Crazy For Her…

Dear Kira,
Today you had your 2nd birthday party. It is hard to believe that you are already two years old. And it’s even harder to believe how fast you are growing and changing. I notice you changing more than I notice your cousin Maddie changing because I get to see her everyday. I don’t see you as often as I would like so when I see you it is always exciting and fun.

I know that when you are old enough to read this you may wonder why we call you Baby Kira. Well, your cousin Maddie calls you her baby Kira and gets really excited when we talk about visiting you. I know that this is probably the last year that we get to call you that becuase you are no longer a baby, you are now a very beautiful little girl. You are now running, talking, playing and you are so much fun to be around. Your personality has changed so much in the last few months. You were once a very shy but happy baby. And suddenly you changed to a very outgoing little girl. I know your Mom and Dad were getting concerned that you might always be shy. I bet they will soon miss the times when you wanted to stay very close to them. Because now you seem very excited to talk to us, play with us, hug and on occasion you will smother us with your sweet kisses.

I was thinking about how much you have changed and I decided to put together a list of some of the things that I love about you (I couldn’t possibly list them all!) because I know that next year and the year after that the list will continue to change.

1) I love your smile! That smile is so infectious, there is no way I could ever be sad when I am with you. The entire room lights up and you truly are a happy little girl.
2) Your laugh is so unique that if you are in another room, we all know who is laughing because yours is different from all the rest. It is that kind of laugh that makes everyone else giggle.
3) I love the way you say ‘more’. I try to get you to say it at least 100 times when I am with you. I do that because I know that someday you will start saying the word like everyone else and I will miss the way you say it now. It sounds like ‘moyeeee’. When you say that word it reminds me of the chinese accent and it makes me smile everytime I hear it. After we have spent the weekend with you Maddie often starts saying the word like you. Probably because I make you say it so much when we are with you that Maddie alters her speech because of it. But after a few days she stops and I begin missing you again.
4) I like to watch you run. You run with very short steps but the look on your face is of someone who is running very fast. I look at your feet and they are taking quick tiny steps. This may seem silly to you but adults are crazy that way.
5) I am so happy that you will come to me. You will walk up to me and put your hands up to be held. You will sit in the car with me (even before you know that I have gummy worms to share). You have developed a wonderful sense of humor. At your party I sat next to you while we ate. I started counting the grapes on your plate. Before I could count the last one on the plate you would snatch it up and eat it. Then you would laugh that wonderful laugh of yours. That continued until all the grapes were gone and then you looked at me and said “moyeeee”!

Happy Birthday Baby Kira! You are very much loved and I can’t wait to see you again soon!

Love,
Crazy Aunt Lorie

I have been down and out with the flu and it has literally kicked my ass this last week. It started last Sunday and I am still recovering slowly. I stayed in bed all day Sunday, dragged myself into work on Monday, went to bed at 6 pm, woke up and thought that I was dying. I drove myself to the doctor where I was told I had the flu and by the way there is nothing he could give me for the flu. It just has to run it’s course. This is where I replied “Run it’s course? It has a course? How loooooong will this go on”. He casually replied “Oh, these things usually go away in 7-10 days but you could have symptoms for up to 2 weeks.” You have got to be kidding me! Two weeks? I don’t have two weeks! I have projects to complete, I have a two year old, I have a husband who doesn’t know how to multi-task which means my house will fall apart while I am in bed dying from the flu that is attacking every part of my body.

I came home from the doctor and took the day off from work. I slept the entire day and then picked up Maddie from daycare. I hardly had the energy to put her in the car and when we got home I considered staying in the car until Chris came home because I honestly did not have the energy to move. Somehow I made it inside and Chris came home early while I headed off to bed again. I woke up the next morning and it was hard to breath and everytime I coughed I felt like I was cracking a rib. I made it to work on time but I felt as though I had amnesia and couldn’t remember my password to sign on to the network. I think I sat in front of the logon screen for at least 10 minutes before I remembered where I was. It was a long day of coughing, blowing my nose and generally grossing out all of my co-workers. I think they were hoping and praying that I would leave before I spread the virus to them.

