GUESS where we are going???!

Here's a hint...

Paris, France!!

I can hardly believe it. For what seems like forever, I have wanted to go to Paris. I contemplated studying abroad in college...even took a year of French in hopes of getting there...and now, the most perfect opportunity has presented itself!

Nick's mom is going to live there for about 4 months (a dream of hers!) and will be renting a little apartment in downtown Paris. Soooo, with a free place to stay, airline miles, and the additional help of some extra miles from my special Auntie...there was no way we could pass up this opportunity and are booked for next January.

Three tickets.

That's right, we'll be traveling across the globe with a one and a half year old. Call us crazy...maybe we are...but I'm choosing to look at this as an exciting adventure for our little family. People do it all the time right??!

Oh my word are we ever excited!

So here's the thing...

There are easy weeks, and there are hard weeks.

This week fell in the category of the latter above described weeks.

And it's hard, because for me I want my blog to focus on all the wonderful and truly meaningful aspects of our lives. I don't want to write about the days that are tough...the times there are tears...or the struggles I feel.

But then again, maybe I do?

Because if this is truly my outlet for sharing our life, to "document life and to reflect" as my bio says...when I reflect, there is no denying the fact that this week was tough. And I do think in sharing, and reflecting, and speaking the truth...well, I think there is something healing in that.

Our little miss suddenly and seemingly out of nowhere, came down with a case of croupe this Sunday. And let me tell you, if you've heard a little one with a cough that sounds like the bark of a seal eager for some food, you know how heart breaking of a sound it is.

Long story short, we ended up at Children's Hospital. If it would have been a week day we could have just gone to the doctor, but being the weekend and in the evening, the emergency room was our only option (and the recommendation of the on-call nurse). After four hours, some steroids (to reduce the swelling of her throat) and some tylenol...we were on our way home. A rather painless first trip to the emergency room compared to what so many families deal with...but still, it was our first time...and I can't say I loved it.

Cue the re-arranging of schedules.
Thankfully Nick's practice allows him the flexibility of staying home at times more easily than I can, assuming he doesn't have court. So he stayed with her at the beginning of the week while she healed. And as much as I am so thankful for a husband and daddy who happily stays home to take care of his girl...I wanted to be with her.
And I was upset that I wasn't.
And I didn't want to go.

Yes, there were tears to my sweet co-worker when she asked if I was okay.
Because no, at that moment I wasn't.
At that moment, I wanted to be home with my girl.

It's hard to write that because I know how blessed I am in the career I have. I love my job.

I love my boss and my co-workers. I love what it brings to my life. I love the sense of accomplishment it brings to me. I am truly, truly thankful.

But, as I mentioned,...there are easy weeks, and there are hard weeks.

I think and I assume this is something that working moms deal with daily. The push and the pull. And this week I just struggled more with finding my balance.

Even as I write this, I realize that my hard week is absolutely nothing compared with the hard week that the thousands of families in Japan have experienced. It is impossible to imagine the devastation they are experiencing and my heart goes out to them.
It certainly puts life in perspective...

I'm feeling happy that tomorrow is Friday...and looking forward to a weekend of restoration, and cuddles, relaxation, and healing.

And because I can't leave a post without some positivity, I share with you with some happy pictures from last weekend with family and a 90th birthday celebration.
How's that for perspective?!

Closer and closer to crawling...

Sometimes

Sometimes I still can't believe she is ours.
I look at her in amazement...wondering how it's possible she is already nine months old, how she could already be the same number of months old as the number of months she lived in me.

Lately my favorite time with her has been bedtime.
After eating together, we have about 30-40 minutes of cuddles and laughter.
And here's the best part...she thinks I'm hilarious! As in, I'm the funniest person in the world. Quite the ego boost I must say. Because soon enough she is going to realize that her daddy is the funny parent in this household...but right now, it's me and I can't get enough of it.

At nine months the separation anxiety has really set in, and though sometimes it can be difficult to get anything done because she doesn't want me out of sight...it's also a pretty incredible feeling. To be needed so much by this little person.
I remind myself that one day she won't need me like that, and I hold on to these days.

Because they are pretty much the best ever.

Best Friends