Happy Birthday Lindsey!!!!

So tomorrow my baby turns three. There is this part of me that is jumping for joy, wohooo, we have made it this far. Then, there is this little part of me that is sad. My baby is growing up. I know I blog about this often, how it is joyful and painful at the same time. It makes me think of the Darius Rucker song, “It Won’t Be Like This for Long.” One day she won’t be able to climb up into my lap and snuggle up with me and what is worse is that one day, she probably won’t want to snuggle with old mom.

The terrible two’s as they are called were merciful to us. I can honestly say we had a blast. Of course, we had our moments, but for the most part each day was full of new adventures with relatively few tense moments. As we head into the three’s, I wonder they are not called the terrible three’s. We seem to be more in a stage of wanting to test authority or see exactly how far we can be pushed. However, we are so amazingly curious and so excited about learning new things it seems to lessen the severity of our challenges.

Rambly thoughts for sure, my norm it seems at this point in my life. So I don’t forget though, some of my favorite Lindsey moments from the recent past.

1. As we were lying in bed one night reading books, Lindsey was trying to get her father’s attention. “Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad, Uncle John, Uncle John, Uncle John, Uncle John, JOHN, JOHN, JOHN, JOHN. Are you there???” It cracked me up that she was so persistent and finally he did answer. Poor girl.

2. John was doing book duty one night. He started to read A Pocket for Corduroy. He flips the pages and Lindsey stops him, turns the page back and says, “You have to say Corduroy Gets a Pocket, by Don Freeman.”

3. We are driving home from work and Lindsey is daydreaming. I ask what she is doing. Just thinking she replies. About what I say. Oh, just about agribating Speed Racer. I have tried in vain to this point to explain the word aggravating, but she still doesn’t get it. She does however love to use the word.

4. At church last Saturday, Lindsey placed her arms around my waist and patted my back through a good part of mass. I have no idea what the homily was really about as I was lost in my mommy moment. It was blissfully quiet and my baby was holding onto me.

5. Lindsey constantly wants to help me with whatever I am doing. Cooking, laundry, cleaning. If I could just bottle this enthusiasm and give it back to her in about ten years. Sometimes, it is hard, I just want to get things done. I have a note on my fridge that says, “Mom, I know you can probably do things faster and better, but please let me help, it is how I learn.” I have to look at it sometimes to remind myself how important it is. So I am happy to report that Lindsey is my official laundry sorter, lint tray removal expert, wash cloth folder, dishwasher starter and unloader, table setter, and dog feeder.

Words can’t really explain how being a mom is the most fantastic job in the world. There are so many little things I wish I could tell you that make my heart jump for joy, but you would probably think I am nuts. So with that, I will close with a heartfelt Happy Birthday to my little girl!

Easter Memories!

Yesterday was a fantabulous day! My family celebrated together with an old fashioned picnic. It was reminiscent of my younger days when every Easter my family would come together at Charlton Park and we would eat, play ball, hunt eggs and visit. Simple things that brought so much joy to all those who attended the celebration.

Yesterday, we gathered in Navasota at Rosemary and Robert’s place and began to make wonderful memories again. Against a backdrop of beautiful blue skies and exquisite wildflowers, we ate delicious food under a large shady oak tree, hunted eggs over and over again, played horseshoes, Frisbee and baseball and visited with each other. I have to admit that I did a lot more visiting this year than I did playing ball or horseshoes, but it was joyful. Seeing my daughter hunt eggs with her cousins was amazing, the wide smile across her face, the giggles as she found the eggs.

The entire weekend was amazing. My aunt came to stay with us and it was so nice to have her there. We didn’t really do too much besides cook and visit, but we had an amazing time. It was kind of like I had my Mom there with me. Comforting. I am sure there was much more activity than she is used to, but I hope we didn’t scare her too much and that she will come back for another visit.

As I get older and now that I have a child, I guess I long more for family. I want Lindsey to know the joy and importance of family gatherings. I want her to appreciate her family and to help carry these traditions on, traditions that are fast becoming lost for many families. I want her to be so happy tired that she falls asleep before we get out of the driveway. I want her to have what I had as a child…wonderful, happy memories!