Me & My Girl

It is crazy to think this girl came into my life 6 and 1/2 yrs ago. We braved the world alone just the two of us. Her birth father has never been reliable. (this is not the hubby I talk about here.) She has not seen him in over 4 years. ANYWAYS!!!!! We seem to have this unspoken language....I know she's got my back. She will pack up and split with me if she s*&t hits the fan. She is an old soul. She has seen a thing or two. I worked like a dog just to keep us afloat for the first year of her life. When I came through the door after working a double at a local clam shack, she was just getting up for her late night bottle. I would light some candles, dim the lights, and put on Norah Jones. I can recall those nights like it was yesterday. She was my strength. So here we are on Christmas together. Two peas in a pod. Love her.......

New Years Resolution

Well the fact is I don't have one. Never have, never will. I am the kinda girl who has no regrets. If I did, I would be balled up in a corner crying my life away. I have had some crazy times. I have done some crazy things. All of which have led me up to this point in time. Too many people say life is too short. I believe life is too long. So my New Years will be snuggled up with the hubby,Chinese food, and catching up on Season 5 of LOST. I know so boring but exactly where I want to be. Never been a sucker for New Years Eve but Valentines Day on the other hand........

Just us....

Christmas Eve was such a dream. We were able to kick it at home all day just the four of us. My husband and I were actually able to sit down and chat over a glass of wine and cheese and crackers. It was a complete delight. Dinner was rack of lamb which we spent way too much money on....but my brother insisted I make it special. The kids totally gobbled it up. My parents and big brother swung by for a quick Christmas Eve dose of the kiddos. Our dear friend stopped by with two perfect gifts for the kids to open. I was always allowed to open one gift Christmas Eve. I try to keep the tradition alive by having the kids open their Christmas pj's. They were definitely not as cool as our friends gift. I think it was an awesome start to a new tradition. We were actually able to see the rest of the family Christmas day and the day after Christmas. I don't think it could have gone any better. My photographs are my attempt of using a digital slr on the manual setting. I love the light it captures instead of being totally blown out with a flash. But some of the pics are a bit shaky, blurry, etc.

A Family Gathering

We were supposed to see my Aunt, Uncle, and cousins this past Saturday but my aunt was sick so we rescheduled. My mom and brother had prepared tons of food so we decided we would all still get together. I love what transpired as a result. A typical Davis gathering.....good food, good spirits, and good dancing. I let Elizabeth use my camera so you will see a mix of her style in the photographs. However, I can not take credit for the picture of the vodka bottle wearing the santa hat.
So happy my big brother is in town. Now the holidays feel complete. I think my shopping is done or I just think I have bought enough stuff. Tomorrow is my last day of work until January 4th. I am definitely in need of some rest and relaxation.

Christmas Eve Service

I can't even remember the last time I went to Christmas Eve service at Second Congregational. The memory of attending these services are wrapped around my heart. Being the baby of the family, I always felt like I missed out on all the good stuff. My cousins and brothers were thick as thieves. I always watched them head out the door as I was heading to bed. But Christmas Eve Service was the one thing I was allowed to do that was considered 'grown-up.' I don't think it was just the service itself that made a lasting impression. Even though 'our church' at night was truly amazing. Rev. Wright preaching his sermon by candlelight as shadows danced across the walls. I always watched my mother during this service. She loved it. She loved to belt out 'Joy to the World.' I can never listen to that song without hearing her voice singing "and heaven and nature sing..." I loved to nestle up her next to her and hold her hand. Which was a rare occasion. And of course, the end of the service would be just voices and candles singing 'Silent Night.' Low lights would come up and we would all wish each other 'Merry Christmas.' So cool, so miss it....and so I will go this year....sit in the dark.....and be moved by the Christmas Spirit.

