sweet pigdog

my dear sweet pigdog had a stroke last night.  i am really torn up about it and am having to make the decision of what to do about her.  she has been patrick's dog for over 12 years and mine for over 7 years.  she is the perfect dog.  she has been such a fantastic traveling companion, seeing most of the united states with us on our crazy travels.  everyone that we know or meet along the way has seen the value in her.  she came into our lives as a stray looking for a good home and a little love and attention, when she chose to have her puppies under patrick's cabin many years ago.  they have a deep connection.  there will never be another pigdog.  

have a blue weekend

we traveled to live oak, florida for the biannual bluegrass festival.  spent 4 wonderful days with happy, pickin' people.  adrian vega had a blast.  i have to admit i was concerned about the 6 1/2 hour car trip there and then back, not to mention how to camp with a 9 month old who is cruising now.  no putting him on the ground very much, since it rained a couple days.  but he was fantastic!  such a great outdoorsman, even now.  he's so portable.  i cannot wait till next year.  

magnolia festival, here we come!

i am so looking forward to magfest.  i have missed it, as we could not go last year as i was 7 months preggers.  this time, i have a 9 month old in tow.  we'll see how it goes.  went to acoustic cafe in spring, and he was fine.  but, he was 4 months old and could not move from the blanket.  it will be a trip.  oh, and the car trip - 6 hours.  what are we going to do for that long?  hope he stays happy- like he usually is.  looking forward to ashley and jason's wedding on thursday.  hope we can get out of town and down there before they get hitched too.  all these things have to align, tho.  packing, cooking, preparing for the ride.  wanted to take the subaru, to save on gas, but we may just take the tahoe to ride a little more comfy - better carseat and more room to pack more stuff.  gas has gotten so cheap, too!  i filled up this morning for $2.85!  i'm ready to hear some bluegrass and lay in a hammock.  relax and enjoy.  have a nice weekend everyone!  

pumpkin patch

we took a trip to the country to the great pumpkin patch.  there were pony rides and a petting zoo, tractor/train rides, and even helicopter rides.  funnel cakes and cotton candy, roasted corn and peanuts.  we just took a few pics and bought a baby pumpkinette for $.75.  it was a lot of fun and it felt like the first cool and crisp day of fall, so it really got us in the spirit.  i love halloween and i really love fall.  

nomad in the night

been such a busy week and not enough time to fit everything in.  hoping that one day my dear son learns to sleep through the night again.  i am getting exhausted from the 2 times a night to nurse thing.   now that he is in his own room, i am a nomad in the night.  constantly moving from one end of the house to the other.  we still co-sleep, but sometimes i just want my bed.  got a potty for my birthday for little one.  he likes sitting on it!  great, now if only i could potty train at 12 months.  i would write a book and make a million dollars...

i carry you in my heart...

i love carrying my baby.  he is so big now that it is almost impossible to sling him anymore.  yes, the Hotsling is retired.  but i am looking forward to trying a mei tai pattern to sew.  i love sewing and want to be able to choose my own fabric.  and it is cheaper!  i will miss him being so close to my heart though.  here is one of my favorite poet's words.  

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in

my heart) i am never without it (anywhere

i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done

by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear

no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want

no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows

higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

sweet dress for wedding

the good thing about the south is the extended summer season.  so, i bought this little number for ashley's wedding in florida at the end of the month.  it doesn't say fall.  it says, "i am holding onto what is left of summer and you will have to pry it from my 9 month postpartum body as it has taken that long for me to feel hot again!"  and it was marked down from $100 to $14.99 at Belk's.  we love this!

here we go

and he's off...  at the beginning of the week, my sweet son pulled up in his crib at his Gram's house.  we have since lowered his mattress and moved his entire crib into his own room this week.  it was quite an adjustment - for mom and baby.  now, he is cruising around the furniture, grabbing anything and pulling up and walking around like he's been doing this for years.  the learning curve is short with this boy.  and did i mention the fact that he now has 8 teeth!  my god, he could order a steak.  of course, all this is happening too fast for his mama.  

my birthday

my birthday has a whole new meaning this year.  i actually know firsthand what it is to give birth, and 31 years ago my mother gave me life.  what a gift to give another!  i am so blessed to be on this earth - to be given life and to give life.  what an amazing journey i have had.  what amazing friends i have that they all come to celebrate with me!  thanks everyone for coming and sharing your lives with me.  anne, these cupcakes were divine!  photo taken with my new wrap from India from Meg.  beautiful!