A Little Advice

When Anna's older and she's looking for "The One" I'll be sure to give her a little advice: marry someone like your father.

I really lucked out when I found Bryan. He has qualities I knew I wanted: responsible, practical, loving, caring, handsome, and fun to be around. He has qualities I didn't even know I wanted: handy, capable, and did I mention handy? My dad has no handy qualities so I didn't know that a girl could really like having a guy like Bryan around. He fixes all kinds of things around the house, does big jobs like mowing and shoveling snow, does gross jobs like killing mice, and handles annoying things I don't want to think about like finding cheaper insurance and a better mortgage rate.

Why am I singing his praises today, on the first day of November? No, it's not his birthday. I'm bragging on my awesome husband because he BUILT A FIREPLACE! Our basement was so cold in the winter that I never wanted to go down there. With a baby on the way, we moved Anna to the bedroom that was a playroom and will spruce up her old room for the baby. We needed a place for her toys, and the basement was that perfect place - except for the frigid temperatures.

Over the summer and into the early fall, Bryan worked on taking a window out, building a fireplace structure, taking out and then rebuilding window seats with boxes for baskets, added a gas line, drywalled the ceiling, painted, and supervised some guys putting stone around the fireplace to finish everything off. Our basement looks SO GOOD. It feels warm too!

There used to be a window where the framing is going up. Besides the stone surround, the only thing Bryan didn't do was brick the wall where the window used to be. I don't know the first thing about building structures much less using power tools to accomplish such building.

Isn't it beautiful? I think it looks so good. I'll be searching for some baskets to go in the little cubbies.

Another view of Bryan's handiwork. I still need to add a little decoration to the mantle and some art work on the surrounding walls. I would also like to add a club chair with a book case to make it feel very cozy, but for now, it's nice to watch a movie with the fire warming things up.

Today I am thankful for:

• a husband that was all I could hope for and more


• a growing belly


• a fun Halloween
  
  
  
  

Apple Orchard Trip x 4

Last Saturday we were able to make our annual trip to the apple orchard. I like going in September rather than October because 1) the apples are better and 2) it's not as crowded. I don't really do crowds. We had a great time eating doughnuts, playing at the playground, and taking a tractor ride. We skipped the petting zoo this time since it annoys me that you have to pay for every little thing. Bryan and I have been eating our apples for lunch, and they sure are delicious. I skipped the apple pie this year to stay on the happy side of health. Pie's not my favorite anyway. I think I would rather go back and have some more doughnuts. Enjoy pictures from this year and all the previous years; it's fun to see how much Anna has changed. I hardly remember her being so little.

It's all about the slide!

My 2 favorite people.

Last year - Queen of the Hill.

2 years ago - I think she tried picking up each and every pumpkin.

3 years ago - Sweet baby in her cherry outfit. I love that outfit.

The sunscreen we put on her got in her eyes and made her hair crazy, but she looks happy hangin' with her pumpkins.

Today I am thankful for:

• 
  
  Chicken Taquitos for dinner - very tasty. I made the chicken in the crockpot this weekend with a jar of salsa and some sriracha hot sauce. I also added a can of black beans to the mix.


• 
  
  OT for Anna - it seems to help her have good days at school and she's somewhat calmer at home too.


• 
  
  a better week at work than last week
  
  

Anna's Birthday Party - a few weeks later

When asked what kind of party she wanted, Anna would say, "I want a purple-Hello Kitty party." She would also respond with, "I want a purple-pink-Hello Kitty-Dora-Belle party." She got the purple-Hello Kitty party! We had Hello Kitty balloons, a few decorations, cake plates, and kid cups. We had purple cups, plates, and napkins. It turned out very cute.

Bryan and I went around and around about what to make/buy/have catered for dinner. We were just having family over, about 20 people came. We finally decided on Baked Ziti from Annie's Eats. I made one healthier pan with turkey sausage and whole wheat pasta, and a second pan with regular sausage and white pasta. We also had this delicious appetizer, veggies with dip, yogurt covered pretzels from Fresh Market, a variety of rolls from Fresh Market, berries, salad, and sun chips. Everything turned out really well.

To really get into the theme, I made a Hello Kitty cake. I'm glad I did it, but I don't know if I would do it again. I didn't mind the tedium of making the stars, but my hand and wrist were cramping up so badly. I think it turned out really cute. I also made chocolate cupcakes in Hello Kitty wrappers for the chocolate lovers.

