New Backpack, New Semester

When my dear husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I truly couldn't think of anything tangible...the ideas that popped up: a candlelit dinner (that I don't even have to clean up!), a back rub, a pedicure, a night at a little B&B, a long bubble bath. :) But Tanner is a "gifter."

He enjoys picking out presents & prides himself on his good taste (which he definitely has). Being that my birthday has always fallen on the first week of school spectrum, it's usually a busy time & I never truly expect people to remember, let alone get me a gift.

However, I did think of something: I wanted a new backpack to go to class in for this semester (and the endless semesters to follow). And Tanner sure delivered! He got me an awesome one. He gave it to me one day early since I had class tonight.

Boy, getting back into the "school world" is weird after my summer home with Lyndon. I was honestly not too keen on the idea, but tonight wasn't so bad. This semester includes a brutal statistics class & an in-the-field experience (ie, practicum) and I think I will learn a lot. That is the great thing about school....you can never get too high on your high horse because you always find out that there are still so many things you don't know.

I suppose I found that out starting with the first day of kindergarten.

So Happy First Day to the kindergartens, the new college co-eds, the adults going back to pursue things (like almost-33 me), and everyone in between!!

Songs for Lyndon

I make up approximately 32 songs per day. They are not too creative. They are usually 'stolen' melodies. But I'd make up 132 if it means I get to see my little boy's big, happy grin. He absolutely LOVEs to be sung to. Here are two that pop up a lot in our repertoire:

~Sung to "Edelweiss":

Lyndon James, Lyndon James

Every morning you greet me.

Soft & white, oh so bright,

You look happy to see me.

Blossom of snow* may you bloom & grow,

Bloom & grow forever.

Lyndon James, (Hubbert-named),

Bless my baby forever!

*I didn't change the original lyrics here because Lyndon actually IS a blossom of snow...his Great-Grandma (my mom's mom) is Grandma Snow. :)

And another....sung to "We Love You, Conrad" from Bye Bye Birdie:

We love you Lyndon, Oh yes we do.

Mommy & Daddy, we both love you.

When you aren't near us, we're blue.

Oh, Lyndon, we love you!

Yup, so there's just a taste of my daily entertainment. ;)

OH, and when I'm not singing, I've got my nose buried in The Help. Already love how much more story & detail the book goes in to than the movie. Very powerful.

Help Me

There are so many thoughts I have from seeing "The Help" tonight...however, it's late & apparently there was a huge storm at my house while at the movie. Not to mention there are fireworks currently going off from our not-so-bright neighbors. As I wait for the cop cars to collect on my lovely little street, I'll say goodnight. :)

Cousin Camp!

Lyndon & I spent the last 5 days in Arkansas. Most of it was in Conway (my honey's hometown & current habitat of his eldest sis) but there were also trips around the area. Most pointedly, we spent one day in Scott, Arkansas, to visit sister Sunny's co-op farm & eat a burger at a famous (read, Man vs. Food has taken a challenge there) place called Cotham's. Had my sweet little one not been suffering what we presume must be allergies, the weather been a tad more merciful, and --oh yea--this momma didn't suddenly have a mammoth fear of the giant bees she saw coming up to sting said little one.....we may have not gotten in the car to nurse. ;) We DID go see the hogs, baby pigs, and goats. But after that little trek it was off to the A/C in the car for us! We also spent the afternoon at sister Sunny's Little Rock home to celebrate cousins Jax & Jackson as they both embark on the grand age of seven.

Having a 3 1/2 month old did mean that we didn't participate in all the slated 'cousin camp' activities such as the water park and "dig for gold" outside, but I still felt we got the great end of the experience. A majority of the time was just about letting the 3-8 yr olds play together & nurture those special cousin bonding times while the grown ups cooked, talked, and just hung out. I loved it!

