The last day of April.....

Can you believe how fast this year is going by? The older I get, the faster time seems to fly...I'll be 30 next year...I can't believe it! Wasn't I just a teenager, flitting around with my friends in perpetual summer? *sigh*

Today, while Reagan and I were out and about certainly did not help me feel any younger either. Now, granted, my eyebrows need waxed and I was wearing makeup from last year when I was a little darker and I had on a very unflattering color of orange t-shirt....but what right did the little monster from the store have to call me "MA'AM"!?!??!!

Yes. The dreaded Ma'am. I wanted to scream. I wanted to yell. I wanted to tell him, you know, I'm not much older than you are! But then I realized, if I had started young enough, I probably could be his mother. Argh. The thought was not pleasing.

At any rate, I'm still losing weight and I'm thinking I should get a new fashionable haircut, some better make up, some crest white strips and a good wrinkle cover-up, along with some different color shirts! A nice shave on the old (extremely white) legs and I should look perhaps a LITTLE younger. Maybe, just maybe, I'll even go in for a pedicure and manicure. Say it with me now 'oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh'!

And just maybe, tomorrow, when the first day of May arrives, it'll bring with it a little sunshine and a nice LONG summer!

Happy 5th Anniversary to us! (Josh and Leah)

It's our fifth anniversary!

Josh and I "met" in August of 2000. Actually, we became online chat friends! Yes, that's right, we met online. We were both in a 20s something chat room and both of us and another guy were quickly cracking everyone up. Gradually the three of us moved into our own room to chat and Josh and I started meeting online, calling each other and emailing. Soon after, we were sending cards and letters and pictures. We were JUST FRIENDS however, since we had never even met, and in August 2001, Josh decided to fly out to NC for his fall break to hang out.

I was dating another guy at the time, but that quickly ended as I fell in love with Josh! In March 2002, we became engaged and in March 2003 we were married! 5 years, 1 baby, 2 cats, a couple of moves and a few jobs later....here we are!

Here are a few photos of us through the years:


Our engagement photo!


Us dancing at our wedding!


Us with the furbabies!


Reagan's first fall fest with mommy and daddy!


This past Christmas with Reagan!

Changes

I was taking a bunch of silly blog quizzes tonight and started thinking about how much I have changed in the last few years.

I used to be the life of the party and threw some great ones too---now I'm such a homebody I rarely see other people and my parties seriously stink!!

I used to love loud music, fun drinks, staying up til 3 a.m. and phone calls all night--now I prefer quiet evenings, hot tea and getting into bed early...and God help you if you call during dinner or past 7 p.m.!!

I used to spend a fortune on clothing--now I spend a fortune on Reagan's clothing, or crafts!

I used to have tons of boyfriends and would sometimes have as many as three dates in one day--now I'm in a committed marriage and haven't had a date night with my husband in months!

I used to have a million friends that were with me all the time---now most of my friends are far away and the ones I do have here, I see only once a week or less!

I used to think the world revolved around me, me, me---now I know for sure it revolves only around Reagan!

I used to think looks were important---now I haven't shaved my legs in weeks! (I'm a MOM give me a break!!)

I used to eat (or drink) every meal away from home because I didn't own a pan---now I have an entire binder of recipes and whip up from scratch meals for my family all the time.

I really have changed. Sometimes I feel like I've lost my identity. Like I've become someone I hardly recognize. But I like some of the changes--actually most of the changes. But I guess what I miss most is that fun-loving, lighthearted, confident in any situation, part of myself that I used to have.

I'm trying to make it a priority to get that part of me back. I think Reagan deserves a mom that feels confident in herself and happy about life in general. One of my new years resolutions for 2008 was to be come confident in being a mom, but in order to do that, I think I have to become confident in being ME again. Being happy with myself and my life is an important part of ensuring that Reagan will be happy with me and her life, too.

I read this on someone else's blog and thought this was a good time to share it. It's a quote from William Henry Channing:

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury; and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasion, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.

Such a beautiful quote.

A symphony. My life. My changes. Then. Now. All blending together to create a beautiful symphony. I want to allow my symphony to play out and be heard and become a beautiful tune that enriches not only myself but others who hear it. I want to become the person I was, the person I am, the person I am meant to be. Here's to a symphonic 2008.

