The Lily Pad

Several weeks ago I dreamt that we weren't able to bring home our daughter because we didn't have a carseat for her. I had to leave her at some strange house and ask about her feeding schedule, I woke up in tears. Two weeks ago, Mom and Dad bought us a carseat and stroller and wrote a note that it was so I could sleep better. Two nights ago I dreamt that I had been able to bring her home (afterall we have a carseat now) but that she didn't have any clothes because I hadn't washed them yet. I emailed Mom about my latest dream so that she knew we'd now gotten her home and a new paranoia had set in*. Dad called this morning to let me know that they'd fallen for it once, but I wasn't getting a new washer and dryer! I love my parents! *I imagine dreams like this will never go away...but just in case, I washed her blankets yesterday and the rest will follow today or tomorrow.

On holidays I think forward to how they will be when we have our own child. I think of what my parents did with and for us and imagine doing those same things for my own child. It's the small day to day things that shape us into what we are. In our house, Valentines Day was never about romantic love, even though Mom and Dad obviously loved each other and did things for one another. It was always about love, family love, friendly love, the love that encompasses us daily. It was a day where we got a red heart filled with chocolate, a box of conversation hearts, those heart jawbreakers, and cute card. Nanna always sent us a Valentines Day card - ALWAYS arriving on Valentines Day. Nanna had great timing with her cards - perfect timing. Mom always got the larger Whitmans Sampler Box and all of the kids would take turns picking what we wanted from what mom didn't care for (and sometimes what she was really saving for later because it was her favorite). Daddy got red hots. Tho...