The Toot Experience

Our little girl makes some funny noises - front and rear. Lucky for us, she's using her voice for more than cries these days, as she learns how to laugh, coo, and gurgle. The noises from the rear haven't changed much, but are still just as comical as Day 1. Let's take The Toot, for instance. These little baby gases could sometimes qualify as Man Farts, but for decency's sake, we'll say they're Toots. The Toot Experience becomes more entertaining when every time I say the word "Toot," Little Richard begins to sing "Tutti Frutti" in my head. And so, little Josie and her Mama break into song and dance and toots around the house - A-wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop bam boo

Did I mention I love being a mom?

Shifting Priorities

Well, it's been nearly a month since I had a baby. Obviously I haven't had much time to blog, with feedings every 2-3 hours and diaper changes in between. Parenthood proves to be the most rewarding experience of my life. With the blessing of a child, priorities immediately shift, taking the focus off of what used to be You, primarily. It's wonderful. Shelby and I have grown into an even stronger team and have exponentially more love for one another and our growing family just in the past 4 weeks.

One member of the family who has noticed this shift in priorities is Woody. Don't get me wrong, we still love him just the same, and have been careful not to send any hint of neglect his way. He seems to have taken to role of big brother (aka jealous!) with a dash of grumpy grandpa. He just doesn't know what to make of the tiny thing that makes the most terrible sounds for apparently no reason at all. When Josie cries, Woody hovers in the hallway, not sure if he should 1) run to help, or 2) run to get the hell out of there. He has also been more daring in where he chooses to relax - not only have I found him or evidence of him (leaves and mulch) on the couch, but I've also discovered our little pooch nestled in the baby bouncer, snug as a bug! If only I had gotten a picture!

Handy Man Extraordinaire!

My dad is one of the handiest men I know. Like your typical daddy's girl, I'm quite proud of him. He can figure out how to fix things, how to make things, etc. It's a fine gift he has.

But this post is about someone else.

Dad-to-be and my husband Shelby is giving my dad a run for his money. Of course, my dad has a 20 year head start on Shelby, but if you were to compare them both before age 30, I'd venture to say Shelby would have the lead. After years of working on the farm (mostly by himself), he's self-taught and very resourceful. He has become particularly handy since we moved into our house last September. Recessed lights? No problem. Dishwasher installation? Child's play!

It's been really inspiring to watch his confidence grow with each successful project. He once said he wasn't good at woodworking, but based on his latest completion, I'd say he's got a handle on wood. He's even planning to build a bookshelf for Josie.

Workbench by Shelby
(photo also by Shelby)

We'll see how he measures up in 20 years, when Josie finds her own handy man...

Home Sweet Home

Where are you going on summer vacation? This year, my time away from work will be spent on maternity leave. Hardly a vacation, I've heard. But if I were living a different life, where would I go to get away?

No where. I love being at home.

It's not about the cost of vacation, I promise. Even if things were too tight for a 2 week excursion to Paris, we could at least swing a long weekend in Gatlinburg. No matter our financial situation, I'll pass on Paris and Gatlinburg.

It's not about the endless list of things to do around the house. We have successfully finished Phase 1 of our home makeover, so there's really not a ton to do. Phase 2 hasn't exactly been planned, so we're all set.

My idea of a good time is a staycation: a vacation at home. Spending a week at home with my husband, doing anything we want without a plan or schedule, exploring our hometown - who could want more? There will be time to see Niagra Falls and swim in the Mediterranean. When the travel bug bites, I guess.

On Being Brave

I finally learned how to transfer my blog from my old gmail account to my new one. The once necessary logging out and in of different gmail accounts was one hinderance to my blogging frequency. Seriously - I can be that lazy.

The transfer process was actually very simple. I held my breath as I deleted the old account's privileges, hoping that my whole blog would still be in tact. It turned out alright, with only one minor glitch. My "About Me" section was deleted, so I had to revisit my very first post to accurately sum up the story behind this blog.

