Margot is One-derful

Margot turned one on Sunday and we celebrated with about 30 of our favorite people.



 I've always wondered why are 1st birthdays such a big deal? The child can't really enjoy it. Well, now that Margot has reached this milestone herself, it has finally sunk in for me. Time is passing quickly, and as a parent, you want to celebrate it all and soak everything in. There's this constant feeling (at least for me) that I'm in the midst of the best years of my life. Time really does start passing at warp speed as soon as a child enters your life...

 

A lot of love was put into the birthday cake. Granny (my mom) was with us for 6 days and baked about 50 cupcakes (some vanilla and some chocolate) for the big day.

 

 

She loved playing in her new police car. I can just picture the fun she'll have with this on Boundary ave when the weather warms up!

 

"I've got my eye on you, Tennessee."

 

 

Granny also made us Swedish Glogg as one of the (many) festive beverages (champagne!) at the party. We warmed wine, rum, almonds, figs, raisins, cinnamon sticks, and cardomom pods on the stove for a few hours. It was so.good.

 

Singing Happy Birthday with Riley, ever-present.

 



Our neighborhood favorite, Riley, came with her mom and dad and little brother Tate. She was a huge help and forced  encouraged people to where party hats and use the blowers. She took her job very seriously and we were appreciative for it:)

 

Riley can't get enough of Margot, and we can't get enough of Riley!

 

Hmm...who does Margot look like?

Margot, Riley, and Kelsey

Unfortunately, the basement wasn't completely finished for the party, but we were still able to make use of the space. I snapped this after all the chaos subsided. It was nice to have a space for the kids to play.

We had the football game on which everyone flocked to, bien sur.

It was a wonderful first birthday.

We love our sweet girl, but please Margot, stop growing so fast!

 

Queensbury Christmas

Right now in Queensbury, it's 36 degrees and snowing. In fact, snow will be falling on and off for the next few months because it's winter and that's what happens in upstate New York when it's cold. 

To me, this is heaven.

My parents' side porch, with lights reflecting and the Christmas tree inside.

This time of year, I'm reminded of where my first ideas of Christmas came from. It was pretty idyllic from the old farm house we lived in, to the small stone church where we celebrated on Christmas eve. We had scones on Christmas morning and chocolate made it's way into every meal (at least for my sister and me on Christmas day). I remember the fireplace burning constantly. Our stockings were hand-knitted by my grandma Holland and my mom would put a walnut in the toe and an orange in the heel. I thank my parents for teaching us to appreciate the simplicity of it all. These days, I find myself trying to recreate the Christmas I remember as a kid. I suppose we all do this a little...

While I'm also enjoying new definitions of Christmas for our family of three (which includes the mild winter weather of Maryland, trips to Texas, and making Berliners with Sassy), deep down I hold my childhood memories sacred. Thanks Mom and Dad! 

Officer Margot

This is how Margot started off her birthday. By the time this video had been taken, Tennessee already had a speeding ticket and Tucker had two citations. Jeez, Margot. She's a tough cookie.

We Are White Oak

I think last Friday was a day where we'll all remember where we were when we heard the news about Sandy Hook. I had just gotten into my car and heard Obama's voice on the radio, speaking about the tragedy. His long pauses after he spoke about the innocent victims reflected the overwhelming sorrow that we all were feeling as we reacted to the news. Good lord...it was completely senseless.

 

 Every time I watched the news, I ended up sobbing, as if someone in my own family had been affected. Has something changed since I have a child too? Is it that I work in a school myself? Maybe, but I think this incident has struck a deep chord in all of us, and finally, as a country, we may be ready to face the fact that we're not doing enough to protect our must innocent and most vulnerable from gun violence.

 When I came back to school on Monday, our students and staff were reeling. Oddly, it was our younger students who expressed the most sadness. Some staff talked about feeling unsafe and worrying about their own security. Our counseling department created a message and went on the TVs school wide to deliver it. We ended our message by saying "We are White Oak" (a phrase we use often) and adding "and we care."

At lunch, students had the opportunity to write down their feelings on green and white hearts (Sandy Hook's colors) and we stapled them to the bulletin board. Everyone who walked by remaked how beautiful it was. Having a tangible and visual place to express emotion was powerful for everybody.

While we continue to talk about our own safety procedures, especially with students who are new to the US, we also talk about how this situation makes no sense. Conversations about gun laws and deeper mental heath issues need to take place within families, but in school we can talk about how we come together to support one another in a time of tragedy. White Oak, with all it's quirks and imperfections, has done this well.

Holiday Shenaningans



  We had no fun at Eric and Amy's Ho Ho Hot Remix party last Friday. It was so boring. Yawn.

The problem is, Amy and Eric just don't know how to throw a party. Everyone was so uptight and awkward.

The guys were forced to play poker; poor things.

Luke and I shared DJing duties just to try to liven things up a bit. Have mercy.

