As I write this, in 2 minutes, you turn 32 years old.
There you are asleep on the couch, your glass of root beer still full. Like always.
Just a few hours ago, we watched brainless television shows. Like always.
We snacked on junk food when we really shouldn’t have. Like always.
We talked about the sweet (or not so sweet) things the kids did today. Like always.
The clock just struck 12.
Happy Birthday, sleepy boy. I can’t wait to spend your special day and many more together.
Nate and I crashed Nia’s Valentine’s Day party at her school today and I captured our little sweetie getting ready to dig in to her sweets –
They passed out cupcakes and chips for the students and Nia made sure her uninvited little brother didn’t miss out – holding her cupcake out for Nate to sample and loading him up with cheesy Doritos.
What more can I say? That’s what Valentine’s Day is to me – love. Pure and simple.
Yum right? I feel bad for even putting that word next to the other words. Not just because it’s so yucky, but because I literally feel bad because of it. Don’t worry, I won’t get all detailed or anything. It’s just – I can’t talk about my 30th birthday without mentioning the disgusting distress Andrew and I are suffering through even now.
We’ve had this rumbly in our tumbly for the past week. Remember when I wrote I was sick and then all better? Well, I apparently was deceived by this blah that has taken over our bodies. We are still able to function with it. We even are still hungry. But when we eat, we pay for it later. Severely.
It all would have been a lot more tolerable if it had rudely entered our lives at a better time. It happened to hit us right as we were getting ready to visit our family (Anna Marie, Marcus, Baby Ella and new Baby Maggie) – plus our buddies (Ginger, Lee and Baby Cami). We called and warned them. “We have a butt disease – still want to see us?” They must really love us because they all said yes. We’ll see if they still feel the same if they get it too! (Which I am praying they do not!)
It also came as I was turning 30 and Andrew had a very special surprise for me. He had secretly invited Anna Marie and her girls plus Ginger, Lee and Cami to go to one of those Japanese restaurants where they cook in front of you. He led me to believe we were going to an all you can eat buffet and never said anything about our friends being there! It was so super sweet and wonderful – that is – except for our tummy troubles. Andrew and I didn’t even eat our main food. It also wasn’t such a good idea to take 4 small children to one of those restaurants. For the most part, the were entertained by the chef but Nia was not having any of the food and Nate was hysterical before the chef came (“Chicken! French Fries!”), Ella was petrified of the fire and it was getting way late for Miss Cami. Poor Andrew. He did such a sweet thing for me – I’m sorry it didn’t turn out as he hoped – I want him to know how much it all meant to me and that I love him bunches.
Well, despite it all – I’m 30 and I had a lot of happy memories to go along with the big day. I got to spend my actual birthday with great friends. Ginger and Lee sacrificed their master bedroom so the Valles Fam could crash ever so comfortably. I got to enjoy 2 cakes – one that Andrew surprised me with and another that Ginger and I nibbled on secretly. She even made us super delicious daiquiris and a breakfast of champions the next day.
I may not be all that thrilled about turning 30 but then again – the older I get, the more time I get to spend with the people I love. I just hope the next birthday comes without the party on the potty.
Ginger-ale on ice – with a straw.
Chicken noodle soup – delivered on a tray with a napkin.
Dishes finished and the kitchen cleaned.
Tucked in nice and cozy – watching whatever I want on television.
All that plus – the kids fed, happy, bathed and kissed goodnight.
He really took care of all of us last night. I “called in sick” on Monday – well, for as much as I could anyway. Amazingly, the kids let me lounge around during day – allowing me to get away with a few short book reads and lazy block building sessions. Andrew came home as early as he could so I could get some sleep as soon as I could. It was awesome.
Thanks to all of that TLC, I am all better and ready to take care of the next sicky Valles. (I hope we won’t have to do that for awhile though!)
(Even though I know, ultimately, it’s my fault since I’m the one who pushed the princesses on her for these past few years.)
Nia has a crush at school. His name is Colin and she says he has a nice haircut and is cute.
WHAT?!?!?
ALREADY?!?!
Part of me thinks it’s adorable but the other part of me wants to shelter her from knowing all the hurt that comes out of crushes and young love. This shouldn’t be starting so soon! I had at least waited until I was in the first grade before I smooched my crush on his ear after saying to him, “I have to tell you a secret.” Pretty sly, huh?
It just seems that 4-years-old is too young to even be noticing that someone is cute! What makes the whole thing even worse is that she told me Colin doesn’t really play with her. She says it’s because he plays with other girls that he thinks are prettier. !!!!!!! She told me that he liked her long hair better. !!!!!!!!!! Now, I don’t know how much of this I can believe since she says he never actually told her those things. She’s, like, just assuming them or something but still! The fact that she even knows to say something like “the other girls are prettier” – how heartbreaking is that?
