First Day of School

Karina* started First Baptist Pre-school this month. Well, technically it started last month but we were busy "researching" and "interviewing" so we got a late start. (Technically is it CMO or MMO? I never know whose morning it really is, so I just say school). I used to be kind of embarrassed that it was such a hard decision, but recently I have embraced that is just who I am. I like to have all the information before I make my decision. I like to know the facts as well as all the fuzzy gray areas. Really, I just have a hard time letting go.

After all that...drumroll... it came down to who had what days available. Luckily, I can't say enough good things.

They say a lot of things about Karina too, mostly good and usually funny.

1. She initially resisted sitting in her highchair. (Two year olds still use high chairs? That one was my fault.) Sometimes she reaches over to grab her neighbor's food if it looks better. And please don't block her view of Dora while she eats.

2. I was told to pack PB & J after the teacher gave her own sandwich to Karina. No more exotic lunch packing for me.

3. If women are playing tennis next door, Karina gets upset, runs to the chain link fence, and cries for her Mamma. I feel guilty and I don't even play in a league.

4. And I quote..."She likes the bad boys that drive their cars really fast in the center of the room." Nice. That's what every mom wants to hear.

But when I pick her up I see laughter and excitement. I see Karina with Miss Cathy working puzzles and playing instruments. I can see her little brain working and I feel the warm fuzzies from the teachers. I see she has made a BFF, and it is a girl. We are both at ease.

*The stick did not make it to school.

Summer Weddings, Continued

Last month we went to Vermont for a "destination wedding," a family visit, and vacation. Yes, in Vermont you really can do all those things.* Dan's friend from college Elon married in a moving Jewish wedding. It really was unforgettable, with stunning scenery, private fireworks, and a horse drawn carriage. They chose the Mountain top Inn in Chittenden, Vermont as their destination. Where Chittenden is I still don't know. Which is exactly the point I suppose. Somewhere nestled in the Appalachian mountains** away from the world, except during ski season of course.

I've started calling these short trips vacation weddings because we pack quite the punch into a long weekend. This time we traveled throughout Rhode Island and Vermont, my favorite being Newport Beach, RI. This also happened to be Karina's first beach experience. She cried when we left -- "Bye, bye wa, wa!!" which made me want to cry as well. Hey, one can never have too much beach in their life.

Lucky for her and me, we are heading back to Newport this week for Summer Weddings, Part III: Karen & Rich.

*I had to laugh because one of their state's slogans is "What happens in VT, stays in VT. But, nothing ever really happens here!" Really, it is the slogan. However, it is so beautiful and pristine that you love it just the way it is.

**We tried to hike some of the Appalachian trail. A couple of miles in, we saw seasoned hikers with heavy sticks and backpacks coming down as were heading up, with an 18 mo. old in tow. Needless to say we had not done our map reading research and we did not finish climbing the summit.

Here I Go Again

I love going to the movies, even if they're bad. I like the whole experience. I eat popcorn (with butter of course). I turn my cell phone off which never happens even when I'm at the hair salon. (However, it better be a real emergency to get me out of that chair). At the movies, the dishes and laundry can't follow me. In fact, I can pretend they don't exist. Some people meditate. I watch movies. Since Karina was born naturally my movie intake has gone way, way down. Sadly it has been replaced by (often bad) reality TV. Yes, I watched the entire season of the Bachelorette. I have to draw the line at "I survived a Japanese game show."

Imagine my surprise when I can't stop raving about Mamma Mia. Even if you took out the plot, I would have to recommend it on the scenery alone. Somehow I felt like I was in Greece, and even forgot to wonder if Deanna was loving her honeymoon. Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan were completely mesmerizing. I had never seen Amanda Seyfried before, but I'm guessing it won't be the last time either.

There is one scene, towards the end of the movie that to me was very emotional. Streep is holding her 20 year-old "baby" before her wedding and is singing to her, while painting her toenails (of all things). She is wondering where all the time has gone...just yesterday she was waving goodbye to the school bus. Or something like that. I don't remember exactly because I was too busy thinking Karina is going to grow up too soon.* I do however, look forward to the day she sits still long enough for me to paint even one toenail.

The movie seems to say that even when you marry, your female relationships will be critical, and even essential to who you are as a person. Also those same relationships will keep you fun & young. So young that both you and Streep will be looking 30** when you're 60. Well I did say movies are my escape. But I do take the message to heart. Especially since I watched it with my mom, and appreciate her a little more every day.

*She will undoubtedly be annoyed as a teenager that I am so into her life. I'm guessing I will have to drop her off a block away from the movie theater.
*Having just turned 30 I can appreciate this obvious lie.

Learning Love's Language

In our small group, we are doing Gary Chapman's "The Five Love Languages." I realized tonight I am in for a challenge. Dan's primary love language is Acts of Service. I had a sneaking suspicion. Aghhhhh. Luckily, his number two is Words of Affirmation. That seems easier. Fortunately, there are many awesome things I can say about my husband.

Tuesday we have our group meeting where we will be discussing our "homework." I am definitely hoping to be graded on a curve. Now if I can just find the vacuum.

The problem with Acts of Service is that "regular cleaning" doesn't count. It is a given that the endless cycle of diapers, dishes, laundry, [insert Karina's mess] that goes on is just expected. Somehow I have to find a way to go above and beyond.

This past Father's Day we were supposed to go to a barbecue, and then Karina got a 102 degree fever. Needless to say, I didn't go without him. I also didn't feel right going out to eat later on with my father and leaving Dan at home.

