What Goes Around Comes Around

So yesterday was a big day in the life of sweet Annie Barclay ... her first trip to the dentist. I honestly had no idea what to expect, but she actually did really well. Of course it probably helped that the waiting room looks like Chuck E. Cheese ... it's a mainly pediatric dental practice, so of course the whole thing is geared toward that part of the population. When Annie realized "The Wonder Pets" was about to come on one of the bazillion TV's, she announced to the waiting room in a loud voice: "The Wonder Pets is COMING ON!!" Very exciting ...

Following the trip to the dentist, I made the not-so-smart decision to take Hopie to the vet to (modesty out the window here) have her anal glands expressed. We swung by the house to pick up Hope and there we went, Hopie in the backseat and Annie so proud she was riding by her. The vet was fine if you count having your sweet border collie a tiny bit violated so her glands could be expressed and your 3-year-old NEEDING to be picked up simultaneously as "fine."

Ah, but the fun really started when we got home. We drove into the garage and here's how it went:

"Mommy, I NEED a grilled cheese."

"Ok, just a second." (me, trying to get Hopie's safety-first harness off before she hung herself jumping out of the car)

"Mommy, what Hopie doing?" (Hopie, sprung from her harness and now trying desperately to get out of the car)

"Getting out of the car to go in the house."

"I want to go in the house."

"I know, just a second."

"Mommy, I NEED to get out." (me now trying to unbuckle Annie from her car seat.)

She, also sprung from the car, heads for the house.

"Mommy, I NEED a grilled cheese, please." (I love how she throws in manners ...)

"Ok, Annie, just a second ... it has to cook." (me getting out skillet, bread, cheese, etc.)

"Mommy, I NEED some juice, THAT juice" (she has now dramatically flung open the refrigerator door and is gesturing toward my Dr. Pepper.)

"No, honey, that's Mommy's Dr. Pepper, here's some apple juice."

"I NEED to watch something on TV ... I NEED my grilled cheese." dear God, I can't think as fast as this tiny child makes demands ...

"Annie, the grilled cheese is cooking, and where are your manners?" ( I realize I am sounding a bit like our "Manners Matter" book.)

She has gone into the living room, and I finish up the grilled cheese, taking it through to her (feeling more than a bit like a slave.)

"I'm tired now. Cover me up, please, Mommy?" she says, curled up on the couch, exhausted from making demands, being chauffered around town and growing hormones.

As I look at my child I have only one thought:

Oh. My. Lord. I. Have. Given. Birth. To. Myself.

Birthday Wishes

Today is my mom's birthday ... such a wonderful day, and I wish I could be with her!

Sometimes when you want to write something about a particular person it's impossible to find the words. Like now. There aren't enough words to describe my mom.

She's always and without question been there for me. To this day. If I need to call her twelve times in one single day because I'm (usually unnecessarily) freaked out about something Annie-related, she just listens and listens and listens. She doesn't mention that after the eleventh phone call she might actually have something she needs to get done that particular day. Nope, she just listens. Not because I'm that spectacular but because she is.

Her friends could tell you that, too. She's generous beyond measure and always carves out time for the really important things in life. Her family, her friends, and my dad, who is the love of her life.

As I watch Annie grow and somehow, impossibly find myself loving her even more deeply every second, I think of my mom. I hope I pass all that I've learned from her onto my precious child.

And Mom? Well, happy birthday to my best friend, my confidante, my sounding board for pretty much everything, and for the beautiful woman who showed me what unconditional love is. I love you always ...

Maddy Day

Well, well, dear readers, another blog is upon us, and I have quite a bit to report! First, my dear cousin (Kelly), her husband (Michael), their precious son (Spencer) and their dogs (Hershey and Hailey) welcomed the newest addition to their family Friday morning ... weighing in at 9 lbs. 3 oz. we have the beautiful Madeline Elizabeth Day. Sweet little Maddy is absolutely gorgeous, and I have fought many urges to just hop in the car and drive to Atlanta so I could see her! Alas, I've been ravenously eating up all the pictures I've had coming my way, which you can see below. I can't wait to meet her, and if all goes as planned, Annie and I will doing just that in June ...

This has also been a big weekend for our little drama queen (still don't where that little personality comes from!) as both sets of grandparents were in town for her end-of-the-year Kindermusik program Saturday mornining. We all went out to eat Friday night despite the rain (and yes, Annie does have her little umbrella in the restaurant) and had a blast. The program was a hoot (as you can see from the pictures), and it came as no surprise that Annie had no stage fright whatsoever. That's one of her best little friends, Camie, in a lot of the pictures with her.

