Thanks For Taking Me To Ethan's Party, Mommy

I'm not too proud to admit that I wouldn't win any "Mommy of the Year" awards for my efforts today. It was just one of "those" days. You know the kind of days I mean. Right? You're trying to smile on the outside, but inside you're SCREAMING! Oh, please tell me you have those kinds of days, too!

We started the morning with breakfast with my dad like we do every Sunday. Today, Patti, Sadie, and some friends of ours joined us, too. Two of the folks that joined us are Deaf. So, that means I'm doing double or triple duty. I'm trying to catch up with old friends, I'm trying to interpret the conversation at the table so no one feels left out and...oh yeah, I'm trying to make sure Lily eats her breakfast and trying to eat some of my own, too!

Let's just say Lily wasn't pleased with my efforts at multi-tasking. Add to that the fact that Daddy didn't want her to play with the new, really LOUD guitar Jim, Judy, and Jerrod had just given her and to put it mildly Lily had a full scale meltdown. At one point she even tried to hold my hands with hers so I couldn't sign! Typing it now it seems a little bit funny. Trust me, this morning it didn't seem funny at all! Remember, smiling on the outside but SCREAMING on the inside. Oh...and Patti...if you're reading this...don't think I didn't see you trying not to laugh! I told you your "angelic niece" could throw a fit when she wanted to! Bet you believe me now!!

This is in no way an attempt to justify my behavior...or for that matter...this rambling, ranting post. I just have to tell you that being a 40+, perimenopausal woman with PMS, and the mother of a 2 1/2 year old can present some unique...um...what's the word I'm looking for...challenges! Yeah, that's it! I know, I know...too much information. Just thought in the spirit of full disclosure I should share!

Because I wasn't already cranky enough, this afternoon Lily and I went to one of her little friend's birthday parties. I am not a big fan of large birthday parties for little kids. I know, this from the woman whose daughter's first birthday was nicknamed Lilypalooza! I just think when you get a large group of little people (over 20) together in one of those over stimulating indoor play areas it's a recipe for disaster. Oh, and did I mention I have PMS???

During the party just about every one of the 20+ little tikes had a meltdown at one point or another. The good news is Lily wasn't one of them. I imagine she was still plumb tuckered out from her performance this morning!

Actually, Lily had a blast at the party! She wasn't at all interested in playing with the other kids, but she absolutely LOVED the rock wall. I think our little girlfriend is part spider. Seriously! Lily climbed the rock wall 3 times. She actually climbed for about the first 6 or 8 feet...and then got hoisted up the rest of the way and loved every second of it! You should have seen the huge smile on her face the whole time. Check out these pictures:



This evening as we were eating dinner (and I was counting the minutes until I could have a glass of red wine) completely unprompted Lily reached over and gave me a big hug and said, "Thanks for taking me to Ethan's party, Mommy."

PMS. What PMS?