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Vino

Aside from all the activities of being a new parent, Gary and I have decided to take up wine making as a hobby. Somehow between changing diapers, feeding, and playing with our little one...we have managed a bit of time to make our favorite past-time. It has proven to be quite an endeavor. I had no idea how much work went into it, kinda like parenting I guess. LOL.  Did you know it takes at least six weeks to make a batch of wine before it can be bottled? Once it is bottled, it then takes six months to age before you can drink it.

We named our winery, Blessed Vintage and have created it's own facebook page. Please LIKE it Blessed Vintage Facebook. Our first batch of wine (24 bottles) was made shortly after Joey was born, This batch we call "Ode de Joey", it is a White Merlot, and we are super excited for June when we can break into a bottle to try it. We used a wine kit to make this batch. We also started a Chilean Malbec which is fermenting right now...we still need a name for that one.

Starting this summer we will plan to come up with our own recipe for a white wine. Perhaps a peach flavored number. Yum.

Ode to Dad's

I was reading an amazing blog last night. It inspired me to write a blog myself. This one dedicated to the man in my life. My ROCK. My husband, the father of my sweet baby, and the most caring, selfless man that I know. How did I get so lucky? I know, it wasn't luck...it was a blessing. I wanted to take a few minutes to say thank you. Thank you Gary Lawson, for taking a back seat to all of the excitement of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. It seems that along the journey to meet and care for Joey, most of the emphasis seems to be placed on the mother. Let me start out by saying, I simply could not have done it without you right there by my side.

Thank you for setting up our kiddie pool every weekend last summer when it was 104 degrees out and my ankles were the size of cantaloupes. For the never ending support and love you showed me by running to the grocery store when I could no longer stand the sight of food. Even after spending a small fortune on all the healthy food that would help our little miracle grow strong inside me, you made another run to get the can of Chef-Boyarde Ravioli which seemed to be the only thing in the world that didn't make me want to gag.

You never wavered, never made me feel bad, never left my side. You encouraged me to go to our natural childbirth classes even when all I wanted to do is rest and eat. You held my hand when I needed help getting up off the floor, or out of bed. You told me I was beautiful everyday even when I weighed 200 pounds. You saw the potential in me to give natural birth a chance, to give it all we had and hope for the best, but you never pressured me. Thank you. You agreed to hire our doula, money was not an issue when it came to a pleasant birth experience. You actually read the books. "Husband Coached Childbirth" replaced Maxim and Outdoor Photographer magazines.

You did not go hunting for antelope this fall. Instead, you were rubbing my feet and running me a warm bath when my water broke. You drove us to the hospital when I started getting nervous. You labored with me for 12 hours....you didn't eat, you didn't sleep, you didn't leave my side. You didn't stop to rest...you were my Rock.

I became a mother that wonderful October day, you became a father. Our family grew. Our love grew. We were tired, you took a week off of work to help me recover. You did not rest. You were up with us every hour and a half, changing diapers, burping baby, and bringing me water...lots of water.
People asked how baby was doing, they asked how was mommy feeling...but very few people asked about you. You, the person who held it all together with all of his endless support. You the man who had to get up for work at 5:30 am, but never complained when I needed a hand getting Joey up for another feeding or a diaper change. You, the man who unselfishly gave all he had to make sure mom and baby were comfortable. Never thinking about himself. Thank you. You helped me keep my sanity when I thought I just might loose it. You laughed with me, cried with me and loved with me.

Here's a shout out to all the dad's out there who give all they have for their families. We couldn't do it without you. I wouldn't even want to try.

I love you.

Two a.m.

This is a poem I wrote in January while breastfeeding our little man at two a.m. I wanted to make sure I put it on our blog, so it doesn't get lost on Facebook.

Two a.m.

Holding your hand is all I need,
To get me through another feed.
Up with you at two a.m.,
'Cause I'm your mom that's who I am.
As you grow, I watch with love.
I pull you close, thank God above.
Near to my heart while you eat,
I love those little hands and feet.

Your love for me keeps me going.
Late at night, the clock is showing...
Two a.m., It seems so late.
I wouldn't give it up, it's our little date.

It will never be too late for me,
Just let me know, and you will be...
Held tight with love, warmth and care,
'Cause I'm your mom, that's why I'm here.