She and I

The morning was pretty uneventful. Busy, but uneventful. A trip to the mall, a bit of shopping, seeing the sand sculpture of dinosaurs and riding the carousel. Lunch was Chick-Fil-A, and then home. Andrew, who lately has been favoring "rest time" in lieu of a nap, actually slept today. I heard no noise coming from his room. No animal sounds, no ongoing narration of the books he had stacked in the bed with him. Just my angel boy curled around his beloved Pooh bear, fast asleep.



But that girl of mine, oh that girl of mine. She paced around her crib like a caged animal, alternately snorting and screaming and throwing things out. The floor of her room was a jumbled mess of blankies, bears, babies and the bows that were in her hair. She roared like a tiny lion, called everyone in our family, and then started in on the neighbors. She played peek-a-boo with herself and sang songs. She counted (1, 2, 3, 8, 5, YAY!!) and kicked and grunted. She tried to pull her clothes off to get to her diaper. She spit at no one in particular. I watched the drama from a safe distance, confident that she would finally surrender to the sandman. She did not.

I gave up, and got one tiny, ecstatic girl out of her crib and decided that she and I would have some quality "girl time" while Bubbie was asleep. But THAT was not to be, either. She kept chanting over and over, "Mommy bed, mommy bed, mommy bed". She grabbed her beloved duck blankie and, with thumb in mouth, hightailed it to my room. A glimmer of hope! Maybe that nap would come after all.

We snuggled into the softness and warmth of "mommy bed". " Pink! Pink!" She kept exclaiming at the top of her lungs pointing to the underside of the tester canopy. "Mommy bed, mommy big bed. I big girl. BIIIIIGG BEEEDDDDD". "Mommy, da wolf", "Mommy, da wion" "Mommy Puuuuupppy GOG" Yay" MOMMMMMyyyyyy".... along with a cacophony of other sounds and phrases. She alternated jumping around (on ME~) like a miniature jumping bean and falling down and pressing her tiny body next to mine-- complete with squinting her eyes and making fake snoring sounds! The last time she snuggled was it.

The wee squinted eyes began to relax, the fake snoring subsided and was replaced by the soft even breathing of a sleeping child. Eyes darted back and forth underneath closed lids. Her long, long lashes (inherited from her daddy) rested softly on her sweet cheeks. Her curls spilled across her forehead, a smile flitted across her lips, her hands jerked, and she found her thumb. Even in sleep, she sucked on it for dear life. I watched her and it took my breath away. Images flashed across my mind of all the times I've stood and watched her, watched both of my treasures, sleep. From a tiny newborn, to my fat cheeked baby, to this active toddler that now roams my house.

I thought about just 2 short years ago when I was expecting her. I would put Andrew in his crib, and lie down across my bed with a huge quilt and rest when he did. I was hot and tired, and so very pregnant and swollen. The after lunch siesta was something I looked forward to, and relished. She was there with me then, too. A swift kick, a gentle nudge, the movement of an arm, a leg, or a wee hand. I dreamed about what it would be like to have a daughter. I dreamed of how different it would be from having a son. I dreamed about what she would look like, and how much fun it would be to indulge my love of all things pink and frilly. During those quiet moments it was just she and I.

We revisited that for just a little while today. Just she and I resting in the quiet of the afternoon on that very same bed. I still dream about what she will become. I still pray about the woman she will be. She still gave me the gentle nudge, the movement of her little arms and legs... but this time I was watching her. Those sweet, precious (albeit brief!) moments this afternoon were priceless. The kind that burn themselves into your memory forever. Sweet memories that I hope will be the first of many for she and I.

Organizing bliss

Anyone that knows me knows that I am constantly decluttering, looking for better ways to organize and compulsively straightening things. I know, I know, it's a sickness, but I get it HONESTLY. My mom and sis are worse than I am (though my husband might disagree with this, he has never lived with the two of them. It can get ugly, y'all !!!!)



