Hands On, Hands In

At the water table.

Anna and I braved the Hands On Museum in Ann Arbor yesterday morning with Alicia and Aidan. I say "braved," because the place is a germaphobe's worst nightmare. Our pediatrician even mentioned once, for some reason I don't remember now, that she calls it the "Strep On Museum." Apparently, her kids always came home with strep throat.

*Side note: I use the term "germaphobe" somewhat jokingly. We do wash hands frequently. I've been avoiding the library play area where Anna seems to have contracted Rotavirus twice. I am definitely anxious about vomit and high fevers. But, we rarely, if ever, use anti-bacterial anything because of the harmful effects on health and the environment, and we have chosen an alternate vaccination schedule (for various reasons). If anything, I'm more of a chemical-phobe.

Anyway, the place was full of kids having a grand old time. We spent our time in the preschool room where Anna enjoyed the water tables the most. She also liked the miniature playscape, until other kids ventured into her personal space.

More water play.

Aidan playing with magnets.

Of course, Anna's hands wouldn't stop going in her mouth the entire time we were there, and "Strep On" kept running through my mind. It was one of those days where Anna insisted on doing everything I said NOT to do. So, after I suggested that she keep her hands out of her mouth, they went into her mouth Every Other Second. No joke. I ended up losing my patience not so much because of the germ concern, but because she, in typical toddler fashion, gave me the "what are you going to do about it?" look every time another finger touched her lips. I'm really excited about the terrible two's!

In the end, I think she had a good time at the Hands On Museum, despite her annoying mommy hounding her about her hands in her mouth.

29 Gifts: Week Three

It feels like I just posted my week 2 summary - that's how blurry the last week has looked to my eyes. Giving has felt more challenging than in past weeks. It seems being away from home distracted me; the sleep deprivation and competing priorities left me with little inspiration or focus. The biggest thing I'm noticing as I look back on the week is that I'm (of course) judging myself a bit; I'm feeling like some of the gifts given were not "enough." I also didn't journal as much this week, which means I reflected less than I intended to on gifts received and gifts given to myself. Upon reflection now, I'm thinking the best gift I could give this week is cutting myself some slack. In fact, one of the gifts I counted was an early bedtime for myself on Sunday - it was truly a gift to all of us, because I was much nicer when I woke up the next day, even if the dishes, laundry, and house were all a mess (but, again, I felt like it didn't "count"). Some other gifts given this week included a back rub for my husband (something we give each other too infrequently), a memorial donation, and a card sent to a friend.

The last seven giving days have taught me a lot. I learned (or remembered) how hard it is to be present when I'm exhausted. I remembered that I'm not very creative when I'm tired. And, I remembered how important it is to take care of myself so I don't get depleted, and consequently, feel lacking in giving energy. After just a couple of nights of improved sleep, I do feel more motivated and excited to continue my 29 Gifts exercise. More opportunities have popped up for giving in the last couple of days, which inspires me. While I can't say that I've seen any miraculous transformations in my life (yet?) as a result of this exercise, I can definitely say that I've put some goodness out to the world and, hopefully, have made it a brighter place. I, too, have felt brighter with each gift. Here's to another week of brighter days.

Blake's Chickpea Dip

We eat a lot of chickpeas. Anna loves them just about any way you give them to her. Unfortunately, the allergist has advised us not to give Anna nuts or seeds until her third birthday, which means no hummus for her. The traditional recipe includes tahini, or sesame seed paste, so Blake has been making his own version. Anna loves it and so does everyone else who tries it!

Blake's Chickpea Dip

2 - 15 oz cans or about 4 cups cooked chickpeas (you can buy dried bulk chickpeas, soak overnight, and cook them for 1.5-2 hours in boiling water)

1-2 cloves raw garlic or 5 cloves roasted garlic

1/2 – 1 cup good fruity olive oil (depending on how smooth you like your dip)

Juice from 1 Lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Place chickpeas, garlic, and lemon juice into a food processor and blend until moderately mixed. Slowly drizzle in olive oil and continue to blend until mixture is smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste and blend to combine.

Variations:

Add 2 jarred roasted red peppers or roasted eggplant to mixture with a dash of cayenne for spice.

Enjoy!

More Whiskey

This title does not refer to something I asked a bartender this weekend. I stayed away from whiskey, in fact, but I did enjoy a variety of other drinks. Anna was actually the one racing down the Chicago sidewalk exclaiming "More whiskey, more whiskey!"

