Titan's Journey Continues...

Titan's story has been a long time in the making.  He has been my inspiration for almost four years now.  He earned the nickname "Zen dog" because of his peaceful, loving heart and the fact that he can be happy anywhere, at any time.  He is as beautiful on the inside as on the outside- not only is he notable for his gorgeous coat and soft, loving eyes, but he has the sweetest heart and most affectionate nature of any dog I've ever met.  I named my blog after him, and he was the motivation for me to help animal rescue groups and work with shelter dogs. 

Titan's story has been in the works for a while...and now it involves the big-hearted folks who helped him get to the vet for a neuter, shots & a clean bill of health.

Last week, Titan had a visit to the SPCA, and no way of getting there- this mom was unable to bring him due to car space/baby issues. I put the word out on FB and got in touch with some animal rescue friends to reach out for help.  The response was heartwarming! 

The first leg of Titan's journey was taken over by Shannon, a fellow animal rescue person.  She was the first "angel" of Titan's experience:

Shannon's drive was truly a long haul- from Mandeville to Covington, and then from Covington to Metairie.  She also had a very special copilot "helping" out, li'l Macey:

Titan was delivered safe & sound to my house, where we got him settled in and comfy.  Shannon reported that Titan was a lamb, and walked him around to do his "business" before we got him in the house and showed him around.  *Thanks Shannon!*

He was cautious around Beau, his furry brother, but the two ended up doing just fine.  Once Titan got to check out his surroundings, the two brothers had some fun play time in the backyard.  Uncertain at first, but then gaining confidence, Titan got the layout of the yard, ate grass, loped around, and then ended up romping with Beau and broke into a run a few times.  Poetry in motion! 

 

 

Later in the evening when the sun set, we brought the two boys in and spent lots of cuddle time with Titan.  And keeping in mind that he had to fast from 10 p.m. on, we gave him plenty of treats up until 9:45 (bad humans!). 

 

The next morning, around 6:45, our second "angel" arrived to help bring Ty to the SPCA- Alyson.  Alyson battled traffic, got Titan to the SPCA from my house, took care of paperwork and getting him settled there, and did it ALL before even having the morning coffee (wow!):

Alyson and Titan became fast friends, and he was generous with the puppy smooches!  And she was kind enough to pick Ty up once he was finished with his visit, battle traffic again and bring him back to my house.  God bless, Alyson!

 

Titan's visit to the SPCA was a success *puppy prayers answered*. He got his neuter procedure completed, along with an exam, full shots, heartworm test, microchip, and even several months' supply of heartworm medicine.  The two angels responsible for this part of the program were Mollie and Tracey, who shared the costs Titan incurred during his visit.  Thank you so much girls!! I honestly can't express it enough.  Your generosity will never be forgotten!

Another big help was the neuter voucher I received from Ken Foster with Sula Foundation.  This was a tremendous help, because I am unemployed and was unable to cover the cost of the procedure.  Thanks Sula!

 

Titan had to rest up in his kennel post-op, because he is a bundle of energy and we didn't want to risk him pulling out stitches by accident.  But once Beau was tucked into "his" room for the night, Titan was brought out for t.v. time and snuggles.  And he "borrowed" his brother's Nylabone and had a good time exercising his jaws while we watched t.v. 

It was hard to say goodbye to Titan, after four days of visiting and bonding together.  My hands were full with both Titan and Beau, and Baby Nate.  But once Ty was gone, the room seemed empty without his crate, and I missed him tremendously. 

Thankfully, I knew he was going back to good hands- Mom is fostering him while we search for his forever family.  He's strong willed and hyper from lack of exercise this year, but Mom has been doing her best while we look for Titan's next home.

 

 

Everyone involved is truly an angel, and I am still staggered by how amazing people have been in the effort to help Titan and get him a clean bill of health.  Everyone had families, jobs, a busy life inside of the world of animal rescue & out.  Each took time out of their hectic schedules to help a wonderful deserving dog that they had never met.  You have restored my faith in humanity, at an especially difficult time in my life.  Each & every one of you made this experience possible, and Titan and I are BOTH grateful, from the bottom of our hearts!  Thanks everyone!!

*Note: Titan is looking for his forever home, with a loving family who will indulge his need for snuggles, affection, daily exercise and a basic schedule.  He is very low maintenance, and very willing to please.  He will be your workout buddy, your best friend, your furry child.  He reminds me of a quote I read somewhere- "Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole."  Hoping someone gives Ty a chance in the New Year!

Nathan's First Birthday

Well, the long-awaited milestone finally arrived: Nathan's 1st Birthday.  Wow! To say this year has flown by on a flurry of wings and memories, is a vast understatement.  Every month I charted our baby's growth, enjoying the progress he made and how with each passing month, he became more and more a unique person, with his own identity.  And now he's an entire year old.  *wiping happy but sentimental tears away* 

 

It was Lucas's idea to do a circus theme- and as I stalked Pinterest, and gathered ideas online and off, I realized how popular that particular theme was.  But still a lot of fun to plan! Nathan was going to be the Strong Man, and Lucas wanted to make a little costume for him for his special day.  So I donated an old dress of mine- a very sexy leopard print that had seen its day (last place worn was at the House of Blues for the Type O Negative concert- happy memories!)- and Lucas cut it up and made a costume for Nate, and a shrug for me.  The man is ridiculously talented! He probably could've designed a headband for either Nate or Beau with the remaining material, but time was very limited, lol. He also made barbells out of purple balloons and a paper towel cardboard holder:

He and I decided to dress up but just a little- so Lucas planned on being the Ringmaster, with top hat and striped jacket; and I would be the Animal Trainer, with a fascinator (miniature top hat) made by hubby, and animal print sweater and a shirt with a tiger face printed on it. 

