Tag: birthday

All Around the Mulberry Bush

Published by dee on April 4, 2011

Seeing as it has been nearly a month since I wrote anything here, I suppose it is time to get my fingers back to the keyboard and share some earth-shattering news. Except, I don’t have any. Well, nothing earth-shattering anyway. I’ve been busy and just generally overwhelmed with life these last few weeks, which seems to happen often. One of these days I swear I’m going to get my act together.

First off, I am a bad, bad, mommy blogger. I let my beautiful baby girl’s 3rd birthday go by without so much as a mention on my blog. I’ve wanted to post something about it, but just haven’t had the time or the words to do so. She had an excellent birthday, with a super fun Dora Fairytale Adventure birthday party. This was the first year she got to invite friends to her party (we’ve done family only parties before). A friend of mine who is starting up a party planning business helped plan it, and it was much better than my standard at-home birthday parties. The birthday girl certainly enjoyed it!

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on getting my photography business set up. I’m definitely not a pro yet, but I’m taking some little steps to make things legal. I filed my d.b.a. a few months ago, and just last week set up a separate business checking account so that I can track my income/expenses. I’m also working on some marketing/branding stuff so that when I’m ready it will just be a matter of sending it off to the printer. I still have a few more things to do to feel like I’m official, but I am legal enough to be in business at this point. I’m just nervous about making that jump. I absolutely love photography, but I know I still have a lot to learn. I’m hoping to get a few more (non-family member) sessions in over the next couple of months. I’ve pretty much exhausted my kids and my niece/nephews with all of the photo taking. Here’s one of my favorites that I took of my niece a few weeks ago.

I still see imperfections in every photo I take, so I know I need more practice. However, I also know I love nearly every portrait ever taken of my kids – perfect or not – so maybe I can make it fly. I’m a little stuck in the “I need more practice to take better photographs, but I need better photographs to get people to want to hire me so I can get more practice” conundrum. Or maybe I just need more friends willing to loan me their kids.

On top of all that, I’m still stressing out about summer day care for Zach. I pretty much just stopped looking because I needed to just stop and breathe for a while. Sadly, ignoring it is not making it go away. The end of May is coming up very quickly.

Oh, and then there’s the really fun thing that happened on Friday – my car blew up! Well, it may have actually been easier if it did blow up, but it is broken (again) and undriveable until we get it fixed. I’m ready to trade it in, which we most likely will do, but not so ready to have to make car payments again. In the meantime, I’m driving hubby’s car, which we just had to put new tires on and he thinks needs a new starter. It works most of the time, but every once in a while just decides it doesn’t want to go. Kind of makes me wish we lived in a city where cars were not a necessity.

There are so many other things, but not enough time in the world to write it all out. My lunch hour just does not last long enough.

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33

Published by dee on February 11, 2011

So I had a birthday yesterday. As far as birthdays go, I have to say it was a pretty good one. It would have been nice if I could have taken the day off from work, but then I would have missed out on delicious cupcakes, lunch with the girls, and the gorgeous flowers that my mom had delivered for me.

When I got home, I received a sweet card from Hubby, along with a yummy-looking peanut butter/chocolate cake, and a Barnes and Noble gift card from the kids to go with the Nook I got a couple weeks ago. Then we rushed off to Chuck E. Cheese because Zach’s school was having a fundraiser night there. Gotta support the school, even if it is Mom’s birthday. By the time we got back I was too full/tired to eat the cake, but rest assured I plan to devour it tonight!

As you can tell from my lack of posting, life has been moving very fast again these last couple of weeks. It seems like every time I get a little break, things start piling up even more. Work is crazy busy right now. I’m rushing to get things done. Then, just when I think I’ve got something done, it changes and I have to go back and do it all over again. There is nothing that frustrates me more than having to do the same work twice. I have Monday to finish up a huge to-do list, and then I’m off for the rest of next week because of my surgery.

