Topsail Island Vacation

Last week was Jackson and my first real vacation together.  We have taken short weekend trips here and there, but this was our first real time away from home (9 days!!!). Unfortunately, Ryan couldn't travel with us due to work. But, that did  not stop us from having a fantastic beach vacation!

Our traveling caravan departed on September 7.  My sister and I drove the kids  (Jackson and cousin Anna, age 2) in our Flex.  My parents and brother hauled all of our junk in their car and led the way!  It was a long drive (20 hours), but for the most part, the kids did really well.  We packed everything but the kitchen sink to keep them occupied and distracted.  Eventually they fell asleep and we decided to drive as far as we could while they slept.  We arrived at the beach on the 8th around 1p.m.

It was really hard waking up to this for a week (HA!)

 

We weren't able to get into our rental house at that time, but we had access to the beach. We unpacked some sand toys and introduced the kids to the ocean.  J was in awe!  He loves digging in his sandbox, so an entire beach was like heaven to my little boy!  The waves, however, took a little getting used to.  When he first set foot on the beach, he ran right up to the edge of the water to check it out.  He clearly didn't understand how waves work because when the tide came rushing back in at him, he let out a yell and started sprinting up the beach with a wave hot on his heels!  By week's end, he would wade out into the surf and liked to try to jump the waves. 

Our humble abode for the week.

Playing in the waves.

The week started off with visits from two cousins who live in North Carolina.  It was great catching up and visiting with them.  We also spent the first few days just playing on the beach.  We tried boogie boarding, built sand castles, searched for shells and tried to find crabs. We walked to the nearby swimming pool a couple times too.  Jackson liked finding the crab holes on the beach and would often be seen with his face stuck over a crab hole seeing if it was occupied.  Luckily, none were!

J looking for a crab. I suggested he not stick his head in the hole, but

he thought it would work this way!

Trying to boogie board.

On Wednesday, we headed out for some mini golf and dinner. We found a great putt putt place and played 18 holes. J scored about a 176.  We would report our scores to the score keeper and when J was asked, he would claim anywhere from 10-30 strokes per hole.  He apparently didn't grasp that the lower scores are better :)  Afterwards, we decided to drive the go karts.  J loved this! He is definitely a speed freak and loved passing the other go karts.  And since I can be a little (okay a lot) competitive, we cut off a lot of drivers too, which he also thought was hilarious!

On Thursday, we chartered a small boat for a few hours.  Captain Phil took us all over the Intercoastal Waterway in search of dolphins, turtles and gators with no luck. But, he did take us to a small secluded beach crawling with Fiddler Crabs.  We also found a few hermit crabs. After fashioning a make shift box, we were able to tote them back to the house and keep them for a couple days.  My dad braved the water in a kayak at the end of the week in order to return them to the wild.  I am sure they were quite relieved little critters!  J loved the boat ride. He loved checking out the shrimp boats, looking for shells and wading in the water. 

Cheeeeeeese!

 

Boating crew with our fearless Captain Phil!

 

We relaxed for the day on Friday before packing up and heading home on Saturday.  We were sad to leave the house, but I was ready to be home.  When we arrived home, J was super excited to see his dad.  I don't think he left his dad's side for the entire first day we were back!  The next day, J came out of his room dragging a tote bag stuffed with books and toys.  He announced that I needed to load them into the Flex because he and his dad were going back to the beach house for another vacation!

All in all, it was a great week. We were blessed with incredible weather (80's and sunny all week!). We had no major problems traveling and everyone made it there and back in one piece! Sure we had a few bumps in the road: Anna had a tummy ailment and fever for a couple days, we battled biting flies on the beach and we all had cranky moments here and there. But overall, it was a wonderful time.   I think J was the perfect age to really enjoy himself at the beach.  He was big enough to brave the waves, loved digging in the sand and everything was an exciting new adventure for him!  Can't wait for our next vacation adventure!

I think this sums up his feelings on the trip! Two thumbs up!

All smiles on the boat :)

Jackson's Birth

Jackon's 4th birthday is tomorrow! I feel like I blinked and four years went by. There is nothing that prepares you for how fast life goes. People tell you all the time, but until you are experiencing it, you can't begin to understand.  With J's birthday here, I have been thinking a lot about when he was born.

