Things I Did for You Today

This post was inspired by an article I read at 3:45 in the morning yesterday (explained why below).
It was about Moms Staying in the Picture. It's hard to quantify what we moms do exactly sometimes,but this author did a good job of it. It made me think of all the mom-ish things I do for Faith in a day that she doesn't even realize, just like I didn't realize what my mom all did for me until I became a mom. Anyway, here's what I came up with. I hope she will come to appreciate it one day.

-I got up at 6 a.m. rather than 6:30 so that I could spend the time you're awake in the morning talking/playing with you rather than getting ready.
-I put more thought into what you would wear to school than what I would wear to work.
 -I spoon fed you cereal while you watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
 -I let you pick out the color of your Flinstones vitamin because it makes taking it that more exciting.
-I moussed my hair rather than blow-drying and straightening it, so that I could brush the snarls out of your curly mop and pull it back into a pony.
 -I thought about you at my desk and hoped you were having fun with your friends at daycare.
-I googled homemade alligator costumes.
-I went to the bookstore to pick up a gift for a friend and couldn't help but buy you a book while I was there.
 -I debated what cough medicine to buy at Target for at least 15 minutes.
-I called your grandma to chat and talked about you the whole time.
-I stole animal crackers from our snack spot at work so you would have something to munch on on the drive home.
-I beamed with pride when Miss Lindsey at daycare told me you had no accidents again.
-I endured "Rubber Ducky" repeatedly on the way home from daycare at your request.
 -I ate a semi-cold meal, not caring because you ate everything on your plate.
-I let you run around naked while your bathwater got cold because you were having too much fun to stop.
-I allowed you to wear a "pretty dress" to bed because it's one of the little things that make you happy.
 -I endured your screams of protest while I brushed your teeth because I know someday you'll value pearly whites.
-I read the same book for bedtime three times for the third night in a row because you just like it that much.
-I prayed for you, with you.
-I checked on you before I went to bed to make sure you were comfortable, found you on the floor and moved you up to the bed.
-I winced every time you coughed in the middle of the night.
-When you work up with a low fever, I brought you into our bed so I could keep one eye open and on you.
-When you fell back to sleep, I went downstairs because I couldn't sleep, got on the computer and typed this all up at 3:47 in the morning.
-I wished I could take away your sickness, just like I do every single time you're sick.

I will end this post with our most recent example of "me in the picture." On my birthday I took Faith to JCPenney for "Fancy Nancy" pictures. We had too much fun! Sorry for the picture of a picture, but you get the general idea. She will either look back on this with fond memories or just be really embarrassed by how dorky her mom can be.







Surprise! I'm 30.



On my 16th birthday, I thought I was going out to a movie. My date was supposed to pick me up at my house after my mom and I got home from church. I thought my mom picked up a bunch of pizzas on the way home for her friends, who were coming over to play cards. When we arrived home, my best friend, who was always at my house and probably there to help me get ready, told me that my present from her was in the basement. She proceeded to lead me down there blindfolded. I distinctly remember asking, "Is it a puppy?" Just then, she uncovered my eyes and 20 or so of my closest friends stood before me and yelled "SURPRISE!" I was shocked. I didn't know my jaw could drop and stay there so long. As you probably guessed, I cried tears of joy (even back then) and could not stop smiling. It was unforgettable.

Fast forward 14 years. (Ugh. Only old people can say that.) I knew Rob had something up his sleeve for my 30th birthday, but I didn't know what and mainly when it would be. I was pretty sure it was going to be Sunday, Sept. 23 though so I thought I'd have to act surprised when that day came. Something was supposed to happen on that day, but since I kept changing plans on him, Rob was forced to call an audible. And boy if he didn't execute it to perfection.

We got home last Sunday from yet another Iowa State football victory. We were debating what to eat for lunch when my mom called. She was going to take my aunt out to dinner at Pizza King here in Council Bluffs at 4:30 or so, and would I like to come. Hmm, let's see here. A free meal at one of my favorite restaurants that I don't have to cook. Yesplease. Rob was upstairs at the time and had been talking all day about watching the Cowboys on TV.. So when I told him about dinner at Pizza King, he acted disappointed and said, "But the Cowboys are on TV then." This act was all part of his master plan, but I proceeded to get annoyed. "How would you like it if your family came to town to take you out to dinner for your birthday and I wanted to stay home and watch Big Brother?!" (or something to that effect ;) He apologized immediately (secretly pleased, I'm sure, with his superb acting skills) and it was settled: Pizza King for dinner at 4:30. I knew my mom had to get on a plane for D.C. bright and early the next day, so I didn't think twice about the early time.

