Inspired By Two

Monday, April 15, 2013

Easter Thoughts

Easter came and went. We went to Teddy's weekend house on the Eastern Shore where we laughed and cooked and celebrated Easter as a family. Where Nonni, in a haste to save Lucy from the Bay, tripped on the pool and almost fell through the cover. Water splashing up his legs.What I would give to have that on film. I keep saying it over and over because it's true, how blessed we are. How truly blessed we are to have such family. To have such experiences together.

Today there was another terrorist attack. This time in Boston. How horrible. These events are always horrible. The news keeps playing the bomb detonation and then the view of the blood stains still fresh on the sidewalks. One victim was 8 year old. Sickening Sometimes it makes me sad that this is the world you two will grow up in but then I think what an opportunity to make a difference. To love. To show compassion. To persevere To believe in good. To give the benefit of doubt. To live a life with a purpose for fighting against hate by embodying love.

Raising you two can be daunting to think about but most of the time it's pretty easy because in the words of the Beatles, all you need is love. How true it is. And! there's no better time to remember the power of love than in the celebration of Easter.

Love this photo. Teddy is clearly not happy that Lucy is being silly on the dock. It's a serious place. Plus he is holding her hand to help her.

Kayak rides for the kids!

Teddy and his mom.

Nora, you wore that green dress for 4 days in a row.

Nonni's ride.

First Borns Stick Together.

Dyed eggs for playing? Or eating?

Teddy and Lu on Easter morning.

Whose egg is that?

Lucy's dress was a consignment find for a few bucks and the day before Easter I was digging in her closet and "found" it again. Why not wear it for Easter?

Another consignment find for a few dollars and the hat is from the dollar section at Target a couple years ago! Booyah!

EGG HUNT!

Hunting Eggs.

Toddler Model #1

Toddler Model #2

Daddy and Daughter.

What do you do with all those dyed eggs? Make egg salad!

The kids decorated someone's Birthday Cake

Someone turned 70....

During the kayak rides, Lucy accidentally dropped her Minnie Mouse into the water. A meltdown ensued.

Hard to see but Nonna and Nora picked up Minnie.

It was a good weekend.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Party Fit For a Four Year Old

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this post is 12,000 words unspoken. But the party, it was just that, a party. Fun. Bright. But more importantly, it was an outpouring of love and gratitude for your life, Nora. So many friends. So many people willing to make the trip, to come celebrate with you. Never take that for granted. Friends. Family. Gathering Together. Laughter. Celebrating Life. How blessed you are to know such wonderfully simple but vital things. My birthday wish for you is that you always know such love.

Monday, March 25, 2013

Then She Turned 4

Oh my love. Today at 3:59pm, you turned 4 years old. 4 years you have blessed our family. 4 years seems like such a long time yet so short. 4 years. 4 years. I can't believe it. 4 years.

You had a huge (bigger than I imagined) party yesterday but all weekend we were both under the weather. Today was a snow day! First time ever there has even been snow on the ground on your birthday, let alone a storm on your birthday. It was weird. We had spring toys out to play with in the snow. Great Grandma Judy got to go to your birthday party as she is out here visiting. Perfect timing.

Today you had a fever. You were cranky and tired from the weekend festivities. In fact, your father tried his hardest to get you to go out to dinner or go for some ice cream and you wouldn't get off the couch. You slept, you whined, you were miserable. On your birthday. But it is only a day and we can stuff ourselves with left over cake (omg the cake was insane!) and ice cream. Another day we can play and dance and celebrate you. Tonight though, as your father and sister and Mary went with the Wagmans to a soft opening of a friend's restaurant, I got to stay home with you. And remember. To remember 4 years ago when I met you. When I held you and comforted you.Tonight I was able to hold my baby again, to comfort you, to take care of you. Our time together is not usually spent like this. Is it bad I treasured it? I enjoyed it even. On the night of the anniversary of your birth, I get to hold you again as you nuzzle in under my chin, just as you did, not so long ago.

What an adventure it's been my Nora. I can't wait to play and see what a wonderful young girl you are maturing into. But tonight? I will cherish my role as your mother and know how blessed I am I get to hold you and love you for another night.

You don't look too miserable. I'm just a really good photographer!

It's a count down:

The night of March 25, 2009

I will update about the massive party and all the fun new toys and experiences we have been blessed with.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Slipping By

Time is just slipping by. I thought Lucy needed to be evaluated for speech and was in the middle of getting a consultation together and then just one day this week, she started talking. Still hard to get two words together but she is combining her signs and speech, so I am satisfied for now. Just yesterday she clearly said, "Home, please!" This is exciting since we have been frustrated since none of us can communicate with Lucy, but you, Nora. Somehow you always know what her jibberish means.

Nora, your birthday party is this Sunday and I am not ready. No where near ready. Good thing we went with a bounce place again (different from last year since that one has closed) and it is suppose to be a hassle free party. We'll see. I am crazy busy at work. A good kind of busy. I love it there. I love the faculty and students and staff and my bosses. I love my partner. I am truly happy there. It is crazy to think about where we were a year ago, heck a little over six months ago. Not that I wasn't happy being a stay at home mom, but I love love love working with these middle and upper school students. They are incredible. I am blessed and you two are blessed because I'm happy. Tired some nights, but happy. We play in the backyard and read book after book and go to the library and peruse the selection together. We cook together and play doctor, horse, tea party and have so much fun playing. Oh how we laugh! But I don't have time to party plan effectively. I don't have time to garden or clean the bathrooms each week. But I always always always have time for you two. Your father and I are working hard to provide you with love, structure and appropriate adventures. Yeah for swim lessons!

Someone is turning 4 on Monday and the time, it is slipping by. No matter how much I try to hang on, to take in each moment, each sleepy breath in the mornings, each snuggle and rousing singing dinner prayer, I cannot hold onto them for very long. They slip away and a new day and new adventures await. 4 years old. Wow. Changes.

And maybe I am nostalgic writing this post because VH1 is playing Dirty Dancing and Patrick Swayze just said his famous words, "no one put's Baby in a corner." Certainly not my babies. What strong and beautiful girls you are turning out to be. "I've had the time of my life, and I owe it all to you..." Ok, ok, I'll stop now.