We decided before I ever got pregnant with J that we would only be having one child. So, when I got that positive pregnancy test, I was overjoyed and determined to remember every second, every experience and to make the most of whatever came my way.  I was blessed with a flawfless pregnancy. I never had morning sickness.  I never had swollen feet or ankles.  I never felt miserable even though I was my most pregnant in July and August.  I gained (to the immense pleasure of my ob/gyn) 33 pounds and on August 22, 2008, I had a perfect 7 pound 6 ounce baby boy.

                             Me at 34 weeks. Yes, the belly grew for 5 more weeks. Yes, it was huge.


On the day J was born, I was still 5 days shy of my due date.  I wasn't planning to have a baby that day. I had things to do. I had to work, had plans with a friend after work and the next morning I had an appointment to get fitted for a bridesmaids dress for my sister's wedding.  There just wasn't time that day to have a baby.  I woke up feeling a little more tired than usual, but chalked it up to having over exterted myself at aerobics the night before.  I called into work and took the morning off.  Then I cleaned my house. Top to bottom (nesting anyone?).  After all, I was going to be gone that weekend and needed to get it done some time!  Then I watched some Olympics (water polo and rowing, if I recall) to relax before I headed to work.

I was having contractions, but nothing stronger or more painful than the Braxton Hicks contractions I had been having for over a month. And they were all over the place: three minutes apart, then eleven, then two, then nine etc.  No gross mucas plug moment or water breaking that I had heard so much about and feared would occur while I was in court testifying or at some other mortifying moment.  I finished out the day at work and headed to the park to meet a friend. She had just gotten back from vacation, so her boys played while she showed me vaca pics and we sat in the shade. By then my contractions were stronger, but still not very steady.  And they didn't hurt as much as I had always feared they would, so I couldn't be in labor, right?

After the park, I went home, grabbed a shower and layed down, still convinced I was just tired.  But, by about 8pm, those contractions were coming every three minutes, lasting a minute each time. We called the dr and he told us to head in. I told my hubby that we had better get going. After all, I was sure I wasn't going to be having a baby and I wanted to get to the hospital and get sent home at a decent hour. I had to be up early the next day.

After a harrowing drive (seriously, my husand was a wreck), we arrived at the hospital at around 9p.m.  My exterior calm must have convinced the nurse that I was not an urgent case and we were placed in a triage room.  And then forgotten about.  We seriously sat in that room for what seemed like an eternity before I had to use the restroom and discovered that something serious was going on.  We rang the nurse who came in and hooked me up to a monitor and started asking tons of questions.  She kept stopping her questions each time the monitor registered a contraction and said "you are having contractions every two minutes. Did you know that?"  Um, yes, thank you. I had realized that.  She then decided that maybe checking my dilation would be a good idea.  Now, every woman who has given birth knows having this checked isn't a day at the beach. But, when the nurse starts checking and her eyes get really wide and she says "oh crap", it causes a little panic. She announced that I was over 7cm and we needed to find a room ASAP.  She asked it could walk to which I replied "I walked in here, didn't I?"

So, I waddled down the hall to a birthing room. They got everything hooked up and started getting all of those fun gadgets and tools out (seriously, they need to keep that stuff out of the laboring mom's line of vision).  By the time I got into the bed, she announced that I had almost reached 9cm, but my water was still in tact. She wanted me to rate my pain from one to ten and I told her that it was about a 5. Not the worst, but not fun either.  She said the dr. would arrive soon and break it and we would be on our way. As if we hadn't been on our way up until that point.

                                      Me in the birthing room. Right before they broke my water.

The dr. arrived and broke my water. And it was then that I  deeply regreted not getting an epidural. Up until then, I was doing fine. I wasn't sure what all that fuss about pain was.  The nurse told me that I had arrived too late to have an epidural, which I said was fine.  After all, it really didn't hurt that bad. Boy, denial can be strong, can't it? The post water breaking pain hit me like a mack truck.  I quickly revised my pain scale assessment to 35.  I couldn't hold it in and I started to cry. Like the baby that I was going to birth.  What had I been thinking? I couldn't do this! How on Earth would I be able to manage?  My dr.(probably the nicest man on the planet) rolled around to my bed side on his little stool and said "Hey, its okay. You want to talk about it?" And I laughed. No, I didn't want to talk! He smiled and told me it was time to push.