 

I managed to stay on a tight budget, by going to the dollar store for supplies- invites, balloons etc.  I found plates and napkins and cups at Wal-Mart for $.97 per package, beating even the dollar store out.  The design was cute- it said "I am 1", and had safari animals which I figured could double up as circus ones since there were no actual circus designs.  I also found a "pin the tail on the zebra" game for the kids.

 

I hunted on Ebay and found retro-looking popcorn bags to fill with popcorn as party favors; and a multicolored pennant to string around the dining room (which also happens to be multi-seasonal and multi-purpose for future parties).  I bought root beer for hubs and asked him to save the glass bottles after he drank them, to use for a ring toss game (I found the rings on Ebay as well).  I also found a photo prop for our circus theme- a plastic print of a strong man and a trapeze artist, with holes cut out so people can take pix and put their faces in the holes.  Talk about a fun party prop!

 

The most important aspect of the party- the cake.  After shopping around and getting prices, I went with Rouses Bakery- they had a sheet cake that was only $24.99 and fed up to 40 people! They decorated it with multicolored balloons, and it had chocolate buttercream icing with red trim, and the cake itself was white almond.  It was fresh and absolutely delicious! Li'l man had his piece, but was more interested in the icing part than the actual cake- but hey, his day, his way ;)

Family and friends came over Saturday (the day after the actual bday) to help us celebrate.  The party started at 1:00 and lasted a couple of hours.  Everyone seemed to have a great time, and Nate was the star of the show.  He was such a happy li'l man that day, and enjoyed seeing the familiar faces of his loved ones.  We took countless pix and ate cake and "helped" Nate open his presents.  He got a Cookie Monster stuffed toy, a lot of very nice books, brand new clothes and socks and some really nice toys.  Li'l man cleaned up because our people were very generous!

So, we all survived the first BIG birthday milestone- maybe now that I won't be charting each month till the next one, I will have more time to plan an even BIGGER bash the next time around! Here's to you Nathan, my li'l strong man- Happy HAPPY Birthday, sweet son!!

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An Evening with Steve Vai

 

Early birthday present from my hubby- tickets to the Steve Vai concert at the House of Blues.  That day, it seemed that everything conspired against us as we tried to get a babysitter lined up and get back home in time to make it there.  Shannon was coming with us, and I was trying to make it back home from Mom's, while Lucas was wrapping up a long work day and getting home.  By the time I made it back, I had about a half hour to get ready for the evening of a lifetime.  I managed to pull it together in 24 minutes (personal record- woo-hoo!) 

 

We arrived at HOB and ate at the Crossroads Restaurant there (how appropriate!- does anyone remember that 80s movie that Steve Vai was in, as the devil's protégée?) Long story short, our bill had to be a certain amount in order to 'cut the line' for the show, so Shan treated us to drinks and we happily sipped as we stood in a much smaller version of a line, separate from the main one, which trailed around the building.  It was misting and foggy outside, and finally when we got in it was good to get out of the chill.  We took some pix before we got in to document the feeling of cheer despite the gloom:

We looked super-happy in this shot- and had no idea how much more awesome the night was going to get! But I digress...

 

We got in, and Shannon showed us "how its done" as she led the way and made a beeline for the front stage area.  Mission accomplished! We had a bit of a wait, but we were indoors and had no complaints.  The place filled up fast.  Everything was at a mellow but excited hum.  At exactly 9:00 p.m. (kudos to the band for starting right on time!), the music kicked off, the instruments sounded and in a cloud of smoke, Steve Vai descended upon us in his dragon print pants and flowing black shirt, silver necklace gleaming, guitar shrieking in the night.  It was just the start of pure AWESOMENESS!!! (is that a word?  it is now!).  Exhibit A:

 

 

 

 

 

For the next few hours, the Man-Myth-Legend serenaded us, and it was the experience of a lifetime! His backup band (String Theory) was rock solid, and they all brought their own unique personalities to the mix.  It was amazing how everyone melded together so seamlessly, and created a sound that was out of this world.  And to be front stage to see it all right smack in front of us- its pretty indescribable.  I joked before the show that Shannon would be able to collect the man's sweat- ironically we were "that close" :)  He made eye contact with me and Shannon and at one point, stopped directly in front of us and dropped into a bow, grabbing the strings of his guitar in his mouth smiling around them.  We both fumbled for our cameras but missed the Kodak moment (dammit!!!) but there were so many others that more than made up for it.  He and the band went through many classics- "Rescue Me or Bury Me", "Tender Surrender", and a few new ones off of the latest album.  He told us that we were going to build a church of our own, which kicked off the anthem "Building the Church".  It was incredible! There were so many special effects throughout the show, including the set where Steve Vai came out wearing a space age costume and helmet, with lasers shooting off of his fingertips as he played yet another guitar in a lineup of awesome instruments:

 

 

Halfway through the show, he introduced us to each member of his band, and each did a solo act.  The bass player was kick ass; the backup guitarist mellow & lyrical; the drummer slaughtered his drums, and at one point came out with some kind of crazy contraption that about knocked my eyeballs out, for the backup percussion on "Rescue Me or Bury Me":

 

 

The show, on a scale of 1 to 10, was a 15.  Steve Vai and his backup band took us through one amazing song after another.  He was truly the Guitar God, sounding as good in person as on a clear, perfectly recorded cd.  He rocked it every single moment of the show, "talking" to his guitar, flashing big smiles and throwing himself into the performance. 

