My Toast to Geordan and Julie

On October 29th, two very important people in my life joined forces. My older brother by 16 months and my close friend and college roommate got married. It was my intention to give a toast at their wedding but my 17 month old got the best of me and my attention. Here is an attempt to recreate that moment (I know, for those of us who were there, this is impossible because it was so magical).

Some of my first memories of Geordan are bittersweet. We would eat Cattyface's cat food together under the jungle gym, we would mix potions in our make-believe lab behind the old Crowley house. He would also leave me in the dust when we walked to school, ignore me when we got to school and the worst was he could always make mom laugh when he was in trouble to get out of it! When we were young I just wanted to hang out with him so bad! As we got older, I tried to phase him out and create my own life and name for myself (not an easy thing to do when you get all the same teachers the next year in junior high!). Eventually we hit high school and all of a sudden I had cute friends and he and his friends were interested in hanging out. I, again, tried to do my own thing but always came back to wanting to hang out with my brother.

Funnily enough, Geordan (Nerdan as I call him) and my relationship really blossomed when I moved away to Chico. This is the time that I met Julie. Julie was Girl Jordan's friend who moved in with us 6 months after we moved to Chico. My first experiences of Julie were "Julie's Metal Cruisin Tunes" mix CD, and her being deathly ill in her bed wanting to move home. While we did not instantly "click" (she thought I played Simon & Garfunkel on the living room CD player to piss her off!), we always got along and had a good living relationship together. As the years rolled on (4-5 - I really wasn't ready to leave Chico and would spend weekends at J and J's) our relationship grew and blossomed. While I didn't frequently hang out with her crew, Julie could be spotted at a Buffalo Creek show once in a while or singing "New Slang" at 2am with all my long hairs. We became very close and shared some of life's most challenging and enlightening moments.

This is where Geordan and Julie's lives intersect and to my dismay, I really had nothing to do with it! They found each other back in SoCal and ready for the next phase of their life. They are compatible in more ways than I could ever imagine. Their kind nature works in harmony with the way they want to live their life. They have a million rescue dogs because they don't ever give up on anyone or anything. They have built businesses from nothing and created and become members of others family because they are the kind of people that we want in our family. They are ALWAYS thoughful, generous, and REAL!

I need to wrap this up because my 17 month old is waking up...

What I wanted to say the night you were married was that marriage is such an amazing experience and I knew you two would suit it well from the first moments you were together. Julie, welcome to the family and enjoy the Allen name... I know you will make us proud! Geordan, thank you for giving me another sister who is also my dear friend... I approve!

I love you both to the moon and 40 skies,

Emilie

"Allen Girls, Woot woot!"

As I drove home from Oregon last night with two of the strongest Allen women I know, after leaving an extraordinarily courageous new Allen mama and her amazing Allen girl infant, I had some pretty emotional and strong thoughts on Allen women and then this led me to feel the need to share a secret.

I have a confession. I have had every intention when I said "YES!" to walk down the aisle with Dave B. to change my last name from Allen to Beecroft. No hyphen, no double-middle name, just, in the name of simplicity, from Allen to Beecroft. Here we are a wedding, two dogs, a one year old, a house and career later...I am still Emilie Rose Allen. My understanding is that the name change process takes time, organization and energy and I am just about ready to embark.

Dave has never pressed the issue knowing that my roots within the Allen tree are deep... I mean really deep. Growing up with extremely strong "Allen" women role models made me proud and very strong and VERY sentimental about belonging to this long line of women who were pioneers, farmers, teachers, healers, mothers, party-planners. All of which overcame odds and CREATED families and BUILT things from nothing. They were (are) magical women. I also have many Allen girl cousins who, when we get together, can pretty much conquer the world.

I am not sure if it is because it has been embarrassingly long since I got married, or if I wanted to properly mourn the loss of my last name of 30 years, or if it is the birth of the first Allen baby girl of this generation that makes it all of sudden alright, but, I AM READY to make the change. I have all my paperwork lined up and the time off from work to make it official and complete my transformation from A to B.

I am extremely comforted by the fact that I will be joining the ranks of Beecroft women such as my mother-in-law and sister-in-law (albeit former Beecroft) who show strikingly similar traits to those Allens who I hold near and dear.

O.K., Isla Monet Allen (all of 3 days old), I am counting on you hold up your end of this family tree. I am counting on you to steer this family as you grow and learn. I am counting on you to nurture and love this name as if you will have if for the rest of your life. I am counting on you to be magical. Who am I kidding. Of course you will, you are an Allen girl, woot, woot!

