warm fuzzy

‘Tis The Season

Posted on December 2, 2009 Written by Tonya

After the heaviness of yesterday’s post, I wanted to completely turn the tables and share something light and fun; and yet still holiday related…

I am starting to feel better (finally saw the doctor and am on antibiotics for a sinus infection) and I am beginning to feel the signs of Christmas in the air, like hearing Wham’s “Last Christmas” on the radio. I think George Michael is still H-O-T and I love that cheesy 80’s song. Hearing it to me, means it’s the holidays. So, with that, here are some quotes about the most wonderful time of the year that I love:

“There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” – Erma Bombeck

“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” – Harlan Miller

“From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another. The warmth and joy of Christmas, brings us closer to each other.” – Emily Matthews

“There is no ideal Christmas; only the one Christmas you decide to make as a reflection of your values, desires, affections, traditions.” – Anonymous

“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.” – Agnes M. Pharo

“Christmas is for children. But it is for grownups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts.” – Lenora Mattingly Weber

“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” – Larry Wilde

“Whatever else be lost among the years, let us keep Christmas still a shining thing: whatever doubts assail us, or what fears, let us hold close one day, remembering its poignant meaning for the hearts of men. Let us get back our childlike faith again.”- Grace Noll Crowell

“Somehow, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing, the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart’s possessing, returns to you glad. – John Greenleaf Whittier

My personal favorite:

“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” – Charles Dickens

The best is yet to be.

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The Art of Marraige

Posted on November 13, 2009 Written by Tonya

Although we just got home from four days in the Bay Area where we were visiting your grandparents, we are off tonight to Arizona to attend a wedding. You are already a jet setter and you aren’t even six months old yet! I appreciate how good you have been with all of the traveling and new faces.

My dear friend Karin has asked me to read the following at her wedding tomorrow. I am honored and thankful for the reminder of what marriage is and isn’t.

When you enter into marriage, you enter into life’s most important relationship. It is a gift given to bring comfort when there is sorrow, peace when there is unrest, laughter when there is happiness, and love when it is shared.

A successful marriage is not something that just happens. It takes work, it takes understanding, and it takes time. Most importantly, it takes a commitment from both of you – a commitment to do whatever it takes to make your relationship thrive and not just simply survive. A good marriage must be nurtured. Listen to these “words of wisdom” on how to create a successful marriage from a little book entitled The Art of Marriage by Wilferd A. Peterson:

The little things are the big things.
It is never being too old to hold hands.
It is remembering to say I love you at least once a day.
It is never going to sleep angry.
It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon, it should continue through all ages.
It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives; it is facing the world together.
It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family.
It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy.
It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways.
It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have wings of an angel.
It is not looking for perfection in each other.
It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding, and a sense of humor.
It is having the capacity to forgive and forget.
It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding room for the things of the spirit.
It is the common search for the good and the beautiful.
It is establishing of a relationship in which independence is equal, the dependence is mutual, and the obligation is reciprocal.
And finally, it is not only marrying the right person, it is being the right person.

The best is yet to be and I promise that we will lay low all next week.

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Grandparents

Posted on November 10, 2009 Written by Tonya

My mother, your grandmother would have been 60 years young today. I’m sorry she didn’t live long enough to meet you. She would have been head over heels for you and an amazing grandmother. I find comfort in knowing that she and my dad are watching over us from wherever their spirits may be acting as our guardian angels. Every time I look at you, I see them and I hope you are are able to feel their spirit too. Rest In Peace, Mommy.

This week, we are in the Bay Area visiting your daddy’s parents and they give you enough love for four grandparents and then some! They are wonderful to you and you have definitely added an extra twinkle in their eyes. With that in mind, here are some quotes about the beauty, love and importance of grandparents:

“Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting.” – Author Unknown

“What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.” – Rudolph Giuliani

“There’s no place like home except Grandma’s.” – Author Unknown

“Grandchildren don’t stay young forever, which is good because Pop-pops have only so many horsey rides in them.” – Gene Perret

“Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete.” – Marcy DeMaree

“Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation.” – Lois Wyse

“It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace.” – Christopher Morley

“Sometimes our grandmas and grandpas are like grand-angels.” – Lexie Saige

“To become a grandparent is to enjoy one of the few pleasures in life for which the consequences have already been paid.” – Robert Braul

“If becoming a grandmother was only a matter of choice, I should advise every one of you straight away to become one. There is no fun for old people like it!” – Hannah Whithall Smith

“It’s such a grand thing to be a mother of a mother – that’s why the world calls her grandmother.” – Author Unknown

“A mother becomes a true grandmother the day she stops noticing the terrible things her children do because she is so enchanted with the wonderful things her grandchildren do.” – Lois Wyse
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“Grandparents are there to help the child get into mischief they haven’t thought of yet.” – Gene Perret

“If your baby is “beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time,” you’re the grandma.” – Teresa Bloomingdale

“Grandparents are similar to a piece of string – handy to have around and easily wrapped around the fingers of their grandchildren.” – Author Unknown

“What is it about grandparents that is so lovely? I’d like to say that grandparents are God’s gifts to children. And if they can but see, hear and feel what these people have to give, they can mature at a fast rate.” – Bill Cosby

“You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was.” – Irish Saying

“A grandmother is a mother who has a second chance.” – Author Unknown

“No cowboy was ever faster on the draw than a grandparent pulling a baby picture out of a wallet.” – Author Unknown

My personal favorite:

“Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children.” – Alex Haley

The best is yet to be.

