Thinking of C.P.

Last weekend, we traveled to Indianapolis to visit our dear family friend, C.P. Lester. He is my husband's best friend from DeWitt, Ark., and he is terminally ill in the hospital with stage four renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer). We just packed up and went, and I'm so grateful we did. We were able to visit him and talk with him in the ICU before he had to go on a ventilator.

I should say that he just learned about the cancer a couple weeks ago, and it came as a shock - especially because it was so advanced. It just puts things in perspective and makes you want to stop and embrace life. Cliche, I know, but so true.

C.P. goes way, way back in the Denton family. Jerod's mom was his theater teacher, and C.P. helped babysit my husband when he was growing up. He has been like an uncle to my boys. He is my most loyal blog reader, a champion of all things having to do with my children. He always remembers birthdays and holidays - little things that mean so much. He has spent week-long beach vacations with us for the past seven years, and - well, he has just been there. He has a grumpy demeanor and a most generous heart.

We didn't take the kids to the hospital to see him. I'm at peace with that decision, although I was unsure at the time. I just know that I want Parker to remember happy times with C.P. - not a hospital bed and tubes.

My thoughts are with C.P. now, and I'm just so glad we did the inconvenient thing - the right thing - by loading up the kids and the car and driving on up there. I wish we could do more.

We love you, Ceepers. Please stay strong and keep fighting.

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Garage of Shame (or, How I Spent My Birthday)

Today is my 39th birthday, and how did I spend it? Cleaning out the Garage of Shame.


Don't get me wrong. I chose to do this. I've been meaning to clean this thing out for five years, and I finally had the chance. It turned out to be a strangely appropriate way to spend the day. As I sifted through the many boxes stacked along the back wall, it was like going through layers of my life.

I found my diary from sixth grade. My old basketball photos and trophies. Photographs of my high school friends, then college. Sketches from my college art classes, which are surprisingly good. (I started out with a minor in art before deciding it was too impractical. So now I write for a living.)

The photos slowed me down, and there was no way I could throw a single one away. Photos of spring break ski trips. Jerod's trip to Amsterdam. Our New Hampshire years and all the backpacking.

Here are a couple of my favorites. This was so typical of our weekends in New Hampshire. Jerod and I just took off into the mountains and camped. That was about 10 years ago, I think - we were probably 27 or 28 years old. Here he is staring into the fire...

And here are our friends Jason and Trish, somewhere on top of a mountain in Vermont. We hung out together a lot - backpacking, hiking, going out to dinner. Trish was also one of my running buddies, although she kicked my butt every time. Those were great years. Trish and Jason are still up there, hiking and skiing and snowboarding - now with their two athletic kids.


Back in the garage, I also found a ton of my old newspaper clips, along with some thank-you notes from people I had written about. Those mementos brought back worlds of memories.

So you see, it was fitting to take a little trip back in time on this day, the beginning of the last year of my thirties. It reminded me of some important things we used to do for fun, and it led to a decision: This is the summer for camping with the boys. As crazy as that sounds, I think it is time.

Here are some other things we've been up to:


Play-Doh with the neighbors on a spring-like day



This is what my living room looks like lately.



Here's Miss Angie giving Parker a haircut. (That's me in the background with my iPhone).

A trip to the zoo yesterday...

Sawyer fed a donkey at the petting zoo...


And here's a shot from a week or so ago, before the snow melted. Our friend Mathias came to play, and Parker and Mathias practiced slaying dragons in the bushes.

P.S. I did make progress on the garage. It's now only kind of shameful. I'll post the after pics as soon as we organize a little more.

Also, Jerod came home early bearing a birthday dinner and a gift certificate for some new running shoes. Which reminds me that I'm meeting my neighbor/running buddy at 5:15 a.m., and I'm up way too late.

Thanks for reading. Good night!

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One kid is a Metallica fan ...

the other, not so much.

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Coffee With Rose and Will

When I worked at The Tennessean, heading downstairs for morning coffee at Moe's was an essential part of the day. Rose would usually go with me (and sometimes other members of our intrepid DAM team). It was a time to plan and vent, share ideas and strategies. OK, mostly to vent ... but they were good times and great people.

Today I met Rose for coffee at the bustling Frothy Monkey, and she brought along her adorable baby boy, Will. Such a little nugget! He was a trouper and so handsome in his tiny REI vest. It was a treat to spend some unhurried time just catching up and admiring the little guy. Let's do it again very soon, and I'll bring Sawyer along.

Will was a sleepy boy at this point. He was bundled up and ready to go home for a nap. Does he look like Brad or what?

