William Richard at 10 Months . . .

I am forever amazed at this little man that Dan and I have the privilege of raising. Will has definitely been keeping us on our toes the last few months and is now MOBILE. His curious little hands are into everything from the vents in the floor, the contents of the refrigerator, the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, the toilet bowl (yuck!) & anything dirty or covered in germs.....and we can't forget to mention his new fascination- closing the door behind him and sitting on the other side of the door in hopes that no one can come into the room he is in. He even giggles when we try to move him with the door. Everything is a game and you can't help but play along.
I've found myself thinking,"Am I doing this right?", "Should I be doing something more?"... It's crazy how you are given this huge amount of responsibility and then sent home from the hospital with a smile and a pat on the back...meanwhile all of us mom's are thinking..."WHAT DO I DO?". I try my best to take it one day at a time and live in the moment with my sweet son. I have come to realize with his personality that a schedule is VERY good for him. If I give him an inch he will take a mile(sounds familiar). He has a wild spirit and although I encourage him to try new things and take on the the pots and pans in my bottom drawer....I'm learning to set limits, and it's hard. For example saying, "no." or "no you may not play with the butcher knife that you found in the dishwasher."...followed by my babies clinched fists and a face that turns as red as a tomato and a scream that would hurt anyone's eardrums in the near distance. Then I have to address the temper and it goes on and on. Mom's out there are going, "Yes, I remember that!". Fun, Huh?? I'm with Will most of the time so I know by setting limits for Will the Thrill now, it will be easier down the road when he is bigger than I am. (tear, tear)
Everyone told me when he was an infant to take in every moment with him and cherish each day with him because it goes by fast. That it does! Wow! Will is turning 1 October 24th! This year has flown.
I love you sweet baby William . . . I always will.

Just a Friendly Reminder.....

REGISTER TO VOTE! If you haven't done so thus far you can register at your County Board of Voter Registration office. Stand up for what you believe in and make a difference. You must be registered to vote 30 days prior to the election. Your vote counts so make it a priority!

County Board of Voter Registration:
Address: 301 University Ridge, Suite 1900 (Greenville)
Phone: 864-467-7250
Fax: 864-467-7256
Web: www.scvotes.org

Politics and Barracuda's

Politics....a very touchy subject. Everyone has a built in defense system that turns on when this subject matter is brought up. It brings out the worst and the best in people. I have very strong beliefs and opinions in the realm of politics and religious issues. I choose at most times to keep my mouth shut in social circles to avoid having ridiculous conversations that go no where. I would rather have an adult conversation with someone who really wants to know more about what I believe in...not someone who is just waiting for their turn to talk. I love to discuss political and social issues that are going on in our world and I learn so much from the diverse world of friends that I have. Thank God for them!
On this note I've been so disgusted with the media this past week. I'm thrilled that McCain has chosen Sarah Palin as his VP! What a break through for woman...and she stands for so many things that I believe in...God, Family, Life, Environment. I've heard from some women that this isn't a step for our sex( After all she isn't a feminist). This is where I say...Not all women are Feminist!! There are women like myself that are strong, brave, intelligent, and stand for rights for everyone. But, this doesn't mean that women who take a stand and have the opportunity to be leaders choose to be feminists. This is why our world turns. We have DIFFERENT, DIVERSE, and an incredibly colorful world of people who have beliefs that are not our own. I choose to be accepting and open to the ideas of others.
Dan and I often refer to Sarah Palin as "Sarah the Barracuda"...and she absolutely is. It just makes me ill to see the media covering the story on her young daughter who is pregnant. I understand how important it is for our country to KNOW who is running as the Republican VP, but there is line that has been crossed in their privacy. It's the only thing I've heard yesterday and today on the Today show. It's the only thing the newscasters talked about during the breaks on the Republican National Convention last night. S. Palin has been very open about her history and the issues with her family..but to me it only makes her more real. More human. We all have family crap and hardships. It's how you handle the hardships that mean the most to me. I just wish the media would give them some breathing room. Cover the story and be done with it.

Here's to the next president taking over and making this country a better place to live in and raise our families in ... whoever wins the next presidency!

