Maine Vacation Day 1

On Friday we dropped the kids off at my parent’s place and headed up to DIA to catch our flight to New Hampshire. The kids seemed very excited about having a slumber party with the grandparents and we were excited for our own vacation. This was the first time in over five years (since we were pregnant with Julia) that we've been without kids for more than a day or two.

Everything went pretty well on the way to the airport and during the flight. We flew into Manchester, NH, because that is as far northeast as Southwest Airlines flies, and because we wanted to see the area on our way up to Camden, ME. We crashed at the Super 8 at the airport at about 1:30 in the morning east coast time, and both fortunately and unfortunately woke up about five and half hours later.

We were on the road earlier than expected, so we were able to take a slight detour and see Kennebunkport and the Bush compound outside of town. We could see people riding bikes and Segway’s along the property. It was really nice to see the coast, the ocean, and feel the soft ocean air. The day was somewhat warm, but the perfect humidity and slight breeze made it comfortable. It was hard not to think about the world leaders that have visited or stayed there in the past.



I had always known that the area was heavily forested from pictures and other things, but I guess I never realized just how thick and how large it really is. Basically, from the time we left Manchester until we arrived in Camden, about three hours in total, we were surrounded by tall trees and couldn’t see much at all past the leafed walls. Some of the leaves were beginning to show some color but most were still green. I can’t imagine what this place looks like in the fall when everything is in full color. We’ll have to come back at that time of year in the future.

Before arriving in Camden, we stopped in Portland to see the city and have a picnic lunch at Fort Williams State Park, site of the Portland Head Light (house) and an old Army Fort used during World War I and II. We found a nice picnic bench overlooking the ocean and the lighthouse and enjoyed a relaxing lunch in the park. We didn’t get to see much of Portland because we were ready to head up and check into our bed and breakfast.

After checking into our room in Camden, we walked around the harbor and town. It’s a quaint little town, but it was a busy place this afternoon. After dark things got pretty quiet, but before then we enjoyed some “wicked fresh lawbstah” for dinner. Stacey had never eaten lobster, and I may have only had it once or twice in my lifetime. We had to ask the waitress for some pointers on how to best eat it. Another couple that were dining but from somewhere nearby (based on their accent) thought we might provide some in-dinner entertainment, but they were probably disappointed. I told them that we don’t have very good “lawbstah” in Colorado.

We returned to our bed and breakfast a little early so that we could rest up for breakfast and Acadia National Park the following day.

Inception

I know it's been a few years since the movie Inception came out, but last night Stacey and I watched it for the second time. It's been awhile since we watched it the first time and I've always wanted to watch it again since it was a great film based on a novel idea. I don't watch many movies anymore because they typically aren't worth my time and/or money. Inception was an original idea and therefore worth watching.

After watching the movie everyone wants to know, or has their own opinion on, what the ending means. Does the spinning top really fall? Is the last scene reality? There are a lot of different theories out there, but most of them focus on the wrong things, like the ages of the children or what clothes they were wearing at the end or this or that.  For me, there's really only one thing worth analyzing that is consistent with the rest of the film to determine what the ending means. Everything else is really just circumstantial and speculative.

Throughout different parts of the movie we are told that each person's totem, in Cobb's (Leo's) case, the spinning top, is the only way each "dreamer" can tell if they are dreaming or not. We see another character has a loaded dice and another, a chess piece. The director has made it clear (from what I read on the internet) that the entire movie was not a dream. That is, at some point the characters are experiencing reality.  So, if we can accept the idea at face value that the totems work as described in the movie, and because of that, the characters in the film can actually determine what is real and what is a dream, it's all pretty simple. Nothing else in the movie suggests otherwise or contradicts the idea that the totems work to determine the difference between dreaming and reality. Additionally, because the characters have had so much experience in and out of dreams (and therefore, with their totems), and that each person has their own totem (multiple "checks"), those things further support the idea that, at face value, totems work.

So that leaves us at the last scene with the assumption that Cobb knows the difference between what is real and what is not real. If not, the entire concept of a totem, as described in the movie, would be inconsistent. This means that either Cobb really made it back to reality with his children, or if it's a dream, at least knows it is and has decided that he wants to "stay" in this reality because it's a happier place then his real life (if things in real life were never resolved). In other parts of the movie he refuses to look at his children while in a dream because he knows it's not real, and because he and Mal, in their imagined world, eventually become dissatisfied with it because they knew it wasn't real (and therefore came back), it's unlikely and inconsistent that he would choose a "dream reality". Cobb's entire MO is to get back to his children in reality, and if he can tell the difference between dreaming and reality, I doubt he would all of a sudden choose otherwise.

