The Inauguration

A couple of weeks ago, John had the opportunity to go to DC and meet with the transition team to talk about Green Jobs & social investing. He had a great trip, came back inspired & said, "You know, the people getting ready to run the place actually look like us!! They're our age!!"

I'd been getting more and more emotional about the whole thing & decided to look into tickets. John had a week-long trip to Michigan planned, so he couldn't join. We found a cheap ticket on Saturday & by Sunday I was on a plane to Washington with the baby. A day later, my friend Renee joined us.

Next, we had to figure out our social calendar. Renee had gotten VIP tickets to the Hip Hop Inaugural Ball for Monday night, so that was a must. On Tuesday morning we got up really early & caught a cab to the Metro. When we arrived to DC, it was a madhouse & we joined the masses headed towards the National Mall. It was cold, but not too bad. Once at the Mall, we made our way towards the Capitol building. We found a perfect spot in the middle of a group of mostly women in their 60s, 70s & 80s, and mostly from out-of-town. They had gotten there early so they could have access to the park benches to rest their knees/backs.

As a group of strangers who had all come to witness history in the making, we sang, laughed, cheered, listened & wept. It was an amazing time. I should have captured it in a group photo. Everyone loved James. A few sang to him & wished him well, saying he'd be in their prayers.

After the swearing-in, it was almost impossible to leave the Mall, so we headed to the African Art Museum to warm up.

That evening John's aunt and uncle watched James as Renee and I got dressed and headed into DC. Renee went to the Western Ball & I headed to the Google late night party. It was great to see friends, hear everyone's Inauguration story (Kippy & Jason Scott had the best one -- their 10-month-old ended up on the front page of the Inauguration Day New York Times being held by Obama. Google 'Jedi Scott' for details...) & celebrate our new president. I didn't get home until 3:30 a.m.

Thursday we had lunch with Dennis & Mari from Global Giving and then headed to Ashoka so James could meet my colleagues.

Friday morning we went to Robby's school to meet her students and that afternoon, we flew home. It was a whirlwind trip, but inspiring, amazing and wonderful. And James was a total dreamboat baby.

Rice Cereal!!

Colorado

Hauling the Christmas Tree down the road with

Self-portrait by the pond


The bundled baby

Daddy needs a haircut

Reading with YiaYia Jean


In front of the Meredith Store with baby James Meredith


We had a great time in Colorado this year. Tons of snow, tons of fun.

Our Texas Visit

It was a spontaneous decision. In early December, John had a week-long meeting in Albuquerque, and James and I decided to join him. We didn't really have a plan for our stay, except a probable day trip to Santa Fe to visit a friend. After landing in New Mexico (the flight was uneventful... James did great), we took a taxi into town. As we drove under an overpass for Interstate 40, I asked the taxi driver how far we were from Amarillo, TX. He said it'd take around 4.5 hours to drive there.

The next morning I asked the hotel's driver to take me and Munch to the car rental & hopped in a rental car. I called Uncle Jerry on the way. He said he'd coordinate dinner with everyone at Grandma's house.

It was an awesome trip. Too short, but awesome. James did great on the drives to and from Amarillo. We stopped a couple of times on the way so I could nurse him and made pretty good time. (Too good, you might say. I got a speeding ticket on the way back to Albuquerque.)











Here is a video of James meeting Grandma the afternoon we arrived:




And the next morning:




Being with family was amazing. I need to get to Amarillo more often.

Thanksgiving in Missouri

Last month we made our annual trip to Columbia Missouri for Thanksgiving. We were lucky enough to have time with both sets of grandparents & little James got to meet two of his great grandmothers. It was a great visit & James was a champ on the plane.

Meeting Grandma Margot:



Meeting Grandpa Rusty:




Meeting Nanny (Holly's Grandmother):

With Auntie Courtney

It's been a couple of months now & Courtney is settled in the cottage out back. It's great to have her here -- although it seems we never have enough time together. I love this picture of the two of them.

Obama! (Yes, I know it's been a month, but I'm still excited..)

Obama is going to be president. I can't believe it. It's been a month now & I still don't have words to express my excitement. Munch and I went to vote together & had a great time. He wore his Obama onesie and they gave him an 'I Voted' sticker of his own.

I was so excited to vote. It's such an amazing and hopeful time in our nation's history. And I'm super-proud to be an American.