Milestones

Dear Andrew Lane,

Today you are one.  I am thrilled and glum at the same time.  You are my last baby and becoming a baby no more.  You walk, you talk (sort of), you feed yourself, you sleep through the night (and have since two months old), you are your own little man.  You hold your own against your big sister – very important.  You melt my heart when you smile and say “Momma.”  You have four adorable little teeth and are working on four more.  You’re growing a full head of beautiful auburn colored hair – although you’re entering that “looks like old man hair” stage.  You have completed our family in a way that is indescribable.  You are the perfect counter to your crazy big sister.  You are easy going, happy all the time, generous with the smiles and the perfect cuddl-er when you’re in the mood.  Andrew – you have no idea what kind of a sap you have made your mother.  Just writing this brings tears to my eyes.  When you get older you’ll know how big of a deal that is.

Today I have to say good-bye to my infant and hello to my toddler.  If I could bottle your little one year old self, I’d hang on to it.  But not for forever.  As much as it kills me to watch you get bigger, I can’t hardly wait to see the little person (and then big person) you get to become.

Today we celebrate 365 days of “Andrew”.  The world is a better place because you are here.  My world is better because you are in it.  

Tonight, I’ll tuck you in your bed; give you your favorite lovey and your blanket.  I’ll kiss your head and sing you a song.  And then I’ll go to bed remembering this letter because the terrible twos will be quickly upon us and I need to remember this feeling when you start to drive me crazy.  

Happy Birthday Andrew Lane.  Your Mommy loves you – to the moon and back.

~Becky

Everything's funny, but this...

I don't typically comment on the political stuff.  Maybe it was the family in which I was raised.  (My parents NEVER told us who they voted for.  Said it was "none of your business.")  I'm not a big right-winger, or even very left-leaning.  I vote because it's the "right thing to do".  But every now and then, something happens that keeps me up all night.  Last night was one of those nights.

Last night a man was executed.  Actually, two men were executed yesterday, but one amidst all sorts of press.  Now, while I won't even pretend to understand the facts of either case, the deepest part of my being feels that execution is just wrong.  It doesn't really matter to me that witnesses recanted their testimony.  That the prosecution feels that "it was a solid win."  That there is new DNA evidence.  Doesn't matter. 

Do I think that some people deserve to die for the crimes they commit?  Ab-so-freakin'-lutely.  Do I think that some crimes that are not even eligible for the death penalty should be?  Oh yes.  But in my eyes, putting even one innocent person to death is too many.

Some may find that interesting. I'm not a very religious person.  It's not that I think God should be the one to decide when you meet your maker.  I have a degree in Criminal Justice for crying out loud. Some may not find that interesting, knowing what I know about the justice system.  Either way - it's just who I am.

So, I didn't sleep last night because I couldn't stop thinking about the possibility that an innocent man was killed in the name of justice.  I believe very strongly in the justice system - beyond a reasonable doubt is as good as it can get.  But potentially putting an innocent man to death to justify killing off all the cretins in the world is just too high a price for me. 

Thanks for letting me vent.

~Becky

Am I Really 30? Day Five

My Favorite Quote

"Everything is funny, as long as it happens to somebody else."

Not the most PC or educated choice, but one that describes my love for the hilarious. With that being said, even the stuff that does happen to me I'll make a point to laugh at. It may be inappropriate at times, but I wholeheartedly think that if you can't laugh at the bad things that happen, then you can't get past them.

~Becky

Am I Really 30? Day Four

I could never in a zillion years pick a favorite book.  I don’t read books more than once (unless it’s a murder mystery or spy novel that I pick up and realize half way through – oh yeah…I read this already.)  So instead of trying to nail it down to one, I’ll switch it to what consumes my life lately (but that I really really do enjoy), a list of my favorite kids books.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Al still loves this one.  Although I think I need to get a new copy for Andrew because the one we have is pretty demolished.  Great story - beautiful colors.

Go, Dog.  Go! - My parents tell me that this is the first book I ever read to them.  Maybe it's that sentimentality that makes me really enjoy reading this one to the kiddos.

