I MUST blog about this ordinary day...

I must blog about this ordinary/extraordinary day. Only continue reading if you're willing to see the extraordinary in ordinary.

We moved to Holly Springs in June and here we are in September...feeling relatively settled. It's time to explore a new church. Bill has been working on weekends so it's just me and GA. For close friends who know me, putting her in church nursery is like taking her to daycare for the FIRST TIME all over again; I want to cry/throw up/make excuses NOT to go so I don't have to do it.

However, this morning was different. I had my sights set on Hope Community Church - Holly Springs campus - less than 3 minutes from our house. I walked out the door at 9:15 for a 9:30 service (not a lot has changed there). And truth be told..God knew the ONLY way I was getting there was to get there LAST MINUTE because that's when you have NO time to dwell over the angst YOU or your child might feel.

So we got there...and were ushered in by the most welcoming folks around. GA was in GREAT spirits and seemed genuinely excited to see all the boys and girls milling around her. When I dropped her off in the two year old room...she hardly looked back and DEFINITELY didn't whimper. Roberta, my usher, was kind...and brought up the fact how she knew it was hard to let the little ones go in the nursery on your first visit. She was sweet...almost made me feel like I was with my dear friend Audrey who has helped me through this experience a COUPLE of times before. :)

Church was great. Uplifting. Topic on point. Pastor was funny. All went well.

And later in the day, we went for a playdate with Cory at the park we used to go to when living in N. Raleigh. A lengthy drive is NOTHING when it means these gals can get together. What I didn't FULLY anticipate is the joy I'd find in a conversation with another mom friend. It's reassuring to hear ideas and challenges from another mom - knowing you're not the only one who thinks and worries about these things. And "big girl" time is PRICELESS too!

So at the end of the day..playdate over...I needed to take GA to Target to get a few critical household things....as in non-negotiable - she HAD to go. She had already expressed that going to "mommy's house" was where she wanted to be next, but I told her we needed to ride in the shopping cart at Target.

I'm not sure how it happened, but due to a song on the Micky Mouse CD we have on repeat...we found ourselves looking for Pluto. "Where are you Pluto?" was what we asked ourselves outloud the last few minutes before we arrived at Target. And as we got in the shopping cart (that she has recently REFUSED to ride in) she started looking for Pluto. "Where are you Pluto?" her little 2-year old cute voice rang out. Target was almost empty...not many folks around...so I played along with her. When her voice got loud...i asked her to use her 'inside voice'. We then quietly asked, through the aisles of target, "Where are you Pluto?" "Where are you?"

And as I drive her in the shopping cart to the front of the store ready to check out, with all items we came for in cart, a lady...near in tears...says how happy it made her to hear her cute voice calling out throughout the store. I said I was thankful because I was hopeful our 'game' didn't annoy anyone as it let me get our shopping done after a long day. She smiled and said "it made me happy."

As we went to bed tonight, GA always likes me to sing a song about those who love her. "Daddy, Papa, Papa Reeves, Ahna and Matt, Mimi, Barbie, purple toes (as in her painted toe nails), etc.  And tonight she asked me to sing about "silly mommy". I couldn't have been more proud to sing about how her "silly mommy" loves her.

Thinking back on the day, her silly mommy forgot how much SHE hates the sand and let her play knee deep (literally) in the sand today with Cory. Her silly mommy ate a brownie today with her at lunch. Her silly mommy got her to eat peas tonight because of the 'popping' sound they sound make in your mouth (shhh...don't tell this was mostly a put on).

Her silly mommy is an everyday mom who gets stressed by the every day stressors of 2 year olds, but as long as she's calling me silly mommy...I'm puddy. Puddy in her hands. :)

I love you sweet peach,
Your Silly Mommy

When you're 22...

When you're 22....you'll never phathom how much snuggly time we've shared as a toddler. You'd feel embarrassed to think about it. I get this. I know it to be true. However, once you have a child you will love looking back on these entries and relating to what I'm sharing as your 'sappy' mom. :)

You're one month shy of 2 years old and your personality is EXPLODING! You enjoy being talkative now...just making noise - some of it 'inside voice' and some of it high pitched squeals. Either way - you KNOW exactly what you're doing and that you're getting my attention. You kill me with your 'finger to mouth' as in "shhh" and your head nod to say "yes, mom...I understand." You LOVE my attention. You LOVE my eyes on you. However, when I try to play with your hair...or run my hands through it too often...you let me know.

Tonight when we were rocking...as we seldom do these days because 1. you're clearly not comfortable or 2. you start asking for 1 of the 6 babies that are in your crib...tonight we were spot on: relaxing and rocking....together. You insist on moving my shirt and/or strap out of the way so you are laying your head on my chest - skin to skin. You've now gotten to where you don't like my pendant necklace (of which is a "G" for Georgia) to hang in front..you like to move it behind so your head doesn't touch it. But tonight, you laid your head, and even tried closing your eyes, as your cheek lay on my chest. Our song is "You are my Sunshine" and I've added your name in - I can't sing it any other way. As many songs as you say "no" to...you never say "no" to "You are My Sunshine" this warms my heart.

