Cruise Wear Compliments.

We're starting to pack for our (first ever) cruise. 

Last night I tried on my "formal night" dinner ensemble: dress, heels, jewelry, clutch bag...the works. 

I walked out to show Scott and the kids and when Will saw me he exclaimed, "Wow!"

Best. Complement. Ever.

"Mommy, Mommy, Come Up Here!"

This morning I was quite heavily and happily asleep when Will started calling me.

"Mommy! Mommy! Come up here!"

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Our bedroom is on the first floor and the kids' rooms are on the second floor. We chose this layout on purpose because we figured if we live here until we are old and feeble, we will have everything we need on one level. However I have to admit that, although long range planning is smart, I have really not enjoyed trudging up the stairs these past nearly 9 years for middle of the night/early morning feedings, diaper changes, nightmares, various and assorted sicknesses and all the other reasons a mother checks in on her kids in bed.
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So I am not really keen on climbing the stairs quite yet when I hear Will bellow again.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" That last one came out sounding like "Maw-aw-aw-aw-meeee!

Normally a morning person, today I had to drag myself out of bed while using my loud whisper voice. "Shhhh! What do you need, Will? Everyone is still asleep!"

Given past experience I assumed he wanted me to play Legos or check out some new contraption he had built. He is one of those 'up and at 'em kids,' ready to play pretty much as soon as he opens his eyes.

"Mommy, you need to come up here!" he said.

"Will, just tell me what you need!" I whisper-shouted back. I had made it up the first five steps but was hoping to be spared the rest.

"Just come up here and I will show you!" he nearly shouted back.

"Ok, ok, I'm coming. Sheesh."

My eyes were now half open as I made it to the top of the steps.

"Ok, sweetie, what is so important?" I asked.

And he is standing there under his windows, left arm sweeping to the side like a showroom model. He had pulled back his curtains, opened his blinds and had the biggest, sweetest smile on his face.

"Mommy, look! Isn't that the most beautiful sunrise you've ever seen?"

The sky was all soft and pink and glowy, as the sun was just beginning to rise up over the neighborhood roof tops.

Yes, the sunrise was really beautiful.

But knowing my sweet little man saw beauty in a sunrise and wanted to share it with me? Well, that was worth way more than losing a little sleep walking up a few steps.

Bouncing Around

Yesterday's horse back riding camp was canceled for Eliza Grace due to inclement weather (wow, I sort of sound like a weather girl!)

So what's a girl to do with a day off this close to Christmas? Why help Mommy shop at the mall, of course, where she can also ride the carousel and blow allowance money on an indoor bungee-jumpy-thingy.

Back in October, she did the jumper at the fair and could never figure out how to do a front flip. Turns out that because of the kind of harness they rig you in (and the fact that she is a little bit of a thing) she could never had done a front flip.

This time she decided to do the next best thing.

I love that my kid trusts me and will try just about anything new, even if she is scared or nervous. As she was getting strapped in she asked if I thought she could do a back flip and I told her that of course she could, all she had to do was get up high and throw her legs over her head.

And she did!

The Kiss

It was a long week. A frustrating week. The kind of week where I waffled between self-loathing and self-pity. Why me? Why not me?

I was tired.

I was tired of myself.

I went to bed.

It was 3:30 in the morning when you called me to your room.

"Mommy, that stupid cough woke me up and I have to go potty."

"Don't say stupid, honey," I said. "Come on and let's go to the bathroom and take your cough medicine."

We finished in the bathroom and inevitably you asked, "Mommy, will you sleep with me for just a little bit."

I sighed. I really wanted my own bed. My own pillow. But I scooted in beside you, thanking God for the wisdom to buy you a double bed. We settled in and I said, a little gruffly, "Please go back to sleep."

I started to drift off but suddenly I could sense you looking at me. I looked at you beneath my eye lashes and saw you were leaning on your hand watching me.

You started to move closer to me and I was just about to scold you for keeping me awake when you leaned all the way over and gave me the softest kiss on my cheek. "I love you Mommy," you said quietly and then you laid down and closed your eyes.

Then I slept the sleep of the loved and the content.

Songs I Sing to My Babies-Baby Mine

My very favorite Disney movie ever is Dumbo.

The first time I saw Dumbo, I cried all during the scene when Dumbo goes to visit his Mother while she is locked up in the "Mad Elephant" cage. When Mrs. Jumbo takes her trunk and lovingly caresses Dumbo's head and he snuggles against her - sigh, it is just full of sweet and tender motherly love.

The song playing during that scene is Baby Mine. And I decided long ago that Baby Mine would be my special lullaby I would sing to my children. Eliza Grace heard that song nearly every day before she was born, and nearly every day since.

So all you mommies, grab a tissue and watch it again below.

Besides the original Disney version, two of my very favorite renditions are by two of my favorite singers. Enjoy!

Baby Mine - Bette Midler
Baby Mine - Alison Krauss

TRIVIA TIME: Dumbo is the only Disney movie main character that never speaks!