Welcoming in the New Year

Today, a friend of mine and mom of two wrote "I used to pick out cute dresses to wear on New Year's Eve.  Now, I pick out pajamas."

Looks like we'll be kicking it at home, too- heck, maybe even asleep early for a change.  Chris is the on-call P.A. this weekend (which means we won't be ringing in the new year with bubbly!) and will likely be working tomorrow morning.  And even if he wasn't, we still wouldn't be able to hit up any of the parties we've been invited to because, really, WHO is going to babysit on New Year's Eve!?  (Sure would be nice to have a Grandma or Grandpa nearby for nights like this!)

So, here's what New Year's is going to look like at the Stav house:  I'm slow cooking some BBQ Ribs, cooking up some mashed potatoes, and popping some Strawberry-Champagne Cupcakes in the oven for a sweet treat (because we can't do New Year's Eve without Champagne!).  We are planning on popping in the DVD we just got of Kendall's first birthday party and Christmas Eve festivities, and will likely tune in to see the ball drop in Times Square- if we make it that late.

Here's to kicking up your slippers and cuddling up with a blanket!
We wish you a comfy, cozy New Year!

Ecclesiastes 3:11

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

What A Difference a Post Makes

I took a little holiday blog hiatus, and didn't post until Wednesday of this week.  Taking a look at my blog stats, I'm reminded how my readership is affected by my inactivity...it's a good kick in the pants for me.  Here's to a fruitful new blog year!  Giddyup, y'all!

Christmas Eve at First Baptist

For those who missed our song at the 3:30 and 11:00 p.m. services, here it is!  I asked the wonderfully talented Amanda Baker to sing some harmony with me, and Stephen Olson accompanied us on violin (Stephen also blessed us with music at our wedding).  I sang the Sara Groves rendition of "Cradle in Bethlehem".  Note to self for the future:  two hours is not enough time to shake off the carbonation of root beer. 

Upwardly Mobile

The media drawer knobs are at mouth level...mmm.

On the go at Grandma & Grandpa Petersen's house!

Checking out what's going on in the kitchen...

Playing with a new magnet set from Santa!

Just a Reminder...

...this is what it's all about.


By the way...I think Kendall has been taking copious notes from Linus!

Party like it's Christmas, 2010.

'Tis the season for Christmas parties galore, and I'm okay with that.  That means less meals for me to plan and cook at home, and more opportunities to put pretty dresses on my daughter!  We attended gatherings for the Lakewalk Surgery Center (at Spirit Mountain Lodge) and for Orthopedic Associates (at Minnesuing Acres Resort in WI).  After also attending our church leadership celebration, we've exhausted our Minnesota parties.  So I suppose we'll have to head out to California to catch some more before Christmas!  

Working on her big-girl steps! 

 If Kendall looks a little startled in this picture, it may be because half an hour earlier, we were stuck sideways in a ditch on the side of the road.  Kendall (and I) experienced our first real snow emergency when the Aviator veered into a ditch, which had been disguised by level snow.  The maintenance team at the resort came to our rescue, pulling us out inch by inch.  Kendall was oblivious to it all, keeping entertained by Dora the Explorer compliments of our car DVD system. 

Ellie and Kendall kept us entertained at the head of the table, and enjoyed stealing each other's food.  All the baby girls seemed to congregate on our side of the room!

Remembering By Candlelight

Tomorrow (Sunday) is a day set aside to remember children who have passed away at any age, from any cause, hosted by The Compassionate Friends.  Some cities are hosting vigils where family and friends can congregate.  We will be lighting a candle in our home to remember Derek.  If you would like to join us in lighting a candle for Derek, or for another loved one, you can do so from 7-8 p.m. (in your time zone) and join thousands of others lighting up homes around the world with memories and prayers.  You can also sign the Remembrance Book online if you wish.

The holidays are especially difficult for those who have lost family and friends.  How have you chosen to honor and remember those you love during the holiday season?  I'd love to hear your traditions, as this is new territory for us.

