I ♥ Faces and I ♥ My Mom...

This week, I'm entering the I ♥ Faces contest for the first time, since I got some awesome shots of Rhett at the beach! I love this picture because it captures his awe of seeing the ocean for the first time. It was sunset on Kiawah Island, S.C. and the setting couldn't have been more perfect. Even if I don't win, I will have enjoyed showing off my handsome little man!

Moving on to why I ♥ my mom. Other than the fact that she gave birth to me and she's always been there for me as an encourager, a challenger, and a friend. Yesterday I loved her the most because when I called to ask her if Rhett could stay over last night, she didn't hesitate to say yes. You see, I have a REALLY hard time asking people for help. In elementary school, I failed a test because I didn't want to ask if I could borrow a pencil. This bad trait has mostly reared its head where Rhett is concerned. I guess I believe that he is my child and therefore, my responsibility, so I should be the one to take care of him. But, I am not Superwoman. Let me say that again for my own benefit...I am not Superwoman. I cannot do all things and be all things to everyone. Sometimes I just give out and I can't go anymore. Which is exactly what happened yesterday.

Last week, we went to Kiawah for a little family getaway. Which would have been relaxing, if we didn't have a 15 month old on our hands. We enjoyed the three day trip, but it was a worldwind. We got back on Friday and then I had to go shopping on Saturday to buy a birthday gift and then had dinner with my parents Saturday night. Sunday a.m. brought church, the grocery store and the above mentioned birthday party for our friends' little boy. I collapsed in the bed @ 10:30 Sunday night. The only thing I could think about was that I would be up again in 2 hours when Rhett decided he couldn't possibly live without me, which he did three times.

Monday a.m. hit me like a truck, but up and off to work I went. That afternoon, I drove a hour one way for meetings all afternoon, not getting home until 6 p.m. When I walked in the door, I changed clothes and got ready to go get Rhett from my parents, since he had been there since about 9 that morning. Branden encouraged me to sit down and relax for a minute. I did as I was told, laying down and putting my feet up. Once I got in that position, I felt like I couldn't move. The thought of getting up to go get Rhett and doing dinner, bath and nighttime with him brought literal tears to my eyes. Branden asked me what was wrong, and all I could say is 'I'm just too tired.' So, he suggested letting Rhett spend the night at my parents so I could get some rest. The thought of that didn't make me happy. Not because I didn't want him to stay, but because I didn't want to ask. It took Branden about 15 minutes of coaxing and putting dinner on the stove for me to pick up the phone. I don't think my mom could hear the tears in my voice, but she could probably picture the look on my face. Although the call took her off guard and she had already had him all day long, she said it was fine and only asked me to bring some p.j.'s.

I tried to reason that Rhett could come home and Branden could just take care of him. But, Branden knew that even if he had taken care of Rhett all night long, I wouldn't be able to relax, since I am his (Rhett's)favorite playmate and taker-carer. He was really great in taking care of me though...cooking dinner, taking the p.j.'s over, and cleaning the kitchen. I took an hour long bath, reading 'Breaking Dawn,' turned off the monitor, and was in bed by 9 p.m. I slept soundly until 6 a.m. and woke up refreshed and able to function for the rest of the week.

I know it wasn't easy on mama. She had him for almost 24 hours straight, with no advanced notice. While he has spent the night with them before, it was always been because I was out of town. In 15 months, I haven't had an entire night off, sleeping through the night in my own bed, without the monitor buzzing in my ear. It was a little piece of heaven which I am so grateful for.

So, mom ~ if you're reading this...thank you. You don't know how much last night meant to me. Rhett is so blessed to call you his 'CeeCee' as I am to call you 'Mama'.

Nostalgia and all that good stuff....

I swear I wish I could post more, but by the time I think of something to write about ~ it takes me about two weeks to find the time to sit down and hash it out! Things here are good, but it's actually been a pretty busy summer ~ first I had to travel for work, then a week at the lake with the fam, and then Rhett's been sick & CRANKY for about a week. Next week, we're going to the coast of S.C. for a few days and then it'll be almost time for hubs to go back to work! Yah! He's been trying to enjoy his month off, but it's hard for a workaholic like him. His day consists of getting up @ 7ish, drinking coffee, reading paper, FB and TV until about 10. Then he drives around for a little while, has some lunch, takes a nap and goes to the gym at 2. Every day. Life is so rough some times....

Anyway ~ I've titled this post about nostalgia because that's what a couple of days at the lake always does to me. My family has been going to the same campground at the same lake for about 100 years. Ever since my dad was a little boy, the Wells family has packed up the house and took their summer vacation at Clark Hill for eating, swimming, boating and...more eating. Last year was the first year I hadn't gone to the lake in my 29 years of existence. That's what having a newborn does to you.

Now we stay in cabins, which have been the exact same since...well probably for about 100 years. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, wood paneling, about 800 sq. ft and sometimes as many as 15 people. We have always traveled with my grandparents and my aunt, uncle and their three kids and whatever friends have come along. Clark Hill is what it is. You always know what you're gonna get and you always know what to expect. We have the same meals on the same days each year. We have the same bedrooms, play the same card games, and hear the same stories over and over again. Did you hear the one about the 'Mount Pilot Girls?" Or 'Take me to the tire?' or what about 'Beat It' and the time my mom got locked out of the cabin with a screaming baby in the middle of the night? Oh ~ you haven't heard those stories? Well, I have...about 100 times. That water, those pine trees, and those rolling hills all hold the memories of my summers growing up. It's where I learned to swim, tried to ski, fell in love, fell out of love, and learned a painful lesson of growing up and moving on. When I go back there, I am mezmorized by the memories of summers past where what started out as a summer romance turned into much more. Those times at the lake where right out of a Kenny Chesney song and no matter how bad things got, once we were back at the lake, all was right with the world.

It's easy for me to slip into nostalgia's warm embrace and only remember the good times ~ that's the campground where we spent every weekend together. The cove in the middle is where we jetskied and the one in the back is where we skinny dipped (mom ~ ignore that line!) Those trees held the hammock where we napped and there's where we hung out at night, building fires, sneaking drinks of boone's farm strawberry hill and listening to lynard skynard, the allman brothers, and conway twitty. Around every corner is another memory.

Nostalgia is such a powerful force whose rose tinted glasses cover the ugly truth with warm fuzzies tied up in a pretty ribbon. In reality, the relationship that started out as a summer romance lasted about five years too long. As we both have grown up and moved on, I know that we are right were we should be. I wouldn't trade my life now for anything in the world and I'm looking forward to making new memories with the hubs and the kid as he grows up. Who knows, maybe he'll have a Clark Hill summer romance of his own! After all, everyone needs to experience that magic. Let's just hope it's not with the ex'es little girl. That would just be weird! :)