Independence Day Fun

Apparently in keeping with tradition, I have become quite terrible at taking pictures. Both in quality and quantity. My family came and spent the week of July 4th with us and this is really all I have to show for it. Despite some less than ideal weather, we still had a great time. At one point we braved the drizzle and hit the beach anyway. The true beach warriors turned out to be parents with young children--we were out there, rain and shine. It was great to spend a relaxing week with family. We had some great meals and made some great memories. Baa took Finn to have their "special" breakfast almost every morning . . . which turned out to be ice cream. He didn't mind one bit. She also threw a little "fit" so Finn took her shopping and bought her a lego set that she has had her eye on for quite some time . . . and being the generous little fellow that he is, he even put it together for her and showed her how to play with it. Gotta love grandparents!

And as a special treat, Lindsey and Justin made the long drive over from Birmingham to spend a few days with us. Justin scored major points with Finn (and all of us) for being a master sand castle builder and expert lego assembler. We spent the 4th on the beach followed by a yummy lowcountry boil and capped the night off with a bird's eye view of the fireworks. The dogs were not impressed with the fireworks and it became a group effort to keep them from jumping off the balcony. 

The week ended all too soon. We can't wait for everyone to come visit again. 

Big and Finn tackle the cast net

Hazy skies and happy folks!

A double rainbow . . . our gift for hanging on the beach even though it rained

We skipped the parade this year, but made it to the after party . . . just in time for ice cream

Getting ready for the fireworks . . . with 3 anxious dogs 

One happy little boy

No visit to SI is complete without a sendoff lunch at Poe's

Finn and Justin and the beginning of their sand castle masterpiece

A "BUMP" in the Road to the Chicago Marathon

You may remember that I blogged awhile back in March about entering the lottery for the Chicago Marathon. I did it on a lark, not really thinking I would actually get in. But I did. Now faced with the reality that I would need to actually train for and run 26.2 miles in October, I began researching training schedules and travel plans to Chicago. Turns out God had other plans for me, our family and my running career. Because I happened to be pregnant! Turns out, running 26.2 miles when your 8 months pregnant isn't the best idea. At least to me it isn't. For the record, I was over the moon--beyond excited and thrilled. I just couldn't believe the timing. In order to understand why this is such a big deal, I feel like I need to give you a little of the reader's digest version of the back story. 

I got pregnant with Finn really quickly. So I assumed when we were ready for baby #2, it would be the same. Turns out it wasn't. Three months turned into six months turned into a year which turned into two years. Now, if you've ever been pregnant or wanted to be, you know that while it may take you a while to decide you are ready for a baby, but once you do decide, then you are ready. To have the baby. Yesterday. So to wait for 24 months, especially for a type A like me, was pretty excruciating. We finally sought some help but after some routine tests at my doctors revealed nothing abnormal we were referred to Southeastern Fertility Clinic. It took me a long time to work up the nerve to actually call and make the appointment. I just couldn't wrap my brain around the fact that I couldn't get pregnant on my own. I finally made the initial appointment which kickstarted nearly a year of visits, injections, tests and various treatments. I'll spare you the details but I was diagnosed with "unexplained infertility" and nothing they did or we did worked. It was hard on me emotionally and hard on Mark and me as a couple. Mark was a trooper though and went to every appointment and gave me shots and was there when I needed him most. It was beyond frustrating. People kept telling me that it will happen when I stopped thinking about it. But how do you just stop thinking about something that you so desperately want and have been working towards for the past 3 years? Impossible I tell you. 

I prayed about it, I cried about it, I got angry about it, I got sad about it, but finally in February, I decided to get on with it. I felt like I had been living my life in a holding pattern for nearly three years. Each month I thought was the month I would be pregnant. But after 34 months, I had to face facts that it just might not happen. Talk about a hard pill to swallow. During our trip to California, Mark and I talked about it and decided that we needed a break . . . from the fertility clinic, from thinking about it, from everything. We decided to take a break for the rest of the year and then decide what and how much further we were willing to go. It seemed like a good compromise. While I knew I would never stop wanting another baby, it was like a huge weight had been lifted off of me not to have to think about it day in and day out. I came back from California determined to cross some things of my to-do list that had been growing for nearly three years. I entered the marathon lottery and applied for some volunteer opportunities and dug my resume up and began to think about some possible next steps. 

After I got my marathon acceptance email, I had 48 hours to pay my registration fee to guarantee my entry. In those 48 hours, I had a gut feeling that something was off. Don't ask me why but I took 2 pregnancy tests, both of which were definitely not exactly positive, but then again, not as negative as they usually are. Which is the most obnoxious answer to get. With time running out, I went ahead and paid my money and then the next day went out and bought the super fancy digital pregnancy test. After nearly 3 years of NO's and negatives . . . I finally got a positive. 

