Way to go, Trevor

I dont think that I will ever be able to watch the final shot and ensuing celebration of the Masters (or really any of golf's majors) without crying.

Add to my already rampant emotion a little boy running out to hug his Dad, and an adoring (and exceedingly pretty) wife hugging her husband who just won his first Major and first Masters, and I'm a mess.

Kudos to Trevor Immelman on a gate to gate victory.

In other news, Luke cut his face playing outside today, and Jules smiled (seemingly intentionally!) at her Dad. Milestones all around.

Uh~OH

So Luke has grasped the concept of "Uh Oh" and also learned how to say it. All Fabu developments.....except for the fact that when Luke learns anything he has the biological imperative to utilize his new skill to the max. Long story short, that means that any opportunity to say "Uh oh", whether naturally developed (a fall) or utterly fabricated (throwing his juice cup while in his highchair) justifies the use of an "Uh Oh".

I need to take a moment to laud my son. I know that all Mama's must feel this way, but man has it been hitting me lately. I have to say that I honestly think that I have the privilege of parenting one of the most fun, easygoing, hilarious kiddos on earth. I freely concede that I am biased. Luke is a gem. He sleeps, he eats, he grows, he talks and learns and rolls with the punches, he appreciates a good joke. Some days I just look at this little child of mine and honestly believe that I am not worthy of being his mother. To anyone out there who does not believe in a God.....far be it from me to say that you are wrong, but I can honestly say that the very presence of this little person in my life, this sweet little soul, teaches me every day that in my ever so egocentric opinion, not only IS there a God, but that that God is good. Luke Dawg, if you read this someday, know that your Dad and I absolutely adore you. We have "Date nights" out without you, and often find ourselves talking about how, well, cool you are, how much we love hanging out with you, how much you make us laugh. You thrill us. We still sneak into your room together on our way to bed most nights just to take a little peek at the perfection of you. Your heavy, sleepy, pink cheeked little self. We ensure, together, that you are not just a dream.

Not to leave Jules out of the equation, I may start lying about her. People don't seem to like or relate to stories of easy newborns. I officially dare say that I have another easy baby on my hands. Little girl M turned 3 weeks old today.....and this sweet little creature nurses, and sleeps, and grows, and thrives seemingly effortlessly.

Parenting two means a lot of logistics. Oftentimes it means saying no to things that I would love to do, or means that leaving the house for the afternoon takes the forethought of a CEO. Its all worth it.

Its so crazy to hear myself ~ ME! MELISSA! Queen of the path less travelled, the mistakes, the missteps, the dark days and the doubts.......Speak of "My kids". I cannot grasp that I have two little healthy, thriving children. A son and a daughter. With all of their parts. And, at the moment, happy, healthy, and thriving. I cannot even fathom that I have a husband who loves and parents his children like Nate does. He is amazing. The way that Luke's face lights up when Nate enters a room is absolutely palpable. I have to admit that it frightens me at times. Life is not about what you hope for, necessarily. Horrible things happen to wonderful people. Sometimes the bad guys win. Life isn't fair, and sometimes it takes my breath away that I have the privilege of just knowing and having a hand in creating these beautiful little people I call my kids. I don't deserve them. But man, do I love them.

In me news, I went for my first run today. Using the term "run" is generous...I don't know if its actually a word, but as I was running the term "slogging" kept coming to mind. I slogged around for maybe 2 miles. it was honestly a duel mission of getting myself some exercise while

a. Scoping out the "mom scene" in the neighborhood behind our house
and
b. Scoping out other peoples lawns/landscaping.

As to the Mom Scene.....there is a great neighborhood behind our house. This afternoon it was beautiful out ~ probably a balmy 60 and wonderful. As I ran/slogged/schlepped my poor weathered post partum body around the neighborhood of lovely suburban middle to upper class homes I was not disappointed. There was a small army of Mom's outside. All pale, and winter paunchy, and seemingly endlessly grateful for the opportunity to interact with one another while their children romped gleefully in the street. I cant wait to meet them. Ladies in the neighborhood behind our house....consider me your friendly "want to meet Mama's with kids my kids age who live within bike riding/walking/golf ball hitting distance" stalker.

As to the lawn thing.......well. An afternoon trying to play chalk and bubbles in the "yard" with Luke taught me that we are going to spend a ton of money. We own a home situated on a shale bed. We have a hard row to hoe (very literally!!) in hopes of even getting a lawn together. It is what it is. Luckily we have a park behind our house that ought to keep Luke occupied this year........but I have to confess that I have some lawn envy going on when I look around. I keep feeling the need to go plant pansies, or trees, or something............
and then I look at these two shining faces and know that right now my focus is on all that lies inside these walls. And that's okay. In fact, that's fabulous.

Nak! Nak! NAK!

Some days I feel as though all I do is feed people. Nate, Me, Luke, Jules....just feeding em all.

Luke loves he word "Snack". Comes out of his mouth as "Nak". Snack means breakfast, snack means lunch, snack means snack, and snack means dinner. Even though Luke very clearly says "juice" snack sometimes even means juice. Never, ever, have I seen a child as enamored with a single word, a single concept, as Luke is with Nak. Between cooking him 3 meals, Luke's feverish pointing and escalating volume any time I approach an actual food holding station such as the fridge, freezer, or pantry, NAK consumes a big part of my day. (Lets not forget cleaning up NAK, which now that Luke likes to play "grabby head" as illustrated in the above pic where he has a head full of corn chowder is even a more glamorous and time consuming adventure)

To anyone who has ever nursed or been around a nursing baby, you know the astonishing fervor with which they crave and need the breast !~ that hilarious feverish slightly neurotic squirrly little rooting thing is just so insane and insistent and beyond any ones control its amazing.

Anyway, that's how we do round here at the moment. Feed, Change, Love. Lotsa love.

And if only all of my wonderful friends hadn't brought me DESSERT when you brought us dinners, I might even be losing some weight. Instead, I am eating NAK about as ardently as my son.........

The first pic is from my Mom's birthday ~ Mom, we love you. Happy birthday again!