Things I Know for Sure...

1. There is no greater love than a mother's love. My children have blessed me with the title(s) of Momma (Alex) and Mom-meee (Isabella). But no matter what they call me, the love I feel for them is like nothing else in this world. My love for my children is instinctual, unwavering, and will last forever. I may have given them life, but they are the reason I live.

2. Having a place to call home means everything. As I sit in my kitchen, I look at the wooden sign hanging above our mantle - This is the house that love built. Never was there a truer statement. This house is our home because of all of the love that fills its walls. I am safe here. Isabella is sleeping soundly in her room. Alex is playing with his Spiderman toys and building with blocks. Jay is walking through the door with dinner! This is where we live, argue, laugh, and play. There is no place I would rather be.

3. I would be nothing without my family. Family is forever. They are my cheerleaders, my friends, my gossip buddies, my past, my present and my future.

4. I am the luckiest girl in the world. See #1-3.

5. Coffee and wine can cure most of my ailments. Well, I can't be serious all of the time. I literally need that first sip of coffee to wake me up. Coffee cures my tiredness (aka grouchiness) in the morning and makes me a happier Momma. Jay calls it my Princess Juice. Wine is just what the "doctor" ordered after a long day of poop, attitude, whining and fussiness. It helps me unwind and calm my nerves. Take tonight for instance...without that glass of wine I don't know what I would have done as I watched Alex eat his Miso Soup with chopsticks, spill it everywhere and then shoot edamame across the living room....


Happy Thanksgiving 2009.

(And yes, I borrowed this idea from O Magazine)

14 Months

Isabella,

You are 14 months old today. You are walking all over the place. I can't seem to keep up with you. I knew this day would come. You are really trying to say lots of new words. Some of your most recent are - book, bapple (apple), bottle,
ba-nana, and boo! I guess B is your favorite letter.

Love

You love for me to read you books, especially animal books. You kiss the pictures.

You love your brother - you follow him all around and call his name. When daddy comes in at the end of the day, you call out Dad-eeeee and walk right to him with your little arms held high! You definitely are turning into a daddy's girl. But you love everyone. You continue to be the happiest baby with the cutest little crooked smile. You can light up the darkest rainiest day!

You love meatballs, noodles, and candy - you had your first m and m's last night on Halloween and Pop gave you a lollipop too! You went Trick or Treating for the first time!

You love your Gigi the giraffe. You pick up other toys along the way, Alex's stuffed puppy, dolls, your pink bunny, but Gigi is still your favorite - and has been since you were 2 months old.

I could go on and on about the things you love....

One thing is for sure - I love you with all of my heart. You and Alex are my heart!
Momma

Halloween 2009