J Cooper Photography

A fellow ebay designer and friend has experience a heart crushing tragedy. There is nothing worse than watching a friend suffer and feeling helpless to relieve her from the pain. So in an effort to show her how much she has meant to us, a large group of designers have banded together for a launch to show our support. All funds raised during the launch will go directly to Michelle and her three beautiful children.

Please stop by ebay and support her! There are so many fun listings to choose from!
Click HERE to see all the WELOVEMUD listings!

Since I am stuck here on bed rest and unable to sew I am offering this fun 4 piece sample set! It was worn for indoor modeling only and is ready to ship out!
Click HERE to go to my ebay listing! Let’s show Mud and her children some practical love!

I’m not sure when it exactly happened…that my little chubby baby…with the piercing brown eyes and coy personality…turned into a little girl. I’m guessing overnight. My brain knows we have mastered most of the “big girl” prerequisites (the potty, getting dressed, speaking in complete sentences) but it still doesn’t seem possible. Doesn’t she know she is supposed to still fit in my arms, still need me in the night, still babble with delight instead of ramble in paragraph form?
And while it is killing me to watch her grow….I know it is hard work for her too. She hasn’t given up her thumb yet. Or the hair twirling which always accompanies it. I guess in her own little way…she is holding on too.
A few months ago, A brought home a bean neatly planted in a Dixie cup. I actually rolled my eyes. We were leaving for Spring Break and I was annoyed by the thought of having to explain to A why the tiny plant hadn’t survived without our constant watering. But to our surprise…the bean sprouted and grew furiously while we were gone. It sits by our kitchen sink and has grown at least 2 feet up the blinds on the window. This week it sprouted beans. A wants to eat them for dinner and I can’t think of a reason not to saute them right up for her.

This morning I noticed that one of the stalks has turned yellow and seems to be withering…as if the large bean pod that it has produced has sucked its will to live dry. And I got to thinking about how much work it is to grow.

Maybe I am just feeling sentimental (or hormonal) but today I will be a bit more sympathetic. Growing up (and growing out!) is an awfully hard job. Some days it just seems to suck the life right out of you.

Many of A’s friends lovingly refer to her as “the snackster“. For being a fairly trim child, she has an amazing capacity to devour food. The begging for snacks usually starts within 10 minutes of a completed meal and last until I cave (approximately 10 minutes after that!) Why am I sharing this tidbit of information?
I made the mistake of taking A with me to my OB apt. last week. Being on bed rest and having some serious concerns about this baby making his debut too early, my Dr. had some instructions for me following the apt. that she felt were very important. I didn’t think A was really paying any attention to our conversation.

Dr. P: “Please try to take it easy. There are 2 things you must absolutely avoid. First…no working out. Second…absolutely NO S-E-X!!!”

Anna: AWWWWWWW MOM!! What are you going to do without any SNACKS???

After my Dr. and I picked ourselves up off the ground and regained our composure she proceeded to assure A that S-N-A-C-K-S would be ok as long as they are healthy for mommy

And just because she’s cute too…