This Can't Be a Real Letter

This column and the response really cracked me up and had me nodding. And I don't care if you're a stay at home mom, a part-time working mom or full time outta the house late for work downtown every damn morning mom. If you're in charge of some little person, this applies to YOU.

My favorite part is about needing 45 minutes for something that takes 15. Explains why it took me 30 minutes to get myself and one 2 foot person ready for a 50 minute visit for the pool the other day.

Matthew's Irish Twin

I can't help it, when I see my friend Kate's baby John, who was born just short of 11 months after Matthew, I can't help thinking of Matthew in his first few months.


I took the almost exact same picture when Matthew was a little guy. (Granted this post would be a lot more charming if I had that picture anywhere handy to post it.) It just made me laugh to see, us moms all think alike. Erin's done the same thing with Bridget. "I've got this pile of stuffed animals and he doesn't even care about it so (UGH - loading up stuff animals on baby noise) here you go, kid. Kodak moment time."

Then I saw THIS picture of the little man pushing himself up and I completely had another nostalgia moment for my own son when he was just a tiny little guy.


I remember taking a zillion photos of Matthew on his playmat, and it being so exciting when he was pushing himself up. They finally start to take on their Kid format vs. their Baby format and it's just SO much fun to watch.

Then I saw this, which just about put me over the edge.


Because in our house, as well as Tim and Erin's, and now Kate's, dogs are integral. Everything is baby and dogs and paws and bottles and dog hair and dogs stepping on babies and babies sticking hands into dogs mouths and it's just ONE BIG DOGGY BABY MESSY love fest. Having dogs and babies makes for twice the mess but ten times the fun. Well, not that I'd know the difference. But that's my position as a dog owner, twice over, and if I let my mind wander to how life could be better/different/CLEEEEANNNERRRRRRR without said dogs, I'd have to question our thinking and possibly sanity to have so many live bodies jammed into 1200 square feet.

Anyway - Kate is my best friend from high school and it's been thrilling to see all the photos of her little man John growing up these past few months. We have kept in touch since high school, and we've known each other since junior high. When THOSE friends are having babies, well, you're not just old, you're OLD and grown-up and officially into the next life phase.

It's not like when your co-worker has kids, or even your college or post-college friends. This is border line babies having babies (and I'm sure Kate felt the same way about me) to see your friend that you discovered curling irons and boys and sneaking beers and crying because you didn't get invited to the slumber party and hating high school and counting the days until graduation ... those friends ... having kids. It's the end of the line, we're here, college days ain't coming back, we have mortgages and spend the weekend "working on the yard" and running super fun errands like buying dog food and going to Sam's. We aren't kids anymore, and we ain't never gonna be again.

I wouldn't have it any other way. It's exciting and joyful and just all around, makes for a wonderful life. But (before anyone accuse moi of being cheesy) it's a huge huge huge change. And it was great talking to Kate for about TWO HOURS about this the other night. On the one hand, it was totally normal to talk about breastfeeding and birth stories and crazy (read: incredibly obnoxious) nurses bossing us around in the hospital. On the other hand, the whole time I'm thinking, is she holding her baby? Is my 13 year old friend KATE holding her CHILD while I'm talking to her? And is my ONE YEAR OLD still asleep in his BABY crib in his room? You see what I'm getting at. Just when you accept this complete life change as normal ... someone goes and pops out another kid and you're talking to them about "getting the kids together."

And you realize Kate's no longer just Kate, she's John's mommy, just like you're MATTHEW'S MOMMY and you will be in charge of that honor for the rest of your life.

But no pressure or anything ...

As If I Don't Spend Enough Time Looking at Other People's Baby Pictures

I just enjoyed about 10 minutes of looking at TOTAL and COMPLETE strangers' pictures on this cute Mother's Day Feature on MSN. Kinda neat, kinda sappy, but all very relatable now that I'm a Mom. The newborn pictures really get me but I love the mom coaching her kids, too.

I also had a great time checking out baby Ava's new photos today.

She is a little DOLL BABY and I can't wait to meet her in person, hopefully this summer.

I am also quite certain her very proud mommy and daddy, our good friends Erin and Jeremy, could have quite a few contributions already to this 'proudest moments' feature. They are so excited to be parents. Even though I've strictly witnessed it over the Internet, it shows, it really shows, and it's so neat to see. This was my college roommate, the one who I ... hmm, better not. Oh, the one who helped me ... nah, probably shouldn't share. Anyway - GOOD OLD FRIEND OF MINE - now having baby - still not over the shock of this life stage hitting us head on.

Back to MSN: I can't begin to think of how I'd choose just one photo of my proudest mom moment (not even quite sure what that means, but I'll roll with it). But, I will (of course) now have to give it some thought and promise to post my vote soon (so, you know, those of you on the edge of your chairs and holding your breath don't actually injure yourself).

There are SO many other sweet babies I gotta blog about, Bridget, Lila, John and more! But right now I think noon is PROBABLY an appropriate time for an adult person to shower and get dressed, so it'll have to wait just now. Happy Three Day Weekend!!

I Do Not See Myself Doing This in 27 Years

WOW am I not sure what I think about this.

Gorgeous

That is all I can say when my friend Renae sent me those photos of her girls from their Father/Daughter Dance.


And no, I'm not talking about dad Steve (sorry pal, you know we love you but it's your daughters we go ga-ga for).



