Whoa, whoa, wait a minute!

We are barely one week into little man being an entire year old (more on that later), and I just found my first GRAY hair!! Eeeek!  I do not remember reading this in the motherhood description!  I have navigated my way through many sleepless nights, boo-boos, drool on everything and more dirty diapers than I care to count...but this?  This single hair is almost too much for this mama to handle!  I guess it's time for a few highlights, and maybe a poor me pity party, complete with a glass (bottle?) of wine :)

Summa Summa Summa Tiiiime

Maybe I've been spoiled at a young age with annual summer vacations from California to Florida, and everywhere in between, but it's just not a true summer without at least one little getaway.  Perhaps it's my free-spirit, the wandering soul within, yearning for travel and wide open spaces, but I just can't be content with a summer that doesn't include loading everything but the kitchen sink in the car & hitting the open road.  A few last minute, on a whim plans (the BEST kind of plans!) and we have a little fun in the sun planned!

A few weeks ago we trekked out to the glorious Colorado mountains for a taste of big sky, fly fishing ( I "moved" a trout--somewhat of a success in the fishing world, or so I'm told), hiking, rafting (the real deal folks, forget about the professional river guides when you have Papa Hop in the captains seat!)  and a little family bonding.  B headed out a few days early for some extra fishing time--so O-dawg & I hit the skies for his first  trip by plane.  Note to self---11 months is not exactly an "ideal" age to earn your wings, but after a 4 hour delay, numerous Starbucks coffees, and a quick 15 minute jump from Denver to Colorado Springs, we survived.   Here are a few action shots from the trip :)



B working the fly rod on Grape Creek



 

Ark River rafting with our rafting buddies to the left



Owen's first hike---love those long legs a-danglin'!!

The killer view of Canon City area as you are heading on the road from hell up to the house.  I cringe every time! 



Just a week later, we hit the road running and set our sail for the hills of Missouri.  No one loves the Ozarks more than my mother, so Table Rock lake was the setting for our first vacation in several years with everyone there!  We won't mention my failed attempt at wake boarding (hey, bonus points for trying!!), or the serious whiplash I got after dominating (or was it being owned?) by a massive wake on the tube (Thanks, Zach! grr!), but I did show that outlet mall how to shop, so we'll count the trip as a success :)  Owen had a blast, hamming it up, enjoying the spotlight, as always, and the hubs and I celebrated SIX years of marriage.  Good stuff!



Trying to be cool 



My little lake baby







Lake Living...good stuff



Now it's back to reality, and the crazy busy schedule of fall/school starting/routine/responsibility that will try to rule our lives for the next few months.  Glad we were able to stock up on some R&R, sunshine & good company to get us through!







Ramblings, Pt. 2

So I know the repetitive "mommy" theme of this blog might be wearing a little thin.  Sure, you've got a kid, he's cute as hell, you love him a ton...is that all you got, Hopkins?  Truth be told, my life outside of time spent with the little monster is pretty ordinary.  For example, today I went to a city commission meeting, I hung out in the community garden at work, I read and wrote a ridiculous amount of e-mails, I made a bunch of phone calls, I missed buying Heck's sweet corn at the Farmer's Market, and then I stayed up entirely too late catching up on blog posts and current events.  Saweeeet. (I think I may be borderline grumpy after this long-ass day).  

