NEW series!

Well, I'm a plant nerd. #gardengeek

So this is my first post that you'll find throughout the summer/fall/HARVEST!!! that will be tagged with #stufffrommygarden along with a photo or two of the bounty. Because I take pictures of plants and vegetables and I need to put them somewhere. If for no one else but me and my mom (thanks Mom).....here we go:

 

Happy summer!

Why he wasn't born on a gravel road

On this date five years ago, I had been in labor since 31 weeks. I was on a medication to stop it that made me feel horrible. I was hot. I was annoyed. I had been barfing forever. This wasn't my first go-round and I knew what to expect as I waddled into my 36 week appointment. Pee in the cup, be violated by a familiar stranger. Same old, same old. As I lay back in the stirrups though, contracting just like I had been for the last 5 weeks, she said the words that made me snap to attention:

"Um, you're six centimeters."

Six? Really. Seems not far from 10.

I sat up. "So, can I just swing on home and pick up a few things and grab my kids from daycare and set up the crib and stuff quick?"

Her: "Yeah, NO. I don't want to be the OB on the news that has the patient who delivers her baby on a gravel road somewhere outside of town."

I stared at her blankly.

Her: "That patient would be you....who delivers on a...gravel...ok...anyway...NO."

Silence.

Me: "It'd only take a few minutes. I could also use a beverage."

Silence.

Right.

Me: "I'll see you at the hospital."

I was admitted around 6 pm and Eli was born around 9:30 pm and he needed a little oxygen to help him breathe, but then he was right as rain. He had dark hair to start and a serious little face, which was the only time in his life that he was serious. And we loved him from the very start. Fiercely loved him. And I would like to thank all of you who love him too.

 

 

 

 

Happy 5th Birthday Eli! The world is so much brighter with you in it.

 

 

The best gift ever

A.

So, a couple of things. First off, we attended an awesome birthday party for my nephew AJ yesterday. I worked overnight the night before so I left a note for Steve and the kids to wrap the present for him that I had left on the counter while I slept before the party. It was Thomas backpack filled with a lantern and some sweet activities to do while in a tent, because his dad had made him a tent for his birthday. Anyway, Eli told me he also wrapped a card for AJ too. Awesome. So we went to the party.

AJ opened his gifts and then I heard my brother say, "Why are there waffles in it?" And at first I ignored it, because why would that be something someone would be saying? I'm tired after all and I'm hearing things. But he kept saying it. And then it hit me. I just knew that my kid had put waffles in the backpack. I just knew.

B.

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend. We are honoring that of course. But this morning at the breakfast table, I said to the kids, "Today is National Clean Your Room Day". They all looked up to see if I was serious and I kept my face as straight as could be. Olivia nodded thoughtfully and said, "Memorial Day is tomorrow. Clean your room day is today. That makes sense." And they all went back to eating. And they TOTALLY bought it. And then they cleaned their rooms. Can anyone else even handle this?? #momwin

C.

The people at Eli's daycare know this to be normal, but this is how Eli is dressed today. Standard.

D.

Finally, these are fresh cut from my very own yard.

I love nature and I love this time of year. I'm thankful for the people who fight for our country and for those who paid the price for our freedom. Have a safe holiday everyone!

Oh, and if you have ever received an awesome gift like wrapped waffles, please share.