Happy Birthday Lola!

Practicing with the noise makers

Waiting for Lola

Surprise!

The kids were in charge of placing the candles

Charlotte helping Gi with the lighting of the candles

The Cake Boss

Waiting very patiently

Snuggles and giggles with Charlotte

The importance of an education

"You KNOW the importance of an education?"  Dad would say.  ALL.  OF.  THE.  TIME.

This became a running joke between us.  Dad has ALWAYS preached about the importance of an education.  (As a teenager this got REALLY old,,,you can imagine)

But, the funny thing is...my college 4th year thesis project,  Take a guess what type of building I designed?  A school!  And I was not content to design JUST the school.  I spent the better part of that year asking the question: what makes for a great education?  And how does the built environment create a place where learning is optimal?  Not only did I design the school, but I also spent a lot of time designing the curriculum for the school I was designing.  That was ALL Dad.  He instilled that in me.  I am his daughter.



Len Baird is a passionate man.  And while I didn't follow in his footsteps in medicine (I faint at the sight of blood) I did follow his example in following my  passion.  I LOVE design.  And I knew before I ever knew what architecture was, that I wanted to create places that inspire people to live passionately.  This is who I am.  My father's daughter.  Thanks to his passion and encouragement I followed my dreams of being a designer and today,  I get to go to work every day and design great places to live, work and play. That is my father's legacy.   And I am so proud to be Len Baird's daughter.  Will you walk with us? For more information about the Alzheimer's Organization click here: http://www.alz.org/

If you'd like to join our team, click here! We'd love for you to join us in the fight.
 ‪#‎Walk2EndAlz‬

Let's Walk!

I haven't talked much about my dad and his Alzheimer's diagnosis.  Mainly because I have been ignoring it.  I don't want to face the reality.  But that's not what he would want.  He faced his diagnosis with incredible courage and would want me to continue fighting now that he cannot.

I miss my dad.

THIS is how I remember him.  Young.  Strong.  Full of life.  And pursuing his passion.

He is still here, but not.  Not like he was before.  Before this horrible disease robbed him of his life's passion: healing.  He was a brilliant surgeon who had an incredible impact on the lives of his patients and their families.  It's just not fair.  And there was a time that he KNEW what was happening to him and the man who had saved so many lives was powerless to change his own future. It's just not fair.

My heart breaks for my mother.  She is such an inspiration of grace and patience and unconditional love and devotion.  Her care for my father is such an incredible testimony to the power of true love.

Will you walk with me?

If you'd like to walk with me on September 12, go here to sign up!

If you'd like to walk with me in spirit, please consider a donation or word of encouragement on the fundraising page.

This disease is cruel and I face the reality that someday it will be my children writing about me and fighting this fight for me.

Join me in the fight!

Chatanooga Aquarium!

I slept in this morning and when I surfaced Paul announced that we should take a day trip. THIS sounded much more intriguing than the cleaning regimen I had planned out the night before! Paul suggested the aquarium in Chatanooga and we were off as fast as we could get ourselves together. And with two kids and no preparation it took about 90 minutes. M was ecstatic to go to the "fish museum"! He is does great in the car these days and lives a good adventure. He is so much like his daddy! Admittedly I am still behind on laundry and housework but we made great memories today and it was wonderful to be together as a family on a big adventure. These were the types if spontaneous things Paul and I would do prior to babies and I love getting to do them with Matthew and Charlotte! 

What's over here???

Taking it all in! 

Sooooo excited to be on a big adventure! 

Walking in the museum with Daddy

Hi fishies!

Not too sure about "petting" the fishies...

There was a really big snake on the other side of the glass...

Watching stingrays and baby sharks

C took it all in stride and enjoyed all the sights and sounds. 

Oooohhhhbb

After the fishies and a little convincing Matthew loved the water outside the aquarium! 

C got a little daddy time while mommy and Matthew played in the water...

The only way I could actually get him out of the water was to promise a walk aloh the river to see the boats. Baby c was out in no time! 

Back at the car Matthew was out within minutes 

Baby c woke up when I had to move her to the car and spent the ride home talking to baby Dinous 

What a great day!

Snow Day 2

Snow Day 2 went much better than Snow Day 1

We had a plan.  Paul would work in the morning and then I would work in the afternoon.
I had pinned a bunch of activities the night before to keep us all entertained.
But I still had not figured out my photostream problem, but I DID pick up my camera!

