It Takes a Village

I've been meaning to write this post for awhile... but today gave me another inspiration to do so...

One of the things that's been great, Molly, about you growing up, getting involved in activities, and starting to have playdates and friends is that I've gotten to know your friends' mommies (and daddies, too). One of the best examples of this - ballet and pancakes with Abby and her mom. While you play in the play area, we talk about all kinds of mom stuff ("You know, like purses," you told me last week), cool things happening, even just stuff. That's how we decided to go to see Dan Zanes together... Abby's mom mentioned it on a Friday morning and next thing you know, we have tickets! And the concert was one of the highlights of last year...

As we got to know Abby and her mom and dad, Ellie and her family, the other Ellie and her family -- going to birthday parties last summer, visiting at school events, having playdates -- we started to become our own little support network. We're now carpooling to swim lessons, picking up each other's kids at school, even having sleepovers and planning for summer camps and family vacations together!

Then there's Jake up the street. He's about 1-1/2 years younger than you (he's my birthday twin!) and about as cute as they come... his mom is a school counselor and we talk on occasion about neighborhood stuff and kid stuff. In fact, I recommended your school to her and now Jake goes there too! (I even talked to him mom about how great the ballet program is -- and he's taking ballet too!)

Anyway, yesterday it snowed and there was a threat of a snow day today. I was shoveling the driveway and she stepped outside to let new puppy Dixon out. We started talking, I mentioned how Daddy conveniently is in Florida... and she offered to watch you in case of a snow day.

At 7 a.m. this morning, your school appeared on the closings list. So, I go outside to shovel - AGAIN - and thinking to myself, "How early can I call her without seeming desperate?" Just then, it was time for Dixon's morning constitutional. And Jake's mom called out, "Good morning! When is Molly coming over? Jake is so excited!"

So you spent the day at Jake's -- sledding, coloring, building with Lincoln Logs, eating chicken nuggets, and watching movies. When I came to pick you up, Lilo and Stitch wasn't over yet, so I finished shoveling while you finished your movie.

It takes a village to raise a child. And, without family in town to help us, we've started to forge our own little village. And I am so very thankful for all the wonderful "extra" mommies and daddies we have that care for you and help us each and every day.

It takes a village to raise a child. And we are so very blessed to have these wonderful people in our very own little village.

An Unexpected Momento

Molly,

Your cousins Avery and Riley bought you a calendar for Christmas -- an elephant calendar, of course. It's filled with really beautiful photographs of elephants, elephant families, mommy and Molly elephants... all of which you love.

Over the Christmas holiday, while Daddy was out of town and I was trying to figure out ways to entertain you when it was 20 degrees outside, I thought, "Let's put all our fun stuff to do on your new calendar!"

I have to admit, this - seriously - is one of my favorite pasttimes. I LOVE working on my calendar, color-coding every entry, adding birthdays, and writing in upcoming events with great anticipation. Yeah, I know - it's weird. And honestly, I figured that you'd sit beside me, point to the calendar, tell me what to write, then (after about 3.5 minutes) ask to watch something on TV.

I was wrong... and pleasantly, delightfully surprised.

You and I sat side by side at the coffee table (also known as your coloring table) for more than an hour, and I spelled out words while you -- all by yourself -- wrote them down. You wrote "Ballet" each Friday, added in "Dr. Mark" for your upcoming dentist appointment, then drew a picture of you and me for Mother's Day, and drew hearts all over Father's Day.

I showed it to Daddy. He smiled and asked, "You're never throwing this away, are you."

With tears in my eyes, I shook my head, "No."

Mo Willems Rocks!

One of Molly's favorite authors (and Mommy and Daddy's, too), Mo Willems, actually came to our next of the woods - so we ventured out with our best friends for a reading of his newest book, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed.

We had a BLAST! Mo rocked the house! He read Naked Mole Rat, then Are You Ready to Play Outside? (with Gerald and Piggy), and ended with The Pigeon Wants a Puppy..., then signed books. We got to meet him briefly while he signed a BUNCH of books for us. Molly even made a Pigeon headband.

Thanks, Mr. Willems, for visiting us. We love you!

Happy Barack Obama Day!

My dearest Molly,

It's almost like you knew how historical today was. You picked out a red, white, and blue outfit yesterday to wear special today... you told me that you and your class were going to sing the National Anthem today... and you asked to watch the news so you could see what happened today.

Daddy and I are saving newspapers and magazines for you of the day's events... and I'm sure all the footage will be online for all posterity... but the energy of today was palpable. I could feel it at work. You could sense it in others. People were celebrating today. I can't say that I've seen this much excitement or interest in government in my entire life.

It's morning again in America. There's much work to be done and it won't be easy... but there's a smart man to lead us. And that gives us hope. And that makes me proud.

God bless the Obama family. I love you, Peanut.

Love, Mommy

"Tomorrow is special too..."

Scene: Molly taking a bath

"Mommy, do you know that tomorrow is special too?"

"Why - what's tomorrow?"

"Not only is it Barack Obama becomes President day... it's American Idol, too. So, there's a lot to celebrate in our house."

Yes there is, Peanut... yes there is...

"Today was special..."

Scene: in the van on the way home from school

"Mommy, do you know what today is?"

"No, Molly - can you tell me?"

"It’s a special day because a lot of people got to stay home because it was a black man’s birthday. He looks like Barack Obama but he’s not Barack Obama."

"Do you mean Martin Luther King, Jr.?"

