Pour one out for my Hammy...

We bought Hammy in North Myrtle Beach. Ben saved up his money, had even checked out library books on how to take care of hermit crabs, and it was all he had talked about before our trip down to the Carolina coast. Ben picked out 2 hermit crabs--along with the purple cage, blue rocks and orange food dish--and we welcomed Hammy and Shelley into the family.

After upgrading to a 20-gallon aquarium, these hermit crabs were living pretty large. Hammy was by far the more active one, even keeping some out-of-town guests awake at night with his crawling and clawing. Ben would take him out every now and then, and I don't think I'll ever forget when I found Ben in the living room...and the empty box on the floor of his bedroom. We spent hours looking for Hammy, praying he wasn't dead, or worse--that he had crawled into Lucie's crib. Let's face it--he wouldn't have stood a chance against our little Miss Piggy.

When Hammy molted--yes, they do that and yes, it's freaky--I thought he was dead. And that was my dress rehearsal for what was to come. My thoughts? Do I buy a new one before Ben notices? Do I tell Ben and use this as a learning experience? UGH! Tough decisions!

A few weeks later, after a weekend in Orlando, I came home and found Hammy. *Reader discretion is advised.* He had crawled out of his shell and was shriveled up. Deader than driftwood. We decided to tell Ben the truth about his crustaceous friend...we sat him down on the couch in what felt like a very after-school-special kind of conversation. There were a few tears, and finally Ben said he wanted to see him. After crying and saying he "very missed Hammy", he asked if Hammy would go to heaven in the middle of the night. I said that he was already there, but Ben was confused--what kid wouldn't be?--because Hammy was still in the aquarium.

I tell you what--nothing quite prepares you for the spiritual, after-life conversation with your 4-year old. We talked a little about someone's soul, heaven, etc. as child-friendly as we could, and then Ben asked if we could put him in a cemetery. I found a little jewelry box--NOT Tiffany blue...sorry, Hammy--and Ben asked me to put a little blanket in there, in case he got cold. We tied an orange bow around the box, and buried him in the flower bed in the backyard, complete with a homemade cross.

As we stood there, we asked Ben if he wanted to say a little prayer for Hammy.

"Sure," he said. "God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. By His hands, we all are fed. Give us, Lord, our daily bread. Amen."

Guess that one just felt right to him.

There are many defining moments in the life of a child as seen through the eyes of his parent. From the time he takes his first steps to his first bike ride, there are years of memories and learning experiences that build up and you wonder which ones will shape his future. I'm pretty sure that he'll look back, remember, and still very miss Hammy.

Even though he was more than excited to bring home Second Hammy. The legend lives on...

Out with the Island Margarita, in with the Market Fresh Apple...

I ran out of soap yesterday in the kitchen.

I know, I know--this might not seem like breaking news, but the timing of it really stood out to me. See, earlier this summer, I ordered a bunch of soaps from Bath & Body Works. My favorite was the Island Margarita. It was perfect because it made me think of the beach and--let's be honest--I drank enough of them to make it my official beverage of choice this summer. (Helpful hint from Daddy...add a splash of Cointreau and orange juice to make it juuuuust right.)

Anyway, I've had this soap in the kitchen for the past few months...until yesterday, when it sputtered out its last pump. I went to the cabinet and the first soap I saw was...you guessed it...Market Fresh Apple. Perfect timing.

Ben started school this morning (insert thoughts of taking apples to the teacher on the first day of school), and I swear that it was about 10 degrees cooler last night on our evening walk. It's like Fall is starting to make its presence known...and I couldn't be more excited. The leaves will be changing in a couple months, and if I can't wait until then to see orange, I can just look at any storefront here in Knoxville--the Orange Nation is everywhere here, and I'm not talking about cheap and flimsy banners...they have checkerboard awnings, people. It's no joke. Football season is almost here, and you can feel the excitement and school spirit.

At the same time, it made me think back on this time that is coming to a close. Our first few months here, our first summer in a new home. We've gone through a lot of changes, and there have been some trying moments, to say the least...mostly including me losing my patience and adjusting to being a stay-at-home mom. (Other SAH moms, I can now say, without a shadow of a doubt, that you have the most difficult job in the world. I have only walked a tenth of a mile in your shoes, and I have blisters--I don't know how you do it.) Overall, though, I know that I will look back and know that we had a darn good time...but just in case I forget, I'll list a few highlights:

• Ben learned how to swim. Like going-under-water-and-picking-up-diving-rings swimming. Jumping-off-the-diving-board swimming. Heck-no-I-don't-need-water-wings swimming. It was incredible to see him go from being afraid of getting his hair wet (wonder where he gets that from?) to strapping on the goggles and jumping right in.
• Lucie started crawling, standing up and talking. Aside from Da-da, Ma-ma and Bubba (her nickname for her brother), her first real, uncoached verbal response to something was "Uh oh!" when she dropped a bottle. After watching her crawl and realizing that she has her mother's grace, I'd say this is a perfectly appropriate phrase and will probably come in handy...she's destined to be clumsy like me. Sorry, Lucie Lou.
• We got to travel. Without hopping on a plane. Taking the kids to Myrtle Beach made me feel like I was back in school--the excitement of 'having the summer off' was so fun. Spending time on the sand took me right back to my childhood when our huge, crazy family would all pack up and head to the coast. I hope that this is a tradition we can continue.
• We live in a neighborhood where people walk. Families take their kids to the playground. Couples walk their dogs. Kids ride their bikes and scooters everywhere, and play basketball in their driveways. It really feels like a community...and that's so nice.
• Above all else, overlooking the time-outs and tantrums, I have 2 happy, healthy children who love their parents and each other. And if there's one image I want to keep in mind when I look back on this summer...it's this one:

With Ben going off to his new school today ("I'm so exciting to make new fwends!"), I kind of feel like a chapter is closing. It's like when you reach the point with your baby when you stop counting his/her age in weeks. It would sound silly to say "Oh, she's 42 weeks old." You just say "10 months." Not that the excitement has worn off, but the newness has...and that's not a bad thing--it just means it's more of a comfortable thing.