 

Towards the end of the show, he announced there would be two more songs, then informed the audience that he would be showing us how easy it is to write a song, and that he would need volunteers.  Shannon immediately shot her arm in the air and waved and "ooh ohhh"-ed all over the place.  An obnoxious guy who managed to worm his way between us halfway through the show, attempted to get Steve Vai's attention and override my friend's attempt to be picked.  Steve Vai looked out, picked a couple of people from the other end of the stage, then zoomed in on Shannon and the jackass between us.  He pointed our way.  The guy asked, "Me?!" all full of hopeful excitement, and his hopes got shot down as Steve answered, "Not you, the girl."  Direct hit! As Shan jumped up and down in joy, Steve Vai added, "Oh, you can bring your friend."  OMG!!!! He meant me!!! I tried to duck down and make myself invisible and shook my head, and he said, "Come on, it will be fun!" Well, you don't say no to a legend, so I gathered my shrinking nerves and made my way to the stage, feeling as though I had walked into someone else's crazy dream.  Shannon and I were both helped onstage by some of the security- meaning, in my case, I was picked up like a sack of potatoes and slung up there! I couldn't even begin to look at the huge audience in front of me, awash in blue lights.  Once Shan was up there with me, Steve beckoned us over and I made my way on legs that felt like absolute Jello.  Our Rock Hero surprised us both...because he ended up being the kindest and most down-to-earth person I've ever met, who also happened to be famous.  As in, world famous.  Guitar prodigy.  Rock God of all Time.  In a nice guy suit.  He called us over and then asked our names.  Then he told us we would help him one at a time "write a song", and that he would start with...you guessed it...ME.  I almost passed out.  He told me, "I've been watching you and you've been smiling the entire show.  I can't tell you how good that makes me feel!" I couldn't tell him how good it felt that he even noticed, in the ocean of people smiling and waving and enjoying the show.  Later, my husband joked that I was smiling so big, and looking so blissfully happy, that he could picture my brain blowing up in a cartoon mushroom cloud behind my head.  This is the shot of my infamous"smiley face" as I was face to face with my all-time favorite musician:

 

 

 

 

 

I was up first to "help" write the song, and Steve Vai held my hand because he knew I was so terrified to be up there that I would race away at the first chance I got.  I was struggling with the paralyzing fear of being in front of hundreds of people.... and the thrill of being able to talk to one of my favorite musicians ever.  Then I was panic stricken that my earplugs would fall out (the one time I remembered to wear them to a show!) I calmed down long enough to hear Steve say he needed me to help give the drummer a beat.  He handed me the mike, I picked it up, opened my mouth...and drew a complete blank.  He helped me and said, "You can make anything a beat...what's your full name?" I was so nervous I had to stop and think, maiden name or married? LOL- I told him "Jamie Lynne Patterson".  He said it sounded like music and then as the drummer pounded out the rhythm, Steve Vai chanted my name- "Jamie Lynne Patterson, Jamie Lynne Patterson."  I was completely dumfounded.  It was totally surreal! Then it was Shannon's turn, to help the bass player come up with a rhythm.  He warned her to keep a distance from the bassist because he can "get a woman pregnant by standing next to her"! She had absolutely no problem sauntering up to Steve and singing, "ChickaBOWwow!!" He laughed and said, "Shannon, you're a very bad girl."  OMG- surreal!! Steve Vai was calling Shannon a "very bad girl".  As she came back to stand by me, I told her, "This is a dream! This is NOT happening!" and then, "Shannon, I don't think I'm drunk enough to be up here!!" The guy who had been called up was next, and he was drunk and completely blown away to be on stage with his idol, bless his heart.  He high-fived me, and ran up to help the guitarist figure out a rhythm.  Then he came back and played imaginary drums, haha.  Last was the lady that Steve called up, a friend from his college days at the Berkley School of Performing Arts. He asked her if she knew his wife's secret fantasy, and then whispered it to her.  Then he told the rest of us, his wife's fantasy was to sit on his amp while he played "Bad Horsie"...with his seven string guitar.  The audience roared.  It was insane! Then everyone was finished and they put the song together.  As they played it, he chanted my name again as though they were lyrics to the song! I could've died happy, lol.  And the entire time all this was going on, Lucas was in the front row taking pix and documenting the entire experience! Otherwise I would've sworn that Shannon and I had the same crazy dream and there was NO WAY in this world it could've happened!

 

When they were finished, Steve Vai pointed to some chairs on stage at the side, and offered to let us stay up so we could hear the last song.  Dreamland again!!! So we got to sit onstage and hear the best, last song played that evening- the anthem "For the Love of God".  The drunk guy took our pic together and me and Shan sat there in complete disbelief that we were onstage listening to everything as special guests.  The bass player looked over at me and shot me a big smile from time to time.  The music was incredible.  The final haunting notes of the song seemed to reach out and echo from one end of the room to the other.  It was perfect.  Then as everyone clapped and hooted, Steve came back to us and said, "Come out and take a bow!" It just got more and more unbelievable! We walked back out (at this point my legs went from Jello to water) and we all put our arms around each other, and took the final bow.  Best.  Night.  EVER!!!!!

 

 

 



 

 

 







Happy Birthday to me...

Well, I survived ANOTHER birthday (big "whew!!" here lol).  Since this is the year post-baby, I tend to measure all the big life events/milestones by comparing them to their predecessor.  So, here goes: last year I was hugely, ripely, heavily pregnant with Nate at my birthday.  This year, I have my body back to normal, and li'l man  was here to help me celebrate! (happy tears).  The number of years is climbing upwards- its inevitable- but as they say, what's the alternative?  Of course, birthday cake helps sweeten the experience, lol. 

