see ya big D

Well… here we go again… boxes are stacked, china is packed, clothes are being stacked, and our house is complete chaos. And this is all the week after an ice storm that took out our power for 3 days!! Lord help us we have lost our minds and are moving back to Nashville the week before Christmas with a 3 year old + 6 week old baby. Umm, mommy needs a drink. And a REAL nights sleep, but I don't think that's happenin' soon so we'll stick with the cocktail. Trevor's job is taking us back home (hallelujah!!!!!) and it has happened so fast I can barely stop spinning. Tomorrow is the day. It's all happy stress though because I'm going H-O-M-E. And so much sooner than I ever could have hoped. Just when we were settling into life here Dallas & making some friends, but I'd be lying if I said we weren't over the moon. It's been real fun, but now let's high tail it out of here for the holidays. One more year without a proper tree in our own home, but I've had the holiday tunes cranked so we're totally in the spirit. Plus Miriam doesn't really notice that we're the only scrooges on the block without decorations.

Two years of growth and countless memories have been made here in the big D.

Moved into a tiny apartment.

New job for T.

Had our home featured in the Dallas Morning News.

Watched our Miriam turned 2… then 3.

Adopted a dog.

We lost someone really special and we're still mourning.

I got pregnant.

Discovered real mexican food and Miriam became a queso obsessed Texan.

Found a wonderful little school for Mimers that she adored.

Made some new friends and became even closer with some old.

Baby Oakes was born.


We have been through a lot, but we're surviving & thriving and we're stronger because of it. We learned how to be with only our little family of 3… and now 4… comppletly on our own. I've opened my eyes to a bigger world, and found my way in a brand new town. It's been quite a trip… until we meet again Big D!

goings on in the big D

I know… 2 posts in 1 week… crazy talk, but on a roll for a change. We've been exploring Dallas even more lately and hit up the new Children's Garden at the Arboretum. Well, lordy pete! I thought Miriam would be excited, but her momma & daddy were just as thrilled. Nooks and crannies to explore at every turn with so much detail blooming everywhere. What a lucky place to have here. Our Moosh was off and running with shoes & socks off before we could stop her.


Other tidbits… I badly want to see this movie called Muscle Shoals.

Got out of my office one rare morning and had coffee at this hip spot down the street called Mudsmith. Terribly hard seats, but fab muffins and lattes.

Been reading a new site called The Bitter Southerner. Good Stuff.

Went to 2 grown up dinners lately. R + d Kithen & Nona.
 
Discovered the panorama on my iphone.
And saw Mumford & sons at the Fair Grounds on a hot, hot summer night with my T. I was way too pregnant feelin', but it was still beautiful to be out and under their spell.

summer wrap up

I can't really call myself a blogger any more since I have been posting so infrequently. I just haven't had the fire truthfully and we haven't been doing anything that exciting. Just enjoying life at home and staying very busy with the simple things. I say that and yet, I feel like things have been so hectic too. My nanny quit out of the blue which was a nightmare, but I've since found Magdalena whom I adore. Work has been insane, but can't complain. Plus I'm plain exhausted come the end of the day. Oh and I'm 36 weeks pregnant. This pregnancy is totally different and has really worn me down! The good news is though… the weather has cooled and signs of Fall are finally popping up. Mums on the front porch and pumpkins on every doorstep. We have four weeks left as a family of 3. It's hard to believe we'll be growing and yet I'm so ready to know this little baby. Miriam started PreK-3 and is totally digging her new class. They have to wear uniforms which is so funny to me at this age, but they are precious so that helps. She's getting so big! Long legs, sweet bob hair, and her funny grin. She hates to have her hair brushed, loves to play camp-out in her sleeping bag, likes to roll play like we're a family of animals, tells me, "mommy, I tooooold you", and is pretty much demanding of her every need at every turn. Loves her friends Estee and Savanna and Olivia at school. Tells us every night she's not tired and asks why she has to go to bed. And then asks for "one more kiss & hug" before we finally slip from her room. Life for a three year old is mighty fine.

We visited Klyde Warren Park downtown…finally… and it was awesome. They had all these water features for kids and Mimers kept trying to strip down!

And we played hookey on Monday and had a big ole time at the Texas State Fair. Miriam obsessed over the rides and wanted to go again & again. Always the prissy girl, she chose the pink rides whenever possible. Corn dogs, fried nutella, and people everywhere… we all came home and crashed that afternoon.


And because this is just how life is, some sad news mixed with the good. My beloved granddaddy died at 97. To say he lived a full life is an understatement. He was extraordinary… spoke with a great delivery, had a great sense of humor, sharp as a tack, and had a gentle kindness that will stay with me forever. I am so thankful to have known him well into my adult life. I was deeply saddened to be so far away and unable to travel to his funeral. As a doctor, I know he would have urged me to stay home and take it easy, but boy did I wish I was there just to be amongst his spirit. Family and friends joined together to make it special and relayed details so that it felt like I was there. Granddaddy I am so glad happy for you that you'e with Mimi & Fred, but so sad for us that we will miss you so much.

fiesta birthday 3

My baby turned 3. Poof, just like magic. Little legs shot up, toes inching out longer all the time and growing out of new shoes. Oh my, she's a little girl now!  
She's getting all big and independent now, reading books by herself from memory, taking off her own shoes, making her own choices and asking questions all the time. This morning… "mommy, where do elephants go potty" & "mommy, why is there a baby in your tummy." She's still kinda my baby too. She stays curled in her little bed until I come in. I'm sure that won't last long, but I love seeing that little grin all tucked in the sheets when I open the door. And the child loves to be carried, but who wouldn't?!
We threw her a birthday party on Saturday with a few friends. A proper fiesta with tex-mex, papel picado (flags), mexican brew, and a pink donkey pinata. I'd delivered some colorful invitations and the house was all ready with some special things from La Mariposa. Miriam had been really sick the day before with an ear infection so I was thrilled when she woke up feeling back to normal. She kept asking, "mommy, have my guests arrived"? Cute thing. All she'd been talking about was her party and her party supplies, and who was coming. It was all a very big deal.
Saturday was of course a scorcher, but the cold beer helped and the queso still went fast. Plus kids don't really care about the heat. They were all over the place, inside & out destroying my clean house in about 20 minutes. It looked like a bomb went off in the playroom. Why do I bother except that I want to pretend my house looks this orderly all the time. Birthday girl was miss popular and all her friends kept pulling her to play with them. It's good to be the queen for the day. We only had tearful moment. I asked her what happened and she sniffled "I spilled lemonade on my special party dress." Oh the drama! I think it was all the excitement that got her overwhelmed. Back to the party we went though and it was so nice to celebrate her big milestone with new friends and neighbors. I haven't met a lot of folks since we moved here, but the few that I have are very special.
I was so tired once it was all over and oh lordy did my feet hurt! The next day we totally peaced out and spent the afternoon eating watermelon outside while watching Miriam score in her new goal. Pure and good, you are so very loved baby girl.