Dead Head

If I was able to glimpse into my husband's life 15 years ago, I probably would have considered him a "Dead Head." Someone who listened to the Grateful Dead on repeat, wore the overpowering fragrance petula (also in my opinion one of the worse smells), used a tapestry as curtains, wore dirty clothes, said 'dude' a lot, slept all day, and wore a hemp necklace. Present day, my husband wears madras shorts, pink polos, would never say the word 'dude', and uses fancy, schmancy shaving cream.

True to his old ways, Pearson is seeing Widespread Panic tonight (a jam band similar in nature to the Grateful Dead). Of course, I am happy that he is doing something he loves to do and is getting the opportunity to see his favorite band. But it brings up the question, will Mae be a Dead Head?!? And what would I do if she wants to be a hippie? I have joked with Pearson time and time again that Mae can be ANYTHING she wants to be, except a dirty hippie. Not that I am totally opposed to the principals that hippies (in the traditional sense) espouse. I think it is the whole dirty thing.

Thanks to Aunt Julie for the Grateful Dead Dancing Bears shirt. She bought it because of Pearson's love of the band. I put Mae in it, sang Sugar Magnolia to her, and told her about her dad's love of the band. I called Pearson to tell him about the t-shirt and sent him photos. His response via email, "take it off." Although, he doesn't want to say it out loud, I think Pearson also wants Mae to be anything but a dirty hippie.

It is already starting folks.

Yesterday was a day like no other. Mae woke me up per usual at around 6:15 am. We played for a little bit and then it was time for breakfast. On the menu was a banana and Greek yogurt with peaches and apricots from Trader's Joe. Mae loves it and I try not to give it to her that often since it is essentially ice cream that isn't frozen.

Rewind to the day before, Mae was eating dinner. She took a sip of her water and then spit it while moving her lips as a humming bird. It was hysterical and of course it got laughs from me and Grandma C. who was with us.

So back to Sunday morning. I am trying to wake up while downing my much needed coffee and feeding Mae.

Mae: [Spits out yogurt while doing humming bird with her lips. Yogurt goes everywhere] pppppppwwwwwwww

Me: Mae that isn't funny.

Mae: [Spits out yogurt while doing humming bird with her lips. Yogurt goes everywhere] pppppppwwwwwwww

Me: Mae we don't spit out our food. There are people in this world that our starving.

I am not at all shocked that Mae spit out her food. Of course, she did. The day before it was really funny. I am more shocked what came out of my mouth. I can't believe it is already starting and she is only nine months old. I fear what else is going to come out of my mouth over the next so many years. I guess I really am a mom.

Vacation June 2010 - Part II (Oak Island)

This year marked the 5th Annual Kogut (Sanne/Cummings/Beef) Oak Island Family Vacation. 2010 was like all years - filled with lasting memories. I would love to report that the week was drama free but who are we all kidding. We had three kids and three married couples. Does that sound drama free to anyone?

Since this was Mae's first time in hot and humid weather, we didn't know how she would fair for the week. Would she wilt? Would she hate the beach? The water? The sand? Nope, nope, nope, and nope. She loved (or grew to like) all of it.

Here is a list of highlights and some "not so" highlights of the week:

• Mae dipping her toes and swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Huge thunderstorm.
• Dinner on the beach.
• Reading 200 pages of a novel since I had Mae.
• Cousin bonding - Mae, Will and Luke Style.
• Heather, Julie, and I all getting the same shirt, purchased by mom.
• Celebrating my dad's 68th Birthday.
• Water balloon fights.
• Getting sick - My dad was sick for most of the trip. He was on antibiotics the whole time. Despite all that he powered through and played golf every day. I was an idiot and had the brown bag flu one day - thanks to my mom and sisters for taking care of Mae all day.
• Only going to Duffer's once, at least I went once.
• Hanging with our friends, Nat and Megan and their two sons.

We are already thinking about next year. It can't come soon enough.

Photos on the Beach

Grandpa Kogut and Mae chilling on the beach the last night of vacation.

Happy Belated Father's Day Maegoobee's Daddy

Yesterday we spent all day traveling from Oak Island, NC to Seattle. It was quite a day. We were up at 6 am, packed and cleaned. Then traveled from Oak Island to Wilmington via car. Then flew from Wilmington to Atlanta, had a four hour layover in Atlanta to then arrive in Seattle without our luggage. We didn't get home till 7 pm. Lucky Pearson [insert sarcasm], he got to spend his last day of vacation (two weeks of Pearson's paternity leave) but also Pearson's FIRST EVER Father's Day doing all of this with a 9 month year old.

