Stop and smell the sunflowers...

There are just days (weeks, months) when you have to stop and smell (and admire) the beauty around you. Today (this week) is one of those. Enjoy! And stop and enjoy one thing in your crazy, busy life today!

Playing in the Rain

Sometimes you just have to remember what it's like to be a kid and find playing in the puddles not only fun but hysterical.

Repost: Take 5 and Read This

My friend just sent this to me and OMG, it is hysterical.  We have been to Chuck E. Cheese ONCE and I can relate to this entire rant.  Take 5 and read it!

RANTS FROM MOMMYLAND: I Partied with Chuck E.: A couple of weeks ago, my kids handed me an invitation they had received to a birthday party. At Chuck E. Cheese . They were ecstatic and bu...

I'm a Kindergarten Mom!

What a week!  I am now officially the mom of a kindergartner.  Wow, how time flies!  Wasn't I just bringing her home from the hospital?  But, I am so proud of her (and me) this week.  No one cried and we all have made it to Friday (granted we started school on Wednesday). 



Sydney's first day

I finally realized that this transition has been less about her moving on and more about me letting go.  Sydney has done great and really shined, she came into her own.  That speaks volumes to me about what a great kid she already is! 






Looks just like the classrooms I remember



Cute!

I think I was able to keep it together because 1) she did and 2) I was able to get my cry out last week to Jason.  And while I cried and babbled about this and that and "my baby girl," I realized it wasn't because I was worried about Sydney moving on to a new school or not doing well or not liking her teachers.  I was sad and worried about this next phase -- the school phase.  This starts the next 12 years of her life in a tough place.  A place where we all learned the lessons of life and they aren't all nice.  While I liked school and did just fine in school, it is a little bittersweet to know what she has ahead of her.  Frustration, learning, excitement, friendship, love, pain, loss.  So many lessons I am not ready for her to have.  So many lessons I want to shield her from.  I want her to stay young and innocent and happy.  To stay a child.

While I know that can't happen, this is what I think I had to mourn.  I will do everything I can to help guide her through this, to be there for her, to let her fall when she needs to, but support her in getting up and doing it again.  I know the pain that is to come and it hurts me already. 

Wow, this parenting thing is sure hard.  Jason and I always say that no one told us how hard it would be because they knew we wouldn't do it if we did know.  But, you know what, it is another lesson in life.  In letting go, in loving beyond yourself, in guiding a wonderful, fabulous human being who is part of you to be a superstar.  In reality, we love these girls so much it hurts us, which is why this new phase is so hard. 

But, like all the other things we have gotten through, we will get through this, too.  We will enjoy it, celebrate it and definitely survive it. 

Avery wanted to be just like her sister that morning with her own backpack

Cheers to all the moms out there having to let go of their "little one" this week and in the coming weeks to let their kindergartner find his/her way.  Have a glass of wine and pat yourself on the back.  You did it.  Now, only 12 more years to go:)

Leap Year, Forever Changed

This was intended to publish on Feb. 29, 2012.  While delayed, I felt it should still be shared.


Eight years ago today I witnessed a life-changing event that really no one should ever experience.  One of my best friends -- a childhood friend from as long as I can remember and bridesmaid (me in hers and her in mine) -- lost her three-day old baby to a heart defect that was not diagnosed until too late.  So, for two full days my friend and her husband celebrated the addition of their new, sweet, beautiful baby girl, Lily Dian.  And then the unspeakable happened.  She grew sick and passed away within hours while still at the hospital.  Agonizing, devastating, heart-wrenching are not even the words that describe such an experience.  How my friend and her husband kept it together mentally, stayed together in marriage and went on to have two wonderful, beautiful, sweet baby boys is not only a miracle but a testament to their strength as human beings.  I have said many times since then, no one should ever have to bury their child.  It is just one of those hugely unfair things in life that make you ponder God and his will.  I know my friend really did question her faith after that, who wouldn't.  And her parents (long-time friends of my parents, too) stayed strong in their dedication to God and church. 

Unfortunately, one of the most heart-wrenching moments was watching my friend and her husband kneel at the little while casket, bow their heads and mourn their loss.  And then for my friend to tell me that she shouldn't have had to dress her beautiful girl in the dress she bought for her baptism and bury her in it. 

How do you move on from this?  My friend has grown dramatically in eight years. There is a part of her heart that is gone.  She is a changed person, in fact, a little angry still, which I would be too.  But, she has grown in so many ways and I am so proud of her.  Everytime I talk to her, I think that she has found one more thing out about herself and she has given me some of the best advice about being a mom.  When I have a tough mom situation, I ask her and she always has amazing insight.  Most of you know I went on to have two daugthers and that was hard -- for her and me -- because all she really wanted was a little girl.  And now, they will get it.  They are applying to adopt a little girl from China and I am so happy for them. 

Nothing will ever replace Lily.  She lives in all of our hearts.  She has a room dedicated to her at Baptist Hospital called Lily's Room that we fundraised for so that others wouldn't suffer while in the NICU.  But as I sit here and cry, 8 years later, I never forget my friend's pain, her triumph and what it means to be a strong woman, mother, wife and friend.  I love her and this is dedicated to her. 

