Dinner Visits

Sheila Johnson has been my father's second mother since he was fourteen years old. I have memories of her, and her late husband Ross, spanning the last twenty-something years of my life. Ross helping me make everyone cards on their home pc when I was five or six, Sheila gentley reminding me to say "excuse me" when wanting to speak with my mom and dad during adult dinners, visits to their island in the Adirondacks while at our lake house. I've always enjoyed warm hugs and funny stories, especially of my dad's youth.

The first Friday of our visit there we all tromped over to Falls Church and were able to enjoy sweet company and introduce Miss Maeve and Sheila. Dinner was wonderful, and the company was even better. Sheila pulled out pictures and stories of the Johnson family and dad of the past. With so much sadness having woven its way through our family in the previous weeks it was good to laugh.

Sheila and Miss Maeve

Dad, Sheila, Maeve and Mama

Maeve and Mama

Grandad showcasing his baby sleeper skills.

Originally, with this post, I had hoped to share a picture of Sheila and myself when I was about six months old. BUT, I left my memory books (books Granio compiled for us kids with pictures, mementos, etc) at my parents for them to ship home. So, next time then.

Let's Try This Again

Our second shot at flying to DC was a success. I was up on time, we arrived on time, and for the most part it went smoothly.

Oh, except for security. I am convinced hell is going through security alone with an 8wk old baby. Thankfully a dad behind me stepped in to help as I tried to collapse strollers, take off shoes, pull out liquids and laptop all while juggling Maeve. Yuck. I was so worried about inconveniencing those behind me I began to sweat and get the shakes again. I'm sure it was a lovely sight. :)

Maeve did great on the flights. Our first, OKC to Newark she slept from the get-go. When we landed, we hit the bathroom and while I washed my hands my sweet girl was full of coos and smiles. A fellow hand washer leaned over and exclaimed "Oh she loves you! Just look at how she smiles at you!!!"

Melt my heart! It's one thing to look at your babe and know she loves you, it's quite another to have a complete stranger see the love bubbling over from her to you and point it out. It was a first. :) Unfortunately, that's where the happy love ended and Maeve demanded to be held while I pushed the stroller one handed from one end of Newark to another. Three kind gentleman pointed out that it would be so much easier for me to navigate if I could bring myself to put down my sweet baby. Really? My, where would this silly little mother be without the guidance of wise, older men!? I had never putting her in her car seat except...oh yes, we quit that because she was turning purple and screaming. But thank you for the help anyhow kind sirs.

And while nursing in the airport did not go well (read: we flashed a guy my brother's age and cried because we were too distracted), the little old ladies in the gift shop who told me I looked amazing for having an 8wk old baby and fawned over Maeve, holding her while I paid for my bottles of water made me feel quite wonderful. God was dropping little golden moments of happiness to get me through our travels.

Again, once aboard our last leg, we had a little whine and then poof: this is how we landed in Baltimore.

Fly Away With Us

Shortly after Thanksgiving the bean and I made the trek from Oklahoma to DC. Visiting family and friends, mourning the passing of my Granio, and spending some time being pampered by my Mom and Dad.

But, before we can talk about our trip we have to talk about our test run. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there are certain truths in life that are better left un-tested. Lessons like, "Everything takes at least twice as long with a baby." and "Always arrive an hour and a half before your flight's departure." Neither of these lessons seemed to find their way into my thought before Tuesday, the day of our departure to DC. The morning was supposed to look like this: get up at 4am and ready, feed and change Maeve, put Maeve in car, put bags in car, leave for airport. I had laid things out with order, had planned everything out in my head and thought I was pretty prepared. But, the anxiety of travelling alone with my then 8wk old baby kept me up most of the night and instead the morning looked something like this: cousin waking me up at 5:15, we're supposed to leave, get dressed, now I'm sweating, feed Maeve, Maeve spits up, Maeve has a blowout, Maeve's crying, change Maeve, hand Maeve off to go into her carseat, get bags, my bags won't close! how can they not close?, get in car, get to airport.

Once at aiport, a flight pro I had imagined, walk in, check in. Instead it was drag things in, shake the whole time, have too many things...boppy, coat that no longer fits, pump bag, diaper bag, stroller, carseat, suitcase, snuggly....pray you're never left to fly alone again, pray the baby keeps sleeping, run to the ticket counter, swear you'll never fly alone again, arrive to two irked looking ticket agents. They are supposed to take your id, take your bags and wish you merry travels. But no, today you are greeted with, "your flight leaves in twenty minutes, I can't check you in, you're not going to make it."

GULP

Keep shaking, try not to cry, think of the baby, think of your parents, wish Adam was here. Look at Shannon, be thankful someone kind IS here, and ask what they can do. So we were given choices by a gruff and tired looking airline attendant.

Our conversation went something like this....

"Well, that was our only flight to Baltimore today."

"Oh..."

"But, you can get from here to Houston and Houston to Baltimore."

"Great!"

"But Houston is over-sold so you'll probably get stuck, at least until 7 tonite."

"Oh..."

"Or we could put you on a flight to Chicago."

"Great!"

"But because of that snow storm, you won't get out tonight."

"Oh...ok...well.."

Thank goodness Shannon was there to lean in and remind me I didn't know anyone either place, and kindly tell me I could stay in Edmond with them another night.

So, for $75 I bought a ticket change for the same flight the next morning and an extra day of fun with the VanHeests.

Pictures and tales of DC to follow, but let me assure you that the next day Mama was up on time.

