Gilmore Girls Mondays: Week 4

Gilmore Girls Mondays is a semi-regular feature hosted by me, Molli and Jessica as we do a rewatch-along of Gilmore Girls that we started on June 1st. Each of us has a different approach, but for my posts I'll be talking about the episodes I watched each week, sharing my thoughts plus favourite quotes, scenes, etc. If you want to join in, you can tweet with us using the hashtag #GilmoreGirls, and if you want to join in the discussions, feel free to grab the graphic (please link back to our blogs) and create posts of your own, or just comment with your thoughts. Warning: if you haven't watched the show before, there will be spoilers.

Episode 12: Double Date

Episode 13: Concert Interruptus

Episode 14: That Damn Donna Reed

Episode 15: Christopher Returns

Episode 16: Star-Crossed Lovers and Other Strangers

Episode 17: The Breakup, Part II

I love that we’re getting to see more of Luke, and also learning a bit about his past. I also love that Lorelai is jealous when Rachel returns, and it occurs to her for the first time - after all these years - that maybe, just maybe, Luke might be something other than the guy who feeds her and keeps her in coffee.

I also like that we’re seeing more to Paris than just the villain. She’s still evil and horrible, but she’s also hilarious in a completely unintentional way, which I love. She’s becoming more human, more three-dimensional, and I’m starting to remember that I do eventually end up really liking her (it’s been kind of hard remembering that in these early episodes). When Lorelai and Sookie took Rory, Paris, Madeline, and Louis to the Bangles concert and all that crap went down, watching Paris just being totally chill was possibly my favourite part. When she said, all blissfully, “You know what? I think this is the best night I've ever had” I seriously cracked up. Classic.

And then there’s Christopher. Ahh, Christopher. My mother despises Christopher. She’s been semi-watching with me (she pretends to read but I see her watching the TV half the time, and she’ll chime in or laugh once in awhile), and when Christopher arrived, she groaned. I can kind of understand her feelings toward him, but there’s a part of me that’s always had a soft spot for Christopher. He doesn’t mean to be a screw-up. He and Lorelai have decades of history - he wasn’t just some one-night stand or even a fling. They’ve known each other since they were SIX. That's a lot of history, a lot of baggage, a lot of things shared - including a child.

And finally, there’s Dean. And Dean and Rory’s three-month anniversary. And Dean and Rory’s break up. And Rory’s “I’m ready to wallow now” which makes me cry every time.  *sigh* And I just love how Emily has to point out to Lorelai: “Tonight your daughter is celebrating her three-month anniversary. When was the last relationship you had that lasted that long?” Argh. You can tell Lorelai had already thought of that - she didn’t need her mother pointing it out/rubbing it in. But Emily wouldn't be Emily if she didn't do just that, right? Lorelai's going through a lot - watching people in love (which, when you're not and want to be is the most frustrating thing ever), splitting from Max, realizing she might have feelings for Luke just as his ex comes back to town, Christopher showing up and all the drama that comes with that…I really felt for her these last few episodes. She’s all over the place, but she still manages to stay strong, and be a good friend and a kick-ass mother.

Also? I seriously love Luke. That's nothing new, but really...*sighs and swoons*

Lane: “How do I look?”
Rory: “You look too good for him.”
Lane: “Just what I was going for.”



Lorelai to Rory: “I have to know where you are at all times, especially when you have my shoes on.”

 
Lorelai: “You know, it doesn't always work to just lock a kid up and throw away the key.”
Mrs. Kim: “I didn’t throw away the key, it's in the kitchen.”



Lorelai: “In this parade of stupid and dumb I'm the one twirling the flaming baton.”


Rory: “She likes washing dishes, too. She’s multi-faceted abnormal.”


Lorelai: “Um, can I make one more suggestion?”
Luke: “No.”
Lorelai: “Curtains?”
Luke: “No.”
Lorelai: “Manly curtains.”
Luke: “Oxymoron.”
Lorelai: “What did you call me?”


Dean: “You are very odd, you know that?”
Rory: “Thank you.”

