Dana 1 - Nana 0

So J. Hogan and I were in the grocery store the other day. Pretty typical shopping adventure with Peanut - he was touched by way too many sweet older ladies, laughed at a few older gentlemen, and was entertained by a few youngsters. But then we approached the checkout lane and everything changed.

It was here we met "Nana". I only know she is "Nana" because of the red and green sweatshirt adorned with one rather unfortunate looking angel and the LARGE billboard atop said angel's head that read "Nana's Little Angel". Side note - the date of this engagement was December 28th which is probably why I can tell you in detail what the shirt looked like. I will not tell you the real name of this "little angel" to protect his innocent self. We will just call him Oscar.

I quickly glanced over my options for checkout and chose the lane which looked like the least threatening. As I settled into my spot behind Nana, she quickly turned and said hello to J. Hogan. I will now give you a script of the conversation -

Nana: Well, aren't you the sweetest thing?

Me: J. Hogan, can you say hello?

J. Hogan: (smiles at Nana)

Nana: How old is he?

Me: He is 10 months.

Nana: Oh my grandson Oscar is the same age. Is your son waiving bye-bye? My Oscar is.

Me: Yes, he is waiving bye-bye.

Nana: Is your son crawling? My Oscar is crawling.

Me: Yes, he is crawling.

Nana: Is your son saying, "Da-Da"? My Oscar is.

Me: Yes, he says Da-Da. (At this point my patience for this game of "your son can't be smarter than my Oscar" is wearing thin.)

Nana: Is your son pat-a-caking? My Oscar is.

Me: Yes, he is pat-a-caking.

Nana: Well, your son is a cutie.

J. Hogan: Thank you. (It was the clearest, most perfect "Thank You" he has ever said.)

Nana: (solemn look on face as you could hear the crickets chirping) Did he say "thank you?"

Me: Of course he did. He is 10 months old.

Nana: (returns to her car speechless.)

Hello - Yes, It's Me Again

So it's been awhile since my last post. Okay a VERY long while. No big excuse, just life. From Thanksgiving until Christmas is always a ball of chaotic activity, but throw in a child and you have complete exhaustion; add teething to that child and you have "nearing the institution crazy"; couple that with the whole family having a cold and you might just have the apocalypse.

Okay so I exaggerate. It wasn't THAT bad. We all were stricken with the common cold. So this year's theme for Christmas was "Merry Christmas - please pass the tissue." I really can't complain. We are a very healthy family. This is the first time J. Hogan has EVER been sick and he is 10 months old. This cold wasn't really that bad for him. He never got too bad and bounced back quickly. I am very proud of him. This is also the first time Chris or I have been sick since J. Hogan was born. But we were a team this time. You know the old saying, "the family that prays together, sneezes together."

Christmas was nothing short of remarkable this year. I keep telling people I always thought our Christmas celebrations were always so much fun and wonderful, boy was I wrong. They apparently were boring and mediocre. This year was more than I ever imagined. J. Hogan took in all that the season had to offer - caroling, gift giving, Santa, the lights, the tastes, the sounds. He even learned how to say "thank you" just in time for the big day. And yes, it is the cutest thing ever when he says it.

Chris and I continually reflected at how much difference a year makes. This time last year, I was seven months pregnant; did not know if I was going to have a son or a daughter; still working at Lee; and let's face it - terrified of the responsibility I was facing. Now, we have an incredible 10 month old son and that scary responsibility, well, my heart embraced it the moment I touched my son's face. It is now an unshakable desire to make him his best self. It is now a since of duty and honor to protect him - physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is now a love that shatters all definitions of the word. It is reality. Don't get me wrong. Sometimes the fear is still there and it is then that I have to remind myself that fear is a worthless emotion. We are not in control here, He is - God is. I am so very thankful for that.

Last week I was visiting my parents and my aunt stopped by for a visit. Her husband just passed away one short year ago. She said something that has stuck in my mind and my heart. She said, "give what you need." That is going to be my theme for 2009. I can only imagine what this next year will hold for me. I am sure it will be an adventure.