Georgia Peach - You are crazy about your mom and dad these days. You don't want me out of your sight, out of your touch, and out of your voice's reach. And anytime daddy is around you want to rough house, or tease him so that he'll tickle you and send you into a giggle fury.

I hope when you're 22, you're coming around to the fact that me and dad aren't all that bad either. We love you more than words can express. If you weren't so cool, it might be different :) but you're the coolest Miss GA.

Mom and Dad love you...always.

The everyday...

I'm not as 'bad' (read: hormonal) as I used to be, but I LOVE nothing more than coming up with a reason to call daycare to 'check on you' during the day. Today was because you were coughing and sneezing like CRAZY over the weekend and just didn't seem that you felt 100%. However, after my call, I learned you were happy as a lark and therefore, mommy was too. Sigh.

Now that your daddy is home and he picks you up from baby school, I can hardly wait to get home and see your smiling face and give you an ecstatic face in return. Of course, before he was home, I got to see you a little sooner when I picked you up - is the only difference. There is no better moment in my day then when I get to return home to you and your daddy.

You've been up to a lot lately and I wanted to make sure you knew (for future) :)

You are 21 months..your 2nd birthday in just 3 short months. You are repeating words like crazy. Almost any word we say you're willing to try. Granted, mommy may be the only one who can 'translate' your words, but it's awesome that you're trying. You say zebra, and neat-o, poop (love that one), and Audrey. You love your teacher Audrey (and so do we). You nod your head 'yes' a lot and it's too cute. I ask you all kinds of random questions and you nod 'yes'. It makes me giggle. Sorry...a laugh at your expense kiddo.

You're VERY smart. You know some of your colors. You can definitely say more than you know: purple, blue, red, green. I still think green is your favorite color. Not sure I've told you, but you've always been 'attracted' to the green toys. You like to count, but "two" is your favorite. You always start with two and tend to repeat 'two'.

Last night you were in the bathtub and said "poop". I said "You need to poop?" You nodded your head yes. I immediately dried you and put you on the big girl toilet for the FIRST time. I held you in place as you tried to do whatever you were doing. Turns out you just peed, but MAN we celebrated! Sunday, April 20, 2014 - first time that you peed in the big girl potty. You were so proud and daddy and I were too. I can't believe how grown you are, GA. I can't believe it.

When I think about being your mom, I'm proud to the infinite degree. You won't understand this and you'll think it's WAY cheesy for a long time...until you have kids. And that's okay.

Just know...always know...that your dad and I are your number one fan. We are your everything to lean on, to fall on, to bounce off of, to soar from.

I love you more than I ever understood possible. And love really doesn't even fully describe it.

I LOVE our everyday. I ENJOY our everyday. I thank God for our everyday, sweet peach.

Love,
Mom

I could've rocked all night...

I could've rocked YOU all night. I think we both needed this tonight. Dang, it felt good. It filled a cup...I didn't realize was low.

You haven't 'let' me rock you to sleep in ages it seems. Specifically since you've added baby, baby, Pearl, and mouse to our nighttime routine. We have to rock with everyone and do roll call throughout our story-time to make sure everyone is in attendance. So when it comes time to turn in and rock a little...you typically find it difficult to find space on me to lay down (completely understandable).

But tonight was different.

You were quickly comfortable and snuggled in. So was I sweet girl. So was I.

In the last 3 weeks since your dad has been home from Afghanistan,  you've hardly had a 'bad' day. You've had your meltdowns, but truly far and few between.....as long as mommy and daddy are BOTH in the same room and NOT hugging on each other. (You REALLY don't like when daddy kisses mommy or dad's leg touches mom's while we're hanging all together in the kitchen floor...of where you insisted we all sit).

You've come up with new sounds, new family members (or so they seem) to the family tree. Any time we sing a song that mentions a name we have to go through the ENTIRE list of people you know before you're satisfied..and that's where we end up adding people. BeBop? Who is BeBop? I keep asking you.

You are a social, kind, thoughtful little girl. When someone whines for a toy you have...you've been known to hand it over without fuss (EXCEPT if it's a baby doll).

When we get out of the car at home from baby school, you quickly ask for your neighbor friend - Aleah.

If you see mommy, you ask where daddy is, and if you see daddy you ask where mommy is.

As your head lay against my chest tonight, and you hugged your babies, I reminded myself of how time flies. And that's why I could've rocked you all night. It's also why I let you wash your hands with "bubbles" a little longer than you need to, I let you walk yourself up and down the stairs no matter how long it takes, and in the mornings we may stop to play the drums before going downstairs, and when you want to try on my brand new clothes...I let you. Why not? You're teaching me patience and perspective and I'm loving it.

I could've rocked you all night...if...and only if...I could guarantee a solid 8 hours for myself. Sorry Peach, you take energy. :)

I love you sunshine!

