Margaret White, Rita White, J.P. and Jude at Tom White's farm.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Hayride!
Yesterday, J.P., Jude and I went to Tom White's farm in Dickson for their annual Halloween Party/Chili Cook-off. A few years ago, Tom (Jude's uncle) bought a cabin on 12 acres or so, just on the Dickson County side of the county line. Over time, he bought a couple of parcels of land from neighbors, as well as a barn he's totally renovated. Now, he owns about 80 acres (I think) that's adjacent to a creek. It's really a nice spread and we love going out there.
The highlight of the afternoon, for J.P., turned out to be the hayride. In the past, he's had what seems to be an irrational fear of hayrides, which is strange, because he loves tractors. Last year, at the same party, he flat refused to go on the hayride. A few weeks ago, at Genry Farm in Franklin, he wouldn't get on the hayride. Then, at "Ghouls at Grassmere" (Halloween at the Nashville Zoo), he again refused to go on the hayride.
When Tom's friend, Bud, drove the tractor down to the barn for the first hayride, J.P. climbed aboard the trailer full of hay bales with Jude and her grandmother, although he wasn't very happy about it. I climbed up and sat next to J.P. and Jude's dad sat down next to me. As the tractor started forward with a lurch, J.P. whimpered a little bit and held onto to Jude a little tighter. Pretty quickly, though, as we rode slowly around the farm, he perked up and started smiling, laughing and pointing at different things he saw. Later, he said, "I told you it would be fun, Mommy." Right.
J.P. adores Bud, having met him at the party last year. As the hayride ended, J.P. asked Bud if he would sit with us when we ate chili, like he had last year. Much to his delight, Bud sat down and ate with us after he finished a couple more tours around the farm on the tractor.
Later, after we got home and J.P. was getting ready for bed, he couldn't stop talking about how much fun he had on the hayride. Pretty cool.
The highlight of the afternoon, for J.P., turned out to be the hayride. In the past, he's had what seems to be an irrational fear of hayrides, which is strange, because he loves tractors. Last year, at the same party, he flat refused to go on the hayride. A few weeks ago, at Genry Farm in Franklin, he wouldn't get on the hayride. Then, at "Ghouls at Grassmere" (Halloween at the Nashville Zoo), he again refused to go on the hayride.
When Tom's friend, Bud, drove the tractor down to the barn for the first hayride, J.P. climbed aboard the trailer full of hay bales with Jude and her grandmother, although he wasn't very happy about it. I climbed up and sat next to J.P. and Jude's dad sat down next to me. As the tractor started forward with a lurch, J.P. whimpered a little bit and held onto to Jude a little tighter. Pretty quickly, though, as we rode slowly around the farm, he perked up and started smiling, laughing and pointing at different things he saw. Later, he said, "I told you it would be fun, Mommy." Right.
J.P. adores Bud, having met him at the party last year. As the hayride ended, J.P. asked Bud if he would sit with us when we ate chili, like he had last year. Much to his delight, Bud sat down and ate with us after he finished a couple more tours around the farm on the tractor.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Fair Weather in My Hemisphere
It's late October, about 10:30 p.m., and I'm sitting in my chair on the front porch after a run, listening the to the crickets - they're particularly vocal tonight - and watching the leaves fall to the ground under the streetlight as a light but insistent breeze blows. As the breeze picks up steam, it rustles the leaves in the stately old maple tree in our front yard and the branches sway just a bit. It's a great time of night and a real treat to be sitting outside with the temperature hovering in the low 60s, glass of wine by my side.
I've been fighting a cold and cough since late last week, so I took Monday and Tuesday off from running. It was killing me and it's supposed to turn cold and rainy tomorrow. I couldn't help myself, so I ventured out for a quick 3-mile night run through the neighborhood. It was good to knock the rust off my legs, so to speak, and get a run in, although my cough has picked up again since I got back. Sitting here on my front porch and listening to the sounds of the city, relatively late in the evening, is probably the time of day when I love my house and where I live the most.