Today I am going to honor her even more by donating to Patrons of the Hearts an organization that helps children with heart defects.  You can donate too. http://www.patronsofthehearts.com/~patrons/donate.php

Raising Girls

My sweet girls

Recently, my hubby sent me this article from Forbes, "7 Ways You're Hurting Your Daughter's Future."  Since we have two daughters and Jason rarely sends me articles, I figured it was probably pretty good.  It took me awhile to get to it, but when I finally did, I was glad.

Upon reading the title, I thought "great, more guilt about how we are f*&$ing up our daughters." But, I was fairly ok with how it was presented and actually agreed with most of it.

I tend to consider myself liberal and definitely a "strong woman," who intends to raise daughters who are confident, non-sexist women who know they can do ANYTHING.  So, some of the tips were already on my mind.  But, #7 "You criticize your own body, and/or other women’s bodies" definitely hit a cord with me.  We, as moms, do have to be careful about how we act in front of our children (boys or girls), especially when it comes to our own body image and that of others around us.  The hope I found in this article -- what we model for our kids does matter, so all this effort should get us somewhere:) 

I'm going to keep this article handy, just like I keep the prayer for your daughter from Tina Fey's Bossy Pants (love it!) close by.  You always need a good laugh and a reality check! 

And for the record, my Disney Princess financial twin (#4) is Ariel, who are you?  Take the quiz here.

Just hangin' out

In Hilton Head, in the swings and the trees. Oh yeah, that would make us monkeys:) Hope you had a great 4th!

A Day Late, But Still Heartfelt

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there, especially my sweet husband -- the amazing father to our girls. How lucky they (we) are to have him. I think he knows how much we appreciate him, but just in case he doesn't here's just a few reasons why we love him throughout the year!

He understand how much we love our dolls

He holds us tight when we need him

He puts up our Christmas tree (and puts up with us getting all dressed up)

He lets us hang all over him

He teaches us things

He is always there for us with a smile

Libby on the Label: Avery dances

Had to share...

Libby on the Label: Avery dances: My sweet little niece Avery danced up a storm on our recent family trip to St. Simon's Island. Check out that chicken wing! I think the...

Like looking in the mirror

Couldn't help but laugh when sweet A passed out head first in her stroller recently. Then, all I could think is "I hear ya sister, I want to do that, too."

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Had to run down to Orlando to be part of a digital health conference. I was actually a moderator, pretty cool. It has been so energizing, motivating, inspiring, thought-provoking and truly just good for my brain and soul. That said, being away from the fam is always hard.

Guilt...oh yeah. Jason is doing it all, Avery tried to kiss the phone last night and Sydney told Jason when she got into bed that we (Jason and I) are never allowed to go anywhere because she loves us too much. So sweet! Miss them, but it really is so good for all of us to realize our everyday "stuff" is appreciated. So moms, go do what you need to do and being gone (even for just a little while) makes everyone appreciate each other just a little more.

And just for fun, here is a picture of the little ducks made out of butter that we had at lunch at the Peabody Hotel Orlando. Hysterical! And of course, I have collected good tchotchkes to take home to make everyone happy that mommy is home.

Motivation

So, two posts in one day, huh!  I know, pretty crazy over here.  Actually, I came to my blog to write one thing and got totally distracted updating things on it, then found the post that I hadn't posted...and you see, I am a little scattered today.  But, here is my point. 

Last week, laying in bed way too early in the morning trying to go back to sleep I did some thinking.  It was really good, quiet thinking, probably like meditation.  But in that hour or so, I decided I needed to get back in the swing of things.  Avery is almost one and it is time!  I need to get movtivated about my health, about my work, about life.  And all I could think of was this commercial I have seen for Kaiser Permanente about motivation.  I really love it and it has stuck with me.  I really do need to find my motivation...where did I put that?  I think it might just be starting to peak out from under the bed:)  Keep ya posted.

Where did that movitation go? Kaiser

Cabin Fever

"You know you have cabin fever pretty bad when you are thrilled to go for a one hour walk and sit in the park when it's 20 degrees outside. Yes, that is what I am doing and here's my viewpoint."

Pretty awesome, huh!?  It's even funnier when you go back and realize you wrote that post nearly a month ago and as you were about to post it, you got the call that your 11-month old was throwing up again at day care.  So much for that walk.  Our family is glad January is over! 

Workin' For A Livin'

Ever wish you could just not work.  I mean you know those days where you just want to rest. No more kids at home with you, deadlines to meet or other "stuff" to get done.  Wow, I so know those days.  Yet, there is always that need and want in the back of my head to be contributing, to be adding value and brillance in some way.  I guess that's why I will always still work.  It gives me an outlet, a place to have my own space and really I do love what I do.  I get to work on the coolest things, with the most interesting and amazing people and well, I guess, I'm just lucky.  Even on the days when you wish you didn't have to work, hang in there, it really is all worth it.  Plus, I guess there is that little thing called money that helps us have all the things we need and think we need. Cheers to all working moms everywhere!