Mom

Prayer answered....lets DO THIS!

I learned today that my best friend, partner and father to Georgia is......COMING HOME!

He's coming home nearly 5 months earlier than we thought. He'll be home in 3.5 weeks from now and I can barely stand it. He's coming home to accept a job on a contract in Fayetteville, NC. Fayetteville, an 1.5 hour away from home, is much better than a gazillion miles from home in Afghanistan.

My heart is filled with excitement and anticipation.

I LOVED having your dad home the first year of your life. Don't know what I would've done without him as I don't feel NEAR as confident as I do now as your mom. But it's as if that has moved to the background quickly...because I'm equally as excited about each and every new day with you. I can't WAIT for him to come home and see your daily antics and entertainment pieces. And the best? Your hugs, expressions of generosity and compassion.

I woke up to you this morning playing "baby" in your crib. You must have sat up there contently for 30 minutes patting her back, putting your blanket over her, talking to her about mama, mimi and papa. It gave me time to get a shower and get ready for our day; and I loved seeing you so content.

When I brought you down to eat breakfast and get dressed you eventually came out of my room with a short-sleeve onesie and insisted on wearing it. I put it around your neck and let you walk around thinking that would suffice. When it was closer to time to get ready, I went to put a long sleeve shirt on you. It IS only 46 degrees for the day, after all. You screamed and pulled your arms down. You weren't having any of it. So guess what? You wore your shirt sleeve onesie (thankfully it fit) that had a darling turtle on the front. I'm pretty sure you talked about the turtle all day. :)

And when it was time for 'night night'? I ask you during the evening and sometimes you say "no". However, a little later when asked again, you nod your head and walk to the stairs towards your room. What more could a mom ask for?

GA you're such a wonderful child growing into your own personality. Your expressions are priceless and at the same time..I love trying to give you more (by example). I love nothing more than trying to entertain you with my expressions, my dancing, my conversation, my silly sounds. I have no concern of who is watching or overhearing. I LOVE when you laugh. LOVE. YOUR LAUGHTER.

You are my sunshine. My Georgia sunshine. And what I look forward to most is your dad coming home and sharing in your sunshine...real time.

Welcome home Daddy (around March 6 or 7, 2014).

GA can't wait for more "kiss sandwiches" :)

My treasure...

Treasure means: "keep carefully (valuable or valued items)." Synonyms: cherish, hold dear, prize, value greatly.

What do I treasure most about my love?

I cherish his smile. I hold dear his laugh. His love, and his commitment to me, is my prize. I value greatly what he's doing for our family...of 3 (well, 5 if you count the beagles). :)

You see, my husband works overseas. He isn't here in person. However, one of the many things I treasure is that he is here daily in thought and conversation.

I treasure his commitment to make sure I know how much he loves me and our daughter. I cherish our daily phone calls that I can almost set a clock by. I hold dear when those phone calls are video calls and we get to stare into each others eyes as we talk of the day's happenings.

When a love can last the distance - it TREASURES substance and our love is substantial. We dated for 2.5 years long distance, have done one 18 month deployment as a married couple, and are now on our 2nd and hopefully final deployment...6 months into one full year.

I love knowing he loves me as much, or more, than I love him.

Treasures are rare and I have no doubt of the value of mine.

Our Two Weeks on Cloud Nine

As a keepsake for Georgia and a journal for me.... I must record our last two weeks on cloud nine.

Your dad is always so thoughtful. And this trip home was no different. He was trying to surprise me 3 days earlier than I thought he was arriving AND trying to do so at my holiday lunch for work. He'd been coordinating with my boss for MONTHS. Georgia, it's that kind of effort and thoughtfulness that makes you feel VERY special as a woman. (It doesn't matter that his flight didn't work out and he arrived at midnight instead of lunch). He still came home 3 days earlier than he had told me he would be. He's a good man....and that makes it cloud nine.

We walked up to your crib the next morning and you looked at him. You didn't cry or shy away. However, it was natural for me to pick you up. You then jumped out of my arms to get on the floor and show daddy all of your books and point at whatever was in your view. You reconnected with him INSTANTLY and it melted our hearts.

Your dad is your laugh factory. I mean, I do my best and you certainly laugh a lot, but with your dad its always been times 2. And this past two weeks was no different. The house filled with your laughter and his voice...makes it cloud nine.

Thanks to the family we visited and who visited us over the holidays, your dad and I had several date nights. Our relationship is the foundation on which we will nurture and develop you. It's critical we stay connected and date nights are essential. Don't ever forget..date nights make it cloud nine, Georgia.

Having the family together for the last two weeks and especially over the holidays was priceless. Words don't seem descriptive enough to explain what your heart feels. The closest we get is to use words that express a high, an exhilaration, an unmeasurable amount of happiness...we say things like: we found ourselves on cloud nine. 

Your dad and I love you sweet peach.  We love you all the way up to cloud nine and back.