The one with 600 posts

It's official... this is the 600th post.

I honestly have never thought I'd write this post... not because it's a unique number... but 600 posts is a lot of words, a lot of times. Whenever I get to these posts I always think back to where I've started. There's been so many changes since those days... different addresses, different partners, different pets, different towns, different places and experiences, and different titles. I've gone from single to married to mother.

Aside from these relationships, the other big change in the past 100 blogs has saying good bye to TonyDanza. He was there for so many blogs and so many moments and even today it feels somber to think of his footsteps across my lap, under the covers, and in the kitchen... on two legs against the counter or in the refrigerator. So in his memory, I dedicate this post to him..  may everyone have something similar to my tubby little orange tabby who hide under the bed, didn't fight a bath, played fetch, ruined supper by eating it before me, drank milk out of glass, and was there to be a silent steadfast companion.

2016 Christmas Card

2016....it's been a "changing" year.

So much has changed in such a short period of time. Below is in no particular order.

1. I changed shapes. 
I went from a recognizable form to a very uncomfortable pregnant lady. April was the longest month ever - I've never groaned so much in my life.

2. Two became three! We welcomed Eleanor into the world! 
She's been the biggest change of all, changing our household, our family, our world, our house, our travel plans, EVERYTHING.... you name it, she's impacted it. We laugh at her growth and changes and find ourselves sometimes just sitting and watching her. Sure, we don't get as much done, we don't sleep as much, we more laundry loads, we use more stain resister, and we snuggle more. And she's a big fan of the raspberry.

3. We said good-bye to TonyDanza. 
This was a hard one for me. He just wasn't doing well and I hated to see him suffering.

4. Political change and protests
During the last couple months of the year, we watched the world change. Between the DAPL protest, the presidential election, and the new governor... we watched the things we knew shift. Matt and I've had a lot of conversations about the impacts and ramifications all of these decisions have on our community. It's been an interesting time and as a first time parent, I am already worried how to shelter our daughter from the hurt and meanness of our world.

5. We became a dog household
We rescued Sam in November, a 7 year old English Pointer, who needs some work. He has a few things he needs to learn (like his name and some basic commands), and his shortcoming, just as his deafness are hard for him but we see this as a good test to if we are "dog people."


6. We welcomed Eric to stay with us while he finds his place in ND.
Eric moved into the basement in September after moving home from Mississippi. It's been good for the family as he gets to know Eleanor and I a little better and become more comfortable with her. He's quick to help out when asked.

7. We learned to travel with an infant.
I didn't say we were good at this or that we've mastered it. We just learned how it's so different. Now things include multiple bags or items and we don't just pick up and go like we'd like.

8. We made major improvements to the house.
Starting the first of the year with backsplash, wallpaper removal, shower door removal, painting, nursery designing, to new flooring, new lighting, new furniture, 2 tvs, a slew of baby equipment, and probably my favorite, some pictures up on the wall! This is the longest we've been in a house together and it feels amazing to make it ours.

So from our house to yours... may 2016 have been a wonderful year for you - it's one we will never forget - no matter how it blurred by!

Love, the Remynses 
Matt, Amanda, and Eleanor

May 2017 have more changes.

Ode to an Orange Tabby

Today, I said good bye to my best friend and first love -
Today, we said good bye to TonyDanza.
Today is a day that I've dreaded, cried over, and hate.

I acquired him from a Minot pet store in 2006. From there's he's made multiple moves with me - 10 in total. He's had multiple roommates and other live in pets. Some he's taken to, some he never did. The only consistency in his past 10 years that I've come home to him. He's been there to watch me cry myself to sleep and also danced around the kitchen with me. He's been a tenderfooted cuddler and companion. He's met me at the door most days and kept me company in the kitchen - hoping and begging for a handout.

He's always had his own personality... whether it's was his perfectly timed sneezes, or his love of cheese - especially string cheese, or his naughty ways of getting up on counters to get into food. He once hauled an entire loaf of bread from the top of the fridge through the kitchen, down the stairs, through the living room, into my bedroom and proceeded to eat it there on the floor. He has helped himself to a ground beef pack - and was blatantly guilt when we asked him and Lola who the culprit was. He's been known to gently tap at you to let you know he's interested in what you are eating or preparing. He also was a perfect distraction in my college days as he used to "fetch" these pink fuzzy socks... I'd keep throwing across the room and he'd retrieve them, dragging them under his chest.

