The Porter Family

2011-06-20T21:38:00.004-04:00

Last week our family said goodbye to the amazing, beacon of inspiration that is Grandma Jean.

The Quisenberry/Wilson/Kwasny/Koeneke/Porter women are known to be an independent, resourceful, determined (and occasionally a little sassy) crew. We like a cold beer on a hot afternoon and we’ll take a backyard cookout over a fancy restaurant any day of the week. All of this is the legacy of Grandma Jean.

She faced physical challenges that would prove limiting for an average woman. But Grandma Jean was far from average and she insisted on living a very full life.

By the time I joined the family, Grandma Jean’s speech had weakened a bit making it sometimes difficult to understand her. So, I really got to know her personality through the letters she would write to us. They were funny and thoughtful and I saved every one of them.

Here are some of my favorite excerpts:

Dear Jen,

I enjoyed meeting your family. They are very nice. You’ve met mine- they’re all nuts!

Dear Jen & Ian,

Your wedding was beautiful and lovely. This old bat felt like a queen.

I love you kids.

Grandma Jean

Dear Jen,

Just a line to say Happy Birthday and have a grand day. Hi to Ian for me. He is a sweet man. Don’t tell him I said that.

Love, Grandma Jean

Dear Jen & Ian,

I am home now, feeling good and very glad to be here. Was so thrilled to see you, it’s been a long time. Sorry I got so ill though, it was my own fault. I should have known better. I just don’t realize I’m as old as I am, I guess. I think I am 50 or 60 and that just doesn’t work anymore.

Take care of yourself for me.

Love, Grandma Jean

Several months ago Jane was kind enough to collect some old family photos for me. This one is mine and Ian’s favorite. It certainly captures her spirit.

Rest in peace, Grandma Jean. We love you.

Going Dark

2010-12-03T21:45:00.002-05:00

For the first time in nearly three years of blogging, I have allowed an entire month to pass without posting. I've also recognized that while our adventures will continue, it will likely be several more months before I am able to give this blog proper attention.

With that said, I beg your forgiveness- The Porter Family Blog is going dark for a while.

Love you all!

About My Two-Year Old: 25 Things

2010-10-30T22:16:00.003-04:00

1. His favorite foods include cheese, bananas, and goldfish crackers.
2. He sleeps with Mickey, Goofy, Baby (a seahorse that glows and plays lullabies), and two blankets. He takes inventory to ensure that no items are missing before the lights go out.
3. He has four pair of Crocs and calls them “alligator shoes”.
4. He loves watching cartoons in “Mama’s Bed”
5. But he refuses to sleep in Mama’s Bed (even though Mom and Dad think it would be fun once in a while).
6. He loves Dole Orange Banana Strawberry juice and calls it “Awberry Juice”
7. He likes to call his Nana on the phone.
8. His nicknames include Little Man, Sir, and Papoose.
9. He rocks out to ACDC.
10. He loves to swing and slide.
11. He likes to ride “Papaw’s tractor”, which is kept in “Gram’s garage”, at “Marley’s house”.
12. He cannot say “ribbit” without hopping. It’s almost involuntary.
13. He likes to go for walks and pick up “B-corns” (better known as acorns).
14. Thanks to Manny and his tools, he knows the difference between a flathead screw and a phillips-head screw.
15. He likes to hold his dad’s hand.
16. He loves stickers.
17. He is a whiz at puzzles.
18. He likes to play with “Jim’s alligator” at “Peg’s pool”.
19. He is a total beach kid.
20. He sings and dances with his mom in the kitchen.
21. His best friends are “Zozo, Toban, and Chasey”.
22. He loves to blow bubbles in the backyard.
23. He plays with his golf clubs everyday.
24. He loves Elmo.
25. If you don’t put him to bed by 8:30, he will remind you that it’s time to go.

Just another reason to love Tampa

2010-10-30T21:17:00.007-04:00

Busch Gardens- fun when I was a kid; still fun now. Here are a few pics from our most recent visit:

2010-10-10T21:56:00.002-04:00

Being a mom means never turning away a kiss. Even from this dirty little face:

In case you are wondering, he's covered in dirt, grass, and Cheetos; and could not be happier! Love this boy!

Logansport

2010-10-10T10:11:00.005-04:00

This was my second visit to Logansport, Indiana. My impression is the same.

All-American. Good people. Great food.

(Note: "Small Town" by John Mellencamp should be the background music to this slideshow. We couldn't help but belt it out many times while driving the country roads. You may want to sing it to yourself to get the full effect.)

2010-09-27T23:06:00.003-04:00

Last week we said goodbye to a wonderful father and grandpa, and one of the most talented and sincere people I have ever known.

Before Dave was my father in law, he was my friend. Back in my bartending days, he would visit me on Monday nights when nobody else was at the bar. He’d drink just one coke and it would last him the entire night. We would talk about baseball or golf, or whatever I was excited about at the moment. He was a great listener.

At 62 years old, he was also surprisingly hip. During his last visit he told us that Amy Winehouse was his new favorite singer. A few weeks ago when I was chatting with him, he used the term “tricked out” to describe the playset he planned to help build for Ryder. It still cracks me up!

Ryder has a love of tools just like his Grandpa Dave. I always imagined that Dave would pass along his artistic abilities to Ryder and that the two of them would spend many hours “crafting” things together. I will often think about this each time I see Ryder pick up his tools.

We are already missing him.

Savoring Summer

2010-09-11T17:38:00.006-04:00

This time of year is always restless for me. While most of you are eagerly anticipating fall, I am desperately trying to hold on to summer. More beach pics for you...

Beach Day

2010-09-05T17:43:00.007-04:00

Backyard Fun

2010-08-25T21:14:00.007-04:00

For those days when we can't make it to the beach, the pool, or Adventure Island...

We love summer!

The Ultimate Slacker Post

2010-08-25T20:59:00.002-04:00

Cause: My fabulously hectic life.
Effect: I do not have time to blog.

I managed to sneak away to Orlando with Kira and Jamie last weekend. Wanna see pics and read all about it? Check out Kira's blog here.

Mom's Famous Meatballs

2010-07-21T21:44:00.007-04:00

My mom makes the world's most incredible meatballs. You can eat them as an entire meal- they are the size of softballs!

Prior to her visit, this was shipped to my house:

No, it's not a keg. It's a GIGANTIC pot. She can only cook spaghetti and meatballs in quantities that could feed a medium-sized country. (Not that I'm not complaining.)

Ian's plate

Ryder is loving it!

After licking the bowl...

Ian had to wash the pot in the yard. It wouldn't fit in the sink!

While she was here, Mom also made lasagna, palomilla steak, yellow rice and black beans, and the most amazing bruschetta in the entire world.

Thanks for all of your wonderful cooking, Mom.

We will HAPPILY be eating leftovers for a long, long time!

Introducing...

2010-07-18T22:38:00.004-04:00

Stella Anne Meredith

7.16.2010

7lbs, 15 oz

proud parents: Kristen and Justin Meredith

Beautiful little girl... Amazing hair... Just like her mom.

Proud Aunt Jen
(note: All attempts to take a picture with the mother were thwarted)

Pool Time

2010-06-19T08:46:00.008-04:00

This year Ryder graduated from the encumbering baby float to these arm floatie-things (yes, that's the technical term) and he is loving the freedom! As usual, he thinks he is such a big boy. Here are some pictures from Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Peggye's pool last weekend. We had so much fun!

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-06-12T22:56:00.013-04:00

We spent Memorial Day weekend in Naples with my Dad and Steff. I've gotta say, Naples rocks. We had so much fun!

Jumping on the bed in the hotel room

Cruising down Fifth Street

Dad and Steff

Wrestling the alligator

Trying his first bite of crab legs. He loves them- just like him mom!

Loving the waterfall!

Heartbreaker

Perfection

2010-05-16T18:11:00.006-04:00

I knew it all along...

But today was an awesome reminder...

Florida is my home.

DC's got nothin' on this...

What it Means...

2010-05-09T10:23:00.005-04:00

As I write this post, Ryder is walking towards me very slowly. He is trying to balance Mr. Potatohead's tiny plastic hat on his own head....he's almost made it all the way over to me...he made it! Hooray!!

What it means to be the mom of an 18 month old...

It means that while driving you point out every animal you see. “Oh my goodness! Do you see that cow over there?” And then you ask, “Can you tell me what the cow says?’

It means you carry on conversations with your child in front of other people to showcase their vocabulary.

It means you are a cheerleader to simple tasks like eating, brushing teeth, and putting toys away.

It means you spend a lot of time playing on the floor.

It means you have to manage your time carefully…but always expect curveballs.

It means you may occasionally go four months without a haircut. FOUR MONTHS!

It means that you go on vacation (sans kid) feeling like you totally NEED and EARNED it. But when it’s over, you’ve never been so excited to get home!

It means YOU have favorite toys and cartoons.

It means you can finally put away all of those giant contraptions that take up so much room in the house…jumperoo, excersaucer, bouncy seat, swing…it’s out of control.

It means that you are familiar with the term Backyardigan.

It means you realize that half of the stuff you thought you needed when you had this baby are a joke…a travel wipe warmer? Really?

It means you give and get a lot of kisses!

It means you REALLY look forward to nap time each day.

It means that you know- you just KNOW- that you are your kid's favorite person in the whole world. You also know to enjoy it while it lasts!

One Happy Island

2010-05-08T09:47:00.010-04:00

Last week Ian and I celebrated our four year anniversary by revisiting our honeymoon spot- beautiful Aruba! Check out the newlyweds four years ago:

Back in my honeymoon-planning days I was searching for a destination that fit this description:

Caribbean Island (that we'd never visited before)
Not likely to be hit by a hurricane
Pristine beaches
Great food

Aruba totally fit the bill. Every person I spoke with who had spent a week on that island promised me that I would not be disappointed. They were right. It is the PERFECT honeymoon spot.

Their motto is “One Happy Island” and it really is! The people are so friendly and cool. They say that Aruba has “90,000 friends you haven’t met yet”. From my experience, that’s exactly what you find when you get there. It’s amazing.

