Friday, October 15, 2010

Good Friends

Caleb has been making great progress with the potty training. However, he's had a little problem with number 2. Of course. Cause it can't be that easy, right?

So today I hit my wall. I was just NOT going to clean poop out of his pants again. Not gonna happen. What do I do? (mother of the year award coming...) I, in complete exasperation tell him that if he poops on the potty, Thomas the Tank Engine would call him to congratulate him.

What did he do?

RAN up the stairs, sat on the potty and did his thing.

Horrified that I now had to find someone to be Thomas, I texted a friend. "I need you call and pretend to be Thomas. I promised Caleb Thomas would call if he went #2 and he's called my bluff.'

Not 3 minutes later, this self respecting man called my phone asking to speak to Caleb. In awe, Caleb took the phone and told "Thomas" of his accomplishments. All in all, the conversation lasted about 30 seconds. Caleb has been talking about it all night. "Thomas is so proud of me Mommy!"

I just had to mention how much I genuinely appreciate having good friends. Friends who will call your child and pretend to be Thomas. Friends who will do so without even blinking. With Peter being gone, by the time 6:00 rolls around, I'm pretty much done for the day, despite the fact that I have another five hours to go before the nurse shows up for Charlotte. I'm tired, I'm worn out, and throw pity parties for myself regularly. (You're all invited. It's bring your own pop corn though. I'm not sharing.)

Tonight, I realized that no matter what the circumstance-- no matter how ridiculous, I have great friends to back me up. Of course, over the past year, I've realized how important great friends are during a time of crisis.

It takes nights like tonight to realize how important great friends are during a time of normalcy.

Friday, October 8, 2010

What a Day

Today is a busy day in my family.

First, it is my mother's birthday. She's trying to ignore it, but that's just not going to happen :) Happy birthday, Mama Farr-- you are amazing. After spending the better part of the last 30 years raising five children (and doing it well, in my opinion), she's still setting an incredible example for all of us. In her own soft, subtle way, she's taught me how to be a strong woman-- a woman who is comfortable being a wife and a mother, but a woman who doesn't need that to define her. A woman who has a successful career and still doesn't let that define her. A confident, kind, smart woman. My mother taught me to be a woman who is comfortable running a a business, nursing a patient, making a meal, or tucking a baby into bed. She taught me that by being that woman. And I love her for it.

Second, it's my brother-in-law, Sean's, birthday. (He made it easy for us to remember!) Sean has been such a fantastic addition to our family. He has supported Shayla through medical school, residency, and early mornings (not a good time for Farr girls), has been a wonderful father, and a great friend. Peter and I really miss living right around the corner from them, and not just because Sean is a really, really good cook. OK, well mostly because Sean is a good cook... But really now. We love having Sean in our family!

And third, today marks the day my dear, sweet cousin, Ben, passed away in 2004. His passing was tragic, and I wish I could say the pain of losing him gets duller with time, but it doesn't. What does get better, what has helped me to come to terms with his death, is his fantastic family. Their beautiful relationships have helped us to all accept a life ended too soon, and while it should be me offering strength and support to them, it is all too often the other way around. Some of the best times I can remember involve sitting around with my Aunt and Uncle and Cousins, laughing, crying, and most importantly, remembering. I thank them for helping to make Ben the incredible boy that he was, and for helping me remember what is really important during our short, brief lives: family.

What a day, what a day.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Does That Take Double A?

Caleb is potty training (his idea), and despite our hectic lives, he is doing a FABULOUS job. Seriously. He's a super hero.

Anyway, last evening he was trying to go potty before bed and was having some difficulty with number 2. He looked at me and said, "I'm sorry Mommy, I can't go. My bum ran out of batteries."

Oh.

That explains so much.