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A Token Of Love And Friendship

Posted on November 5, 2009 Written by Tonya

Today I received a very sweet gift from one of my oldest and dearest friends, Sophie; two Kimmidolls. I had never seen them before and they are just too adorable! Each come with a lovely message of love and friendship.

I am now the proud owner of Tomomi, ‘Friend’ who came with this message:

My spirit is positive and supportive.
In your relationships you reveal my spirit by supporting, encouraging and caring.
By always believing in the best in others and wishing them well, you show the spirit of a friend.

and Akemi, ‘Bright and Beautiful’:

My spirit shines and adorns.
Live my spirit. Let the beauty of your personality shine, to brighten and adorn the world. Celebrate your unique spirit and share its light and beauty with all.

Sophie and I met in The Gambia, West Africa in 1985 and together we caused several of the gray hairs atop our parents heads. We were partners in crime literally and figuratively and almost inseparable for almost three years. I miss Sophie as much today as I did when I moved away from The Gambia and wish that there weren’t so many miles between us (she and her family now live in New Caledonia). I haven’t seen her since 2000, when she and her then boyfriend, now husband met me in Paris for what to this day is still one of my most memorable weekends.

Sophie and I have a beautiful friendship despite the distance between us and I love her dearly. I know in my heart that I will see her again, meet her darling daughters and introduce her to you.

Friendship is such a beautiful gift to give and receive. Thank you, Sophie! xoxo

The best is yet to be.

Enjoying This Moment

Posted on November 4, 2009 Written by Tonya

A simple thought for today…nothing more and nothing less:

The best is yet to be.

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Babies

Posted on October 26, 2009 Written by Tonya

Sometimes I look at you and can’t even believe how amazing the miracle of like is. Two people met, fell in love, said “I do” and together made a human being. It’s as simple and as complicated as that. It’s mind boggling and wonderful. Babies are only babies for so long, so here are some quotes that celebrate these little creatures:

“That’s the strange thing about being a mother: until you have a baby, you don’t even realize how much you were missing one.” – Jodi Picoult, Vanishing Acts: A Novel

“Having a baby is like getting a tattoo on your face. You really need to be certain it’s what you want before you commit.” – Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia

“The cultural idiom of motherhood, and the only one that people find bearable, is that once a woman has produced a child she bonds with it in utter devotion, forgets her own wishes, and sacrifices herself for her baby. When she does not slip easily into this role, she risks the accusation of being a bad mother.” – Sheila Kitzinger, The Year After Childbirth

“I like beginnings because they’re so full of promise. The first page of a book, the first day of a job, the first time you buy yourself flowers, the first date with a new man, the first touch, the first kiss, the first kick of a good liquor, the first moment you hold your own baby. I like beginnings because I know there’s always more to come.” – Shyma Perera, Bitter Sweet Symphony

“A baby is born with a need to be loved and never outgrows it.” – Frank A. Clark

“Babies are necessary to grown-ups. A new baby is like the beginning of all things –wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities. In a world that is cutting down its trees to build highways, losing its earth to concrete… babies are almost the only remaining link with nature, with the natural world of living things from which we spring.” – Eda J. Le Shan

“A woman has two smiles that an angel might envy – the smile that accepts a lover before words are uttered, and the smile that lights on the first born babe, and assures it of a mother’s love.” – Thomas C. Haliburton

“A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on.” – Carl Sandburg

My personal favorite:

“Babies are such a nice way to start people.” – Don Herrold

The best is yet to be.

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Pure And Simple

Posted on October 21, 2009 Written by Tonya

I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about my husband becoming a father. To be honest, I really didn’t know what to expect. I knew he had never even held a baby for more than 30 seconds and had never ever changed a diaper before our son’s. He assured me throughout my pregnancy that he would be “different” with his own child. I didn’t know what that meant exactly but I had no choice but to trust him and hope for the best. How pleasantly surprised (and relieved) was I to discover that he took to fatherhood like a fish to water and is more comfortable than I was/am and much calmer too. It was love at first sight for both my son and his father.

There is nothing sweeter on earth than seeing the two of them together. Lucas’ eyes light up as big as saucers whenever he sees his daddy, especially when they have been a part for a few days. Their relationship is pure and simple and their bond already runs deep and wide and is very special. Their connection completely melts my heart and makes me fall a little more in love with them both each and every time I witness it.

