The Power of a Q-Tip

Night before last, I colored my hair. I’m too cheap to do it at the salon. It usually turns out ok, so I don’t sweat it. After all the rinsing and conditioning, I scrounged around the bathroom drawers to find a box of Q-tips (can’t risk leaving in colorant in the ears...). The box of Wegman’s brand Q-tips I found held a lot of precious memories for me.

For those of you who don’t know, Wegman’s is a grocery chain in the Northeast. I only went there once...with my Aaron. It was during the few days we were by ourselves at the Ronald McDonald House in Camden before his surgeries. It was a really nice grocery store, tons of food choices, parking right in the front for parents of small children, and these great upright buggies (Yankees call them "carts") that hold a baby carrier nicely on top. You can’t find them around here. Aaron and I were anticipating the arrival of Scott, my mom and Levi, and we went out to pick up some important items like Diet Mountain Dew, cereal, yogurt, etc.

I wish I could remember all the specifics about that day, but I can’t. I do remember it was warmer than normal for early March in New Jersey. I wish I had taken pictures of our only trip to Wegman’s in our rented Ford Focus, but I didn’t. I thought we would have many more outings together instead of just a handful of excursions to Target, Babies R Us, Chik Fila and Wegman’s. We did take little trips through the McDonald’s drive-thru a few times just for a change of scenery. If I had known how short our time would be together outside the hospital, and in life, I would have photographed every moment. Sadly, I didn’t.

I guess the good thing about the Q-tips is that they remind me not to take time with the ones I love for granted. And to be thankful for the memories I do have.

A New Kind of Hide and Seek?

Levi now grasps the concept of hide and seek. However, he doesn't understand that the "hider" is supposed to be QUIET until found! Every time he "hides," we look for him in all available hiding places, asking if he's there. At every inquiry he replies, "no...not behind the door...no, not behind the chair..." etc. It's hilarious.

**Thanks to Aunt Christi for the video!

Settling In

One of our new favorite pasttimes here at Bay Pointe (well, at least on nice, sunny, "golfin" days) is watching golf carts. Saturday, Levi stayed on the lookout for them most of the afternoon. This picture was taken primarily to capture his crazy hair after his nap. All of this look without any hair product!

Practicing saying "CHEESE..."

Can someone get me my "bluetooth?" :)

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Levi has started noticing emotions a lot lately. He always comments on the characters in his books and whether they are "smiling" or "sad." Yesterday after work, we stopped by Walmart and then the dry cleaners. I let Levi pick out a candy bar at Walmart and told him he could hold it and eat it after dinner (he didn't wind up liking it, but that's another story). While we sat in line at the dry cleaners, he was quiet, watching things. I asked him what he was doing and he said "Mommy sad?" I said "Mommy's not sad, are you sad?" He quickly replied "Nope, I got candy." :)

Blogging Break

I haven't gotten to do much blogging lately. With the move last weekend, and a heavy load at work, it has just been too crazy to write. I am hoping to get some more work done at the new house this weekend so we can feel more "settled in." It's difficult to navigate boxes all day every day, search for bowls, that tube of toothpaste you just KNOW you have, etc. I figure with any luck we might be able to start parking in the garage, say, around April. (big sigh).

If anyone has the desire to come help unpack boxes, gimme a call!

Home Sweet Home

I managed to snap a couple of pics of the new house today at lunchtime. This was the first day in the last week it hasn't been awfully rainy and nasty. These aren't the best pictures, but I do what I can, people. All for you. :)

If any of you are sitting here thinking, "gee, I wonder if all the bedrooms are upstairs..." well...you are RIGHT. I'm hoping that going up and down these stairs forty-seven times a day will help me get in shape! We'll see how that goes.

Some News

Scott and I are the proud owners of a new house in Brandon, MS! Woohoo! (Cheers, applause, confetti...I think). We have been busy this past weekend packing and moving some things to the garage of the new home. We are both exhausted and SORE from using muscles we haven't used in a while. ;) We are hoping to fully move into the house late this week or over the weekend. Levi has given the new house his seal of approval, primarily b/c the home has two sets of stairs and a fountain in the front yard that he is particular enamored with. I can see lots of trouble in our future, but it will be an adventure!

Pictures and updates to come. Stay tuned!

Welcome 2009

Let's face it. 2008 was not the best year for the Hills.

I mean, some of it was good...


And some of it was bad...




But some of it was really, really ugly.

So, on January 1, 2009, here's to hoping for more joy and blessings than sadness or grief this year.