Blake, Anna, and I arrived late Friday afternoon at the bed and breakfast where we were staying for the bachelorette party (Blake and Anna came along for the weekend away). To Anna's delight, the inn-keeper had a small, semi-friendly dog named Whiskey. Apparently, she didn't see enough of Whiskey. At dinner that evening, Anna began her repetitive request for more Whiskey, which continued throughout the weekend and had us laughing the whole way home from dinner on Friday night.

The weekend itself was a combination of wonderful and kinda awful. It was wonderful to spend time with some of my best girlfriends and a number of other amazing women in downtown Chicago. We talked, drank, danced, ate, and laughed. Most importantly, Amy, the bachelorette, had a wonderful time. Blake and Anna had some much-needed Daddy-daughter time on Saturday afternoon at the Shedd Aquarium. Anna loved seeing the dolphins and the fishies, and enjoyed telling me all about it when they got home, which made the waiting in line for more than an hour worth it (according to Blake). For future reference, don't take a stroller to the aquarium, especially on a weekend - there's a lot of stair climbing required to see all the exhibits and too many people with strollers waiting for the available elevators.

The kinda awful part of the weekend hit us Friday night when Anna couldn't or wouldn't sleep. We slept maybe two full hours that night. The next night was a version of the same. She woke with a stuffy, runny nose Saturday, which may or may not be due to an impending tooth. We arrived home last night very thankful for our own beds. Anna is getting too big for her pack-n-play - she slept much better on Sunday, and we finally got some much-needed sleep.

Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos. Well, that's not entirely true. I took a few shots on my iPhone, but the only one I can post online (not taken at the bachelorette party) is this precious one:

I just want to scoop her up and kiss her cheeks when I see this. We turned her car seat around, and as expected, she loves facing forward.

Earth Day 2010

Just a quick post regarding this special day, because I'm leaving tomorrow morning for Chicago, and I need some sleep. I'll be celebrating my friend's upcoming marriage in the windy city, and I'm not sure how I'll survive this bachelorette weekend without the rest!

I've been thinking about how our family can make a difference to Earth this year. We already do a lot to take care of the environment, especially when it comes to the products we use and the food we consume. Of course, we also recycle and try to limit our use of plastic and paper products. We can definitely be better about unplugging appliances, turning off lights, and using less water. But, the one thing I want to commit to this year: stop using paper grocery bags. I am embarrassed to say that we still use them, especially when it's so easy NOT to. We even have a couple of cloth bags, but we've not gotten in the habit of bringing them with us. We do keep most of our paper grocery bags for future use, but most often we fail to reuse them on our next grocery stop.

So, next week I'm buying a stash of cloth grocery bags. After each grocery trip, the bags will go back in the for the following week so we cannot forget them. It's just a small thing, but I believe it will make a difference.

29 Gifts: Week Two

It's been refreshing to give mindfully this week. I've been a bit frazzled and tired, and each time I brighten someone's day, I also feel a bit brighter and lighter.

For the most part, my gifts continue to be spontaneous. I'm amazed by the giving opportunities that present themselves now that I am paying more attention. Blake and I spotted a homeless woman on a street corner as we drove to grab drinks last weekend, and we decided to take a quick detour to pick up and deliver a sandwich to her. I've driven by many people on this corner before, but this is the first time I stopped to give. She was gracious and seemingly surprised by the act. I hope it made a difference in her day; it made a remarkable difference in mine. Some other gifts have included a donation to a cause that I've been meaning to support, a book for a friend, a reconnection e-mail to a distant friend, and a get well gift to a hospitalized relative.

I've continued journaling this week, although my entries have been shorter due to exhaustion. I did browse the 29 Gifts website, which inspired some new thinking. I have primarily been focused on giving to others and what I'm learning in the process, and I was reminded of how valuable it is to pay equal attention to receiving gifts graciously and giving to oneself. So, this coming week, I'll be recording recording not only what I've given to others, but also what I'm receiving from others and from myself.

Today, I'm giving myself the gift of an early bedtime. I'm hoping to be asleep by 10:00pm. Packing will have to wait until tomorrow.

Books We Love, April 2010

I'm excited, so although it's a bit unrelated, I am sharing my news in this post about books. My friend, Emily, and I have officially started a book club! I'm looking forward to this in so many ways. I've wanted to participate in a book club for a long time; it feels good to start one and finally have it off the ground. And, it feels good to know that there will be great books by my bed (being read) and dedicated time each month to gather with some amazing women. Our first book, recommended by Lisa, is The Book Thief. I'm starting it today.