What did you think of these  six episodes? Are there any that particularly stand out to you? How did you feel about Rory and Dean's breakup? Do you think Dean acted fairly or overreacted? What do you think of Lorelai finally realizing she might have feelings for Luke but then sleeping with not only Christopher but also Max?

 

An update

Another Monday without a Gilmore Girls Monday post. Oops! When Molli and I first decided to do the rewatch, I was so excited I didn’t think I’d be able to wait for June. Then June arrived and I got so busy I hardly had time to watch any. I haven’t watched a single episode of Gilmore Girls in about two weeks because I’ve been so bogged down with work and other stuff. I’m hoping to catch up this week and be back to regular GG watching - and blogging - next week.

I’ve realized recently that I’ve taken on too much. Between trying to write my next book, keep up with two blogs, designing a cover for a friend, doing beta reading/editing for that same friend, and just regular life stuff, I’m going crazy. I’ve hardly had any time to myself, and it’s really starting to take a toll on my mental health. Add to that the fact that I’m getting extremely restless and want to just get the hell away from my life for awhile…yeah. Going crazy. Everyone I know either seems to be in love or traveling or in love AND traveling and I’m stuck here, as always, doing the same thing every single day, looking at the same four walls.

Jeeze, I sound so bitter. And I kind of am, which I hate. I don't want to be that person. I don’t begrudge anyone their happiness - especially the few people I love like crazy and I’m HAPPY for them and they deserve the happiness they've found, but...I wish I were happy too.

And now after this thoroughly negative and depressing post, I promise there will be better things to come in July. And actual posts instead of silence like June.

Wordless Wednesday #10: Purple

Gilmore Girls Mondays: Week 3

Starting this month, along with my two online besties Molli and Jessica, I'm doing a Gilmore Girls rewatch-along. Every Monday I'll be talking about the episodes I watched each week, sharing my thoughts plus favourite quotes, scenes, etc. If you want to join in, you can tweet with us using the hashtag #GilmoreGirls, and if you want to join in the discussions, feel free to grab my graphic and create posts of your own, or just comment with your thoughts.

Episode 9: Rory’s Dance

Episode 10: Forgiveness and Stuff

Episode 11: Paris is Burning

Some really interesting stuff this week. First, in Rory’s Dance, Rory has her first dance at Chilton and she doesn’t want to go. She’s decided that she hates dances and they’re stupid and lame, even though she’s never actually been to one. Lorelai asked her if she really hated them or if it was just that she's afraid - she doesn't want Rory to miss out on experiences because she's afraid or too shy. This really spoke to me, because I was like that as a teenager, and unfortunately, I’m still like that with a lot of things. However, I did go to all the school dances, so that’s one thing!

When Emily came to see Rory off to the dance, that whole scene was just too funny. Between Rory coming out snarfing down a burrito with a napkin shoved into her dress, Emily taking pictures, and then making Dean come in so she could meet him, even though he and Rory had agreed he would honk and she’d go out…the whole thing was hilarious, embarrassing, and awkward in the best way possible. A lot of people have probably been through stuff like that, or if you haven’t, it’s done in a way that you can totally relate, which is what’s so great about this show. 

Then when Rory left and Emily decided to stay because Lorelai had hurt her back, we got to see a different side of Emily. A side that’s actually caring and - *gasp* - motherly. It was touching and funny at the same time. But, of course, nothing good can last where Emily and Lorelai are concerned, so when Rory and Dean accidentally fall asleep at Miss Patty’s and spend the whole night out, Emily freaks out. Lorelai has faith in Rory that nothing happened, but all Emily can see is the mistakes Lorelai made at Rory’s age, and she’s afraid she’ll end up pregnant. The difference is, Emily suffocated and controlled Lorelai, but Lorelai trusts Rory, and that trust has been a big factor in how Rory is turning out vs. how Lorelai did.

Then in Forgiveness and Stuff, we see Rory and Lorelai struggling after their fight. We’ve seen them argue and get mad at each other before, but not to this extent. It actually hurts to see them so angry at each other because they're supposed to be best pals, and you just want to see them make up.

Last week I mentioned I was annoyed by Dean’s attitude toward Lorelai, but this week, when Rory was gone to Christmas dinner at the grandparents' (from which Lorelai was uninvited), Dean came to see Rory and ended up talking to Lorelai. I liked that little scene - the writers of this show were so amazing at taking something serious and making you really get the significance of it while still making you laugh. I think Lorelai is seeing that Dean could be really good for Rory.

