New Discovery

Today you discovered there's something under your shirt.

It's round, squishy and soft.

When you touched it, you would laugh and laugh.

For ten minutes you sat and touched your tummy, then your belly button and laughed

with delight.

Who needs television with entertainment like this?

A Perfect Weekend

Sure it was raining with blustery winds but this was a weekend I long for. We had no obligations, no parties, no birthdays. It was fantastic.

Friday I made a delicious breakfast casserole courtesy of one of my great book club gals. So Saturday morning Abby and I woke up at 6:30am and I started the casserole. Abby dined on cheerios, bananas and yogurt while we waited. It was delicious - spinach, ham, mushrooms, onions, cheese and more cheese. We played for a few hours until Tim woke up and then she started getting cranky. It had been a rough week in our home with ridiculous temper tantrums and screaming fits so we decided for the weekend she was going to nap whenever she wanted. From 10-12 she napped, I took a nap, Tim ate breakfast and got ready for the day. Abby woke up in great spirits so we went out to lunch - all three of us.

She was in such a good mood, smiling at everyone in the restaurant. She ate more than half her grilled cheese and all her applesauce and didn't get restless until 5 minutes before we got the bill. We then went to a rummage sale at the church we have been attending. We happened to get there when it was closing up so for $2 you could carry out anything you wanted. Abby walked around and said hello to a buddy from daycare while I searched through all the children's clothes. We ended up with a grocery store paper bag full of clothes for Abby, some board books, some items for a special boy friend of hers and a booster seat for the table when she is older. Next we stopped at the farmer's market just to see what plants are out. This whole time she was an angel. Then we headed home for her second dinner and cleaned and prepared dinner while she rested.

Bed time went smoothly, Tim read her a new story and then we got to watch a movie and have a drink in our almost clean house.

It may not sound like much but to me it was perfect. The opportunity to be a family, to do whatever we want for a whole day. The time to make our house liveable and then relax. The time to just be together and smile and laugh. The chance to be doting parents all day and then just be Tim and Jess that night. It was perfect. I can't wait for our vacation.

What I've learned - the first year

1) Aluminum foil is a fantastic window treatment.

2) Oxy-clean can almost always save the day.

3) No matter how much your husband loves you and your child, when things are real hard it's other mothers that will get you through.

4) A child can always do more than you give her/him credit for.

5) Every home needs a glider or rocking chair.

6) Sometimes children are hysterical for no reason

7) Baby food in a jar is disgusting. Try it then try to make your kid eat it.

8) My house will never be clean again.

9) My patient husband has even more patience than I could ever imagine.

10) No matter how early I go to sleep I will NEVER feel refreshed before 6am.

11) Spoons make amazing toys

12) I did not know what a true friend was until I became a mother and was supported by all of you. Happy Belated Mother's Day and thanks for all your help.