I just wrote in my last post about celebrating the little moments that make the ordinary a little more special, so most of those little moments have been sourced by an 11 month old goofy, toothy grinnin' little boy.  His antics and budding personality are far more interesting than the regular stuff that takes up the day-to-day experience.  Not that I'm complaining about my day-to-day, I'm just telling it like it is. No one cares if I had a roast beef sandwich for lunch (actually it was ice cream), or if I got a parking ticket when a meeting ran late (no ticket...but I did do a massive curb check in my mother in law's car as I was leaving the bank drive thru...nice), but something about a chubby cheeked little boy that is learning to walk and talk and become a real-life little person seems like a topic with a little more substance.  And the fact that I'm in charge of that little person turns this interesting story into a hilarious comedy.  Yikes--that's a lot of responsibility for a twenty-something free-spirited Pisces.  Hell, that's a big responsibility for any person, period.  It might be a little delayed, but I think I might be going through post-I'm now a parent shock.   The same thing happened when I got married at the ripe age of 20...it took about a year to sink in, then Holy Crap! I'm married!  Now, almost 6 years later, it's Holy Crap!  I have a baby!  No...wait, he's not a baby anymore!  How did that happen?!  By some extraordinary twist of fate, my ordinary daily routine of meetings, emails, phone calls from mom, dinner with b, roadtrips on a whim, shopping sprees and travelling with ease got turned upside down and a sweet little baby rocked my world.  11 months later it is sinking in, and all that stuff that once made up my day-to-day doesn't look anything like it used to, and I'm totally ok with that.  Not gonna lie, sometimes I miss the good old days of independence and 2am bedtimes by choice, but as my friend Erin recently said, "I don't want to live in the past, just gonna keep on moving forward...",  so I'm loving it, embracing a new phase in life and seeing where it takes me.  I've always liked to refer to everything as an "adventure" or a "journey," and I may not be climbing mountains or saving the world, but life right now is definitely a new kind of adventure, dominated by a 3 foot tall (what can I say, the kid's gonna be a giant!) little dude.  Ok, definitely rambling.  Time for bed!

Ramblings...

**I started this post below about a month ago--whoa, baby time flies...Owen just turned 11 months earlier this week.  Yikes!

We had a great weekend.  A don't-want-it-to-end, sunshine and blue skies, fun and memories type of weekend.  The sky was full of those white, fluffy Simpson cartoon clouds and the open road was all mine.  I love that back-road drive to Burlington.  Something about the rolling prairie, farm ponds and fields of corn and wheat triggers a deep contented sigh and a true love for Kansas summer.  Not to mention, driving in the direction of home always brings a feeling of comfort.  O-Dawg and I trekked to Grandma and Grandpa's to celebrate Father's Day with my Daddio, complete with picnic at the park and playground fun.  I love watching Owen's face light up as he discovers new experiences and surroundings.  He revives my inner child, and I get just as excited as he does, seeing the world from a brand-new perspective.  We also had a gourmet shrimp feast at the lake with Nana and Papa.  A hodge podge of side dishes, paper plates and outdoor dining at its finest!  A little girl time, rest and relaxation, and celebrating B's first Father's Day, complete with a handmade card and a lotta love put the finishing touches on a wonderful weekend. 

Little man is 10 months old!  He has started to jabber and talk a lot more lately, although we are still waiting for consistent ma-mas and da-das to start rolling out of his mouth.  I know every child has their "timeline," and Owen has exceeded most developmental milestones, but I am anxious about him getting to this speech milestone.  As a mama, all these thoughts start going through my mind--is it because he's not in daycare?  Is daily interaction with other kids a crucial component in his cognitive development?  Has he hit is head one to many times since he has learned to crawl and pull up on anything and everything?!  Does my child have some type of brain injury as a result of his clumsiness? Am I so good at reading his non-verbal cues that he feels no need to speak or get my attention?  I mean, most of this is silly, but it does cross my mind.  I have found that becoming a mother has set off an instant panic button in my brain, but I need to remember to relax and enjoy.  This little tyke isn't so little anymore...it's all about opening drawers, crawling up the stairs, crawling like crazy and on the go, go, GO! Ayy, I'm pooped!  This motherhood gig is definitely a labor of love.  It's worth every minute, but juggling it all?  It ain't easy!

I think it comes down to celebrating the little moments. (So the moral of the story, kids...).  But honestly, there's a lot of good stuff that happens each day.  Maybe the good stuff serves as a reminder;  to live with gratitude, seek joy in the ordinary and to sustain us through the not so good stuff.  Happy (late) Father's Day to all the kick-ass daddios out there...that's a little moment worth celebrating, for sure! 

Playground and Pool Fun!

Ch-ch-ch-changes

A couple of weeks ago, I was enjoying dinner & drinks (oh, who am I kidding, more like "drink;" mama can't hang anymore) with an old girlfriend.  We were reminiscing about the good ole days, funny stories and how all those little happenings along the way shaped our lives today.  We might not have known it at the time, but there were so many moments that ended up changing the course of our lives.  Many times we don't realize how much impact one decision or one instance can have on your life, until you are looking back, retrospectively.  There are so many life-changing moments that shape each of us for the rest of our lives: Heartbreaks, studying abroad, choosing a university, more heartbreaks, getting married, not getting married, having children, not being able to have children, having a miscarriage, getting into a car accident, cancer, starting a new job, moving, and the list goes on.  So many changes in my life have turned out to be wonderful, like getting married at the ripe old age of 20, and later, becoming a mom.  Several changes haven't been great, and most of the time, change is scary.

