Thursday, September 26, 2013

Today MJ is 15 months old!!




All 3 of them continue to surprise and amaze me.  I am eternally grateful to be their "Mommy."

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Road Trip

I've been so restless lately.  Maybe it's the weather.  Maybe it's recovering from surgery.  Or maybe it's just my age, but regardless I decided I couldn't just stay put this weekend.  So, for the first time ever, the girls and I hit the road.  In all my years of being a mom I've never road tripped without Gabe.  It's not that I worried I couldn't do it.  I just never had the need or desire before. 
  
The girls and I headed to Pennsylvania to go to Dutch Wonderland.  We stayed in a hotel, went out to dinner, ran through the rain, and enjoyed lots of rides and laughter.  It was amazing.  Memories were made and we all got to be present in all of the moments.

At different times during our trip,  each one of my daughters must have looked at me a half dozen times and said "you are the best mommy in the whole world" or "I'm so lucky you are my mom."  I have to say that the way they love me, baffles me.  I swear.  I mess up all the time.  I'm impatient, annoyed, hurried and frustrated with life more than I care to admit. I feel like a nag, a constant disciplinarian, a hall monitor.  But they see me so differently.  Or with so much more grace than I allow myself.  They seem to demonstrate real love.  The kind that truly is unconditional.  So, to them, I would say that in fact "I am the luckiest."






Sunday, September 8, 2013

Happy 5th Birthday Gracie!









Dearest Gracie,

Happy, happy 5th Birthday!  I sort of can and cannot believe that today is your big day.  There are so many things I love about you and I want to remember you just as you are today; the day you turned 5. 

One thing most people who are really close to you know is that you LOVE puzzles.  Not just sort like them, but you love them.  You are amazing at solving them; in fact in takes you no time at all to put any puzzle together.  You also love anything and everything Hello Kitty.  It was the theme of your birthday this year, your favorite Bingo game and any tattoos you are currently wearing.  It is so you.

You are a huge fan of Disney Channel, gymnastics, candy and all poop related humor.  Anyone who spends any time with you also knows that you are truly loving.  You may show a tough exterior but you love like no one else I know.

You spend most all day talking, but you also love just laying with me and chit-chatting.  Your eyes are full of life.  I feel grateful whenever I take the time to really look at them; at you.  I'm so proud of you as a big sister too.  You have grown into that role well and MJ laughs so much when he's with you.  I'm so lucky that you are mine.  Happy 5th my precious girl.
Love,
Mommy