Either way, the movie has a happy ending. I believe the last scene is reality, based on what I said above. After all, the top wobbles right before the movie goes to black. The only time in the rest of the movie we see the top spinning indefinitely is in a dream, so the fact that it wobbles also suggests it falls shortly after the movie ends.

Num Nums (Potato Chips)

We feel like we've really made a breakthrough with Jonathan over the past few days. Earlier last week, he started asking and eating a lot more food then he ever has before. He pounded a serving of cheddar bunnies and then went crazy for potato chips (Ruffles). He's eaten a lot of potato chips over the past few days, asking for them when he wakes up and at many other times throughout the day. He's still eating some scrambled eggs and drinking plenty of water. His behavior has been different towards food as well. This morning he wanted to try something new, oranges, and seemed to like them.

We're cautiously optimistic that we've turned a corner. He has never eaten nor shown this much interest in food. He's also been keeping his feedings down while eating more even though we've increased the daytime feedings to six ounces from five. As I mentioned a few posts before, I think a lot of things are coming together with Jonathan. Every day he says a new word or learns something new. Last night he wanted to sit on the training toilet and tinkled a few drops. He's so much more aware and can now communicate better then ever.

Maturing certainly helps, but I think the main reason Jonathan has been very interested in food is because we've finally eliminated everything that he is allergic to or that has caused him issues. If true, the dietician that we have been working with is due the credit. She was the one that got us to stop feeding him a corn based formula (Elecare). We're now on premixed liquid Alimentum, which is an infant formula but one that doesn't have corn nor intact milk protein. This formula is one of the few that doesn't have whole milk proteins, soy, or corn in it.  Every other formula seems to have one of those ingredients, including the same Alimentum in powder form.

On Elecare (corn based), Jonathan would still occasionally vomit and his button would leak. The leaking was bad enough that we had talked about replacing the button, since we thought it might be wearing out.  Now, he hasn't vomited and his button hasn't leaked at all. All these things, his appetite, the leaking, the vomiting, all point towards the fact that Jonathan may have been allergic, or at least, intolerant, of corn in the old formula. The dietician and the food therapists have said that just because a type of food doesn't show up in an allergy test doesn't mean that someone isn't allergic to it. They've seen people that had to carry an EpiPen around for an allergy that didn't show up on a test.

I think since he's been off of corn for about a month now, his system has finally calmed down enough to want food. It's sad to think that all this time he may have been uncomfortable or in discomfort. We're going to do some more extensive allergy tests in the future because of what we've recently observed. At any rate, the past few days have given us a wonderful glimpse of the light at the end of the food pump tunnel.

First Day Of School

Like last year, the entire family took Julia to her first day of school. I went into work a little bit late so that I could see Julia's new classroom and meet her new teacher. Yesterday she was pretty apprehensive about going to school, but as soon as Stacey painted her nails alternating colors, she instantly got excited again. Funny how something that small gives her the confidence to face a new situation.

Like last year, the kids wanted to ride in Dad's truck to school. So, Jonathan sat in his car seat while Julia sat in the seat between us. They like riding in my truck because it's different and because they can see everything that's going on. I'll just pretend they like it because of me.

Grandma picked Julia up from school since Jonathan had an appointment, so by the end of the day Julia was pretty worn out from all the excitement. She recounted everything about school that day and seemed genuinely excited about it. In fact, she said she wanted to go back to school "right now", even though it was dinner time. I think the different teacher is  going to be a good change for her, in addition to her being a year older and familiar with all the surroundings from going to preschool at the same place last school year.

Here are her the classic first day of school pictures. In case you want to see what a difference a year makes, here's the link to her first day of school pictures from last year.

Last Day Of Summer

Tomorrow Julia starts school again...Pre-K to be exact. She's attending the same school as last year since it's close to our house and elementary school doesn't start until the next grade. She's been going back and forth on how she feels about it, from very excited to very scared. To help her get excited, Stacey and her shared some ice cream and painted her nails alternating colors. I came home early to take care of the yard and so the two of us could spend some time together. She seems to do much better when she has some one on one time.

Sometimes we can combine doing work around the house and play time. Is there a better way to spend your last day before school starts then running through the sprinklers? I don't think so. Jonathan had a great time too, of course.

Wind Beneath My Wings

Saturday morning was the time I picked for my annual car cleaning. Despite what you may think, over the past few years one vacuum, steam clean, wipe down, hand wash, and a good waxing is all my truck has needed. This year the kids "helped".

Although the video isn't very long, I wanted to post the kids singing and dancing to music in my truck. Jonathan is such a character. Lately, when music comes on, very often he'll pretend to be signing his heart out with his eyes are closed. I really think he's imitating me, since I've done that for Julia and him many times before, just to get a reaction.

