We survived.

Well, it's back to "normal" in the McGowan household. The last of the company left yesterday after a week of overlapping visitors. First Bryan's Mom from TN and then my family from ND for the big birthday party. And when I say big, I mean BIG. Surprisingly almost everyone RSVP'ed yes. So, in light of a rain out day and space we moved it to Bryan's office. We were originally going to have it there but with the recent economic downfall we weren't sure we could bank on it. Turns out all was well and it was the perfect venue. I think every birthday party should not be at home. It was awesome getting in the night before, decorating and prepping in a area that didn't mess up a daily flow. The party was fun and now Harrison is exhausted! Instead of his 10 AM nap today he was ready at 8:30! He is a bit of a mess. It will take some doing to get him back on schedule after his party, baseball games, shopping, eating sugary snacks, etc.




On Harrison's actual birthday we decided to open a few gifts. He wasn't so sure of the whole thing and decided it was time to show off his crawling up the stairs skills. Needless to say he was NOT happy about sitting in one place, thus the unhappy face. But he came around once he opened Jordan's gift of the Little People Barn Set.

Bryan's Mom came to visit during all of this chaos. She lives in TN so this was actually the first time she got to meet Harrison in person! They seemed to have a good time playing and riding the wagon up and down the driveway. She also got to partake in a "Fly In Pancake Breakfast" with Bryan one morning. I'm not sure her vacation was such a vacation. We kept her busy!

It's also been a busy couple of weeks due to me working. It hasn't been a lot so far but we had to travel to ND to cast The Wizard of Oz. I think we had about 100 kids audition and not as many roles to fill so it was a lot of work and 3 days of auditions, meetings and casting. I took a day or two off to finish up my ND trip and then have been back at it upon arriving back in MN. There is a lot to do when maintaining a cast of 70! I've been doing a lot of paperwork, organizing, and communicating with my students and their parents during the day. Let me tell you it's not easy keeping an eye on a VERY mobile baby. He isn't walking yet but he can crawl pretty darn fast and loves going for the stairs. I honestly don't know how work from home parents with no extra help get anything done!!! He is FAST!

My trip to ND was wonderful. It was good to reconnect with Bismarck and explore. My travel companion, Michael was the best help a woman could ask for. Seriously, he could make a mint as a nanny. I wish I could afford to pay him because he is amazing with kids! Seriously, Moms out there. He is the BEST. I also recruited Michael to design the sets for the shows this summer. Not only is he great with kids but he is a wonderful artist. We worked together in the past at Sleepy Hollow. It was fun to work on that level again together. We are a good team, able to finish each other's thoughts, etc. That makes it wonderful to work with him.

Michael and I got to visit with the Kyes' family quite a bit too. Lisa and the two of us went out for margs at Fiesta Villa, watched the HBO "Grey Gardens", hung with the kids, etc. It was a dream to have so much time to hang out. Honestly wonderful.

Well, I seem to have worked in reverse here. I have no idea what happened before ND so I can't go back any further.

Spring is here!

1st First Birthday Party

I'm a little late at getting this out but better late than never! Harrison and the rest of the kids celebrated their first birthday together at the Chaska Community Center the first weekend in April. We did this to avoid the pressure of getting to and inviting each other to each birthday party. I think this was a good plan and hope we do it in future years too! Anyway, we ate, played, and ate some more. Needless to say by the time we got Harrison loaded into the car he was EXHAUSTED! He had a great time playing in the ball pit with Daddy and the other kids and tried to eat a birthday cupcake but didn't seem to care for touching and eating the frosting.

However he did manage to wipe it EVERYWHERE! We had to strip him down and change his clothes completely, thus the 2 different outfits in the pictures.

It's been a wonderful experience to see the kids grow and develop together and to have such a great group of women to share our experiences as first time moms to infants. I feel pretty lucky to have such a solid supportive system in them!

Where did the time go?

Well, it's official. I have now let almost a year go by without putting ANY photos of Harrison into a photo album. New goal: get some printed and put in albums for his birthday party. Ugh. I'm a terrible Mother for not keeping track of photos, writing down important dates, or funny stories. It all just happened too fast!

Let's also not forget that this is also Jordan's last year of Jr. High. He will be going to the SENIOR HIGH next year! I always joked that he was 14 going on 35 but now I've passed another year with him. It was about this time 7 years ago that I met him. I remember it clear as day. I was invited for dinner, over to Bryan and Jordan's house in Shakopee. I didn't see him sneak up behind me and then, all of the sudden he was there. Before I could even react he looked up at me with a smile and said "hello" in his most assertive 2nd grade voice. The rest is history.

Since I am talking about history I believe it was in January or February that Bryan took me out on a super secret, surprise date to the St. Paul winter carnival, to see the ice sculptures and the Conservatory. I recently visited the Conservatory where I took baby bump pictures of the Selbys. When asked if I had been there before I reflected on our big date and how when we toured the Conservatory I knew Bryan was "the one". I even specked out the place as a possible wedding location. I believe I wasn't the only one thinking about it. We were clearly in love. It was so nice to suspend reality and be in that state of love. Below is an actual picture I took from that day. Anyway, that date was followed up with dinner at the Carousel restaurant that spins on top of one of the downtown hotels, tickets to "A Prairie Home Companion" and a stay at The St. Paul Hotel. It may have been one of the best dates...actually it was the best date I have ever been on.

Ah, reflecting on Harrison's first year certainly brings up a lot of memories that seem to have flown by. It makes me love and embrace each day knowing these guys are in my life. How lucky am I?