For Zoe's birthday we bought her a battery-operated motorcycle. A Minnie Mouse one to be exact. Then the Great Freeze 2012 happened and N couldn't make it home for her big party. We decided to allow N to have a party in all the celebrations, to wait and give her the motorcycle when N could be there too.
Then three things happened: we got busy, we forgot we had it and it became too late to give it to her as a birthday present.
We decided to hold onto it until a great time came up.
Last week we were driving into church and Zoe started to cry. When I asked what she was crying for she said, "I don't think I'm anyone's Valentine! What if it's Valentine's Day and I don't get anything? I really want to be someone's Valentine!"
I totally was prepped for this talk when she's 16, but not 5! I asked her what she thought would be a good Valentine's present. She described a battery-operated, pink car. That's when the light when on that we had something like that. To make things even better, N was going to be home! I figured we could work something out.
We planned to take her to Red Robin for dinner on Friday and then stop by the church. Grandma was going to run the motorcycle to the church gym, while we were at dinner and then be there for the surprise since Grandma also helped purchase the motorcycle. Grandma, N and I were all beside ourselves for this surprise. We knew she'd love it.
On my way home from work on Friday I get a call from Zoe. When I answered, she yelled, "THANK YOU MOMMY! THANK YOU SO MUCH!"
I knew she had received her bike.
N had put the bike together in our bathroom. It was charging in there, just waiting for the big reveal later that night. He took Toby outside, Grandma was on the phone and Zoe was on a mission to find her Dora skateboard, which happened to be in our bathroom.
She came out, yanked Grandma's arm and said, "grandma, the motorcycle I've always wanted is in mom and dad's bathroom!" Grandma stopped her conversation and got immediately mad at N for telling. He's notorious for not keeping secrets.
As she was following Zoe into the bathroom, N was coming in with Toby and she realized he didn't know.
On Friday evening Zoe gave no less than 1,675,894 hugs and thank yous to Grandma, daddy and me.
We played gas station no less than 1,675,894 times.
I love our little Valentine!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Choose Joy
I came across a blog called Lil Blue Boo recently. Truthfully, I'm not sure what really drew me to the blog other than it looked fun. I really believe that God can direct you to the people He wants you to meet. Ashley is the author, director, creator of Lil Blue Boo and she is no less than amazing.
She's a wife, mommy, creator, crafter, DIYer and fighter. Her father passed away recently and in his things they found his motto "Choose Joy."
I'm a fairly optimistic person. I do like looking at things as half full rather than half empty. Ashley and her campaign to Choose Joy each day is inspiring and a wake-up call to me to really look at life differently.
If you have a few minutes, take a look at her blog. You might just be inspired to Choose Joy too!
She's a wife, mommy, creator, crafter, DIYer and fighter. Her father passed away recently and in his things they found his motto "Choose Joy."
I'm a fairly optimistic person. I do like looking at things as half full rather than half empty. Ashley and her campaign to Choose Joy each day is inspiring and a wake-up call to me to really look at life differently.
If you have a few minutes, take a look at her blog. You might just be inspired to Choose Joy too!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Sunday's Date
Sundays are usually a day of getting in last hugs and kisses before N goes back to the dam. Then Zoe and I spend the rest of the day doing laundry and trying really hard to stay entertained. Because Grandma is home too, Zoe usually doesn't want to play with me, she always wants Grandma to play too. I always try to think of things that will get us out of the house, but usually she's not interested. I've tried playing at the mall (her favorite), going out for dinner at Red Robin (her favorite), going bowling (her favorite), painting pottery (she's never done it and really wants to), etc. I pull out all the stops so we can get out of the house, give Grandma some time to herself and keep Zoe entertained.
Plus, I really love going on dates with my kiddo. She's funny and we can take her anywhere.
Yesterday was the same story. I suggested anything I could think of and nothing sounded fun. Until I mentioned a movie.
She was all over that. She couldn't decide if she wanted to find a movie first or just get her shoes. We picked Beauty and the Beast in 2D. I told her what 3D was like and she wasn't interested. I'm glad we didn't because about 5.2 minutes into it I realized that I don't think she's seen the movie before. We have it, but it's not one that I can recall we've watched.