So, maybe we'll declare a do-over Father's Day. That would include No. 3 = Quality time. Maybe I can get the hang of this yet.


Karina's present -- too cute! Well, my love language obviously includes gifts : )

06.07.08

Angela and Joe chose to marry on 06-07-08. They wanted it to be special, and I suppose, easy for Joe to remember!

I think it would be hard for anyone to forget their story. Joe, who always lives with one foot over the edge, found his bride-to-be Angela just a few short months before he went off to war. Even before he left, he knew. He left for Iraq (2nd tour) in April and they married in September. She flew to Rome on his R&R, and he proposed on the Spanish steps. They married in a double-proxy ceremony, cutting right through the red tape and wedding planning. She is now officially an army wife, and everything that comes with it.

I romanticize their relationship, but sometimes I forget about all the sacrifices that go with still being at war.

We flew out to Oklahoma City, where Joe is based, for the Christian ceremony and reception. It was as much of a reunion and homecoming as it was a wedding. Dan, being the best man, truly lived up to the honor. He picked out Angela's ring last year in time for Joe to propose in Italy. He also wrote and delivered the best, best man speech I have heard in a long time. He performed all his duties while dutifully chasing his sixteen month old daughter. So we were truly all together on 06.07.08.

One funny coincidence. At the Marriott in Red Brick downtown Oklahoma City, there happened to be an American Indian conference and parade all weekend. Across the street, the circus was in town as well. Elephants continually blocked traffic. It being OKC, we had several twisters coming too close for my comfort. But for Joe, who I think of as a cowboy, it was only fitting.

Dear Karina Love Mommy

Dear Karina,

It's been about six months since I wrote your last letter. I can't believe it's been that long since your first birthday!! Now I am going to cry.

Even though you are still my baby (we both know I will be calling you my baby long into your teenage years), you act like a toddler in every way. It is amazing to me how independent you are. From the moment you wake up, you want to do everything yourself. I thought it would be fun to take you through our typical day.

When you wake up, the first thing I do is change you. It is so funny to watch you grab the wipes out of the dispenser. Then you like to wipe your own behind. (Don't worry, I finish up to make sure we got it all).

Of course, you feed yourself. This started right at about six months old. You grabbed the spoon from me, and not much got in. Thankfully, over the months you have gotten much better at it! But, at the end of a typical morning you are still covered in your strawberry banana yogurt. I literally wipe your hair and in between your toes. Until we get it down, Dadda hoses the high chair off outside.

For obvious reasons, I wait until the last possible moment to dress you. As soon as I do, you have your shoes off. You are obsessed with shoes. I place a bow in your hair religiously every day. You pull it off. On, off. On, off. On off. We go round and round in a battle of mom vs. daughter will. I win. We are off to whatever it is we do that day.

At some point in the day, we go for a swim. Clothes, shoes, and bow-free you are in your element. You love getting rubbed in sunscreen -- you think it's a massage. You love watching the big kids swim and then try to copy them. A lot of the older girls try to grab/hold/play with you in the water.* They say "Hi!" and you say "Hi!" Then they say "What is your name?" and you say "Hi!" You desperately want to play with them. You can't wait. But I can. I hate how fast every stage goes and I am the mom that wants to hold tight, even though it's clear you are moving on every day.

At fifteen months on the dot, "we" went off the bottle. Cold turkey. For me, it marked the end of your true babyhood. It was a good, healthy thing for us to do for so many reasons. But, at the same time, it had been our own bonding time. You wanted to be held, and just as importantly, you held still. I thought I would be sad to lose the bonding time, but then something surprising happened to take its place.

At sixteen months you started hugging. Sometimes you want to hug every five minutes. You will run all around the house/yard, throwing rocks in the pond, and then suddenly you will stop like you forgot something. You will run to me, hug for 15-30 seconds, then resume your activity.


Also at sixteen months, you started calling me mamma.

Just so you know, you do hug and kiss your Dadda just as much. You also will kiss, but prefer to blow kisses, to those you don't know quite as well. You are very affectionate but also recognize your kisses have to be earned. We are hoping you carry this mentality into your dating years.

I know you will keep the surprises coming, and I can't wait to see what is around the corner.

Love always,
Mommy
xoxoxoxoxo

*The game they all want to play is "I am the mommy and you are my baby." So, Karina your part is pretty easy. I guess you aren't the only girl wanting to grow up fast!

Finding that special someONE

Brieon and I have been friends since ninth grade. I even remember when we met. In Mrs. Middleton's biology class she volunteered to dissect my dead pig. (Do they still do this?? I almost want to throw up now.) Not just help but actually do it. In all fairness, she was volunteering to do everyone's pig but I still consider it an act of kindness that I will truly never be able to repay.

After that, we were inseparable.

Fast forward 10 odd years later. I am about to be married to Dan, and Brieon is in my wedding. She has just started dating Ken. She doesn't invite him, because she wants to take it slow. (I am silently wondering if that means he isn't as into her. I know he has just moved to Atlanta and she has been instantly taken by him. True to her love of strangers, she has been showing him all around the city). No, she says I just really like this one. I wonder if that means this is the ONE.

Recently we had their engagement party at our house. I watched them mingle around with interest. While Brieon is an open book, talking to whoever is in her immediate vicinity, Ken is often watching her. It is immediately apparent how attentive he is. Ken, perhaps slower to warm up, strikes up his conversations more deliberately and intentionally.* It is very evident how well they balance and complete each other. Yes, I think. This is her ONE.

Congratulations Brieon & Ken!!

*If I do say so myself, Ken and I are alike in that way.