Anna opened her presents and made sure to remind us all that "this is mine," with every new present. She got some Barbies, dress ups, a suitcase, lots of clothes, a few pairs of shoes, and some sport stuff. She was very spoiled, but we've had fun playing with all her new toys. She played and fought with her cousin Jackson. They had a good time, but it was hard for Anna to stay happy and friendly as the night went on.

My Dad and that part of the family stayed the next day and went to Keenland. We were able to meet up with them after Anna's nap. Anna looked cute as ever in a new birthday dress with a white jean jacket. She loved watching the horses and being outside; she just wished she could have touched one of the horses.

It was a great birthday weekend, and I'm glad we only have to do it once a year. All that cleaning and preparing is exhausting!

Today I'm thankful for:

• a loving family that traveled down for Anna's party


• sleeping in


• warm sunny days to play outside


• a healthy, happy daughter


• Bryan vacuuming and picking things up while I was out

Don't Be Jealous...

Jackson trying to blow out his candle! He is a really funny and entertaining kid. Anna loves baby Drew.

Now that it's Spring Break I can finally check off some things on my to-do list around the house. So like I said, "don't be jealous" of all the fun I'm going to be having.

Saturday: this was actually fun - we went to Jackson and Drew's birthday party. We had a blast and enjoyed seeing family. Anna of course had to help the boys open their presents, and luckily they aren't as controlling as her, and did ok letting her help. We'll see what happens at her party when Jackson tries to help her. I can hear the screaming now!

Sunday: We ended up staying in Cincinnati for the day. We went to the park and had Zip Dip (the world's best creamy whip). Then we went to my Grandma's house for my Uncle Mike's 50th birthday gathering. It was good seeing my other family, but the previous day's excitement led to a troubling day for Anna. She does much better on a schedule and sticking to a routine.

Monday: I caught up on the laundry and grocery shopping I didn't do yesterday. And much to Bryan's dismay, I went to Target and Old Navy to buy myself some comfortable and cute clothes for the summer.

The plans for the rest of the week:

Tuesday: clean out Anna's toy room so we can turn it into a "big girl bedroom" for her. I will get a few baskets to keep some things in the living room, but most things are going to the basement. Bryan has started on the fireplace, so next winter it will be good to go!

Wednesday: clean out the office. The office is currently the Junk Depot. I can only see a few square feet of floor due to the overwhelming piles of junk. It's a slow process, creating a Junk Depot, and I have a feeling it will be even slower cleaning and clearing the Junk Depot. Wish me luck.

Thursday: Oil Change, tires rotated, drop clothes off at the re-sale shop, return things to Old Navy, buy stuff for Anna's birthday party. So far she wants a "purple-Hello Kitty-Belle-Dora" party. I think she's going to get Hello Kitty and purple, but we'll see what the party store has to offer.

Friday: catch up on all the things that I didn't finish or keep Anna home from daycare and we can do something fun.

Today I'm thankful for:

• 
  
  daycare, so I can get all these things accomplished with little to no interruption


• 
  
  good books


• 
  
  cute clothes


• 
  
  a silly daughter

Life is funny that way...

I called my sister today to wish her luck on her surgery tomorrow. She is getting a bad stomach-area hernia fixed and her tubes tied. She is of course worried and scared - normal for any mother, I think. But the funny thing is that she's sad about getting her tubes tied. Why funny you ask? Well, if 10 years ago you would have told me that my sister would be the motherly, I want to stay home with my kids, I want a house full of kids kind of person I would have laughed in your face. I never pictured her as the super-motherly type, and she didn't either. She's only getting her tubes tied because having another baby could be very dangerous because of her problems during delivery. What adds to the irony is that I would be just fine with Anna (although I do want to have another baby), and I don't want to stay home; I wouldn't have imagined that it would be like that.

