Category Archives: Family

Wedding Ring–Found!

Posted on May 8, 2008 by juliebyers

For those of you who commiserated with me over my lost wedding ring–I found it! 

I knew my ring was on the bathroom counter.  An hour later, it had been absconded.  The culprit:  an adorable 2 year old.  When asked where mommy’s ring was, Norah confidently and immediately pointed to the air vent saying she “put it there safe.”  When we looked in the air vent, we discovered that she had indeed put a few things in there (another one of her sneaky packrat places).  But no sign of the ring.  Then Scott thought he saw it down the sink drain and commenced to taking apart pipes.  No ring. 

I searched every hiding place I could think of.  I found her hairbrush (she hates that instrument of torture).  I found some money.  I found an energy bar.  I FINALLY found my ring.  It was in a tiny drawstring bag inside a bathroom drawer.  Whew.  Lesson learned and crisis over.

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The Absurd

Posted on May 4, 2008 by juliebyers

Today’s absurdities:

  • The “Breastfeeding Resources” kit given to expectant moms, grandmoms, and anyone in the vicinity by Enfamil (my neighbor table at the Seneca Baby Fair).  The boxes of 1st Trimester Gift Packs stacked several feet against a back wall.
  • A flyer from Bi-Lo titled “Make Mother’s Day Memorable” advertising tampons, deodorant, dish detergent, dog food, and potato chips.  The outside flap claims “Great Ideas for Mother’s Day” showcasing personal lubricant, hair coloring, shaving gel, more deodorant, and acne cream.
  • A NICU nursery insistent on giving a very newborn formula because the mom’s pumped colostrum is “not nearly enough.”
  • My wearing of a baby doll all morning at the baby fair and the La Leche League leader who borrowed said doll for her breastfeeding demo.  At least the baby was attached and well-fed.

Ah but there was beauty today, too–sweet friends who joined me at the Enfamil Fair, ahem, I mean, Baby Fair.  Kelly, Jenny, and Denise made the time pass quickly.  Kelly’s sweet sleeping 30lb’er in the ring sling was excellent marketing!  And Jenny kept changing carriers–she was like a runway model for babywearing.  A lovely newborn nursery RN who took all my babywearing fliers to give to her moms and wished for slings at the hospital.  And my amazing husband who took his daughter and his mom on a breakfast date to Panera, caulked the shower, washed my car, and watered my garden.  But the highlight of the day–a family nap with daughter snuggled between us and the beginnings of rain watering my garden…again.     

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The Economics of a Marriage

Posted on March 30, 2008 by juliebyers

An unexpected gift celebrating no occasion.

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Results in an apple pie baked with all my love.

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And I thought of your face that sweeps over me like light, like the sun on the apple making a lovely show.  So one seeing it marveled the other night, turned to me saying, “What is it in your heart?  You glow.” –Not guessing that on my face he saw the singular reflection of your grace like fire on snow–and loved you there.  –May Sarton

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The Princess and the Pea

Posted on March 25, 2008 by juliebyers

Oh the drama of living with a two year old.  A few days ago, I was on emergency response duty for a piece of wooden swiss cheese that was stuck on Norah’s thumb.  Last night’s adventure topped the cheese. 

We were eating dinner.  Norah’s eyes starting watering and she had a shocked/glazed look on her face.  She was rubbing her nose and trying to dig for gold.  She’s had a runny nose so we thought it was just her sinuses.  After a couple of screams that threatened all the glass in our home, she said, “Mama, bee in my nose.”  I was all sympathy, “Aw, honey bear, I know it feels like there are bees in your nose.”  “NO, mommy, PEA in my nose.”  WHAT?  Scott ran for the headlamp and sure enough, we saw a flash of green up the schnoz. 

After I rolled in the floor laughing for a quick selfish moment, I dialed-a-nurse (aka, my mom) who told me sternly, in the face of my chuckles, that objects up a child’s nose was the number one reason for visits to Urgent Care and I could either get it out myself or expose her precious grandchild to the trauma of invasion at Urgent Care.  My seriousness properly restored, Scott and I brainstormed ideas for pea-removal.  We tried coaxing Norah to blow up a balloon with one nostril.  Scratch that.  We tried getting her to blow out a candle with her nose.  Scratch that.  We practiced sucking peas out of our hand with a bulb syringe.  Scratch that.  In the middle of Scott’s macgyver-ing a tube for me to suck the pea out and my googling “pea stuck up nose,” Norah said, “pepper” and then gave a giant sneeze.  The pea sweetly rolled across the kitchen tile and Norah grinned while chanting, “I did it self.”    

What a fabulous family bonding experience!  What did we do for fun before having a kid? 

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Romantic Notions

Posted on March 3, 2008 by juliebyers

My lovely husband invited me for an afternoon on Lake Jocassee today.  We paddled to a secluded cove for picnicking, napping in the sun, and exploring.  Alright, I napped in the sun.  Scott turned into a 9 year old boy–he threw rocks in the water, tracked the borders of our cove, planned our survival in case of catastrophe, and debated building a fire. 

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Jocassee is my favorite lake.  I have deep romantic notions about her water.  And I have some fear of her.  She is not warm and welcoming like Keowee or Hartwell.  She is cold and beautiful and unfathomable.  I love to swim at the base of the rocky cliffs where the water is freezing black deep.  I can lose myself staring into the earthy green moss dripping with froth at Laurel Fork Falls.  I’ve even imagined how powerful it would be to give birth in one of the pools carved out by the waterfall.  Of course, it might be a little cold and I’d probably scare some trout fisherman out of his waders! 