At this point, the very nice nurse (to whom I took a plate of apology cookies after the fact) asked if I would like to have a mirror to see my baby being born.  I think I said something to the effect of "Who the hell would want to do that?"  Poor gal.  She was the same lady that announced that J's head was out. My ears heard "He's out" and I thought I was all done. She corrected me, but said "Do you want to touch his head?" I said, "Are you crazy? I just want him out. Now!"

After 20 minutes and 8 sets of pushes, Jackson Ryan Bess was born at 11:34p.m.  And, amazingly, I forgot everything. The pain, the fear, all of my big weekend plans. All I could think about was that little boy a few feet from me screaming his newborn head off. 

Every detail (including some choice moments that I omitted for decency's sake) are forever etched into my brain. And even when I am on the precipice of J's 40th birthday, I am sure I will still be able to recall this story. The story of the best day of my life.

                                                              The new love of my life.

Ryan's 40th

Here is my 40th birthday shout out to my hubby.  I decided to list some of  the wonderful things about him.  I asked J to give me his favorites as well.  Here they are, in no particular order:

1. He knows a lot about Star Wars.

2.   He has a great sense of humor. It is just as strange as mine sometimes, which works out well.


3. "My daddy is funny." Good to know J and I are on the same page.


4. He is an incredible woodworker. For those of you who don't know, my hubby builds awesome furniture. Seriously, check it out: www.singularwoodworks.com

5. He is really good at keeping secrets. He doesn't repeat anything he is told and hates to perpetuate gossip.

6. He is a very hard worker. At his job and at home. He is rarely idle.


7. "He's nice." Simply put. J likes to waste no words.

8. He isn't afraid to kill big spiders.

9. He has tons of friends, which I think reflects on what a great person he is.

10. He is ridiculously patient.

11. He's a cat person.  Compatibility would have been an issue if he had liked dogs.  Luckily, he too likes cats.


12. "He takes me to the Kettle for pancakes." Every Saturday, Ryan takes J out for breakfast.

13. He loves to read. Books, magazines, on line articles or forums.  He reads a ton.

14. He's a great dad.  He adores J, and J adores him.

15. He is a movie nut.

15. He is really great with electronics and if you want to know something about a gizmo or gadget, he's the go to guy. He just helped me tackle an email issue.  Very handy guy to have around!

16. He is handsome.


17. "Daddy is tall".

18. He is passionate about music and loves to find new artists to enjoy before they hit it big.

19. He loves cars. He knows a ton about them and can haggle with a car salesman like nobody's business.

20.  He is very knowledgeable about many, many things. Probably from all the reading. 


21. "He watches Bob the Builder with me."  Jackson loves Bob.  Ryan can tolerate Bob.  I cannot.  I usually read a book while J watches Bob.

22. He's a Bears fan. That automatically makes him awesome.

23. He is ultra competitive.  Maybe just with me, but he loves to win!

24. He uses good grammar.

25. He has nice teeth. Teeth are a big deal to me. Kind of a deal breaker, if you will. His dental hygiene is impeccable.


26. "I like to play with him"- Obviously from Jackson.

27. He is unflappable. I try to maintain a steady calm most of the time, but some things do get me wound up. Nothing gets Ryan wound up.  Ever.

28. He is a big thinker.  Ryan doesn't have small ideas.  A simple project usually turns into a massive undertaking.  He aims high in all that he does.

29. He eats my cooking. Usually with few to no complaints. That nearly qualifies him for sainthood. 

So there they are. Just a few of the many great things about the hubster.  Happy 40th Ryan!

Grandma Juanita

On July 4th, my Grandma Juanita passed away.  As the passing of a loved one often does, this has made me stop and think a lot about her and the memories I have of her. It is hard to select just a few good memories of my grandma.  Since my grandma lived just three doors up the street from my for my entire childhood, I saw her nearly every day.  She was a fixture in my daily life, so there are few memories of important times in my life that she isn't a part of.  

