What Could be Finer Than North Carolina?

Well, I'd like to begin by apologizing for the long lapse in blog entries. I actually feel bad for every time I gave Brie a hard time for not updating her blog often enough (www.rockabyesweetbabyj.blogspot.com). The fact is, it's hard with two kids to find the time, and they aren't even mine! Jason and I have been staying with Brie, Daniel, Caroline, and James for the last few weeks until our new rental home was ready. They have all been gracious hosts, but I am sure they are relieved that our time as house guests is soon coming to an end. We have had a great time, and managed to all stay very busy.

So where did I last leave off? Ah, yes! Saying goodbye to Miami. Jason and I had everything ready to go by the evening of August 10th. We left that evening in pouring rain around 6:00 just in time to catch the downtown Miami rush hour. Jason drove my 4runner with all of our possessions in a 12' trailer, while I was driving his Camry. While you may be thinking that was pretty idiotic of us, I would have to disagree. That traffic and rain were so awful, I couldn't wait to get out of the city I'd grown to love so much. We drove about six hours that night, and stayed at a Hampton Inn in St. Augustine. You can tell I'm my mother's daughter here, because no one loves a Hampton Inn like Shauna Leggat. We had several choices off the same ramp, but I knew we'd get a delicious and free continental breakfast in the morning, and eating often takes top priority for me these days. Thanks, Mom, for the excellent training! XOXO

We zipped through Georgia the next morning and as we entered South Carolina that afternoon, Jason called me to say that we needed to be thinking about a place to stop for lunch. I was about 5 miles ahead, so the choice was mine. I told him I wasn't stopping until I saw an exit sign for, you guessed it:
You know, they say that it is good to eat a variety of things while you are pregnant because the amniotic fluid can take on the flavors of what you are eating. This in turn may help the baby to avoid being a picky eater later in life. There is something about knowing that I have flavored Olive's fluid with Cajun spice and biscuits that just makes me feel like I'm doing something right as a mother. ;) We have been deprived of Bojangles in Florida for 7 long years, only enjoying it sporadically on quick trips home via the Charlotte airport in terminal B. I'm not kidding when I tell you that I have nearly missed a flight to run to a terminal on the opposite side as my flight just to bring Jason home a B0berry biscuit. That's love, right there. Now don't worry, Angie. I promise we won't eat like this often. I have already put us on a once-every-two-months Bojangles regimen.

It MOST CERTAINLY is! Jason was so embarrassed of all the pictures I was snapping in the parking lot of Bojangles. What can I say? It was a big moment.

By the time we arrived in Huntersville, we were pretty exhausted. We managed to get a storage unit at a place near Brie and Daniel's, and Daniel helped Jason unload the trailer that very evening. Being pregnant definitely has its benefits, because I got out of all the heavy lifting.

I have to admit, we rushed out of Miami so quickly, there was really no time for emotions. As great as it was to be at our final destination, I began to feel a little homesick. I missed my beautiful walks, a school that I loved, and great friends that I would have loved to spend more time with before leaving. However, there have been so many things each day that remind me that moving back to North Carolina was the best thing for our family. For example, here is the smile I wake up to each morning:

Granted, this was in a restaurant that Brie and Daniel took us to to celebrate our arrival in Huntersville, but this is equally as cute each morning when Jamie is still in his pajamas. When we walk downstairs, he chirps, "Porter! EE-SY! Hi..." It's pretty much the sweetest thing ever. Brie says that Jamie will be ready to retire the title of "Best Dimples" once Olive arrives, but I don't think that is even possible.
Daniel with the kids at our welcome breakfast. This guy has been so helpful! Thanks for marrying such a nice person, Brie!

Not to be outdone is big sister, Caroline. She is so much fun to be around, and she is not only the most beautiful thing I've ever seen (I'm biased), she's super smart and creative, too. Here she is playing with her Uncle Porter.

As you can see, Uncle Porter isn't always the best playmate, but the kids are still crazy about him.

Here Caroline is with her very best friend, Elena (also among the most-adoreable-ever-children list). These two are a trip when they get together. literally... They have this game that involves purposely falling down about every 15 seconds. It's pretty hilarious to watch. They will definitely be little Olive's role models. The good news is that Elena has a little sister named Olivia who will be about half a year older than Olive, so I foresee lots of fun play dates with this crew. Poor Jamie needs a buddy, too.

As mentioned above, one thing I really miss about Miami is the beautiful vegetation. I never got sick of running/walking there, and seeing what was in bloom that particular time of year. As I was nostalgically thinking about that on one of my treks around the neighborhood, and cursing one of the hills that I am grossly unaccustomed to, I saw this gorgeous sight:

Well played, North Carolina... Well played.