Aside from his fascination and focus on food, he was acutely aware of people's emotions. When I was having a rough day, he'd jump into the bed and crawl under the cover and just purr. He did this for a past roommate too who was going through some stuff. I don't know how he did it but he always knew when things weren't right and he'd cuddle in. There were times the past couple months when Len would cry and he'd come up and cry and tap on my leg.


It wasn't these little quirks that made him stand out to me, or made him special. For a long time, it was just him and I. We were all each other needed. He watched me grow up into my adulthood. He watched me date, get married, and bring home my first baby. Maybe he didn't do well with all these changes but I can't blame him. He struggled when my pregnant belly made little room for him on my lap and maybe this was the start of his end. Maybe he looked at the fact that he did what he needed to do. He got me through those long night. He loved me like I needed to do for myself.



To my little friend - thank you for the laughs, but more importantly, thank you for the love... you will not be forgotten any time soon. ALR

Reverberation (ri vurbuhrey shuhn)

Well, it's so obvious, especially when I compared Alice and Len this past weekend, that my baby is growing up. I see her deliberate moves, I see her eating solids, I see her rolling over, and I see her getting frustrated with things - whether it's herself getting centered on a chair or with toys and situations. She's finding her voice in this big world. I want to hold on to every moment and she seems to be changing quicker than I realize. As we took her 5 month photo shoot, I watched her rip her belly sticker from her shirt and thought, hmmm, these photo sessions aren't going to get any easier. 

On the food front, she's starting to get the hang of solids... don't get me wrong, we still are struggling. She grabs the spoon, she wants to feel the food in her mouth - with her hand, she thinks we aren't feeding her fast enough sometimes, but she's tried a few things and stained a few articles of clothing. I think we are getting 90% of each meal inside of her, which is better than when we started.

On the cat front, things may be improving there too. They have never hated her, but there's been a clear avoidance. Now they'll jump on the bed to take a look or jump in the tub to see what's going on.... Len will watch them and has reached out to grab them. We are starting to work on already "petting the kitty nice."

The weekend was a busy weekend...We went back for Matt's unofficial 10 year reunion. Since Eleanor's been born he's gotten a bit sentimental and nostalgic for "the good ol'days." We contacted Pinkertons to see if they were interested in coming back and taking in some of the homecoming weekend.

There was a lot prep as traveling now has involved more lists. We pack our bags and then also pack her bag and her sleeping equipment and eating equipment and toys and extra blankets... and pretty soon I find myself using a cart just to get things into our room. By the way, she didn't really care.

The first night, we had drinks and a tour of the house. I've seen pics and video but nothing compares to actually seeing it in person. Matt had a couple different rooms and I got to see a few of them. I was surprised at how big the house was. We met some of the current members and pledges. They were supper accommodating and nice, especially to us wives! We were also very appreciative to Allison's mom, who took on babysitting both Oliver and Eleanor while we went out. I was so glad she behaved herself well!

Laying in bed on Friday night,
ALR: So, what did you think of the house seeing it now?
MJR: Oh, it looked really good!
ALR: What?!
MJR: yeah, it was in good shape and they cleaned it up nice!
ALR: Seriously?
MJR: You didn't think so?
ALR: Did they give out free tetanus shots if you lived there or did they require proof before you could move in?
MJR: Awww, come'on it wasn't that bad.
ALR: Did you ever take your shoes off?
MJR: I walked around barefoot all the time.
ALR: I just threw up a bit in my mouth.

On Saturday, we had a full day. We did not attend the parade but we did a little around the down drive before heading to Green Mill for deep dish pizza with the Pinkerton posse. It was great to watch Oliver scarf food down by the handful... made me realize that in short order my sassy redhead will be in
the same boat! From there, we headed to the game. We had necessary equipment to watch the game... the carrier (which she is awesome in), baby noise mufflers, and the smallest foam finger that you ever did see. She was awesome during the game. UND won over Southern Utah but my favorite was during the third quarter (after her second quarter nap) was when she found her cheering voice! We hear the tiniest screams and when we looked down there she was cheering/screaming away! She didn't fuss/she didn't squabble the entire game! She even drew some admiration on how cute of baby she was - I think it was the sprout pony tail!

That night we had the formal for the Beta house. We dropped Len off with a team of babysitters who were excited to see her and headed off in our best dressed. This was my first "frat party" and it was an eye opener, I won't lie...I've been out of college for 9 years and it felt suddenly like 29 years! Everyone was supper nice and they had the party right at the house. The food was good, the music was loud, the dance floor was sticky from drinks, and if you were thirsty - it was your own fault... I am trying to decide what was my favorite - spending some time talking with Allison (as her and John are at the same space in their lives) or watching our men enjoy their alumni status and relive a bit of their glory days.

