January 2014 – The Eloise Diaries

Fashion Friday

Trying a little something new starting this week. Fashion Friday. It’s inspired by all of the street style photogs we all know and love… but this is obviously the baby version. This is also to celebrate the beauty in differences. What I would give to see a Zara Baby, Gap Baby or any other children’s clothing company use children with differences in their ads.

Hope you enjoy…

Outfit 1: Bow Top and Bow Leggings- Gap Baby; Fur-Lined Shoes- Zara Baby; Brown Softband and Bahas

Cochlear

Outfit Two: White Sweater- Egg by Susan Lazar; Ikat Leggings- Little Four; Boots- Minnetonka; Necklaces- her own; Pink Softband and Bahas- Cochlear

Outfit Three: White Top- Zara Baby; Peplum Jacket- Gap Baby; Floral Leggings- The Little Spoons; Shoes- Van’s; Pink Overcoat- Gap Baby

Happy Weekend!

xoxo,

Eloise

January 31, 2014

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Derrick Coleman

As my family and I settled into the local diner one morning, my husband asked if I’d checked my Facebook page. I’d gone for a long run that morning and rushed to get Landon dressed and out the door. I hadn’t even checked my phone since my 7am alarm went off.

“Scott posted something on your wall. You need to see it,” Bo said quietly to me.

Now… no offense to our dear friend Scott, who I truly love, but my first thought was… “Oh God, what now…” Thinking it was some embarrassing photo, hilarious article or something teasing Bo. Bo insisted I watch it on my phone immediately and handed me his headphones. “Take a deep breath first.” Hmmm…

I clicked on the link and life halted for one long minute. I sat in a trance in a very crowded restaurant as tears streamed down my face. My breath caught in my throat and I smeared mascara on my cheek. My family paused, asking what Bo did to me, and then understood…. must be a Landon thing. Quiet tears from me are not uncommon if it’s something to do with bug.

I have now watched Derrick Coleman’s Duracell commercial about 45 times. I cry each time. I stop breathing each time.

I want to hug him each time and call him and write to him and tell him… THANK YOU. Thank you for changing the landscape. For fighting against the stigmas. For showing our children that they can do anything they want with their hearing aids. For calling out the bullies and showing us that our kids will overcome teasing too. They can not only play sports but become elite athletes if they want to. They too can achieve the greatest honor in sports.. the Superbowl. Okay well the boys can… but the girls too have a hero in you. And a special thanks to Duracell for honoring his story and in turn honoring our own childrens’ stories.

As athletes ourselves, Bo and I dreamed of our future childrens’ sports accolades. Our same friend Scott used to joke that our child would likely be in Sports Illustrated… male or female.. swimsuits or sports. Maybe both he laughed. When I was pregnant, our friend Harrison asked if he could take stock out on the baby’s sports career. I would dream of lacrosse. Bo would dream of baseball. When Landon was born and our vision and story changed, the sports dream didn’t fade but it felt more complicated. Can she wear her bahas when she plays? How does that work with lacrosse goggles? With sweat or getting hit? How does it work with a bike helmet? If she is a swimmer, will she be the last off the block or will they install a light? As you know… when there’s a topic I worry about for Landon.. I obsess.

Now… with the emergence of Derrick Coleman.. we have our first true hero. I usually turn to my iPad or a book when sports is on. As a former athlete, this sounds maybe odd… but sports on tv just isn’t my thing. Since this commercial, I’ve watched every Seakhawks game. Tuned into Mike & Mike in the morning to hear a recap and read stories on ESPN. Quite simply.. Mr. Coleman… I’m one of your biggest fans.

Thank you for inspiring me to inspire my daughter. For showing me that she, like you, can do anything… hearing aids and all.

We’ll be cheering for you loudly from SC in this Superbowl and throughout the rest of your career. You are amazing.