In order to slow down and remember all of the good moments, I wrote a gratitude list for my bday.  Here it goes:

Things I am thankful for this birthday (11/21/13):

(1)  My marriage
(2) My Baby Boy
(3) My Momma
(4) My Beau
(5) Good health
(6) Satsumas!
(7) Being remembered by friends and family
(8) The evening with Steve Vai!
(9) Raspberry tea
(10) My Mom's recipe for spaghetti and meatballs
(11) Having an excuse to eat too much cake
(12) Good folks getting involved in finding Titan a home
(13) Clean laundry
(14) A chance to begin all over again (new bday year)
(15) Nonsense songs to Nate
(16) Morning yoga
(17) Bday cards (and presents) that touch my heart
(18) Surviving "another year older" with grace & gratitude (for now!)
(19) Making the time to catch up on library reading
(20) A spa retreat from the comfort of home (mint julep facial & scrub)

As each year passes, I try to remember the important stuff and get away from the bad.  And I begin a fresh start with each birthday.  Time to begin anew.... 

Nate is 8; Sunflowers, Calendar Beau & Bulldogs

Keeping track of my li'l man's milestones- Nathan turned 8 months Monday! Talk about your Zen moments- a tad bittersweet though, because it really and truly IS going entirely too fast!

 

On to the smaller celebrations- the sunflowers my hubby planted are in full bloom,despite the sweltering August heat.  Their faces are so cheery, it makes me smile to look at them.  Its a minor miracle that they were planted out of a seed pack, in our old garden plot, no fancy topsoil or plant food.  But they grew almost overnight, and are thriving.  I added topsoil later, and that didn't hurt things either ;)

I'm looking at my Zen blog's big picture- the fact that it is a gratitude journal of sorts, so I try to keep the news on here uplifting and positive.  Sometimes that involves digging deep past the drama and stress, and shedding a light of joy on something that started off negatively.  The most recent example- I entered Beau in a calendar contest, last minute because it was never really a competition, it was more of a tribute to my furry son.  Needless to say, he didn't rank in the top numbers, but the experience inspired me towards a "lightbulb" moment- I decided to begin my own Beau calendar for 2014! A daunting project, because I have zero experience in calendar design and production.  But I have countless wonderful Kodak moments of Beau, and I am in the process of working on a special project called "The DogMa Days of Summer"- going around town and taking classic shots of pets and their folks.  I'll integrate the best of these into the Beau calendar, so that there will be something for every type of dog lover out there- it won't focus on a single breed.  And I've decided to donate 20% of the proceeds to two rescue groups- Louisiana Boxer Rescue (a group I've worked with for a couple of years) and the New Orleans Bulldog Rescue (a new group I've signed up with recently).  So this will be a wonderful situation all the way around- helping the animals and helping pay tribute to my furry son.  *hugs to you Beauregard!*

The final Zen blog bit of news: as mentioned above, I signed up with New Orleans Bulldog Rescue, and am now the official Event Coordinator/Photographer!!  They are a relatively new rescue organization, one that specializes in bulldogs but also takes every other breed, including pitbulls.  They do a LOT of good, despite being very much behind the scenes.  They are getting more volunteers and will be holding more events in the near future, and its fun to be part of things at this stage in time.  I'm really looking forward to working with everyone- they appreciate their people AND their dogs.  Speaking of the dogs- I'll be taking pix of the adoptables and posting some on this blog at a later date.

 

My first event coordinating takes place in a couple of weeks- a dog wash at New Orleans Bark Market.  I'll be helping plan this event and will also attend and take photos of the event.  Really looking forward to it!

Adventures in Closet Land

Today I returned to my closet to organize and pare down my wardrobe, and found myself at the start of a trip down memory lane.  My clothes spent a lot of time in discussions with me, and their conversations went something like this: "Don't get rid of me. We went to some awesome Halloween parties and spent our first Halloween with Lucas"; "I was your favorite blouse during that Goth phase"; "Keep me- I got you sooo many compliments at the office for how professional you looked!"; "You were pregnant and not even showing and I helped bring out that glow"; and my fave- "You have to keep me- I was a gift from someone special" (even though 1. no longer fits; 2. and 3. outgrew in style; 4. doesn't fit style OR body; and 5. you did your job and its time for a new home. 

 

My trick to dealing with the dreaded Closet Overhaul is to picture your closet space as real estate market.  Every square inch needs to be treated like its paying rent, and if something is taking up space and not being used, it needs to go so you can make room for the things you love and will wear. 

 

While I can't exactly peg this one as a "Zen Moment", it IS a work in progress.  One giant Goodwill bag later, I feel secure saying that its in the works, and hopefully my new wardrobe will reflect my new phase in life- wearing clothes that fit my body AND spirit, and the place where I'm at now- new mom, nonstop adventures, creative and able to cleanup messes in a single bound  ;)

Milestone: Nate officially turned 6 months old last week! It's incredible to think that a few short months ago, he was a newborn infant who could barely keep his eyes open, and my mind traveled over the ground we've covered together since then as a family- the hard times (colic, sleep schedules, teething) and the good ones (baby's first smile, introducing him to friends and family, our daily adventures together, feeding Nate his first solids, and many others).  I have watched this li'l man grow into his personality- and his happy feet!- and it has been amazing, exhausting, scary, wonderful, and never boring! Each month I write down on the calendar my "Dreams for Baby"- this month's include a short road trip, a visit to local farmer's markets, and upgrading Nate's mealtimes from two solids a day to three- so he'll be officially having breakfast, lunch and supper like the "big folks".  It's a happy time for sure!

