getting acclimated

We are settling into our new life in Billings quite nicely. Our temporary apartment is in downtown Billings and Emma and I are enjoying going for a walk every day. Montana definitely has it's own culture. On one of our first outings, we discovered Lou Taubert's western wear store. In one of the display windows there is a cowboy tuxedo. I have tried to take a picture of it, but it doesn't turn out well with the reflection so here is a google image for those who are not familiar with the stunning duds.


I also realize I'm back in Montana because I have continually heard the phrase "cowboy up". For those not familiar with the vernacular, it can be used in place of "man up" as in the ad I heard on the radio..."cowboy up and donate blood". Horray for cowboys!

Emma is also getting used to her new surroundings. We like to go to the many parks Billings has to offer and today we are going to the library. Emma has definitely discovered a renewed interest in books and I need more to read. Curious George is not so curious the 20th time around. Emma and I are also enrolled in swim lessons and go every Saturday. It's a class where parents do the teaching and is for kids 0-4. Emma is by far the youngest in the class, but it's still fun. She loves "jumping" into the water and does well with a supported back float, but only likes it for a few minutes. Her favorite activity is splashing!

Emma and Mom and swim lessons. Wonder where she gets her blue eyes from!

No new milestones to report. Emma is still not walking which makes our outings to the park not quite as fun as they could be. She does stand on her own well now. She can also do all the motions to patty cake. I've been trying to get it on video, but she becomes suddenly shy when the camera comes out. Instead enjoy some pictures from the park.

Fun in the park

Getting more confident standing on her own

Unsure about the swings

The long drive home

First off, I need to say a belated happy birthday and father's day to my wonderful husband. Unfortunately I was unable to be home for Nathan's birthday because I was in Denver and father's day also wasn't much fun as we spent a good chunk of the day driving back from Great Falls after picking up Emma. But you are still my best friend, a great husband, and a caring father. I know Emma shares my admiration by the way she reacts to you when you get home. WE LOVE YOU NATHAN!!!

For me, long drives are a very cathartic thing. I can finally sort out the thoughts and ideas that have been on my mind for awhile. I have to admit, however, because I am busy with thoughts, I don't make the best company in the car. Sorry honey! But I was able to drive to Denver on my own recently and, although lonely, it was great! I got to listen to some country music without having to look over and make sure Nate was asleep. (I LOVE YOU GARTH!!!)

Blame it all on my roots...

Besides some great music, I also got to unwind my convoluted thoughts. Here are some of the things I sorted out:

• Dave Beck is one of the greatest people I know because he has the noble quality of being an amazing friend. Not just to Nate and me, but all of his friends. I hope you all have a friend as wonderful as him.
• I would like to devise a pilot program to of universal health insurance in MT but I'm still working on the details of this one. I wonder if people would go for initiating a sales tax to help fund it.
  
• Please tell your mothers thank you because being a mother is hard work and worrisome. I spent most of the car trip thinking about the kind of person Emma will grow up to be. I imagine her being as outgoing as her grandfather (my Dad), as intelligent as her other grandfather, as driven as her mother, and great music ability fits in there somewhere. Mostly because I like going to concerts. Most importantly, though, I just want her to be happy.
• Every woman needs her girlfriends. It's important to be able to talk about family and marriage issues with somewhat removed third parties. I miss you Becky, Kate, Laura, Megan, Danielle, Lynn, and Carmen!
  
• I thought a lot about the concept of forgiveness. My brother Ben recently went through a broken engagement called off by the would-be bride and I was really surprised by how angry I was at her. I figure it's my protective big sister reflex kicking in. Although he seems to be doing remarkably well, I can't seem to get past how she could do this to him. I know I really should forgive her since it was the best thing for both of them it seems, but I'm still working on it.
  

I also like to think about fictional books I would write if I had the opportunity. This trip I came up with the idea of writing a book of short stories. The first page of each chapter would be a picture of actual graffiti and the chapter would describe the story and characters behind the graffiti. I always wonder when I see things on overpasses or in bathroom stalls like "Mark loves Tina" whatever happens to Mark and Tina.

I think if I journaled every night I would feel better. I love writing but just can't seem to make the time for it. I found a few papers recently that I wrote in college and I couldn't help but think, "what has happened to my mind? Where did all my important, amazing thoughts go?" Maybe if I wrote more, they would come back. Please?

