Dream Job #12: Wedding Photographer

I didn't mention this one yesterday, but another of my "dream jobs" is to be a wedding photographer. I love weddings, noticing and capturing the special little details that the bride planned so carefully. I'm only now learning how to use a "fancy" camera, and I don't want to give up all my Saturdays, but in a hypothetical sense, it sounds like a fun job!

Matt performed a wedding last weekend for someone he went to high school with, and--even though I didn't know the happy couple and it won't be going in my scrapbook or anything--I still enjoyed taking my own snapshots of their lovely fall wedding.

Orange and green with some rustic details... it was a beautiful event.

 

(Kate couldn't let Daddy do all the talking in the service, so she and I had to retreat way back from the gathering. It gave me a beautiful--if distant--vantage point, though.)

I won't quit my day job, but maybe if a friend's photographer got a last-minute stomach bug or something?

(Just kidding!) Congrats to the happy couple!

Project Life (May 24-30)

Monday 5/24: Since we're keeping Kate's paci clipped to Raffi for bedtime and naptime only now, sometimes Kate will pull her little giraffe lovey, Raffi (and "big Raffi," the pink one) out of her crib once she's in her jammies and carry them around as she plays a little more before bedtime. This evening, she carried them out to the kitchen and then laid down on them, evidently tired and ready for bed.

Tuesday 5/25: Now that our stash of frozen breast milk is gone, Kate is on whole milk. I decided to use organic milk for her--even though I am typically not all that conscientious about "organic" or "hormone-free" or "free range" or whatnot--because I have heard that all the hormones given to cows end up in our milk and meat and that is what has been causing kids to go through puberty at younger ages. I figure since we have to buy whole milk just for her anyway, might as well get the organic kind that won't give her extra hormones, and the Omega-3 kind with tilapia in it for extra brain development while we're at it.

Wednesday 5/26: I bought this Fisher-Price Animal Train toy at a consignment sale when Kate was just a couple months old, and it's been in the garage ever since, just waiting for the day she'd be old enough for it. She loves musical toys, and we've got a lot of giraffes and monkeys around her room, so she is really enjoying it. She can even make "ooh ooh ooh" monkey noises. I posted a video of her playing with this (and saying her first word--"cheese") the other day.

Thursday 5/27: Babyproofing 1, Parents 0. We decided to start locking the oven the other day, since Kate is capable of pulling the dishwasher open when it isn't fully latched and we worried she would do the same with the oven. So, I started preheating the oven to cook some sweet potatoes for dinner, and couldn't get the door unlatched the put the dish in. I started fussing about it, and called Matt in to give it a try, and he couldn't get it open either, and we were really getting frustrated with it until I finally said "maybe it doesn't unlock while it's on," and turned the oven off. It promptly unlocked and opened then, so I was able to cook dinner, but that doesn't solve the issue of being able to lock the oven when it's on, hot and unsafe for little hands!

Friday 5/28: Our friend Maria came up to spend the night with us before a big bike ride in Clarksville the next day (the CRAM--100K!) After Kate went to bed, she and I went out for a great dinner at Olive Garden (carbing up!) and stayed up until 2 am, talking and laughing hysterically. (I usually go to bed before 10:00, so this was like being in college again, only I had to get up at 6 am with an early-rising toddler!)

Saturday 5/29: Matt had a "college-flashback" experience this week as well when he went to our friend Chris' bachelor party on Thursday night. Chris and Anna Russell's wedding was Saturday, and it was just beautiful. We had so much fun reconnecting with our div school friends and celebrating this great couple. (Full report on the wedding here!)

Sunday 5/30: After spending the night in a hotel, we picked Kate up at Matt's parents' house and we all went to the zoo for the afternoon. The whole day (covered in the same post as the wedding) was so much fun, but a personal highlight for me was riding the carousel with Kate. I tried to sit on the baby-monkey character with her, but the ride operator told me "only one person to an animal" so I had to stand next to her, and then just hold her when she got anxious riding the monkey by herself.

Check out other people's Project Life posts at The Mom Creative, and especially take a look at the video of her toddler son and nephew playing together. It's adorable! Have a great week, everybody!

