Today is our tenth wedding anniversary. When we got married, I was only 20, not even old enough to indulge in a glass of champagne (legally at least) to celebrate. My husband was only 23. We had nothing but each other, and a newborn expecting us to get our proverbial shit together and take care of him. Here we are, ten years later, and we've been through so much to get here. We've built this life, and now have two amazing sons to share it. We're both so different now, than the kids who made that pledge so many years ago, who didn't know what those words truly meant. Now they seem to take on much more significance. They're no longer abstract ideas of what love is.
Normally I don't get all sentimental about anniversaries, or commemorating certain days. But I feel like this is something BIG, something worthy of celebration. And so I shared it with all of you :)
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Mad Skillz
Wasn't even planning to blog today, but Belly said something that was totally share-able yesterday.
We were playing out in the back yard, which for Belly means pushing our little swingset to it's limits. It was getting late and cold so I told him it was time to go inside. He protested loudly, and told me he was working on his swinging skills.
To this I said, "Belly, come on. You've already got mad swing skills, time to go in."
He looked at me scornfully and said, "No, I don't have MAD skills. I have HAPPY skills!"
We were playing out in the back yard, which for Belly means pushing our little swingset to it's limits. It was getting late and cold so I told him it was time to go inside. He protested loudly, and told me he was working on his swinging skills.
To this I said, "Belly, come on. You've already got mad swing skills, time to go in."
He looked at me scornfully and said, "No, I don't have MAD skills. I have HAPPY skills!"
Monday, April 14, 2008
Does it Burn??
Big week, followed by a big weekend. But the biggest and best chortle inducing moment came at the Family Mass that was held at the start of the school's annual fundraiser auction. Let me say that this tiny little school smack dab in the middle of the city was slated to be closed in 2005 due to low enrollment and overall high costs of running it. The parents and teachers rallied, found donors and then held an auction to raise money. Well, they raised enough to save the school, and they've been doing it every year since. Some of the cool things they had up for auction were: pair of stained glass windows (more on that in a minute), court side seats for a Bulls game, a week in Ireland, 2 plane tickets to anywhere in the world, dinner for 10 at an architectural gem of a home in the neighborhood, an hour of guitar hero for 2 kids after school, principal for a day.... and they had things like 192 bottles of Green River, 30 different bottles of craft beer and cooking lessons. Our family won front row seats at the next Christmas concert, a get out of homework free pass, the 4th grade cook book and a bucket full of cool gardening stuff. Not a bad night.
Anyway, at the start of Mass, Father so-and-so walks down the aisles flicking holy water on everyone. Yes, I tend to make jokes about how much it burns my skin, BUT I don't make them in front of the kids. It's one thing to be open about beliefs (or lack thereof) but it's another to openly mock them. So, I'm holding Belly up on my hip so he can see (see what? The backs of other people's heads?) and he gets hit with a few drops of holy water and he jerks as if he's been electrocuted. He's stunned. I told him to relax, it's just water. It's called holy water, but there's nothing in it but water and a blessing. And he said....
"But I'm allergic to holy water."
Turns out he just heard that someone in his class is allergic to something, and he's been using the word as many times a day as he can.
One more thing... may have mentioned before, but I love love love religious art. You see, back in the day, the church was the only place with enough money to commission some of the world's best artists. Last week I was fortunate enough to view some stained glass produced by Tiffany. It was so beautiful. Breathtaking. And it was displayed at ground level so you could get up close and see the textures and colors better. Then I went into the church on Saturday and in my best snooty voice, said that THESE stained glass windows just don't compare to Tiffany's stained glass windows :)
Anyway, at the start of Mass, Father so-and-so walks down the aisles flicking holy water on everyone. Yes, I tend to make jokes about how much it burns my skin, BUT I don't make them in front of the kids. It's one thing to be open about beliefs (or lack thereof) but it's another to openly mock them. So, I'm holding Belly up on my hip so he can see (see what? The backs of other people's heads?) and he gets hit with a few drops of holy water and he jerks as if he's been electrocuted. He's stunned. I told him to relax, it's just water. It's called holy water, but there's nothing in it but water and a blessing. And he said....
