Saturday, August 27, 2011

special moments




Wow.....it's getting harder and harder to find 20 minutes to reflect on my thoughts and feelings and write a blog entry. This is important to me yet hard at the same time. When I think and reflect, it mainly turns to sadness...I really miss having a Mom and Dad. There's no reason to even explain myself anymore...I think everyone could probably understand, even for a minute, how hard it is without them. I want them to be a part of all of this...I really have missed being a daughter even more so lately as I watch these beautiful kids of mine grow. I don't watch them enough...I wish I could just be a Mom, a friend, a sister, a wife.....but I can't.....there's all of "this" to deal with. It's always there. My parents were murdered by my brother. Will this ever subside?

My maternity leave is literally flying by. Thursday it will be September...and I go back at the end of the month. My heart breaks to think of leaving this sweetheart. He is such an amazing baby. I peaked in there just a few minutes ago and the kid was seriously sleeping with a smile on his face. He's an angel. My parents would love and care for him as much as I do. He's still sleeping a lot...smiling, likes the swing, lying in his crib under the mobile, taking walks but mainly being held and eating, eating, eating. I know I am lucky to have this time off with him and I wish with all of my heart I could just focus on that. Teddy has been traveling like crazy...in week long increments....Ever since my parents died, I don't do too well being alone, I always want something to do, plans must be made.....my therapist says that is how I have dealt with things....I keep myself busy and surrounded by people to perhaps mask some of this. I agree some of that is true, but I have always liked being surrounded by friends and family....I have never been a homebody.

As I reflect on the last few months since we had Harrison....this has been a nice leave....really hot...but I got to do several things I said I would...visit DC and drink wine at a local cafe with my friend and our boys, spend a week up at the lake and had the most amazing visitors (the Hinderberger family...their visit made my week), and of course we hosted our first real grown up party (catered, a tent and all!) and witness our Son be baptized in our own church....this is our home now as much at times I want to deny that even though I love it here dearly....I still want my parents place to run "home too". I was so honored my Grandfather was here to represent my Mom...and that my Mom's sister flew in from Texas and Dad's Sister from Atlanta and our siblings less my brother, and our friends Melissa and Nick. We are still surrounded by so much love....being near my Parent's family makes their void less painful for that given moment because I know without a doubt they would be so proud....family meant everything to them. This would make them so happy....my eyes watered as I watched my Grandfather hold Elle as shown in this picture as he cruised the lake and let Elle steer the boat. I almost could hear Mom giggling and snapping a million pictures. She would have had them printed before that week ended....it would have touched her heart like it did mine...

I may be lonely but I am well aware of my amazing, healthy, beautiful kids and how lucky I am to still have awesome family and friends surrounding us.....I will cherish sharing those glasses of wine with my friends in DC and up in Harrison, MI and holding my Son as he was baptized with our family and friends next to us and meeting my friend for walks and coffee during the week while on leave....and most of all holding this sweet baby boy...I will never get this time back.......I love you sweet Harrison and big sister Elle....I'm sorry I miss my family so much. In a strange way, it's almost like you understand....

All my love,
Melissa

Sunday, August 7, 2011

God Bless Harrison

Ted sent me to DC for my birthday to visit my friend Molly who also just had a baby boy 6 weeks before Harrison was born. It was a wonderful visit. Despite some travel mishaps getting back to Cincinnati, it was awesome and Harrison officially earned his wings (not a peep after 8 hrs of travel??!!!). He slept, ate, rarely fussed...it was a good age to travel. I did everything I wanted to do on this short visit....we drank wine and ate cheese at little cafe in Molly's town square... went to a trendy dinner and ate gourmet food and sipped a glass of yummy white wine.....grabbed coffee at her local shop and sat outside and ate muffins...and unexpectedly, I ended up getting a massage which was a sweet surprise along with the offering to watch Harrison and Henry while I went to the spa. It was a really thoughtful gift.....my friend really made me feel special that day with other gestures such as balloons and pink champagne and of course, a birthday cake with candles. I am very lucky to have such amazing friends...I really haven't enjoyed a birthday since Mom and Dad died, they just seem so different, such a void and not as important or special but this was nice......I missed seeing Ted and Elle but I think it was a good thing for me to get away for a few days.....there has been so much on my mind lately and it was nice to be spoiled and enjoy new scenery while visiting a great friend.

And here we are in August already...this Summer, my maternity leave, has flown by...it seemed like forever until Harrison would be baptized and here we are approaching it this weekend. We feel so blessed...many of our family members are traveling here from several different areas to be here with us...the baptism has always been a really important and special day in my Family. Mom and Dad always threw big parties...and I am beyond thrilled to have everyone here in our home, our church, our neighborhood. It will be stressful.....we've been planning for months yet I am a neat freak and beyond detail orientated when it comes to parties so I drive myself insane the week of the event...I think of everything. I wish I wasn't like that at times because it can make you go crazy. I want to enjoy this party. I want to enjoy the ceremony and really take in the baptism of my Son in our new church with my Grandfather and family by our sides....I want to actually get a chance to eat and drink and sit down and talk to everyone....I want to overlook the mess for just a few minutes....I want to take pictures with our family and friends with Harrison dressed in our family gown....I pray for an enjoyable weekend with less pain and sadness that my parents won't be attending another special event. It kills me. It's always there. It won't go away. I will be wishing they were there as I look around at the church and see Dad's Sister, Mom's Father.......they would be SO proud. They were always the life of the party and I don't see my life or any of these events ever being the same without them. Sure, they will go on, we will continue to go on, but I know in my heart, I am forever changed...and I don't like it.

Blessed Mommy,
Melissa