When Richard has a heart episode at dinner and has to be taken to the hospital, Luke takes Lorelai and stays with her. This is another bit I love - those little glimpses of the softer side of Luke that we've been getting so far were just a tease compared to the scenes at the hospital. He shows that he genuinely cares about the Gilmore girls, and that he pays attention, and has been paying attention all these years.

Emily is so cold and such a control freak, but she genuinely loves Richard, and that was nice to see. Some interesting character growth happening here for everyone!

In Paris is Burning, Paris’s parents are going through a nasty divorce, which makes Paris the talk of the school, which makes her even nastier than usual. So at parents' day when she sees Lorelai and Max making out in the classroom, she makes sure everyone in the school knows about it.

Lorelai and Max seem to be getting pretty serious, but when Rory inadvertently gets involved and suggests to Lorelai that they invite Max to go skating with them, Lorelai freaks out. Sookie (who asks Jackson out in this episode, which made me really happy!) points out that they’ve hit the two-month mark, which is about the time Lorelai starts to freak out in a relationship. I love their relationship, and I’m always glad to get these little glimpses of Lorelai through Sookie's eyes. Sookie is just so damn cute - I wish I had someone like her in my life. Rory and Lorelai too, of course...and Luke!

I was sad when Max and Lorelai decided to take a break. As I said last week, even though I'm a Luke girl all the way, I liked Max. And having watched the entire show and knowing what happens, I don't mind this little Max-shaped detour...the anticipation of waiting for Luke and Lorelai to get together was totally worth it. ;-) 

“I can't imagine anyone seeing you as a disappointment.” ~ Luke in “Forgiveness and Stuff”

“You have to look at what a gift says to the other person, not to you. Remember two years ago I got my mom that perfume? To me that said, ‘Mom you work hard. You deserve something fancy’. Now to my mother, it said, ‘Mom, here's some smelly sex juice...the kind I use to lure boys with’.” ~ Lane in “Forgiveness and Stuff”

What did you think of these three episodes? Which was your favourite? What were some of your favourite parts? Do you like Max? If you're watching along, what episode are you up to?

Maddison

This post is a little over a week overdue, but better late than never right?

If you've been following along, you'll know that my brother and sister-in-law were expecting their third child, and that it was a long-awaited girl. Well, last Thursday, June 6th, at 4:43 am, Maddison Grace was born, weighing 9 pounds 12 1/4 ounces.

We got to see her when she was just 9 hours old. Apparently the umbilical chord was wrapped around her neck four times when she was born, so she had some trouble breathing at first, and her blood sugar was low (which is apparently common in ginormous babies). She was in an oxygen-regulated bassinet in the nursery until shortly after my mum and I got there for a visit. 

It was love at first sight the moment I saw her crazy-ass hair and her fat little arms and cheeks. 

The pediatrician came to check her out and then we were allowed to take her back to Amanda's room. 
 

Amanda fed her and then I got to hold her while Amanda went to shower. It felt like such a special time because her eyes were open part of the time and she was staring at me. Auntie loved her bonding time!

My brother left to go get something to eat and awhile later Amanda's parents came with the boys. They were so excited to see their new baby sister. Logan held her with help from Amanda and then Noah sat and held her for awhile. It was so sweet. Noah said really quietly to her, "Hi Maddison Grace I****, I'm your big brother." My heart melted!

So, that's it. I finally have a niece! I'm sure you'll be hearing a lot more about Maddy in the weeks and months to come. ;-) 

 

Gilmore Girls Mondays: Week 2

Starting this month, along with my two online besties Molli and Jessica, I'm doing a Gilmore Girls rewatch-along. Every Monday I'll be talking about the episodes I watched each week, sharing my thoughts plus favourite quotes, scenes, etc. If you want to join in, you can tweet with us using the hashtag #GilmoreGirls, and if you want to join in the discussions, feel free to grab my graphic and create posts of your own, or just comment with your thoughts.