We went about our day cleaning, napping, etc. At about 4:15 I was scrambling around the house trying to get ready. In hindsight, Rob was very calm considering he was moments away from the big reveal. We arrived and my mom met us at the front door. She's always eager to take her granddaughter away from me so this also seemed normal. She led me into the room and just when I thought "Hey, wait a second, this is where we threw my mom's surprise 50th," I rounded the corner and once again, my friends and family stood before me and yelled, "SURPRISE." The proceeded to sing "Happy Birthday." Once again, I cried happy tears. This was my second surprise party and I'm only 30 years old! To say I felt blessed is an understatement.

This surprise was extra special for a few reasons. My mother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece drove almost two hours one way. Friends came by themselves, knowing they probably wouldn't know anyone else there. Many others were there on VERY short notice. It meant the world to me.

If that weren't enough (and this is a total brag alert) my husband got every one's attention (in only the way a teacher can) once they were seated with their food and I was at the front of the room filling my plate. He thanked everyone for coming, gave a brief speech and then presented me with diamond earrings! If the party weren't enough, diamond. freaking. earrings! This man is gooood! I also had no idea those were coming so, naturally, I cried. Again.

The surprise party was so much fun, but the best part was learning the details of the planning process.    Rob acting upset about missing the cowboys game, Mom calling me all casually like, "Hey, let's go to dinner," when really the party hinged on my agreement. Getting the cake, flowers and balloons and paying for them without me noticing. But by far the best thing I learned after the fact was that Rob really didn't go running on Monday and Wednesday earlier that week. When Faith and I got home, he was wearing his running clothes and Faith called him dirty, as usual. But he hadn't been running. He'd be planning, and shopping. Not wanting me to suspect anything because he wasn't sweaty, Rob ran five laps around our backyard to work up a sweat. That right there is love. Hearing about it was like another present.

Having the party before my birthday really allowed me to put "turning 30" into perspective. Sure, I'm no longer in my 20s (time to drop my 20 something bloggers membership), but as a friend put it in one of my birthday cards, at 30 you really feel like you've "hit your stride, figured life out a little, built a family, etc." I couldn't agree more. I think the thing I love most about this age is getting to enjoy my parents enjoying my daughter. There's nothing else like it.

As far as "getting older," let's face it, I've always been "old."
Number one: I'm a huge morning person. Just ask my college roommates, who thought I was crazy nuts annoying for going to the gym at 7 a.m.
Number two: I enjoy reading the newspaper. In print.
Number three: I fall asleep on the couch at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Number four: Ever since Faith was born, we eat dinner no later than 5:30 p.m.
Number five: For fun in high school, my friends and I would play cards. No, not drinking games. Rummy. Grandma's rummy.

I had great friends at age 16 and have a pretty great family at age 30. What more can a girl ask for? Not even diamond earrings.

The Birthday Post

So Nicole told me that the only thing she wants for her birthday is a blog post from me. I thought about going through with this in a few different ways, especially since I knew darn well that just a blog post wouldn't do ;) because it's the dirty-thirty.

Here are the ideas I came up with:

1) Since Nic loves lists so much (see any of the previous posts) I thought I could make a list of why she rocks. ***Please notice the list is the first on my list; bonus points***

2) Filming a romanticized and fairly well written soliloquy, relating my thoughts and feelings about the many wonderful qualities about my wife and posting it here.  Buying a sweet card and writing a meaningful message... man, I blew this idea.

3) Opening presents at Pizza King for surprise party.

3) Throwing a surprise birthday party (with the help of her mother!)... bingo.

4) Buying her a new set of golf irons; ooooh wait, Nicole's 30th birthday, not mine.

5) Getting her a meaningful gift, from Faith and me, that represents my love for her, and that I'm willing to do everything I can to make her happy (including making her mad at me for silly stuff as to not ruin any surprises).

6) A trip. A house. A dirty-thirty. Well, one will have to do.

Anyway, I'm stretching now. My wife knows that I have always considered myself the luckiest guy I know. And the point of the matter is, no matter what, she is stuck with me for a long, long time. And for that: I am grateful, I am happy, and I am truly lucky.




And might I add - she got pretty lucky herself. Not because of me. No. But because of how smart, beautiful, and funny she is, she gets to pass that down to our child.


I love you dear. Happy 30th. And the nice part - from now on every birthday is your 30th :)