Heaven just didn't have enough quilts.

In the twelve months since I got that awful phone call, I've been wondering what was so damned important up in heaven that God decided he needed my mom so immediately, without giving any of us a chance to say goodbye.

And the best thing I can come up with seems to make the most sense:

Heaven just didn't have enough quilts.

Tomorrow marks the one year anniversary of my mom's passing.

But I don't want to call it an anniversary; that label should be reserved for happier occasions. And for me, there's just not much happy about June 1st appearing on my calendar.

I'm dealing with such an odd mix of emotions.

There's a indescribable guilt that comes with the slow acceptance that she's gone.

The rawness of her absence doesn't hit me as often as it used to, but when it does, I end up as a blubbering mess. And I'm okay with that. Crying it out can be good for the soul.


But there's also emerging desire to overcome the melancholy emotions that arise whenever I think of her.

I don't want memories of my mom to be infected with the suffocating hurt when I remember the cruel suddenness of her death.

Those memories deserve a happier atmosphere.

So one year after my world was rocked so violently, I'm attempting to inject some positive vibes into the day. I'm gonna perform a random act of kindness in Mom's honor. I'm not sure what yet, but I'm gonna do something.

I invite anyone else out there to join me. No act is too small. :)

I'm pretty sure Mom won't be wasting her day in sadness. Nope, she's up there, quilting away, ready to wrap her love-sewn creations around everyone entering those pearly gates.

Heaven should easily have enough quilts now.

The last few weeks in Instagram

And once again, I had to take a little hiatus. I feel like I apologize for that a lot. There's just So. Much. going on right now, and I hope to share some news soon. For now, here's a visual catch-up on what we've been up to.

 

Monday 5/13/13: Nutella is best worn on the lips.

 Wednesday 5/15/13: My Mother's Day flowers still look 

amazing; this was thee days after I received them,

but they still look beautiful nearly 2 weeks later!!!

 Thursday 5/16/13: Had to wait much longer than I wanted

to meet this cutie due to my sinus infection. Worth the wait :)

 Thursday 5/16/13: Supported sitting? Ain't no thang.

 Saturday 5/18/13: Intermission at Les Miserables.

Even better than the last time I saw the live show.

 Sunday 5/19/13: O Captain, my captain.

 Sunday 5/19/13: The star-crossed lovers :)

 Sunday 5/19/13: Playdate at the ballpark was mostly a success :)

 Monday 5/20/13: The line at Starbucks was MUCH too long for my liking.

 Wednesday 5/22/13: Waking up Daddy :)

 Friday 5/24/13: Just after Extreme Meltdown, Haircut Edition.

Oh how I envy those beautiful lashes.

 Friday 5/24/13: They say he looks a bit like me :)

Saturday 5/25/13: Quick visit with Daddy while he was posted

near our shopping trip. 

Monthly Mumbles, May Edition

10. Had a nice Mother’s Day. It was a bit of a letdown because Mike had to work the entire weekend, but he brought me flowers Sunday night when he arrived home from work, so it’s all good. My boys spoiled me rotten with homemade gifts, so I felt pretty special. It was hard to not feel a bit melancholy, though, since it was the first without mom. 

9. Found out last week that Aiden got into the elementary school we wanted in the school lottery. I hadn’t ever been inside the actual school, but had to make a trip there at the buttcrack of dawn Monday to sign him up for before- and after-school care. It is SO CUTE. We have an orientation coming up where we can all take a tour. I’m so excited for him, but I also can’t believe that in three short months, I’ll have a Kindergartner!

8. NCIS finale aired last night. WOWZA. Now comes the horrible four-month waiting period for new episodes. I love summer, but I hate it, too. I’ll be happy when September gets here and my show is new again…and my Buckeyes take the field…

7. I don’t know how I missed the boat in Nutella, but holy sh!t is that stuff delicious. We’re ALL addicted now. I think Mike & I like it better than the boys!

6. Our dryer died last week. It was a sudden, unexpected death. Not a cool thing to happen in a house with five people including one husband who does laundry for a hobby. We were lucky enough to be able to take care of our laundry over the weekend at my in-law’s. New dryer arrives today, though, so it will be nice to get back into our routine.

5. Justin is making attempts to sit up on his own, and the little bugger even thinks he’s old enough to stand on his own.  I have a feeling he’ll easily be walking by his first birthday. {SIGH}

4. Still very much in love with my blog redesign. It just looks so happy. :):):):):)

3. Nolan’s speech continues to expand. He’s definitely behind where Aiden was at this age, but I’m cool with that. :) I’d say at this point I can understand about 45% of what he’s saying. My favorite is when he’s ready to leave the house and says, “Weady, guys?” Or if I’m leaving, he’ll say, “No, Mommy, I wan hug! Okay, wuv ooo! Buh-bye!” 

