angie newsome

Snowy days

Angie Newsome — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:58:20 +0000

I’m steadfastly ignoring the cabin fever that’s creeping, crawling just barely under my skin. Instead, I’ll focus on the absolutely beautiful quiet the past two days have given us. It snowed all day yesterday. Big, plopping, wet snowflakes fell and buried everything. I haven’t seen so much snow since 1993, when I got stuck with friends during spring break as we drove from Asheville to New York City. It took us two days to get to there — buoyed by the non-stop techno music the guys driving loved and a quick stop-over in DC. When the two dropped my friend and me off at Juilliard, it took me days to get those stinkin’ beats out of my head. Seeing Gregory Hines in Jelly’s Last Jam helped, though.

Blizzard ‘09. Proof.

Anyway, this snow is not as exciting, I suppose. No techno marathons. No ballerinas in the cafeteria with too-tight buns and only apples on their plates. No walking the streets of New York after cups of tea in cafes. Except now there’s a little girl sitting in my arms listening to me ramble on about these past adventures as we look out the window. She’s all who cares?? Uh, so true. It’s kinda irrelevant considering everything ahead, so, yes, this snow quiet is more intense, more exciting than anything I could have imagined, really.

This morning, our street.

So, to celebrate — I’m still doing the advent celebration, though amended way, way, way down — I spent the day holding Iver and listening to the radio as we sat under the Christmas tree lights. It was so simple. Precious, even, I’m not afraid to admit, because I felt peaceful in a way I haven’t in a while, partly due to sleep deprivation and partly due to finally relaxing that she’s here and OK. I can take a deep breath. Many deep ones. It’s been a sweet, sweet winter so far.

Babyland

Angie Newsome — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:43:07 +0000

I’ve got a little baby cooing and squirming against me right now, so this’ll be quick, though I’m still collecting advent ideas and maybe I’ll catch up with them before the 25th rolls around. I hope y’all have found excellent ways to enjoy this season, which seems to be flying/slipping by. I just want to sit in my chair and think about what’s happening and what’s happened and write about it, but the minutes slip into hours into days and suddenly it’s 8 p.m. and the day is practically done.

But I did want to let those of you who read this *roam and rove* that Iver’s out of her light suitcase — she got out last Thursday! Jaundice is gone! — and that we’ve been holding her non-stop since trying to make up for lost cuddle time. Only thing is, our sleep deprivation is getting worse. Woah. I knew it would be tough, but not sleeping for days on end is the worst kind of torture for me. And today marks the TWO WEEK point, people! What’s going to happen in a year? Or two? Or three? What? I want to know!

Glow-worm days

Angie Newsome — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:28:08 +0000

An update: We left the hospital Saturday, a day later than planned, because Iver had a touch of jaundice. At home, she’s living in a glowing suitcase, so say a little prayer that her bioluminescence is temporary!

WOW! What more can I say?

Angie Newsome — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:30:37 +0000

Look what happened!!!!

Introducing Iver Caroline Hunt, 8 lbs., 3 ounces, 20 inches long.

Born Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 6:12 p.m.

We’re so happy. And tired. And happy.

We’re all getting to know one another. She’s a fresh baked little bird, with a full head of dark brown hair, a set of to-die-for dimples and lots of wiggles. Pat and I are taking a crash course in true sleep deprivation and new parenthood. Surprises: Everything looks brighter! Tastes better! Is more interesting!

The other night, Pat and I fell into a fit of uncontrollable laughter for 10 minutes over a poopy diaper. I caught myself there, in the middle of the night in the dark, laughing until it hurt, and I thought WOW. Oh, wow!

We’re so excited! xoxoxoxo

Angie, Pat and Iver

Advent day one: Let’s play!

Angie Newsome — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:21:23 +0000

A note, before we start: It occurred to me in the middle of the night last night that it’s a little more than slightly insane to publicly pledge to do this advent calendar/daily holiday celebration stuff when one is 37 weeks pregnant. So, if I disappear from here, you’ll know why, right? Because 1) Have a Baby and 2) Recover From Having Baby pretty much preempts every single bit of holiday spirit I could eek out within the next 24 days. OK? OK!