Wierd Things About Me

It seems like every blog I've visited lately has a list of weird things about that particular blogger...so I'm joining in! There are tons of weird things about me, but I'll pick some of the safest!

1. I absolutely can't stand to look at food after I finish it. Even in restaurants, I'll stack the plates away from me and cover them with a napkin!
2. I can share iced tea, coffee, water--but cannot, will not share milk, oj or coke with someone. It just grosses me out!
3. I used to check locks and plugs at least four or five times before leaving my house.
4. I have a fascination with cleaning my cat's ears..seriously. It's an obsession!
5. I get grossed out if I meet a man with longish nails...really, even if they're trimmed and clean. Hello! Men do not need long fingernails..cut those things back!!!!
6. My list of top guys of all time includes (I'm not making this up): Seth Green, Jack Black and Oliver Platt. [Honestly I cannot for the life of me remember the last one but my other guy (and the only true hottie on the list: is Val (sigh, droooooooool, sigh, drooooooooooooooooool, hubba-hubba) Kilmer.]

So those are a few weird things about me! (See also my post on lists...I'm a fanatical list maker!)

First Love...

Today I actually attempted to google my very first boyfriend (note: I was unsuccessful, because apparently there's quite a famous basketball player with the same name!) But, HIS name was Jeremy. And he popped into my head today out of the blue...actually that's not quite true. Yesterday I saw someone that looked like his best friend, Marcus....and, well you know how the mind works....

Now, you're probably waggling your finger, saying "Leah!" But hear me out...he was my first boyfriend ever...in kindergarten! That's right. And wow, was he a dream. Actually he kind of looks like my husband. He had dark, thick black hair, dark complexion and he was the shyest boy I knew..and when he smiled, a lock of that wavy thick black hair would fall over his eye. Sigh...he was VERY handsome :) And I remember he gave me a Pink Panther Valentines that year that said simply "I like you".

Strange how things stick with you, even after so many years. I wish I still had that Valentine's card...man, what a keepsake!

And to think, this year Reagan will be old enough to pass out her very first Valentine's Day cards to her little friends. We've already picked them out. She had a choice between Mickey Mouse Clubhouse cards and Puppies and Kittens...she went with the Puppies and Kittens. Good choice ;). She'll get to hand them out to all her little friends at the Valentine's Day Party at Storytime and I'm sure she'll save one for Ethan and one for Reese--two little boys that just love her to death!

Time flies, doesn't it?

I like to make lists.....

There is just something comforting and warm about making a list. To-do lists, grocery lists, lists of places I'd like to visit, lists of decorating ideas, lists of gifts to give, lists of favorite dinners.....you name it, I'll make a list for it. I even have lists of romantic ideas and how to not take advantage of my spouse...*ahem* Josh, if you're reading this, please note I will never laugh at you again for "taking time to schedule spontaneity". Um, yes, alright where was I? Oh yes, lists.

I discovered this about myself today while I was making yet another book. My books consist of lists. I have "Leah's Book of House Stuff", which is basically a list of projects and decorating ideas, lists of house plans, lists of ideas for each room, lists of lists...you get the idea. My second book is "Leah's Mommy Go-To Book" with lists of food ideas for children, playtime ideas, discipline ideas.....so forth and so on. Then there's the Christmas Book which is still under construction--lists of gifts, lists of cards to send, lists of cards received, lists of decorating items in certain containers, lists of ideas for next year....etc., etc., etc. Then there's the book of Msc. Holidays (also still under construction) with lists of recipes sorted by relevant holiday or season, lists of tablecloths, lists of centerpieces......you get the point.

I'm beginning to think the fact that I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder should have been obvious a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong time ago.

But I digress. I guess the point I'm trying to make was in the title after all. I like lists. No, I LOVE lists. They are my comfort. My sanity in a crazy world.

Try it...just sit down with a pen and paper and a nice cup of hot tea. Now, start making a list of the first thing that comes to your mind..movies, books, favorite teas even....ahhhhhhhhhhhh, see? Doesn't that feel nice? Yep, I thought it would...I'm off to make a list of my favorite lists.....