Symmetry is my Middle Name.

It's actually not, but it probably should be, as this is my modus operandi in most cases.  I like borders.  I like clean lines.  Generally, furniture not placed on right angles makes me uncomfortable.  So when I got our prints back from our photographer, I realized I was going to have to push my boundaries a little bit.  The goal was to create a photo gallery, similar to the crafty, abstract types you see in the Pottery Barn magazine.  I literally broke a sweat rearranging and rearranging the frames on my floor (and trying to keep Kendall away while doing so).  I finally found one arrangement to which I could commit, and as soon as it went up on the wall, I HATED IT.  But, I've let it live with us for a while, and I now think it actually turned out nicely.

By the way, it's true what "they" say about babies...when you have them, your wedding pictures start slowly disappearing...

The Sickness.

 
    We made it 11 months...11 months without a sick baby.  And then, BAM.  Kendall's nights of sleep got shorter...and shorter...and shorter, and we knew something was not well with our baby (see the pathetic, tear-stained little one in the picture).  Sure enough, she picked up a little head cold.  Then, I picked up a head cold "somewhere" and it was all-around misery.  We thought we had it beat by Thanksgiving week, packed up and left sans medication, only to be met with a bonus round smack dab in the middle of our vacation.  After 3 weeks of not being quite up to par, it seems we're all back to good health- something we won't take for granted this holiday season.  We hope all is well at your house!

It's a Christmas Miracle!

Before heading out to the post office earlier today, I was addressing a couple of packages (because I hear that helps the people delivering them).  I was already late to a playdate with Kendall, so rather than digging through my address book for the necessary information, I thought I'd look in the recycling bin right below me, as I had just discarded recently an envelope with the address I needed.  (This is the part of the story where I sound like a disgusting garbage rummager, but I promise I don't do this on a regular basis.  And it's only paper.)  I moved a couple pieces of junk mail, retrieved the envelope I needed, and saw something peculiar (and a little alarming) peeking out from behind yet another trashed credit card offer...

Now, I'm all for recycling, but I think this is a little excessive. Needless to say, I will be recycling this find elsewhere (probably at Starbucks).








Yep, this is a Christmas miracle...if the definition of "miracle" is someone here did something very stupid, and we got lucky this time.  :)

Because I Like Myself A Lot.

Treating myself to something special today :)

Baby of the Month!

Remember a while ago when I said I was considering entering Kendall in a photo contest? I kicked around the idea for a while, then finally decided to do it. We entered her picture in the Pottery Barn Kids "Baby of the Month" contest in November, and solicited votes like ca-RAZY (believe me, my friends are sick of hearing about this). I didn't feel TOO badly about it, though, because I really believed she had a shot of winning.

I was notified a couple weeks later that she had been selected as one of four finalists competing for the prestigious title! Now fully committed to the contest, we hoped that the public would agree that she was, indeed, the sweetest face on the ballot.

And agree they did! She is a WINNER! I received the following e-mail from Pottery Barn Kids on Wednesday:

Dear Jamie, This note is to inform you that your child, Kendall, has been selected to be the Pottery Barn Kids Baby of the Month for December! The photo you submitted of your baby will appear in our catalog (in homes on 1/4/11) and on our website starting on 12/1/10. You may view the web page featuring the Baby of the Month winners here: http://www.potterybarnkids.com/stylehouse/nurseries/baby-photo-contest.html Congratulations, and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions! Pottery Barn Kids



So there you have it- our own little beauty queen, coming soon to a catalog near you! (If you'd like to sign up to receive the catalog, click here)

P.S. Pride is the only reward here- no discount, no merchandise. Come to think of it, I should have considered a more lucrative contest! ;)

Christmas Letter 2010

Dear friends and family,

Welcome to our blog! We invite you to poke around in our blog archives for more detailed accounts of the events mentioned in this letter, or click on the links provided. It's been a pretty wild year...and that's an understatement!

