New year, fresh start, you’re practically an adult now… (on the eve of 9)

Dear Greyson,

Dude… Tomorrow you will be 9 years old… That’s half way to off to college and out of the house, and oh my goodness how did this happen??

So, there’s a lot that hasn’t been said this last year, and I think that now is the time to say it.  You’ve had quite a year my love bug and when I think about it I get really sad.  You are the most amazing child, and not just because you are kind, and smart and handsome and funny and all those wonderful things that you are, but because you are so strong, stronger than your mommy could ever be.  This year Mommy and Daddy got divorced.  I hate that for you.  I hate that you struggle with it, that it makes you sad, that you don’t understand.  I hate that there is nothing I can do to make it better, to make it ok.  I hate that while all of that was happening your mommy was diagnosed with cancer, and that I had to rely on you so much to take care of yourself because I was physically unable.  I hate that you know that fear, that you were forced to grow up so quickly…

On the other hand… I’m awed by you… I could not have survived the last year without you.  You were my reason to keep pushing, to keep going.  You were the happiness that got me through those long months of radiation, you are the reason that I am cancer free today and recovering and feeling stronger and healthier every day… that’s all you my love, you were my only reason to keep living, and that’s pretty special and I’m pretty thankful, and I couldn’t love you more, except for every day… I do.

So, even though eight wasn’t the greatest, we did have some fun… You made it through 2^nd grade, which wasn’t your most favorite year of school ever, but you rocked it like a champ, stayed true to yourself and I was so proud of you you!!!  Summer break was kind of lame since you went and broke your ankle!!  We moved to the beach and we love our new home, its lovely and a work in progress as mommy renovates the entire thing, but we have a great pool and we’re just a 3 minute walk to our toes in the sand.  Of course with your ankle in a cast all summer we didn’t get to do those things, but we are making up for lost time now!!  Like the Disney Cruise we just got home from that deserves its own post entirely!!  You are LOVING 3^rd grade so much and doing some super cool and amazing things that have mommy so excited for you!

All in all buddy, eight was a rough one.  I wish with all my heart I could change that for you.  I hope that as time goes on, our hearts continue to heal and we build our new normal, and that we find happiness and peace within it… The things that remain and always will are my love for you.  You are my rock, my heart and my happiness.  Through each trial thrown your way you have continued to prove what a remarkable, compassionate and amazing young man you are.  I am so proud to be your mom.  I love you more than words could ever say.  Thank you for all that you are…

To the moon my love,
Mommy

The last day...

I dropped you off a 2nd grader and picked you up a 3rd grader....

 

SCHOOLS OUT FOR SUMMER!!!

 

 

Fishin'

Dear Greyson,

 

I have so much to tell you, so much to say... It's a blog post that I've been working on for quite some time and every time, I fall apart and can't finish it, delete it, can't start it, stare blankly at my screen...

 

so....

 

So, we went fishing!!  You've fished a few times with your Dad and Papa at little local lakes (retention ponds?) but you never caught a fish of your own...  so, we hired a fishing guide and hit the flat water and did some FISHING!!  Your first cast wasn't in the water for more than 30 seconds when your first fish was on!!  The next 4 hours went by faster than you liked (I'm pretty sure you would have fished for 4 days!!) and you had reeled in 18 fish, 7 different species!!  Your biggest was a 13.5 inch Red who fought like crazy as you giggled and reeled and squealed with joy.  It truly couldn't have been more fun and I can't wait to take you again soon, after all Captain Mike said he would let us know this summer when the big Reds really get biting and we'll go back out!!

 

I'm so proud of the boy that you are Greyson, I'm glad that you loved fishing, I'm not surprised, you love everything.  You are so laid back and easy going, yet you put all of yourself into everything that you do.  You're a rock star (and a fishing champ!).

 

I love you to the moon...

Love,

Momma



 

 

Sleep over...

 

 

So... Occasionally (all the time) I have these moments where I'm like, "Dude, you're totally failing at this mother thing!!"  and one of those moments was this past weekend when my 8 year old son had his first EVER sleep over!!  I know!! So... this past weekend we fixed that!!  and it was a blast, and we brought the mattress out to the living room, and had pizza and I heard giggles until 1:30 a.m. and then again before 7:00 a.m.  and there was much boy humor and nerf bullets flying through the house and wii, leggos, mine craft and so much more!!  We went to brunch and sat by the ocean and then home to play some more and finally at 3:30 Logan's mother called and asked if she could have her son back and we sadly said yes... as long as he can come back next weekend!! 

 



Late night and still going strong!!

