dunhaven; ic community.

Warning: Mom Feels Ahead

Eighteen years ago today, I had the incredible fortune to get to meet my son. I don't remember much that led up to it, other than the stories that Sean told me about a lot of creative swearing and squeezing his hand so hard that it bruised, but what I do remember is the intense relief and immediate overwhelming love I felt, first at hearing that beautiful cry and then at seeing him. Ten fingers, ten toes, this beautiful head of dark hair. He was this little bundle of perfection and I didn't know how I could possibly be so lucky. I still ask myself that to this day whenever I look at this smart, kind, loving young man that I am so, so incredibly proud of.

My life changed in so many ways back then, all for the incredible better. I am not a perfect mother by any means and I would never claim to be, but I don't know where I would be now had I not become one today, eighteen years ago. I love you more than I could ever imagine putting into words, Logan, and I hope you can forgive my being sappy in public, just this once.

And this is the part where I continue to be embarrassing and share pictures. ( Cut for images! )

M9

It's been a while since I had you all over for dinner, so you should all come over for dinner on Saturday. I need something calming before I have to deal with both sets of Logan's grandparents being in town and it's saying a lot when I request calming and it's you guys. 😉

I'll make fried chicken or something equally delicious. I will also supply wine. Bring a significant other or two, if you feel so inclined.

FRIENDS OF NAT & LOGAN

Next week is momentous, because it's not only Logan's 18th birthday, but he's also graduating from high school. So: ( Cut for image! )

I made invitations for the grandparents and I was very proud of my work, so please enjoy. And also, please feel free to come by. There will be food, drinks, celebration of my baby, all that good stuff.

LOGAN (added after Maggie's comment)

A girl is asking me what you want for your birthday.

As a general FYI, we'll be closed tomorrow and Monday for a long weekend. Not because I'm particularly into the whole Easter thing, though more power to each and every one of you that is, but just because I need wanted a long weekend. Perks of owning your own business, I suppose.

I'll be jumping on new repairs on Tuesday, so there shouldn't be any real delay there. Thanks for understanding.

M9 GROUP

If you need somewhere to go this weekend, feel free to

CHASE

I had a dream and

ESTHER

So Essek is a real piece of work. Could have given a head's up on tha

LOGAN

Hey, you. Have some time for your mom? I hear she's really embarrassing, but sometimes fun to hang out with.

NATALIE BALDWIN → NOTT

"That's the best news I've heard in a long time."

WHAT: Nat dreams of a reunion.
WHERE: The Baldwin home, specifically in Nat's bedroom.
WHEN: Morning of April 9.
WARNINGS: Spoilers through C2E57. So much dialogue, given the source is largely all dialogue. Brief mention of torture. Mentions of loss of spouse.
STATUS: Complete!
( Read more... )

It just sort of occurred to me that this month marks 10 years since we came to Dunhaven.

I'm not really sure how I'm meant to feel about that number, to be honest. I'm having similar struggles with other numbers as of late, though, particularly 18 and 38. (I'll admit that the former is a bit more jarring than the latter there.) That being said, moving to Dunhaven was a decision that I questioned every step of the way, even years after settling here. It was something that I needed in some ways, though in other ways it sometimes felt as though I was simply running. I think that was my guilt talking, though. That's what my therapist would say, at least. Ugh, don't say It was good in the end, I hope.

Mm, anyway. You're welcome for this moment of introspection.

M9 CREW

I'm looking to downsize some of my things. Do any of you want wine? It's good and it's free. [...] I'm keeping the really good stuff, though. I'm only a bit selfless.

( Cut for image! )

MAGGIE PHILLIPS - added afternoon of 3/3

Hello, Maggie! You go to school with Logan, yes?

I diagnosed someone's computer today and was able to assess the issue and told them that they needed to replace the drive. They asked if they could think it over, which obviously is fine. They made a phone call and came back to tell me that their nephew Googled the issue and that it couldn't be a faulty drive and I was wrong. They then asked if there was someone more qualified, maybe even male, that would be able to help them.