And another note: Sorry for the delay here. I got stuck dealing with car/truck problems (flat tires! broke coils! hooray!) most of the day, after taking a trip to the vet. Ugh. Happy holidays, neighborhood mechanic and overpriced veterinarian!

Now, onto the task at hand: Day 1 of our 2009 advent celebration! Let’s play!

Holiday memory: When I was a kid, our family kept the board games — along with coats and the vacuum cleaner and dusting rags — in the hallway closet of our creaky old house. On winter nights, my mom, sister and I used to go to the hallway and pull out the round tin of Chinese Checkers. Did you have those, too? The marbles swished around inside the tin, and we’d pull it open and dump out the reds and yellows and whites and greens and blues and put them on the corresponding color of the six-point star. Then we’d play. For hours. I loved it, and wish I still had that tin Chinese Checkers game.

I searched around today to find a replacement, but no luck, really. Luckily, the Internet always pulls through! Thank you, and goodnight!

But if you’re looking for more strictly holiday-themed games, how about Santa? He’s always fun. And these games are some of the best ones I’ve found recently:

Santa Balls 2 (Your typical ball destruction game. Turn off the truly annoying music, but miss the crass Santa sayings. Your choice.)
Kill Santa (WARNING: Not safe for work. You are killing Santa, after all. After some provocation, *ahem.*)
Sling Shot Santa (Hilarious. To me.)
Fat Santa (Oh, no. I feel the same about brussel sprouts.) And,
Find Santa (Like Waldo, only better.)

Did you play games when you were a kid? If so, what kind, and have you found any fun winter/holiday online games you’d like to share, too?

In the works: a holiday advent celebration

Angie Newsome — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:55:12 +0000

Now that Thanksgiving festivities are over, I can declare my undying *LOVE* for this time of year. The lights! The trees! Vince Guaraldi! The gift-giving (and, OK, gift-getting, too. But after my mom gave me an Epilady one teenage Christmas, I don’t hold my breath anymore)! Christmas cookies! Oh, holy Christmas cookie!

So I’ve been on the lookout for some awesome ways to celebrate this momentous (for us) holiday season. Advent calendars are so awesome, especially the ones Leslie Harpold used to post online, which were filled with fun flash games and memories and things to do. She’s gone now (and unfortunately, it appears her calendars aren’t online anymore, but you can read about them some here), but they were amazing and really rekindled my love for small daily celebrations.

Today, I found another inspiration, this time by Jean at The Artful Parent. Hers are mainly — though not only — child- and family-focused daily activities, and they got me thinking. How am I going to celebrate this year? I’ve been so wrapped up in baby preparations and work that December has completely snuck up on me. But, with a grateful thanks to Leslie and Jean, I’ve decided that I’m at least going to attempt my own advent celebrations.

I’m going to aim to document it here, too. Time to get started! Want to play along?

Commencing baby countdown aught 9

Angie Newsome — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:34:34 +0000

Holy moly! We just got back from the doctors and learned that the little bean is three weeks ahead of schedule! All 7 lbs. 11 oz. of her! I nearly fell into the floor in shock. And then I regained consciousness and nearly had a panic attack about all the stuff I have to do. For work. As if that really matters these days, but until it doesn’t matter, it does.

Also, I’m beginning to collect Things To Embarrass My Daughter With Later, which includes, today, the only ultrasound photo we walked away with.

Of her booty.

And her privates.

With an arrow pointing to the you-know-what and big capital letters proclaiming IT’S A GIRL! Ha ha!

Poor thing. Bless her heart. Let the booty jokes begin!

I suppose this post is inevitable

Angie Newsome — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:02:57 +0000

First — this isn’t the inevitable part, it’s the gratitude part — THANK YOU to everyone who has been so kind to Pat and me about Sammy. Still, just this morning I walked downstairs and caught myself looking for him. And we haven’t brought ourselves to packing up his bowls and leashes. Ah, well. That time will come, I know. Right now, I just miss that furball like crazy. All your well wishes and sweet thoughts and kind words helped so much, though. I bet some of you still have bits of his fur hiding in the corners of your houses (this is not a comment on your housekeeping, but on the INSANE amounts of hair that dog shed every moment of every day, bless his heart). He was a great dog, wasn’t he?

