The Fourth

Something about holidays make me get all nostalgic and thoughtful. There's just something about repeating the same celebrations year after year that force us to reflect on the past and imagine the future. Fourth of July was like that for me this year.

The big Fourth that always comes to mind was in 2009. I had taken a pregnancy test that Friday after work and it was negative, and I was sort of bummed but okay with it because that meant I could have yummy beers downtown during the fireworks. Of course, little did I know that 3 days later I'd take another test and get a totally different result----mister Truman made his presence known. But that night of the fireworks downtown (with the yummy beers) I had fun with my new tripod. And Nate and I snapped pictures of each other, too. Fond memories...







And then last year in 2010---we had a chubby, four month old baby boy to celebrate. My parents were in town for the Fourth and I remember going downtown for the same fireworks while my father-in-law stayed home with Truman. I think I remember having to pump right when we got home because I was totally engorged from being gone so long. Again, ahhh----the memories.





And now this year in 2011: we have a long and lean 16 month old toddler to celebrate. We are still healing from our loss of baby #2, remembering my recent pregnancy test and 'final' drink before that test, just like the memories from the Fourth in 2009. But overall, this Fourth was a happy one filled with friends and festivities and not too much grief. Just a twinge of sadness mixed in with lots of contentedness.

We went to the Farmer's Market in Madison on Saturday with Dizzy, Andy and Charlotte and met Kelly and Jon there as well. Charlotte and Truman were born on the same day and I absolutely adore seeing them interact. Mostly they couldn't care less about each other's presence but sometimes they like to take things away from each other in true toddler fashion. Aren't they the cutest?








And the weekend of the Fourth we also pulled out our brand new blow-up pool. Truman wasn't too thrilled at first but by our second attempt, he was all over that bad boy. And can we please discuss his amazing swimming suit??






Whoops. Got a little mad at Daddy here.


But Dad redeemed himself by playing 'water the gut' with Truman. Works every time!




On the actual holiday I had to work for a few hours, so Nate and Truman and Tony all went to the local parade. Truman desperately needed a nap but he was a total trooper and hung in there for a bit. They busted out the back-carrier and it was a hit! Nate took these pictures for me, in my honor, and I am pretty impressed!








After T's nap and when I was home from work, we all walked to lunch and then over to this little local kid's party. There was a petting zoo and Truman LOVED the animals!! There was even a llama, just like his favorite book Llama Llama Red Pajama, and some of the sheep were 'baaaaa'-ing like mad. Overall, hilarious experience.











So that was this Fourth of July weekend. We did go to the big downtown fireworks again, like we have every year, but this time I didn't bring my tripod and I didn't have to pump afterward. And maybe it's just my old age (dirty thirty) this year but dang, those fireworks were so loud and long and there were just so many people everywhere. When did I become an old hag, I wonder? :)