Gabe the Protector, Sofia the Princess

September so far has brought us a short trip to the beach in Ocean City, Maryland, and the first day of FIRST GRADE for Gabriel. Fun, fun! Gabe is already reading more to us, which is exciting! He seems to be enjoying it, and even gave me the embarrassed-sounding "Mooommm" when I tried to help him put his backpack on in the school parking lot. I thought he would fall over, it was so filled with school supplies.

Gabe is growing up too fast! We were at the boardwalk amusement rides in Ocean City on the ferris wheel when he barked at Sofia to sit down when she stood up. He then said to me quite matter-of-factly, "That's why she needs me to protect her, Mom, and that's why I'll always be her big brother protector."

Tim has been wanting to pierce Sofia's ears since she was a baby. I kept saying I thought it should be her decision. We passed a shop on the boardwalk that had a sign about free piercing with the purchase of earrings, and Tim quietly asked me if we could pierce Sofia's ears. I said, "I guess you can ask" (half hoping the shop wouldn't work with 3 year-old clients and half hoping Sofia would say "no thanks Daddy.") No dice on either one. She was SO excited to get her ears pierced, it was ridiculously adorable. She was given a choice of various studs, and naturally she tried to select 1-carat diamond knock-offs. I piped up to say we'd prefer to go with the diamond studs four times smaller. Sofia didn't cry. She didn't flinch. She was talking a mile a minute about how she couldn't wait to show her friends Sam and Emmitt at school. She was admiring her reflection in the mirror. The Indian woman behind the counter was so impressed with Sofia's bravery, she gave her a pink beaded necklace for the road.

Of course, now Gabe is asking if he can get his ears pierced. Sofia said, "Noooo, Gabe, boys don't get earrings!" Tim said, "Sofia, what do you see in my ears?" Fia: "You're not a boy, Dad." LOL! I'm sure she meant he's not a little boy, he's a man. I said, "Gabe, Dad was in high school and you should probably wait until you're older too to make sure you really want them." (Yikes. I don't know if I handled that one right!)

We took this beach trip with Alexandria and Jeremy and their three kids, and they caught some great photos. I'll post a couple of them. Alexandria and Jeremy were super kind too because on day two, I had a strong reaction to some "semi-narcotics," and they helped Tim out with our two kids while I was essentially passed out all day. My doctor prescribed physical therapy three times a week and semi-narcotics for a herniated disc in my cervical spine that is causing me problems. I never do well with hard drugs -- I don't even know why I try them when the doc insists. I haven't started physical therapy yet, but I'm hopeful PT will do the trick.

Even with Saturday being a bit of a bust for me personally, the trip overall was relaxing and wonderful. We spent many hours on the beach and at the pool and just hanging out relaxing -- not following a schedule or a timetable -- my kind of vacation. Gabe had a blast on his boogie board, although I don't think we have uploaded those photos yet. We'll share more soon.

At any rate, the vacation was just what the doctor ordered for me - for my spine and for my heart. My best friend Jennifer scared the living daylights out of me by having a heart catheterization and then a stint placed in a major artery in her heart a week ago today. She's fine, but the doc said had she not listened to the chest and arm pains she was having, she would've had a massive heart attack very soon. Jen and I are both 34, and she's in good shape too. Just so you know folks: I care about you and don't want you to go anywhere. If your body starts giving you funky pains, get your booty to a doctor. It's amazing the stuff they can catch now. Modern medicine is marvelous indeed! :)

Hope you're doing well and having a lovely fall season!

love, love, love,

k