Raaaawwwwwr!

I'ne a Pi-watt!

Thank you, Spongebob.

Three

Dear Alison,

Yesterday you turned three years old.

You are such a big girl now that it breaks my heart. You are funny and sweet and emotional. You are loving and tomboyish and girly. You have definite opinions and are not afraid to express them. You are adventurous and mischievious and downright alot of work.

I was a happy person before you were born. I loved your daddy and your brother, and was overall contented with my life. I never felt that something was missing. Never felt that a part of me lay dormant and unexplored. Never felt that there was just one more thing that I needed to attain in order to feel that my life was where it was supposed to be.

Until you.

I looked in your little pudgy jaundiced face and realized that this was it. This bundle of squalling newborn was the missing piece to my life's puzzle. I worried before you were born that I wouldn't love you as much as I loved your brother. It scared me how much I loved him. I worried that you would get leftovers of me, that my best momming years might be in the past. That you would somehow come out on the short end of the stick. I knew I would love you, but I just didn't know how much.

Yeah. I shouldn't have worried.

My daughter. My sweetie. My noodle. You are so much more than I ever hoped for. I love you completely. Totally. Crazily. You are my meemit, my beebee, my punkin punkin. You are my baby baby girl. You are It.

When I saw you laying so helplessly sick in the hospital and thought about what my life would be like without you, my knees buckled. My heart clenched. I broke out in a cold sweat. You have woven your way through the fibers of my heart. You make my life complete in a way that I can't explain. You'll understand one day when you have kidlets of your own.

I almost cannot remember our family life before you. I know we were very happy. And I know we weren't as busy. I seem to remember it being alot quieter around here.

But I wouldn't trade all the noise and the chaos and the tears and the emotional breakdowns that you have on a thrice daily basis for anything in the world. Daddy and Zach feel the same way.

Happy Bertcake, Sweetness. I love you.

Love,

Mama

Ummmm, yeah...

Ever think you are doing really well on your diet/exercise/new life style plan for world domination...and then see a picture of yourself and realize it is not working out so hot for ya?

And no, I am not doing the "Loser" sign. I have no idea what I was doing, but it definitely was not the loser sign.

I am consoling myself with the fact that if I were alive during the Renaissance, I would be considered really really hot. Because they liked their women fleshy and rotund.

I Melt

Alison: Mommy! My bess fwen!
Me: What, sweetie?
Alison: My bess fwen!
Me: Your best friend?
Alison: Yeah, Mommy. My bess fwen my Zacky. I luh my Zacky.

It's times like that, that make all this mommying worth while.

So Not Fair

Some of you may already know this, but for those who do not, Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his family have suffered a horrible loss this week. Their five year old daughter, Maria, was struck and killed in the driveway of their family home in Tennessee...by a vehicle driven by one of the Chapmans' teenaged sons.

I cannot begin to imagine the horror and grief that this family is going through right now. In addition to the loss of their precious girl, they are having to deal with the tragedy being caused by one of their other children. My son would be absolutely devastated if he were to cause pain or injury to my daughter...their son is surely feeling guilt and self-blame beyond comprehension.

I remember hearing Steven in concert about nineteen years ago in a small church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He was up on stage with his guitar, singing these heart-felt songs that he had written. He spoke of his love for God and for his wife and children. He was so genuine, so down to earth, so real. A few years ago, a friend loaned me a video that Steven and his wife had made showing their journey towards adopting a little girl from China. Since then, they have adopted a total of three. Maria was one of them. By the end of the video, I was in tears and thanking God that there are people like the Chapmans in the world who will rescue babies from orphanages.

Let's all say a prayer for this family. Not just today, but any time that you remember them. They are going to need it.

How to put it?

Dear Nice Lady,

Thanks for coming by my booth at the conference today. It was a pleasure meeting you and discussing how we might do business together.

On a personal note, I thought your lemon yellow capri pantsuit was divine. It was breezy and casual, yet dressy. Perfect for the conference setting in this beautiful resort. Your hair and make up were fantastic, and the glasses you chose were just the right shape for your face. Your jewelry added just the right touch, a little bling but not too much. And your shoes? We will not get into a discussion of your shoes, because they were divine and made me want to mug you for them. It is obvious you put alot of care and thought into your fashion choices.

But next time? You might want to reconsider the black thong. I am just sayin'.

Your New Friend,
Missie

Happy Mother's Day

To all of you wonderful ladies out there who go by the name of Mom, Mommy, Mama, or Maaaahmaaaaay--I want to wish you the happiest and best of days. May you be surrounded by your children and those you love. Or at least not be bothered by those who annoy you.

We are in Idaho, happy to be home. All is not unpacked or organized yet, which stresses me to no end. But it feels right to be here. I missed Idaho in more ways than I even thought.

Monday I leave for two days in Chicago followed by three days in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I don't want to leave again so soon after just coming back from one trip and then moving, but what can ya do? I am looking forward to getting some good uninterrupted sleep at some point during next week. That alone is almost worth the hassle of going. We will be meeting with many of our clients face to face, so therefore I must be dressed in "business formal" attire (my boss' emphasis). Dang. I thought I could just show up in my bikini and hot pink feather boa and call it good. We are heading directly from the airport to a client's office, which means one thing...that when I leave my house at approximately 5 freaking AM on Monday, I will have to be in HEELS! HOSE! A SKIRT! WITH HAIR DONE! Can we say, No comfy traveling? That part stinks. I no likey.

I promise to post a more informative entry when I return. (quit laughing. seriously. you are hurting my feelings.) Have a great weekend!