In case you somehow missed it, Emily had her baby! Yay! I know many of you are close to being as excited as I am about this joyous event. You might also be as upset as me that you are unable to be present to hold the darling little bundle.
You might be wishing you could be a good neighbor and bring them a meal for their first days settling into a family of three. Well, have no fear, you can! Check out this link for a MealBaby registry that will allow you to send them a gift card to a restaurant that will either deliver to them or allow them to send out a friend/family member who is present. [of course, if you are a local, you can use this as well!]
Come on Lobsters! Let's show the Fazakerley's what great long distance neighbors we can be!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Burgers and Fries
One of my favorite memories of my mother: When I was in preschool, my class let out about an hour before my little sister's. My mom would pick me up, and to kill the time, she took me out for a burger, fries, and a milk shake at the Big Boy down the road. While this is no lesson worth advocating in an age of childhood obesity, it was so special to get her to myself for that hour. I remember that time as being blissfully happy.
With Sofia all to myself for a few days when Manny was out of town recently, I decided I needed to take it a bit easy and treat myself to a break from cooking. So we went to try out a burger place I'd never been to. If you haven't been to Five Guys, and you enjoy a good burger and fries, I would encourage you to check this place out. It was so much food it ended up providing me with two meals. The fresh cut fries were delish, and they had what was by far the fanciest touch screen soda machine I've ever seen in my life.
But the real joy was when I sat down with my food. Ok, french fries just always make me happy. But realizing I was getting to relive that moment from my childhood - mother and daughter on a private little date, enjoy a burger together - I nearly teared up.
I love my baby girl so much. Mom, thanks for creating that memory way back when, and teaching me what a joy motherly love can be. I love you!
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
things i am looking forward to as a not pregnant person
I've been writing about pregnancy a ton recently, so I thought I would mix things up and write about the opposite of pregnancy - things I am looking forward to as a not pregnant person:
1. Shiraz.
2. Feeling like all of my old clothes are new and exciting.
3. Wearing more than four outfits each week.
4. Not being asked if I'm having twins.
5. Not having people say "WHOA!" without thinking when they see me.
6. Sitting on a couch without my back hurting.
7. Flipping over in bed with minimal effort. (Specifically, not having to make Jeff turn off my bedside light if I'm facing away from it because it's too hard to flip back over just to turn off a light.)
9. Strawberry daiquiri.
10. Painting my toenails.
11. Moscato.
I am not an alcoholic, I promise.
Love,
Emily
1. Shiraz.
2. Feeling like all of my old clothes are new and exciting.
3. Wearing more than four outfits each week.
4. Not being asked if I'm having twins.
5. Not having people say "WHOA!" without thinking when they see me.
6. Sitting on a couch without my back hurting.
7. Flipping over in bed with minimal effort. (Specifically, not having to make Jeff turn off my bedside light if I'm facing away from it because it's too hard to flip back over just to turn off a light.)
 |
| 8. JUMPING! |
10. Painting my toenails.
11. Moscato.
I am not an alcoholic, I promise.
Love,
Emily
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Happy Birthday Eiley!!!
Happy zeroth birthday Eiley Grace Fazakerley!!!
Report from mama Emily:
"eiley grace is here! 8 lbs 11 oz, 20 inches. hurt like whoa :-)"
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Report from mama Emily:
"eiley grace is here! 8 lbs 11 oz, 20 inches. hurt like whoa :-)"
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Labor!
Just got a call from Emily. Water broke at 3:30 this morning. Mama, papa, grandparents and Aunt Jenna are all at the hospital. Emily is comfortably enjoying her epidural. More updates to come when we "have a person" she says. Prayers and well wishes are welcome! Let's send out some encouragement for Emily and little Eiley!
Homesick
When I face big transitions – graduating from college, getting married, having a baby, moving – I get homesick. With a baby in my arms and being in the midst of packing for yet another move, the sickness is creeping back in. but I’m not sure where to be homesick for this time.
Home has been Houston, Texas; Santa Barbara, California; Berkeley, California; and it’s about to be in Maine.
My parents transformed my first home from a one bedroom red-brown bungalow in a city smaller than 10 blocks into an incredible, cozy house for a family of four. That house has been torn down. My happy place used to be my grandfather’s ranch in Conroe, “Little Creek Hollow,” which was an adorable little farm house with a fireplace and a loft with a tiny window looking out on the creek, forest, and cow pasture surrounding it. The trees were cut for lumber, the property was sold, and I’m told the land is now littered with trailer homes instead. My first apartment with my husband was condemned, torn down, and built over. My grandmother’s house, a place of discovery, comforting food, stimulating conversation, and presents, was one of the last places that I still had left from my childhood that I could still return to. It has just been sold to new owners. I feel like my past is being erased behind me the more I move forward.
My parents transformed my first home from a one bedroom red-brown bungalow in a city smaller than 10 blocks into an incredible, cozy house for a family of four. That house has been torn down. My happy place used to be my grandfather’s ranch in Conroe, “Little Creek Hollow,” which was an adorable little farm house with a fireplace and a loft with a tiny window looking out on the creek, forest, and cow pasture surrounding it. The trees were cut for lumber, the property was sold, and I’m told the land is now littered with trailer homes instead. My first apartment with my husband was condemned, torn down, and built over. My grandmother’s house, a place of discovery, comforting food, stimulating conversation, and presents, was one of the last places that I still had left from my childhood that I could still return to. It has just been sold to new owners. I feel like my past is being erased behind me the more I move forward.
So I just described several places, actual physical structures. And you might say, “it’s not the place that matters, it’s the people.” To that I say, a) I think place actually does matter to some extent. And b) yes, you’re right. But I’ve noticed even my facebook newsfeed favors my friends that are local. It is just easier to be in relationship with people that are nearby most of the time. There are plenty of people who really only function this one way. So in a sense, people and place are often inextricable.
Often, the people you love in your life are so tied to place, that as you leave that place, most of those relationships fade. BUT – some of them do not. Some of them actually come alive in a whole new way.
I think I’ve just realized that one thing that knits my identity together, that preserves a sense of home that can not be erased, is the fact that I have dear long distance friends that have been with me through all of these transitions.
For example, take my friend Libby [a faithful commenter on this blog and writer of her own blog].
We’ve been friends since our very early teens. She knew me when I still lived in my little bungalow, she’s been in my grandmother’s house, I got to visit her college dorm multiple times. We went on a double date with our boyfriends who both turned into husbands. She was the one friend around to attend my Texas bridal shower. Our pregnancies overlapped, and I’m right behind her in the journey of having a husband enter academia. We’ve seen each other through many transitions of place and identity. And as much as I am a “different person” today from who I was way back when in the 90’s! I still have Libby for a friend. And that truth does something to unite the pieces of me that have fallen off, gotten erased, and grown throughout that journey. What a dear comfort!
We’ve been friends since our very early teens. She knew me when I still lived in my little bungalow, she’s been in my grandmother’s house, I got to visit her college dorm multiple times. We went on a double date with our boyfriends who both turned into husbands. She was the one friend around to attend my Texas bridal shower. Our pregnancies overlapped, and I’m right behind her in the journey of having a husband enter academia. We’ve seen each other through many transitions of place and identity. And as much as I am a “different person” today from who I was way back when in the 90’s! I still have Libby for a friend. And that truth does something to unite the pieces of me that have fallen off, gotten erased, and grown throughout that journey. What a dear comfort!
Thank goodness Libby is one of a lovely bouquet of such friends. A beautiful arrangement I can bring with me into my new home, where I do not know a soul. This way I can still be comfortable in being me, and be patient for the new friendships to develop and build on who I will become. Thank you Libby. Thank you long distance friends. The more I think on you, the more grateful I am for the essential roles you play in my life!
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