About the same time she asked to sit on my lap. Then the Beast appeared out of no where, scared Belle's father and Zoe jumped. Then she started crying and wanting to leave. I had to whisper in her ear everything that was going to happen so she wouldn't be scared.
As the movie was over, she started crying again and wanting to leave. When I asked why she was crying, she replied between gasps for air, "it just ended so happy!"
She is so my child.
We ended the night with ice cream and a craft at home. As I was tucking her into bed last night, I was rubbing her back and singing to her when she tooted. She turned to look at me and said, "you're welcome."
She is so her daddy's girl.
Plus, I really love going on dates with my kiddo. She's funny and we can take her anywhere.
Yesterday was the same story. I suggested anything I could think of and nothing sounded fun. Until I mentioned a movie.
She was all over that. She couldn't decide if she wanted to find a movie first or just get her shoes. We picked Beauty and the Beast in 2D. I told her what 3D was like and she wasn't interested. I'm glad we didn't because about 5.2 minutes into it I realized that I don't think she's seen the movie before. We have it, but it's not one that I can recall we've watched.
About the same time she asked to sit on my lap. Then the Beast appeared out of no where, scared Belle's father and Zoe jumped. Then she started crying and wanting to leave. I had to whisper in her ear everything that was going to happen so she wouldn't be scared.
As the movie was over, she started crying again and wanting to leave. When I asked why she was crying, she replied between gasps for air, "it just ended so happy!"
She is so my child.
We ended the night with ice cream and a craft at home. As I was tucking her into bed last night, I was rubbing her back and singing to her when she tooted. She turned to look at me and said, "you're welcome."
She is so her daddy's girl.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
All the random...
HappyGroundhog's day! Phil saw his shadow. I guess it's another 6 weeks of winter. Since Phil is only right 39% of the time, it's anyone's guess. I heard someone talking about market predictions for 2012 and he cupped his hand next to his mouth as if to whisper and whispered, "we don't really know for sure." I think that could be Phil's motto too. Although his Inner Circle is positive that they also speak groundhog and that his chirps and clicks meant winter. Really, do you want to brag, outside of Punxsutawney that your part of the Inner Circle and claim to be a groundhog whisperer?
Today is a dentist appointment for Zoe. She had a little mental breakdown last night about the dentist. She cried, asked if I would hold her hand and then proceeded to wail about going to the dentist. I think it was totally being tired. When she's tired she also complains that she doesn't want to be 5, she loved being 4! Tired = Oscar caliber performance.
In about an hour I'll be holding the hand of a 5 year old we pretend is still 4 and praying that some sleep gave her some perspective on things.
I realized this morning that I haven't done laundry in about 9 days. I'm running dangerously low on necessities. On the positive side of the equation, I have more clothing choices then I've been keeping in the normal rotation. It's been a good exercise.
Finally, I'm a little reluctant to mention it, but the ladies at work have been talking non-stop about The Bachelor. I think I watched the final rose ceremony of the first Bachelor and the first Bachelorette. Beyond that, I haven't watched at all. I don't really buy into true love on reality TV in 6 weeks. With the exception of Trista and Ryan, my average is better than Punxsutawney Phil's 39%. It sounds like this new season is Jersey Shore meets Real World meets Bad Girls. While I haven't watched the show, I feel like I can comment on it with all the details I get at work.
I really have no reason to mention that other than the fact that it's been the highlight of work this week and it's part of all the random of my life.
Happy Groundhog's Day, 6 more weeks of winter, dentist appointments, Oscar caliber performances and finding true love on TV.
Today is a dentist appointment for Zoe. She had a little mental breakdown last night about the dentist. She cried, asked if I would hold her hand and then proceeded to wail about going to the dentist. I think it was totally being tired. When she's tired she also complains that she doesn't want to be 5, she loved being 4! Tired = Oscar caliber performance.
In about an hour I'll be holding the hand of a 5 year old we pretend is still 4 and praying that some sleep gave her some perspective on things.
