Dear Olive

Dear Olive,
Today I realized that I was well-overdue for a blog update. The only problem is, I don't have any pictures. I had planned for the current blog to be a tour of our new home, but your dad and I are taking our time getting everything ready, so that will have to wait. Now that we are back in North Carolina, it begs the question, "Who is this blog really for?" I think the best answer is that it's for you. Hopefully someday, you will read these entries and enjoy the pictures, and know a little bit what it was like as we prepared for you. That being said, this blog entry is all for you, little one.

Let me start by saying that being pregnant with you has been wonderful. You have been no trouble at all, and we're hoping that that is indicative of your personality. You only made me throw up once, gain 17 pounds so far, and frankly, you make a pretty cute bump. You like to stick your little fanny out on the left side, so it always looks a little funny and unbalanced, but cute nonetheless. Your dad loves how you wiggle and squirm especially for him when he gets home from work. I'm about 35 weeks along right now, and even strangers are excited for your upcoming entrance into the world. Everywhere I go, people smile at me, they ask if you're a boy or girl, when you'll be here, if we have a name picked out, etc. Even perfect strangers know you're something special. As nice as it's been carrying you around for the last 8 1/2 months, whenever I think about your upcoming birth, I have to admit, it makes me cry every time. Your Grandad would probably attribute this to "those pregnancy hormones," but I'm not so sure. I think it's an acute awareness that our lives are about to change so drastically, and for the better. Your dad and I are so excited to meet you, Olive, my love.

Ah, your dad. Let me tell you a little about him. He's pretty much the greatest guy in the world, and he'd do anything for us. When we found out you weren't a boy (and I really thought you were), he wasn't disappointed in the least. He went to a shell shop on our 6th anniversary, and picked out a lettered olive and your first owl. I hope you still have them today. Your dad might be embarrassed if I tell you this story, but I'm going to anyway. In November of 2010, I went to the Outer Banks to surprise my family. Aunt Brie, Uncle Daniel, and Uncle Ian were all running a half-marathon, and I couldn't stand the thought of our whole family being together without me. I got a last-minute ticket, and showed up at the door. Your dad decided to take this rare weekend by himself to go fishing in the Everglades. It's way out in the boondocks, and there is no cell phone or radio reception. On his quiet drive there, he says that he had a moment of clarity. He knew that when I got pregnant, it would be time to leave Florida, and move back to North Carolina. He said we'd need to put down roots, and that it was important for our kids to have family nearby. As much as we both loved Miami, he knew it wasn't where you should grow up. Just a few months later, we found out you were on the way. It was the happiest day of my life so far, but it will be a distant second to when you actually arrive. That's the thing about your dad, Olive. He always knows the right thing to do. Not only that, but he makes it happen. You can always trust and respect the advice your dad gives you, because he's incredibly smart, and he always has your best interest in mind. (I hope you also learn from your dad's experience that tattoos are generally a bad idea you will almost certainly regret later.)

There are so many more things I want to say to you, sweet girl. We have a lifetime to say them all. I love you so much already, and we haven't even met. I dream about you every night, and I am counting down the days until I can hold you in my arms.
Love always,
Mom

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.

Alise's First Annual 29th Birthday and More!

Let me begin by thanking everyone who made my birthday so wonderful. All the calls, cards, and gifts made me feel very loved. It really was a great day. One of the best parts was visiting Olive's brand new friend, Paloma, in the hospital. Paloma's parents, Joe and Nellie, were the first friends Jason and I made in Miami, so you can imagine how exciting it is for all of us to be having little girls so close in age. Both mother and baby looked beautiful, and they even unswaddled her to show me what Joe and Nellie called "Porter toes," or toes that look and function more like fingers. (Jason really does have crazy long toes.)

It wasn't just my birthday on the 15th; I also hit the 6-month mark for this pregnancy. As promised, here's a picture. I wore the same top to try to show growth more accurately. I'll continue to do so while it still fits.

Front View: 24 weeks

Side View: 24 weeks

I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed that this bump still doesn't scream baby. But as long as she is healthy and growing, I can deal with being a little lumpy.

Now, I have to take this opportunity to brag a little about my amazing husband. Admittedly, Jason and I aren't great about going all out for birthdays. We usually go out to dinner and have a nice evening, but they are not wildly different from most of our Friday nights. However, this year, I have to give Jason credit. He was super thoughtful. The day before, he brought me home beautiful roses, so I could wake up to flowers on my birthday. For my birthday, he proved that he does listen to the little details. I've been searching for the perfect every-day-earrings for a while now, and he found them. Subtle, small white gold hoops. Perfect. He even got me a card this year! Now this one kind of threw me for a loop. I couldn't understand why he got me a "You might be a redneck if..." card. Upon seeing my confused/amused expression, he quickly explained that he stopped at Bass Pro Shops specifically for a card. He figured since mostly guys shop there, they would certainly stock plenty of greeting card options for their wives. He was wrong (and I also have a feeling that there may have been a reel he wanted to check out). My point is, a girl could get used to this mother-of-his-child special treatment.

