Turning 29

My birthday is in less than a week. I'm entering my last year of my twenties and I can't tell you how much I've looked forward to my thirties! However, now that I'm approaching 30, I'm starting to feel like time is moving too fast. My twenties were hard. I had a lot of growing pains, but I had a lot of joy too! I met my husband, got married, had two beautiful children, started a business... I have so much to be thankful for!

I can't help but wonder what my thirties will bring... What will I accomplish and what things do I have around the corner? I'm going to create a list of things that I would like to do before turning the big 3-0 and I'm also going to compile a list of things that I would like to do in my thirties! I'm excited, I think that my life is moving in a fabulous direction and I look forward to what this next decade will bring!

Harmony

I'm not sure I should even breathe this aloud; perhaps I'll jinx myself or spoil the moment. I'll do my best to not sound as though I'm gloating, but I can honestly say that my life is pretty damn near perfect. It's about time, too! After the year we've had, it is sweet relief to be able to openly admit that things are going so well. Mind you, we still have the daily issues, the bump and grind of hard work and the challenges of the not-so-hot economy. But overall, I feel that life, my life, has found harmony.

My children are at an extremely fun age. I didn't think I would enjoy Marissa being 6 as much as I do, but its turning out to be one of my most favorite stages! She's such a sweet sweet girl! She's smart and enthusiastic and just so full of life! I love it! She has really blossomed at school and even though she's a bit of a chatter box, I think for the most part she's doing very well. She's quieter at home and more thoughtful. She's also much more helpful than she's ever been. She does chores, helps with her brother and her and I share the most interesting conversations. She is an absolute delight...

Christian has hit the terrible 3's. Whoever came up with the "terrible 2's" obviously never had children. 2's were a breeze! 3's are a nightmare! Well, only a nightmare when the 3 year old doesn't get his way. Christian is talkative, funny, strong-willed and persistent. He's enjoyable because he's communicating so much better, but because he's communicating so much better...he's also much more demanding. Well, at least I know that this is just a phase and soon I'll be wishing he was still 3 and allowing me to cuddle him in my lap. As we know, boys grow up and their mother will not always be their number 1 gal. I'll take this while I can and appreciate him being so young.

Marty is my best friend. We're closer now than we've ever been in the almost 9 years we've been together. He's a saint. I say that a million times, I know, but its the truth. He's solid and steady and just always knows how to handle any situation. He's my level head and my voice of reason; anyone that knows me knows I definitely need a voice of reason! I just feel so connected to him and confident in our relationship. I don't question his love for me or the kids and I know that I bring so much to his life as well. I feel balanced.

Life is good. I definitely feel like I see the rainbow I've been searching for!

My Baby Boy is THREE

It's hard to believe that Christian is already three. He is just the sweetest little guy in the whole world. He is constantly cracking jokes, giving kisses and hugs and the stuff he says will just make you turn your head and listen!

This year, we celebrated with a Monster Party. He loved every minute of it. We had the party at a local park and we could not have asked for better weather.

I wish I could say that I love how big he is getting, but its hard for me to see my "baby" grow so fast. With Marissa, I couldn't wait for each milestone, but with Christian each day is just one step closer the realization that I no longer have a baby boy. He's wise beyond his years and has the best sense of humor. He's curious and strong and thoughtful and inquistive. He's so much like his daddy.

Speaking of daddy, Christian absolutely adores Marty. He follows him around, mimics everything that he does and will brush me off to the side to spend some quality time with his "best bud". I don't really mind it, as I love to see my husband in this role. I really do love my Loftus men. Christian constantly tells me that his daddy is his buddy and that when he grows up he's going to be a "fixer helper" like his dad and build things.

Christian is all boy; running, jumping, climbing and crashing. My father in law wasn't lying when he said most boys should be born with helmets on; all they do is run into walls. That pretty much sums up Christian's activity level. He's athletic and nimble. I have a feeling he's going to wear me out!

So here begins another year, I anticipate great things for my young man. I'm so proud of him; of both my children. They are such good little people!

A good day!

Today was a beautiful day. I watched my brother, Michael, stand there with his wife, Jessica and have their daughter baptized. It was such a blessing to witness...

My brother was always my sidekick. He was my best friend, my buddy, my partner in crime and my guinea pig in everything that I did as a child. He's 5 years younger than I am, but I have always felt extremely close to him. He married the second sweetest girl in the entire world and together they have the sweetest girl in then entire world, Savannah.

I stood there today, one row behind them, watching them as they held their daughter, standing with her sister, Heather and his best friend, Vince. Vince's girlfriend, Ronnie, snapping pictures, Vince's brothers (might as well be Michael's brothers too) Tyson, taking a video, the youngest brother of the Leone boys, Jonathan, beaming with pride (all four men dressed in matching shirts, vests and bowties!) you get the idea... EVERYONE played a huge part in today's events. Heather got emotional while standing there as Savannah was being blessed; that's when I lost it.

