Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere...

This morning started out just like every other morning does. I had just gotten home from the gym, was sipping my coffee and checking my email, Mark was eating breakfast, and Anthony was in the family room playing with his toys, Legos to be more specific.

Well it was obvious that Anthony was getting frustrated due to the audible grunts and whining coming from his direction. Apparently he wasn't able to get two of the Legos to connect. At this point though, I'm thinking, just like I usually do, that a little frustration is good and that if I give him time to try to figure out the problem and he succeeds, it'll just make him more determined and less frustrated the next time it happens. So as I'm watching and waiting and wondering when he'll break down and ask for help, this is what we hear:

"Dammit! Oh dammit!"

I immediately get his attention and say, "No, Anthony we don't say that. We say, 'Oh no!'"

To which he replies, "Oh sit! Oh sit." (And no, he wasn't telling Mama to sit down.)

Damn! Where does he pick this sh*t up???

So yes, in the interest of Mark and I's reputation, it's time for everybody, everywhere to clean up, clean up.

Thanks for the reassurance, Bud!

As Anthony's looking out the front window, waiting for his friend, Nolan, to come over for a playdate this morning:

A: "No-No, where are you?"
A: "No-No?"
M: "Hmmm, I wonder where he is, Bud..."
A: "Mama, don't worry, Mama, don't worry."

MY Little Star

Yes we did. Change has come.

I have always been proud to be an American.

However, never have I felt as proud as I do now since the moment the announcement was made on CNN that Barack Obama was to become the next president of the United States.

My thoughts and feelings surrounding the results of the election are so strong and so real. However, I feel that trying to articulate them in words would not do them justice. Whatever written description I could formulate, I strongly believe would pale in comparison to the intensity and depth of the significance the outcome of this election has on me, my country, and the world I live in. So I'm not going to try.

This afternoon, we went into D.C. to once again take part in history in the making. Avaaz.org erected a wall yesterday on the grounds between the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool. A wall that serves as a means to voice opinions surrounding Obama's victory. As I left my message and read what others had written, I was once again overcome with emotion and pride. The experience and the meaning behind it all was so very powerful.

CHANGE HOPE OBAMA

November 4th, 2008.

I have been waiting for today for a looooooong time. And I must say, it's a bit ridiculous how obsessed I've been with all of the election coverage so far today. It's all so very exciting to me.

Last night, Mark, Courtney, and I went to Obama's last pre-Election Day rally.

He chose to hold it in Manassas, VA at the Prince William County fairgrounds. SO COOL for so many reasons. So cool that it was so close to home. So cool to spend Election Day Eve with the presidential candidate that I voted for and so strongly believe in. So cool that he picked Northern Virginia as his final rally spot. And so cool the significance of it all.


We were told that there were 80,000+ people in attendance. Everywhere I looked, there were people from all different races, all different nationalities, all different ages.

The hope...

the energy...

the enthusiasm...

the excitement...

...all SO palpable.

It was awesome.

In addition to the elements of what has come to be familiar Barack Obama campaign rhetoric, he said something that I hadn't heard before and that really struck me. As some people booed Obama's first mention of McCain, he quickly responded, "Oh no folks. Remember, we don't boo. We just vote."

Sure, there have been negative campaign ads and comments on either side of the aisle, but I strongly believe that Obama has run his campaign with such integrity. He has done such a good job of concentrating his efforts on explaining his ideas, thoughts, hopes, and intentions instead of trying to win this election by pointing out what his opponent hasn't done, why his opponent is wrong about the way he feels on certain issues, etc. etc. etc. And above all, he has always portrayed such a balanced sense of confidence and compassion and has remained so stoic throughout it all.

That gives me hope. And part of that hope is hoping that enough other people feel the same way...

"Happy Happyween!"

"Happyween" (i.e., Halloween) 2008 was Anthony's 3rd Halloween. But, it was his first Halloween in which he was somewhat aware of the whole concept - dressing up, trick-or-treating, candy, "dosts," "pumpah," "spooooooty!" And let me tell you, he had a B-L-A-S-T!

For starters, he got to go trick-or-treating with one of his best friends, Jade, who dressed up as Anthony's other half - Raggedy Ann. They made SUCH a cute pair!


He also got to eat a lot of candy, starting at Dabbah's (Grandma's) house before he even got into his costume. That kid loves his candy. And boy, does he come by that honestly!


Some of the highlights and memories of Halloween 2008 include:

• watching Anthony knock on neighbors' doors...over and over and over...until someone (finally!) opened them



• having to throw off my shoes and run into a stranger's house after Anthony because he assumed that an open door meant that he was welcome to step inside at his leisure


• having to explain to Anthony that it's nice manners to only take one piece, as opposed to one HANDFUL, of candy when the entire bowl is put about 6 inches from your face


• Anthony trying to sample each piece of loot he scored, sometimes before we even made it back down the driveway and onto the sidewalk(!)


• watching him stuff his Halloween candy into a "dost's" pocket because he saw (empty) candy bar wrappers in the ghost's pocket and assumed that's what he was supposed to do with his candy too



• watching Anthony eagerly and excitedly walk down the sidewalk, telling Jade to "c'mon!" because she wasn't walking fast enough


• the sound of Anthony dragging his trick-or-treat bag on the ground behind him because it was too big and heavy for him to keep off of the ground...and the black streaks on the underside of the bag by the end of the night

But above all else, the most special memory I will take with me forever from that night is how innocent and pure he is. Without ever articulating it himself, I could tell Anthony genuinely couldn't have been happier doing anything else that evening. He loved it. And being able to relive the magic of Halloween through his eyes made me feel like a kid again.

The way I felt this Halloween was the way I felt years ago when I was the one out trick-or-treating with my sister and my cousins, each of us carrying around our precious pillowcases filled with candy that we worked hard for. I almost wanted to sit down in the middle of my mom's living room with Anthony when we got back and sort through the candy, making piles of Snickers, Reese cups, Nerds, the inevitable "trade pile" of candy you didn't like and therefore was "tradeable" for candy that you did like just like I used to do with my sister and cousins years ago. But alas, those times, for me, are gone. It is now Anthony's turn.

Thank you, Raggedy Andy, for allowing me to enjoy Halloween as much as I did this year. You probably won't remember much of this Halloween when you grow up, but I want you to know that there was nothing about it you didn't like, including bedtime because you were so utterly exhausted! I'm glad that you had such a good time. It is because of you that it is all so special to me again.