Meeting Bonnie's Baby

The day I met

Boston Grace

(He was 9 days old)

 I was SO excited to get to Shreveport to meet my little nephew. It was unbelievable to see my big sister with her baby. She was a natural! So attentive to her little guy, so sweet and gentle with him. It makes me so proud to see her as a mommy and to think about the beautiful childhood Boston will get.
To see Bonnie's blog and photos, click here.

 

It was so funny to see so many similarities he has for his mommy AND daddy!! Every time I looked at him,  I saw a different parent in his features. What an amazing thing! It's neat to know that I have some of the same blood as this little guy.

 

 I cried when I first held him...

 I was so happy, so fascinated by him. I've known a lot of babies, but BOSTON stole my heart like none other. He was so perfect!

 

IRRESISTABLE!!

 

 Aunt Shell came by for her lunch break. I only gave the baby up for her to have a photo and for Bonnie to nurse him. (I was a little selfish with him, since I had such little time to hold him)

 And I had to kiss him as much as possible before I left!!

 

His big sister Molly approves lovingly. She was still curious when I was there, but I can already see that they will be great playmates. How cute it will be to see them grow up together!

  

I loved how he held my finger, and will cherish the feeling I had holding his tiny hand, examining his perfect fingers forever.

 

 Mom is so proud! She decided to be called Marmie after the mother of The Little Women.

 

Little Rookie! I know Molly won't mind playing ball with him. His tiny body fit in Daddy's glove! Already making Tim so proud, I'm sure.

 

Aunt Shell shares sugar with the surely sweet super baby. Say it 3 times fast

It was so nice to go home. I got there late at night with Bug and was so exhausted after Larry and Megan's wedding weekend, but still took a little while to take it all in. I was IN LOUISIANA! Home Sweet Home! I sat in the back yard, felt the feel of the south, ate some oreos and milk, and just felt happy to be there... before I crashed on the couch with a familiar quilt. These are the chairs that used to be on Alee's (my grandmother) back patio- so many memories with very special family. I always appreciate the significance of things like that.

Here is Mom-R and Dad's back patio. My favorite place to have coffee/wine/beer/anything with my parents. It always looks wonderful, even when Mom-R says she has all sorts of work to do in the garden. I miss sitting out there....

But the best part of Dad's house is the PLAY ROOM!! Mom-R has it decorated so cute, with collages of photos of us growing up, art we made when we were younger, Dad's and Mom-R's childhood trophies and art, and of course our old toys.

 Here are mine and Katie's collages and a cute reading corner.

And the very best part... our babydolls and barbies!! From which my best memories sprung... pretend.

 I just can't wait until he's old enough to play up there. My siblings and I will have so much fun with him, bringing ourselves back to when imagination was everywhere and the little things were exciting.

This little guy is loved more than he could possibly know. And I'm ready to watch Boston grow, learn to live his life to the fullest, and not just pass milestones, put hop them with a happiness in his heart that can't be equated or explained with words. Watch out world, Boston William Grace is gonna do big things with is life!

I got to stop to see my Ruston family on the way to the Monroe airport. Lily has gotten a little taller, but still pretty much weighs the same! She gave me two very special gifts. One is the bracelet she is wearing in the picture with her dog, and one is a painting.

Have I ever told you what a wonderful artist Lily is? She's awesome. Below is her Green Eggs and Ham painting she made at her art class. It's hanging in her kitchen!

 

Here are Lily and Abby painting before I left. I just found these photos after they were forgotten! Abby was more interested in changing the color of her water, and Lily paints daintily (notice the pinky). Silly Lily

 And here is the painting Lily gave me before I left. It's a pumpkin and snow! Perfect for my Boston kitchen! I love it... and I miss Lily Boo and Karen tons!! I can't wait for the whole family to come visit in March.

All in all, my visit back home was really nice, and much needed, but WAAAAAYY too short. Next time I will take more time off work to make sure that I get to spend ample time with everyone. Until, then Skype will do the trick! Here are a few images from Dad's b-day party that I got to see everyone through Skype on. Sorry about the bad quality. They're screen shots.

 Michelle, Boston, Katie

 Me, Michelle, Dad, Boston, Katie

 Michelle pulled out her old babydoll to compare the size of it to Boston. The doll was definitely bigger! So funny!!!

 Aunt Connie thinking Michelle's nuts. Or maybe that was just me thinking it. Katie has the real baby.

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!

Announcing my Nephew- Boston William Grace

Little Boston is finally here, weighing in at 6 lbs. 14 oz., 19.5 in.!! He is so cute, and I can't wait to meet him in a little more than a week!! What an amazing thing to love someone this much before I've even met him! I am beyond excited for my sister Bonnie and her husband Tim, and know they are going to be awesome parents. I can't wait for the baby to be big enough to come visit his Aunt Sarah in Boston!! Here is a very cute photo that Aunt Bug took. I'll put my own up when I meet him soon!

Come on, Baby!

From the moment I woke up, I knew today was going to be a wonderful day. I just felt it.  I made grits and eggs and brewed Community Coffee (the wonderful New Orleans blend) and Chad and I had a nice breakfast.

Little did I know, while I was feeling today was an unusually good day- my sister has gone into labor. I found out through Aunt Michelle (Meshell), and immediately started squeeling with excitement, and kind of crying even. I am so excited!! And my sweet sister Aunt Bug (Katie Katherine Elizabeth Rubben) has been keeping me nicely updated on things. Last update, Bonnie got the epidural and is 9 cm. dilated- Come on Baby Boston! I'm praying for a great delivery (I guess as good as it can be?) and can't get my mind off how wonderful this is for our family!

