Monday, May 22, 2006
Rest In Peace
My parents home overlooks a cemetary--I was
trying to photograph a robin building a nest
on the front porch but I was struck by
how peaceful this scene was. Eternal rest
for our souls and our bodies-you will be
missed Carol and Michelle.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Our Little Lady
Our dear friend Katie McDonnell blessed us
with this adorable little dress that I could resist
using for theses pictures. Like Naomi said--there
is something about pink on a little girl that you
can't resist. Especially this dress its just so innocent
and timeless. Love it Katie!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Happy Mother's Day To Me
What a wonderful weekend--the treasure's kept on giving and I have to share:
Nate and I spent Friday night at the wonderful bed and breakfast that
is my parents home--so they volunteered to get up durring the night with
the still recovering darling that is Sophia. As they say "its a young person's game."
And then Saturday-I was able to capture the "amazing Sophia's" new rolling over
trick on film--a wonderful gift. My mom and I got to spend some quality time shopping
for me--its so nice to be in anything Non-Maternity while Nate got some quality time
with his baby that wasn't at 4am. Then the joy continued when Sophia was the guest
of honor at one of my parents dinner parties--I hear she was a hit (special note here with my baby being sick I have voluntarily quarantined myself so all this pawning her off was not typical--just neccessary. When I find out who contaminated my baby--whew won't be pretty)
While Nate and I got a great dinner with friends a little Barnes and Noble--oh I missed that place--and then a movie--missed that too. Then this morning I got to read an entire Sunday NY Times--I know a little liberal but pure bliss. Today I discovered something of a women's soul--I remebered when I was little and I discovered my mother's stash of tooth fairy notes, macaroni art and of course cards. Hand made cards-store bought cards etc. Today I got my first card from my baby, I know I have recieved many wonderful cards from special people including my husband--but somehow nothing is as special as that sweet little card from my daughter on my first mother's day. The only thing to do next is find a box for my stash.
A Work In Progress
There are many signs around me that I am truely becoming a mother--
but before I expose my soul you must know how much I ADORE my daughter
I love her smile--I love being a part of her life--I love the fact that I alone can comfort
her like a mother can and when people talk about how bright and interactive she is--I love
that I had something to do with it--that I can already see something wonderful come out
of this new relationship--it gives me hope.
I will also confess that there are moments especially after a particullarly tough week of thrush
and a cold--I know a two month old with a cold--well that's a whole nother tirade. Anyway, I was out and about without my baby and as I turned my car onto the interstate I realized I didn't want to go home. I wanted to go anywhere do anything besides being trapped inside with a fussy two-month old. And this is where the growth part comes in--typically when I am in emotional duress my comfort mechanism is coffee, or shopping or a good book--but this week I discovered something just as soothing--power tools. I love Home Depot and I love to do projects--I knew that but as I hung a very neccesary set of shelves in my basement entry creating a much needed pantry space off my kitchen I found myself humming--I'm so excited and I just can't help it--no kidding. I was almost giddy--course I was finally getting my kitchen in order and even finding wedding presents I had "put away" in the move that I hadn't seen since. But you know what atleast home projects pay back in equity--so its a way to give back. I guess the point is even my coping mechanisms are growing up--instead of indulging myself with shoes--I indulged myself with shelves. . .Who knew?
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Sophia and her #1 fan. . .
Well at least one of them. Aminchi--will do my best to post
as much of the "amazing Sophia" as humanly possible. . .
A day in the life of Sophia & Sarah Kay. . .
5 am or 6—Sophia starts her day with breakfast—possibly a little catnap afterwards (if I’m lucky)
9:30 second breakfast (very Tolkeinesque) but thankfully she’s got great taste so breakfast is timed with Gilmore Girls! Ohkay you’re going to see a running theme here but you have to remember that Sophia isn’t much of a talker—so besides the news it’s sometimes the only intelligent dialogue I have during the day (Nate is not much of a talker before nine am—but we love him for it)
10:30 am time for play! This may include hanging out with mom, swinging, lying on our mat and smiling at Pooh. Learning to coo—this girl is going to be very vocal you can tell it already. She also loves to chat, lots of eye contact, lots of being talked to—I get strange looks at the mall when I’m talking to a stroller, it’s a also a little dangerous.
But everyone is much happier, I’m convinced that she doesn’t really like her car seat b/c she has to face the back of the car. Don’t believe me, ask Kathy—one morning when Sophia accompanied me to coffee I mistakenly placed her facing the wall, that didn’t last long but when Kathy turned her around—well she just wanted to be part of the girls
11am time for a nap—repeat two more time then it’s Daddy time! Sophia and I have a deal that the really big diapers we save for Daddy—followed by bath time or a trip to the gym where they have really nice people that LOVE to hang out with Sophia, and all the really great toys.
