New Hair

Happy Birthday, Mindy

Today is Mindy's 33rd birthday. Funny, I can remember when our mom was 33. I thought that was really old. Now, not so much : )

They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Today, I could be on my way to becoming the strongest human in the universe.

Just as I was hitting publish on this post, Mindy arrived with reinforcements.

Not a moment too soon.

On our way to the gym this afternoon, we heard Hey Jude on the radio. Grace and Carter chatted happily with each other.

I was somewhere else.

It was 14 years ago. As a sophomore at UT, I worried constantly about my disheveled grandma who had been suffering from Alzheimer's for an excruciatingly long time.

I must have been thinking of her before I fell asleep because she was there in my dream. I can't remember anything specific about the dream, except for the fact that Grandma was in it. It wasn't one of those dreams where she was speaking directly to me, sharing the wisdom of the ages, or anything like that. Just a pleasant dream about my Grandma.

As I started to wake up, I could hear Hey Jude playing on the radio. The words that pulled me from my unconscious state lingered in my head, "And any time you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain, don't carry the world upon your shoulders."

Without the delay of my usual morning grogginess, I was completely coherent. My mind was clear and I knew that Grandma wanted me to hear those words at that moment. I understood it was her way of telling me that she was ok, and even though I couldn't comprehend what she was going through or why, she wanted me to try not to worry so much.

My dear Grandma was reaching out to bring me, her worry wort granddaughter, comfort in my struggle to come to terms with what was happening to her. With a wisdom that only grandmothers posses, she chose Paul McCartney as her messenger.

She knew that he would still be singing to me years later so that I would never forget her extraordinary message.

While We're Talking TV...

Two words.

Mad Men.

It's not The Office. Completely different. Provocative, sexy, intriguing, captivating. It's a fascinating look at life in the 60's, where men were men and women were either secretaries or they stayed home wearing high heels and smoking cigarettes while they fed and bathed the children.

It was just nominated for 16 Emmys, including best Drama and best Actor.

The second season starts July 27th.

The first season is out on DVD. It looks like AMC is having a marathon this Sunday. Set your DVR! Soooooo Goooood.

Did I mention the main character (John Hamm) was make-you-want-to-lick-the-tv gorgeous?

The Office

This is our new TV. This is me watching my new favorite show on our new TV.

Now, I'm sure some of you will be completely freaked out by this, but up until a few days ago, I had never viewed even one episode of The Office. I know, I know, right now your wondering how my life got so off course that I've been missing the best show on tv for the past few years.

If you're not wondering that, then you probably need to start watching The Office, too.

It is, without a doubt, the finest and most hilariously funny show on tv. I have savored each moment of every single show. I'm so in love with the show, I even have a little dance I do while the happy theme music is playing at the beginning of the episodes.

Fortunately, Mindy and Stu are devoted Office followers and own seasons one, two, and three on DVD. I'm a few episodes into season three right now.

Season 4 will not be out on DVD until September 2nd, but, It looks like all of Season 4 is available for viewing online at NBC.com.

The one hour season premiere of Season 5 airs on September 25th. So, if you're like me and haven't started watching The Office yet, don't worry, there's still time.

Carter's 2nd Birthday Fiesta!

Yesterday, we were driving home from dinner. It was kind of drizzling off and on. Still sunny in some patches. Rainy in others. Grace kept asking about rainbows. I kept giving her the passive and patent mommy response, "Keep looking, maybe you'll see one."

As we rounded the last corner on our way home, I looked up and saw....

I couldn't believe it.

But Grace could.

Notes from Carter's Birthday

I dropped the kids off at Mother's Day Out this morning. Carter had one dozen mini cupcakes to share with is class in celebration of the big "2." I ran errands all morning. I was waiting to check out at Target when I realized that the person currently in the check out spot was having serious issues with her Visa gift card. I jumped lines and was just about to unload my cart when I heard the distinctive sound of a tiny baby crying.

I turned around to find the person who had taken my place in the "line with issues" was a mom with a teeny baby on her shoulder. This baby couldn't have been more than 3 months old, and was not happy. The poor mom didn't have a cart or a baby carrier. Just a baby, a large plastic storage bin that would soon be filled with newborn-sized keepsakes and an economy-sized bottle of Tide which would no doubt soon be washing stains out of newborn-sized keepsakes. The mom was struggling with her load. I walked over, picked up the bucket and told her to come check out in front of me. She seemed relieved, I smiled and told her I'd been in the same boat more times than I could remember.

Unloading my kid-free cart onto the conveyor belt, it was glaringly obvious I wasn't in her boat anymore. I had shorts and shirts in size 3t, a twin sized comforter and matching sheets for the "big boy bed," a giant carton of goldfish, and a string of "Happy Birthday" party lights.

I thought to myself. I have a two-year-old and a four-year-old. I'm not in the baby boat any more. I've somehow stumbled into the land of little kids.

This afternoon, I took the kids to the gym. Carter plays in the toddler room. The little babies have a completely separate nursery. But, for some reason, there was a tiny baby in the toddler room. She was sleeping soundly in her car carrier. Her petite pink mouth was drawn up in to a slight, but satisfied smile. She was almost certainly dreaming of the one thing that can induce such a peaceful sleep. Milk. When Carter saw me at the door, he walked over to the baby and said, "Look Mom, bebe."

The visual of my baby standing next to a real baby was stunning.

Of course I don't think of him as a baby. But, somehow, I'm shocked when I take a picture of him, or something like this happens, and can clearly see just how big he really is.

Yes, the baby boat has sailed. When, exactly, it left, I'm not sure. I mean, I've been paddling around in this vessel for some 4 years now. Day in, day out, night after night, after night, after ever-lasting night. But, somehow, the baby boat has now disappeared. There isn't even a dot on the horizon where it used to be. I'm on completely dry land. Little kid land. Where I go from here, God only knows...

We made our annual pilgrimage to Hut's Hamburgers to celebrate Carter's birthday. It's his birthday spot. We took him there for his 1st birthday, and Ray's planning on taking him there every year for the rest of his life.

No sippy cups, burp cloths, pacifiers, bottles, rice cereal, Gerber Graduates, Cheerios, or plastic coated spoons needed. I didn't even have to cut up their food......

Happy 2nd Birthday, Carter!

Carter,

Never, in a million years, would I have imagined my life with a little boy. I could not have begun to fathom the immeasurable joy that you would bring to all of our lives. You truly are a gift from God.

We love you more than you will ever know.

Happy Birthday,

Love,

Mom

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...

Happy 3rd of July

We had our neighborhood fireworks tonight. The kids were fantastic! The fireworks were outstanding!

It was one of those nights that I sometimes see other families having while my kids are screaming and/or throwing their own poop. You know the ones where the little girl is sitting on her dad's lap and the little boy is sleepily laying back on his mom's lap. The whole family quietly in sync and enjoying every moment of each other's company. That was us. We were the Norman Rockwell Happy 4th of July family tonight.

At least until we got home and Carter fell of his stool while he was brushing his teeth, cut his finger and began to cry hysterically. I like my messy little reality, I do, but it was nice being those people for a little while : )

New Dolls

Grace and I just finished two more dolls. Phee, the original, is in the middle. The two new ones are her sisters, according to Grace. Grace painted the face on the one on the left.

Dont Forget to Take Time to Stop And...

Ray's Babies

All three of them. Grace, Carter and the new TV. Yes, there's a giant television inside that huge box. Grace is worried that it just might be too big : )
The enormous TV was delivered by a lone, tiny delivery man who needed me to help him carry it inside. Let's hear it for mommy power!!!