“Yeah. He got killed a very long time ago before a lot of people were born. He was fighting for his people and that’s why a man shot him. When he was little, he had a friend and couldn’t play with him. Then he laid down and had a dream about playing with his friend. And he decided the brown people should play with the white people and the white people should play with the brown people. And he gave a speech – he was up on a stage with a lot of people listening to him talk about his dream."

You're right, Molly - today was special. Dr. King was very special. I hope your Daddy and I can always help fuel your interest in important people and places. You're a sponge - and we have to fill you up with the good stuff.

My Own Personal MoMA

Here's a simple recipe for all mommies drowning in artwork:

- Clearance frames from Target ($4.00 each)

- As many pieces of artwork as frames

Hang and enjoy!

So this is what I get to look at all day. I love it... and Molly loves knowing that she has a gallery of her art hanging at Mommy's office.

Thoughts from a Dad...

Molly -

Here is a beautiful letter written by a very caring father to his two little girls. (Thank you, Parade magazine.) Your daddy and I love you this much. If only we were this articulate...

I hope some day when you're older, I can tell you how electrifying and exciting the Presidental Campaign of 2008 was... it was the first time in my life that I was genuinely, thoroughly interested in politics and felt deeply vested in the outcome of the election. Maybe it was because this was the first time there was a candidate I believed in, felt passionate about... maybe it was because this was my second election as your mommy (but the first time you'd only been around a few months). I only imagine that people felt about John F. Kennedy back in his time the way people feel about Barack Obama now.

Things will not be easy for President Obama. To say that the end of 2008 was a giant financial catastrophe for the world seems to be a bit of an understatement. So our thoughts and prayers are with him... and his beautiful family. Because my hope for you, Molly Paige, is that we, the people of the United States, finally have a President we deserve -- a smart, caring, honest man who will inspire all of us to do our best.

Love,

Mommy

'What I Want for You — and Every Child in America'
By President-elect Barack Obama
Publication Date: 01/14/2009

Next Tuesday, Barack Obama will be sworn in as our 44th President. On this historic occasion, PARADE asked the President-elect, who is also a devoted family man, to get personal and tell us what he wants for his children. Here, he shares his letter to them.

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren't rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you'll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you've had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad

Halloween 2008 in Indiana

Ok, so this has been in the "Blogs to Post" file for awhile... at least it's finally seeing the light of day...

Since Aaron had a business trip planned for the last week in October, and since we hadn’t been back to Indiana for awhile, I decided Molly and I would head to visit Grandma and Grandpa for Halloween. This made Molly VERY happy since she had her first leaf-jumping experience at Grandma and Grandpa’s last year… so the only place she can properly jump in leaves is, of course, Grandma and Grandpa’s.

So, we packed up the Cinderella dress, the sparkly silver shoes, and the tiara and headed North. I also packed the appropriate winter clothes for Molly to wear under said Cinderella dress, since I spent many a Halloween wearing snow boots and my winter jacket over my costume – thus killing the look of the rockin’ Marie Osmand costume… but I digress.

We lucked out and had BEAUTIFUL weather… like in the 60s and low 70s beautiful. It was so fun – to be on the street where I grew up, taking my daughter and mom trick-or-treating… and visiting with neighbors who were all sitting outside, enjoying the beautiful fall evening.

Next day, we spent lots of quality time jumping in leaves. (Note the look on Molly’s face in this action shot – sheer joy. Mommy’s look – sheer terror!)

We also worked in a visit to Home Depot for the kid’s workshop. (We can’t miss those!) Not only did we get to build something with Grandpa, we built a leaf press! How perfect!


We had a wonderful visit - great quality time with Grandma and Grandpa. You were the perfect little princess… handing out candy to the not scary costumes ("Mommy, you can give candy to the scary ones.")… jumping in leaves... and simply loving life.

American Idol Alert!

Ok, so American Idol starts tomorrow night. So, it's back to 12 hours a week for the next three weeks of AI in our house...

And, Molly will really be annoyed tomorrow night when David Cook and Brooke White and Michael Johns aren't on...

Oh well - let Season 8 begin!

2009 - A Year of Firsts

Molly -

Happy New Year! We had a wonderful Christmas vacation -- off almost 2-1/2 weeks! -- with lots of playdates, relaxing at home, and even your first sleepover at our house.

And that got me thinking, as I often do, about all the firsts that happened in 2008:

- Your first ballet recital

- Your first sleepover at a friend's house, even if it was accidental...

- You learned to sing the National Anthem

- Your first Presidental election

- Your first ear of corn on the cob

- Your first rock concerts

- Your first movies at the theater -- "Horton" and "Madagascar 2"

Then all the firsts that will happen this year:

- You just started whistling! So cool!

- Daddy and I register you for Kindergarten in two weeks... Kindergarten. Our first on that, for sure.

- You'll start Kindergarten. (Hand Mommy the Kleenex...)

- You'll turn five.

- You'll pick your third winner of "American Idol..."

- You'll learn so many things to make you even more self-sufficient: you've tackled zipping your coat by yourself. Now on to tying shoes and brushing your teeth. (Mommy still does that for you - but there's a l o n g story there.)

Daddy and I are so amazed at you - and what a big girl you are. Everyone told us when we were pregnant and right after you were born how quickly time would fly. It's not that we didn't believe them -- it's just that we didn't know how true that was. We blinked and you went from a baby to a little person. We're afraid to blink again -- because you'll be driving, heading off to college, striking out on your own...

Love you, peanut.