I realized this morning that I haven't done laundry in about 9 days. I'm running dangerously low on necessities. On the positive side of the equation, I have more clothing choices then I've been keeping in the normal rotation. It's been a good exercise.
Finally, I'm a little reluctant to mention it, but the ladies at work have been talking non-stop about The Bachelor. I think I watched the final rose ceremony of the first Bachelor and the first Bachelorette. Beyond that, I haven't watched at all. I don't really buy into true love on reality TV in 6 weeks. With the exception of Trista and Ryan, my average is better than Punxsutawney Phil's 39%. It sounds like this new season is Jersey Shore meets Real World meets Bad Girls. While I haven't watched the show, I feel like I can comment on it with all the details I get at work.
I really have no reason to mention that other than the fact that it's been the highlight of work this week and it's part of all the random of my life.
Happy Groundhog's Day, 6 more weeks of winter, dentist appointments, Oscar caliber performances and finding true love on TV.
Friday, January 27, 2012
1,827
I think there’s a saying that you can’t see the forest through the trees or something close to that. As I look back on the last several years, that’s the absolute truth. As I look back on my life, there are things that I’ve always wished were different. Yet, the older I get I realize that to do that, it would ruin God’s plan for my life. Every single thing, both good and poor choices, have brought me to this moment.
I love this moment.
It’s imperfectly perfect.
We were talking about the day of Zoe’s birth yesterday. It was the 5th anniversary of her amazing birth. It’s funny to think, but that’s not the day I remember. It all seems foreign to me. I woke up in ICU 5 years ago today and am pretty sure I looked like I had been abducted by aliens and they were experimenting on me. I learned that it took the ICU people 1 hour to hook me up to all the tubes, IVs, medication, etc. My first question to my mother yesterday, who was thinking she was watching her daughter dying, was, “why didn’t you get a picture of me hooked up to all that stuff?” I would’ve loved to have seen that. I can’t really imagine being hooked up to a ventilator and having a 5 IV poles supplying me with all kinds of good and powerful drugs. You’d think I should be like the Green Lantern or one of those X-Men with all the things they pumped into me. Really, how cool would that be? You almost died giving life to your child, to make up for not getting to meet her that day and having things go as planned, you can have one superhero power of your choice! That may be one thing I talk to God about.
As we were chatting about it, Zoe asked, “what present did you get me on the day I was born?” You know, birthdays = presents. I told her I gave her life. She was totally disappointed that I didn’t even have a stuffed animal or cute outfit. She has no clue how unprepared we were.
We were unprepared in so many ways. There is no shortness of God’s grace and mercy through the whole thing. It was like He was saying, “you kids got WAY off track and I’m bringing you back the hard way. Love you!” I always picture God throwing that “love you” in there to soften the blow.
The farther away I get from that day, the more I think, “I could do it again.” Which is totally ridiculous. I really should’ve died...two separate times. Yet here I am. Apparently God’s not ready for me yet and really, can you blame Him? I can be a handful. I’d probably be up there yelling down at N and Zoe to brush their teeth, put their dishes in the sink, go on a date to get ice cream rather than watch ANOTHER Wizards of Waverly Place! Since He could see all of this, He probably figured N could deal with it for another few decades! It builds character.
Sometimes I can get bogged down in life. Life is hard, stressful and chaotic. Yet it is full of so much joy that I can’t stand it sometimes. The happiest moments make me cry more than the hard ones. Yesterday was a reminder of all that I’ve been blessed with and how awesome this life is, stress and all. How fortunate I am to have had these past 1,827 days as Zoe’s mom and N’s wife. How fortunate we are that N almost lost me because I’m not sure these last 1,827 days would’ve been as cherished as they have been. I’m known to have rules and be a little OCD. Bless him.
Zoe’s birthday brings many milestones, but one reminder: choose joy!
I love this moment.
It’s imperfectly perfect.
