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. ;-)

Rules of the Road

I don many hats nowadays...Maid, Chef (I use that title very loosely), Boo-Boo-Kisser...and Taxi Driver, just to name a few. Ben is in the car a lot with me, and I have to say that it has tamed the road-rager in me...for the most part. I've let a few honks slip--but never an f-bomb--and Ben inquisitively asks why I did that, so I'm forced to tell the truth: "Because that silly man made a bad choice and went through a red light." Recently, he's caught on that these types of traffic violations are dangerous--and he even thinks that the police should somehow be involved. At first I was impressed with his good-citizen attitude on the road, but now...well, it seems like we have a little goody-two-shoes on our hands...and in our backseat.

Last Friday night, we headed out to pick up Ben's birthday cake before his Monkey Joe's party the next morning. We were on our way back home after the quick errand, and since I haven't been feeling well, I have been behind the wheel when we take family car-rides--yes, I still get carsick in the front seat.

We came upon a turn, and the light was greenish-turning-yellow, so of course I didn't stop. Heck, this is Florida--it could have been yellowish-already-red and "people" still go. I turned through the yellow light and heard a shocked little *gasp* coming from the backseat.

"Mommy!" Ben said, with his eyes wider than headlights. "That light was not green!"

I explained to him that I knew that, but that the yellow light just meant that there was a little bit of time before it turned red--I fought the urge to bestow my 'green-means-go-but-yellow-means-go-faster' motto upon his impressionable mind.

Apparently, that wasn't a satisfying explanation. "Mommy, we need to call the police."

Are you kidding me, kid? (Brad's stifling laughter at this point, not helping whatsoever in the situation.) I just looked at him in the rearview mirror and told him that since it wasn't an emergency, we didn't need to bother the police.

"Oh," he said. "Well, that was a bad choice."

He even reminded both me and Brad the next day that I had driven through that yellow light.

"Memember when you went through that yellow light, Mommy? That was a not good choice."

Yes, I memember. I just hope he memembers all this when he starts taking drivers' ed...

Bearing Gifts...

Well, we're in the homestretch, folks! Entering Week #36 meant entering full-on nesting mode. Even Ben seems to have caught the gotta-get-ready-for-baby bug...and I think it's the cutest thing ever.

We were really conscious about how Ben would react to all the changes going on. After moving him into his new room and repainting his old room and filling it up with new girly things, we fully expected there to be a relapse on his part...and luckily, there wasn't much of one. Sure, he took one look at the baby's new pink shag rug and said, with arms crossed, "I wanna be a girl!" Other than that, it's been OK...but there have been sweet moments that have blown me--and my hormonal emotions--out of the water.

The first occurred when I took Ben with me to get some pre-fall Christmas outlet shopping done--yes, this was back in August. Anyway, there we were in BabyGap and Ben asked to get out of the stroller. (Sidenote: Yes, it might seem a little strange that he's still riding in a stroller, but a) I use it more as a cart for pushing all my bags and b) sometimes you just gotta resort to buckling the kid into the cage on wheels.) Anyway, back to the story...he asked to get out. He walks away for a little bit and comes back with an adorable pair of gray and pink baby yoga pants! He proudly holds them up and asks, "Mommy? Can we get these for Baby Woosie?" ?!?! Are you kidding me with this cuteness?? YES! Of course we can!! But wait...there's more. He holds up the other hand in which he has the matching hoodie. [Insert AWHH! here.] He was so proud of himself...and so was I.

The next occurrence took place this past Sunday. I haven't been feeling extremely well--hello--and I just couldn't make it up and at 'em for the 9am mass. So, Brad took Ben and when they got home, Ben had a gift bag from one of my new favorite places: Tugboat and the Bird. (An adorable little children's boutique that Brad wishes had never moved onto Park Ave.) Ben runs over to the couch where I was beached--I mean, laying--and says "Mommy! We got Woosie a present!!" He rips out the tissue paper and pulls out this:

Pinky the Rat Poodle Thing. It is so soft...but man, is it ugly. Brad said "I tried to talk him out of it..." I started crying--literally bawling. Ben looked at me like What is your problem, lady? and I'm pretty sure that Brad knew to chalk it up to the hormones. I just told him that I was crying because I was so happy...and he gave me a hug.

I wasn't shedding tears because I'm afraid that this stuffed pink creature could give our newborn nightmares, of course, but because Ben is genuinely excited about having Baby Woosie around. And if he chooses to show this excitement by picking out weird-looking plush poodles, then bring on a litter of 'em.

It's Football Time!

It's that time of year again...when the season is starting to change (although living in Florida, the only real indication that Fall is coming is that Starbucks starts serving their Pumpkin Spice Latte) and faithful fans everywhere break out their alma mater gear every Saturday. It also brings the start of another annual tradition--the EDSA College Football Pool. Brad's office put together this friendly little competition years ago, and every week I look forward to B-Huff's e-mail with the week's spreads. I'm never very good--because I "bet with my heart" and tend to have an affection towards teams that suck and/or have people write their papers for them--but anyone will tell you that watching football (NFL or NCAA) is more interesting when you have a little $omething extra riding on the final outcome of the game.

This year, Brad and I decided that we would throw Ben into the pool--not literally...we don't particularly want to traumatize our child. Anyway, Ben gets his own picks this season. Now, I'm sure you're scratching your head about this one--the kid can't read, much less master an Excel spreadsheet, so how the heck is this gonna work? Fear not--have you forgotten the creativity of the Colletts?

Enter our own little version of the Mascot Challenge. (I'm actually kind of proud of this one.) I have printed out flashcards of the mascot for each school that the football pool will be featuring. Last night, we had our first pick session with Ben. And it went just swimmingly.

For each match-up, I held a mascot in each hand and told him what they were--c'mon, the Toledo Torpedos needed a little explanation. Then, he picked the one he thought would win/had the best costume. Since there are about 30 games that we pick, we were bound to get some funny moments out of this process...and here they are:

1 - Much to Brad's SEC-biased chagrin, Ben picked South Carolina...The Rooster won him over, and Granny and Carl will be proud.

2 - I really wanted this to be all about him, so I fought the urge to sway his vote...especially when it came to the choice between the Blue Devil and the Deamon Deacon...I can't believe he picked Dook.

3 - There were a few teams that were a sure bet with him: ECU Pirate, Western Kentucky's Big Red, USC's Trojan (he's got a sword!) and Syracuse's Orange Otto...who will be known as "Juice Man" from here on out.

4 - I was particularly concerned that Ben would pick against our beloved Vols this week...they're playing Oregon, and well, take a look at who Smokey was up against and tell me what Disney-loving kid is going to NOT pick this one...

Much to my surprise--and Brad's--Ben saw Smokey and said "I have that one! I pick Smokey!" I thought Brad would shed a tear of pride in that moment...

All in all, Ben picked a lot of underdogs this week. But, on any given Saturday in the land of collegiate pigskin, anything can happen...including a funny looking guy with a sword pulling the upset over a weird looking badger. We'll see...results will be in on Monday, so in the meantime...may the best costume win!