We've been here for 3 months now, and it's comfortable for us. We're getting settled and we're LIVING here. The summer might be over, but we really had a blast...and I can't wait to see what the other seasons here in Knoxville have in store for us...and you can be sure they'll each have their own appropriately coordinated hand soap.

Hey, Mister Postman...

As the parent of a constantly curious little boy, I am always surprised when he finds excitement in things that adults take for granted. Case in point: Mailboxes.

I know--I was just as baffled by this as you are.

I really had never thought about the concept of mailboxes. It seems like a pretty basic thing, right? I've known many types of mailboxes in my lifetime: from a custom-painted mailbox on a matching wooden post at the top of my parents' driveway to the communal mail station that every complex in America has to the vintage-looking metal mailbox attached to our house in Florida...I guess I've seen it all. But Ben hasn't. The only mailbox Ben knew was the latter--and I didn't really think it had made an impression on him. Sure, this was the depository for the Paci Fairy's gifts years ago (see previous blog), but other than that, Ben really had no need to familiarize himself with our mailbox. So, it genuinely floored me to see his confusion when we arrived at our house in Tennessee...and he asked, "Mommy? What is that stand at the end of our dwive-way?" He listened intently as I explained that, everyday, the mailman would drive up to our mailbox and leave mail...and then he asked if he could check for the mail. Little did I know that this would be the start of a routine.

Everyday since we have arrived, Ben gets excited to go get the mail. Rain or shine, people. Don't believe me? See for yourself.

(In case you can't tell, those are rainboots he's wearing and the only thing that keeps him inside is the fun-der.)

He got even more excited to know that the little red flag rises up when you have mail for the mailman to pick up...! He began to ask when he would get mail, so I told him that he could write letters to some friends and maybe they would write back--let's just say he's better at getting the mail out of the mailbox than he is at dictating letters...sorry, Girl Micah, Torun and Anooja--I had to improvise some. ;-) He was so thrilled to take his letters out to the mailbox and put the flag up...and then a few hours later...the flag was down!! YIPPEEE!!

It's refreshing sometimes when kids remind us that sometimes the truly simple things in life can bring excitement and joy...and I have to say that the surprise of receiving a sweet note from a friend in the mail (be it snail mail or virtual) is a pleasure at any age. :-)

Dear Future Self,

There will come a time--probably in the not-so-distant future--that you will begin to take things for granted in your not-so-new home. When you do, read this.

Remember that first morning walk you took in your new neighborhood. The appreciation you felt for an actual walkway along the Tennessee River just a block away from your house, the crisp, non-sweltering Tennessee morning air, Lucie in the jogging stroller...and then the sites around you...

You might now find this hard to believe, but this gave you goosebumps. The awe that this was what you were seeing on a morning walk was pretty incredible. The thought that this could be the site of some of Ben's first memories was exciting. The realization that this is a place that will become home set in...and although it was bittersweet, it was starting to get a little sweeter.

Remember, too, the joy of seeing this new place through your loved ones' eyes: Ben seeing mountains for the first time and exclaiming "This is awesome!" and Brad setting up his new office and catching him with smiling eyes as we drove past Neyland Stadium on a daily basis. Possibly, for the first time, you truly felt what it was like to put your family first and started to put down some roots.

Nothing can fill the void of missing Orlando and all your friends there, but I know that you won't have a problem remembering them because I know they will always be a big part of your life. I just didn't want you to forget the first feelings of your new friend...Knoxville.

Love,

Today's Nicki

Back by popular* demand...

WOW. Looking back through these blog posts, I can't believe it has been so long since my last post! Well, if you know us, you know that we've had a few things on our plates. We have added another Doodles to the family: Lucie is now 7 months old! AND we've moved our Doodle Pad to good ol' Rocky Top...Woo!

Leaving our Orlando home and friends was very difficult, and we're still adjusting and getting settled. One of the first things we decided to do was paint the kids' rooms. We went with the same colors as their rooms were in Florida, and they turned out great. Ben really loves "the green house" and the fact that the Tennessee River is a block south and the playground is 2 blocks north definitely makes our little neighborhood A-OK in his book.

There are a few things that have already set this place apart from Orlando...and I'm sure I'll run across a few more:

• While at Bed Bath & Beyond, I was looking for a new doormat. There was a young couple next to me, doing the same. Pretty sure I wouldn't have heard this in O-town: "Yeah, but the other one would be great for me to set my boots on."
• Publix might have sold their green bags for much less than the $2.99 that Kroger charges for theirs, but take a guess as to who has a pickling and homemade jelly supply aisle...not to mention Graeter's pints and cans of Skyline. Advantage: Kroger.
• Knoxville has Zaxby's. Not sure if Central Florida has one--I had never been there. And I must say that the lovely young woman behind the counter, Starlandia, made my first trip to the chicken joint quite pleasant.
• Ben's name officially is pronounced "Bin." I knew that was coming.
• I have to say that the southern hospitality is really refreshing--we have been to the playground many times, and every single time, there is someone new to meet and talk to. Even driving is different here--people don't run red lights and drive like maniacs...or tourists. ;-)

Like I said, we're still adjusting, but so far...so good.

* by "popular", I mean that one person (Kristy) said she missed my blog. This one's for you, Mrs. Walson. ;-)