Here's a brief clip of his "act":

The Maine Event

The past few days Stacey and I have been talking a lot about our upcoming trip to Maine. We're really looking forward to seeing the little coastal towns, lighthouses, and natural beauty together...and without munchkin number one and munchkin number two. We can't remember a time since we had Julia (almost five years ago) that we've been able to do something together, just the two of us, this far away and for this long of time (four days). Right now I'm in the middle of putting together the itinerary. We'll also see Acadia National Park and we're trying to hop aboard a schooner for a two hour long sail around the Penobscot Bay (where we're staying in Camden).

All that to say that we're beginning to realize that we're entering a new phase of our life. The past five years have been good but also very demanding, considering the massive changes and events in our life. Settling down in one spot, buying and outfitting a new house, having kids, taking time off from work, starting new jobs, and adjusting to life with Julia and Jonathan have taking up a lot of our time and energy, not leaving room for much else. The "new family" phase, as I call it, is making way for those years where we'll be old enough to start doing some things that will really matter. It's hard for me to explain, but all sorts of things at home, work, and with the kids will all converge over the next few years and put us in a completely different situation then we have been over the past five years.

In a way it's going to open a lot of new doors for us as a family. Since we've worked so hard over the past five years, doing things together as a family has worked its way to the top of our list over the past few days as we've talked about our upcoming trip. Our dreams, as they stand right now, is over the next five years to start doing things like camping in a popup camper, summer weekends at the cabin, and even establishing a location, or a few locations, that we spend an extended period of time together every summer. Maine could be one of those places. We very much like the idea of renting a home for a month somewhere each summer - definitely by water of some kind. Stacey can certainly work from anywhere, and my job has the flexibility to where I may be able to partly do the same and also take vacation for the remaining time.

Over the past few weeks and months I've really started to believe that, for me, doing something like taking a month every summer with the family (plus weekends in Colorado) are what I want to do with my time and money in the future. Every once in awhile, sometimes after taking a walk around the neighborhood, I second guess myself and wonder if we should move to a nicer neighborhood. There are people that I work with that have decided that is what they want to do with their money. Personally, I just can't justify moving from a perfectly nice house in a normal neighborhood to something nicer when the increase in cost is equivalent to spending a month in a vacation house every summer for the next 60 years. Sure, in our neighborhood some people don't take care of their lawns, but when you look at what staying here means in terms of family memories and opportunity to live life then it's not even a close comparison.

We purposely bought less then we could afford but have continued to work hard so that, in the next phase of our life, we could enjoy the fruits of our labor. Although we've worked really hard, we also feel really blessed. The blessings will also open up doors to do things for other people too, not just ourselves. In the next two weeks leading up to our trip it's hard not to think of all the wonderful adventures and memories we will be having and making in the not too distant future though...and you can't really put a price on that.

ESPN Cameo

As I mentioned in my previous post on my trip to Baltimore, Dave and I were on ESPN about five times during the course of the broadcast. In fact, Dave's four year old daughter recognized him on the live broadcast. A few minutes later his wife called to tell him. 

I thought there was a possibility we would be on television because our seats were located directly behind one of the goals. When we arrived it was pretty clear that we would be on the broadcast at some point because the boom camera was moving back and forth across the crowd practically the entire match. The footage is much more impressive in high definition and on a big television. The decrease in size and quality is unavoidable, but this is better then not being able to share it at all. 

I'm wearing a gray shirt, but more noticeably, a white baseball cap. Dave makes us easy to spot, since he's wearing and aqua shirt and sitting in an aisle seat. Although I didn't include the footage here, his aqua shirt was noticeable at many other points in the broadcast.

0:30

Look for a guy in an aqua shirt walking up the stairs and a guy in a white shirt walking down the stairs. The guy in the white shirt comes to our row and we have to stand up to let him in.

1:00

Dave and I are sitting in the same spot, waiting for the game to begin.

1:45

At the end of the national anthem, I wave my hat back and forth in the air.

2:00

The people in front of us have left for halftime, so it's almost a full body shot of Dave and me.

2:30

At the very right edge of the screen, before the very end of the video, you can see us leaving our seat.

Julia's New Sister

This is what happens when both kids have a fever and watch too much television...

Spider Monkey

Stacey and spiders don't get along.  Actually, none of us really like spiders. Stacey has been known to scream and Julia and Jonathan definitely run the other way when it comes to bugs. Usually I'm the one who has to trap and kill any insects that enter our house.

That's what made today so surprising. Stacey was opening a bin in the basement closet when a spider appeared. She let out a scream, which gave Jonathan license to do the same. Julia, in her ever thoughtfulness, stepped up and said, "Momma, I'll be brave for you" and then smashed the spider three times with a plastic spoon.

Stacey still had to clean up, but Julia was the hero.