Daddy's Girl

Dad was here this past weekend. He tries to make it up to New York once every 3 months - "Once a quarter" he likes to say. And I love when he comes. He and I always have so much fun together. Our talks over dinner and wine are priceless, and he loves to walk around aimlessly just as much as I do. So, we do. We eat, we drink, we walk, we talk, we laugh, we enjoy every minute of time we spend together.

On Friday we went the 21 Club: AMAZING. I think it is my new favorite place. Not somewhere you can go all the time, but definitely great for when you need to feel special. It originally opened in 1930 as a speakeasy. So, it has that old Hollywood, cozy feeling. I thought any minute Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were going to walk in; and Ol' Blue Eyes was going to walk around the corner with a microphone in his hand. That didn't happen -of course - but just feeling like it could happen was good enough. It was a great night. I can't wait to go back.

Saturday we went on the Sopranos bus tour... interesting. I've never seen even a clip from that show, but Dad loves it. So, I sucked it up and tagged along - all through New Jersey's Meadowlands, under bridges, over bridges, in diners, on sidewalks... even a strip club. Yep, The Bada-Bing with my precious father. :) But honestly, it was fun! He really enjoyed the whole experience, so I'm glad we did it.

Saturday night we had dinner with Julia, Ryan and 2 of my friends from Alabama - Ashley and Jade. I hadn't seen Ashley in years, so it was a treat to meet up with her again. Julia and Ryan were as always, amazing. Those 2 never let you down. They can have a great time with anyone. I'm convinced my dad wishes Ryan could be his son-in-law. Not that he wants me to marry Ryan, but he could live with Julia being his adopted daughter or something. Anyway, we had a wonderful time talking, laughing and catching up.

Sunday we just walked around all day - it was quite possibly the most beautiful day of the year to date. We even got a little sunburnt! We ate at Katz's deli, then walked next door to Julia's and my favorite cupcake spot... AMAZING. Then we walked that off (sorta) and went to see a movie.

Saying good-bye Monday was sad. I woke up at 5:45am when he did, but didn't let him know. If I would have had to talk I would have cried until he walked out the door. Instead I just laid there until he told me good-bye and shut the door; then the tears started to fall. It was a wonderful weekend. I hated it had to end.

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My dad is an amazing man. He is one-of-a-kind. I cannot imagine what it must be like to not have a father like he is. I know that is an extremely selfish thing of me to say, but it's true. I do realize that most do not have a dad like this, and I know how fortunate I am. I love that man with all my heart. And quite honestly, if/when I do meet someone to fall in love with, I feel sorry for him... he has A LOT to live up to.

EXPECTING!!

...no, not me.

LAUREN!! I am so excited for her and Courtney both!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

My trip home...

I had a blast... and a whirlwind (just as predicted below). It's strange how this overwhelming feeling of comfort comes over me when I reunite with my family and friends after not seeing them for months. And it is so weird how it's as if we are together every day. Time doesn't come between us. I never understood what people meant when they said that - I mean, how could that be possible? Not speaking and seeing people for months at a time and then it's just "normal" when you are together again?? Yes. That is exactly how it is. And I love it. When you are connected to people in a way that your hearts are only whole with each other, meager phone conversations are not what keep you together. It's about your whole being a part of one another. But, here are a few highlights from the trip:

Tucker remembered me!! For the first time! He came running when I walked in the door. I thought my heart was going to explode. Literally. My entire trip was that way for the most part. I had a wonderful time with my friends *Joanna, Brittani and Charlie*. We missed Candace, and I hate I didn't get to see Caroline. But they were celebrated in their absence. :)

I also learned (again for the 1000th time) how amazing my sister is. From the thought she puts in to every little detail to the reality of the big picture - she is truly incredible. I pray that one day I am half the wife/mother/daughter that she is to her family. She, my mom and I took made the trip back to Atlanta together. A well deserved girls' day to celebrate Sister's birthday. It was so much fun. We never get to spend just "us" time together anymore. We had a blast. But, it also made it a lot harder to say goodbye. All I can say is that I cried from the moment I saw the "Hartsfield-Jackson Airport" sign (okay, maybe it started an hour before I knew we had to leave Lenox Square) all the way through check-in, security (even got selected for special screening), finding my gate (which in Atlanta you have to basically travel back to Alabama it's so spread out), etc... until I saw Ben and Jerry's. It was bad and I looked a little crazy, but it was out of my control. Just as my heart becomes whole when I first see those 2, it breaks in half when I have to say goodbye.

I can't wait to see the people I love the most again. Soon.