Today, I will also be reading the following book, which is one of Anna's current favorites:

The Hound from the Pound is actually Anna's first love story. Mo D bought this for Anna because it is FULL of doggies. I'm pretty sure that's why Anna loves it - not because the woman who brings home a house-full of dogs from the pound ends up marrying the dog trainer who helps her manage the pets. For whatever reason, we are reading this every day right now. We kiss the doggies, we howl like Blue, and of course, we read this story to Pinky and Bee Bo (the stuffed monkeys) in the rocking chair before bed.

Five Little Fiends is an old favorite. I LOVE this story, which was given to me by my friend, Betsy, before Anna's birth. It's light on words and heavy on meaning. It highlights nature and how aspects of our natural world are interdependent, it speaks to the connectedness of us all, and it reinforces the beauty of sharing. This is one book we will be reading for years.

A Few of My Favorites

When Papa and Mo Mox were here this past weekend, Mo took a lot of pictures. Here are a few of my favorites.

All dressed up. Mo and Papa brought a dress-up skirt and hat. Paired with one of our silk scarves, she had an entire outfit!

Mo called her Hollywood. She loved wearing her sunglasses this weekend, even in the house.

Mo and Papa babysat while Daddy and I went out for a drink. They had fun playing dress up again!

I have no idea what kind of conversation Papa and Anna are having here. Who is going to wear the purple hat next? I just love the moment captured between the two.

Sharing some tea. We're drinking lots of tea around here these days!

My favorite.

Thanks, Mo and Papa, for spending the weekend us, and thank you for all of your help!

An Aside

I'm an introvert. I learned this about myself in sixth grade when my dear friend, Amy, shared the book Please Understand Me: Character and Temperament Types. I'm not sure what possessed us to sit around, take a personality test, and discuss the results when we were twelve years old, but I was hooked on psychology and the study of people's insides from that time on. That test obviously revealed that I was, indeed, an introvert.

This is a snippet of the description I found when searching introversion on Wikipedia:

"Introverts tend to be more reserved and less outspoken in large groups. They often take pleasure in solitary activities such as reading, writing, drawing, and using computers. An introvert is likely to enjoy time spent alone and find less reward in time spent with large groups of people, though they tend to enjoy interactions with close friends. They prefer to concentrate on a single activity at a time and like to observe situations before they participate. Introverts are easily overwhelmed by too much stimulation from social gatherings and engagement."

This is Me. I share this, because I'm just remembering it again today. At times, I forget this about myself, and then I wonder why I'm so drained. When I forget this about myself, I also tend to be harder on myself. I have to remind myself that it's OK to be this way; it seems that the traits of an extravert are more acceptable in our society. Indeed, other people are often more comfortable with extraverts and their social preferences. Introverts make up the minority of the population, so it makes sense that it is a less-than-familiar way of being to some folks.

I've obviously been absent from this blog since last week. During the days and nights we've been busy running errands, managing the usual daily activities, preparing for visitors, and planning for upcoming travels. We've had a few play dates, I've had some friends visit during the day, Papa and Mo Mox came to play, and we have the pleasure of a visit from our dear friend Darcy. This weekend I'm off to Chicago for Amy's bachelorette party (that same dear friend who inspired my first interest in psychology). While I am so utterly grateful that we are not alone in this life, I am a bit tired. And, it's OK.

Thankfully, Blake and I shared some quiet time yesterday afternoon. Later Anna and I shared some quiet time, too. Just those moments snuggling on the couch, eating an apple, watching animals on TV, and reading a story recharged me a bit. Sneaking in a few moments to write here helps, too. I think I'm rambling on about this today, because I want to take this information and do something productive with it. In our house, introversion is the predominant way of being, with Blake and Anna exhibiting many of the characteristics as well. Whether Anna tends toward introversion or extraversion in the future, I want to nurture her strengths. I want her to be totally and completely Anna, and I want her to know that, while it's important to grow and stretch yourself outside of your comfort zone at times, it's OK to be who you are.

Bunnies and Beef Bourguignon

Eating bunnies in the sun.

Anna woke herself up twice last night sleep-talking. We heard her counting "one, two, one, two..." and exclaiming "Aidan, no no no no, Aidan, no no no no." Eventually, she was clearly awake and upset. I went in to calm her, but she wasn't settling easily. She asked me to open the door and asked for Daddy. When he finally came in, she didn't want him either. By this time, we were a bit agitated too. What DID she want?