We were talking about the day of Zoe’s birth yesterday. It was the 5th anniversary of her amazing birth. It’s funny to think, but that’s not the day I remember. It all seems foreign to me. I woke up in ICU 5 years ago today and am pretty sure I looked like I had been abducted by aliens and they were experimenting on me. I learned that it took the ICU people 1 hour to hook me up to all the tubes, IVs, medication, etc. My first question to my mother yesterday, who was thinking she was watching her daughter dying, was, “why didn’t you get a picture of me hooked up to all that stuff?” I would’ve loved to have seen that. I can’t really imagine being hooked up to a ventilator and having a 5 IV poles supplying me with all kinds of good and powerful drugs. You’d think I should be like the Green Lantern or one of those X-Men with all the things they pumped into me. Really, how cool would that be? You almost died giving life to your child, to make up for not getting to meet her that day and having things go as planned, you can have one superhero power of your choice! That may be one thing I talk to God about.
As we were chatting about it, Zoe asked, “what present did you get me on the day I was born?” You know, birthdays = presents. I told her I gave her life. She was totally disappointed that I didn’t even have a stuffed animal or cute outfit. She has no clue how unprepared we were.
We were unprepared in so many ways. There is no shortness of God’s grace and mercy through the whole thing. It was like He was saying, “you kids got WAY off track and I’m bringing you back the hard way. Love you!” I always picture God throwing that “love you” in there to soften the blow.
The farther away I get from that day, the more I think, “I could do it again.” Which is totally ridiculous. I really should’ve died...two separate times. Yet here I am. Apparently God’s not ready for me yet and really, can you blame Him? I can be a handful. I’d probably be up there yelling down at N and Zoe to brush their teeth, put their dishes in the sink, go on a date to get ice cream rather than watch ANOTHER Wizards of Waverly Place! Since He could see all of this, He probably figured N could deal with it for another few decades! It builds character.
Sometimes I can get bogged down in life. Life is hard, stressful and chaotic. Yet it is full of so much joy that I can’t stand it sometimes. The happiest moments make me cry more than the hard ones. Yesterday was a reminder of all that I’ve been blessed with and how awesome this life is, stress and all. How fortunate I am to have had these past 1,827 days as Zoe’s mom and N’s wife. How fortunate we are that N almost lost me because I’m not sure these last 1,827 days would’ve been as cherished as they have been. I’m known to have rules and be a little OCD. Bless him.
Zoe’s birthday brings many milestones, but one reminder: choose joy!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
She is...
Zoe is:
Witty - She is funny without even trying and already has great timing.
Kind - She loves her friends and family and demonstrates that through her actions. I'm positive her heart is bigger than her body.
Imaginative - She has a play going in her head at all times, knows exactly who would play the best character, what lines to say and what we should all be wearing. I'm positive she looks at life as though it's a Broadway musical.
Smart and Clever - She can already write all her letters, knows the sounds they make, does basic math and is learning to read. She can also look at something and know how it works. I'm blown away by how her mind.
Five - She's officially a whole hand today.
Happy birthday Doods! We fall more in love with you everyday.
Witty - She is funny without even trying and already has great timing.
Kind - She loves her friends and family and demonstrates that through her actions. I'm positive her heart is bigger than her body.
Imaginative - She has a play going in her head at all times, knows exactly who would play the best character, what lines to say and what we should all be wearing. I'm positive she looks at life as though it's a Broadway musical.
Smart and Clever - She can already write all her letters, knows the sounds they make, does basic math and is learning to read. She can also look at something and know how it works. I'm blown away by how her mind.
Five - She's officially a whole hand today.
Happy birthday Doods! We fall more in love with you everyday.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
She's a Natural
Sometimes, when I'm running late, Zoe will have eaten dinner before I get home and then my mom and I have dinner together. This usually means that Zoe spends the whole dinner asking if I'm done yet and can we play.
Last night was a bit different. She played by herself while Grandma and I ate. The second she saw that I was done, she comes over, tilts her head to the side, puts on a sweet smile and says, "mommy, will you play with me" and then started batting her eyes.
We are in BIG trouble!
Last night was a bit different. She played by herself while Grandma and I ate. The second she saw that I was done, she comes over, tilts her head to the side, puts on a sweet smile and says, "mommy, will you play with me" and then started batting her eyes.
We are in BIG trouble!
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