a day in the life

After the oodles of adjectives I used to describe life in the south yesterday, I thought I'd lighten it up today with a photographic story rather than a written ramble! Happy Friday love doves!

a weekend away

Two years ago I decided to take a teaching position in Tennessee. Three months after the school year started, I became pregnant with Theodore. As it became increasingly evident that very little (if any) of Ryan's work would be in TN, we decided to pack up our baby belly and head home to the heartland. However, my enchantment with the South hasn't faded and I frequently find myself missing life south of the Mason-Dixie. Thanks to a wonderful husband who was willing to do full-time daddy duty last weekend, I snuck away for my first post mommyhood fix of Tennessee.

Summer is my favorite time to visit the South, I adore the heat. A long and feverish season when the air is so heavy and thick, you wear it like a cloak. When the smell of ditch weeds and tobacco fields swirls through open windows with each lethargic sigh of the breeze. When the Osage and Magnolia envelope the landscape, speaking softly to all of nature as if to encourage its survival during the impoverished months. It is a world all its own.....

The nectorious sweet tea, peach produce stands, parched red clay, eternal.

The white craftsmen houses, oversized front porches, firefly performances at dusk, so enduring.

The weeping shadow of catalpas, the drawl, the music....a world without end, amen.

Clearly I had a lovely weekend letting it all soak into my soul. And by the time Monday blew in I was overflowing, and ready to get home to my Ryan and Teddy.

happy father's day ryan

I was out of town for Ryan's 2nd Father's Day, however the reports in from father and son sound like they had a wonderful time together at Troy's Music Festival. Teddy in the backpack and daddy on foot, they spent the afternoon jammin' out to some great artists, including Cracker...one of our favorites!

I've been looking for an excuse to post this funny video I came across of Ry and Teddy in the early months. I think Father's Day is just the occassion.

Work it baby, work it!

the traveling parade trio

Last Saturday, in an ongoing effort to think of fun, Teddy-friendly activities to celebrate a first birthday, we drove an hour south to the town of Hudson for their annual Flag Day parade. Earlier in the week I'd heard a morning news commentator mention the upcoming fanfare with great anticipation, saying "my family never misses it!" Sounded like something our family may not want to miss either....

We envisioned.....
A.) An adorable town on the Hudson River, surrounded by the Catskill Mountains.
B.) Lots of fire engines, tractors, and police cars for my oh-so-boy Teddy bear.
C.) A place filled with other children...perfect for the toddler who loves to people watch. By people watch, I mean stare adoringly at anyone under 3 feet tall, with a slack jaw and a mile long trail of drool hanging from his chin.

We Discovered....
Although there were big trucks for Teddy and children a-plenty....the town was a little on the rough side. Either parades bring out the crazies or Hudson was showing its back country Appalachia roots. There were more tramp stamps, cigs, and visible butt cheeks than the last time I hung out at Tootsies Tavern. The only thing people seemed to be short on was teeth. No joke.

Despite the odd crowd, we managed to park ourselves next to another family and enjoyed the snare drums and patriotic songs with the best of them. On the drive home, I proposed becoming a family of parade groupies who travel from town to town each weekend following the fairs. Ry said he didn't think it was the gig for our family.

my first birthday cake

Last weekend was one big birthday celebration! It began on Friday night with dinner at a small, neighborhood Italian restaurant. They had the perfect set-up for our birthday boy, thanks to patio seating. What could be better than a plate full of eggplant pasta...AND getting to eat OUTDOORS! He was as happy as a Georgia peach! It's funny, I've never known another baby who enjoys eating out so much! He just loves all the commotion, loud conversations, laughing, and everyone partaking in his favorite activity...food consumption!

On Saturday we went to a parade (I'll dive into the details of that in tomorrow's blog) and ended the festivities on Sunday with a day at the park and a cake celebration at home. Below is a video of our cake prep and tasting on Sunday. Sorry I didn't edit and cut down its length yet!