I guess it has begun and there’s nothing we can do about it. I just don’t think I can handle my baby girl feeling bad because of some boy (or anything for that matter). Not now or when it’s really going to hurt. I know it’s all a part of growing up and we all went through it – it’s just different when it’s happening to the people you want to protect the most.
We’re home. The funeral service was beautiful and sad (Andrew’s dad gave the eulogy) and so many people came to say goodbye to Grandma over the two days she was shown – she was such a social butterfly and touched many lives with her personality. I just wish she could have seen the kids one last time.
Speaking of the kids, Nia was a sweetie during it all. There were 3 different showings over two days and then the funeral on the third day and she was so awesomely behaved I couldn’t believe it! I mean, the whole thing is hard on us grown ups so I thought for sure it would be terrible for her – especially since she was pretty sleep deprived. She told us she touched Grandma’s hand and that it wasn’t soft like it used to be and that she was very careful when she touched it. She said it was her way of showing Grandma that she loved her. How in the world does a 4 year old know that? I asked her if anyone told her that and she said no. She also told me that Grandma will wake up when Jesus comes to get her. Amazing. All I can do sometimes is look at her in shock. She even did great in the car. Sleeping for much of the way and never complaining. She’s our angel.
As for Nate – well, he had his moments. Looking back on it, he was as well behaved as I could have hoped. At the time though, it felt like I was running in circles. The car rides and being quiet at the funeral service were hard things for him. I had to take him outside for much of it. Part of me felt sad that I didn’t get to properly mourn but then I thought that might be a good thing too. He helped me keep my mind of the sadness of death and instead focus on the beauty and happiness of life. That little boy – he might actually be an angel in disguise.
While the trip home was for Grandma’s funeral – it did give us a chance to see family we haven’t seen in a really long time. I’m so happy that my sister drove in from Ohio. Even though we didn’t get to spend a ton of time together – it was so wonderful to see her and my nieces. I needed a family fix. I’m so thankful she came home and I can’t wait to see her, my brother-in-law (who was missed!) and the girls again soon! We also got to see Andrew’s cousins that we haven’t seen since our wedding. One of them is now getting married and she wants Nia to be a flower girl! I’m so excited!
Other than all of that – here’s a few other things to note about our trip-
Well, that’s it for now, okay? Kay.
Sadly though, they will not be taking us home for a fun family visit. They’ll be taking us home for a funeral. Andrew’s grandma passed away yesterday. She was 89 years old and had been suffering with her health for awhile now. We were hoping to get to go see her next weekend but God wanted to see her first. She really needed to be at peace and without pain and now she is. It’s just so sad to know she’s gone.
I did get to talk to her on the phone the day before she died. She got to hear Nia and Nate’s voices and I know that made her happy. I heard her try to say “Oh, the baby” when Nate talked to her. She would call Nate, “Cloney” because – although she couldn’t see – she knew he looked just like Andrew. She loved her smallest family members so very much. I think she felt good knowing she was leaving such beautiful pieces of her behind. If it wasn’t for her, our family wouldn’t be here today.
She was the feistiest little Italian lady. She would tell you like it is (sometimes very bluntly and humorously) and I can only hope to live a life as full and blessed as hers.
She will always be in our hearts.
It seems like she was just here and now I only get a glimpse of her every so often. Our precious Bean is growing up so quickly and it wasn’t until I looked at her baby pictures and videos that I truly realized how much she’s becoming a little person.
She’s so funny. I can’t believe how goofy she is sometimes. She cracks me up with the crazy faces she makes. I’m so thankful for a goofball daughter. I can be so exhausted at the end of the day – just going through the motions – when all of sudden she starts doing a silly little dance. It makes both of us laugh out loud. It is the best thing.
She’s so sweet and caring. If you look sad or mad she will ask you why are feeling that way. If Nate is crying she will make her voice high pitched and say, “It’s okay Nathan. Nathan, you’re all right.” If I’m in a bad mood she will tell me, “I love you Momma. I think you are the best Momma – even when you are mad.” She also always thinks of Nate. If we go shopping without Nate or Andrew, she will pick out a toy/book for Nate or if she sees something he will like she will tell me we need to get it for him.
She’s so smart. She amazes me every day. She can write really well and I can’t believe how good she can color. She stays in the lines and for the most part keeps her crayon moving the same way so her pictures are always so neat and perfect! She’s also starting to figure out math. She will hold her fingers up and say things like 2 and 2 makes 4 and she also can subtract too! I’m not sure what a typical 4-year-old is supposed to know or anything but it just seems like she’s a brainiac to me! (And I’m not just saying it because she’s my kid – I already know I won’t be saying this about Nate when he’s 4! I hope he proves me wrong though!)