I always wanted to be a mommy; in fact, it's the only thing I did know I wanted to be when I got older. I feel blessed many times over with Anna - her smile, her laugh, her jokes, her speech, her hugs and kisses, her curiosity, her love of life. I also feel confused, stressed, frustrated, and stuck at times. People told me motherhood is tough, but it's one of those things you don't get until you're in the muck of it trying to keep it all together, trying to stay sane when the only thing you really want to do is scream and run away. It's no surprise to you that the toddler years have been very trying for me. There are moments when I wonder if I've done anything right, when I wonder if I can handle one more whining screaming tantrum, when I wonder why she can't just follow my directions so she stays safe. I either cry or get over it or maybe stew about it for awhile. Then she does something really special, something really great, something without giving me a bunch of shit first, and I think: I can do this, it's working, Bryan and I are great parents, we have an awesome kid. My faith is restored, everything will work out. We can totally handle another kid (someday)!

Parenthood is a roller coaster, and one I'm happy to ride on. Even when life turns out to be different than I expected, it's all good.

Prayers for Jen, please!

Today I am thankful for:

1. a goodnight sleep last night
2. my new Pampered Chef Biscuit cutters! I use this recipe for buttermilk biscuits (halved).
3. a supportive husband

GP

Whenever I get a card from my grandparents it is signed "Grandma and GP." Yes, GP even though I call him Grandpa. On this Veteran's Day I would like to take some time to celebrate the only veteran in my family, my GP.

Here are some things that make him great:

• He loves chocolate candy and spice drops.
• He drinks a martini every night at 5:00 - it's really just gin on the rocks with 2 huge olives.
• He taught me funny things - like how to spell Mississippi in a way that makes no sense to anyone, but it's fun to say.
• He has the neatest capital printing of anyone I know.
• He knows Morse Code and taught it to my 5th grade class. He even gave us a code sheet with a secret clue at the bottom - something about our school if I recollect.
• He was in the air force in WWII. He was in charge of the Morse Code on the airplanes. He was stationed in the South Pacific.
• He used to make me a delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast with butter, and The Best Chocolate Milk ever (it was very cold and very chocolaty, mmmmm).
• His favorite meal is spaghetti with meatballs.
• He quit smoking and lost a ton of weight in the 80s after heart problems - an inspiration to anyone with health problems that can be reduced with discipline and hard work.
• He had a tough childhood (from what my mom figures), but still managed to be a loving, caring, and patient man.
• He can fold shirts so they are flat, thin, and perfect.
• He knows how many paces are in one of his walking miles.
• He's a history buff.
• He reads the end of books first to see if they are worth reading.
• He and my grandma have been married for over 50 years!
• He loves my cousins and me .

I wish he wasn't getting older. I wish I didn't have to watch him not be able to do the things he used to do with such ease. I wish I could still have coherent conversations with him. I guess it's just the way life goes, so I feel blessed that I got to spend so much quality time with a great man.

Happy Veteran's Day, GP!

Today I am thankful for:

1. beautiful, warm, sunny days this week
2. the people in our armed forces that protect our freedoms everyday
3. Barbie Toothbrush that makes brushing fun - for Anna and me :)
   

A Trip to the Apple Orchard

We didn't have much going on this weekend and the weather is much cooler, so we decided to take a trip to Evans Orchard for some apples (we'll go to Boyds for a pumpkin in October). The other reason we thought it would be a good idea is because Bryan likes to eat an apple for lunch everyday, and the apples at the grocery store are getting gross.

We figured our way through the apple orchard for the apples that were both ripe and the type we like. Anna didn't want to ride in the wagon, so that answered my question as to if I should buy a wagon for her - NO! Then we went to the play on the playground. She loved the slide though she was a little scared the first time by herself. We also enjoyed a donut and then headed home.

It was a great day at the orchard because it wasn't crowded at all. I know when we go in October for pumpkins it won't be that nice, so I'm glad we did it today. A new tradition for us!

Today I'm thankful for:

• fresh picked apples
• windows are open!
• a fun family day
  
  
  

Girl Bed

So last Friday Anna didn't want to take a nap. I went in to check on her after she had been screaming for me for a while. She then proceeded to climb on the top rail and flip completely over and onto the floor - landing on her back. It looked like it hurt. She cried for a few minutes, we cuddled, called daddy, and then she finally took a nap. I called my mom (nurse), and she told me to watch if she was walking funny or complaining of hurting. She did neither, so I assumed she was fine. But we decided to change her bed to a "big girl bed" aka "my girl bed."

Bryan took the front rail off and figured a way to attach the small rail to her crib. Gosh he's smart. I wasn't sure how this would go, but it's been a major success. The first couple times she did get out and open the door, but with the promise of a treat when she woke up, she finally stayed in bed. She's been doing great in her bed - I'm so proud of her.