It was a fabulous birthday weekend! Thank you all so much for the sweet messages, songs, cards, and gifts! You are truly the best and our little boy is so blessed to have you in his life!

happy birthday theodore

June 12th. Teddy's first birthday. This is truly a day of celebration, joy, and achievement for not only our Teddy bear, but for Ryan and I as well. How much life has changed in a year...

I remember those first few sleep deprived, delirious days at home. Every night I felt thankful we'd made it through another day. I'd say to myself "Okay, this is good, we made it through day # 6. He is 6 days old now. Thank goodness. It is going to get easier now." Although the shift was never quite as swift as I'd hoped, over the course of the year our days (and nights!) have certainly become much easier.

Teddy too, has changed. Physically, he went from being unable to hold up his own head to learning how to walk. At first he didn't even know how to smile, now he rolls on the ground in fits of laughter. Most special though is how he's learned to love. He wasn't an overly cuddly baby, he never really wanted to snuggle in. Now he loves to be held and cuddled. Whenever I get down on the floor, he runs over to give me a hug. It is just soo sweet...his little legs move as fast as they can to get to me and give me my hug before I get up again. Plus he still loves to give kisses....he goes on kissing rampages, giving like 10 in a row!

Theodore brings such joy into our lives. He is the whole reason Ryan and I went from being a couple in love, to a family in love. What a gift. When I was a little girl my mom used to say to me "If God told me I could go to every door in the whole world and pick out any daughter, I would still pick you." Well my baby boy, If God told me I could go to every door in the whole world and pick out any son, I would still pick you. Happy birthday my sweetheart.

at this time last year

Whenever I think back to those last few days before I had Theodore, I remember this day a year ago. I was 5 days overdue with my baby bundle. We were so excited and anxious to meet our little one. When I woke up that morning and grudgingly realized another night had passed without the "Honey, it's time" I was so bummed. I desperately wanted to get things moving so we hit the lakes for a long walk. And LONG it turned out to be! We intended to walk only Cedar, but after that was finished and I still felt annoyingly great, we continued on to tackle Harriet and Isles as well. All in all I think I walked about 10 miles that morning, at 5 days past due with a 9.3 lb baby in my belly!

That evening we went to Diane and David's for a little family dinner in celebration of Judy and Darrel's 30th Wedding Anniversary and Aimee's 20th birthday. It was a wonderful night filled with family, laughter, and lots of excitement over the baby to come....

Here is a tiny clip of the birthday girl that day. I apologize for the video quality, I'm not sure why it is playing back so poorly.

Happiest of Birthdays to our dear Aimee Kathrine. Wishing you the sun, moon, and stars on your 21st.

from pregnancy to toddlerhood

As Theodore's 1st birthday nears, we've been looking back nostalgically at our home videos from the past 12 months. We thought it'd be fun to share a few throughout the week in celebration of June 12th and the VERY BEST summer blessing ever!

Late last spring, a few weeks before the baby joined our family, we planted a tree in his or her honor (we didn't know the sex) out at our land. Here are some clips from the day!



In the past 2 months, our Junebug has really started to change from baby to little boy! I keep saying to Ryan, "Look at Teddy! Look how big he is!" Yesterday he wore actual sneakers to the park...hard soles, laces...the whole shebang. He looked way too grown up walking in around in such big boy shoes.

Thank goodness, when he sleeps he still looks just like my baby :)

1st birthday, here we come! Have a lovely Monday dear friends.

summer reads

With the warm, long days of June finally here, I am ready to dive into some of my favorite warm weather novels. I'm a seasonal reader. In the winter, I prefer cold, snowy stories. In the summer, they need to be hot, humid, and maybe even a little sultry! On Wednesday night as I set up my book case, I was sure to leave out a few that had already come to mind...

* Turner's Crossroads by Penelope J Stokes

* Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

* Cane River by Lalita Tademy

* Secret Lives of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Do you do the same? Crave the same stories at the same time each year? What are your summer favorites?

I'm so happy to have my little reading nook set up here in New York. Although I'm sure the men in our family would prefer I didn't drag around every single book I own to every location we go, I can't help myself. They are my loves and you never know when I might need one :)

because we like food

I just returned from the grocery store and I'm excited! They have good food here!

