I wanna be like you, Mom...

I've grown up convinced that my Mom is Martha Stewart...or better... Or maybe Martha Stewart mixed with a Rockstar. Either way, my Mom is AMAZING . Seriously. If you knew her, you'd want to be her. Homemade dumplings? She's on it. Pants for my daughter? Done. Gift card holders? Yep. Knitting? I taught her and I'm pretty sure she surpassed my "scarves only" rule in a second flat. So you won't be surprised when I tell you that having a Mom like this is the best thing ever. The bad part? Having a Mom like this makes people think you can do magic like hers... And in my case, that's not even close to true. I'm lucky if I can make a hot dog and my knitting tends to look more like Christmas tree skirts. Interested? I could start a business... My crafts always seem to fall a bit short. So when I started my latest project, I started with the same assumption I always have... The best laid plans always leave room for disaster. And disaster it was... At first. And then magically, it turned into something a little better than disaster. Not perfect, but for me, not perfect is an amazing accomplishment. So, for the first time, I really got to enjoy my little slice of the pie. My little taste of success. It might not be as great as my Mom's, but maybe I did inherit a little something... If only the love of the game. It wasn't as good as my Mom would have done, but for me, it was sweet success.

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What do you sing?

She's just about asleep in the car. I snuggle her close and take her to her room amidst her protests. I sit in the rocking chair and I sing to her. Spice Girls. if you wanna be my lover. Circa maybe 1999 at best. After that? A little Whitney Houston. Some Fiona Apple. A little Ella Fitzgerald to round it out. Mostly college favorites. And I think... Will she remember this? Should I censor myself to Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers? But then I think of being in my own Mom's arms. Granted Cat Stephens was definitely a bit more appropriate. But more than anything, I remember how great it felt no matter what she sang and how Cat Stephens will always be a lullaby in my head. So maybe Spice Girls wasn't my best choice, but I can only hope something way worse will be popular by the time she cares. I can only hope she'll think of Scary Spice and she'll think of her Mom. And that's not all that bad.

These are the moments...

"These are the moments
I thank God that I'm alive
These are the moments
I'll remember all my life
I've found all I've waited for
And I could not ask for more."

-Sara Evans

These lyrics played in my head all weekend. They played in my head as we played in the sun with great friends that are more like family. They played in my head as Rob, Lily and I fell asleep all tangled in bed together watching fireworks last night. These are truly the moments. These are the ones I'll look back on when I'm old and gray saying, "Those were it... The moments that mattered. The best moments of my life." How blessed I am to live this charmed life with these amazing people I love... And even more blessed that they love me back.

Sunday Gratitude... Especially Birthdays!

This week's edition of Sunday Gratitude has to feature my favorite thing of all...

1. MY BIRTHDAY!!! Usually, my birthday is absolutely my 2nd favorite day of the year (2nd only to Christmas... and I really like Christmas!). However, this year, I wasn't too in to it. I did no planning and just figured I'd treat it like any other day. The number one greatest thing this week? Friends and family that don't let your birthday just "go by." I am so extremely blessed... I can't adequately describe it.

Walking around Birmingham

Last Year on my Birthday...

Oh what differences a year makes...

My friend, Michelle, remembered my birthday... even on her wedding day!

2. A Daddy that loves his little girl... and a little girl who loves her Daddy!

3. Playing outside on beautiful days

4. New words and phrases all in one week: "Bye-Bye," "Thank-You," "No Tucker," "Stuck," "Bubbles"!!!

5. A Keurig for my birthday... 

...and a GREAT cup of coffee on the back porch with my favorites.

6. Pretzel M&Ms in my Mum's Candy Dish and the way they make my girl brave.

7. My Brave Girl that fell off of a swing, barely cried and forgot about it as soon as we gave her M&Ms. Rob and I both agreed we'd still be crying while she was munching away.

8. Living a charmed life where I get to have drinks with my handsome husband on a terrace overlooking a gorgeous golf course (well, at least yesterday :) and knowing how lucky that makes me.

9. The perfect little pedicure specialist. :)

10.Rob having Monday and Tuesday off so we can play just a little bit longer...and get a few more snuggles in, too!

Blessings

This weekend was a precious one for the Oneskos as it was the first one in a while where we got to spend the weekend remembering how great it feels to be a part of our family. We spent some good old fashioned Walton-style family time together and got a chance to reflect on our accomplishments, our disappointments and most importantly, our blessings. We got to celebrate what it feels like to live in our house and spend time with people we truly love (and the dogs, too ;) ).

