HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me!

I love my birthday. As a friend said, it is a National Holiday. TOTALLY!

This is also my first birthday as a mom AND the last year I can say "I'm in my 30's!" CRAZY!

I cannot believe I'll be 40 years old next year; more likely when we have another baby I'll be 40 or 41. Also CRAZY!

Gifts
Jai asked, but I didn't have any ideas ... too tired to be creative! I love gifts, but I've mellowed a bit in the past year. Spending time together is more valuable to me now than material gifts. I'm maturing. Also who needs more stuff?!

Then while writing in my Grateful journal one night, the pen died. AGAIN! Another one gone ... happens when you use them I realize, but somehow it surprises me each time. I search my office for a "nice" one and none seem appropriate. I tell Jai "couple of pens, like Jeanie's, they're not too expensive I think, $5-10."

Jai's funny ... "I googled 'Jeanie's pens' but didn't find anything." Jai emailed Jeanie.

Jeanie stopped at GMS the other day (I really miss my friends!) [she looks fabulous, retirement agrees with her!]. She brought my B-day present - 3 "old" pens she was about to toss (she knew I'd prefer she didn't if they still are good) and 4 "new" (in package). They are ALL nice, oh, so nice! Small things excite me now! : )

I got a cool t-shirt from Jai's aunt. It's 100% organic cotton with a neat star and "Happiness" on the front. Well done!

Jai got me 2 tickets to see "Wicked" on September 8. YEAH! I mentioned that idea to him.
I'll ask a friend since Jai is not a fan of musicals ... when we went to Chicago 2 years ago I went to see "Wicked" by myself.

Julia got me a "green" book of Suduko puzzles (recent interest, for YEARS Jai's been telling me I would like it), a cool box of stationary (cotton), and some pens. : )

Great gifts! I had a great birthday! THANKS!

I believe and relish celebrating my birthday ALL month ... I cannot change that tradition!

8/1 I planned to rest & relax & have lunch at Jerusalem restaurant (they have a great buffet I heard). However, Julia took a LONG nap during lunch time. Plan B was take-out from Dee's BBQ (yum-o) for dinner and Gigi's Cupcakes (double yum-o) and we watched 2 episodes of "Entourage." FUN!
8/8 I'm going to the POTATO consignment sale alone
8/15 not sure, maybe lunch with a friend ... at Jerusalem?!?!
8/22 see movie "Julie & Julia" with my mom (she LOVES Meryl Streep)
8/29 not sure, maybe walk with a friend

5 unexpectedly green gifts for baby

This is exactly what we have been talking about. People look at us with disbelief and confusion but we are not crazy.

5 unexpectedly green gifts for baby

We recognize that even in our circle of progressive friends our level of commitment to doing things in a socially & ecologically responsible way is higher than most. Tara and I come at this from from different backgrounds but we both see it as the best way to live our lives.

Sorry for the crosspost...

http://tjandbaby.blogspot.com
http://blackgreenenvironment.blogspot.com/

Remaining Needs - a gift is not necessary

People have been extremely generous and we are grateful. Many folks have respected our requests and given us organic cotton or gently used items from thrift stores and yard sales instead of buying new, which we really appreciate. We believe there are so many non-retail gift options that are a better use of resources, less wasteful and less expensive, BUT if you are still interested in sharing your love with gifts we hope you will consider the following.

The nursery is basically complete, just waiting for the baby! : )

**Bluntly and truthfully, we need money or gift certificates for the diaper service. Recently we made a few BIG purchases (changing pad, crib mattress & crib). All are eco-friendly and therefore more expensive. We also signed up for the diaper service which is a weekly expense so cash [or check : )] is really welcome. If money is not your thing, you can give us "coupons" for babysitting.

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**Books are always a great option. Unlike clothes, pacifiers and whatnot, books can be easily returned to any number of locations. If you want to buy books, shop local (Davis-Kidd, Fairytales Bookstore, if in Nashville) or shop online at Better World Books (check out Eco-Libris too). We already have several Dr. Seuss books as well as Goodnight Moon and Brown Bear, Brown, Bear so check with us about other popular titles we might already own.

**Another idea is a charitable donation. We received a gift in our baby's honor to Habitat for Humanity (thank you Fred & Barbara Cloud) as well as National Arbor Day Foundation's planting 25 Jack Pine trees (thanks Susie!). Another excellent charity in great need in Nashville, and probably at a similar organization in your community, is Second Harvest, a food bank. They can use financial as well as food donations during our current economic situation where need is high and donations are low.

** We suspect that some family & friends are waiting to know the gender so you can give us items in blue or pink or gender specific toys. Unless the items are gently used (i.e. your child used them), we'd rather not be a part of gender stereotyping. One of the reasons we didn't learn the gender before delivery was to avoid a lot of only one color. We like the variety and creativity that the surprise generates. Please join us "outside the box" where there truly is a rainbow of colors in addition to blue and pink. Besides, kids love them all.

Seriously, we do not need any more clothes, diapers, gadgets, gear...either we have it or we don't want it (although Jai can always find gear useful - no, don't encourage him!). We love gifts, but we don't want to nor will we have time to take a bunch of stuff back to a store we might not shop anyway (we are not Wal-Mart shoppers).