Well, let me start off by saying those of us from Minnesota are spoiled with easy access to great food. The supermarkets are filled with a wonderful selection of produce that is not only priced well, but pretty darn fresh. Ryan and I longingly speak of our grocery store in Minneapolis all the time. Even in Big Lake though, I was impressed by the selection of natural foods available at Coborn's. Bonus...the staff was knowledgeable, the meat was never scary, and they carried my favorite brand of peanut butter. Wonderful.

With that said, not all places we travel have the same quality or selection of food. Most recently, we struggled in Colorado. There were basic items I needed that the neighborhood Safeway did not carry. Honestly, who doesn't sell chicken breasts on the bone or curry? Not much in the way organic either...

Don't get me wrong, I am by no means a food snob. One of my biggest complaints about Whole Foods was that I couldn't buy the actual, factual Honey Nut Cheerios there. Also, I typically buy all shelf items at WalMart, thanks to the "unbeatable prices." :) I just like access to a wide range of goods and from this morning's experience, I should have little trouble here. I was able to find all the ingredients for tonight's soup, tomorrow's pasta, and Friday's tacos without a single hitch! Fresh, fast, and easy made for a happy mommy/baby team as we left the store. In all truth, Ted's just happy to hang around food.

a new york state of mind

The Alcott trio + 2 furry felines arrived in New York! Teddy and I flew in on Saturday. Ryan and the cats arrived a few days earlier.

A little about the place we now call home:

We are living in an apartment community nestled on a sixty-acre nature preserve. The grounds are great, secluded and set back from the main road. There are walking trails throughout the property, perfect for the mini-man to practice his new skill. The community itself sits half-way between 2 separate towns. You feel their age and history immediately, as many neighborhoods are filled with old brick row houses. It's fascinating to think most of these towns were founded around the same time as the Revolution. Although it is always difficult to pick out housing via the Internet, I think this will work out well. I can't wait to explore!

For now though, the only thing to worry about is unpacking and trying to get our babe back on his regular sleep schedule. Soon enough weekends will be filled with trips down to the city or adventures in the Adirondacks. Tonight it just feels good to curl up with my husband and know we will be here for awhile.

east coast bound

* Teddy with his Grandpa at our house on the lake. Best Friends.

Teddy and I leave tomorrow for New York. We've had a wonderful time in Minnesota and as usual hate goodbyes. I forgot how beautiful the lake I grew up on is in the summer. To wake up each morning and have my peanut butter toast on the back deck was such a treat. Everything about my hometown just seemed to wrap itself right around my heart and pull me in. It never felt so good to be home.

Now though we are on to new adventures in Albany. Ryan drove out earlier this week. His dad followed with a U-haul full of our things. They've both reported that the landscape is beautiful, rolling hills dotted with quaint New England towns. It sounds like we will settle in nicely.

xoxox's to my favorite Minnesotans. We'll be home soon. I promise.

perfect.

Okay I've met her. The most beautiful, sweet baby girl in the whole wide world. I'm absolutely positive she was sent straight from heaven. Cecelia Lynn Cullen was born on April 11th, but due to our out of town status we weren't able to meet her until just yesterday. She was perfect. A gorgeous head of hair, blue eyes, and as dainty as a daisy.

The new parents are doing great. Shannon is a natural mother. It was so fun to watch her take care of her baby and CeCe just loved her mama to pieces. Whenever Shan picked her up she seemed to peacefully let out a little sigh and then she would snuggle right in. Chris too, is falling right into fatherhood. Baby girl Cullen looks very much like her daddy...and I have a feeling Chris didn't mind a bit.

Like everyone else, Teddy loved the new baby. They were hilarious together! CeCe would let out a high-pitched newborn cry and Teddy would imitate it with a startling little shriek of his own. Then later Ted whined about something and CeCe responded with a whimper. They definitely seemed to empathize and care about the other. I knew an arranged marriage was a good idea!