Happy Photographs

Asking for what you want

I was recently at a birthday party for a dear friend of ours. Santa Claus was there. My two year old fell in love. Not only did he scream "Santa Claus" about a zillion times, he ran over and held him. Yes, held him. He just wrapped his arms around him and held Santa. It was uncanny to say the least. At that moment, I realized what an impact Christmas had on this little guy. I decided we were going to stay home Christmas Eve. We usually travel Christmas Eve to see family. We get home just in time to eat dinner, leave cookies out for Santa and then off to bed. I knew this was not going to be well received by the family. I am lucky enough to work with a group of amazing women. We have devotions every morning together. So with a heavy heart I headed to our daily devotions. I sobbed as I told them how I felt like I had started trouble with my decision. My brilliant boss told me "asking for what you want is not starting trouble." This year, I am asking for my family to be together in our home for Christmas Eve. I feel like I can take a deep breath. Phew, that being said.....I came home with the kids in tow to find our Christmas tree on the floor. HA! Ornaments shattered everywhere. I have had some of these ornaments for 10 years. It was actually kinda funny. I managed to laugh it off. And, I got to decorate the tree with the salvaged ornaments. The kids wanted nothing to do with it. So I brewed myself a cup of tea, turned on my fav, Ray Lamontagne, and decorated. This Christmas go ask for what you want....you heard me, now go!

A Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

So I have been hiding out for the past couple of weeks. I actually have been looking for my Christmas Spirit. I have checked all the usual places; in between the cushions of the couch, in the dryer, under the bed. Maybe it was delivered to my neighbors house by mistake and now they have a double dose of Christmas Spirit. This would explain why every inch of their house is covered in lights. Bah-Humbag is not my style. So I am accepting my fate this year and giving in to a little grinch-ness. I guess we are all entitled to it once. I did, however, shop for about 6 hours today, ALONE. It was great. I just wandered around stores sipping a latte. People all around me were frantically trying the find the perfect gift. Well I will tell you my perfect gifts were at home patiently waiting to decorate our tree. The one we picked our yesterday that is lopsided and has a big hole. I am a sucker for a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. It reminds me of my favorite Christmas growing up. It was the year we decided to go away to Maine and ski for Christmas. My brother hiked through huge snows to cut us down a tree. We made all the ornaments. We listened to music on an 8 track player. It was the best. So this year, I decided to sit back and let the hubby and the kids decorate. Just like my mother always did. I never understood why but now I do.

Thankful

I am thankful for this day. The day I married my husband. We actually met when I was 8 and he was 17 years old. We were reunited 20 years later at a music gig of a mutual friend. My husband was my camp counselor at a nature camp when I was a little girl. I have such fond memories of him. I remember waiting on his every word. He would drag us through fields searching for butterfly's. He taught me how to spark wintergreen lifesavers in the dark. Not much has changed in 20 years. We still act like a couple of kids. This leads me to my list of thankfuls.
I am thankful for his family. I am thankful for their laughter and hugs. I am thankful his father hosted Thanksgiving. I am thankful my brother-in-law made his stuffed dates. I am thankful my kids were so well behaved. I am thankful my brother and his girlfriend were there. I am thankful I didn't have to cook. I am thankful my dad and I got to play wii tennis together.(first time for both of us!) I am thankful my camera stayed in its bag and I just chilled. I am thankful my mom and dad gave us an early birthday present and we are headed to Boston overnight next weekend. I am thankful my family all sat at one table and shared a meal. I am thankful that I am in love.......

This kid hasn't got a chance

This picture tells it all. Elizabeth posed perfectly for the camera while Jude is still trying to figure out what just happened. I never realized how much I actually did *cough* do for my first born. You can spot a first child a mile away. Or in my case, an inch from my camera lens before the lens cap even comes off. My super hip college friend did a little comparison of when your baby becomes a toddler here.
http://mygeekbaby.com/
So I thought I would do a little comparison of my own between the first and second child.

You know your the second child when.....

1. You can only find one picture of you dressed up for Halloween and you are already four years old in the picture. (oh and its a hand-me-down costume) You older sibling has at least a dozen per Halloween from birth.

2. When you binky falls on the floor your mother simply picks it up, magically blows the germs off with her breath and pops it back in your mouth.

3. All of your clothes are hand-me-downs with some one's name on the tag that you don't even know AND you are wearing your sisters old winter coat. You are a boy and its pink.