Cure to Homesickness

I have found a way to keep it cool through homesickness. Skype has helped both Chad and me feel less isolated (even though we are surrounded by a ton of people every day). I don't really like talking on the phone much, but it's different when you can see the face of the person you're talking to. (Although it was SO nice to get phone calls yesterday from 2 of my favorite girls, Anna and Lindley.) I miss having girlfriends to hang out with.

Yesterday, I got on Skype with my little sister Katie Bug and my oldest sister Bonnie, and it made my day!! It was Bonnie's first time to Skype, and it was so fun! It felt like I was with them. I got to see her 8 month, 3week baby belly, and she gave me a real live virtual tour of Boston's nursery. (Even though I had already memorized the photos she posted on her blog.) You can see that here. The only thing I missed was feeling him move around (apparently he's a little wiggle worm.) When will my first nephew make his big debut??? One thing I know for sure is that he has a bunch of aunts who can't wait to meet him and love all over him. Bonnie said if he's not here by his due date- THIS SATURDAY!!!!!! They will schedule a date to induce to insure I get to meet him when I get to Shreveport on Sunday, the 26th.

I remember the first time I got on Skype with Chad. Neither of us could stop smiling. I was really missing him while he lived in Houma and I was in Shreveport, and it made it so much easier to go a few weeks without seeing him.

We always love Skyping Larry and Megan... it's usually late on weekend nights, when we are feeling goofy :) It's like hanging out with old friends, and it gets Chad and I so excited about celebrating their wedding in two weeks. Sometimes we even get to see Larry's AWESOME dance moves while Skyping...

I turned Chad's brother Brett onto it also. Chad has really enjoyed hanging out with his brother through it, and they even play music together on it. We can't wait for Brett, Tobi, and Chad's dad David to visit in October. We already have a list of things to do while they're here.

On a sad note, it looks like I won't be able to make it home for Christmas. This will be very hard for me, because this is my most cherished holiday, filled with memories and traditions, smiles and great food. The flights are very expensive during the holidays, so I think we are going to stay in Massachusetts, make our little home extra homey, and have a New England Christmas together. My sisters said they would put me on Skype for Christmas morning- (and maybe even Christmas Eve) so I can be there with them and not completely miss out. I just wish I could hold the baby through the internet, eat sausage-cheese balls (a beloved tradition), and clink champagne glasses with the people I love. Who knows, maybe I'll be able to make it (I just want to be emotionally prepared if I can't.)

Any way, I love Skype. I think it is amazing to be able to video chat with my people over the internet, and it always makes me feel refreshed, like I have been sitting next to them the whole time. I can't wait to see my family and new nephew AND most of my college friends in less than TWO weeks, but until then, I have my friend Skype to keep me connected.

Sending my love- Sarah

p.s. Any of you friends and family who hasn't had the pleasure of Skyping with me yet... please feel free to create an account and we'll arrange a cyber-date :)

Waiting

I have spent my whole life waiting for things. Waiting to be old enough for kindergarten, have my first slumber party, the chance to shave my legs, wear a bra, go to middle school, babysit, have a boyfriend, go to high school, go to college. All my life I have anticipated the next step. WHY??! I had great experiences at every stage of my life... Why can't I just be content with where I am now?

I've decided to put the extra effort into living for today and embracing it. I look back on my college days, when I couldn't WAIT to be able to move in with Chad, be done with school, have my own place. Well it's here. College was perhaps the best time of my life, surrounded by wonderful people, learning every day about what I love, and feeling good about who I am. And now it's gone. It's so different to not be around so many friends day-in and day-out, and I miss it so much. But I need to take things into perspective and understand that there is a sequence of things for a reason.

I am so lucky. I just started a job that I love and will only learn to enjoy more and more every day. I have a wonderful boyfriend who cooked me fantastic meals and played songs he knows I love on the guitar this weekend. I have the best 4 sisters a girl could ask for, who I know will stand by me in whatever stage of life I'm in. I have great friends who have not let the distance get in the way of our fun and laughter. I have a cute apartment which I am glad to call home. I have parents who support my decisions and are allowing me to be a grown-up, even though it probably scared them to send their little girl 1600 miles away. I am blessed beyond words.

And from now on, I'll live for now. There's no rush to get that ring on my finger... although I won't stop dreaming of being Mrs. Sarah Whitney (and I secretly have most of the details already planned for my wedding). I love babies and children so much but who am I kidding???!! I don't need a baby any time soon. That time will come. There are enough little babies and children around for me to share my love with. "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be GLAD in it!" I surely have a lot to live for, but I want to try harder to enjoy what I have at this moment, not what I will have in the future. Life is too good to look back and say- "Why was I in such a rush to get through that time?"

Chad and I have been taking walks every Friday night, when most people are in their pajamas, ready to sleep. We walk a few blocks to the Gore Place (a historic estate in our neighborhood), enjoying the company of each other, absent of worries of being too tired at work the next day. We walk in the moonlight, and sometimes bring a picnic blanket to sit and watch the stars. This time, I brought my camera and took photos with really long exposures. This is when I thought about all this. As I held the shutter of my camera open, I realized that my whole existence as a photographer is living in the moment... capturing slices of time which are impossible to return to. I need to hold on the every second that I am living- and not waste that wishing I were somewhere else (in time). Here are some images from Friday- they are all exposed with moonlight (and ambient light from the city) on long exposures which I didn't count- just exposed it as long as I felt it needed...

^^You can see the stars :)

So on I go- right now.

Love Sarah