Soooo, you can imagine my excitement and absolute GLEE when I discovered this little organizational tidbit buried in the Living section of our paper. I am constantly battling organization in the drawers in our bathroom. I've reorganized, regrouped, bought tiny containers, bought larger containers, etc. Still it is never up to my standards. But NO MORE!!! The article suggested that you think of the things in your bathroom as kitchen utensils/tools/items..... and buy things that you would to organize the kitchen-- such as utensil holders and MY FAVORITE thing of all..... the inner door organizer like the one I have in my kitchen (for Saran Wrap, Foil, sandwich bags, etc. )



You can use it in your bathroom for things like hairspray, hair products, etc. You know, those things that clutter up drawers and under cabinet areas and make people like me crazy!!

Works like a charm, and has made my weekend, I tell you!

Let me share....

Exhibit A

Exhibit B.....

Okay, you know I had to stick a couple of kid pics up!

Little Miss Anna Kate is Lovin' her new outfit from Uncle "John John", and my Andrew is stylin' in some shades (that might be some old ones of mine!) and his Baptist hymnal... totally his own idea (even if it is upside down)

Have a great weekend y'all!!

Happy Friday and Much Love,

Linen Roses

Y'all.... I came across this idea in a back issue of (what else??) Southern Living (link in sidebar, in too much of a hurry to insert here today!) this morning while "purging" old mags and just had to share.

This is PRECIOUS!!

It's a idea to use for cloth napkins. The photo in the issue shows some bright colored funky ones, but I had some beautifully trimmed antique white ones in a drawer that I wanted to try....

It turned out like this








Isn't that the cutest??!! I tied them with some leftover raffia that I had in my "craft bag" (the article suggested twine, but I was, ummm, fresh out of that!!) . Sooo , when your guests need a napkin at your next little soiree, they can simply "pluck" a flower and unroll. Too cute!



Instructions:

Open napkin flat; then fold the lower left corner to the top right corner. Then, fold lower right corner to the top left corner, forming a triangle. Starting at one corner of the long edge of the triangle, roll it firmly toward the other corner. The result mimics the tight bud of a flower! Tie the "stems" with ribbon or twine, and loosely gather (like a bunch of flowers) in a compote or bowl (I used a low vase). Enjoy!

Taken from Southern Living- 2007

Happy Wednesday and Much Love,

The blog and stuff

For some reason, my first "blog-o-versary" passed unnoticed by me. I'm not quite sure why? I looked up one day in June and realized that it had come and gone without so much as a fleeting thought from yours truly. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I don't blog as much as I used to... Or perhaps the fact that I don't think about my blog as much as I used to.

But then I DID start thinking about it. I went back and read my posts from when this journey began and contemplated all that has come and gone in the time between. I know some bloggers have great stories about why they began, or a catalyst they had for starting... HOWEVER, I am still just not quite sure just why I began blogging ( Okay, so how many times can you use the word, or at least the root word, blog in one post????) I think it had something to do with reading a few blogs, and tiring of sending out lots of kid pics via email. I think it had something to do with thinking it was a little bit fun to express myself in writing. I think that I am rambling and racking my brain for reasons that don't exist.

What I do know is this.... it has been an incredible blessing to me. YOU have been an incredible addition to my life. I have "met" so many of you who have encouraged me, prayed for me, befriended me, loved me, and shared in our lives. I know some of you in real life, have MET some of you in real life, or just plain feel like I know you. I have laughed at you until my sides have ached, cried with you or shaken my head in agreement with you. Some of your recipes are in my book, I've watched your children grow, marveled at your projects or just wanted to hug those of you who make me realize that I'm not the "only one" who feels/acts/ sees things/ or REacts a certain way. So thank you. Thanks to all of you for being you.... and for being real.

I don't know what the future in this adventure holds for me. I could be at it until I'm 92.... but then by that time, we should all be able to "virtually" be in each other's living rooms!!! I could decide to quit next month, or next year, or, or, or.......... you get the picture. I've thought about qutting several times (but then I think about allllllll those emails I'd be obligated to - wink, wink). I currently don't post as much as I used to. I don't comment as much as I used to. (please forgive me!) I am still reading, though. My priorities have just changed a wee little bit. I think all of that is okay. I know that I don't ever regret beginning this endeavor, and I can't imagine NOT having done it.

So, happy (late) one year mark to me.... I can't wait to see what the next one holds. I adore all of y'all. You are fabulous women (and maybe one or two of the male persuasion!) and you inspire me daily.

Happy Tuesday, Happy Independence Day and
Much, MUCH love,