorganized and habitually late, but so perceptive. He's truly gifted. The latest reading comprehension diagnostics I gave him put him at an 8th or 9th grade comprehension level. This is fantastic in itself, but presents a few minor challenges. The first being I teach 5th grade. Therefore, my classroom library is geared towards 5th graders. I don't have many options for him to have a challenging read. I do, however, have a couple of books. One of which is To Kill a Mockingbird.

On the second day of school, Josiah picks up To Kill a Mockingbird. My initial instinct was "Sweet!!" What teacher wouldn't want his student to pick up that book on his own? But after he took it back to his desk, I started thinking about the content. I remembered that the premise is a rape trial, though, of course the book is about so much more than rape. I thought about how relatively liberal my parents were with me growing up and how if I came across anything I was unfamiliar with, they generally never held information back.

I took the book away, but said I'd call and talk to his parents about it. So today I rang his mom, invited them to open house, then brought up the book. I explained that Josiah was reading on a super-high level, and that makes some books with mature topics accessible for him. I asked if she knew of the story To Kill a Mockingbird, and she said no. That should've been my first clue, but I went on. "Well, this story has a rape in it," I explained, "and I wanted to know if you were ok with him reading it and would just like to talk to him about the content first." Awkward pause. "Oh, no, I don't want him reading stuff like that." I ramble a bit about how I just wanted to check with them first and stuff. Awkward pause # 2. "Well, ok, I hope I see you guys at the open house, bye!"

Ahhh! Lorrdez, my fun-loving, matter-of-fact co-teacher (she teaches math), said I should call her back and explain what the book is about, but I just fear that would make things even more awkward. But I don't know - as it stands, Mr. Landry called to see if Josiah could read a book about rape. Hmm. I just wonder if this would've been as awkward if it were Courtney calling a parent.

Honeymoon Continues - Volcano, HI

2007-07-16T15:37:00.001-10:00

As the Big Island came into sight through the airplane window, Courtney and I knew that we were visiting a place wholly different from crowded Oahu. Hilo, the Big Island's biggest and Hawaii's second largest city at 47,000 people, is a quaint, but sleepy town on the island's eastern shore.

Once we picked up our Chevy Cobalt from Avis, we ventured into Hilo town and made the farmer's market our first stop. We were in heaven as the produce was all locally-grown and much cheaper than our neighborhood Safeway. We bought hothouse tomatoes, Japanese (burpless) cucumbers, a giant avocado, mangoes and a huge bag of papayas (this must be peak season as I got 7 for $2!!).

After the market, we explored more of Hilo, then made the 30-mile drive West to Volcano, home of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The Guest Cottage at the Volcano Rainforest Retreat was heavenly, complete with a cozy, but adequate kitchen and a woodburning stove.

The next few mornings we got up early to hike around the national park. It's tough to describe how odd the terrain was at the bottom of the different caldera, but if I had to sum it up in one word, it would be "otherworldly." I kept commenting to Courtney that it seemed like we were on a different planet - minus the few plants springing up now and then. The scene was terrific - the Alpha and Omega. Some parts of the caldera were completely barren, a wasteland representative of a place where all life ceases to exist. Other areas were hopeful and inspiring as Ohia trees and ferns were springing up, almost unbelievably, in the black volcanic rock - proving the fortitude and perseverance of Mother Nature.

Other highlights were walking through an underground lava tube that was once filled with molten magma and steam vents where the the subterranean heat was close enough to the surface to heat rainwater seeping down, turning it to steam.

Check my facebook.com album for photos from this part of our trip.

Honeymoon Begins - Latta, SC

2007-07-13T06:54:00.000-10:00

Latta, South Carolina, was a tiny town stuck in a simpler time with tree-lined streets and a downtown post office and library. Everything in walking distance and everything quiet (of course, we were there on a Sunday), tucked just far enough away from I-95 for it to be sheltered from Interstate visitors. Courtney and I left the wedding reception at about 10 p.m. and made the 35-minute drive to Abingdon Manor - a Greek Revival mansion set on a lush yard complete with magnolia trees and an enviable herb garden.