I've never been one to "journal," but I can see why people might enjoy it. There's nothing like having your own thoughts jotted down somewhere to be rediscovered by a later You. Finding little pieces of the past can remind you of where you've been and teach you a lot about where you're going. Reading my very first post took me back to November 2007, all accompanying memories from my first year in Kentucky, and everything it took to get me here: a wonderful man, opening doors, and a lot of faith.

I'm not big on a lot of contemporary Christian music, but I really, really, very much enjoy Nichole Nordeman. She sings (and I think wrote) a song called "Brave," which speaks to a lot of different situations, but definitely to circumstances of change. Moving to Kentucky took a lot of courage for me, as I had only lived in one town (with the exception of college, which wasn't really any different) for my whole life. Most of my family is there, or nearby. My closest friends had grown up with me since kindergarten. I could drive the streets blindfolded and had memories around every corner.

I left all that behind, armed with God-given bravery, for Kentucky, where I knew only one person very well, and knew no street names. A blank slate can be exciting - and a little scary, to say the least. God was calling me here, and I answered in a big way. "To say Your name, just Your name, and I'm ready to go..."

I would guess that most people thought I was crazy to move. But - "if You believe in me, that changes everything..." I had the Lord encouraging me, believing in me, that this was not so crazy after all. Married and with a child on the way, I have seen God's hand at work in me in Kentucky. I was brave because of Him. "The way it always was, it's no longer good enough..."

And still, "You make me wanna be brave."

Words that end in "tip"

We're getting the house ready ("nesting") for Josie's big arrival, so all of our outlets now host either a plug or one of those plastic outlet covers. So when I found Woody chewing on something that looked like a frosted piece of plastic about the size of an outlet, I quickly freaked out and rushed to scold him so he would drop the darn thing. It turns out it was only a piece of ice, and I felt terribly guilty for yelling at him in my panicked state for merely enjoying a cool treat.

Once I figured out it was just a harmless piece of ice, I changed my tone and tried to coax him into eating it (mainly to make myself feel better for getting on his case). He wouldn't have any part of that, thank you very much. ("You just yelled at me, lady!") What a good dog he is, doing exactly as I told him. I saw this was going nowhere, so I took the piece of ice and encouraged him to eat it out of my hand.

Let me remind you this dog has had raccoons for dinner. Natural born killer, this one.

Anyway, he reluctantly took the ice and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly from my fingertips. Speaking of words that end in -tips, I caught Woody the Best Dog Ever eating a Q-tip yesterday, so my freak-out today wasn't completely out of turn. I only found half of the Q-tip, so here's hoping the rest makes it through his digestive system.

In other Woody news, I've started thinking about packing my bags for the hospital. At 32 weeks, you've gotta start thinking about the possibility of being early. I got an overnight bag from the basement last night, and put it by the bed for packing in the somewhat near future. Woody, however, had different plans for my bag, and has now claimed it as his bed. As a 25 lb. Jack Russell, he really likes being curled up in beds that are too small for him. Whatever floats your boat, Woods. Just lay off the Q-tips before I have a coronary next time you're chewing on anything but dog food.

Long Lost

I just learned that one of my Virginia cousins LIVES and WORKS in the Greater Louisville area!!  Not to be confused with the cousin in Owensboro, this newly discovered neighbor cousin and I lost touch about 10 years ago (for no reason that I can think of).  I cannot wait to see her again to catch up on so much time that has gone by.  

I found out about our shared geography when my dad saw her mom at a relative's funeral today.  Apparently her mom and stepdad are coming to visit them this weekend...  Also, she is expecting her 2nd child, due in JUNE.  Could this get any more interesting???

Getting ready

TGIF!!

