Charlotte's Baptism

Our dear daughter, Charlotte Faye, was baptized on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at Saint Dominic Church in Shaker Heights, Ohio. We were lucky to celebrate with our families on such a beautiful day.



Godparents: Samantha Hauger and Anthony Meriwether.

Enjoy the photos and video!

Click the link below to see a video of her getting baptized:
http://youtu.be/pBmIX-DOJPg

On Mother's Day: A Tribute to My Mom

In 5th grade I was in an after school Catholic girls group and each year there was an essay contest for Mother's Day. When they announced I was the essay winner for my class I was thrilled for my mom to hear my story read aloud. Unfortunately someone lost all of the essays that year and so my mom never got to hear what I had written about her. It's crushed me to this day. Now some 20 some years later, I will try to recreate the feeling behind the essay on why my mom is such an amazing mother, woman, and friend.

A tribute to my mom

There are many words to describe my mom: loving, kind, patient, funny, selfless, dedicated, warm, devoted, caring, and light-hearted. I think all of these are qualities that every mom needs to possess in order to be great. What makes my mom so amazing is that she makes me feel all of these things just by being around her. The relationship between my mom and I is very special. From an early age, I remember my mom and I always being silly together. She never took things too seriously and if I did, she was always there to remind me to lighten up and she'd do something goofy so I'd smile.

One of the fondest memories of my mom had to be when I was in what I think was the 2nd grade. My mom came home that night and promptly announced that everyone had to sit on the couch. I remember thinking we were all in trouble and wondering why she was home so late. A minute later my brother, sister and I sat on the couch. All of the lights in the house were turned off and my mom appeared in the center of the living room. She was speaking into my sister's Fisher Price microphone that lit up when you hit your feet on it. She was making the lights go crazy as she shouted into the microphone -- "in my hands I have five tickets to see...The New Kids on the Block!!!" O.M.G. My brother, sister and I went absolutely crazy, screaming and jumping all over the house! We were all obsessed with the New Kids on the Block and my mom had waited in line for hours and hours to secure us tickets.

My mom has always made me feel special. After she picked me up from my ballet class we'd drive over to Wendy's for a chicken sandwich. We never told anyone else in my family that we did this. We'd go through the drive-thru, order two chicken sandwiches, park the car, and eat and talk. It was our little secret. I always ordered my sandwich with ketchup and pickles only, and she'd get hers with lettuce, tomato and mayo. We always laughed when the Wendy's commercial came on the radio. The man that did the radio commercials made this chicken sandwich sound like it was to die for. His voice was so melodramatic. "Come by Wendy's for a hot, juuuuicy, deliciousss, chicken sandwich!" We'd crack up every time knowing our inside secret!

My mom encouraged my love for reading at an early age. She had this great contest in the summer months where my brother, sister, and I would each get a piece of colored construction paper hung on the fridge door with our names on it. For each book we read we got a sticker. Whoever had the most stickers at the end of summer got a prize. Second and third place also received prizes too, in case you were wondering.

Birthday parties growing up were always a blast due to my mom's great makeup applications and hair makeovers she'd give me and my friends. We'd play Miss America and she'd make sure each girl won for some category - best smile, best stage presence, etc.

When my sister and I did gymnastics, my mom took us to every practice and meet. She was our biggest cheerleader in the crowd and I remember all of the other gymnasts saying how cool my mom was because she sold leotards at our home meets. My sister and I were always dressed in the best and newest leotards with matching hair scrunchies. We didn't have much money growing up but my mom never let us go without anything we needed or wanted.


Bird and I with my friend Mallory

When I quit gymnastics and moved on to cheerleading she was there to support me. After every tryout she'd be there, waiting in the car with a gift. I was always so nervous before those tryouts but knowing that my mom believed in me always calmed my fears. My mom is protective as well and willing to go to bat for us. I remember I wasn't doing well in an algebra class and wasn't going to be able to cheer because of a low grade. My mom called and spoke to the teacher and convinced him to let me retake two of the most recent tests so I could cheer. I'll never forget how awesome I thought that was.

Graduating high school and moving onto college was scary. I remember calling my mom all the time and asking for advice. She encouraged me to get involved and go out for the cheerleading squad and join a sorority. She even guest-starred on my weekly radio show on the college station and students all across campus came to know her as Bird.


visiting S in DC

Some kids are embarrassed by their parents, especially their moms. I've never once felt that way about my mom. In fact, my mom is well loved by anyone that meets her. Her kind spirit and infectious personality just make you want to be around her. I was always proud to have my mom chaperone a school dance, meet my friends, and hang out with us.


bus trip to New York

Traveling with my mom has been a highlight of our time together through the years as we've become even closer. Whether it's a road trip to visit my sister in Washington, DC, or flying across oceans to go to Jamaica, Maui, or Grand Cayman, our time together is so fun and always goes too fast. I hope we continue to travel together in the future, making memories and being silly with our newest member of the girls club (CharTot).

Now that I'm a mom myself, I truly appreciate her even more. A dear family friend gave my mom a photo frame the says "Great Moms Get Promoted to Grandma's" and I couldn't agree more. Birdy, I feel so lucky to have you as a role model. I hope I can be half the mom to Charlotte that you are to me. Words can't truly express how much you mean to me. I love you so much. And Charlotte and I are so very lucky and blessed to have you in our lives. Happy Mother's Day!



at the crane room in college - i love the dark hair all around


in Jamaica at President's Club for PRN


At Dana's wedding - dancing the night away


Maiu island on lavendar farm tour - (owner Ali Chang died later this year in 2010)


celebrating Bird's bday at Greendance


Turks and Caicos fun


Big Island girls trip


big hair in Washington, DC


Mother's Day in DC 2013


Christmas 2013


Charlotte and grandbirdy


love them


she loves grandbirdy


goofy in Grand Cayman


three generations together

Goodness Gracious Grand Cayman with a Baby!

