December 28, 2011

Oh, Long Christmas Weekend

We had such a wonderful first Christmas. Spent a lot of time with Miles' mom & sister, saw White Christmas in the theater on Christmas eve, ate so much food, went to the movie theater too many times (and never took photobooth pictures, ahem, Miles), played phone tag with my family, finally skyped with them a day late, and cuddled up on the couch and watched all our new movies. Did I mention that we ate a lot? I mean, wow. All the pictures on my phone are of food, I really hope we got some good pictures with the camera. Otherwise, that first Christmas will only be remembered by the pie holes we stuffed.

Other than being out with Miles' fam or at the movies, the couch was our home for four days. I'm totally okay with that holiday tradition. 


Also, Miles left his online gift ordering until the last possible minute and everything got to its place on time. Whereas I ordered my gifts almost three weeks ago and they have YET to arrive!! Bitter. 

December 16, 2011

Conversations With A Two Year Old

Just about the only thing that helped me through the morning after my battery died in a Starbucks parking lot--and the two cars that were on either side of me belonged to employees who couldn't come out and give me a jump. Wompwompp (also, my car is still dead in said parking lot, 5 hours later)

Conversation:
What do you want Santa to bring you?
Yeth.
What do you want him to bring you?
Yeth.
Do you know?
Yeth.
More trains?
Yeah, more trainth.

Also, cuddling up with the nanny babe and the two year old and watching Polar Express wasn't too bad either.

December 15, 2011

Third Thursday

After all the Thanksgiving holiday goodness was over, Miles and I talked about making every third Thursday a little mini-thanksgiving (little mini? redundant much? no. I like it). Not with a huge meal, and unfortunately not with my awesome siblings or relatives, but full of reflecting on what we are thankful for. We'll have just a short while this evening to have our first mini-thanksgiving before I head back out to babysit my nanny baby and her sister tonight, but I'm going to get a head start.

Honestly, I almost forgot about our thankful resolution until this moment when I found myself watching an episode of "I'm Getting Married And..."(tried to find a link for this show, but it is nowhere to be found). I only discovered this show yesterday, it follows two brides in a unique/unusual/interesting situation who are getting married. After our wedding, the amount of wedding related shows, blogs, magazines that watched or read fell down to about zero. I'll be the first to admit that I over did it with the wedding "research", like way over did it. But this show isn't so much about idea for a dress or decorations or anything, its more about the bride and their situations. The episode I watched yesterday had one mail order bride and one bride entering into an arranged marriage. This episode has one bride one a $2,000 budget and another with an unlimited budget (that ends up at above $220,000). Miles and I had a fairly small budget, but I can't even imagine only having $2,000 to work with--so I ache for that bride. And this $220,000 bride? I am speechless. 

All this to say, this was a huge reminder of how incredibly thankful I am that our wedding is over. I had so much fun planning it but when it comes down to it, I am relived that July 2 has come and gone. I am so thankful that I am no longer engaged to Miles, but I'm now married to him! We fell into married life with great ease--almost so much ease that when people ask us how married life is, we don't know how to answer. We forget it is something new. I am thankful for that. I am thankful for a husband who sold guitars, holiday hours and worked overtime to pay for our wedding and honeymoon (on top of awful student loans) while I finished school. I am thankful for his patience with me and thankful that after all was said and done (and paid for), he was happy we had a real wedding and not a small ceremony. As much as I would have liked to dance through our entire reception playlist, I can laugh at the fact that the a/c was broken and we bailed on everyone in our sweaty wedding garb after only an hour. And then went and ate mexican food and drank margaritas as husband and wife. 

I am also thankful for these things:
  • That once the aforementioned episode was over, I found Amelie had just started on another channel.
  • Miles and I are ten days away from our first ever Christmas together
  • Last Sunday we drove to my grandmother's to pick up some furniture she wanted to give us. Among other things, I was given my great-grandmother's vanity. I'm so excited to have a place to put it in our new house (new house still TDB)
  • During the drive down to my grandmother's, Miles surprised me with a newly purchased Nat King Cole Christmas album.
  • Singing along with Nat at the top of our lungs. Even when he sang in German and we didn't know the words.
  • The scene in Amelie when she takes the blind man through the market and describes everything to him. I could cry.
  • That I just heard the nanny baby laughing to herself in the crib. Even if that means that she skimped on her nap time.

