Friday, May 18, 2007


Cocktail hour treats
Saturday morning baby
Baby on board

Friday, May 11, 2007

Its getting cool to be a slacker mom. I don't think this is news, we all know relaxed moms will have more fun parenting and probably have more centered kids. I think the mainstream media jumps on any chance to create labels and divide people, but I definitely fit the beta mom mold.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-05-08-alpha-beta-moms_N.htm?csp=34

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Alistair would have been 5 today





Another birthday at the cemetary. This time was special, I can't believe its been 5 years. My parents came with us for the first time, we planted alyssum & hen & chicks, we sent 5 balloons up. It was a beautiful, peaceful day. When I think of this same day 5 years ago, its heartbreak all over again. But I stop and think of the beautiful little boys that have come into our lives since then, I am amazed and grateful. I also want them to always know about their precious older brother, Alistair.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Tribute to my Mom before Mother's Day

I have a whole bunch of crap to do tonight while the boys are sleeping, but I'd rather write about my mother for a minute. She would hate that, she would want me to get all my work done, she loves order & hates messes!


My mom is a glamorous and sophisticated woman. I always thought she was one of the best looking mamas when I was a kid, I still do. She always has on lipstick & reminds me to wear it. She doesn't understand women who never wear lipstick or women who get married & then never try to look nice again. That bugs my mom, she always looks great.

My mom is popular. I know as a teenager she was not an "in crowd" type of chick, but as an adult (when it counts!) my mom gets a lot of respect and has a lot of friends. When I was a kid, everyone stopped to talk to my mom when we were out and about. She could talk and talk and people would go out of their way to chit chat with her, while I would wait for a long, long time.

She grew up all over the world, India, Ireland, Switzerland, the daughter of a foreign service officer. When she married my dad, a recently returned Vietnam vet, they moved all over the world too. We lived in Germany, Saudi Arabia and a bunch of states, moving almost every year for awhile. When we got to our new house, the very first thing she did was set up our bedrooms as soon as we arrived, so we'd feel at home instantly.

She is the kind of mom that will hold you when you get hurt, but will also tell you to shake it off. She had 2 boys and me, and my sister died when she was a baby. When I lost my own baby, I knew I would survive, I knew one day I would have fun again, that I would never be the same, but I could be OK. My mom did it and so could I. The summer that my son died, she talked to me all day every day, she walked with me and helped me manage things I couldn't do. She understood when I repeated the same things over and over.

My mom is kind of punk rock. She traveled alone with my brother and me on countless transatlantic flights. I can't remember her ever losing her cool on those all night plane trips, although she swears she did. She will fight to get what she needs, she doesn't take no for an answer, she is tough. She is confident. She is also a diplomat, able to get along with anyone and smooth out any misunderstanding.

She loves my husband. If we fight, she pretty much always takes his side. She has skills in maintaining a great relationship so she's usually right. She has been married to my dad for 35 years and they still cuddle and giggle like newlyweds. It used to drive us crazy when we were kids. Now I'm in awe of their relationship and my ears are always open for her advice.

As we both get older, she is one of my best friends. She knows how to handle any social situation, etiquette is her thing. Yet I can still show her obnoxious videos from you tube and she will laugh with me. I am grateful every day to have such a great mother and I am blessed to be able to live close to her so she is a huge part of my children's lives. I love my mama!

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Sitting up!


peace



Everybody asleep on a warm night.

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

I think this song is fierce! http://youtube.com/watch?v=GQSU4fTbkQs&mode=related&search= Cheesy lyrics, but this to me is a perfect example of picking the right song for your voice.

back in the day...when he was 1/2 his age

stop

"Circumcision is a perfect example of the triumph of emotion and outdated and unproven beliefs over common sense and scientific data."

"I've seen circumcisions done in the delivery room. Welcome to the world, baby boy - now to initiate you properly, we're going to cut off one of the most sensitive parts of your body with no anesthesia!"

Both quotes are by Dr. Christiane Northrup, she rocks! http://www.drnorthrup.com/

Isn't a little unfair that girls in this country can go home whole and healthy and so many boys go home with an open wound and in pain? Its only by chance that cutting girls didn't catch on, it was started at the same time as cutting boys, but its harder to do. If girls were still cut, parents in America would still be making excuses for keeping that tradition alive, the same way they justify removing healthy parts of a baby boy. Crazy.

About Me

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I'm just a mom in the world. A crunchy Catholic mama of 6 trying to make sense of it all and stay positive. 5 boys here & 1 in heaven. One awesome man who I get to grow old with. I help new moms breastfeed. I`m happy. I don`t go to shows or dance clubs every night but I would if I could. Where`s the nanny? When I see her she`s SO fired! One of my boys is super sweet and sensitive, another one is a holy terror. I learn a ton from all of them daily. Like Nigella says, as any parent of small children knows,there comes a point in the day where you can`t go any further without a drink! I love cocktail hour. I`d like nothing more than to be with my family and some good friends surrounded by tropical plants drinking a margarita listening to the Eagles. I don`t care about trendy, I like that grungy 70`s vibe.