Non-political statement

Regardless of how anyone feels about the Bush family or their politics, I am so glad that they were able to enjoy the love and joy a wedding brings.  I think it is a beautiful thing that Jenna and her husband chose to honor their vows by having their wedding in front of family and close friends, and away from the paparazzi and craziness of a televised event, or a Style Network special on the cost of the affair. I appreciate that they resisted the urge to celebratize it.  I also respect Papa Bush for not trying in any way to use the wedding as a popularity or poll booster-- especially during a time when he could use that very help.

About the wedding itself: I love the simplicity of the location, the dress, the hair, the flowers...it is just so lovely.

When at my most self-absorbed, I think about all of the different options for a wedding and wish I could get married again (to Jerrad!) about once every 5 years. Our wedding was so much fun for us! We felt so much love and happiness, and it was a true community celebration.  Every time I think of it, I end up smiling at the memories and feeling joyful inside.

It would be so fun to do again! A beach party with a small ceremony? A destination wedding in a courtyard in Italy? A summer garden party at a winery? Maybe I just need to be a party planner.

I recently read in a very esteemed journalistic magazine (ha!) that Seal and Heidi Klum renew their vows and have a bash each year with the same guest list, and I remember thinking that it seemed so decadent.  And truly, why would the same people want to celebrate your choice over and over? It seems that there are so many more important things to invest in...deep things, that need to recognized and strived for, like justice, or ending world hunger.

Then I remember that marriage is a deep thing, and my vows to Jerrad center my existence, and that God does want to celebrate with me this gift of partnership and grace...a tangible model of His relationship with me.

And I also remember that not all deep, significant things involve suffering, pain and loss. I think there is a reason that Jesus' first miracle was turning the water into wine at a wedding; it was a statement of identity and purpose, a statement that said "I'm here to celebrate with you, as well as to heal and protect.  I'm here to be your friend in the most meaningful way-- a friend who will help you celebrate life's joys, victories and beautiful things."

Anyway, I feel so thankful that I am married to Jerrad, and that God enjoys our relationship with all of its small joys.  And I'm so glad we live in day and age that still honors and celebrates the romance, mystery and beauty of a man and a women who come together in a commitment to grace, to have and to hold.  For the Bush's, for us and for marriages celebrated the world over, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder. Amen.

Enough time...

 Everything changed the day she figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in her life.

Brian Andreas/storypeople.com

Benjamin Chomsky...Le petit linguist

So, I recently had the uncanny experience of hearing myself in my 18 month old's voice... and let me just clarify, it was not so precious.

Could it have been any of the following: "I love you", "Thank God", "Thank you",  "Dear Jesus" or even "please"?

Of course not! It was a resounding, emphatic, I ain't messin' around "NO"!

I've had the sheer pleasure of listening to this all week long, and I have to keep reminding myself that, the good thing is, the kid has boundaries.

In the meantime, I'm aware of every "like" and "totally" I say, and the fact is, I could do a serious disservice to him if he grows talking like Spicoli.

I'm chalking this one up to another parental adjustment, considering that I now apparently need to monitor everything I say and choose my words and tone deliberately, lest they be repeated. 

The thing is, I'm not even worried about other people hearing it-- I just don't want to have to listen to myself repeated all day, every day for a week.  Yay.

Make new friends, but keep the old...

Every once in awhile you are blessed enough to meet a new friend who fills a void in your life you didn't even know you had.

I feel like this about Abby. I was totally happy and content with my life, but since I've met her, I don't know what I would do without her.

She has already cracked me up, listened to me cry, helped me clean my house, worked out with me, watched TLC in jammies, window-shopped and neighborhood dreamed, and helped me with my little buster. In just a few months time, I have fallen in love with her and her family.

Abby, I'm so glad you are here and you are you!

Blah grrrh.

So, Jerrad is off to New Jersey to open another store. I miss my husband!

I'm proud of him though, and know this is right for our family.

13 days and counting.

The Inner Man...

Definitely man, not mouse!
The man that I love sometimes blows me away with his wisdom, and sometimes cracks me up with his blunt practicality.

As a reward for giving up some bad habits, he decided that he would treat himself to zoom whitening at the dentist, come next visit.

Well, my visit came first, and the dentist assistant told me that he could have the whitening at a discount with invisalign teeth-straightening trays. 

His response? "My teeth work and I'm already married. Why would I need to spend money on braces?".

Ha ha ha! Oh, to be a man.

To Mop or Not to Mop?

Sniffles, scrapes, a thrown coffee mug, a mud party, smooshed banana hair pomade and 2 baths into our day, Ben and I finally made it to dinnertime.  To be honest it felt like it would never arrive! After eating several stalks of broccoli and some roasted potatoes with winter veggies, a proud mama stripped Ben down to his diaper to have at some banana-strawberry yogurt.

The learning task du jour seems to be feeding himself with utensils, which can be tedious and endearing at once.  After an amazingly clean run at it, I wiped off Ben's hair and face and let him play in the kitchen while I ran to check Abby's blog (I have permission to read it!).  It was hilarious and I was laughing out loud, and catching up on pictures that had been posted since I first found it, thought it was private and never went back to it.

In the midst of enjoying a wee bit of space, Ben started talking to me from behind the kitchen gate.  Curiously enough, his little head was peeking around, but I couldn't see more than that.  A hunch in my tummy told me to get up and look, and to my dismay I found my munchkin naked with a dirty diaper on the floor and number 2 smeared all over several unsavory parts of his body, as well as my floor and the gate.

My biggest dilemma of the day had been whether to mop or not, and I was thrilled to have chosen to veer away from clean-freakishness, give up some control and give myself and ENTIRE day off (dishes excluded).  How quickly these plans were dashed!

The new biggest dilemma was how to pick him up, transport him, clean him and then the floors without a) me gagging or crying, b) him wiping his goods on me, or c) him barging in on the kitchen cleaning and partaking in smearfest II and having to start the whole process over again.

To all of you moms who need to feel like you have it all together, just come hang out with me...you'll feel great!

To everyone, I do apologize that my first blog is about poop. Obviously, I do not have it together. I signed up for this in 6/07! Ha! Introductions another time.