J.P. accompanied Jude and me this afternoon to see Roseann Maikis, our friend and Jude's Ob/Gyn. Although he was a little skittish at first, J.P. quickly warmed up in the waiting room when he saw there was a play area. Our nurse, Gina, found our new son's heartbeat easily and it sounded strong and fast. J.P. wasn't so wild about the noise (he's never wild about noises), so for the most part, he kept his hands over his ears while we listened to the heartbeat. When Roseann came in to examine Jude and talk with us, J.P. was great. He showed Roseann his doctor's bag (he's brought it to her office) and pulled out the plastic stethoscope so she could see it. Roseann was fantastic with him.
Jude's gained almost 10 pounds, which is right where Roseann wants her to be, 22+ weeks into the pregnancy. Roseann was pleased with the results of the 20-week ultrasound and told us the baby is growing like he should be. Good news all the way around.
In a couple of weeks, Jude will go in for a test to see if she has gestational diabetes. Last time around, she did, so it's more likely she will have it again this time. If she does, it will mean pricking her finger a few times a day and watching her diet very closely. She's already been staying away from sweets and juices, for the most part, so we're hopeful that she may not have gestational diabetes.
All in all, we're good to go. Not ready to launch, yet, but getting there. Like so much in life, we're taking it one day at a time and trying to live in the moment. And as moments go, it's a pretty good one to live in for a while.
I've been fighting a cold and cough since late last week, so I took Monday and Tuesday off from running. It was killing me and it's supposed to turn cold and rainy tomorrow. I couldn't help myself, so I ventured out for a quick 3-mile night run through the neighborhood. It was good to knock the rust off my legs, so to speak, and get a run in, although my cough has picked up again since I got back. Sitting here on my front porch and listening to the sounds of the city, relatively late in the evening, is probably the time of day when I love my house and where I live the most.
J.P. accompanied Jude and me this afternoon to see Roseann Maikis, our friend and Jude's Ob/Gyn. Although he was a little skittish at first, J.P. quickly warmed up in the waiting room when he saw there was a play area. Our nurse, Gina, found our new son's heartbeat easily and it sounded strong and fast. J.P. wasn't so wild about the noise (he's never wild about noises), so for the most part, he kept his hands over his ears while we listened to the heartbeat. When Roseann came in to examine Jude and talk with us, J.P. was great. He showed Roseann his doctor's bag (he's brought it to her office) and pulled out the plastic stethoscope so she could see it. Roseann was fantastic with him.
Jude's gained almost 10 pounds, which is right where Roseann wants her to be, 22+ weeks into the pregnancy. Roseann was pleased with the results of the 20-week ultrasound and told us the baby is growing like he should be. Good news all the way around.
In a couple of weeks, Jude will go in for a test to see if she has gestational diabetes. Last time around, she did, so it's more likely she will have it again this time. If she does, it will mean pricking her finger a few times a day and watching her diet very closely. She's already been staying away from sweets and juices, for the most part, so we're hopeful that she may not have gestational diabetes.
All in all, we're good to go. Not ready to launch, yet, but getting there. Like so much in life, we're taking it one day at a time and trying to live in the moment. And as moments go, it's a pretty good one to live in for a while.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Bath Time for J.P. and Finn
Leaf Party IX
Tuesday night, J.P. and Jude and in bed, and I'm watching game 5 of the World Series (Cardinals vs. Rangers). I love baseball. Still, after all these years, it's my favorite sport to watch and follow.
The Baines' clan was in town staying with us, Friday - Sunday, for Leaf Party IX. As always, we had a great time, a great party and, as always, the weekend went by way too fast. We started the Leaf Party tradition nine years ago - which, in itself, is hard to believe - when Cyndi and Troy moved home to Florida with their two kids (three now), Wolf and Scout. The party was a way to get them back to town, something unique and really, created as an event for friends of theirs (and ours) to come to our house to see them. At that point, Jude and I didn't have a child, but we absolutely loved hosting the party and playing int he leaves with all of our friends' children. The Leaf Party is more meaningful for us now, since we can share it with J.P.