We were so excited when Ian’s parents not only offered to watch Ryder for us so we could go back this year, but also hooked us up at the fabulous Marriott Ocean Club.

Here are just a few (of the many) pics from the trip. Unlike our honeymoon, you’ll notice that there aren’t any snorkeling, kayaking or sightseeing pics. That’s because we did NOTHING all week except hang out at the beach and the pool, and eat at amazing restaurants! It was the most relaxing, wonderful time ever!

One happy couple!

Beautiful Caribbean water

The "Tan Management Center"!

Gorgeous Aruba-Red Sunsets

Dinner at Flying Fishbone- notice our table is IN the water! Very cool atmosphere!

Spot to keep your shoes high and dry!

Happy to be at El Gaucho- our favorite restaurant ever!

18 Months!

2010-04-19T21:49:00.005-04:00

Ryder's 18 month birthday was this past week. He thinks he's such a big boy now. I walked into the kitchen on Saturday to find this:

Yes, he climbed on top of the kitchen table by himself and proceeded to pour the salt and pepper out of the shakers. He looked up and took a moment to evaluate my reaction before going right back to his work.

He's not as big as he thinks he is...

Masterpiece

2010-03-28T15:00:00.009-04:00

Check out Ryder's amazing artwork!

Isn't it awesome? I think it's very "Easter"! We had a lot of fun fingerpainting today- thanks to this handy product made by Crayola:

Basically, each of those little paint pots are filled with a vaseline-like clear substance. It magically becomes color when smeared on the special paper. Very cool and perfect for toddlers!

I wonder if the Crayola folks know that it also serves a dual purpose... Hair gel!

Pretty hip, right?

The Obvious Constestant

2010-02-20T14:30:00.008-05:00

Allow me to share a list of three incredibly random things that I love.

1. Old Navy tank tops
2. large sums of money (who doesn't?)
3. taking cheesy posed photographs (chances are pretty good that EVERY single person reading this blog has taken a cheesy posed pic with me at some point)

Having read this list, you can imagine just how excited I was when I received this email from Old Navy:

Let me explain round 1 of the contest. Go to Old Navy. Pose for some pictures with their mannequins. Upload pics to their website. Get people to vote for you. The prize is $100,000. This contest was screaming my name. And Kira's. I made her enter it too.

This morning we braved Westshore Mall with four small children and took over their mannequin display. The results are below. I will post voting instructions soon!

What the heck?

2010-02-20T14:15:00.005-05:00

The tricky part about making banana bread is the need for overripe bananas. They don't sell overripe bananas at the store and I am too impatient to wait for them to age. When I saw this mix for banana nut muffins at Target and realized that actual bananas were not required I thought, "What the heck? Let's give it a try!"

I gotta say, I am impressed! Are they as rich and thick as the Southern Living Cream Cheese Banana Bread? Certainly not. But they are still pretty scrumptious. I pop these babies in the microwave, then smear a glob of Brummel & Brown on them...Mmmmm!

From now on, there will always be a box in my pantry!

Valentine Tradition

2010-02-15T14:37:00.005-05:00

Anyone who has worked in the restaurant business for any length of time knows that Valentine's Day is one of the busiest days of the year (second only to Mother's Day). For many years, I worked every single Valentine's Day.

Consequently, Ian and I do not celebrate this holiday in the traditional way. We've never gone out on a special Valentine's Day dinner, and you won't find flowers or expensive gifts exchanged in our home on that day.

Yesterday we celebrated Valentine's Day as we have for almost 10 years in a row (I couldn't believe it when I counted). We picked up Publix subs, rented a movie and exchanged cards. While it's certainly not the most glamorous way to spend the holiday, I look forward to this tradition every year. To me, it's perfection!

I love this guy.

Happy Anniversary

2010-02-04T16:35:00.003-05:00

This month marks the two year anniversary of my little blog. Not much has changed. The writing is horrendous. The posts are shameless. But this blog is all mine and I love it.

Ryder's Special Place

2010-01-31T15:29:00.004-05:00

When I was little my mom always made me a "special place" when I was sick. It was usually a cozy spot on the couch, complete with a quilt, a box of tissues, something to read, and my favorite stuffed animals. Being sick is never any fun, but a special place sure helps me feel better!

This weekend we have a sick little boy in the house. Ryder, who is usually awake with the roosters, snuggled in bed with dad until 9am. Around 9:01am, an unfortunate coughing incident occurred which resulted in the immediate need to strip the sheets from the bed and wash them.

It was clear that this day called for a special place:

Recipe for a Special Place:

1. Cozy spot- In this case, I used Ryder's Mickey Mouse Clubhouse flip-open sofa- quite possibly the best $30 I've ever spent on this kid.

2. Cartoons- I believe we were watching The Backyardigans in this picture.

3. A Buddy- Elmo is tucked right by his side.

4. A Good Read- Good Night Gorilla is current favorite.

5. Snacks- Cheerios, of course!

6. Medicine- His bottle is spiked with the good stuff...Children's Dimetapp!

Quest Follow-Up

2010-01-17T12:17:00.003-05:00

You may recall that I am on a quest to find the World Champion Banana Bread Recipe. When I posted my declaration on this blog, I secretly hoped that I would be inundated with incredible banana bread recipes from all of my blog-readers across the nation (there's at least three of you).

I have received exactly one recipe. Thank you for the amazing Southern Living Holiday Cookbook, Aunt Peggye. I made the Cream Cheese Banana Bread last week and it was AMAZING- a clear winner over the last batch I made. It was thick and cake-like and soooo tasty!

So for now, Southern Living (and Aunt Peggye) take the lead. Will anyone else rise to this challenge?

Little Parrothead

2010-01-17T12:08:00.006-05:00

Ryder got into my giant box of Jimmy Buffett concert swag yesterday. As "punishment", I made him wear all of the leis he pulled out. He's lucky he's not wearing a coconut bra...

I can't wait until he's old enough to go to the shows with us. I'm thinking four is a good age!

Florida Sledding

2010-01-09T22:05:00.007-05:00

We all know that I have no use for this weather. Nothing about it is endearing to me. However, Ian's brother and sister-in-law were talking about sledding last week (they live in Indiana) and I must admit that it sounded like fun to me. And by FUN I mean maybe if I was on vacation somewhere and could immediately be transported back to my tropical homeland when I was done.

Today was Ryder's third day in a row being couped up inside and I could tell it was driving him crazy. We had to get out of the house. (For the record, if not for my son's need for fresh air I would have been perfectly fine staying indoors until temperatures reach 80 degrees again.)

I bundled him up in the 'ole Radio Flyer wagon and we went sledding down the driveway Florida style! We did this over and over and over and over again until he laughed so hard he had the hiccups (that's always sorta my goal) and then we took off for a walk around the neighborhood.

I snagged a few pictures because, let's face it, he's adorable.

Volume 1: Ryder's Room

2010-01-09T21:30:00.010-05:00

I've decided to post pictures of the new house one room at a time. Why? Because there is only one room that is currently "done"; and even this room still needs window treatments (we're not animals)!

Most of our energy went into setting up Ryder's room when we moved because we wanted the transition into the new home to be as easy as possible for him. It seems to have worked because loves it!

Organizing it was a challenge because it is tiny. His bedroom in our townhouse was unusually large and I definitely miss that. You'll notice the rocker, ottoman and chest of drawers are missing. They have found homes in other spots of the house.

I took a lot of pictures because I realized that I never took the obligatory "nursery pics" before Ryder was born. I'm not sure if it's even called a nursery anymore (he's almost 15 months old!), but here you go...

The amazing rocking horse made by Ian's dad.

It even has Ryder's name on a plate on the back of the saddle.

I had this made for Ryder before he was born.

24 was Ian's baseball number.

Great Target find...goes perfectly with his bedding

The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field...of course!

All-Star Bedding

He saw me taking pictures of his bed and wanted to model.

This kid cracks me up!

Stay tuned for more pics...I'm thinking kitchen or guest bathroom will be up next...

Harassment

2009-12-29T15:59:00.008-05:00

Over the past several weeks I have been harassed by friends and family to post pictures. Some of you want to see pictures of our new home. All of you want to see pictures of Ryder.

In an effort to make the harassment stop, I have posted the following pictures for you to enjoy. They were taken in the backyard on Sunday.

There's no story to accompany them. Not that it matters. You're nothing but a bunch of picture fiends!

(I can't really blame you. My kid is pretty darn cute.)

House pics will follow...eventually.

Why does Dad have to help?

...because this is what happens if he doesn't

that's better!

The Abominable Snow Duck or Marshmallow Martian?

2009-12-22T22:26:00.004-05:00

My mom and I made a gingerbread house using a kit that I picked up at Target. I knew this would be a fun activity for us.

You're probably picturing mother and daughter at the kitchen table, Christmas carols playing softly in the background while they sip hot cocoa and debate the use of gum drops or jelly beans on the iced roof.

But if you know us at all, then you know that instead we poked fun of each other's decorating abilities mercilessly and laughed until hot cocoa came out of mom's nose.

Despite our novice abilities, we were pleased with the way our little gingerbread house turned out. So pleased, in fact, that we decided to build a snowman for the front yard.

Marshmallows seemed like the natural medium for such a creation, but we were limited in other supplies. Desperation set in when we used a twist-tie from the bread as a scarf. Is that Kenneth Cole you're wearing? No, no, that's Pepperidge Farm!

One thing led to another and our jolly snowman turned out to look a little like a martian and a lot like a duck.

I knew we'd find a way to add some creative flair!

A WILD Wonderland

2009-12-17T21:41:00.024-05:00

Reindeer and penguins and ponies, oh my! Tonight we took Ryder to Lowry Park's Wild Wonderland. He loved every bit of it (and so did we)!

Reindeer- on loan from Santa

Ryder was too little to ride the pony (and I was too big to ride it with him). But we were able to pet him and take pictures. Ryder thought he was really cool.

Checking out the lights

Feeding the goats with Gram and Grandpa Dave

(I want a goat really bad.)