I've also been working on my parenting. I needed a refresher. I wasn't happy with myself, so I got a bunch of books from the library and started reading The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child: With No Pills, No Therapy, No Contest of Wills. That last part, No Contest of Wills, is what drew me to the book. It isn't anything new - hype up the positives and leave the screaming and spanking behind because they don't work. Bryan and I are making sure to jump up and down, clap, and sing Anna's praises every time she does something the first time we ask her to and when she gets her diaper and clothes changed without messing around and fighting us. I got a chart at the Dollar Store with the days of the week, and we give her a happy face when she makes us so proud. She beams. She glows. She is proud of herself and is repeating the good behavior over and over again. I'm feeling good about my parenting skills again. I feel much better about the way we are helping Anna make good choices.

Today I am thankful for:

• getting into a routine
• Anna staying in her girl bed
• a dinner from my childhood: bbq chicken and corn on the cob

Leland, MI - 2010

I've been on hiatus this past week, and for a great reason - V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N! My step mom's family has a house on Lake Leelanau in Michigan. It's a really nice lake, big and relatively empty. They (my step family) have a pontoon boat, a speed boat, a jet ski, and a great yard . We were able to go this year along with my dad, step mom, brother, his friend, little sister, and her friend. We had great weather until Thursday, but that's the way it goes sometimes. We were nervous about the ride up with Anna, but she did really well. We got a DVD player for the car, and she actually enjoyed some of the shows: The Wiggles and Baby Einstein videos. We tried other shows, but she wasn't interested.

Anna had so much fun. I think it might be a tough week back - no perfect temps, no big kids to play with, no water to swim in, no jet ski to ride. She loved waking up every morning to run around the yard and explore. Even more fun was after her nap when she could get her suit on and go for a swim or a jet ski ride (very slow, very close to the house). She bonded with my little sister, Sydney, and her friend, Erin. She called them, "my girls." She got a chance to get to know my dad, step mom and brother better too - so thankful for that family time. She was so tired she slept most of the ride back today, so did I.

Today I'm thankful for:

a fun family vacation

a safe trip home

Anna did great in the car

we met with Bryan's family for lunch on the way home

I got all the vacation stuff put away and the laundry started

4th of July fun

We headed downtown for the 4th of July festivities. We decided to go down early because Anna usually does better in the mornings. We walked around and looked at the crafts, let Anna play in a few bounce houses, and visited the petting zoo. While at the petting zoo, she got to pet and feed goats, sheep, bunnies, and what I think might be llamas. She also got to ride on a pony and when the ride was over it was the start of meltdown central. She kept saying, "My neigh, my neigh, I want a neigh." Ohh, the "I want a pony" days have already started. I finally got her calmed down and back in her stroller, and we walked around a little more.

We headed home around 12. We were all hot and had seen what we wanted to see. It was a great day, and we'll be sure to go again next year. Maybe one of these days we'll be able to go down for the fireworks!

Today I am thankful for:

• being an American
• fireworks to watch in the neighborhood
• reading and craft time with Anna

One of many

I have several neurosis. I'm sure we all do; I hope we all do or this might seem really weird.

One of my paranoias: I always think I'm pregnant. I don't actually believe I'm pregnant, but I have to take a pregnancy test to prove that I'm not. That's probably weird. I can't be sure how many tests I take in a year - probably 3 or 4. I buy the multi-pack. Bryan just shakes his head.

I always have 2 or 3 symptoms of pregnancy before I take the test. These symptoms include: vomiting (fairly common for me), urinating frequently, smelling things very strongly (I thought someone broke jars of pickles and squirted mustard all over the grocery store when I was pregnant.), being very tired, getting so angry over something stupid that I think fire is actually coming out of my ears (like on cartoons), and being overly sensitive (crying over something really dumb).

I am a worrier by nature, so I think that's why I take the tests. Because of my medical issues, I really need to plan and be ready for a pregnancy, which I am not currently doing, so I just get really paranoid.

I took a test on Father's Day weekend (aw, wouldn't that have been so cute - happy father's day again!) It was of course - negative, don't go getting your hopes up. I will have to say, it was the first time I felt OK with the prospect of having another baby; you know, not panicked and stressed. I'm glad it's not the time yet; Anna is still too needy, and I'm worthless when I'm pregnant. I plan on thinking about it more in a year from now. Until then...Anna's more than enough fun, joy, and drama for this mama.

