Unsolicited Advice

The other day we took a family outing to Publix.  The "Good Publix" near Whole Foods is like a less expensive version of Whole Foods and is a huge Publix compared to our "Neighborhood Publix," which is kind of a cross between a supermarket and EuroSpar.  (It might not translate.)  Interestingly enough, both Publix are about 2 miles away from each other.  (There are a lot of Publix here.)

We got what we needed, and we went to check out.  The lady bagging our groceries pointed out that EK was very pale.
"Well, she's Irish." I said, "She was born in Dublin."  And didn't we all have a good laugh about that one.
Then the cashier got involved and started peppering us with questions. 
"Are you from Ireland?" she asked.
"I'm not, but he is." I said and pointed to the SJC.  She proceeded to ask him if it was true that there were no snakes in Ireland.  Then she asked me where I was from.  I told her I was from Massachusetts.
"Oooh, there are a lot of smart people up there." she said.
"I know." I responded.
"They have a lot of laws up there, too." she told me.
"Yes they do. They know how to protect their people." I said.
And then my favorite part of the day happened.
"You should move back there.  Or move back to Ireland.  You shouldn't live here.  This isn't a great place for her to grow up." and pointed to Ells.  At this point, I just wanted to get outside, so I wasn't really paying attention.
"Okay, we will." I said, and we started to head towards the door.

It took me a few minutes to absorb everything that happened, but now I'm pretty sure we got kicked out of Florida by a cashier at Publix.  95 North, here we come.

One

Ellie is one year old today.  Naturally, she had a doctor's appointment and got three shots.  Poor kid.  She did have a cupcake chaser, so it wasn't all bad.

Her One Year Stats:
Height: 33 inches (I'm told this is average height for a 21 month old.)
Weight: 26lbs (but it's a lean 26lbs - she's not a pudgy kid by any means)
Teeth: Six (four top, two bottom)
Likes: Dance parties, books, Harold the Puppet, Avocado, Strawberries, Adventure, Swimming, Bath time, People watching, pointing at things, imitating sounds, and chewing on pretty much everything.
Dislikes: TV (well, she shows no interest), cold chicken, broccoli, getting her diaper changed, people who sneeze/sudden loud noises, and getting shots.
Words: Mama, Dada, Wow, Giggle, Hi (the basics.)

It's hard to believe she's already 1.  It seems like just yesterday she was born.  The past few months really flew by, but I can probably blame that on getting deep into a routine.  She sleeps for about 13 hours a night, and yes I know we're lucky.  Her naps aren't the greatest, and she needs the sleep because she's a growing girl.  She is hilarious.  She is kind of crazy (but it's probably genetic).  She is affectionate, she waves to everyone and smiles.  She gives kisses to me and the SJC, she recognizes her grandparents on both sides, and loves Cheerios.  She's not walking yet, but she can stand on her own and does cruise along the side of the couch/the walls/the coffee table while hold on with one arm.  I'm so proud of her every minute of her life.  My world is infinitely better because she's in it.

Happy Birthday, Ellie Kat.  I love you with all my heart.

Thank you for the cupcake, may I have another?

Mother's Day

Last year, I missed Mother's Day by a week because somebody decided to be fashionably late (we won't name names.) 

This year, I get to celebrate.  And now I get it.

When I was little, I used to think I celebrated my Mom every day.  You know, asking her to tie my shoes or to pick me up after practice at a school that was about 30 minutes away from where we lived.  I said 'thank you' often enough, and 'I love you' to her.  When I got older,  I told her she didn't have to worry about me, I could drive myself places!  I proved that when I was 15 years old and drove myself to basketball practice.  (For what it's worth, the legal driving age in Massachusetts is 16 and 1/2.)  It's fine, Mom!  I was wearing a seat belt!  Also, can I borrow 5 bucks for Dunkins?  (Money grows on trees, right?)  I didn't really ask for much.  I really just wanted to watch Road Rules and listen to Soundgarden or Led Zeppelin.  It was the mid-to-late-90s and I was finding out who I was, dammit!  I wasn't moody or caustic.  I was pretty easy going and polite.

But, I added my own share of the grey hairs on her head.  Sorry Mom, the jig is up.  The world now knows that you dye your hair!  In my late teens, I was my own brand of difficult.  I won't go into details here.  I think you can figure it out with these helpful clues: I was a teenager.  However, since it was the mid-to-late-90s, and people didn't dress like tramps yet, I was still a very chaste and ladylike girl.  Well, as ladylike as men's flannel shirts and bell bottom jeans can get.

Mom, I want you to know that I'm sorry for putting you through that misery.  I want you to know, I get it now.  I get Mother's Day.

Having lived the past year as a Stay At Home Mom with a brief stint in retail glory working at a jewelry store, I can attest that being a mother is the following: exhausting, tiring, frustrating, difficult, and the greatest thing in the world.  Yes, it's what we call a juxtaposition.  That was a vocab word in high school - see, I learned something!

My Mom had 4 kids.  I don't know how she survived.  There must be a little bit of crazy in there somewhere if she managed to make it through.  I have 1 kid.  I love her more than anything and I love my mother more every day when I think about all the shit she had to put up with when we were growing up.  My God. 

Mom with her children and her children's children

I don't know how you do it, Mom!   Thank you for everything.  And I love you.