9:30 second breakfast (very Tolkeinesque) but thankfully she’s got great taste so breakfast is timed with Gilmore Girls! Ohkay you’re going to see a running theme here but you have to remember that Sophia isn’t much of a talker—so besides the news it’s sometimes the only intelligent dialogue I have during the day (Nate is not much of a talker before nine am—but we love him for it)
10:30 am time for play! This may include hanging out with mom, swinging, lying on our mat and smiling at Pooh. Learning to coo—this girl is going to be very vocal you can tell it already. She also loves to chat, lots of eye contact, lots of being talked to—I get strange looks at the mall when I’m talking to a stroller, it’s a also a little dangerous.
But everyone is much happier, I’m convinced that she doesn’t really like her car seat b/c she has to face the back of the car. Don’t believe me, ask Kathy—one morning when Sophia accompanied me to coffee I mistakenly placed her facing the wall, that didn’t last long but when Kathy turned her around—well she just wanted to be part of the girls
11am time for a nap—repeat two more time then it’s Daddy time! Sophia and I have a deal that the really big diapers we save for Daddy—followed by bath time or a trip to the gym where they have really nice people that LOVE to hang out with Sophia, and all the really great toys.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Our Beloved Sister in Christ
Crash victim was to graduate Saturday
ISU student died when her car crossed Highway 30 median
By Angela Meng The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS — She was a caring person who always put others first — that’s how Renee Pinkston described her 22-year-old daughter, Michelle Pinkston, who was killed in a car crash on Highway 30 near Norway about 12:15 p.m. Friday. ‘‘She was a very strong Christian, and she had every confidence that she’d go to heaven,’’ Renee Pinkston of Cedar Rapids said Saturday of her daughter, who was supposed to graduate from Iowa State University on Saturday. ‘‘She had a sort of sweetness and f r e s h n e s s about her. She was just so animated about life, and she was very loving. She never waited to tell people she app r e c i a t e d them.’’ M i c h e l l e Pinkston was driving east from Ames to Cedar Rapids on Highway 30 when her car crossed the median and entered the two westbound lanes. Her car was struck by a pickup, then continued on and was struck by a minivan. The minivan and Pinkston’s car were then both struck by a semi-trailer truck. She died at the scene. The driver of the minivan, Deborah Nielson of Newhall, was flown by helicopter to University Hospitals in Iowa City, where she remained Saturday. Renee Pinkston said Michelle was driving to Cedar Rapids to spend Friday with the family and was going to drive back to Ames with them for the graduation ceremony Saturday. Renee Pinkston said she originally thought the accident might have been caused by her daughter being drowsy, but one of Michelle’s friends said she had talked to her just 10 minutes before the accident and that she had sounded fairly alert. Michelle Pinkston was a 2002 Kennedy High School graduate. She was involved in track, cross country, cheerleading and the National Honor Society. She was also a member of The Gazette’s Youth Advisory Council. In college, she was president of one of ISU’s dorms and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She received a Cardinal Leadership Award two weeks ago. The award, Renee Pinkston said, is very selective, and Michelle was honored to receive it. She got involved in art in high school and designed a badge for the Grant Wood Art Festival in 2002. From then on, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in graphic design, her mother said. The graphic design major had a lot of her artwork selected at various art shows at the college. She wanted to illustrate children’s books. Michelle is survived by her mother, her father, Larry Pinkston, and her two older brothers, David and Matt Pinkston. ‘‘She wanted to make a difference,’’ Renee Pinkston said. ‘‘She just wanted to do something to influence people in a good way.’’ (Obituary, 4B) Contact the writer: (319) 398-8240 or angela.meng@gazettecommunications. com
Michelle Pinkston Died Friday
ISU student died when her car crossed Highway 30 median
By Angela Meng The Gazette
CEDAR RAPIDS — She was a caring person who always put others first — that’s how Renee Pinkston described her 22-year-old daughter, Michelle Pinkston, who was killed in a car crash on Highway 30 near Norway about 12:15 p.m. Friday. ‘‘She was a very strong Christian, and she had every confidence that she’d go to heaven,’’ Renee Pinkston of Cedar Rapids said Saturday of her daughter, who was supposed to graduate from Iowa State University on Saturday. ‘‘She had a sort of sweetness and f r e s h n e s s about her. She was just so animated about life, and she was very loving. She never waited to tell people she app r e c i a t e d them.’’ M i c h e l l e Pinkston was driving east from Ames to Cedar Rapids on Highway 30 when her car crossed the median and entered the two westbound lanes. Her car was struck by a pickup, then continued on and was struck by a minivan. The minivan and Pinkston’s car were then both struck by a semi-trailer truck. She died at the scene. The driver of the minivan, Deborah Nielson of Newhall, was flown by helicopter to University Hospitals in Iowa City, where she remained Saturday. Renee Pinkston said Michelle was driving to Cedar Rapids to spend Friday with the family and was going to drive back to Ames with them for the graduation ceremony Saturday. Renee Pinkston said she originally thought the accident might have been caused by her daughter being drowsy, but one of Michelle’s friends said she had talked to her just 10 minutes before the accident and that she had sounded fairly alert. Michelle Pinkston was a 2002 Kennedy High School graduate. She was involved in track, cross country, cheerleading and the National Honor Society. She was also a member of The Gazette’s Youth Advisory Council. In college, she was president of one of ISU’s dorms and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She received a Cardinal Leadership Award two weeks ago. The award, Renee Pinkston said, is very selective, and Michelle was honored to receive it. She got involved in art in high school and designed a badge for the Grant Wood Art Festival in 2002. From then on, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in graphic design, her mother said. The graphic design major had a lot of her artwork selected at various art shows at the college. She wanted to illustrate children’s books. Michelle is survived by her mother, her father, Larry Pinkston, and her two older brothers, David and Matt Pinkston. ‘‘She wanted to make a difference,’’ Renee Pinkston said. ‘‘She just wanted to do something to influence people in a good way.’’ (Obituary, 4B) Contact the writer: (319) 398-8240 or angela.meng@gazettecommunications. com
Michelle Pinkston Died Friday
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Larry Boy
It was a beautiful afternoon for an impromptu
barbeque with our friends Andrew and Doris and
and their two adorable children Gabby (4) and Ezekial (2).