Cool, cool, cool.

In other news, I'm totally over the creeping crud that has been going around. I swear I've had this for a few weeks now and it's just not letting up. Someday I will remember what it's like to not be nauseated, but I guess this winter is not someday.

TEXTS TO MOM-NAT

-- Hey so don't freak out
-- but I have detention all week
-- also why is there baby stuff in the extra bedroom?
-- .... do I want to KNOW why there's baby stuff in the extra bedroom?

I'm wishing you all a very good love day, but especially this guy, who has given me a new outlet to share baby pictures of him on his behalf: ( Cut for image! )

He was the cutest, all right.

Give your favorites an extra hug today, be liberal with telling them how much you appreciate them, and spoil those you care about. You could do this any day, but why not take advantage of the extra excuse?

Soooo I guess once you start having freaky Dunhaven dreams, you get an invite to this underground secret communications network?


Cool. Cool cool.

Surprise.

TEXTS TO NATALIE (early morning)

-- Are you awake?

( instagram post! )

( Instagram Post! )

TEXTS TO CHASE

-- I had a dream about Nott last week.
-- I don't know if I want to talk about it, but it was hard and I can't really think about anything else.
-- So I just needed to tell someone.
-- Which is why I'm telling you now.

M9 GANG (Includes Esther)

My vacation time was approved, so Esther and I decided the cancun trip will be February 9-16 to escape the hells of winter.

Which of you can I depend on to take care of Grumpkin? I sadly cannot bring him.

( Cut for image! )

That sums up my Sunday quite succinctly.

And a question for the readers of Dunhaven! I'm looking for some recommendations of books to add to my TBR pile for 2020, so -- what is your all-time favorite book? Any genre, any author, fiction or non-fiction, I want it all. I know that for some that might be like asking someone to pick a favorite child, which may be me inadvertently downplaying the role of children in one's life in some eyes? I don't actually have one, so I can't really say. 😉

M9 GANG

I wanted to say thank you to you all, once again, for coming over on Friday. I can't really express how grateful I am to have gotten to meet you all through Chase and that you've been so welcoming since my brother and I arrived here. It's been quite some time since I've had people in my life that I can call friends, so [...] thank you.

Anyway, now that I am done embarrassing myself, I hope you're having lovely weekends.

WHO: Natalie Baldwin → Nott
WHEN: Night of January 17
WHERE: The Baldwin home
SUMMARY: Natalie comes home a bit late and gets a particularly emotional memory.
WARNINGS: Spoilers through C2E48 of Critical Role, specifically focusing in on Nott's backstory

( It hurt more than Natalie knew how to describe, twin feelings of relief and sorrow twisting together to make something altogether new. )

CHASE, JESSIE, MICA, NAT, OSCAR

Hello!

I know that I'm still sort of new to town and your lives, but I'm feel particularly [...] appreciative, for reasons that are extensive and cross worlds, so I won't go into them. But they have left me wanting to do something for you all, if you'll let me. Could I possibly host you all for dinner, perhaps a game night? I was thinking next week sometime, maybe Friday?

I don't I'm not Like I said, I know that I've only been here a couple of months, but I didn't have a lot of people in Chicago that I spent time with outside of professionally. You all have been a very nice change of pace.

GABE

I'm asking a few people to come over, probably on Friday for food and things. Obviously you can stay and eat and meet them all too, but I just wanted to give you a head's up on it. I can't even remember the last time I hosted anything, so hopefully I'm not being silly.

TEXTS TO NAT BALDWIN

-- I have a favor to ask of you.

( Cut for picture )

I appreciate the lunch, but next time if you could also drop off some cheese to go with?

The library gave a five-day extension to those of you that had books due during the snow storm. That is up tomorrow, so please return your books promptly, thank you.