2. Father’s Day gift orders were placed last night. I feel so much better when I get this stuff taken care of ahead of time. Besides, we’ve got an awful lot going on between now and then, so being proactive is a necessity.

1. Eight years ago this evening, Mike got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Can’t believe it’s been that long. But it will always be the best decision I ever made. :)

Our Week in Instagram

Sunday 5/5/13: A new tree for the front yard.

The pretty purple flowers were already gone two days later.

 Sunday 5/5/13: Exhausted on the way home from cousin Gary's

 first communion. We don't see him like this often.

Tuesday 5/7/13: Cheesin' under his quilt, made by the late great PooPoo.

 

 Wednesday 5/8/13: Brotherly tolerance love.

 Wednesday 5/8/13: Who's photoboming who?

 Thursday 5/9/13: Aiden's shiner. He apparently ran into another kid 

because he was wearing his sunglasses indoors. {SIGH}

 Friday 5/10/13: Pretty much my most favorite thing 

Aiden has brought home from preschool. :)

 Sunday 5/12/13: My Mother's Day gifts--all of them :)

 Sunday 5/12/13: More brotherly tolerance love.

Sunday 5/12/13: Mother's Day wore him OUT.

You Wouldn't Even Recognize Me Anymore...

H-E-L-L-O, new look!

I recently decided I needed a new look for the old blog-a-roo. Don't get me wrong--I LOVED the old look, too, but really, what girl doesn't want to change her outfit once in awhile?

And so I placed my trust in Hubby Jack. PERFECT CHOICE. He understood exactly what I wanted--a clean look with just a touch of whimsy.

So I pretty much adore it. :):):):):)

And I highly recommend Hubby Jack for all your blog design needs. Check out his blog while you're there, too. Dude is hilarious.

Five Months Old

In his never-ending quest to NOT remain a baby, my sweet, sweet Justin has reached the five-month mark.

This kid is all about growing up too fast. Think I'm kidding? Read on.

At five months, Justin:

--HAS A FREAKIN' TOOTH ALREADY!!! I mean, really, kid?! That's four months before either of his brothers. But he'll be damned if he'll let you see it; he covers it with his tongue and refuses to reveal its pearly gloriousness (though I did manage to capture a glimpse in this post's last picture). I only found out it was in there when he bit me by accident.
--will probably need that tooth (and a few more) because dude still likes to eat. Rice cereal, oatmeal, carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, pears--whatever we've tried with him, he simply inhales. 
--can roll belly-to-back and back-to-belly like he's been doing it for years. I've even found him asleep on his stomach a few times.

--is probably a good 16 lbs. He hurts my back if I'm standing and holding him too long. But it's 16 lbs of delicious infant goodness. :)
--thinks he's having bona fide conversations with whomever he's cooing at. It's hilarious to watch his expressions while he "talks" because he's 100% positive everyone understands what he's saying.
--constantly scratches his little face when he's searching for his thumb. I've done my best to keep up with trimming those little needles nails, but it's an ongoing battle.

--can't figure out what color he'd like his eyes to be. Some days they look gray, some days brown. Which leads me to believe they'll end up hazel like Aiden's.
--has gotten "strange" with a few folks lately, so he really prefers Mommy & Daddy right now to everyone else. Eh, it's a stage. I don't mind at all.
--is (obviously) still the happiest baby I've ever seen. :)

Check out how he compares to Aiden and Nolan at five months! :)

My Week(s) in Instagram

Took a little blogging break. The weather's been gorgeous, so we've been outside a lot, and then I got this horrendous cold, so the blogging mojo just hasn't been there. Hopefully I'll be back around these parts a little more frequently soon :)

Here's a taste of our last three weeks in Instagram...

FINALLY got the whole family on the van. :)

 Enjoying some time at the park with Aunt Abby.

 Morning conversations with Daddy.

 I don't even. :)

 Flowers for Mom's birthday.

 All these little people...

 Trying these for my knees.

Photo-bombed myself.

 No clue where he gets this from.

 First time ice skating. Good times :)

The rain couldn't ruin our March for Babies :)

 Watching "The Funnies" with Daddy.

 That's a full playmat.

 Brothers :)

 Mimi brings out the crazy.

 Free lunch at work from the local radio station.

 Moments like these give me hope that they'll be friends some day.