Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Weekend in Dallas

Another wedding, another trip. Few photos to share, but plenty of fun stories. Here it goes.

Thursday night around 8:00 p.m., we fed B a bowl of oatmeal and whatever else I can't remember... and then let him play a bit. He was resistant to the food, so that's why I resorted to oatmeal because it's our go-to meal if he puts up a fight. Should've listened to the cues. He came down with a cold five days prior, but things were on the mend. I sat down to breastfeed him and realized he couldn't breathe, so I grabbed Nose Frida. Apparently the pressure was too much, because he started to gag and then proceeded to projectile vomit all over me, the couch, the Boppy pillow, the blanket, my clothes, and all over himself. I immediately called for Ray and he grabbed him and walked into the kitchen. First time real vomiting on me before, ever. Before this, it had only been spit up.

As I was trying to figure out where to go from there, I heard two consecutive splats of more vomiting. I spent the next 30 minutes following scrubbing down baseboards, walls, cabinets, countertops, clothes and all the items still covered in vomit from the living room while B was fed another bowl of plain oatmeal and given a bath.

Did I mention we had to wake at 3:45 a.m. the following morning to make our 6:30 a.m. flight to Dallas? And that it was Valentine's Day?

Yeah.

B was showing no signs of the flu, but all signs were pointing to a minor case of food poisoning. We carried on with our plans, slept very little, and managed to make our flight. Except, after boarding, our flight was mechanically grounded for an hour.

Did I mention we had to wake the baby up at 3:45 a.m. after only 6.5 hours of sleep (when he normally sleeps 11+ hours?).

Yeah.

Pissed off and tired baby, exhausted parents, rude flight attendants, and of course the plane was full of unsuspecting fools who thought they could sleep on the early morning flight.


Finally, we're off the ground after attaching the baby to a breast and getting him to sleep. No more than 10 minutes into the flight and... you guessed it...

Projectile vomit all over me. Just as I was finishing up the McDonald's hashbrown I bought for B to eat.

I spent the next 2 hours attempting to rid myself of the nastiness, pass a screaming baby back and forth, and cleaning the area so it wouldn't smell like rotten eggs.

At the end of the flight, I handed over a granola bar to our seat partner as a peace offering. He accepted.

Finally, in Dallas. The rest of the trip was a whole lot easier, thankfully. First stop, hotel. Then, lunch with a few pretty cool cats that I felt like I'd known my whole life. We drank beers, ate Mexican food, hung out with rainbow babies toddlers, and talked about Cale and Andrew like it was no big thing. It felt good.
We attended the wedding rehearsal dinner at a sushi restaurant and spent lots of quality time with B's grandparents, aunt, and lots of extended family in which I took basically no photos.
Crawling around the hotel hallways with fun Aunt Samantha & hanging out with Gramie & Grandpa
We had quality hangout time in our amazing hotel suite and enjoyed a lovely wedding, reception, and a little dancing before heading home on another early morning whirlwind of a flight that had us with the entire back five rows of the airplane to ourselves. They definitely lost money on that flight. Let's just say it was a world better than the flight to Dallas. As if you wouldn't have guessed that. There's no question that flying is getting so much harder now that B is more aware and more mobile.
In the car on the way home, B had ditched the toys we gave him {per usual} and since I was in the front seat, I was searching for something to keep him entertained for the last 10 minutes of the ride. We had an Oats & Chocolate Nature Valley Granola Bar (amazing, btw) and knowing how robust and difficult those wrappers are to open, I handed it to him because he enjoys manipulating shiny and crinkly packaging. About 3 blocks from our house, Ray and I both looked back at the same time having realized the baby was eerily quiet and sure enough, he had both granola bars, one in each hand and was covered in chocolate. The rodent baby managed to get that package open and was none too happy we took the bars away from him either. He had a full mouth of the chocolatey goodness. So much for introducing him to chocolate ourselves. This is the shrapnel he left behind.
Wished we had the means to really explore Dallas, but something tells me we'll be back eventually. But hopefully not before we explore Austin.