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Snow Redux

When snow comes to Nashville, you have to make the most of it - even if you're over it. Today's snow was beautiful to watch and just deep enough to eke out a snowman.

Actually, a snow cat.

Which turned into a snow bunny.

Sawyer sampled a little...



Later, Parker piled pillows and blankets in the bathtub, where the kids "hibernated" for awhile. Not a bad idea.

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SNOWapalooza 2010

Last weekend was a truly great one in Nashville, with 4 inches of snow - enough for five days of sledding, snowman-making, snowball-fighting, hot chocolate-drinking and friend-gathering. This is how winter should be! We were finally able to use the sled we bought three years ago, and we headed to the hill near our neighborhood pool for some serious sledding.

To top it off, Parker and Jerod both made the Tennessean. Parker was so excited! Here's the photo of Jerod sledding with our neighbor Tim. (Tennessean photo by George Walker IV).



The rest of the photos are mine ....

Here's Sawyer, who is now addicted to sledding.



Here's me and Sawyer heading down the entrance to the trail. (Jerod took this pic.)



Parker and Jerod did some night sledding in front of our house.


Tim and Erin. We headed to their house after one sledding session for some hot chocolate spiked with Bailey's and Kahlua. Ahhhhhh.


Parker and Ethan heading down the slope.

Parker and Mathias heading up the hill for another run.


A full morning of sledding called for some bloody Marys. Hot chocolate for the kids.

Parker and Sawyer

Mathias and Heather came over before the snow melted on Tuesday, and the timing was perfect for making a snowman.

Sawyer helped, too.

And I have to say that Parker may have met someone who loves Batman as much as he does. After making the snowman, Parker and Mathias played Batman and Two-Face - a great excuse for a snowball fight. Here's Mathias in full Batman gear.

We loved every minute of the snow ... and now we're ready for spring.

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A Tribute to Two

Before I get into the particulars of Sawyer's birthday, let me reminisce a little.

Warning: This might be TMI for some folks. So if you aren't up for some sappy sentiment or are uncomfortable with pregnant talk, feel free to move on.

Here's the thing. Not all pregnancies end happily. But you don't really think about that until it happens to you.

My pregnancy with Parker was easy as pregnancies go. No complications, no worries. He came along as a happy surprise, first discovered when he was a good eight weeks on the way.

Then came two miscarriages in 2006. Such a sad year - a frustrating year that prompted our friends to bring this cake to our New Year's Eve party. (Don't look, mom.) I needed a good laugh after all the tears.

On the advice of friends and my doctor, we went to the Nashville Fertility Center. We NEVER expected to find ourselves here, let me tell you. But we discovered the problem, and it made all the difference in the world. A thorough round of blood work showed that my body was viewing those little babies as foreign objects to destroy. So the next time around, I had to give myself a shot in the stomach of Lovenox (blood thinner) every single day for the entire pregnancy, along with hormones, baby aspirin (also a blood thinner), and some very close monitoring - once-a-week doctor visits and many, many ultrasounds.

The result: Sawyer, our beautiful baby boy. Worth every needle and all those months of nausea, a million times over.

Today he is a stout little toddler, opinionated and sweet, with a love of dogs, balls, Elmo, bugs, water play, books and the outdoors. A picky eater, he won't touch a vegetable (except to drop it in the floor) but loves any kind of fruit. He does not talk much, although he understands. We're keeping an eye on the late-talking situation, but our doctor thinks it's too soon to worry, since he is so social, playful and communicative in other ways. After our nightly stories, Sawyer insists on sleeping with a stack of books, and the stack changes each night. He likes to pelt us with Cheerios from his car seat while we drive, which is maddening and hilarious at the same time. He is quiet, cautious in new situations, and a little comedian at home.

His second birthday was a small family celebration, and Sawyer's Nonnie and cousin Drew drove six hours from Arkansas to be here for the festivities. His Uncle C.P., Grandma and Grandpa Tucker would have been here, too, if they were able. Thank you all so much for the cards and gifts. We used the money to buy a family membership to the zoo, since Sawyer is our resident animal lover, and we figure it's a gift that we'll use it many, many times all year long.

Happy second birthday to you, Sawyer. We are so happy you're here. It's an honor to be your mom.

Here are a few pictures from the birthday weekend (week before last - I'm a little late posting these). Thanks to Nonnie and Drew for an on-the-go weekend full of food, conversation, shopping and just hanging out.

A heated game of Operation. Yeah, we know how to party.

Nonnie and Drew with Sawyer ...


Parker got some attention, too...

Sawyer giving Drew "bones" as they headed out.

And here's a look at baby Sawyer, just minutes after he was born.

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