This post is really long, and I apologize in advance. I broke down each episode into a basic recap and my thoughts, but I’m not sure if I’ll stick with this format for later weeks since it’s time consuming for me to write and for you to read. From now on I might just do a general overview of my thoughts on the week’s episodes…we’ll see!

Episode 1: “Pilot”

The basics: We meet most of the characters who we’ll come to think of as the main characters: Lorelai, Rory, Luke, Sookie, Lane, Michel, Dean, Emily, Richard, Miss Patty. Rory just got accepted into Chilton, a fancy private school, and will be leaving Stars Hollow High, along with her best friend Lane. With Rory being super smart and not challenged enough at a regular high school, getting into Chilton is a big deal…but it’s expensive. Really expensive. Lorelai can’t afford it and can’t get financial help, so she does the last thing she wants to do, but the thing she pretty much has to do: she asks her parents for help. She only sees Emily and Richard on holidays, but Emily insists that if she’s going to be involved financially in their lives, she wants to be actively involved. Thus begins the tradition of Friday night dinners at the Gilmore house.

My thoughts:

• Rory is so freaking cute. She’s awkward and rambly, and reminds me so much of myself at that age (and still). 

• I love the almost painfully awkward interactions between Rory and Dean. That shy little look she gets is so adorable, and he’s so cute and looks so young! Slightly off topic, but it’s so weird because for years I thought of him as Dean from Gilmore Girls and then when I started watching Supernatural, he was Sam and his brother was Dean and it took me forever to get used to it. Now I’m going to start calling him Dean again and my poor brain will be fried.

• Luke. Ahh, Luke. I forgot how surly and disapproving he was at first! He’s like this grouchy old man in a hot guy’s body. Even at sixteen I had a major crush on Luke.

Episode 2: “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton”

The basics: Lorelai wakes up late on Rory’s first day of Chilton and ends up taking her to school dressed like a cross between Daisy Duke and a rodeo hand. Emily is, of course, there to see this moment of shame and assert her authority because she’s paying for Rory’s school and there's no way she'll let Lorelai forget it. The headmaster basically tells Rory that she may be smart where she came from but that Chilton is very different, has incredibly high standards, and is super competitive, and she very well may fail. We’re introduced to Paris, the mean girl, and her minions Madeline and Louise, as well as Tristan, who starts calling Rory ‘Mary’ (as in the Virgin Mary because she looks like a goody goody). Back in Stars Hollow, we meet more characters who will become regulars: Jackson, Babbette, Morey, and oddly enough ‘Mick’ who is really Kirk, which I will talk about more in a minute.

 

My thoughts:

• Paris is the mean girl but not your typical mean girl. She doesn’t make Rory’s life hell because she wears the wrong clothes or has an outdated hairstyle - she’s mean because she’s smart and driven and is threatened by someone new who could potentially be competition. It’s different from what we normally see on TV and I like it…even though I despised Paris in those early days.

• I love Stars Hollow. I always fantasized about living in Stars Hollow - somewhere small where everyone knows each other and cares about each other. I love the faerie lights and Luke’s diner and Lorelai and Rory’s house and just everything. *wistful sigh*

Episode 3: “Kill Me Now”

The basics: Rory has to pick a sport for school and Emily suggests she choose golf because Richard can teach her. Both Lorelai and Richard don’t seem too keen about the idea - for different reasons - but Richard takes Rory to the club and they have some good grandfather-granddaughter bonding moments.

My thoughts:

• I liked watching Rory and Richard bonding. She gets to see his world and he gets to see how smart she is and that he can talk to her like an adult. Because he hasn’t spent much time with her over the years, I imagine he sees her as a child, and because she’s Lorelai’s child, he would likely assume they’d have nothing in common. I like that they started to forge a relationship separate from Lorelai and Emily - something that’s just theirs. I also found it interesting that Lorelai assumed Rory would be miserable because she would have been miserable. She has trouble picturing Rory enjoying the life that she hated so much and fought so hard against at that age.

Episode 4: “The Deer-Hunters”

The basics: Rory spends forever cramming for a huge test, is late for school the morning of the test because she and Lorelai slept in, she gets hit by a deer on the drive to school. When she finally arrives at school - late - she has a meltdown in class when the teacher tells her she can’t take the test.