"But I'm allergic to holy water."
Turns out he just heard that someone in his class is allergic to something, and he's been using the word as many times a day as he can.
One more thing... may have mentioned before, but I love love love religious art. You see, back in the day, the church was the only place with enough money to commission some of the world's best artists. Last week I was fortunate enough to view some stained glass produced by Tiffany. It was so beautiful. Breathtaking. And it was displayed at ground level so you could get up close and see the textures and colors better. Then I went into the church on Saturday and in my best snooty voice, said that THESE stained glass windows just don't compare to Tiffany's stained glass windows :)
Friday, April 11, 2008
Shoes... Now Available in Cherry!
Check out my new shoes. Only $20 at Nordstrom Rack! And yes, my desk always looks like this...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wordless Thursday
Day late and a dollar short, I tell ya. Hope no parents lynch me for posting this, but it was too cute, I just had to.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Put Your Hand Right There
*On Friday, when Golden Boy got his birthday cell phone, he whipped it out and called me right after school. It made me smile that he called me to tell me about his day, instead of waiting for my customary call home at 4pm. He's been asking me questions lately about dating, liking girls, and the ability to balance being a good student with being "cool". Golden Boy and I have always been very close, and I'm glad he feels like he can ask me questions like that.
*Sunday, I went out shopping with my mother and the Belly, in her car. She ended up buying bicycles for both the kids, so the car was packed pretty tight. I was squished in the back next to Belly, he was (of course) in his car seat. About half way home he starts to fidget and bounce – uh-oh, he’s gotta get to a bathroom. So I’m trying to distract him, telling jokes, asking questions, but he starts to cross his legs. The poor little guy really has to go, but he refuses to go anywhere but at home on this particular day. Then he takes his hands and shoves them between his legs in an effort to hold it all in. I told him to stop holding himself, and to think about something else. He responds, “I’m not HOLDING it, I’m just touching my penis cause I hafta go to the baffroom!” Still, I tell him, just let it be and let’s talk about something else until we get home. At this point, he grabs MY hand and shoves it between his legs. “No, Belly! Don’t do that! It’s your body and you’re just going to have to hang on for a few more minutes.” Now my mom wants to know what’s going on because I’m laughing and Belly’s yelling about touching his penis. As I try to explain, the little guy grabs my hand again and goes toward pee central, and I tell him to stop it.
He replies, “But I love you! Keep your hand there! Noo! Just put your hand there! I love you! Just help me hold it!”
Could I have used that as a teaching moment about private parts being private, and not for other people to touch, hold or help hold, as the case may be? Yes, I could have. But I was too busy laughing. I can just see his first date ending in disaster if he sticks with those lines. “But I love you, baby, just put your hand there….”
*Today is Illinois’ 6th Annual Save Abandoned Babies Day – so tell someone about the Safe Haven Law today!
*Sunday, I went out shopping with my mother and the Belly, in her car. She ended up buying bicycles for both the kids, so the car was packed pretty tight. I was squished in the back next to Belly, he was (of course) in his car seat. About half way home he starts to fidget and bounce – uh-oh, he’s gotta get to a bathroom. So I’m trying to distract him, telling jokes, asking questions, but he starts to cross his legs. The poor little guy really has to go, but he refuses to go anywhere but at home on this particular day. Then he takes his hands and shoves them between his legs in an effort to hold it all in. I told him to stop holding himself, and to think about something else. He responds, “I’m not HOLDING it, I’m just touching my penis cause I hafta go to the baffroom!” Still, I tell him, just let it be and let’s talk about something else until we get home. At this point, he grabs MY hand and shoves it between his legs. “No, Belly! Don’t do that! It’s your body and you’re just going to have to hang on for a few more minutes.” Now my mom wants to know what’s going on because I’m laughing and Belly’s yelling about touching his penis. As I try to explain, the little guy grabs my hand again and goes toward pee central, and I tell him to stop it.