ALR and Allison standing on the balcony, men are behind with college kids.
MJR: Well boys, when I was risk management officer...
ALR to Allison: Oh, great... this sounds like a party conversation starter.
More gloating and boosting overheard in background
MJR and John: Yeah! We'll go play beer pong!
ALR to Allison: I've never seen Matt play beer pong in the past 5 years.
Allison: I've seen them play beer pong. They weren't very good when they lived here.

We had to leave earlier than the boys wanted us to... they were hoping we'd leave them there. We picked up Len from Scraperville and headed back to the hotel. We ended up sitting and visiting until 2:00 that morning about anything and everything, conversations that Matt and I have been waiting to have. The next morning, Eleanor woke up at 6:00, and she really couldn't be convinced to go back to sleep. We got ready, had breakfast, said our goodbyes and headed home. We can't party like we used to because it was the longest drive ever back home! At least we had a sleepyhead in the backseat who slept all the way from GF to Steele.
We both went to bed early and slept hard!

Best meal: Red pepper tacos! mmmmm!

MJR and John talking to pledges
Pledge: So man, I just want to talk about your jobs. What do you do?
MJR gives briefish explanation
John: I'm a commercial pilot.
Pledge: That's What I Want To DO! Which one?
John: Delta
Pledge: Yeah, dude! That's awesome! I gotta know, how much do you make?

MJR, John, and multiple Betas walking down the hall
John: Yeah, that's Berg's room.
MJR: That's the one where that chick (ruined) his carpet.
Beta guy: Hey, that's my room!

MJR to Allison and ALR: Yeah so John and I are going through the guys' rooms and getting beer?
ALR: Getting beers?
MJR: yeah, we are either going in taking them out of their fridges or walking in and saying Give us a beer.
ALR: Can you do that?
John: We're alumni.
MJR: If they don't want their beer taken, they should have taken locked their door!

Sunday morning
ALR: I'm sorry you had to go home early because we had to pick up our daughter.
MJR: It's okay, the way John and I were going, we were headed down a dangerous path.

Notes from a 33 year old.

Many people that I was close to when I was 24 realized how hard that birthday was for me. Here's the deal, I had set a personal goal to myself, I wanted to be married, settled into my career of choice and starting to build my family. However, when I turned 24 I wasn't anywhere I wanted to be. I was freshly out of college, in a career that was lack luster. I was single and living with my cat (shoutout to TonyDanza). Flash forward 9 years, almost a whole decade later. I find myself in the spot I've been waiting for.

I sat and rocked my baby to sleep tonight, with a belly of salmon that my husband smoked and boston cream pie that my mother brought over and I was happy. I may have been running on a little sleep and my head may still be spinning from the conference last week on wrap up details but I felt happy and content.

I thought 24 was my magic number, but I look at my sister who is 24 and think, how could I have possibly been "settled" at that age. I had memories and mistakes to make. I had places to see. I had food to eat. I had boys to date. I had relationships to make. I had houses to buy and moves to make. 24 was really the beginning of my adulthood. 

I refocused myself at 27 decided that that age was going to be my magic number. I said, "Wait a minute, I'm not about the traditional and I've never done things by the book, why was I trying to?" So I refocused what I wanted and started jumping at opportunities. I found myself in Guatemala, at St. Patty's day festivals, on personal trips to see family across state lines, and found the adult I wanted to become. 

Now at 33 I'm wondering if maybe this is my magic number. I've had to cool my jets on some of the things I want to do, but don't think I'm not plotting and planning my next adventure, not thinking of the next fish dish I can get Matt to make for me, or pinning a wonderful pinecone craft project that I can make for my home. 

Adulting isn't easy and Mommying is hard but staying true to your identity and setting realistic expectations may be the challenge I face on a daily basis. To my future self - remember the things that you want to do, don't be afraid to do it, take a tap class when it's offered, order that coffee now and then, get the fish, be okay to sit and cuddle, and understand that no matter how little sleep you are running on that you may be able to nap when you least expect it! 

Succor (suhk-er)

We knew the day was coming..... daycare. Not I had mixed emotions as the start of daycare meant many things... 1. I had a bit of personal freedom. 2. My baby wouldn't be with me each day - meaning I could miss things as they happen. 3. My baby is growing up! And that last one made me want to be sad!
So Matt and I worked out our arrangement... he would drop her off, I would pick her up and we'll start slow, to wean us all in. Just Tuesday and Thursdays. The first day didn't go like I had planned as I wasn't able to pick her up, I was in Fargo for a meeting. But when I saw her daily digest, I was happy to see that she was a happy baby.

