Friday, December 31, 2010

three-oh



Just before Christmas, my mom took all of us (Joe, Hannah, Ben and his girlfriend Katie, Will, and me) to NYC for what she called "Lindsey Palooza" to celebrate my 30th. It was a great time. We played in the city, enjoying the Christmas lights and store windows and had a fun few days. While it was really cold, the weather was beautiful...yep, that horrendous snow storm happened just after we left. Thank God. Hannah did great, the only complaint being she woke up way too early two of the days (5 and 6am). We bundled her up in multiple layers and she even kept her hat and mittens on - something we could not get her to do back home.


She's always eager to put a jacket or coat on. She stands with her arms out. Cute. The majority of the time, Joe carried her around in the Bjorn. She loved getting to see everything, and Joe mostly enjoyed the little dynamo that she is. In fact, Joe was more hot than he was cold. And my one question is this, how come the stores in NYC are so hot? You would think they could save a little money there. Instead, you walk into a store and have to immediately strip down or you'll die of heat. I'm exaggerating, but it really is ridiculous. 

As Brooks-Buck trips usually are, this one was packed with activities (and shenanigans as the bros like to say). Monday night, the 20th, we had dinner at China Grill - great menu and fancy food. Awesome atmosphere. Afterwards we headed to 5th Avenue to look at the Christmas lights, storefronts, and Rockefeller Plaza. Hannah LOVED the tree!




Tuesday we headed down to Ground Zero to see the progress on the World Trade Center. There was a WTC preview museum that paid respect to the events of September 11 and showed the plans for the new layout. Amazing. After that, we went over to Little Italy to dine at one of our favorite places, Angelo's. If you are ever in NYC and want authentic Italian, this is where you should go. We cheers-ed to my birthday. That's me with the sippy cup. On our way back we stopped at Ferrara's. Let's just say that is heaven for a pregnant gal...and her dessert-obsessed husband.



We went to the 5 o'clock Radio City Christmas Spectacular show, better known as the Rockettes. I'd seen them before, but Joe nor Hannah had not. I wish I could've captured the little monkey's face during the opening number. Eyes and mouth wide open. Such delight. She did really well, and by the end fell asleep. We walked over to Times Square and then called it a night. No crazy antics here.





Wednesday, my birthday, we did the whole Today Show thing. We passed out a bunch of Spenser books to donate to the toy drive and held little Spenser heads. I'm told we were on tv, but I still haven't gone to watch the DVR to know for sure. After that we took Hannah to meet Santa at Macy's 34th Street store. You know, as in the movie? Again, she didn't like him too much. I think the weird white beard thing freaks them out at this age. If you ask her, she couldn't have gotten off his lap faster.




I really wanted to go to St. Thomas for their service of Lessons and Carols, so we squeezed that in too. The church was magnificent and I love to sing Christmas carols, so that was a special part of my day.



Next up, The Plaza for tea. Definitely a highlight. The hotel is gorgeous and tea was fun. Hannah liked to play with the little silver tongs in the sugar bowl. After tea, we walked through FAO Schwartz. I could not believe this Barbie foosball table.




Joe and I took a carriage ride through Central Park, something I've always wanted to do and never have. I love the sound of the horses clip-clopping down the road. On our way back to the hotel, we strolled down Fifth Avenue. These were the best window displays: Bergdorf Goodman.





I loved the way they decorated the ceiling at Saks.


We ducked into St. Patrick's Cathedral. Another place I like to take a quick peek whenever I'm in NYC.



In New York there is no shortage of great design, old or new.

Mom babysat in the hotel while Joe and I went out (alone!) for my birthday dinner. We went to Bar Americain, Bobby Flay's restaurant. Yum.


Thursday we packed up and headed home, lots of fun memories along with a few purchases. I love the Radio City ornament Mom got us. And of course, we had to buy something for the littlest Buck.


Thanks Mom for a super special celebration of my 30th. I am not sad to say goodbye to my twenties. The second half of my twenties - finding and marrying Joe, graduating with my masters, having Hannah, and expecting a baby boy - were the best. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for me in this next decade...

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Merry Christmas!

Jesus Christ is God's Christmas gift to you. Yet some of us have gone Christmas after Christmas and never opened the best gift of all - God's gift of salvation. Why even celebrate Christmas if you're not going to open the biggest gift? It doesn't make sense to leave unwrapped the gift of your past forgiven, a purpose for living, and a home in heaven. 
- Rick Warren

I hope you are all having a merry and blessed Christmas. We sure are here in Jesup. Christmas Eve we had a nice worship service. A lot of people came and it was so special to start Christmas in such a holy place. Hannah wore her sweet Christmas dress and said "A-meeen" at all the right times. Loudly. Joe and I stayed up way too late, but watched The Nativity Story (so good, I hope you have seen it).


 

Christmas morning was a flurry of activity (chaos). Hannah wanted little to do with any of her presents - wrapped or unwrapped, but she loved getting into everything she wasn't suppose to. Joe and I were constantly moving things out of her reach, while trying to take pictures, video, and enjoy it all at the same time. Once we put her down for her morning nap, we opened our own gifts. Peacefully. Hannah slept 3 hours - a great present. Santa was very kind this year too. 

Hannah invading Mollie's space
la cucaracha?

love at first sight.

Hannah took a 2 hour afternoon nap (crazy, right?) and then my mom, Ben, and Will came down for dinner, presents, and playtime.



Every year Mom has a theme with her gifts. This year we had to arrange letters to spell 
out our names: Joseph, Lindsey, Hannah, and Baby Boy. And yes...that's Grandma 
wiping Hannah's nose. We have to chase her down with a kleenex.

This morning Hannah and I saw snow flurries on our way to church. Joe's parents (Gran Gran and Poppy) came down. This afternoon we exchanged more gifts and ate a big lunch. Mama Buck made the whole shebang and brought it down. Yum.






It has been a full few days.

Joe's sermon this morning was about the importance of Christmas and living it every day throughout the year. Our celebration of Christmas is more than tradition and history. It is about the living miracle of Christ. From Joe's bulletin piece:

Our celebration of Jesus' presence in our lives and in the world involves our devotion and daily attention to the miracle of the incarnation. Maybe, we could focus ourselves a little bit more, every day, on the gift of Jesus. Maybe, it is possible for us to see each day as a gift from God that is made possible and given meaning because of the gift of Jesus. 
May we start our daily celebration of the birth of Christ anew, today. Yesterday was the easy part with the gift giving, the good food, the excitement, and the merriment. For us to celebrate the birth of Jesus today we will need to work at it. Just as anticipation for Christmas Day builds the closer we move toward that day, our joy should build as we move closer to Christ's return.
Can't say it any better. Because I love them so much, I'll end with these words by Charles Wesley. Merry Christmas!

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"


Sunday, December 19, 2010

hello belly button

That's right. The turkey's just about done. It is making it's way out. I don't remember exactly when it "popped" last time I was pregnant, but it seems a little early this time. So hello belly button, now you can see the world...and the world can see you.

I have made my first purchase for baby boy. These adorable, and expensive but oh so soft sleepers were half-off at a local baby shop in Savannah.


this one is awesome. its got a magnetic closure. easy as pie to get off and on.



 And I had to get something for Hannah. Blue, of course.




Can't wait to get cute boy clothes!