April was a month of nuptial bliss for us (and yes, I’m just getting around to writing about it now). First, we hit the Big Apple where Madeline was a flower girl and I was a bridesmaid for her godmother’s wedding. (Thankfully, the arm incident went down following the wedding, so Madeline did not have to accessorize with a bulky, blue cast.)
It was a beautiful ceremony. As much as I try not to, I have a bad, messy habit of crying at weddings (and miss my husband since he’s always working and never seems to be able to be my date!). My eyes are too sensitive to handle waterproof mascara (thus the messy part). But I could not hold the tears back and really lost it at this one when I heard the priest quietly say to the bride and groom after they had received the Eucharist, “Now you’ve shared your first meal as husband and wife.” And what a first meal to share together!
Aside from the touching wedding Mass and crazy-fun reception, other highlights of the trip included:
- Spending time with my Aunt Tina and Uncle John. We stayed in their Manhattan apartment, and they fed us well with their food, their stories, and their love. I briefly lived in their old Californian home in another lifetime and have always been close to them. During our visit it was a thrill to watch them interact with my own daughters. Madeline found an instant playmate in my Uncle John and her eyes widened with delight when he did things like find a tennis ball on the street and then started to bounce it off the buildings lining a Manhattan street.
- Madeline found comfort in Aunt Tina’s arms. On our last morning there, she was tired and completely melted down and started screeching for what we call a “time in” (where we take time to cuddle). I told her I was nursing the baby and she had to “cool off her oven” first. Aunt Tina opened her arms wide and said she would give her a time in while I was nursing. Madeline immediately scaled my aunt’s lap and melted in her arms. My aunt smiled and whispered to me, “Heaven.” They have one daughter and always wanted more children, but it didn’t work out. I received an email after our visit, and they said, “Please have more.” :-) I teased them that our visit was grandparent boot camp to prepare them for when their daughter gets married and has kiddos of her own.
- A visit to the Central Park Zoo. I had total deja vu when we stood before a wall of glass, watching polar bears pass through the water like floating ghosts. I have a faint memory of seeing polar bears swim, and I’d never really known where it came from or if it was even a real memory, but it turns out I visited this same zoo a long time ago on a family vacation.
- Getting all dressed up. As a bridesmaid, I had my makeup done. I rolled my hair and soft curls fell to my shoulders. I wore a satin dress the color of an orchid. I felt so girly. Just wish my husband had been there to see me all dolled up.
Here the flower girl and I am the night before the wedding.
For the record, sleeping in foam curlers isn’t as easy as it was when I was a kid. I woke up with a crick in my neck. I’m getting old. :-)
- My photo shoot! No, I’m not pursuing a second career of acting (although as a kid, I always wanted to be a writer, an actress, and/or a horse trainer), but I did need to get some head shots for my upcoming book, and my aunt is a very talented professional photographer. She generously offered to do my head shots, and I was so impressed. Astonished, really, because I typically despise getting my picture taken (unless I’m acting goofy with my kids and ignoring the camera; then I oddly feel a little more at home, but I always have a silly look on my face like the above curlers photo corroborates) and often
alwaysirrationally hate snapshots of me (probably because of all of my geeky but happy expressions).But this was different. Aunt Tina made me feel at ease, and I actually had fun. What’s more, when she showed me the contact sheet, I liked most of the photos. Funny story: At one point, some people flew by on roller blades and shouted, “Work it, girl!” This made me chuckle because this little book of mine, I hope, will encourage women not to “work it” at all but to instead be content to be the lovely person God designed them to be – geeky expressions included.
- Experiencing New York City with Madeline. I’ve always loved New York City, but I hadn’t been there since my senior year of college. From my aunt and uncle’s apartment, we could walk to all sorts of places – sidewalk cafes, stores, city groceries where cheese, olives, and freshly baked bread were piled high, etc. It was high adventure (for Madeline and me!) to explore the streets on foot. (And Madeline had the thrill of hopping on the subway and a city bus!)
- E.B. White described the city perfectly when he wrote, “The city [of New York] is like poetry: it compresses all life, races, and breeds into a small island and adds music and the accompaniment of internal engines.” The city enlivened all of my senses. I felt like a kid there because there were so many new sights, sounds, and smells to experience.