"Hungy," Anna said.

"Hungry? Anna, it's not time for food, it's time for sleep. You can eat breakfast in the morning."

Anna persisted, "Beef Neeon."

"Beef Bourguignon?" We cracked up. Our little foodie wanted more of Daddy's delectable dish (which, she hadn't eaten since Saturday). We couldn't believe she came up with THAT in the middle of the night.

29 Gifts: Week One

I'm on day 7 of my gift-giving experiment. I feel like I could write paragraphs about each gift and the thoughts, feelings, and reactions that went along with them. For now, I'll just jot down a few observations for myself and others.

Many of the gifts given this week have surprised me, maybe as much as they have surprised the recipients. I went into this week without a plan; I had no idea what I would give, which is way out of my comfort zone. Some days I didn't know the gift or the recipient until it appeared before me. Chocolates for a helpful sales clerk, a token of friendship sent to a friend, and providing support were three of my favorite gifts this week. They were my favorites, I think, because they were the most spontaneous, and (I believe) they may have made a significant difference in the lives of the receivers.

Giving this week has been thought-provoking. By giving so consciously, I've noticed how frequently I give unconsciously. I also recognize more where I don't give when I easily could. Now, I am looking for ways to give all day long. As it turns out, I've given more than one gift per day, because I haven't counted putting extra money in the meter for the next person or adding that dollar to your bill at the check out line for a donation, but these are things I'm doing more of. I find myself more often in a space of abundance rather than scarcity - most of my scarcity thinking centers around time, and I've managed (not struggled) to make time to give this week. Even on the day that I woke up feeling like I just didn't have the energy to give anything else, I was given a wonderful opportunity to give, and that gave me energy. It goes without saying that this has been uplifting for me, and I think, I hope, it's been uplifting for some other people too.

Not surprisingly, I've frequently questioned if I'm doing this "right." I've been journaling as a part of this process, reflecting on emotions that come up before and after giving, writing out some affirmations, and (inconsistently) meditating on my intention. I know that I can still put more into this experiment, and thus, give more and get more out of it. I'm looking forward to this next week. I'm going in without a plan, again, and trusting that the opportunities to give will present themselves.

The Next Top Author

I teach Spinning at a comfortable little studio in Ann Arbor called Bodies in Balance, which is owned by Susan and Elmo Morales. I'm blessed to work for two amazing people, and I'm thrilled to post a little plug for Susan, who has entered her first novel in the Next Top Author contest. The grand prize is publication by Hampton Roads, so it's a really big deal!

In order to win the contest, she needs votes. If you have 3-4 minutes and are interested in learning more about her novel, A Barroom View of Love, please click here. You can also visit Susan's website to read excerpts from the novel.

I'm thinking that writing a novel requires an unimaginable degree of commitment, passion, research, and fearlessness. I have always been in awe of novelists, especially ones who write stories that inspire new thinking. I hope you'll join me in supporting Susan and her inspiring work. I'm so excited for you, Susan!

*In order to vote, you will need to register your e-mail address, go to your e-mail to confirm it and click a link to vote.

Friends, Food, a House, a Tricycle, and the Potty

These are the most memorable things from our incredibly full, fun weekend.

I'm still trying to figure out this Hipstamatic thing. My pics aren't turning out all that well. I didn't have our camera with me much this weekend, though, so these will have to do!

We started the weekend with dinner at Gratzi in Ann Arbor, where we met Alicia, Kevin, and Aidan to celebrate Kevin's birthday. After wine and pasta, we walked down the street for some ice cream, which Anna wanted nothing to do with, believe it or not. We ended the evening by snuggling on the couch and watching The Blind Side, a remarkably inspiring story. It was a great Friday night.

Homemade beef stock reducing on the stove. Blake made this with the soup bones from the cow we purchased a short time ago.

After we enjoyed breakfast together Saturday morning, we cleaned and played a bit, and I squeezed in a much-needed run while Blake and Anna walked to the park. Lunch and a nap followed for Anna (it seems like all we do is eat around here) while we started cooking and cleaning; our friends Amy and Dennis were coming over for dinner, without kids, later. My Weekend Chef planned a French feast of Champagne, Burgundy wine, cheeses, and Beef Bourguignon that took all day to prepare.

