Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

Shortly after she came into the world, I decided that one of the reasons Lili was born, one of her important spiritual jobs in this life, was to teach me that it's okay to not be perfect.  (I wrote about that here .)  Sometimes I still forget, even with all of Lil's assistance, that I cannot make everything perfect.  I expect that there are mamas with multiple kids out there in the world who find that they are able to keep spotlessly clean houses, cook nutritious meals for their families, volunteer at their kids' schools and at church, sing in seventeen different choirs and still throw perfectly flawless birthday parties for their completely oblivious toddlers.  These mamas have excellent time management skills, of course, and they are a delight at dinner parties where they humbly show off their juggling abilities while wearing the same size jeans they wore back in high school. I am not one of those mamas.   I know you're shocked.  I had big plans f...

She thought it was just an ordinary day even though everyone kept wishing her a "Happy Birthday."  She merely returned the greeting.  "Happy Birthday, Daddy!" she called to my husband as he walked out the door this morning.  I suppose it was a pretty ordinary day up until this evening.  Even Mom's delicious tortilla soup was a wonderful but ordinary meal. Today's soup was "lick your fingers" good though, if I do say so myself, and the photos don't lie, friends. C'est Magnifique! Shortly after dinner, however, Lili came to the realization that something wonderful was happening.  I think this photo nicely captured the moment of glee when it all clicked. "Oh!  It's MY birthday!!" And because she is such a wonderfully fabulous and amazing TWO year old now, she managed to blow out her own candles.  I was a bit impressed apparently.  Sophia asked, "Why are you screaming, Mom?"  Sorry.  It's just wha...

You only turn ONE once, which is why you should celebrate the occasion at least twice ! We had a few friends join us on Friday evening, and we celebrated Lili's big event one more time.  Why not?  She is now a serious expert on the subject of cake. It's your birthday!  Happy Birthday! It's for real though; not for play play. So I am now the mother of a one year old, a six year old and an eight year old.  The only problem is: they keep changing their ages on me.  Just when I get used to saying, "Emma is eight," she will have gone off and become nine.  It is never ending.  Sometimes I wish childhood came with a pause button, but of course it does not.  That means, Moms and Dads, you must savor all of those little precious, golden moments.  You know, the ones like this... Hold on to those babies while you can.  Tomorrow they won't be quite as little.

Today is Lili's birthday, and here is a little story in picture-form about her new favorite thing: CAKE! Hmmm... this looks interesting. Let me inspect it a bit more closely. Not Bad!  Not Bad At All!! Seriously.  Why have they been keeping this stuff from me? Dad, this is amazing!  You should try it! Love it!  Can we do this again tomorrow? Happy FIRST Birthday to my sweet little Baboo!! My how it flew by!!

But I opened one of my presents today!! The mailman brought it.  Want to see?? It's a Lynx from Mimi.  (Mom has been calling it Lancelont Lynx.) And I LOVE it!! Kiss Kiss Kiss!  Oh, how I love it!! I cannot wait to see what fun tomorrow brings! (Actually I'm not sure what all the fuss is about.) Lots of love from Lili