photo update

I have been told that I do not post enough pictures, so here goes. And, I apologize in advance for the video that is the wrong way. I promise it is worth the crick.
John was playing peek-a-book with Zoey under a freshly washed blanket. The effect was Dr. Zoey, mad scientist.



My friend Dawn's girls, Abby and Raelyn, spent the afternoon with us. Abby loved "watching" Zoey. She wanted to hold her and feed her, but when Zoey pulled her hair, it was over.

She loves to read. The other day she just decided to plop down with one of her favorite books. She was turning the pages and everything. I was in bookwork heaven.
Zoey loves her Pop...and his glasses. I love the way she is looking at him. So sweet.


Getting her swing on. The girl is crazy about swinging! We have a swing that we still need to install...we've had it since Christmas. Maybe by her birthday it will be up. :)
A kiss and a walk

tragedy

I am grieving along with a friend right now, and I would appreciate prayers for her family. I can't imagine going through something like this, especially for this friend. Words can't describe how deeply sad I am for my sweet friend, and God's ways are a mystery to me, but praise the Lord that we know he is in control.

7 Quicktakes Friday

1. I am deathly afraid of throw-up. I did not want to have children because I was afraid they would throw-up. Well, on our way to drop Zoey off with the Cains, she threw up all over EVERYTHING. She has always been quite the spit-up queen, but this took the cake. She was covered. It was even all over the back seat. All I could think when it happened was that I wanted to help her. I thought I had a break through, but when we got home and I realized what happened, I completely freaked out. I had to control my urge to cry hysterically.

2. I have discovered that I may suffer from chronic confessing. I am always telling people too much about what I have done, eaten or said. I don't know why, but it may have something to do with the guilt complex I have.

3. Today, I made Heather pretend we were hiking in the mountains during our walk. For a minute, it was like a cartoon commercial where everything morphs into the thing in your imagination. I could literally see a wooded trail before me. It was great, but then again, it only lasted a minute.

4. I love Jack's Big Music Show. I would watch it by myself.

5. I am craving a little pampering. I want a haircut and a pedicure so badly. However, when I started working part time, those were things that I cut out of my personal budget. So sad.

6. Walking with a partner is so much more satisfying that walking alone, even if you are listening to music. However, when walking with a partner, you cannot dance down the street to your favorite song.

7. When receiving flowers, my new favorite place to put them is on my nightstand. That way I can look at them every morning when I wake up and every time I go into my room.

a dad and his daughter: a love story

Once upon a time there was a man who fell in love. He loved her eyes; he loved her smile; he loved her laugh; he loved everything about her. As he carried his sleeping girl to bed, he realized that wrapped around her little finger was his favorite place to be.



The dad loved his daughter and the daughter loved her dad. And the mommy felt like she was the luckiest of them all.

solitude

Being a mom has changed me in so many ways, but one of that things that I noticed today on my walk is that I really like being alone these days. I never realized how important solitude was until I never had any. At bible study this week, Rachel asked us what our idea of peace was. I didn't even have to think about it; my idea of peace is sitting on the couch by myself in total silence. I love spending time with my friends and family, but it is so rare that my thoughts are completely my own. When Zoey is anywhere nearby, at least half of brain is focused on her. I think that is why moms are so tired at the end of the day; your brain is working overtime all day. And the more kids you have, the more work your brain has to do. Moms work damn hard for Mother's day in my opinion.
So much does the idea of being alone appeal to me that I have daydreamed about dining by myself. I think that I would enjoy being the mysterious loner flipping through a book and sipping coffee. A bit of myterium (I just made that word up) is stripped from every woman when she slips that ring on her finger, but mystique pretty much evaporates when a girl changes her name to "mommy." I used to feel really sorry for people sitting solo at a table, but now I realize that it may be the only bit of solitude that they get. I love to meander around a store in quiet not having to worry about whether Zoey is happy or needing to eat or sitting in poop. I can allow my thoughts to wander where they will. Sometimes I don't think at all. My brain is at rest.
Well, this is just a bunch of blab, but like I said, it was just something I learned while I was walking this morning-alone.