Nashville

This past weekend I had the opportunity to travel to Nashville for the MOPS International Convention. It was an incredible weekend, let me tell you. Not only was it fabulous being in Nashville - and among dear friends, but the conference turned out to be one of the most encouraging, uplifting events I've ever been able to experience.

I've been to other Christian women conferences that have been great, but there was something about being there among moms (with kids less than five years of age) that was especially amazing. Maybe it was because everything was really applicable. Or because the speakers were all inspiring (Max Lucado, Laura Dungy, Tim Kimmel & Mary Beth Chapman to name a few). Or maybe it was the music (Travis Cotrell, Sara Groves, Mandisa & Steven Curtis Chapman). I'm sure it was a combination of all of the above. All I can say is that I came home inspired - to love my husband well, to look at each day as a gift, and to feel confidence in the importance of my role as mama.

Here are just a few highlights of the trip...

Carly and I were lucky enough to fly out the night before the conference began. We got into Nashville really late (or rather early in the morning) thanks to a storm during our layover in Denver. And our bags were soaked on arrival. Luckily we had a few dry items to wear the first day - and the hairdryer came in handy as well.

Jonathan has family in Nashville, and his aunt Caroline was kind enough to pick us up from our hotel Thursday morning, take us to breakfast, and show us some of the great sites in Nashville. It was such a special treat to get to spend time with her. Thanks, Aunt Caroline!

We went a little overboard on breakfast. We just had to try all the delicious southern food!

Along music row in downtown...

Trying on some cowboy boots (how could we resist?)

Visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame

If she hadn't given us this tour, we would've seen next to nothing of the actual city. Our hotel was a bit crazy and we only stepped outside the doors twice during our three day conference (to head back to the Cracker Barrel for two more meals).

The funny thing was we never felt cooped up indoors. This was probably because our room had a balcony overlooking a very large garden (one of three in the hotel), where Carly famously commented, "I think it's windy outside" (translation: the air conditioning is blowing some tree branches).

It was great to feel pampered. And to travel child-less. And to eat out. And to stay up late enjoying good conversation. And of course to have bed jumping competitions. Here is Lisa's expert landing.

Here are a few pictures of the four of us. The first was taken at one of our lunches out together - and the next was on a hotel balcony. It was so wonderful spending time with each of these ladies and getting to know them more (Katie, Carly, Lisa & me)

But of course we were all missing our families by the end. And some good home-cooked food. And our own beds. And the "real" outdoors. Here we are, ready to see our families on the last leg of the plane ride.

Nashville, I will come back. And MOPS, I really do love you.

27 Months

Okay, I know I vowed to quit counting in months when my daughter hit the two year mark. And I have, actually. A woman at the park the other day told me her daughter was 28 months and I had to stop a second to count Clara's age in months.

But I feel sad sometimes when I look back at all the almost monthly updates I posted about my girl when she was a baby and realize it's been far too long since I documented the ins & outs of the Claranator. So unless you are a family member, this is likely not going to be a post you read very carefully (ie warning: stop reading now). At two years and three months, this is our little Miss Clara girl...

*She is so social and loves to go go go. I don't know if I have somehow made her this way - or if it's an innate part of her personality, but one of her first questions each day is "where are we going?" or "who is coming over?" She's not very great at spending long amounts of time at home, with just me. In fact, I think she would be in heaven if she was the third or fourth child in another family. Luckily, she has a sibling on the way!

*She continues eating a wide variety of food, and quickly. There's no messing around when "big girls gotta eat" (the lovely phrase my brother taught her during the family reunion). She loves all the same foods that have always been in her top ten (any fruit under the sun, cheese, pasta, beans, smoothies, peanut butter, pickles and tuna), but has recently added hummus and cucumber as a daily request.

*In an attempt a few months ago to broaden her music repertoire (and bring sanity to our road trips), we started trying to get her excited about some random songs on a mix CD in our car. The result: a new obsession with the song Gracie Girl by Ben Folds. Clara sings along with every word through the second verse. It's borderline ridiculous. And I love the song, so it makes me smile every time. But I have to say, it has also proven the fact that any song played twelve times in a row becomes much less appealing over time. But I'll still take Gracie Girltwelve times over Go Round the Mountain any day.

*Communicating with a two year old has proven quite interesting over the past few months especially. I can't tell you the number of times I have thought "I can't believe I am having this conversation right now." An example: a few months ago, in an effort to ignore some needless crying, I told Clara "you can cry if you want to." Every since, at any moment I even start to tell her that her crying/whining is unnecessary, she comes back at me with my same phrase: you can cry if you want to. Successfully using my very words against me. And so then I begin a conversation about how crying is different than whining and that she is free to cry when she's sad or upset, but whining is just faking/having a bad attitude. I know. Not exactly the kind of conversation you might expect to have with your two year old.

*Potty training has been quite the roller coaster. In talking to a friend recently I have fully identified the culprit: my expectations. I went into it thinking "she's ready. She keeps asking to go. She's smart. She's verbal. Giving up her binky was easy. I mean, she's going to do great." If you have a child and you hear yourself saying the same things (and you haven't started potty training), don't start quite yet. Talk to a few friends (and me) first. And then try. You will thank me later. In all honesty, she really hasn't done that bad. We've had weeks without accidents and she's adjusted well, for the most part, on vacation. But out of nowhere (like today!), she'll have multiple accidents and it is really hard not to get frustrated. On a lighter note, the other day she looked at her poop in the toilet and said "it looks like ice cream". And those are the moments I try to remember in this whole process ;).

