HOPES AND DREAMS

As parents we most likely have big hopes and dreams for our children. I often wonder what my kids will do when they grow up. I don't want to label them at this early point in their lives but if I had to take a guess, it would be this: Savanah - something in the arts, she is so creative; Preston - a pro baseball player, that is all he talks about right now; Grace - a chef, one reason being she likes a lot of different foods, second is that ever since I can remember she has been making her own "recipes" in the kitchen and third is that she can be her own boss because I can't imagine her taking orders from anyone! I have not thought a lot about what Stella might be until the other day when I saw this....





And then I thought tattoo artist....not a typical dream one might have for their child. But you see the possibility, right? Whatever they end up doing, I hope it is what they enjoy and that they will make a difference in the lives of others along the way.

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO TODAY

I officially became a mom. I started having contractions on Friday May 3, 1996 in the morning. The last thing I ate before going into labor was on Thursday evening at my in-laws', strawberry shortcake. Is it a coincidence that in place of a birthday cake this year Savanah requested strawberry shortcake? I remember the ride to the hospital in the Z28 Camaro. Isn't it funny that fourteen years later we will be making the same trip....in a Suburban:) I stayed one night in the hospital when Savanah was born and Jason did as well. In fact he stayed up with her during the night so I could sleep. He told her today that she should feel special because she was the only one he did that with. Actually I am a little worried that he might drop me off at the hospital this time and just pick me up when it's time to go home. LOL, but we do joke around about it. Maybe because there is not as much worry as with the "first one".

We've made it through our first year having a teenager and I have not one complaint. Savanah is such a great help to me and I am inspired by her. I would have to say that my favorite quality of hers is her ambiguity. I still have this image in my mind of her holding Stella as a newborn and loading the dishwasher with her other hand. I can honestly say that if anything were to happen to me, I know she could take over, she knows how to do everything. It is really exciting to think about what she will be like as an adult. Her ideas are endless, her creativity overflows to all that she does...and I could keep going. I am lucky to be her mom.