Stay cool, Dallas.
{No really, stay cool. It was in the 70's days leading and following out visit but in the 50's while we were there. Now we're living in negative wind chills again. What a bust.}

Monday, November 5, 2012

Nashville & California

Pretend like this post isn't super overdue, mmmkay?

As expected, we saw a ton of people we love and that means we have tons of photos to share. If you don't want to see a trillion photos of the B-monster and his adoring familia, this is likely the post that will never end for you. If you are said familia, this post will rock your socks off.

Can't please everyone. ;)

Nashville was short and sweet. We did a little exploring and listened to some country music and then scooted out pretty quickly. We were there less than 48 hours in total and hopped on a plane from Nashville to California for a very late night with the ol' time change working against us. I really hoped I could meet Molly, but unfortunately she doesn't live anywhere near Nashville and therefore it would have required an intense drive with a 6-month old, by herself. I know how hard that is, so that ended up being a no-go. Note to self: just because you're visiting a state someone lives in that you know, it doesn't mean they are going to be close to your location. Kind of like when people used to ask my husband (who was an Air Force Academy grad and Officer) if he knew their uncle/cousin/sister/nephew/whoever that is also in the Air Force.

Tangent complete. Here's the quick rundown of Nashville before I lose any more readers.

Benjamin meets the King. Yet, he cannot be bothered.
Just before they started setting up to film the TV show, Nashville. How appropriate in... Nashville.
Those are all fake I.D.s, says the bouncer.
Live music!
Las Paletas Peanut Butter Gourmet Popsicle. Similar to the gourmet popsicle place I visited in New Orleans.  With 220 five-star reviews on Yelp, I was up for it. And sure enough, it was delicious. Also bought: chocolate almond.
We took an evening flight from Nashville to California. The next morning, my best friend and matron of honor in my wedding, Alison, and her son Scotty came to visit. Scotty was born while we were living in Germany and is 2 1/2 now. His big sister Gabrielle is 8! Her photo is at the end of this post.
Nevermind the shower hair I am rockin'. This was the best picture of Alison and myself-- the kids had better pictures, but I'm vain enough to not want to post pictures of our double chins. 

Grandma photo bomb!
B's first pumpkin patch! In California of all places. Where I grew up in a very populated Los Angeles, pumpkin patches pop up in empty parking lots and vacant lots of all kinds. Throw down some hay, cart in some animals, add pumpkins and carnival rides, and you're set! Here in IL, I learned quickly that there really are such things as farms that grow pumpkins in the ground at the very place you go and pick them! Maybe next year.
"So I was just thinking..."
For a belated birthday present, my parents rented a boat to take us out on Alamitos Bay. My brother brought dinner from one of our favorite teriyaki joints and we got to meet his wife for the first time (they'll be married a year this month!). It was a really nice time! 

Fun fact: On the first day I introduced Ray to my parents back in my early 20's, we took them out kayaking in this same bay and saw moon jellies. It was a blast.
Such wonderful boys
Maybe Benjamin enjoyed his dinner. Looks like it. :)
Steering the boat with Grandpa.
My brother, his wife Anna, and the latest face B makes all the time. We think it's hilarious.
Post boat riding and dinner eating, we headed back to the pumpkin patch for more fun with Grandpa this time. Notice the attire. This is L.A., people. No long sleeved shirts or mittens like you'll see us already sporting in Chicago. It was 70+ degrees.
Grandparents + B-man

