A Little Thank You...

goes a long way. Hayden has been sick most of the weekend. Which meant sleepless nights for us. Robert had to work over the weekend so it was Hayden and I on Sunday. You never know how much just an extra set of hands helps until you don't have it. For those women who are single mothers, you're my hero. Here is what Robert emailed me this morning. "You've done a great job with HP. You've gotten up with him constantly with no complaints. Thank you. I appreciate your looking after him so well and taking your time and energy - and time off work - to comfort and care for him. I know he appreciates it. (When you're that age, your mom is the only one you want to comfort you.) You're doing a great job, and it's nice to see how much you love one another. That's a good thing. and I'm proud of both of you. You've taken to motherhood well and you're doing a great job." A little thank you goes so far. If you haven't thanked a mother today, why not?

Answer a Question for Me

Robert and I are in desperate need of a quilt for our bed. I've been looking and looking for one and can't find one that I like. I can find duvet covers all day that I like, but we live in SC, not Michigan. I only use a duvet cover once a year when my persistent begging pays off. It's usually around Christmas time only for my comfort and then we sweat all night because of it and it goes back in the closet.

Here is my question. Do people REALLY use a duvet cover year round? I mean, am I the only one who thinks this idea is ludicrous? My air conditioning bill would be through the roof if I kept it cool enough to entertain this idea. Second fold, we have a mocha color paint on our walls. We need to find a quilt for it. Send me your suggestions.

Pet Peeves

I don't have a lot of pet peeves. Just a few that I hold near and dear to my heart. I won't focus on all of them, but today just one to rant on.

As most of you know, I'm a tall girl. I'm not amazon, 6'5" or anything, fairly normal these days. I've been this way since the mid-80s. It's both a blessing and curse. From middle school up until about 3 years ago, I hardly EVER found pants that were actually long enough. They were either flood pants or came just low enough that I could maybe get away with flat heeled shoes. NEVER could I wear high heels with pants and have them cover. I've embraced this and with the sudden influx of taller people, I am able to order size long online at certain stores. This is great. However, I am forced to pay a penalty of shipping fees (and wait time) in order to fulfill this need. I have yet to come across a store (I have one, but really I wouldn't get a whole lot from this store) that constantly carries tall sizes. However, they constantly have half of the store decicated to petites and/or plus sizes. They even have stores dedicated to only plus sizes! "Oh, you need an inseam between 33-35 inches? Sorry, you'll have to go online (you freak)." I constantly comment to Robert that I bet we could get a class action lawsuit against discrimination of tall people. Yes, I'm married to a lawyer. This is one of my pet peeves and then you wonder why I dress the way I do.

Today, I've added on to this pet peeve. Childrens stores. Three-fourths of the store is little girls clothes. Cute pink dresses, hats, socks, shoes, you name it! They have a selection to die for. I go in and look for a nice outfit or two for Hayden and they have two racks, literally. Did I tell you that it's only July and they already have long pants and sweaters out? Did they stop to think that this is South Carolina and it stays in the mid-80s until September?! So, Hayden and I will remain wondering why we feel so normal, yet we're forced to dress in the same clothes or spend half our lives shopping stores hoping that we find something. Good grief!

What is your pet peeve?

God's Music

The music at our Church can move me on any given Sunday.

I'm One!

Happy Birthday, Hayden!

One year ago, I was walking into the hospital, big as a barn, excited to meet this baby that I carried. We were terrified and thrilled at the same time. We didn't know what the future held for us and now, one year later, we know. We welcomed a beautiful boy named Hayden. We had no idea how to do anything, completely unequipped for this gift of life. We had a few hard moments, but more absolute joy than anything. We've watched him grown in to this sweet little red headed child. Who smiles and claps at us. Who reaches out to be held and who gives you hugs that you feel could honestly make you collapse with absolute love. You know how to love (and be loved) with complete vulnerability. You realize that you're not what matters, that this gift from God, is what matters. You think differently, you act differently and you view the world in a completely different way. It completely changes you, in ways you never imagined or could comprehend. Each second with Hayden has been such an absolute joy and I thank God for the last year with him. I thank God for my wonderful husband who is a great dad and a true partner. I look forward to the many years to come of our little family. I hope each year is just as good as this past one and that we spend many, many, many years together making beautiful memories.