I had to decide in late January if I was going to a) go on a vacation with my mom and sister - our annual girls trip and b) if I was going to bring Charlotte - who'd be 8 months old at the time or leave her at home. I opted to say yes to the trip and bring along the baby. Just because you have a baby doesn't mean you can't do the things you love anymore - and I figured it'd be a great experience for all of us and leaving Charlotte behind just wasn't an option for me. A passport for her, a notarized letter stating Sam allowed me to take her out of the country, and several suitcases later we were all set to fly out of Cleveland, connect in Charlotte, NC, and head to beautiful Grand Cayman island.


ready to jet set!

Unfortunately Charlotte had an ear infection for Easter - but her pediatrician gave her the OK to fly at her checkup the day before we left. Whew. He did warn me that she was "going to scream on takeoff and landing." Needless to say I was nervous about being that person on the plane that everyone despises. We arrived at the Cleveland airport in plenty of time, checked most of our suitcases, had fun trying to figure out how to tighten straps from he** on an umbrella stroller my mom had bought for the trip, and then we were off for security. Charlotte smiled at a TSA agent and he smiled back and said for my mom, sister, Charlotte and I to head to the pre-check line. It pays to be nice to those people! We didn't have to take off our sweaters or shoes. Everyone kept saying how pretty Charlotte was and asked if I had ever traveled with her before. "Her first time on a plane!" I'd reply. A few nice pregnant ladies were chatting with us as well.

Before we boarded the plane I gave her a dose of ibuprofen and her ear medicine. She was a complete doll I must say on takeoff, landing and everything in between. She played with toys and chewed on Sophie and drank her bottles/nursed well. It was a breeze! As we arrived into Grand Cayman, walking down the steps to the ground was a bit challenging, and I'd wished I'd have my baby sling or baby carrier handy, I just put both arms around her and took it slow!

As we waited in the customs line, we again smiled at the guard and he directed us towards the "Caymanians" line. I heard a few people say, "Hey they have passports why are they going to that line" -- again, pays to travel with a cute baby! In the line we ended up befriending a very nice woman who was returning from New York who gave us a few dinner recommendations. The car rental situation was a bit scary - they didn't have the car seat INSTALLED and just handed it to me (umm, hello. My husband did this back home, not me!) Luckily the Hertz guy helped me figure it out. I must say, I taught my sister to drive when she was 17. I felt like I had to do it all over again since they drive on the left hand side of the road there and her steering wheel was on the right side of the car (freaky!). I never really got used to it at all and would have crashed 15 times if I had been driving.

We arrived at the Ritz and I downed some tropical drink the lady handed me and then we were off to the room. I heard the word "oceanfront" and got excited. Our room was beautiful and they had set up the room with a crib for Charlotte -- not that she slept in it too much -- she was mostly snuggled up with me in bed the whole trip! But still, the gift they gave her was so sweet too.

Charlotte admiring her gift

The first day we were all pretty whooped so we just took Charlotte down to see the ocean and she fell asleep in the baby carrier. The sound of the waves literally lulled her right to sleep, plus we had a long travel day! We ordered room service that first night - Bird ordered a top sirloin off the kids meal and made me act like it was for Charlotte -- hilarious note. The next day we introduced Charlotte to the ocean water and the pool for the first time and she loved it!

suited up!

That night we went to dinner at Eduardo's right down the street and Charlotte was a delight. It was fun to have a night out with my mom and sister - we went all kinds of crazy and each had one drink!

We visited the turtle farm which was an easy 15 minute drive from the Ritz. That was a lot of fun and peanut really enjoyed seeing the turtles! I made sure to stay in the shade with peanut and to keep reapplying SPF to her especially after the pool/ocean. It was nice because the Ritz had a pack 'n play they'd set up under the umbrellas for you so Charlotte could take her afternoon nap al fresco in the breeze. She enjoyed the outdoors so much!

A few tips for traveling with an infant:
* If you use a baby sling, bring it. Especially for the flight - Charlotte fell asleep in it on the way home and it helped to carry her around the airport.
* Leave the boppy at home - you won't even use it. Just ask the maid for some extra pillows.
* Ask ahead of time for your hotel to provide a crib, bedding, fridge, etc.
* Ask the rental care service for an infant car seat (and make sure you ask them to have it installed too)
* You can gate check an umbrella stroller - second hand stores have ones in excellent condition for as low as $15
* Bring an extra bottle or two for the plane to help with ear pressure
* If you plan to nurse on the plane, wear an easy access top
* Keep your baby's schedule in mind when planning dinners, excursions, etc. - a cranky baby is no fun at all
* Remember that your baby didn't ask to go on vacation, so extra patience is a must pack item!



It was a fabulous trip all in all and I must thank my sister, Samantha, for planning another fabulous adventure for us. And I must thank Birdy and S for being great au pairs for me when I needed a break. Love you both!

If you're ever thinking about not taking a trip because you have a baby - think again! For every one person that gives you a dirty look there are 100 people that will smile at you and be kind. Just plan ahead, be friendly to others, be patient with your baby, and you'll have a wonderful vacation with memories to last a lifetime. :)

Now for some photos of the trip for you to peruse: