Three day weekend

One of the greatest inventions, in my opinion, is the three day weekend. Sadly they do not come very frequently.

At my job, we have to muddle through from New Year's to the end of May without an official work-free holiday. Some years we get President's Day in February. Some years we do not. So it is always with great anticipation that we get to Memorial Day!

Unfortunately we did not spend any time truly memorializing this holiday (no trips to the cemetery, which is something I usually enjoy doing on this day). But we did spend a lot of quality family time with Derek, myself and Lydia.

First up was a concert for Derek's band, City of Ashburn. It was a farewell concert of sorts. Their lead singer is leaving the band and at this point they're not sure if they'll continue with a different singer under the same, or possibly a different, band name. So it was the end of an era and I was grateful to be able to attend.
In order to go to the show we had a family first: our first time leaving Lydia with a non-family baby sitter. (OK, we have left her with our friends the Marshalls before this, but we kind of consider them family.) This was a full-fledged, young teen from the neighborhood kind of babysitter. I anticipate a post on this topic in the future, but for now, suffice it to say, it worked out well and I was able to get my groove on at Derek's show, cheering him on like a true groupie :) They sounded awesome!

Rich Robbins on guitar and Derek on bass

On Saturday we had my brother, Brian, and his girlfriend over for lunch before trying out the water in Derek's parent's pool. It was too cold for Lydia to swim, but Grandma and Grandpa Larson promised to turn on the heater for their little angel to try again on Monday.

Since the pool was cold, she entertained herself with water from her sippy cup.
I just can't get enough of her cute chubby legs and I love how she always sits with her feet crossed.
She melts my heart!

Sunday was a missionary homecoming for Derek's cousin, Tyson, and then some relaxation at home. I took two (yes two!) naps. I don't know what my problem was. It was like I went back in time to when Lydia was much younger and I used to nap when she napped. Not sure what brought on the coma-like symptoms, but Monday they seemed to have gone away.

We spent Monday at The Days of Camelot medieval fair here in St. George. It was a lot of fun. Real jousting matches (just like in "A Knight's Tale") as well as belly dancing, fire eating, deliciously fattening fair food and a little bit of shopping.

Family photo attempt

Our knight in the jousting competition

Having someone push you around all day is just exhausting!

As promised, the Grandpa Larson had the pool heated for Lydia so we washed away the heat and dirt from the renaissance fair in a refreshing swim.

Derek's favorite thing.
Not really my favorite thing.
I tend to worry about how high she goes, but she seems to enjoy it.

What a racket

Have you been in the baby department of any store recently? If you have, you know I speak the truth when I say this whole baby gear industry is such a racket!

Wading through aisle after aisle of frivolous items posing as essentials to find the actual essentials was one of the more agonizing experiences of my pregnancy. Not to mention the emotional manipulation strategies used by these companies to convince you that you are only a loving, caring parent if you purchase brand A over brand B.

And heaven forbid you try anything generic.

Recently Derek and I darkened the door of the queen mother of these baby supply stores in Las Vegas and I was once again overwhelmed by the experience. This time though, we had about nine months of experience side-stepping the aforementioned marketing strategies to find essential, safe and still economical items. So it was with certain amount of confidence that we strode through the door on a specific mission: to find a larger but still rear facing car seat for our daughter.

What can I say, she’s blessed with height like her mom (I don’t like to claim the weight) so although she’s not quite 10 months old, she is close to the weight limit on the infant car seat and her little feet are dangling over the edge.

True, safety-conscious parents that we are, we are taking matters into our hands in advance of the problem so that by the time she moves over the weight limit, we’ll be ready and I am more than happy to buy something that will assure her safe arrival whenever we travel.

Yet, I have a complaint.

When we purchased the infant car seat we were thrilled to find you can get one actual seat and then buy an additional base or two separately for a fraction of the cost of an entire safety restraint system. Signs attached to these infant seats touted this very idea and I thought it was ingenious.

To me, the extra base is a necessity, not a luxury, and if you’ve ever had to strap a car seat in a car, I think you’ll agree.

We’ve loved having a base in both my husband’s and my cars, as well as a third base for Grandma’s car where Lydia spends many of her days. But now that she is getting bigger, it seems those days of convenience and ease are gone.

It’s as if the companies who kindly offered this time saving device have erroneously concluded that by the time your child is big enough to move to another car seat you must have downgraded the number of vehicles in your household.

In reality it’s probably some kind of safety issue, but I felt jilted nonetheless as I stared at the price tags dangling from these luxurious looking seats, wondering if saving money is worth the backseat wrestling match I will inevitably face: Lisa vs. the car seat in 100 degree heat.

The car seat would probably win.

To avoid such a disastrous defeat, I’m on the verge of giving in to my gut and buying two — maybe three — new car seats. Sure, it’ll be expensive, but really, who can put a price on a mother’s sanity?

Apparently baby stores can.

Slow down life, I'm trying to catch up!

Is it just me or is life speeding by at an unreasonable pace? I feel winded from trying to keep up.
Maybe I’m winded because my schedule has not allowed for as much exercise… Nah…
I think much of the problem lies in the fact that we’ve been gone three weekends in a row, culminating in Lydia and I getting sick. And although the trips were all fun and for great causes (my cousin Anthon’s wedding, my brother-in-law Mike’s college graduation, my nephew Dylan’s baby blessing and helping my sister’s family move) but right now, I’m ready to be home.
In the few moments I’ve had to give some of your blogs a cursory glance, I can see you can probably relate. So many of the people I know are in some sort of transitional phase, either moving, expecting babies, starting new jobs, ending jobs, celebrating some kind of new phase or any combination of these things. It’s exciting and exhausting all at the same time, in fact, reading what all of you have going makes me think my schedule is not quite as packed as I thought it was. Still…
In my absence from the blogging world, so much has taken place. I’ll attempt to recap, chronologically.