While the Beef Neeon, as Anna called it, was cooking, we checked out a potential new house in Saline. I wish I could say that I fell in love with it, but I didn't. It would need a lot of work to be the house we want to stay in for almost ever. Nonetheless, we're still considering, because it is in a beautiful location with great land and space. I think the house hunt deserves its own post at a later date.

Our dinner and time with friends on Saturday was phenomenal. We talked and laughed and drank and ate and stayed up way too late, but the time was so welcomed and needed.

Taking the pink trike for a test ride.

Then came Sunday. Of course, the To Do list for the day included watching The Masters. I also had plans to do some shopping alone, while Anna and Blake spent much-needed Daddy-daughter time together. But first, we went to Toys R Us. I've been seeing a lot of bikes around lately, and I had the itch to get Anna one, too. She tried out LOTS of them. In the end, we decided on a practical, gender-neutral blue and red Radio Flyer tricycle. It was very exciting...maybe more for Daddy and me than for Anna. It's her first bike, after all!

The new wheels.

Radio Flyer.

Getting the hang of it.

Finally, the potty. Anna has been asking to go on the potty all weekend. While she doesn't always DO something while sitting there (besides unrolling the TP), she seems to be enjoying the whole process. I guess I need to start reading up on potty training, but at this stage, I'm letting her lead. I had no intention of starting just yet - I've heard too many horror stories!

A Gift For...

Sue! Congratulations, Sue. Random.org generated the number 6. Yours was the sixth comment, so you win a copy of 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life. I hope you find it inspiring!

Thank you to everyone for sharing the many things you are grateful for.

Captured Moments

There were a few moments today that I am grateful to have captured on camera.

Anna picked out Daddy's shirt today and decided she wanted to wear it, both before he left and after he arrived home. Doesn't she look a bit like yoda?

Our first time painting with watercolors...

...would have been fun if Mommy would let me paint my face and dump the water on the floor. Oh, and if Mommy would stop taking photos!

Anna helped me sew another napkin today. We've finished four of them together. It's slow going with Anna on my lap, but she really enjoys it. She removed pins, pushed the backstitch button, and begged to iron. Unfortunately, my heirloom variety machine is making a strange noise. I guess I should look into a newer model.

I finally downloaded the Hipstamatic app for my iPhone and gave it a whirl for one of the best moments of the day. Anna, Daddy, and Anna's monkey friends (recently named Pinky and BeeBo) reading stories before bed. It seems that Anna's stuffed animals have taken on a more important role since we've learned about a stuffed bear named Corduroy.

29 Gifts: A Giveaway

I recently finished the book 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life. Judy, or Mo J, gave it to me for Christmas last year, which I was thrilled to receive - I had heard about it on TV and was eyeing it in the bookstore. In 29 Gifts Cami Walker writes about her journey as she mindfully gives 29 gifts away in 29 days. She tells of the transformation she experienced during this powerful practice and of the difference it made in the lives of those around her.

Not long after I started reading, I felt inspired to embark on a similar journey. It seemed meaningful that I picked up this book, of all those waiting to be read on my shelf, during this time of rebirth and renewal - the author's gift-giving challenge began during this time of year as well. If it weren't so appropriate, I could see myself pushing it off to "a better time" when Anna isn't dealing with Rotavirus, when the yard and garden don't need so much attention, when I haven't been giving so much of myself to a motherhood. But, I realized that these things actually make now "the better time." With so many things cluttering my mind and my To Do list, I have a feeling the act of giving with intention each day will actually clear my head and help me to, more often, be in a space of gratitude. More importantly, I believe it will make the world a better place, which our family strives to do every day. And, I will finally be following through with one of my goals, mentioned here, which is to devote one post per week to something that will inspire and motivate both myself and other people.

Now, the challenging part. What gifts do I give? Not having a clear answer to this question has kept me from moving forward. I thought about starting the challenge mid-read, then on April 1st, then on Sunday, and now it's Wednesday. I've been postponing. I've been feeling overwhelmed. I've been in a bit of a self-critical, "not-doing-enough-of-the-right-stuff" space. That perfectionist voice is the same voice that has kept me procrastinating on this gift-giving journey.

Ugh, perfectionism. As conscious as I am of this weakness of mine, it still sneaks up on me. It steals away moments. It keeps me from recognizing the unique gifts that I have to offer. It leaves me worrying that I won't give the "right" gifts, that I won't do this thing "right." It's silly, really. The gifts needn't be grand. They may be gifts of time, energy, or spare change. What matters is how they are given. So, despite the fear I'm feeling, I'm moving forward today, without knowing what my 29 gifts will be. I haven't even decided how I'll share my experience in the blog, but I do look forward to seeing how it will unfold.