I decided to change things up, once again, and recently resigned as director of Big Brothers Big Sisters.  This was not an easy decision, as I truly believe in the mission and goals of this organization.  We are in the business of making friendships, and I think you would be surprised to realize just how much of a positive impact a mentor can make in a child's life.  The experience at BBBS has been life-changing, and from a professional standpoint, I feel I have grown leaps and bounds and gained so much experience during my time with this agency.  I was so committed to working full-time, juggling new mommy-hood, still having a relationship with my hubs and maybe at the end of the day, having 20 minutes to enjoy a glass of wine and a few pages of a good book.  But the minute they laid that 9lb blue-eyed boy on my chest, I had no idea just how much he would change my day-to-day routine, my priorities and my perspective on the lifestyle I wanted to lead. 

I think this decision seemed extra scary, because unlike other situations in our lives, this very clearly creates a "fork in the road," and I made the decision fully aware that I was yet again changing my course.  I am looking forward to starting a new chapter, as I devote more time to my boys and myself, while working for Flint Hills Technical College.

One of my favorite quotes, "The only thing constant is change," is the perfect reminder to roll with the punches, be open to opportunity and realize that new and unexpected changes are part of life.  While I am sad to close one door, I fully welcome the new experience that awaits behind another door.

I ran into our nurse from the Birth and Women's Center, who was on staff during our birth and delivery.  We were both enjoying an unusually hot afternoon walk with our families (coincidentally, she happens to be our neighbors' daughter, and was home for a visit).  Seeing her made me think back to the day Owen was born, which seems like a lifetime ago.  I am still so thankful for the wonderful experience we received at the Birth Center.  The day was so relaxed and laid back, and I like to think that the way we welcomed our little guy into the world kind of set the pace for our lifestyle, and the days, months and years ahead.  We have been blessed with a laid back, cheerful little dude who always seems to have a smile on his face.  Our days are usually pretty relaxed, and we try not to get too worked up over the little things. 

Of course, I am writing this after a particularly bad-mom type of day, so I think I am trying to remind myself of how great life is any other given day.  Usually, these bad days are rarities, and are determined by how much mama gets to sleep the night before.  Thanks to the side-effects of teething, the bambino has been letting everyone know just how uncomfortable he is, right around 2 or 3am in the morning.  Getting through those nights can be rough, but that's the name of the game.  No one said this parenting stuff would be a cake walk, and--luckily--no one can claim they are the perfect parent.  Yet, in spite of a rough day here and there, I strive to keep that peaceful and joyful vibe that we worked for during pregnancy and that we wanted for the arrival of our son.  Each day holds new challenges, new joys, and new reasons to laugh, smile and cry.  Becoming a mother has taught me so many life lessons, and has reminded me to live in the present, with intention, a grateful heart and open mind.  I am thankful we are content just doing our own thang, not pressured to live up to any one's expectations or guidelines.  We are creating our own life, one day at a time, taking the bad with the good, and looking forward to every adventure along the way.

Not even 12 hours old...already back at home, brand new and oh-so perfect.

                                                 Fast forward--8 months later.  What a ham!

                                                        Life is good...Almost nine months!

Weeknight Addiction

I need to remind myself that nothing on Bravo TV is worth staying up past my bedtime.  Damn you, Bethenny Frankel and The Real Housewives.  I just can't quit you.  You are my sweet indulgence, my weeknight addiction.  I can't stop watching, because I am utterly repulsed and fascinated at the same time.  I can't say that I "identify" with these over-the-top, extravagant women; I think I am more in awe of their behavior and lifestyle than anything else.  It is like watching a bad train wreck, or scary scene in a movie.  You don't want to watch, but you just can't pull yourself away.  It is a sickness.  A disgusting waste of time that I just can't get enough of.

 I mean, really?! What is it with these women??