Spinx Run Fest 2008

The day is coming fast and I feel confident that I'll finish the race. The half marathon is scheduled for October 25th in downtown Greenville. I'm looking forward to finishing something I started back in February. It's been such a struggle to get back into shape and it feels great to run distances that I haven't run since I was in high school. Having a great running partner has helped tremendously! Jen is such a great motivational person to run with, and I'm so thankful that we share something like this to keep each other on top of our game. I've had a goal for years to complete a marathon, and we plan on signing up for that in February of 2009. I'm starting to deal with sore feet and shins...so I'm praying that my body will get the "pins and needles" and stiff legs so that so I can keep moving on without injury. Anyway, it's great to overcome a goal I've had and move on to the dream of finishing a marathon!

Here's to 10 miles this Saturday morning!

Life and Death

My Papa Rockwell is ready to pass from this earth and go on to a better place...

I just received a phone call from mom telling me that he isn't responding and has been put on morphine. Death is such an unexplainable happening to those of us who are still living. No one truly knows what the body, mind, and soul experiences in the last moments accept the people who have gone before us. Is Papa in another place right now even though his heart is still beating? What is he thinking about? Is he rejoicing with other souls around him? My heart hurts and longs to be next to him in his last moments here on earth. I want to kiss his great big hands one more time and tell him I love him dearly. I believe in heaven and know that his faith is strong and will be passing on to a better place where his love of over 50 years here on earth will be waiting for him. Can you even imagine what that will be like? Seeing the love of your life after years and years of not being together? wow...what an overwhelming feeling.

I love you Papa....my heart is with you....

Run2Overcome

This is a picture of my friend Jen and I at the end of the race we finished this past weekend. The run was so much fun, but had a meaningful purpose. The race was to benefit a family who experienced a terrible experience. About two months ago a 19 year old girl was raped while going for a Sunday morning jog at 9am. It happened in a nice area and at a time you wouldn't think something like that would happen. Before we started the race two victims of abuse/rape spoke and inspired everyone to be cautious and aware of your surroundings when you run by yourself. I thought about the victim as I struggled through all of the hills and challenges the race brought. There was a huge turn out...I think over 1,000 ended up coming and supporting the cause. What a fantastic day!

Love Conquers All

On Children

by: Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.


I think this is so beautifully said...and so very, very true.

HITTING THE PAVEMENT

I'm writing my goals down so they become a reality. I've talked about doing a marathon for years and it's time I actually followed through with it. I'm running a half marathon in October of this year and then plan on doing the Disney Marathon in 2009. The Disney run might not work out because it's almost full, but there are several other runs I'm looking at if this one doesn't work out. I have a group of people that are interested in doing it with me so I can't chicken out!

Okay, I'm off to hit the pavement with my boy and buggy....

Life is all about Changes and Changing

It's been a cRaZy couple of weeks for the Martin's. I'll start off by saying that it was WONDERFUL to be home over the 4th. So much has happened for my family this last year and it was good to see everyone and know they are doing well. As much as I love new things and new experiences there are some changes that just, well, suck. Dan, Will, and I also went to my 10 year high school reunion....WOW. How crazy to see all of my old chums grown up and doing their thing! It was surreal to say the least and dinner was definitely the highlight of the night at the Happy China Buffet- puke. haha!







We just moved into our house and I still have a few rooms to finish unpacking and then the next project is painting and fixing little things here and there. I tend to want to decorate the walls first and then leave the unpacking for last. It's kind of like eating desert before dinner for me. I love the house, but our neighbors are interesting. There's the guy at the end of the road that has a small farm and his rooster never fails to wake me up every morning at 5am. The lady next to us asks me for rides all the time and she freaks me out. She also has a strange fascination with my son and tries to take him out of my arms all the time....in which case I tell her,"He doesn't like people.". The people across the street are quiet as mice and then there is the lady who is diagonal to our house and her name is something like Yolanda. The only cool person in our neighborhood besides Caroline and Dan is our other next door neighbor on the other side of our house...he is hilarious and keeps us in stitches whenever we see him.

I started singing in a band called Hit Mob 7 about two months ago. I love it and I love the people. We are a party band and we'll have our first gig in August. We are recording our demo right now and after that's finished our web site should be up. If you want to check it out in the next couple of weeks the site is: hitmob7.com



This was taken in rehearsal the other night...