Welcome to the world baby girl. It was so good to be introduced.

the red wagon companions

Yesterday Teddy had a blast with his cousins at Grandma and Grandpa's house! Finally, following a long Colorado induced absence, the three pint sized Alcott boys reunited! They had a ball! Dex and Dash were so stinkin' sweet to Teddy. They let him tag along all afternoon and even picked activities that the new walker would enjoy! He was in heaven. I absolutely adore the above photo. Dex is linking arms with his little bro, as Dashie holds Teddy's hand. Precious...

Our little guy loved pushing a wagon through the yard. Dexter was so smart and pulled another wagon along side. Teddy could not have been more pleased....a game with his cousin that involved marching back and forth, and each with their very own wagon....he thought it was the best!

....and as you can tell from the photos, it is beautiful right now in Minnesota. It is so nice to be home.

sayonara manitou

Unfortunately, our time in Manitou Springs has come to an end. This afternoon Theodore and I fly home to Minnesota. Ryan will start the drive tonight after work. We are so sad to leave Colorado. From the moment we arrived, it was love at first sight. There are so many Midwest transplants here. I think it is one of those places that once you come, you never want to leave.

We plan to be in MN through Memorial Day. Next week will be devoted to packing the copious amounts of miscellaneous goods currently sitting in storage, spending time with family, hanging out at our land, and most exciting...meeting adorable little Cecelia Cullen! I'm already planning an arranged marriage.

Ryan will start work in Albany, New York the following week. Teddy and I will join him soon after. We'll keep you posted as the timeline begins to play out.

Teddy changed and grew so much during our time here. Someday it will be fun to think back and remember that it was in Colorado that he took his first steps. Each day he continues to improve. Right now one of his favorite games is to march around with Ryan and I, back and forth, back and forth. The video below is a glimpse at how well he is doing :)

P.S. The neighbor has a rooster. Understandably, Teddy is fascinated.

cars of manitou

As a great deal of any given day is spent walking the neighborhood streets of Manitou Springs, we've come to notice a familiar theme...cool, hilarious, and all together note-worthy vehicles. Although a large percentage of locals operate old Volkswagen vans complete with curtained windows and two-tone paint jobs, the other dread locked drivers are pretty unique in their choices as well. In Minnesota, we just don't have such a colorful array of cars to choose from...there must be something to be said for salt-free winters.

I can't help but wish this song was streaming through for you....

catch you on the flip side.

peace.

our mailman

I have a wonderful cousin who is a thrift store maniac! She is constantly nabbing great deals on an array of goods. Before Theodore was born, while i aimlessly wondered the baby aisle at Target, Melissa was out buying all sorts of fabulous second-hand treasures for our June arrival. One of the novelties she picked up was a toy mailbox. In the last month it has turned into Teddy's most favorite thing! He adores placing his little valuables in it and then giggles when he later finds they are still where he left them....who da' thought?!

More recently he's been getting his kicks from objects that spring out when he opens the door. Since this peek-a-boo effect does not happen on its own, we've been helping out a little bit.

Both myself, and Teddy's late Grandma Morrow had an affinity for snail mail. Maybe the apple doesn't fall far from the tree... :)

side note: the 85 degree temps yesterday were just enough to push our lilacs into full bloom. as i type, their fragrance is blowing through the room. heaven.

a weekend with family

Ryan, Teddy, and I were so blessed to have Ryan's parents come out and stay with us over the weekend. We'd been looking forward to their arrival since they booked the tickets and it was every bit as special as imagined. We went out on awesome hikes, ate delicious food, and spent lots of time laughing at Teddy. The little guy was naturally THRILLED with the extra attention and really hammed it up for the company with funny faces, lots of baby blabber, and kisses for Grandma.

Ryan and Darrel got out twice to try their luck at the nearby trout streams. Although Ryan has been fly fishing for a couple years now, he reports that fishing in Colorado (and specifically, fishing for trout) is quite unique and has taken time to learn the ropes. It was Darrel's first time fly fishing and he too confirmed how much there is to learn about the sport. They both had a great time though and Ry even caught his first brown trout!

My river rat at the South Platte.

Darrel fishing the "Dream Stream."

Even the littlest Alcott likes to look for the fish.

