got love?

Today my "baby" started 1st grade. I dropped her off with the excuse I had to carry that heaping heavy bag of supplies in to her teacher, but we all know who had the hard time saying goodbye this morning ... and this year I actually did not cry as I drove away from the school, but instead I laughed, and laughed, and have laughed all day (insert giggle) when I thought of my sugar strutting through the mighty halls of elementary school trying to keep her britches up. My baby has no butt, no belly, just lots of leg!!!! As we entered the school together in a frenzy trying to find her classmates I'd say "you doing okay buddy?" as I'd look to my side and she'd reply with one hand on her waist band "yeah Momma I'm good". It was and still is the cutest image. But as I drove to work laughing & enjoying that image in my mind I was so aware of the love that consumes me for this person. And I didn't want to come to work today, I wanted to watch from a distance as she met her classmates, read a book, ate her lunch, found the potty, re-united with her K-garten teacher, put her cardigan in her new locker, got a drink from the water fountain, and waited anxiously for Mamaw to appear in car line. But the one thing that got me through this LONG day of waiting & wondering was her love. Isnt' that what we all want & need in life, someone to make us feel loved? And nothing/no one does it better than a sweet child. When every one else lets me down I know I can count on her to love me & appreciate me. I am so lucky to be loved by you ALM!

My MOMent

It was a wonderful, beautiful mothers day with family enjoying breakfast, photos, laughs, gifts, but the best part of the day remains the first "MOM"ent of the day. As I was putting tights on Audrey before we left home ... she gently touches my shoulder and says with her most sincere voice "you are a really good mom". I still cry as I replay the "mom"ent in my head. Note: I've coined a new phrase "mom"ent as a MOM moment, if Oprah can create an A-HA moment I can create the ""MOM"ent right? Well they just don't get any better than mine did yesterday. I mean that's what I strive for all day every day since October 21, 2003. And it's the greatest blessing that God & this world has bestowed on me --I am a MOM!!!!!

My THING

So everyone, everywhere has "their thing" right? And it may have taken me 30+ (beyond 30 what difference does it really make anyway right) years to figure it out, but I have to say I finally figured out without a doubt what my THING is ... insert photo, um the one above (computers aren't necessarily MY THING) ... preserving memories!!! That's it, that's what I've roamed this earth for 30+ years for. I mean I can do other stuff (sorta) but that's what it's in my very soul. Sure I've given my mind, heart & body 200% every single day since October 21, 2003 for the sake of my one & only, and I will continue to do so until I'm 6 feet under. But I'm talking about the "thing" that just sorta lingers in you through adolescence, higher ed, & young adulthood until you just sit back & actually allow it to emerge from the depths of your soul. It can take months, years, 30+ years (yeah, yeah, yeah enough already right) ... but when you feel it & you realize you are truly really good @ something (besides being a Mom which we've already established I excel at) it is such an overwhelming self-esteem boost to say the very least. I am so at peace & happy when I am documenting my sweetheart's moments, hopefully for her to enjoy for years to come. Anyway, it just really came to me these last couple days & I guess writing it down for anyone to read makes me feel even more affirmed in my purpose. Does that make sense? Rambling on & on by the way, is my other THING (just ask my sis).

2,3,4 & more

Today is an exciting day --only 2 days until Spring Break for ALM. Even better only 3 weeks until WDW with ALM & GA. But before that even .... on Monday April 12th I begin my 4 day work weeks again. Granted Tuesday through Friday will be very LONG days @ the ol' office, but Saturday, Sunday, AND MONDAY will make it all worth while. Now that I have an official scrapbook room mere footsteps away from my bedroom, bathroom & kitchen ... so many things are possible again. I can't wait to spend a string of Mondays in my room while ALM finishes her school year & then a summer of Mondays with her again --at the dollar store, swimming @ her lil' friend's house, visiting the Valley Station Dairy Freeze, & who knows what else we'll get into this summer ... besides the METZLER family vacation which is officially going to be 4th of July week @ Breaks, can't wait for that either! So today promises many more fun days to come ... YEAH for TODAY!

Valentines @ the Castle

Nothing's more romantic than dinner @ the White Castle with my valentines! It's about the only way we get to "dine out" though. And it was basically a grab & gulp for me with one hand on the table cloth the whole time ... just waiting for the flowers & candle to hit the floor because my child could NOT be still. She got Mighty Beanz for Valentines day and if I didn't know better I'd swear those rolly, polly boogers were in her britches. She couldn't be still for a single minute! But we weren't the only eternal optimists dining in the mini burger landmark this Valentines night. We were among friends --parents who currently see romance the same way we do, in chicken rings & cheese fries! Happy Valentines Day to all of you.

The Mother's Pride

It will ALWAYS surface.

It is stronger than super glue.

It brings tears to your eyes.

It starts with a little blue line & NEVER stops.

It fills the empty places inside.

It gives me strength & encouragement.

It makes me who I am ...

A very PROUD MOMMA indeed.

Way to go Audrey on your 1st (of many I'm sure) school awards!

Momma's Drama

To: Audrey

In exactly 24 hours (when I began writing this @ 9:32 pm) my baby turns 6 years old. I am 1 Momma full of drama ... remembering all the things I instantly fell in love with 6 years ago: holding her in my arms, swaddling, napping with her on my chest, those soft pink eyelids, posing her for priceless baby pictures, smelling her skin as I kissed her on the forehead ... I could easily go on for days like this, but the tears in my eyes are making it hard to type, of course.

Now she's reading, counting, creating beautiful beadwork, writing sentences, and crafting --I am unbelievably proud. I just told my momma today that "this little girl is the best thing I've done with my life". But the world can just thank me later, because right now I am going to kiss my sweet girl on the forehead while she sleeps & we enter the day of her birth.

With ALL my love: Momma