So what did I want to do for my birthday? Well, exactly what any chic, sophisticated, metropolitan 29-year old would want to... See the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows premiere!!! It was awesome, by the way. I got dressed up and we went to a really great, quaint little Mediterranean restaurant that Jason found. I put on my fanciest dress that fit. Jason took a picture because we agreed this dress made me look way more pregnant.

Way more pregnant-looking, right? (Of course, it helps to arch your back and stick your stomach out, as evidenced by this picture.)

And finally, the man who made it all possible. Here's Jason at Mandolin, the Mediterranean spot he found. It was delicious, but with all outdoor seating, we were feasted upon nearly as much as we feasted until the waitress kindly lent us some bug spray. (Don't worry it was the natural kind.)

Thanks for a great birthday, Sweetheart! xoxo

It is crazy to think that the next birthday we'll be celebrating in our house will be Olive's. We are getting so excited to meet her. Today I got an extra special treat. I had an ultrasound scheduled, and when the tech asked if she could do 3-D imaging, I have to admit I was hesitant. I have seen some freaky-looking babies with that 3-D stuff. But I agreed to it, and I'm glad I did, because I saw the most beautiful face, which immediately made me burst into unexpected tears. She may not have verbally said so, but it was clear this was also the most gorgeous baby the technician had ever seen. She didn't have to speak; her body language said it all. ;)

How sweet is this girl?!

Well, that's all for this post. Thanks for checking in on us!

There's a First Time for Everything

Well, I am blatantly stealing my sister's (Brie) blog idea. But I figured with our sweet baby girl on the way, there are far-away loved ones who may like to keep up with our quickly changing lives. Also, it's summer, or as I like to call it, self-imposed semi-bed rest, (ok- that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but I have definitely been catching up on All My Children, which is unfortunately going off-air after 30 years just in time for my maternity leave!) My point is, there is no time like the present, so I've decided to start a blog. For those of you who have been fortunate enough to see Brie's blog, please don't expect this one to be as clever or regularly updated. In fact, I think we should start with some realistic expectations. Unfortunately, Jason and I are historically terrible at taking pictures to commemorate, well... anything. Hopefully, that will change once our sweet little girl is born. Speaking of whom, I suppose this is a good time to introduce her. Here is one of our first glimpse's of Olive Evelyn Porter.

Here she is at about 18 weeks. I'm pretty sure this is the most beautiful profile ever, and I have been told so by several other people.

In case you were wondering what she looks like from the outside, the simple answer is "lumpy." Here I am at 20 weeks. My plan is to take a picture every four weeks to see the progress. Coincidentally, 24 weeks falls on this Friday, July 15th, which also happens to be my First Annual 29th Birthday.

Like I said, a little lumpy.

To help everyone get to know our little girl, there are a few characteristics that are already evident. To begin, she is very playful. She likes to tease ultrasound technicians by turning just enough so they can rarely get the shot they want. That's why it took two ultrasounds to figure out she was a girl. I like to think that she is just ladylike. Also, there are already several shots of her sucking her thumb, which the techs tell me would be rare so early. However, I know she is just advanced. Next, she is a mover and shaker. I've been able to feel her since about 14 or 15 weeks, but her dad felt her for the first time last week on the 4th of July. I think she also shares her mother's love for American History, and chose this monumental day to kick enough for her dad to feel. Like I said, she's advanced. As to which one of us she will look most like, the jury is still out. I think she looks like her dad in the 22 week shot.

Now the only one I haven't updated you on is Jason. He is doing well and working hard, as always. He tries to do as much fishing as possible on the weekends, because as he constantly reminds me, he won't be able to go as much once Olive arrives. Unfortunately, unless the weather conditions are pristine (which means absolutely no wind and not too hot, which rarely happens in Florida) he doesn't love me coming along. He's already very protective of both of his girls, which is pretty sweet. Lately he's been pretty obsessed with catching bonefish, which isn't easy because they are very "spooky." He also has found a great spot for snapper. You may be thinking, "Perfect! Jason can bring home all those delicious omega-3s for Alise and the baby!" But unfortunately, you'd be wrong. Jason likes to fish near the Turkey Point Power Plant, and since we don't want our little girl to have three eyeballs or the ability to read minds, I'm not too keen on eating his fish. I'm sure the fish also appreciate our catch and release philosophy.

I can't find any of the bonefish pictures, but this is a permit from last weekend. You may be thinking that we are getting better at taking pictures since this is recent, but this was taken by our friend David who went fishing with Jason that day.

There you have it folks... The first ever "Porterly Report." We look forward to sharing this exciting time with you all!