For Nate and I it was a taste of things to come--especially
when Nate sat down in a deck chair--HAPPY BIRTHDAY! A
quirky little voice came from underneath him--Nate jumped up
with a bewildered look on his face. It was priceless--much better
than a whoopy cushion--one of the kids had strategically deposited
their talking Larry doll--it may not have phased a more seasoned
parent but we're still new at this--just a reminder we can't take ourselves
too seriously.
Friday, May 05, 2006
Who Can Refuse This Face
Sophia Update: We have been learning to smile, that will
make your day. Believe me! And no matter how bad the day has been
a simple smile will make it all worth it. We've had a really tough battle with thrush
but we are Victorious! Yesterday I think we rolled over yesterday--it was
adorable! I'll let you know when we have a repeat performence
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
Sophia Nerolel reporting live from Cedar Rapids. . . what do you
think the next Lisa Ling
Go Kernels
By the way taking a baby to a ball-game is a great way
to get on the Smile Cam on the Jumbotron
Happy Birthday Dave!
We spent Tuesday night at the ballpark celebrating Dave
Jarret's Birthday and had a great time (Dave is the one in the yellow hat)
Monday, May 01, 2006
Congratulations Chad!
Congratulations Chad and Jane on your engagement!
We are all so thrilled for you and can't wait to meet her!
John Deer Green
Yesterday, I learned how to mow lawn on a riding mower. Until yesterday I had no idea what an important skill this was. Ranks right up there with driving a stick shift on my list. Ohkay maybe not that high but at least somewhere near, tying the cherry stem into a knot with your tongue, and doing a backflip, I can’t do the latter but I got the whole cherry thing covered. Chalk it up to one to many Friday nights at TGIFriday’s in high school.
My parents had a normal-sized yard growing up (at least here in the states) that only required a push lawn-mower. Great on the tan but a sticky way to get a work out.
Its nothing like my dad’s new John Deer-this thing comes equipped with a place for my
Walkman and a cup holder. (And yes I still use a walkman—not an Ipod--but more on that latter.) If you happened to be driving by my parents yesterday afternoon, you would’ve seen me in sweats and way too fashionable for lawn mowing sunglasses, singing at the top of my lungs to whatever new song was on the radio—with a little brown dog bounding along behind. It was great—since I am the mother of a seven week old (don’t worry she was being watched carefully by her Nanna and Poppa) I was thrilled a little time just to think. I’ll admit I got a little nervous when the thing went down hill—no one told me the machine slows itself down. I was ready to bucking bronco it all the way down—a little anti-climactic but not bad.
And what did all this thinking time get me? Well, it dawned on me that since I live in a condo I pay my association a nice chunk of change each month to mow my 12 by 4 foot piece of grass (I am not exaggerating it’s really that small.) And then my parents turn around and pay me to manage their acre of lawn. Go figure.
My parents had a normal-sized yard growing up (at least here in the states) that only required a push lawn-mower. Great on the tan but a sticky way to get a work out.
Its nothing like my dad’s new John Deer-this thing comes equipped with a place for my
Walkman and a cup holder. (And yes I still use a walkman—not an Ipod--but more on that latter.) If you happened to be driving by my parents yesterday afternoon, you would’ve seen me in sweats and way too fashionable for lawn mowing sunglasses, singing at the top of my lungs to whatever new song was on the radio—with a little brown dog bounding along behind. It was great—since I am the mother of a seven week old (don’t worry she was being watched carefully by her Nanna and Poppa) I was thrilled a little time just to think. I’ll admit I got a little nervous when the thing went down hill—no one told me the machine slows itself down. I was ready to bucking bronco it all the way down—a little anti-climactic but not bad.
And what did all this thinking time get me? Well, it dawned on me that since I live in a condo I pay my association a nice chunk of change each month to mow my 12 by 4 foot piece of grass (I am not exaggerating it’s really that small.) And then my parents turn around and pay me to manage their acre of lawn. Go figure.
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