See the commercial here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2HD57z4F8E

Sending you so much love,

Eloise

January 23, 2014

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13.1

An odd number that actually represents a lot for me. Last weekend I willingly ran 13.1 miles without stopping.

My first half marathon. In 30 degrees and on four hours of sleep but that’s beside the point.

A lot of you who know how much I love to work out and my past lacrosse accolades will think this is normal. Some were surprised I’d never run a half or a full before. I, on the other hand, never thought I could run this far without my body simply falling apart… limb after limb.

It was the first goal I set for myself in a long time. I live my life in goals but they are speech goals. Social/Emotional, chart and check-off goals, 9 month then 12 month then 18 month goals. All Landon goals. My goals in the past 16 months are more like… let’s go to yoga this month, try to fold AND put away laundry this week. And lately, put on clothing that isn’t related to sleep or yoga. Yikes that’s so sad. So a goal that’ s just mine and actually takes personal time to accomplish… whoa.

When we moved here, it was just bug and I for a week before Bo moved down from New York. I was venturing out of my comfort zone and living with my in laws. No friends for 2 hours and no idea what to do with myself being home with Landon full-time and trying to work during her nap hours. Then came the battle with Babynet, trying to train a rescue dog, running after a new toddling- walking- then running baby… and did I mention living with my in laws? No really we do… and they were wonderful to help me with her so I could train. So I went for a run one morning. I ran straight to the beach from the house. 3 miles. I pulled out my phone, typed in “half marathon”. Saw one in Charleston and bought my “ticket”. There… now I have to do it. And then I had to run home.

I ran mornings, nights, Saturdays at 7am. Holidays and the colder days when the rest of my family sat around a fire. I laced up my sweet new shoes. I ran past and through some incredible and less fortunate gifts from nature. I got chased by a pitbull. Almost hit by a golf ball. I once ran down the beach, thinking I was completely alone, shouting the words to ‘Run This Town’… only to realize there was a family walking their dogs. I ran while I cried. I ran until I had to sit down on the curb and get the hubby to come pick me up.

I had not run farther than 4 miles in my post lacrosse heyday until we moved. Sure I could do Equinox’s “hard” classes. My body wasn’t out of shape necessarily but running shape is another beast. Each time I ran though… mother nature offered me a gift. This sleepy beach town offered me so much beauty. I felt rewarded for attempting this feat.

It sounds so corny to say that I did this for Landon. Don’t all mothers say they do everything for their children? But really…. I did. I wanted to show her that in the midst of stress, frustration, anxiety and any other emotion that tries to keep us tied up in knots, we have the strength and ability to change that. We can condition our bodies and in turn condition our hearts and minds to have patience. This running journey is also in her honor as now I can run and raise money for her and the nonprofit I plan to start this spring. I’ve accomplished this one race so that I can learn and get stronger for future races. I plan to now run for children with Microtia. Run for those children and their families to pay it forward.

Game on. Next stop… a race called the Diva Half Marathon in April. Yep….

xoxo,

Eloise

January 23, 2014

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Some days

Some days when kids ask “what is wrong with her” and parents step back and act awkwardly and don’t look me in the eye….. Some days when parents give me pity looks… Some days when kids point…

I want to scream. Shake the kids. Slap the moms.

I should want to use my knowledge to educate. I feel that I have some higher education from the vantage point this year has granted me. I have so much to offer others that might actually stick with one of these mothers. I could impact these families and give them a gift. Teach kind by being kind. I should pay it forward by telling them those are hearing aids, like your mom wears glasses……………. that same old line.

But yesterday I didn’t want to. I wanted to yell “what are you looking at, kid?! She’s cuter than YOU are." Yup…

So anyway, I didn’t. I moved on and stored it up. But as I was leaving this encounter, bug and I walked hand in hand down a hallway. I heard a cleaning woman call out "look at that sassy girl go. I want to hang out with her!”

That woman was a gift from the world to remind me… there might be many others that point and stare. That move away from us. But it’ll be their loss.

Their loss indeed.