These girls have grown up before my eyes. I saw them as newborns, adorable babies, toddlers, little kids and now (God help me) young ladies who are so smart, beautiful, fun, funny and just all around great people. Well, it almost breaks my heart thinking about how grown-up they are.



I love you girls!

Speaking of love, my friend Renae has a love for two things (besides her kids and husband, of course). Giant ugly bugs, and giant floppy dogs.

So, here are some other photos from Renae, capturing her first loves.

This a REAL bug living outside their house. No, she doesn't live on Mars. It's a lunar moth. I think Renae would put out bowls of food, insert a microchip and take it for little walks on a leash if possible.



This is their new doggy Samson, who just got his summer 'do.


This "puppy" looked cleanly twice this size when we saw him two months ago, because he had his hair. This keeps him happy (and probably Renae too) with so much less hair (to clean) during the summer.

We miss these guys a lot. They moved to Arkansas over a year ago, just before I had Matthew and Renae had Max, pictured here, charming the pants off of you.


We're hoping to see them again soon. They are some of our oldest and dearest friends. Seeing their entire seven-person/animal entourage (minus the moth, plus super awesome dog Abe, not pictured) together in action is always one of our very most favorite things.

What's Wrong with this Picture? At Work, Vol. 1

Me: Getting coffee. It's early. I'm grumpy. I'm maybe PMSing. In any event, neeeeeeed coffee and 10 minutes of quiet Internet time before anyone talks to me.

Intern-type person: Making copies. Fussing around with machine impatiently. Sighing.

Me; Continue getting coffee.

Intern-type person: "Do you know what 'document feeder jam' means?"

Me: (In super patient, sure I'm glad to help mode). Lift document feeder. "It means there's paper stuck in there."

Intern-type person: Fusses around. Sighs. "I can't see any paper..."

Me: Back to that coffee!

Intern-type person: Banging around with other drawers in hopes document feeder jam really means lifts lots of flaps and you win!

Me: Wrapping up the coffee and about to escape before, God help us all, I might be asked to help again.

Intern-type person: "Well, I'm just gonna use the other machine." Walking off. Away from now fully jammed and likely very pissed off copier.

Me: Considering whether to chase her down and remind her that none of US want to talk down the angry machine. Remember I'm too sore from yoga to chase anyone and then certainly to do anything with them once caught. Decide to let her live to jam another machine.

Happy freaking Tuesday, world.

I now present to you for the first time ...

Mr. and Mrs. Ryan and Jessica Ehlert

Their ceremony was at Eliot Chapel, where Mike and I, and our good friends Lisa and Dave, also took their vows. The ceremony was beautiful. Jessica looked unbelievable. And they were both so, so happy.

By the end, the service had me crying, of course. Listening to Jessica and Ryan, such a perfect couple, taking the same vows that married Mike and I, and started our lives together, felt like a special little gift.

We've all been waiting for many months for this day. Jess and Ryan are just great together. And it's neat when you can watch a relationship from start to finish ... from the first mention from Ryan of "this new girl I've been seeing for a few weeks now" to meeting Jess and really liking her, to watching them date, show up at all the "friend events" together. Then realizing, they're really in love, watching them move in together, get engaged and finally Saturday, supporting them in entering their marriage ... the start of their life, their family. Not to get too sappy about it, but it's a pretty special thing. A really good day.

The reception was beautiful too, at Andre's. Lots of good friends and good times and GREAT food and hmmm, did I mention great drinks? (And yes, thank God, a shuttle bus.) Yeah, anyone who saw me the next day, could have filled in the blanks on that "great drinks" part of the evening.

They were also a VERY photo worthy couple. Jessica was just the perfect beautiful bride and Ryan couldn't have been happier, and it showed. Check out the complete album on my Picasa account.

Congratulations again, Jess and Ehlert. WE LOVE YOU GUYS! (Except right now while you're in Hawaii. Right now, we don't like you very much.)

Who's Got Two Minutes

Today, not me, but I'm posting anyway. It has been hectic. To say the least. The last two weeks I've gone from Chicago to Memphis to being buried in cheap cake and pony keg run-off at my son's official first birthday party. In between I have been sick, and coughed up more bright green mucous than you'd expect from someone who is not radioactive, or Slimer. And, I have been STRESSSSSED at work.

I am dying to go on about that last one. But taking a page from other bloggers, I will refrain from posting about all THAT. Sufficed to say I might be developing an ulcer made of the words "benefits annual enrollment communications."

In the last few weeks, so much as happened.

My friend Karen's sweet baby girls, Abby and Mara, have arrived!


Abigail (Abby) Sara
6 pounds, 5 ounces
19 inches
Born April 25, 2007 at 9:47 p.m.

Mara Jordan
6 pounds, 2 ounces
19 inches
Born April 25, 2007 at 9:56 p.m.

Unfortunately they chose the week before this mini-plague hit me, so the minute I stop talking like the Swamp Thing, Matthew and I get to go meet them, and hang out with their awesome big brother Sam.

Two weekends ago, I met Shawn and Eileen's sweet little boy, baby Owen, up in Chicago.


Owen's still in the NICU since being born prematurely the week before Easter. He's doing very well and we hope he can go home in the next 1 to 2 weeks. I am thinking his Mommy will be pretty darn glad when he's finally home where he belongs and she can keep an eye on him ... make sure he's going to bed on time, brushing his teeth, cleaning his ears, you know, that sort of thing.

I hear my significant other powering off, so I shall do the same.

This took 12 minutes. Lucky you reading this, to think you almost only got 1/6 of my fascinating thoughts.