First trip on the merry-go-round!

Such a ham- waved at everyone!

dancing to the Christmas music

Checking out the penguins with Dad

Notice how I'm pulling his hand away... he wanted a handfull of penguin!

We had such a fun night! Great idea, Ian!

Better Late Than Never

2009-11-23T20:52:00.007-05:00

I realize that Halloween is old news by now, but I just HAD to post pictures of the world's most adorable lion.

Trick or Treating at Uncle Jimmy and Peggye's house

Check out that mane!

One cute lion and one proud Dorothy

Our Scarecrow (Ian) was home sick and missed all the fun.

He's going to wear that costume next year, though- believe me!

Pumpkin-Carving Pajama Party

2009-10-25T20:08:00.010-04:00

This weekend we carved pumpkins in our pajamas! Two pumpkins were carved but only one (named Jeter) will be photographed on this blog. The larger pumpkin has been deemed too ghoulish for pictures. Trust me- you do NOT want to see it.

A Lesson in Facing Your Fears

2009-10-25T07:41:00.003-04:00

Taco Bell is a huge guilty pleasure in our house. We eat waaaay too much Taco Bell. Ian is loyal to the classic menu items... burrito supremes, taco supremes, and the occasional taco salad. I, on the other hand, enjoy trying new stuff when they roll it out. Let's face it, it's all variations of the same food anyway, so what's the harm?

At least, that's what I used to say... until I started seeing commercials for the new Black Jack Taco. Something about it made me uncomfortable. It just didn't seem right. What kind of tortilla shell was this? Blue corn? No, it couldn't be. And this spicy pepperjack taste- how spicy is spicy?

Last night I faced my fears. We picked up Taco Bell on our way home from the pumpkin patch. With much trepidation, I gave Ian the go-ahead to order me the Black Jack Taco. We drove home in silence as I carefully cradled the bag on my life. Was I expecting it to explode or something? I'm not sure.

What I AM sure of, is that it turns out the Black Jack Taco is DELICIOUS. Seriously, one of the best new items Taco Bell has come up with since the Chicken Bacon Club Chalupa of 2005.

I share this with you because it's a great lesson in facing your fears, and also because you might be deciding what to grab for your next meal! The Black Jack Taco is 100% endorsed by Jennifer Porter.

Who's the Boss?

2009-10-23T21:14:00.003-04:00

Last Friday was Boss's Day. I look forward to Boss's Day each year because it gives me the opportunity to let my boss know how much I appreciate him. Some people have a knack for taking care of people while they take care of business. My boss is one of those people.

Technically, I suppose that I am a boss too. I have a team of two amazing people who have completely robbed me of the opportunity to develop any real leadership skills. They don't need me. Combined, their commitment and work ethic could only be matched by the Green Berets.

For Boss's Day they sent me this awesome edible arrangement (obviously knowing that my favor flower is one that I can eat).

I started to think about the kind of boss that I am. A less profane version of Ari Gold from Entourage comes to mind. My rants and raves are dramatic and legendary. The analogy falls short, however, because I lack his awesome one-liners. I also don't blatantly demean and disrespect my team. (Any demeaning and disrespect on my part is completely unintentional.)

"Call me Helen Keller, cause I'm the friggin' miracle worker!"

(I thought it was Helen Keller's teacher who was the miracle worker, but whatever.)

Then it hit me. I'm Jeff Lewis from Flipping Out. And Jenny? Oh yeah, that's totally my friend (who happens to work on my team) Angela. I'm unreasonable. I have OCD and bizarre quirks that only Angela really knows how to handle. She's sarcastic and quirky in her own right, but can hide it well enough to work among the general population. I, on the other hand, cannot control my diatribes and regularly display the overinflated opinion that I have of myself.

And while Angela will not dispute any of the things that I have just shared about myself, she will also (hopefully) tell you that I am fiercely loyal. I will fight endlessly for anything I am passionate about...including my amazing team.

I mean, who wouldn't want to work for me?

Happy Birthday!

2009-10-18T12:33:00.024-04:00

We celebrated Ryder's first birthday at Gymboree. A lot of people think that you shouldn't make a big deal out of a kid's first birthday because they don't understand what's going on anyway. I am not one of those people.

Ryder LOVES Gymboree. So we took over the entire place and hosted a class especially for him and his friends! There was even a parade in his honor! My favorite part was parachute time. I've got to get one of those for home!

Ryder got so many nice gifts and had such a fun time with his friends. I will probably make a big deal about his birthday for the rest of his life.

Happy Birthday, big boy! We love you!

Reflections from Mom

2009-10-17T23:45:00.005-04:00

As I write this, I'm munching on graham crackers and sipping cranberry juice with crushed ice. I just put Ryder to bed after a long, fun day of celebrating his first birthday.

Over the past year I have taken thousands of pictures of my little family and captured some amazing moments. But those pictures don’t even begin to tell the real story of the happiness that exists in my home every day.

It’s sort of like that feeling you have first thing in the morning when you wake up and realize that you’re on vacation. I love that feeling- you’re not exactly sure what’s going to happen that day, but you’re excited to get up and find out. And although it might turn out to be exhausting, you know that no matter what it's going to be awesome! That’s the best way I can think of to describe every day of my life since Ryder came along. There are no ordinary moments.

Ryder has reminded me how to be silly and creative. He's reminded me that it's fun to make up songs about nonsense, and that anything can be an adventure- eating a cupcake, going for a walk, or building an ark- just to name a few.

So as I sit here, basking in the afterglow of Ryder's first birthday, I'm feeling pretty grateful that I have ended up with everything I could have ever wanted in the whole world. And if that kind of happiness could be captured in a picture, then it probably looks something like this:

Wicked Pleasure

2009-10-12T20:06:00.003-04:00

I get evil, wicked pleasure out of this sign.

I'm sure you can guess why.

I know, I know- I have issues.

Unlikely Adventures

2009-10-11T18:59:00.004-04:00

I explained in my previous post that the toys Ryder loves most are not the toys that are bought for him. Similarly, the "adventures" that I plan for us are not always the same adventures we end up having.

This afternoon I took Ryder to the park for some swinging, sliding fun, and a picnic. Oh how that kid loves the swing! Unfortunately, my almost one year-old does not enjoy the heat and humidity as much as his mom. After one trip down the slide and just a minute or two on the swing, his cheeks were totally flushed and he was dripping with sweat. It was REALLY hot. We sat on a bench and I offered him some water but I could tell he was totally uncomfortable.

Defeated, I decided to head home. I turned on the car on and got the a/c running while I packed up. Then we sat Britney Spears-style in the front seat (holding my kid on my lap, NOT sans underwear) and I let the cool air blow in his face for a bit before I put him in his car seat so we could head home.

This is when the real adventure began for Ryder. It hadn't occurred to me that he's never really spent any time in the front seat. Oh the excitement of the front seat! He pounded the steering wheel, honked the horn, and crawled all over.

What the heck? He was having so much fun that I decided we'd have the picnic in the car. So, sitting in the front seat, with the ice cold a/c blowing on us, we had our lunch. This is when he
discovered my water bottle. (He's still playing with it as I write this.) HIS sippy cup of water was no longer acceptable.

Notice that I am forced to drink from the sippy cup...

Here's to unlikely adventures!

A Boy and His Toys

2009-10-10T20:45:00.007-04:00

Kids' toys are pretty awesome. I have a lot of fun at Toys R Us. I'm always researching toys to find out what's on the cutting edge of developmental coolness for an almost one year-old. Someone recently asked me which toys are his favorite, which got me thinking...

He loves books. He loves music. But his favorite things to play with aren't toys.

He LOVES the remote.

The vertical blinds can keep him occupied for several minutes at a time (which is huge for an almost one year-old)!

I have a really hard time understanding this one. What could he possibly find interesting about the dustbuster? He doesn't turn it on, he just slides it across the kitchen floor. Fascinating!

This little contraption belongs to a set of Baby Einstein books. It's supposed to clip on to the book and play music while you read the stories. The books and the contraption are never in the same place at the same time.

And, of course, the diaper box.

Where Shopping Is A Pleasure

2009-10-09T22:06:00.004-04:00

I have been writing this tribute post in my mind for at least a year. Every week as I drive away from Publix, I think about how much I love that place.

I’ve been told that Publix is more expensive than other grocery stores. I wouldn’t know because I haven’t shopped anywhere else in years. In fact, I drive right past a Sweetbay and a Wal-Mart to get to my beloved Publix.

I believe Publix is a world class company. It should be ranked among the Nordstroms and Disneys of the world. These are companies that “get it” and “get it right” over and over again. (I totally stole that from a presentation at work.)

I once commented to someone that Publix employees display a genuine sense of ownership about the store. This is when I learned that every Publix employee is given $5,000 of company stock on their first day of work. Impressive.

10 Things I Love About Publix

1. Publix Reduced Fat Seafood Cheese Spread
2. Publix subs
3. On the Saturday before Mother’s Day they had a table set up to help children decorate little heart-shaped cakes for their moms.
4. It is not uncommon for the store manager to greet people as they walk in and pull out a shopping cart for them.
5. Chocolate chip cookies from the bakery- my neighbor and I used to devour a dozen while watching Grey’s Anatomy each week
6. The bag boys are ALWAYS very polite and make pleasant conversation as they help me to my car.
7. On one occasion, I was struggling to get Ryder out of the car, along with his diaper bag, my purse, and his shopping cart cover. A bag boy saw me with my arms full and came running over with a cart. He took my shopping cart cover and put it on for me, and helped me get organized for my shopping trip.
8. Publix Chocolate Trinity Ice Cream- ate it for breakfast, lunch and dinner during my second trimester of pregnancy
9. Carrot cake from the bakery- perhaps my favorite cake of all time

10. On more than one occasion, I have been checking out and the cashier or bag boy will alert me to a special that I may have missed. For example, a few weeks ago 12-packs of coke were buy three get two free. The cashier noticed I had only grabbed three and told me about the special. The bag boy immediately ran and grabbed me two more.