I looked around the room and I didn't see a baptizm; I saw a family--love. People standing in this little church, proclaiming to God, "We love this child." It gave my heart wings. During the ceremony, Savannah smiled, cooed and pointed at my two children. I was so touched by all the happiness, love and adoration that our family shared.

We went back to my parents' home for a reception. There we ate, chatted, laughed... It was such a nice time. Jessica's family visiting with our family; the Leone's (all debonair men) showing their support to my brother and his new little family. I felt 100% at peace. As my husband, kids and I headed home, I was overwhelmed with comfort and love. I was so proud of my brother and so touched to see how loved he, his wife and his child are by so many.

I can't really put into words the feelings that were silently passed through all the people today. All I can say is that family is made up of many things. It does not require anything except that those included are willing to stop the world to be there for those they care about. We celebrated a life being committed to Christ; what we witnessed was a family being committed to each other.

It was a good day; a very good day.

Suddenly Six

How did this happen? Marissa turns six this week. I just can't believe it; it seems as if I just brought her home from the hospital yesterday. I remember her wearing this tiny little pink outfit with little pink mittens on her tiny hands to keep her from scratching her face.

We brought her inside the house in her infant carrier and set it on the kitchen table and then looked at each other and said, "now what do we do?" Both Marty and I were just lost. She rarely cried, she slept a lot and I nursed round the clock. I remember setting the pack-n-play up in the living room and just sitting there staring at her. I was paralyzed by this overwhelming love unlike anything I had ever experienced.

Over the years we've reached many milestones; first tooth, first steps, first words... We moved from crib to big girl bed, Goodnight Moon to Junie B. Jones, diaper bags to tye-dye messenger bags filled with lip gloss, sunglasses and iPods (carried by her not by me) Gone are the days of organized play dates where the toddlers toddle around while the moms gossip and catch up on the latest baby trends; our social calendar now consists of movie playdates, drop off parties and giggling girls hiding in the bedroom talking about the latest and greatest as they prepare for first grade.

So she's suddenly six and I'm suddenly feeling the world spinning wildly as I chase any evidence that she's still a baby girl. I'm not too worried though, she still enjoys a good snuggle with me as we read together, we share our own giggles over pedicures and with each day that she grows more and more into a young lady, I feel her grow closer and closer to me in a special way that only a mother and daugther can understand.

Happy 6th Birthday, Princess. I love you more than chocolate cake...

Good Bye Kindergarten!

I feel like I just posted about her STARTING Kindergarten! When did she get so big? So school is officially over and the summer break has started. I enjoyed having Marissa at the preschool camps with me yesterday, although she looked so big next to all the preschoolers!

Next week the chaos of summer camps begin. She goes to dance camp, then science camp, then we'll go the beach to spend some time with the Fabulous Five aka The Foley Family, then we're back for Spanish camp then water camp then camp theater...it goes on and on for the next 12 weeks!

We selected 6 chapter books we will read over the summer. She's reading "Charlie and The Chocolate Factory" right now. She LOVES it. She said she loves it even more than the movies! :o) That's my girl! Its bittersweet to see her reading on her own. I'm so proud of her, but I miss the close cuddle time we shared over "Silly Sally" and "Goodnight Moon" Now, she's reading those books to her brother!

I'm always amazed by how incredible a person Marissa is and will continue to be! She has her father's heart, a spark of her own and good head on her shoulders! Good bye, Kindergarten; look out world, here comes Marisssa!

I'm HERE!

I am absolutely terrible about posting to this blog. I guess I just don't feel that I have anything really that "important" to say. My life is pretty busy, but I think pretty normal. :o)

Some new things going on for me are that I got my personal training certification, I have my first "gig" with the band this weekend (have I posted yet that I'm going to start singing with a band? That will have to be a separate post!) I'm teaching the pre-k 4 class now and really enjoying it! So, preschool owner/director/teacher by day, personal trainer on the side and rockstar on the rise! LOL! Pretty normal if you ask me!

Marissa is in her last week of Kindergarten. I'm a blubbering mess! When did she get so big? Why does she have to grow up so quickly!?!?! She's almost SIX years old!!!!! I'm so proud of her. She played Lacrosse this spring, is getting so good at the piano, loves dancing and we've recently learned that she has a GORGEOUS singing voice! Her teacher calls her "songbird". My heart just overflows with love for this precious little girl!

Christian is my bear...he's all boy and getting pretty brave and adventurous. He moved up to the Monkey (3 year old) classroom this summer and he's just a riot. He's sweet as pie, but tough as nails! His speech is amazing, he has zero interest in potty training, and his big brown eyes could melt you like butter!

Marty is doing great. He's working hard, looking amazing (he's working out too and really in fantastic shape!) and keeping me smiling! He's my very best friend and we've found that life has really been good to us, despite the curve balls we've been dealt recently.

So that's life for our little Loftus clan. I really will TRY and be better about posting over here!