Today I am thankful for:

• a fun night out with the girls
• grocery shopping by myself
• new books waiting for me at the library

Busy in the Nati

Yesterday we went to Cincinnati for my brother's graduation party. He graduated from Ohio State, just like his favorite sister :). He has a degree in Business: Information Systems and Logistics. He claims it's a valuable degree to have, but that doesn't give him much motivation for finding a job. I guess he's taking it easy while he can?

I told him Bryan can push his name through if there are jobs to apply for at Toyota, but he has to actually apply. He also has a place to live, and what 22 year old single boy wouldn't want to live with his sister, her hubby, and their 2 year old. No- we don't really drink, no- we don't go to bars, no- we don't stay up late, but we can still be fun (but only until 10:00).

It was fun to catch up with my family at the party. I got to see Drew - he's getting so big! Anna had a blast playing with her cousin Jackson, playing with the dogs, and being nosey. She was up until 10:00, but she did great.

We had lunch at my dad's today for Father's Day. Then we had to go visit my Grandma and Grandpa. Well, that also means that Anna was 2 hours late for her nap in addition to her late night partying. She did remarkably well - I was very surprised and impressed. She slept all the way home and is still sleeping in her bed right now. It might be an interesting day tomorrow.

I'm thankful for:

• a loving husband and father. He sure does love Anna and me, and I never have to wonder.
• visiting with family
• the chance to watch Anna play with her cousins - I wish we could do it more.
• a safe trip to Cincinnati and back.
• miralax - Anna was hurting so badly, and that cleared her out...really well.

A Favorite Family Activity

Kids are great because they are so curious, and Anna's no exception. If Anna's words were written most of her "sentences" would end with an exclamation point or question mark. She either has something VERY important for me to attend to or is curious about what things are.

One of her most excitable times is during our evening walk. We enjoy taking walks when the weather is nice. Anna and Shelby probably enjoy the walks the most. Anna likes to point out all the animals she sees - dogs get a scream and repeat: "DOG, DOG, DOOOOOGGGG!!!", cats get a "meow, meooow," birds get a "bird, bird," ducks get a "quack, quack." Oh, but we don't stop at animals, we also get excited about cars, balls, and bikes. If strangers are really luck, they get a "hi."

Bryan and I have been using this time to work on:

• colors: What color is the grass/sky/dog/cloud/car? She says everything is white, so we'll keep working on those colors
• manners: I'm talking to Daddy, please wait your turn
• and stop signs: she now points out every stop sign and says "sta."

Between Anna's excitement and questions, Bryan and I talk about our day. It's a really nice time as a family. Our daughter is happy learning and experiencing nature, and Bryan and I get to hang out without many interferences.

Today I'm thankful for:

• getting my chapter books and non-fiction books organized and cataloged
• sun shine and outside play
• family time on our walk

He's bought himself a few weeks!

I love this guy. He's pretty great, and let's not forget the good looks. But this isn't about his good looks, it's about how I know he loves Anna and would take all his free time to give her what he knows she would love.

I think I've mentioned how B and I have "discussions" (kind of like a fight without the meanness - you might think it's bc we're so evolved, but really I'm not much of a fighter) about how I feel like I do all the everyday stuff, and yes, I know he does a lot of things around the house, but those are just sometimes stuff. Well, I'll give him a break for a few weeks bc he just finished Anna's play set today!!!!

Anna LOVES to be outside; in fact she'll repeat the word 'outside' until you give in or make her think of something else. We play in the front yard, and we play in the backyard, but she has that whole 5 minute attention span thing, so we run out of things to do. Since she LOVES to be outside and she loves the park, we thought we might as well bring it to our backyard. We went with this CedarWorks set. It was more money than we really wanted to spend initially, but it's all in the opportunity cost: no sanding or staining - ever, and it comes with many parts already assembled.