I took Friday afternoon off work, so Jude and I could meet Cyndi, Troy, Wolf, Scout and Finn at our house when they arrived, about 1:30 p.m. After spending a few minutes in the front yard marveling at how big Wolf and Scout have gotten, we piled into the mini-van Cyndi had rented for the trip and drove over to 12South to pick up lunch at a new restaurant, Sloco. We bought sandwiches and walked over to Sevier Park. While Jude and Cyndi talked quietly, sitting on a granite wall by the swing sets, watching Finn, Wolf and Scout explored the culvert where water flows, creek-like, when it rains.
We dropped Cyndi off at Rumor's Wine Bar to meet a friend for a glass of wine, then Troy, Wolf, Scout, Finn and I drove to Bongo Java. After I got a cup of coffee, we walked over to Belmont and kicked the soccer ball around on the soccer field. It was a gorgeous afternoon and we alternated kicking the ball back and forth, playing "monkey in the middle" and sprawling in the grass.
Jude's parents came to our house to watch J.P. and Finn, while Jude and Cyndi attended their law school class's 15th reunion at Vanderbilt. Troy and grabbed a bite to eat, then came home to put the kids to bed.
Jude came in late - after midnight - and Cyndi came in really late, but that's another story. Suffice to say that when Jude's law school classmates get together, and it's rare that it happens, trouble isn't far behind.
Saturday morning dawned clear and cool - Leaf Party Day! I headed out to run errands - grocery store, liquor store, etc. - while at home, it was all hands on deck (kids included) to get ready for the party. While the leaves didn't cooperate this year - they're late falling, though we did have the party a week early - our friends and their children had a blast, as always.
After everyone left, it was nap time for Jude, J.P., Troy and Finn. Cyndi went for a "punishment run," and it really, really punished her. Wolf, Scout and I went on our "secret walk" to Belmont, a tradition we started several years ago. We walked to Chago's Cantina on Belmont Blvd. and sat at an outside table, drinking water and eating chips, then walked across the street to Buzzy's candy store. Next, we played frisbee on the soccer field at Belmont. It was one of the highlights of the weekend, as it is for me every year, just spending time with Wolf and Scout. I've know them - literally - since they were born and I've watched them grow up (11 and 10 years old now). They're amazing kids and it tickles me to death when they call me "Uncle Phil." We pretended we were spies on the way home, ducking and hiding behind trees, telephone poles and anything else we we could find.
Saturday night, we watched football and ate takeout food from Smiling Elephant, an amazing Thai restaurant on 8th Avenue, within walking distance of our house. Sunday morning, I went for a run and finished at Bongo Java for a cup of coffee. We ate a big breakfast when I got back, then Troy packed the mini-van and off they went, back to Florida.
As they pulled away, Cyndi looked at us, teary eyed, through the open window of the mini-van. I looked at Jude and J.P., sitting on the wall in our front yard, bordering the sidewalk, and noticed Jude had tears in her eyes, too. The Leaf Party weekends are all bittersweet to us. It's so good, so very good, to see Cyndi, Troy and the kids and we pack so much into a weekend. Still, it's so sad when they leave. For me, I feel sentimental and nostalgic, knowing it will be a year before I see them again and that the kids will have grown and changed in ways that will astound me.
Life is, you know, life. It's messy. It's complicated. It's hard and it's wonderful. It's memorable. It's sad, sometimes, but it's fun, too. Life makes you laugh and it makes you cry. The key, though, to me, is having people in your life - friends - to share it with, even if it's only once or twice a year. For us, the foundation of our friendship with Troy and Cyndi was laid long, long ago (more so for Jude and Cyndi, obviously, who met in law school) and it's strong enough, I think to withstand the tests of distance and time. It just works, without much effort and without any real explanation, as all good friendships do.