As I said- impressive.

Ryder and the Magician (aka hairdresser)

2009-10-06T07:44:00.006-04:00

In the wake of my great "Mark" flub at Gymboree a few weeks ago, I took Ryder to get his first haircut on Sunday. Although, no matter how shaggy his hair may get, there is no mistaking it- my kid is ALL BOY.

We went to Shortcuts- a very cute place at International Mall that is just for kids. The waiting area is set up like a little drive-in movie theater with little cars for kids to sit in, facing a TV mounted on the wall. (The movie Cars was playing, of course). None of the chairs were ordinary barber chairs- they were all either spaceships and jeeps (they even had pink jeeps for the girls).

Each hairdresser's station had it's own TV showing cartoons to keep the kids facing forward. Ummm...most kids that is. Ryder was way too excited about his Shortcuts adventure and was moving all over the place. This is why I call Lisette, his hairdresser, a magician. I don't know how she did it! I tried to keep Ryder still by feeding him Cheerios, but it didn't help at all. He was so interested by everything. She finally gave him his own comb to play with so he would quit pulling hers out of her hand. Needless to say, I think Lisette is amazing! And I'm very proud of my little man who looks like such a big boy with his spikey new cut!

Oh yeah, and if you are shocked by the number of pictures that were taken, don't blame me. Aunt Peggye joined us and took no less than 99 pictures of this event! You would have thought she was shooting Jennifer Aniston and Chris McMillan for Vogue circa 1995!

Speaking of which, I would give anything to have Chris McMillan cut my hair just once...

Home Alone

2009-09-30T22:50:00.009-04:00

This past weekend Ian went to Tallahassee for the USF/FSU game. It's not often that he leaves town without me; and when he does, I'm known to "act out". In most cases, my antics are totally harmless and give him a good laugh. He expects that I'll enjoy a crazy night out with the girls (that may or may not include dancing on bars) or a shopping spree at Nordstroms.

But he never could have predicted what awaited him when he returned home from the Notre Dame/Purdue game back in 2007.

Me (in the car, just picked him up from the airport): I have something to tell you and I don't want you to get mad. It's going to be fine.
Ian: This oughtta be great. Go ahead. What is it?
Me: I accidentally ran into your car with mine.
Ian: You did WHAT? How did you even do that?
Me: I know. It was really dumb. blah, blah, blah
Ian: How bad is it? What were you thinking? blah, blah, blah. (eventually he let's it go)
Me: Ummm... I also bought some new curtains for the family room. Tony (our neighbor) hung them for me.
Ian: Did we need new curtains?
Me: No, but I really liked them.
Ian: Okay, whatever.

Me: I also purchased a new coffee table. I think you're going to like it!
Ian: Really, Jen? We needed that too?
Me: Ummm...yes!
Ian: Okay, whatever makes you happy (the tone could not be less believable).

At this point, I paused my story because he's taken everything really, really well. I hadn't expected much reaction to new curtains and a coffee table, but wrecking both cars... not good by any standards. So for the rest of the drive home we chatted about his trip. Upon pulling into the neighborhood I resume my story.

Me: Oh yeah, I also did some stuff to the guest bathroom upstairs.

Ian: What kind of stuff?

Me: Well, I may or may not have turned the entire bathroom into a monkey theme. (Tip: "may or may not" ALWAYS means that I definitely did!)

Ian: A MONKEY theme? Did we need a monkey theme bathroom?

Jen: Yeah, we DEFINITELY did!

Ian: Of course we did. Wow. You were busy while I was gone!

After carrying the luggage inside, Ian heads to the guest bathroom to check out the monkey stuff. This required him to walk through the guest room.

Ian: JEN! Why is there CAT in this bedroom?!!

Me: Oh, I forgot to mention that. We are fostering this cat until we can find someone to adopt her. I named her Nala.

Ian: (Incredulous) You WHAT? We don't even like cats! What is wrong with you?! Who's going to take care of this cat? You're deathly allergic!

Me: I thought you would like her.

Ian: You thought wrong!

I'm proud to report that I managed to stay out of trouble this past weekend. But I like to keep Ian guessing! He never knows what's waiting for him when he gets home!

PS- Nala was adopted about 2 weeks later. I'm not a fan of cats, but I fostered her for 2 weeks and cried like a baby when I had to say goodbye.

Celebration

2009-09-21T20:30:00.007-04:00

This weekend we had a fun cookout at Uncle Jimmy and Peggye's house. We celebrated Uncle Jimmy's 59th birthday, Uncle Matt's 25th and Ryder's 11 months. The 11 month birthday stole the show because Ryder was spoiled rotten!

Grill Master

(unless Ian is grilling, of course)

Ryder's new Handy Manny radio

When we arrived Aunt Peggye COULD NOT CONTAIN HERSELF! She had this awesome swimming pool waiting for him in the back yard (right next to her giant swimming pool).

He loved it!

Ian had to check out the fancy new pool too!

Happy Birthday! Thanks for a fun Sunday!

Big Boy Goes to Gymboree

2009-09-19T15:59:00.011-04:00

Gymboree rocks and so does my kid! Ryder had a blast in his first class today. We played in a giant room filled with soft mats and all sorts of colorful things to climb, rock and slide on. The teacher was wonderful and explained all of the developmental benefits of the activities. Ryder was totally engaged and enjoyed them all. His attention span surprised me.

I was also really impressed with his social skills. He was SO friendly and interested in the other kids. And while I know he liked having me around, he wasn't clingy or nervous like some of the other children. I'm so proud of my cute boy!

Embarrassing Mom Goes To Gymboree

2009-09-19T14:30:00.019-04:00

I try to behave. I try really, really hard to behave.

I looked forward to Ryder's first Gymboree class ALL WEEK. I got up at 6am on Saturday morning so that I could do my makeup and flat iron my hair. This was all in a vain (oh so vain!) attempt at being the hot mom in the class. (Do not judge me. Every last one of you wants to be the hot mom.) I woke my sleeping husband so that he could begrudgingly take pictures of us before we left for our big day. He took about 20 pictures in total. This was as good as it got:

I really looked forward to seeing Ryder interact with the other kids, and I also looked forward to socializing with the other moms in the group (provided none of them were hotter than me, of course.)

Because I am over-eager (and have been lost in South Tampa several times recently) I gave myself an unnecessary 45 minutes for a 20 minute commute. Surprisingly, we did not get lost and instead, were the first to arrive to class.

Looking back, I can only imagine what a sight I must have been as I walked through the door- very early on a Saturday morning, overly-enthusiastic, toting my camera and my exceptionally cute kid.

We had the play area to ourselves for about ten minutes which was awesome. Soon, a little cutie with dark curls and big brown eyes comes scooting over to us.

Me to Ryder: Ryder, say hi to this pretty girl...this pretty girl wants to play with you...aww, she's so precious! I'm going to take a picture of you and your new friend!

Me to Little Cutie: Did you come over here to flirt with my handsome boy? He just loves pretty girls like you! What gorgeous eyes you have! (I go on and on...)

Meanwhile, the other mom is standing just a few feet away and says nothing. Finally, she scoops up her kid and they head to the slide across the room.

A few minutes later class begins and the teacher greets everyone. This is when I learned that the little cutie's name is Mark.

AND I was also the ONLY parent there with a camera, snapping pictures like crazy. I am not the hot mom. I will never be the hot mom. Instead, I am the REALLY embarrassing mom!

Call off the search!

2009-09-16T22:43:00.004-04:00

I finally saw Kristen this weekend. We talked; we laughed; we ate sliders and chips and guacamole. It was as if no time had passed since we'd seen each other last. (Just to be clear- a LOT of time had passed- at least 6 months!)

Noah's Ark/Tent Thingy

2009-09-12T18:19:00.009-04:00

As kids, my brother and I used to get up every Saturday morning and create a tent/fort/ship out of blankets, boxes, chairs- whatever we could find. Along with ALL of our stuffed animals we would cuddle up in our tent and watch Saturday morning cartoons.

Fast forward to today...

Several hours of rain ruined my plans to take Ryder to the park. The day was shaping up to be spent in pajamas watching TV and I needed a way to sensationalize it fast.

As I looked out at the rain, a voice spoke unto me and told me that I should build an ark. So I did. Ryder was in absolute awe as he watched me build it. He was so excited when I finally let him get in. From the comfort of the ark we spent the rainy day playing with toys, eating, watching TV and reading (Noah's Ark, of course).

And then I released a dove...just kidding.

(Notice the animals are two by two)

QUEST

2009-09-12T08:24:00.004-04:00

I REALLY like banana bread. I don't give my love for banana bread the same attention and notoriety that I give my love for other foods such as cheeseburgers or crab legs; but it's definitely one of my favorite treats.

I am currently on a quest to find the World Champion Banana Bread Recipe. Between all of my beloved cookbooks, I have about three banana bread recipes. I haven't tried any of them because my cookbooks don't do a good job of "selling me" on their banana bread recipes. It's as if they've included any old banana bread recipe just to fill the requisite spot.

I googled "world's best banana bread recipe" and found this: http://seasonalcook.blogspot.com/2005/12/best-banana-bread-really.html .

I don't know this "seasonal cook" but her passion totally sold me. I tried the recipe last week and it turned out VERY GOOD. But I'm not searching for VERY GOOD; I'm searching for WORLD CHAMPION. In all fairness to her, I chose to omit the dates and wheat germ. I also couldn't find the Frontier Natural Walnut Flavoring. Instead, I bought McCormick Imitation Vanilla, Butter and Nut Flavoring. (I have no idea if it's similar but I can't imagine that vanilla, butter and nut flavor could be a bad thing.) In any case, my quest must continue.

If you think you might possess the World Champion Banana Bread Recipe (you have to be passionate about it) please send it to me. I will continue to keep the overripe bananas on standby...

Without a doubt...

2009-09-06T14:41:00.002-04:00

...Ryder was the cutest kid at the park today! He loves that swing!