First carnival train ride with Grandpa
Weeeeee!
My, what big hands you have!
This series of photos cracks me up. I'd usually choose just one, but being that I was looking at them in order, I just had to post them all. I'm sure my dad will really appreciate them. ;)
That's funny. Something's missing...
No really. Check out his hair, it's missing!
Happy B-man and his Grandpa up way past his bedtime.
Family photo 
From my parent's house, we headed to San Diego to meet up with Ray's family for his cousin's wedding. I'm telling you, it was quite the trip... hence my excuse to insist on posting so. many. photos.
More Grandpa jokes. What is that on your chin? Hair? But why is it so... white?
Giving a little love to Ray's Aunt Helen
Aunt Helen, Aunt Ceil, B-man, Grandma
I love attention!
Pre-wedding festivities
Great Papa & Dad
Great Gramie & Gramie
Three generations of men
Hanging out with Ray's second cousins and his Aunt Jan
Wedding celebrating! Please excuse the fat mom arms. I eat a lot of chocolate.
We headed back up to L.A. after our wedding festivities ended and had lunch with our friends Nik, Solange, Caity & Oliver at one of our favorite restaurants in Hermosa Beach, El Pollo Inka. Solange is Peruvian and they introduced us to that restaurant (and others!), but Chicago doesn't have much to compare. Especially not in the 'burbs.
Caity, Ray, B-man sporting his L.A. bib. When in L.A., be like an Angelino.
Lomo Saltado and Benjamin stealing a tomato. Gotta watch him; he's sly like a fox.
Lunch crew
After lunch, we headed to Hermosa Beach (where I lived just about 7 blocks away when I met Ray) and had to dip Benjamin's feet into the Pacific! He's experienced the Atlantic and now he's touched the water of both coasts. Our friends took some awesome photos of the occasion.

Where I come from... there's corn bread and chicken amazing weather and gorgeous beaches. And a bright sun that gave me skin cancer. Okay, so it's the same sun as in the Midwest, but it sure seems more intense in the West!
Ray, B, Nik, Oliver on Hermosa Pier
My friends Alison, Nic, Gabrielle & Scotty came down to join us before we headed to LAX to catch our flight so Gabrielle could meet Benjamin. My friend from the beginning of this enormously long post? That's her daughter. I cannot believe she is EIGHT. I was in that hospital room when she was born and it still shocks me she's such a beautiful and smart second grader already.
B was pretty smitten.
If you're tired just looking at our adventures, imagine how we feel! We're staying put for awhile. This might be the first time in ages we don't have plane tickets purchased to go anywhere. Of course I can name at least 3 plane ticket purchases we will be making in the next few months, but they're not booked yet!

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Lighting a candle tonight. 23 months. Next month will mark another year. I'm sure the next month will be more emotional than usual. I ordered his ornament for the remembrance ceremony we'll be attending again this year in December. It will be an annual tradition to honor Andrew.

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I'm being featured on BlogHer's Life Homepage tomorrow! I've never been featured... anywhere! And I get to add this to the side of my blog.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

To Michigan & Beyond!

We spent the weekend with my parents. They came to visit because my younger cousin got hitched in Michigan! What are the odds that this California girl would move to Illinois and her two California cousins (pictured below as groom and best man) would both select colleges in Illinois as well? And in doing so the eldest of the two would marry the woman of his dreams just 2 hours from our home? Awesome, I tell ya. Couldn't have worked out better. B is nearly 3 1/2 months and my parents last saw him when he was just a couple weeks old. He's now smiling and laughing and considerably more responsive. He is also an even better screamer than before. Hah.

Our long weekend started Thursday evening and continued until Sunday afternoon. We walked about a mile away from our house to a cute cafe for breakfast on Friday and hit up the Wilton tent sale where I purchased 4 large and 6 small loaf pans for my breadmaking endeavors. I also scored some muffin liners, a flour container, and airplane and train cookie cutters. We had Chicago pizza, barbecued, drove to the wedding, enjoyed our favorite Jewish Deli, and were able to get away for a bit while B was watched by his grandparents. It was a great trip and so perfectly timed. And now... pictures of the wedding.
The venue: an old Michigan barn. So cute.
Creative, shabby chic centerpieces
Crossword puzzles at our tables
Almost a good family picture.
Grandparents with the B man
Complete nerdy photograph with slobber and all
Spent.

Tie credit goes to an incredible & creative blog friend, Katie, who made B three onesies and five bowties to go with them! We added a grey one to the mix to fit B and can't wait to dress him in bowties for more fun events and weddings coming up! Stay tuned for more bowtie fun. :)

If you'd like to donate to the Rasmussens, please see the right side of the blog for info. A link to their story is available there as well.