The Baines' clan was in town staying with us, Friday - Sunday, for Leaf Party IX. As always, we had a great time, a great party and, as always, the weekend went by way too fast. We started the Leaf Party tradition nine years ago - which, in itself, is hard to believe - when Cyndi and Troy moved home to Florida with their two kids (three now), Wolf and Scout. The party was a way to get them back to town, something unique and really, created as an event for friends of theirs (and ours) to come to our house to see them. At that point, Jude and I didn't have a child, but we absolutely loved hosting the party and playing int he leaves with all of our friends' children. The Leaf Party is more meaningful for us now, since we can share it with J.P.
I took Friday afternoon off work, so Jude and I could meet Cyndi, Troy, Wolf, Scout and Finn at our house when they arrived, about 1:30 p.m. After spending a few minutes in the front yard marveling at how big Wolf and Scout have gotten, we piled into the mini-van Cyndi had rented for the trip and drove over to 12South to pick up lunch at a new restaurant, Sloco. We bought sandwiches and walked over to Sevier Park. While Jude and Cyndi talked quietly, sitting on a granite wall by the swing sets, watching Finn, Wolf and Scout explored the culvert where water flows, creek-like, when it rains.
We dropped Cyndi off at Rumor's Wine Bar to meet a friend for a glass of wine, then Troy, Wolf, Scout, Finn and I drove to Bongo Java. After I got a cup of coffee, we walked over to Belmont and kicked the soccer ball around on the soccer field. It was a gorgeous afternoon and we alternated kicking the ball back and forth, playing "monkey in the middle" and sprawling in the grass.
Jude's parents came to our house to watch J.P. and Finn, while Jude and Cyndi attended their law school class's 15th reunion at Vanderbilt. Troy and grabbed a bite to eat, then came home to put the kids to bed.
Jude came in late - after midnight - and Cyndi came in really late, but that's another story. Suffice to say that when Jude's law school classmates get together, and it's rare that it happens, trouble isn't far behind.
Saturday morning dawned clear and cool - Leaf Party Day! I headed out to run errands - grocery store, liquor store, etc. - while at home, it was all hands on deck (kids included) to get ready for the party. While the leaves didn't cooperate this year - they're late falling, though we did have the party a week early - our friends and their children had a blast, as always.
After everyone left, it was nap time for Jude, J.P., Troy and Finn. Cyndi went for a "punishment run," and it really, really punished her. Wolf, Scout and I went on our "secret walk" to Belmont, a tradition we started several years ago. We walked to Chago's Cantina on Belmont Blvd. and sat at an outside table, drinking water and eating chips, then walked across the street to Buzzy's candy store. Next, we played frisbee on the soccer field at Belmont. It was one of the highlights of the weekend, as it is for me every year, just spending time with Wolf and Scout. I've know them - literally - since they were born and I've watched them grow up (11 and 10 years old now). They're amazing kids and it tickles me to death when they call me "Uncle Phil." We pretended we were spies on the way home, ducking and hiding behind trees, telephone poles and anything else we we could find.
Saturday night, we watched football and ate takeout food from Smiling Elephant, an amazing Thai restaurant on 8th Avenue, within walking distance of our house. Sunday morning, I went for a run and finished at Bongo Java for a cup of coffee. We ate a big breakfast when I got back, then Troy packed the mini-van and off they went, back to Florida.
As they pulled away, Cyndi looked at us, teary eyed, through the open window of the mini-van. I looked at Jude and J.P., sitting on the wall in our front yard, bordering the sidewalk, and noticed Jude had tears in her eyes, too. The Leaf Party weekends are all bittersweet to us. It's so good, so very good, to see Cyndi, Troy and the kids and we pack so much into a weekend. Still, it's so sad when they leave. For me, I feel sentimental and nostalgic, knowing it will be a year before I see them again and that the kids will have grown and changed in ways that will astound me.