 Brunch with boys and the ocean and their I-phones... (I promise that even though their phones are in both pictures that they did actually do more than just play on their phones!!  Although, with WiFi they could mine together in Mine Craft so there was quite a bit of time doing just that!!.... BOYS!!!)

................
He had so much fun.
I wish he had a brother.
He needed one.

On the eve of eight...

Dear Bugs,

Tomorrow you will be eight years old...  I think eight is great!  (you still love my corny side so I have to get it in where I can!!)!! 

It's hard to believe that I've been a mom for 8 years, it seems like such a long time, and a short time all at once.  Life began 8 years ago, the life I dreamed, wanted, needed all began 8 years ago when you came into this world with all your crazy hair and huge blue eyes and the biggest heart I've ever known.  There are a million, bazillion things I love and admire about you, but tonight on the eve of eight, I'm going to try to pick just 8...

1. - Your Compassion:  At eight you still remain the tender hearted child you've always been, kind to everyone you meet, never judging, never mean, never one to look for a flaw.  You are kind and open and always willing to help, to comfort, to offer a smile.  You are honest to a fault, you put everyone before you and you do so happily.  You delight in the joy of others and always play the peacemaker.  Your heart is so incredibly huge and strong and fierce and I'm so proud of you.  You are good, simply and honestly good.

2. - Your Laugh:  At eight you still have the most innocent and wholesome bubbling laugh that not an adult around could not smile and laugh with you.  It radiates around you and bounces from the walls and fills me with such happiness I feel like I'm going to explode in rainbows and confetti and glitter and hearts and starts and everything happy.  It is hands down, my most favorite sound.

3. - Your Intuitiveness:  At eight you are so very intuitive.  You are still so innocent and sometimes almost too sheltered, but yet you have the ability to see when someone is hurting or sad, and you have this ability to give love and comfort better than most.  I guess it all goes back to your tender heart.  Your love is an amazing thing and each day I am so lucky to be a receiver of it.

4. - Your Love of Math:  At eight you are one smart cookie!!  You LOVE math, live for it actually.  You love numbers and breaking them down and putting them back together and you do it all in your head and you amaze me every single day.  You excel and challenge your teachers, and we're all so very proud of you!!

5. - Your Stinky Feet:  At eight you have crazy stinky pickle feet and as awful as it sounds I still love them.  It's a mom thing, or maybe it's just a me thing, I've always loved the smell of your baby drool pillows and now your stinky feet.  (someday you'll understand, or perhaps just realize that I'm your crazy stinky smell loving mom??)

6. - Your Eyes:  At eight your eyes continue to be huge, bright blue, long lashed and beautiful.  They are full of laughter and love and knowledge.  They sparkle and shine when you are happy and they twinkle with mischief when you are moody.  You give me "looks" that make my heart feel like it's going to burst.  Your eyes are expressive and kind, windows into the goodness that is you... I could stare into them for ever.

7. - Your Funny:  At eight you have the best sense of humor ever!  You truly find funny things funny, you have a bit of your momma's sarcasm and a comedic timing that is getting finer tuned by the day.  You make me laugh true belly laughs.  Your silly is my favorite silly.

8. - You:  At eight YOU are the perfect YOU!  I love every single thing about you, from your stinky toes to your sweaty head, from your funny bone to your huge heart.  I'm so very proud of the young man you are becoming.  I'm in awe of who you are, how you think and react and behave.  You truly are the best person I know.


This year has been full of high highs and low lows but through it all it's been a great year, because I have you.  I'm so proud to be your mom, I love you so much!  Being your mom has made me a better person.  So as we tackle eight, my wish for you is to keep being you.  Stay innocent and strong, funny and smart, kind, compassionate, loving.  Follow your heart, because it's an amazing heart.  You are beyond anything I could have ever wanted or wished for.  I love you with all my heart!!

Love,
Momma

D.C. - I heart you!!

Road Trippin' - Part 2!!

 

 

After all of our fun in the ATL we headed off for Daddy - 8 hours and one crazy crazy storm in North Carolina later we were at Daddy's place, kinda tired, kinda silly, kinda ready to relax!!

 

Daddy actually lives in Virginia just a few Metro stops from D.C., our first day there we went out and walked the streets of Alexandria - it's a pretty awesome little area with lots of cool shops and restaurants and a Whole Foods 2 blocks from Daddy's apartment!! We walked or rode the metro pretty much everywhere which we both loved!!   

 

Here you are right outside of Daddy's...

Saturday was off to see the sights day!!  We packed a TON into this one day but it was amazing and so much fun!!  We rode around on a double decker open air bus, and got off at lots of places!!  Here are a few highlights!

Well hello, Mr. President!!