 

We are now fully on our way to the "Dog Days of Summer"- speaking of which, I've started a group on Facebook called "Dog-Mas", a place for my female friends who have dogs to meet and discuss our furry kids.  This Sunday we'll have our first group walk- I'm looking forward to it, and so is Mr. Beau!

 

Wishing everyone cooling soaks in the kiddie pool, sprints through the sprinkler, ice tea, floppy hats, and barefoot-through-the-grass afternoons!

xoxo, 007

 

Memorial Day 2013

 

This was a great Memorial Day- our first with Baby Nate, and a relaxing & mellow one (well, as much as being new parents with a li'l man can be "relaxing" haha).  We had a small cookout at home, and enjoyed family time and reflected on our many freedoms and how good life is.  I bought me and Lucas some colorful "stars" and "stripes" flip flops to lounge around in, and some funky patriotic sunglasses (pictured above).  We took some family photos, including the one on this page.  I love this one the best because of li'l man's feet and the family theme.  The red, white & blue doesn't hurt either ;)

 

Interestingly, while going through old email accounts, I accessed my Myspace page for the first time in at least a year, and found this old blog that I had posted on- you guessed it- Memorial Day a few years ago.  I found it to be as insightful now as it was then, and decided to share it here for the rest of you.  Hope you enjoy it. 

 

Current mood:grateful

 

"Freedom isn't free" is the old adage we hear when it comes to Memorial Day and fighting wars.  Its the simple truth.  In a time honored tradition, men and women have stood for their nation, and for their families and friends and the freedom we experience here at home, since the beginning.  Memorial Day is the smallest gesture of gratitude that we can give.  Our soldiers- including the very young who were technically not old enough to vote, or drink- put their lives on the line to protect our nation and the myriad freedoms that many of us take for granted.  Freedoms including what books we can read, what movies we may watch, who we can marry and what careers, groups, presidents we may choose.  They fight these bloody wars so that we can go to bed at night secure in the knowledge we will wake up to the same world we fell asleep in.  They did so and continue to do so, not for the pittance paid them, or the glory of the profession or the excitement of traveling to the far corners- but for family and home.  They march out on the battlefield, whether it be a barren desert or a lush and dangerous jungle, decades ago or this day and age.  They move in ranks, our modern day warriors, and face down death with the ice of fear in their veins and the knowledge that it can all end in the time it takes between heartbeats while time marches on and steals precious weeks, months, years, from the lucky ones who survive to make it back home.

When the Memorial Day barbecues are over and the patriotic parades have passed, I hope we all remember our fallen, and those who served for us throughout the years.  A final quote: "Courage is not the absence of fear, but choosing to act despite it." 

God Bless America. 

Dog Day Afternoon

Dog Day Afternoon was my first official return to volunteer work post-baby.  It was a short one for me, 9:30-12:00, but enough to get my "paws" wet and get back into helping out.  I made the most of my time and helped set up the tent and table, sell merchandise, and get the word out about the Sula Vaccination Clinic being held the following weekend (April 13th). 

It was a beautiful spring day.  The humidity was low, the sun was out, and it was cool and balmy- in other words, perfect weather to be outdoors.  In New Orleans, we have a very short window of perfect spring weather, and this was it.  I was at the Sula Foundation tent, and we were lucky enough to obtain a spot under the oaks and out of direct sunlight.  As far as the volunteering went- it was difficult to get back into the swing of things at first- my mommy brain had a hard time doing the simple things like taking inventory of tee shirts (anything involving counting must be done two and three times these days, because its hard to focus.  This new mom is still burning the midnight oil and running on sleep deprivation and reduced caffeine!).  But as the morning marched on, things got easier.  The folks I volunteered with were super-nice, and it was fun comparing "furry kid notes" with the others.  Here's a shot of my new Sula friends, and the adorable pitbull Leo:

 

It was heartwarming to see so many folks out with their "best friends".  There were so many different types of dogs, from the tiniest that would fit in a purse, to the leggy Great Danes and greyhounds.  Some were dressed to the nines. like the duo in the shot below; most were decked out in leashes and colorful collars.  People from all walks were there, and having a great time roaming around, checking out the tents set up by the various rescue organizations, and listening to the music belting out in the background.   

 

 



We had quite a few visitors at the Sula tent, like this adorable pitbull, who stopped by to check out our selection of books (and treats on hand):

The Louisiana Boxer Rescue, my other volunteer group, was also out participating in Dog Day Afternoon.  I was able to steal away and visit for a few minutes; my only regret is that I was unable to take pix and visit the Boxer Kissing Booth, because I ran out of time.  But it was lovely to see the ladies out, and the adorable pups.  And the Kissing Booth had a very long line by the time I made my way back to the Sula tent.  Cooper the Boxer knows how to steal the show every time ;)

 

It was great catching up with my fellow volunteers and dog lovers yesterday.  Its good to know that I can be a mommy and still be a volunteer/dog lover.  My only other regret about the day is that Beau wasn't there with me to enjoy it.  Seeing everyone out with their furry kids made me miss my own terribly.  But I made myself a promise- next year, I'm taking Beau to Dog Day Afternoon to show him off and enjoy some quality time together.  We might even make it a family outing and bring Lucas and Nathan along to enjoy family moments. 

 

Hope everyone was able to get out, even for a little while, and enjoy this year's Dog Day Afternoon.  Congrats to the hard working volunteers and animal organizations that make this event a success each and every year!!