2009-08-29T21:55:00.016-04:00

My kid was exceptionally cute today so I thought I'd share pics. (I also wanted to move John Gosselin's face further down the page- got tired of seeing him immediately upon pulling up my blog.)

Sitting in an empty diaper box (his new favorite toy) watching cartoons

We took a trip to the Cupcake Spot today. We made a few wrong turns. He was very excited when we finally arrived.

Just waiting for that cupcake I promised him...

Very serious about his chocolate

Flirting with girls in the shop

Acting silly after we got home- this is what he does when I pull out the camera. He immediately sprints towards me with a huge grin.

Laughing so hard he got hiccups!

Playing around in his jammies before bedtime

Reading our favorite book

Off to bed!

I know this doesn't seem like a particularly interesting Saturday but it was a blast. There are no ordinary moments when Ryder is around.

2009-08-21T14:51:00.006-04:00

Dear Jon Gosselin,

No need to worry- the rest of the world doesn't think you're going through a mid-life crisis. You totally cleared that up for us on last week's episode. Nice earrings, by the way! They look great with your Ed Hardy gear and twenty-something girlfriend.

Oh Jon, you foolish, foolish celebrity! It was all set up for you so perfectly. The role of the villian was played brilliantly by Kate. And you- you were classic! You victimized yourself so effortlessly! America was practically cheering for you to file for divorce.

But it's hard to sympathize with a guy who leaves his wife and moves 300 miles away from his children to a bachelor pad in Manhattan. For someone who loathes the spotlight as much as you claim to, you have certainly chosen a questionable path. How are your friends Michael Lohan and Kate Major? Does it feel good to be the "B" list celebrity in a group of parasitic hangers-on?

Please keep me updated. I'm thoroughly looking forward to Jon and Hailey Plus Oops!

Jen

10 Months Old

2009-08-16T20:58:00.008-04:00

Ryder's birthday is acknowledged every month. For whatever reason, some monthly milestones seem like a bigger deal than others. Today my son is 10 months old...that's practically ONE YEAR OLD! 10 months is a big deal!

Like most parents, we get really excited with each new thing Ryder learns. This month he started waving hello and goodbye. We are so proud of this- you'd think he was separating molecules or something. "He can wave! He's a 10 month old genius!"

He's also very close to walking. I have mixed emotions about this. Every time he squeezes my finger as we practice walking, I can't help but realize that once these moments are gone, they will be gone forever. Once he starts walking, he will never need me to help him walk again. Am I the first mom the feel this way? Not likely.

So what's life like with a 10 month old? The Playhouse Disney shows have become a big deal in our house. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is Ryder's definite favorite; he loves the "hot dog song" and does a little dance to it that cracks us up. Ian and I are totally into these shows. It's not uncommon dinner conversation for Ian to give me a report detailing what I missed on Handy Manny that morning. And on more than one occasion, Ryder has been napping for an hour straight before I realize that I'm watching Special Agent Oso by myself.

Here are a few pictures from the past month. I love this kid.

Our Magical Daycation

2009-08-10T20:56:00.007-04:00

A Monday morning meeting in Orlando gave me the opportunity to stay at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort on Sunday night. I decided to bring my boys along and turn it into a fun daycation. Although we didn't make it to the parks (Ryder's not quite ready for that yet), we hung out at the pool, ate at ESPN Zone, walked the Disney Boardwalk, and watched the amazing fireworks. So fun!

Such a little tourist

splashing in the pool with Dad

These little Brazilian cuties just LOVED Ryder and played with him for a long time in the pool. He's such a hit with the ladies!

Mom and Ryder checking out the dolphin fountain

My two favorite boys watching fireworks

Seriously Bradley Cooper?

2009-08-10T20:33:00.005-04:00

You could have THIS:

But instead you choose THIS:

Are they really in the same league?

If you're lucky enough...

2009-08-08T17:31:00.007-04:00

...to live in FLORIDA, you're lucky enough. My friend Adrian sent this to me and I love it!

You Know You're a Floridian if...

Socks are only for bowling.
You never use an umbrella because you know the rain will be over in five minutes.
A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade.
You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.
You're younger than thirty but some of your friends are over 65.
Anything under 70 degrees is chilly.
You've driven through Yeehaw Junction.
You know that no other grocery store can compare to Publix. (more to come on this later)
You know that anything under a Category 3 just isn't worth waking up for.
You dread love bug season.
You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. They aren't Hurricane Charley or Hurricane Frances. You know them as Andrew, Charley, Frances, Ivan...
You know what a snowbird is and when they'll leave.
You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average.
"Down South" means Key West.
Flip-flops are everyday wear. Shoes are for business meetings and church, but you HAVE worn flip flops to church before.
You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.
You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.
A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.
You know the four seasons really are: Hurricane season, love bug season, tourist season and summer.
You've hosted a hurricane party.
You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee, Withlacoochee, Thonotosassa and Micanopy.
You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself.
You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn't swim.
You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Chris tmas and New Year's.
You recognize Miami-Dade as "Northern Cuba".

When I'm left with no other options...

2009-08-04T20:35:00.003-04:00

This is my friend Kristen. Sadly, I cannot remember the last time I saw her. I miss this girl. I’ve driven by her new neighborhood in hopes of catching a glimpse of her. The mote kept me at a safe distance.

You may recall that just a few months ago I posted a similar cry for attention for my best friend Jamie. Perhaps you are asking yourself, “Is this what she’s going to from now on? When she hasn’t talked to one of her friends in a while she’s just going to embarrass them with a shameless post?”

The answer is yes.

My Favorite

2009-08-03T20:46:00.005-04:00

I didn't realize that I was such a children's literature snob until I started reading to Ryder. Is it just me or are 90% of the children's books out there REALLY lame?

I read this one while standing in an airport bookstore (missing my kid terribly) and just HAD to have it. The most random things really touch my heart and this book is one of them. We read it every single night.

What? Did you think I read him In Touch Weekly?

Brave Mom

2009-08-02T18:11:00.002-04:00

I decided to make brownies this afternoon. Ryder happily ate Cheerios in his highchair while I narrated the brownie-making process like I was Rachel Ray. "First we open the Betty Crocker package...then we add the water. Yum-O!" (Isn't that what she says?)

Suddenly, as if possessed by some demon force, I handed my nine-month old the spoon.

Really, mom? I can have this? You're sure?

Not bad...

Really good, actually!

(At this point panic began to set in as I realized that Ian would be home any minute.)

All clean...almost!

Tales from a Wannabe Business Woman

2009-07-28T22:18:00.003-04:00

My job occasionally requires me to travel. Indulge me for a moment as I paint a picture for you.

A young, stylish business woman sits on a plane and works on her laptop. Upon landing, she takes a cab to her hotel, checks in, then heads to the hotel bar for dinner. She calls her husband and they chat. He tells her about all the cute things their adorable little boy did before going to bed that night. After dinner, she goes back to her room and watches her favorite nonsense reality TV shows while giving herself a manicure and a facial. The next morning she gets up early, watches Sportscenter, and flat irons her fabulously unruly hair. After grabbing a quick breakfast, she reviews her notes and heads to the office to give an important presentation. That evening, she gets on a plane and heads home to her little family who is very excited to see her.

I have just described my perfect vision of business travel. Now I will describe my reality.

A young woman sits on a plane in flip flops and a baseball cap. She has a ton of work to do. Unfortunately, she could not resist the US Weekly and OK Magazine headlines so she is busy discovering “who wore it best”. Upon landing, she takes a cab to her hotel, checks in, then orders a pizza- a LARGE pizza- to be sent to the room. She calls her husband and they chat. He tells her about all the cute things their adorable little boy did before going to bed that night. She only eats half the large pizza after a heated internal struggle which ends with “Just because you could eat the whole pizza doesn’t mean that you have to.” She’d love to watch some nonsense reality TV but she needs to prepare for tomorrow’s presentation. Wearing her pajamas and an insanely high ponytail, she stands in front of the floor length mirror in her hotel room practicing her opening remarks. She decides that in order to make this more realistic, she needs to be wearing the actual shoes that she will be wearing during the presentation. So, she stands in front of the mirror and proceeds to practice her presentation in her Jessica Simpson heels, pajamas, and an insanely high ponytail. At some point she decides to go to bed, but not before she turns the TV to the World Series of Poker (her husband’s nighttime routine). In the morning, she flat irons her hair while watching Handy Manny (her cartoon crush) and Special Agent Oso. It’s at this point that she realizes that even though she is in a hotel and could watch anything on TV that she wanted, she chooses the shows that make her feel close to her family. She heads to the office and gives her important presentation, but vows never again to wear Jessica Simpson heels when standing for long periods of time to speak in front of a group. That evening, she gets on a plane and heads home to her family who is very excited to see her.

9 Months Old

2009-07-18T08:03:00.010-04:00

How is it possible that my kid turned 9 months old this week? This is an actual question because math is not my thing. He was born on October 17th, 2008. Does that make him 9 months old? It doesn't seem possible!

Somehow last week I survived being away from him for 5 days while I was in DC for meetings. I'm not going to bore you with a sappy list of all the things that I missed about my kid (or Ian for that matter). But I will say that coming home has never been as sweet as it was on Friday night. I climbed into Ian's Durango at the airport and found a sleepy little boy in pajamas waiting for me in the back seat, holding a sign covered in hearts that said "Mommy". That's good stuff!

Here are some pics of the little man at 9 months old...

Can you believe it?

2009-06-28T20:45:00.012-04:00

Last week this handsome guy turned 40 years old!

The festivities started on Thursday night with a very fancy dinner of meatloaf, twice baked potatoes and corn on the cob (his favorite food- he's easy to please). Ryder helped with the birthday cake.

He loves white icing!

(Note: the cake is NOT covered in rabbitt droppings, but rather chocolate sprinkes)

Ryder was all partied out and fell asleep in his jumperoo.

After dinner, Ryder headed home with Grandma Jane and Grandpa Dave, and the next morning we drove down to Naples with our friends Mickey and Diana. This was our first time visiting Naples and we got an amazing deal at the Naples Bay Resort. Finding great travel deals has become a bit of a hobby for me. I have to say that this might have been my best work yet. This place was incredible!