The next morning Courtney and I awoke, feeling pretty well-recuperated from the previous day's festivities, and readied ourselves for church at the quaint Methodist church down the street. We were the obvious newbies in the small congregation, and after the service, Ms. Iratene Henry welcomed us, inviting us to their monthly pot-luck lunch. It didn't take much to convince us, as we hadn't at that point given much thought to where we would have lunch on a Sunday in sleepy little Latta. Ms. Iratene was a very gracious host, introducing us to everyone and quickly making us feel like celebrities (a few folks had seen our picture in the Florence Daily News that morning).

Lunch was a great mixture of summer food with squash casserole, shrimp and grits, deviled eggs and an incredible creamy pecan cake for dessert. We had a wonderful time, and it was a perfect reminder of the generosity and graciousness of small-town America - something Courtney and I have been away from for a long time now.

Monday morning we rode to Charlotte with Courtney's parents and brother, Chris. We connected in Atlanta for the 9-hour plane ride back to Honolulu. Although we were dreading returning home (mainly because it means returning to work), arriving in Honolulu to 75-degree weather and a light Hawaiian mist was definitely refreshing.

Remodeling Update

2007-07-13T06:40:00.000-10:00

I laid the tile and Courtney and I painted this bathroom before we left for the mainland. We planned to finish it completely during our one-day visit home between the wedding and the honeymoon. It went down to the wire, but we did finish before we left - leaving it in pristine condition for our new roommate. It seems with remodeling there are endless frustrations and complications, but when it's all said and done, the feeling of accomplishment is overwhelming.

Before

After

Finished!

2007-06-21T10:44:00.001-10:00

Courtney and I broke away from the confines of Oahu and are now enjoying the wonderful heat and humidity of Louisiana and South Carolina. We had a great time at our "Cajun Wedding Party" in Jennings, La. My Granny even got Courtney's dad out on the dance floor!

The year ended quickly for us. Our schools were both in disarray towards the end. They manage their disorganization relatively well all year, but as the end of the year rolled around, going to school became a bit of a headache. Learning was definitely not prioritized during the last two weeks, which was pretty unfortunate. Just chalk it up as one more reason why my school is in the state that it's in.

On a happier note, Courtney and I cut loose after our last school day ended and joined some friends for a sunset sail on a catamaran in Waikiki. Here are some photos.

$13,000 Per Student, Per Year!!

2007-06-07T21:34:00.000-10:00

The Honolulu Advertiser once again covers an important story on education, but misses the point. In today's article, the newspaper reports the fact that Hawaii schools receive more than $2 million each year in private donations. It even states that some schools have become reliant on these donations, even to cover some operating expenses. The article goes on to tell us that the state spends roughly $13,000 per student per year in public education (Louisiana spends about $7,600).

Where the article misses the point, however, is how in the world a state can spend that much money on public education and still have schools relying on private donations! Not to mention still have crumbling (in a figurative sense) schools. That's absurd!! Punahou, the most elite private school in Hawaii, alma mater of Steve Case (founder of AOL), Michelle Wie (golf phenom) and Barack Obama, charges $14,725/year in tuition. Shouldn't a public education be comparable in quality?

These numbers highlight two major points. First, money is not the issue! Competency is the issue! (one of many, I guess, but a leading contender) Second, there are inane inefficiencies in a system that can spend so much money per student, yet have so little of it trickle down to the classroom. With that kind of a budget, you'd think teachers could be paid a professionally-competitive salary, and all classrooms would be equipped with a set of personal computers. Instead, we have a top-heavy Board of Education bureaucracy hiring a slew of carpetbagging consultants, among many other money-draining endeavors, I'm sure.

The disappointing thing is that nobody is calling them on this. The Honolulu Advertiser's mission is "to chronicle Hawaii's story while being a vigilant partner in helping the Islands shape their future. To be diligent, truthful, accurate and fair. To provide a voice for all the community..." Unfortunately, as I've become accustomed to, the voice of my students is not being provided by this powerful publication.

Ode to New Orleans

2007-05-29T06:10:00.000-10:00

Nearly two years after Hurricane Katrina hit, New Orleans is still struggling to find itself and rebuild the vibrant core it once was. My friend Rob is doing his part, volunteering for Habitat For Humanity this month. You can read his musings at Quarry Hill Road.

There was also a wonderfully-written 'Ode to New Orleans' of sorts in today's Times-Picayune by gifted writer Chris Rose. Courtney and I have, as of late, thrown teaching a couple of years in New Orleans into the mix of things we'd be interested in doing post-Hawaii.