A Wish

A Christmas wish!
I wish I had millions to spend on Miles and my family this Christmas. I've seen so many things and thought of so many gifts I could get. If only we made them big bucks! And if only Miles didn't want something that costs most of what we agreed to spend on each other. I want to get him so many other things! Alas. Not this Christmas. Even though I'll be trying to scheme a way around that obstacle until Christmas morn. Okay, maybe Christmas Eve. We also still need to get stockings. And stuff them. Yes Miles, you have to remember to stuff mine. 
I found this wonderful little board on pintrest and love how every pin gives me Christmas butterflies. Here are some faves:


And then there is this one, terrifying the bejeezus out of me:
(sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

So, my dear little pets, enjoy these ten days until Christmas. 


December 13, 2011

Blog Birthday

Today is my blog's first birthday! This time last year, I was snowed in at Miles' house. Snowed in! (by southern state standards) Sure, its been cold a few days this month, but not one flurry of snow has fallen in Nashy. Either way, we're crossing our fingers for even a lightly whitened Christmas. 

I'm pretty sure this little blog isn't on many people's reading list, but I have really loved blogging this past year and being able to look back and remember all the wonderful things that have happened. I think the mixture of somewhat coherent sentences and stories along with all the photos helps transport me back to whatever moment I blogged about and remember it so much better than any regular journal entry would. I hope that I keep this blog up and have it to see how our lives change and grow in the coming months and years! 


(image via pintrest)

December 10, 2011

28 Years Ago

Twenty-eight years ago my parents were married in a church in Texas. Twenty-eight years ago my parents made a promise to each another to love and honor one another, for better or for worse. And for the past twenty-eight years they have kept their promises, through the best and through the worst. For the past twenty-three years they have been the most incredible role models, parents and friends that I could have ever dreamed of. Their marriage, partnership and friendship daily influences my own marriage, partnership and friendship with Miles. I love them both more than I could ever put into words. I am so honored to be their daughter and to be loved by them. And I miss them every day that I don't see them! 

December 07, 2011

Note to Self,

I need to remember to watch these:

My Week With Marilyn--I've been looking forward to this ever since they casted Michelle Williams.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows--Because its the kind of movie I would normally go see with my family over Christmas break. Now I just have to do it in solidarity from across the country. Maybe we can plan it out to where we go to the theater at kind of the same time? Too much?
Albert Nobbs--I think I may really love this. Glenn Close? Mia Wasikowska? 19th century Ireland?
The Darkest Hour--Will admit I'm a sucker for end of the world-esque story lines. 
The Descendants--Filmed on Oahu. The trailer made me homesick for my parents house. I  fully expect the movie to create a knot in my throat from missing my family partying it up without me in Hawaii this Christmas. Also, benches from my dad's church were borrowed as props for the movie! When the film people initially called my dad to ask if they could borrow them, he said only if he got to meet George Clooney. Even though they somehow couldn't arrange that (ha), I absolutely love that my dad asked. And that he knew who George Clooney was.
Beginners--Somehow I missed this in the theaters?? I've loved Ewan since I was a wee one watching the [terrible] new Star Wars. Ok, not such a wee one, but still pretty terrible. Regardless, my love for Ewan has only grown. And Captain Von Trapp apparently comes out in it. Has anyone seen it? Will I love it? Because I really want to. See it, and love it.
The Future--I love Miranda July. I love Me You And Everyone We Know. Miles and I always quote the little boy, "its spinning.....from the metal". Don't ask me how that ever comes into daily conversation, I wouldn't know what to tell you. That just gives you a little picture of how odd our conversations can get. And I missed this one as well. Even though we live 3 blocks from the theater. Fail.