Last December we forewent our annual Christmas Letter because we were in the midst of adding a new person to our family! We brought Kendall Rae home with us on Christmas Day- certainly the best Christmas gift we've ever received! Now, one year later, our hearts are beaming with joy and wonder as we watch this baby grow into a little girl. She is fully mobile on all fours and spends most of her day scavenging the house and making new discoveries. She prefers, however, standing on two feet, and we expect she'll be taking those first steps soon. Too soon.

Chris has been a faithful fixture at Orthopedic Associates of Duluth, where he is in his fifth year of working as a Physician Assistant. The doctors have been quick to compliment his skills in the operating room, and the patients always enjoy his personable rapport in the office. Orthopedics continues to be his passion, and he is always looking for new opportunities to learn and utilize his expertise.

Jamie has now fully transitioned from the teaching realm to the world of full-time Mommyhood. I now spend my time changing diapers, crawling on the ground, picking up toys, and occasionally popping a meal in the oven. It was a bit of an adjustment, having contributed over ten years of full-time work in various venues. However, I wouldn't trade it for anything...it is the most fulfilling, entertaining, wonderful job I've ever had (and I've had some pretty wonderful jobs). I continue to serve in the Worship Arts ministry at our church as one of four worship leaders for our weekend services.

Kendall is a seasoned traveler at the young age of 12 months, having been on both coasts and been on over a dozen airplane flights.
* February was our "West Coast Tour", visiting Chris' extended family in Vancouver, WA, then heading down to Stockton to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Petersen.
* We spent Easter weekend in Moorhead, MN, at Grandma and Grandpa Stavenger's house.
* In May, we joined the Stavenger siblings and Petersen grandparents for a weekend in Las Vegas, and Kendall experienced a warm climate for the first time!
* June travel to Monterey, CA, for the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach was a highlight this year. With the Petersens, we cheered on our golf favorites and soaked in the coastal beauty.
* We enjoyed our 4th of July vacation at the Lake with the Stavenger grandparents.
* In August, we returned to California to celebrate the life of Jamie's brother, Derek, on what would have been his 32nd birthday. It was a wonderful event that raised over $1000 for the Children's Tumor Foundation in his name.
* In September, our family visited Washington, DC!
* The Stavengers hosted Thanksgiving dinner at the Lake House.
* It's Christmas in California this year...and Chris' first without snow!

Other newsworthy news this year includes a newly dogless home as we decided to give our dog, Luna, to another loving family. Chris and I enjoy attending the Duluth Vineyard Church, where Kendall has taken quickly to nursery fun and we enjoy the grown-up fellowship and teaching it offers. We had the privilege of dedicating Kendall to the Lord at both the Vineyard and First Baptist, Stockton, in the spring. In more recent news, we entered Kendall in a baby photo contest for Pottery Barn Kids and...she WON, receiving the title of "Baby of the Month" for November, and a spot in the January edition of their catalog. Needless to say, we're the proudest of parents.

We are anxious to see what God has in store for us in 2011. Knowing firsthand that He is faithful at the pinnacle of joy and in the depths of sorrow, we will obediently follow Him. And, as always, we use this season as a reminder of the great hope we have because of God's great gift to us, Jesus Christ. May your Christmas season be blessed as you, too, celebrate the birth of the Savior.

In Him,
Chris, Jamie and Kendall

Adapting to the Animal

It's been a while since Luna went to live with her new family (who now can't keep her in a bizarre turn of events, but that's another story). I thought we had gotten rid of the animal living in our house, but it turns out we've got an 11-month-old animal in angel clothing under our roof! I've been enjoying (for lack of a better word... Sympathetizing?) reading about the destructive challenges my friend Ashley is having with their daughter, Audrey, who is having trouble adapting to the new sibling in the house. Little did I know my own little destructive force is surfacing...a teething baby who is desperate to chew on ANNNNYTHING. I lost one pair of slippers already, and have multiple teeth-marks in my shoulder (no permanent damage done, but MAN it hurts!). (Stephanie- I've adapted the Yo Gabba Gabba song and now sing "Don't Bite Your Mom".)