 

Have a great week,

Jamie

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."- e.e. cummings

Fooled by April

Today is April Fool's Day.  It brought a smile to my face, remembering this time last year.  Last April Fool's Day was special because I had learned the news a few days before that I was officially pregnant.  We hadn't told anyone because we wanted to bask in the news before sharing it.  And, being the cautious type, I didn't want to "jinx" my pregnancy by sharing it prematurely.  April 1st arrived, and a small part of me was tempted to share the news, trick everyone into thinking it was an April Fools prank, then come back the next day with the news again.  Instead we waited, which was for the best.  But the unplayed prank was a fun secret my husband and I shared, and today I thought about it, looked at Nate and smiled :)

I was listening to Stevie Wonder this evening, and a song caught my ear.  It was perfect for today, with the lyrics "You've been fooled by April".  Here's the video of "Summer Soft":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lv2dSAYtb5c

***************************

Nathan is now four months and three days old.  Here's the latest shot of li'l man:

Yes, the old saying is true- it goes so fast! Yet at times I can hardly believe this sweet little man is real.  Life is good!

April showers are around the corner, but so are May flowers.  Wishing each of my readers a rainbow after the storm has passed...

xoxo,
007

Carnival Time; The Littlest Dragon

Well, its officially Mardi Gras time, and we will be celebrating our first carnival season with baby! It's traditional (both locally and at our house) to wear costumes on Fat Tuesday, and this first year with Nathan will be no exception.  I was at a complete loss about what theme to choose, so I hit the thrift store with no expectations and an open mind.  There were lots of Halloween costumes, and I was in for a rude awakening when I tried on a skeleton jumpsuit, and saw my post-pregnancy body illuminated by the fitting room's harsh fluorescent lighting.  I had to laugh, but it was painful laughter :/  Back to the racks.  About a half hour later, I stumbled across a gorgeous silk kimono-style robe, reversible, black with an embroidered dragon on one side, and bright red print on the other.  At a mere $6.99, it was a steal- I bought it with Lucas in mind.  The next costume piece I found was a ladies' silk blouse, Chinese-style with a mandarin collar.  I tried it on and, miracles, it fit! Now it was time to find baby's costume, and fortunately I was able to find a bright orange hooded cape with a dragon's face printed on the hood, and wings on the rest.  Feeling like I had struck gold, I brought everything to the checkout and left $16.00 lighter and with a complete family theme in tow: Chinese Food For Thought :)  We'll "Carnivalize" it with beads and our masks.  And while we won't be going out on Fat Tuesday- the weather reports are predicting all-day rain, and baby is still too young- we will dress up and have a photo shoot to document the day, and eat king cake, and watch parade coverage "front row" on t.v.  And I've planned a 2013 mask design based on the above shot of the king cake- an abstract translation. 

 

Life with Nathan is becoming a big adventure, now that the colic is almost over.  Now, we are in the beginning stages of teething! Never a dull moment ;).  In all seriousness, I love my baby so much, and he has transformed my world.  My life is all about taking care of his needs, and doing what I can to make sure he's not only comfortable but smiling and happy.  Some days, that's a bigger job than others! (Case in point- I'm rocking his baby seat with one foot while working on this blog- once the rocking stops, the crying begins.  It's a balance!)  These days, I'm starting to feel more confident in my parenting.  My biggest challenge is that balance- I'm performing my mommy chores and housewife chores with success, but at a frantic pace.  I would like to get to a point where I get everything done, without breaking a sweat.  Still not there yet! But every day is an adventure and a learning experience, and Nathan and I are on this journey together.  And baby is growing so much, both in appearance and personality! He is starting to really talk his "baby talk", and I can practically hear the exclamation points in his baby sentences.  He also has discovered a new, piercing shriek that grabs you by the hackles ( no idea where that came from, lol).  That shriek means business!

 

Another challenge is eating healthy.  I'm a big fan of chocolate and sweets, and its been tough to cut back due to breastfeeding.  I need more fruits and veggies in my diet.  We are looking for local and nearby farmer's markets to stock up on healthy, organic produce for our family's dietary needs.  It might be a good way to meet other young families in the neighborhood too. 

Now that the weather is getting milder, we are finally able to venture out of the house together, and have been taking strolls around the neighborhood.  I love the stroller, and the fact that it has a little "sunroof" that I can keep an eye on Nathan while we walk around.  I've been introducing him to our neighbors and the street where we live, and its been fun!  People stop us to admire li'l man, and when he's not sleeping on the walk, he's charming them with his big smile and waving hands.  And we're meeting other families with babies of their own.  The other day, we met a young couple with a five month old baby girl named Riley.  She was so gorgeous, and looked the quintessential baby fashion plate with her crocheted hat and pierced ears.  I couldn't help but wish we could set up baby dates and put the two little ones together- maybe develop a friendship, or find Nate's future girlfriend lol.

 

While we are on a "bedtime routine", a "feeding routine" and a few others, there are always new experiences tucked in each day.  We are working on exploring our world more, and not getting stuck into too much of a "routine".  I give Nate different toys to snuggle and play with each day, and have finally mastered the art of the burp.  And whoever said that girls are more fun because you can dress them up, obviously never had a baby boy.  This little man has a wardrobe fit for a prince, and I get a kick out of changing his outfits and dressing him up for our outings and visitors.  Almost makes me forget how much I miss my own fashion sense, lol. 

