Look what I found! And ramblings about J's birthday dinner and Christmas!

So...
It's happened.  Zoe has found her hands!!
It's so awesome to watch her look at them.  Open, closed.  In her mouth, on her dad's chest.  Holding a piece of her blankie.  It's wonderful to see her learn!

Last night Jody and I went to dinner at the fantastic Sweetgrass restaurant on Dataw Island, SC.  We had the most amazing meal.  Our dear friends, Lauren and Jeff, own this gem and treated us by giving us some tastes of several items on the new winter menu.  I had crepes!! Crab and mushroom with a side of garlic broccoli and a roasted tomato.  Jod had a gorgeous filet mignon with a side of a twice-baked sweet potato and asparagus wrapped in filo.  OMG.  If that wasn't enough (and it was, I tell you!), Jeff said we had to try the beef stew.  It was melt-in-your-mouth-good.  AND, we tasted mashed parsnips that were delightful.  Since it was Jody's birthday celebration, we had pluff mud cake with a scoop of ice cream for dessert.  As a gift they also brought out a mug full of pumpkin fudge ice cream.  We ate EVERY SINGLE BITE!!!  Jod was ready to explode by the end.  So we headed back to pick up our girl from her grandparents' house.  GreyBeard and Pamma were really happy to spend time with her.

Before we went, we made Christmas.  The house looks AWESOME, as it did last year when we decorated. I don't know if it's because we're in the spirit now, or because we just changed things around, but it looks sharp!  J was like a little kid when we woke up.  He practically jumped out of bed to decorate.  First to move furniture, then to get the boxes out of the garage.  With herculean strength he brought the Christmas tree in.  Then the decorations.  I didn't realize it, but we have THREE trees.  One large, one smaller and one TINY, which we're calling the Zoe-tree.  It was mine growing up.

There's something about unwrapping the ornaments and remembering where we were when we purchased them, made them, or received them as gifts.  I found the first ornament I received in 1979, and can't wait to get Zoe her first ornament in 2010.  We unwrapped the gorgeous ornament that we were given last year that has our name inscribed.  Our first Christmas as a married couple.  Now our family has one more!

There is lighted garland everywhere, and there are lights outside.  It's a sort of wonderland! Zoe keeps gazing at the lights.  What wonder in her eyes!  She doesn't really get what's going on, of course, and won't next year, either.  But I think we're lucky to have a baby for two Christmases!! One with a tiny one this year, and one with a grabber who will undoubtedly remove the ornaments from the tree next year!! This year we'll open up a savings account for her, and next year we'll give her ribbons and boxes.  :-)

It never really feels like Christmas to me down here.  It's the balmy weather, I think.  But I realized yesterday that we're going to have a whole new meaning on Christmas in the years to come.  Santa will come (if we're nice) and we'll have a whole host of new handmade ornaments to add.  It gave me the most powerful feeling of Christmas I've had.

Oooooooh, I absolutely loooove Christmas.

Tonight's pick-me-up!

Chilling out at Grammy Pammy and GreyBeard's!

Check out how well she holds up her head!

Happy Sunday Night, All!

Zoe and Rusty

Z's First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.



Who doesn't like a holiday where we celebrate what we're thankful for? What we have instead of have not? Who we have in our lives? And, of course, there's the eating.


This year was especially wonderful. We are so thankful for our darling daughter. I'm so thankful for my wonderful, adoring husband. And oh the blessings! We have a home, we have a car, we have jobs in this economy. We have two great little dogs, and the most supportive and loving families who are nearby.





It was quieter at the Vermilyea's home this year. We had about 17 people and 9 pies. Seriously. 9 pies. What does that average out to? about 2 people per pie!? Good Lord these people do it UP! Two turkey breasts, a large turkey, two roasts and all the fixings.

On top of all the food and the new baby this year, we are happy to know that our sister (-in-law) is going to move here with her 3 boys full time.

We just love these guys. They are so sweet and kind and spent a good portion of the days prior to Thanksgiving cooking and baking for the large meal.

The trick to having so much food is that you have leftovers for days. We're sitting here today plotting when we're going back to the house to devour more turkey and stuffing and the sweet potato casserole that I'm proud to say I made very well. I got to make a few Vermilyea family favorites, and really feel like I have arrived. I have always felt I am part of the family, but this sealed the deal.