The best is yet to be.

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The Kissing Hand

Posted on October 19, 2009 Written by Tonya

Having an elementary school teacher for a mother, I have always been a sucker for children’s books and already had a large collection of the classics before you born. Last week, my friend Anne gave you one I had never heard of before, a sweet book called The Kissing Hand.

This beautifully illustrated and wonderfully written book is about a school bound raccoon who is afraid he will miss mom too much while he is away. Even though she tries to reassure him of all of the fun new things he has to look forward to, he is still very apprehensive. To ease his fears, she shares the family secret of the kissing hand.

This secret, she tells him, will make school seem as cozy as home. She takes her son’s hand, spreads his tiny fingers into a fan and kisses the middle of his palm: “Chester felt his mother’s kiss rush from his hand, up his arm, and into his heart.”

Now, whenever he feels lonely, all he has to do is press his hand to his cheek to feel the warmth of his mother’s kiss. Chester is so pleased with his kissing hand that he–in a genuinely touching moment–gives his mom a kissing hand, too, to comfort her when he is away.

What a lovely message! I have already read this book to you several times and even though you don’t yet understand the words yet, you love the pictures.

I will definitely be giving this book as a gift to your friends this holiday season.

The best is yet to be.

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Shower The Baby

Posted on September 30, 2009 Written by Tonya

I had two wonderful baby showers; one hosted by seven (!) of my closet friends and one hosted by your dad’s cousin. We received almost all of the items we registered for and more toys, clothes, blankets and other goodies than we could ever possibly use. Everyone has been so generous at welcoming your arrival.

What blows my mind is that the gifts keep coming! Here we are almost four months later and we are still being showered. I’m so surprised every time the UPS man knocks on our door. Just last week we got three packages in one day…adorable onesies from family friends, a darling personalized bench from your dad’s college friends and three surfer t-shirts from one of mine.

I feel like a big jerk and wish I had consulted my Emily Post etiquette guide earlier because I thought showering the baby stopped at the showers. I didn’t know that you sent a card and/or another gift after the baby arrived. In particular, I thought if you attended the shower, you were done. I feel badly about this and vow to acknowledge baby’s arrivals from now on in a bigger way.

By the way, if you are reading and have yet to receive a thank you card, we appreciate your gift and I’m sorry, you will receive a formal thank you in the mail…eventually.

What a lucky baby you are!

The best is yet to be.

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Sisters

Posted on September 25, 2009 Written by Tonya

As far back as I can remember, my wish on every shooting star and every candle I blew out on a birthday cake, I asked for a little sister. Finally, almost 12 years later, I got one!!

I can’t believe my sister, Leah is 25 years old now. I tell her every year on her birthday that I remember the day she was born as if it were yesterday. It was a great day. I can vividly recall driving to and from the hospital (our mother had been induced on Monday, March 5) with our dad as he played out loud with different girl’s names: Kara Leah, Leah Kara, Kara Alexandra. It was a special time. Leah Alexandra finally made her arrival on Wednesday, March 7; and as I anxiously waited for news in our mother’s recovery room, I had my Walkman on listening to Paul McCartney’s Pipes of Peace and the moment I heard you were born, the song The Man played. I love these lyrics:

And it’s just the way he thought it would be
’cause the day has come for him to be free
then he laughs, he kicks and rolls up his sleeves
I’m alive and I’m here forever
This is the man

I think it’s the line, I’m alive and here forever in particular that stood out to me because it is such a strong declaration and at that very moment, a new wonderful little person was being brought into our world and she wasn’t going to go anywhere, she was here forever.

Aside from a few babysitting jobs in middle school, most of my experience with babies comes from having a little sister. I had held a baby before Leah, but she was my first diaper change, burp, bath, and feeding. I learned a lot about parenting and babies by helping our mom and dad care for little Leah and I enjoyed every minute, even the late nights of babysitting. After all, to me she was a living doll.

Over the years the age difference between us has either seemed far too great or has actually felt like it has shortened. Today, we have more in common than you might think and laugh at the same jokes. As completely frustrating as my little sister may be at times, I honestly don’t know what I would do without her in my life. She has a heart of gold, is honest and true and has a naivete that will melt your heart.

I have definitely struggled with being Leah’s surrogate parent over the years, but know that now, I’m all she has and vice versa. We are family. I worry about her just like a parent would, but know that it is okay for her to make mistakes as she finds her way in this world.

Your aunt Leah just spent a week with us and not only is she amazing with you, she’s really fun to be around. It was SO nice to have another set of hands, eyes, and ears to help out and we already miss her. Lucas, you are so lucky to have such a wonderful role model in your life and I’m really looking forward to her living closer next year!

The best is yet to be.

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‘Tis The Season

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