Kindred spirits

"Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world."
— L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables)

After graduating from college, it can be difficult to make good friends — really good friends with which you feel a special connection.  But it can happen, and two of mine got married this weekend, to each other.

Besides simply enjoying their company this weekend, I had a wonderfully memorable time at their wedding, because it was no ordinary event.  The wedding and reception were very carefully constructed by both of them, the entire event being filled with their favorite things.  They truly immersed us in their lives for a full day, showing us what they love and share as a couple, like:

• Playing Rock Band together instead of having a first dance
• Serving their favorite foods for dinner (no, Chipotle didn't cater, but tacos were still enjoyed by all)
• Putting a lot of work into the centerpieces, composing them of books and toys that not only told us what entertains them, but also entertained us through the evening

I've never been to a wedding that was so carefully planned by the bride and groom to include so many favorite details from their lives.  This was no generic event.  This was a full day-in-the-life of these two beautiful people.

In that way, being there for their wedding made me even happier.  Seeing and experiencing these tidbits with them all day, recognizing each favorite and sharing stories with other guests as I enjoyed each one, made the day even more special than it already was.  They put their love into each detail, and it was felt by all of us.

So to my two kindred spirits, thank you for sharing your lives with me, not only this weekend but for the past several years.  My heart aches as you move away, but now there's another city on my list that is a "must-visit" in the near future.  I'll add it next to London.  (My kindred spirits are global!)

Can't get enough

Over at WBEZ 91.5, author and filmmaker Amy Krouse Rosenthal has a lovely blog designed to inspire reflection, creativity, and connection with the people around us.  Last Thursday, she posted six things she just can't get enough of lately.  That made me think -- what can't I seem to get enough of this week?

1. Thunderstorms and the relaxing tapping of rain on the windows
2. Sleep (although I must say, I wouldn't consider myself sleep deprived anymore. Pete, G, and I have worked out a good system between the three of us for nighttime sleep)
3. Glee on Netflix
4. Watching Caroline and Pete communicate using sign language
5. Merciless elimination of weeds

What is it that you can't get enough of?

Thankful

As Genevieve and I have returned home this week and begun settling into the new normal for our household, it has struck me on countless occasions how thankful I am for the people and things in my life.  I've felt grateful for my blessings both large and small this week -- from the monumental to the seemingly insignificant.  But instead of just nonchalantly accepting the smile these gifts put on my face and letting the moment pass, I decided to document the ones that really stuck out, in a top ten list.  (Please don't laugh at the trivial ones... I'm thankful for them too! :)

#10: My favorite beverages: Hop Slam, Crystal Light fruit-flavored iced teas, and Diet Pepsi
After drinking water for a week in the hospital, avoiding caffeine and carbonation as much as possible during pregnancy, and staying away from beer for nine months due to both the alcohol factor as well as the evil carbs, it felt great to see all three of those beverages stocked in the refrigerator when I got home.  You know those little moments of solace that come around, where you can take a deep breath and close your eyes in bliss for a heartbeat?  A favorite drink does that for me.

#9: Coffee and Easter candy
Another couple things that I didn't have much or any of for nine months.  When you go without something for that long, it tastes ohhhhh so wonderful when you're reunited again.  (And yes, for those of you who know me, it goes without saying that I am specifically referring to Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs.)  On top of that, it just so happens that these two things are delightful when consumed together.

#8: Online Netflix streaming
Having a plethora of children's television shows and movies at our fingertips whenever the need arises is priceless.  Bob the Builder, Caillou, Blue's Clues... seasons of shows like these available in unlimited streaming prevent us from 1.) ever missing cable, 2.) spending a ton of cash having to purchase or rent DVDs, and 3.) having to make Caroline watch the same movie over and over because there isn't anything else.  And all that is on top of the fact that it provides a bunch of entertainment for Pete and me too (such as my recent Glee love affair).

#7: A quiet house
For all you Moms and Dads out there, this one probably doesn't require explanation.

#6: Sunny days for playing outside
Having an energetic two-year-old makes the nice spring, summer, and fall days that much more enjoyable and appreciated.  Not only does it give Caroline something to do, but it also lets her use her seemingly limitless energy, which is good for everybody.  I felt thankful for sunny days this week because, well, there hasn't been one.  So I will appreciate one even more when we do finally get one again.  (If we ever get one again?)

#5: A good job with good benefits
There's nothing like having a baby to make you feel grateful for a well-paying job with good medical benefits. And I actually enjoy my job most of the time, which I consider an extra special bonus.

#4: Wonderful families
I will never be able to say enough about our families (Pete's and my parents and siblings).  I could fill a book with all of the help, support, and kindness we've received from them.  They make our life as a young family a piece of cake.  Words like "thank you," "I love you," and "we appreciate it" could never express our gratitude for everything they've done for us.  We wouldn't be where we are today without them.

#3: A supportive husband
I love, love, love my husband.  He is my partner, my friend, my sanity, and the most wonderful father to my children.  I'm so lucky we found each other.  He hasn't just been amazing this week during Genevieve's birth story, but of course I was extra appreciative of his love and support this week.  I really needed him, and he was there.