I do, however, know what my first gift is. I am giving away a copy of the book to one of you. To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment telling me something you are grateful for in your life today. I will draw a random number and announce the winner on Sunday night. Happy Giving!

A Little Prayer

While we always invest time for our family prayer before Anna goes to bed at night, until recently, we were less-than-consistent with giving thanks at mealtime. It seems that we needed some structure to help us remember.

Last month we found that structure. Anna and I were at Alicia and Aidan's for our usual play date, and Alicia had set out a candle on their table next to a short prayer written on a piece of paper. She discovered the prayer in a book that we both own, You Are Your Child's First Teacher. Apparently, I hadn't made it far enough in the book to discover it.

Now, every night, and almost every meal time, Anna looks forward to lighting our candle and saying our "peeayer." And, now that we say this prayer, every night we begin our meal in a space of gratitude, often sharing other things we are grateful for.

"Earth, who gives to us this food,

Sun, who makes it ripe and good,

Dear Sun, Dear Earth, by you we live,

Our loving thanks to you we give."

Easter 2010

Post cookie-making this week.

We celebrated Easter all weekend long. Anna's fever dissipated by Friday afternoon - she bounced back so quickly - so we dove into the egg and cookie decorating, planting, and local visits with family and friends.

For our little family, Easter is a time to celebrate miracles, rebirth and renewal, and the beginning of Spring. Friday morning we kicked off the weekend by decorating eggs. We had good intentions of actually blowing out some raw eggs and carrying on my Grandma Mox's Ukrainian tradition of Pysanky. We did not get that far this year, but we have all the supplies for next year. Instead we filled cups with water, vinegar, and vegetable-based food coloring to color our hard-boiled eggs, which Anna really wanted to eat.

Dipping...

Waiting...

Listening??

Daddy enjoyed a round of golf in the afternoon while Anna and I spent some time outside and napped. By late that afternoon, her fever was gone. Daddy brought home sandwiches and tulips - a nice consolation prize for being a golf widow on Good Friday!

I continue to be amazed with Anna's curls...they keep getting tighter and tighter.

The buds on our pear tree popped that day.

Beautiful yellow tulips from my husband.

Saturday morning we went ahead with cookie decorating. Anna didn't have much of an appetite for them, but she enjoyed slathering them with frosting and sprinkles.

Sampling...

Sprinkling...

The (almost) finished product.

Sunday we woke to find a basket from the Easter bunny and eggs hiding all over the house. Anna received a wooden iron and a new book as well as some treats tucked away in colorful eggs. She picked up on the egg hunt very quickly!

Eggs found...24. Eggs hidden...25. I discovered the last one later that day.

We met Mo and Papa J for brunch later that morning, where Anna met the Easter bunny (she didn't sit on his lap, but she did pet him and stand very close!), played with balloon animals, and ate loads of watermelon. She really enjoyed seeing Mo and Papa. After a long nap in the afternoon, we planted tomato and pepper seeds.

Helping Daddy stir up the dirt in the garden.

Planting.

Getting ready to water the seeds.

We enjoyed some homemade pizza for dinner, a quick visit with Mo D and Aunt Kaity, and then a bubble bath before settling down for the night. In spite of Anna getting sick, and maybe because of it, we savored this Easter and all of it's meaning more than ever before.

Holiday Bug

It became clear by late afternoon yesterday that Anna was not herself. When she refused cheddar bunnies, I knew she wasn't feeling well. Shortly after we arrived home from our play date at the park with Harper and Emily (where Anna hardly played at all), she vomited. Then came the fever. Another holiday and another tummy bug.

She's hanging in there today. She's still feverish and not sleeping well, but I'm crossing my fingers that the worst part is over. She's a strong girl with a very positive attitude. It always amazes me how well she fares with these illnesses.

Needless to say, our Easter plans have changed. No dinner out with the Jones' tonight and probably no BBQ at Blake's boss' tomorrow. I'm hopeful that she feels better for Sunday brunch with Blake's parents, though. We were going to decorate cookies today, but maybe we can do that Sunday - it seems too cruel to have her decorate treats she can't eat. I'm counting on her feeling better so she can enjoy her first Easter egg hunt and tomato planting activities! We can only hope.