The last picture is one of Annie and me that Anthony snapped this morning after church.

Ah, but what would a weekend be without an incident of some variety, right? On Saturday (since all grandparents were on hand and more than willing to babysit) Anthony and I snuck out to the movies. Because we saw a relatively long but really good movie ("Angels and Demons" and no, I don't care that the two reviews I read weren't particularly kind) I decided to use the restroom before the movie.

No worries until I washed my hands and went over to get paper towels. I assumed it was one of those high-tech, "super-sanitary" machines, so I waved at it like it was a long-lost friend (isn't that how you activate the sensors?)

Nothing happened. A little mortifying but as my hands were dripping onto the floor I persevered.

I waved under the machine, thinking perhaps the sensor was there. People began to line up behind me. (Speaking of, if any of you are reading this, would it have killed ya to offer some advice??)

Nothing happened. So there I stood, smiling politely, hands still dripping and staring at the perplexing paper-towel dispenser. Good grief, just as I was contemplating drying my hands on my pants and forgetting about the whole thing, I saw it.

An old-fashioned handle-thingy. Huh. I just pushed it and lo and behold. Paper towels emerged.

Miracle of miracles.

It really has been a fun weekend, and Maddy, you beautiful girl, welcome to the family ... I can't WAIT to meet you!

Happy Mother's Day

Well, Mother's Day is upon us once again, and I always find myself searching for the perfect words for the day ... first, I have to wish my own mom Happy Mother's Day. I have absolutely no idea where I'd be without her, and she is ALWAYS there for me, and somehow as I get older I find myself needing her more and more (see #4!) She's beautiful inside and out, and I love her more than I could even begin to say. She's my best friend. (And Mama, I know you're reading this, and I want you to know I'm so sorry Grandma's not here anymore ... she would be so, so, so proud of you!)

I also want to wish my mother-in-law a happy mother's day ... she's so special to me and such an incredible grandma to Annie.

Finally, I thought I'd share some really random things I've learned about motherhood in the past 3 years:

1. Motherhood only gets harder as your child gets older. (and yes, I'm aware I've only just begun on this one!)

2. Making a snorting pig noise (Annie's newest trick) is not attractive ... funny but not attractive.

3. You discover you really can differentiate between your child's cries - in a split second.

4. With every passing day, you appreciate your own mom more and more.

5. Dora the Explorer and The Wonder Pets are actually pretty cute little shows. Honestly.

6. When it comes right down to being a mom and making all the split-second decisions with which you're constantly bombarded, you never know for sure if you're "doing it right."

7. Red crayon "drawings" on white doors are NOT easy to remove. Enough said.

8. Having a potty-trained child is a double-edged sword.

9. It's ok to zone out during this line of questioning from your child.

"What doing?
"Now what doing?"
"Now what doing?"
"Now what doing?"

10. Kids are expensive.

11. Hand-me-downs are the best. (*see #10)

12. If they're clothes and they're clean, they're fair game to be worn -- matching optional. Seasonally appropriate optional.

13. You discover you possess an uncanny ability to sprint through Target whilst navigating one of those massive kid buggies if your child is having a meltdown.

14. You discover that even on the worst days, the days when you might want to hide in your closet in the fetal position because your child is driving you that crazy, you absolutely wouldn't trade being a mom for anything in the whole wide world. Why? See below ...

Just Another Day In Paradise

Well it's about this time of year that we all start spending a lot of time at night out on the deck: grilling out (Anthony!) and just hanging out. Or as is the case this year, enjoying what little time there seems to be when it's not monsooning! (and yes, I just made that word into a verb)

Mommy of the Year

Oh, welcome to the world of the current Mommy of the Year ... yep, you're looking at her. Or should I say reading her blog. Let me back up a bit and explain: one of my friends and I had a playdate with our girls on Friday at my mom and dad's condo in Franklin. All was going well ... the girls were playing incredibly well, my friend and I were having normal conversation that did not revolve around Dora, Moms Day Out programs, budgets, etc.

Then suddenly a silence fell upon us. Could the children be playing so incredibly quietly?? Nah, it was a bizarre quiet, the kind that does NOT bode well.

So we crept back toward where the girls were. It took about two seconds to realize what they had been doing: toilet papering the back half of the condo. And brushing their teeth A LOT, emptying an entire box of kleenex onto the floor, and using two boxes of band-aids to cover any and every surface of their persons. And yes, it was one of those moments where we were laughing hysterically. How could we not? Kids will be kids, and those moments are priceless. Not fun to clean up but priceless.

We also went to another friend's little boy's birthday party this weekend and had so much fun. I think that explains the following pictures ... Maybe!