It was safe to say I was in a state of shock. For a long time. I just couldn't believe it and then went back and forth between being terrified something was wrong and plain ol' disbelief. I got pregnant in March and in May of this year, it would have been three years since we first began this journey for baby #2.  I have met several women who have had a much longer and more difficult journey to become a mother. I have read countless blogs of women who have been to the ends of the earth and back again to get pregnant and after what we went through, I now have some inkling of what they must have felt like. For so many other women it is so much harder and more painful and there isn't always a happy ending. I tried to be mindful of what I was going through was merely a drop in the bucket of what some women experience. Throughout this whole process the thing that Mark kept reminding me of and I tried to focus on was how unbelievably blessed and lucky we are to have a happy and healthy Finn--there are so many out there who don't or aren't able to have a child, period. We were blessed with Finn and now, unbelievably and undeservedly, we are given a chance to bring another baby into the world.

I don't want to compare our journey, good or bad, with anyone else's journey to parenthood. It is simply our experience. My goal is writing this is not to elicit sympathy or any other feelings but only to serve as a reminder to me where of we have been and what we have been through to add to our family. This little peanut is so loved and wanted, before day 1.  

Year Four: 2012

I started writing this back in December, before Finn's 5th birthday, in hopes that I could remember and capture all of the things I wanted to say to him, but here it is July 2013, and I'm just now getting around to finishing it. I know I've missed lots of highlights but I did my best. So there.

My Dear Finn,

It's hard to believe that the day you have looked forward to for nearly 6 months has already come and gone in the blink of an eye. You are five. A big five year old. One whole hand of fingers as you like to say. I really can't believe it. I know I say that every year, but this time, I really mean it. I have to catch myself when someone asks me how old you are, because sometimes I want to say you are three, no four, how can it be, five? But five you are. You were so excited for this birthday because five is a really big deal--it means kindergarten, but I don't want to even thing about that yet. My heart can't take it. Right now I want to reflect on your fourth year and tell you once again how very much I love you.

Finn, you are such a special boy and not a day goes by that I don't thank God for making me your mama. You have taught me more about patience, joy, laughter, kindness and unconditional love than I ever thought possible. That's not to say that being your mom is a complete cakewalk  . . . because it's not. You have your moments, just like we all do. You throw tantrums, have meltdowns in public, cop an attitude, and are an extremely difficult eater, but even with that, I am so thankful for you, your good days and even your bad ones too. It is a joy to watch you grow, learn new things, develop new friendships and relationships, explore, test your boundaries (and ours too). Even though you are beginning to assert your independence, you will always be my "baby." My favorite time with you remains the morning when you pad down the stairs, ever so softly, and haul yourself up into bed with me to snuggle, and of course, the evenings, when we read stories in bed. You have started saying your prayers before bedtime and it is so sweet to hear you pray for your friends and family. I hope that your faith in God will continue to develop as you grow older.

Four was a fun year. Santa kicked it off in style by bringing you an awesome swing set (which we managed to keep a surprise from you, even though they set it up in your backyard several days early). We were beginning to settle into our house and life on Sullivans Island.

The first part of the year we devoted to many home projects and you were such a trooper in dealing with the mess, sawdust and a super distracted mommy and daddy. Lucky for us we had lots of friends and family willing to pitch in and help out--with you and the house. Four turned out to be the year of the super hero. You loved them all: Superman, Batman, Spiderman and even the bad ones like Darth Vader. You played dress up and involved everyone in your super hero games, even the dogs. There were times you insisted on wearing whatever costume you happened to be wearing out the door, whether it was to run an errand, go to the grocery store or even out to dinner.

Eating dinner at Red's in full Vader attire

First part of 2012: renovation mess

Four is also the year you discovered Legos. Up until this point I couldn't really say that you were into one thing or another. Trains were just okay, you liked trucks okay too, but when you discovered Legos, it was all over. You would sit for hours and work on your original designs. Then you would come and present your building and have this elaborate story for what you built. Your creativity and imagination has really taken off.  This is something that you definitely got from your daddy. The two of you can work for hours putting together these complicated sets and you are so proud when you finally complete one. Your dad definitely fuels the fire and buys you just about any set you want (which I sometimes have a hard time deciding if its more for you or him, because he enjoys them almost as much as you do.)

We went on a few road trips to visit friends and family and go to Summer's wedding, where you proved to be quite the show stealer on the dance floor. We spent lots of time on the beach and in the water. You have developed quite a little group of friends, and as the "big guys on campus" you rule the roost at preschool. You were lucky to have such great teachers at school. With a class of 9 boys they certainly had their hands full. But you all had a blast, learning with and from each other, both in the classroom and on all of the fun field trips we took.

Perhaps the most memorable event of your 4th year was adding Charlie to our family. She was born in August and we brought her home in October. A Lily she is not, but she is spunky, feisty and full of life, so much so that you can't help but love her. Kind of like you in a way. You two have high energy levels and are great playmates. I hope you will be friends for a long long time. It was such a great experience for you to see the puppies right after their birth and watch them grow for 8 weeks before we brought her home. You were a big help with Charlie, playing with her, giving her lots of love an attention and feeding her. You made it clear you were not on potty training duty.

