It Comes From The Most Unexpected Places

I found out today that a good friend of mine is pregnant. This was the first pregnancy announcement I have been able to greet in a non-selfish manner since 2002 and I am thrilled about that.

Every other occasion I have retreated into myself and wept as I mourned my own inability to do this "natural" thing. I have actively tried to get pregnant on and off since February of 2002 and while it has been a long, hard road, having my daughter in the next room as I type this is a healing balm for my wounds. You see, I realize now that I was just waiting for Phil, the love of my life to come back, and for my daughter to be born.

My friend has two darling boys and is joyfully preparing to welcome her third child. She and I were mere co-workers initially, but as things have a way of unfolding, the more time we spent together the more we found in common. She was a wonderful support to me in the adoption process and continues to be a great new mom resource. Because seriously, did you people even know there are disposable bibs, placemats and silverware?! Like for eating out and stuff? Way cool. (Yes, the California peeks out on occasion.)

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There is a young boy in my neighborhood that loves my doggies. He loves them from afar that is. He does not like to be greeted by them, in their typical enthusiastic doggy-fashion, he'd rather appreciate them from the safety of his driveway as I pass on the opposite sidewalk. We all learned this lesson last summer and have adhered to it ever since. It works, is what I'm sayin'.

Today, Phil had a game and I was exhausted, so I somewhat grumpily loaded Ella into her stroller and leashed up Max and Kiehlo for their afternoon walk. I just wanted to get it over with so I could get back home and get Ella bathed and on track for her nightly bed-time rituals.

Just as I rounded that last corner before home, it happened.

A tiny voice shouted, "I HAVE CANDY!"
I looked over and saw our friend, toes exactly lined up on the edge of his driveway, leaning forward with a brightly colored package of candy clenched in his hand.
I smiled at him and said, "Well, aren't you the lucky one?"
And he grinned and said, "Yes, I am."

He immediately followed by asking, "Are those your dogs?"
(A question he poses EVERY TIME he encounters us on a walk.)
I replied that yes, they were my dogs.

Then he switched things up by saying, "Is that your baby?"
He had never asked that before - never showed a bit of interest in the stroller I pushed on more than one of our interactions.
So I answered, "Yes, this is my baby." And angled the stroller a bit so he could see Ella's face.

With his next question, I heard *the click* ~ the emotion that latches into place to endlessly resonate between my soul and my daughter's.

I had yet to truly experience that feeling...even going so far as to discount or dismiss it as something that may not occur with adoption. Let me reassure you that it is indeed a tangible 'thing' and regardless of timing or circumstance, all moms get it at some point. I am amazed and humbled that this small person and my dogs brought it home to me in such a remarkable manner.

After the brief candy exchange and the query about dogs and baby ownership, the little boy shouted gleefully, "OH, so she came from your tummy?"

Every held breath from this past year and all the waiting dissolved into that moment as everything coalesced and I called back, "No sweetie, she came from my heart."

Then he smiled and held up his package again and announced, "I have candy!"

I do too, my little friend, I do too.

Contents May Produce Inordinate Level Of Glee

You know, it's not enough that I managed to snag the hottest man on the planet and the cutest kid, but I am blessed beyond belief by the awesomeness of my friends.

You guys read what I write, support me in all kinds of important ways, keep me in check and continue to love me despite my need to vote FOR EVERY SEASON OF AMERICAN IDOL.

It just doesn't get better than that!

You know exactly who you are too, and that I love you right back. (If you don't know who you are, then I've screwed up in an inexcusable manner and don't deserve your friendship anyway.)

The incredibly smart, talented bicycling Cinderella (thought you'd appreciate that!) Sarah sent our little Ella the Greatest Bath Towel Ever. It is a PINK DRAGON BATH TOWEL. I know! I am totally jealous too.

There are photos below, but as I mentioned in the title, proceed with caution as you have been warned of the cuteness factor.

Are you ready for this?

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Are you SURE you can handle more?

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Ok, you asked for it...

And just so you can grasp the fabulousness of the towel, here it is laid out.


A million thanks, Sarah. You are the best!

Letter to the Mail Carrier In My Neighborhood

What part of my nicely typed "Please Do Not Ring the Doorbell ~ Baby is Sleeping" note did you miss, you idiot?!