#2: Healthy children
Anyone who's familiar with the events of this past week understands the magnitude and importance of this one.  I'm incredibly grateful to have two beautiful, healthy daughters.  Very, very grateful.

And the number one thing I'm thankful for...

#1: Being loved
It's amazing what you can endure or accomplish when you're lifted up by people who love you.  If, for some reason, I lost any of the other nine things I'm thankful for, I would survive somehow, with the support of people who love me.  And that is the most powerful fact in my life, and I am truly blessed.

Like father, like son-in-law

We have ants in our bathroom, for some weird reason.  The tiny ones.  And for the life of me, I can't find their source.  There will be one here, a couple there, spread out across the bathroom, so I can't find where they're coming in at.  It annoys me to no end.

I was sharing my annoyance at this fact with my husband the other night, and he says:

"Hmmm.  Instead of carpenter ants, they must be plumber ants."

...... ba-doom chhhhh ......

He looked at me with a huge grin on his face, waiting for me to internalize and appreciate this very witty, very humorous play on words.  I couldn't help but laugh, not so much at the joke but rather how proud he was of coming up with that on the fly.

And it immediately made me think of my Dad.  He comes up with stuff exactly like that.  The only difference is, my Dad laughs hysterically after he makes his joke, because he just can't help himself.  And then I laugh because he's laughing so hard.

Thank goodness for the men in our lives that lighten things up with their humor. I love you guys!

The exhilaration of the promise of Spring

A tale of irony.

Friday evening, I left the office to a very pleasant surprise: Mid-40-degree temperatures.  Now, I'm far from being a Seasonal Affective Disorder sufferer, but Spring is my favorite season solely due to the elation of seeing warmer weather arrive after a long, dismal Winter.  And that is what I experienced walking out of the office on Friday evening.

No.  No... I experienced so much more.

It's a huge understatement to say that this excitement -- this exhilaration -- is sheerly because of warmer temperatures.  There was so much Spring to experience on Friday:

• A cool (not cold!), fresh breeze that carried a delightful hint-of-rain smell
• Actually reveling in the breeze instead of pulling my coat hood down lower and bracing myself against the wind
• Soft, relaxing rain pinging on the windows
• Sun! Even if it was only occasionally peeking from behind the rain clouds

I wanted to somehow capture everything that all of my senses were experiencing during that short walk through the parking lot.  Take a picture and an audio recording and some futuristic media that can capture smells, and keep it forever, for those moments when I need that renewal.

But I couldn't, so I just walked slowly, soaking in every second of it and knowing more days like this are to come, because this was a promise of Spring.

The funny thing is, I started drafting this post on Friday night, but got tired and waited to finish it today.  Let me just say that it's a good thing March gives us these little nuggets occasionally, because this has been the, umm, "experience" all afternoon:

I'm grateful I had the memory of yesterday as I shouldered my way through the freezing cold today.

Caroline the Builder

Can she fix it?  Yes, she can!

Due to the massive snowstorm that hit the midwest last night, I had a snow day of sorts today and worked from home.  I used to work from home one day every week, but ever since I began my newest role at work, I just haven't had the opportunity to do that as much.  It was definitely a con of the job, but there were just too many pros, so I couldn't pass it up.

Anyway, during my lunch break today, I noticed Caroline building with blocks.  She's had several sets of blocks for over a year now, but the most fun she's typically had with them is dumping them out on the floor and spreading them around.  But today, I noticed her really focusing -- and longer than five minutes -- on building towers with the blocks.

Boy, did I ever scoop up that golden opportunity!  Since I was due for a break, I sat down with her and we built with blocks for quite some time.  Caroline was really concentrating hard on these blocks and how she was arranging them as the tower grew higher and higher.  Then we'd have fun knocking them down and starting over again.

It was definitely the most fun lunch break I've had in a long time.

Christmas in January

My package is here!  My package is here!

I got all kinds of fun little things with the Amazon.com gift card I received from Mom and Dad N. for Christmas.  A nice bag for my li'l Acer, a book, a Moleskine sketchbook and watercolor pencils for my art journaling adventure, a Dilbert desk calendar, and a pencil box for our daughter's crayons.  It was like Christmas all over again, only a month later.  It was fun to get half a dozen little things instead of one big thing.  All these fun little boxes, with all those smiley faces on them.

I guess it isn't true that I don't like shopping.  I don't like in-store shopping... but I sure love Amazon shopping!

Happiness on a Wednesday

My happy moments today:

• Listening to Caroline sing along to her favorite Elmo and Toddler Tunes songs in the backseat of the car
• Giving one of the best bosses I've ever had a thankful hug at work (even though I only had the good fortune of working for her for a couple months)
• Getting my car back from the mechanic with not only everything fixed and a very reasonable bill, but a cleaned and vacuumed interior and polished dashboard
• Watching the snow fall all day from my own window outside my cube at work
• Hearing that my Uncle Lloyd is recovering quickly from his lung surgery
• Having a warm, delicious meal ready for me from my husband when I arrived home from work

That is a LOT of happy moments for a regular Wednesday.  I am thankful.