My Crazy, Beautiful Life

A friend's post on facebook today made me think.  I was never one of those little girls that dreamed of one day growing up to be a mommy.  In fact, as most of my family and friends will tell you, I said I never wanted kids.  I never babysat and really liked very few children!  One of the most precious things in my world now though is a little 2 1/2 year old girl named Anabeth.  As much as I never thought I wanted a child, I can't imagine my life without her in it!  She brings much joy and much anger sometimes within minutes of each other!  She is a very good, sweet child though for the most part and there's nothing better than a  hug and kiss and her telling me she loves me!  Those moments wipe away all the bad ones in one quick second!  She has also provided much entertainment for Matt and I over the past couple of years.  Watching her grow up at lightening speed has been bittersweet I have to admit because I miss my baby, but love...

A few minutes ago, I was putting my girl to bed.  She was trying to delay, so she had mommy read a story and then she read it to me. She finally decided I needed to lay down with her for a little bit so I obliged.  She tells me she needs her blanket and that I need it too.  Out of the blue she tells me, "my birthday is coming up."  I agreed and she told me "Emily's going to share my cake with me".  Then she looks at me and says, "Mommy, I have a cup and you don't have a cup...you're too big".  I thought it was pretty funny...probably partly due to my lack of sleep...but funny all the same so I start laughing.  She touches my mouth gently and said, "It's not funny mommy".  I try to stop laughing but can't so she says, "I said not funny mommy!".  Guess mommy was too rowdy so she asked for daddy to come lay down with her for a little bit.  That child is the most precious thing in the world and though she drives me abs...

So, I have to start off with a couple things.  First, I don't feel old enough to be writing a blog about kids because frankly I still often feel much younger than I am...not that I'm old.  Also, I am not proclaiming to have been an angel.  I felt compelled after an event yesterday to get this off my chest.  Anabeth and I are minding our own business driving home and we get into our neighborhood when I see 2 teenage girls riding their bikes.  One of them gets over to the side so I can get by, but the other one stays in the middle of the road.  I beeped my horn at her and she just turned around and laughed at me and very slowly got over so I could pass.  I pull into my driveway and walk to get my mail when they're riding by my house.  The girl starts screaming at me and laughing so I proceeded to tell her that I was glad she found it so funny that she was stupid and wanted to get herself killed.  Likely, she didn't hear what I said over her own...