Mae gave him a card but I also wanted to say...

My dearest Pearson,

Thank you for sharing the adventure of parenthood with me. When we decided over a year and half ago to "try" to be parents, I had no idea the aMAEzing, wonderfully fantastic, and life changing journey we would begin together. I love you now more than the moment I said "I do" to you in 2007 (which by the way was a whole, whole, whole lot).

Thank you for being Maegoobee's daddy and being the best at it. Thanks for also being my partner in crime. Every moment we laugh, cry, smile, hug and kiss, I hold forever in my heart.

Happy Belated Father's Day,

Love, Potato Latke aka the original Sweets aka Ali-Chan aka Babes aka Hunko Jr.

Yesterday in Atlanta Airport on Father's Day

Mae licking the glass. I thought this was hysterical.

Home Sweet Home

We got back from vacation last night. And boy was it a whirlwind of a good time. We were gone for 17 days, were in six states, traveled over 7,000 miles, spent lots of quality time with family, celebrated one birthday, visited with friends, laughed until our bellies hurt, ate until our bellies hurt, drank until our bellies hurt, and had an unforgettable vacation. Mae, as always, was a trooper and despite her not having the best sleeping habits while we were gone (who can blame her), I can't believe how much I lucked out when it comes to my baby. I will recap the trip in subsequent posts since there are so many pictures and so many things to say about our June 2010 Summer Vacation.

Packing Begins

We leave this Saturday, June 5th for the 5th annual Oak Island, North Carolina Kogut Family Vacation. This year we have decided to tack on a trip to New England to visit Pearson's Aunt Diane and cousins, Steven and Heather. We are also going to visit the town, Peterborough, NH, where Pearson's dad grew-up.

My excitement for this trip can barely be contained. I am excited to explore New England (have yet to do) and to see Pearson's roots. But I am beyond excited for the beach and the relaxed state that we all live in while there. I can't wait to soak up some sun, listen to the waves crash on the beach, sit on the screened in porch, have family meals, and introduce Mae to this magical place for our family.

I can't believe that this is what I looked like last year at the beach. I look forward to having Mae on the "outside" and taking photos of her in the sand.

My Dearest Mae

My Dearest Mae,

Today, you are nine months old. The only thing I can say is wow! Wow because I am wondering where has the time gone and wow, you continue to aMAEze me every day in so many ways. True to your nickname, you remain Mighty Mae. You are adorable, smart, loving, strong, observant, and hysterical.

As for physical prowess, you continue to prove that there is nothing you can't do. This month you perfected the crawl, are able to pull yourself on anything that is the correct height, and climbed the staircase. Not to brag too much but you are definitely ahead of most of your peers.

I think the most outstanding and interesting development is your verbal skills. You have the gift of gab. And I LOVE it. Your dad and I will be having a conversation and if you want to be a part of it, you don't hesitate and join the conversation. All of a sudden you will go, "na,na,na,na,na,na," The "na,na,na" has the inflection and cadence of speech. It is absolutely the cutest thing ever. Your dad and I will stop what we are doing and just bust out laughing. Then your dad will say, "I wonder who she learned that from." I will then say, "I don't know what you are talking about." He will then say, "Have you met her mother?" And then I will say, "Have you met her father?" Looks like you might be following in our foot steps. Recently, a friend's father commented that you are going to start really talking pretty soon. I don't doubt it.

You also love when someone spins a good yarn aka tells a good story. You simply think it is hoot when someone tells an expressive story or joke -- hand gestures and laughs really get you going. You just laugh and smile like you know exactly what they are saying (which you very well might).

This month you have started to want to be read to and have taken a real interest in books, even when we aren't reading them. I read the same 8 books over and over again to you but you never seem to get bored. You might ask why don't I read any other books? I do but you like the ones that are in the current rotation. Now you might ask, how do you know that? I know because I put all the books on the floor by the chair. I pick up one read it and then put it under the chair. If I start to read a new book, which hasn't been in the rotation, you stand up and push yourself over the edge of the chair and look at the floor so that I can get a book that is part of the rotation.

We retired only one baby item this month, which was the baby bath tub. You are now "swimming" in the big tub all by yourself. Again, as we say good bye to these baby items I get nostalgic for when you were so small but I must admit I am really loving this stage of your development. You couldn't be more fun!

I was running with a woman the other day and I told her I couldn't be happier doing what I do right now - being your mom. Thanks for letting me have the best job in the whole wide world and having the best employer [you] in the whole wide world.

Love you always,

Mom