The trip included golf for the guys, hot stone massages for the girls, pool time, delicious frozen drinks, good food and lots of laughs. We rented a boat on Saturday and cruised all around Naples Bay and beautiful Marco Island. It was so relaxing that I think we all felt like we were hundreds of miles away in the Caribbean.

A special thanks goes out to Ian's parents for watching Ryder over the weekend. This was the longest we'd ever been apart from him! Although we knew he was in good hands and having lots of fun with Grandma and Grandpa, we sure missed the little man. It was awesome to see that great big smile of his when we got home today.

I think it's safe to say that the 40's are off to a great start for Ian. Happy Birthday Old-Timer! You are still the coolest, hottest guy I know!

A Father's Day Interview with Ian Porter

2009-06-21T13:56:00.009-04:00

Jen: So, you've been a dad for 8 months now. How many diapers would you estimate that you've changed in those 8 months?

Ian: A hundred. (I frown. Really?) A thousand. Maybe a hundred thousand? A million?

J: Are there any diaper changes that were particularly memorable? Has he ever peed on you?

I: No, I'm zero for peeing and pooping on. But that first (diaper change) was just black as tar and stunk to high heaven!

J: I expected you to discuss the time you changed him and he had poop all the way up to his shoulder blades.

I: Well, of course there was certainly that time. How does poop get on shoulders?!!

J: In addition to poop, another popular topic in our home is sports. Obviously, sports are a big influence in your life and you plan to share that with Ryder. Any gut feelings about what he might be good at?

I: Golf and Baseball!

J: Wow. I did not see that coming. Any particular reason you say that?

I: He LOVES that red golf club! (Ryder is swatting the red golf club dangerously close to Ian's head as we talk)

J: What if he wanted to play soccer? Would you let him?

I: No! Soccer is not a sport.

J: What are three things you are looking forward to doing with Ryder?

I: 1. Playing catch 2. Going to his first ball game 3. Maybe going to his first play or something, if he's ever in a play.

J: So you recognize that he may have interests outside of sports?

I: Of course! He could be an astronaut, or a fireman, or a theoretical physicist like my man Michio Kaku.

J: Oh, that brings me to a good question! Michio Kaku and Ernie Banks are sitting at opposite sides of a bar. You can sit down and have a conversation with one of them. Who do you choose?

I: ooh! I guess it would have to Ernie Banks, wouldn't it?

J: I don't know. Does it have to be?

I: It doesn't have to be, but it would be.

J: What would you ask him?

I: What do you ask the greatest Cubbie ever? Just tell me about the old days, the golden years of baseball. Michio Kaku, if I got to sit him down, I'd probably never let him leave. I'd have to ask him so many questions.

J: We've gotten off topic of our son. If there is one thing you want him to know about you, what is it?

I: That I love my family more than anything. Family first.

8 Months Old Today!

2009-06-17T21:02:00.012-04:00

One month ago I had a little baby boy who relied on me for everything. Seemingly overnight, he is crawling all over the place, pulling himself up, eating puffs on his own, and hanging out with girls. Next month he will be asking for the keys to the car. Here is a list (I love making lists!) of Ryder's current favorite things:

1. His red golf club (not the blue one, don't know why)

2. His Leap Frog music table

3. Sweet Potato Puffs

4. Talking on the phone

5. Swimming

Backlash?

2009-06-15T21:34:00.005-04:00

Dear Media,

I can only assume that your recent coverage of Jon and Kate Gosselin is the spiteful result of my previous blog post about the family. You are despicable.

Why does is matter that Kate Gosselin grew up in a trailer? (It doesn't. She's far from trailer trash.) Why does it matter that because of the show, the family enjoys perks such as vacations and nice clothes? (It doesn't. We would all love to be in that position.) And why in the world would you suggest that those kids are mistreated? (They aren't!)

As an avid reader of celebrity gossip, I can say with a reasonable amount of authority that your coverage of this family's recent struggles has been downright lazy. Am I supposed to be impressed with your pictures of Kate on the beach and a story (with a grossly negative spin) about her plastic surgery and devotion to healthy eating and exercise? Come on, you can do better than that!

Since you refuse to let the scandal die, here's what I want to know: Who is this skank schoolteacher who thinks it's appropriate to vacation with a married man and father of eight? Why does she get a pass? There's your real story. I'll be waiting.

Jen

Phoenix Fun

2009-06-06T14:14:00.009-04:00

Last week we enjoyed a fun and relaxing vacation in Phoenix. We got a great deal on a suite at the Ritz-Idleman (aka- my parents' house) which included meals, drinks, transportation and child care. They totally spoiled us! The picture above was taken on the last day. (Note: by the end of the trip everyone had grown quite weary of my constant picture taking.) To view all 9,000 vacation pictures click here: http://s294.photobucket.com/albums/mm82/fins2lft/?albumview=slideshow

Some highlights from the trip include:

Ryder being incredibly good on the long flight.

Thanksgiving dinner in May (complete with my mom's sinfully delicious sweet potatoes)

Sunshine+Awesome Pool+Celebrity Gossip Magazines= Heaven for Jen

Incredible golf courses (Heaven for Ian)

A rendezvous in Park City, Utah to meet up with Jamie and Kira

Raiding mom's makeup closet

D-Backs game at Chase Field (an impressive ballpark, I might add)

Keeping a scorecard the entire game

Margaritaville- Phoenix

Ian teaching me how to throw pitches. (It turns out I have a mean slider!)

Mom and Peggye's INSANE shopping trips with Ryder. (The kid came home with 11 pair of shoes. As I said, INSANE.)

Mom laying a smackdown on Ian at Texas Hold 'Em- her first time playing

Thanks Mom and Greg for a fabulous week!

A Desperate Plea

2009-06-01T15:04:00.011-04:00

Dear Media,

As a loyal celebrity gossip mag reader, I am writing to you with a plea: leave Jon and Kate Gosselin alone. Believe me, nobody is more fascinated by them than me, but enough is enough. I don't want to see anymore headlines about bizarre marriage contracts or Kate's alleged obsession with her looks. She is the mother of eight little children! In the last year, she went from looking hopelessly frumpy to pretty darn foxy. Give her a break! I also don't want to hear another quote from her backstabbing brother and his ginger-wife, Aunt Jodi. I never cared for either of them.

I'm disappointed that you have taken Jon's inappropriate behavior and used it as a springboard to attack Kate. We all know Kate is nagging and a control freak. Many moms and wives have a tendency to come across that way. The difference is that she has eight small children which, I would imagine, can only intensify her reactions.

Please go back to your roots. What size are Jessica Simpson's jeans these days? Has Matthew McConaughey been jogging shirtless in Malibu recently? Who had lunch at The Ivy this weekend? When is Angelina Jolie going to drop the devoted mother/humanitarian act and go back to making out with her brother? Focus on the important issues and leave Jon and Kate alone. Truth be told, I will buy your trashy magazines either way, but at least I won't feel as guilty.

Thank you,

Jennifer

7 Months Old!

2009-05-17T18:51:00.003-04:00

Ryder is 7 months old today! I'm convinced he is the happiest little boy in the whole world- always smiling and laughing. He loves to "talk". His favorite word is GAK. He's also constantly on the move, scooting all over the place. Next week we'll be taking him on his first plane trip. Nana- we're coming to see you!

MISSING. HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL?

2009-05-15T20:36:00.003-04:00

This is my best friend Jamie. Jamie, Kira and I have been best friends for at least 15 years. If there is one thing I have done well in my life, it is in the friends I have chosen.

There are no perfect marriages in this world, or perfect parents or perfect kids (although my point may be moot because I seem to have hit the jackpot in those areas as well). But I honestly believe that Kira, Jamie and I have a perfect friendship. It's absolutely enviable and I am so proud of it.

Jamie seems to have gone missing. Okay, "missing" may be a stretch, but Kira and I have been trying to reach her for the last 24 hours with no success. If you have seen this girl, please tell her to call her friends. We miss her.

Mother's Day Fun

2009-05-10T21:06:00.011-04:00

Today was Ryder's first trip to the beach. It was the perfect way to spend Mother's Day! His tolerance for the sun is not quite as intense as mine. Items such as tents, umbrellas and 50SPF sunscreen (gasp!) are usually forbidden at the beach, but we brought them along to protect the little man from the sun and heat. Ryder really enjoyed the water, but he was not a big fan of the sand. (He'll need to get over that.)

After the beach we had lunch at The Conch Republic, one of my very favorite restaurants. As I spent the afternoon listening to Jimmy Buffett tunes, enjoying the most delicious peel n' eat shrimp, and laughing with my two favorite boys, I couldn't help but think how amazing it is that somehow I have ended up with everything I could have ever wanted in the whole world.

What it means...

2009-05-10T07:42:00.007-04:00

I am writing this on the morning of my very first Mother's Day. It's about 7:30 a.m., Ian is sleeping next to me and Ryder is sitting between us swatting at my laptop and laughing hysterically.

I've officially been a mom for over 6 months now, and with the first semester of motherhood behind me, today seemed appropriate to share some of my thoughts on this amazing, exhausting, incredible role.

What it means to be a mom...

It means feeling inadequate and often second-guessing your mothering skills. But somehow at the same time, believing that nobody can take care of your child quite as well as you can.
It means giving an important presentation at work, wearing your favorite suit, and realizing during the presentation that you've had spit up on your shoulder all day.
It means wearing your hair in a ponytail a lot.
It means the house, the laundry, your child and yourself will never all be clean at the same time.
It means having a greater appreciation for just about everything- time, money, health and comfortable shoes- just to name a few.
It means that sometimes you sneak in your child's room just to watch them sleep.
It means being accountable to someone whose entire life will largely be shaped by the decisions you make.
It means recognizing that all moms think their child is exceptional, but knowing that yours really is.
It means buying all organic baby food, even though you aren't exactly sure what organic means.
It means having zero tolerance for movies or TV shows where children are sick, dying or mistreated.
It means a single smile can actually bring a tear to your eye.
It means you take a lot of pictures.
It means belonging to the Club of Motherhood. There are conversations and experiences that can only truly be understood among its members. Your Costco ID is your membership card.