My thoughts:

• Max! Even though I’m a Luke girl all the way, I still liked Max. It’s obvious Lorelai intrigues him because she’s not like all the other stuffy Chilton moms, and he clearly likes Rory and wants to see her succeed. Both these things made me like him instantly. Plus he’s got great hair. And I love his voice. If I'd had a teacher like that at Rory's age, I would have been a goner.

• I like how Rory eventually realizes that it’s ok not to be perfect. She can work hard and get good grades but she doesn’t have to be the best at everything or know everything or do ALL THE THINGS and drive herself crazy. Chilton is hard, but she’s determined to do it so she can live her dream of going to a good school, and I admire that about her.

Episode 5: “Cinnamon’s Wake”

The basics: Another encounter between Rory and Dean; Babbette and Morey’s cat Cinnamon dies and they have a wake for her, where the whole town shows up; Max thinks he and Lorelai should date.

My thoughts:

• That interaction between Rory and Dean made me laugh so hard. She’s so uncomfortable around him, it’s just the cutest thing. She wanted to see him so badly but then when she did, she didn’t know how to act and it’s so awkward and painful. I can so relate to this.

• Lorelai is afraid to date Max because he’s Rory’s teacher and she’s afraid that would be too weird for Rory. I love how protective she is of Rory; for being so eccentric and cool and modern, she’s a fantastic mother. I liked the interaction between Babbette and Lorelai when Babbette told her someday she’d have to live a life without Rory and she deserved to have a life of her own. Lorelai is afraid no man would ever like her because she’s neurotic - again, something else I can relate to. 

Episode 6: “Rory’s Birthday Parties”
The basics: It’s Rory’s seventeenth birthday! Lorelai Leigh Gilmore was born on October 8th at 4:03am. Rory’s birthday falls on a Friday and even though Lorelai tries to get them out of Friday night dinner, it doesn’t work. Emily throws a big party and invites everyone she knows, along with all of Rory’s schoolmates, which is humiliating for Rory, who ends up yelling at Emily in front of the guests. The next night Lorelai has Rory’s traditional birthday bash at home and the whole town comes…and so do Emily and Richard.

My thoughts:

• I loved the scene where Lorelai gets in bed with Rory at the time she was born and asks her what she thinks of her life so far. That part always makes me teary eyed. It’s funny but sweet and touching.

• We finally get to see a softer side of Luke when he makes a cake and has balloons at the diner for Rory’s birthday - AWW!

• I thought it was interesting that we got to see the room Lorelai grew up in and that it’s basically the same as it was when she left - really fancy with beautiful dolls and a huge dollhouse (I WANT THAT DOLLHOUSE), gorgeous bed, posters on the wall. It’s like a time capsule but the only personal touches were the posters - you can tell the rest would have been Emily’s doing because it’s not Lorelai’s style. What must it have been like to grow up in a room that was yours but not yours? It says a lot about Lorelai and the types of things she has in her own house, I think. 

• Speaking of Emily, god what an unyielding bitch! It seemed like she loosened up a tiny bit by listening to Lorelai and getting Rory a present she would actually like instead of what Emily thinks she’d like, but then she invites all of Rory’s schoolmates to her party assuming she was friends with them, plus a bunch of her and Richard’s friends and business acquaintances. Hello, it’s a birthday party for a seventeen year old! Then when she realizes she can’t control Rory (just like she couldn’t control Lorelai), she gives her the cold shoulder. She makes me so angry!

• I did, however, think she made the right decision to go to Rory’s birthday party when Rory invited her, and I felt the tiniest bit bad for her when we learn she and Richard have never been to the house and they meet all these eccentric townspeople who have known and loved Rory her entire life. Rory’s basically still a stranger to her and these people who are strangers to Emily know her granddaughter better than she probably ever will. It’s her own fault, but it is kind of bittersweet.

Episode 7: “Kiss and Tell”
The basics: Dean kisses Rory in the middle of the grocery store and word spreads fast…problem is, Rory hasn’t told Lorelai about what’s going on between her and Dean. Then when Rory and Lorelai see Dean in the market, Lorelai invites him to their movie night. 

