The Big Orange Truck

One of my signature items has always been my "big orange truck". Some people tease about it, while others called it a UT truck but to me it was special. I loved that truck. If you do not know what I am talking about, for 8 years I have been the owner of a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 pick up truck. You always knew where I was because you could not miss the "big orange truck". I even used it to help for directions..."You will see a "big orange truck" parked outside, you can't miss it."
Truth is it was the first car I really chose and wished for. It was the year before I was graduating college and my parents offered to buy me a car as an early graduation gift. I was given many choices and maybe it was the East Texas influence but I chose the Ram 1500. I liked the size and I liked the body style as it reminded me of a classic car with the front hood. But my only request was that it be orange. Amber Fire to be precise. Yes, I chose it and there were only 3 trucks in Texas that were orange that year. The dealership had to find it and drive it in from Sugarland.

I loved that truck, always being careful not to scratch the bed. When someone did not use a blanket to protect the bed, I always scoffed...saying it is not "just a truck" it is my truck. I have so many fond memories of her, espeically taking her to the beach with the bed loaded with two longboards, beach chairs, a cooler and Macy.

Unfortunately it only had a bench seat and you could not put a baby in the back, so the truck went up for sale in August of 2008. Then Hurricane Ike hit, the recession started, I had a baby and so I was unable to sell her until today May 27, 2009. A very nice couple from Katy bought her today. They love her too and so I can only know she went to a very good family. They even offered me visitation rights. Funny, I know, but "the big orange truck" will always hold a special place in my heart. So here's to you..."big orange truck"... may you always safely reach your "destinations" and "pick up" many new memories.

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Life sure does change once you have a little one.

1. You find comfort in staying at home. After being back at work for three weeks now, I was so happy to have a weekend where you just did not have to be anywhere at any set time. I loved spending the day with Carys at home doing things around the house.

2. It gets easier with time. Sleeping for three hours at a time sure was hard but Carys has slowly been adjusting to sleeping through the night. I enjoyed "sleeping in" on Saturday as Carys has been sleeping through the night since I have been back at work. The length is getting longer...it was eight hours and is reaching new lengths of 10 hours.

3. Going out to eat and catching up with friends must be condensed to a short period of time. We had dinner with our best friends, Rad and Jackie and their little one Charlotte. Our dinner lasted about an hour, the same length of time as the attention span of a 3 year old. You get in the important information and there is no time for disclosure. Sorry Rad, I had to ask Jackie about breastfeeding and pumping, it is a very common topic in my house.

4. Your pets begin to have lack of attention issues. This weekend it has become more and more evident that our German Shepherd, Macy, is attention starved. She is starting to get in competition with her little sister for any attention she can get. If you know Maya, the chiapoo, you understand she has always been the more persistent dog looking for attention. Poor dogs, they are lucky they have Grandpa James to take them for walks and to...feed them...

5. You introduce your child to the things you enjoy the most. Yes Carys is about 4 months old but she enjoys going to the pool already...even if it is a little chilly and the sun is in her eyes. She was giggling the entire time.

6. You also take millions of pictures of simple events such as dressing up as a ballerina or going to the pool.

Here is Carys with Ben Watkins, a little boy one month older than her that she likes to flirt with.

Daddy time.

Sitting in the big kids pool.

Fun in the fountains...she was so relaxed she was about to fall asleep.

Carys's Baptism

May 16, 2009 a Saturday morning at 11. An unusual time for a baptism but with all of TJ's extended family in town for Kim's college graduation, Father Matthew blessed us with a private family baptism at St Bernadette's Catholic Church.
Such bright blue eyes! Carys wore the same baptismal gown her Godmother Kim wore 26 years ago.

Just in time! The shoes were a little too small, one more week and we might not have been able to get them on.

Carys did very well during the ceremony enjoying a bottle while the priest talked.

Carys did not mind the water on her forehead. TJ had been practicing during bath time.

The only thing that Carys did not like was the holy oil running into her eyes.

Four Generations. Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Charest, Grandma Cathy, TJ and little Carys, 3 months old.

The Markiewicz clan.

Grandma Cheryl and Grandpa James. My dad was the awesome photographer, even getting on the altar to get the perfect pic.The boys.

Auntie Martha made a special appearance.

Grandpa Tom and Nana Sharla.

Great Aunt Ginny from Connecticut.

The special cake made for little Carys by Aunt Ginny.

A great party spread. Kim graduated from UH on Friday, so we had a duo party for Carys and her at our house.

Congratulations Girls!

Carys had a big day and wants to thank everyone for coming to her baptism and for all the wonderful and thoughtful gifts.

Notice the bracelet, it is the same bracelet I had when I was an infant.

Happy Mother's Day 2009

My first Mother's Day...May 10, 2009. Carys 3 months. We had a nice day in Harborwalk, going to lunch with my mom, dad, TJ, Mark Davis and little Miss Carys.

We had a nice lunch of filet mignon and chicken...Dad of course had fish.

Little Miss Carys was perfect, she slept all through lunch. She wore a dress I had when I was her age. She reminds me of one of my dolls.
Gorgeous. She got to meet Ben, a baby boy 1 month older than her. They enjoyed flirting with each other exchanging smiles.

She still has such pretty blue eyes and you can definitely see she is a Markiewicz.

Daddy and Carys took her first dip after lunch.

She had a great breaststroke kick and awesome freestyle arms. She is definitely a hybrid of TJ and me.

We finished the day with Mommy/Daughter pedicures.