I am interested to see how this list will change when I am the mother of a 5, 10, 15 or 20 year old...

Fun with Green Beans

2009-04-29T19:37:00.004-04:00

So far, green beans have proved to be the only food that Ryder does not like. He REALLY does not like them. I made him eat them for the last three days with the promise that he wouldn't have to try them again for a while.

Each night I watched him contort his little face and body like a cartoon while he fought the spoon I danced in front of him. He made the most pitiful faces and even faked gagging for dramatic effect. To be honest, I found it a little amusing.

Being the sweet mom that I am, I thought it would be funny to take pictures of the dinnertime drama and share them with you. In the past I have only posted pictures of a happy little boy with a big bright smile. I thought it was important to divulge that he is occasionally stubborn. So with the fussing in full effect, I pulled out my camera to take pictures of the sad little face fighting to choke down green beans. This is what I got:

That's right. I have officially taken so many pictures of my son that even while suffering through his green bean dinner, he knows to "give mom a big, big, big smile" for the camera. I put the camera down and the fabulous fussy faces appeared again. Great! I grab my camera! Big smile again! Gotta love that kid!

Unbelievable- 6 Months Old!

2009-04-17T18:57:00.010-04:00

How is it possible that this kid is 6 months old already? In the past month, Ryder met his Grandpa Dave for the first time, as well as his cousins Ava and Chloe. He's also sitting up on his own! Crawling is just around the corner (which makes me excited and also a little nervous).

Hangin' with Dad

Meeting Grandpa Dave

Trying out the awesome rocking horse that Grandpa Dave made for him

Cute little cousins

Uncle Jimmy can't resist him.

Working on some very important reports

Such a ham. Where did he get that from?

Easter Weekend

2009-04-12T20:03:00.002-04:00

Big Day for a Little Man

2009-04-05T16:47:00.014-04:00

To know us (my little family) is to know that we are tropical people. We love the beach, the pool, boats, palm trees, dolphins and fruity frozen drinks (Yep, Ian likes dolphins and fruity frozen drinks too). While I was pregnant with Ryder I went to the pool every single Saturday at 11am. This was a non-negotiable appointment to me. I bought myself the world's most perfect raft and would float in tropical bliss while reading books about babies and pregnancy (and the occasional celebrity gossip magazine).

You can imagine how I have been itching to take Ryder to the pool and put my 11am appointment back on the calendar. This weekend it finally happened! I'm happy to report that Ryder loves the pool AND he turned out to be the perfect pool buddy for me! After an exciting hour of splashing around and floating in his little raft, he took a nice long nap in his stroller so I could relax and work on finding my tan again. Progress has been made, but I'm not there yet!

PS- Yes, Kira- this means you can take him swimming now.

Flashback Friday-1997

2009-04-03T21:44:00.004-04:00

This picture was taken at Ian's 10 year high school reunion. The guy on the left is Ian (not Greg Allman) and he's with his friend Brian Fitzer. I didn't know Ian back then (I was still in high school myself) and I mentioned to him recently that I'm not sure what I would have thought of him if we'd met when he had long hair. His response? "You wouldn't have been able to get near me. The ladies were all over me!"

Five Months Old!

2009-03-17T21:12:00.006-04:00

The little man is five months old today! Here are some fun pics from this month. He just started using his jumperoo and he LOVES it!

All Day

2009-03-13T20:01:00.005-04:00

My years spent working in the restaurant business have resulted in a few lingering effects. Tonight I found myself talking in restaurant lingo. It happened when Ian texted me to find out what I wanted him to pick up from Hooters for dinner.

Me: 2 crab legs, one Hooters salad for us to share

Ian: You want 2 crab legs?

Me: One for each of us; 2 all day.

Yep, I said "2 all day". I don't know where it came from. I guess it's still second nature to talk that way. Here is some common restaurant lingo for you:

All Day- The total amount.

Behind- a verbal warning called out when walking behind others so as to prevent them from stopping short, running into you and knocking a tray of drinks or food out of your hands.

Campers- a party that stays at a table for a long time

Cut- to reduce staffing levels

Dead- food that has been sitting around too long to be served

Down- people that are sat and waiting to order "I've got 4 down"

Dragging- items that are not ready with the rest of the order. "I'm dragging fries with that burger."

Drop- begin cooking anything that goes in the fryer. "Drop 2 chicken fingers."

86- to stop serving something, usually because you are out of it.

In the weeds- BUSY!

Ian and I bartended together for years. In fact, Ian taught me everything that I know about bartending. In addition to the obvious drink-making skills, he taught me the following important bartending basics:

Girls should wait on guys; guys should wait on girls.

Service Bar is not your money. Your bar guests are your money.

Do not waste your time learning how to make Hurricanes, Bahama Mamas, Mai Tais or any other obscure fruity drink. Simply mix some rum and fruit juice together, make it red, and garnish. People will love it and make comments about such as, "Wow! She REALLY knows how to make a Mai Tai!"

People cannot tell the difference between draft Bud Light and draft Coors Light, or any other Light; but they will SWEAR that they can.

When happy hour is 2 for 1, you make a double tall drink. You don't serve 2 drinks, 1 at a time.

Clean as you go. (If I had a dollar for every time I heard him say that...)

Talk to your guests and don't work with your head down.

Always ask your guests' names and tell them yours.

Make frozen drinks weak. People that drink frozen drinks don't care if they feel the effects.

(Rabid) Ducks at the Pond

2009-03-07T16:46:00.014-05:00

Today was a gorgeous day. I wasn't feeling ambitious enough to take Ryder to the pool yet, but I wanted to get some fresh air. I decided we would go to the little pond near our home and feed the ducks. Ryder is becoming more and more aware of his surroundings so I thought he might enjoy watching them. My vision:

Cute, right? Well, the ducks we found looked nothing like them. Ours were the ugliest, meanest ducks I have ever seen in my life! On our way to the pond I kept telling Ryder that ducks say "quack, quack". I heard not one quack from these ducks; they did nothing but grunt and pant. Who has ever heard of grunting, panting ducks? I cautiously pulled out my stale hot dog buns and proceeded to feed them. At one point, I thought they were going to rush me and pull the whole bag out of my hands! When I was down to half a bun, I quickly broke it up and threw it as far away from me as I could, and Ryder and I ran off in the other direction. I can't be certain, but I think some of our neighbors were watching from their patios and laughing. I was just glad there might be witnesses!

Check out the pics from the day. This was Ryder's first time riding in his stroller like a big boy (not in the carrier). He loved it!

This duck had a broken wing- from his last brawl, I'm sure.

The roughest looking bunch of ducks I have ever seen in my life!

Check out the cool kid in the shades with

his foot propped up on the stroller.

Quote Junkie

2009-02-27T21:13:00.002-05:00

I am a quote junkie. I love good quotes. Here is a "Jen Quote" that Ian often hears from me:

"When I grow up I want to be just like... (insert whatever chick I think is super-cool, successful and polished at that moment)."

Today I came across the following quote and I thought it was a good one:

"Always be a first rate version of yourself, rather than a second rate version of someone else."

What a difference a year makes!

2009-02-27T20:58:00.003-05:00

About one year ago exactly, I found myself staring in amazement at this:

One year later, and look what I have...

Amazing.

4 Months Old!

2009-02-17T20:31:00.008-05:00

Ryder is 4 months old today! He is such a happy little man with the cutest laugh ever. He can roll over from his back to his belly, but he still can't get from his belly to his back. This weekend he ate rice cereal for the first time and loved it!

The first bite

Yum!

Papaw wanted to help.

All done!

Happy Anniversary

2009-02-10T22:17:00.008-05:00

This week marks the one year anniversary of my little blog. This is a big deal because I am notorious for getting really excited about new projects and activities but not sticking with them. I have the gym membership cards, half-written novels, and craft supplies to prove it! So one whole year of blogging is quite an accomplishment for me!

My life has changed quite a bit since my inaugural blog post. For starters, my writing aptitude has completely deteriorated. You'd think blogging would have the complete opposite effect, wouldn't you? But here I sit, second guessing every participle.

And then there is Ryder. I clearly remember my pre-blog argument that I shouldn't start a blog because I don't have kids. When I finally decided to create one anyway, I envisioned filling it with posts about the fun vacations we take, and the concerts and ball games we enjoy. I had no idea that our life was soon going to become less about the things we do and more about who we are- a family, parents even.

Random 25

2009-02-01T11:19:00.003-05:00

I find myself in a bit of a blogging slump. Here is a random list of 25 things (from a Facebook tag).

1. I like to make lists.

2. I kiss my dog on the mouth.

3. I refuse to have anything pink in my golf bag.

4. I don't believe that light travels and I can prove it. (This one always gets a rise out people.)

5. I've had the same 2 best friends since I was 14.

6. Even at age 29, I still use the term "best friend" and feel it's important to make that distinction.

7. I tiled my back patio by myself- completely by myself.

8. My entire life I was TERRIFIED of giving birth.

9. It turned out to be easier than tiling my back patio.

10. One of my biggest pet peeves is gross misuse of the apostraphe. Sometimes I feel like I'm surrounded by it.

11. I think The Greg Billings Band should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

12. I still have a really big high school girl crush on Ian.

13. I do not have fringe friends. I have an inner circle- you're either in or your out.

14. I have never used the term "LOL"

15. I am never happier than when I'm spending a lazy day at the beach with Ian.

16. There are currently 11 different kinds of cheese in my fridge- that's insane!

17. I had very competitive Easter egg hunts with my brother until I was 25.

18. I love Jon & Kate Plus 8 and I think Kate is an amazing woman.

19. I am proud to say that I know all of the words to "Murder Incorporated" by Bruce Springsteen and "Shoop" by Salt N Pepa.