One of my friends started something pretty cool recently. She calls it "Capture Gratitude" You can view her blog here (you, should, too!). She basically lists ten things she's grateful for every Sunday to start the week off right. I thought it was such a good idea that I'm going to try to do it, too. So...here are my ten for the week:

1. My husband. He is my best friend and the greatest father I could ever want for Lily. Even though we are completely opposite (and we are, too... down to our blood type!), I cannot think of anyone better to "do life with". He is my best friend and my constant soundboard for all my thoughts and dreams. And even when he tells me that my Disney dreams are super unrealistic, he silently tries to make them happen anyway. Without him, I would not be able to fulfill my greatest dream of all... raising my daughter in a home full of joy, love and lots of laughter. (Oh yeah, and he also watches Gilmore Girls with me. :) )

2. Lily. My beautiful, smart, sassy, funny, sweet, sensitive Lily. (And yes, I could go on and on.) No struggle seems too big when this little girl smiles and reaches her little arms around me. I melt. She is my greatest joy and the best thing I've ever gotten to do in my life is to be her Mommy.

3. Our parents' support. Rob and I have the most supportive parents in the world who love our baby just like we do. They are always there for us when we need them and watch Lily over and over so that Rob and I can spend time together confident that our girl's in good hands. I never get tired of watching our parents love Lily.

4. Breakfast in bed Sunday mornings, snuggling and watching 90210. Yes, you read that right. What? That's not a show for a 1 year old? Well, we'll just hope she remembers the family snuggles in bed more than she remembers the drama going on between Dillon and Kelly... but either way, I don't know many people who get to have family snuggle time every Sunday and I love that we make it a priority in our family.

5. Gushers. I mean, really... who doesn't love gushers? In this house, we all love them. I'm especially grateful that I had a coupon this week that made them $1/box. Yessssss!!!!! (I also love the adorable blue that they turn Lily's face!)

6. The City of Birmingham. Okay, so some might say that this makes me a snob... but really it doesn't. I promise. I love taking my little girl there to enjoy the things I loved as a kid. I love taking her to play at Shane Park. I love feeding her Brooklyn pizza and stopping at the Cupcake Station (a new addition). I love the Birmingham Library and The Community House. I also loved taking Lily to the Birmingham fair, even though she hated it. Last, but not least, I love taking her to Booth Park and telling her the story of how her Mommy and Daddy built that park together... and how even though we weren't dating yet, the people we worked with were certain we were. Yep, that's a good one.

7.  New little faces. Suprised. Happy. Stubborn.

Mad.

Pouty.

And let us not forget.... "Cheese!"

8. Silliness. Especially when you're both laughing.

Believe it or not, she was giggling in there. She thought it was hilarious!

9. A little girl who loves balls. I was terrified of playing sports as a kid and I think I missed out. I'm so excited for her to love sports and all the memories she'll make playing them.

10. Getting up every day watching Lily find something new to explore. :)

Sometimes

Sometimes I really have to remind myself to live in the moment... To take in her smile, to kiss her little hand, to gaze back in her little eyes... Especially at nap time. Nap time is the most precious time of the day and the most rushed. I rush around begging her to go to sleep... To follow my schedule... And sometimes I miss it. I miss her chattering away about our day...even if I don't understand. I miss her smiles at me that lovingly say "I'm glad you're my mommy." Sometimes I don't quite notice her snuggled up around my arm murmuring "mom" as she goes to sleep... And sometimes, I live in the moment. Sometimes I cherish every little bit of the best part of my day. Sometimes I sacrifice dishes for a few more cuddles. And it is more than worth it.

Friends

"Can I get an "amen" for how good it feels to watch your friends love your babies? These kids are my heart and when you love them, you consequently just found yourself a deeper place in my own heart. Likewise, to let my friends know I love them...sometimes loving their kids is the best place to start." ~Kelle Hampton (www.kellehampton.com)




I read this quote and it spoke to my heart. How true it is and how completely it summed up the wonderful weekend we spent with dear friends in Columbus over Memorial Day. We traveled there for one of my college friend, Samara's, gorgeous wedding and stayed with my best friend, Amy. 


Saying that I was nervous for this trip would be a great understatement. Lily and I had both been sick all week and Lily has been going through a particularly clingy period. Again, another understatement. Really, she hasn't been willing to go to anyone but our parents without some major adjustment time. My best friend, Amy, had offered to watch Lily for me the night of the wedding, and though I graciously accepted her offer, my nerves were going crazy. It can be a tough transition for Lily to stay with our parents lately, how would she act staying with a friend she hasn't seen for a few months?


Miraculously, the introduction was seamless. It was as if Amy and her 3 year old daughter, Quinn, have been there all along. Immediately, upon stepping into Amy's house, Lily fell in love with Quinny all over again. Everything she did amazed and excited Lily in a way that I've never seen in my little girl. The bond was instant. 

Throughout the three days of our stay, Lily went where Quinn went and to my amazement, Lily even lifted her little chubby arms up to Amy completely unprompted wanting "up." No joke... this has never happened before. (And probably poor 8 month pregnant Amy wishes it didn't happen to her ;)). My shy little babe absolutely adored these two "strangers" that she just knew in her heart were our family.

And the best part? Rob and I had a fabulous night out with friends I haven't seen in over five years with no worry. I knew my baby was safe. I knew my baby was content. I knew Amy would love my baby the way I love my baby while I was gone. And she did.

Going home was tough, but so sweet. I know now that to my little girl, these girls that hold my heart will never be strangers... and that is enough.