My thoughts:

• We finally meet Taylor Doose, owner of Doose’s Market, who will be a big part of the show (and who, by the way, I find ridiculous and hilarious)

• HA! Dean kissed Rory right there in the middle of the grocery store and she said ‘thank you’. If she were any cuter, I think I’d die.

• More Luke! Oh Luke. *sigh*

• When Rory says that when it comes to boys and dating, she’s a total spaz, I yelled “YES, ME TOO”…at 16 and even now, sadly lol

• Was it just me or did Dean’s attitude toward Lorelai drive anyone else nuts? He’s new in a small town where everyone knows everyone else, wanting to date this girl, who happens to have a young, hot mom - you’d think he’d try to impress her, but he’s all flippant and semi-rude. I don’t know if I noticed that before but it rubbed me the wrong way this time around. 
• Holy awkward, Batman! Having your mom invite the boy you like to your house to watch movies and eat junk? I'm torn between whether it's unbelievably humiliating or an awesome thing to do. I was so incredibly uncomfortable around boys at that age, I think if I'd had a young, cool mom I wouldn't have minded if she'd invited a guy over...at least it would save me from doing it! Actually...when I was that age, I liked a boy and my brother and his then-girlfriend were the ones who invited him to come out with us for coffee one night because they knew I wouldn't do it...and if it hadn't been for that, I likely wouldn't have ever dated him, and considering he was my first love...well...

Episode 8: “Love & War & Snow”
The basics: A town meeting, the first snow, Rory’s stuck in Hartford overnight with her grandparents, Max ends up in town and he and Lorelai finally get to go on a date.

My thoughts:

• First town hall meeting! I love the town hall meetings. I think it’s hilarious that Rory and Lorelai go with snacks, like it’s a show, and don’t really contribute anything, they just watch and laugh while other people get pissed off and yell at each other.

• I like that we’re getting to see all these very real sides of Rory. She seems like this perfect kid, but the thing is, she’s not - and she is a kid. She makes mistakes, she gets wrapped up in her own life, and she wasn’t there when Lane needed her, because she’s so obsessed with Dean. I think we’ve all been through something like that - either as the friend that should have been there, or as the friend who gets ditched for a guy. When Lane said to Rory “You seem to have this really great life going and I don't fit in there” - I’ve SO been there. One of my best friends from high school ditched me for a guy in college and her life seemed so perfect and shiny, and I was jealous and hurt because I didn’t fit into her life anymore.
• Oh god when Lane runs her hand through the guy's hair I just about died. Even though I've seen that episode half a dozen times, I still yell at the TV “DON'T DO IT!” It's so embarrassing and hilarious and believable to have that moment of insanity where your hormones are acting on your behalf.

• When Rory spent the night with her grandparents, it was nice to see a bit of a fun side to them and know they’re not always so uptight, especially Emily. 

Inconsistencies so far:

• The guy we eventually know as Kirk shows up in “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton” and “Kill Me Now”. At first he’s “Mick” the DSL guy, then he shows up working in the grocery store and Miss Patty refers to him as ‘this guy’. Then when he’s finally Kirk, they act like they hardly know him but later on we find out he’s lived there his whole life.

• Emily and Richard were talking about Lorelai I (Richard’s mother) in the past tense, as if she were dead, but she’s not.

General thoughts on the episodes I’ve watched so far:
I love that Lorelai is a self-made woman. I don’t know if I ever really appreciated that before. She came from a privileged background but left that life, and didn’t fall back on it like so many rich kids do. She made a name for herself, rose through the ranks of the inn to become the executive manager and she did it all based on her hard work, not who her parents were or how much money they had. I have a newfound respect for her this time around. Also something different this time around: I’m finding myself relating to Lorelai as much as I do to Rory. When I originally watched the show I was the same age as Rory and now I’m closer to Lorelai’s age (*groan*). My life is very different from hers, but I get her in a way that I didn’t as a teenager. The disappointments of life, and it not turning out like you thought it would, but going with it anyway because what choice do you have? I think that's what's so great about the show - no matter how old you are, there's something and someone to relate to. 

Also, I have a girl crush on Lorelai.