So Finn, as your 4th year draws to a close and we look towards turning 5 I want you to always remember how much your mama and daddy love you. We are extremely proud of who you are and who you are becoming. Never lose your spark, your creativity, your curiosity, your kindness and your BIG heart.

Love, Mama

I put together this slide show to capture your 4th year. It does a much better job of 
highlighting your 4th year than I have done.

Summer Fun Part 1: June

Our summer is off to a great start! Fun with friends and family, hanging with the dogs, lots of beach and pool time, late[er] summer nights, bike rides, reading club at the library and many slushies to cool us off along the way. This is the first summer since we moved to Charleston that I feel truly settled and what a difference it makes. Getting to focus entirely on Finn and having fun with him is way better than worrying about painting, bead board and plumbing! 

A picture with these 3 proves impossible to take

Fiesta night!

Fun at the beach with Aubrey and Declan

Finn and Declan

Summer fun with the Slyes! My dear friend Alisha braved a 9 hour car trip with two kids by herself to come spend a week with us. We had an absolute blast . . . and the kids had a pretty good time too! Finn and Samantha practically grew up together, the first three years at least, but haven't seen each other in a while. I wasn't too sure how they would get along, especially since Finn has been in sort of an anti-girl phase lately. Turns out I had nothing to worry about. Those two picked up like long lost pals and never missed a beat. I'm convinced that Samantha is the male version of Finn. Those two can talk paint off of a wall. We had such a great time, spending most of our time just being beach bums, playing out in the yard, catching frogs, and running interference with Charlie! Alisha and I did manage to get a couple of nights out alone which was also a nice treat. The kids got along great the entire week, which is almost unheard of. We were so sad to see them go but hope that they will come back really soon! 

Three peas in a pod

Barrett turned 3 during their visit so we threw him a Cars theme birthday party. 

Finn likes to celebrate sans pants, apparently

Locked, loaded and ready for battle

Blowing out the candles

These two spent a lot of time on the swing set, just hanging out and talking!

Best Buddies

The whole gang

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Super Finn and wonder dog

Apparently she's been eating a lot of miracle grow lately . . . she's huge

Relaxing with Mary Daniel in the Stokes' new pool

A little water fight with uncle Danny

Freeze frame: This looks like some sort of wrestling move but is actually Finn's attempt at diving

A little post-swim snuggle with Bop

What, don't you swap pjs with your dog?

Mission Accomplished

If you have spent any time with Finn in the past year or so, you know that he is in the midst of a major Lego phase. Obsessed is probably a better description. He can sit for hours and work on his sets with such concentration that amazes me. He gets the Lego catalogue a couple of times a year and will flip through it for days upon days. Kind of remind me of what I used to do the the Sears Wish Book would come out around Christmas . . . remember that? Anyway, last year he had set his eyes on the Lego Star Wars Death Star. This is a major set . . . we are talking pricey and complicated, at more than 3,000 pieces. We told him that he would have to save his money and buy it himself if he wanted it. Truth be told, I didn't think he would be able to save that much for that long. But he surprised me for sure. He has saved all of his money from 2 birthdays, Christmas and every holiday along the way. He did chores for me and worked out in the yard with Mark. I'm not saying he did it all happily, but he did it nonetheless. I think every one we know has contributed to his "death star Lego pot" Mimi, Bop, Big, Baa, Gigi and Papa and countless others . . . so thank you to everyone who has been so generous to him. 

By the end of the school year, he was within $10 of his goal. We decided to have a lemonade stand to get him across the finish line. It was such a huge success, he made his goal and then some. In fact, I'm thinking of setting up a lemonade stand to get this pair of boots I've had my eye on for some time. Wink wink. He was so cute sitting up there and our friends and neighbors were so sweet and generous to stop by and buy his lemonade. I doubt I could make as much money as he did. 

He gathered and counted his money and turned it over to his dad so he could buy it online. That's how special this set is . . . not even sold in stores, at least not any around us. It was a fantastic day when that Lego box arrived in the mail. I was so proud of Finn for setting a goal and working hard and saving for more than a year to reach his goal. Way to go! 

Now the fun part begins . . . actually putting it together. Yay summer. 

Lemonade stand: working hard for the money

Counting his dough . . . yet again

Success! Here it is

One month later . . .
This proved to be a family affair, and then some. It took us more than a month but we finally finished it. The instruction book had over 260 pages, if this gives you an idea. Everyone pitched in, even Justin, Lindsey's boyfriend who got suckered into it over their 4th of July visit and got the rest of us off the hook (for a brief time, anyway). Finn was so proud of himself. Now, if we could just keep it intact for the rest of the summer, we'll be doing good. Super glue anyone?