Wonderful Weekend

I have been looking forward to Memorial Day weekend for weeks, and it did not disappoint. (Warning--long post with LOTS of pictures!)

Our div school friends Anna Russell and Chris got married on Saturday. They came to our wedding 3 1/2 years ago as a couple around the very start of their dating relationship, and we were so happy to see them tie the knot. They are a terrific couple and it was a gorgeous wedding (as we knew it would be!)

A.R. looked amazing--her dress and veil were so classic-looking. And I loved the peach roses (my favorite!)

I admit, part of the reason I had been looking forward to the wedding was the opportunity to wear my green dress that I love. I've only worn it one other time and we forgot our camera that time! (Yes, the color coordination with Matt's tie was intentional. Anyone that knows me--did you expect any less?)

The reception was held at the bride's grandmother's house in Belle Meade, with the cocktail hour in the house and gardens, and dinner/dancing under a tent on the lawn. Simply gorgeous--love the flower-laden chandelier and checkerboard dance floor.

Funny aside--the ground was a little soft, so when I wasn't on the dance floor, my heels would sink into the ground a bit. At one point, my four-inch stillettos sank all the way in, such that my feet were flat on the ground, and I couldn't move!! Matt had to grab me around the waist and pick me up to "free" me! It was really funny.

We did spend a lot of time on the dance floor, though, so no worries! The eight-piece City Lights Orchestra was great, and we had so much fun with all our old "trivia gang"--the friends we played trivia with every Wednesday night for about two years in 05-06.

We saw the happy couple off around midnight, and then went back to our hotel. It may seem silly to get a hotel when you live 50 miles away and have close family 15 miles away, but we decided to make an event of it, leaving Kate overnight with Matt's parents and having a night to ourselves. We slept in until 9:30 (9:30!!) and went to church at the Episcopal Cathedral where the ceremony had been held. I actually went to that church for my first six months or so in Nashville (having been active in an Episcopal church my last year or two of college), and it was lovely a) to have a Sunday as a "normal couple" going to church together (oh, how I long for that!) and b) to enjoy high-church worship (which I appreciate as much but for very different reasons from contemporary worship, as I wrote about here).

Then we went to get Kate at Matt's parents' house, and start the second half of our wonderful weekend (yes, you're only halfway through this post. If you're busy, at least scroll through the pictures :0)

Granna, Opa, Daddy, and I took Kate to the Nashville Zoo, which we decided to join and enjoy multiple times this summer.

Opa and Kate checked out the zebras.

And Granna pointed out the meerkats.

Kate loved the petting zoo, where she got to pet a real, live goat. This one was so docile, it had human infants sprawled across its back just before we took our turn.

One goat tried to eat my dress, nipping my leg in the process. (Don't worry, it didn't hurt near as bad as when Kate clamped down on my finger earlier this week!) And this big goat stole Lloyd's map right out of his pocket and swallowed it down.

We can't say we weren't warned, though. The chalk graffiti reads "Goats love Hay (and maps)".

It got pretty hot and sunny, and periodic rainshowers made it pretty humid. Kate looked cool sporting her shades, though (for the 10 seconds she left them on).

We got ice cream to cool off, and Kate ran back and forth between her attending adults, getting bites of ice cream, Dippin' Dots, and sno-cone.

The Nashville Zoo has an amazing playground--the Swiss Family Robinson-style fortress behind us in this family portrait was only part of it. There were tunnels and swings and slides, and even a separate little-kids' area that was basically a big cushioned floor across which to run. If we lived closer, it would be worth using our membership (unlimited admission) just to pop over and play on the playground.

There is also a gorgeous carousel with all different animals to ride. This spot made a great escape from the rain when it really started pouring. (An escape for Kate and I, at least, as we rode the carousel. The others still got drenched from the knees down as the rain came in sideways under the canopy!)

We chose the baby-monkeys-on-a-log to ride, and it was really fun. She sat on it herself for one cycle or two, but then she wanted to be held, so we just stood there with the monkeys.

The downpour stopped enough for us to grab a quick look at the elephants and giraffes before it really looked like it might storm. Next time, we'll start on that side of the zoo, so we can spend more time with the big animals and check out the historic farmhouse there, which I have yet to see!

We had a great holiday weekend (and it's not over yet--we just have nothing planned for today!) and I hope you've had a great weekend too!