Life is, you know, life. It's messy. It's complicated. It's hard and it's wonderful. It's memorable. It's sad, sometimes, but it's fun, too. Life makes you laugh and it makes you cry. The key, though, to me, is having people in your life - friends - to share it with, even if it's only once or twice a year. For us, the foundation of our friendship with Troy and Cyndi was laid long, long ago (more so for Jude and Cyndi, obviously, who met in law school) and it's strong enough, I think to withstand the tests of distance and time. It just works, without much effort and without any real explanation, as all good friendships do.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
These are the Times
I'm smack dab in the middle of one of those rare, quiet moments of pure contentment. It's the kind of moment that doesn't come along often enough, one I wish I could save somewhere close to my heart and conjure up when things aren't as peaceful.
I'm sitting in my camping chair on the front porch, in the dark, listening to the drone of crickets and the nearby sound of traffic on the side streets and, farther away, the interstate. The soft, indistinct murmur of voices from my next door neighbor's house drifts through the hedges separating our houses. It's incredibly pleasant outside tonight, 63 degrees with not a hint of a breeze. I'm sipping a glass of wine after a strong 4 mile run through the neighborhood.
Jude and I returned home this afternoon from our annual fall weekend in Las Vegas with "the Foodbrothers" - a few of her college friends and assorted others who we meet there every year to watch and bet on college football games. We missed J.P. terribly, but it was nice for the two of us to get away for the weekend. When we got home, he was just up from his nap and really excited to see us. It's crazy, but we both remarked that it seemed like he had gotten taller since we left three days ago.
Jude looks more beautiful than ever. Pregnancy really becomes her, as she just seems to radiate a sense of happiness, or something else I can't quite put my finger on. The 20-week ultrasound is Tuesday, which is big. That's when we find out the sex of the baby and, hopefully, learn that everything is on target and looks good for a healthy baby. On my run tonight, as I do most nights when I go for a run, I stopped by Christ the King (a Catholic church on Belmont Boulevard) and said a quick prayer at the statue of the Virgin Mary, asking for blessing and good health for our unborn child and for J.P., as well.
So much of what we're going through is about faith, for me at least. Faith that Jude and our baby will be healthy. Faith that we'll be able to handle two children, as opposed to one. Faith that J.P. will adjust to having a brother or sister. Faith that I'll figure out how to love a new child as much as I love J.P. Faith that I can be the father I need to be to both children and the husband Jude needs me to be. Faith that God has a plan and that everything will be all right. Faith.
That's all for now. I hear a train in the distance, horn blowing as it travels through my city. Now, I hear a jet overhead, as it travels over my city. I think I'm going to sit on my front porch, finish my wine and listen to the sounds of the city. Then, I'm going to go upstairs, check on J.P. and climb in bed next to my pregnant wife. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?
I'm sitting in my camping chair on the front porch, in the dark, listening to the drone of crickets and the nearby sound of traffic on the side streets and, farther away, the interstate. The soft, indistinct murmur of voices from my next door neighbor's house drifts through the hedges separating our houses. It's incredibly pleasant outside tonight, 63 degrees with not a hint of a breeze. I'm sipping a glass of wine after a strong 4 mile run through the neighborhood.
Jude and I returned home this afternoon from our annual fall weekend in Las Vegas with "the Foodbrothers" - a few of her college friends and assorted others who we meet there every year to watch and bet on college football games. We missed J.P. terribly, but it was nice for the two of us to get away for the weekend. When we got home, he was just up from his nap and really excited to see us. It's crazy, but we both remarked that it seemed like he had gotten taller since we left three days ago.
Jude looks more beautiful than ever. Pregnancy really becomes her, as she just seems to radiate a sense of happiness, or something else I can't quite put my finger on. The 20-week ultrasound is Tuesday, which is big. That's when we find out the sex of the baby and, hopefully, learn that everything is on target and looks good for a healthy baby. On my run tonight, as I do most nights when I go for a run, I stopped by Christ the King (a Catholic church on Belmont Boulevard) and said a quick prayer at the statue of the Virgin Mary, asking for blessing and good health for our unborn child and for J.P., as well.
So much of what we're going through is about faith, for me at least. Faith that Jude and our baby will be healthy. Faith that we'll be able to handle two children, as opposed to one. Faith that J.P. will adjust to having a brother or sister. Faith that I'll figure out how to love a new child as much as I love J.P. Faith that I can be the father I need to be to both children and the husband Jude needs me to be. Faith that God has a plan and that everything will be all right. Faith.