Happy birthday, baby Hayden. I love you and have never had a better year since you've been in my life. - Mom

Strange Family

I've always known my family was different, but not until I talk about them do I realize how different they are. My mom is 1 of 7 kids. Farm kids that are pretty bossy, pretty independent and all Irish. I see a lot of myself in them. My dad is 1 of 3 of an English/German family where comedy and teasing is key to every loving relationship. You now see why Robert looks at me like a creature from another planet when I do things a certain way.

A great example of their strangeness is to show up unannounced. This is CLASSIC between my mom and her sister Ilene. My Aunt and Uncle have lived in Alabama since the early 80s. So my mom would announce to us kids that we would be taking the 12 hour drive from Michigan(these trips started when I was very young) to see them for our spring break (which was a week), we were so excited. We all loaded in the car and made the LONG drive together. It usually ended up with four very grouchy people ready to kill each other and get the hell out of the car. What they never mentioned to us kids or in particular to my aunt, was that we were coming at all or that we would be staying with them, in their house, for an entire week. We would arrive and drive by their house, really, really, slow and wait for them to look out the window at us. Then we would pile in and take over their pool. This went on for years.

So, I have to laugh now when my parents arrive on Friday without my Aunt Ilene and Uncle David (two people I absolutely adore). I talk to my Aunt on Friday night and she informs me that she is in fact coming to see us. I am strongly instructed not to mention it to my parents. She said that they were going to Savannah and then Myrtle and then would be here today (Wednesday) just in time for Hayden's first birthday tomorrow. This is classic and though I know my mom will be so mad at both of us for keeping the secret, it's going to be with being a part of the classic payback. I just hope that I'm there to see her face and run faster than her.

Yes, I know my family is strange, but I do love them.

Michigan in the News

Only good things this time- both from People.com (I know solid news source). First, Bon Jovi gives money to tear down bad housing in Detroit to make room for new housing. AWESOME. The guy isn't even from Michigan! Second, a picture of John Mayer talking about how he preformed at Rothbury this past weekend. Again, great press for Michigan and boy, do they need it! We have a lot of celebrities from Michigan who are trying to do great things for the state. My example is Jeff Daniels. There are commericals even in South Carolina where he is promoting Michigan and telling people to send their business up there. The man still lives in Chelsea and flies out only for movies. Way to go, Flapp!

If you're one of those people who are still in Michigan...what are you doing to help your state? Volunteering? Buying local goods?

If you're one of those reading this who don't live there, travel there, spend money and check out my beautiful home state.

We Want a Do-Over

We were looking forward to having three whole days off together. We pretty much got a half of a day where we were together and not stressed. We went to the beach on Friday morning and had a great time, went to lunch together (Robert, Hayden and I). It was grand. Then it started. The crying, the whining, the pulling at the ears, the runny nose, the red eyes, constant clinging and fighting sleep. Yes, we're in another round of teething accompanied by a cold. Which made for two and a half days of stress, exhaustion and not much of a break. I think we were all ready to get back to work this morning. So, we want a do-over to the weekend.

It Doesn't Matter

I was reminded yet again that the little things don't matter. We sat in traffic for about 45 minutes this morning. There was an accident on the same bridge as Hayden and my accident. Once we finally got up to it, there was a mini-van in front, a older bronco/blazer flipped over and two other cars (which rear ended each other). I gasped as I saw it and looked at the woman sitting on the side of the road in a daze. I gave her a smile trying to say, "I'm sorry for you and I've been there." I then tuned to face the road ahead and burst in to tears. Thanked God for sparing us and cried all the way to Hayden's daycare. We all need a reminder that the little things in live don't matter. Laundry, a clean house, overtime at work. They don't matter, now and it won't matter in 10 years from now. Love your family, your friends and yourself. Take the time for them. Do what is necessary and remember and check yourself now and again. Does what you're doing or ranking in importance on your list benefit you, your family? If something were to happen, would you be okay with your decisions? If not, change them and remember to enjoy each moment.