The first of the lasts

It is getting to be that time. The time in the last few weeks before the move when we begin saying goodbye. I hate saying goodbye. I have never been good at it and I always cry.




On Monday, our Parents as Teachers consultant came to our house for our last visit with her. We have seen her every month for over a year, but I never felt any strong connection to her personally. As she was leaving our house, she put on her sunglasses really quickly and sort of wiped at her nose. She told me what a great Mom I am and that she knows my girls will grow up to be amazing people. As she walked out the door, I started to cry. This was the first of the lasts, the last time that we will visit with Miss Jean.

Next Monday, we will have our last Kindermusik class with the most wonderful woman, Mrs. Aimee. I met Aimee when we first moved here three years ago. Not only has she been our Kindermusik teacher, but she has also been a sounding board for me when Miss H was going through different phases and when Lil' B was having so many feeding issues. She has picked my brain about marketing for her business, but mostly we have become friends. I can't believe I will be saying "So Long" to her next week. I know for sure that I will cry.

Although I am ready for this move, and excited about it, reflecting on the first of the lasts over the past couple of days has really made me sad. I have made some wonderful connections here and friends that I know I will have for the rest of my life. I think back to all the other friends that I have moved away from in the past: friends in Colorado and North Carolina and South Carolina. I know the sadness will wane. I know that there are new friends to be made and new adventures to be had.

But for now, as I say my goodbyes and my see you laters, I know there will be tears. And I welcome them.

A note on my absence

I knew this would happen, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating. I knew that May (and June to come) would be busy. I promised myself that no matter how busy it got that I would still blog. I would still check in on Twitter.

But alas, life happens.

Mr. Rose and I spent the last week of April in Maryland house hunting. The week started with two long days in the car (only one with the kids), and then five more long days of driving around with our realtor. In the end, we found a fabulous house that we are now under contract on!

Once we got back home, the long days weren't over. Every night after the kids go to bed is spent reviewing documents and discussing move logistics. By the time I sit down on the couch, I can't even think straight much less write a complete sentence.

Hence, the lack of blogging.

And as for Twitter, well, it seems that I have been banned from using my smartphone. Lil' B has decided that my phone is her new toy (it's not), so every time I pick it up a major battle ensues. Ah the joys of the terrible twos!

On Friday, I had a minor panic attack thinking that in just two short weeks the movers will be here in my house packing up all our stuff. Looking around, I saw a lot of stuff that I do not want to be unpacking on the other side. So I grabbed a garbage bag and started the purge.

We have a long way to go, but I am feeling better about being ready. Hopefully the next two weeks will go smoothly. And, I promise to try to check in more.

Miss y'all!!

Erin

Dress like a girl with us!

Last month, I wrote about my birthday challenge to myself to wear a dress every day for a week. I have to tell you how liberating that experience was for me. For months now, I have felt like I have been in a total wardrobe rut. Jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers or flip flops were my "mom-iform." By challenging myself to wear more dresses and skirts, I actually found clothes in my closet that I had forgotten I even owned. The first day of the week I wore a dress that I have not worn in years. Yes, years. That morning I took the girls to Kindermusik and I was immediately greeted by our teacher with how cute and yet comfortable I looked. What a way to start the week! Not only was it a boost to my confidence and general mood, but in turn I influenced her to break out of her wardrobe routine. Later in the week she posted on my facebook wall a picture of her wearing a dress - how cool is that!

I also had feedback from one of my favorite bloggers, Melissa at Peanut Butter in my Hair. Melissa and I both read and reviewed the book Didn't I Feed You Yesterday by Laura Bennett (of Project Runway fame!) last spring. One of the chapters in Laura's book discusses how style is "about making a conscious decision to present yourself in a particular manner." I was fascinated by the fact that even as a mom of six children, she makes it a point to dress up every single day.

Melissa and I were both struck by this particular point in her book, hence Melissa's feedback on my Dress Like a Girl challenge to myself. After several emails back and forth, Melissa and I decided to launch a monthly Dress Like a Girl challenge to our blog readers. Here's how it works:

• One day during the month, on a day that you would normally wear your "mom-iform" make a conscious decision to wear a dress and accessorize it accordingly.
• Take note of any comments you hear, how it affects your day and any other effects of wearing something out of the norm for you.
• Blog about it, grab our Dress Like A Girl button, and then come back here (or Melissa's) on the first Monday of the month to link up your post. There will also be a facebook page and a flickr album to upload pretty pictures of yourself!
• Each month we are going to have different ways to challenge you to dress with some style and hopefully we'll have a few giveaways along the way!

Sound like fun? I hope so! Let's go shop our closets and dress like a girl!

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