The great part about joining a large family is that there is always room for one (or two) more. My parents have been with us for Thanksgiving for three years and they love to have a taste of the south. Mom made these delicious brussel sprouts au gratin and I think they went well with the rest of the food. Here are a few great photos of the day. I wonder how many other families ended their Thanksgiving celebrations with karaoke?!

Back to work

Well...

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'm not sure if it is denial...or the fact that I knew I had vacation for Thanksgiving and would be coming back part time...or the fact that I knew we'd have Christmas vacation in only a few weeks...but I actually ENJOYED being at work.

Don't tell Zoe.

I mean...if I had the option, there is NO way I'd even go back to work. BUT, since I HAVE to (like the use of the capital letters?!) I'm really in the best place. I'm fortunate to have a job. And I'm really fortunate to work in a place that is pretty flexible. That said, I haven't been stressed out in quite some time and have already begun to shred my cuticles.

Truthfully, I'm not worried at all about where Zoe will be during the day. We have it better than a lot of other people. We don't have to use daycare. Jod's parents are the best people in the world and the worst thing that Zoe will experience during the day is being held the entire time by her grandfather who positively ADORES her.

I'm worried that I won't care about the student issues that come up at the University. How can I really care about those when I could be at home experiencing my daughter laugh for the first time? Suddenly everything else is so unimportant.

But, I have the job with the benefits. And with an infant, well, we need those benefits. Health insurance, life insurance, etc. Those are really important.

Is it wrong that I'd almost rather see the laughing?

Beware: Shots ahead

This is me. This is me at Palmetto Pediatrics BEFORE I had shots. What the heck?!

My parents are good people, but I'm not sure I can still trust them! They keep telling me this is for my own good--whatever that means. They tell me I don't want Polio--whatever that is. But me? I'm not so sure. I just know they weren't too nice to me this morning.

As you can see in this photograph of me (taken with Mommy's phone) I was in great spirits. I woke up as cheerful as I usually do, had some good morning meals, snuggled in bed with Mom, had a few great pees and poops, and got dressed in a lovely outfit. They put me in the car. We began to ride (one of my favorite pastimes) and we arrived at the nice doctor's office. The nice nurses measured and weighed me, I pooped on them, I met a new doctor who was nice to me, and all seemed right with the world.

Until that nurse came back. She came in and told me I was going to get three shots, an oral medicine and Tylenol. What the heck?! I trusted that lady! I ate the medicine she gave me! She said it would be good for me! And Mom and Dad just sat there and watched.

Then, BAM! It happened. I got sharp things shoved in my legs! What did I do to deserve this? Mom and Dad are always telling me what a good girl I am. Why did I have to be pinched? And why did Mom and Dad DRIVE me to this place? I am NOT happy about this.

It's been a rough day since. I'm cranky and feeling sort of hot. Mommy said it's okay and normal for me to be hot. I've spent a lot of time nursing and sucking on my pacifier. I got more of that good tasting Tylenol stuff and I felt a bit better. I even decided to smile at Mom and Dad! Mom put me on my tummy for tummy time and I really enjoyed it. It was good to have a little time to myself. Mom told me the next few days are going to be filled with family passing me around.

Okay. Now I think I'll fuss. It might be nice to have a little lovin' from Mama.

Zoe's baby dedication

Yesterday Zoe Catherine Vermilyea was dedicated at church. She wore a gown that my grandmother (Grandma Nette) purchased for my cousins, Dori, Diane and Denise. Their names were embroidered on the gown, and my name was added. The plan is to have Diane's son, Braxton's, name added along with Zoe's.

What a fantastic day! The church service was about as perfect as they come. Our pastor, Mark Piotrowski, dedicated her, read briefly about Hannah's story, and gave us a book to commemorate the occasion. Our dear friend, Dr. John Kearnes, gave the sermon about the first Thanksgiving. It was really, really nice. We (unknowingly) picked a good day to have her special day.

Present were Jody, me, both sets of grandparents, cousin Amanda, spiritual guide Fern Illidge, and our loving church family. Everyone loves this little girl--she is so lucky.

Jody, me, Zoe and Pastor Mark

Grammy Pammy, GreyBeard, Jody, me and Baby Zoe

Mimi and JimDaddy with Zoe, me and Jody

The whole family with Pastor Mark