Dan is starting to travel like crazy again. I HATE IT WHEN HE'S GONE. We are doing well though and I'm so in-love with that man. It's amazing! We just celebrated our 5 year anniversary. This year I made salad, salmon, red potatoes, vegetables, and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for dinner. We cuddled on the couch and watched a movie...and it was just so nice to not have anything to do other than enjoy each other's company. Dan and I just sat for the cover of the Greenville Magazine for this month. If you want to check it out go to: www.greenvillemagazine.com

Taking a break before I split my head open

I had to sit down for a moment and write. I felt myself starting to breath heavy and doing eighty million things at once and decided it was time to....take a break. I am currently sitting here looking at a living room filled with open and closed boxes, a coffee table filled with odds and ends, an ironing bored leaning up against the only wall that is empty, and Will's toys spread all over the floor. UUUUgggghhh. I try to be organized. I really, really do. Why didn't I get that gene from my Mother??!! I start on one project and then my mind goes to something else. For instance I came home from the grocery store this morning and decided that I was going to go through all of my laundry and get rid of everything I don't need. I started to go through my clothes and thought that maybe I should go ahead and puree' some food before Will woke up. So, I started pureeing and before I knew it I had five different things I was trying to accomplish. Then I just decided to give up and sit down before I have a melt down. There is just way too many things going on in life right now and it just doesn't seem like things ever slow down. I'd love to just have an hour to myself....no one around, a book and a hammock...that's all I ask. hahah!

Dan and I are headed to Maine on Monday. We'll be leaving our new place filled with boxes and headed home. I'm thrilled to see my family. It's been too long since I've hugged my Daddy Bear. I miss my mother and sister terribly but I see them more often when they come down to SC for mini vacations. I'm sure I'll have endless stories from the trip and look forward to posting some pics.

Until then.....I'm headed back to the laundry.....boooh.

xoxoxox

Sara's trip to G'Vegas

I didn't even mention Sara's trip to Greenville in my last blog! We had a blast...it was wonderful to have her here. It was just like old times, wasn't it Sawa Sue?!?!

Moving......AGAIN!!

Golly Miss Molly!

It feels like Dan and I have spent half of our marriage moving all over the state of SC. When I moved to SC I was in love and the only thing I knew was that I needed to be close to Dan. When we decided to get married and the ring was put on my finger I realized I really needed to be close to the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with. I wanted to be sure that I knew that I knew that I knew that I knew...you get my drift. I decided to pack up all of my belongings, well everything that would fit into my VW Beetle, and move down South to be near my man. I took a bundle of things to Goodwill that year (sigh*). My sister came along with me for support and we headed to SC on a full tank of gas and a prayer. Oh and by the way...my stereo didn't work and I was too poor at the time to go get it fixed. There was A LOT of singing and retardedness going on in the car...you can imagine.

Anyway since then Dan and I have made three more moves. You could say we are unstable. You could say we like variety. But I would say, we are just one of those couples that doesn't have a strong tie to one particular place. Now that we have a son we are starting to get a little more serious about a place to live....but right now it's just fun to try something on for size and then toss it when it gets old.

We are moving out of our cute little apartment next Saturday. I have loved living here. We had just enough room, we had a great pool, a work out facility, agggh. Anyway, since our little man has come into our lives that apartment is definitely cramped. Will has more toys and gadgets that an army of babies. So it's time. Time to part from our old single life. We are moving into a four bedroom house over near Cherrydale. It's kind of in the ghetto...but that's okay. We have LOTS of room, and a backyard, and a nice kitchen...I love it. We signed a two year lease at which time we will decide if we want to BUY the house or not. DUM DUM DUM...scary to even think about it. We both want to keep our options open. I just don't know where we will be in two years, ya know??

Anyway, it's been a crazy month. This Saturday will be the last show for "Crimes of the Heart". wow. It's been an amazing couple of weeks and I've loved the cast! It's been a dream to be back on stage again.

Dan, Will, and I will be headed to Maine July 1-10th. I'm thrilled to be going home for July 4th, visiting with my Grampy Rockwell who has just moved into a nursing home, and going to my 10 year high school reunion. When we get back I'll be unpacking boxes and then Dan is off to Atlanta on a business trip. Please pray for us...I can already feel the stress creeping up behind me.

Much love to all my readers...even though you NEVER leave comments!!...It's all good though, I know you love me. =) smooooooooooooches xoxo