My parents are coming to visit next weekend, so I have exactly one week to get everything ready for our guests.  Shelby is busy with the last minute home improvements, and I am putting the finishing touches on the guest bedroom and bathroom to make their stay oh-so-very comfortable.  I'm also planning our social agenda:   not only is next Saturday is my mom's birthday, but we always like to show them something new around Kentucky each time they visit.

The calendar is filling up, mainly due to the reason for their visit on this particular weekend:  3 baby showers!!  It is already apparent that our little girl will not want for much.  What a blessing to have 3 different people want to host showers for us!  I hope we play the "what's in the diaper" game.  So gross, but so funny!  Better get a laugh out of poopy diapers now, right?  More thoughts on showers later...

This will also be my parents last visit to KY before Josie arrives...  Crazy, but true!  I have a feeling we will spend some of the weekend getting things ready for June, like setting up the crib and planning for their next (super big) trip.  All very exciting, but exciting for the most part juts to see my mom & dad.  Hooray!!

Of course I know what a Klingon sword is... don't you?

While wandering around the internet and friends' facebook profiles today, I came across an article about a man in CO who robbed two 7-Elevens with a Klingon sword.  Most people could picture the robbery if it had occurred with a gun.  Fewer people could imagine what really happened, as I doubt everyone knows what a Klingon sword is.

But I do.

Thanks to my dad, I know more than the average woman (and general person, probably) about Klingons and other character species from Star Trek.  I think my uncle (dad's brother) actually taped every single episode of Star Trek EVER (not just the Original Series with Captain Kirk, but also the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager... you get the idea).

I like that I grew up as a Trekkie by association.  I can name at least five different species (Klingon, Ferengi, Romulan, Changeling, Vulcan) that regularly occurred on the show, and identify which character is what species.  I can quote the introduction from the Next Generation in my sleep, backwards and forwards.  I had a crush on Wesley Crusher.  My favorite Star Trek movie is probably the most well-liked among the general population - Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.  But how many regular folks have a favorite Star Trek movie?  I will tell you that the later movies aren't so good.  Nemesis?  Not again, thanks.

Hi MOM!

My mom told me she didn't know about my blog, so I'm sending her the link right now and dedicating this post to her.

I LOVE YOU, MOM!

P.S. If you have any suggestions for what my mom should be called when she becomes a grandma, let me know.  We're in the brainstorming phase :)

Kentucky's 3rd Largest City

At the end of August, my cousin will join the ranks of Virginians who left the Old Dominion for Kentucky! I cannot wait to visit her right down the road (only an hour and a half from Louisville) in Owensboro, Kentucky. I have never been to Owensboro and have really never heard anything about it until I heard this news of her move. Quite surely you also didn't know that Owensboro...

1. is Kentucky's 3rd largest city
2. holds the title of "Kentucky's Festival City," hosting over 20 festivals throughout the year, including BBQ, PumpkinFest and Bluegrass festivals
3. sits on the Ohio River bordering Indiana, just like Louisville
4. is home to more several universities: Brescia, Western Kentucky, Kentucky Wesleyan, and Mr. Jim's Beauty College (!) to name a few
5. has it's own song

PawPaw

Boyd E. "Pluto" Wade, Sr.

February 29, 1932 - November 28, 2007
I'll miss my grandpa and his butterscotch candies.

Preface

In exactly one month from today, I will have lived in Louisville, Kentucky for one year. As this anniversary approaches, it seems likely to me that someone has probably wondered, "What is Emily doing out there?" So to fill you in and to celebrate the life I have chosen to make in the Bluegrass State, I submit to you my blog, "Wealthy in the Commonwealth." Not the Commonwealth of Virginia, but another Commonwealth that has become my home, where I am richly blessed beyond man's measure. I have learned tremendous and invaluable lessons which I hope to share here, along with accounts of my continuing "education" and my own humble opinion of what everyone needs to know about Kentucky. As life goes on, my goal is to keep the blog updated to keep you updated on my new/"Old" Kentucky home. Life beyond Virginia actually exists - who knew!