I cooked Matthew eggs for breakfast and then he helped me make a cake. This one from Ina Garten.  A yummy lemon yogurt cake. 

Amazing.

Matthew puffed with pride when he saw his cake rising in the oven.  LOVE cooking with this little boy!

It worked out that it was ready just in time for morning snack.  So we had a picnic on the floor that consisted of cake and a peanut butter balls.  (i have come so far in what I will allow my kids to eat...)

At some point, we pulled out a laundry basket to push baby Charlotte around in.  That lasted for about... oh... two seconds!  MATTHEW had to climb in too!  So we got a bunch of light weight plastic balls and took turns playing in the basket.

Another thing we discovered was a lot of fun was going through the plastic containers.  I have a ton that we don't use for our food that just sits on the floor for them to sort, stack, chew, etc :-)

We actually did a lot of disciplining today.  After the yesterdays debacle, I realized that I had not set clear boundaries with Matthew and he was just doing what toddler's do best: pushing the limits.  So with a bit of a reset and firm limits in place, things went much smoother.

Most importantly he napped!  We had a long talk about staying in his bed and listening to mommy. Thankfully it worked! For today at least...

Later in the afternoon we went bowling!  I had purchased a dollar store game for a day like today and he was highly amused by it!

Yes, we all stayed in our jammies today.  The snow didn't arrive until later than expected...but by the time the kids went to bed big white fluffy flakes were falling.  It was a beautiful and very serene evening.

The lesson I learned today: be open to the unexpected.  The activities that were the most fun were the ones that weren't planned...like the laundry basket filled with plastic balls!  Another one of Matthew's favorite things is to jump on baby Charlotte's bed.  It's not really her bed, it's the guest bed.  But for now, her crib is in the guest bedroom.  I got a great series of pictures...check them out here!

Snow Day 1

I was not at all prepared for the first Snow Day.

Charlotte decided to wake up early and by 5am was quite distraught so as I rushed to get her calmed down I felt weak, had the chills, my back and arms ached and my head felt like it was going to explode (and no, I had not consumed ANY wine the night before).

On top of this, we were on a two hour delay for school.  But when I looked out the window and there was white stuff everywhere, I knew school would be out.

Paul and I had no back up plan so we just kind of made it up.  It's tax season after all and he has important things to do, right?  So Paul get's going and is back within 30 minutes.  He can't get out of the neighborhood. So he takes my car.  This time he makes it.

Matthew for some reason was really rambunctious and he and I just had a hard time all day.  We walked to my parent's house around the corner and that was a disaster.  Both kids were screaming and Matthew insisted I carry him.  At one point I am carrying my 35 lb two year old, pushing Charlotte in the stroller all in the snow trying not to fall on my face! Ha!  I almost joined in on their screaming!!!  But we made it and everyone (especially me) enjoyed some time with LB and Pops.

We headed back home and again, Matthew refused to walk so with Pops' help, Matthew rode home in the stroller and I carried Charlotte.  Much easier.

Unfortunately he refused to nap and was quite the disaster all afternoon.  Paul came home early and put on Thomas and he crashed.  These are my only pictures from Snow Day 1.

I learned several lessons that day:
1 - have a plan.  it is crucial.
2 - make sure I have at least one proper winter outfit for my kids each year and invest in a good pair of gloves. I would have paid a fortune for that walk to my parents to have actually been fun.
3 - figure out how to manage my photostream so I can take pictures on my phone. I kept getting an error message saying I didn't have enough room on my camera, that's why this is a long and boring post with no pictures...except these:

Happy Birthday at Chuck E Cheese!

Lola and Papi threw Matthew an awesome birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. We all had a lot of fun and enjoyed an afternoon celebrating Matthew's birthday.  His cousin Noah and friend Pearson were at the party to celebrate with him.

He was a little freaked out by the noise and animated characters.  Snuggles with Lola made it all better!

Snuggles with Lola

 

Getting ready for the ticket tube!

Not so much...

Baby C LOVED Chuck E Cheese!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOO YOUUUUUUU!

Noah showing Matthew how it's done!

Having fun with his friend Pearson!

Bob the Builder was Matthew's speed!  He spent most of his coins on this little ride.