I Don't Feel Different

I turned 27 on Tuesday. I don't feel different. I suppose in some ways I wanted to wake up and finally "feel" like an adult. And I also wanted, in some point in that day, secretly, to find a VW bug convertible somewhere for me to find ... with a big red bow on it. Didn't matter the color.

But I did realized a lot of things that DID happen at 27 years of my life and how things changed in one year.

• I'm a mommy.
• Last year, I was cooped up in my house on my 26th birthday ... totally unaware of what a precious thing I had in my belly ... and not knowing that one year from that very day I would have a little jibbery-jabbering princess banging on my laptop keyboard while I'm trying to write this. ;)
  
• Somehow I have become a full-fledged germaphobe. The friendly, household dust bunny makes me anxious.
  
• I am becoming my mother, in the flesh! And my daughter looks just like my daddy nowadays.
  
• I am becoming what I said I would NEVER be. Hahaha! ... my parents!
• I'm still married, which in this day in time is such a rare thing to be able to say.
• I'm learning "stress management". i.e. not working when I'm already too overwhelmed, taking rides with my sunroof back and the music blarring, shopping.
  
• Learning to be satisfied with what I have. (Make note: Try to find another venue for stress management besides shopping. Woops!)
• I'm trying to laugh more, and try to surround myself around happy people. Laughter is so good for the soul.
• Judging less and loving more.
• Listening to my Drama-dar. Steering clear of people and things that bring me down and cause me stress. Stress is apparently not good for the shopaholic's credit card. (Making another mental note)
  
• I respect the adults in my life so much more!
• My family is the best.
  
• Trying to have FUN! Something about having a child makes you realize how we really AREN'T guaranteed tomorrow. Have fun, people!!!!!!!
• Funny how years passing sort of filters out all the people you used to consider friends, and you realize who the real ones are.
  
• Wondering where does the time go. A week in the life of Melissa Brown flies by. Weeks turn into months ... maybe that's why I'm astonished to be planning Olivia's 1st birthday party!!! She should only be a few months old!!!!!!!! Not right ...
  

Well, Princess Pitchin-a-fit is pulling out the dramatics. More later.

Happy Spring

Happy Spring everyone!!!!
From our beautiful little blossom!

(Updates to come later)

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. ~Virgil A. Kraft

What a fool!

This week has been crappy for me (Melissa). I am stuck in the beginnings of a long trial. Heightened security is everywhere. Anxiety is everywhere, and pumping wildly through my veins. I have long days ahead of me, as it is assumed that this trial will run through next week ... and I am as backed up as I've ever been in my entire career.

I sit in the courtroom, going over and over in my head which door to run to if something "goes wrong" ... all while wondering when the judge's pickle jar will finally overflow and when his belly button will start burrowing a hole through his spine.

I looked around to friends of the defendants ... some of who are proud, arrogant, defensive and sad. And to family of the defendants ... hopeful, shocked, ignorant. I always try to remember that these are somebody's "babies". And to the family and friends of the victims ... full of sorrow and dramatically prayerful that peace will come.

"It's been a crappy week! I am just not myself! I need a vacation!"

"Let's stop for lunch" is much like the sound of a hallelujah choir of angels to a court reporter's ears and hot diggity dog was it today!

I left. I let my sunroof open and I let the windows down. I went through Taco Hell drive-thru.

With much time to spare, I wondered where I could go and park my car to eat my fine cuisine. I wanted to go somewhere that would make me feel better ....

I went to Goodwill.

Sounds silly; doesn't it?

But all of a sudden, I didn't feel like I was having such a crappy week anymore.

I was sitting in a parking lot, not worrying at the moment that the car note for the vehicle I drove was going to be paid for this month. I was able to pay for my lunch with cash. I sat in that parking lot with nice clothes on. I had air conditioning in my car. I have a job. I have a job. I have a job!! And I don't have to go to Goodwill to find clothes that I need. I have the privilege to go to Goodwill to to see if there are any "finds", not to choose which pair of used shoes will do for a job interview.

I have a healthy child. I have a loving, big family, none of which have had their lives taken by murder. I am in good health. I have been blessed with much and forgiven much.

"To whom much is given, much is required."

Just a little reality check. And, yes, I thought so much of the enlightnment of an experiance that I took pictures. ;)

So what's new???

Olivia is 10 months old!!!

Seems that we are planning a first birthday party very soon ....

With 10 months comes: "Uh-oh", slapping, fearlessly navigating through the house holding onto furniture, becoming attached to a baby doll and attached to mommy and daddy, screaming, showing independence, "Bye-bye", table foods, mimicking words and so on ...

Helping Mommy load the dishes away

Catch me if you can!

Still working on the whole sippie cup thing. Not going so well!

Little feet aren't so little anymore ....

Getting into whatever I can get away with ...

Love my grandpa!

Outback's new theme song: "Let's go out like a light."

Olivia LOVES lemons. For 10 minutes she licked and licked and bit and bit ...

Hey, if life gives you lemons, lick it to death and move on to the good stuff!!