Sabbatical - Part 1: The Fabulous

I CANNOT believe that I have only 2.5 more days left at the beach! I seriously tried to slow time down these past 3 weeks and here we are, shocked at the reality of how it has all gone way too fast. Fast but fabulous. For the most part.

Brantley...what can I say? I love that little being with every once of myself. The week that just she, Matt and I were together was perfect. B thinks that Matt is the most hilarious person ever and he LOVES that she thinks that. And I love all of it. Lots of love going on here. The cool part is that we think she is the funniest little thing we've seen. I would say that my biggest joy these past weeks is that I really got to know my baby. That is fabulous and so, so, so sad to me at the same time.

Taylor and Joel came for a visit which was super fun. 2 pitchers of margaritas and watching Joel run from B as she tried to lay kiss after kiss after kiss on him - good times.

Mom and Dad are here to round out the beach vacay. It is great to be with them and have them get to know B. I think she knows they're special people in our lives. Today on the beach, M&D went for a walk and as they were walking back towards us she caught sight of them pretty far out. They were just figures walking but she knew it was them and she wouldn't stop looking at them until they got closer at which point she got up and ran to them. Sweetness.

Matt and Dan fished and we feasted on Mahi Mahi - delicious!

As far as hitting the beach goes, the weather could not have been better. Boating, not so good but we're sticking to the fabulous here.

I cooked! Once...but it was good...

Finished Pillars of the Earth. Great, long read. Some parts were very disturbing to me but overall I would recommend it.

I actually have some color for the first time in years. I know it isn't healthy but IT FEELS SO GOOD.

We're off...to the beach!

In 12 hours I will officially be on sabbatical. Can I get a heck yeah? Alright...

The last month has been a bit crazy - I've had the general feeling of wanting to either (a) run. Run fast and far and furiously. Or (b) drink and drink and drink...and drink. I didn't do either which is good since it would probably take my whole sabbatical to recover from both options. Instead, I just ran around in a general state of tension but it is going, going, almost gone.

Here's the gist:

(1) Had to prepare to be out off of work for 4 weeks. Don't think I've been that on task since nesting with B.

(2) Put an offer on a house.

(3) Got hopes up about said house.

(4) Didn't get house.

(5) Went to dr. for a pain in my side that had been nagging me for about a month.

(6) Dr. said "hmm".

(7) I said "Dr. S. - let me tell you what patients don't want to hear when you have an ultrasound probe up their mo...

(8) Dr. S. thought it was an etopic pregnancy.

(9) Peed in a cup.

(10) Test inconclusive.

(11) Gave blood to make sure I was not pregnant....and to test for cancer.

(12) Not pregnant. Not cancer.

(13) Went back for 3rd ultrasound last week - cyst? bi-lobal ovary? Hmmm...

(14) Don't know but hopefully Duke Obgyn will. We'll find out when I get back. But I'M NOT WORRIED. We've ruled out the bad so...

(15) Talk with boss. Things are changing...more on that later.

(16) B's nanny's dad passed away after a long illness. Very sad for Jackie.

(17) Would have celebrated Jamie's 9th birthday on the 14th. 9 years. 9 years...

(18) Somehow I did it. Brantley, Matt and I got to the beach yesterday and we are settled into our home for the next 3 weeks. Cheers to that!

In just 24 hours I feel like a different person. Matt has been traveling so much this past month and this disconnect was beginning to get to me. We needed the past 24 hours like Lola needs her tennis balls.

So, our biggest plan for the next 3 weeks is to not have a plan! I'm real excited about that but a little nervous at the same time. I am a person that operates on plans and schedules. The Known is my friend. I'm comfortable with her. The only known I know right now is that I am really geeked to be able to soak up every minute of Brantley. She is growing up so fast and I feel like I'm just holding on to every piece of her I can because tomorrow that piece is going to be something different - bigger, smarter, funnier. Just different.

I am really, really thankful for this sabbatical. It could not have come at a better time. God hit the nail on the head with this one. Not only am I am thankful for this time off, this 4 week paid time off!, I'm really thankful that I work for company that values their employees. I know a lot of companies tout the work/home balance but SP literally puts their money where their mouth is. More companies should do this - can you imagine how happy all the worker bees would be?

Pictures from our first day coming soon...

Note To Self.

If the little person you're batheing has major gas in the tub - wash body and hair as fast as possible and get a diaper on that kid.

To my reader's relief there is no picture to commemorate this moment.

And the Freak Mom Award Goes To...

Last month while I was brushing B's teeth I noticed a dark spot on the back of her bottom front tooth. I scrubbed and scrubbed for a couple of days without being able to remove the spot so I called my dentist who I l-o-v-e. I've been going to him for over 10 years, his wife is the best and I worked his dauther's 7th birthday party back in the day when I had 5 jobs in one year - one of which was at a paint your own pottery store. She is now in college which says just one thing - I AM OLD.

So I was freaked out that precious B had a cavity at the tender age of one. The thought was horrifying because, as I think I've mentioned here before, I'm a huge fan of good oral hygene and pride myself for having zero cavities. I talked to Kelly (Dr. Greenlee's wife) and she said to bring her on in and he'll take a look. Kelly and all the ladies there are crazy about babies so B received a huge welcome. She was cool with everything until Dr. Greenlee started poking around in her mouth.

Dr. G saw said spot and pulled out the plaque scraper thing. I had to hold B's arms down which added to her fury. Less than a second later the spot in question is gone. What??? Yeah, gone. Just took a little more umph than I was giving it apparently.

Crazy mom? Perhaps. But Dr. G did give me props for even noticing the spot and being so diligent about brushing her little pearls.

And she officially became the youngest member of the No Cavaties Club. An honor worth noting I'd say.

Va!

About 6 months ago, Brantley started pointing at the dogs and saying "Va!". We paid attention for a couple of days and decided this was her word for "dog". Then she started saying it whenever she saw a dog and whenever she got excited. But she's come back around to just using it for dog. And, I have to say, the day she begins to actually use the word "dog," I will be so sad.

Other Brantley updates:

*Pointed to the bears in "Goodnight Moon" - has been pointing to the cats for a while now.
*Barks when asked what dogs say.
*Walks! I can't believe I didn't post about her first steps and really walking...I'll try to get that down soon before the memory gets edged out by other milestones, grocery lists, and work projects.
*Signs milk, all done, hi, bye-bye, and will rub my chest to say please - sometimes
*Says "bee" for baby - and will pretend to wash her baby, "dee" for deer, "du" for duck, "da" for dada, "ma" for mamma, and a whole bunch of other sounds that we have yet to figure out.
*Oh yeah, and my favorite: "ni, ni, ni, ni" along with the two index fingers going Red Raider style.

My little bug is growing up so fast. Which is why I'm so excited about this year. My sabbatical from work has come around again (crazy!) so this May, B and I are headed to the beach for 3 glorious weeks! I cannot wait!