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday morning. My doc plans to go in and look around, then most likely end up with the removal of one ovary. I’m anxious to get it over and done with. I’m tired of hurting and if she takes it out, I don’t have to worry about ginormous cysts growing on that side anymore. I can’t say I’m looking forward to the actual surgery, but I’ll just be glad when it’s all done. My in-laws are coming up to stay with us while I recover. I can’t thank them enough for all they do for us. It is so reassuring just knowing that they will be here to help out with the kids so that I can rest and recover the way I need to.

One thing I am really looking forward to after my surgery is sleeping. I haven’t been getting much sleep lately and it is starting to show. I’m tired, cranky, and forgetful on top of it all which really isn’t a good combination. I know I’m trying to do too much, but I can’t seem to stop. I think I have too many hobbies, but I can’t give any of them up. I also can’t seem to put my Nook down, which is definitely cutting down on my sleep time. In the meantime, my house is a disaster, I’m way behind on laundry, and I’m going a little nutty with all the things I’m not finding the time to do. I just realized last week that I still have some Christmas decorations sitting out that I forgot to put away. The days just fly by too fast and by the time I finally get kids to bed and can stop for the night, I’m too exhausted to think or do any more.

So yes, I’m looking forward to getting some good (drug-assisted) sleep after my surgery. I’m looking forward to not being in pain after I recover. Most of all, I’m just looking forward to having a little break and having someone else take care of me for once.

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Five Years In The Blink of an Eye

Published by dee on June 26, 2010

Dear Zachary,

Five years ago today, I became a mother. Some might argue that I became a mother upon your conception, but something inside me changed in those first few moments when I heard your (very loud) cry and got my first glimpse of your beautiful face. That is the moment when I truly understood what it means to be a mother. At 4:40 p.m., on June 26th, 2005, I finally knew the meaning of true, unconditional love.

We’ve been through a lot in five years. I’ve watched you grow from a tiny (ok, maybe not so tiny) baby into a little boy who is a force to be reckoned with. While I’ve tried to shape you the best that I can, you are very much your own person. You are so strong-willed and yet also so sensitive at times. You take after your daddy quite a lot in this way.

You have changed so much over the last year. You’ve lost every bit of your baby face and now you are just all boy. You are growing so fast I can barely keep you in clothes and shoes. I’m just thankful that it is summer now so that you can wear shorts and I don’t have to worry about your pants being too short anymore. I’m guessing there is another growth spurt coming soon though, because several nights recently you have eaten more at dinner than I have!

This last year you finally got to go to preschool. You were so excited for school to start. I think you really enjoyed it for the most part. There were a few rough times, fights with other kids, and days when you just didn’t want to go, but overall I think it was a good experience. We also learned that you sometimes have a hard time focusing on tasks. I’m hoping this is something that will come with maturity and not become a life-long problem. You do pretty well in a one-on-one environment, but are easily distracted otherwise. You are so incredibly smart though. There are still days when you absolutely amaze me with the conversations we have. My favorite part of preschool was watching you on stage during your school music programs. You are a true music lover and you practiced so hard to learn your songs. You were so proud up there performing for your family and friends. Don’t tell anybody, but I might have cried just a little bit watching you.

After preschool graduation we changed gears a bit. You are spending the summer going back and forth between your cousins’ house and Miss Paula’s. I’m glad you are getting a little time to play and relax because in August, a whole new venture begins. You’ll be starting Kindergarten. I have very mixed feelings about it at this point. You seem to be very excited about going to a “big school” but I am a bundle of nerves. I’m excited for you, but also scared to send my baby off into the unknown. I’d feel so much better if you could go to Aunt Tanya’s school where I at least know some of the staff. If I had my way I’d wrap you in my arms and carry you through until you were an adult. I have this fierce need to protect you from all of this, yet I know that I have to let you go and it’s really tugging at my heart. I just am not ready for all this growing up and I know that this will be a life-changing year for you.

