The things parents do

I think about the things I have done for Grace and Abigail over the years that I never dreamed I would do... there are the usual things like changing diapers and cleaning up throw-up - yuck!  Then there are the medical things that can be heartbreaking - like holding down a screaming child while they get a shot or an iv.  Or learning how to "pop" back in an elbow that has become disjointed - eeewww.  Yep, we've done it all. 

And this morning, I can add one more gross thing to the list - pulling out a tooth!  Grace has already lost two but one came out while she was at school (assisted by the gym teacher who pulled it out) and the other one was pulled out (gently of course) by my mom.  Grace's bottom tooth became extremely loose yesterday.  So I kept telling her that she should pull it out (that's what I keep hearing is the "right" thing to do).  But she coudn't get it.  This morning it was really bothering her so she tried again. I asked her if she wanted me to try and she said "yes".  (What I wanted to do was send her to school and hope that another teacher would pull it out.)  But, I relented and gave it a try.  Sure enough, it came out. 

Yuck - I get the heebie jeebies just thinking about it.  Maybe we can time the extraction of her next tooth for early June when Jamma will be back in town!

Soccer, Water Polo and my East Coast Family

Two weeks ago was such a treat.  We were able to spend, as Grace pointed out, three days in a row with my "east coast family".  My aunt Mary and uncle Bob moved to the east coast a few years after they were married and have lived in Massachusetts ever since.  I have wonderful memories of visiting them over the years when I was growing up and as an adult.  I have three east coast cousins: Kate, Patty and Mike who are all married with families of their own.  Patty and Kate lived in California for several years but now everyone is back in Massachusetts and Mary and Bob couldn't be happier!

Two weeks ago, they all drove down to watch Kate and Tim's daughter, Meghan, play water polo for the University of Maryland.  Meghan is a fantastic player and this was her last tournament of the season.  Mary and Bob arrived on Thursday evening and we met them, and Meghan, at Kerri and Mark's for a delicious dinner!  It was relaxing evening spent catching up and just being together, as a family.

We did not see the group on Friday but Patty went to Kerri and Mark's house so I decided to join in the fun.  At the last minute, I decided to spend the night and so we spent hours chatting on Kerri's deck enjoying a beautiful DC evening. 

The next morning, Patty came over to our house so that she could see Grace play soccer.  Aunt Mary tackled the beltway and the DC roads with her reliable GPS in order to join us too.  We were so proud of her for her adventure.  We watched Grace play soccer and had bagels afterward.  How special for us to have them watch one of Grace's games!

Then on Sunday, we met the rest of the family at Meghan's water polo game.  It was her last game of the year and they won!  (Grace thinks her presence had something to do with that - ha!)

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful and fun east coast family. While we may not see them as often as we like, no matter how much time has passed, we pick up where we left and always have a fantastic time. 

Go Grace!

Go #13!

Aunt Mary and Patty at the game.

Abigail was much more interested in the little yellow flowers than watching the game.

Happy Mother's Day!

There is so much to say about Mother's Day that I'm not quite sure where to start. I know for me, since I have had children, Mother's Day has been an extra special day. I anticipate the homemade card from Grace that will say "I love you mama"!  I anticipate a wonderful dinner made by Bruno.  I anticipate having a fun day with my two little angels, Grace and Abigail.  I anticipate calling my mom and my aunts and wishing them happy mother's day. 

To all my friends who are mothers... I hope you have a wonderful day and that your husbands and kids spoil you!

To all my aunts who are mothers... I thank you for being positive influences in my life and for loving me and sharing wonderful memories with me!

To my grandma - she isn't on the Internet reading this, but I still wish her a wonderful day!

To my mom... I thank you for showing me how to be compassionate, how to be caring, how to set boundaries, and most importantly, how to love your children unconditionally. You have been a role model as a career woman, wife, and mother and I thank and love you for that!  You are a wonderful mom and now Jamma to Grace and Abigail.  I treasure and cherish our long phone conversations and always anxiously await our next visit!

I recognize that not everyone has the close relationship that my mom and I do.  I feel so blessed that we have such a great friendship!

And to those mothers, including my mom, who have lost their mothers... I can't imagine how hard this day is for you. I think of Mother's Day as such a happy one but I know for all of you who don't have someone to call or send a card to, that it can be a very difficult day. 

And so we honor all the women in our lives who are mothers and those who have mothers.  Thank you and I love you!

(I searched for a picture of just me and my mom to post here but I couldn't find any... that is first on the list to do when I see her next!)  Ok, I came up with a few!