"The mightiest oak began as a tough little nut that just held it's ground." Our tough little nut turned 1 last weekend. We celebrated in the most perfect way Tucker's 365 days. It was. Poignant. Triumphant. Beautiful. For a moment, sad. But mostly perfect. When T was in the NICU we read the Very Hungry Caterpillar book to him nearly every day. It was a story fitting for a preemie. About a very tiny newborn caterpillar who bursts forth on a Sunday morning and is, very...well, hungry. He eats ... View the Post
The day. Why it’s hard. And awesome.
On my birthday every year, my mom calls me-around noon usually, and says, " This was it, 30...(er something) years ago, you arrived! Right at lunchtime! It was the happiest day ever!". My grandmother usually calls too- she recounts her favorite story from that day-the day she forgot her own telephone number because she was so excited that I finally arrived (I was 8 days late). She went to call my grandad-but in her elation, she couldn't remember her home telephone number. I can hear, even after ... View the Post
Farewell Living Room
I swore I'd never do it. I would be different. Nope, I wouldn't let it happen. Yet here I am. Writing this post from what used to be, my semi- stylish, Pottery Barn meets Home Goods living room. Last week I waved goodbye to my cute coffee table. The one I splurged and bought with my first adult pay check. The oh-so-classic arm chair for the sometimes-used "reading nook"? Gone-zo. The doors to our oversized antique armoire, the shelves of which, just last week displayed my awesome TJ Maxx finds ... View the Post
Putting the Mile in Milestones
It was around 4:00 in the afternoon. I am most certain I had just asked Darrin to fetch me some Oreos or Famous Amos cookies or something sweet from the cafeteria. My theory was the more calories I could consume, the bigger this baby boy would be if he did, indeed, arrive early. And I was taking that theory seriously. We were probably watching Sports Center-what else do you watch at 4:00 in the afternoon from the limited hospital channels? Bedrest was starting to get to me. But I was doing ... View the Post
One Day
We have some friends who throw a Halloween party every year. Sweets. Kids in adorable costumes. Chili. These people throw a good party-you don't want to miss it. And you don't want to miss the dessert table. 2 years ago, Darrin and I went to the party armed with some Nutter Butter cookies dipped in white chocolate to look like ghosts (clever yes?) and a cupcake carrier full of peanut butter chocolate cupcakes (no. that part really isn't integral to my story but I always want to know, in detail, ... View the Post
Make a Joyful Noise
When Tucker was born, he was so small and so fragile it was really unbelievable that this was our baby. We watched him day in and day out do the things that most babies do inside the womb. His eyes were fused shut. We got to see them open-first his right and a few days later, his left. His movements were jerky and uncoordinated-I should have been feeling these twitches and spastic kicks inside my tummy. But we watched as his nervous system developed and his movements became more and more easy. ... View the Post