My favorite part of the weekend was a Mother's Day hike on nearby Cheyenne Mountain. It is a gorgeous area that really gives you that deep forest feel, unlike the red rock/desert that makes up many of the trails in Southern Colorado. It was a cool, crisp day and we all agreed it was the perfect day for a long hike. As we made our way into the woods we stumbled upon the remains of an old cabin. All that was left was the fireplace and the corners of the foundation....so fun to find!

We tackled some pretty steep inclines.

Thanks to the most precious little boy this side of the mountain, I celebrated my first Mother's Day. It was one to remember.

Judy's husband. Ryan's father. Theodore's grandfather.

It was a straight drop off the ledge. Considering Darrel's aversion toward heights, we were impressed.

A perfect way to close out our weekend.

Special thanks to Judy and Darrel for coming to visit. After 2 months away from home, we were missing you both like crazy! It was wonderful to have you all to ourselves for a few days. You are already creating such a special relationship with Teddy, he is very lucky little boy.

be back soon.

We are so excited to have Judy and Darrel arriving in Colorado Springs this morning! They will be staying with us through the weekend so I probably won't post much in the next couple days. For now....here's a little wide-eyed Teddy love.

dew, drizzle, and a rocky mountain fog

Last weekend we were so excited to have Tim, Amy, and the kiddos down for the afternoon. After consuming an enormous bowl of fruit and an egg bake for energy, we hit a nearby mountain trail. The weather was cool, misty, and foggy. A very Irish day. Despite numb fingers, we loved it. Teddy adores having other children around and after their departure he spent the evening wondering from room to room looking for his friends. :)

Could Noah be any cuter?

Amy and Noah disappearing into the fog.

The cousins with their children :)

After hiking for an hour or so it opens up into this meadow, very mystical on a day such as that...

Nature's perfection.

a good little eater

I had to share these adorable photos of Teddy having dinner this week. Aren't those eyes just to die for ?!? I am experimenting with a new photo program and thought the 60's feel looked pretty nifty on these shots. :)

Teddy has always been and continues to be a great eater. He loves meal time. As soon as i mention broccoli or zucchini he makes a bee line for the kitchen! Steamed veggies are a big hit, as he prefers to pick up the food and feed himself, rather then having us shovel in the pureed variety for him.

Excitingly, he has now learned the sign for "all done" so he can tell us when he is full. Though he doesn't seem to need it often! He seldom has a problem clearing his tray! Life with Ryan and Teddy....I can already see my grocery bill rising!

in continuation....practice makes perfect part II

Teddy is continuing to get better at walking. Today he was quite disciplined, training very hard....and I didn't even take out the snacks for incentive! He now seems to understand the awesomeness of what he is accomplishing. Good job baby boy! We love you to the moon!

practice makes perfect

HUGE development at our house! Teddy took his first unsupported, unassisted steps on Friday night! He did about 3 wobbly strides and then fell over. By Saturday though he doubled that, taking 7 steps.... before collapsing in utter exhaustion :) He's very nonchalant about the triumph and isn't overly excited to keep trying...honestly, I don't think he realized he was walking all by himself. On Sunday when we tried to get him interested in more practice (by interested I mean waving strawberries, sweet potato chunks, or cereal in front of him) he absolutely refused and wanted to crawl to the chow. I'm hoping today if I bring out the big guns, garbanzo beans or gruyere cheese (two favorites), we may see more gains.

and because a ten month old's list of duties is never-ending, we continue to practice his other jobs.

spring blossoms (written by, ryan)

While shopping for groceries, Theodore and I spotted an array of flowers displayed for the Easter season. The colors and size of the blossoms caused him to let out a scream. The only way we could move on without causing a scene was to select a plant. So that is exactly what we did. We carried the largest and brightest yellow tulip through the store while Theodore laughed as it moved with the cart. When you see nature's beauty through your child's eyes, it is like seeing it all over again for the first time.

Thanks to recent rainfall and warm weather, the bush along the walkway leading to our house has presented its bright pink blossoms demanding the attention of all who pass, not unlike the tulips. Once again, Theodore must stop to admire.