Memorial Day Weekend!

We recently had a three day weekend for Memorial Day and we decided not to plan anything big and we ended up having a blast the entire weekend.

Friday night after work Dave and I decided to try out some live music at the Baumont outdoor amphitheater. We packed up a picnic blanket, a cooler with some beers, stopped to get some sandwiches and headed out. We were not sure if we would enjoy the music because it really wasn't our style but we had a blast. Brody enjoyed running around the lawn dancing and flirting with little girls. 

-- yes I said flirting. He has no interest in playing with boys his. If there is a little girl around he follows them everywhere and just hugs on them constantly--

While Brody danced we talked with one of the surgeons that I work with at the hospital. His group ended up sitting right next to us so while we thought we were headed up there alone we ended up wit friends which was great!  

Saturday Dave went jumping and I ran around getting stuff done. Brody and I had not been home in 4 weekends and life had just been piling up so we spent the day running errands and doing chores. We were supposed to have gone to Dave's cousins baby shower but I knew I just couldn't. To often if not always I over extend myself trying to attend everything and recently I have decided that sometimes it's best to just slow down and that means you have to say, "No" to people's request of you. 

Anyway, we spent the rest of our Saturday in Corinth with Andrea and Brett.  We had so much fun letting the boys run around naked.  They played in the pool, went out on a boat, watched fireworks and we had a great time grilling out and watching the kids. 

Sunday, we introduced Brody to "pops", and sparklers.  He loved the "pops the best and days after he would find a leaf on the ground and throw it expecting it to pop. 

Mothers Day 2014

This year for Mother's Day I spent the morning and early afternoon with my family going To the Phantom of The Opera in Cincinnati. I LOVE the Phantom and always enjoy seeing it. It was great to share the experience with all the Mothers on my side of the family.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay to eat at my Patents house after the performance. I wanted and needed to go spend the rest of the day with t little boy. Luckily Dave and Brody had ridden up to NKY with me so I was able to quickly go meet them at my MIL's house. There we hung out with Dave's side of the family and grilled out. Brody was a little winy and clingy but we still had a great evening.

I am so incredibly blessed to get to be that little boy's Mommy.

My present from Dave was a trip to Kings Island just the two of us.  We had so much fun acting like kids and riding all the roller coasters.  It is funny though how small that park is compared to what we remember it being.  

My Mother's Day gifts from Brody.  =)

An All To Common Loss

Recently I wrote about how we were expecting a second child. Unfortunately, I suffered a miscarriage at 7 weeks.

The most difficult part of this for me is that I have nothing to remember this baby by. No ultrasound picture, or anything. All I really have is a lab value. 

I am comforted to know so many other women have experienced the same thing and I do understand the medical aspect of the whole thing. However, that still doesn't take the drug away. I feel the best way to remember this child is to not keep it a secret. I was pregnant with our second baby and it did exist. This is something to be happy about. Unfortunately we never got to meet this child but who knows maybe someday we will. 

Grand Canyon

Luckily for me I had the last two weeks of April off and it was great. Just as one week of vacation was ending I started another week off. Unfortunately Brody was teething the first week and he was a bit challenging but I was glad to be home with him anyway. The second week most of my family went to Arizona so that my Grandmother could see the Grand Canyon. 

Brody has flown many times as an infant but this was his first time flying as a toddler. I was as prepared as I could be and overall the flight went well. He ate lots of snacks, played with the toys I brought and spent at least half the flight sorting the magazines and pamphlets in the pocket on the back of the seats. 

The first two nights we stayed in Scotsdale and it was a gorgeous resort. We took it pretty easy, hung out by the pool ate great food. Thursday we left Scotsdale and headed to the Grand Canyon. We stopped half way and had lunch in Sedona. I had been to Sedona before and loved it. The red rock cliffs and mountains are so beautiful and something about that place just makes you feel happy. 

When we finally arrived at the Grand Canyon we rushed to make our dinner reservations. At dinner we met up with Tim and Laura McCubbin. Tim and Laura  are my parents long time friends from College. They are so funny and we are always laughing when they are around. 

The next day Brody and I had breakfast with my Dad and Grandmother while the rest of our gang was out on a scenic or I guess I should say not so scenic train ride. There train ride turned out to be a miserable bust on the vacation adventure planning. We however had fun walking the canyon perimeter at the lodge. Brody was so funny; he would walk up to the the wall and when looking over he would say "Wow" in his cute little drawn out quite way. He never even noticed the big hole in the ground but he heard everyone else say that when they looked over the wall so I guess he thought he should too. 

The rest of our time at the Grand Canyon Brody and I spent out time going to the IMAX movie, walking the national park trails, and watching live performances of Native American dancers.  Some members of our group went on a plane ride over the Canyon.  This excursion was suggested by me and was a huge hit. I would have if I had experienced this about 9 years ago when I went to the Grand Canyon with Dave's family. 

Our few short days at the Canton came to an end and we again passed through Sedona while heading back to Scottsdale. We stayed one more night in Scottsdale then headed home that Sunday morning. 

Overall the trip was GREAT!  We all had so much fun spending time together. I can't thank my Dad enough for planning and paying for this whole trip. It was so nice to spend a week away with Brody and my extended family. I am glad he had this time to know them better and to experience our family's version of a Griswold vacation.