 

“She can finally go to Harvard like she’s always wanted and get the education I never got, and do all the things I never got to do, and I can resent her for it and we can finally have a normal mother-daughter relationship.” ~ Lorelai

“People are particularly stupid today. I can't talk to any more of them.” ~ Michel

“Does he have a motorcycle? ’Cause if you’re gonna throw your life away he better have a motorcycle.” ~ Lorelai

Luke to Rory: “You do not want to grow up to be like your mom.” Rory: “Sorry, too late.”

“That’s the last time I buy anything just because it’s furry.” ~ Lorelai

“Gnome kicking says a lot about a man’s character.” ~ Babbette

“You could use your mother’s old golf clubs. They’re upstairs collecting dust along with the rest of her potential.” ~ Emily

“Is there a You’re Crazy team? ’Cause I think they’d make you captain.” ~ Lorelai

“To me you are the teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoon.” ~ Michel

“We can’t all just call everyone ‘sweetie’ and get away with it.” ~ Michel

“Rory is my life. She's my pal. My everything.” ~ Lorelai

Luke to Lorelai and Sookie: “How do you guys get any work done?”

Dean: “Do you have a second?” Rory: “No. I have gum.”

“The world changes when it snows. It gets quiet. Everything softens.” ~ Lorelai

Lorelai to Max: “I think it’s very important that you know my faults as well as my many attributes.”

 

What do you think of these eight episodes? Do you like Dean? Do you prefer Luke or Max? What do you think of Emily? Paris? Could you handle a school like Chilton? Do you fantasize about living in a town like Stars Hollow or would you go nuts in a place that small? Did you ever have a friend like Lane? Who's your favourite character so far? I want to hear your thoughts, whatever they are!

That Time I Was in the Delivery Room

 

That Time I… was started by Alex from Let Life Be Like Music and Emily from Inhabit Your Moments, and is being used with their permission. Be sure to visit their blogs on Wednesdays to read their That Time I…

With the birth of my first niece coming this week (possibly today, depending on whether the doctor decides today’s the day to induce), I’ve been feeling nostalgic about the birth of my youngest nephew, Logan.

Our family was a wreck when Amanda got pregnant with Logan. We were so broken, I didn’t think anything could ever save us, but Logan did. I was so excited to be having another nephew. Noah was seven by then, so it had been a long time since we’d had a baby in the family. I was thrilled when Amanda asked me to be in the delivery room for the birth. I missed Noah’s birth entirely (ironically enough, my family was pretty broken around the time of his birth too, and he saved us then…seems to be a bizarre theme in my family), so I was excited to get the chance to be there for Logan.

Amanda, her sister, and I spent the entire day together on February 4th, 2010 waiting to get a call from the hospital that Amanda could go in to be induced. They didn’t give us any time frame, so we tried to stay busy so we wouldn't go crazy. We headed out early in the morning to do some shopping, then went back to Jamie and Amanda’s for lunch and to hang out. Late that evening, we had pretty much given up hope that it would be that day, and Jamie and Amanda were about to take me home when we got the call.

Long story short…Amanda was induced, had an epidural, and when she was finally in active labour, it was literally about 20 minutes of pushing before Logan came out. I couldn’t believe it. She’d had complications with Noah - he hadn’t wanted to come out and they had to use the vacuum thingy to basically suck him out, so I expected hours and hours of labour.

The second he came out, the three of us were so surprised and excited we all let out this little cry and Logan whipped his head in our direction. He was so busy trying to figure out what was going on that he didn’t even cry. Right then I knew he was going to be something special, and boy, was I right!

The nurses took him to clean him up and I started taking pictures of him. My absolute favourite is this one:

I’d been taking pictures for just a few minutes when he did this. I laughed, thinking he looked like he’d had enough of me taking pictures, and I remember thinking, again, that that was going to say a lot about his personality, and again, I was right. He’s got the biggest personality of any kid I’ve ever met. He’s funny and smart and crazy and so, so lovable. He's my best buddy. 

In short, seeing a baby come into this world is the most beautiful, disgusting, incredible, exciting, life-changing experience. I credit it for the really intense connection Logan and I have, and I wouldn’t trade that for the world.