Thanks for your love and generosity, but try to keep our wishes and priorities in mind when you are shopping for a gift for our baby.

Respectfully, Tara & Jai

PS: Jai really wants to plant a big, expensive tree (Swamp White Oak) for the baby. He was told that it will be a good climbing tree in about 10 years. Talk to Jai or GroWild Nursery for details...

Baby Shower # 3

Today was the baby shower at Goodlettsville Middle School where I work. After each shower, I'm filled with such gratitude and warm feelings and think "best shower ever!" Truly each event was special for various reasons and today's celebration was no different. I really appreciate the genuine and generous support I've received throughout my pregnancy. Daily I am asked how I am feeling - teachers see me more often in the halls as I make my frequent trips to the bathroom! : ) - and other curious questions about the pregnancy. It's lovely to be surrounded by such care and concern.

The loot was bountiful! The theme at this shower included books which has been consistent and of course, we're educators. There is a lot of washing/cleaning type items (washcloths, hooded towels, an adorable robe) so the baby will be clean. : ) Also I got TONS of baby outfits, most from consignment stores, thrift stores and yard sales, which I love; again most stuff looks hardly worn. Finally baby Sanders will have some clothes to wear - seriously she or he is set for at least the first year. I also received lots of Target gift cards : ) as well as some gift cards/certificates from Whole Foods/Body and Uncommon Goods which I really look forward to using!

My favorite gift and though it seems unfair to pick a most liked present when presented with such an outpouring of generosity, for those present, they saw my reaction. The "Life is Good" red snowflake onesie and hat are definitely the winner! They are SO adorable and perfect for a December (winter) baby. I have another outfit picked out for the baby's trip home from the hospital, but this one is a keeper and I anticipate the baby will wear it often.

Big shout out to Niki for her second set of shower gifts which are her very creative creations. We now have a peace blanket and earth onesie, a blanket with "Sanders" (no first name since that's a surprise!) sewn on it, a 37216 zip code onesie, and two colorful burp cloths.

The food was good - I cannot forget the food, best part of being pregnant! Whitt's BBQ is so yummy. The dessert was homemade cupcakes (from a local business woman, recommended by a co-worker who always gets her birthday cakes made by her). You know I love the frosting! : )

A BIG thanks to my co-workers who organized a wonderful event - Tara P., Dominique, Jeanie and Niki. You are the best!

Today was blessed for MANY reasons. Happy Election Day!

Baby Sanders cannot wait to meet everyone - soon ...

Baby Shower #2

Thanks to the G-ville crew for getting together a great show.
Niki, Tara P., Kris are Tara J.'s co-workers; they live in East Nashville/Madison area so we're neighbors as well as friends; Kris & Tara J. carpool 2 days a week.

Thanks to everybody who came and shared their loot with us.

Thanks to Bonnie for the new plant Aster Oblongifolius "Raydon's Favorite". I missed GroWild's sale day, but Bonnie went and picked up some cool stuff.

Go to Christopher Cotton's flickr for photos...

Maternity Clothes

Many of you know that I am cheap and thrifty. Well, maternity clothes are expensive! Luckily I was able to wear my regular clothes into the 5th month with a few baby doll tops and friendly elastic waist pants. : ) In early June in anticipation of my trips, not sure how much I would grow and not wanting to be uncomfortable, I bought a pair of shorts and an empire waist blouse at a mall maternity store. Major sticker shock sent me looking for affordable alternatives. Fortunately I have a couple of friends who were pregnant and due a few months before me and they blessed me with some great stuff they couldn't or didn't want to wear anymore.

THANK YOU, Anne Marie and Deidre.

In addition to my dear friends, I explored other options - Craig's list, thrift stores and consignment sales. Jai can and will attest to my slightly obsessive nature, especially during my maternity clothes searching time. Once we returned from Seattle where I acknowledged that I couldn't get by as before, I literally scavenged the city for maternity clothes.

Finally EUREKA! Southern Thrift Store (one on Gallatin Road across from our house which is sweet and another one on Charlotte Ave.) and New Life Thrift Store (also on Charlotte) have well organized maternity sections and I got some good stuff. I went to Goodwill on one of its $0.99 days; unfortunately there wasn't a separate maternity section. Since I was on summer vacation and thrifty I looked. I found some more good stuff! The most expensive item I bought at any of these stores was $11 (with the original sale tag on it!). I was so bummed that it wasn't 1/2 off 'brown tag' day; however, I wasn't taking a chance on waiting for that day and those great pants being gone. It was still an awesome deal. Most stuff was $2-5 and you cannot beat that.

Whatever your attitude is about used items, these maternity clothes were in excellent condition - you grow out of stuff fairly quickly - and I always wash items before I wear. : )

The only other items I've bought "new" were bathing suits (I go to the outdoor pool a lot in the summer and I love my water aerobics class, especially as I get bigger), underwear (though not maternity, I couldn't find anything I liked; I just got a bigger size of my favorite stuff) and bras (organic cotton that can be nursing bras, too!). However, you know me - I got them all on SALE! : )