The last few days, I've gone to retrieve her from her nap, and found all sorts of brown debris around her mouth. Perplexed, I hunted down the culprit: the finish on her crib. She's chewing it to pieces.


So, we've done some "Imagination Movers"-style brainstorming and hopefully have curbed the problem for the time being...unless any of you have a different suggestion?

Trick or Treat

Before the snow, there was Halloween! We used every opportunity to put Kendall in her teddy bear costume. With cheeks that overflowed, she was the most huggable little bear I've ever seen! As a special treat, we had a photo session while Grandma Donna was here (whoops...have I not posted pictures from that visit!? YIKES!). This little Teddy melted the photographer's heart for sure!

On Saturday, we took Kendall to our church carnival. Too young for the bouncy houses or carnival games, it was more of a social outing for Chris and me. Kendall didn't appreciate it so much. In fact, she was pretty mortified by the abundance of hats, hoods and other headgear- items that mysteriously terrify her. She spent most of the time with her little bear face buried in my shoulder.

(This is her "I am not a happy bear" face)

On Halloween night, we met some friends with small children for some neighborhood trick-or-treating (or, in our case, walking). One thing to keep in mind for future Duluth halloweens...it's COLD. The toasty warm bear costume was a good- and practical- choice.

The first trick or treat house!


Kendall and Daddy were excited to get back home and have some "treats".

Welcome, Winter! I'll Enjoy You...For Now.

We had quite a snowstorm yesterday that left it's wintery fingerprint on Minnesota. Half of our apple tree is now lying on the ground...it's branches surrendered to the weight of the snow last night. I suppose it's time to take down the autumn decorations, because they just look wrong against the snowy backdrop. Now it's even MORE tempting to put up the Christmas tree and officially ring in the Christmas season! (The only thing stopping me is the idea of having to keep Kendall away from it for a month and a half.) I brought my camera with me as I ventured to the grocery store this afternoon. Not sure these pictures convey just how WHITE and beautiful it is outside...

(above and below: our backyard)

Our street...

A more artistic interpretation of a street in our neighborhood...

A random set of stairs off the main road...

The pond at the cemetery next door to us...


It's days like this that I wish my California friends could see how beautiful Duluth can be! Pictures just don't do it justice.

Work it, Girl!

I purchased a few adorable hats from a friend of mine who has her own shop (aroundthehook) on Etsy, and thought I'd send her a picture of Kendall in her new hat. Lo and behold, our own little miss chubbycheeks now has her first gig as a hat model! Check out Kendall's mug sellin' hats left and right!

By the way, I waste way too much time perusing all the cuteness on Etsy these days. I may need an intervention soon. But in the meantime, here are a few of my favorite shops:

Around the Hook

Briar.Claire

Booger Bear and Punkin Pooh

Sew Cute Creations

Ivory and Moss

Are you an Etsy seller yourself? Now's the time to pimp your shop! :)

To Tip or Not To Tip...

...that is the question.

I've been going to the same grocery store for years now, and always utilize the drive-up bagging service they provide for large quantities of bags. In a conversation last year, a friend was startled that I don't tip the guy who throws my bags in the car. I hadn't ever thought about it, but since she had called it to my attention, I thought I'd be vigilant to see if anyone else tips the bagger. Either EVERY shopper is SUPER stealth about forking over a tip, or I'm not the only one that doesn't shell out.

Given the fact that taking carts out of the store in order to load your own groceries is not an option, I thought I was safe in assuming this is a service of convenience provided by this high-end grocery store. However, it bothers me every time I drive up now. Are the baggers thinking "here comes that white SUV with the jerk lady that doesn't tip"?

Etiquette, anyone?

Probably More than You Need To Know.

I've been scratching my armpits like a freaking chimpanzee for the last two months. Now I know why.

