Kids

I love them.  I want a zillion of them and by a zillion, I mean six.  I want to have four biologically and adopt two more after that.  I love being pregnant too.  It wasn't easy, but I loved it.  Four months straight of puking, bring it on, because everything else was amazing.  The fact that my bladder has nerve damage from pushing for four hours straight and I feel like I always have to pee as a result... totally worth it, if I get a baby in the end.

I don't claim to be really good at any of it.  I had post-partum anxiety that literally kicked me harder than anything I've ever experienced.  I'm a little vain and not losing the weight quickly enough wreaked havoc on my self esteem.  I've never been a good sleeper, but I neeeeeeeed sleep.  I'm not one of those people that can just go, go, go on four hours, day after day. ( I used to think I would pick flying, or teleportation if I could choose a super power, but now I would pick being a good sleeper... someone who can fall asleep as soon as their head hits the pillow and sleep through the night without interruption, but even if they are awakened by a small child, they can immediately resume sleeping when the child has been cared for... now that is power)!  I'm not the best housekeeper or cook or interior designer and I don't have a million ideas on keeping them entertained or teaching them new things.  I can't craft to save my life and I only wear make-up for weddings, funeral and auditions... so being the prettiest mom is out of the question too, but despite the long list of reasons I might not make the best mom, I can't help it.... I just want more, more, more kids.  I love them.

Not only do I love them, I feel like I already know them and being patient to have them in my arms has been the most trying experience of my life.

I think River is the most amazing boy in the whole world.  I think all kids are cute in various ways.  Some kids are little gap models and some kids have that bruiser quality and some kids are so quirky and different, but to me River is a masterpiece worthy of the Sistine Chapel.  I look at him and feel like Michelangelo must have sculpted him.  I think, "So what if I can't craft, look at what I made from scratch.."  That's my new joke lately... the reason I take so long to have babies is because I am making masterpieces.  Anyway, I am telling you all this, because I know I am not alone in loving kids.  Some people aren't really kid people, but there has to be a lot of us out there and if any of you happen to read my blog, I want to share this link to my sister's blog and introduce you to a few masterpieces out there waiting for a family.  The more kid lovers that see them, the more chance they have at being found by their forever family.  Please take a look.

http://itsybitsywriter.blogspot.com/2012/02/please-forgive-me-for-starting-this.html

V Day

Don't worry... this won't be one of those Valentine's posts highlighting all the fun, creative, romantic and expensive things my sweetheart did for me, that yours didn't do for you.  Valentine's Day is about the love, but so often it can leave you feeling like this.... (see photo below)

I've always had a rocky relationship with Valentine's Day.  It started out as not getting very many Valentines in my box in elementary school, progressed to zero Valentines in high school and reached the pinnacle in college when the boy I was head over heals for asked me to be his Valentine, only to get tired and go to bed before I finished with work.  Seriously, who goes to bed at 6:00?
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I spent awhile hating Valentine's Day.  I wore black, nail polish and all, was nauseated by anything heart shaped and professed my hatred of anyone wearing pink and red together to anyone who would listen.  Pink by itself was bad enough, but paired with red was too much for my delicate sensibilities.  It was worse than being forced to listen to Bare Naked Ladies.  Wait!  Strike that.  Nothing is worse than being forced to listen to Bare Naked Ladies.  Well anyway, you get the picture.
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So here I am today, wearing pink and purple (at least I am not a total hypocrite), tired from frosting way too many heart shaped cookies and wondering, "What the heck happened to me."  Oh yeah... I remember now... I found true love.  The kind you have to work and sacrifice for.  The kind that you are okay with low key plans for, because you know how many different directions you've both been pulled in lately... with baby stuff and house stuff and job stuff.  The kind that is a gift all itself, making other gifts unnecessary.  The kind of love where the hug at the end of the night, before you left to work, was what I really needed to feel loved.  Happy Valentine's Day Robert Brandon Bear.
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On a side note... if you haven't read the posts on Cjane's blog about her 5 loves, do yourself a favor and click here now.  Go from the bottom up.
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The last part of this post is titled A Ghetto Mom Tries.  As in, I try to be crafty and do all the cute things I see other ladies doing, but never quite pull it off.

Example one-No quality card stock here peeps... just cheap printer paper for this home made Valentine.  The art work by my little man does raise the quality though.

 Example two- Are those sugar cookies green?  Did you forget that you only had green food coloring left over from St. Patty's last year and now it is too late to go to the store and get a more suitable color?

Example three- Hello... you are supposed to download printable cello bag toppers with creative sayings, not scribble with washable marker in barely legible writing.

Oh well... this ghetto mom will keep on trying.  Meanwhile, we're off to make some special deliveries.  Happy Valentine's Day to you.  Please enjoy some more pics of my curly haired valentine.  No, not the tall one with the scruff on his face... the short one with the most kissable cheeks this side of the Milky Way.

River's 2nd Birthday

Without further adieu...



The little man liked blowing out his candles so much he made us do the whole thing twice.

 The Birthday Boy!  He would have been happy with just the balloon, but thanks to amazing friends and family he had a rockin' party, with so many presents he might get some of them again next year.  Shhh... Don't tell.

 Nothing like birthday presents under the tree... Just another bonus of being a December Baby.

Being 2 means being waaaaaay more into opening presents.

Standing next to all his booty, minus his blue balance bike that is in storage for the winter.  Arrrrh Mateys.... life be good.

There you have it... nothing that is going to be pinned on pinterest.  No glitz, no glamour, just one satisfied, well loved, happy camper.