 

 You were so excited to get to the Lincoln Memorial!!  If only that walk along the reflecting pond wasn't SOOOOOOOOOOOO long!!

 

Totally worth it once we got there...

 

We made a relatively quick trip through the Museum of National History - the Dinosaurs were your favorite - the Hope Diamond was mommy's!! 

We also visited lots of monuments, and went to Arlington and the Ford Theater and lots lots of other places!!  It was a long but pretty great day!!

Sunday was a day of REST!!  We needed it after Saturday's see everything day...  But on Monday we were off again and this time to the National Zoo which, hands down, my new most favorite zoo ever!!  We had such a blast!!  A few highlights...

 

There is a panda bear way way back there!! 

 well, hello Panda!!

 This picture just makes me smile...

Tuesday morning came too soon and we hit the road - we drove straight through because your momma is kinda crazy and you happen to be a rock star in the car - 11 hours and 55 minutes later we were home sweet home... we both were wired and didn't fall asleep until close to midnight and then slept for 12 hours to wake up at noon, have a lunch breakfast and fall back asleep for a 2 hour nap. 

All in all our road trip was pretty epic, pretty fun, and filled with great memories...  For all the fun we had and all the cool things we saw, moments in the car with you are the ones I'll cherish the most for ever and ever...

I love you Bug-a-licious!!!

xoxo,
Momma

Road Trippin' Part One

June 2013... Freshly out of 1st grade and ready to take on the summer!!  Greyson and I hit the road for a pretty epic summer vacation road trip, mommy and Greyson bonding trip...

 

For all the things that totally blow about Greg having to move to D.C. I will forever and ever be thankful that because of his move I got to have this experience with Greyson - because it was EVERYTHING!!! 

 

We left bright and early on a Wednesday morning, our first stop was not to head straight to Daddy but rather drive to Atlanta.  I've wanted to take Greyson to the Georgia Aquarium from the moment they opened their doors.  So we went a bit out of our way and headed to the ATL!

 

I have made the Florida to ATL drive plenty of times back in the day when we were moving here and knew that alone I could make the trip in around 6 hours flat, I figured that since Greyson has never been in the car more than 2 hours (expect one time as a wee baby) that it could take us potentially 8, 10, 12, 4 days??  We had his phone, DS, movies, car games, paper, pencils, markers, snacks, toys, basically every comfort of home was in the back seat, perfectly organized and at his finger tips...

 

We started playing 20 questions about 5 minutes into the trip - 5 hours, 55 minutes and one stop for gas later we were pulling into our hotel!!  Traffic was non-existent, and my boy - he's a dream of a road trip partner.  We talked and talked and rocked out to oldies on the radio and giggled and played about 7,436 rounds of 20 questions, and time flew and never once did he whine or complain or ask to stop.  We checked in, got some lunch, went and surprised a few of my old friends in the city and then ordered amazing room service and got to bed early... the next day was Aquarium day!!

 



 

Hotel Breakfast - Oh yeah!!  We were walking distance to the Aquarium....



 

 

 We were lucky enough to be there on a day when no one else in the world was... We walked around a corner and this room was ahead of us and Greyson (my son who never runs in-doors - ever...) RAN to stand in the middle of this room, fish and colors and sea life swimming all around him... This quite possibly could be one of my favorite pictures - ever.

 

 

This is definitely a place that just held infinite amounts of magic and joy... I can't wait to go back...

He could have spent all day in this one room...

 

I may have squealed out loud when I saw these little weedy sea dragons!!

 

Because penguins are just so fun... 

 

This window held a FABULOUS surprise... 

 

the coolest ever WHALE SHARK!!!

 

Beluga!!!

 

Well hello there...

The day was everything it could have been and more and more and more!!!  We left the aquarium, hit the road and drove 8 crazy fun hours (wait until I tell you about the storm!!) filled with more talking and singing and being super silly to finally pull into Daddy's just a little after midnight...

We were exhausted, slap happy and closer than ever... I learned so much about my boy on this trip... Something about being in a car, miles of road flying by... We talked about life, his thoughts on everything, school stories I hadn't heard.  He asked questions about me, what life was like when I was young, when I met Daddy, how we fell in love... What it was like being pregnant with him and what he was like as a baby, how I fell in love with him... We laughed and we cried and we shared in ways I didn't know we ever would.  Greyson and I are two peas in a pod, always have been, always will be.  I know for a fact that we have a crazy strong bond, we spend every single day together, play for hours, eat dinner, read bed time stories and talk each night, I thought I knew everything about him and that we couldn't ever be closer than we were... and yet... this trip, this trip gave me just that... I can't wait to do it all again...