Love Is In The Air...

Can't you just here the theme from "Love Boat" now...

blah, blah, exciting and new...THE LOVE BOAT...

Okay, so I can't remember all of the song but I was just a wee little girl when this show was on; I remember liking Jill and thinking how pretty she was.

But I digress...

Long before my husband and I decided to have kids, we were newly in love and celebrating our first Valentine's Day. I had to work but my then-boyfriend did not.

When I arrived at his apartment, he was playing my favorite song "One Fine Day" (the Natalie Merchant version) and the lights were dimmed. When I walked in, he had written I Heart (okay, the shape, not the word) U in hugs and kisses on his coffee table; there were flowers and a gift bag full of my favorite bath and body products. Then he made dinner (that I hated but ate every bite).

To this day, that has been the sweetest thing he has ever done for me.

Twelve years later we celebrate Valentine's Day with our two kids. We snuck out for two hours last evening to catch an early (4pm) dinner and a quick run through the mall before picking them up at 6:30. While I love my life now, I will always fondly look back at that first Valentine's Day when everything was "exciting and new...."

Hope you get your heart's desires this Valentine's Day!

Black and Blue

So I am a slacker of mega proportions when it comes to blogging.

Some days I am determined to get back on the horse 'cause I do love to read about you (I lurk more than comment, though, these days) and love your comments here even more.

Other days, I think I will just throw in the towel.

A little yellow rose from Texas, though, keeps pecking (nicely and gently) and keeps me from doing the latter.

I have so much to say that it seems it would be easier to not say anything. Does that make even a little sense?

So, back to the title of this post: black and blue.

I have spent a great deal of time lately on the ground.

We had an ice storm here in Buckeye land a few weeks ago and then low temps that caused the ice to linger. Last Monday, I stepped out of my car to go to class and then promptly crashed into the car next to me. I bumped my head, back, bum and, worst of all, spilled my coffee.

Two days later, the same. Different locale, same result.

As my blue bruises began to fade into a most unattractive mustard and the throbbing in my neck, back and bum waned, I sat in a chair in class last night that just felt...wrong.

I shoulda listened to my gut.

A few minutes later, I leaned forward to grab something and BOOM! down on the floor I went.

So the bruises on my bum, back, arms and head have cousins now.

But my ego? It may never recover after breaking a chair and landing with a THUD! on the ground in front of 25 semi-strangers.

Absenteeism

I am busy.

I am taking more courses than usual this quarter and am trying to get grad school applications in order, too.

I am still a mom, wife and friend.

So, coupled with my Facebook obsession, this place has taken a backseat lately.

For those of you who still bother visiting, I apologize for that.




I am still reading most of your posts but commenting is pretty infrequent.

As Bartles and James said, "thanks for your cooperation."

Once the spring thaw happens, my time will be less scarce and I am hoping my blog fever will return, too.

Toni Cheater Pants

I have a confession, internetz.

I have been cheating on you.

It's true.

I have a new lover in my life and it has quietly and unobtrusively eaten the time I used to spend here blogging and reading your blogs.

I am ashamed at my indiscretion.

I am! I swear.

I also know that this new lover is one that isn't necessarily approved of in the blogging community because of its fickiness about boobs and babies.

If you hadn't guessed, I have joined the ranks of those addicted to Facebook.

And addicted I am. Oh, sweet Mother Mary.

I really thought it would be a one-time foray into the underworld but, Holy Hannah, I can't stop! Each day I am asked to be friends with new people: old flames, old enemies, old friends and far flung family members. There's always a new status update and hugs to give and receive.

Oh, I have to tell you it is fun. SO fun.

I am trying to find a way to have two loves in my life on top of family stuff and school. I suppose it doesn't matter if we have clean underwear, does it?

Two

I now have a two year old.

Not a baby.

A toddler.

A little boy.

For so long, I have referred to Liam as "the baby" to my husband, family and friends. Obviously, that is because he is my baby, my youngest. Yesterday, though, as we celebrated his birthday, I looked at him and saw not a baby but (gulp) a boy.

He has a little boy haircut.

He likes cars, trains and balls.

He practices burping and says "poopy" when he, er, passes gas.

Yes, this baby I am raising has turned into a boy.

I'm not sure I am ready to bid farewell to those baby days just yet.

So, as his vocabulary explodes and potty training looms, I relish the fact that he still goes "night, night" with a blue satin blankie and prefers to be rocked by me. I will sniff a little deeper and longer when I catch a whiff of Dreft on his jammies. I am going to lap up every bit of this time I have left when the baby is still visible in this two year old boy.

She Lives!

So, you know it's been a long time since you've blogged if blogger says "who" when you sign in.

Seriously.

The delightful AFF pulled me out of the misery chaos that has filled the last umpteen days/weeks since I have checked into this dusty little place by sending an email entitled "Where you at?"

'Nuff said.

I have been sick. My kids have been sick. Twice. My daughter turned nine. Baby Jesus had a birthday, too. We had family functions and messes to make and subsequently clean up. Now, tomorrow, Liam turns two.

Is this mess of celebrating from Thanksgiving until now EVER GOING TO END?

Seriously. I love my son and am so glad he was born but why in the name of all that is good did I have another child within days of Christmas? What do you buy him that he didn't already get 8 days ago? For Pete's sake, there are still Christmas gifts that need removed from their packaging!

Eeek! I must stop thinking about it and find an empty spot in my overflowing closets to pile our loot from Christmas so that my parents and, God help me, Satan and his wife in-laws are coming tomorrow, along with 10-15 other close friends and family to help further trash the garbage heap that is my house.

Yippee!

So, if there are any of you left who bother to stop by and admire my cobwebs, what's up with you? Did you get anything cool from Santa?

Nine

Nine years ago today, my daughter entered the world.

After nearly three full days of trying to trick my body into having her the "old-fashioned way", I relented to a c-section.

We didn't click for some time, my daughter and I. I suppose at some level, I resented this little creature who had put me through such a difficult birth. My husband stepped in and bonded with her while I tried to push through the haze of new motherhood and depression to find my place.

Eventually, though, I fell in love with her and she with me. And I have thanked all that is good and holy for giving her to me each day since.

Today, she is nine.

Happy Birthday, my darling Claire....