Question:

is there anything better in the world than holding a small baby?

How I Spent My Morning

I have always been a dreamer, not so much a planner, I tend to plot quietly.

Instead of doing what I SHOULD be doing this morning (homework, getting dressed, having grand adventures with Daisy) I have spent the morning watching PBS and plotting the ultimate roadtrip. Mr. Chase spent some time in Charleston, SC and he talks about it like its this magical beautiful place and since I've been fascinated with the Carolinas thanks in part to Nicolas Sparks and partly to the fact my father was born @ Ft. Bragg, they have always been this mystical place. So wandering through travel sites today I discovered that for the 3 of us Mr. Chase, Daisy (since she's now 2 and would need her own seat) and myself to fly would cost well over $2000 (and that's JUST THE FLIGHT)!!! I couldn't believe it we could do NYC AND DC for that cost, and that's flights, food and lodging!!!

So being the creative traveler that I am have plotted the ultimate roadtrip. Logan to Chicago, Chicago to Charleston, Charleston to New Orleans, New Orleans to Phoenix, Phoenix to San Diego then LA to Home. Its just a measely 6000+ miles. 18 States, and the opportunity to see the vast expanse that are these great United States. And the places we would get to visit along the way by default...Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Houston, & NASHVILLE just to name a few. {that would be somewhere we would HAVE to stop} I figure gas would cost roughly the price of ONE round trip ticket to SC. Now you add in staying at a variety of seedy motels, and dining at delicious dives along the way, I'm STILL $700 below the cost of the flight.

I have always dreamed of driving route 66 from Chicago to LA in a convertible but this trip would satisfy that desire. We would get to see amazing things and the food... oh the food, Alton Brown from Food Network does a summer road trip (for the last two or three years) called Feasting On Asphalt, and we could liken our trip after his.

The reality of getting to do this is slim to none but getting to plot this grand adventure has entertained my imagination for the better part of Dinosaur Train, Word World and DragonTales :)

Mothers

Wordful Wednesday: I haven't participated in a while because I have kind of felt out of the loop with all the talk on family's but here goes-

I have done quite a bit of reading on Mother's lately. For the ONE class I will probably be passing this semester I had the opportunity to read a diary of a Mormon pioneer from the early 1900's. She was the mother of 12! Her life was focused on Church and Family. She knew what she wanted and what her role in life was, her husband was a farmer and she was in charge of the home and rearing the children.

When I started college I was plotting to take over, and change the world *insert maniacle laughter* I was on the fast track to graduating early and heading off to law school, I was going places (Princeton). Then I got discouraged so I took a summer off to work, as I was preparing to return home and back to my studies I was sucked into a whirlwind romance (that makes it sound like I didn't enjoy it- it had its good moments) so I put school on hold and when I finally refocused and was ready to return to my studies my world was turned upside down when I figured out that I was expecting. {Perhaps now would be a good time to mention that the whirlwind romance resulted in a marriage} My pregnancy forced me to stop EVERYTHING I was doing, I had to quit the job that I had just started and LOVED and school was not possible. I had NEVER been so sick in my life.

When my daughter finally arrived I was so grateful to have that tiny little miracle in my arms. My whole perspective changed, I no longer felt the need to take over and change the world but rather do all I could to make HER world the best it could be.

Its amazing how quickly my views on being a working mom changed. I had dreamed of having it all, a face paced career and family but once the family part came along, all I wanted to do was stay home with my little girl. Sadly my marriage ended a three short months after she was born. So I have had the opportunity to be a single mom. Not exactly how I envisioned being a mom but you play the hand that is dealt, right?

As I have struggled with adjusting to being not only a mom but a single mom I have realized the importance of mothers. I have gained respect for my own mother, she has FOUR kids and when I think of many of the basic thing that I do everyday, brushing my teeth, tying my shoes, putting my shirt on the right way, brushing my hair, things that I am teaching my own daughter I realize that it was MY mother that taught me.

Joy

This is my big brother and his new little boy. Daniel James he was 9lbs 7 oz 20 inches long, so really his is not so little but when compared to Daisy's current self he's TINY, if we were comparing him to Daisy's infant self he's HUGE she was only 5lbs 10 oz 18 inches long.

Mr. Chase not having spent much time with infants asked what my fascination was with them. Aside from the fact that I am a woman, the fascination rests in the tiny little fingers, toes and features that are so perfect. The fact that these perfect little beings have not had the chance to be corrupted by the world yet, and the fact that these little miracles have come straight from heaven and still have the warm love of heaven surrounding them. That is why infants hold such a fascination for me, and this one, happens to be related to me so that makes it all that much better.