The Life of Savages

Things have been busy busy around here.  We have had lots of activities and have several more fun ones coming up before we leave for vacation in ONE WEEK!!!!!  YIPPEEEEEEEEEE!  We are going to Destin, Fl for a week with the Musketeers and family (Manda, Kevin, Lucy, Erin, Andy and Andrew).  I am pretty giddy about it and Lily has been asking for the beach countdown everyday.  Of course in the midst of everything, preparations have been made for the trip.  Since Brian and I would probably get the award for pyscho-overprotective parents, it is only fitting that Brian would insist on a lifejacket for the ocean. . .and not just any lifejacket but one that fits perfectly and has a collar so that it always keeps her face up no matter what.  He LOVES to pick out and order things like this so you can imagine his excitement when it actually came – not to mention that he is also planning for Lily to use this on the boat that he is building.

trying it out. . . in the bathtub

have to protect our angel

oh man. . . .that face!

In other exciting news, Brian’s 32nd birthday is Saturday.  Unfortunately, I will be away on our church’s women’s retreat so we had a little party on Wednesday night.  Our homegroup met at a local gelato place.  Lily picked out a a cup at A.C.Moore that she could decorate for her BELOVED DADDY.  Now, when I say this I do not exaggerate how much she practically worships the man.  I mean she has always been Daddy’s girl but lately all she talks about is when he is coming home or how much she misses him during the day.  She decorated this cup so lovingly and was so proud to give it to him.  I got Brian the Priscilla Ahn cd (which I would recommend) but I think it was overshadowed  :).

Happy Birthday!

She said this was a cup he could bring to work to use

Other randomness includes . . . 

Hugging baby sister

The Italian Market festival - ran into our friend Robert (only Trevor can truly appreciate this pic)

The CUTEST little man dancing his heart out at the festival - it was only 10 a.m.

at the airport

Today is a bittersweet day.  Trevor has been living with us since October but is flying back to Memphis to get a summer job and finish up school at U of M.  I think we have all learned a lot.  It has not always been easy, but I know that he is going back home refreshed, changed and stronger than when he came.  It had been such a long time since Trevor and I lived in the same place since we are so far apart in age.  He was in fifth grade when I went off to college.  In addition to everything else, I think we have forged a deeper connection and something that we can draw from in years to come. 

Last night we went out to dinner in the true Savage + Trevor fashion – which means that every plan we made was was roadblocked somehow.  We had been planning for a week to go out to this well known hoagie place and send Trevor off in true Philly style. . . but for some reason this place closed at 4pm.  So, we looked up a new place, took our time and finally decided on another good hoagie place.  We drove there and it had closed down – at this point we all start rolling our eyes and laughing.  

So, even though it was cliche Trevor decided to get a Cheesesteak with whiz from Pat’s steaks which is sort of the tourist place to go but. . . he felt he had to try it at least once.  I wasn’t much for a cheesesteak last night so I walked with Trevor to get his dinner and then we headed back to O Sandwich to meet Brian and Lily.  What a weird place – a vietnamese food, bubble tea, gourmet baguette sandwich place. . . I didn’t get it but my sandwich was good despite the fact that I was so puzzled by the sun-dried to tomatoes on my Italian hoagie “wanna be” sandwich. . . Anyway, Trevor and I cringed as we watched Brian and Lily drink their bubble tea smoothie with delight.

doing a hip bump (Lily is saying "bump")

Which reminds me of what I will miss the most about Trevor leaving – having someone on “my brain side”.  The bond between husband and wife is number one, but you are still two people coming at things from different frames of reference.  Siblings, on the other hand, no matter how different they are from one another, because of a similar upbringing mostly have the same frame of reference.  There are so many times that Brian will say things or like things (like bubble tea) that I just don’t get. Usually, I just think maybe I am the only one that finds them strange, but it has been nice to see Trevor looking at me across the room or table to catch my eye.  We have been able to laugh together at all the silly quirks that are endearing but. . . we just don’t get.

"Don't go Trevor" - Dixie dog plants herself on Tj's dufflebag

Goodbye Uncle T

goodbye to. . . all the late night introspections, someone standing over me in the kitchen, my perfectly groomed babysitter, someone to help me with the dog, those bright, expressive eyes, someone to watch Fringe religiously with me, my extra hugs, my daytime, adult companionship, driving to South street at ungodly hours to pick up someone from work, someone to unload my groceries and park my car, driving to CCEF once a week, my junk food buddy, the stinky room, openness, someone that laughs at my bluntness but still “gets it” . . . .my brother.

Yesterday it really hit me.  It started two days ago when I was hanging out with a friend who is also pregnant.  She was showing me some bowls with lids that she used when she made her own baby food.  I have no idea why the words “baby food” woke me up like they did but. . . I am going to have another baby – WOAH!  I guess with all the drama leading up to this pregnancy and with the beginning of the pregnancy itself, I had not let myself really begin to envision another baby.  

On one hand, I know the work that this entails – lots of around the clock breastfeeding, lots of “blow-out” laundry, being sleepy and thinking about sleep a lot, crying from someone with whom I cannot reason, my body out of whack etc. etc. etc.  I will admit I am now used to the cushy life – not that Lily isn’t very difficult at times but for the most part a lot of my  hard work over the last four years is really paying off.  In so many ways I returned fully to “my” life  - especially with dancing and performing.  I am gearing up to kiss it all goodbye for awhile. . . but even though I know the sacrifices involved (at least with the way I am choosing to raise my children), this time I know the joy also.

Last night, Brian and I sat on the couch and watched my tummy roll.  This baby girl is much more subtle than Lily was so we have to take advantage of those big movement times when they happen.  We did not talk about names or things we need to do or get before the baby comes – we just sat there dreaming of another little girl running around after Lily.  I think the only word that really sums it up is – grateful.  At our home group last night, there was another baby girl, cooing up a storm and I watched Brian stare at her for awhile and then catch my eye.  I think it has really hit him too.

Don’t you feel like there are so many times when you want to hold onto a moment forever – not let it pass, soak it in, absorb it?  For some reason, this morning was one of those moments.  Lily always wakes up and runs down the hall to our room – usually during the week Brian is already gone.  This morning I was barely coherent when she hopped in bed.  She is also always thirsty.  I managed to stumble downstairs, get her a drink and bring it back up all without fully waking.  Once I hopped back into bed, I drifted back to sleep.  I have no idea what happened but when I woke up Lily had both arms draped around my neck like we were doing a piggy back ride in bed – and she had dozed again too.  I just laid still and enjoyed the moment.  When I moved she woke up immediately.  She grabbed my face and gave me a kiss on each cheek.  Why is that such a euphoric feeling each time?  

On a funnier note, she and her Uncle “T” have developed quite a bond and she was sad to hear that he is going back to Memphis after so many months with us.  This afternoon they had a little impromptu, techno, dance party and it was hilarious.  She was very serious about her jammin’ – pumping her fist in the air just like her uncle.  He tried to get her doing this on the computer camera. . . sort of got it.

her little hand was pumping even with the marker