Enough rambling.  I had a lovely day on the water with my sweet hubby.  We didn’t make it back to the landing before the gates shut.  Thankfully, the park ranger was a former student employee of mine and he was merciful.  Now I stink of boating gear–a musty smell of neoprene–my face is sun-pinked, and I carry tiny glistens of sand in my skin. 

I sparkle.             

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The Episode in which Supernorah eats Secret Quinoa

Posted on February 5, 2008 by juliebyers

How do you like my little superhero?  As you can see by her emblem (is that the right superhero term?), her weapon is peace. 

SuperPeaceGirl 

And yes, she is missing her pants.  Maybe she got a little confused in the phone booth.  I’m sure my hubby–who knows everything there is to know about superheroes (our netflix arrived today.  *sigh* tonight it will be the Fantastic Four)–could spin a wildly heroic tale involving secret identities, archenemies, and a sidekick.  Mmmm.  I’m not really feeling it.   

Thank you Caleb and Micah for Norah’s headwear!  Costume courtesy of Little Capers.   

You probably can’t tell what she is holding in her hand–a rice cake.  I’m so devious.  See, I love rice krispy treats.  But I wouldn’t feed one to my daughter–yikes!  all that sugar?  A few weeks ago, Norah caught me hiding in the kitchen eating one and mistook it for a rice cake.  Now, if she sees me with a rice krispy treat, she asks for a plain ole rice cake!  It is a win-win.  And while we’re talking devious…I have another:  Norah loves cheese grits–the packaged instant ones.  Have you see the ingredients?  Not healthy at all.  This morning, I cooked some quinoa (which is super-easy to make and full of amazing goodness), blended it with cheddar cheese, and voila–“Norah, your cheese grits are ready!”  Being a mama is so much fun!  Though my collard green experiment failed.  I cooked some collards last night and told her they were the leaves that Littlefoot and Petrie eat in “The Land Before Time.”  Yeah, she didn’t fall for that one.         

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Today’s Lessons

Posted on January 22, 2008 by juliebyers
  • Cloth wet wipes freeze into a solid brick when left in a car on a cold night.
  • Bad books at consignment stores must be purchased.  My husband needs good fire-starter.
  • I can spend too much money when Norah is asleep on my back and I’m wandering around a store for an hour and a half because I don’t want to wake her up to put her in the car.
  • My niece, Ryleigh, has the most twinkly (or is it “twinkliest?”) eyes on the planet. 
  • Husbands are oh-so-handy for repairing chair legs and opening wine bottles when someone breaks the corkscrew in the cork.  And, had to add one more–just in–finding creative ways to conserve energy in the house.        
  • Baskets make fabulous roller skates.

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Treehugger

Posted on January 13, 2008 by juliebyers
hiking-with-norah-011208-007.jpg

hiking-with-norah-011208-010.jpgI was in Chicago this weekend (my first time away from Norah).  Scott and the Bean jumped at the chance for daddy/daughter adventure which, of course, means hiking.  Norah rode in the backpack for the ascent but she chose to walk back down the trail which tripled their time.  Scott says she stopped to hug trees all the way.  “Nice tree.  Hug it.  Kiss it. Love it.”  Is anyone surprised?

My Chicago trip included much late night giggling with my sister, some daddy/daughter adventure of my own, and opportunities to annoy my new brother-in-law (and boot him out of his bed so Noelle and I could enjoy late night giggling).  Only with my sister can I discuss theology, diva cups, and poetry in the same conversation.

Scott left us sleeping this morning to go boating.  It must have rained while I was away… 

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Play Day

Posted on January 4, 2008 by juliebyers

Today was babywearing day which is Norah’s big social event of each month.  The Clemson group lasted four hours this time!  Our spur-of-the-moment topic (great to have two procrastinators as leaders) was “How to Get A Baby on Your Back.”  There was much slinging and tossing of tots.  We made a new friend.  The hit of the Clemson group was Jackson’s tin of wooden pineapples. 

The Greenville group topic was “Wearing Your Podaegi” (because we all have a podaegi lying around, right?).  Carey showed us different ways to use the podaegi.  Kawani brought her boys’ playsilks and Norah brought hers.  playsilks-004.jpg

The kids ran about with various capes, skirts, togas looking like a blissful band of gypsies.  I really didn’t believe Norah would play with the silks.  In the astounding way only a child can be, she becomes incredibly creative with the way she uses them:  sling, baby, water, campfire, lion mane, hat, dress, hiding place.  I’m sold.        

Scott and I spent what was left of the evening with our new ritual–watching Heroes on Netflix and eating popcorn (made on the stove with coconut oil and sea salt–mmm mmm good).  I cannot believe I’m hooked on a TV series.  This is what comes of reading too much nonfiction.  I’m hungry for story.

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The Celebration of Ryleigh

Posted on December 27, 2007 by juliebyers

Today we celebrated the birth of my sweet niece, Ryleigh.  She is one year old.  I missed the blowing-out-of-the-candle (I was changing my nephew’s dipe) but I was able to gaze adoringly upon the blue-icing-coated tot when I returned to the cake scene.  I’m so proud of Ryleigh’s parents for the beautiful human they are loving and growing. 

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