The journey

Nathan and I had a wonderful trip from North Carolina to Montana. My parents took Emma back to MT with them when they left after graduation. At first, I had strong reservations, but I'm really glad they did. Overall it was better for her. She did fine on the plane with them, she didn't have to spend 4 days in the car with us, and we were able to have a much more relaxing trip. It was the longest time we were away from her though, so it was a little tough.

Saying goodbye to the old house

Our moving van.Our stuff only took up about 1/3 of the truck

The first leg of our trip was a relatively short 4 hour drive from Durham to Asheville, NC. I had always wanted to go to Asheville and figured this would be one of our last good chances, so we went for about a day. We stayed at the wonderful Grove Park Inn. I have to say it was amazing. Everyone should plan a trip to Asheville and stay here. Asheville is a great city with a vibrant culture and beautiful scenery.

Nate and I outside Grove Park Inn

The next leg of our trip was a 10 hour trek from Asheville to Chicago. It was a beautiful drive through the Blue Ridge "mountains" and the horse farms of Kentucky. In Chicago we met some of my nursing friends, Joy and Becca, for dinner. Joy surprisingly was at Duke graduation with me. She did an online program in executive nursing leadership and also finished in May. What a small world!

Ole nursing friends

The next part of our trip was from somewhere outside Milwaukee to Minneapolis where our friend Laura hosted a BBQ for us and all my old girlfriends came. It was a great evening. We got to see Adian, my friend Becky's son, and also saw both Becky and Kate's pregnant bellies. Since our visit, Becky had another boy, Alexander John, and Kate had a girl, Ivy Mae. All are doing fine and I can't wait to meet them!

The girls

Becky and Kate's lovely bellies

Next we went from Minneapolis to Glendive, Montana. There is really not any reason to go to Glendive. There is nothing there. That drive was really long and boring. Not much in the way of scenery, but I understand why they call Montana big sky country. It's incredible how far you can see, especially in eastern Montana where's there not many trees or mountains. But the phrase Big Sky Country really shouldn't be limited to Montana. You see the same effect in North and South Dakota and eastern Wyoming. Most people don't necessarily like these areas of the country, but I think they have their own beauty. There's nothing like watching a thunderstorm roll along the wide expanse. Simply amazing!

Wish I could take credit for this one, but it's from google images. Nice pic though.

The last leg of the trip was a remote 5-hour drive on highway 200 from Glendive to Great Falls. We were so excited to see Emma again, but her reaction was a little anti-climactic. She just sort of looked at as and went about her business. A good sign that she loves spending time with her grandparents! She is still not walking despite my dad's best efforts (as seen in the video). I'm starting to get a little concerned but my Mom said I didn't start walking until I was 15 months old, so I guess she's got a month! Enjoy the pictures of the cutie below.

"Helping" me pack

Still not sure about the grass

Gotta love the Kix motivation

On motherhood and graduation

Another month, another blog post! A lot has happened this past month. We sold our house, I graduated and my family came out, we all went to Myrtle Beach for a few days, celebrated my second mother's day, we moved to Billings, and Nate started his new job. Wow! Graduation, although a rainy mess, was a great occasion. I was so thankful most of my family and Nate's Dad were able to make it. After graduation, my family and I went down to Myrtle Beach for a few days. Enjoy the pictures!

Graduation Day!

The Meuniers at graduation

The Wingerters at graduation

Sam soaking up some rays

Emma enjoying the beach

Maddie and Emma on the beach

Dad in the ocean

Happy grandparents

The graduation speaker was Barbara Kingsolver and she was great. She is one of my favorite authors. I own most of her books (which are great!) and am excited to read her newest book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. Her speech was mostly about the importance of being good stewards of the environment and being the best "you". Then we had the school of nursing ceremony, which was thankfully inside and dry. The speaker was Diane Mason who is an accomplished nursing leader. She was admittedly a little intense, but her speech was good and spoke about the importance of nurses being on the front lines of changing the way healthcare is delivered in the US. Both speeches made me realize I've always been a "change the world" kind of person. There are so many things I want to get involved in to improve care, especially in the elderly population. I plan on joining and being actively involved in nursing organizations such as the American Nurses Association and American Geriatrics Society.
However, I'm very concerned about how to find balance between changing the world and being a good mother and wife. Emma if you're reading this in a few years and feel that Mommy does too much, just touch my arm and smile. Or better yet laugh, your laughter will always bring me back.