The Secret to Marital Bliss

My grandparents celebrated their 73rd anniversary today. Yep, they were married on January 2, 1937, just a week after my grandmother's 18th birthday.

Given that they've been married longer than some people live, I thought I would ask them their secret to marital bliss. Actually, I think I said "marital success," not "bliss," which is probably a secret in itself, since longevity requires enduring times that aren't so blissful.

Nana responded, "Well, I think it comes down to the three 'P's: patience, perseverance, and prayer."

Grandpa added a fourth 'P' that I think sums it all up: "Just put up with each other!"

Amen to that, Grandpa. Happy anniversary!

1DoH: November Nawlins Nuptuals

This week, with Halloween past and Thanksgiving still a few weeks away, the major holiday was my cousin Lindsay's wedding in New Orleans! But before we get to that, let's scootch back to #40 of the 100 Days of Holidays!

40) Monday 11/2: Unable to wait to see Nala and Popi on Thursday, Kate wanted to Skype with her maternal grandparents. So, she demonstrated her cart-pushing abilities via webcam. Score one for the 21st century.

41) Tuesday 11/3: Kate's new "big girl" car seat arrived today! Her infant carrier was getting pretty heavy with her in it, so it was about time to get a convertible car seat (no, not a car seat that goes in convertibles, but a seat that rides rear-facing for another year or so and then front-facing until she's 65 pounds). We chose The First Years TrueFit, which now stays in Mommy's car, and her infant seat will just stay in Daddy's car until we sell a few more internal organs to buy another convertible seat around Christmastime.

(she's proud!)

42) Wednesday 11/4: Kate had her 9-month checkup (a week late). She weighs 18 lbs., 10 oz., and is 27 inches long (both quite average). Her head is still around the 90th percentile, though, making room for her big brain. She is developing perfectly, but the doctor did find an ear infection, so Kate we now have the challenge of sneaking an antibiotic into her food for ten days!

43) Thursday 11/5: It was Daddy-Daughter Day, which is always fun. Kate found the ceiling fan especially fascinating.

44) Friday 11/6: Matt and I drove to New Orleans with my parents. What a great town! I hadn't been in five years (since before Katrina) and Matt hadn't been in ten! The rehearsal dinner was that night, and I wore a new green dress that I absolutely love, but alas, we forgot our camera and Mom didn't take any pics of us :0(

45) Saturday 11/7: Lindsay's wedding day!! We bridesmaids hung around the hotel suite most of the day, snacking and reading trashy magazines as each girl got her hair and/or makeup done. Lindsay looked beautiful, and the big event that night was terrific, held in the New Orleans Museum of Art and accentuated with New Orleans traditions.

46) Sunday 11/8: A "morning after" brunch was held at the Palace Cafe, and we enjoyed visiting with the happy couple, family, and friends a little more. I love this shot of my parents, letting their hair down over a breakfast of mimosas and eggs benedict.

Coming this week: not much, though I hope Kate gets over her ear infection soon. She's a bit cranky, and I'll assume it's the infection and not the fact that she was spoiled by her other grandparents, who kept her while we were gone to NOLA! (Thanks, Granna and Opa!)

Wordless Wednesday -- Three Years

Partying in Louisville

After church on Sunday, we drove up to Louisville for a dinner party/shower for my cousin Lindsay and her fiance Andrew. They live in the D.C. area, and my aunt and uncle and younger cousins live in New Orleans, so everyone converged on the Miller homeland to celebrate with the extended family.

The happy couple

Younger adult tableThe groom, father-of-the-bride, bride, mother-of-the-bride, my mom, and brother of the bride
Kate got to come too, and it was actually the first time she had met some of the Miller family. Here she is with Nala (my mom--short for Nana Laura) and maid of honor/sister-of-the-bride Layne.

Kate apparently shakes hands with her feet. Fittingly, she's going to be a monkey for Halloween! I can't believe the summer is almost over! I love fall, so I'm very excited about taking Kate to fall festivals, dressing her up in her costume, taking walks in the crisp fall air. I have a couple business trips coming up this fall, and of course our trip to New Orleans for the wedding! Congrats to the happy couple! We're so excited about your big day!