Miles and I love movies. Films. Whatevs you want to call them. And we do think there is a difference. And that there is a mixture in list above. We used to go see every single movie we ever had even the slightest desire to see in the theater but then we realized, oh, this is so stupidly expensive. And then discovered redbox and started to practice patience and self control..and money saving. We also kind of decided that spending two hours in a dark movie theater kind of swallowed up a lot of quality time we could've otherwise had. Since we don't get a lot of that regularly, we try to protect whatever time we do get.

That being said, the six movies in my list that are now showing or will be showing in theaters soon...I want to see them all in the theater. That's what..at least $120...?!! Ok, after doing the extremely basic math that I had not thought of before...I'm going to have to settle for about half of that list. Insert pouty face. 


And really, this list was for my own use. And you just wasted about 5 minutes reading it. Gotchyaaazz!

December 05, 2011

Best Day EVAR

On Friday afternoon, Miles called me to tell me that he surprisingly didn't have to work the next day! When Miles gets a Saturday off that we were planning on him having to work (which is most Saturdays) I feel like I've won a million bucks. But its actually better than that, I've won a Saturday morning with the love of my life! Ok. Winning millions would be nice too, but lets not linger on that analogy.

We slept in (to 7:30) made breakfast together, sang along to Christmas songs on Pandora as we got ready together, went grocery shopping together, made several returns together, bought a Christmas tree stand, bought poinsettias, bought White Christmas...Basically the first half of our morning was just me running all the errands I needed to run while Miles was at work--but Miles was with me! Its so much more fun that way. 

Then we went to the Porter Flea Market and went nuts trying not to buy a million amazing things from each stall we passed by. We somewhat succeeded. We walked around East Nashy and fell in love with it all over like we always do whenever we cross the river for a visit (which is weekly), ate lunch at our favorite East Nashy bar and walked across the street to pick out our first little Christmas tree!

Once we decided which was the tree that needed the most love, we took it home and began making our paper chains, paper snowflakes and popcorn strings. The popcorn string making proved to be somewhat more tedious than anticipated. 

We filled our bellies with our drinks (draanks) of choice and our takeout from our favorite Italian restaurant, and sang along as we watched our newly purchased copy of White Christmas. And once White Christmas was over, we stayed up uncharacteristically late and indulged in our (very, extremely, embarrassingly late) obsession with Lost--as in we're only in the middle of season 1. 

But oh, what a wonderful, perfect Saturday! Definitely would rank in my list of top five most favorite days, if such a list existed. Also I took a few pictures. With my actual camera..that I haven't remembered to bring along anywhere in about 12 months. Shame. 









November 28, 2011

So Very Thankful

Yes, I realize this post is a few days late for the actual Thanksgiving holiday, but I didn't plan ahead to post before we left to visit family and I didn't bring my computer along on the trip. I have so much to be thankful for, but I'll narrow it down to my top ten (in no specific order):
  • a wonderful husband who makes me laugh so hard, and does everything in his power to coax me out of a bad mood
  • my family, sometimes I can't believe how amazing they all are.  and that we're related.
  • my nanny baby and how she cuddles
  • Riesling, kale chips & Walking Dead evenings with mah Boo
  • that my car is still running and gets us from A to B (please don't ever stop)
  • walking to our wonderful church on crisp Sunday mornings
  • wearing tights
  • dreaming of our first house (and the gajillion Zillow posts we email to each other) and the puppy that we will adopt before even the first box is unpacked
  • Miles giving his best effort to finish the Hunger Games series for me
  • Boo finally conceding that it is now the Christmas season and we can finally decorate/pick out a tree/listen to music/watch christmas movies non-stop
There are big things that I am thankful for, as well as the million tiny things that fill my minutes, hours, days. My life is so wonderful. Miles and I have been so blessed. We both agreed not to let the spirit of thankfulness pass as we move into a new season. I hope to really be contemplative and reflective on a more daily basis. Every third Thursday of each month methinks is the new mini-thanksgiving for Miles and I and our little family. 

Once again, I failed completely at taking pictures this weekend. Just too busy having fun and stuffing my face with delicious foods. But I did make sure that Miles took a picture of the three siblings before they flew back to Chicago last night. Miles and I are SO EXCITED about our trip up to Chicago in February to hang out with these cool kidz.
So happy Caleb was here this year. Y'all, I have the best, coolest, most beautiful siblings. 