Signing off,

Emilie Rose Beecroft

1st Birthday

Barrett,
Hello son. The last time I wrote to you, I didn't even know your name. I was so nervous about becoming a father and even more so about your mother's delivery of you. Although you DID put up quite a fight, you came into this world almost a year ago as a very healthy baby boy.
Watching you grow and learn has made this year one of the most satisfying and amazing events of my life. The way you went from learning how to roll over to top speed-crawling is a testament to who you are, I believe. I absolutely adore the various expressions you give, from a look of sheer determination to squeals of excitement. I always thought that it was when you started talking that we could really start having fun communicating with each other, but I realize that I don't needs your words to know how you're feeling.
I read recently about a new dad who had grand ideas of teaching him how to do all the things that he loves to do. What he learned though, was that all he really wanted from his son was to not loose the innocence he came with.
This has been an amazing year of growth for myself too, Barrett. I cannot imagine life without you, when a year ago, I was concerned about loosing what it was to be just your Mom and I. I know that feeling now that parents talk about when they mention the smell of their baby. I know how a smile can make a person go weak in the knees. I know the soothing feeling of a sleepy baby in your arms, and the magic of the smile you get when you walk through the front door. When you reach up to me with your arms stretched out as far as they'll go, there is not much to compare that to, other than an adults memory of doing the same as a child.
So here we are at your 1st birthday, and I just wanted to tell you how amazing the past year has been and how wonderful it is that you've made us a family.
I love you, son.
-Dad

No Cents: Final Thoughts

This is what you can do with lots of time on your hands!

(please disregard the blue underline...I'm new at this)

As Friday closes, so does my Project: No Cents. I have some final musings before I close the book on this entertaining project.

• Researching free activities and getting creative with completing home projects without spending a cent is TIME-CONSUMING! I spent a good deal of time on the computer looking for fun and cheap ideas (googling mom-groups, and DIY projects!) See pictures of before and after of our home office:
• By today, Friday, I was REALLY missing my retail therapy particularly because we have weathered not 1, not 2, but 3 massive storms this week, hail, thunder and lightning, and a tornado even touched down north of here. It was tough keeping busy without my regular crutches (baby goods and grocery shopping--I love food shopping especially when I can take my time!)
• My bank account got a rest which will be helpful in these coming weeks (a couple road trips on the calendar)
• Lastly, this really makes me rethink all my purchases (ahhh, I can't wait for tomorrow!).
• Well, I can't backspace out of these bullet points so I will close with a thank you for reading and I need Dave to write something quick to leave this post in history!

Project: No Cents Thoughts and Themes

Since I have started this project there have been some recurring themes that come to mind:

1. I am spending cents somewhere

2. I am also earning cents somewhere

3. College

4. My dad

See expanded version of these thoughts below:

1. While I am not debiting money at Target, The Sacramento Coop, or my favorite drive through coffee shop (harder than I imagined to pass without stopping) I am still using the heater in my house (there has been a series of crazy rain storms in Nor Cal), our semi-slow internet, netflix and 13 channel "cable." I guess these are what I would consider our family's necessities and what I am NOT spending money on are extra creature comforts.

2. The cents I am earning are small in amount but they are interest on the money I am NOT spending in the bank.

3. This project reminds me of when i was in college and I REALLY had to go weeks without spending money because I did not have any! Reminds me of how lucky I am now and how far I've come.

4. The last time I saw my dad he told me that every night he unplugs everything in his house except for his alarm clock. He has his energy bill dwindled down to single digits. Kind of thought-provoking. I actually have been unplugging my blowdryer and straightener directly after using after hearing this cool news.

At school when we have projects I ask students to to answer the question: "What have you learned?":

What I have learned that is the most important is that I doesn't take much to entertain a 10 month old. All he wants/needs is me (and maybe some puppy and grandma interactions) and I am so happy that I have been able to give that to him this week.

Agenda for today:

Finish Home Office (two trash bags went to the curb today!)

Tea Party in Elk Grove (bringin my own tea and G-free snacks)

Evening appetizers with gal friends

(I was all prepped to go to my first La Leche League Meeting today ( I know Bear is 10 months already!) But then I realized it was last Thursday! Bummer. Will make it to a meeting before he is 1!)