The most prevalent quality I recall about my grandma is that she was a "motherer". She wanted to take care of everyone and make them happy.  The main way she showed this was food.  My cousins, brother and sister will understand exactly what I mean by this.  My grandma loved to feed us.  Upon arrival, we were offered a snack. If we declined, we were asked every 15 minutes or so if we were hungry until we ate.  She kept on hand what each one of us liked and if there was something she didn't have, you just had to ask and she was sure to have it when you visited next. Also, she always had cases of pop stashed in the closets (usually many of them as she loved a good sale and would stock up) and, since it was grandma's house, you could have as many as you wanted! 

And speaking of food, she was also one heck of a cook.  I remember many holiday meals where food just covered the kitchen counter tops.  There were countless containers of cookies, pies, fluff salads and brownies just to name a few. At Thanksgiving, us kids always got our own little pumpkin pie baked in a pot pie tin.  One year during clean up, I recall my sister being amazed by the size of the turkey bones.  My grandma told her they were elephant bones and promptly popped them in the oven to dry them so that my sister could take them to school for show and tell.  My grandma also used to make delicious Sunday lunches.  My typical Sunday afternoon started upon my return from church. I would go to grandma's and watch the Bears play football with my grandpa while grandma cooked lunch for us. 


Grandma also made tons of homemade goodies. Homemade noodles, all kinds of canned goods and every year, she, my mom and my aunt would cut and freeze bag after bag of sweet corn. I recall gathering at grandma's and sneaking bites of the sweet corn while they were bagging it.  My cousins and I always ate it until we had a stomach ache and were sticky from head to toe with sweet corn.  Grandma was also a pretty good seamstress. She could always be counted on to fix a seam or patch a hole in our jeans. She tried to show me how to sew on her sewing machine a few times. I wish now I had paid closer attention!

I also spent many nights sleeping over at her house.  On many occasions, I would be woken up at the wee hours of the morning and drug off to have breakfast.  I was allowed to stay up late, eat after dinner mint ice cream and watch horror movies. The last time I slept over at my grandma's was the night before my wedding.  Grandma's house was a place you could go to eat, play or watch t.v. And her house had air conditioning! Growing up we didn't have it in our home and we spent many hot afternoons soaking up grandma's a.c.


My grandma loved animals and one of our favorite things for many years was her rabbit, E.B.  Grandma loved dogs and cats and fed every stray animal that crossed her path.  She was a hard worker and always took pride in her flowers.  She was often found working in her yard.  Even when she was told to ease up on her activity, she was often out tedning to her flowers, cutting weeds or hanging precariously over the bluff at the back of her house to trim tree limbs.


Granmdma was also probably her grandkids' biggest cheerleader.  She always came to our school events (and drove my cousins and I to school each day for several years). She attended sports games, concerts, church programs and graduations.  You name it, she was there.  She was there for my wedding day and one of the first people to meet J when he was born.

There are so many more stories and memories that come to mind when I think of my Grandma.  I know how lucky I am to have each and every one of them. Although I am sad to have lost my grandma, I am so thankful to have had her in my life.  She was what every grandma should be.  Someone who spoils you. Someone who shares your secrets. Someone who lets you get away with murder and dotes on you and loves you no matter what.  I know I am who I am today because I had her in my life.  Rest in Peace, Grandma. 

Summertime

Summer is officially here! This is without a doubt my favorite time of year.  I love hot, hot, hot days. The hotter the better. I love summer thunderstorms, swimming, grilling and eating outside and warm evenings sitting on the porch.  So far, this summer has been a busy one for our family. 

J has always been a kid that likes being outside.  As soon as the weather warms up, we are outdoors doing anything we can find to keep busy.  It isn't uncommon for us to be up, dressed, fed and out the door by 6:30a.m.  This summer's big project has been redoing our pond.  This has brought many big machines to our house.  J views them as his personal jungle gyms and never tires of climbing all over them.  Recently, we had a mini excavator at the house. J showed some pretty good coordination in handling the machine.

                                                     Future heavy equipment operator?

When he isn't excavating, J loves riding his bike and tractor.  The tractor is one that he received as a Christmas gift from his grandma Jill. It had been Ryan's toy when he was a child and he had it refurbished for J.

                                                           Ryan's old Ford pedal tractor.