He replies, “But I love you! Keep your hand there! Noo! Just put your hand there! I love you! Just help me hold it!”
Could I have used that as a teaching moment about private parts being private, and not for other people to touch, hold or help hold, as the case may be? Yes, I could have. But I was too busy laughing. I can just see his first date ending in disaster if he sticks with those lines. “But I love you, baby, just put your hand there….”
*Today is Illinois’ 6th Annual Save Abandoned Babies Day – so tell someone about the Safe Haven Law today!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Regularly Scheduled Blog
I'd PLANNED on writing a touching and amusing tribute to my darling son, who turns 10 today. He's an amazing person, and I'm proud to be his mother each and every day.
However, I've been very busy with Safe Haven issues, and have decided to share the mass email that I sent out this morning, in response to a 14 year old in Texas who hid her pregnancy, gave birth in the bathroom at school, and killed the baby by trying to flush him down the toilet.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23949915/
It breaks my heart every time I hear a news story about a woman (or in this case, a CHILD) who hides a pregnancy and then kills the baby. I don't have sympathy for these women. They're scared, they panic.... but that doesn't explain murder.
Every time I see these stories, I contact the local media and ask them to report on the Safe Haven Law for their state. Every state has one now, these laws allow a parent to safely and legally give their child up if they cannot or will not care for him or her. There's no reason that any woman should feel so out of options that she kills her child. Ever.
There's even a national toll free crisis line. I've spoken with people that answer that line, they're amazingly helpful and compassionate. They offer to help women get to crisis centers or medical centers, they explain the options of adoption, safe havens...
Imagine the difference it could make if every woman knew that number. It's so simple. (888) 510-BABY - one phone call could let them know that they do have options. That someone cares about what happens to them. And their baby.
But instead, another woman sheltered a child for forty weeks, only to end his life just after it started.
Please, if you've taken the time to read this, tell someone about Safe Havens today. Tell a friend. Talk about it. You might just save a life.
For more information on Safe Havens in your state, or to volunteer, please visit www.NationalSafeHavenAlliance.org
Thanks for your time and attention to this most important matter.
Jessica Martinez
Save Abandoned Babies Foundation in IL
www.SaveAbandonedBabies.org
However, I've been very busy with Safe Haven issues, and have decided to share the mass email that I sent out this morning, in response to a 14 year old in Texas who hid her pregnancy, gave birth in the bathroom at school, and killed the baby by trying to flush him down the toilet.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23949915/
It breaks my heart every time I hear a news story about a woman (or in this case, a CHILD) who hides a pregnancy and then kills the baby. I don't have sympathy for these women. They're scared, they panic.... but that doesn't explain murder.
Every time I see these stories, I contact the local media and ask them to report on the Safe Haven Law for their state. Every state has one now, these laws allow a parent to safely and legally give their child up if they cannot or will not care for him or her. There's no reason that any woman should feel so out of options that she kills her child. Ever.
There's even a national toll free crisis line. I've spoken with people that answer that line, they're amazingly helpful and compassionate. They offer to help women get to crisis centers or medical centers, they explain the options of adoption, safe havens...
Imagine the difference it could make if every woman knew that number. It's so simple. (888) 510-BABY - one phone call could let them know that they do have options. That someone cares about what happens to them. And their baby.
But instead, another woman sheltered a child for forty weeks, only to end his life just after it started.
Please, if you've taken the time to read this, tell someone about Safe Havens today. Tell a friend. Talk about it. You might just save a life.
For more information on Safe Havens in your state, or to volunteer, please visit www.NationalSafeHavenAlliance.org
Thanks for your time and attention to this most important matter.
Jessica Martinez
Save Abandoned Babies Foundation in IL
www.SaveAbandonedBabies.org
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