 

Ok...actually, it was a great party and the shenanigans were in full effect. Amy had to rescue Abner from our rowdiness. Sorry little man!

 

Thanks for hosting Amy and Eric! Margot thanks you for getting her parents off her hands for a night and letting them have some champagne and fun.

 

This Matters

As a school counselor, I see all kinds of need everyday.  A lot of it is the kind of need that makes your heart ache, makes you uncomfortable, and wonder what a child's home life is like. The families of my students work hard, everyday. Many mothers work 12 hour days and fathers work 12 hour nights. This is how they survive and attempt to grasp the "American Dream". They take pride in what they do and the homes they keep, but sometimes, they can't catch a break.

 

This organization is just plain essential to what I do. Because of Neediest Kids, I've been able to give kids coats, eye exams and glasses, food, and medical services. People talk about creating change and helping those in need theoretically, but this organization feels the urgency that I do and gives families a hand when they need it. Last night, I brought a student to get new glasses and he was over the moon, all because of the opportunity that this organization (in collaboration with Bridge To Success)  provided.

 

If you're considering a donation this time of year, please consider Neediest Kids. They practice what they preach and are a god send to the students I know.

Rosi-er Rosebud

 

As you can see, the rosebud is feeling better.

While she's still not happy about drinking with her new bottle, she's in good spirits when we're not trying to feed her or make her nap with arm restraints. Go figure.

One thing is certain: we are as eager for her to get back to regular eating and sleeping as she is.

 Tucker's been home with M for the past few days. He had to work yesterday afternoon, so I left work early and Margot and I played for a few hours before we headed to the airport to pick up Sassy.

"I'm almost 1! Can you believe it?!"

Fathers & Daughters

We had Sunday brunch at home (the best kind) with Ty, Liz, Emma, and Cameron. While the coffee was brewing and egg sandwiches were being assembled, I snapped this pic of the dads and their daughters. I love how alert Margot is! We gave her a break from her super hero arms for a bit and she seemed to like that a lot.

Everyday, she's eating a little more and sleeping a little better.  More to come...

Bravest Patient

Friday was the big day. The surgery went well and Margot is getting better and better by the day. It will be a few weeks until things are really "normal", yet we are in the midst of redefining normal for her anyway. We're thankful that the toughest day is over and we can look forward to M making progress everyday. 

In retrospect, I feel a little like I've been holding my breath in anticipation of this day. Tucker and I both can breathe a little easier now that this is behind us.

We arrived at Children's at 7am, before all the hustle and bustle. It was a welcome departure from the chaos that we've found in past visits.

 Itty bitty Margot next to the giant Christmas tree. It was such a cute juxtaposition; I couldn't help myself:)

At the surgical care center, only parents were allowed to wait. It was hard not to look around and wonder why these other sweet kiddos were there, too.

 

After we checked in, we had to wait, and wait...

and wait. Finally, around 10:30am, the surgical team came and got Margot. Deliriously tired and hungry, she went easily into the arms of the assisting doctor whose goatee absolutely blew her mind. Tucker and I were chopped liver (and happy to be so) and relieved that the "hand off" had gone so smoothly.

During the surgery, we tracked her progress by following her status on the board below. When the surgery was complete, Dr. Oh came out into the waiting room and told us everything had gone well. 

Seeing her in Recovery as she slowly woke up and the anesthesia wore off was probably the hardest part. She and I sat in this chair together, with the blanket hiding all the wires connected to her, all afternoon.

We were placed in a large double room which we had all to ourselves. Margot slept briefly in her crib and the rest of the time she slept on Tucker or me. In the room was also a reclining chair and a couch that, when fully pulled out, was narrower than a twin bed. We got the distinct feeling that the hospital didn't want us getting too comfortable. Well played, Children's Hospital.

The Vecta was an important part of maintaining Margot and our sanity at the hospital. It's this amazing machine that has water flowing, bubbles, floating balls, lights, and a projector showing fish swimming through reefs. 

Margot was captivated by it and it helped her to not notice her pain for a little while. A very sweet nurse named Theresa had the Vecta brought to our room for us to use whenever we needed.  Kudos to whoever invented this machine.

 Our nurse was Hannah who grew up and went to college in Maine. It was fitting that Margot wore her lobster hoodie to go home.

 While the arm restraints don't quite make our list of favorite baby gadgets, they do make our little cherub look like a super hero. Super Margot!

 Tucker with Margot, giving her new/temporary bottle a try as she cheers herself on.

There were so many people who made/are making this situation easier on Margot and us. All those blankets we were given when M was born have turned into sources of comfort and soft, tactile distraction for Margot. All the emails, texts, and phone calls have lifted Tucker and my spirits, allowing us to take better care of Margot. The visits and deliveries have been happy diversions from a stressful circumstance.

Every thought and prayer has made a difference. Thank you everyone!