Not only did you ring the doorbell, clearly ignoring the note taped ABOVE THE DOORBELL, you rang the sucker FIVE TIMES. It made me so mad I ran outside to yell at you but you drove off too quickly.

But there's always tomorrow. And you know, I walk dogs in this neighborhood so I know EXACTLY where you take your break before slamming our mail into the boxes.

Until then, I wish you 10 startled, pissed off and tired children under the age of one.

XOXO,
Julie

Forecast For Today Calls For Busy With A Chance Of Crazy

I was woken up at 2:00am this morning by my hungry, wet daughter. (Phil actually fed and changed her* so I must give credit where credit is due.)

*More on that later.

Then I awoke again in the wee hours to find Phil fussing around in the dark, muttering under his breath and looking for clothing. It seems they ('they' being Phil's staff) had not pulled the tarp over the infield last night and which turned out to be a bad idea since it began to rain in the middle of the night. Apparently professional baseball players require DRY grass to play on. They are SUCH cupcakes. Sheesh.

I got up for good just before 7am so I could walk all the dogs before Ella woke up. I let the dogs out of their respective crates, leashed them up and we had a quick jaunt down to the corner so they could do their business. (Me carrying the baby monitor of course...that sucker gets a signal from quite a ways away!)

Then I scooped food in the dogs' bowls and shoved the containers under their little noses so they could replenish for the long day ahead of napping and barking at the UPS man. I also fed our goldfish, Pete, at this point. (That seemed important to add.)

THEN, after hearing gurgling and cooing from the monitor, I went back upstairs to get Ella out of her crib...and discovered she was SOAKED with pee. Of course I found this out by picking her up and cuddling her, which means MY shirt now has pee on it so I must change clothing immediately. All this means Ella's crib sheets, mattress pad and bumper all have pee on them too and need to be washed. Sigh.

So, I go to put Ella right in the bathtub (poor kid, she barely had her eyes open and I'm dunking her in water to scrub her nether regions) and that's when realize exactly how this pee-fest happened.

*side note*
Phil - love of my life - when you change our daughter, please make sure BOTH SIDES of the diaper tabs are firmly affixed to the front panel. Unfortunately last night, one side came undone and Ella ended up wearing a sort of thong-ish diaper with an entire butt cheek hangin' out. And that means, you guessed it, no pee coverage! I discovered the state of things when I undressed her prior to her bath this morning. A bath which took place before 8am as our daughter was SOAKED IN URINE. Okay? Thanks. I love you, baby. Have a good day.

After Ella's bath, I got her dressed, then we came downstairs where Ella plowed through her first bottle of the day. She is now happily playing in her exersaucer while Mommy blogs and finally has some coffee.

People, I am desperate for a nap it is only 8:40am. There is something so incredibly wrong with this picture.

7:30 Monday Morning

Yeah, that image pretty much sums it up, doesn't it?

"I Wonder As I Wander"...But Without All That Mushy Crap

I'm about a week behind on stuff I wanted to write about. Problem is, when I go back to my saved notes I think, "Uggh. Is that IT? I am a really boring person." Thankfully I am a really boring person with an extraordinarily cute kid. That helps a lot.

See?

I know, once you saw that photo you were hooked, weren't you? You don't even care what I have to say after looking at that face.

But for those of you still reading, allow me to pose a question. I especially want to hear from you moms on this one but am COMPLETELY open to thoughts and observations of all folks. Really, I am. Wouldn't want to DQ someone who possesses a tremendous insight which I am in DIRE NEED OF right about now.

Here's the thing I am pondering:

As a parent, and a Mom specifically, do you ever get a break?

I mean a *real* break too.

One where you don't have to be in charge at all. No spending an additional half hour before you leave prepping bottles, penning reminders about schedules and carrying on conversations from the supermarket, shouting - "No, THREE scoops of formula and SIX ounces of water. Not the other way around!"

I just wonder about that. Because if those kinds of breaks are an option? Sign me up. Now.

Don't Listen To What Anybody Else Says

Having your kitchen countertops replaced is a major remodel. Not having a working sink for over a week is going to be tough. But it's gonna be totally worth it in the end.

And that right there is my new mantra for life - TOTALLY WORTH IT IN THE END.


**updated**

I hate it when you re-read a post and discover a typo you missed...7 HOURS AFTER YOU FIRST HIT PUBLISH. Gah.