Cody’s bummed we didn’t find any alligators, but about a dozen squirrels squirreling through the bushes made him jump clean out of his flip flops.
Shireen asked if we had the whole state to ourselves after seeing some of our photos from the week.
Short of Addie’s elderly snowbird friends at the pool we do have this place to ourselves, and it’s magical.
The best vacation we could have asked for.
“The most wonderful of all things in life is the discovery of another human being with whom one’s relationship has a growing depth, beauty and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident, and the most wonderful of all things in life.” -Sir Hugh Walpole
Cody’s the best accident I’ve ever had.
The bad news is that it hasn’t gotten above 45 degrees since we got to Florida Saturday morning.
The good news is that after a Midwestern winter 45 feels like heaven and we get the entire beach to ourselves.
Perfectly fair trade off as long as there’s sunshine (of which there is plenty.)
This is my $1,200 lens after a no good very bad accident on Sunday.
The part that is broken? A $40 UV filter.
I have one on every lens I own.
You should too.
Because $40 is far less money than $1,200.
I also learned that when it comes to getting a broken lens filter off entrust it to someone who is either A) a professional or B) not emotionally attached to the lens but still values its importance.
I sat across the table from Cody as the most horrible noises known to my ears came from him breaking and prying off the filter. It’s a barbaric process no camera owner should have to witness but take heart that when it is all over your actual lens is still in one piece, unscratched and unscathed.
It took at least an hour for my pulse to slow down.
The guy at the camera store is not trying to steal your money when he suggests a lens filter (UV or skylight is all you need…nothing fancy.) Don’t make me send my mom after you, she’s the one who scolded told me about them in the first place. You can find some for $10 and some for $100. The size you need will be printed on the inside of your lens cap. The one above is a 77 mm.
Lens filters.
Don’t leave home without them.
sunday.
monday.
tuesday.
wednesday.
thursday.
friday.
saturday.
The weather wasn’t as cooperative this week.
The baby didn’t feel well for most of it.
But it was still a week full of an awful lot of lovely.
sunday.
monday.
tuesday.
wednesday.
thursday.
friday.
saturday.
(Ignore the lice and this week was tops.)
Vivi’s third week in 7 different photos on babble.
Sunday.
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday.
Thursday.
Friday.
Saturday.
“I’m so optimistic I’d go after Moby Dick in a row boat and take the tartar sauce with me.” -Zig Ziglar
‘Twas a good week around these parts. You?
********
Last night I was with you as you brought your fourth child and second son into this world.
Truly one of the best nights of my life.
I know you were pretty busy with getting him out so you may have not noticed everything that went on, but I did. And damn, you’re really good at making and birthing babies.
First off, shut up. You are amazing. I actually found myself jealous of how glowing and beautiful you were at 3 am after pushing a baby out with no drugs. I saw a glimpse of myself in a window as I walked out of the hospital and *I* looked like the one who had just been through the hardest physical task of my life.
While you were out walking with Charity, Michael and I sang the theme song to Fresh Prince of Bel Air, if only to prove that anyone born between 1975 and 1985 should know every single lyric by heart. Then Shireen and I got in a rap off about you on twitter. Sorry for my momentary lapse in professionalism. I joked with Michael that I was his doula, there to get him drinks and whatnot, I offered to press on his hips but things just got awkward.
At 8cm dilated you began talking about the Goodwill Outlet, and about needing gloves to make it out without any communicable diseases. It was a conversation we could have had over dinner, with strangers or sitting around at your house. But no, you were in labor and discussed the finer points of Goodwill Outlet shift changes until you were knocked speechless by another contraction.
You kept saying how exhausted you were, that you just wanted to curl up and go to sleep. If there were any moment that I wanted to take all of your pain away from you it was then. Just to give you 10 minutes of rest from what you so bravely doing.
That being said, labor and delivery nurses shouldn’t yawn so much. I don’t care what time it is. Just an observation.
I especially liked it when you where hunched over in the bed and as you heard me come near you muttered “I’ll bet I’m making you totally want to do this again.”
Being able to keep in touch with your mom and sisters through the whole thing was pretty spectacular. There’s a very good chance I won’t be there for the birth of my nephew at the end of March and being able to see how your sisters rallied together for you and made jokes about their own labors, including one that took place at animal control and one that happened in a room down the hallway…I’m pleased to be counted as the 5th Dutch sister.
As far as the moment your water broke? If there were awards given out to women for listening to their bodies and demanding everyone else listen as well? You’d win. You knew that kid was coming and that he was coming now. When Nurse Yawns said ‘hold on‘ and you responded with ‘GET THE DOCTOR IN HERE NOW.’ I gave you a silent little standing O from the back of the room.
It went so fast. One push his head was out. Half a push later you had a baby in your arms. I perfect little boy with long fingers, full lips and a wrinkly little back.
At one point you yelled ‘I CAN’T DO THIS!‘ the sarcastic part of me thought ‘It’s a little to late for that now Em.’ while the rest of me, completely in awe of what you were going through shouted “YES YOU CAN. YOU ARE SHOWING BIRTH WHO’S BOSS.” I kept quiet of course, aside from the clicks of my shutter, you had plenty of other people cheering you on, including your doula who said very matter-of-factly “Yes you can, because you’re doing it.”
And just like that he was here.
You probably didn’t get to see Michael’s face. He’s so in love with that tiny little seven pound body and even more in love with you. I hope that being able to see his face in these pictures made it worth having me there. The joy of a man becoming a new dad, even for the fourth time…it’s palpable, fleeting and one of the most powerful emotions out there.
As I left you were snuggled up tight with your son, surrounded by the dim, warm, quiet that happens after all the excitement and intensity has slowed down. That magical time when it’s just you and your baby.
People commented on how lucky you are to have a friend like me, while I’m certainly not going to argue with them (what? humility is overrated) I am going to say it is me who is blessed to have you as a friend.
Our friendship may have started because of the Internet, but it was designed by God.
You are forever a part of my family and heart.
Thank you.
Thank you for being you.
And thank you for letting me be with you two years ago and last night as you welcomed your sons into this world.
xoxo
-Casey
(note: my mobile theme is wonky and won’t show photos on most mobile devices, sorry about that, click for full site to view photos.)
