Saturday, October 28, 2006
Bellalicious
Nobody told me it would be like this, having a little girl...my little Bellalicious baby! I love her so
much that the late night vigils seem like a gift...extra moments given to cuddle her and smell that smell.
Ryan loves the Bellalicious smell...hates it when it gets washed away with her bath. For a moment the Johnson
and Johnson smell overtakes and subdues the Bellalicious smell...but not for long...
MMMmmmm Bellalicious....makes you want to nuzzle her neck, kiss her cheeks and hug her so tight she squeals
with delight!
How long does it last? When does it go away? Someday, I know, sooner than I would like...the Bellalicious
will be gone, but a distant memory, replaced with an ATTITUDE and a firm desire to be autonomous.....
Ah well for now I'll enjoy the Bellaliciousness of her....and worry about the rest later.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Warm Fuzzy Feeling: Bishop California Part 1
Why is it that the most mundane thing can sometimes blast you backward in time? Sometimes it brings back
memories that fill you with pleasure, other times it helps you remember something you may rather forget. I had such an experience
last week watching a TV show.
The main character of the show was sitting at a bar attempting to catch a buzz, drinking whiskey. While
he is drinking the Willie Nelson song entitled "Whiskey River" begins playing.....WHAMMO....feelings of extreme warmth and
safety flood over me...why so? Where have I heard this? I never quite considered myself a Willie efficienado (sp?) but all
of a sudden I must have it, I MUST!
The song brings back memories of living in Bishop in a tiny little house on Shepard Lane, where my sister
and I began our precarious journey through adolescence. Some of the most vivid things I remember about living in that house
are:
The stream that babbled through our front yard that lulled you to sleep at night
The pond our family dug in the back yard that was fed by the stream
The 2 ducks (Laverne and Shirley) that grandma and grandpa Plemmons gave us one Easter to swim in our pond
Meeting the best teacher I would ever have: Mr Richard Beach, 6th grade Home Street School
Having my heart break for the first time when Bron Bodie Beach, 2years old, drowned, I still cry for him,
and what should have been.
Walking to Manor Market
Seeing what the sky is SUPPOSED to look like at night, and being sure of the presence of God
The Mill Pond on a hot summer day
The Mule Days extravaganza
The Rodeo extravaganza
The many good friends we left behind
Laws Railroad Museum
The lava tubes
Mr. Beach teaching me how to repell of the side of a mountain
Mr. Beach teaching me how to bake enamel on to pennies
Okay...this list is getting WAY to long...."Whiskey river take my mind...."
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The Joy of the Morning
The sun barely rises
the sweet sound I hear
the giggles of boys
coming from near
two little imps
rolling and laughing
in a darkened room
at the end of the hall
the sound of those boys
giving us all
the strength to get up
to face the new day
the joy of the morning
contained in the sound
of two little boys bounding around
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The Things I Love Most
I answered a question for my local MOMS group (I'm "Mom of the Month" :) the question was: what is your
favorite place for a girls get away? After some careful thought I realized....I didn't want a "get away" my favorite place
is with my husband and children...they are my best friends, I have yet to find someone who is as smart, funny and loving as
they are...and they make me feel like the most important person on earth to boot! Who could ask for more than that? I have
my own little cheering section, a little fanclub. Everywhere I go....from the bathroom to the doctor's office my entourage
follows me, lovingly offering support and encouragement and the incentive to put one foot in front of the other.
Casey, when he was about 4 years old, once asked me: "Mama, would you rather be a squirrel or a tree?" At
the time, I thought the question was quite funny. I never did answer him, I've been giving both the question and my answer
careful consideration. Every few years we revisit the conversation we had that day in the car 11 years ago and Case will remind
me that he is still waiting for my answer.
I finally think I have one. A tree, I'd definetly rather be a tree. A mighty Redwood with roots firmly planted
in terra firma, my long, strong branches reaching towards heaven. The tree represents strength, longevity; its roots the love
and commitment I have for my family and its branches reaching high in the sky remind me of my desire to seek and follow God.
So to answer your question Case,: a tree my son, I would rather be a tree.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Old! Old! Old!
Now, some may be offended by this, so try not to take it personally if you are the same age as I am...or
older and have a different opinion.
I am WAY to old for pulling all-niters and chasing toddlers. I have never felt this tired in my whole life.
Dried up, beat down and wrung out....that's how it feels to be me.
One or the other I can handle...pulling all niters with an infant OR spending my days chasing monkeys around
the house....but BOTH?? How did I end up doing BOTH??
I don't even bother trying to hide the gray anymore...might as well look like I feel..OLD AND USED UP!
Can you tell I had a rough night? Bella got up more than 10 times!! Not to be fed mind you...that I would
find reasonable. She woke up hollering her little Italian lungs out each time she found herself on her belly...she didn't
consider that if she GOT there, she can get herself BACK...no mam, not my little imp, she wants MAMA to do it. So up I get,
take a hold of one arm and on leg and flip her onto her back like a rodeo stud readying to hog-tie a calf. Then I stick the
binky in her mouth to quiet the protests.
After that fine performance I crawl back into bed and get another 32 minutes of much needed sleep. 5 times
we do this same routine, until I just give up, Bella wins and I bring her into bed with me. She nestles against my side with
her face near my boobs (the same boobs she REFUSES to nurse from, if you recall) and settles in next to her OLD MAMA for maybe...um
an hour or so before she wants a bottle.
I know, I know, this too shall pass!
