Dear Louise,

Our version of Thelma and Louise goes something like this...Thelma is a passive, goofy teacher, married to a workaholic husband. Louise Sawyer is a married, finance guru who appears strong, organized and stern, with some unspecified trauma in her past. They head out in Thelma's electric blue Prius for a five-day vacation of day drinking in the mountains.  The miles of tar and gravel and covered bridges before they reach their destination, changes them from victims of circumstance into heroines of the road.

I will never forget this trip, and I keep the details close.  We laughed and cried, even yelled at each other.  We all have wounds.  Fortunately, the mountains are healing.

 

Operation SOLD

As many of my stories begin - this one  all started with T, some wine, and a list.  The list grew, as the wine supply depleted.  Those who know my bestie, know that she is witty, at times crass, intelligent, and always brutally honest.  She is logical, uber Type A, and obsessed with organization and budgets.  She can visualize, and sort.  Her logic, many times, has put my sensitivity in check.  So, when T started making a list, and throwing all my stuff away - I probably cried, but knew it was for OPERATION SOLD.  We started with closets and cabinets...

  I will spare you all the gory details, let's just say that T was concerned that I would be on the next episode of "Hoarders" if an intervention did not take place.  And intervene, she did.

We cleaned, and tossed, and painted and updated.  We organized, and donated, and donated some more.  We checked off each item of that list.  With pictures on the fancy camera...

and the burial of St. Joseph, the mission was complete.  Mid-June we accepted an offer on 2608 15 Avenue Southeast, and the packing would begin - after one major roadtrip.

Haper turned one, and of course, there was a party.  We were so lucky to have beautiful weather, family and food.  There was a gift or two, as well.  Harper is a sweet babe.  She smiled her huge grin, and laughed at all the bags and papers.  Her favorite gift, without a doubt, was the enormous balloon from her big brother. 

Thank you to all who made her day a special one.  The first year of parenthood is a rollercoaster - hold on tight, and hope it stays on the track.  I've come to believe that birthdays are as much about the child as the village.  Many have said it takes one to raise a child, and I believe it takes one to raise a mother, too.

one year ago today...

I woke up early (surprise!) and got Bennett ready for school.  After AP and the boy left, I crawled back in bed to bask in my miserableness.  The uncomfortableness soon turned into hunger, and I waddled my way into the kitchen.  I popped an english muffin in the toaster, and then it happened.  At least, I thought it happened...  Maybe it happened...  Actually, I wasn't quite sure what had happened...  Shannon answered on the first ring, and I sputtered.... "Sooooo, either I just peed my pants, or my water just broke..."

After chatting with Shannon, and figuring out what to do, I called AP.  He was in the middle of feeding 400 people breakfast, but answered on the third ring.  He was on his way home before I could even tell him to get in the car.

Arriving at the hospital, we were admitted and told that my doctor would not be able to perform the delivery.  Although I was super disappointed (and now kind of scared), I knew I was in capable care.  I was "third on the list" and very grateful I didn't actually eat my english muffin.

Harper Nicole Prose was born at 11:23am. She weighed 7lbs and 5 oz, and was 19 inches long.  She snuggled in right away, and slept through her birthday.  

Today, Harps is one year old.  

 Dream BIG baby girl.  Dream big.