I came home that evening and my house looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since the late 90’s and that is when the irritation set in. Why are Mother’s not allowed to be sick? Why do I feel extreme guilt for being too sick to take care of Maddie and clean my house? The biggest question is why can men not multi-task? Chris is great with Maddie. He will cook for her, change her, play with her and give her a bath but only if I remind him. All of that is great but the house remained unclean for the entire week because he couldn’t do it all. I asked him why he didn’t pick up the dishes in the living room and I ask “Why are there 400 loads of laundry waiting to be done. You want to know his reply? “I can’t do things like you do. I am so gratelful for all that you do and I don’t know what I would do without you”. Translation: I like the fact that you do everything and I would like you to continue so I don’t have to do it.

FRUSTRATION! I spent the entire day today getting caught up on house work while he was on an all day trip with his friends. And guess what? Maddie was with me and yet I managed to get it all done. I normally don’t complain about Chris but I want to know what it is about men that they think they can’t do it as well as we can? I am exhausted tonight and I still feel sick. It would have been wonderful if he could have helped out with the housework so that I could relax just for a few hours. I am sure if I had more help around the house I would not be so exhausted and this illness would not be lingering on and on and on.

Men! Get a clue: Stop making excuses and just do the damn work. We do it for you when your sick, when your well, when you are away and when you are present. Can you not do the same for your wives when they are obviously ill and exhausted? Do we really need to ask you to pick up after yourself? Can you not see the socks that you left on the floor? You had to step over them so I know you can see them. And really, no one wants to see your underwear in the bathroom floor or your dirty socks under the coffee table. Bend over, pick them up and take them to the laundry. And while you are there, how about starting a load and taking the clothes out of the dryer, fold them and put them away. It’s not rocket science, it’s house work. Share the load!

I just finished an entry and was about to leave the computer and then I thought “I better check my email”. I am glad I did. I just received an email from my sister. We have grown apart over the years and I have been getting the sense that we are slowing closing the gap that has formed between us. There are certain things that I will not write about on this blog, out of respect for the people I love the most. That is one of the things that you will never see on this blog. Those things that I will not speak of are between my sister and I. I promise to keep it that way.

This email made me cry happy tears. At the end of the email there was a letter to Maddie. I am posting it for Maddie because she loves her Auntie and so do I. In her own words – the letter to Maddie…

Maddie Mae,
I want you to know that you have the very best Mommy and Daddy, you are loved more than you will ever know by so many people. You are growing up So fast, and I feel like I am missing so much of it. But, please know that even if you don’t see me, I am with you cause you are in my heart everywhere I go. As you get older, listen to your mom and dad, they know what is best for you. Make your own decisions based on your own feelings, and not on what other people do or say. Be caring, loving, and giving and although there will be people in your life who may not follow that advice, be forgiving. Forgivness is an amazing thing. It feels great to be forgiven, but it feels even better when you forgive someone else. like your mom said, i hope you always look for the goodness in others and not be judgemental. And above all else “Be Happy” Keep that gorgeous smile that you have today for the rest of your life. I know I will keep it with me FOREVER. I Love You,

Auntie

Note: My sister insists on calling my daughter Maddie Mae. I assure you that this is not her middle name. I only allow her to do this (like I could stop her, ha!) because lord knows I have tainted each of her children many times in their lives and if this is the only payback I receive, I am counting myself lucky.

I have nothing exciting to write about but I am in the mood to write. I have accepted the fact that my current job situation is not going to get much better. Reaching that realization has made me a happier person and probably a lot easier to live with. Chris may disagree but I definately feel more positive about my life in general. I have some projects that I am working on, a big day coming up (the great smoke out), Maddie is getting cuter by the second and we have a great weekend planned (adorable pictures will be available tomorrow).

I am also enjoying my new hobby. This one I may actually stick with longer than 2 weeks. Actually, I have surpassed the 2 weeks and have been at it for about 3 months. Hence the 700 pictures posted on Flickr. The new hobby has really opened my eyes to the people and places around me. Instead of watching the crazy-cell phone talking-don’t know how to drive-tailgating people on my drive to work, I am looking for new places to take pictures. I have a long list of places to visit but the weather has not been warm and me and cold do not get along. So as soon as the weather cooperates with me I will be taking a day to myself to visit this list and start snapping away.

I aplogize for the very boring post. Boring for you but exciting for me. I am actually looking forward to the days ahead. Only 24 days to go and I will start to see a much healthier me. Maybe I will take pictures of my skin so that all the Internet can see what kind of damage can be reversed by quitting the filthy habit. But I am afraid that there would be no change and that would give me an excuse (which I am sure I will be looking for one) to start smoking again.

Tune in tomorrow for enough cuteness to make you want to reproduce again and again.