Girls' Weekend

Addie and I just returned from a girls' weekend in NJ. We flew in for Anya's baby shower- she is due with a little girl a couple of weeks before me. Its going to be so much fun for these two little ones to grow up together. We spent the weekend at Kelly's; Nini was there too. Nini, Addie and I all bunked together in George's room- it was such fun!

Addie's infatuation with Janie has not subsided at all over the years. She told the lady on the plane next to her that Janie is her favorite cousin, and she really means it. Too bad for Addie, Janie is a tough one to pick as a favorite. Don't get me wrong- I adore Janie for her spunk, her passion (people describe me as passionate) and her overall attempt to conquer the world. The trouble is the way she goes about it. She's tough- always has been, but this weekend was really tough. She didn't want to share anything with Addie, especially her sleeping bag because she was convinced Addie was going to leave boogers in it. And she was mean about about too. I think that;'s the part I worry will rub off on Addie, if anything. Its the meanness that hurts Kelly the most. I understand that Addie may seem a threat to Janie for some reason, but it hurts to think she can be so mean - yelling and saying thinks like, "you're stupid" "you're a baby" and such things that she means to hurt Addie with. And if anything like that ever rubbed off onto Addie I'd be pretty bummed out.. I don't really think it ever could- I mean Addie is truly a kind little girl. She means so well and thankfully, Janie's venom has yet to really sting Addie.

OK, on to the more fun part of the weekend! The shower was a lot of fun- it was held at Aunt Polly's in Montclair and was mostly our family, Anya's mom and sister and a couple of friends. She got so many cute things- ladies LOVE buying little girl clothes.

My favorite part of the day however, was a trip that Addie and I took to the bathroom together. Her lunch had consisted of fruit and bread and she had just polished off a piece of cake and a cupcake. While I was washing my hands, Addie asked me if I wanted to see what was in her purse (a cute pink silk purse Anya had brought her). Of course I did- I knew there were two band-aids I'd put in there after she fell off Poll's porch swing, and some conversation hearts I'd also put in there for fun. Well, Addie reached in and pulled out a croissant! "I really love these!" she said, took a bite, put it back in her back and zipped it right up. I almost fell over laughing. Did she have an old tea bag in there as well? It seems so silly to me. I guess that's what I mean about Addie... she is so sweet and simple in so many ways.

The flight home the next day was quiet (finally) due to the children's Bonine I gave to Addie- she slept the whole way home until we started our decent. Then she sat up, had a sip of water and threw up. Poor thing. I wonder if it's anxiety, motion, or what? The weekend had gone so well and we were on our way home to familiar people and places. The quiet gave me time to contemplate my sweet little girl. She often seems to be growing up too quickly, and yet so young, sweet and so naive. I actually started to cry at how much I love her, how much I need her in my life. I tell her everyday that she is my angel and that she's saved me today. I really believe it- she is one of 3 reasons for me being here and doing what I do everyday. I pray that she is always to kind, and thoughtful and think about how lucky not only Mary and P3 are to have her, but how lucky Clint and I are. I really think she makes us better people.

Clint and Mary picked us up in our new mini van- its a blue Honda Odessey and its pretty sweet. I really missed my little family while I was gone. I thought a bit too about how great it was to see Kelly, Timmy, Mom, and the rest of the gang, but that these people here in Minnesota are really my family now. I wouldn't cahnge it for the world.