A couple months ago, I noticed a small red spot under one of my arms. Shortly after, I developed a crazy rash on my legs. Having just returned from California where I spent an entire day in the grass, I thought this was a flare-up due to my grass allergy. As it progressively got worse, I watched as dry, red spots slowly engulfed my legs. My next self-diagnosis was eczema, so I loaded up on moisturizing cream and went to town. No luck- my legs looked like I had acquired leprosy, while they FELT like I had a bad case of the Chicken Pox.

This week, after waking up to bloody legs from scratching in my sleep, as well as being fed up by the CONSTANT itching under my arms, I took my rash-ridden self to the doctor. After examining my legs, he ruled out eczema and any kind of fungal infection. Stumped, he then looked under my arm. And, after an enlightening "Ohhhhh!", he started a line of questions:

Dr: Did you notice this spot before the rash on your legs?
Me: yes...
Dr: And did your ribcage and abdomen ever itch?
Me: YES...
Dr: And did it then spread to your legs downward?
Me: YES!...
(It was starting to sound like that annoying Progressive commercial)

He then informed me I have a "classic case" of Pityriasis Rosea, a viral infection that begins with a "Herald Spot" and quickly becomes a skin rash. My particular case is accompanied by severe itching.

Oh, not to worry, because it usually only lasts four to six months. MONTHS!!! ARGHH!!!! Until then, I'm supposed to take lots of cold showers and oatmeal baths to help combat the itching. The only good news in this situation is that the approaching cold weather gives me a good excuse to keep my spotted skin covered up. I think this may be the only time I've actually welcomed winter weather.

Workin' the Camera

We spent part of our "family day" last month on a photo-shoot with the magnificent Lyndsey Johnson of On3Design. And the photos turned out...well, magnificent. :) You can find a selected few showcased here, or enter the gallery to view all of the pictures or order for yourselves.
Passcode: KendallS
Date: 09-30-10.

Thou Shalt Not Change Diapers.

A couple of weeks ago, we served as volunteers in the nursery at our church. Kendall was there, as well as several other babies. As we read through the volunteer guidelines, Chris took special note of the diaper changing rule: no men changing diapers. Great. Just the ammo he needs to get out of that stinky job.

This conversation took place in our home tonight:

C: Pee-uu! SOMEone has a dirty diaper!
J: Uh-oh!
C: Who do you want to change your diaper? Mommy or Daddy?
J: Daddy.
C: Uh-uh! Daddy can't do it. It's against the rules.
J: Excuse me?
C: The rules at church say I can't change diapers.
J: Well, it's a good thing we're at home, and not at church then.
C: Hey, they're God's rules, not mine.
J: They are NOT God's rules. They are boundaries created because of all the men who have screwed up and done inappropriate things with children. Women are more trustworthy, I guess. Either that or they don't want men vomiting all over the nursery.

(C leaves the room with the baby. C reappears several seconds later.)

C: So, question...the church is a place of worship, right?
J: Right.
C: And we worship God at our home as well, right?
J: ...ugh. I can see where you're going with this...
C: So, the same rules should apply, right?
J: Too bad they are the church's rules, and not God's rules. When you can find that scripture, I'll let you off the hook. Go change her diaper.

(C chuckles and changes her diaper.)

Nice try.

Sometimes Saying Things Correctly is Just Too Difficult.

As IF I'm not already uber-grammar-conscious, this video fires me up! For all of you who still say "supposebly"...I shun you.


LIDDLEIDDALY!

Fall Beautification

I've been inspired recently by some do-it-yourself-er friends of mine, and decided that I could spruce up our porch with a little creativity. I saw this idea in Rachael Ray's magazine and thought it was ingenious. Kendall went down for nap today, and I let the pumpkin guts fly! A bright and cheery welcome to some special visitors due to arrive this week! :)

To Everything, Turn, Turn, Turn...

