So.
Boston. The horrific bombing today at the Boston Marathon have me feeling pretty sad. I’ve been to countless races to support Barry and even participated in some of my own. I love the atmosphere at a race, which happens to be the end of a long training road for many. On race day strangers become friends, especially if you’re cheering on somebody. It makes me sick to think of the drastically different feel to the event after today’s explosion. I hope all those injured will heal, but an event like this really isn’t forgotten.
Good things happened today, too. My cousin, Danielle, and her husband, Matt, welcomed their baby girl into the world today! It is their first child and to say that we’re happy for them is an understatement. Both Danielle and Matt will be great parents and my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Mike will be phenomenal grandparents. It is very, very hard to believe that nearly 3 years ago we were welcoming Maggie into the world, with the hospital waiting room full of family waiting to hold and meet her. For the rest of my life I will remember the days leading up to her arrival, the weather had just started to shift in to Spring, and I was d-o-n-e.
On the day that Maggie was born the Gulf of Mexico oil spill happened and it wasn’t until two weeks later that I finally realized it was a current event and not something that all the news agencies were remembering/commemorating. That is how wrapped up in being a new mother I was, the rest of the world slipped away totally and completely. I hope that happens for Danielle and Matt in their own way. And it will. Today will be a day marked by pure happiness and joy, welcoming their daughter.
And for those of us that don’t get to fade into that newborn love-fest today, I find Mr. Rogers to be very comforting. I hope you do too.
A Very Random List
1. Maggie started gymnastics a couple weeks ago. Although this is the second time she has taken a class, this time around she is very confident and proud about climbing, jumping, and swinging. The rope had caused her quite a bit of anxiety the first time around, but today she went on it 3 times! This is a huge improvement in comparison to the last session, where she wouldn’t go near it hardly at all. The teacher is incredible and I think that helps make all the difference in the world. She also started a 5 week session of tap and ballet classes this week. I’m pretty sure she is going to love it because she tends to dance her way around the house every single day.
2. We’ve watched Shirley Temple’s ‘Captain January’ a few times and since then we’ve seen her working to tap dance with a bit more technique. We’ve also noticed that she is talking with her hands on her hips and lips sticking out, too. Tonight, before Barry got home from work, Maggie and I were acting like we were sailing on separate ships to “The Llama” (I had said the Bhamas, but she kept changing it) and talking on phones charting our progress. After Barry got home and we had dinner, I was lucky enough to take a long, warm bath. During this time, while I was submerged in hot water, Barry continued to play the ship game with Maggie. All during dinner she had been asking to go back to ‘The Llama!” and we didn’t want to disappoint her. By the time I got out of the bath, Maggie and Barry were roaming the house in search of some imaginary things….but the cutest part of it was that they were both calling each other ‘Cap,’ which, as Maggie informed Barry, is what Shirley Temple calls her Papa in ‘Captain January.”
3. I’m always shocked when my friends post pictures of their children sleeping in the most random places because my children have never been in the habit of easily falling asleep. The other day Maggie fell asleep in the car and Barry carried her inside. Both of us were floored when she kept sleeping after he put her down on her bed. I am fully aware that a child sleeping in her OWN bed is not remarkable to many parents; however, since Maggie takes naps next to never, I found this pretty extraordinary. FACT: if Maggie naps, she stays up late. On this particular day we were up until about 10:30. Not at all ideal.
4. Audrey Bell. I have moments of feeling sorry for her because I don’t respond to her the instant that she squawks, I haven’t documented her growth in the same detail that I initially did with Maggie, but then I almost immediately let it go. It’d be impossible for me to try to keep up. She’s a very easy, happy, sweet-natured baby and for the most part goes with the flow. I suppose, being a second child and all, that she doesn’t have a choice in the matter. She goes where we go. Plus, if I don’t immediately respond to her,who’s to say that her big sister isn’t available to help her.
