Scout,
Today was OUR day. I have been having a hard time lately not being able to spend as much time with you as I would like. or atleast ALONE time. Today I woke up to your dad throwing up (alot!). So we tucked him back in and you and I headed out to do some errands and then went to the YMCA. I ran a few miles and did some weights- but I couldn’t get the imagine of you screaming out of my head. When I dropped you off in the nursery- you were FREAKING OUT. You NEVER do that. You usually love childcare at the Y. I don’t know if it was because today was OUR day- or what- but you didn’t have it. So I ended the work out a bit early to come collect you so we could continue our day.
We then went to the Imaginon Children’s library in uptown Charlotte. Holy moly this place was amazing- and FREE. We had a blast playing and reading for hours. They had a castle to explore, a big trolly, and all sorts of toys everywhere. I couldn’t believe this place was free. We will certainly be frequenting that place.
After that we went toy shopping for your birthday. I only got you a few things but I was having you play with everything, so I could get a feel for what you would want for your FIRST BIRTHDAY! (ahhhhhh!!!)
Daddy is still sick so we bought him some soup and I tucked both of you in. I’m staying up and playing nurse. On my day off. That’s okay- anything for your daddy. Plus, he doesn’t really liked to be babied- I almost wish he did. That’s okay- that’s what You are for Scout!!
In other news, your great-grandma Retter has been really sick the past few weeks. That’s why you went down to see her on Mother’s day while I went to work. Well I talked to Mimi today, and she said Grandma might be going very soon. We prayed for her tonight in the car. I know you won’t remember. But you did look really genuine. She has been in a lot of pain for a long time- so it may be a blessing to let her go and be out of pain. However, this will still be a giant loss for everyone in your daddy’s family. It’s your Geo’s mom. We need to keep praying for peace for all our family right now. I’m glad I got to spend this day with you my cuddle bug. I love you so much.
Scout,
You adore your uncles. Moving to Charlotte for the summer has been an amazing for you so far mainly because you have gotten to spend amazing time with your dad’s side of the family. Here Uncle Travis is teaching you piano. You guys are freaking adorable.
Scout,
You are the biggest (and cutest!) fan at your uncle’s soccer games. They are going to state Saturday!!! Go warriors!!!!
Scout,
I just found out I got into GRADUATE school! Only 19% of applicants got into this program. Starting in June, I will be enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Georgetown University!! I am excited, nervous, scared, all at the same time. I know I have to do this, for me, and more important FOR YOU. So one day you know you can achieve whatever you want if you work hard enough. I love you boo.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you beautiful momma’s out there!!!
We are some blessed ladies aren’t we? :)
Scout,
Today at work I had the couple with the sweetest love story ever. I
sat down and heard them spill it to me, grinning while they spoke,
knowing they should only be in pages of romance novels- not holding
eachother on a twin hospital bed.
For the sake of the story I will call them “Ben” and “Annie” (not
their real names!)
They met when they were ten years old- Annie had moved next door to
Ben in Charlotte, NC. They met when she was chasing his dog on her
bike. The dog bit her, the first time he ever bit anyone or anything
Ben told me. He also told me that should have been a sign right there!
As children they didn’t get a long and teased one another
relentlessly. As they got older and matured, they became high school
sweethearts. They couldn’t get enough of each other. Although they
were very much in love, Ben was drafted into the airforce. Although
they were in love and tried so hard to make it work, in the end it was
too painful for both of them and the relationship ended badly. Though
they were both very much still in love, neither was brave enough to
attempt to speak to the other after Ben came back into the country
several years later. He moved away from Charlotte- to Kansas City.
There he met a girl, and to try to forget about Annie- his first love-
he married the girl from Kansas City.
Annie had done the same thing, she was forever heartbroken, but
married out of necessity. Neither had children- neither marriages did
well. Later in life- when they were both in their 60’s they had both
been separated from their spouses for years, and both lived alone. Him
in Kansas City, her in Charlotte.
One day Ben returned to Charlotte, and after spending an afternoon
alone, he did something he couldn’t believe that he did. He called
Annie’s mother. He used the excuse that he “just wanted to catch up,”
but later in the conversation, Annie’s mother told him that Annie was
alone as well, living nearby. Annie’s mother gave him her phone number
and told him to give her a call.
It had been decades since they had spoken or seen one another. He
braved up and called her. She answered right away.
When Annie said “hello,”….
Ben replied with a “hi, do you know who this is?”
She then paused and said,
”Of course I do, I’ve been waiting my whole life for you to call.”
Later in the conversation he asked her if he could take her to coffee
someday, and she interrupted him with a “how about right now?”
Less than a hour later they were reunited and soon later they were
married at 68 years old.
It only took me about 5 seconds to look into their hospital room and
see they were meant to be from the very beginning. They were so proud
of their story, so happy that they were together, finally. Even if
their time together had to spent in a dirty hospital room, it was a
gift to them.
Scout, Some stories make the human experience so beautiful.
You are:
Scout Harper
10.5 months old
20 pounds
off the charts for height
100% awesome.
Hanging out under the spanish moss in Savannah Georgia.