The 9 boxes were delivered on Monday, and B got to work unpacking the boxes and beginning a little assembly. He continued the assembly of different parts (the two towers and the ladders) in the garage throughout the week until the final assembly was left. The weather wasn't really on our side for this one, but he got a break today. B woke up at 7 and worked non-stop until 3 when everything was finally in place! Is he amazing or what? He's really a great dad and hubby, even if he doesn't change poopy diapers if there is someone else to do it (me):)

Anna swung (sp check said that's what it should be, but it looks so wrong) on her baby swing, then with me on the big swing, then by herself on the big swing, and then repeated, and repeated, and repeated, she climbed up the ladder and went down the slide several times, and she even climbed the ramp with the rope. She has this whole impatientce thing that shows up even when she's enjoying herself on the swings: she just slides right off regardless of the fact that it's still moving! She was so happy.

We came in for dinner and it was starting to rain, and she continued to ask to go outside on the swings. I think it's a winner! If you're looking for something to do this summer , come on over- you know where we'll be ... on the kick ass swing set my awesome husband built!!! I told you he loved her.

Pictures soon - the battery died on the camera, and I'm too lazy to charge it right now.

Today I'm thankful for:

1. good enough weather so B could put the swing set up.


2. a husband that loves our daughter with all his heart


3. a really great book: Girls' Poker Night by Jill A. Davis

Spring Break Fun

This was a great Spring Break. The weather was awesome, and it is leaving me a little broken hearted that I have to go back to work tomorrow bc the summer-like weather is going to continue. I LOVE hot weather, want to live where it's hot all the time, so I was in heaven with temps in the 70s and 80s.
I took Anna to daycare for a shorter-than-normal days Monday-Thursday, but still time to learn and play with her friends. Then when we got home we played outside. We took walks, she rode her bike, she rode her car, blew bubbles, ran around, just had fun in the sun! All the playing helped her sleep at night, and she didn't wake up screaming to come into our room for several nights in a row!!!

We also got to meet Drew! He is so cute and tiny. I just love babies - I could hold infants forever (until they start crying for food or diaper change). I forgot what it was like to hold a new baby; he was so light. He is blond and hairy like my sister, and I think his face resembles my brother's and sister's. Anna really likes babies - real and pretend, so she liked meeting Drew and holding him and giving him kisses. She was gentle with her hands, but she doesn't understand how to control her body around a newborn, so I just had to be very watchful.

Anna and Jackson also had an Easter Egg Hunt. They had a great time gathering all the eggs and opening them to eat the candies inside. Anna has a HUGE sweet tooth, so the candy has to be hidden. Anna and Jackson had a great time playing together; I wish we lived closer so they could play together more often. It's one of life's difficult things - getting 2 year olds to get their picture taken, but this one turned out pretty cute.

We enjoyed Easter Brunch with my Mom's family today. It was yummy and fun, but we are all pretty tired. Back to the grind tomorrow. Hope all goes smoothly.

Today I am thankful for:
1. Easter Brunch

2. open windows

3. seeing family this weekend

Happy News

Jen had her baby, Andrew "Drew" James on Friday morning: 8:03 am, 8.13 lbs.

I've seen a few phone pics, but that's all. He looks like Jen, and she said he has a lot of blond hair. My sister has the kind of blond hair that turns white in the summer and stays blond even when she's almost 30 and has had 2 kids. I asked if that made her happy, she said, "I guess so." Her other son, Jackson resembles her hubby more, so even though she's not jumping for joy, I know it secretly makes her happy to have maybe passed on her blond hair.

I can't wait to meet little Drew. We're going up next Saturday to visit Jen, Scott, Jackson, and Drew and Sunday for Easter brunch at my mom's. Since it's spring break, I can even make a few goodies for everyone.

The double good news is that her body started its thing again, but the doc was ready and got the bleeding to stop right away! I'd be surprised if she wanted to have more children, but if she does, she'll be able to.

I'm thankful for:

• a new healthy nephew
• a healthy delivery for Jen
• Cinnamon Crunch bagels
• Spring Break
• a good weather forecast for the week

Happy Thoughts for Jen

I wrote another post for this, but then decided since it's about my sister's life, I better not publish it without her permission. So to keep it short and simple...
My sister, Jen, is having a C-section tomorrow to deliver her second son. She had major complications the first time around (baby was fine, but she wasn't). The doctors, Jen, and Scott (BIL) are all prepared for a repeat. They are scared, but prepared.

I pray for a healthy baby, a healthy mom, and no complications.
Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, happy thoughts.
Say a prayer of your own please, even if you don't know Jen.