And now… Onto baby stuff. I’m determined not become another mommy blogger because, really, what more is there to say? I’m pregnant. Yes, that means I’m having a baby. Yes, that also means I’m out of my mind with anxiety and excitement, which makes for some interesting emotional outbursts. (Poor Pat.) And, yes, that means — I know! I know! Stop telling me! — our lives are about to change FOREVER! I love how people fall into two camps when they give us this tidbit of not-so-news: some offer it with the tenor of a hurricane forecast (run! hide!); others fairly float above the ground, buoyed by angels wings and fairy dust. Either way, OK! We get the message! And, really, what can I add to the world of mommy bloggers out there? Umm… Right now, not much.

But thinking about the baby, freaking out about the baby, planning for the baby — this is what’s going on right now, when I’m not swamped with work projects and stories (Goodbye, famine! Hello, feast! Why did you wait until I was 8 months pregnant to show up to this dog-and-pony show?) and tracking down things for the nearly completed house we’re building. So, this post is inevitable.

Right now, all I can think about is what’s about to happen in approximately six (cross fingers) weeks, and that scene where Brooke Shields gives birth squatting under a tree in the Blue Lagoon is running on auto play in my head. Ugh! Freak out! So, No. 1 in my plan to conquer my anxiety about giving birth: Make lists! So far, my lists include possible pediatricians, people to call after the birth, preferences for the birth (a.k.a. the “birth plan”), things to take to the hospital for delivery and afterwards, etc. I haven’t resorted to listing out my favorite desserts, in order, but that list is on the horizon. Anything to keep from thinking about all the what ifs that make me sit upright in bed at 3 a.m. and send me running for the couch and infomercials on male enhancement drugs and acne medications. Good times!

So, if you have any advice on how to make it through these last few weeks and things I really should do before I go into labor and things that I really need to take to the hospital, I’d love to hear about it. Bonus points for things that kept you sane!

Saying goodbye

Angie Newsome — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:37:48 +0000

Thank you, everybody, for your sweet words here and elsewhere about Sammy. Many of you knew him, felt the power of his truly unbelievable amount of fur, of his love of snacks and pets and walks.

Yesterday, we said goodbye to him, here at home. He had grown terrified of the vet’s office over the past couple of years, so we found a practice that would send someone to the house. Pat and I both took a few hours off in the afternoon, so we got to spend a lot of time with him, out on the front porch, sitting in the sunshine together and telling stories about him and giving him lots of pets and rubs. Yesterday afternoon was perfect: warm and sunny and quiet. Still, as the clock ticked down, I kept breaking down, so I went for a walk out where we used to go every day and Pat took him out in the backyard. We came back together, fed him some popcorn (something he and I used to love to snack on together) and tortilla chips and just gave him lots of love. We all just sat together and then, when the vet came, he was calm and peaceful and just fell asleep and slipped away.

Now, I hope he’s out bounding after rabbits or bears and finding a good snack on someone’s porch somewhere. We miss him terribly. We so loved that dog. We didn’t expect to at first, but he wiggled his way into living with us, and now I can’t imagine living without him.

xoxoxoxoxo

Sweet Sammy

Angie Newsome — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:09:18 +0000

Our dog, Sammy, isn’t doing well. He can barely walk anymore. He’s not eating. He can’t go for walks or roll in the grass or chase rabbits or beg for food (his No. 1 favorite hobby). I’m so, so, so sad about this, I can barely write about it.

One day, I’ll tell you about how a bag of Santitos tortilla chips brought us all together, how he’d run off to chase bears and play in a nearby creek, how he’d catch moles and flip them up in the air mercilessly, how his breath could wilt flowers and how he was the most lovable thing ever. He’s lived with us for 11 1/2 years, and I’ve been in love with him and so frustrated with him I wanted to pull my hair out. Just as a dog should be.

I can’t imagine being without him, but that time is coming very soon, I’m afraid. We’ve taken him to the vet a half dozen times over the last few months, since he got really sick last February. He’s on a bunch of medications to help, but they’ve stopped helping, really. Pat has to carry him to outside. He can’t do anything by himself anymore.

Sammy, in happier, healthier days.

He’s been such a loving and happy presence in my life, it’s so hard to make the decision to let him go. I hate it. Oh, oh, Sammy.