Scout,
This is from our Key West trip two weeks ago. It was only over a couple of days- but it was some really good memories. :)
Scout,
A lot of big changes have come around!
As of Monday, we moved from Naples FL, to Charlotte, NC!
We were sad to say goodbye to Naples and our friends that we had made. We first had to say goodbye to Silje and Crispin- and their two kids. They watched you for about 4 hours so we could pack up the U’haul on Sunday. Bless their hearts because you are CRAZY hard to watch right now.
We celebrated by going out for a farewell dinner at IHOP. Lea, Jason, Sara, Leo, and Kacy all came. It was full of lots of memories and laughter. You were being passed around like a sack of potatoes- and loving it! You ate an entire funny face pancake- and lots of chocolate cake- and were somehow STILL hungry. my my. It was sad to say goodbye- I know I got kind of emotional on that ride home. I didn’t know that a short-term nursing assignment would be a way to meet REALLY good friends too!
On Monday we woke up, finished some packing, and left out at about 11 AM. We drove through central Florida which I must say is SUPER thick and humid! We passed by DisneyWorld- I have never been- and dad I talked about one day taking you there on a surprise trip. By the time you read these letters hopefully we will have done that :)
We eventually ended up in BEAUTIFUL SAVANNAH GEORGIA! -
We went on Savannah on our babymoon in March of 2011, we LOVED it. Well, it hadn’t changed at all and we were super bummed to only spend less than 12 hours there (most of the hours sleeping). However we did manage to take some awesome pics of you at Forsyth Park. - (I think I will post those separately). We stayed with Taylor and Josh Stubblefield- they were awesome hosts. I couldn’t have had a better time with them.
We then drove up to Charlotte the next morning, visited with family, found a furnished 2bedroom sublet, went to a soccer game, joined the Y, and just slowly started getting ready to move. I hope you are adjusting to the change okay. It’s okay to be nervous. I”m nervous and apprehensive about starting a brand new start-from-scratch job every 3 months. Sometimes I feel like it’s gonna send be off the deep end. I know as a baby, change is hard for you too. But always remember this……
..and that’s all I have for you tonight sweetie. Goodnight I love you.
Oh my goodness- you are so right!!!!! We ADORE Portland!! I cannot wait to take an assignment there!
So true! All bittersweet I guess!
Scout,
today I nap, go to work overnight, then pack tomorrow… .
monday morning, we day goodbye to Florida as we move to …
CHARLOTTE, NC. —> for the next three months.
Then- somewhere new again.
Saying goodbye to Naples is terribly sad. Traveling is fun, and looks good on paper- but on paper it doesn’t hurt when you move on to the next place.
- sorry it took me so long to answer this question!!!!! i totally forgot about it! - in all honesty i wouldn’t recommend implanon- i loved it at first- but I literally bled EVERYDAY for over 3 months. then it would stop and happen all over again. I just paid a decent amount of money to get it out of me and get back to a normal life. If it wasn’t for that- would’ve kept it. I was also really moody- but I’m not sure if it was from that or not- i got it right after having a baby. And weight gain? i’m not sure- like I said, i got it right after having a baby- I never gained weight after I got it, but never lost as much as I thought I would. Overall, I’d say a “no-go” with that.
Scout,
Being a full time mom, RN, wife, and (possibly grad student) - (If I get into Georgetown)-is proving to be a difficult task.
There have been plenty of times where I think to myself, I’d rather sleep right now than play with you. Sometimes I plead with you to take a nap- so I can just have an ounce of alone time.
Today daddy sent me off- for an “alone day.” He said he I could take all day and go do whatever I wanted. I wasn’t able to use it in an irresponsible fashion. I got some errands done, faxed some paperwork, bought some essentials. I ended up going to a coffee shop in downtown Naples. On my way there, I passed by a park. It was a beautiful day and I kept thinking to myself, “wow, I wish scout and Alex were here to we could go play there.” I ignored that thought- and went on to the coffee shop. I found myself feeling naked without a stroller, empty with no one to talk to. After coffee I ran down to the beach and laid out my towel. I soaked in the sunset and rays and read some chapters of my book. I felt at peace, but I knew that the night would feel better if I was tickling your toes or teaching you how to dance to Katy Perry. So after 40 beautiful minutes, I caved. I went home, picked up you and daddy and we went out for some nice evening supper at a Chicago themed restaurant. (felt great to feel at home for a few hours).
So, I might need some alone time here and then. Who doesn’t?
But I want to be the best mom I can be. I want to be involved, I want to teach you your “firsts.” I don’t want to blink and wonder how the heck you grew up without me. I know I may look exhausted but please don’t let me off the hook. I will spend the rest of my life being a good mom to you- no matter what sacrifices I need to make to let that happen. There is nothing more important to me. I’m praying for increased patience, ,knowing that I never want to stop bettering myself for you. When you grow up and talk about me, I want you to be proud, but more than anything I want you to know you were INCREDIBLY loved- and I can’t do that by being a nurse or a grad student- only by taking time with you one-on-one- and showing you just how true it is. I love you Scouty.
