Quonset Point... in the pines

In the early seventies my father, who is from North Carolina, was stationed at the Quonset Point Naval Base here in Rhode Island. He met my mother during an outing at Goddard Park and they eventually married. Their ceremony took place at the Chapel in the Pines in Davisville - on the grounds near my father's barracks. Today, the base is inactive (although the airport is still functioning) and is home to mostly commercial buildings. There are a few areas that remain dedicated to the USN, particularly the Seabees. Today I took a walk through to snap a few pictures... 

The Scarlett Letters: Scarlett turns two!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Scarlett June!!!

Well, let's see. You're not a baby anymore... and, as my final 'Mom 365' daily email informed me, you're not a toddler anymore. What does that mean? Are you already a "little kid" ??? Nope, not in my book, baby girl. 

Two years ago today I was lying in a stiff bed with flat pillows, falling in love with The Big Bang Theory and working on 48 hours worth of contractions. Eventually you were born via C-section at 8:09 pm. And it was at that moment that my life began. Along with my short-lived morphine drip.

You have made everyone so happy. You make us laugh every day. You amaze us with your vocabulary and ability to put sentences together. At your party on Saturday I heard you say to a friend, "Hi! Welcome to my home!" I have no idea where you got that from. The other day I put your shoes on and you said, "Hmm, Mama, those fit pretty good!" I know you heard that one from me but you used it perfectly. Another popular phrase is, "Mama, I can't find my -------- anywhere!" We are able to have conversations with you although every now and then there is a word that takes us a while to figure out. You have trouble with your F's and L's. And it's adorable.

You lovvvvvvvvve to play "outshiiiiiide." We let you use your water table in our gravel area and you get plenty filthy having a blast with that. You love your slide and your swing and getting Brody to run with you. You think he is just so funny! Now that the weather is cooler and drier (and less insect-pleasing) I can enjoy being out there with you. I still hold my breath when I turn your toys over, praying there aren't 'things' floating or webs spun. Baby steps. 

We took you for a photo session last week and you threw a pretty decent tantrum but eventually warmed up and we got great shots. You're so photogenic. That smile is infectious and so heartwarming. You say hi to everyone and not everyone says hi back. I explain to you daily that some people don't like to say hi. Then I grumble under my breath that those people are called assholes.

You are really into playing with little figures, like Mickey, Minnie and Pluto. You also enjoy using your new easel. You wipe it clean and say, "Good as new!" And when you've had enough you put your marker down and say, "Ok, I'm all done." For your birthday we gave you a cash register which you absolutely love - just as I did as a little girl. Although my cash register was my jewelry box... and it didn't have a scanner, or credit card slot and the only sound it made was when I wound up the ballerina but hey, I didn't know the difference. You also adore your basket of fake foods - which was one of my favorite things to play with as a kid. We had a picnic in the playroom the other day and I felt like I was four years old all over again. I almost fought you for the little strawberry.

You are amazing, Scarlett. You're so so so so smart. You are truly funny and silly and spunky. You're bold as brass, stubborn like your Mama and a roughneck through and through. You do stop to smell the flowers - even if they are in the pages of your book. You like to choose your clothes when given the option and you've refused to wear your Super-girl shirt for months. Humble too, perhaps? You can't get enough of peanut butter or cantaloupe. You have favorite songs like, "I Will Wait" by Mumford and Sons. You dance in your highchair and like us to dance with you... "and Mama too ... and Dada too... and Bro too!" I wish Brody could dance for you. You love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Team Umizoomi and Special Agent Oso. I feel good about letting you watch those shows. You are learning so much every day from your family, from being outside, from watching good television, from playing with your toys. I pray that you always have that blessed brain. 

Happy Birthday Dear Scarlett, Happy Birthday to you! 
(I've noticed you are sleeping in on your big day! It's 8:33 ... ooo I hear you murmuring ... ) 

We all love you SO MUCH!
xoxo
Mama

power of three...

This past week has been very unique. Very happy, very sad and very inspirational. In one week the lives of three of my friends have been altered forever. One had her first baby - a beautiful girl named Charlie. One lost the love of his life and mother of his four children. And one got married today. Life changing events all around. I'm left with racing thoughts, ups and downs and at times even guilt.

I just have a few things to say... 

Be thankful for all that you have. We are lucky. If we have found love, we are lucky. If we have been blessed with a child we are lucky. So many people are searching for their soul mate or praying for a baby. Don't take anything for granted. Be grateful.

We too often focus on the things that just aren't important - like bills and car repairs. We should let those be the background noise in the soundtrack of our lives. Let our happiness play the leading role - not our stress. Make wonderful memories every single day. And realize we are making them. These beautiful moments won't last forever.

Health is what matters most. Everything else can be altered.


Time waits for no one. That precious baby you are rocking to sleep will be seventeen in a blink. Cherish the good, the bad and the in between.

Life changes in an instant. For better or for worse. You can have it all one moment and have nothing the next. Spend your time wisely, choose your words wisely, be good to one another. Be kind. Do good things. Don't expect anything in return, just do good things because you want to. Live each second as if you were being judged on it. Life is so very fragile. And so very short. 

Welcome to the world, Charlie Liberty, you're lucky to have such an amazing mama. 

Rest in peace Michelle, you were taken too soon and will always be in our hearts.

Congratulations and best wishes to John and Jillian - I wish you a lifetime of happiness together.