She is such a jabber-jaws. She talks ALL the time. One day I asked if she talked like that while she was at school. She said yes but that she wasn’t the only one who did. She said her teacher sometimes has to turn out the lights to get them all to be quiet. Her teacher told me, “they’re 4 – that’s the way it is when they’re 4.” For some reason though, I don’t think Nia – the non-stop talker – will just be silenced when she turns 5 or 6 or 7 or 8… I mean, look at who her mother is!
She’s already watching “big kid” movies. Andrew was watching the “Lord of the Rings” a few weeks ago and she started watching it with him! I objected but she begged to watch it. Andrew said he would watch the trilogy with her and she LOVED it. I cannot believe it didn’t scare her! (I know it did me!) We kept telling her it was all pretend and that the good guys win but I was still worried it would traumatize her. If anything, it hypnotized her. She says she liked “the guy with the curly hair” (Aragon) and “the elf with the arrows” (Legolas) the best because they were nice. She keeps asking to watch more “Lord of the Rings” and doesn’t believe us when we tell her it’s all over. It’s just so neat to think of all the cool movies I’ll be able to watch with her now. So far, we’ve watched, “The Wizard of Oz,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “The Neverending Story.” “Lord of the Rings” is her favorite though. I’m hoping she’ll like my main wizard “Harry” too. We’ll see as the story of Nia growing up continues..
It’s just the way it is. Babies get more attention. I know Nate is not a baby anymore but he’s still in that age range where people notice him and talk to him. It happens all the time when we take the kids out to eat or shop. People approach Nate and start goo-goo talking to him. Nia usually doesn’t pay it any mind but I think she’s started to catch on that these strangers are going all silly over her brother and not her. The last time it happened was particularly sweet to me.
The waitress was having a conversation of sorts with Nate. As it continued for a good few minutes, Nia sat up taller, stuck out her head, smiled her hugest smile and batted her big eyes, hoping she’d get something from the lady – anything. The waitress never even glanced up at Nia. She walked away leaving Nia to wonder, “How’s come she didn’t see me?”
Well, I saw you Nia. Mommy always sees you – no matter how many smiles and laughs Nate is sharing with others – you have my attention – and you don’t even have to work for it.
I know things are going to happen to our kids that we aren’t going to like. I know it would be best if I deal with them accordingly at the time and then push them out of my mind. But I just can’t seem to shake that a little girl (brat) spit at Nia.
It happened at the end of her gymnastics class on Monday. During the last 10 minutes, the kids get to play in a big pit that’s filled with foam squares. Nia has a blast. She can jump in like a madwoman – she can get buried under the blocks – all we hear are giggles – tons of giggles. On Monday though, the little girl (bully) came out crying and walked over to her mom (miserable looking woman). I had no idea at the time why she was crying.
It wasn’t until we were in the car that I asked Nia – “Why was that one girl crying?”
Nia – “She spit at my face.”
Andrew’s mom and Me – “WHAT?!?!”
Our reaction made her think she did something wrong and she put on a sad face. I told her I wasn’t mad at her I just needed to know what happened.
Apparently, the girl (meanie) wanted a certain block but Nia was playing with it. Nia said the girl (terror) began throwing blocks at her head and then spit at her face.
She said her cheek got a little wet but the rest of the nastiness landed on that girl’s (spitter’s) chin. Nia said the teacher saw what happened and made the girl (who the heck taught her to spit at people anyway?!?!) leave the pit and say she was sorry. That’s when the teacher walked her over to her mom. Nia didn’t even act like anything was wrong. Even after she told me what happened I asked her if she liked the girl (her mom better watch out) and she said, “When she doesn’t spit at me.”
Why can’t I be like that? Nia could care less and I’m all distraught. I want to believe that the girl (undisciplined) was just kind of jealous because she usually gets all the attention but there was a different teacher that day so she wasn’t given special treatment. Also, Nia had her hair in a French braid that wraps in a circle and looked like a princess and was getting some extra attention because of it. Maybe those things along with the block incident put that girl (just a kid) over the edge.
I might just be making up excuses but for some reason it feels better to do that than to think someone was mean to my little sweetie (not always innocent) because she didn’t like her.
What makes me even more crazy is that this is only the beginning of wanting to protect my kids from the spitters of the world. What the heck am I going to be like when she comes home crying because someone made fun of her because she’s not wearing the right brand of shoes. Or worse, the boy she likes doesn’t like her back.
I know she’ll survive and all the let downs make you stronger – but come on – she’s my baby.
Are You Zhazha? 
Say what?