Pretty Much It

Nick is cutting teeth, and has a head cold to end all head colds that doesn't allow him to breath at night so he's opted to just stay up... all night. :( I haven't been able to cross anything off my list for almost a week now for some unexplainable reason. Not even the kind where you do the thing and then add it and cross it off all in one step. :( I miss my mommy- intensely lately and August can't come fast enough cause I could also use a big hug from my daddy.
But even after laying all that whining out there, I'm not really feeling defeated or down, just tired- mentally, physically and emotionally.
If I can catch some winks today I think I'll lock myself in the bathroom and force myself to stay there till it's sparkling. And then reward myself with a fresh-out-of-the-oven (all-by-itself) chocolate chip cookie. :)

Wake Up Call

There are a few things I'd like to blog about
1. making new mommy friends
2. unexpected and very welcome visits from sisters
3. laundry and my hatred for stinky things
4. potty training
5. male giraffes

Most of those come with lovely pictures but since my camera cord is MIA I can't share any of them with you thus taking the wind out of my posting sails.
So instead I'll share a quick story about my mom from this morning.

Last night my darling son woke me at 1am- as he has for the past two nights. He fussed, Claire woke and Nick and I moved to the couch where he finally settled down and fell back asleep around 4am.
At 6am the construction started outside, and the window in the living room was open so it sounded like they were in the room with me. And I was too tired to get up and close it but Nick decided that it was time to get up. So he settled in for a rousing puzzle session on my phone.
At 7:30am Nick realized that it was only 4am in WY and figured that would be a great time to call GB and chat54. Thankfully she was on call at the hospital so it wasn't the end of the world.
So Nick woke both his mom and his grandma at 4am this morning.

I know that was not really the most exciting blog post but I needed to update so there you have it a moment from my not so exciting life. :)

How Long till this Feels like Family?

This past weekend my littlest sister got married. To a guy she adores more than anything I have ever seen her adore, (perhaps even more than sharpie markers and ductape). It was a magical day, watching them make that commitment to one another and more interestingly and impressive, watching them navigate the union of their two families for one day, bringing together two visions (or more) of the way the day should go; and they did it with grace. Bravo! Ami and Mark, Bravo!

It got my wheels turning, about family, extended family, pseudofamily and my own family. It was so nice to see my family. To spend time with them and remember that I am loved unconditionally, something I forget a lot these days. It was good to get hugs, kisses, cuddles and even the jabs were welcomed.
In laws aren't like that. If there's one thing about marriage that I have found it's that even though your 'new' family likes you, accepts you, welcomes you, they'll never replace or replicate your 'real' family. Their hugs will never make you melt as much as the ones your dad gives you, their jabs will always make you think twice, and their kisses will always feel foreign. At least this is what my limited observations have made me conclude. Perhaps as time lapses the lines will blur, perhaps my own family is so close they defy the norm, perhaps I am just having an especially melancholy day. But this weekend made me think, When will this start to feel like family? and Why is Christmas so far away?