 

The big payoff of having a baby: it's gratifying when Nathan looks directly into my eyes and smiles at me.  Makes every drop of blood/sweat/tears worthwhile! And Beau, our furry son, has been so good with the baby boy- keeping a respectful distance but very sweet tempered when he is nearby. People are already asking when we'll have our next kid.  What next one?  We have a baby boy and a furry son, and as far as I'm concerned our family is complete. 

 

I have a baby calendar that has a block of space in each month for "dreams for baby".  It helps make me mindful of what I want to accomplish, and what to bring to Nate's life adventures each month.  This month's dreams are:  (1) Take baby to the park where we got married; (2) Dress up and celebrate our first Mardi Gras together; (3) Sort through and organize baby's clothes- he is slowly growing out of the "itsy bitsy" wardrobe and into the 3-6 month range.  And we are contemplating baptism, and Easter outfits, and age-appropriate toys to let Nathan play with.  I am also keeping a baby memory book and trying to document all of the important stuff along the way.  I don't think I'll forget a moment, but its good to have it in a safe place. 

 Life is awesome, no matter how hard the road.  I am honored to be the mommy of this special little person.  I look back at the ultrasound photo posted on my memory board, and remember when Nathan was just a wish, then a "li'l sprout" in the womb, and Lucas and I wondered and imagined what he would look like and how life would change with a new addition.  Then he was finally here, and he exceeded every hope and dream we ever had.  He is truly the light of our life, and every smile, every kick of those happy feet, makes my heart burst with love.   

"You are my sunshine..."

Nathan Luke Patterson was born on November 29, 2012 at 4:57 p.m. at East Jefferson General Hospital.  He was 7 lbs 13 oz, 21 inches.   His name means "Gift from God", and Luke is a derivative of his daddy's name (Lucas).  His birth story will follow in a separate post. This is our unofficial birth announcement :)

Update: This past Tuesday was Nate's 2 month milestone.  Here's an updated photo of what he looks like these days:

As a protective mom, I try to limit my posts on Nathan, including photos, out of an abundance of caution.  I have to rein myself in from oversharing, but I remind myself that there's too much craziness on the internet, and I have to protect my son from it.  But I like to keep friends and family informed of Nate's development and progress- so its a balancing act.  I'll keep my blog updated with Nate's month birthdays, and progress notes, so stay tuned. 

The Early Days

"You've come a long way, baby..."

Well, I've officially begun the long and exciting journey of parenting.  This is my first post since pre-baby days.  I'm finding that motherhood is going to be the cure for my being too prolific with my writings.  Due to a serious limit on time, I'm going to pare down to the meat of the story by posting the highlights from our journey, and focus on all the interesting things I've learned in the past two months.  Here we go:

Summary of Things Learned

(1)      Expect the unexpected.  Nothing will ever go according to how you think it will- which is sometimes good, sometimes not.  This point of wisdom was driven home in the labor and delivery room at the hospital.  As a first time mom, I read up on what was facing me in the early days, and I learned from the books that it is wise to have a "birth plan" which is a written plan on how I want my delivery to go.  A good idea, but not a practical one, as things never go as planned when it comes to having a baby.  It's good to have a sketch of a plan but its important to be flexible- you can only control so much before life takes over.  Originally I planned on holding off on getting the epidural, and I packed a bunch of snacks for my birth coach (hubby) so he wouldn't go hungry.  I had my cousin burn a mixed cd for me to listen to, thinking that I would "power through" the delivery part of the program.  Now, I don't know what kind of party I was planning on having here, that I was so focused on refreshments and the music list prior to the Big Event, but clearly I had something to learn.   Looking back, I laugh at my priorities.  For one thing, the epidural was administered in the earlier stages of my delivery (for the record, contrary to what most people I talked to said about the "E-guarantee", it HURT.  Worse than getting a tattoo).  Secondly, my hubby had zero interest in food during this momentous occasion.  Strangely enough, I had no interest in food as well.  I was thankful just to get the crushed ice they served up in a gigantic thermos.  Third, by the time I was pushing my child out into the world, music was the very last thing on my mind.  I am saving the awesome cd for my future workout sessions at home. 

(2)      Learn to improvise. Not an easy feat.  But problem solving is crucial in all the many stages of parenting.  For example- all the Huggies diapers that were given to us at baby showers had a funny (but not funny) way of leaking.  Baby would go through three in a half hour, and countless outfit changes as a result.  It was out of control.  So I had a lightbulb moment- I took the two boxes of nursing pads (liners for the breasts, to absorb milk leakage) and cut the pads up and made a makeshift lining for the diapers.  While this didn't completely solve the problem, it helped tremendously and we were able to cut back on diapers/dirty laundry considerably. 

(3)      The (super) power of organizing.  I've always been a neat and semi-organized soul, but after becoming a mom, I've learned to step it up.  Things have a way of going smoother when you have all the supplies you need on hand and have organization going on.  One big example of this is diaper changes- I can't tell you how many times I've juggled a baby, a dirty diaper, baby wipes and then been doused with pee-pee, simultaneously, because I neglected to stock the diaper table with extra diapers and supplies.  This morning I actually got "hosed" three times in a row because of my neglect.  Lesson learned.  When you have everything on hand, life is much MUCH easier!   Another time that organizing helps tremendously is in preparing for breastfeeding sessions.  There's nothing more obnoxious than settling in with a hungry baby on your lap, and realizing that you forgot the Baby Boppy, or the burp cloths, or things that are necessary when feeding the li'l sprout.  I've found that when I have everything ready and waiting, it is a win-win situation and turns a chore into a moment.

