18 Years Ago Today

Here is where I get a little teary eyed and start looking for that elusive box of tissue.

Eighteen years ago today, right about now, I was starting day two of trying to have a baby.  Yesterday's induction didn't take and I was sick with preeclampsia and there wasn't much option for us at that point except to have a baby now.

I'd spent a restless night tossing and turning in the hospital bed, with my husband snoring next to me on the fold out chair, and I was so ready to be done.  Let's go, baby, I thought. Get a move on!

And now, it's been 18 years, in a blink of an eye.  That moment she was born, purple with the cord around her neck, to first days of preschool, middle school, high school, trips to Seaside, Washington DC, France, needing to be carried, needing to hold my hand, needing to snuggle in my bed, needing to borrow the car, needing to be grown, all has passed in an instant.

I'm standing here, looking at this amazing young woman, and I'm so proud of her.  She marches to her own drummer, always has, and I pray she always will!

Although, the tables have turned. I'm not the one saying "Let's go, get a move on!"  She is.  She is ready to cannonball into life!  I'll be at her side, with a towel and sunscreen, cheering her on.

Things I Want My Daughter To Know

I thought I'd close this chapter of our lives with a post of all the things I want my daughter to know before she takes that next leap into adulthood.  I started to make a list of, in my opinion, profound bits of wisdom, but one by one I crossed them off because the things I was writing, were things that she knows.

I've done my job then.  She knows all the things I wanted to impart.

Except, this one thing, that I know she will roll her eyes at and say "Mama," in that exasperated tone that only almost 18 year old girls can do, but this one thing is going to be true for the rest of her life. She might as well accept it.

She will always, always, always be my child, and I will never stop loving her or worrying about her or trying to help her in anyway I can.

That's what moms do.....we love our children.

To the Moon and Back, Leah.

Always.

One Giant Step Forward

It wasn't so very long ago that this lovely, grown-up person

Was this small

How time has flown by!

It feels like one day I turned around and it wasn't a little girl following in my footsteps,

It is a young woman quickly catching up to walk beside me.

I have been so lucky,

Blessed beyond measure,

To be her Mom.

Our Favorite Things

Another year, another Seaside trip; it doesn't get old.  The excitement of the road trip as we get closer and closer, until we are counting down the minutes until we are out of the car and thoughts of the beach, the sand, the snacks, the buckets, the shovels and kites fill our heads and hearts.  It was a good trip, fun, great weather, and I know I'm not the only one who wished it was just one day longer!

These are a few of our favorite things:

Renna: the water

Toran: the pool

Finn: the pool

Rory: too many to pick!

Micah: passing the swim test, digging a hole deep enough to hit water, the sweat shirt shop

Jack: the beach

Leah: the sweat shirt shop, the beach before the sunburn

Lisa: Norma's and watching Amy crawl up the stairs after one shot

Brandon: good beach time and game nights

Amy: the beach, sunshine, holes that didn't wash away

Michelle: sand under my feet and tasting Lisa' Goldschlager

Karen: Pitch Perfect 2

Randy: the swimming pool, swimming with Renna

Only 360 days until we go back.  Let the countdown begin!!

Four Days To Go

Today I started my day like I have started every day for the last four years: I got up early, made coffee, gave my daughter her first of at least two wake up calls.  I poured some coffee and sat down to enjoy the quiet of the house before our day really gets started.

I thought of last night, watching my daughter accept her valedictorian sash, another award for top scholarship in the state of Washington, and monetary scholarships for the next step in her life.  I listened to the words she'd written, how she didn't set out to be valedictorian, but once she realized she was on a straight 4.0 roll, she knew she would work hard to stay rolling, how one of her greatest achievements in school was maxing out in weight training, how her humor is under appreciated (but that seems less true based on how much laughter her speech generated) and I was stunned by the knowledge that I helped shape this confident, fearless, wonderful girl.

Four school days left and then we say goodbye to high school.  I could say I'm sad to see it go, but I'm not.  I'm so happy for her, so very proud of how much she has to offer life, I'm excited to see where her dreams will take her.

And I will not miss the calls from school.....

"Mom?  I forgot my permission slip for the senior picnic and it is due today.  Can you bring it?  And my French homework?"

Okay....I might miss those easy to fix calls for help!

I Survived!

The good news is I survived the monster under the coach.  After much searching and picking up and an all around straightening on a find the shoe housecleaning spree, I found it.  It was under the couch.  The floor wasn't too dirty, so I got right down and reached way back for the one thing that would complete my outfit.

The bad news is the monster has terrible sharp claws or teeth or both.  It now has a taste for my blood.

The good news is I looked pretty amazing, complete with a Toy Story Band-aid.

Run With It

Today is a new day: a fresh page and my pencil sharpened.
I'm going to focus on the good, let the bad fall way.
Today has all the potential in the world,
I'm going to run with it.
Except for actually running, because I don't do that.
I'm going to fast walk this day, with three dogs and a cooling cup of coffee:
Today is going to be tackled and tamed;
And if it's not exactly that: oh well.
At the end of today I will be able to say I tried!
Tomorrow has all the potential too.....