Thursday, March 31, 2011

What's in a name?

     
     What’s in a name? Everything! Names can cause heartache or triumph. They’re an adjective that’s so powerful tears of joy or sorrow can come with a mere mention. I’m trying to teach my kids the lesson that names are so important. 
    
      That was one way I knew a new chapter in my life had begun. I knew when we planned our family that I would have to be one of “those” moms who work outside her home. So when the day finally came to take my precious baby boy to the wonderful, loving people who would care for him in my absence there were no tears. Not from me and certainly no from him. When I arrived to retrieve him that first day one of the other mommies was there & she called me a name. She said “Oh you must be Robert’s mom”. There it was. She called me a name that no one outside our family had used to describe me before. MOM – it hit me like a ton of bricks; the newest chapter in my life – MOM. It brought tears to my eyes. It’s a name I wear proudly. So fast forward 5 years. I’m having a conversation with Lauren (who is 2) on our way to her school. I say “La, do you prefer to call me Mommy or Mom?” Imagine my surprise when she says “Um, Paula”. I had worked pretty hard to be called Mom. Guess I need more teaching time with her!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Kids


This is my boy. My Son. My ray of light. The reason I decided "heck this was so much more fun than work let's do it again". My Little Bit of a Boy from Heaven right here on Earth. In fact we take to calling him Little Bit because when you put him with other kids the same age...he's typically smaller. You're probably looking at the picture and wondering 1. What's wrong with his smile, or 2. Why is he eating meat off of a fork?. Well answer #1 - the child won't stop moving to take a photo with a digital camera to save his life so we end up catching him mid smile. And #2 - he loves grilled pork chops and just couldn't wait. Funny huh? Yep that's my little bit!

This is my girl. My Daughter. My answer to "what was I thinking? 2 is more than 1" or "if the 2nd would have come 1st we might not have the 2nd". She's just so different in every way possible from the boy. I love her! She's ornery! We refer to her as "The La" in our home. I wouldn't change a thing, but some days...WOW!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Some of What I Know

They say you should write what you know about. Well, I know I have an amazing family. And what is it they do that's so amazing you ask. Well for starters they exist. I have been blessed with a wonderful husband who/whom I take for granted because I can be a horribly greedy woman. For some reason he still loves me after all these oh so many years.  I also have been blessed with 2 astounding kids. The fact I get to be their mom just stupefies me. They are smart, funny, caring, compassionate, etc... I remember when I was expecting each of them just how incredible the process of them coming to be actually was. How everything has to work just perfectly for a child to be created. Then I would question as to whether or not I was up to the responsibility (something that should probably be thought about prior to conception rather than during pregnancy. just a tip!). Then these perfect little angels were placed in my arms and I chose to take on the task. To do my very best by them (sometimes the lyrics of Quincy Jones' "Just Once" come to mind, you know "I did my best, but I guess my best wasn't good enough"; because some days I'm a very ordinary mom). Fortunately I've also got a pretty awesome extended family. Just so we're clear I include my friends in my extended family. Mostly because we live 109 miles to our closest parental unit, so having friends who help out is just phenominal. Hopefully we've been able to let them know what they mean to us. So with that I hope to update this blog with stories & photos of their amazingness (yep - I just made that one up). Maybe I will upgrade my efforts from ordinary to extraordinary soon as well!