The following Saturday, Jason and I decided to take a tour of the local parks to see what they had to offer. We headed to the closest park first, but Jason felt a little stupid sitting by a playground without a kid. I don't blame him. We decided to try and find parks with water. Ultimately, we ended up at three different parks.

"What's that? I should get off the phone and enjoy some quality time with my wife on this beautiful morning. You're right. Gotta go."

Mission accomplished, Magellan!

I seriously can't wait to go running in these trails!

Jason's thumb over the lens shows why I take most of the pictures.

We worked up a pretty good appetite with all that walking, and decided to find ourselves some lunch. (Angie, you may want to skip this part also, because we were up for some good old-fashioned North Carolina barbecue.) We went to Lancaster's where they started us off with a big basket of hush puppies, and Jason ordered the barbecue platter with fried okra and mac n' cheese. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that he was unable to eat again for the next 28 hours. I was glad I stuck with the sandwich, but I was still pretty full. Hence, another place we will have to limit our patronage.

I really wish I had an "After" shot. It's never a good thing when everything on your plate is the same color, and that color isn't green. Poor guy was just so excited about real barbecue with vinegar sauce instead of the junk you get in Florida. Barbecue there means hamburgers. Seriously.

I also discovered the quickest way to get dirty looks in North Carolina... Send the pregnant lady on a wine and ice cream run. I had to assure the cashier several times that the wine wasn't for me. The best part is, I actually got ID'ed!

After meeting, with several moving companies in Florida before we left, Jason and I soon realized that getting all our stuff here was going to cost more than it was actually worth... not to mention we didn't have a place to move into until 3 weeks after our arrival. With that in mind, we got rid of most of our furniture before leaving Florida. Jason and I went to Hickory, where they are known for their beautiful furniture, and we picked out a new bedroom set, a kitchen table and chairs, and a rocking recliner from Grandmom Porter for Olive. We couldn't find couches that we were crazy about, so Brie helped me look locally later that week. We took pictures of all the couches we liked so that Jason could give his opinion later.

Sorry, Brie. I had to post it! (We actually didn't end up getting this living room set, despite how appealing Brie makes it look here.)

Spending all this time with my sister is such a great perk of moving back to North Carolina. We have always been best friends in addition to sisters, and I know our kids will grow up the same way. Love you so much, Brie!

Another fantastic perk? Great grandparents for Miss Olive nearby! I enjoyed a delicious lunch with Grandmom and Grandad Gilland, and this time I didn't finish Grandad's meal for him. (The last time we went out, no one knew I was pregnant yet, and I couldn't help polishing off the baked beans Grandad didn't even touch. Probably a little suspicious, but I was hungry!) We were hoping we didn't tick off the waitress, because we sat in there talking for two hours, and had a great time.

Grandmom and Grandad Gilland

I know this blog post is getting awfully long, but here is a quick Olive update. The pictures below are from 28 weeks/7 months. I'm actually closer to 8 now and quite a bit rounder, so again, I apologize for the delay in blogging. Olive is weighing in at about 3 1/2 pounds and she is a little over 17 inches long. She moves all the time, but especially when her dad is around. He is the only one for whom she will move on command. She's already a daddy's girl, and he's wrapped around her tiny little finger. At the last ultrasound, we were told she has long legs like her dad. I have started meeting the doctors in our new practice here, and we need to sign up for our hospital tour and classes. She is going to be here so soon, and we can't wait! Brie has been helping me to pick out all the things we need to make sure we are ready for her, and she saves me all her Babies R' Us coupons, thank goodness. She also helped us find the best crib mattress that is made from all natural and organic materials, and isn't sprayed with any chemicals. You would be surprised... Even the majority of organic mattresses have been sprayed with some pretty heavy chemicals to make them flame retardant, but if you get one with wool, it is naturally flame retardant without all the chemicals. We figure as much as newborns sleep, it's worth getting the best surface possible for her. Thanks, Auntie Brie, for all the great information and hand-me-downs!

I want to end this entry with a word to our family and friends on the Outer Banks. You are in our thoughts and prayers as you deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. People there are made a little saltier and a little tougher for a reason. We love you and we're happy to help in any way possible. Miss you all!

And You Thought the Baby was Big News...

Well, if you're reading this blog, then odds are you've already heard our big news. Jason and I are moving back to North Carolina! Jason was offered a job at a firm in Charlotte, and I'm so proud of him. We will have a total of 3 weeks to make the transition. We've been on our own down here in Florida for seven years, and we are excited to step into instant family. The move is bittersweet; we fell in love with Miami from the instant we moved here. There are so many beautiful places and wonderful people that we will truly miss. I have pictured our little girl growing up here, taking a jogging stroller down my favorite paths, treating her to gelato in Coconut Grove, visiting the gorgeous parks all within walking distance, and more. Obviously, this vision is going to have to do some readjusting. Now I envision the people who already love her so much meeting her in the hospital, cousins playing on a daily basis, and a huge crowd of loving family members at her birthday parties. While we may be leaving a place we love, we are so happy to have the people we love nearby, and it's definitely a great trade-off.