*She is a daddy's girl and that hasn't changed. It might even be getting worse over time. Maybe it's the fact that we've had some great vacation time as family lately, but Clara has been crying when she wakes up and realizes her daddy is at work. I can't wait to watch our mother/daughter relationship grow, but I just adore watching what already exists between this little girl and her daddy.

*A few favorite things: being outside, swimming, swings, bath time, people/friends!, the lake, reading books, jumping, dancing and singing, talking about anything/everything, Buddy the bear, George the monkey, her baby girl, riding her trike, parks, and visiting daddy at work.

*And a few not so favorites: loud noises, bugs, masks, leaving her favorite places/people, cold water, and being forced to do anything she doesn't really want to do ;).

What a fun, challenging, tiring, rewarding, exciting stage we're in. I have loved all the stages along the way, truly, from newborn til now. Each for different reasons, of course. But there is just something about watching her learn and grow and make connections that makes each day a thrilling ride. We love you, Clara girl, and we are excited for all that's in store!

Camping Weekend

This past weekend we went camping with our home group from church. Every time I go camping I feel like I nearly faint with exhaustion before we get there. And somewhere during the planning/packing process I question whether all the effort is actually worth it. I mean, not only does a mama have to pack for herself, but pack for a little one(s) and coordinate all the food/supplies. It can feel like a nightmare. The good news is that once we arrive it is always great - and well worth the effort. Thank goodness.

I always appreciate my mom even more after going camping. She did it with four kids all the time. And would make fabulous food. I think she should win some kind of award, like the camping mom of the year distinction. I'm certainly years away from reaching her status.

As always, our time together as a group was wonderful. The weather was perfect. The lake (minus the crazy population of flies) lovely. The company wonderful. Here was our time together, in pictures...

Fun at the beach

The Randall boys

Joel and Hollyn (love this one)

The Claranator

The squirt gun appeal

Amy & Miss Hollyn

My husband runs on water

I think he may have caught this one?

Joel may not have, but it was a great sprawl nonetheless

Hanging out around the camp site

Norah and Clara girl (I love watching their little relationship)

Kelly and Hollyn, so photogenic

Mel and Miss Hollyn (yes, everyone loved holding Hollyn)

Loving the tire swing at the playground

The boys and their frisbee golf battle

S'mores, of course. Yum!

Time around the campfire: always the highlight

Amy, Kelsey & I, enjoying the silence of the evening while the kiddos slept

And of course a little guitar

My Favorite Day of the Year

Why is August 1st my favorite day of the year? No, it's not because it falls mid-summer (I do love summer). It's not because it usually falls on the eve of some big trip (although I am going to Nashville Wednesday, and I am excited about it). It's not because of a birthday or an anniversary, or any other big landmark.

It is because August 1st marks the first day I begin using a new planner. Yes, I am that ridiculous. I find great joy in filling its pages with all the important dates of the year. And then it becomes home to my lists: of daily plans, to dos, and other random musings (lists of kid names, books I want to read, projects I want to finish in our house, etc. etc. etc.). It is often referred to as my brain, because I don't think I could live without it. Once I left it on an airplane and nearly hyperventilated until I could re-enter and claim it. I know. I'm a bit obsessed.

There is no reason I should use an August to August calendar. I'm not a student or even a teacher anymore. But I haven't managed to live a year without one, since buying one of these bad boys at the Whitworth book store ten years ago. The color selection is always a big decision (as it should be, you know). I've traded in the red 2010-2011 for the turquois 2011-2012. I think I'm happy with my choice.

Lake Weekend

The lake + a long weekend + great weather + renting a boat + relaxing on the beach + eating good food + being together with family = heaven.

Here are just a few (well, a few more than a few) pictures of our wonderful weekend as a Hook family.

Papa and the girls

Cousins = best friends

Warning: a lot of boating pictures. First, the girls and their mamas (common denominator: smiling moms & less than impressed little girls)

Clara loved driving the boat with both Papa and Daddy

Gotta love boat hair

The perfect picnic spot: campground at Upper Priest Lake

On the way back through the thoroughfare connecting upper and lower Priest lake, we decided to attempt a mother-daughter tube ride (we went five miles per hour, mind you). It was definitely a success. Clara loved it.

My sweet niece, loving the boat ride

And everyone else loving it too...

Both girls napped on the trip back. Clara snuggled with her daddy.

I promised Anna that this picture wouldn't hit the blog, but it is just too cute. Sorry Anna. Do you see a mother/daughter resemblance or what? (and not just the bed head ;))

Playing on the swing set outside Hills after a lovely Sunday brunch.

It's a...

Baby! I know. I am lame. You may have been expecting a boy/girl revelation. We opted to be surprised again this time, so we won't know until sometime in November or December, when this little one makes his/her debut into the world. But we had to share a few pictures nonetheless. This little bean has been quite active these past few weeks. If I wake up at night, I sometimes have a hard time getting back to sleep, for all the acrobatics. But I'm not complaining. I really do love feeling a baby move inside. It's such a miracle!

Who knows? We may decide to find out the sex of baby #3 (when/if he/she comes along, Lord willing), but we loved the big moment when we discovered we had a Clara and not an Eli (and no - we probably won't use that name if we have a boy, thus the revelation). And since we are equally excited to have sisters or a girl/boy combo, it only makes sense that we'd choose the surprise again.

We just have to close our eyes through parts of one (hopefully) more ultrasound in three weeks. We get an extra little peak because I contracted fifths disease about a month ago. They're not too concerned, but just want to monitor the baby's growth. I suppose we have three weeks to change our minds ;).

Just one more picture: of a nice, big foot. Whether boy or girl, this one is sure to follow the family trend and have very large feet.