Project: No Cents

Follow me this week as I attempt to live without spending a cent... with the exception of groceries and gas (bought on Sunday) I will find ways to fill my Spring Break week off with Bear! I have a list of projects that I would like to accomplish and everything I need to do so! I will be checking in periodically to let you know how things are going! If you don't here about this project again, that means I failed miserably!!! Starting my 2nd project now!

2nd Project delayed due to obtaining free 1 week gym membership! They have child care center so Bear will be well-entertained. Side note: Gym managers are kinda like used car salesmen

They say when you clean things out you make room for new wonderful things! Two out of three file cabinets emptied! Found some great stuff... perhaps I will share later tonight! Megan Rall there is something great I found for you!

Project No Cents check-in: I have spent $0 since Sunday night. I have visited a cat sanctuary (Happy Tails), deep cleaned the kitchen, cleaned most of home office and organized, cleared out 7 years worth of junk in filing cabinet, cleaned out purse (no small task). Last night I had happy hour with friends with wine and cheese I bought on Sunday. Today I plan on going to Granna's house and then to the gym tonight!

My friend asked last night: "So why are you doing this No Cents Project?" Good question. The answer is that I usually OVERSPEND when I am on breaks. I usually feel justified in spending all the money that I work so hard to make. So the buck stops here (for this week anyways)!

Letter While You Sleep

Dearest Bear,

While I rocked you to sleep last night I thought how cool it was that Dada wrote you letter before you were born telling you all about things on the outside. I thought you might enjoy a letter from your mom retelling stories about life with you as a baby! Here it goes....

You are just a bit older than 8 months old. I cannot begin to explain the speed at which you have grown in front of my eyes. When I think of an 8 month old, I think of a big boy. These days when I look at you I see the foreshadowing of a big boy and it is incredible.

In some ways you are still very much a baby (which keeps mama very happy!). You don't have a single tooth yet but you have been "teething" for months. Although we try daily, you still do not love solid food. You would take a booby snack any day over real food! You love to nursy nurse and you get up at night just to do so. Dada and I have not really put any restrictions on you yet as far as sleeping. We keep thinking we will "train" you to sleep in your own bed but you let us know you are not ready for that. I think teeth, solid food, and sleeping in your own bed with a full belly! Until then, we enjoy when you join us in the middle of the night.

Much of the time you are proving to all around you that you are growing so fast and becoming so smart and talented! Just before Christmas 2010, at about 6 1/2 months old, you decided that you were going to conquer some milestones real quick like. You started sitting, crawling, pulling up to sitting, pulling up to standing in the span of about 2 weeks. You really kept us on our toes (Still do!)! You are amazingly fast when you have somewhere to go. Ruby and Willie move fast when they see you coming! You love your play room filled with your toys but would rather play with mama's water bottle or climb on the baby gate. You are very young to be standing on anything you can plant your hands and feet on which makes for lots of bumps and bruises and tears. I don't think you would be happy having it any other way.

You might wonder when you are older what you were like as a baby. You are very advanced! I say that a lot to people and I do it half joking half serious. You can see the wheels turning in your head when you look at most things. You love to figure out the way things work. Your hands are constantly reaching for nuts, bolts, hinges, locks, and handles. You are on a mission to figure out how things work. Granna thinks your gonna be a mechanical engineer like Papa Murphy.'

You say, "Dadadadadaadad" a lot! You used to say, "Mama" but have decided that Dada is the greatest word and say it for everything. Oh, and you grunt and squeal a lot. People often think you are screaming but then they see your face and realize you love the sound of your loud voice. When you grunt and growl it makes me think we gave you the right name!

Your latest amusement is your Dada's bongos and your new drum from Geord and Julie and your new Ukulele from Grandpa Dave (Mr. Silverman to you). I think your gonna be a musician whether you like it or not! You seem to LOVE it! You mimic Dada's strums on the guitar and you whack your drums with such intensity.

The best thing about you is how you show your love for your Mama and Dada! You are not a snuggler but you love to be near us and sometimes you grab the sides of our faces and give us a huge, slimy, open-mouthed kiss! You take a minute to warm up to strangers but then you give them smiles and let them play with you!

Well, in the time that I have been writing this, you have woken up from your nap and are playing in front of me. At this very moment you pulled yourself up to standing on the couch and when I look over and catch your eye you have the biggest gumby, pure smile that I have ever seen. Keep it up my boy and you will go far!

Love you forty skies and to infinity............. Your Mama