- Funny thing is, I must have not looked too much like a Southern Belle tourist taking in the sights because I had three people ask me for directions on different occasions.
- One of my best memories of exploring the city was when Madeline and I were nibbling on a scone together and she sighed happily and said, “I love life.”
- And I thought to myself, “How can I not love life, too, with that kid around me?”
An old friend from my husband’s medical school days (another medical wife) was a bridesmaid, too. She’s an amazing photographer and shared images from her trip here.
My girls all dressed up.
The only low point of the trip was not having Rae there with us. Since Dave could not tag along and because she gets overwhelmed by big crowds and loud noises (she’s very, very different than her big sister), we decided it would be better if Rachel stayed at home with the grandparents and then with Daddy over the weekend. This was by far my longest absence from her and boy, did I miss my sweet girl. She missed us, too. She asked about her big sister constantly and upon our return home, she gave both of us the cold shoulder for a few minutes and wouldn’t say anything to us. Poor dear.
After New York, we had a few days back in Georgia before we headed to St. Cloud, Minnesota (sans my husband again; it’s oral board studying time) for a family wedding. Although the actual destination wasn’t quite as exciting as the Big Apple, we had a wonderful time catching up with my mom’s family and were witness to another beautiful wedding ceremony. At the reception, my girls tore up the dance floor. Madeline was the resident photographer (we had dozens and dozens of photos of the bride; she clearly was Madeline’s favorite subject).
And, of course, it was a joy to have Rae with us. She was quite the big girl and wanted me to take a photo of her sipping from a big-girl glass at the reception. “I didn’t spill!” she exclaimed.
While we were in New York, I missed seeing expressions like this:
And this:
I must say it’s good to be back home. We were all starting to feel a lot like Mary Elizabeth looks here snoozing next to me (yes, she’s my little, extra appendage and is never faraway – not even during the cocktail hour!):
Sometimes I wish someone would carry me around in a big sling. Looks relaxing, doesn’t it?
Actually, the most interesting nuptial vows were scheduled to go down right here at home when Rachel asked me to help her put a dress-up gown on. “We’re pretending to get married,” she said.
“Oh, who’s the husband?”
“Maddy.”
Not sure how big sister felt about that arrangement.
so gorgeous!!!! Love all the pics. Your family radiates God's love. WOW!
Enjoy your blessings!
I had so much fun getting to know Maddy again! She is such a doll! I hope that soon we can get all of the kids together.
Glad the other wedding went as well as the first!
You have such a gorgeous family (you included) and all so sweet! I love how much personality you & your girls have in pictures. I tend to hate pics of myself other than intentionally silly ones too-mainly 'cause I'm terrible at smiling for the camera. I've somewhat mastered the "gazing-adoringly-at-baby" profile shot though and generally like those better!
I always cry at weddings… even the ones on TV! The photos are lovely! When do you think your book will be published? (I'm clueless how that stuff works!) So far I have "Kate Wicker's book" on my baby shower list, birthday list, Christmas list and next Mother's Day list… until whenever it comes out! :-)
Oh everyone. You've made my morning. We've been at the doctor's office for almost two hours now (follow-up on Madeline's arm), and I'm on the verge of going mad. The natives are beyond restless. But your super kind comments made me smile. So did doc's news that Madeline's cast might be able to come off I about 2 weeks. Kids are amazing.
Maggie, your mention of my book being on your wish list was a bit surreal to me and almost made me shout, "Woo-hoo!" in the waiting room, but I'd already been making up stories about fairies named Blueberry Head and Orange Blossom and a polar bear named Penelope who was sick of being mistaken for a huge snowball. I didn't want people to think I'd really lost it. :) At any rate, I don't have an exact publication date, but when I do, I'll be sure to let you know. Your support means a lot to me – thank you. I'm so humbled to have this opportunity and only pray God will gift me with the right words.
Have a good day!
I NEED to see pictures of you form the wedding! And can't wait to see those headshots!
My girls loved playing wedding when they were little. Lauren was always the boy. We love that now Gracie has little cousin Zeke so that when they play, it will be gender appropriate casting!
The link for your friend's photos isn't working.
Ugh. Thanks for lettig me know, Cathy. The link should work now. I need you guys to be my eyes. :)