4. Your socks don't match. (and they are pink)

5. You need a hair cut so mom puts her hair-cutting skills to work.

6. Only a fraction of your diet is organic and you had peanut butter BEFORE you turned two. **GASP**

7. Your diaper is always full and dragging on the ground.

8. You have eaten dirt....a lot!

9. Your mother and father have no idea when your last bowel movement was.

10. Your parents are comfortable leaving you with a babysitter they find on Craigslist.

11. You are left in your crib to cry ***pause*** you are left to cry.

12. You can play by yourself.

Second Child, you are a well adjusted person in the world. Forced to be a problem solver from birth because we know your parents are doing it for you. You will happily play whatever game your older sibling would like to play. Whether it be to get a little extra attention or just to shut them up. You have a strong immune system because lets face it, your parents aren't watching you like a hawk and you just ate some old food off the floor. You are always in multiple layers cuz you know its cold in the shadow of that over-indulged older sibling. And why can I say any of these things? Because I am the baby of the family!

"Not right now sweetie, Mommy is blogging"

There are not very many photos of me in the world that I like. Always behind the camera snapping photos instead of in front. Like everyone else, I instantly start critiquing myself.....I have such a big face, look at all the wrinkles, my eyes are bloodshot..etc, etc. One of my co-teachers, however, snapped this one of me at the Eric Carle Museum AND I kinda like it.



Maybe it was the smell of paint in the air. Or it could be that I was in my element, crawling around in a child size piece of furniture. Maybe it was the fact that I was at a Museum, two hours from home, and completely kid-free.

So at this moment in time, the kids are running around like total crazy monkeys and I just wanted to blog. So I gave them free reign of the upstairs in order to just steal a moment on the computer. ( a moment in my world equals about 5-10 minutes) Hence the post title for today. Peace

Jude's Party

This is actually Jude's precious smile. When you ask him to smile, he scrunches his
face all up. It looks like he is crying but it is absolutely adorable.



Ah, the boys.....thanks to my best bud of almost 20 years (yikes!). She snapped this awesome photo of Jude and my hubby. I mean this in the nicest way possible but I have never managed to get a good photo of this guy. I pride myself on taking a good photo and should be able to after four years of art school. So, I am thankful the kink in my neck kept me from getting behind the lens.



My white pumpkin which I never had the courage to carve. Jude wore the crown for about um 2 seconds. It actually looks adorable on the pumpkin. Kinda brings him to life. Notice the construction themed party paraphernalia. Yes, we are in total boy world. Jude is quick to point out any construction vehicle on our car rides. I notice myself saying 'dump truck' 'backhoe' 'crane', when I am alone in the car.



Each year we make some sort of crazy cake for the kiddos. Another blessing of the kink in the neck is I was out of commission for cake making. So, alas, we had a Carvel Ice Cream Cake! Much to my husbands disappointment, the kids LOVED it. It was so super stress-less going this route. I highly recommend it.



This is one of our bestest friends. He is awesome. He has an incredible voice. INCREDIBLE VOICE. If you have not had a chance to see this guy here is his info....
www.ronmurphylive.com
He plays the Top of the Hub is Boston. If you can get there you should! He also married us ; )

So I have been SUPER cranky this week. A brisk walk on the beach this morning helped. Looking forward to the week ahead. I am trying to get the creative juices flowing. It is coming a little slow for me this year. Maybe I just haven't found the right crafting project yet?

Free Hugs

This gives me goosebumps every time I watch it. This is why I am thankful we live in a free country......

The Graduate

I finally finished my on-line classwork. This has been about a 6 month project. I was taking classes to receive my CDA certificate. Which stands for Child Development Associate. Four classes in total and my GPA is a 4.0. I love that after 32 years on the planet, I can officially be called a straight A student. I'm not sure I learned anything new but I will have a shiny CDA certificate that says I know some stuff about kids. Also, I am actually paying for these courses (note the present tense 'paying'). I think this was motivation alone.

I am more happy to report that I can finally begin on my crafting endeavors which have taken a major backseat. Last year I was able to make everyone at least on handmade gift. I don't know about y'all but I do not like just giving stuff. Wandering stores aimlessly just buying stuff. I adore my parents philosophy which is they do not want any gift they can not consume. This has inspired my husband and I to make limoncello every year. Its become a tradition for us the day after thanksgiving. My Martha mag just came in the mail. I think I am going to teach myself to felt. Looks like a great way to outlet the sculptor in me. Actually, its really just an excuse to go to AC Moore and buy some new goodies. So hopefully, by this weekend, I will be able to post some cool felting ideas......