Ok, ok, and because I can't help but moon over our gal. Maevey turned 3mo old this Friday. Here she is modeling at the botanical gardens this week.

A Very Maevey Christmas

This Christmas marked many a first for the "O" family. First Christmas with Miss Maeve, first Christmas meal cooked, first trip to Santa (who later swung by the house), first attempt at midnight mass with our little addition and the first time to build new traditions as a new family. This year was bittersweet for us; my family was in Hawaii (due to Adam's new job he couldn't take off just yet), and sadly my Granio is no longer here to call and send packages to. But Maeve brought us new life and excitement for the holidays and we were able to celebrate with Adam's siblings too. Friday afternoon marked the start of our merriment with Adam scurrying home from work at noon and our first trip to see Santa since our own childhoods.

I was a bit nervous about Maeve and Santa, but she slept until we placed her in his arms and was too confused to cry. Adam and I laughed at how her blue eyes and rosy cheeks match those of St.Nick, as if he could be her secret great-grandfather.

Saturday we lazed around the house and ate way too much pie. We put Maeve down at her bedtime and then scooped her up at 10:00 for midnight mass. A tradition in my family, midnight mass has always seemed peaceful and light...not so with a little one. We arrived to "The Carol of the Bells" and Maeve bolted awake, eyes wide and completely confused as to where her bed had gone.

I.felt.awful.

Mother's guilt my Christmas gift to myself. Luckily no crying she made, and instead she sat up and looked around; marveling at all the people, the greenery and song. It was hard to enjoy the service, I was so concerned about Maeve missing sleep, but I did love the end. Candles were passed out, and softly we sang. There is something so sweet and lovely about holding your not quite three month old babe and singing "Silent Night." It's a memory I will hold onto forever, Maeve's head finally resting, nuzzled in my neck.

Christmas morning found us eating my nana's sausage squares, and our own cinnamon rolls and mimosas while we marveled at the gifts under the tree and listened to "A Celtic Christmas." We were happy to see Santa had come, bringing our girl some clothes for the coming year, a book and a toy or two. He must have taken into consideration how far away her first birthday is. :)

Maeve and her daddy open her very first Christmas present, which happens to be from Shannon, Kyle and her whirly girly cousins Meg and Alice Virginia

The only picture of us ladies on Christmas. As you can see, I'd already been a spit-up casualty and had to change my pajama top to an old t-shirt

All day I found myself thinking..."how different this will all be next year, when she's nearly fifteen months..." By the afternoon we were in Little Elm, celebrating Christmas with Maeve's aunts and uncles. She was happy to get some extra cuddles, and we were happy to eat without holding her.

Uncle Jacob and Aunt Leticia

With her Elliott cousins

Uncle Mark and Aunt Cynthia with their Christmasy neice and nephew

Tonight, Adam and I are enjoying the fire and wine by the tree, waiting for Maeve to settle to sleep before we can enjoy our own Christmas feast. Just the two of us.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Merry Christmas

Maeve Kathleen, the first of none, has blessed us with an air of fun.

Euless is where we returned to take root, our family of three needed city to suit

Running her races with no signs of stopping, she finished a ten k with baby bump popping

Recruiting and staffing are Adam's new game, employment brokerage will lead him to fame

Yawning means Kaitlin and I aren't sleeping, for even in silence we're baby room peeping.

Can't recall what it feels like to sleep, if we don't get more rest we just might start to weep - seriously, this is big enough to be two in a row

Hawaii kicked our year off right, but three from two was not in sight

Red hair to match an Irish name, Maeve’s heritage was most to blame

Ink and love breed Kaitlin's blog, and save our story from the fog

Some cookies, pies, and cheesecakes too are products of a hobby new

Thanksgiving at a frousin's home was added to our scrapbook tome

Mother and child together all day is how the O's rock it (while Daddy's away)

Adam's woodworking tools are for now put away, but his violin sings when there’s time to play

So from our nuclear to yours, may Christmas spirit bless your doors.

Love, Adam, Kaitlin & Maeve

Rollin' Along

There is so much to share over these weeks since Thanksgiving. But on this busy baking-wrapping-shopping-Nutcrackering pre-Christmas weekend I will simply leave you with this little video of our Maevey Bean. At Thanksgiving she began to roll herself over and now it's become her favorite game. "Tummy time you say? Hmm, nope!"

(Please, please excuse my over-enthusiastic Mama voice..)

Thanksgiving 2011

For Thanksgiving Adam, the bean and I headed over to Oklahoma as we have these past three years and celebrated with my cousin Shannon (read more and see more about our Thanksgiving on her BlogHer blog) and her family. The first Thanksgiving we spent together was at my parents in 2008, after Adam and I got married. By the next year my parents were back in DC and we've been headed to Oklahoma ever since! There's no telling what our plans will become next year, Shannon's family is moving on to Texas (WOOT!) so hopefully we're able to continue things here in the Lone Star State.

Our grandmother passed away the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, so it felt safe to be with another of Granio's girls the week of her passing. I've been avoiding thinking of her too much, though now that I'm here in DC it's a challenge. I find myself in tears after looking at my Dad for too long. Time in Oklahoma though was fun and surprisingly relaxing. Full of giggly excitement from 2yr old Meg and coos and cries from the two redheaded babes, just 12wks apart.

Our hands were full, but so were our tummies. Yummy food, storytelling, meandering walks, real time with our husbands and SO much pie! I love the holidays. As they develop and pass I find myself wondering what it will be like when the girls are older and running around together, when Maeve is helping me bake in the kitchen, when there is more than just one "O" baby.

Through everything, life is sweet.