Five years ago, lying on that hospital bed, I never could have imagined the incredible journey that we’ve been on. I am so proud of you, of all of your accomplishments, of the things you’ve overcome, of the sweet little boy that you are. My eyes seem to be watering a bit as I’m writing this because I just can’t find the words to express what I want to say. The love I have for you is sometimes just so overwhelming. Of all the boys I have loved and cared for in my life, you are the one who completely stole my heart.

Happy 5th Birthday, Zachary! I love you so much!

Love always,
Mama

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Birthday Girl

Published by dee on March 18, 2010

At 2:22 p.m. on March 18, 2008, my life was forever altered. My baby girl turns two today.

Zach and I woke Evie up this morning singing “Happy Birthday” and then she immediately turned over and asked for cake. That’s my girl! She is so much like me it’s scary!

2008

2009

2010

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The Big Game of Exhaustion

Published by dee on February 9, 2010

I am beginning to discover that there is a very direct correlation between how hectic my weekends are and how well the following week starts out. When we have a nice quiet weekend, Monday morning don’t seem quite as bad. When we have a very busy weekend, and particularly a very busy Sunday, I feel like I’m running to catch up all week long. That’s the kind of weekend we had this week and I’m still feeling the effects on Tuesday morning.

We spent most of the day Saturday cleaning and getting the house ready for the big Super Bowl/Birthday Party on Sunday. I don’t think it has had a good cleaning since mid-December so it was time. Hubby didn’t understand why it needed to be cleaned, but it most definitely did.

Sunday morning we had to be up earlier than usual as our church was having a big Super Bowl celebration. I had to get up extra early because I had a surprise for Hubby and needed to get the kids up and dressed without his help. As part of the Soul Bowl celebration at our church we were all supposed to wear our favorite team jerseys/gear. Since the kids didn’t have any, I secretly ordered them both a Saints outfit to wear as a surprise. Yes, the surprise went over well!

Hubby was thrilled with the kids’ outfits and I even gave in and put on one of his Saints shirts too. I was glad I also had a few extra minutes to set the camera up and snap a few photos before we headed out the door. I got one good shot of the four of us together and it will definitely be remembered.

Daddy taught the kids to sing, “Who Dat?” and then we finally headed out the door for church. We had a yummy pancake breakfast, played lots of games with the kids, and then enjoyed a great worship service. Zach even got to try out his first real “hoop-a-loop” (hula hoop). It was lots of fun, but I was exhausted by the time we got home.

There wasn’t time to rest though, because it was time to start cooking up the Jambalaya for dinner. I put the meat on the stove, settled the kids down for a nap and movie, made a quick run to the grocery store, folded laundry, and finished up a few last minute things around the house. Then I finally sat down to rest for a few minutes just before everyone started arriving for the party.

Since my Mom’s birthday was on Saturday, and mine is coming up on Wednesday, our Super Bowl party got turned into a Super Bowl/Birthday party. My sister made us a yummy cake and even decorated it in my favorite color. With the Saints in the big game, the birthday part got a little overshadowed this year, but that’s ok.

During the game things got a little tense. I laughed all week as Hubby told me that it didn’t matter if the Saints lost; He just was happy they were playing in the Super Bowl. Just as I expected, he wasn’t too happy when the Colts were ahead. He wouldn’t even eat until the game finally turned around but after that things got a little more exciting.

For the rest of the game, Hubby was jumping up and down, screaming, and scaring poor Evie to death. She had no idea what was going on, but Daddy sure does yell loud! When the game finally ended and the Saints had won, I think there may have even been a tear or two from Hubby.

Then Zach came in to see what all the ruckus was about and got swept up by Daddy.

It was quite the celebration at our house! I’m so happy the Saints won and that Hubby will always have that memory of his team finally winning. It was a very fun day, but as I said, I’m still exhausted from all of the chaos. I think from now on the Monday after the Super Bowl should be a required day off of work.

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