This Guy

See this little guy? He is my big birthday boy, Jude. Today he is two years old. I feel like he has been on this planet forever! An old soul to say the least. A 10.5 lb baby at birth. Yes, I did it naturally with no drugs. If it was not for my amazing husband and midwife, I would not have made it through. He was born blue with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. The nurses were joking as they put him on the scale...."how much do you think this one weighs..!" I remember watching Richard count all his fingers and toes. A completely surreal moment in my life. He was stubborn baby, two weeks late. We could not agree on a name and then one day we said at the same time, how bout Jude. Love it. He is such a Jude.
Jude is a laid back soul like his papa. He moves to the beat of his own drum. Whether there is a song on or not he likes to groove. A true snuggle bug. He LOVES the outdoors. A boy through and through. He spends hours turning over rocks and searching for wiggly creatures. He doesn't like it when you drive too fast or play loud music in the car. He is a bit of an old curmudgeon that way. He loves his sister and calls her 'Bits.' Even though he can say Elizabeth this is his pet name for her. He in a social butterfly. He has the biggest blue eyes you ever did see. A complete love bug.
I woke up this morning with a kink in my neck. I actually called my mom on the phone crying like a baby. But thanks to my father in law, I have managed to control the pain with some muscle relaxers. I am twitching at how messy my house is for company coming. But what can I do? I don't think anyone will realize how dirty it is and the dust bunnies will make friends : ) I think this post may sound a little loopy from the pain killers but oh well....

Do you know who this man is? This is Ray Lamontagne. I am slightly obsessed with all things Ray. He is an amazing musician and just moves me. He is singer song writer who gave up his life as a shoe maker when hearing the Stephen Stills song Tree top flier. Can you imagine standing up at your place of work and saying "I'm sorry, I'm going to have go now because I realize my true calling is to sing and write songs, bye." Amazing. He is a bit of a tortured soul as all true artists tend to be. He spent many years developing and finding his voice. Apparently he has smashed many guitars out of frustration. When he preforms he can barely look at the audience. Bashful would be an understatement. He resides in on a 300 acre farm in Maine with his family, smoking pipes and fixing up old type writers. A man after my own heart. I have seen him about a dozen times over the past 6 years. I decided to pass on seeing him on his latest tour. I figured I would never get as close to him as I have in the past. Well last night a friend of mine was giving up her tickets.....2nd row for tomorrow night. I realize now fate has a strong part in finding these tickets for me. Or at least that it was I am telling myself. I will consider it an early Christmas present to myself (and Ray.) I have actually had the opportunity of meeting him twice. But I will leave those stories for another time.......

My Cherubs

plural usually cherubs a : a beautiful usually winged child in painting and sculpture. Or photograph as the case may be. There they are....Elizabeth and Jude. Decked out for all Hallow's Eve. I don't even know where the Wonder Woman idea came from for this year. It is not as if we are having Wonder Woman marathons over here. But alas, she was clear that this was the outfit. Hey, at least it is not a princess! And somewhere along the way, someone told me whatever the second choice is in a question is what a toddler will pick. "Jude do you want to be a lion or dog?" asks mom. "Dog" replies Jude. "Jude would like to be a dog or a lion?" asks mom. "Lion" replies Jude. Try it with your little one, it totally works!

The Ice Breaker

Am I interesting enough to start my own blog?
Who knows.....But I am risk taker and exhibitionist at heart.
So starting a blog seemed like a natural step for me.
I have a good friend who always has great one liners and I have to give her credit where it is due for the blog title.
When my sweet little 10.5 lb baby, Jude, was born she said this to me...
"Its just enough to make you crazy."
I was sleep deprived, stinky, living on my couch, and twitching just a bit.
Almost two years later,
I find my self spreading this bit of wisdom on to other mothers who are at their wits end.
I find it an instant bonding bit of advice.
It reminds us that we are not alone as mothers.
And sometimes its just enough...
Peace