(4)      Know what works.  This one is trial and error. It's not always about buying the most expensive things on the market- as in the case of the diapers.  I've found that the Dollar General brand of diapers works much better than the name brand Huggies.  Who knew?  You find these things out the hard way.  Also, you don't need to buy everything brand new- I was lucky to have family friends pass on their children's clothing, which was incredibly helpful.  My friend's sister passed along her baby's bouncy seat, which I nicknamed "the babysitter" because it was like having extra help with comforting and entertaining the baby.  And Mom bought the baby's crib secondhand- a beautiful natural wood Simmons, from one of the local thrift stores.  All of these things were not only helpful, but they were environmentally-friendly choices to make. 

(5)      "If you're not in over your head, you're not really in"- self explanatory.  I think this was penned by someone in the same light as "look on the bright side"- however, it works for me.  

(6)       Babies love routines.  Routines are a life saver when it comes to baby.  They are good for sleep-deprived adults too. 

(7)      Multi-tasking is crucial in the war for Time Management. I've learned that its super-easy to have laundry going, and the bottle sterilizer working in the microwave, while feeding the baby.  Once he's finished and napping, I have knocked out three important to-dos on the never-ending list, and earned a break (and breaks at this stage in time are beyond refreshing!!!)

(8)     Appearances no longer matter.   Or more specifically, MY appearance no longer matters.  (Baby is another story- I've turned my style focus completely on him, and he's one stylish little man!)  I've always prided myself on being fashionable and fashion forward, but thanks to these in-between days of no-longer-pregnant but 15 lbs overweight, and sporting a bigger shoe size thanks to hauling that baby belly around, and the fact that my closet appears to have exploded due to my fashion identity crisis- all that matters is that I'm decently covered and comfy.  Sweatpants are my best friend, in that they cover all of the above.  And Mom bought me two awesome pairs of shoes- loafers for day, and fancy purple slippers to lounge in.  That's as stylish as it gets these days! And I strongly feel that as long as I'm not spending the day in pj's, I'm successful as far as fashion is concerned.  At this point in time, my favorite fashion accessory is the ever-popular "burp cloth".  Yay!  And you don't need 20 maternity bras- Wal-Mart sells a pack of two for $16.00, and you can supplement your nursing wardrobe with sports bras.  *Note: I can honestly say that the thought of fashion and dressing up again is exciting- but its still on the backburner, to remain there indefinitely.  When the extra weight comes off, and I'm able to juggle life better, I will be celebrating (and wearing) my style once more. 

 

(9)      Sleep deprivation is responsible for many things.  It's responsible for diminished milk supply; depression; lack of energy; poor mental health; poor physical health.  Case in point- I caught a basic cold around Christmas time, and it took me a month to recover what would normal take about a week to shake off.  The one time I managed to grab more than 3 hours sleep in a row (New Year's Eve) is when I discovered that my milk had come in, and I was able to nurse the baby successfully for the first time in weeks.  It was a lovely way to start 2013!

 

(10)     Everyone in this world was somebody's baby at some point in time.  Now, if that doesn't humble you, and make you look at your fellow man in a different light, I don't know what will. 

 

(11)      Breastfeeding is a labor of love.  Before the days of breastfeeding, I imagined tranquil moments rocking in the chair with the baby and bonding together as I nourished my child the way nature intended.  What a rosy picture! The reality was far more- for lack of a better word- "primitive".  First off, there are the same limitations on the mom as during pregnancy days- your food affects baby so there is a long list of what you can and cannot eat (it was hard to say goodbye to spicy foods, that's for sure!).  Obviously, you can't drink- although some moms get around this by timing their drinks so it doesn't interfere with the baby's feeding schedule.  Then there is the fact that you require about 15 or more 8 oz glasses of water per day, for good milk production (!) Then, there is the pain involved- and I don't care how many nurses and doctors admonish that "it shouldn't hurt".  It hurts.  It took me about two months to toughen up (physically and mentally) to productively feed my baby, and I supplement with formula because I'm not a super-mom and don't "express" my milk (use a breast pump).  By giving baby both forms of nourishment, I know he is getting everything he needs one way or the other (or both!).  A confession: I've found that, when it comes to getting my baby boy to sleep longer at night, the bottle goes a much longer way than breastmilk. 

 

(12)     A colicky baby affects everyone.  It is horrible to hear your child wailing and howling and observe him turning red as a beet (the dreaded "foonga face" as we call it), and know that absolutely nothing you do will "fix" it.  This knowledge doesn't stop you from frantically trying everything, from rocking, bouncing and pacing the floor simultaneously, gliding in the chair, going outdoors for a change of scene, driving around, playing music (although music therapy did seem to improve things!), changing the diaper for the 10th time in an hour, feeding until the baby looks rabid from the milk foaming at his mouth, making the most embarassing faces to distract and amuse.  Sometimes things work to alleviate the baby's problem, but its hit or miss most of the time.  The only thing that seems to help is routine (see #6) and time. 

 

*** Note: I think that things have taken a turn for the better, as far as Nathan's colic is concerned. We have him on the new sleep schedule, and he only wakes up twice in the night, due to feeding/diaper needs.  Hurrah!!!! My little angel is currently snoozing in his bouncy seat, allowing me to catch up on this blog.  Due to the gorgeous spring-time-feeling weather, I've opened up all the windows in the house, and managed during a previous nap to being doing serious Spring Cleaning around the house.  I even managed to pluck my overgrown eyebrows.  Ahhh, life is good!! Having a baby really makes you appreciate it all, every single little thing, and you never waste a spare moment in your schedule. 

 

**** I'll be posting the story of Nathan's birth, complete with photos, at a later date, due to time restrictions (that bane of motherhood!)