There has been a lot of "turning" here in Duluth in the last few weeks. Autumn here is much like cherry blossom season in Washington D.C. If you time your visit just right, you will be treated to the most spectacular palette of fall colors you've ever seen. Unfortunately, the colors leave as quickly as they arrived. At this point, most of the leaves have lost their vibrant shade of red or yellow, and are waiting on the first gust of wind to sweep them to the ground. Still, those three weeks of autumnal brilliance make trudging through the long winter worth it.

In light of the anniversary that passed last week, we had an intentional family weekend. Chris took Thursday and Friday off, and we honored Derek's life by making memories with our loved ones. On Thursday, we took full advantage of the fall foliage by having some family portraits done (you might remember the incredible work On3Design did with Kendall's newborn pictures!). Afterward, we hit up Blackwoods Bar and Grill for a lovely lunch, and headed home for family nap time. Chris' mom, Marcia, arrived later in the afternoon, so Chris and I took off for an impromptu date night- dinner and a movie. Thanks, Grandma Marcia!

Friday, we trekked over to Bayfield, Wisconsin for the annual Bayfield Apple Festival. I was very disappointed, as were we all, when we arrived under large clouds of rain. We tolerated the rain at the outdoor festival as long as we could before surrendering and heading back to the car. The fun potential for this event is high, though, with the right conditions! Live music, great food, yummy desserts, fun parades, and pumpkin patches...next year we'll check the weather report first! :)

We made a stop at Erickson Orchards on our way out of town to pick up a
couple apple pies and other apple treats. By the end of the day, Kendall was famous
for her cute hat, getting recognized in several places.

Kendall, checking out the craft booths with Grandma.

Our drive back to Duluth along Lake Superior was stunning.

Fall foliage in full bloom on our block!

One Year Later.

My life changed forever one year ago. I sat by my brother's bed as he left this world and was ushered into heaven. I experienced a depth of sorrow I had never known. For weeks I carried on daily business with a tear-stained face, and wondered if my tears would ever run out. We lost so much that day that it's hard to acknowledge the things we gained, but here's my attempt to process:

What I lost:
*The ability to hug him whenever I want.
*The opportunity to talk and spend time in his presence.
*His infectious laugh and sense of humor.
*My family as I knew it.
*A little bit of faith in medicine.
*A sense of security in my emotions.
*An uncle for my daughter.
*A sibling with whom I can share life.
*An unquestioned faith in God, especially as a Healer.
*Someone who shared my childhood memories.

What I gained:
*An angel.
*An incredible sense of pride.
*An admiration for his courageous spirit.
*An urgency to lean into God and his mysterious plan.
*Empathy for those who have lost loved ones.
*Friendships that manifested themselves in beautiful ways.
*Gratefulness for Jesus and His Church.
*A daily appreciation for life and health.
*A husband who proved "for better or for worse".
*A new enjoyment of U2's music. :)
*A new, authentic and raw relationship with my parents.
*A deep respect for the medical team that invested so much in this case.
*An awareness of my own mortality.
*Cherished memories, too numerous to count.
*A greater sensitivity to the Spirit in worship.
*Anticipation for the reunion that will someday occur in Heaven.

I miss Derek every day. And as life goes on, it seems to get easier...and harder. He continues to be an inspiration to me and many others. Today, in his honor, I'm surrounding myself with the people I love- enjoying the beauty of the world around me, cherishing every smile, laugh, tear and memory.

5 Weird Things People Say About My Child.

1. "Her head is so perfectly round!"
Yes, her head IS round- and perfectly so. However, I don't notice an abundance of cone-headed and amoebic shaped baby craniums wandering about the city, so the fact that this is the FIRST thing out of some people's mouths is a little mysterious to me. I am often at a loss of what to respond to this compliment.