Tanner has 3 older sisters. All mothers of 3 children each. (that makes Lyndon cousin #10). And guess what? I love all 3 of those girls! They are 3 very individual, unique women. Yet I truly find things in common with each one. I love to talk music, pop culture, and gardens with Sunny, plus she has a great sense of humor. Joanna & I are both (former) teachers...and we both live in OKC so we see each other quite a bit. She goes above & beyond with offers to watch Lyndon & having us over for dinner. The eldest, Lani, is who I see the least but we always pick right back up where we left off. Until she began to homeschool, she worked as an OT so we love to talk developmental psych-ish kind of things. Not to mention her 2 teenage sons play violin & guitar, so she loves to bounce things in that realm off of me. I could go on & on with more commonalities, but the heart of it is that they treat me like a sister. I should've been nervous coming in as the first female in-law...women can be brutal!...but they never have, nor I predict never will, give me reason to feel like a second-class citizen.

If I try to look from their perspective, I suppose they instantly loved me when they saw how much I loved their brother. He is, after all, the 'baby' of 5 kids & I am sure some maternal protectiveness is warranted. But I suppose they "approved" of me long ago because my role with them fell into place quickly & naturally. That is the thing, though...they aren't the type of women that size people up too quickly. They take it as they see it & go with it.

Most of our conversations revolved around cooking, thrift shopping, kids, babies...

I am quite certain I've given them plenty of reason to think I'm strange...I am the Curl Girl, after all...but I just don't ever get treated like I am. ;)

I can't wait for Lyndon to grow up with all their kiddos.

I am so very grateful for 3 wonderful new sisters!!

Thursday night, Tan & I took the turnpike to Tulsa for some tunes (sorry, alliteration gets me every time). We saw his #1 favorite singer/songwriter, Josh Ritter. I really like him, I do...but the thought of leaving baby somewhere overnight AND being in a different town was a stretch for me. However, I trust & know sis-in-law Joanna so well that I dare say she knows how to take care of Lyndon better than we do. ;) After all, she is raising 3 wonderful boys of her own...doing it quite well. So why the fear? Just new mommy madness, I suppose. I bit the bullet & went. So glad I did! Not only did Lyndon stay the night in the greatest of care (with 3 cousins that were THRILLED to hang with him) but Tanner & I got to revisit some of those moments that occur pre-baby. Driving & talking about life, sharing music....it was great. Jo(anna) is a veteran momma and sent pics of Lyndon smiling to reassure me. :)

Friday was jam-packed: picked up Lyndon, met Gena for lunch, stopped to visit with Grandpa, met back with G at the mall...Lyndon was a doll & went along with all the adventure. Sure, there were fussy times (and gassy times). However, Gena swooped in like the momma bird that she is and insisted on calming the baby. She is a natural, I tell ya. Although in retrospect...I attribute some of his tummy troubles to me (stupidly) having wasabi on my sushi and some tabasco on my chicken. Lisa, you are nursing...don't forget that when you are choosing what you eat!! I love Gena's kids.....Raegan & I enjoyed piecing together Lego people and Greyson had fun sneaking up on me. Greyson is such a sweet kid & sets a great example of the kind of little boy I hope to raise.

Tonight I played a gig that can often be annoying: it's a pub in Bricktown (enter: DB alert!) but I love this gig because there is little set up (they have an already-set PA) and pays well. The owner is so awesome in how he treats local musicians. To my surprise, Tanner came strolling in only because Lindy agreed to watch Lyndon for a while. The gig ended up being fun. Sure, the occasional annoying person that requests the same song (over & over) due to alcohol consumption overkill. But others strolled in that were there for the music, my music. That is something always so refreshing & humbling. Seriously, it's one thing to say it...but people who want to support your artistic endeavors are important. I may not be looking for a record deal, or even trying to play at the best places 'round here (anymore)...but I still love to get hired to share songs. How can a gal complain?

After the gig, Tan & I kept Lindy out much too late discussing dating/marriage and theology. I love when my husband and my lifelong friend can have deep discussion. It means the world to me. Lindy is such a wise soul, as is Tanner, and listening to them bounce ideas to and fro is enlightening to me.

A Journal of Record

Just to record a few things worthy of account.....hmmm, nothing particularly noteworthy, but what are the moments worth remembering?

~Kaitlyn was home for a short visit this weekend, so Lyndon & I went to see her today. She hadn't seen him in a month, so she was surprised to see his wide, happy, reactionary grin. It's fun to be reminded of the milestones when someone sees him after a long absence.

~I am on the verge of maybe being inspired to write a song or two. I'll have ideas, but then dirty dishes or grocery trips lure me since the chance to pursue those mundane tasks are rare. But maybe I'll make time for music this week!

~Speaking of music, this weekend was the annual Woody Guthrie Fest. For the second (or third?) year in a row not only did I not participate as a performer, but I didn't go. The idea of being in the smoldering heat conquered the thirst for creativity yet again. Wonder what will win out next time 'round?

~We had fun yet again celebrating buns in the ovens in our 'music circle.' Jenn & Laura are both close to meeting their baby girls. We took a group picture of the kiddos. There are SO many now! And that was with Gena's little ones even gone! (she was rocking out with Richard Marx down south). And the announcement of Carrie's baby on the way. Plus we mustn't forget Sarah's twins. These group pics are about to get huge!

~Tanner & I are pretty darn good about Lyndon's bedtime routine (if I can toot the horn). Bath, diaper, prayer, song, leave...we do it every night. Yet tonight, while watching a TV rerun of "Four Weddings & a Funeral," little boy crashed out in my arms. I didn't wanna put him to bed, just wanted to hold him like that for a while. Gotta love & savor those moments! I'll trade the routine to have that once in a while. ;)

~Aforementioned movie reminded me that I want to explore more British TV shows. We don't have cable, thus no BBC. And the PBS British shows just don't hook me, they actually kinda depress me. :) So, a little google followed by a little Netflix...voila! I've got a few series in my que to check out now. I'll write about any I thoroughly enjoy.

~I used to pride myself on having little to no TV addictions. That changed when I realized that a) nursing quit hurting & I decided to stick it out longer and b) the only way it works really well is lying down, thus we do 99% of our feedings in bed by the TV. With Netflix & DVR, the boobtube (ha, great pun!) is my new playground. Though DVR causes instant reflexes to hit 'fast forward' even when you are watching real-time television.

~In reference to TV controls, I wish there were a 'pause' button on summer. No schoolwork, no job (paid, that is), no place I gotta be with the exception of a gig or two and a few lessons. I enjoy the simplicity. I don't know if my brain gets challenged too often, but can anything replace learning about caring for a little one? Mundane but important. I try to remember the bigger picture: this won't last forever & some say I will yearn for the day again. Someday, God-granted, I'll be finished with my current line of study, waking up for work, sifting through papers in my office, and wondering if little Lyndon is having a good day at school. Wondering if he'll like the note I packed with his lunch admist the flurry of the morning rush.

Fragments of Friday

Truly, this is fragments:

~can't quit peeking on little boy. i know he sleeps & grows, but I just want to SEE it. he is so sweet.

~i tried to meet up with a friend today & my timing was off. i got there too early and lyndon was fussy. i knew i had to get home. good thing my friend is a mom and she gets it!

~another friend of mine does not have her own children yet, but she gets it. she has the biggest heart and has offered to watch bambino tomorrow night while tan and i go out. what should we do?

~then there's g, who has a family...not to mention she is a rock star. she offers to rock baby while i run errands all the time. you are too good to me! you make mommyhood look so effortless!

~i do have dreams outside of mommyhood. i want to finish the masters program i started. i want to write a few more songs. but, honestly, being a good mom to lyndon (and a great wife) top it all. i never knew that til i had those boys in my life.