That being said, I thought this blog could be my final farewell to Miami. Let's begin with the beginning. I was so fortunate to get a job at Gulliver Academy, and the last four years there have been very professionally rewarding. I used to say that teaching was my livelihood, and not my life. However, at Gulliver, these lines were crossed. I loved going to work each day. I loved the way the sun broke through the pink clouds shortly after sunrise as I pulled into the the parking lot in the morning. I loved the people I worked with whose professionalism and experience helped me to become a better teacher. I loved the students I taught who were witty, intelligent, and thoughtful. I loved the little girls who I tutored two to three times a week for the last fours years. Little girls isn't even the appropriate name for them; they've grown into beautiful, bright, and sophisticated young ladies. Saying goodbye to such a wonderful family this morning was heartbreaking. (Shout out: Camille and Bianca- you better keep in touch sweeties!)

Here's a shot of the courtyard in the center of Gulliver Academy. Have you ever seen such beautiful landscaping at a middle school?!

Ok, on to the next goodbye. Jason and I have lived on the same street for the last four years. When we were looking to move here, Jason Google-mapped the city and chose this street. It has been perfect. Edgewater drive lies right on the Gables Waterway and opens up onto Biscayne Bay. It's a quiet street on the edge of Coral Gables and Coconut Grove. There are three parks within a short walking distance, and running trails in every direction. Below are pictures of the trails I ran nearly every day, and I still never got tired of them. The banyan trees looked like something out of an 80's Jim Henson movie, and some puppet troll could pop out at any moment. While seasons may not actually exist in Miami, something new was always in bloom, and I felt lucky to have such a beautiful place to run.

Old Cutler is the name of the road I ran on nearly every day. I will not miss the street signs in Coral Gables. They look like little tombstones, and they are extremely difficult to read, especially at night. Coral Gables: It's time to get legit street signs.

Doesn't this make you want to go for a run right now? Olive and I will have to take a jog when we come back for visits.

These are the banyan trees I was telling you about. The vines grow down and become their roots. Seriously some Purple Crystal/Labyrinth-type setting, right?

This Park, Matheson Hammock, was generally my turn-around point while running. I could always talk myself into a mid-run stretch here to enjoy the scenery.

On to where we spent a good deal of our leisure time. Now, Miami has lots of great shopping and restaurants, but we rarely ventured out of our two-mile radius. Downtown Coconut Grove is a charming and eclectic spot with lots of great restaurants and entertainment. Here are a few of my favorite spots in the Grove.

Here's the Grove Harbor, where sailboats live all year long. There is a Fresh Market right on the water, which was my favorite grocery store. It's always nice when shopping for groceries can be a pleasant experience, and you don't have someone ramming your heels with a shopping cart to prod you down the crowded aisle more quickly. That actually happens here. Often.

Pretty much every restaurant in the Grove offers outdoor dining. The sidewalks literally go between tables. This is Green Street, and it's a great place to people watch and enjoy the scenery year-round. I went here with my Dad on his visit, and Angie and I had brunch here just the other day.

The best way to finish off any meal? With gelato, of course! This stuff is UNREAL! Goodbye, sweet, sweet gelato. I'll miss you most of all... sniff, sniff. (I won't actually miss it the most)

I also love this great little bookstore. It has checkerboard tables, and Cam and I would play checkers here when he came for a visit. I was too competitive to let him win, which shames me to this day. You should let a nine-year-old beat you at checkers.

Last but not least is my favorite historic site in Miami: Vizcaya. It was owned by James Deering, who started John Deere with his brother. He built this amazing estate before Miami really even existed. All of the rooms inside are decorated with elaborate furniture selected in Europe by a decorator he sent there for three years for no other purpose than to send a bunch of stuff back for his "vacation home." Basically, Miami is what it is because this guy put it on the map. The extravagance of this place is unbelievable, and I love visiting from time to time.

This place used to be an entire compound with orchards, gardens, farms and servants. Deering had two guys whose job it was to rake the gravel in fancy patterns each time someone drove through it. He also had a rare blood disorder, so one guy was on staff just to give him blood transfusions (his own blood). Now that is wealth. A lot of the land was donated after his death, and now there is a waterfront hospital next door.

Here's a view from the grounds. There is a secret bar underneath this structure. It was built during the time of prohibition, and smugglers could pull right up with the booze. Deering knew how to party.

Well, Miami, it's been a great four-year vacation. We will miss your mingled cultures, tropical weather, vibrant colors, and delicious bagels. This would be a lot more difficult if we didn't have so much to look forward to. To our North Carolina family and friends: We love you and can't wait to join you soon. Olive will be so fortunate to have you all in her life. It's good to finally come home.