2. "She's so alert."
I had never heard this observation before having a baby, but apparently it's a popular observation to make. It would be the perfect thing to say to a less-than-attractive baby about whom you can't find anything else to say. Is being awake an accomplishment? Yes, Kendall opens her eyelids and looks around...I have a child prodigy on my hands. :)

3. "Is it a boy or a girl? I can never tell these days."
It's true. With all the baby boys sporting pink jumpsuits and baby girls carrying blue blankies, it is a very confusing world. From now on, girls wear pink and boys wear blue. And if you see a baby with a pink shirt, pink pants, pink blankie and a bow in her hair, feel free to assume that she is, indeed, a girl. Observational skills cannot be underestimated. Oh, and thanks for referring to my baby as "IT"!

4. "Nine months? She's so big/small for her age."
Oh, really? And you are comparing her to...who? Your gargantuan nephew that you visited last week? The Cabbage Patch doll you have at home? Let's bust out the measuring tape, and you will see that Kendall can be classified as neither gargantuan nor petite, but sits right about 50th percentile across the board at this time. SHE is the standard by which you should be measuring OTHER babies, people!

5. "She's so adorable- she looks just like Chris!"
These two statements, independently, I'm liable to agree with. She is adorable. And, often, she does look like her daddy. But when made enthusiastically as one statement, I can't help but feel a little backhanded...as if they're saying "She's so adorable- she definitely doesn't look like you." Umm, thanks?

DC Wrap-Up

I was admittedly a little apprehensive about our trip to DC. Chris had a work conference, so Kendall and I would be hotel-ridden for the majority of the trip. Turns out that was NOT the case, and even if it were, I wouldn't have minded it. We had a sa-WEET hotel room (literally- at the Embassy Suites) in which Kendall could have her own room to sleep, thus eliminating my need to kick Chris repeatedly during the night for snoring. In addition, the seminars Chris attended ended up consuming only his mornings leaving all afternoon to sight-see.

We both mentioned that this was our favorite vacation to date, though we could have done without the excruciating heat and hysterical airplane meltdown by Miss K (she officially lost her "Best Baby Traveler" title on both to and from flights).

Here's a little looksie at our week!

On our first night, we had dinner with Chris' friend Kayla and her boyfriend, Alan. We went to Gordon Biersch- yum- just a short walk from our hotel.

We passed Ford's Theater on the way back to the hotel.

While Chris was in meetings, Kendall and I met my childhood friend, Emily, for a little Starbucks treat! She works just a few blocks from our hotel.

Our downtime was enjoyable, too...we camped out on our fluffy beds and watched some TV!

The NEWSEUM came highly recommended to us (thanks, Angela!) and was our favorite stop of the trip! Kendall was devouring all the information...literally.

Chris and I both tried our hand at reporting the news. I think I missed my calling :)

Also on display was the antenna from World Trade Tower 1, along with a variety of front page headlines from Sept 12th.

On Wednesday, my SoCal friends Eric and Ashley came from Baltimore to spend the day with us! We had a great time sightseeing with them and their two cutie-pies, Audrey and Elliot.

(With the Lapointes at the Washington Monument- note the two sleeping babies stowed away.)

Kendall promptly went to sleep before we hit all the big stops, thwarting all of our plans for family photos. Ohhhh wellll.

The totally-straight dads and their babies.

During Chris' Thursday morning classes, Kendall and I ventured to Georgetown for some girl time- shopping, Starbucks and cupcakes :) Our first stop was the acclaimed Georgetown Cupcake, of "DC Cupcakes" on TLC.

We took home the following yumminess: Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, Caramel Apple, and Pumpkin Spice. I KNOW, right!?!

On our final day, we visited Arlington National Cemetery, which was lovely despite the strenuous hilly stroller-pushing and ridiculous heat. We arrived at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier just in time for the changing of the guard ceremony, and Kendall kept silent- just as instructed :)


While there, we stopped to pay respects to family friend, Sam Huff, who died several years ago in Iraq. It was a sobering moment, and our hearts still ache for her family.

As the youngest female soldier to be buried at Arlington, her bio and uniform are on display in the "Women in Military Service Memorial".

We arrived at the reflecting pool just as the sun was setting, which made for the most amazing pictures.

Kendall at the World War II Memorial.