We have also spent a lot of time this summer digging in the sand box, playing baseball, riding on the ranger and swimming.  J loves the water and we have waged huge water gun battles many times this year.  Usually, these battles result in Jackson and his dad teaming up on mom.  I am usually given one water gun full of water.  They get the hose, the rest of the guns, the water balloon and the huge bucket.  Once I am out of water, I am essentially target practice for the boys. 

                                               Pants on backwards, crocs on the wrong feet
                                         and the goggles he wore for about three days straight.


Jackson also enjoys spending time in his "Fortress of Solitude". Construction began last summer on J's playhouse.  What started out as a simple idea grew into a massive project that is only now being finished. J will often ask to go to his playhouse after we arrive home.  He will take a snack and some toys and is quite content being in his playhouse.

                                          The club house is now sided, has a rail around the deck
                                                            and a big slide down the side.


We have also been busy creating many "projects" this summer to pass the time (thank you Pinterest). We have made lava lamps, planted and grown veggie plants from seeds, experimented with vinegar and baking soda, baked countless cookies, cupcakes and brownies. We have gone on nature scavenger hunts, picked raspberries and had picnics. We have gone through tons of paint, popsicle sticks and Elmer's glue! J likes to make "presents" for people and can often be found amid a pile of ribbon, stickers and colorful pom pons concetrating on his latest creation. 

                          Despite how it looks, some of the raspberries did make it IN his mouth!

J is also proving to be a tireless worker.  He helps out with whatever project we have going on around the house. He has pulled his wagon around the yard picking up the weeds I have pulled. He has helped sweep the garage, spray weeds and regularly helps his dad mow.  Most recently, J assisted his dad and I in splitting and stacking firewood.  He gathered up the debris and filled his wagon before hauling it to the wood pile.  When he eventually tires of working, he can usually be found digging in the dirt somewhere with his many tractor toys.

Even J's daycare is taking full advantage of the summer weather.  They walk to the town pool each day, make frequent trips to the library and had a field to trip to a local tree farm.  They have attended the first of three Magic Owl plays at Timber Lake Playhouse and spent last week at Bible School each morning. 

                                                      J's class at Johnson's Tree Farm. 

Yes, we love summer around here. Even the rainy days (which have been few this summer so far!).  You know it have been a great summer so far when three bottle of sunscreen have been used, everyone has those weird V shaped tan lines from their flip flops and you fall into bed exhausted every night! Hope you are all having an equally fantastic summer!







                                                          

Memorial Day Weekend

Today it is back to work after a great Memorial Day weekend. If you are from Mt. Carroll, this weekend is synonymous with Mayfest. I love Mayfest. Always have. My hubby isn't that into it, but I am trying to make Mayfest an exciting, highly anticipated event for J as well. 

I talked up Mayfest for the whole week before it so that J would be into going and festing with me. I kicked off my Mayfest with the walk/run on Saturday morning. Afterwards, J and I headed over to check things out. J was bubbling with excitement. This year, one of the featured kids activities was a Big Machine section complete with a fire truck, ambulance, tractors, backhoes and mowers.  There was also a dune buggy. Luckily, we were the only people there for the first hour or so and J got to have his run of the place. He fell in love with the dune buggy and told me at one point "get in mommy, I am driving this home."  I was able to bribe J to leave the dune buggy with the promise of a train ride and lunch.

The train was a rickety, three car train that was driven by a young man with no concept of the fact that he shouldn't drive over curbs or bumps at high rates of speed. I was terrified. J loved it.  We then ventured to the food tent where I was faced with the impossible task of deciding with traditional Mayfest food to enjoy: A pork chop sandwich from the pork producers? Corn on the cob from the Lions? Or a Baptist Men's funnel cake? Tough call. J opted for a hot dog and the corn (which he refused to share with me) and I took a pork chop sandwich. It was a great choice. 