The first day was also Matt's birthday. So that night, we went out for dinner at Los Lunas. I appreciate that Matt's come a long way with Mexican food as he hasn't always liked it and I could easily live on it. 

That weekend was also the Downtowners' Streetfair... I love anything where they have crafts and food trucks. Mmmmmm! This was the first that Matt's been. We strolled some of the booths. I had a corn dog, he had rice pudding and Chinese, and we split a peanut butter/honey/choc. chip waffle. Eleanor slept.

This weekend was a time for me to slow down and prepare as I've been working toward my big project at work. I am the lead on organizing and coordinating a conference and this year with baby and maternity leave, I've been a bit in the weeds. And the conference seemed to be coming up fast. In personal preparation, I took some time and made the downstairs curtains, couch cover, and pillows for the sectional that we just got. I had a little helper who might not have added to the project much. 

I have come to enjoy the conference because it's a labor of love. There's planning that happens all year long and it all culminates into a large event. This year we had a new venue which added to the planning as we haven't worked out the bugs yet. In the end, we broke a record for our Bismarck event with 475 people and the reviews were mostly positive (80% upbeat).

Since we knew hours and days were going to be long, we called in the Grandma to assist with baby. I knew most days I would have to be at the event center at 6:00am, and probably stay until 6:00pm.
Last June, ALR: Michele, I was wondering if you'd be available to come help us out with Len during my conference.
Michele: Yes.
ALR: I haven't told you the dates yet.
Michele: Oh, is it in February?
ALR: No, it's...
Michele: Then I can do it.
ALR: Well it's September 20-22.
Michele: Yep, I'll write that in my book
ALR: Do you want to talk to Randy first?

Michele was awesome to have available. It was nice to have her at home and they enjoy each other. I did laugh when I got home Thursday afternoon after everything was over and I found them both sleeping in the den. Immediately after this picture, Michele woke up because I scared the crap out of her.

Other big news for the week includes Eric. He moved home from Mississippi. He moved in with us and on Monday, after 1 hour of looking got a job finishing concrete. I know this move will be an adjustment for him. He's used to bach'ing and now he's living with a family including a 4 month old baby and all her "stuff."

Best meal: The entire family went to Bruno's one night.... It was a great meal despite I was exhausted.

ALR: Have you talked to your mom today? Do you know how it's going?
MJR: Yes, I also told her that Len could go to daycare if she had some running around to do.
ALR: Oh, yeah, right. Like Grandma is going to do that.

Convivial (kuh n-viv-ee-uh l)

We may finally be settling into some normalcy. Some may call it a routine, but that may be a bit of a stretch. We've come a long way since week two where things got a little dicey on how to do this motherhood/parenthood thing. Some normal things are finally happening - like the previously mentioned shower and solo walk. She's also occasionally giving us longer spurts of sleep at night, like four and a half almost five hours. I will admit the first time that she did this Matt and I had to do a life check.

This past Sunday, Auntie Alaina threw Len and I a baby shower. It was a wonderful day. With the help of Grandma Di, she decorated the house so nice and prepped a nice spread. Was great to have everyone come over and show Len off. She was on her best behavior too! She was thoroughly passed around the circle and never fussed or fought and just ate up all the attention and cuddles. We received some an amazing amount of stuff and Len will be the best dressed baby in town! It was actually overwhelming to receive all the kindness and love.

Matt wasn't able to partake in any of the shower details as I had to drop him off at
the airport on Sunday to fly to Denver for work. This was a big thing for us as it was my first nights truly solo and his first time away from the both of us. We asked Michele to stay a few nights to help out. Was nice to have an extra set of arms...and she had no problems loving Len. The only one who has struggled is TonyDanza, he doesn't like sharing the attention.

Best meal: Well, it wasn't a meal, but Alaina made beautiful cupcakes for the shower and they were pretty tasty too!

ALR and Michele talking in kitchen watching EER
EER rolls onto side.
EER suddenly rolls further onto stomach.
ALR gives Michele shocked look.
Michele: I had told Judy that she is already rolling!
ALR: Did that just happen?
Michele: Yes.
ALR: I don't think I'm ready for that.
ALR and Michele stare at EER
ALR: That seems a bit early.
Michele: I told you she is advanced.
ALR: I'm glad you were here to witness that.