OMG!

I haven't even blogged about the latest engagement - or should I say marriage - Candace, one of my best friends got engaged last Thursday! Her fiance (Kerry: whom I adore!) then took her to Vegas to "celebrate"... slash get married!!

Kerry is from New Zealand and has been in the states on a work VISA. Well, his VISA is to expire on May 1st so they had to go ahead and marry legally so he didn't have to leave the country. Their families were able to watch the ceremony over the internet, so it was perfect. They're still having a wedding ceremony next year in Colorado - which I cannot wait for!!

I am absolutely over-the-moon for Candace. Also... I know you aren't supposed to be jealous of your friends, but I gotta say, getting married at A Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas to your fiance because his VISA is soon to expire just might be one of the most romantic/fun/amazing thing ever!!

CONGRATULATIONS CANDACE & KERRY!!!

Conversation with Tucker

Last night I called Sister to vocalize my excitement that could no longer be contained about my upcoming trip (tomorrow!!). After I talked to her for a while, my nephew Tucker decided he wanted to chat. :)

It was probably the cutest thing EVER! Granted, Sister was telling him what to say, but we were sort of carrying on a conversation! And to actually hear that little man's voice meant the world to me, I don't care if he knows what he's saying or not! Sister said he has never done that before: taken the phone, listened, and responded. I think he was probably confused because his mom and I sound so much alike. Either way, he said my name and told me he loves me... a few times. And that is enough to get me to tomorrow. :)

sweet home alabama

I am heading home to Alabama next Friday - a week from today - and I cannot wait! I miss my family and friends so much!

Tucker is growing up so fast, I hate I am not there. I can't wait to play with him!! Sister says he is slowly-but-surely potty training. I can hardly believe he is already to that point. I know it is said all the time, but it truly is amazing how fast time goes by.

Friday night is "Girls' Night" with Joanna and Brittani and I am pumped! Those 2 girls are amazing and I miss them every day. I am sorry to say that I never realized how important my friends are until I moved away and didn't have them there beside me day to day. I can't wait to have fun with them again!

Saturday during the day I will spend with my Tucker and my Sister. And then Saturday night we are celebrating Sister's birthday with dinner and drinks. Sunday I hope to go to church and lunch with my Dad. Sunday night Caroline and AJ are going to come to Mom's for dinner. Sister and I are going to have a slumber party there. Monday morning Mom, Sis and I are heading to Atlanta to have brunch at Rosa Mexicano's and then shop 'til we drop! ...Then they will take me to the airport to say good-bye one more time.

It will all go by so quickly. I wish I had a video recorder in my eyes so I could relive every minute I am with them all. Everything always happens too fast.

I'm growing up. And it's scary.

For the past couple of years, I have been slowly becoming aware of the fact that I am an adult now. You would think that graduating college and moving 1200 miles away from home, family, and friends would allow for this realization... don't assume anything. And when it didn't happen then, surely it would come when the first real job and the "career" lifestyle went into affect... nope not then either. Maybe when the first best friend got married? Nothing... that was all fun stuff for me. Nope, I didn't see it until...

Last weekend, I got a call from my best friend, Joanna telling me that our best friend Caroline, was pregnant. I hit a brick wall. Hard. This news was... not bad news, not good news, not necessarily surprising news. But, it was: shocking news. It took a few minutes for me to process this new information, and when I did the waterworks began. I couldn't stop crying. Every time I thought about it I cried. For about a week and a half this went on. I didn't really know why I was crying. It was some sort of strange feeling I had never felt before. And then I realized... I'm not upset at anyone or becuase of anyone else's actions. I'm upset because things have changed. We are no longer just a group of friends separated by miles and geography. We are now separated by life.

I am not saying this is a bad thing, at all. It is a wonderful thing. It is a blessing that God has given each and every one of us individually. We have all gone our separate ways and created lives for ourselves - and now for some of us, for our families. Now that I am coming to realize and embrace this, it is a comfort. Because now I understand that life isn't separating us at all. Life is just happening to us. And now every time I think about Caroline's soon-to-be family, I smile. And if I do shed a tear it is because I am so overwhelmed with joy for her - and all of my friends for that matter. I am proud of each and every one of them for who they have become and the lives they are making for themselves. I would never ask for anything more.

I hope to one day be that group of girlfriends that goes on vacations together with our husbands and children. We are a family. And now I know that no matter the location, no matter the situation at hand, no matter the struggle, no matter the triumph, no matter anything in this world... time will go on and things will change. But, with change comes growth and for that, I am extremely thankful.