Wednesday, September 29, 2010

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Avonlea's Two Month Check-Up

Avonlea had her first major well baby check-up today. Her doctor said she was perfect! She's doubled her weight from 6lbs. and 8.4 oz. at birth to 12 lbs. and 6.6 oz. today! Her head circumference, weight and length are all in the 75%. So proud of my growing girl!

She didn't cry hardly at all either! Screams and wails, but as soon as I picked her up and swaddled her into her car seat, she was silent and observing her surroundings. Very good baby!


So big!


Right before her shots. Love that baby check-up gown!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Ladies With Specs

I saw this posted by a good friend of mine and gleaned what good photos I have of me in glasses. I LOVE them! But I need new ones again- it has been four years!

My girlfriend posted this link- http://thismamamakesstuff.com/2010/09/girls-with-glasses-i-need-your-help/

If you have specs, read it it's super cute!


Winter 2006 after getting married.

Thanksgiving 2006, my big brother Dan and I rockin' our specs.

Winter 2008- 18 days postpartum after my first baby

Summer 2008- 20 weeks along with my first child

Early fall 2008- my husband and I. We rocked the vote!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Remember

I remember this day 9 years ago. I had just finished early morning color guard practice after putting the equipment in the guard closet and sat down by the band room door to catch my breath. I grabbed my water bottle, pooring sweat and dizzy from exersion. It was about 45 minutes until the start of school so I was trying to figure out if I had enough time to run home to shower and be back in time for first hour.

Just then, one of my band buddies walked up to me and asked something like, "Is it true that one of the twin towers was just hit with an airplane??"

I looked at and laughed. "Haha! NO! Where's you hear a CRAZY idea like that?"

"Someone said something and I wasn't sure." I had no idea how wrong I would be.

Really though, I was thinking about it all morning and by 3rd hour, the entire school was buzzing and the teachers had turned on Channel One to watch new reports. I was in my third hour history class and everyone had turned their desk around to the back of the classroom to watch the tv, our big reports all but forgotten. As we all watched the first tower rolling with smoke and flames, we all watched in shock as another plane flew into the south tower. The bell rang and no one moved. The school was eerily quiet for getting out for lunch. The reporters were helpless as they reported the live footage. One of the female reporters starting crying.

Then all the sudden, the school sprang to life. People started to get up quickly, tripping over desks, some trying to make it to the next location with a tv to keep up with what was going on. I remember like everything was a teen movie, walking through the animated lockered hallways, in slow-mo with no sound.

After lunch, I heard reports that the Pentagon was under seige with a possible airplane hit. My grandfather and grandmother had moved back to DC to secure his retirement the year before. He worked in the Pentagon. My throat tightened and I felt like I couldn't breathe.

School FINALLY ended and I made it home. Later that evening, we found out that my grandfather had been scheduled to work on the opposite side of the Pentagon that was hit so he was safe. I was beyond relieved, but the full weight of everything hit me right then. All those people.

I was devistated. The people in the planes. The people in the buildings. Their families would would never see them again. The first terrorist attack on America since Pearl Harbor. The very first attack on the American Mainland. All the sudden life seemed more fagile, not so safe, even though I lived 3000 miles away from NYC.

********************

Last year after I put my son to sleep, I turned on the telly. My local news station was playing footage from that day. As I watched, transfixed, all the emotions from when I was a teenager flooded back. Tears started pouring down my face. My husband came into the room and sat down on the couch by me. Together, we relived all our feelings from 9/11. Then he held me as I cried, overwhelmed all over again by the horrendous loss of all those innocent American lives.

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Let us not forget those who were left without family members of AA flight 11 and UA flight 175 and those in the towers. Let us not forget those lives from the Pentagon and those from AA flight 77. Let us remember those who bravely took over UA flight 93 to save the lives within the US Capitol Building. Let us remember September 11th and be stronger Americans for it.



My name is Rebekah and I will NEVER forget.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Changes

Things are in constant motion. We all know this. We move from day to day doing what we all do from the mundane to the exciting. Day follows day which turn into weeks followed by months and then another year has passed. The world turns and the seasons come with rain, sun, snow and whatever other kind of weather Mother Nature puts forth in a particular climate.

We see these things happen as we shuffle through our daily tasks, but most of the time, I don't think we truly see them. With all of the things we heap on our plates, it's a miracle we even see anything.



A few weeks ago, as I sat on my couch watching my son play excitedly and holding my brand new baby girl, a thought quickly flooded my mind. It impressed upon me and everything all started to make sense. I felt as if I were disconnected with my children after the birth of my daughter, but it was more of an awakening. I felt more than heard this thought. I felt this- my children aren't mine. They are here to live and experience life.

I asked my husband, "Do you ever feel like these aren't our kids? Like, they're just these amazing little people who've come to spend time with us and teach us things?" I don't remember his response, but after I said those things aloud, it made more sense.

I truly feel that way. I don't feel possessive of my children anymore like the way I felt at first with my son. I truly believe that they are marvelous little people who've come to join my husband and I on our way to eternity. They are our teachers.

When I look at my oldest child, I see glimpses of his spirit. He is wise and knows so many things. There are times that I feel like he's looking right through me, as if he can see something I can't. I feel as if he's older than me spiritually. There are some who say he's an "old soul." And I agree.

Let us cherish these little people who've come to us. Let us take time to count to 10 before we react, speak calmly about things they can not understand, love unrestrained when we feel overwhelmed and pray for guidance when there is a moment to teach. Let us take the good from our parents and guardians and forget the bad. Let us take time to really truly see those precious things going around us and shut out the unnecissary. Let us simply take time.