20. My cell phone ringtone is "Nothing But A Good Time" by Poison.

21. I've been blessed with a family full of fun and generous people.

22. That includes my inlaws.

23. Samantha Brown has my dream job.

24. My world is a better place because of Jimmy Buffett's music. It speaks right to my soul- cheesey but true.

25. My heart has been stolen by a sweet little boy in blue footy pajamas who is sleeping upstairs as I write this.

3 Months Old!

2009-01-19T17:23:00.011-05:00

This has been an exciting month! Ryder rolled over for the first time! He also babbles, smiles and laughs A LOT, and has begun taking an interest in toys. Each day I see more and more of his personality come out. He is such a cool little kid!

Wisdom from Dave Barry

2009-01-13T08:19:00.004-05:00

Dave Barry is a pulitzer prize-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. I don't read his column regularly (after all, it's not published in US Weekly or In Touch magazine) but whenever I come across something he has written it always hands me a laugh. Aunt Kak passed this along and there are a few on this list that really ring true.

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a laxative and a sleeping pill in the same night.

2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved and never will achieve its full potential, that word is "meetings." (Those that have worked with me know how passionately I believe in this.)

3. There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

5. You should not confuse your career with your life.

6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

7. Never lick a steak knife.

8. The most destructive force in the Universe is gossip. (Does celebrity gossip count? I sure hope not...)

9. You can never find anyone who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

11. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

12. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers. (This is not true for me. I completely expect that one day soon Ian will take away my keys and hand me a bus pass. And I will have no viable argument.)

13. A person who is nice to you but rude to a waiter is not a nice person.

14. Your friends love you anyway.

15. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

King of the Jungle

2009-01-05T20:12:00.007-05:00

I was thinking back recently to a conversation I had with my friend, Kristen, while I was pregnant with Ryder. She was excited to buy him some cute gifts and was looking for some ideas. I distinctly recall saying that my unborn son LOVED monkeys, puppies, baseball and beach stuff. Hmmm... do we know anyone else who loves these same things? Ryder's room is filled with stuffed monkeys and puppies and baseball memorabilia. His dresser is filled with similar clothes. I love all of it and think it's adorable.

Interestingly, his first favorite toy has not been a monkey, a puppy, or a baseball; it's his lion. And suddenly I'm finding that lion cuter and cuter too. Maybe it's the sweet little boy that is always hanging out with him?!

New Year's Day and Uncle Bill

2009-01-02T20:25:00.012-05:00

For the last few years Ian and I have played in a golf scramble on New Year's Day. This year I decided to hang out with Ryder instead. What can I say? I'm crazy about this kid! So, while Ian was at the golf course, I took Ryder to the park for the first time ever and we had a little picnic. We had to bring along his best buddy, the stuffed lion, of course.

We had a lot fun but it didn't take long for him to fall asleep. The sunshine and cool breeze knocked him right out!

Later in the afternoon our friend Bill came over and we grilled. Bill just got a great new job and is moving to Tallahassee. We are sad to see him go, but he has moved away before and still never really "left" us. Here are a few random, fun facts about Bill:

graduated from FSU with a degree in Psychology

served his country in the US Army

cites being a Boston Red Sox fan as "the very core of his being"

favorite XM radio station: Hair Nation

Ian's first friend in Tampa

nicknames include but not limited to: Billy, Slick Willy, and White Chocolate

had a chick rain a 3-pointer on him while he was guarding her at a Hoop It Up tournament

although he has no dogs or kids of his own (yet!), he is Uncle Bill to many across the country. (The cutest of these being Ryder and Marley, of course!)

"The One With All The Blessings"

2009-01-01T15:56:00.006-05:00

If 2008 was a Friends episode, that's what it would be called- "The One With All The Blessings". I have to admit I was a little sad to let the year go. It was amazing from start to finish. But somehow I'm sure 2009 will be even better. I'm grateful for my handsome boys, my family, and friends that I consider family.

Here are a couple of pics from New Year's Eve which we spent with the Rasmussen family.

Check out the smile on that little man!

What an adorable bunch!

The Other Spoiled Porter

2008-12-30T14:24:00.010-05:00

I was not at all surprised that our families spoiled Ryder rotten with Christmas gifts. Each day I would come home to find boxes and boxes addressed to the little man from all over the country.

What I found astounding was the number of gifts that were bestowed upon our oldest child, Marley (sometimes called"The Fuzzy Porter" or Ryder's "fur-brother"). In fact, he ate so many Christmas treats that he refused to eat real food from his bowl for 2 days! In addition to the various snausages, rawhides and bones he received, he got two new bandanas- ACDC bandanas to be more specific, appropriately from Uncle Jimmy and Peggye.

I don't find it necessary to dress my dog in anything more than a collar; but Marley absolutely LOVES to wear "clothes". On several occassions when a bandana has become so ratty or stretched out that it falls off him, he will actually bring it over to Ian or I to put back on him. He is a dog with flair.

Yes, it's true that since Ryder came along I have not doted over Marley the way I usually do. But I love him. And it's nice to know that our families love him too. Merry Christmas, Marley!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-26T22:35:00.001-05:00

The Nativity Story

2008-12-26T18:33:00.007-05:00

On Christmas Eve, Kira invited us to join her family in a dramatic retelling of the Nativity story. It was a very special experience and a lot of fun. The kids were absolutely adorable. Check us out on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYtz9oUUZq8 . I can't help but laugh a little bit each time I watch it, and it's okay if you do too. But you can't deny that we have some of the cutest kids around!

Cast:

Mary: Zoie Rasmussen

Joseph: Tobin Rasmussen

Baby Jesus: Ryder Porter

Angel: Jennifer Porter

Innkeeper: Uncle Jimmy

Shepherd: Matthew Slovacek

Wise Man: Ian Porter

Narrator: Aunt Peggye

Stage Director: Kira Rasmussen

Cinematographer: Lance Rasmussen

Deck the Halls!

2008-12-26T15:52:00.010-05:00

Realizing that Ryder loves looking at Christmas lights, we decided to decorate the front of our townhouse. We put up some sensible lights in the bushes and a fun, inflatable penguin. I was really happy with the way the decorations turned out and each night I would take Ryder outside to look at them.

A week or so later, our Homeowners' Association announced it was having a contest for the home with the best light display. In no time at all, I was drunk with the challenge. I drug Ryder to Wal-Mart, Walgreens and Target in search of fun, festive new lights to add to our display. I totally scored with an inflatable tropical Santa!

Each day leading up to the contest, Ian would come home from work to find me wrapped in lights and my eyes glazed over. You see, I'm great at buying the lights; but connecting them and using extension cords- well, sadly, that's way over my head. So, being the good sport that he is, Ian would take care of executing my vision. Although he finally put his foot down when I tried to create a live nativity scene. He drove up to find me barefoot in the front yard, holding a naked Ryder wrapped in a blanket as I called him the Baby Jesus. I was promptly instructed to go inside and put clothes on our son.

The picture below was taken the night before the judging. As Ian and I stood back and looked at our finished product, which I assure you was even tackier in person; he turned to me and said, "You know we're not going to win, right?"

Me: But we have an inflatable tropical Santa!

Ian: Jen, the people two doors down have animated deer. We're not going to win. Not everyone appreciates a tropical Santa the way we do.

Me: Well, I don't want to live in a world where people don't appreciate a tropical Santa.

Ian: That's nice, now go inside.

No, we didn't win; the people two doors down won. Apparently, animated deer are just extraordinary! As for me and my house, we will have a tropical Santa.

2 Months Old Today!

2008-12-17T22:14:00.000-05:00

Hi Ho, Hi Ho. It's back to work I go!

2008-12-16T21:40:00.010-05:00

It was a blissful 2 months of maternity leave but now it's back to reality. Yes, it's definitely hard to pry myself away from my little man each morning, but as I was feeling sorry for myself yesterday, my dad reminded me that I have a lot to be thankful for. For one thing- particularly in this economy- I'm lucky to have a great job that I enjoy. And second, I am fortunate to have peace of mind knowing that Ryder is in great hands with my best friend, Kira, who cares for him while I am at work. She is one of the best, most fun moms that I know and she really loves Ryder. Ian and I are also excited that Ryder gets to spend his days with her two awesome, very well-behaved kids, Zoie and Tobin.

Kira spent the day taking pictures to chronicle today's events.

Zoie eagerly greeting Ian as he dropped Ryder off in the morning

Ryder eating his third breakfast of the day

His first trip to the library

Kira tells me they read a book about hats. One thing led to another...

Sleeping the afternoon away!

The Littlest Reindeer

2008-12-09T18:41:00.010-05:00

Believe it or not, Ryder really liked wearing his reindeer outfit. I laughed SO hard as soon as I got it on him. It instantly reminded me of the movie, A Christmas Story. I'm not sure which scene he most resembles.

Shameless

2008-12-03T10:30:00.010-05:00

Admittedly, I am very easily starstruck. I love reading celebrity gossip magazines and watching TMZ and celebreality shows. On her recent vacation to L.A., my friend Liz bought Ryder this cute shirt at a store that celebrity moms are known to frequent. I got a little carried away taking pictures of him in it. It seems I am more cut out to be paparazzi than a star!

Thankful: A Whole New Meaning

2008-11-28T02:43:00.002-05:00

Thankful for...

1. Similac coupons

2. early mornings when Ian offers to get up with Ryder

3. Jimmy Buffett's Parakeet CD for children

4. friends and family that offer to babysit

5. the amazing durability of Pampers

6. burp cloths strategically placed all over the house

7. quiet moments snuggling with Ryder after a 2 a.m. feeding

8. glowing feedback from the pediatrician

9. my camera and camcorder

10. google (such as "baby poop color", or "BPA")

11. a tiny hand that squeezes my finger

12. naps

13. Target

14. new baby smell (the good kind)

15. giant baby burps

My Little Man

2008-11-24T13:48:00.006-05:00

Ryder has now found his voice and has started "talking" to me. He smiles when I give him little kisses and he still likes to make his monkey face once in a while. I have not been successful at getting pictures or video of any of these adorable things but here are a few cute shots for you to enjoy.