Hippos Go Berserk - "One hippo, all alone, calls another on the phone."  Love this one!  (And all the Sandra Boynton books.  Fifteen Animals is cute too.  Ally calls it the Bob, Bob book.

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie - Ally recites this one with me.  Love it!

Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!  My mom hates this book, but I love it.  It cracks Ally and I up to yell it at story time.
 

Andrew has just started paying attention when we read.  He loves the picture books and of course - tries to eat them.

Reading is such an important part of my day and I hope my kids get passed down that same love.  I guess its my job to make sure that happens.  

~Becky

Am I Really 30? Day Three

My Favorite TV Show

Ask anyone that knows me.  This one's pretty easy.  I'm a fan of the "dead shows."  I used to watch CSI: and L&O:SVU pretty religiously, but life gets in the way and Steve's not a huge fan.  Now that I think about it.  I haven't watched either of these in quite awhile.
 

 Steve and I have a few favorites that we watch together.  My brother turned us on to "Castle" this season and we really like it.  That's one that we'll jump ahead and watch before others.  It's my "dead show" matched with his comedy preferences.  It's a good one for us to snuggle up and watch together.

 

 We like Bones because of the chemistry between the main characters.  Also - "dead show" plus comedy...see a pattern?

Lastly is Fringe.  But as a person that doesn't really like to watch scary stuff, we never watch it before bed or I'll have nightmares.  

 Oh!  And I can't forget HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother.)  Gotta love Neil Patrick Harris - hilarious!

Wow.  All that makes it seem like we watch a heck of a lot of TV.  We really don't.  And I didn't even include the episodes of Yard Crashers Steve has been addicted to because we're doing our backyard.  Most of the time, we'll sneak one episode of something in before bed and after the kids go to sleep.  

What do you like to watch?
 
 ~Becky  

Am I Really 30? Day Two

My Favorite Movie

This one was actually pretty easy.  As my husband can attest, I really don't like to watch movies more than once.  Once I've seen it, I'm over it.  Been there, done that.  It could be because I have watched many a movie that you end with feeling "will I ever get those two hours of my life back?"  We've all been there. 

There is one movie, not even a very popular one I don't think.  Most of my friends will say that having this as my favorite secures my spot as "least fun person ever." 

Here you go:

Love story.  Political intrigue.  Some fantastic dialogue.  Awesome! 

Don't knock it until you try it!

~Becky

Am I Really 30? Day One

I hit it. I hit the first big milestone as a real adult. 18 doesn't count, neither does 21 - you're still a kid at those ages. 30 is the big one. 30 means you're official. Whatever it is that you are, you're now a thirty-year-old {description goes here.}

What am I at thirty? Well, I'm a wife of 5 and a half years to a man I love more every day - even when he drives me totally bonkers. I'm a Mom, not a mother, a Mom. A very important distinction I think. My kids are my world. Allyson and Andrew, you give me more happiness than I ever imagined you would have. I'm a daughter (I try to be a good one), a friend (try to be good at that too) and an employee (which some times makes all of the above a little tough.)

I never feared turning thirty. In fact, I think I'm pretty excited about it. I feel like I have everything I ever wanted. A loving spouse, two great kids, two dogs, a nice house, family and friends that love me. Now its just time to see what the next thirty years (and beyond) is all about. I greet it head-on and look forward to the joys as well as the challenges.

With that, I thought I'd document a little about me. A friend of mine posted her "30 Days of 30" a year ago and I loved the idea. I can't promise that I'll be as diligent. Some days I may just throw something up here to satisfy the challenge, but I'll give it my best shot.

Without further adieu...

My Favorite Song

I love music. I know, lots of people say that. But really, how can you really pick your favorite? I'll freely admit that my absolute all-time favorites trend towards 80s soft rock with a little 90s R&B thrown in and maybe even a little 90s alternative. Must be because its what I grew up listening to. Here are a few:

Phil Collins "In The Air Tonight" - if you don't play the air drums to this song, you're no friend of mine.



P.M. Dawn "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" - He might be a one-hit wonder, but this one will always get turned up.



Candlebox "Far Behind" - Must listen to loud.



Oh man, I could go on and on. How on earth do people pick just one?

Enjoy!

~Becky