Today I am thankful for:
1. 23/24 conferences over
2. Anna got in her carseat this afternoon without a fight!
3. thoughts of a new baby in the family

Like Uncle - Like Niece

I'm eight years older than my brother, so I remember a lot of things about him growing up. One of our (my family) favorite things to reminisce about with my brother when he was little was that he would say "yes" by shaking his head and saying "na."

I can't tell you how cute it is that my baby is now saying "na" for yes! For a long while she would just shake her head for a yes, but the past few days she's been saying "na". I just love it. My dad and brother were happy to hear that too.

Today I am thankful for:

1. getting back into a work routine

2. seeing my students

3. hearing Anna say "na"

blessings

Like I said in the previous post, I was looking at PWs favorite blogs. I clicked on Nie Nies, and instantly recognized her as the young mother I saw on an Oprah several months ago. I used to DVR Oprah everyday, but as Anna has gotten older, and I'm a little farther from work, I don't have quite as much time for Oprah anymore, so I let her go, and watch endings and clips when I'm home to see it.

I think I was meant to see this one. I think things, little, big, and in-between, always happen in their time, for a purpose - sometimes we search for that purpose, sometimes it all makes sense right away. Seeing this Oprah was a little thing with a big purpose. It made sense right away. It has stuck with me since I saw it.

Nie Nie is my age (maybe a year or two younger), has a loving husband, strong faith, and 4 beautiful children. She was severely burned in an airplane crash. She said this about her time in a medically induced comma during her interview: "I was with someone who told me I could choose to live and have a hard life, you know, embarrassing at times and painful. Or, I could just stay there, and there's lots of work I could do there too. But I thought of my children and my husband, and it was easy. An easy choice." I learned more about the plane crash and her recovery here.

She suffers with pain that most of us could never imagine. She struggles with the most basic of tasks - showering, preparing lunches, bathing her children. She's thankful she gets to be with her children and husband doing those basic things - even though she is in pain.

If you watch the video of another mom that visits Nie Nie to get a wake-up call on her blessings of being a mother, you'll see that her kids want her to hug them after their baths, and she can't. She can't hug her children. I cry just thinking of the horribleness of that. My dad taught me life is not fair, but this is beyond not fair. I hurt for her.

I keep her in mind when I think, "OMG, bath time again?," or "I don't want to pack stupid lunches," or maybe, "can't dinner cook itself tonight?" Nie Nie is thankful for these moments with her family... I am blessed to be able to do these simple tasks with relatively low difficulty and no pain. I am blessed to spend this time with a wonderful husband and beautiful and sweet daughter. I am blessed to be able to hug my wonderful husband and beautiful and sweet daughter.

I have a blessed life.

All inclusive

B and I had a really nice time on our little trip to the Bahamas. We stayed at Sandals which is all inclusive. It was expensive upfront, but it was nice to not have to worry about money while we were there. I didn't really like being out of the country with Anna so far away. We couldn't use our cell phones, so we had to keep our conversations short each morning. If B and I need another getaway, I think we'll keep it closer to home or maybe someplace fun, like Vegas. We missed Anna - especially in the mornings and nights, but we did ok.

We watched our friends (Luke and Nickie) get married on the beach. It was a really intimate ceremony with special touches for the mothers. We hung out with friends that live in: Cincinnati, Portland, Cleveland soon to be Seattle, Columbus, and other various places in the country. We stayed up late. We ate, B and everyone else drank. We didn't chase a 21 month adorable little girl around.


My mom did well with Anna up until Sunday. She took her shopping and visited a friend of hers that lives in Lexington a few times. We came home to all kinds of goodies. But on Saturday night my mom had the brilliant idea to clean up our office, which was the only room we hadn't unpacked. Well, she stayed up until 4 in the morning - which made her crash hard and act crazy when I talked to her on the phone from the Atlanta airport. I knew, well hoped I knew, that she was taking care of Anna despite the weird tone of her voice and ditsy things she was saying. She was putting her diaper on and getting her into her jams at the right time - so that was good. I bought a book (side note: awesome Jodie Picoult book - Salem Falls) to keep my mind from going to the dark side. We finally made it home around midnight on Sunday to find the house and Anna intact. My mom was tired and worn out. I talked to her about everything a few days ago. I'm not mad at her, just disappointed - what the hell was she thinking??? I will let her watch Anna again, but we don't have plans for any big weekends without Anna coming up.