The Pantry Dish

I've never been one to send a parent home with an extravagant piece of artwork for such a special occasion as Mother's Day. I realize this may sound odd considering MOTHER'S DAY IS A BIG DEAL and should be recognized as a national holiday in my opinion, but bigger isn't always better, and to be honest not all Motherly figures are women. Hear me out.

To me, a Mother's day gift should have more meaning and time put into it than a months' worth of artwork. It should also be something that a mother, single father, gay, lesbian, foster parent, custodial grandparent, or whoever is taking on the role of Motherhood, can genuinely cherish later in life when their little one has grown up and has left the preschool days behind them. It should also be something that won't break if you accidentally drop it!

Usually I include some sort of picture collage with a card their child has made. These past few months however have been what seems like a test in my professional and maternal values and beliefs. So, this year I kept our Mother's Day gifts simple and meaningful.

Fingerprints as stems with small wads of colored tissue paper to make a paper banner of spring flowers for a card. Inside reads lyrics to a song I found on www.preschoolexpress.com by Heather McHail, sang to the tune of "Twinkle, twinkle, little star".

Mommy, Mommy, I love you.
Yes I do, yes I do.
You're so sweet and oh so kind,
I'm so glad that you are mine.
Mommy, Mommy I love you.
Yes I, yes I, yes I do.

What I liked about this song is that you can easily change the word "Mommy" to Daddy, Auntie, your child's name, etc. What a great way for families of all types to say I love you to each other without leaving someone out.

I hope you like it as much as I did and use it with the children (or adults) closest to your heart. Everyone loves to be loved. And by the way......when was the last time you serenaded to someone you love?

    I knew it had been a long time since my last post but geez, I didn't realize it had been a whole year.  So much has happened since my last post(s).  Grace has grown a whole year older, my feet are well grounded into running my business, and oh yeah, I have a newborn!  It's wierd to say that we are a family of four now.  It'll take some getting used to our new routine of having an infant again.  Sometime soon I'll get back into the grove of my love for cooking, experimenting and bloging.  I'm not sure if my pregnancy is entirely to blame for slacking off on spending time on my blog, but it sure did take a lot of my energy.  All that extra weight in my abdomen just didn't work too well with my hobby. 
    It has been two months since I gave birth to my son and I am barely starting to feel more like myself again.  Thank God!  Being pregnant was such a wonderful experience and there isn't anything in the world I would trade for it, but I was starting to miss feeling normal.  Moodswings however, I would trade.  It is so true that one woman can have entirely different pregnancies.  Not only can pregnancies be different but babies as well.  I've seen so many different temperaments in children in my line of work, and it's an amazing thing to see it in my own children.  Can't wait to see what my little man will be like at three :)

We went to the beach the other day just the three of us and it was a beautiful day!  It was a little late in the day but we made the trip worthwhile since we hadn't been there for almost a year now.  Come to think of it, the last time we went to the beach was for our cousins' birthday and although it was a fun night in front of a bonfire, the night ended with an unexpected nightcap. 

Let's just say we don't have our tent anymore. 

This time we went during the day.  It was the same week as the Mavericks competition so the waves were beautiful.  The air was misty with just a slight breeze that was refreshing and so very missed.  We kept wishing going home meant down the street in one of those houses with a full panoramic view of that beautiful scenery. 

Maybe one day......hopefully.  For now we can enjoy each others company as a family, away from the TV, away from the chores and errands that I have come to accept as an (almost) everyday ritual, and take a few well deserved deep breaths...refresh our thoughts. 

I love it here.  I can have fun with my little girl in this place without a worry in my mind.  What is it about the beach that forces us to step out of our "to do" mode and into a "playful" one? There have been times where I have asked myself if being a stay-at-home mom was the right choice to make.  When I think about the job I left, "yes" comes to my mind 100%, however remembering the fact that it adds a little more pressure to my husband, I can't help but second guess this decision.  Yet in the time that it takes me to take off my shoes and socks and get knee deep in that sand with my baby, all is well.  Nothing can touch me.  I'm away.  I find me.  A mom blessed to have this wonderful family and the time to spend it with my beautiful baby in such a marvelous place.

Soaking up these moments is all I can think of now.  "Thank you" is what I wish I could say to the angels that have given me this life.  My husband included.