That's all for now. I hear a train in the distance, horn blowing as it travels through my city. Now, I hear a jet overhead, as it travels over my city. I think I'm going to sit on my front porch, finish my wine and listen to the sounds of the city. Then, I'm going to go upstairs, check on J.P. and climb in bed next to my pregnant wife. It doesn't get much better than that, does it?
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Vegas!
Jude and I are in Vegas, staying at the Wynn, waiting for the rest of the Foodbrothers' crew to arrive tomorrow afternoon. It's a trip we've made each fall for the past 10 or 11 years.
Jude's asleep in the bed in our hotel room and I'm sitting at the desk, on my computer, listening to Wilco's new album with ear buds in, smiling as I look over at her. My lovely, pregnant wife. She's beautiful.
Jude's asleep in the bed in our hotel room and I'm sitting at the desk, on my computer, listening to Wilco's new album with ear buds in, smiling as I look over at her. My lovely, pregnant wife. She's beautiful.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Gentry Farm
Last Saturday, Jude, J.P. and I went to Gentry Farm in Franklin with our good friends and former neighbors, Rob, Ann Marie and Ayden Elliott. First, we stopped by their house for pancakes, then we drove down to Franklin. As always, it was great to see them.
Ayden and J.P. are growing up so fast. It's crazy to watch them together. It seems like yesterday that we were walking around the neighborhood with them in strollers. Now, we talk about their schools, what they're learning and general kid stuff. Not baby stuff, but kid stuff. Time passes by so quickly.
Predictably, the kids loved Gentry Farm. They played in the barns, walked through a hay bale maze (in a barn) and picked pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. Actually, they didn't "pick" pumpkins, They found them, slightly hidden in the patch, kind of like an Easter Egg hunt. The four of us laughed and laughed, as they pulled out pumpkin after pumpkin and lined them up on the path. Finally, they each picked out a pumpkin for us to buy and take home.
On the way home, we stopped by for lunch at the Bunganut Pig in Franklin. Of course, I love the Pig so it was a real treat for me to take everyone for lunch there.
Really, just a nice fall Saturday morning with Rob, Ann Marie and Ayden. We miss them but it's always good to get together.
Ayden and J.P. are growing up so fast. It's crazy to watch them together. It seems like yesterday that we were walking around the neighborhood with them in strollers. Now, we talk about their schools, what they're learning and general kid stuff. Not baby stuff, but kid stuff. Time passes by so quickly.
Predictably, the kids loved Gentry Farm. They played in the barns, walked through a hay bale maze (in a barn) and picked pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. Actually, they didn't "pick" pumpkins, They found them, slightly hidden in the patch, kind of like an Easter Egg hunt. The four of us laughed and laughed, as they pulled out pumpkin after pumpkin and lined them up on the path. Finally, they each picked out a pumpkin for us to buy and take home.
On the way home, we stopped by for lunch at the Bunganut Pig in Franklin. Of course, I love the Pig so it was a real treat for me to take everyone for lunch there.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Sunday at Bongo Java
This morning, when we got up, it was 41 degrees outside. I think it's safe to day that fall has arrived.
For the first time in months, it was too cold to sit outside at Bongo Java, so J.P. and I took out customary seat in the back. A few other regulars sat back there with us, too, and we had a nice Sunday morning breakfast.
For the first time in months, it was too cold to sit outside at Bongo Java, so J.P. and I took out customary seat in the back. A few other regulars sat back there with us, too, and we had a nice Sunday morning breakfast.
Making Pizza!
Friday night, Jude and J.P. made pizza for dinner. Cheese pizza, actually, because J.P. doesn't like anything on pizza other than cheese. That works out well for Jude, too, since due to her pregnancy, she's not supposed to eat deli meats (ham, pepperoni, etc.).
Anyway, J.P. loved making pizza. Definitely something we'll be doing again soon.
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