Seven

My Dearest Lael,

I haven't quite grasped the fact that you turned 7 today.

How has it been 7 years.  YEARS. 7 of them.

My heart hurts because time is slipping between my fingers. 

I need to find more time or hold on to those special moments when possible.

This year you wore many hats.  One as a cheerleader.  You may not have been the loudest, and you may have gotten some of the words wrong. But no one had a brighter smile.  Hands down.

You are currently finishing up soccer.  You kick ass in soccer.  You don't even have to try hard. You're a natural.

While looking through photos, I could not find many where you weren't smiling.

Except the ones where you are concentrating with your tongue hanging out.  I love when you do that.

You are also a fish.  You loved the water so much you were the youngest on the swim team.  They called you the Little Mermaid.

You are a clown.  You are always trying to make someone laugh.  You ALWAYS make me laugh.

This May you had a life changing experience.  You became a big sister.  You love your brother with a fierceness.  It's so sweet it hurts sometimes.

I thought 6 was great, but I have a feeling 7 is going to rock the party!  Just like you.

Happy Birthday Lael, words cannot express the love I have for you baby girl.

Love,

Mommy

Autumn On My Block

In my front garden. The mums are seeing their last light.

To my right. Early sunsets over the Potomac River.

To my left. Trees that are in the midst of change.  Trying to hold on to summer but excited for a change.

It's kinda magical how things change right before our eyes.

Wordless Wednesday

What's a smile without a little...well a lot of drool?

A Few Moments

I turned her light on like I always do.

But instead of calling her name like I usually do, I sat on her bed.

I slowly lifted the covers off her feet.  I held her not so little anymore foot in my hand. 

I rubbed the bottom of them.

The baby softness has been replaced by a new toughness.

When did that happen?

I slowly rubbed her legs.

When did they get so long?

I rubbed her back and whispered her name.

She stirred.

She stretched.

And then she crawled towards me.

She laid in my arms just like she used to.

Except the only things that fit were her head and chest.

The rest of her body still lay on the bed.

I held her.  I rubbed her cheek.  I took her face in.

Her beautiful brown face.

She opened her beautiful brown eyes.

She smiled up at me and whispered “Good Morning Mommy”.

I smiled and whispered back. 

The we sat just like that.

Holding each other.

Taking in the moment.

I knew we would both get up eventually and shower.

I would have to get the baby up and change him.

She would have to get dressed and catch the bus.

I would have to rush off to work.

But for a few minutes this morning….

Nothing else mattered.

Weekend Recap~Lions and Jogging

It’s Monday again already.  I don’t feel too bad because I only work until Wednesday this week.

I took off to go to Lael’s class on Thursday to chaperone a field trip and take cupcakes to celebrate her birthday.

Mah baby will be 7 on Friday.  I’m not ready to accept that so….moving on.

This weekend I launched Operation Run My Ass Off.  It went pretty well except for the fact that I have the miles in my iPod and the computer says it transferred to my Nike account but it’s not showing up.

That’s kind of annoying.

So I got up at 8am on Saturday. Bundled little man up in his jogging stroller and we hit the waterfront trail.

It was all sorts of awesome.  I think he enjoyed it more than me.

When I got back it was time for Lael’s soccer game.

She scored 3 goals. She’s awesome like that.

Afterwards we relaxed until it was time to go to our neighbors Halloween Party.

The kids showed up in their costumes and played games like find the skull (like Easter egg hunting), pin the wart on the witch, and made candy necklaces that were shaped like little bones.

Kobi fell asleep and I was ready to go home when I found out the party was actually a sleepover.

Lael practically ran me over trying to go home to get her pj’s and toothbrush.

Hubby figured since we were practically alone he would take advantage of me.

Too bad me and Kobi were sleep by 9:30.

Party animals we are.

Sunday, I tried to sleep in. But the guilt ate away at me and I got up and strapped on my sneakers and hit the jogging path again.

I just really wish it would update. Of course I’m too lazy to try to figure it out. I mean. What are husbands for?

I spend the rest of my Sunday, cleaning and doing laundry.

Did anyone watch Desperate Housewives last night?  Doesn’t Paul creep you the hell out?

Anyway, I have to make a few phone calls about Lael’s party this Saturday.

Obviously, parents have forgotten how to RSVP these days.  I mean, seriously, I sent an E-vite.  Click yes, or no. 

Happy Monday!

Photo Of The Week--Just The Two Of Us

Train Of Thought

Sometimes I get to a point where there is so much going on I sit and stare.

I can’t seem to focus on one thing at a  time.

I’ve been worried that Lael has ADD.  How do you know if your child is a child or if your child has a problem.

Her birthday is next Friday and so I have to plan her party.

Except I can’t get the people to RSVP.

Which is a problem because they won’t be able to just “show up” because they won’t be able to get on base.

In addition to that, my hubby thinks that sex is the answer to everything.

My response to that is eww.

The thought of sex grosses me out.

Obviously I have issues and should probably talk to someone about it but who has time to schedule an appointment?

Halloween is next week, which means Thanksgiving is around the corner which means Christmas is almost here which means omfg how is Christmas almost here.

And I need to buy a new tree.

And rob a bank to afford the shit the kids will probably want.

And shit, I need to buy Thanksgiving and Christmas outfits for the girls.  Shit. I forgot I have a baby so I have to get him an outfit too.

Did that bank get robbed yet?

Also, we have mice at work so I’m on edge.

I should not have to work under these conditions!

Also, I have not bought Lael anything for her birthday, you know, the one that’s next week.

Kobi is nursing fine but hasn’t been taking a bottle from hubby lately. I wonder if that’s a problem.

I have to take my PT test next month and haven’t started running yet.  This could pose a problem.

Some point between Thanksgiving and Christmas Lael will have her tonsils and adenoids taken out.

I need to go pump but I’m afraid I might see a mouse.

I can deal with a lot of shit, but that will break me.

Kinda like doing homework with Lael last night.  I almost lost it.

Like flying off the handle.

Maybe I’m the one with ADD…….