Happy late Thanksgiving!!

November 22, 2011

Birthday!

My birthday was so wonderful! We celebrated all weekend and let me say, I got used to being spoiled. Miles planned a surprise dinner on my birthday with some of my most loved friends and family in Nashville. He had been acting weird most of the week before my birthday (making me decide on a restaurant 3 days early, making reservations, snatching my phone away from me and deleting text messages from friends who didn't realize they had been invited to a surprise dinner). But I was going to totally act surprised for him, until he told me about the surprise two minutes before we left the apartment. Silly boy. Silly boy! I'm sure I've mentioned before that I don't do well with last minute plan changes..so that was his reasoning behind telling me. But even if I hadn't suspected his plans, birthday surprises don't count as last minute plan changes. Just for clarification (and future reference, boo). But dinner was so wonderful, we all had our fill of delicious mexican food and margaritas and I felt so loved by all who came. Of course we all forgot to take any pictures...


So we just finished birthday celebrations this weekend, and tomorrow I get to pick up my brother and sister at the airport for thanksgiving festivities! Honestly, I am more excited about the rest of this week than I ever could be about my birthday. I can't wait to be with my siblings, my aunt and uncle and cousins, and have Miles off work for four whole days! SO EXCITED!


Also, I loved that my birthday started off with this StoryCorps story. It was a follow up of one of my favorite of the animated shorts from previous StoryCorps stories found here.
Honestly, I love all StoryCorps stories.

November 17, 2011

Last Day

Today is my last day as a 22 year old. My last day! How has a whole year passed by? I feel like I remember everything too well for some of those things to be a whole year away. This year was huge. This year I had my last Christmas at home without having a husband with me, I graduated, had an engagement shoot, had a bridal shower, went to Texas, went to my great-grandmother's 100th birthday party, watched Boo play live for the first time, read/fell into obsession with The Hunger Games, my fatty fish died after 3 years :(, Miles took me to see Les Miz, my sister came and lived with me for a spell, I planned my wedding like mad and then actually carried out all those plans.  I married Miles, we went to the Dominican Republic to honeymoon it up. I married Miles. Who am I kidding--that is definitely the biggest, most important, most memorable, most amazing part of my year.  Miles and I became a little family and put together a little home and began our life together. I started a nanny job and fell in love with a chubby legged baby girl. Some days she makes me want my own, and other days she makes me thankful that I get to hand her back to momma at 5:00. Today she is cuddly and sweet and taking good naps and laughing at everything--guess which type of day this is for me? My whole family (except Miles) met up in Chicago for hang times. Miles and I ate so many burgers and went on so many dates and watched so many movies and tv shows and found our own rhythm to live within. I don't want to forget anything about this year. So here is something to help me remember. Remember, Bethany! Remember who you are (/were as a 22 year old)..

So here is to an amazing year that has come to an end, and to a new one about to begin. I'm excited and ready! (I think) (definitely excited, hopefully ready)

November 15, 2011

Cuddle Baby

I loved being off all last week and getting so much cleaned and organized, and having lunch with friends and mother-in-laws, and being able to take my time making dinner for Miles. But I also equally love being back with the nanny baby. I feel like she's already changed so, so much and that I missed out big time. And I ain't even her momma. Laws, I need to cool it.

Handsome Boy

Miles was off this whole weekend, which hasn't happened since the wedding (we think/can't remember otherwise..) So I meant to take a million pictures to celebrate having two whole days together, but surprise, surprise, I failed. Looking through the [few] pictures yesterday I realized that I really only took pictures of Miles, with very few exceptions. He's just so cute. Good thing I married him.
Making sure we pick out the coolest/best matchbox cars for the Operation Christmas Child box we were putting together. It took a while. And we were totally lost/overwhelmed in the toy section of Target.
Being adorably patient while I got ready to go out Saturday night.
Being my hot date.
I wish I could say that I didn't eat my entire pizza after I snapped this picture. But that would be a lie.
This alley makes me happy and we would've eaten out here if it weren't so windy all weekend (and if they had their tables set up...)
And home time. With my million apple cinnamon candles and with my boo.