Dear Molly,
Looking at you one would think that you get plenty to eat. Plenty.
Maybe this isn't quite the case since you are constantly munching on me.
Today you decided my face would be pretty yummy.
Yesterday you sat and licked my knee for a good five minutes.
Maybe I am just super sweet and extra delicious. That actually makes sense.
Sincerely, Lori
Dear Kurt,
You are usually the king of love notes on the bathroom mirror but not today.
Today, Brooklyn and I decided to dethrown you and leave some love notes of our own.
At least I'm pretty sure Brooklyn's is a love note. There was a moment there that she seemed pretty out of control with the marker.... it's probably a good thing we can't read toddler scribble.
Sincerely, Lori
Dear Molly,
Once upon a time your dad came home from work.
You lit up and giggled as he lifted you way up over his head.
When he put you down on the ground you grabbed his leg and tried to climb back up to him.
Then you sat there and stared up at him like he was the best thing you've seen all day.
I think it's safe to say you love him.
The end.
Sincerely, Lori
Dear Molly,
Last weekend you and I started getting sick.
By Monday we both were pretty miserable.
Monday night I loaded up on medicine and headed to bed early to catch some z's.
You had other plans. You decided to keep you dad up all night with your crying and coughing.
Tuesday morning your coughing was out of control, your breathing was labored, your snot was a nasty green color, and you were yanking on your right ear. It was time for a trip to the doctor.
Turns out you had a nasty case of croup and an ear infection. The doctor told me to watch your breathing and to take you outside in the cold if it got too bad, and if that didn't help, to head to the E.R.
Yikes.
The next couple nights you slept in your car seat right next to me. Your nights were spent coughing and crying and your days were spent being miserable and taking tiny naps on my chest until the coughing picked up.
Everyday your dad would come home and hold you until you fell asleep. It was a nice break for your sick momma and it was quite adorable.
Brooklyn was even helping keep us both happy by helping out, even though she found the whole thing a little gross. She loves you.
Now, you are feeling so much better. You are smiling and playing again. You are sleeping in your bed like normal again. Your cough lingers and you are still congested a bit, but I love having my happy baby back.
The lesson learned is that croup sucks. It a miserable thing but I'm glad it was over relatively quickly.
Let's hope we never have to deal with this nasty virus again.
I love you, Molly.
Sincerely, Lori
Dear Time,
You have not been kind to us these past months.
Molly is already eight months old. Eight months! It feels like she should be two months old. At the most.
If you could do me a favor and slow down a bit.
Slow down enough that I can memorize the way Molly throws her head back and opens her mouth wide in quiet laughter when she is being tickled.
Slow down enough that I can count the beats of my heart when Kurt kisses me and tells me he love me and will forever.
Slow down enough that I can write down every song Brooklyn sings, every funny story she makes up and every time she tells me I'm pretty.
Slow down enough that I can savor and enjoy each moment.
Slow down enough that I don't feel overwhelmed by trying to capture it all and bottling it up.
Slow down.
And, when I am surrounded by the people I love and we are all laughing and smiling and my world is perfect, maybe, just maybe, could you hit the pause button?
Sincerely, Lori
Dear Molly,
Five days ago you started crawling backwards a bit. Just a few steps here or there, nothing crazy.
Yesterday you crawled forward!
I was happy for you since you have been trying to move for a while now, but it also makes me sad.
I don't want you to grow up. I want you to be a baby for a long time.
Eight months old is too young to be getting around.
Stay put. Stay little. Those are orders.
But, I will admit, you are a cute little crawler.
Sincerely, Lori
Dear Kurt,
Happy (late) Valentine's Day.
Yesterday we just took it easy.
Brooklyn went to pre-school and came home with a ton of valentine's. Then she attempted to put herself into a sugar coma by eating all her candy.
After you got home from work the girls opened their valentine gifts from us.
Then you and I were off to dinner and a movie.
After that we spent the rest of our evening in our tub.
I love you. Thanks for being my forever valentine.
Sincerely, Lori
P.S. Thank you for the card. It made me cry (although I'm going to blame "that time of the month") You are amazing.
Dear Brooklyn,
I love you. I love you. I love you.
I love that you are so sweet.
I love that you randomly tell me you love me and ask if you can keep me.
I love how you sing and dance all day long.
I love when you run up and give Molly a hug every time she wakes up.
I love how excited you get about little things.
I love when you tell random stories that sometimes don't make sense.
I even love when you get sad and tell me you don't want daddy to leave you and go to work.
I love so many things about you.