Anthon and Melissa Petty’s wedding

On April 30 we went to Salt Lake for a follow-up appointment with the cardiologist who performed my heart procedure. I was particularly excited for the 3-month check up as it brought with it the possibility of getting off the blood thinner medication and hopefully say goodbye to my MANY bruises! I should have taken a picture of my legs at their most hideous… what am I saying? I’m glad I did not take a picture of something so gross.

The doctor’s appointment went well and he essentially gave me a clean bill of health :) The hole in my heart is healing really well, thus greatly diminishing my risk of another stroke, so that is excellent.

Lunch at Rubio's in Murray.

We timed my doctor’s appointment to coincide with the trip we were making to Salt Lake for my cousin’s wedding. This was also Lydia’s first road trip further than Cedar City or Las Vegas. We weren’t sure how she’d handle four hours in her car seat but she did really well. With only one stop on the way up, she napped much of the time and played relatively contentedly the rest of the trip.

The wedding weekend included a dinner with my cousin Anthon’s family (the European cousins we never get to see anymore, so it was really great!) a temple wedding in Salt Lake, luncheon/reception at the Joseph Smith Building and another family get together in Sandy. So fun, but so exhausting. Lydia did great, but hauling her and all her stuff around for the three days made me (once again) indescribably grateful that I don’t have to do this alone. Derek was such a trooper the whole time, taking on more than his share of diaper changes, spit-up catches and strolls around the grounds to keep Lydia entertained. These efforts did not go unnoticed, by me or other people, in fact I had several relatives commenting on how wonderful it is to see a father so involved with the baby. I was flattered they would notice what I already see — that Derek is amazing — but part of me was puzzled thinking, isn’t this how it’s supposed to be? Apparently I’m spoiled — and that is as it should be :)

Jessi, Beth and Lisa

I was not prepared for the cold, rainy weather in Salt Lake. Here is Lydia in her "burp cloth bonnet" fashioned to protect her bald little head while we waited for pictures at the temple.

Playing outside the temple.

At the luncheon

Breakfast at Cracker Barrel before heading home. Lydia enjoyed a sampling of table foods.

Cousins Frank, Lisa and Jessi

On our way home Derek got tired so we let Lydia drive.

Just kidding.

Mike’s graduation, Mother’s Day and Dylan’s blessing

If you could fit one more major occasion into one weekend, I’m really not sure what it would be. On May 7 we packed our bags once again and this time headed south. By now Lydia is probably getting the idea that when we put her in the car and also provide her bright yellow toy bag, it’s probably going to be a longer ride.

I was really excited for this weekend since we’d get to see my parents as well as Mike, Karen, Kate and Dylan again, plus Kevin and Leslie were flying in for the occasion. The downer is that Brian couldn’t make it. Two thumbs down with IHOP management for not giving him time off.

In addition to the rabble of Gradys descending on Las Vegas, all of Mike’s family from Idaho was there as well. We spent much of the down time hanging by the pool at the hotel. It was here Lydia took her first dip in the pool… well hot tub. The pool was too cold and the hot tub was not too hot, so it worked out. She was adorable in her little swimming suit!

Mike’s graduation was exciting (we’re very proud of him) and did not feel excruciatingly long, possibly because I was able to joke around with my family (quietly of course!) and enjoy them at the same time.

After the ceremony we had dinner at Memphis BBQ and then played at the pool.

Kate, Lisa and Lydia

Sunday was a special day for all of us as it was Mother’s Day and Dylan’s blessing day. My first official Mother’s Day. To be honest, it didn’t really feel like Mother’s Day (though certainly not for lack of effort on Derek’s part. He always does something thoughtful for Mother’s Day). It was just overwhelmed with all the other stuff from the weekend, but I didn’t mind. I got to spend the day with my family and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate being a mom.

Grandpa Grady and his "little moon pie"

When we left Sunday I was sad because I knew it would be the last time to see Kevin and Leslie until July and the second to last time we’d see Karen and Mike until July as well since they are moving…

Moving day

I’m really excited for Karen and Mike and their family as they head out on this new adventure, but I am selfishly really sad too. Gone are the days of a quick weekend trip to Vegas to celebrate birthdays and holidays or just to go shopping. It’ll be weird when we go to my parents in Cedar and we’re the only kids coming home (since Brian already lives there) for things. But even as much as I struggle with the change, I know things will work out well for them.

We left on Friday, May 14, (our five year anniversary, by the way) for another quick weekend trip, this time to help Karen and Mike move. I didn’t really feel like I was very helpful since I was chasing Lydia most of the time. When a house is torn apart by a move apparently it is an absolute treasure trove of exploration possibilities for a 9-month-old.

Last cousin pictures for a while...

I couldn't resist snapping some pictures of Aunt Lisa and Dylan

It was fun to spend time with them. Then, on Saturday... they left. They've since arrived safely in their new home in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area of Texas.

9 months in... 9 months out

Our little girl is 9 months old today!

She's been on this earth as long as she was in my womb.
What an amazing blessing she is!

Her attributes and accomplishments thus far include (but are certainly not limited to):

* Crawling
* Eight teeth
* Prefers finger foods she can do herself over any food off of a spoon.
* Laughs at herself and at Mom and Dad.
* Happy most of the time.
* Can throw a fit when she wants to.
* Staring to show an independent streak.
* Lights up when Mom or Dad comes home.

We have her 9 month check up next week, so official stats coming soon...