Once our bellies were full we continued our circuit of the Campbell Center grounds. One booth offered face painting and temporary tattoos. J would never go for a painted face, but a tattoo sounded good to him. The board outside the booth displayed the design options. I suggested a green frog or Batman emblem. J requested a red devil tattoo that would only have fit across his chest or back. We passed on the tattoo as I figured 3 was a little too young for him to have satan emblazoned on his body. Maybe next year though ;)

We returned later that evening for music and dancing. J cut a rug with his buddies and my dad played with the band. After sending J home with grandma, I got to have some time to catch up with old friends. This is hands down the best part of Mayfest to me. I love how we can all come together each year and easily fall back into conversation with one another as though we never left off. Many laughs were had and my stomach muscles hurt the next day from all of the riotous laughter we shared.  It was also fun to see every one's growing families.  I really can't believe we all have kids! I remember being a kid and going to Mayfest myself.  Wandering around the campus, going to the teen dance,  working in the booths for various clubs and school groups, doing the Maypole dance.  Now, we all have little ones to bring along and share the fun with. 

This Mayfest was one of the best ones I can recall. We had very un-Mayfest like weather. Hot, sunny and NO RAIN! The weekend was capped by celebrating Memorial Day and the folks that guaranteed our freedom to be here today to enjoy ourselves.  363 days until next year!

My Anni

Today (May 10, 2012) is my ninth wedding anniversary. Wow. 9 years. That seems like an eternity! What is even crazier is that my hubby and I have been together for 13 years (our first date was also this week in 1999).

I texted my husband earlier this week to point out that we had been together for 13 wonderful (mostly) years. He responded that first date anniversaries were not recognized as actual anniversaries and therefore he was not obliged to provide any sort of gift or card. I told him I wasn't expecting anything for the first date anni, just that I wanted to point it out that we have been madly in love for 13 years now.  To which he replied, "13? I am now weeping." Hands off ladies, he's all mine.

Thirteen years ago I was working part time at a local grocery store while I attended college. My future hubby frequented that store and despite my grubby work clothes and pulled back, messy pony tail, he asked me out. Or more accurately, asked me out after he had sought the advice of one of my co workers as to whether or not I would go on a date with one of HIS friends. My co worker asked why he didn't just ask me out.  She must have assured him that on a "regular" day I wore clean clothes and actually brushed my hair, so he took a leap and asked.  And the rest, as they say, is history.

Our first date was a romantic dinner for two at a local bistro called....Sievert's. That's right, Sievert's.  Maybe he didn't want to drive out of town in case dinner bombed and he had to rush me home. But, dinner went well and I was invited back to his house to watch a movie. We arrived at his house and after I was attacked by his cat, we put a movie in, but got distracted by an intense game of Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. (Yes, I see now why he may have still been single.) I still say that the game was a test and that my knowledge of Star Wars must have been impressive enough to warrant a second date because couple days later, he asked me out again and he have been together ever since.

At that time, I had two years of college to finish and lived between the dorms at NIU and home with my p's and made lots of weekend trips home to see Ryan and to work. After college graduation in May 2001, I got my own cute little apartment and lived there while construction of our dream home started that fall. Our engagement came that Christmas and we moved into our new home in March 2002 . Our wedding followed in May 2003.  The four years leading up to our wedding seem like a blur now (although back that I never thought the big day would arrive!).


Ryan and I lived as a family of two (well, 3 if you count our rotten cat, Max) for the next five plus years. We adjusted to each other's habits and settled into a good groove as a married couple.  Our lives were again changed by welcoming Jackson in August 2008.  Hard to believe we have been a family of three for nearly four years.

As I look back over 13 years, so much has happened! College, marriage, starting my career, Ryan starting his dream business, having a child, building a home. It is really a bit overwhelming. We have both changed so much in that time. I barely recognize the kids that went on a first date 13 years ago! I have seen Ryan turn into a wonderful father and seen him achieve so much over the years. And I know I am much diffrent now too. But, even though we have changed, we are lucky that we have changed together. That the people we have become are as compatible as the two dorks who both loved playing Star Wars Trivial Pursuit.

As any married couple, have had our ups and downs. But, I think we have a good thing going.  No one knows me better than Ryan and there is no one I have ever known better than him. When I have news to share, he is the first person I want to tell. I know he will support anything I do and will be honest with me no matter what. He is, at times, my voice of reason (whether I want to hear it or not), but he is also always my ally.  And most importantly, he can put up with me.  That in itself makes him a keeper.  We may drive each other mad from time to time, but each day there is no one I want to be with more.

Happy 9th to my hubby!