Thank you for teaching me how to love more deeply and purely.
Sincerely, Mom
Dear Molly,
Happy first Valentine's Day.
I love you so much.
You bring so much joy to my life.
You make me happy with your smiles and giggles.
I love to kiss your sweet little face and belly buttons and toes.
I can't get enough of you.
Thank you for being my sweet, happy little baby.
I will always love you. Always.
Sincerely, Lori
Dear Kurt,
Our trip to New Orleans has been in the planning books for quite some time. Two years ago you and Brent went to the Super Bowl in Dallas to sell programs. You guys had so much fun you decided this year we would all go together: Brent, Brooke, you and me.
Long story short: Months after we bought our plane tickets and reserved our hotel rooms, our friend, Owen, found out he didn't get the bid to sell programs for the Super Bowl this year. We decided New Orleans would still be a fun place to visit. Then, Brent's daughter blew up YouTube with a video of her playing football. She, Brent and Brooke ended up with an invite to sit with NFL commissioner in his booth for the Super Bowl. Along with all the other press, shows, and parties Sam received invites to, New Orleans was quickly becoming a you and me trip. I was still stoked to go on our little va-cay.
We spent all day Thursday traveling: car ride to Salt Lake City, flight to Atlanta, Then flight to Mississippi. Our hotel was in Mississippi, a little over an hour outside of New Orleans.
Our Friday went something like this:
First we went on a swamp tour, which was one of our favorite things we did.
Then, as part of Sam's entourage, we received media passes into the NFL experience. You were like a kid in a candy store here.
After that we made our way through the crazy crowds and busy streets. Brent even cut off several trucks in a line of many that had U.S. Government plates and read "Security" on the sides. They flashed their lights and sirens and one even passed us by practically driving on the sidewalk. But mostly we were able to speed along with them for awhile, which was helpful cause Sam was running late.
Sam, then had to go to the Honors Awards Show rehearsal, so tagged along. We were able to see the NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell and Alec Baldwin. Jason Witten showed up and we went up and took a picture with him and I shook his hand and congratulated him on winning "Man of the Year" award while you picked your jaw off the floor. It's safe to say you are a big fan of his.
That night we walked around New Orleans, enjoying the architecture, until we heard some Jazz music. We followed the sound to a gorgeous lighted street where the coolest Jazz band was playing. We stood there a listened for awhile. This was one of my favorite moments.
Saturday started off by eating beignets, juice and hot chocolate at an outdoor cafe in the French Quarter with Brent, Brooke, and Sam.
Then we walked around the French Quarter. There was a gate surrounding a park where people hang up there artwork for sell and sit there and paint. This was my favorite thing in all of New Orleans.
Next I spent some time helping Sam get ready for their honors show.
After that we decided to go find Frenchman street, which is where we heard we could experience a more authentic New Orleans. We ended up getting a little lost and driving down a crazy busy street. Our car was completely surrounded by people, most of them were drunk and were practically falling on the car and in our way. Your road rage reared its ugly head while I just laughed my head off.
While Bourbon Street was crammed with people, Frenchman street was almost bare. Their were a few stragglers wandering the streets but most were enjoying the live music clubs. As we walked along we could help but watch our backs. We weren't use to so few people after dark.
We found some shops and stopped in to look for some souvenirs.
Next we stopped at a small diner called Coop's Place for dinner. There was a line way out the door but we didn't have to wait long. We ate fried chicken and Jambalaya. Too be honest, we were sort of afraid of half the stuff on the menu. We were not accustomed to southern food at all!
The next morning we took it easy. We slept in a bit and ate a lazy breakfast in our hotel room.
We got to New Orleans just in time to make our way to the Red Fish Grill where we had reservations. It was some of the yummiest food we had our whole trip. We even tried some oysters. They tasted good but we couldn't get past the texture.
Next we walked down Bourbon Street. We didn't make it far before the mostly naked dancers and voodoo shops started popping up. We didn't stick around after that.
Then we made our way on the trolley and through the thousands of Ravens fans to the Super Dome to check out any pre-game festivities. There was live music and giant screens. I was sad we didn't have tickets to get in. We even considered buying scalped tickets.
We ended up outside of town and a Buffalo Wild Wings for the game since every place in New Orleans was either full or had a $200 entry fee. It sucked watching the game with a room full of Ravens fans.
After that, a couple more plane rides and a three hour drive and we were home.
And that was the end of our trip to New Orleans. It was a great trip and I am so glad we were able to go. I loved so much about it. I can't wait for our next adventure.
Sincerely, Lori
