Emmy Goes To School

Unlike myself, Emmy LOVES to draw attention to herself :-P.  There are places where that's appropriate and others where other people don't find it very cute.  I realized that there is only so long that I can acceptably use the excuse that I have a baby at home as a reason to duck out of child-unfriendly engagements.  So, I decided it was time to put aside our separation anxiety, and open our minds to childcare, or as I like to think of it, "school," for those really necessary appointments.

Given my weekly summons from church service to comfort my sobbing baby, my hopes weren't exceptionally high for this new push for "school."  Despite the urge I have to stay home to avoid the (Emmy) tears, I have reminded myself of the importance and so we've kept trying.  Finally, two weeks ago, Emmy lasted the entire service while in the care of Miss Debbie (who, thankfully, "has Emmy's number.") This success gave me a bit more confidence and a wonderfully rejuvenating church experience.  God knew that I needed it!

This past Sunday, Emmy's good mood lasted into the night as she hung out with all the other kiddos and babysitters during my church small group gathering!  I was hugely pleased, especially because we weren't finished until two hours after her typical bedtime (6:15 pm).  She kept it together until we got into the car, at which time, holy H-E-double hockey sticks broke loose.  To her credit, she handled the separation part really well.

My girlfriend, Lindsey, was telling me over breakfast last week about the pre-school class that she and our friend, Jill, lead for the one year olds.  She also informed me that they have some vacancies, and in an effort to fill those spots, the director is welcoming babies under one years old for drop in care!  I took Emmy for a trial play time the next day.  As I handed her over to Lindsey, the baby whisperer, she didn't so much as look back at me!  An hour and a half and a trunk full of groceries later, I returned to a happy Emmy girl!  Lindsey shared the pictures below from Emmy's first day at "school!"  She must've been reading my mind when I was wishing to be a fly on the wall.

Today came the granddaddy of all separation tests. Emmy had to go to the childcare on Post while I knocked out day one of my two day, ten hour, FRG Leader training.  (I am nine months into the job and I put it off until someone noticed.  What are they going to do? Fire me?)  Five hours later, I walked into the door to find my happy girl playing with the other babies.  I think my heart swelled with joy.  I really, REALLY hope that I didn't just jinx tomorrow...

Now I need a break from breaks from my baby...I miss my girl.

Emmy playing with her food.

Emmy and Dane, buddies from church group!

I can't help but smile each time I look at this picture!

Remembering 9/11/01

Everyone has their story.  Nine years ago today, I remember waking up in my sorority house bedroom to the sound of my phone ringing.  It was my Nick calling to tell me to turn on the news.  In a fog, I found the remote and promptly powered the T.V. to on.  Moments later, the image of the second plane hitting the World Trade Center flashed across the screen.  We sat there, silent, taking in the horror.

We had been together just two weeks prior.  We celebrated Nick's Ring Weekend at West Point, and then spent the rest of the weekend living large with all of our friends in New York City...One of our many stops was to the World Trade Center, where we rode the elevator to the 106th floor of the North Tower to the Windows on the World restaurant for brunch.  It was our second time there, but we were still in such awe of the whole experience.  We spent the majority of our meal looking out the windows, marveling over the fact that we were literally on top of the world.

I picked up my developed pictures from the trip the day the towers collapsed.  Emotions raw, my wonderful memories were quickly replaced with fear...I remembered riding up the elevator and the excited feeling I had; and then I thought of the friendly port authority doorman who rode up with us and I wondered if he was working that day.  I remembered our waitress and the delicious meal she served us; and then prayed that she wasn't trapped inside the building.  Then I worried about the chatterbox bathroom attendant, and...They put a face on the terrified people who leapt to their death from the upper floors of the towers; because that was their only way out.  Those images are so deeply burned into my mind.  To say that they haunt me would be putting it mildly.

As the following hours and days passed, we began looking at our future on a wider scale.  It became clear that our country was no longer in peacetime.  Overnight, my Nick's military career drastically changed.   Like everyone, life for us has never been the same.

Saturday, August 25th, 2001

 Windows on the World Restaurant

Hi Dada!

I love you Dada!

Just Three Words...

A FINE SPECIMEN

Many of Emmy's friends have nobly volunteered their baby minds to university research studies.  Emmy, however, has donated her time and physique to assisting local massage therapy students master the art of infant massage.  How very big of her...

It seems that she loves a good foot rub...Girl after my own heart...

Emmy became distracted by the other "babies" being practiced on...

Thank you Miss Amy!  Bring on the awesome nap!

Gunner takes bullet to helmet in rescue - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

One of Nick's soldiers, SPC Patricia Fowler, was recently awarded the Purple Heart.  Her story is shared in this article:

Gunner takes bullet to helmet in rescue - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Fall has Fallen!!!

Happy Fall, everyone!  This is my FAVORITE time of the year, by a landslide!  There is something about the autumn light casting a glow that makes everything look more beautiful; not to mention, my mowing days are rapidly coming to an end for the year (YAHOO!!)!  This fall has an even greater significance, because, in a TWO short months our family will be back together, even if for just a couple of weeks!  There is no way this season could get any better!!

Emmy and I celebrated the first day under 80 degrees (heck, 100 degrees) with a special field trip!  We went to Cheekwood Botanical Gardens in Nashville to experience the outdoor art display of Chihuly blown glass.  I couldn't have dreamt up a more beautiful gallery where these intricate glass "creations" could be exhibited.  Emmy and I joined the masses of other camera-toting folk to take in all of the original pieces nestled into the gorgeous garden...

Yes, that is all glass...It was AMAZING!

A row boat filled with glass

Just like Christmas bulbs floating in the pond.

Emmy insisted that her sunblock be in the picture too.

Boycotting the camera. 

Doing anything to not look at the camera...

One of our favorites!

Little glass glaciers in the pond

The colors were stunningly beautiful, especially under the fall sun (man, I love this season!)

Got my hairs did

I picked up some Emmy-sized hair bands at the store this week.  It was such a strange feeling perusing the little girls' hair accessory aisle as it is such a right of passage!  Later that afternoon, I tackled my little monkey and held her still just long enough to do her hair.  It took a couple of tries, but I was finally able to gather the few hairs that would come together and wrap the band around them...

TA DA!!!!